[Haibei], a small town located just across the three hundred mile strait between the continent and Pride Island, [Zihoadao]. For a long time, it had served as the last or first stop for any cultivator intending to fly or sail across as well as the place where one could rest in peace. The latter being far more valuable than anything else, as while [Zihoadao] was by no means lawless, it was indeed a zone where battles would occur, even if one tried to avoid them.

The town also served as a place for wounded cultivators, most of them having received their wounds in [Zihoadao], to recuperate and heal, counting with not one but several renowned healing masters. And to protect both the former and the latter as well as preserve the peace and the numerous rules that enforced it, the city's mayor had always been at least a peak Warrior King, and several powers of the region sent some of their elders and disciples to help.

Bai Qi and his current companions had taken their time to travel the several thousands of miles that separated [Haibei] from the [Roaring Bay]. Sometimes walking at a mortal pace or stopping for a spar, the latter on the request of Bai Qi, who continued to improve his control and mastery over his current state.

Thus, by the moment the five, at last, entered the small, at least for this plane, city, over a week had passed since the separation.

Bai Qi didn't plan to stay for long either, just to take a breather before starting the most dangerous part of the journey, crossing the sea. But, since the moment they crossed the gate, after confirming their identities and having listened to the myriad of rules about weapons, aura, and other hostile-like actions that were prohibited, he felt that it would not be so.

The reason for his feeling? The link with Bai Rui. After all, Bai Ze's sister and Ma Su would have traveled at full speed, and their meeting point was on [Zihoadao] directly. So, why did he feel Bai Rui's presence here in [Haibei]? And why was that presence weak, as if restrained?

On Bai Ru's and Ma Su's side.

The first part of their task, arriving at [Suipian Cheng], was completed on the same day they departed, crossing over a thousand miles without meeting any trouble.

Spending the night in a tavern, with Ma Su drinking all night long to Bai Rui's displeasure, they proceeded with the task of selling the items that Bai Qi had sent with them and looking for anything that may be useful.

Watching how Ma Su easily found the merchants, craftsmen, and masters that would pay better, Bai Rui had been forced to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, the drinking night was not just because of Ma Su indulging herself.

And indeed, Ma Su had found nearly everything there was to know about [Suipian Cheng] by nearly intuitively sensing who of the constantly approaching people, attracted either by her looks, strength, or splurging, would be of use. And who of them had to be run off immediately.

To her own surprise, Bai Rui found that she also attracted the attention of several men, be it in either the tavern or the stores they visited. But, Ma Su quickly had driven off every one of them. Not that the [White Tiger] Beastman was interested at all, neither in humans nor men.

But it was only on the evening, when they had returned to the same tavern after making several deals and agreeing to others for the next day, Ma Su briefly explained,

"Beastmen are rare in this area indeed, but the straightforward manner of your type, including your lack of guile, bordering naivety, is very well known. Thus, do not trust anything these people say or offer to you, but do not dare to approach me."

Ma Su and Bai Rui spent three days in [Suipian Cheng], spending their nights in the tavern and the day moving between different stores, workshops, and even two of the local 4th tier powers. They not only sold every item of the ones that Bai Qi had given them but even bought several rare materials and herbs that Bai Qi had mentioned before.

***

One of the nights that they drank in the tavern, at a time when no one attracted Ma Su's interest, she had decided to ask Bai Rui a few questions she had accumulated.

Ma Su had heard before that Bai Qi dabbled in several non-martial paths, but after asking about Bai Rui's bangle-like storage bracelet, she found that it was no one but Bai Qi the one to create them.

Intrigued by the item, she concentrated her senses on it and felt that it was not only a storage one but also a protection one. Finding it fairly impressive she asked, "Can I take a closer look?"

Sensing the interest in Bai Qi's work and somewhat proud of being the owner of something that could interest an experienced cultivator, Bai Rui simply took it off and passed it to Ma Su.

Five inches long, gleaming in a whitish-gold hue, with tiger paw-like engravements. The item was not only good-looking, but it also had several rune sets, and from examining them, Ma Su found that while she could be able to crack it open, it would be extremely hard. Something unexpected, considering that it was a simple Spirit-tier storage treasure, and Ma Su was a Warrior King, someone who should be able to crush such items with a simple thought.

"Truly great work. I am no master, but I have seen my fair share of storage items but never one of such quality. Has not Bai Qi thought of dedicating more time to the path of refining?" Ma Su asked as she looked at the crafter's signature, an emblem representing a scroll with a demon-head as its seal, glittering in a darker hue and reflecting the light from an orb in the tavern in rainbow tones.

"You will have to ask him. I only know that he had to train refining, runes, and similar paths during his Sage-realm time. He spent a few days refining and doing other things. I think this, my sister's, and another one, was created on the 2nd or 3rd day of that period." Receiving the bracelet back, Bai Rui shrugged. Bai Qi's work was beautiful indeed, but she knew that he enjoyed the martial path and could not imagine him as one of the craftsmen like the ones they had met today.

