Chapter 1123
Departing from Draza- but not letting the merchant out of his senses- Anton continued to move throughout Moturn. The merchant would have to think of some way to create a new identity to avoid retribution from the Twisting Spike sect. He might not be successful, but Anton would be around, watching.
He had no intention to wait for the situation to develop further. He wanted to resolve everything with his current presence. Of course, that could be a few years if people were patient. He did have to finish with the star, so he wouldn’t mind if things were drawn out. But he had the feeling a certain group wasn’t going to let that happen.
Walking into the worst part of the city- it must have all been constructed about the same time, but one segment had clearly been meant to be temporary- Anton looked for a particular urchin who had been the catalyst of his interference in this place. Several people attempted to pick his pocket or yank on his purse, but Anton only gave them disapproving looks… after which they scuttled away in a panic. Nobody here could touch him if he didn’t let them, and their hands suddenly stopping was the sign of a cultivator.
Did they risk it because he was old? Anton supposed with his bow stowed away he looked quite nonthreatening. Hopefully he could guide them on a path where they wouldn’t throw away what life they had. But first he had to deal with a certain young man.
He made his way to a back alley where wide eaves provided a sort of shelter, combined with rotting crates for privacy. It wasn’t much of a shelter, but Anton supposed the habitat had one valuable feature above all others. There was no weather, so the only variations in climate were the artificial lights of the ‘day’ and the darkness of the night. Barely a few degrees difference in temperature, though not every area matched the intended temperatures perfectly.
In this case, the slums were a bit hot. That was easier to deal with, at least.
“Hey, kid,” Anton said as he rounded the corner. “Wanna become a cultivator?”
The young man nearly turned to run away, but was clearly taken off guard. He rose from his crouched position slowly. “I’m not going to be turned into soup.”
That was… an odd response. A lot to unpack. Did he think Anton was going to kill him and cook him? Was that something that happened? Anton didn’t think so, even in this place. But the kid seemed to think it was possible. “Has that ever happened?” Anton asked.