Chapter 32: Journey to Jinyi
The friend the old man mentioned was called Old Zhou, a wandering cultivator. A wandering cultivator meant someone with no sect or school, who relied solely on self-study and exploration of the arcane path. He was skilled in divination and physiognomy. The two had met once while exorcising evil. According to the old man, that time had been quite dangerous, and it was only through their joint effort that they succeeded. From then on, whenever Old Zhou encountered a particularly difficult commission, he would call on Bai Yu, and over time the two became friends.
The more Yun Jiao listened, the more she felt the two of them sounded like a conman alliance. Considering the old man’s meager skills, the fact he hadn’t yet been beaten to death was probably thanks to the kindness of the people in this world.
Their destination was Jinyi County, three days’ journey from Kui Mountain where they lived. Originally, the old man had planned to walk, since they had plenty of time. A round trip would take six or seven days, and as long as he could avoid the monthly exam, delaying a day was a day earned.
But now that the Patriarch was joining them, that plan shattered instantly, and even the road felt longer. He thought perhaps they could first go down the mountain and see if there happened to be an ox cart heading for the provincial capital to carry them part of the way.
The Patriarch, however, rejected the idea outright, giving him a look as though he were an idiot. With a wave of his hand, he drew a talisman in the air. Before they realized it, the three of them, who had just been standing at the temple gate, were suddenly on a small remote path. In the distance, they could see the shadow of a city gate.
“This… this is the Thousand-Mile Talisman?” Bai Yu’s face was full of shock. So such a talisman really did exist, one that allowed travel a thousand miles in a day. It was far too convenient. “Thank you, Patriarch.”
Yun Jiao also found it amazing. Was transportation in this world really this advanced?
“Old Zhou lives in the southern part of the city. Let’s hurry in,” Bai Yu said, pointing toward the end of the path. He turned and started walking, but soon realized the others weren’t following.
The Patriarch stood still, not moving a step. Behind him, Yun Jiao was blocked and unable to move forward.