The name he had given to his sword sounded corny and silly, but he didn’t care what others thought. Madara’s attention was drawn when he heard Lian Hua’s voice.
“Mister, here are the four black hanfu you ordered, along with a pair of black hanfu shoes and a bamboo hat,” she said, holding them carefully in both hands.
When he saw this, Madara took the items and placed them in his storage ring, along with his newly forged sword. Afterward, he spoke sincerely, “Sir and Miss Lian Hua, I apologize for my behavior earlier,” while cupping his fists as a gesture of respect.
The blacksmith laughed heartily and replied, “Was it your question earlier? That’s nothing, kid! I even thought you were a forging cultivator at first.” With that, Madara cupped his fists again to bid farewell to the two.
As he wandered through the streets, Madara finally reached the inn where he (they) used to stay. Upon entering, he noticed the patrons sitting and eating inside looking at him once again. Their faces displayed confusion, while some tried to suppress their laughter at his appearance. Despite their reactions, he remained unfazed as he walked toward the reception desk.
As he approached, he rented a room for the night, paying two copper coins to receive the key before heading straight to his quarters. Upon entering, he immediately took a shower, as he hadn’t bathed in several days while focusing intensely on breaking through to the next stage of his cultivation.
Once refreshed, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror and noted the striking changes in his physique. Standing at 5'8", he had become lean and muscular, his body marked by a myriad of scars from battles with bloodfang bats and the trials of previous training and life-and-death experiences. The scars varied from thin, faded lines to deep, jagged wounds, each one telling a story of survival and resilience. His skin bore a rugged, weathered appearance, and his physique radiated both strength and agility, a testament to years of rigorous training and relentless combat.
Seeing his reflection, Madara felt a deep satisfaction swell within him. The lean, muscular physique marked by scars was a testament to his relentless dedication and the trials he had endured. Afterward, he took out the clothes he had commissioned from his storage ring. As he put them on, he couldn't help but smile at his reflection in the mirror, pleased to be wearing formal attire again, complete with his clan crest.
Once he had put on his black hanfu, he remarked to himself, "It feels like I'm attending an anime convention in this outfit, hahaha." After that, he left his room and headed to the inn's dining area to order and eat dinner. As he started eating, he noticed a group of scholars drinking and discussing their recent findings.
“Have you heard the news about Azure Mist City - 青雾城 (Qīng Wù Chéng) / (Qing Wu City)? That former pervert and drunkard Chen Yu...” One scholar began, but was interrupted by his companion, “What about him?”
“He’s become a genius! Isn’t that surprising? ”The scholar asked his companions.
“Nah, maybe he just matured, and it's probably because of his excellent spiritual root,” replied another scholar while eating.
“That’s true, and besides, his clan is one of the wealthiest in the entire Yun Empire,” added another companion.
“Maybe...” the scholar responded, then continued eating while listening to his companions' discussion.
Hearing this, Madara himself became curious about what had happened to the person they were discussing. It reminded him of the plots in the novels he read, so he muttered softly to himself, "Possible, but I can't say for sure until I see him in person." After finishing his meal, he returned to his room to sleep.
As morning arrived, Madara completed his warm-up exercises and sword practice before beginning his search for information on how to get to Taiyuan City. While walking, he came across a bulletin board. He read one of the notices, took it down, and headed toward the mentioned building. Before long, he found the mercenary building. Upon entering, he went straight to the information desk to inquire.
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"Sir, is this mission still available?" he asked, showing the paper from the bulletin board.
An older man replied, "Ah, yes. Look for Sir Chang Bo." Upon hearing this, Madara cupped his fists in thanks and left to find the person he was looking for.
He asked around inside the building, eventually arriving at one of the rooms. He knocked on the door three times.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Moments later, the door opened, and a fast punch greeted him. Madara didn't flinch or react; he simply looked directly at the person who threw the punch. The man was a 6-foot tall mercenary with a lean, muscular build. He had long black hair tied back in a ponytail, sharp dark eyes, and a slight scar above his right eyebrow. He wore a dark, fitted tunic and practical trousers, complemented by sturdy boots and a dark cloak. Equipped with a well-crafted sword and hidden daggers, he exuded confidence and charisma, embodying both charm and intimidation.
