Yanwei and his group strolled into Heiyan Gou, three days of a somewhat easy journey had passed. They were expecting a metal, old town but what they saw surprised them.
Within just a month and one week. Wanmei had reconstructed the whole of Heiyan Gou to be a whole new city.
Shiny, tall metal houses and buildings of many colors constructed like a piece of art on a canvas. Their shapes complex and almost abstract. A new style that Heiyan is not known for doing.
The black smoke that the city was named after was now no longer there, instead the smell of coal and iron lingered in the ground, but now it felt more bearable and less strong.
"Damn... This city got cleaned up huh? This ruler guy... Is he an architect or something?"
Yanwei's eyes narrowed. Noticing the atmosphere of the city seemed to also be more restrained, like a metaphorical chain had been wrapped around the whole city.
Yanwei looked around before his eyes landed on small carts with barrels filled to the brim with weapons, swords. halberds and many others.
He immediately approached the first vendor. A middle aged man with sharp yellow eyes and black hair. He was wearing a short black tunic and matching pants sitting on a small cushion.
"How can I help kiddo?" The vendor asked, standing up from his chair
Yanwei picked up a sword from the barrel, it was well made, no nicks or impurities visible. Picture perfect even.
"How much."
The vendor took one good look at Yanwei, noticing the large amount of Qi that cultivated off of him and the hardened, warrior look in his eyes that seemed to have no life in them.
"Uh.. Just take it I guess, but if you see me in trouble 'round here, you have to help."
Yanwei looked at the vendor, not responding. He just nodded, putting the sword into the sheath on his back before walking away.
I owe that man a favor I suppose...
Yanwei thought to himself before meeting back with the group, who all had bought their own weapons. Some going as far as to get some gauntlets and armor.
"Now split up to find work. We head for the Darkwing Sect's base in a weeks time."
The sudden command shocked everyone who looked at Yanwei with wide, astonished eyes.
"What?!"
They yelled out in unison, but for some strange reason, the townsfolk didn't even pay attention. Even going as far to just ignore them all together.
"You heard what I said. The Darkwing sect is basically dead. We can take over them with ease. Currently we're just a bunch of rogues. But after we get a base, or even just a place to stay at. We can call ourselves a proper sect."
The members of his group looked at each other for a few moments. Speechless and confused.
After a few minutes they slowly nodded, understanding where Yanwei is coming from and started walking towards the center of the city. Where a large black tower of matte, metal stood.
"Yeah.. Master is right, we might be able to take over this half dead sect." Some whispered to each other in a low and hushed voice.
Yanwei looked at them unblinkingly, nodding his head in approval before going towards the opposite direction, his expression hardened and stoic.
He continued walking in a seemingly random direction before he arrived in front of a tavern and pushed the door open. It was completely empty except just a single old man wearing a cloak, sitting at the far end of the building.
Yanwei remained stoic, sitting down in front of the man. He leaned onto the wooden table in between them before speaking.
"You're my target. You have a weapon worth seven hundred thousand yuan. I want to sell it."
The man looked at Yanwei silently. He took a deep breath before breaking out into a full grin and jumping up onto the table and punching Yanwei in the face.
"Alright!! Fresh meat!! I can finally test out the Ethereal Moonlight Sword!!"
Yanwei remained unhurt by the punch, his head not even turned an inch.
"Is that all you have to offer?"
His voice was bored. He grabbed the man's hand gripping it tightly before punching his target in the face, who went hurtling through the wall of the tavern like a bolt of lightning.
The metal wall tore open like paper, leaving a gaping hole from which the man went through.
Yanwei casually walked through the hole, not caring about the man on the ground groaning and in pain on the ground as Yanwei picked him up, tearing off his cloak.
But then, the man just disappeared. Like he wasn't even there. His torn cloak in Yanwei's hand.
"A clone... Then he's most definitely from the Darkwing sect, their known for being masters of alter egos after all..."
He muttered, throwing away the pieces of cloth that he had in his hand before giving the surrounding a quick look to make sure he wasn't seen before he walked away.
Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched from the tower in the center of Heiyan Gou. None other than Wanmei's glowing blue eyes staring at him despite the absurd distance.
"Yanwei Zuanshi..."
He muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes under the now black mask he had on his face, covering his expression underneath.
He was wearing a plain black changshan, a white cloak with a weapon covered in a black cloth like an ancient artifact sealed away for ages. A golden, almost wispy smoke was emitted from the weapon underneath.
He turned around from the terrace of the tower and walked into the tower through a small door.
"Xie Han. Start the auction and shops."
Xie Han who was wearing a simply white robe nodded fervently, pulling out a small, red ball from his pocket and winding up his arm.
"Got it!"
He threw the ball through the window shattering it as the ball arrived outside in the sky. As soon as the sunlight hit it, the ball exploded into a bright red and blue string of letters made of colored smoke.
"The auction has started."
Yanwei saw the sentence in the sky, his eyes widening a fraction for a moment before he started walking towards the tower.
"Lets see this auction for myself now..."