The Earthbound Gateway was a discreet and unassuming entrance into the Heavenly Sword Sect’s realm, concealed amidst the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. It was not the entrance most people thought of when they imagined entering the sect. That honor belonged to Heavenly and Earth Gateway, which Wu Jian had entered through when he first came here. Most people who came into the sect for the first time used that gateway.
Located deep within the lush forest and nestled at the base of Heavenly Sword Mountain, this portal provided access to disciples traveling by land. It resembled an ancient stone archway. Sword motifs and symbols signifying the sect’s legacy were carved into the stone. These carvings illuminated the surroundings with a soft, ethereal glow at night, guiding travelers to its entrance. They glowed even during the day, but they were less visible.
Wu Jian arrived there early in the morning, decked in a traveler’s cloak. Several other disciples were coming and going through the portal. They walked past the stone lion sculptures, each of which resembled a majestic sword-wielding guardian, and vanished within the swirling nebula of distorted space. He studied the gateway, sensing the manner in which space distorted. Perhaps, one day, he would be able to travel without the use of such a portal.
Mei Ling was already present. Unlike last time, she wore a normal traveler's cloak over her regular clothes, which aptly disguised her regal attire. The cloak had a hood, though it was pulled down for now, revealing her pretty face. She had the small nose, high cheekbones, and soft features that many upheld as the classic examples of beauty in this world. All the people passing by glanced in her direction, though none dared talk to her.
“Mei Ling, good morning. Were you waiting long?” Wu Jian asked as he walked up to her.
Glancing at him, she soon shook her head. “No, I just arrived a few minutes ago.”
“Then shall we get going?”
“Yes.”
No more words were spoken as they traveled up to the gate. This gateway was connected to one of several in the outside world. The guard, an older man with a low cultivation, looked at them when they approached.
“Lady Mei, welcome. Where are you and your companion going?”
“Set a destination for the Yuan Peninsula,” Mei Ling said.
“Very well. Be careful on your journey.”
The guard created several seals with his hands, his chi flowing into the gateway, which glowed brighter with every passing second. Wu Jian narrowed his eyes as the swirling nebula changed slightly. It was as though the constellation within had shifted. He felt the subtle change when he reached out with his spatial perception.
I see. Thee guard changed the coordinates using the gateway in the Yuan Peninsula as the access point. There’s a sealing array inside of this gate that allows it to easily change. How ingenious.
“Let us go,” Mei Ling said.
“Mmm.”
Wu Jian and Mei Ling stepped through the portal. While the transition from Heavenly Sword Sect to Yuan Peninsula was near instant, Wu Jian still did his best to feel the path created between these two access points. He did not have the power yet to travel this distance himself. However, he believed that, in time, he would be able to travel from one place to another on his own, without the aid of such devices.
The place they arrived in was Du City, the former capital of the Yuan Peninsula. Wu Jian had heard that it had once been a bustling metropolis with vibrant tropical charm, but now it was a mere shadow of its former grandeur, bearing the scars of the magical beast attack from several months ago. They exited the portal, checked in with the guard and stated their reason for visiting, and left the building dedicated to transportation.
“This is…” Wu Jian could not finish his sentence as he got his first glimpse of Du City.
“It’s awful, isn’t it?” asked Mei Ling quietly. “This city had once been vibrant and bustling, but it has been reduced to rubble.”
He and Mei Ling were treading along a cobblestone pathway that was cracked and overgrown with weeds, though he imagined it had once been pristine and glistening. Houses, once painted in cheerful hues, now bore marks of clawed and gnarled damage. The shattered windows were boarded up and the broken eaves bore signs of magical beasts stampeding through. Several buildings leaned precariously, as if defying gravity. Wooden market stalls, which once teemed with exotic fruits and vibrant fabrics, lay in disarray, their wares long plundered or trampled underfoot.
What they walked through appeared to have been a once-bustling market that was no eerily silent. Only the distant cries of scavenging crows broke the stillness. People moved about in somber groups, their faces etched with weariness and paranoia. Makeshift barricades of overturned carts and broken furniture lined narrow alleyways, offering a semblance of protection against lurking threats.
“I’m surprised there are still people living here,” Wu Jian confessed.
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“I’m sure many of them would have moved if they could, but it is not so easy for the common people to change locations. Many of these people have been living here since time immemorial. Their families set their roots here, and it is here that their livelihood exists. It would be very difficult to start anew elsewhere.”
He nodded. “There are many difficulties relocating besides just that too. I know. Some people might not have the resources to travel somewhere else, but even if they did, they might have difficulties after reaching a new nation.”
It wasn’t just the refugees that had problems when a bunch of displaced people relocated. Nations often faced a range of challenges and concerns when dealing with refugees seeking to relocate within their borders. Safety concerns, a strain of resources, the economic impacts, and even public opinion played a big role in how a nation might struggle to accept refugees. A handful might not be a problem, but an entire nation of refugees? That would put a huge strain on any nation.
“Come. We should find an inn,” Mei Ling said.
