After Wang Ming left the inn, he headed deeper into the city, where he noticed that security was much tighter in the inner areas. He also saw several destroyed buildings and claw marks on some of the walls which he could deduce to be aftermath of an attack.
After walking for some time, he arrived in front of a large manor. A significant number of Foundation Realm experts, dressed in armor and armed with weapons, were patrolling the area with serious expression on their face.
As Wang Ming calmly approached the main gate with steady steps, a few guards spotted him. Although they were wary, they didn't show outright hostility, recognizing the uniform he wore.
"I am from the Yin-Yang Sect. The sect sent me to deal with the bandits which the Lord of this city issued as a mission to the sect" Wang Ming said before the guards could speak. The guards' eyes widened as they carefully scrutinized him.
They sensed that Wang Ming's cultivation was only at the first stage of the Core Formation Realm but remained silent, knowing that cultivators often suppress their true power.
"Alright, follow me. I'll take you to the lord," one of the guards said.
As Wang Ming left with the chief guard, another guard smirked and quietly slipped away from the group.
Somewhere within the manor
A fat man with an oily face, wearing nothing but a cloth around his lower body, asked the guard who had just entered the room, "Did something happen? Why are you here?"
"Yes," the guard replied. "I saw a disciple from the Yin-Yang Sect arrive. It seems the Lord has sent them on a mission to exterminate the group." The fat man's expression tightened, but noticing the guard's relaxed demeanor, he asked, "You don't seem worried."
"Hehe, of course not," the guard replied mockingly. "It's just a young boy, probably around 18. A kid who hasn't faced real danger."
"Really? Don't make the mistake of underestimating someone just because they look young," the fat man warned, eyeing the guard.
The man raised an eyebrow when he saw Wang Ming and frowned at his cultivation level.
"He looks like an Outer Court disciple, and he's only at the 1st stage of the Core Formation Realm. Did the sect make a mistake? Or maybe he's hiding his true cultivation. I shouldn't rush to judgment. If he really is weak and dies, it's his problem. The sect will either refund me or send someone else anyway," the man thought, shaking his head.
He trusted the sect's reputation.
"Welcome to Cherry City, esteemed guest," the man said politely. "My name is Mu Zihan, and this is my wife, Mu Ning Xue, and our daughter, Mu Yiran. Our Mu family has governed this city for generations." As he introduced himself and his family, they nodded with a smile, a hint of a rosy hue on their cheeks as they noticed the handsome visitor.
"Nice to meet you, City Lord. You can call me Wang Ming," Wang Ming said with a smile.
After the introductions, Wang Ming's expression turned serious. "City Lord, can you tell me about the problems you're facing in detail?" he asked.
"You can call me by my name. We can discuss this tomorrow. For now, please enjoy our hospitality," Mu Zihan replied with a smile.
"It can wait. Let's address the problem I came here for first," Wang Ming insisted. Mu Zihan was surprised; most sect disciples are arrogant and delay tasks for their own enjoyment. His gaze toward Wang Ming grew warmer after this.
"Very well, where to begin... It started five years ago with the rise of a new leader among the mountain clans," the City Lord began.
"Mountain clans?" Wang Ming asked, now more intrigued.
"Yes," the City Lord's wife spoke up, her voice grim. "The Mu Family has always been in conflict with the mountain clans who live in the mountains. They used to harass us occasionally, but they grew bolder when their new leader suddenly gained a new power."
"They've found a way to control beasts and have created something called 'corrupted beasts,'" she continued as Wang Ming listened intently.