A Cultivator in Equestria

By Staadnauthursil

Chapter Four: The Journey Begins

Theme Music: Kirin Theme (Original Concept Music) by Nathanaël Wsiaki

Disclaimer: I do not own anything copyrighted. This includes all of the youtube videos I use to give a touch of flair to my stories, please support the official releases along with those who work hard on these great youtube videos. As well as those YouTubers who make fantastic original works on their own

[Freshriver Village, Two Days After The Bandit Raid]

There was a solemn air over the normally lively village of Freshriver, a thick mist was veiling the air as the distant morning sun slowly rose. But amid the white mist rose a large plume of black smoke from the market square. The villagers were gathered around watching five pyres bearing the bundled-up corpses of the five villagers who died two days ago.

Things had been hectic and painful, with many children being too afraid to even leave their homes. Fearing more bandits would come from the woodlands.

There had not been such a brutal attack on the village for nearly a century, Elder Hardshell could confirm it. Yet it had been a far less bloody affair than most bandit attacks. Normally around ten people would be dead, permanently injured, or crippled. With many more major or minor injuries.

Most bandit raids attacked before the defences could be put up. It was because of the confidence in their enchanted weapons that allow it. Many were thankful for it but many were also quite disturbed by how big a chance of their attack being a success.

The ones who fought to protect them took down over a third of the arrogant thugs before they were shoot down with lightning. Those weapons would no doubt have allowed the bandits to breach the barrier if firing enough times at it. So the fact that a young kirin fought the rest of the bandits, ripping and tearing them apart in a bloody and yet beautiful dance-like fight, the militia members' words, was doubtful.

At least until they saw the state of the bandits' corpses, and the two chakrams buried into the body of the bandit leader. No one in the village knew how to use such weapons, and the fact that they were weapons made by Long's Sect made it hard to doubt the truth.

Though it also made some of the villagers afraid of their saviour. For how could such a polite and humble person be able to so brutally kill people, even if they were bandits?

Whispers of unease filled some of the households. And Elder Hardshell was well aware of it, seeing how many of the formerly curious children were dragged away by worried parents giving worried looks at his house where Guo Long was resting. Mere hours after the fight.

Guo Long had not realized how much his combat skills would affect the people of the village until he woke up the morning after the bandit raid. He had been lying in the medical bed he woke up in before, only this time it was a bit into the afternoon and Elder Hardshell was talking with an old-looking goat who had a young ram assistant with him.

The old goat's name was Joorgin Halfhorn and he was a herbalist with some knowledge of alchemy. When Guo Long raised himself the young ram let out a yelp of fear and ran out the door. The way the two old villagers had looked at one another at the assistant's reaction made Guo Long feel a bit uncomfortable.

He was well and properly healed through the duo's potions and medical care, though would need a day of rest to be healthy enough to travel. And Elder Hardshell had explained to him the reactions of many of the villagers of the sight of the dead bandits, and though many were still thankful and not fearful of him in the least.

"The current generations of this village are open and welcome to all nonhostile people. But sometimes a few will become hostile to outsiders for a time, or even their whole lives, because of attacks like this. And even if you saved many lives do I not want to risk people building up such feelings by having you as a scapegoat with the bandits all dead." Guo Long felt a bit sad at this, and a bit insulted, but he had seen how people could react to things they did not understand or feared.

So he agreed. It was probably for the best. He had been intending to leave the village anyways. There was a whole new world to explore, and he had a lot of training to do. Not to mention if more artifacts had fallen through the vortex with him he would have to find them. Plus, it might give him clues to get back to the Léiyǔ Sect.

It still hurt to realize that the people of this world were just as possible to turn fearsome and hostile like his first and second world. Trust was apparently a hard currency among all people across all dimensions.

"I was enjoying our discussions about alchemy and reagents. I would have loved to learn more." Guo Long, Disciple of the Léiyǔ Sect comments as he stands by the entrance of the village. His robes had been cleaned and repaired, and a sack of provisions laying by his legs. Joorgin Halfhorn the village alchemist and herbalist was standing next to him while Elder Hardshell held the ceremony for the burial pyres.

The old goat just nods and hums a bit. Being the second oldest member of the village he was rather famous for his deep knowledge and yet after he had helped in treating Guo Long's injuries the old alchemist had started asking the kirin about his sect.

And through some common grounds on medical knowledge, he had found a new source of knowledge based on Long's medical knowledge from his sect's teachings. "It is indeed a shame. I was learning quite a bit from our discussions. To think that some of the life energy of some beasts can cause affliction and that the cure is sometimes linked to the creature's diet or part of the creature itself."

Guo Long sits down on the stone fence, looking at the crowd by the pyres. He felt guilty still but no one was blaming him for the situation, though the uneasy looks from some of the villagers made his decision to leave a bit easier. "One of my teachers told me that the best cure for sickness and poisons caused by beasts is more often than not directly linked to it. There was a snake beast that caused hair loss and to cure it you had to eat the snake's heart raw. Another is a beast-like worm that spreads a burning rash that causes severe inflammation, the cure is a plant that is nurtured by the worm's defecated soil."

Reaching into a pocket the old goat pulls out a small handful of dried nuts and slowly chew on them before spiting the mushes out nut paste into his palm before smearing it over his hands. The oil of the nuts restoring the dry and damaged skin from working with herbs and potions. "Truly fascinating. That would explain my teacher's lesson that potion making involves more than plants and fungi. To think it might be possible to make potions with beast parts."

