2 Finding Trouble in Redwood City

Redwood city name came from a forest near the city. The forest consisted of numerous fire element spirit trees. From afar, people could only see a sea of red trees, thus came the name of the city.

The main commodity of the city wasn't the fire elemental spirit trees, but it came from a spirit stone mine. The founder of Redwood City found a spirit stone mine during one of his spiritual travels. This travel was an adventure that a cultivator did when he/she faced a bottleneck and he/she wanted to get some inspiration from the challenge.

The founder created Redwood family from the income of the mine. Redwood family founder managed to turn Redwood family into a medium family in 1.000 years. Their successors also worked hard to turn Redwood into one of the big family.

The definition of small, medium, big, and great was based on the number of experts that protected a cultivator family. For example, a small family would have at least 5 Rank 2 warriors, and their elder consisted of Rank 1 warrior.

On the other hand, a medium family would have at least 1 Rank 3 warriors, and more than 10 Rank 2 warriors as their backbone. Their elders consisted of Rank 1 warriors.

A big family would have at least 10 Rank 3 warriors as their backbone. One of them must be at Peak Rank 3. Most of their elders consisted of Rank 2 warriors.

A great family had over than 100 Rank 3 warriors. McArthur family even had over 1.000 Rank 3 warriors. They managed to be included as one of the top 5 Great families in the continent. One of the Peak Rank 3 warriors in the family was Trevon paternal grandfather, Douglas McArthur. The support of a powerful grandfather and a genius father made Trevon had a big background. This also allowed Trevon to have lots of resources at his disposal.

Some great families managed to build their own country. They were called Imperial families. To build a country, a family would require the power of the legendary Rank 4. Without such powerful expert, it would be hard to make the country last. There had been some dynasty replaced because they lost the protection of Rank 4 warrior.

For the cultivation of the world, there were 4 Ranks and 1 Beginner Rank. They were Rank 0, Rank 1, Rank 2, Rank 3, and Rank 4.

The beginner rank was called Rank 0. Rank 0 actually couldn't be considered as cultivation rank. Rank 0 focused on strengthening the physical body through exercise. Rank 0 warrior also practiced cultivation technique to sense the spiritual energy. When a cultivator managed to absorb a bit of spiritual energy and kept them inside their body, the cultivator would be considered to be a Rank 1 warrior.

In the Rank 1, a cultivator would improve their physical body using spiritual energy. A cultivator would absorb the spiritual energy and based on the cultivation technique obtained, they would temper a part of their bodies.

Rank 2 warriors considered as a realm when a person started on the path of cultivation. At this rank, one could start to travel the world. Only with a power of Rank 2 warrior, one would have enough power to protect themselves from most problems.

Rank 3 was the realm of the masters. They were the leaders of important cultivator families, sects, academy heads, or generals of empires. Since most Rank 4 warriors were busy with cultivation, these Peak Rank 3 warriors were the leader on the surface.

Above Rank 3 was the legendary Rank 4. Some legend said there were less than 1.000 cultivators in this Rank in the world. Compared to the large number of the planet's citizens, this number was very small. Most of them were country founders or country protectors.

In the Heavenly Phoenix country, Trevon's birth country, there were billions of citizens. Most of them are non-cultivator for sure, but there was only 1 or based on rumor 2 Rank 4 warriors in Imperial family.

Each rank consisted of 5 steps of cultivation. They were Primary, Beginner, Middle, Top, and Peak. Using the same classification, demon beasts were classified into the same 4+1 ranks. With each rank, excluding the Rank 0, consisted the same 5 steps. Other than demon beast, there were also numerous common animals. They didn't have any rank.

Trevon was a Beginner Rank 1 warrior. For most people, it was an unimaginable achievement. Most rogue cultivators were either Primary Rank 1 warriors. Often because their family didn't have the necessary cultivation arts and resources. Beginner Rank 1 warriors could become overlords of a small region, like village chiefs.

