CHAPTER 3

The city was at the base of a gigantic mountain range. I could see it was about one hundred and twenty thousand miles long and about twelve thousand meters high and that was just what I could see.

The city itself was surrounded by 200-meter-tall walls and was as thick as 2 large men standing side by side with their arms fully outstretched.

On the inside of the city, at the very edge were 4 separate groups of villages that I could see. I learned later that they were collectively called the Humilis district.

The Awoken Moon Sect building was carved into the mountain, with a large pagoda entrance at the foot of the mountain, flanking the pagoda, and substantial walls extended alongside the mountain range.

This was only one of the Awoken Moon sect buildings built into the mountain range.

The pagoda, constructed from a pale blue stone most likely sourced from a region within the mountain, featured three entrances.

The largest one was in the middle, with golden engravings all over the walls of the entrance, while the other two on either side were smaller and had grey engravings running all over their entrances.

On the highest peak of the mountain sat a crescent moon.

The crescent moon-shaped object seemed to be made of some type of glass jade, designed not only to amplify the moon's light but also its presence. I could feel it.

I noticed a marked contrast between the nighttime atmosphere here and the forest; a thick, swirling fog enveloped the mountaintop.

The distant, resounding howls of wolves reached my ears, yet these sounds resonated with an intensity that surpassed that of ordinary creatures.

I pressed onward until I reached the entrance to the pagoda's three gates.

One of the guards at the entrance halted me as I got closer, asking for ID.

“I don't have any ID, sir. I came from a little village about a three-day journey from here.”

“What village are you talking about? There's no village around fro miles. I don't care how young you are, kid, but you aren't a kid anymore. Tell the truth or there will be consequences.” He took a step forward, with his hand moving onto the handle of the sword latched on his waist.

I almost smirked at the irony, then I realized how much bigger he was than me. His physique resembled that of a slender yet formidable fortress.

He stood at what was probably six foot one and had scars running all over his body. There was an especially nasty one on the right side of his neck. I was guessing this man knew how to squeeze the life out of me with his big toe.

Translation: I would probably lose this fight.

Thankfully, I didn't have to fight.

“Oi, Jerki, I think he's talking about that hamlet by that old Creek. The one with the skinny poor people.”

“Oh, thaaaat one.” Jerki turned back to me. “You're lucky, kid; you probably don't have any identification, do you?”

He sighed. “Why do I always have to deal with these dirty newcomers? I wish I worked at the right-side gate, at least then I can work with the nobles.”

The other guard who had told Jerki about my village, which was apparently a hamlet, had walked over by now.

“Evening, kid, why are you coming to the lovely city of Lunis, at this time of day?”

I looked him straight in the eye. “Cultivation. I want to become a cult-”

“BAHAHAHAHAH, you're not the first one, kid. If cultivating was that easy, you think I would be here? Jerki, d’ya hear the boy?”

“Hahah, sure did, Michael. He probably has a tragic backstory as well. So many kids have come through here to cultivate; I could probably guess it. What? Did some young master steal your childhood sweetheart? Your mom left you a magic ring or something?”

My face scrunched up in confusion.

“Kid, if you really do have a magical item, you're best off throwing it away. It's so low quality that it's more likely to explode and kill you at some random moment than actually help you.”

“I don't have anything but the stuff in my bag. I opened it up to him to show what was inside.

He lost his smile after that.

“You really are from that small den. Alright, kid, quick lesson. Those copper coins are worth enough for about 2 days of rent and 3 small, hot meals. After you get in, you're going to want to find some work after failing the aptitude test. I recommend blacksmithing, or butchering.”

I didn't flinch at the obvious jab. One thing I had always had is belief in myself. I'd had it in spades my whole life.

“Thank you, sir. Is there a fee?” I looked at my pouch.

“I get paid by the hour. No. Just go in, there are enough of your kind around that nobody will notice an extra one. If you do become a cultivator though, you owe me one.”

“Thank you, sir.”

He pointed over his shoulder at the left gate of the pagoda, indicating I should hurry off.

I quickly said my goodbyes and left to join the small dwindling line of harvesters, farmers, and other people like me.

I was let in through a long winding tunnel.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

It wasn't long before I finally got inside the city.

I only had one word.

Disgusting.

This place was a piping hot dung heap. Did the cultivators not care to keep their city clean?

There was no way that cultivators lived here.

I hated uncleanliness and disorganization. I expected cultivators to have that same attitude toward the city. It was even worse than my village.

Granted, I did get up every morning to go around and make sure that it was clean. It would probably turn into a dung heap like this since I've left.

Animals freely wandered the city, and I observed discarded meat strewn about. The path beneath my feet was a well-worn trail created by the local peasants, marked by occasional horse and cow excrement.

Needless to say, I felt like I had been bamboozled.

A beefy man, who seemed even shorter than me, noticed the dazed look on my face and came over to me.

“You new here, kid?” I nodded. “Ha, that's why you got that look on your face, you came from the pagoda at the entrance, right?” He didn't even wait for my answer this time.

“You probably saw the breathtaking view of the city and thought that's where you were going, huh?”. I continued to stare with a blank look on my face. He laughed again.

“This is the Humilis district. The city is divided into three, the Humilis District, the Gallant District for nobles, and the Middle district for wealthy commoners. For people like us. If you want to go to the city you probably saw, then you have to either be a noble, very rich, or,” He looked around nervously, “a cultivator.”

My eyes widened in realization while the corners of his mouth curved up as he smiled in satisfaction.

I asked, “I saw the sect as I came towards the city. How do I get accepted to the sect?”

