“Let’s go into the city and learn more about what’s going on here.” Bai Jue looked at his and Apas’s outfits, which seemed a bit out of place in this world…

The city gate was guarded by soldiers, all of whom were as powerful as beginner mages. Passing through the city gate required a kind of “proof”, but with Apas’s mental suggestion, it was easy to pass through.

What comes into view is a relatively wide street, with teahouses, taverns, pawnshops, workshops on both sides of the street. There are also many small vendors with big umbrellas on the open space on both sides of the street.

The streets extend to the east and west, all the way to the quieter suburbs outside the city. There are constant pedestrians on the streets: some are carrying loads on their shoulders, some are delivering goods in ox carts, some are driving donkeys to pull carts, and some are stopping to admire the scenery of the lake in the city.

With the tall city tower as the center, there are rows of buildings on both sides, including teahouses, wine shops, shoe shops, butcher shops, temples, government offices, etc.

Judging from their clothing style, city layout, and civilization form, this place should still be in the feudal era, which is quite similar to the dynasties in Kyushu history.

According to the memory information provided by Zhang San, the name of this city is Jue City. There are a total of eighteen main cities in this lost land, and this is one of them.

Bai Jue and Apas strolled on the street, and their unique attire did not attract much attention. To be more specific, the people in the city “subconsciously” ignored them.

Bai Jue used Zhang San’s inheritance to buy two candied haws, which tasted surprisingly good.

“This should be the main city, right? It is often attacked by monsters from the ‘forbidden land’, but apart from the soldiers who have the cultivation of elementary mages, there is not a single mage among the people here!” Apas took a bite of the candied haws and felt it was a bit too sweet.

“There are so few mages here, but it’s still peaceful. It seems that the protective magic circle of this city must be very strong.”

As a monarch-level demon, she can sense the hidden threats around her. They are not fatal, but they cannot be ignored.

“With sufficient energy, the tribe without a monarch cannot capture this city. Although the quality of the protective array is not that high, it is large in number, and each protective array can resonate and connect with each other…” With Bai Jue’s eyesight, he can naturally see the surrounding situation clearly.

“The cultivation system on the ground of this lost land is different from that of the magic plane. It is more inclined to the use of magic energy. No wonder there is not even a super-class magician in such a big city.”

This is a small piece of space left behind from the main plane. It has limited resources and may not have much impact at the beginning, but after thousands of years until now, there are probably not many remaining resources. It would be difficult to break through upward, so it can only develop horizontally, resulting in the current situation.

Bai Jue’s perception swept across the city, and he discovered that most people here enshrined strange animal sculptures in their homes, which were divided into three different types of strange beasts in total.

Yazi, Bi’an, Bixi… From Zhang San’s memory, Bai Jue learned the names of three strange beasts.

Is this the totem that the people here worship? Zhang San’s memory rarely mentions totems, and he seems to be very taboo about them.

Bai Jue didn’t think too much and took Apas to a place similar to the city lord’s mansion. They had a smooth journey and came before the strongest man in this city.

“…What can I do for you two?” Facing the two people in strange costumes who suddenly appeared in front of him, the city lord glanced at the jade sculpture of Bi’an on the table, and sweat broke out on his forehead. He felt a huge pressure from Bai Jue.

The obvious difference in strength made him temporarily suppress the idea of ​​resistance. If he died, the Jue City would soon be broken. In the situation where it was unclear who was the enemy or the friend, it was better to obey and delay.

“Don’t be nervous. I won’t kill innocent people unless it’s necessary. I’m here just to ask you for a favor. I want to know about Yazi, Bi’an and Bixi.” Bai Jue smiled kindly.

“I don’t know much about Lord Totem. Although I am a city lord, I am actually not much different from the common people. How about I introduce my master to you? She should know a lot.” The city lord forced a smile on his face.

“Why don’t you rest here for a night? I’ll lead the way for you two after I finish my business.”

“Okay.” Bai Jue didn’t say much, just nodded in agreement.

……

The night here can be considered peaceful. A bright moon hangs in the sky, looking particularly gentle and tranquil. The soft moonlight shines on the entire earth, and the earth turns light yellow. Under the moonlight, the shadows of the trees are faint and the shadows of the mountains are hazy. What a peaceful and tranquil night.