Guo Long looks at the small pouch by the old goat's waist, vials of various colours held within leather straps. He had seen one of those potions be poured over a patch of dead soil, rejuvenating it to a dark healthy soil once more. Another had simply cured a fever and stomach ache. "Your potion making is a fascinating thing as well. I know many of my teachers would be willing to trade knowledge with potion makers to improve their knowledge and skills in pill alchemy."

Joorgin strokes his beard as he looks at the distant pyres. "I personally do not know much in potion-based alchemy compared to the shaman brewers of Zebrica. My master was half zebra and learned most of his trade from his father. But he died from Green Toad Flu before he could finish teaching me and I never found another master."

The discussion seems to end there and they sit in silence for a bit.

Then Joorgin seems to remember something and he makes an 'aha' motion. "Now I remember. While I personally am not of much use so are there various branches of the Alchemy Guild across the world. I think there are four of them here in the Mǎ Empire. One at the Capital, one in the capital of the west, the trade port of Cob Bay. It is located near the center of the Golden River, a two weeks' journey to the east. The other two should be placed to the north and east. The only place without one of those guilds is the southern region, but it is mostly a coastal trade area so they have a lot of travelers that include alchemists."

Nodding Guo Long agreed with the assessment. "Coastal regions have access to more than inland, clearly they do not need specific buildings for things if they can just have people enter their ports. A coastal city can have up to ten times more educated people of various crafts than even the capital if it has enough sea routes."

The old goat looked at the kirin with an impressed look and commented on the youngster's knowledge. "Hoo? You seem quite familiar with the workings of society and trade. Does the sect teach you such things as well?"

Chuckling a little Guo Long nodded before answering, he had indeed learned much in the sect but he had a lot of knowledge from his former life. But he could not exactly tell Joorgin that now could he? No sane person would accept such outrageous words from a stranger. "Some. Mostly basic history, geography, biology, religion, and so on. But we are freely able to read books available to us, based on our ranking in the sect. I read quite a bit about various subjects during my free time. Of course, a lot of it was hidden from us since many books contained a lot of dangerous information or techniques not for the inexperienced or overachieving to try."

Smiling Joorgin imagines a place of such deep knowledge to learn from. It reminded him of one of the great libraries he and his master visited so long ago. "That is a wonderful concept. Sadly books in this land are kept strictly under the control of the rich, the noble, and the guilds. They see the concept of free knowledge as a threat to their prosperity."

The kirin raises a finger to the sky with a slight smile on his face. "Give a person wheat and they are fed for a day. Give a person knowledge and they will never starve. That is an old saying. But there is another truth to it that I understand many people of higher standing fear. Sometimes rightfully so. But mostly it is just ignorance or greed."

Blinking a bit Joorgin tried to imagine what the other version sounded like. He had heard the first one before, but not that there was another view to it. "What version is that?"

Sighing a bit Guo Long leans back and crosses his arms in contemplation. "Give a person wheat and they are content. Give a person knowledge and they realize they are in chains. For whatever reason, most people when they learn things about the truth of the world rather than remain ignorant. Will realize they are trapped in a society that exploits them for the privilege of the upper classes. Starting the possibility of rebellion."

The old goat looks at Long as he keeps talking. Seeing the image of a taught scholar in white robes emerge over the young cultivator for a short moment. "Knowledge is dangerous not just because it makes people think and realize. It is dangerous because people might use that knowledge to cause destruction and death in defiance to what they see as a flawed society."

"Knowledge does not mean wisdom. This is true. Very few people are wise enough to realize that change is not always swift nor good. Far too often are those with knowledge misusing it or blinded by it." Joorgin comments he listens to the young kirin's words. They were rather profound for someone so young. And yet he found himself agreeing. He had seen it himself how people who obtained knowledge would try to use it to help others, exploit others, or even kill others. Some even ignoring facts that contradicted their education.

Long raises two fingers and takes another turn in the discussion. "But there is another point of view. If knowledge was openly shared and taught between people. Then different points of view might coexist without violence. All one needs is to understand a simple fact of people. We are all different. To demand that everybody will act as you envision them to is just an act of tyranny. To offer everyone a chance to learn from, of, and about each other, so they may accept each other's differences, is an act of benevolence."

"Though it will be up to the people to show if they are ready for such things. Even the most well-meaning person might cause disaster if those he teaches prove unworthy of it. For knowledge is power, and power is known to corrupt even the best of people." Another moment of silence emergence between the two, the discussion giving them both something to think about.

"Well, you two seem to be in a deep discussion again." The two jumped a bit at a sudden voice close by and turned to see Elder Hardshell standing next to Joorgin, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

Snorting the goat waved a hand at the tortoise, speaking up in a joking tone. "Indeed. Your lead feet would never have snuck up on me had I not been distracted."

Chuckling Elder Hardshell just jokes back as he walks over to his old friend. "Excuses, excuses."

"I will return to my hut for breakfast now. Boy. Remember to go to the guild in Cob Bay, there is a public area of the guild where you can read some of the basic guides to plants and potion brewing. Nothing beyond emergency aids and facial cremes though." And with those words, the old goat walked back towards the upper portion of the village.

[Start Solemn Music: Beautiful Chinese Music -Tranquil Departure]

After a few moments of watching Joorgin walk away, Elder Hardshell turns towards Guo Long and bows deeply to him, his head touching the ground even. "Long. I, and my village, will always be grateful for your aid against these raiders. I hope the fear of a few won't taint your memory of this place."