He glanced at me knowingly and said, “ Planning to become a cultivator, eh? My son is also trying this year. They are having a test three days from now. It starts at dawn. If you pass the test, then you get into the sect, if you don't, then you get rejected.”

“Then where do I go to take the test?”

“Don't worry about it, kid, looking at you, I'm guessing you don't have a place to stay. Stay with me for the next three days, you also don't have money, right? You can help around my house, and then you can go with my son to the sect.”

“Alright, thank you, sir.” I immediately took off the bag of farming equipment from his back and invited him to show me the way.

Soon, we were at his house. It was marginally better than the mud huts we had back in my village.

The floor was made of earth and straw, and the furniture consisted of a few stools, a trunk for bedding, and some cooking utensils. He had only 3 kids, which was weird when most peasants had over 13 and he didn't look that young.

A couple of minutes later, his son also came to the house. It turned out he was a town guard in the Gallant district. He was tall, much taller than me, but most men were taller than me at that time and looked like he was specially formed of thin, wiry, cords of muscle. It was no surprise to me then, when I saw the look of pride in his father's eyes at the sight of him.

He was probably counting on his son to take them out of the peasant life.

The son's name was Hoffnung, and the dad’s name was Henley.

Hoffnung’s two sisters immediately pounced on him with cries of joy when they saw him. He beamed and showed teeth whiter and more perfectly aligned than most peasants.

His sisters screamed louder as he picked them up and let them sit on his biceps. They couldn't get enough of him.

The oldest looked to be 6 years old; her name was Isabella, and the youngest, about 5 or so, was called Charlotte. It was sad.

Not because they were peasants but because they were beautiful. They looked like they should have been born as princesses. They would definitely dignify the arm of any king they were on if they grew old enough.

That was the problem. It was a curse to be pretty as a peasant. It was like being a fat, slow, cow in the presence of starving lions.

I looked into Hoffnung's eyes and saw the fierceness of the fire that burned in them. He understood what I did. That explained his physique and job better to me. Being accepted into the sect was likely also his only hope.

What awaited his sisters if he didn’t was apparent to all three of us men in the room. I had just met them and I didn't even want to think about it. I could imagine the feeling was a hundred times more intense for their brother and father.

I wanted to ask where their mom was, but, judging from the appearance of the father, I could tell the girl's beauty didn't come from him.

I didn't have to ask to know what had happened to their mother. She probably caught the eye of a noble one day and then disappeared.

She would be dead by now since it seemed the kids didn't remember their mother. They were the only ones willing to talk about the little they remembered about her. If she wasn't dead, then it was best if her kids didn't have to go through seeing her again.

She'd be a shell of a person if she was still alive.

Henley nodded and pointed out the door at me before looking at his son. I understood the message and started to walk outside. It seemed they wanted to talk to me.

Hoffnung put down his sisters and spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, which irked me because he was only a year older than me, and he already sounded like a man. My voice still sounded like it was in transition.

“Sit down and keep yourselves warm by the fire, okay? If you keep still and be quiet, I'll give you a giifftt” His voice turned into some sort of sing-song tone the longer he talked to his sisters.

“Yaay, gift!”

“Is it pondi buns?”

He glared at them, because they still weren't sitting down,before they went to sit down by the fire and pouted. Chuckling, he walked outside with his father.

Henley started talking as soon as we were all outside. I've not already introduced you guys, but,” he looked at his son, “this is Khan, he will be staying here till the Awoken Moon Sect has its entrance test, then you guys will be going together. He will also be helping me out with stuff that needs doing at and around the house or at the farm till then.”

Hoffnung nodded at me. I nodded back.

“Those are my sisters in the house, the oldest is Isabella, and the youngest is Charlotte. Touch them and I'll make sure you won't be able to feel anything ever again. Got it?”

“I don't appreciate the tone, but I understand.” If I had sisters that would also be my reaction, especially if they were as beautiful as them.

“Alright, you and Hoffnung will be sleeping on the mat on the floor. The girls will be on the bed with me. If you need anything, ask Hoff or me.”

Henley then headed inside, followed by me, then his son. Henley could make a surprisingly good meal for someone who looked like such a muscle head.

It was time for bed not long after. Henley was snoring on the bed within seconds; he was probably tired from work, and then having to play with his daughters at the end of the day. They were sprawled on either side of his body, with drool coming out of their mouths.

The bedding was riddled with bedbugs and other biting insects.

The candles made of oil and fat served to create a pungent aroma which just made it harder to sleep.

For the 2nd time in a row, I couldn't sleep. Neither could Hoffnung apparently. Because he was outside practicing with his spear. I could hardly look away. Even if he couldn't cultivate, he was definitely talented at fighting.

He noticed me not long after and stopped.

“What do you want?”

“Can't sleep.” He gave me an appraising look.

“You can watch but don't bother me.”

“Sure.”

As he turned around again, I saw the markings on his back. They looked like scars.

“What happened to your back?”

He glared at me. “You were supposed to keep quiet and not interrupt me.”

Khan just continued to stare at his eyes.

“I was whipped.”

“Why? You don't seem like the type to steal or commit a crime.” This time he whipped his spear so that its point was barely a hair's breadth away from my neck.

He clearly didn't want to talk about this, but I couldn't sleep, and this seemed like an interesting story.

“Go away.”

“Sure. After you tell me what happened. I've never seen scars like that. Not even when the hunters in my village got clawed by a beast. Also, your dad has let me into his home when I don't have a place to stay. If I can help, I want to.”

“They took my mother and I tried to stop them.”

“Oh.”

“You should see the ones on my dad's back. They are way worse.”

“They beat you both for trying to save your mom?”

He sighed; if you want a story, you can have it, but you will sit down quietly and not disturb me after.

I nodded.