Dawn Of A New Day

~What Is Love~

    The next day after eating, they got on the platform and set out. Lee Wei gave directions and Luna followed. After flying for almost five hours at almost full speed, Lee Wei said.

‘Let’s land somewhere around and continue on foot.’

Understanding his intention, Huno nodded, and Luna found somewhere to land. Huno took her in to keep the platform and then brought her out. She came out holding red berry-like fruits in her hand.

She gave Huno and the others some and took the rest. Lee Wei led the way and four hours later they arrived some miles away from a city.

‘That’s Blue sky city, under the jurisdiction of Blue sky state, and over there beyond the city is the sub-sect of the Feng sect, the Blue sky state,’ Lee Wei said.

‘All sect has a sub-sect?’ Huno asked.

‘Yes, about ten to fifteen each. Don’t worry, when you join a sect, it isn’t a must you live in it,’ Lee Wei said.

‘What do you mean?’ Huno asked.

‘All cultivators must join a sect. It doesn’t mean we must live within the sect grounds, only core disciples of a sect are required to do that. And every other cultivator is only required to report to the sect they registered in twice a year. This allows the five families to keep a record of military power,’ Lee Wei said.

‘The only difference between a core disciple, an elite, and ordinary disciples is the benefits they get. And in the time of war, the core and elite can hold a commanding position ordinary can’t. Core and elite have private resident in the sect, ordinary don’t. They have quarters they stay in, elite and ordinary, can live outside while the core can’t,’ he explained.

    ‘Oh haha, core disciples are under house arrest,’ Huno said.

‘No, not really. They take on task that require them to step out but without task they can’t go out. And elites living outside report back to the sect more than ordinary disciples. At least every three months after deciding to live outside, so they can’t live too far away,’ Lee Wei said.

‘Too much rule. I rather be an ordinary disciple,’ Huno said.

‘Hehe,’ Lee Wei laughed.

Soon they arrived at the city gate and there was a queue there leading in and another one out.

‘Why are these people lining up?’ Luna asked curiously.

‘They are being checked. Those below the high-rank foundation realm can enter and leave without restrictions, but those on and above are required to register and pay three silvers to enter. Later, they are required to check out when they leave,’ Su San explained to her.

Overhearing, Huno asked, ‘How high is the value of silver?’

‘What do you mean?’ Su San asked.

‘What can I use ten silvers to buy if I had?’

‘You could buy two small loaves. A small loaf is about the size of my fist,’ Su San said.

‘I see,’ Huno said and thought, ‘If that’s the case, then a big loaf will be around fifteen to twenty silvers. Lee Wei said there is a lack of resources. Well, the standard of living here will be determined by the amount earned from an average individual,’

      While they were talking, Lee Wei, who went to the register, came back. Huno looked at him, nodded, then asked.

‘If I were to work at a restaurant or something, how much will I get paid?’

‘Hmm, that depends on the agreement made, but I think the standard is between three to four gold a month. One gold equals a hundred silvers,’ Lee Wei replied.

‘How many silvers does it cost to rent a place or to stay in an inn?’ Huno asked.

‘The lowest room in an inn cost five silvers a night. If you pay for a full month you’ll be given a discount, so you pay one hundred and thirty-five silvers. For a rent, um… if you are renting the lowest residential that is a one-room residential, this includes the kitchen, a restroom, a bedroom, and a space to receive visitors it is about two hundred silvers a month. This depends on where you are in the city some parts are way higher or lower,’ Lee Wei explained.

‘Okay,’ Huno replied and thought. ‘So four gold coins, subtract the rent you’ll have about two hundred silvers left. For daily living, two hundred divided by thirty that’s about six or seven silvers. Standard of living here is high,’

     ‘Huno, let’s go,’ Luna said, pulling him.

‘Oh so sorry,’ Huno replied and followed.

‘I’ll stop at the market to get something,’ Lee Wei said.

‘For senior sister Xue right?’ Su San teased.

‘Why do you think so?’ Lee Wei asked, not answering her question. ‘Wait for me,’ he added, and left.

    Watching him go away, Su San said, ‘It’s great to be in love,’

‘What does it mean to be in love?’ Luna asked.

‘Well um… (she looks at Huno who just raised his shoulders up and not interrupting) well it’s having special feelings for a special someone. You could do anything for that person and you always want to be with the person,’ Su San replied.

Luna turned to look at Huno and said. ‘Oh, like a friend right?’.

     Huno didn’t interrupt Su San because he knew that even if he didn’t answer, she might get the meaning from him.

He smiled and replied. ‘More important than a friend, (Luna frowned and looked as if she was thinking) someone who you love is someone who you want to take care of and do things you can’t do with a friend,’

Su San looked at him and blush after hearing the last part.

‘For example, having a family, having kids and many more, (Huno turned to Su San) Luna is much older than you think. Because of an accident she doesn’t remember much,’ Huno said.

‘Oh!’ Su San said and looked at Luna. ‘But isn’t she just a kid,’ she thought.

     Luna, who was still thinking, smiled a little and then frowned again. She stared at Huno, who turned to look at her, patted her on her head, and asked. ‘Understand?’

Luna smiled and replied, ‘Yes,’.

      She looked towards the market and asked. ‘What happens if the one you love doesn’t love you back?’