When Chang Bo saw the reaction of the young man in front of him, he gave a slight smile and asked, "Kid, what do you need?"
Madara cupped his fists in respect and replied, "Sir, are you still accepting additional recruits as mercenaries?" He then showed him the paper he had taken from the bulletin board.
Seeing the paper, Chang Bo responded, "Ah, yes. Why do you ask?"
"I'd like to join your group going to Taiyuan City," Madara replied. This prompted Chang Bo to ask, "What cultivation stage and type are you?"
"Sword cultivator at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation, sir," Madara answered. Upon hearing this, Chang Bo spoke seriously, "There are two things you must remember. First, it's not my obligation to help you if something happens to you. I won't spell it out, but you probably know what I mean. Second, if you're ready to kill, you must also be ready to die. Think carefully about what I've said, and if you've made up your mind, come to the west side gate of this town tonight."
He nodded and left. While walking, he noticed a small shop selling basic techniques. Inside, he saw books on display covering topics such as the first steps to becoming an alchemist, forging, beast taming, and more. One of these books was on basic sword techniques, similar to the one his sister had given him.
As Madara browsed through the other shelf, various basic techniques caught his attention. One technique, in particular, stood out to him: the sword Qi slash. He approached the attendant and asked, "Miss, how much is this?" while pointing to the book.
"That's only 50 copper coins, kid," she replied. Without hesitation, he paid for the sword technique and used the remaining coins to purchase cooking utensils and ingredients.
Upon returning to the inn, he settled into his room and began studying the Sword Qi Slash. After several hours of focused practice, he exited his inner realm and noticed that the sun was still shining. He recalled what Sir Chang Bo had said.
"Everything I do and every decision I make reflects back on me, whether the outcome is good or bad. Killing doesn’t seem to be forbidden in this world. It’s not like Earth, where there are human rights or proper punishments for those who take the lives of others. Besides, I’d hate to miss out on the 5 silver coins from joining."
"If it’s my time to die, then so be it."
As evening settled in, he left his room to return the key to the innkeeper before heading to the designated meeting place. Upon arriving at the west side of town, he saw seven wagons lined up outside the gate. To the right, a group of people had gathered, so he approached to listen to their conversation.
"Mr. Lian, if we take the canyon route to Taiyuan City, it might be dangerous. Even though it’s the shortest way, traders often get ambushed here due to the terrain," Chang Bo pointed out, indicating a map he held.
"Mr. Chang, what’s your suggestion?" Lian Kai asked.
Chang Bo pointed in another direction. "I suggest we go through this forest instead. It might take longer, but at least we can avoid being ambushed by bandits."
"Then how many days will it take us to reach Taiyuan City?" Lian Kai inquired.
"Probably around seven days," Chang Bo replied.
"Probably? Are you not sure about this?" Lian Kai questioned, his tone growing slightly angry.
Chang Bo responded, "No, I’m not sure. It depends on the weather, as the route might become muddy."
Lian Kai simply acknowledged Chang Bo's comments without further ado. After that, Chang Bo began introducing the new members joining their group. One by one, they stepped forward to introduce themselves. When it was Madara's turn, he confidently walked to the front and spoke up.
"I am Uchiha Madara, a sword cultivator, and my cultivation stage is at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation," he announced, cupping his fists in respect toward the other mercenaries.
Upon hearing his name, one of the men chimed in, "Kid, are you the one with the three nature affinities?"
"Yes, that’s me," Madara replied. The revelation sparked murmurs among the group, and when Chang Bo noticed, he raised his voice to quiet them. "Enough! Get ready to depart." At his command, everyone began preparing for the journey ahead.
As the noise subsided, Chang Bo placed an arm around Madara's shoulders. "Don’t mind what they’re saying, kid. I didn’t expect you to show up either, haha!" Madara could only respond with a nod, feeling somewhat reassured.
Once Mr. Lian Kai confirmed that all their belongings were loaded onto the wagon, they set off toward Taiyuan City. Madara was assigned to the second to last wagon. As they traveled along the road that night, he took the opportunity to continue practicing the Sword Qi Slash within his inner realm.