Long just smiled and bowed in gratitude to the Elder. "As Grubber said, one should not be obliged to help others. I understand how people can grow fearful of someone like me Elder. We are all taught to kill those who would attack us and those in our areas in my sect. I will not apologies for killing the bandits. But I will apologise for frightening those who saw the result of it."

Humming the old tortoise slowly pulls out a small pouch and opens it, looking inside. "Hmmm... Grubber was wiser in his later years. But damn it if I don't wish he didn't volunteer to fight in his poor physical state. In his youth, I saw him break a child-sized boulder by headbutting it. He was far less athletic, not keeping up his exercises like he used to."

Long smiles a small sad smile as he looks at the point by the rocks where the old boar had died. "A peaceful life offers many joys and pleasures, but no motivations. Those who are content to live peacefully have the right to do so, but it makes them vulnerable to those who struggle or fight to survive. I cannot speak for Grubber. But I could tell he was still strong, it was not the lack of exercise or his big body that made him fall. It was age and sickness."

Hardshell looks up sharply with wide eyes. "Sickness? Grubber was ill? How could you tell?"

Long lift his left hand and a small blue glow starts emitting from it as he channels his qi through it. "When I was channeling my qi into his body to try and stabilise him I felt unnatural growths within the lungs. They were almost half-filled with blood, but I could sense these unnatural growths in them. They were most likely making it difficult for him to breathe properly. I believe he had some kind of lung disease, possibly even a cancerous growth."

"I do not know what cancerous growths are, nor have I ever seen or felt anything like them before during my own inspections. But. He had been coughing a lot more from his frequent smoking, even though he had been doing it for several years." Looking thoughtful Elder Hardshell thinks of the last time he inspected Grubber for any diseases. It had been a few years ago during a small influx of diarrhea because of bad flour. He had not sensed anything wrong back then. Or was it possible his health inspection spell could not detect issues like the one Long was describing? He had never heard nor sensed such growths in any part of a living being's body.

Closing his eyes, and the pouch, the tortoise dismiss the thoughts for now. It was not like he could do anything about it now. He would make sure to investigate it a bit in the future. But for now. He could not let it cloud his thoughts. "I last inspected his health around four years back, but I felt nothing wrong back then. I do not know if the spells I used can detect these growths you describe, but it is not like I can do anything about it now."

Long just nods, it was probably not a smart idea to dismiss the possibilities of the spells used being flawed. The kirin knew nothing about magic so he had no idea how it worked. But anything could have flaws, no technique was perfect, no person was perfect. Everything and everyone had flaws. "I at least hope you will be able to discover the truth for yourself in the future when you have the time to investigate."

"That I hope too. But for now. Here, take this." With a soft smile Hardshell holds out the pouch in his claws and Long gently takes it.

Opening the pouch the kirin blinks as he sees around thirty silver coins, each shaped like rectangular plates with an oriental style dragon on the front and a horse armed in Chinese warlord armour at the back. He looks at the smiling tortoise in shock, he did not know the value of these coins. But he knew it was much more than your average farmer would see outside of a harvest season. "Are you sure-"

Raising a claw Hardshell interrupts the young kirin and shakes his head. "These 37 silver yuans are half of what was made from the sales of scavenged weapons and items this month by Grubber. He would always give half of his profits to the village. We do not need these coins as much as you do, you are separated from your sect and have no monetary assets. Please. Take them and use them well."

Sighing Guo Long places the pouch in a pocket inside the folds of his robes and he mutters gently to himself. "Why does it feel like I will never be able to repay these kind actions?"

Chuckling softly Hardshell just smiles. "As Grubber said, good deeds are not obligations. Someone demanding payment for a good deed did not do it out of the good of their heart. But to offer a gift to those in need of it is a kind of good deed as well. Is it not?"

Chuckling in return Guo Long just gives a deep bow to the old tortoise. "Heh. Well. I cannot deny your words. And I will accept this kind gift."

Tapping his walking cane against the ground the village elder nods. "Good. Do you know where you intend to go next?"

Patting a small cylinder made of bamboo tied to his waist the kirin nods, next to the cylinder was a sheath holding a familiar-looking blade. "The map you gave me shows around three villages between here and the town of Cob Bay. It should be my next destination, even if only to learn more about what is going in these areas. Plus, the potion guild sounds interesting."

Hardshells pat the young kirin on the back and nod approvingly. A wise and logical decision to seek more knowledge and possibilities in the larger towns than to remain out in the countryside. Especially when one seeks information. "Then I will not hold you back any longer. Fair travels Guo Long, may you find what you seek. And know that you will be welcome back here, just let things settle down a little."

Guo Long reaches down to his small burlap sack of supplies and shoulders it. And then he gives another bow to the Elder. "I will, and thank you once more. For everything." and then he began to walk down the road leading into the woodlands. The dense morning mist swirling over his robes as he strides forward.

*No. Thank you young kirin, for keeping this village safe.* Hardshell thinks as he looks at the slowly disappearing figure of the young cultivator for a good while until he is long gone into the woodland road.

Some of the villagers watched on as the young kirin began to walk away. A few of them, among them the bulls, waved after him. But the kirin never saw it as he never looked back. Even as the smokes of the pyres coloured the morning sky in black clouds of mourning, there was still a tranquil feeling over the village.

The village elder lets out a soft sigh and closes his eyes for a moment. The crackling of the pyres echoing out through the air. Then he opens his eyes and walks over to one of the three cage wagons by the road. He does not need to hunch down to look at the wheels with his short height, and his eyes narrow in anger. Upon them is a familiar-looking emblem, engraved upon wheel caps made of solid bronze, in the shape of two swords planted in a field of wheat.

