Chapter 245 Winding City

Senior Brother Qing An took the token and shifted his gaze to Senior Brother Fan Xiao, who replied, “We’d be honored to visit your esteemed sect, Fellow Daoist.”

“But it cannot be right away.” Senior Brother Lu Feng added. “We have a pressing matter to attend to in Winding City, and are simply unable to commit to anything else for now”

“Are Fellow Daoists visiting Winding City for the Founding Day celebrations?” Daoist Qing Qi asked, her eye lighting up.

“We are,” Senior Brother Qing An confirmed with a gentle smile. “Are fellow Daoists also invited to the festivities?”

“I am afraid our Golden Grain Sect is nowhere near influential enough to warrant an invitation from the Lord of Winding City,” Qing Qi chuckled ruefully. “We are merely like the thousands of loose and minor sect cultivators going on our own accord to watch the celebrations.”

“If Fellow Daoists don’t mind, we can make our way there together,” she offered, looking hopeful.

“I am afraid that won’t be possible,” Senior Brother Lu Feng rejected the offer outright with a polite smile. “Fellow Daoist Qing Qi, you and your juniors have just been through an ordeal and require rest. It's best to take your time and make your way there slowly.”

Daoist Qing Qi let out an understanding smile. “Fellow Daoists are right. I was being neglectful towards my juniors.” With that, she gave a deep bow and took her leave along with the junior brother whose sword she was standing on.

Yang watched from his carpet as her remaining junior sister and two brothers flew after her.

Senior Brother Fan Xiao watched their backs as they departed before turning to all of them. “Let's continue.”

Yang, now leaning back on his carpet, couldn’t help but inquire further. “Was there something wrong with them?” Yang asked Senior Brother Fan Xiao.

“Nothing I am aware of,” Senior Brother Fan Xiao said as he slowed to keep pace with Yang’s flying carpet. 

“Chen Yang, it's always a good idea to be wary,” Senior Brother Qing An said from his other side. “We saved them because the evil cultivators chasing them were mere Foundation Establishment cultivators, and we came upon them by chance. But that doesn’t mean we will take responsibility for their ongoing safety during their journey.”

Yang nodded in understanding. “So that's why Daoist Qing Qi was hoping to travel with us.”

“It was not to take advantage of our strength. She likely believed it to be of benefit to both of us if we combined our numbers. We keep our cultivation hidden because we dislike drawing too much attention,” Senior Brother Fan Xiao explained. “Had she been able to sense our true cultivation, she wouldn't have dared to put forward such a bold request.”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao turned to Yang. “You must remember, cultivation is ultimately a solitary path. You will make many friends and even more enemies. One must always measure if any action is worth taking or not. Before Qing An went, we were assured of the numbers and strength of the people involved.”

Yang had a pretty good idea of the lesson Senior Brother Fan Xiao was trying to hammer into his head. “I understand, Senior Brother.” He nodded in understanding. “I will not foolishly involve myself in others' disputes unless I can be certain of the outcome.”

“You can never be entirely sure of an outcome.” Senior Brother Fan Xiao shook his head before giving Yang a small smile, or rather a slight twitch of one corner of his lip. “I’d rather you never get involved in others' disputes, no matter what.”

“Then that's what I shall do.” Yang agreed obediently, making the others chuckle.

“Will we visit the Golden Grain Sect eventually?” Yang asked curiously.

Senior Brother Yuan Shen snorted. “It's a small sect with nothing special. What's there to see?”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao ignored him and kept his attention on Yang. “Why? Do you wish to see it?”

Yang nodded. “I am just curious what a normal sect would be like, especially a farming one.”

“You’re even interested in that?” Senior Brother Zhen Hao asked incredulously.

“I am interested in discovering everything,” Yang stated with a roll of his eyes.

“Junior Brother, it's not a normal sect, but rather a very minor one,” Senior Brother Qing An clarified. “You will not be setting your gaze upon any sights of wonder, I assure you.”

“I am still curious,” Yang admitted.

Both Senior Brothers Fan Xiao and Qing An turned to Senior Brother Lu Feng, who turned around at feeling their gazes on him. “We can make a brief stop after we are done with the business in Winding City,” Senior Brother Lu Feng agreed. “It's a proper orthodox sect, so there is no issue with visiting it.”

“Well, there you have it.” Senior Brother Qing An turned to Yang with a smile. “You can see what a minor farming sect is like.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” Yang called out to Senior Brother Lu Feng, who smiled and shook his head lightly. “It's no issue, Junior Brother. Golden Grain Sect lies on the way to our destination; it will only take a small detour.”

Yang relaxed back, forcibly tempering his expectations after his Senior Brothers' warnings about the lack of anything interesting to be found at such a sect, but Yang was still interested in taking a look.

They flew for two more days before Yang spotted the large structure looming ahead on the distant horizon.

As they drew closer, Yang realized why it was called the Winding City.

It was clearly a completely man-made structure but shaped somewhat like a terraced mountain, the sprawling base occupying a large area of land completely surrounded by sandy brown walls encircling the whole city that seemed to be climbing up in multiple spiraling tiers.

Yang could see dozens of circular floors, and instead of the traditional Chinese-style architecture common to the world Yang had seen so far, the people in the Winding City seemed to have a preference for soft, rounded roofs. The grandest and most impressive was the domed structure that occupied the whole uppermost floor of the city.

Yang could see various cultivators flying on swords over the city, as well as a good number of some kind of avian flying beast with a long, elongated beak and large drooping pouches hanging near their necks.

As they reached the gate, they all disembarked from their flying artifacts. Little Uncle marched off the carpet and smoothly slid under the umbrella that magically reappeared in Senior Shao You's hand.

In front of the massive curved main gates was a long line, almost a mile out, full of people queuing on foot, carts, and carriages. But Senior Brother Lu Feng instead led them away.

“Are we not queuing up with the rest of the visitors?” Yang questioned.

“We have an invite.” Senior Brother Qing An replied, looking back with a grin. 

Yang realized Senior Brother Lu Feng had led them to a smaller side entrance where many cultivators were smoothly entering. They reached the gate, and Yang saw two men standing on either side.

Senior Brother Lu Feng extended a brown colored, gold-embossed token, which was checked by the person on the left; his expression immediately changing after examining the token, and then going into a deep bow. 

“We are honored to have esteemed guests from the White Cloud Sect," he said respectfully and welcomed them inside, giving a look to the other person manning the gate.

He gestured for them to enter, and Yang watched as his Senior Brothers proceeded through the gate, disappearing as soon as they stepped through it.

When it was his turn, he took a deep breath as he looked towards what looked like an empty street on the other side and stepped over the threshold.

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