Vincent laid above the hay, his body moving violently as they moved through the uneven road.
The cart didn't had space to fit 8 people, hence he was sent above the hay the cart was carrying into the market.
The hays were laid in the middle of the cart, with Vincent on top, Jing Nuan and two disciples beside her, and four disciple opposite to them, the back taken by few piles of wood and front by the rider.
Jing Nuan explained this being a cheap mean of transportation and forcefully hoped on despite the rider rejection.
Vincent snorted his nose as he moved head and noticed the Jing Nuan's top part of the head.
"I saw a lice in your hair," Vincent said while pointing his hand towards her head, his body jerking violently as the wheel caught on a rock.
Jing Nuan who was sitting peacefully was taken aback by the sudden remark. She involuntarily raised her hand and touched her hair.
"Lice?" She asked.
"Yes, I saw the thing crawling across your in your head." Vincent lied.
"Well, I see no lice Shizun head, but I see one sleeping above the hay." One of the disciple remarked lifting his head and gazing at Vincent.
"He is not lice but a mosquito," Rou'er who was sitting beside Jing Nuan replied.
"Yeah, mosquito are more annoying."
One of the student imitated mosquito and the disciples roared in laughter with their lame joke.
Not to blame them, everything is funny and amusing at the age 17.
And Vincent was not ready for his joke to turn against him.
He turned and laid on his stomach, while he remarked to Jing Nuan, "How do you handle this brats."
"They are easier to than you," Jing Nuan replied and the disciples laughed again.
"If you are worse than us, you must be the dao of trouble maker."
"Hey brats, shut it, I will throw you off the cart if you don't." Vincent said with a serious voice.
"Oh really? I am scared now!" The student mocked.
"Yeah, as you should." Vincent reached and tickled his armpit.
"Hey, hey, heyahahahaha..."
****
The cart moved no further after the market.
After settling the payment, they moved ahead and with people glancing at them, some bowing with respect and others giving them space to walk ahead.
Cultivator are respected individual, not everyone was gifted to persue cultivation despite their wish and those who had talent, trivedi on in.
The respect for this hustle, as for being out of ordinary was different.
Vincent looked around to notice people selling different types of objects.
Ranging from salted fish to juicy meat, second hand clothes to fine quality pieces, etc.
The lied towards the end of the market, and huge walls erected across it's perimeter to protect the noble from thief, robbers and burglar.
And soon, the crowd stopped before the city gate with the guards keeping their eyes on each of them.
One of the guard walked ahead and asked for pass.
Jing Nuan took out her pass from her sleeve and handed the carved stone to the guard.
"They are with me," She said pointing towards the seven people behind her. The guard looked at them and turned his head before nodding at the guard above.
The disciples and Vincent stood silently with complete different composure than they had while traveling.
Taking back the pass, Jing quietly led her team while everyone followed her.
But one of the guard kept his eyes keenly looking at Vincent.
His features were far more prominent, and he was significantly taller in compared to average height of their country.
"Who is he?" The guard asked.
"An apprentice," Jing Nuan replied.
"Sorry, we can't allow him to enter the city for security." The guard shook his head.
"I don't want to be here either, but after travelling in that jerking cart for so long, you want me... Ouch." One of the disciple stepped over Vincent's foot and glared with his eyes while subtly shaking his head.
"Hey, don't mess with cultivators." The guard who checked the pass replied.
But the other guard didn't agree.
"I am Jing Nuan from Tenfold Azure Sect and I take all of theirs responsibility. I promise they are diligent." She explained.
"Who called you here?" These were personal questions but the guard couldn't help asking looking at them.
Tenfold Azure Sect was not very popular destination to send disciple but it was known to the common people.
Jing Nuan took the latter from a pouch and handed it to the guard.
"The Yun family?" The guards looked at each other as their eyebrows furrowed.
"In past days, there were more cultivators from different sect. What is happening?" The guard asked.
"I can't reveal, it's a secrecy between us." Jing Nuan bowed. "And Wenzi is an innocent being, I bought the boys for their learning, hence I don't want someone to be out of the practice because of his looks."
"But..." The guard argued, while looking at Vincent who was smiling ear to ear, with eyes squinting. But his argument was cut mid off with the other guard.
"Don't waste their time, let them go!" The guard said. "They are dealing with Yun family, do you want to get demoted messing with their guest?"
The guard stopping them sighed and walked away to turn the wheel.
The gate gradually slided open, revealing a serene environment to the crowd.
Trimmed trees, well constructed canals, and homes hidden behind the walls.
Jing Nuan bowed before the guard, followed by the disciples.
Only Vincent remained standing straight before he felt a sharp pang of pain in his knee, resulting in disbalance and him falling into the ground with his knees.
It was Jing Nuan's deed because the pain went away almost immediately after they were done.
"Are the Yun family important?" Vincent asked the disciples knowing Jing Nuan would dismiss him coldly.
"Yes, very much. They are called the backbone of the Shen Capital." The disciple said.
"Why?" Vincent asked.
"The head of Yun family is a highest ranking military officer, a strategist."
Vincent noded his head before asking another question, "What is your name?"
He was the same boy who Vincent teased previously in their journey.
The boy was taken aback before he replied, "Zhang Liang."
"No, I mean, what does your Shizun calls you?"
"Oh, it's Xie'er. What about you?"
"Your Shizun calls me Wenzi, but my original name is Vincent."
"What does it mean?"
'Victorious,"