More than a Dragon Warrior

[Tai Lung's POV]

Gongmen City was a metropolis, filled with many business opportunities and trades. However, the sheer amount of resorts and other entertainment establishments located in the city made it famous as the dream city in all of China.

The city was busier than even the likes of Mielin City. I looked around curiously at the epitome of prosperity and wealth of ancient China.

Gongmen City was an independent city which was under no empire or domination. Although it was just a city, they could compete with any other kingdom when it came to economy.

It was home to many of the wealthy people in China and it always held a deep connection with the Kung Fu Council, and before that, Master Flying Rhino.

The city was also surrounded by rocky mountains that made it difficult for an army to attack, coupled with the Kung Fu masters with whom they had a relation, no Kingdom or empire could threaten Gongmen city.

Their relationship with the Kung Fu master went so long back and deep that when the rulers of the city, the peacocks all died out, Gongmen city came under the Kung Fu Council.

The city was divided into different districts, there were districts for entertainment, trade, gambling, markets, living quarters of the soldiers/Kung Fu masters, the district where the rich lived, a district where the commoners lived, etc.

At the centre of the city was the ancestral palace of the Peacocks, a place where the current rulers of Gongmen City reside.

I just entered Gongmen City and I was in the traveller's district. The place was teeming with hotels, brothels, taverns and different restaurants that would give a much-needed rest to all of the travellers that came to the city.

It was the first district and one of the busiest districts too. It also acted as a port where you could hire ships and workers to transport cargo.

No one bats an eye towards me as I fit right into the crowd. It was not uncommon for people with hidden identities to visit the city. They could be nobles who wanted to enjoy life but did not want their reputation ruined, kings and even monks.

People knew to keep to their own business.

"Oh my~ You look like you can use a rest."

'Well, maybe not this one.'

I stopped and turned to the seductive Gazelle who had decided it was wise to approach me. She wore a skimpy red dress and from her appearance, you can say that she was extremely beautiful for this world standard.

I raised an eyebrow. Judging from her dress and from her beauty, she was a prostitute, and with a high rank too. Red was only reserved for the most exquisite girls after all.

The question was, why did someone like her approach me? Instead of seeking out customers, there must be males lining up to spend a night with her.

But here she was, in the streets and she approached me first.

"I'm sorry but I have no coins to spend the night with such a lovely lady." I said politely and walked past her.

I think it was my other life as a human affecting me, but I could no longer find the females in this world too attractive.

That did not mean I was not going to marry or have kids in the future, it just meant that if I was not emotionally attached to a girl, I did not desire to mate with a random female.

I find them beautiful, and I can appreciate them. But it lacked the lust that should be there.

The Gazelle who approached me could be said to be the top beauty in this world, but her invitation did not even phase me.

"Wait sir!! I did not say you need to pay." She said and came in front of me again. She smiled coyly and put her hand on my chest.

"You can have me without paying. Just promise to accept one favor I have in the future if we meet again." She said.

That made me pause.

I meet her eyes and I read her expression. Did she know who I was to want a favor from me?

In the end, I realised that she was just someone with the ability to tell the strength of a person. There were many different animals in this world and many of them had skill sets unique to them.

So it was not rare for a prey species of an animal to be able to tell the strength of someone with one glance. Like they were made to discern predators from the mass, they could tell apart the strong from the rest.

She must've noticed me and when she realized how absurdly strong I was, she must've thought I was some powerful master who came to the city while hiding my identity.

To own the favor of a Kung Fu master was priceless in this world ruled by strength. I suspect that this might not be the first time she approached a strong master.

I looked at her from top to bottom, she was tall and slender. But she had the right amount of fats where needed and she was very curvy.

There was also this alluring vibe around her, like the aura females had when they were ovulating or they were in heat.

"I'm not interested." I said and walked past her again. She just stayed rooted in her place, shocked that she was rejected.

As I was walking pass her, my ears caught a conversation taking place in front of the building opposite to me.