He did not openly say anything to the young kirin about his suspicions. But for a group of raiders to obtain wagons meant to hold wild beasts with that marking meant that dark deals were being made in the Golden Hills.

Afterall. No decent lord would let wagons bearing his family mark be kept by bandits. Unless he was discretely supporting them. But the one whose mark bore the shape of a sword planted into a field of wheat was no decent lord.

"I have a feeling I will need to send a report to the Regional Lord about Lord Grassblade making deals with bandits."

[Later at the Evening, Greenfield Village.]

The sun is slowly settling in the distance. Its golden beams turning orange and red. Painting the small village of Greenfield in a pretty array of colours. The village is located in the center of the Sorehoof Woods and is the second village one reaches after entering the forest from the east or west. Its name originates from the large open field surrounding the village that was cleared out to prevent beasts or bandits to approach the wooden walls unseen.

A wide stream of powerful rapids flows next to the village, a bit further east and it will join the other water flows from the Feng Hoof Mountains and become the Golden River.

Located just north of the village stands an artificial hill with a walled-in three-story mansion. This is the home of the lord in charge of maintaining order and prosperity among the various villages under his control. But Lord Daring Grassblade was by no means a proper lord or even a decent person.

In his late thirties, he was an overly obese toad of a family renowned for their martial prowess, but Daring was no warrior, not even a scholar or a decent schemer. He was lazy, gluttonous, greedy, and more than anything, lacking in any kind of decency. The only thing he had for him was his size and physical strength, which he used ruthlessly to keep his subjects in check or to have some fun.

Currently, the massive toad was sitting on a large pillow by the garden smoking out of a water pipe while four servants were washing his half-naked body with scented oils, feeding him various delicacies, and one was even orally pleasing him. He looked like he was in heaven, and if not for the broken empty eyes of the so-called servants, one might even have mistaken them for doting concubines or wives.

The peaceful, though distasteful, scenery was broken as the door to the garden veranda slid open, revealing a fat boar dressed in fine black robes with silver trims, marking him as a high-ranking advisor, and a and official. The boar's name was Verger and he was the Grassblade clan's Chamberlain, the one in charge of all domestic affairs, and unofficially all of them. "My Lord Daring. I have received some disturbing news."

Snorting out smoke from his nostrils the large toad closes his eyes and enjoys the ministrations of his slaves as he sits there. He let the old pig control the clan because he didn't want to deal with it. Why did he have to interrupt him now!? "Hmmph. Be quick about it."

Respectfully bowing to the spoiled brat of an adult the old boar gave his report. "The bandit crew lead by your 'former retainer' Gold Seeker have been destroyed. Most of them are dead. One of them arrived at the village badly injured. They had apparently managed to obtain low-grade artifacts from a traveling scavenger group and tried to raid a village where a noble was located. Said noble apparently tore them all apart with mid-grade artifacts and even frightened the manticores to flee."

Frowning the large toad is about to speak when his lips form an o and he closes his eyes, leans back, and groans out as he blows his load into the gut of the slave deep throating his prick. After his release subsides the slave proceeds to clean him up. He looks at the old boar with a frown."Humph! Such nonsense. There is no nobility in this region that I do not know about. Their visits to this place have been tightly observed and discouraged. We have no need for such people. Execute him."

Ignoring the degeneracy happening in front of him Chamberlain Verger shakes his head. "I am afraid the poor sod expired just hours after arriving. His wounds were too severe. But he was adamant that what had he spoke is what happened. The person in question is a young male kirin, dressed in old-styled purple robes with golden trims. Wielding a pair of circular blades that can fly through the air like birds. He also physically killed most of the bandits with unarmed attacks and martial arts. Even Gold Seeker was torn apart by him."

Looking up in thought Lord Daring hums to himself as the slave finishes cleaning his loins and stands up, disrobing. Before turning around to lower herself down onto his still erect girth. He keeps talking like the far smaller female slowly pushes herself down his length. Even as blood leaks down her legs. "Hmmm... that sounds like an issue. He may be one of those bastard-born nobles, possibly even a fraud, or a spy sent by another faction. Have the gangs and guards keep a lookout for him. And if he either causes or is here to cause, trouble for our operations. Deal with him."

Bowing to the toad lord the old boar nods and begins to move back towards the door of the house. Knowing the unspoken command to leave from the tone of the lord's voice. "As you command Lord Grassblade."

The door closes, leaving only the noise of the birds and the wind. And the sound of the sex slave's voice gasping for air as she impales herself up and down the girth of the corrupt lord, even as more blood begins to flow out of her body.

[The Following Morning, the Sorehoof Woods. Guo Long's Point of View]

"Aaah the morning air of the woods smell sooo good!" I guess I look a bit silly stretching myself in the middle of the road. But there's no one around except for the spirits bound to me. So no worries about that.

It's been a day since I left the village. I followed the dirt road from morning till sunset, and there is a wide stream going alongside the road, so I am not without fresh water. Though unless I run out of the freshwater I already have will I not drink from it, since I will need to either filter or boil it to safely drink it.

I slept in a tree crown, using a blanket and some large leaves to make soft bedding to not risk getting bitten by insects. It felt rather good actually, reminded me of the survival training the sect had me go through last year. Brushing my teeth has become a bit of a challenge, it is easier to clean them than my human ones but they are far deeper into my mouth and I have to really open my mouth to properly reach my molars at the back.

Good thing that kind of alchemist gave me those cotton tail-like herbs. They work rather well as toothbrushes, have a minty flavour and scent even. Wonder if they're natural or cultivated?

