Ma Su was astounded. It wasn't Bai Qi's miraculous recovery or even the ease with which he made his breakthrough, becoming a 4th level Warrior Lord when she had met him just a bit over a month ago as a Sage. Five weeks or so, during which Bai Qi spent nearly two constantly fighting and another two healing, recuperating, or else attempting to cleanse himself from some received damage.
No, her astonishment came from another thing, Bai Qi's words, and not the ones he said about himself, but the ones about his plans. "...several paths, but I intend to take the eastern one." It wasn't even the mention of the [Delicate Forest Palace] that followed, but that Bai Qi said the path and was doing so currently. Even more, as they left the city, [Heyang], barely having walked around, only visiting a few clothing stores, Bai Qi said another thing, "I intend to take it easy for now." And well, he certainly did, with Ma Su following suit, as by the end of their first day on the road, they had barely moved more than a hundred miles, a distance that any cultivator could cross in some few hours.
And ones like them? With true proficiency in [Sky Walk]? They would not have even noticed how they crossed a mere hundred miles. And yet, after having walked barely above a mortal pace, they were preparing to camp in the wilderness, as if Bai Qi, or she, Ma Su, required any rest after such a little walk!
***
Ma Su's thoughts were clearly readable on her face, and Bai Qi stifled an involuntary chuckle, seeing how her amazement turned to worry, but after a look at him, she returned to the previous surprised expression.
"I am taking it easy because I need to sense my body and get accustomed to the changes. My demonic part slightly changed, as it did change my qi a bit. I plan to sleep and not overexert myself. Do everything to avoid qi usage until I am sure of its nature." Bai Qi explained right as he caught Ma Su glancing at him again as he prepared a sleeping spot, hardly anything but a couple of blankets.
It was a lie, as it wasn't one. Bai Qi's qi didn't change, the demonic essence having been part of it for a good time. Yet, Bai Qi indeed wanted to spend a day, or a couple if able, without using any of it. The reason though he would prefer it to remain concealed. After all, how could he explain that since his consumption of Wu Guang's remaining Soul, he found himself enjoying, even looking for rest, food, and other mortal things?
Bai Qi's Soul and mind were clear as never, nearly equal to the moment after the [Lightning Baptism], yet, he nearly craved such things. Was it caused because Wu Guang had been a mortal, with no cultivation at all, when he met his demise? Bai Qi had no idea, but seeing how it didn't affect him, he decided to slightly satisfy these cravings as he attempted to find out more.
"Oh, I see. I am sorry for..." Ma Su was unaware of how Bai Qi was so quick to read her, but she quickly attempted to excuse herself, but the young man's, her master's, raised hand stopped her.
"No, no, I should have explained before. So, I will attempt to live by, more-or-less, mortal standards for a couple of days, see what I can understand." With the point cleared and having gained a couple of days before requiring to explain his future actions. And he had several planned before reaching the [Delicate Forest Palace]! So, with this done, Bai Qi smiled at his follower before excusing himself, but this time to do something he had not done in months - actually going to sleep.
*
Bai Qi satisfied all but one of the newfound wishes by the next day. At least to some extent, as calling a barebones camp a good resting spot would be hard, the same with the plainly roasted, lacking any seasonings, [Saber Rabbit] he hunted and consumed was far from the sumptuous meal someone could wish. But the result was there - he felt satisfaction, to call it somehow - some degree of pleasure even for hunting a simple spirit beast. The [Saber Rabbit], an easy prey even for a Yellow Realm beginner, the weak beast had no chance even against a simple throwing dagger, thrown without an ounce of qi by a Warrior Lord as Bai Qi.
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"Anyway, we should set off. I have tested what I wanted to, but let's not rush ahead. I want to get accustomed to my current strength. So a few training stops would be welcome." With nothing else, at least from the acceptable to himself, to prove, Bai Qi decided to continue their path onwards to the [Delicate Forest Palace]. The power where he planned to meet with Xue Ru, the one that had been his friend as she had been the eyes of the [Black Empire] back on the [Seven Islands] Plane.
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Three days later, [Shi Zixing Yezi], or [Cross Shaped Leaves] village.