"We have fresh fish caught just this morning!! They are completely fresh and we serve it in the restaurant. 6 copper coin is a huge steal!!" The owner of the restaurant said to the incredulous sheep who was hesitant to dine in the restaurant.

I stopped.

Did they just say fish?

Meat?

"I'll take that!!" I said loudly while raising my hand. Everyone was looking at me and even the Gazelle I just rejected looked at me in shock.

"Wonderful!! Come on in sir!!" The owner said and I excitedly went into his shop under the stumped eyes of the Gazelle.

I don't need animal pussy.

I need meat.

..

..

Wait, that sounds kinda-

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"This is peak." I said while stuffing my mouth with the masterfully cooked fish.

Fish was the only source of meat you can get in this world but even then, it was not a popular food. Especially if you didn't live near a lake, you will never eat fish in your life.

But here in Gongmen City which was located near the Pearl Lake, fish were plentiful. They did not export it though since fish spoil too quickly and the unpopularity made it unprofitable even if you know how to preserve it.

This restaurant was special since they served the best fish dishes. They did not have much customers but they always had loyal predator animal customers so they could keep the business going.

Right now, the restaurant was mostly empty with four leopards sitting at the other end of the restaurant being the only other customers.

I would've said it was perfect if not for the shameless Gazelle sitting beside me.

I gave her a side eye and noticed how she was choosing only the noodles and vegetable part of the dish and she pushed around the fish's meat with a disgusted expression.

I would've asked her what she was doing if I had not known she would answer with something like 'Can't I eat at the restaurant? Do you own the place?'

Let's ask her anyway.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you mean what am I doing? I am eating, can't I eat at the same restaurant as you?" She replied.

Called it.

"I meant what are you doing with your dish? Do you not like fish?" I asked.

"Yes, do you want it?"

Yes please.

"Sure, I am not repulsed with the idea of helping you." I said and she gave me all the fish meat from her food.

"Are you with the Kung Fu Council? Did you come early for the tournament?" She asked offhandedly.

I raised an eyebrow, "What makes you think that? In fact, what makes you think I am a Kung Fu master at all?"

She smiled, "I have this ability to tell how strong a person is. And with the time I had spent in Gongmen City, I have encountered many people, even famous warriors."

"Yet you are by far the strongest." She said and I smiled.

At least she was honest. If that is the case then I did not mind returning the gesture.

"I am not with the Kung Fu Council but I do have some business with them. It's why I came to the city in the first place." I said and her eyes sparkled.

"So, are you like a warrior or guardian of a kingdom?" She asked, oddly interested in me but I guess it couldn't be helped.

Either her pride was hurt due to my rejection and she wanted to shoot her shot again or she was curious about me and felt that it was nice to be treated normally once in a while.

"You could say that." Technically I was the guardian of the Valley and the Jade Palace.

"Though I am curious about what you said before. A tournament or something?" I asked, since she was so persistent in learning more about me, I could use her to gather some information.

"Oh the Gongmen Whushu competition! As you know, Gongmen and its citizens love entertainment so every three years, the city holds a fighting tournament with the participants being members of the Kung Fu Council. The members can even reach higher positions in the council if they do well in this tournament." She explained.

"Although you are three months too early."

That sounds interesting. I asked the Gazelle more about it and also got the information necessary for navigating the city. She was very helpful and in the end, I told her I would remember her name.

After eating my fill in the restaurant, I ventured deeper into the city and went sightseeing at the different districts.

The buildings of Gongmen City were grand and made of bricks and stones, unlike Mielin City where it was made of brittle wood and paper to prevent disasters from happening when the Grizzly clans went berserk.

I toured the great city for a while but eventually, I reached my final destination.

The ancestral Palace of the Peacocks.

The place where the Kung Fu Council currently resides. It was their main headquarters.

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[IMAGE : I know most of you would hit 🤭😏]

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Author : GIVE ME SOME STONES PLEASE!!!!