Dawn gradually broke, and the light blue sky was inlaid with a few remaining stars. The earth was hazy, like a silver-gray veil.

At this time, the sky was slightly white, and the clouds were gathering at the horizon like they were going to a market, as if they were soaked in blood, showing a faint red color.

In the morning, a milky white mist filled the streets and alleys, covering the city. Although the sun was not yet visible, a burning scent was emanating.

There was a faint fragrance in the early morning sky, and the scent of unknown flowers spread in the wetness, drifting with the wind and into every pore of breath.

The atmosphere here is very different from the modern cities in the magical plane. The pace is slow but not sluggish, and there is a sense of leisure in the busyness.

I just don’t know where the sun, moon, and stars in this space come from… Are they shared with the magic plane? Or are they false appearances? Or are they completely new and independent existences?
“You two, please follow me.” The city lord kept his promise and led Bai Jue and the other two out of the city in a car, heading in one direction.

He couldn’t see through these two people, and they showed up suddenly. He didn’t dare to turn against them, so he had to put his hopes on his master. At worst… there was still Lord Totem to back him up!
The carriage drove into a primeval forest. The official road was cut off, the terrain was complex, the forest was deep and the mountains were deep, so we had to get off the carriage and walk.

“The village in this forest is where my master is.” said the city lord.

……

There are old trees, tall houses and low buildings, the setting sun and mountains far and near, smoke-like belts at the treetops and water like a ring outside the village.

Like a poem or a painting, this was Bai Jue’s first impression of the village here. It was really beautiful. Smoke began to rise from the roofs of several houses, giving people a sense of security.

Scattered leaves fell on the river that runs through the village. The villagers in the village had smiles on their faces and looked relaxed, as if this was not a dangerous primeval forest but a paradise.

“This forest was once called the Land of Death. Only those who seek death would approach here. The source of the beast tide used to be here. But since my master retired here, this place is no longer dangerous.”

The city lord said this while observing the expressions of the two men, but unfortunately he couldn’t see anything, so he took the moment when the two men diverted their attention and escaped.

“Hey, young man and girl over there, are you from outside?” At this time, an old lady holding a basin saw Bai Jue and Apas, waved to them, and many villagers looked at them.

Before Bai Jue and the others could reply, an old man waving a palm-leaf fan came up to them and said, “It’s been a long time since anyone from outside came here. Come in and sit down. Tell us what’s going on outside. On behalf of the whole village, I’ll treat you to a banquet.”

“I am the village chief here, my name is Mingchen.”

Bai Jue looked at him in silence, and he also looked at Bai Jue with a smile. Apas next to him felt a thought trying to explore him, but when he was about to take action, he found that the thought disappeared without a trace.

Apas tugged at the corner of Bai Jue’s clothes. The source of this idea was obviously not the old man named Mingchen. There was someone else in secret.

“What bad intentions could the old man have? We have no food at all, so why not accept the invitation?” Bai Jue put his hand on Apas’s head and rubbed it gently.

“Ok.”

Seeing that the two agreed, old man Mingchen grinned, looking very happy. He took Bai Jue’s arm and walked towards the village, while shouting to the surrounding villagers, “Everyone, work hard and finish the work early. We will have a feast together at noon!”

The pleasant bird song, accompanied by the gurgling sound of the stream, made people relax unconsciously. The old man chatted with Bai Jue from time to time. They stopped when they came to an exquisite tree building. “Old woman, the person is here!”

The old man shouted, and along with the sound of someone coming down the stairs, an old woman opened the door. She looked very healthy.

“Oh, welcome, welcome. Come in and sit down. It’s so early. You haven’t eaten yet. Come and have some of the dried sweet potatoes that grandma dried.”

“Ajue has told us everything. If you have any questions, just ask. I will tell you everything I know.”

Ajue, is it the middle-aged square-faced city lord? Both old men are super-class mages…but why is there such an unexpected cooperation?
“Old woman, are you the city lord’s master?” Apas asked.

“Yes.” The old woman nodded.

“Then let’s get straight to the point. How much do you know about forbidden areas and totems?” Bai Jue asked.

“Oral narration is too complicated. Use this. Inject your thoughts into it, and you will know everything.” The old woman took out a snow-white and translucent gem and handed it to Bai Jue.

