Chapter 12: Into Ashveil Town
Three days passed since Rhaizen's fight with the First-Rate Warrior.
His wounds had healed. His breathing was steady again. His Qi flowed without pain, and his steps felt lighter. He had rested along the road, slept under trees, and allowed his body to naturally recover. Now he felt ready to move forward.
That morning, when he looked ahead, he finally saw it.
A town—small, worn, but alive.
Ashveil Town.
Smoke rose from chimneys. People walked in and out of the wooden gates. Guards stood with spears, talking lazily. Wagons rolled in carrying goods, and the sound of a busy street reached even from far away.
Rhaizen paused for a moment.
"This is the first real town since… everything," he whispered.
His life in the forest, his battles, his training—it all felt distant when compared to the crowded noise ahead.
He stepped forward.
---
Entering Ashveil
The wooden gate was tall but old, with cracks and faded paint. Two guards on duty watched the people entering. They didn't seem strict, just tired. When Rhaizen approached, they looked at him but didn't stop him.
One guard glanced at his torn clothes and the scar on his arm.
"You a traveler?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Any trouble on the road?"
"No."
The guard nodded. "Then welcome to Ashveil Town."
That was it—simple, quick, no questions. Rhaizen walked through the gate and entered the busy street. People rushed past him, talking, buying food, carrying supplies. It was louder than the forest, louder than anything he had heard in weeks.
The ground was packed dirt. Shops lined both sides of the road—food stalls, blacksmiths, tailors, herbal stands, even small inns. Children ran around laughing. Horses pulled carts full of grain.
For the first time in a long time, Rhaizen felt… normal.
He took a slow breath, letting the noise settle around him.
"Alright," he said quietly. "I should gather information first."
---
The Information Hunt Begins
Rhaizen entered a small tea house. It wasn't crowded, just a few old men talking and drinking. The owner, a thin man with a tired smile, walked over.
"What can I get you?"
"Water," Rhaizen said. He placed two small coins on the table.
The owner nodded and left. Rhaizen looked around. People in tea houses always talked about something—news, rumors, problems. He focused on the voices behind him.
"Did you hear?" an old man whispered. "The Crimson Fang bandits hit the Silverwood road again."
"Again? Didn't someone kill their squad recently?"
"Yeah. Rumor says a black-haired kid took them down."
Rhaizen stayed silent.
Another group spoke from the next table.
"I heard the nearest sect, the Iron Crest Sect, sent scouts here."
"Why?"
"They're looking for disciples. They want young fighters with potential."
More information drifted to him:
The martial levels common in the area
Strong warriors visiting town
Dangerous routes to avoid
A strange merchant selling pills
News about nearby sects fighting for influence
He didn't talk to anyone. He just listened…and slowly built an understanding of the region.
When he finished his drink, he stood up and left.
---
Learning About Strength
Rhaizen walked toward a weapons stall next.
The blacksmith was a thick old man with scars on his hands, hammering a blade on an anvil. Sparks flew with every strike. Rhaizen approached the counter.
"You here to buy a weapon, boy?" the blacksmith asked without looking up.
"Not today. I want to ask something."
"Hah. Asking is free." The blacksmith wiped sweat from his forehead. "What do you want to know?"
Rhaizen leaned slightly forward. "How strong are the warriors around this region?"
The blacksmith snorted. "As strong as a small town can afford," he said. "Most people are third-rate. A few guards are second-rate. The leaders? Maybe first-rate if they're lucky."
"What about masters?"
"We don't have them here. Masters live near big sects or major cities. If one came to Ashveil, we'd all know."
Rhaizen nodded. It matched what he already expected.
"What about stronger than master?" he asked.
The blacksmith paused mid-swing.
"You mean grandmasters? Transcendent? Divine? Heavenly?"
For the first time, he looked at Rhaizen carefully. "Boy, people like that don't appear in small towns. They're like legends to us."
"I see."
"But…" the blacksmith added, "there are rumors. Traveling warriors. Wandering masters. Some say a transcendent master was seen near the northern range months ago. But rumors are rumors."
Rhaizen thanked him and left.
The information stuck in his mind.
Third-rate…
Second-rate…
First-rate…
Then master…
Then beyond…
The gap was big. Much bigger than what he had imagined. He still had far to go.
But he didn't feel discouraged. He felt more certain.
