Chapter 121: Danyang Commandery

Danyang Commandery is the largest city around Xuantian Sect, with five million permanent residents and one hundred thousand garrison troops, overseeing dozens of major cities and minor counties.

It is also the capital of Tongzhou, which, in Earth terms, is a provincial capital.

The highest administrative official of a commandery is called the Commandant, equivalent to a mayor—but this mayor is no ordinary person; one must have at least Wu Zun cultivation to hold the post.

Meanwhile, the residence of Tongzhou's highest administrative official, the Governor, is also located in Danyang Commandery.

The Governor is the Commandant's superior, stronger if not equal in power, and only a warrior with at least Wu Wang cultivation may assume this office.

This is Yuanwu Continent, where political status is directly tied to personal cultivation!

Before his transmigration, Facing Facing Cang Luo had a dream: to own a home of his own in one of China's first-tier cities—a dream shared by nearly every Chinese person.

It was called a dream because it was utterly unattainable.

How could Facing Facing Cang Luo, born into a poor family, afford hundreds of millions—or even billions—of yuan to buy a house?

But now it's different: Facing Facing Cang Luo, transmigrated to Yuanwu Continent, could easily spend tens of millions on a house without blinking.

The only problem: he could no longer return to Earth, so he could never enjoy it.

Moreover, fulfilling the wish to buy a house too easily robbed it of excitement—he desperately wanted to experience the thrill of selecting a home from a sales office's model units.

That feeling must be wonderful: a sales Young Lady with a graceful figure and sweet face greeting you with a smile, warmer than to God himself.

Facing Facing Cang Luo had heard of unwritten rules: some sales Young Ladies must sleep with customers who buy a house, since each sale earns tens of thousands in commission—it's simply too profitable to pass up.

Since he couldn't return to Earth for now, Facing Facing Cang Luo decided to visit Danyang Commandery to see if any houses were for sale.

Yuanwu Continent was now his second homeland—how could one lack a home in one's own homeland? Besides, he could finally experience the joy of buying property.

Facing Facing Cang Luo still had some spare money: over seventy second-tier demon cores and nearly four hundred low-grade Yuan Stones, equivalent to over five million RMB on Earth.

Though not a fortune, this was Yuanwu Continent—Yuan Stones were cultivation resources; surely he could buy a house from ordinary people with them?

If not enough, he still had the complete pelt of a fifth-tier demon beast, the Shadow Tiger.

Facing Facing Cang Luo thought it must be valuable—surely worth several hundred or even a thousand low-grade Yuan Stones?

This was a luxury item!

After nearly an hour of galloping, Facing Facing Cang Luo finally arrived beneath Danyang Commandery's walls, riding his Erha.

Looking up at Danyang Commandery from below felt utterly different from viewing it from satellite orbit.

Viewing Danyang Commandery from orbit was like playing a game—its towering and low houses, crisscrossing alleys, and colorful pedestrians lacked any real sense of presence.

But standing close and gazing up at Danyang Commandery's thick walls induced a suffocating heaviness—its ten-plus-meter-high ramparts sealed the city off completely.

Facing Facing Cang Luo knew these walls weren't built to repel bandits or enemy armies, but to defend against demon beasts.

Danyang Commandery bordered demon beast forests, and low- to mid-tier demon beasts often raided the city or nearby towns and counties.

The walls and gates were heavily guarded by soldiers, mostly Wu Shi or Wu Jiang cultivators, who closely watched all commoners and warriors entering or leaving, occasionally stopping them for inspection.

Facing Facing Cang Luo observed for a while and noticed that warriors capable of flight always landed voluntarily near the gates before walking in.

Warriors riding beast companions recalled them into their beast spaces before entering; otherwise, the guards would stop them.

Facing Facing Cang Luo was surprised: warriors who could fly through the air—excluding those with flying treasures or special techniques—were mostly Wu Wang cultivators.

Even Wu Wang cultivators couldn't fly into the city—they had to land and walk!

This meant Danyang Commandery was a law-governed city? It had traffic rules?

Facing Facing Cang Luo smiled, didn't dwell on it—he was someone who respected rules—and immediately recalled Erha, walking into the city without being inspected.

Perhaps it was because his appearance was ordinary and harmless, or perhaps because he wore the outer-disciple robe of Xuantian Sect.

After all, Xuantian Sect was the strongest force in Tongzhou, the only Emperor-tier sect.

Danyang Commandery lay within Xuantian Sect's sphere of influence; its high-ranking members owned countless businesses here, entangled with every major faction in the city—no one would lightly provoke a Xuantian Sect disciple.

It was already two in the afternoon, the sun at its fiercest.

After entering the city, Facing Facing Cang Luo had no interest in wandering—he'd already seen everything via satellite—and now he only wanted a place to rest and drink tea.

Near the city gate, Danyang Commandery resembled Earth's high-speed rail and bus stations.

The area was overflowing with taverns, restaurants, inns, and brothels, where eager waiters and heavily made-up brothel girls shouted loudly to attract customers.

As soon as Facing Facing Cang Luo entered, five or six voluptuous, beautiful women surrounded him, trying to drag him into their brothels.

One woman with a voluptuous figure even grabbed his hand and pulled it into her bosom, squeezing it as she laughed: "Master… won't you come inside and have some fun with Sister?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo was stunned, quickly pulled his hand free, and stammered: "No, no—I'm too weak to handle your kindness."

Saying this, he shook his body lightly, brushed off the women, and fled in panic.

He wasn't lying—he really was weak…

Damn it!

That cursed hunger ability!

Fuck!

Facing Facing Cang Luo shouted: "What the hell!"

After cursing himself fiercely, Facing Facing Cang Luo entered a tavern, intending to eat something.