Not that there was much to clean, the food I was given is either dried or liquid. I have two bamboo bottles of dried food, one meat, one fruit. I have a large gourde bottle filled with water, around three galleons worth. And I had a third bamboo bottle filled with freshly made soup. But I drank it up yesterday. So now it is empty, though cleaned in the stream as to not risk mold growth in the container.

So for now I have to live with dried goods unless I can get hold of some fresh food to cook. They gave me a lot of basic survival and camping gear, well no tent or hammock, but I can make a hammock myself with some time and effort. There's even a small set of foraging tools, a knife, a scissor, and a woven basket you can flatten up when not using.

There's still some good space left in the bag they gave me and it is not too heavy.

Hmmm... now that I think about it. Weights huh? I will need some in the future. "I should put some heavy rocks in my clothes or bag. That should give me a bit of weight to carry around as I walk."

"We should start focusing on your cultivation of qi first Long. You have yet to adapt to it." The voices of my internal guests speak up. And I open a hand and make a small glow flow between my fingers. I have a lot of strength, but I lack the focus to use it.

Yeah indeed. I really cannot disagree. I need to train this before I focus on my physical exercises... "Indeed. I need to get into the flow of practice. Even on the road, you have to keep up your training."

Let's see. I guess I should start training my stamina first as well as my qi control. The way I was wasting energy back during the bandit fight would have ended up with me going through a lot of back-breaking training by my teachers.

Let's take a deep breath, start circulating my qi. And now start slowly letting out the air, but do not let it all out, instead suck in more air, and keep this up as you walk. This will strain my breathing and qi channeling but also slowly increase my control over both as I keep making it more difficult.

*I will start with controlling my qi and breathing as I walk. I have spent a day just walking so for now I better focus on practicing as I go.* Mentally communing with a spirit is far easier than speaking out loud, especially when you are focusing on breathing, walking, and circulating qi.

A chorus of proud and slightly joyous voices is my response. Which does not help me concentrate. "That is a good decision. We will be here to monitor your progress, should you get distracted we will jolt your body while explaining how to correct yourself. The burden of a teacher is to keep track of their student's path as to not let them lead astray."

Then why do you all sound so happy about giving me a shock? *Yeesh. You don't have to sound so sad about it.*

Whoops, they look a bit irritated with me. Why? ...wait... Oh yeah... These guys were probably also taught similarly like I was. "No back talking to your teachers!"

"GaaaaGH!" Hurt! Pain! My body is locking up! Falling!

*Thump!*

"Mmmph..." Hello, dirt my old friend. I apparently am here to taste you again. Why do I keep falling face forward? And why can I not stop being sarcastic to people in charge of my education!?

This is going to be a long trip.

And there's the voice of my now impatient trainers. Gods I should not have been cheeky. "Now get up and start jogging down the road for a kilometer. Keep your breath steady and keep circulating your qi through your body as you jog!"

Better get going. Getting to my fee-, no hooves and start trotting down the road! "Yes, teachers!"

Restart the practice!

Wow, the woods sure are pretty this morning. There is just enough sunlight to light the dew drops on the leaves and a light mist is strolling over the sandy road. A slightly moist scent filling the air as the moisture in the air flows into my nostrils.

This body sure can smell a lot of things that I cannot even compare to my human body. I am quite certain that I can smell something alive moving in the trees, it smells like acorns and tree bark with a hint of wet fur. Maybe a chipmunk or a squirrel?

Well, at least I won't be bored during this trip to the Capital of the West, Cob Bay. I wonder what such a city will be like? I haven't been in a city since my first life.

"Don't get distracted!" GAHHHHH!!! Quit it with the jolts already!

[Equestria, Canterlot, Late Evening, 3rd Person's Point of View]

Queen Celestia was deep in reading about some of the old books and tomes which spoke of the Cultivators. A lot of it was just theories and assumptions made on what had been discovered among the ruins of the lost sects. She did not know much about them outside of their strict teachings and powerful skills as fighters. But she would not correct other people's theories, for even those that sounded insane or wrong could hold a grain of truth.

The talk she had with her student had made her remember much of the old times during her early years as an alicorn and made her want to try and read a bit more about it to remember more of those days. Possible even some of the few lessons she had witnessed the cultivators perform.

One of these texts reminded her of the recent discussions of the Mǎ Empire. As it spoke of one of the larger and stronger sects which had been located within the Feng Hoof Mountains.

The Frosthorn Sect was spoken of as one of the strongest of the cultivator sects in the western regions of Gaia. Their sect temples were placed on high mountain peaks with constant snowfalls, below glaciers in massive underground caverns, or on islands in cold lakes or seas.

Infamous for their proficiency with cold and wind-based qi techniques they are assumed to have been able to manipulate weather and even fly without wings.

Though many speculate that these abilities and powers might be more connected to the various powerful artifacts they had been known for crafting out of beast parts and secret crafting techniques.

Through my long years of studying the Frosthorn Sect, I have concluded that there was a massive evacuation effort during the Age of Chaos. Many old temples are empty, riddled with traps, or sealed with strange magical arts. Yet very few bones of the cultivators themselves can be found, making it possible that they fled the mountains.

It might be that the cultivators themselves died off, but that much of their lore, arts, and artifacts were spread out over the regions around the Feng Hoof Mountains and eventually left to gather dust as old antiques. I doubt anyone would be able to unlock the power of these ancient items without knowing the secrets of the sect. But no doubt there would be much to learn if one could find and identify even a few of these rare objects.