Most Trevon's achievements were between his 5 and 8 years old. During the period of these 3 years, Trevon cultivated from Rank 0 into Beginner Rank 1 warrior. He was a genius. Normal cultivators from cultivator family would reach that rank at 10 years old or more. At that time, he was considered as a chosen member of the family for his age group. The chosen was a special descendant that would be given a lot of resources to be the future pillar of a cultivator family. His resources back then were even better than what currently allocated to him as 15 years old.

Now, let's back into Redwood city. The city was one of the larger cities in Heavenly Phoenix country. As usual as other Asian web-novel, the city had an area as large as the eye could see. It was a 1.000 square km of land. However, compared to the population of over 50 million people, the city was a very crowded one.

There were numerous tall buildings in Redwood. They were called the slum area. It was a common view in humans' cities. The poor people always lived on the highest floor. The reason was that they needed to went from ground floor into their home every day. Almost all buildings didn't have movement artifacts or formations. The artifacts and formations to move or teleport people were considered very expensive since they needed spirit stones for operation. They also needed people who knew a tiny bit of space element.

Other than the slum, there are also numerous pavilions belonging to the rich people. The pavilions had large courtyard enough for people to enjoy the beautiful garden and lake. Most pavilions were only 2 to 3 floors high. Only the richest people would build 1-floor pavilions.

The wall of Redwood city was 20 meters high made from special stones. There were also thousand small gates on each side of the city. All of them were used every day by many people who went in and out of the city. Most of the visitors were farmer selling their harvests from the nearby village to the city. The others were merchants, and cultivators were the minority. Unlike the city, those small villages were prone to the danger. It was the place for the bravest pioneer and poorest people. There were hundred thousand small villages near Redwood.

Being a cultivator family, McArthur wagon was allowed to enter using the big gate. There were only 4 big gates on each side of the city. While the small gate was 3 m tall, the big gate was 10 m tall. The big gates usually had shorter queue than the small gates.

Trevon enjoyed the magnificent view of the city gate.

The tallest buildings in the Redwood were the defensive towers. Those defensive towers in Redwood were 50 m tall and located at each corner of the city. Each of them was made by using even stronger black stones. At the top level of each tower was Beast Repelling Crystal.

This crystal was the most important part of any city. This crystal was the difference between a city and a village. A village may have a very small Beast Repelling Crystal, but it wouldn't offer the same protection as the large crystal in the city.

This crystal was very expensive to obtain, but it was even more expensive to maintain. While the family, which governed a city, had a huge amount of income from the tax. 60% of the income spent on defensive overhead. Half of that defensive budget was for the maintenance of these defensive crystals.

Protecting a city in this dangerous world was a huge risk. Because of this, most governing families often shared their risk. For example, McArthur family had 10% share of the city income in Redwood City, while the Redwood family had 40%. The imperial family owned 20% of the share. The rest of the share was owned by some smaller families. This was to share the burden in case a big beast wave.

Beast wave was a condition when the population of the beasts already over the sustainable rate. The weaker beasts would be forced by the stronger beasts from the core of beast territory. Those weaker beasts were finally forced to invade human territory to survive.

Most of the Demon Beast waves were easy to handle. It wasn't strange that a large city had a small wave every month. What makes the defending easy was the Beast Repelling Crystal. The crystal would produce a barrier which could hold the beast some distance away from the city. The barrier could protect whether the beasts were on the ground, underground, or even from aerial demon beasts. The defenders would be able to attack the beasts using canon-type spirit artifacts from the wall.

On the other side of the battle were the beasts. Demon beasts would try to attack the barrier to create some gap in the barrier. Other beasts might be able to pass the barrier directly if they were stronger than the barrier strength.

For example, Redwood's crystals were Top graded Rank 2 crystals. Therefore, only demon beasts above Rank 2 could directly enter the city. Similar to human, demon beasts above Rank 2 were rare. Also, if a certain area of the barrier received too many damages, there might be a short-timed gap. During this time, this certain area would allow the weaker beast to enter the barrier. The defender duty was to use spirit stones to heal the crystal to close the gap.

This repair time was the time when cultivators in a city would face the direct combat with demon beast. There was a general agreement that during a beast wave, the city defender would be the first defender. While every normal cultivator in the city must join the defense if the city defender required them. If a cultivator avoided the responsibility, that cultivator would be put on the ban list. Being on a ban list meant that the cultivator would be prohibited from entering the city in the future.