As soon as he stepped inside, a waiter rushed forward, bowing warmly: "Sir, what would you like? Our shop received two Steel-armored Cows this morning—fresh as can be. Would you care for two jin?"

Steel-armored Cows are metallic second-tier demon beasts, famed for their extreme defense, as tough as steel; though their skin is coarse and thick, the muscle beneath is exceptionally tender, making them the most commonly consumed demon meat among low-tier warriors, after Spear Pigs.

Facing Facing Cang Luo glanced around the tavern's first-floor hall—many patrons, almost all warriors; clearly this tavern catered to warriors, hence the Steel-armored Cows.

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded: "Alright, two jin then. What wines do you have?"

The waiter beamed: "We have Bamboo Leaf Green brewed with spirit herbs, Monkey Wine—brewed in the style of a third-tier demon beast, the little fire monkey—aged Daughter Red, and Hua Diao. Which would you prefer?"

Facing Facing Cang Luo didn't drink at all and knew nothing about wine—he only wanted to experience the bold, carefree swagger of a hero ordering in a TV drama.

"Uh… which is the cheapest?" he asked, feeling too embarrassed not to buy after asking—even though he wasn't short on money, he wouldn't waste it.

The waiter smiled: "Hua Diao is cheapest—one jin costs three silver coins."

Each silver coin weighs five grams, so three equal fifteen grams—on Earth, that's about fifty RMB, but silver on Yuanwu Continent is worth ten times Earth's price, so one jin of Hua Diao costs roughly five hundred RMB.

Too expensive! Do warriors' money come so easily?

Or is this restaurant just too high-class?

Facing Facing Cang Luo didn't really want to buy, but he felt awkward refusing; after thinking a moment, he asked, "What kind of wine is Huadiao?"

The waiter patiently explained, "Huadiao is similar to Nü'er Hong. Nü'er Hong is wine dug up from the ground when a daughter marries, as part of her dowry."

"But Huadiao is wine dug up early, when a daughter dies before marriage..."

"So that's how it is..."

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded, then suddenly asked, "Do all restaurants and taverns in Danyang County sell Huadiao wine?"

"Yes, they all sell it. Warriors have a special fondness for Nü'er Hong and Huadiao wine," the waiter replied honestly.

Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately exclaimed, "Then how many daughters would have to die just to supply all these restaurants and taverns?! Unlucky, unlucky—I won't drink it."

At these words, laughter erupted through the hall. Several warriors drinking nearby turned to look at Facing Facing Cang Luo; one chuckled, "Hahahaha... this kid's funny."

Facing Facing Cang Luo, seeing everyone staring, quickly smiled politely, like a fresh college graduate just entering society.

The waiter awkwardly said, "Sir, you're joking—I haven't finished yet. When a daughter dies young, it's like a flower wilting, so it's called 'Hua Diao' wine."

"Later, as Hua Diao wine gained fame, some taverns began brewing 'Huadiao' wine—so this Huadiao isn't that Hua Diao."

Facing Facing Cang Luo smiled helplessly. He couldn't refuse—the waiter's service was too good.

"Then give me one jin of Huadiao wine, two jin of Steelarm Ox, one jin of fat goose, and... never mind, that's all."

Huh? How did Qiao Feng order food again? Facing Facing Cang Luo frowned, deep in thought.

The waiter beamed, "Right away! Sir, please take a seat—your dishes will be here shortly..."

Facing Facing Cang Luo nodded and sat down at a relatively clean table.

Then he carefully scanned his surroundings, worried that someone might suddenly rush over to snatch his seat, then start fighting.

Isn't that how villains always appear? It's all the same old formula.

Unfortunately, Facing Facing Cang Luo was overthinking—until all the dishes arrived, nothing out of the ordinary happened. But he did hear a piece of news that greatly interested him.

At the table beside him sat four men in their thirties, all warriors. One of them, with a voice like a bronze bell, shouted loudly, "They say the Warrior Alliance's auction this afternoon has some great items—should we go take a look?"

The others nodded eagerly, all agreeing to go, and adding they might as well sell something too.

Warrior Alliance?

Auction?

Facing Facing Cang Luo pondered. He wasn't hearing the name "Warrior Alliance" for the first time.

When he first crossed over, Xuan Qingqing had introduced him to the major powers and empires of the Yuanwu Continent, including the Warrior Alliance.

The Warrior Alliance is one of the four strongest forces on the Yuanwu Continent, each backed by a Martial Saint. The other three are Mo Family Mechanism City, the Qin Empire, and the Yuan Empire.

The latter three were understandable—powerful, but not mysterious.

As for the Warrior Alliance, no one even knew where its headquarters was. All they knew was that its branches spread across every corner of the Yuanwu Continent, and its members were called Bounty Hunters.

Any warrior could apply to join the Alliance at the nearest branch and become a Bounty Hunter, earning a living by accepting missions posted by the Alliance, while gaining its protection.

From small tasks like gathering rare herbs to large ones like murder and robbery—no matter the mission, if the bounty was right, a Bounty Hunter would take it.

Facing Facing Cang Luo felt the Warrior Alliance resembled the mercenary guilds he'd read about in novels: a powerful figure creates a platform, recruits members to expand the organization, then takes money to get things done.

Always the bottom layer doing the work, the middle layer managing, the top layer enjoying.

Facing Facing Cang Luo actually longed for this kind of life—get paid, work on the edge of death. On Earth, that was called a killer, illegal.

But on the Yuanwu Continent, where strength rules, it was legal—and given a nicer name.

Bounty Hunter!

Facing Facing Cang Luo decided that after eating, he'd go to the Warrior Alliance branch in Danyang County, check out the auction, see the grand scene, look for anything he needed, and sell the hide of the Shadow Tiger.