Chương 172: Chapter 171: The Painting and The Painter

Yang woke as the sky was lightening. Light coming through the windows painted the ceiling in soft grays and pale blues. He stretched carefully, his muscles responding with familiar ease, then let his gaze linger on the bed beneath him. The most comfortable bed he'd ever slept on. Last night was the final time he would sleep on it. A desire to lie there and sleep more swept through him, but Yang pushed it aside. He was disciplined enough to know he had to get up and prepare. They were leaving Tianlu City today.

Going to Azure Point City. Yang went through his morning ablutions methodically. Washed his face and body with water from the basin that was always somehow the perfect temperature. Magic, probably. Everything in this place was touched by cultivation in ways he was only beginning to understand. He put on his new robes with careful movements. Dark blue with silver trim. The fabric felt smooth against his skin, expensive in a way his old clothes had never been.

Then he made his hair carefully, combing it back and tying it properly. Yang paused mid-motion, realizing he'd never spent so much time on his appearance before. But he wanted to make a good impression. Wanted to leave behind the image of the wild village boy who'd survived years in the forest. Wanted to look like someone who belonged in this world of cultivators and flying ships. His thoughts drifted to Grandpa. How proud and happy he would be to see Yang in clothes like these.

Preparing to join a cultivation sect. Living the life Grandpa had dreamed for him in those stories told around the fire. The years and the love of the Li family had rounded the sharp corners of his grief. Thinking of Grandpa now brought melancholy instead of sharp pain. Yang judged each of his decisions through the lens of how Grandpa would have perceived them. Would he approve? Would he be proud? Yang deliberately redirected his thoughts. He didn't want to overshadow Li San's joy with his sadness.

Today was about looking forward, not back. He put on a smile and made his way to the main receiving room. A table was already set in the middle, laden with covered dishes that released enticing aromas. Li San sat waiting, already dressed in his own new robes, his hair neat. He looked more like a young master than a village boy, and the transformation made Yang's chest swell with pride for his brother.

"Finally," Li San said, grinning.

"I was thinking you finally chose today to wake up late."

"Late?" Yang cocked an eyebrow as he approached the table.

"I'm exactly on time. It's you who was early." He paused, studying Li San's slightly sunken eyes, then asked in playful concern, "Trouble sleeping?" Li San sheepishly admitted that the excitement had made him barely able to get any sleep.

"I kept imagining what the sect would be like. What the trials would involve." He was describing his nightly struggle, gesturing wildly with his hands, when a group of servants entered carrying even more dishes. Yang raised a questioning eyebrow. This was much more food than they usually ordered. Neither he nor Li San was in the habit of wasting food, no matter how privileged they'd temporarily become. Before he could voice the question, the highest-ranking maid stepped forward and bowed.

"Since the two gentlemen are departing, this is to send you off. We will also provide packed lunches since you'll be leaving just before the midday meal." She bowed again and withdrew. The servants quickly set the dishes and departed with practiced efficiency. Both Li San and Yang had previously instructed them to be minimally intrusive, neither was used to nor comfortable being served by others. The constant presence made them feel exposed, watched. So the servants knew to only come when called for.

The breakfast spread was impressive. Steamed buns still releasing wisps of steam. Rice porridge with various toppings. Pickled vegetables arranged artfully. Fried eggs with perfectly golden yolks. Sweet pastries dusted with sugar. Fresh fruits. Fragrant tea. A feast fit for the young masters the inn staff clearly thought them to be. They ate the food that needed to be eaten fresh, savoring flavors they'd come to love over the past week.

But they kept things like buns and snack-like items, wrapping them carefully to take on the journey.

"The manager must be glad to have the luxurious room back before the allotted time," Li San said between bites, a knowing look in his eyes.

"Now he'll likely try to earn twice on these rooms by booking them again immediately." Yang hummed agreement as he sipped his tea, appreciating the subtle floral notes. When they finished breakfast, Li San suggested getting spirit fruits to keep with them. They made their way to the orchard, where trees drooped under the weight of their supernatural bounty. Yang picked the glowing apples he'd grown fond of. Li San gathered peaches the size of fists and berries that sparkled like gems.

"Yang, carry this in your pack for me as well," Li San said cheerfully, passing him an armful of his favorites without ceremony. Since Yang was stronger, it had become natural for him to carry the heavier loads. He accepted the fruits without complaint, carefully arranging them in his pack so they wouldn't bruise. They returned to their respective rooms to finish packing. Yang moved through his space methodically, checking corners and drawers to ensure nothing was forgotten.

