[50 Heavenly Coins received]

[50 Heavenly Coins received]

It felt good to be back in the city again, Huang Lu felt most natural in cities, where there were people and others. Strangely, everyone seemed to avoid him. That never happened before, at least until his three new companions started talking again. They were exhausted, but somehow returning to the city also reinvigorated them.

"So, Brother Toh, why do you dislike the arranged marriages?" Xinling asked.

"I'd like to choose my own mate." Toh Gen answered. "Is that really your first question?"

Ah yes. Huang Lu had three probably well known cultivators as his travel buddies. Naturally, he couldn't go low profile as he did before? Wait. No. He could! The first thing he did once they got to the inn, was call them all to his room.

"Alright, guys and ladies, I have some rules if you three are going to travel with me. You can either obey it, or go back to the sect."

"Oh?" Toh Gen listened intently. "And what would that be?"

"We're too visible. I like to travel under the radar that no one notices me, and that's the way I like it. So, all three of you must not be wearing any of your sect uniforms." Huang Lu was a street rat, and being visible wasn't one of his strong points. Even if he had the muscles to back it up.

"But we are the Eastern Winds Sect." Zhan Yuanfang said. "We should carry our sect logo with pride."

"Then you go back." Huang Lu said.

Zhan Yuanfang pouted, and then sighed. "Very well. But I don't have other things to wear other than my sect uniform."

Toh Gen turned and laughed. "Seriously, sister Yuanfang, is that why you are always in your sect uniform?"

Yuanfang's face turned reddish. Xue Xinling stepped in. "This request calls for a shopping trip, right?" Yuanfang nodded furiously.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Huang Lu frowned at the thought of these sect folks shopping for clothes. They would most likely still end up buying high quality, inexplicably flashy attire. "No. You will not be going for shopping trips. I'll be getting your clothes such that all of you are dressed like commoners, instead of easy targets for bandits."

"But we are ladies, we get targeted by bandits whether we like it or not." Zhan Yuanfang immediately answered. "At least with our sect uniform, they know better than to mess with us."

Toh Gen nodded. "Brother Huang Lu, why do you want us to dress like commoners?"

"I like being invisible to others."

Xue Xinling smiled. "Oh, I don't think you can be invisible at all, not with those beautiful black-golden muscles of yours. Every single lady we passed by stole a glance at you, even with your shabby clothes. Rather than us dressing down, why not you step up to your new place in the world. You are a 3rd realm cultivator, a core disciple in most sects!"

Huang Lu frowned at how much trouble that sounded like. He clearly needed to expand his skillset! But now he was in the 3rd realm! He could learn new skills!

"Also... what kind of work you were thinking of?" Xue Xinling sat suggestively.

Huang Lu frowned and thought of qi-beasts. "I would probably hunt Qi-beasts. If someone has an order for it." He honestly had no idea how cultivators make money. "Actually, how do cultivators and sects make money?"

Toh Gen laughed. "Brother Huang Lu, did you live in a cave?"

"I lived in small town." He felt himself yawn. "Anyway, let's continue this conversation tomorrow. I need my sleep."

Toh Gen nodded, and left. Strangely, the two ladies lingered a little longer. Xue Xinling immediately asked once Toh Gen was out the door.

"Brother Huang Lu, can you do me a favor?"

"Huh?"

"Can I see your body again?" Xue Xinling said with a little blush.

"...why?"

"I've not seen a cultivator with such chiselled and polished muscles. Cultivators work and train their body, but our strength is mostly internal." Xue Xinling's face was read. "So.. uh. it's for my cultivation knowledge. We'd like to see how did you achieve a body like yours through cultivation."

Huang Lu didn't recall ever mentioning how he cultivated, and Xue Xinling stepped uncomfortably close. Her eyes stared at Huang Lu, and somehow, she tried really her to look serious.

"This is... important." Xue Xinling said firmly.

Huang Lu looked at Zhan Yuanfang. "Is it?"

Zhan Yuanfang nodded eagerly. "Yes. Yes it is!"

Huang Lu thought this was some cultivator thing. They do seem like people who were obsessed with strange things. He remembered how weirdly they stared at his body as if they were eye-raping him. "Is this why you were looking at me like that?"

Both girls blushed. "...yes. It's for our cultivation." Xue Xinling quickly answered, and she sounded nervous.

Huang Lu felt he could hear Toh Gen laughing from the room next door.