Still looking over the page Celestia pauses in her reading and hums to herself as she ponders what she just read. Specifically about the possibility of forgotten cultivator objects spread over the nearby regions of the Fang Hoof Mountains. *Hmmmm... that gives me an idea.*

She then resumes reading the book and flips the page. Revealing a sketch of a sealed sect temple gate, two large guardian statues of some kind of beasts standing on either side. Several texts are pointing out various parts and materials, and even details a magical scan of the gate, revealing a network of strange carvings tracing the door and doorway.

A voice speaks up from behind her chair as she reads the author's few speculations about the seals used by the cultivators as a form of rune language... "Agent Lotus, reporting for duty my queen."

Celestia doesn't openly react and just keeps reading, not even glancing over her shoulder to look at the spy she had called for. Instead, she slowly and calmly finishes the last part of the chapter and puts a bookmark in place before putting down the book on her desk.

Then she turns around to see the kneeling shape of the agent. A fairly short earth pony mare dressed in head to hooves in dark fabric. And she has to hold back a smile from a century ago when the design for her nation's agents stealth suits first came to play. *By the sun that was a mess.*

The agent was dressed in two specialized gear. A dark blue, nearly black, bodysuit made of enchanted crystal thread, going from the top of the hooves to the neck and elbows. The suit could protect its wearer from most manners of spells and weapons, though it left little to the imagination because of how tightly it fits the body. Many agents would complain about how the suit made them look like prostitutes or gimps.

Not only mares but stallions as well since the suit molded to their bodies, perfectly. More than one person got an eyeful of pony genitals and nipples during the initial trials of the suit.

Ironically the suit was too eye-catching for its intended stealth purpose. And more than one of those who made the design had almost been pummeled by angry mare agents. Had it not been for the fact that half of those who designed it were mares themselves who saw it as using their bodies to distract the opponents.

Did not really convince the rest of her agents to essentially reveal every detail of their bodies from curves, to abs, to nipples, and whatnot. Since only underwear made of the same material could work without making the suit's enchantments risk malfunctioning.

The interior enchantments of the outfit were designed to attune to the body to make it far more efficient, but if you wanted to wear underwear it meant you had to either special order them or risk having the suit malfunction. That had been a riot, almost literally, until they showed it was true by showing how someone wearing a regular set of underwear caused that portion of the suit to malfunction and melt.

Thus the second gear was added, a dark blue coat made out of artificial leather made out of grounded-up dragon scales. The coat was not just to make the agents feel less revealing, it was enchanted to protect against various environments, and was equipped with a variety of engineering features for situations where open spellcasting was not an option.

And since it could be worn over the bodysuit without interfering with the material, there were no malfunctions.

Nowadays, nobody seems to see it as wrong to wear only the bodysuit, but she thinks it's because her subjects' sense of fashion can be skewed at times. "I have a mission for you Agent Lotus. As you might have heard was there a second report sent from General Star Blade about the situation in Imperial Capital of the Mǎ Empire."

The agent doesn't move and only responds to the Queen's inquiry. "Yes, I read both the reports. Apparently, has a network of corruption and perversity been revealed among many of the Imperial Court and the various Lords. There was even a mention of several lords hiring bandits or disguising their retinues as bandits to raid their own or other lord's lands to claim wealth without paying taxes."

Standing up from her seat Celestia magically summons a map of the Mǎ Empire and unfurls it on her desk. A pair of ink wells and paperweights were placed on the edges to prevent it from furling up. "Indeed. But what is obvious is that this network has not sprung up on its own. It is far too detailed and connected. And so the Golden Horse Emperor, Iron Judgment, sent a request for aid in tracking down the masterminds behind this organization. Since his own agents are too recognizable and not skilled enough to handle it."

Summoning a simple rapier blade from its sheath on a wall over the fireplace she points with the tip at the map." I decided to accept since it would offer me an opportunity to rebuild relations with the Mǎ Empire. But also to offer me a chance to get hold of some information I wish to obtain."

The agent nods, knowing that her queen will most likely use the current situation to get hold of more than political influence with the Golden Horse Emperor and his Imperial Court. "Shall this be part of my assignment my queen?"

Resting the tip of the rapier onto the capital of the nation Celestia looks close at the map whilst she speaks. "You may do so if you wish, this is not an obligation but an optional mission. I wish to obtain any information about the lost art of Cultivation and its users. The Mǎ Empire is located close to one of the regions where one of the strongest sects was located. So there might be some information to be found, possibly even artifacts or tablets from the sects themselves."

Agent Lotus thinks of this and she realizes that this might be something she can do. She will most likely have to investigate and research a bit about the Cultivators and their artifacts before reaching the Mǎ Empire. But she could do it. "I will do my best on this secondary assignment. But should I fail this, I will still succeed in finding and capturing the leaders of this organization of corruption."

Smiling Celestia nods to her before jamming the rapier into the map of the Mǎ Empire, specifically at the location of the westernmost city of the entire empire. Cob Bay. "Excellent. You and a few more agents will move out at once. As you are the senior agent you will be the leader Lotus. An airship will be waiting for you by the airship skyport. The best location to start inspecting not just for the artifacts but for this network of corruption as well is in the largest trade city of the land, Cob Bay. Good luck."

[The Sorehoof Woods, Three Days Later]

A large serpentine beast slitter up over parts of the road. Its ten-meter long body is adorned with a layer of thick plate-like scales along the upper portion of the body, the head is shaped like a viper's with five horns sticking out of its skull, one from the center of the skull, two from the sides of the skull. These horns are what has earned this kind of beast the name Five Horned Viper.