Bai Jue was skilled and courageous, and was not afraid of any traps they might set, so he immersed his mind directly into them…

……

On the leafless trees, there were shiny silver bars hanging. The originally lush green forest was now covered with snow. All this happened in just a few breaths.

The little beggar stared blankly at the falling snow. She had never seen such a beautiful sight before. It was actually not bad to die looking at such a beautiful scene.

The tiger-like demon hesitated, not knowing whether to approach the little beggar. Originally, it was chasing and playing with her in a playful manner, and it enjoyed the fear and terror it felt.

But now, as it gets closer to the forest, its instinct is warning it not to get any closer… not to get any closer… it will die!
It is not necessary to eat now. Instinct has helped it avoid many dangers, and the gain is not commensurate with the risks.

The tiger swung its tail, retreated silently, and disappeared out of the forest.

The little beggar who was quietly waiting for death found that the tiger had not eaten her yet. She looked back, but there was no tiger there, only a row of footprints left.

The sudden relief after surviving the disaster and the physical fatigue made her head a little dizzy.

“brat……”

I don’t know if it was an illusion, but the little beggar felt like someone was calling her…

Bright blue eyes…

This was the only thing she saw clearly before she fell into a coma.

A young man with black hair, wearing a red robe with sleeves decorated with dark cloud patterns, sits on the ground with his eyelids lowered, immersed in the world of his own creation, with the sound of the piano lingering in the air.

With his palms lightly opened, his slender fingers stroked the strings, and he occasionally raised his head to make people breathe more deeply. Unconsciously, he was intoxicated by the music and himself.

The little beggar who had fainted next to her woke up. The sound of the piano lingering in her ears made her relax unconsciously, and she only felt quiet and peaceful.

Bai Jue watched all this from a third-party perspective. He recognized that the little beggar was the old woman who gave him the pearl. He was reading someone else’s life.

No matter what Bai Jue was thinking, everything was going on.

“Awake?” The boy opened his eyes, which were bright blue and clear, but seemed a little cloudy. “Little guy, how about we make a deal?”

“Deal?” The little beggar was a little confused. She roughly understood that she was saved by the young man in front of her, but she had nothing and she still owed him a favor. What kind of deal was there?
“Yes, deal. I can promise you three things that are beyond my ability. Saving you will be considered as a deposit, and in return you have to do one thing for me.” The young man stood up and stretched lazily in the sun.

I don’t know when all the snow disappeared, or when it moved away from that place.

The transaction was not equal at all, or it was very unfair to the teenager, but it was the teenager who proposed it himself.

The little beggar was confused. She was just an ant trying to survive in the cracks, while the boy was an eagle soaring proudly in the sky.

Although she was young, she already knew most of the things, the Three Calamities, the Beast Tide, the Land of Death…

All signs indicate that the boy is at least as powerful as the wizards she once admired.

“I…can I help the adults in any way?” The little beggar looked at the boy and asked cautiously. As for those three things, she had no idea at all, nor did she dare to have any idea.

Her father was killed because he asked the wizard for money for food…

Now she just hopes that things won’t be too difficult, and that she can return to the city alive after completing it. Although this life is worthless, it was saved by her mother. She hopes to stay alive, so she will try her best to stay alive.

“Practice with me, and then control it.” The young man took out a small tripod from his arms. The tripod was the size of a palm, with delicate and beautiful patterns.

Without waiting for the little beggar to object, the boy placed it in her palm and at the same time cut her thin little hand. Blood dripped on it, and the lines on the small tripod flashed by and then disappeared.

She didn’t know if it was an illusion, but she felt that the boy seemed to be relieved. Just… is that it?

“You are too weak now.” As if seeing through the little beggar’s thoughts, the young man said this slowly.

The boy was silent for a while. The little beggar didn’t know what to do and could only wait helplessly.

“Do you have a name?”

“Oh…ah? Yes…my name is…my name is Yue.” The little beggar answered stutteringly.

Her clothes were a little torn, her light silver hair was covered with a layer of dust, her little face was dirty with faint traces of tears, and her whole body exuded a faint strange smell.

“Okay, Yue, now go to the river over there and wash yourself.” The young man pinched his nose and pointed at the river next to him with a cold expression.

Eh? So the wizard is also afraid of stench… This was the first thought that popped into the little beggar Yue’s mind.

(End of this chapter)