(MC POV)
"Just head straight down the path, it leads directly to the city. The auction house is a giant dome in the market district, just ask around and you won't miss it. Should reach there in about three days or so on foot."
"Thanks," I waved, tossing the peddler a copper coin.
He nodded a thanks before walking past me, pulling his donkey that was laden with his wares along.
I walked ahead a bit until he was out of sight before flying back into the air, aiming in the direction that he had pointed out.
Three days huh? That means I should reach there in another five minutes or so.
With that thought, I sped up my flying, soaring through the air and watching the land beneath me blur away.
Right now I'm in the country of Sun and travelling incognito.
I sent Brendan to Jin city's auction house to check when the next auction would be and what the prices of the herbs we could easily get from the forest were. He would also check when the last time those herbs had appeared on the market and investigate the current demand for them.
For me, I would go to the country of Sun and do the same at their own auction house, then we'll compare our findings to decide where we would sell the herbs at.
The Sun's auction house would be a better option since no one would know who we are and we can simply just sell and go.
If I were to sell in Jin city, other Sects might take more notice of me.
Well, more than they already have of me in any case.
And since this place was quite focused on trade, they shouldn't be too surprised by what I'm bringing there since there would no doubt be others who are selling the same thing.
My target destination now is their capital city of Jianye where I heard their biggest auction house was located.
Sure, they were still looking for me, but I'd bet they never would have thought I'd come here by myself voluntarily.
"Master… Don't you think the risks for this are too great?" Xun Guan commented, being my only companion on this trip.
My disciples wanted to come along as well, but I managed to 'convince' them to stay behind and train since this will just be a simple recon on my part.
After the events at Dong they were quite difficult to convince to let me go alone, but a good hour of kissing and headpats was enough to distract them enough and allow me to escape.
It's not like I'm alone anyway so there shouldn't be any problems.
"Don't you know, Xun Guan? Sometimes the most dangerous place is also the most safest of places."
"Mmm… But why does Master need money? I believe Master already has enough?"
I chuckled, "Hmm? Did you forget? We're going to move the entire Sect to the new city right? I'm going to need quite a bit to pay for the materials to make sure my courtyard there is built just right for all of you to live in comfortably."
"Eh? I don't think any of us is that picky though? Master's current courtyard is already quite extravagant."
I shook my head, "No way, no way. Did you see my house? My building is at least twice as big as the building my disciples sleep in! It's obvious that they didn't have enough money to pay for my disciples' building after finishing mine! That's why… This time I will make sure my disciples get to live in luxury too! I'll get good money from auctioning these things and build a good home for my cute disciples!"
Xun Guan was silent for a few moments.
"Master… I don't actually think that's the case there…"
"Huh? If it's not that, then why?"
"Ugh… That is… I don't think I'm in a position to say, Master…"
Weird. Oh well, must not be important then.
Anyway, with the money that I'll be earning from the sales in the auction, I should be able to afford a comfortable enough abode for my disciples and I in the new place.
It truly is a blessing that such good fortune actually came up just when I was worrying about it.
"Master? I think that's the place."
I was brought out of my thoughts by Xun Guan.
Looking ahead, a huge city loomed before me, at least five times bigger than Jin city in size.
The city was built on a flat plain with a large circular wall around it, the walls reaching several hundreds of meters into the sky. The buildings behind the walls were also extremely impressive, anyone that enters it would know that the city oozed wealth.
The streets were wide and well paved with lamps on every street corner. The stores were decorated and flushed with exotic goods from all parts of the world. Water fountains and parks dotted around the city, silver and gold exchanged hands easily like flowing water. The people were all well dressed and even the commoners looked to be quite affluent as compared to the ones I've seen anywhere else.
At the centre was the palace, the building stretching higher up into the air than every other building around it.
Its walls glittered as though gold adorned it and it looked much more luxurious than it was practical.
This place truly is a country of wealth it seems.
I'll definitely be able to earn a lot of money here!
Well, let's just go down there and start looking around.
I landed back down on the path a short distance away where there were no witnesses around.
However, the moment I landed there…
"Ara, ara? Is this the place?"
"Hmm… It seems so dear sister. The gaudiness and impracticality matches the country's standings."
Before I could even turn around, Manami and Kiyomi had came to my sides and linked their arms with mine as though it was the most natural thing to do.
They even wrapped their tails around my waist possessively, as though afraid that I would run off.
"Shall we head to the auction house, Master?" Manami asked, pressing her bosom against me.
"Wait… Why?"
"Hmmm? Why are we here? Of course I teleported my dear sister and myself here to Master~ We already said we won't let Master wander around alone anymore right? We will protect Master now~"
Kiyomi nodded beside her sister, "Mmm… That's why it's natural that Master should have a few of us accompanying you at all times."
I looked at them, "I guess asking you two to go back would be out of the question?"
"Ara, ara? If Master would prefer, we could follow you discreetly instead?"
Kiyomi nodded, "We have already decided to protect Master, so we shall not be letting Master out of our sight today. Please allow this selfishness of ours."
"You girls… Hai… Since you're already here, let's go and see the auction house, shall we?"
"Ufufufu~ It's a date~"
Well, guess I'm stepping foot in this new city with my two fox disciples today. I'll need to fluff them a lot later then.