BXBX NOVEL Chapter 196 The Difference Between A Tier!
The carriage had descended down the mountain and sped down the forest road while Ikasa and Chu Qing decided on the terms of their bet. Beasts and their drivers alike were looking forward to reaching their destination and having a long rest.
Soon, the three carriages from Birch City slowed as they also joined the line of numerous other vehicles waiting to enter the City Gates.
They had to wait for a long time as the queue moved at a snail's pace. When Ikasa's carriages joined the line, it was noon. But when their turn came, the sky had already turned orange.
The reason for the delay became obvious when they neared the first gate.
Unlike the tier-3 cities, where the City Guards at the gates were merely for decoration, the Guards here strictly checked each person and recorded their soul signature.
Ikasa and everyone in their group also had to drop a drop of blood on the strange artifact that registered the Soul signatures.
This artifact looked like a kettle yet its opening was too wide to be considered one. The spout was carved like the mouth of an eastern dragon with its forked tongue sticking out.
After Ikasa dropped the blood inside the opening, the amethyst eyes of the dragon glowed for a moment before becoming lifeless again. The soldier paid it no heed as if it was routine and called out next, registering others the same way.
Once their registrations were complete, Ikasa and their carriages were allowed to move past the first gate. But soon they were stopped at the second checkpoint.
"Do you have the permit?"
A gruff voice of a grumpy guard asked the coach driver. He shook his head.
Ikasa immediately deboarded the carriage with Chu Qing and said, "We will pay the entrance fee. These three carriages are with me."
Seeing a cooperative person, the guard smiled slightly at Ikasa and showed him ten fingers.
"10 gold per person?"
Chu Qing asked with confusion. Ikasa corrected him and said, "100 gold per carriage."
The smile on the face of the soldier widened. He had to deal with many obstinate people who tried to use their connections to get out of paying this small fee.
People like Ikasa who understood the rules were like refreshing breeze.
The soldier may be happy but Chu Qing was not. He was horrified as he looked at Ikasa. 300 gold of the mere thousand he received would be spent just like that!
He looked reluctant and was about to haggle but Ikasa whispered in his ears.
"100 Gold is a discount price. He can raise it if you annoy him."
Chu Qing swallowed the words on his tongue and paid the coins even as his heart-ached.
'It's okay. I still have 700 gold. If I don't let anyone spend carefreely, I can still save some gold.'
The young boy consoled his pained heart as the pouch hanging on his waist became lighter.
When Ikasa was about to be seated, the soldier gave a friendly reminder.
"If you don't want to attract trouble, don't use these carriages around the Northern and Eastern streets."
Ikasa noticed his disdainful emphasis on the words 'these carriages.' Though the face of the Coach Driver turned ugly, Ikasa did not take offense to his advice. There must be a reason for him to say such words.
The astute businessman cupped his fist as a thanks. Then he muttered to Chu Qing, "Give him 10 gold coins."
Though reluctant, Chu Qing paid the guard 10 gold under the intense glare of Ikasa.
A smile bloomed on the face of the guard. He respectfully cupped his fist and said, "If you encounter any problems, don't hesitate to look for Song Po in the City Guard office. He will solve any of your problems for the right price."
With this final tip, the man in leather armor went to the carriage behind Ikasa. Ikasa and his people faced no further obstructions as they entered the City.
As soon as they entered the city, Ikasa heard the horse beasts neigh with joy. It did not take him long to understand the reason.
Beasts were more sensitive to changes in energy density. Compared to outside, the energy was much more abundant inside the city.
In fact, the energy density in the air was on par with the density of energy in the Monstrous Flame Sect's training grounds!
It only grew as they approached the central area of the City. When they reached the inn recommended by Sang Yi, Ikasa could feel his Spiritual Body become bloated as it absorbed energy like a starved child.
"No wonder He Ling was so dissatisfied with the environment of the Monstrous Flame Sect. If I lived here for all my life and had to go to a Tier-3 City, I would be dissatisfied too."
Ikasa murmured as he got down from the carriage. The Inn before him looked nothing fancy compared to some of the buildings he saw on the way here.
It was built from simple white stone and wood and looked even smaller than his Villa in size. Unimpressed by its exterior, Ikasa entered the Pleasant Dream Inn without many expectations.
As soon as he pushed the door open, he was floored. The interior of the place was simply stunning!
Upgraded versions of the Moon Pearls, the Sun Pearls floated above each table, illuminating them in a warm glow.
These Sun Pearls could be formed only when an Spiritual Condensation stage Oyster mutates and can absorb the fire-attribute energy. Thus, chances of finding a Sun Pearl were one in a million!
Yet, he saw sixteen Sun Pearls casually levitating in the air. This was not the only thing that caused him to be surprised.
The soft carpet on the floor also emitted faint spiritual energy. When Ikasa stepped on it, a thin layer of air separated his foot from the actual surface of the carpet.
This basically made it spill-proof and dirt-proof!
Just as Ikasa was marveling at the wonders of this inn, he noticed a young lady exit from the door behind the counter. Ikasa immediately reined in his excitement and casually walked to the counter.
Putting on his charming smile, Ikasa politely greeted the lady.
"Hello, miss. Are there any rooms available?"
The lady politely returned his smile while scanning Ikasa from head to toe. His garments were better than the most but not quite in the same league as the clientele of this inn.
Her eyes paused at the worn out bracelet on his dominant wrist for a second and she came to a decision.
"Sorry Sir. We are booked to full for this week."
Ikasa was not naive enough to not notice her contemplative gaze but he was helpless. He did not have access to a better looking Space Storage Device.
He clicked his tongue as he loudly expressed his lamentation.
"What a pity. Young Master Sang Yi recommended this inn to me. Guess I should find another place."
From the corner of his eyes, he saw the expression of the lady behind the counter change.
"Sang Yi sent you? Are you perhaps the owner of Gold Heart Business Group, Ikasa?"
'To be able to address Sang Yi informally, this lady must either be close to him or of a high social status.'
Ikasa thought as he nodded. A small smile came to her face as she immediately said,
"I apologize. I am Yao Ya. Had I known your identity, I would've directly brought you to the room that Master Sang Yi asked me to reserve for you."
She came out from behind the counter and led Ikasa to the rooms upstairs. She opened a room and showed him the interior.
A faint aroma wafted into his nose as soon as he entered the room. It was decorated as lavishly as the Tavern downstairs.
The mattress on the king sized bed looked incredibly soft. On one side of the bed was a dressing table while on the other side there was a study table with a chair.
Each of them shined in a deep green color. When Ikasa neared the bed, he discovered the source of fragrance.
The Pillows.
Noticing his gaze, Yao Ya came forth and explained, "These pillows are made from the feathers shed by the Dream Swan, a Foundation Establishment stage beast! The aroma not only enhances your sleep quality, but also prevents nightmares. This is the specialty of our inn."
A hint of pride could be heard from her words. Ikasa responded to her prideful explanation with appropriate amount of awe, pleasing her and improving her impression of Ikasa.
"I like this room." Ikasa said, causing Yao Ya to smile. Just as she was about to take her leave, she heard Ikasa speak causing the smile on her face to freeze.
"Can I get two more of these rooms?"