It is a poison snake beast originally from the more eastern regions of the land, its eggs were valuable as alchemy components and delicious food ingredients. And one such traded egg had been on a caravan that was attacked and it was left behind. The egg hatched because of the summer warmth and for close to ten years has grown to a massive size compared to its normal brethren.

But size meant more food was required for it and when a band of angry manticores chased off most of the animals and beasts in the woods it had been having a hard time finding food in its normal areas. It could last a month on a single meal. But its last meal had been a little over a month ago.

Food was currently hard to find and its body requires more sustenance than your average Five Horned Viper. It was starving and desperate enough to try something new. And so, it has left for the forest road where it had sensed many being travel for the past ten years.

Hoping for a chance for an abundance of easy prey it now must find a good ambush point. It slowly coils up on the road and looks with its four eyes along the path, flicking out its tongue while doing so as it tries to find prey.

Nothing. There was no prey there yet. Maybe it should move on and search somewhere else? There was no real proper ambush point except for the tree branches stretching over the road.

The serpent turns to slither into the woods once more when it suddenly freezes as it starts to feel a slight tremor from the earth. Like a real snake, it is sensitive to vibrations. And it can feel something approaching at a rapid rather from the west.

It climbs up a large tree and coils around a branch overshadowing the road. It readies itself to assault the approaching pray. From the sensation, it might be a carrier beast or maybe a lot of people running away from another beast? It feels its stomach grumble in anxiety and it opens its mouth and lowers its head down, curling up while doing so, ready to pounce.

Something approaches at rapid speed. It flings its open jaw down, revealing four upper poison dripping fangs on the upper jaw and four smaller gripping fangs on the lower jaw. The head moves in a diagonal angle downwards, at the first sense of impact, it will bite its prey and inject its paralytic neurotoxins into its prey before swallowing it whole.

Only for a loud voice to shout out into its face as it feels a small fist slam into its lower jaw, slamming its mouth shut. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY! [IRON SHELL UPPERCUT]!", the Five Horned Viper could not comprehend what had happened as its head bent backward from the impact of the counter strike and its own speed. It flew upwards and out of the tree lines before slamming down in a heap on the ground.

Dazed it tried to slither away when it feels the same vibrations approach. And it freezes as it hears the savage voice roar out again. "I. SAID. GET. THE. FUCK. OUT. OF. MY. WAY! [APE'S HEAVY STOMP]!", it tries to move but a sudden sensation of two hooves slamming into its neck is all it feels along with the sound of shattering bone and a sudden jolt of pain. Before it dies.

It got some revenge though as the young kirin cultivator Guo Long found himself stuck in the neck of the giant snake he had just curb-stomped to death and fell forward and began to tumble down the dirt road, dragging the corpse of the snake beast with him. With a loud sound of flesh impacting wood, he struck a tree by a Y path and he lies there entangled with the massive snake beast's corpse, groaning a bit.

Shakingly the young cultivator drags himself free from the corpse and tries to stand up, only to fall over. His legs were as heavy as cinderblocks and he couldn't feel anything below his thighs. Rolling onto his back he just mutters softly as he lays there. "I can't feel my legs..."

The kirin spirits float above him, crossing their forelegs, and nods at him. "Very well. This should be enough training for today, disciple."

Sighing in relief Guo Long channels qi through his body and slowly drags himself to a seated position by the tree and begin to stretch his legs and arms as best as he can. He did not want to end up with cramps or muscle pains because he didn't stretch.

He had been training nonstop for three days now. Only allowed to stop to stretch, wash, eat, and sleep. Long was only glad the spirits stopped shocking him after the first day. Being electrocuted was not damaging his body but it sure stung a lot. Even more so than the lightning bolts from the bandits' artifacts, possibly because the kirins were using his own body's qi to do it?

Either way, he was glad to not experience it further.

Rotating his left arm he slowly looks at the big corpse by his side in a bit of confusion. "Wonder why that thing tried to attack me. It is not any of the beasts that Elder Hardshell warned me about. Maybe it's an invasive species?"

The kirin spirits consider this and float over the carcass. Inspecting its characteristics. "Possible. This beast feels like it belongs to more humid and warm climates. Spirit beasts that enter new environments have been known for pushing out the competition. This beast might be the cause for the lack of beasts in the woodlands. It would explain why the road has not been as dangerous as implied by the elder?"

"Well, We're not too far away from a village, though we did pass by a village two days ago by accident." Giving a criticizing look at the 'innocent' kirin spirits Guo Long slowly begins to stand up. His legs were aching but he needed to properly stretch and get ready to rest.

With an innocent, and yet snarky, voice the spirits spoke back to him while looking away. Practically confessing while denying that they had been enjoying giving him the cultivator equivalent of Boot Camp In Hell. "We don't know what you are talking about. It is not our fault that your training to priority before orientation and navigation."

Gritting his teeth a little Guo Long forces himself to remain calm as he rotates his hips and raises his arms up and down. "So it was not because you saw that nice lake filled with bamboo and thought it would be a good idea to make me cross the lake using acrobatics on the bamboo? And thereby made me miss the turn that went to the first village in the woods?"

"No of course not. It was an ample opportunity to train you in how to handle your qi and to rapidly increase your proficiency with your new body by challenging yourself!" The spirits said with a wide 'innocent' grin on their collective avatar.

As much as he wanted to deny it could he not. The results were far more than he had been expecting. By using only the basic physical and qi channeling training regime, along with some extreme physical challenges. Guo Long had found his qi control and efficiency increased by more than three times.