"I'll reach it," he said quietly. "One step at a time."
---
Information About Routes
Next, he went to a small supply shop. A middle-aged woman with a kind face sorted herbs behind the counter.
"Looking for food? Tools? Medicine?" she asked.
"A map," Rhaizen replied.
She handed him a rolled paper showing local routes and dangerous areas. Red marks showed bandit territory. Blue marks showed guard patrols.
"That road," she said, pointing to one line, "leads to Iron Crest Sect territory. Travelers go there to test themselves or join the sect."
Rhaizen's eyes narrowed.
A sect meant training.
Training meant strength.
But he wasn't sure if he wanted to join anyone yet.
"What about this path?" he asked, pointing to another route.
"That one goes to Valehar Town. Bigger than Ashveil. More trade. More warriors. But more trouble too."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Fights. Gambling. People who want to prove they're strong. And there are rumors about a group called the Shadow Veins moving around."
"Shadow Veins?" Rhaizen repeated.
She nodded slowly. "Not bandits. Something else. No one knows what they want."
Rhaizen memorized the name.
"Thank you," he said.
He bought dried meat, a new water flask, and light bandages before leaving.
---
News About Sects
Rhaizen walked through the market street until he saw a crowd gathered around a wooden board. Posters were pinned to it—jobs, warnings, and messages.
A loud man stood on a crate shouting:
"All of you! Listen up! Iron Crest Sect will have its entrance tests in one month! Anyone under twenty can try! Fighters! Archers! Martial artists! This is your chance!"
People murmured. Some were excited. Some nervous. Some doubtful.
Rhaizen stopped.
A sect test…
He didn't know if he should join a sect.
But the opportunity was there.
He listened quietly as the man continued:
"The test won't be easy! Even third-rate warriors get crushed if they're not trained right! The sect judges talent, potential, fighting spirit!"
Rhaizen's fingers tightened slightly.
Fighting spirit…
He had plenty of that.
But he also had something else—a target, a goal, a promise to himself.
He turned away before people noticed his interest.
---
The First True Rest
After gathering information, Rhaizen walked deeper into town until he found a small inn with a wooden sign.
River Sleep Inn.
It looked clean enough. He stepped inside.
The innkeeper, a cheerful man with a round face, greeted him.
"Welcome! Staying the night?"
"Yes."
"Two silver coins."
Rhaizen paid. The innkeeper handed him a key.
"Room upstairs, second door. Bath is in the back. If you need food, tell my wife."
Rhaizen nodded and went to his room.
For the first time in many days, he lay on a real bed.
The soft blanket.
The quiet room.
The warm light from the window.
It felt… strange.
He stared at the ceiling.
"So this is what resting feels like," he whispered.
In the forest, he slept with one eye open. On the road, he stayed alert. Now, for once, there was no threat. No killing intent. No night wind biting at his skin.
Just peace.
He closed his eyes.
---
Thinking About Everything
Night came slowly. Rhaizen sat at the small table in his room, eating a simple bowl of soup and rice. He wasn't used to warm meals anymore, but it felt good.
His mind worked calmly as he reviewed everything he learned today:
Bandits still active
Crimson Fang moving in groups
Iron Crest Sect recruiting soon
Valehar Town being dangerous
Shadow Veins group appearing
Strength levels common around town
It wasn't much… but it was enough.
He also thought about his journey so far. He had fought, survived, learned new techniques. He had saved people. He had seen how cruel the world could be, and how weak he still was.
He looked at his hands, imagining the red-black aura again.
"I can get stronger," he murmured. "But I need information. I need direction."
This town gave him both.
Now he had to decide the next step.
---
A Quiet Resolve
Before sleeping, Rhaizen stood at the window. The town was calmer now. Only lanterns lit the streets. A few guards walked their routes. Shops closed. People returned home.
He watched it quietly.
"A normal town," he said softly. "Something I couldn't protect back then."
His chest tightened.
He remembered the destruction.
He remembered Kaien's betrayal.
He remembered the burning flames and falling bodies.
He shut his eyes.
"I won't fail again. Not this time."
He took a slow breath.
Tomorrow, he would start looking for more clues.
Tomorrow, he would decide which path to take.
Tomorrow, he would begin the next step toward his goal.
But tonight?
Tonight, he allowed himself to rest.