He carefully added the painting to his pack, wrapping it in cloth for protection. The weight of it felt right against his back. A reminder of how far he'd come and how much further he hoped to go. He looked around the room one final time, committing the luxury to memory, then made his way to the receiving room. Finding it empty, he headed to Li San's room instead. The space was nearly identical to his own but with warmer tones, reds and golds instead of cool blues.

Li San was still packing, his back turned, so focused he didn't notice Yang's arrival. His belongings were scattered across the bed in chaos.

"Still packing?" Yang said from the doorway, amusement coloring his voice. Li San jolted, nearly dropping the tunic in his hands, then turned with a scowl.

"Don't sneak up on me like that." He turned back to his pack, trying unsuccessfully to shove everything inside with growing frustration.

"Relax, Li San. We still have hours," Yang said, crossing the room. He set his own pack on the table and approached his brother. Taking in the situation with a practiced eye, he pulled everything back out of the overstuffed pack.

"Li San, you know shoving everything in isn't going to make us reach Azure Point City any faster." He placed the rumpled clothes on the bed next to the now-empty pack, then settled into a chair with exaggerated patience. Gesturing at the mess, he added, "Please do it properly this time." Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Li San sent him a glare that held no real heat.

But he started repacking with more care, folding clothes instead of cramming, organizing items by weight and how often he'd need them. His movements gradually became less frantic, more methodical. Twenty minutes later, he secured the final strap and looked back at Yang triumphantly.

"See? Now we're done."

"Li San," Yang said with exaggerated patience, "we still have many hours until the boat departs. Why are you so insistent on leaving early?"

"Oh please," Li San countered, his excitement bubbling back to the surface.

"You know it will take at least two hours to reach the landing area. And with so many people rushing there for the sect trials, isn't it better to arrive early and avoid the crowds?" Yang recognized the logic even as he'd been looking forward to two more hours of luxury. But Li San's enthusiasm was infectious, and impossible to argue against.

"Fine," he conceded with a smile.

"But at least let me get our packed lunches first." Before Yang could move, Li San rushed to the bell near his bedside and rang it with perhaps more vigor than necessary. Within moments, a knock sounded at the door. A servant appeared, bowing.

"What do you need, young masters?"

"We'll be departing now," Li San announced, barely containing his eagerness.

"Please bring our packed lunches." The servant bowed and departed. Li San practically bounced as he settled into the chair opposite Yang, his foot tapping an impatient rhythm against the floor. Yang watched him with fond amusement.

"So remind me," he said, though he already knew the answer, "how exactly will we reach the landing area?" Li San launched into his explanation with renewed energy.

"We'll take a carriage from Fleak Square, it's far cheaper than the services in this wealthy district. After that, we'll board the Divine Qi Company's ship to Azure Point City. We should reach the city late at night." He leaned forward conspiratorially.

"I got us the night boat. It was significantly cheaper because most people prefer morning departures so they can see the scenery during the flight."

"Smart thinking," Yang acknowledged. Then, letting his own dreams surface, he added, "One day when we can cultivate to Foundation Establishment, we'll fly whenever we please. No need for boats or schedules." Both of them fell into comfortable silence, each lost in fantasies of soaring through clouds on swords of their own. Yang imagined the freedom of it, the wind in his hair, the world spread out below like a painting come to life. Based on Li San's distant expression, he was dreaming similar dreams.

The knock at the door pulled them back to reality. The servant returned with two substantial packs.

"Sirs, your lunches. We've added extra provisions for the journey."

"Thank you," Li San and Yang said in unison, accepting the packs. They gathered their belongings and made their way through the inn. The servant followed at a respectful distance, bowing deeply as they reached the courtyard entrance.

"Thank you for patronizing our establishment. We await your next visit with great anticipation." The words were delivered with the practiced warmth of professional hospitality, but Yang thought he detected genuine well-wishes beneath. They stepped through the gate and were immediately assaulted by the cacophony of city life. The contrast was jarring, whatever arrays or formations the inn used kept the interior in perfect silence, insulating the guests from the chaos outside. Now they were part of that chaos.

Merchants calling their wares. Carriage wheels clattering on stone. The hum of a living city going about its business. Li San led the way with confident strides, navigating streets he'd learned during his planning. They walked for perhaps half an hour, gradually leaving the wealthy district behind. The buildings grew less ornate, the streets slightly narrower, and the people more practically dressed. Fleak Square was bustling when they arrived.

