Hustle and Bustle, (expansion of lore.)
Wei Ru walked towards the Oasis city, he looked a bit ragged, however, that was to be expected, he had been walking around the Western desert for who knows how long, to protect against bandits and other animals, he hadn't even used his movement gu as frequently as he should have.
His clothes, which were produced using Silkworm gu, had now faded in color and became dark muddy with slightly grainy texture, as for Wei Su, he had completely healed and was happily perched on Wei Ru's shoulders. They looked like lost travellers.
As he approached the city gates he was noticed by a guard gu master, in Western desert it was custom to use gu masters to guard since most of the dangers could only come from outside, no one would dare cause trouble inside since that's were all the elders and clan heads where located.
It was also because of the small population and the oasis being inside and heavily protected. Cities were like islands separated by the vast yellow sands and dunes.
Wei Ru sized up the guard, he was a rank 2 mid stage, he wore silky clothes that looked like it would cause a heatstroke, however, it was used as a sign to show he city's prosterity, wanting people to think "wow, even soldiers can wear silk, how rich is this city?" They wanted to invite the caravans to come. As for the heat, it can be easily dealt with using gu worms.
"Wait, who are you, show me your identification and any token that you may have." The guard looked serious, even when against a rank 3 peak stage, they were taught at a young age to be cautious.
I smiled, "I am a part of a caravan, my other team mates were especially tired and we had been battered by a sandstorm, we took rest in our gu house, I was the fastest and their leader so it was decided that I would go to the city and trade before going back." I spoke with enthusiasm while portraying complex emotions.
"What about your identification? Which Oasis city are you from?" The guard calmed down, I had honed my persuasion ability quite a lot.
"I don't have it with me, it was lost, as for the Oasis city, it was founded some decades ago by my friend, a Rank 5 master, it doesn't have a name yet, you can verify it if you go straight northwest, it's about 10,000 li from here. (~5,000 km away)
The guard thought for a while, "fine, show me your goods, every caravan has a specialty, what's yours?"
I showed him the valuable items from the Southern Border and he was shocked. "Good, you may enter, also, this is the Qin clan city, don't offend any Qin clansmen."
I nodded and went inside.
The city was truly in hustle and bustle.
I walked around the city and memorized key areas.
"I should buy some maps, Southern Border PES and Western Desert PES are somewhat different, I will sell my goods then buy the necessities, I should also leave within a week. I have given a concrete information like northwest and 10,000 li, however if they find nothing, then I will be suspected, it also seems like I need to get an identification or token." Making up my plan, I started to act on it.
I quickly sold most of my goods, I had given the excuse that we were battered by a sandstorm and showing too many things could incite greed. The merchant's face was truly something when I sold my goods. I remembered his face, his jaw had dropped quite low.
I walked towards the map seller, "Hello, sir, could you give me a map of some nearby Oasis cities?"
The map seller looked at me, he was a rank 3 gu master, and slightly obese, he was likely living wealthy, in Western Desert it was hard to find a fat person.
Authors Note: The reason I am being this detailed is to expand the world lore about Western Desert, I felt it was very unexplored in Reverend Insanity.
"Good, you may choose the scope you want, I have ones ranging from a scope of 1,000 li around Qin city to 5,000 li from Qin city, you also have to sign a vow that you won't share this information," the merchant looked like he knew what he was doing.
I nodded and looked at the price, it was 30,000 Western Desert PES, I had gained ~50,000 PES so it was doable, I also had to buy gu worms so it was wise to save. "Give me the 5,000 li one, also, could you give me a token."
The merchant looked serious, "I can forge you one, however you will have to sign another poison vow gu."
I nodded, without a token or identification I couldn't get anywhere in Western Desert.
3 days later, I bid farewell to Qin city and started a trek to another city nearby, I obviously changed my appearance to be more handsome and more rugged, with a smaller nose like Western Desert Settlers to breathe in less sand. I also bought fire path gu worms and food for my gu, I also sold every gu beside, vine, storage, and movement.
"After arriving at the next city I will be able to finally do everything more openly." Wei Su happily chirped in my shoulder as I crossed several thousands of li to arrive at another city. I looked at the token in my hand with a smile.