Su San stared at her again before replying. ‘You try your best to make them love you, sometimes you have to fight for it though,’

Huno shook his head and said. ‘I feel if you love someone, tell the person and know how the person feels. If the person doesn’t feel the same way move on. You keep showing the kindness you usually show but don’t kill yourself over it. Life is too short for that,’

‘What are you serious? Do you know it hurts to let go? Who knows when you fight the person will like you back,’ Su San said.

     ‘It hurts more to keep fighting. The more hope and determination you have the more pain you’ll feel when you’re rejected. If fate and your luck are good, who you love will love you back,’ Huno said.

Luna looked at Huno and then at Su San, who wanted to say something and yelled.

‘Okay, okay, both of you are confusing me,’

She puts her hands on her head and then turned to look at Huno. ‘Have you ever been in love before?’ she asked.

‘Nope, not once. Being in love is a pain in the ass,’ Huno replied.

‘Wait, you haven’t. Why talk like you have?’ Su San asked.

Huno looked at her and asked. ‘Have you experienced it before?’

Su San didn’t reply and looked at him.

‘I had a close friend who was in love twice and she got hurt when she chased the ones who didn’t love her back. Someone who loved her back came along. I was happy for her but she later died of sickness, not having time to enjoy it. Moral of the story don’t waste your time just have fun and enjoy your life. What will come, will come and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter because you had a fantastic fun-filled life,’ Huno said.

Su San was quiet and Huno added. ‘Don’t worry, she had lots of fun with me before she passed away,’

  As he spoke Lee Wei walked over, Huno stared at the cloud and smiled slowly.

‘Did I miss anything?’ Lee Wei asked, feeling the awkward atmosphere.

‘No, you didn’t,’ Su San said and asked, ‘what did you buy?’

Luna stared at Huno, who stared at the clouds and clenched onto his arm. Huno looked at her and smiled happily.

‘It was worth it to leave,’ he thought and smiled even more.

  ‘You don’t have to ask,’ Lee Wei said, smiling.

‘Oh, brother, you are blushing,’ Su San said.

‘Where’s Ma Lie?’ Lee Wei asked almost immediately there was a tug on his shirt. He turned and saw Ma Lie holding his shirt.

‘Oh you followed me. Wait did you see?’

Ma Lie nodded with a smile. ‘Don’t tell your sister Su San,’ Lee Wei said and Ma Lie nodded again.

‘Seriously Ma Lie, you won’t tell me,’ Su San asked.

Ma Lie shook his head and hide behind Lee Wei. Huno, who noticed couldn’t help but ask. ‘Is he?’

Lee Wei looked at him and nodded. ‘Yes, one of his reason for cultivating is he may fix his voice,’

  ‘I’m sorry, is it possible?’

‘Most likely, when a cultivator gets to the True realm he is somewhat reborn. I can’t say about voice, but I’ve seen cultivators with a terrible scar on them no longer have them,’ Lee Wei replied.

‘Good luck brother Lie, I’ll wait to hear your voice when you reach the True realm. I know you can do it,’ Huno said and smiled.

Ma Lie nodded at him and came out from Lee Wei’s back.

‘Alright let’s go,’ Lee Wei said, and led the way. As they walk Huno remembered and asked. ‘Apart from silver and gold coins can other things be used to exchange, like is it okay to exchange things of the same value,’

‘If both parties agree, there’s also the platinum coin used mostly by the great families. Hundred gold equals one platinum, and then there are the Qi stones. They are red or blue stones filled with Qi energy. They make cultivation easy but they are so scarce that cultivators will prefer to use it to cultivate. A fist-sized blue is equivalent to one silver, a fist-sized red is equivalent to one gold coin,’ Lee Wei said.

Hearing this, Huno smiled and pitched Luna, who was about to say something. She turned to look at him, but he stared straight as if he did nothing.

‘A fist-size, is there no distinct shape?’ Huno asked.

‘Nope, just have a fist size and you can get one gold,’ Lee Wei said.

‘How can we find it?’

‘It can be mined, but the mines are owned by the great families or secretly owned by a subsect,’

He looked at Huno, who looked disappointed and comforted. ‘Don’t let it get to you, if you cultivate diligently even without Qi stone you can achieve a high realm,’

Huno nodded and smiled. ‘Thanks brother Lee,’

  They made their way through the city. Luna held Huno’s hand tight. She was fascinated by what she saw yet she was scared. They arrived the other gate and Lee Wei left them.

‘Is he going to pay?’ Huno asked.

‘No. You only pay to enter but elite and core disciples of our state dont have to pay,’

‘I see,’

Lee Wei came back a while later. They left the city, walked for a while over a small hill, and arrived at the sect’s gate.

‘Senior brother Lee, senior sister Su welcome back,’ disciples at the gate greeted.

‘Thanks, is the third or fourth elder around?’ Lee Wei asked as they passed the gate.

‘Fourth elder is around but the third elder is in seclusion,’ one disciple replied.

‘Thank you. I’ll go see him,’ Lee Wei replied and left with the others.

  ‘Senior brother, I’ll go now. See you later,’ Su San said when they arrived at a four-way road.

‘Alright, go rest,’ Lee Wei said, and waved at her. ‘Ma Lie, you can go rest too,’ Lee Wei said and Ma Lie nodded and left.

  Lee Wei continued with Huno and Luna and soon arrived at a wooden gate. He stood in front of the gate, cupped his hands together, and said. ‘Junior Lee Wei has come to see the elder,’