Carriages of various qualities lined up, drivers calling out destinations and prices. The energy was different here, more working-class, less refined, but with its own vibrant character. They negotiated for a private carriage, paying what Yang suspected was an inflated price but accepting it without haggling. They could have taken a communal carriage, sharing costs with other passengers, but both valued their privacy. This might be their last chance for quiet time before everything changed.

The carriage was simple, wooden benches, a single horse, no cushions or amenities, but serviceable. They settled inside, and the driver urged the horse forward with a clicking of his tongue. As they moved through the city, both Yang and Li San lapsed into companionable silence. Words felt unnecessary. Instead, they gazed out the windows on either side, watching Tianlu City pass by. Yang recognized familiar landmarks. The food stall where they'd tried their first spirit beast skewers.

The shop with the impossible sweets that defied gravity. Wang Fu's modest establishment where they'd learned the fundamentals of the cultivation world. The grand library that had been useless to them in their illiteracy. Each sight carried a memory from the past week. Together, they formed a mosaic of their brief time in this city, a transition period between who they'd been and who they hoped to become. Gradually, familiar sights gave way to unfamiliar territory. New districts Yang had never visited.

Different architecture. Different people. The city revealing its vastness with every turn of the wheels. The journey stretched on for hours, but time passed quickly with so much to observe. As they approached the commercial landing zone, the sky above transformed into a highway of vessels. Massive ships that dwarfed Cheng Mo's modest boat glided through the air like wooden whales. Some flew elaborate banners. Others were plain and utilitarian.

All of them represented the infrastructure of a world where flight was commonplace. The carriage finally stopped at the landing zone entrance. Yang and Li San climbed out, stretching muscles cramped from sitting. Yang paid the driver, and the man nodded his thanks before urging his horse back toward the city center. The entrance to the landing zone was controlled. Guards in uniform checked tokens, maintaining order in what could easily become chaos.

A separate gate handled arrivals, keeping traffic flowing in two distinct streams. Yang found himself comparing it to airport security from his previous life, though without the intrusive searches. Li San presented their token confidently. The guard examined it, nodded, and gestured them through toward the Divine Qi Company section. They navigated through the crowds, following signs Yang couldn't read but Li San apparently could decipher from the company symbol.

It took twenty minutes of steady walking before they reached their designated area. All Divine Qi Company ships bore the same emblem, a stylized cloud with lightning emerging from its center. Their specific vessel was massive, a three-masted wooden ship that looked like it belonged on an ocean rather than in the sky. Sails hung ready, and rooms were visible along multiple decks.

"Cheapest tickets," Li San reminded Yang as they approached.

"We'll be on the open deck. Standing room only. Seats and private rooms are also available for those willing to part with the spirit stones." What went unsaid was that neither of them was willing to part with the spirit stones, they may sometimes splurge with coins but never with spirit stones. They made their way up the gangplank, joining the stream of passengers boarding. The deck was already partially filled with other travelers.

Most carried minimal luggage like Yang and Li San, single packs that suggested people traveling light, probably heading to the same destination for the same purpose. Some wealthier passengers passed by with servants carrying trunks and cases, heading toward the private accommodations above. Yang and Li San found a spot near the railing with a good view. They set down their packs and settled in for the wait. Around them, the crowd grew. Some passengers were alone, looking nervous or excited or resigned.

Others formed small groups, talking among themselves. But none approached Yang and Li San, since they were already clearly together, and strangers didn't intrude on established pairs. A bell rang across the landing zone. Once. Twice. Three times. The final boarding call. Yang felt his heart accelerate. This was it. The moment they'd been building toward since leaving Yunxi Village. Since Cheng Mo had appeared in his window. Since Yang had bought that impossible painting for two bronze coins.

The ship shuddered beneath their feet. A deep rumble resonated through the wooden deck. Then, slowly, the massive vessel began to rise. Li San gripped the railing, his knuckles white, his face split by an enormous grin. Yang stood beside him, watching Tianlu City shrink below them. The buildings became toys. The people became dots. The world they'd known for a week became a memory receding into distance. The ship rose higher, breaking through the lower layer of air traffic.

The wind picked up, tugging at their hair and clothes. Other vessels passed at various altitudes, some ascending, others descending, all moving with purpose through invisible highways in the sky. Yang looked ahead toward where Azure Point City waited and beside him, Li San laughed with pure joy. The sound was caught by the wind and carried away into the endless sky. And Yang found himself laughing too.