Which did not speak well of him as the spirits still commented on how some of the earlier disciples they had seen training like this had been able to improve more than ten times in the time he had spent.

*I always knew I did not have a lot of talent or raw qi but it still stings to hear it from somebody else.* He thinks to himself as he bends forward a bit with his arms held out in front of him. Long then bends in the other direction until it looks like he is about to start standing on his hands.

"Yeah. Yeah. Sure." Sighing Guo Long straightens himself upright. He then looks at the sign that would lead him to the third village in the woods. Wonder why it was called Greenfield, perhaps it was originally farmlands?

Either way, it would be good for him to take it easy for a bit and get some warm food and restock his supplies a little. He still had two days worth of food and he could scavenge or hunt if forced to. Didn't mean he couldn't appreciate some decent food. He was a Cultivator, not a bloody monk.

[TBC]

Author's Note

Staadnauthursil: Not much violence in this chapter. But a few background events and the start of Guo Long's training as an Outer Disciple of his sect. His trainers are not content with his progress though.

Twilight Sparkles: Why not? Improving more than three times your original efficiency and control would give you an A+ in my old school.

Staadnauthursil: Well the kirins spirits are far more experienced in cultivation and training cultivators than your average cultivator. And they have all experience with students processing far faster than Guo Long, and for good reasons.

Twilight Sparkles: Oh! What reasons! Tell me!

Staadnauthursil: I will not tell you these reasons.

Twilight Sparkles: WHAT!? WHY NOT!?

Staadnauthursil: Spoilers.

Twilight Sparkles: Oh... right... I am totally stealing your notes after this.

In case you are wondering what I based Lord Grassblade's appearance on: https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/029/213/446/large/xiang-yu-333.jpg?1596805933

These two links show the attires the stealth suit of Equestrian Agents is based upon. It is a combination of a goth looking trench coat with a cloak with a taimanin full-body suit: https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/H75bc7b4a92614ff1b8ee0f83d73ee7d9U/Taimanin-Asagi-Asagi-Igawa-Costume-Cosplay-Jumpsuit-Women-s-Outfit.jpg

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB10jGlKeuSBuNjy1Xcq6AYjFXal/Cool-Women-Cosplay-Coat-Irregular-Hooded-Leather-Patchwork-Tops-Cosplay-Avant-Long-Coat-Gothic-Ninja-Hero.jpg_Q90.jpg_.webp

This is just a small basic explanation of the three currencies spoken of in the story thus far.

Bits, Yuans, and Trade Plates

Bits are thick quarter-sized gold coins bearing a simple 1 on the front and a symbol on the back. The current coinage has the image of a sun on the back.

The symbol on the back of the coin is altered every century to keep the weight and value of the coins up to date, as well as to categorise those changes.

Higher quantities of bits, around 10.000+ are only used through trade when both parties have agreed on the sum and the final date that the payment has to be made. Sometimes payments can be spread out into smaller portions to make it easier to transport the bits.

Equestrian banks are infamous for protecting the money of their customers with almost fanatical fervor. As the lifeblood of the bank is its customers and their money flow. Contrary to what many think are banks not eager to keep a lot of money inside their offices, they keep them in specially made magic vaults.

The modern bits are small and only worth 1 bit each, but they are the most stable currency in the world because of how simple the system is. Though many other nations think it is far too simple and not advanced enough. And they might have a point, but it works.

Yuans are made of gold and silver. Silver yuans are plates around half a centimeter thick, four centimeters long, and one centimeter wide. Gold Yuans are the same size as dollar coins, shaped like wheels with a square hole in the center.

Silver Yuans bear the symbol of an oriental dragon on the front, the marking of the empire, and an image of the emperor/empress who ruled when the coin was printed.

Gold Yuan are molded with symbols pressed along the rim, showing the weight, value, and year of the coin. The four sides along the square hole have sometimes symbols carved into them to make them more unique. The current Gold Yuans have jian long swords embedded upon the four plat surfaces on the left and right sides of the coin. Earning it the nickname, the Eight Sword Coin.

Trade Plates are universe trading currencies used by all nations worldwide. Each plate has a flat value that cannot be manipulated. The plates are made out of steel with a layer of gold on top. They are ten centimeters wide and thirty centimeters long. Each plate has a specific value engraved upon it based on national trade.

The value of the countries' currencies and wares might change. But the trade plates remain unchanged. Some people have used this to earn a lot of money short term. But those people are often discovered rather swiftly as the Trade Plates are not usable for buying items. They are used as insurance for trade.

After the great depression of 745 Trade Plates would no longer be used as currency between nations. It was clear that with the shift in values in currencies it did not work. The plates would only be used as a means of insurance for trade deals and as large-scale payouts between nations or companies that could trade the plates in for something of equal value.

Example: A ship is to take goods across the sea. The sailor has a lot of wares. But he does not know if he will make a profit. So he buys Trade Plates from his local bank using his wares' value as collateral and keeps them in the bank.

An official has to inspect the value of the goods and that the concept is not an attempt for easy insurance, before finalizing the Trade Plate contract.

If his trade goes through and he makes a profit he can just get his money back with a small fee to the bank, normally equal to or less than 5% of the original value. If his trade doesn't work out his plates will allow him to reclaim 95% of the original value of his cargo. Which will most likely be used to maintain his business and get new trade goods. With only losing a small portion of what he originally invested.

The system is not perfect. But it makes international trade more profitable and some governments even pay the banks in case of losses because of insurance payouts.

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