Cultivation is Creation [World-Hopping & Plant-Based Xianxia]

Chapter 39 - 36: The 5 Sects & The 3 Great Clans

The party formation consisted of Wei Lin being at the front, Lin Mei at his side and me at the rear.

Like a guide, Wei Lin would occasionally point out landmarks or warn us about treacherous spots in the road.

Lin Mei somehow managed to identify and catalog various spirit herbs even while walking.

At the back, I was lost in thought about how little I actually knew about this world beyond the sect walls.

"So," Wei Lin called back, "we'll be passing through Three Rivers Town tomorrow. Should we stop at the Wei family shop there, or push straight through to save time?"

I nodded, as if I had any idea where Three Rivers Town was or that the Wei family had a shop there. The original Ke Yin's memories were... selective.

I had clear images of his family, their small tailor shop in Floating Reed Village, even the day he was discovered to have cultivation potential. But everything else was frustratingly vague, like trying to recall the plot of a book read years ago.

"Three Rivers is the main trading hub for this region, right?" Lin Mei asked, carefully stepping over a loose stone. "I've heard they have an excellent spirit herb market."

"Second largest in the Yan Kingdom," Wei Lin confirmed proudly. "Though nothing compared to the capital's Golden District, of course."

I must have made some sort of face because Lin Mei caught my expression and laughed. "Don't tell me you've never been to Three Rivers? It's barely two days from your village!"

"I, uh..." I scrambled for an excuse that wouldn't sound pathetic. "Back at the village, I was busy helping out at my father's shop and then after joining the sect, I was focused on cultivation. Didn't see much reason to leave the mountain."

"Wait," Wei Lin turned to stare at me. "You mean you haven't left Azure Peak at all since joining? Not even for the seasonal town fairs?"

I shrugged, trying to play off that I was just too afraid to venture out. "The sect provides everything I need."

"Everything except a basic understanding of the outside world," Wei Lin shook his head in mock despair. "No wonder you're so... you sometimes. Lin Mei, we have failed this poor ignorant soul. We must educate him!"

"I'm not that ignorant," I protested. "I know about..." I

"Of course you did," Lin Mei laughed. "They're warded against spirit beasts and have basic defensive formations. Most travelers plan their journeys around them."

"Somewhat less secure since the incident with the snake cultivator last year," Wei Lin added. "But still safer than camping in the open."

I decided not to ask about the snake cultivator incident. Some things were probably better left unknown.

As we packed up and returned to the road, I found myself grateful for my friends' willingness to explain things without too many questions about my ignorance. Even if they clearly thought I was oddly sheltered, they seemed to accept it as just another Ke Yin quirk.