Wu Jian nodded. “You’re right.”
While many of the buildings lay in ruins, there were some that stood tall. It looked like they had been remade from the ground up. He could also see some people hard at work, their bronzed backs sweating under the blazing sun, as they lugged wooden beams and stone blocks to various construction zones. It seemed that even with the hardships they faced, the people who made the Yuan Peninsula their home continued to struggle defiantly against their fate.
There were other things he noticed as well, some of which caused him concern. Several groups of people decked in disparate uniforms and carrying weapons walked along the streets. While a few carried the bearing of former military, there were also quite a few who looked like ruffians, their faces lined with arrogance. Quite a few people darted away from these groups when they appeared.
“Mercenaries?” wondered Wu Jian out loud.
“Indeed.” Mei Ling nodded. “The Yuan Peninsula has always had a strong mercenary presence. This is because they are the closest border to the Da Continent. The magical beasts from there will often invade this peninsula, and the nation has never had the strength to deal with them alone. They’ve had no choice but to hire mercenaries, which are cheaper than a sect. Of course, the Yuan Royal Family is no more now. These mercenaries are either remnants of those who lived here before the disaster, or opportunists who arrived after, to take advantage of the disparate peoples.”
Wu Jian pursed his lips but said nothing.
As they walked along the streets, the sound of something crashing to the ground and a loud cry of pain echoed around them. Wu Jian turned on instinct and quickly raced toward the source. He heard Mei Ling calling out to him, but he found his feet carrying him further away from her, and soon he heard the distant footsteps as she ran to catch up.
“Jian Wu! Where are you going?!”
He did not answer her right away, or rather, he couldn’t. Wu Jian turned a corner and found the source of the commotion. A group of rough-looking men dressed in barbaric armor stood before a turned over food stall. Several people huddled on the ground not far from the stall, a normal family of three. An old man kneeled before the ruffians, on his hands and knees. He was protecting the woman and young boy behind him.
“Please stop! Don’t do this! This food stall is our livelihood! It’s all we have!” the father was saying.
“Haaaaaah? If you didn’t want me ruining this, then you should have just given me what I wanted. It’s your fault I had to resort to violence. Don’t you know how hard it is being a mercenary in this land? We risk our lives every day so you can live in peace. The least you can do is give us what we want. Haven’t you harmony without uniformity? We protect you, and in exchange, you provide for us. We’re supposed to be in a mutually beneficial relationship here, so why are you making things difficult for us?!”
The one who spoke was a burly man with a rugged face adorned in scars from countless battles. He had a hefty two-handed sword at his side, the blade chipped and notched from previous encounters. That he did not have a storage ring bespoke of his humble origins. He was probably a low-born mercenary. His cultivation level also wasn’t very high, which explained why he was picking on normal people.
There were five others with him, all leering at the man kneeling before them like he was a worm.
“I… I know you’re helping us, but I still need money to feed my family! All I asked was that you pay for your food! I--AAHHH?!”
“Husband!!”
The wife’s scream mixed with her husband’s anguished cries as the rugged mercenary stepped on his hand and began grinding it with his heel. She stood and tried to run over to his side, but another pair of mercenaries grabbed her by the arm. She struggled against them. Her face paled, however, when one of them held a blade to her throat. It was a small dagger. The blade nicked here skin, causing blood to trickle down her tanned neck.
“You wouldn’t even be alive if not for us! How dare you demand money when it’s only because of our presence that you can enjoy living! Idiots like you don’t know when to shut up! Since you’re so set on courting death, maybe I should simply kill you now--”
That was as far as he got. Wu Jian, who had been doing his best to assess the situation, finally acted. He teleported directly on the man’s left, slid his left foot forward, right foot back, and tucked his dominant fist into his torso. His punch came swiftly and without mercy. The sound of his fist colliding with the man’s torso echoed around the street like fireworks, and the mercenary was lifted off his feet and sent tumbling away. He rolled end over end, legs flailing like a ragdoll.
His sudden appearance came so unexpectedly that the other mercenaries were unable to respond right away, which gave him the time he needed to act. He turned to the pair holding the woman. Thrusting out both hands, he manipulated space to deck the pair in their faces. The loud pap of his simultaneous punches once more echoed around them. As the pair staggered back, they let go of the woman, who slumped to the ground, and Wu Jian continued holding out both hands.
He manipulated space once more. The two were pulled forward as though being dragged by an inexplicable force. They squawked in surprise, though the sound was cut off, replaced by a strangled gasp as Wu Jian closed his hands around their throats. Wu Jian stared into their eyes as their faces paled, whether from lack of oxygen or fear, he neither knew nor cared.
“It seems you people do not understand the true meaning of harmony without uniformity.” He clenched his hands tighter, causing the pair to gag. “I hate people who bully the weak, and I hate it even more when people try to pretend they’re doing someone a favor by taking advantage of them. Since you people seem to enjoy hurting others for your own amusement, let me show you what it feels like to be on the receiving end of that kind of abuse.”