Night of the Broken Gliph

The trio entered the city on the Night Lion coach. They passed by dozens of cities and smaller towns within a month, finally arriving at this particular city. 

To be precise, it was a small town, lacking the city walls that protected larger towns like Southary or Night Lion City. But it was no less lively compared to the bigger cities. This small town was a famous supply station. From here, it would take half a day to reach the well-known danger zone, the Engraved Mountain Range.

The Engraved Mountain Range was one of the few places in the South where wild gliphic beasts still roamed, and it was a protected area of the Lam dynasty; cultivators weren't allowed just to take anything they wanted from the area. The South advocated for nature, and they valued the conservation of the environment. They were so strict that they banned more than five four-chambered gliphers or hundred-gliphic gliphists from entering the mountain range at the same time. 

Other than gliphic beasts, there were numerous gliphic plants and unknown dangers which made this place famous for expeditions, and many institutions would send their students over for the experience. 

The nearest supply station to the Engraved Mountain Range was this town, known as Engraved Village. 

It was a vibrant city, lively, energetic and filled with enthusiasm. There were tons of young people hanging around. 

Chui Yim looked around curiously. He wasn’t as energetic as the lively young people here, but this village suited him more than the repressive Night Lion City. 

“We'll stay here for a night and set off tomorrow,” Bak Wun said casually. He had been handling their accommodations and itinerary single-handedly and he was weirdly good at it, such that Chor Shing Chit and Chui Yim often felt they were on holiday. But every time Chui Yim tried to probe Bak Wun about his background, he was ignored. 

Arriving at the inn, they drew a lot of attention. As night wolves were the Tse Clan’s exclusive mount, no other clans or even the Lam dynasty were able to breed night lions, making night lions a trademark of the Tse Clan. 

Therefore, the night lion caught the attention of many. This had its pros and cons; not many would dare to offend the Tse Clan, but stares followed them no matter where they went. Luckily, the trio was already used to it. 

Bak Wun went to check in while Chor Shing Chit brought Chui Yim to buy rations, food and water. 

As soon as they arrived at the inn’s restaurant, they overheard people speaking about them.

“The night lion is exclusive to the Tse Clan; since it’s here, it most likely means that…” Seeing Chor Shing Chit and Chui Yim, the person shut up immediately. 

A teenager accompanied by an adult. The teenager would adventure in the Engraved Mountain Range while the glipher protected him secretly. 

Classic clan expedition team. 

Not just anyone could afford to mess with the Night Lion Tse Clan. 

“Is the Tse Clan truly that amazing?” A kiddish voice rang across the restaurant, attracting all eyes to a table of four youngsters, accompanied by a forty to fifty-year-old man. 

“Shut up.” The man creased his brows on hearing the comment. 

“Hmph.” The youth hummed, staring at Chui Yim provocatively. 

“Blue uniforms with yellow stars as decorations. They are from the Stars Unite Educational Centre. That explains their arrogance.” 

“The Stars Unite Education Centre is getting worse. They are now openly rude in public,” somebody commented slowly. 

The patrons turned to the new voice. It was from a table of youngsters with a more mature woman. 

Nobody dared to look down on female cultivators in the current era due to Man Chin Hung. Everyone seated at the table wore plain white uniforms. Only a faintly discernible embroidery of a scroll could barely be seen on their sleeves. 

“It’s the Great Book Academy...” 

“There’s going to be drama soon. The Great Book Academy are enemies with the Stars Unite Education Center.” 

“The Great Book Academy, the Stars Unite Education Centre, Tse Clan… What brings so many powerful organisations here?”

The Great Book Academy, the Stars Unite Education Centre, and the Metallic Blood War Gate were the top three higher institutions of the South. Due to the similarity of their institutions, the Great Book Academy and the Stars Unite Education Centre had been on bad terms for a long time. 

The Stars Unite Education Centre focused on gliphism and took in gliphists exclusively. In contrast, the Great Book Academy took in gliphers as well, but having the most extensive collection of books in the South, they attracted many gliphists. This made the Great Book Academy an institution consisting mainly of gliphists even though they accepted gliphers. 

However, there weren’t many gliphists in the world, and talented ones were even fewer. Minor conflicts occurred during recruitment for the institutions, and as time passed, both institutions turned into enemies. 

Hearing the Great Book Academy’s student, the youth from Stars Unite Education Centre couldn’t hold in his anger. “The person with the surname Ha, what do you mean?” 

The person ridiculing him was a student from the Great Book Academy, Ha Yu Bing. She was only fifteen, but she was a beauty as girls matured before boys. Ha Yu Bing wore a thin, ridiculing smile on her face as she rebutted, “I’m just laughing at a kid who makes rude comments about the Tse Clan in his Stars Unite Education Centre uniform shamelessly.”  

“You!” The youth jumped up off his chair. 

“Sit down. What are you doing?” The man next to him frowned once more. 

“Oho.” Ha Yu Bing laughed softly and remained silent. The teacher of the Great Book Academy made no comments on her behaviour and sipped his tea slowly.