"Wait, you mean he did this as a Sage and in a single day?!" Ma Su was aware that Bai Qi wasn't your average cultivator otherwise she would have run off as soon as she was given the opportunity, but hearing something like that made her cry out in surprise.

"Mmm, that he did. He also created several weapons. Didn't you see the spears that the [Death Hunter] pair used?" As for any Beastman, Bai Rui's knowledge about non-martial paths was pretty low. Still, now that she knew it was something amazing she could not help but slightly boast, perfectly aware that Bai Qi would never do.

"Heavens!" Ma Su exclaimed yet again while reclining back on the chair she was sitting on. And what before was simple interest, was now reinforced into a goal.

***

On the fourth day, having finalized all the deals and obtaining over five hundred medium spirit stones, Ma Su and Bai Rui left [Suipian Cheng]. They planned to reach the meeting spot by next morning at the latest, and hopefully before or at the same time that Bai Qi would.

Not a single incident occurred on the way towards the north, and they reached [Haibei] before midnight.

"You know, such good luck, with not a single incident on the road or during the deals, always puts me on edge. It's never good to be too safe." Stopping at a restaurant for Bai Rui to eat something other than the previously hunted beasts' meat, Ma Su murmured while sipping at some light bamboo wine.

"What do you mean? For us, the [Steel Fang], we always consider that if no danger occurred, it is because one is strong enough for the danger to avoid us." Bai Rui was surprised to hear someone lament the lack of danger, especially of unsought one.

"What I mean is that..." But Ma Su's words trailed off as she inwardly cussed .

With their objective to rest and not socialize and find information as before, Ma Su had chosen not only the farthest and most secluded spot of the restaurant but even made Bai Rui keep her cloak on. As for herself, aware that her looks weren't exactly meant for remaining unmolested, Ma Su had switched from her usual open dress to a martial robe, even complementing it with a conical hat meant to hide part of her face.

But now, there was a group of men walking towards their table, and leading them was a stereotypical young master type of guy. Dressed in gaudy robes, talking so loud that it appeared as if he was infusing qi deliberately to be heard by the entire restaurant, and, oh the horror, with a powdered face. Ma Su scowled inwardly before sending a quick transmission to Bai Ru, {Whatever happens, keep calm, remember what the gate guards told us}.

One of the local laws prohibited cultivators expand their aura, and with most cultivators preferring to link their senses to it, the law was basically meant for no one to be able to determine other people's cultivations with ease. After all, one's conduct towards someone far weaker would be not the same as towards someone on several levels or even realms above. But as the lordling approached nearly enough to touch Ma Su, she quickly used a mind-power scan and found that neither of them was truly an opponent for her or Bai Rui.

This latter made her relax and as she would later find out, it had been a mistake. After all, if she had acted presuming there was someone who could give her trouble, they would have far fewer problems later.

But she had not, and so, there was nothing but to lament her hotheadedness. Or the idiocy of the man that, after approaching, directly invited her to his private room to "Share a few drinks in a company befitting such a beauty." And who, when she refused, attempted to grab at her.

*CRACK*

The young, not older than twenty-five, went on his knees while wailing and holding his left arm, which practically snapped in two.

"You... Are you too stupid to understand a woman's refusal? And, raising your dirty hand at a Warrior King? Are you stupid?"

The four men behind the now wailing, pale even through the white powder of his make-up, idiot immediately launched forward. Two of them were 1st-level Warrior Kings, the other two 2nd level ones, and they could only have given battle to Ma Su if they used aura or weapons. Or for the point, if Ma Su was alone. But, they had attempted to tackle her physically, and Bai Rui, who had been silently sitting there, following Ma Su's words, was also present.

*CRASH* *CRASH*

Two bodies flew through the entire restaurant and without touching the ground crashed against the opposite, over a hundred feet away, wall.

*Slash* *Slash*

As for the other two, who committed the blunder of approaching too much from Bai Rui's side, ended up on the floor, groaning and wailing, bleeding from several deep gashes left by the Beast girl's claws.

"Let's leave. It seems this town is not so peaceful as promised." No one of the men had any badges, which probably meant they were not part of any group or power, but for some reason, Ma Su's intuition told her that it would be better to leave right away.

***

But, regretfully, they only managed to reach the restaurant exit before stopping in their tracks, frozen by an 8th-level Warrior King aura.

Bai Rui could break free, but as Ma Su's gaze landed on the owner of the aura, she immediately signaled Bai Rui to not.

{It will be better to explain what happened and not fight. At most I will face some kind of punishment for the fight in the city.} She transmitted, and aware that Bai Rui would not understand the reasons behind such surrender, she added almost immediately,

{Look at the badge on that old man's chest. He's an elder from a 3rd tier power, the [Shimmering Earth]. I doubt that he is in league with the ones inside, but if we fight him, we will generate too many problems for Bai Qi.}

But, as Ma Su would find just a few breaths later when both of them were restrained with talismans, her judgment had been erroneous again.