It was clear that the war affected people. But as Bai Qi and Ma Su approached the gate of the fence surrounding the village, it was apparent how it, and the summoning of cultivators from all powers, affected commoners.
Bai Qi wanted to find out the current situation in the area, and while they passed by two powers, both 4th-tier, a temple and a dojo, on their way, he deliberately avoided them, deciding to ask around in a town. The reason? He had no idea about either power, and with the current situation, there were many probable problems to arise, especially when both he and Ma Su had nothing identifying them. He did have his [Shoumen] badge, but it was one issued to Chen Guang, and he didn't plan to use that name. Not until he was entirely sure it wouldn't attract problems he could not deal with - effortlessly.
Considering the war-like situation and the alert an unknown Warrior King would generate, Bai Qi had not only bought loose robes and bamboo hats for both but also asked Ma Su to conceal her cultivation. Thus, as they approached the gate of [Shi Zixing Yezi], they did so as a pair of Warrior Lords, with their faces hidden and a non-spiritual attire, usual for rogues without backers or riches to their name.
Yet, it seemed that Bai Qi miscalculated something. In place of the usual town atmosphere, with the odd cultivator, a couple of guards by the gate, and a quick invitation to enter and spend their spirit shards and stones inside, Ma Su and he met a nearly exact opposite.
***
"Stop! We have nothing of worth to offer, not anymore, but we will give you all that we have! Just do not attack our village!" A man in his late years nearly genuflected as he stepped out of the shadow of the gates, blocking Bai Qi's and Ma Su's path.
"Hmm?" Taken aback by such a reception, Bai Qi inclined his head quizically, inwardly thinking just what could have happened for a village so far from anything but two regional powers to be so scared of a couple of passing Warrior Lords.
"We will give you everything but our people. If you don't accept it - We will fight to the last man!" Mistaking Bai Qi's silence for hostility, the man suddenly changed, straightening his back and revealing a cultivation of a 1st level Warrior Lord. Following suit after their elder, or head, a dozen and half men and women stepped from behind the half-closed gate, each holding mortal-tier weapons, revealing cultivations ranging from the lower Soul to the lower Sage realms.
{Should I scare or suppress them? So we get an explanation from them?} Ma Su didn't react to either part of the reception, merely asking Bai Qi via qi transmission.
{No, there should be no need, we didn't come here with hostility in mind, so it seems unwise to react to such a minor misunderstanding.} Bai Qi couldn't deny he also thought of such, but in the end, he decided to attempt to solve it peacefully, as these people probably held nothing against them, just were afflicted by some circumstances.
"Wait, we are just passing by! We spent nearly two months in the wilderness and now stopped to resupply what we can, hopefully, learn what happened during the weeks we spent inside the [Layered Leaf Forest]!" Relying on the basic knowledge any cultivator would have, Bai Qi hinted at a secluded training, one to take part in a nearby, free-for-all training zone meant for low-level cultivators, which Ma Su had heard about in [Heyang].
"The [Layered Leaf Forest]? But isn't it closed because the [Layered Tower] monks found a Saint Beast inside?" The aged man wondered aloud, his eyes full of suspicion as he looked at Bai Qi.
"It is probably so, but we didn't enter... openly." While Bai Qi's cultivation was not so far ahead of the man in front, his mind was one of an Immortal, being quicker than most Warrior Emperors even after all the turbulent events related to his current self. Thus, he immediately replied, acting his part as the usual rogue who avoided the official entrance, either because of some trouble or simply because of his inability to pay the relevant fees present in most open training zones.
"I see." Seeing how the young, something easily discovered by scanning the revealed strands of aura, Warrior Lord in front didn't hide such a fact - the man, the village head, the only remaining genuine cultivator in [Shi Zixing Yezi] slowly nodded. Then having collected his thoughts, he continued, "I am sorry to say we have neither to offer, no resources, consumables, or information."
"Not even some [Shi Zixing Herb]?" Before being refused or else, Bai Qi added, "I am a pill maker, and the [Crossed Layer Pill] is something I would very much like to try and create. So, I am ready to pay, even double if needed."
"...Regretfully, we have none." The grey-haired man shook his head, his stern, creased face showing hints of sadness, as did his eyes.