Chapter 308: The Dragon in the Mist
In the Azure Mist, just north of Starpoint Island, a tall man strode into one of the central cities where mortals and cultivators intertwined.
Unbeknownst to the giant man, the guards steered clear of his way whenever they caught sight of him, fearing to draw his attention. It caused the patrol schedule to skew irreparably as the thick crowds prevented the scattered guardsmen from regrouping.
The hulking presence continued to frolic around the city without care, going from street stall to street stall, having the time of his life.
“Boss, get me a few of those skewers,” the man said as he flicked over a spirit stone.
“Uhh, sir, this is too much. A spirit stone is enough to buy out my stall twice over.”
“You can keep the change. The smell is amazing, so I’m sure it’s worth it.”
The pressure of those words coming from a towering cultivator made the stall keeper break out in a cold sweat. Thankfully, the heat from the grill covered for him. It kept him from freezing up, allowing him to redouble his focus on his work.
It didn’t take long for the surrounding crowd to notice the intensity of the vendor. The man stared at the grill, with his eyes about to bulge out, while he fanned the grill furiously. It didn’t help that an intimidating man was silently hovering over him as the man worked. Passersby understandably cast sympathetic glances at the poor hawker, who looked as if he were being forced into something unreasonable. The two men in question heard none of the nearby whispers as they were both focused on the sizzling grill.
Then, the vendor abruptly lashed out, swiftly flipping over the skewers before brushing them with sauce. Once that was done, the rigorous fanning spread the aroma rapidly. It didn’t take long before a small crowd formed around the stall. They quietly joined in behind the large man, hungrily staring at the food.
“What’s happening here?” a woman’s voice rang out, tinged with amusement.
Everyone instantly turned to the speaker. The woman didn’t seem to mind, alternating glances between the skewers, the vendor, and the mountain of a man.
Having drawn everyone’s attention, everyone nearby whispered a few words amongst themselves before swiftly dispersing. They made it clear that the woman was a well-known figure whom the townspeople avoided.