CG Chapter 175: Countless Transformations
Aretius's wrinkled hand pushed carelessly against the tattered shop blind as he stepped out from the Moonlit Barrel. He didn't give the building a second glance, nor did he seem to care about its condition.
The wooden panel holding the blind had given way halfway, as the corroded nails holding the right half had fallen to the ground, leaving the wooden board blocking the way in and out of the shop.
Peculiarly enough, this made the shop blend even more with the eerie nearby shops and establishments.
He, instead, gave the city a long, profound glance. His gaze shifted from the beggars and lowlives that filled the slums to the rich district of the nobility. An invisible wall separated the two halves as if an immortal had split the world into two.
The better part belonged to the wealthy and powerful. As for the filth that remained? It was given to the rest, until they lose their usefulness or extend their hands where they should not reach, that is.
They shouldn't misinterpret the gifts they were given as rights. If an immortal fancied something from below, they could just as easily descend and strip it from the lowlifes.
This man, however, didn't seem to belong to either half. His mind pondered that, in all likelihood, this was the last time he would return to this city.
He had set all his pieces in the city, and it was time for him to step onto the bigger playing board.
Outside the boundaries of the city, it seemed as if his appearance and stature were transforming with each step he took. At one step, he looked like a divine immortal, and at another, he looked like a fiendish demon.
Time trickled by like water. After hauling himself at a rate that only a supreme expert of the Jianghu could keep up with, Aretius used his battle-sharpened instincts and senses to scan every bush and corner in his surroundings.
Confirming that no one was around, he grinned. He was assured that he was far away from all prying eyes. The transformations until now were all to guarantee that no outsider would learn of his true identity. He cracked his bones once more as his build changed for a final time.
This time, however, he returned to the appearance of that young man. He had turned from that aged, dying man to the Violet-Blood Ghost Asura, whose name had recently spread throughout the Jianghu.
He didn't waste time, pushing himself to keep on moving for a full night and day through the harsh terrain and rugged ground. He wanted to complete the journey that would take others a month in less than a week. This drove him to push his body beyond its means. Most second-rate experts of his level wouldn't last halfway before giving up.
Ultimately, he had something none of them had: violet blood flowing within his veins, and a heart molded by countless battles. It was a heart that understood that even when your legs give up, even when your body cries in pain, and even when you face the whole world, your mind can push you beyond what your body tells you.
Still, two things can be true at the same time, and Aretius understood that he could push his body beyond its limit, but he also comprehended that it shouldn't break, at least not before it had served its purpose.
Concededly, just when he had finally reached past the halfway point of his journey, he found himself standing in front of a building.
This establishment was standing in the middle of nowhere; it appeared as if it were a desolate immortal fairy standing away, unaffected by mortal dust and filth.
His gaze fell on a couplet that appeared to have been written by a not-so-skilled hand, using bright red ink: 'The Jade Snake Pavilion accommodates all who trek inside. A site of respite for wanderers from afar, and a truce from hatred.'
Mortals would build inns and taverns on the crowded routes. Such shops would offer the passersby a place to rest, and they had a sustained level of visitors. Usually, it was just enough to ensure the maintenance of their daily expenditures.
Ignoring that, Aretius stepped in, choosing to rest and fill his belly before moving on for one last burst.
"Come on. I swear I am not trying to deceive you this time. This technique will help you to reach the level of Outer Master in less than three years. What? Not amused? I also have a manual for an Inner Master if you are willing to pay a bit extra."
An elderly beggar sat huddled, his frame so withered he resembled a famished ghost. Across from him was the inn's sole guest.
The beggar fumbled through his cloth bag, showing off some counterfeit manuals, each holding the names of renowned manuals from the three hundred schools, from the 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' to the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique.'
He watched the guest intently, waiting for the slightest of tremors. But the guest remained unmoved, merely ignoring the beggar as he took large bites of the steamy stuffed meat dumplings, served with some rice wine on the side.
As Aretius stepped inside, the beggar's head craned with a wide smile, seemingly looking at his next target. He looked as if he hoped that Aretius didn't catch what he was doing.
"Oh! Young brother. I can sense that we share a long karmic connection. Come here. Come here. Let us discuss our fate. I have sensed your presence and have been waiting here for you for a long time."