However, most cultivators would assist voluntary, because there was a huge amount of demon beast bodies after every beast wave. If they participated, they could get parts of the battle trophies. This was the easiest way to obtain many demon beast parts.

If certain strong demon beasts entered the city, the old monsters of big families would even compete to kill them. It was both for their family prestige and because of finding a high ranked beast was hard and dangerous. It was especially in the core beast territory. As a common knowledge, it was better to fight your enemy in your home ground than in the enemy camp. As always, a stronger demon beast would give better resource.

Trevon was enjoying the new atmosphere. The buildings in Redwood were similar to in Bluestar. However, they offered a new experience for Trevon.

"Wow, look at those beautiful ladies!" Trevon opened the wagon windows and screamed with happiness.

"Hey, you! Yes, you, the beautiful one with the red robe! Do you have time for a tea tonight!"

"And you, the yellow robe beauty, you are also invited to the teahouse tonight!"

Suddenly, from the wagon second floor's window, a young man in a light blue robe jumped out of it into the street. He landed on the street and opened a beautiful red fan with an immortal mountain picture in it. Of course, the young man was Trevon. He walked into the yellow robbed woman and showed a cool face. Anyone who doesn't know the young master of McArthur family would be smitten with that expression.

"Dear, beautiful lady, the moon looks like weeping right now."

Everybody on the street wondered, [What moon? It is still not night, so how can you talk about the moon?]

The yellow-robed young lady also included in those wondering people.

"Hey miss, psst… You should ask me why!" Suddenly an internal voice was heard inside the yellow-robed lady.

"Eh…"

"It's not 'Eh…'. It should be 'Why', beautiful lady." The internal voice sent another communication. "You should not be afraid, it is me, the handsome and elegant young master in front of you."

"Why?" The young lady, filled with shock, could only follow the voice that appeared in her head.

"Of course, it is because its beauty is pale compared to your moon killing face." Trevon answered the young lady, while at the same time closed the fan in his hand.

Everybody was shocked, what did moon killing face means. There was the kingdom toppling beauty, also there was the beauty who could make the fish sunk and the wild goose fell. But the moon killing face? [Was that a new trendy praise or curse from the capital because there was a moon face curse?]

Cyde in the wagon seat could only slap his own head. "Go and fetch our young master before he creates some troubles!" He ordered the six men behind.

A lot of mistakes happen because of their young master choice of words. If the other person was not some important person, their McArthur family could solve most of it. However, the last time he praised a young master from a big family with the words a 'genius peacock'. The other young master felt that was an insult.

In the end, 23 people were injured in the brawl between two young master bodyguards. After elders from both families conducted an investigation, it was found out that their young master just wanted to praise the other young master. Trevon appreciated the romantic words, and also the great choice of the other young master's robe. But the other young master felt that Trevon cursed him that he acted like a peacock in front of his lover.

Both young masters turned into buddies after the accident, but 23 people got injured. Some even still recuperated from that accident and couldn't join this mission.

The six men jumped from the wagon. 4 of them grabbed Trevon, and the other two came into the young lady.

"Young Lady, sorry if he confused you. Our young master said that you are very beautiful more than the moon." One of the two men called 'Quick Tongue' Jerry explained Trevon's words. "Here is a voucher for McArthur Heavenly Robe Shop! You are invited to select from our collection. Hope our young master didn't disturb your walk."

They acted fast and professional. It clearly showed that it was just another frequent method used by the family to clean the mess of their young master. How fast they act could be shown that some people still wondering about 'Moon Killing Face' when they took Trevon.

"Young master, please stay on the wagon! We are here on a mission and your father wants to bring you to meet someone." Cyde told Trevon.

"Yes, uncle Cyde." Unlike to his own bodyguard the six men, Cyde was his father's bodyguard from his grandfather. He was a powerful Rank 2 warrior. Since the genius Alvaro's cultivation passed Cyde, Cyde decided to help Alvaro by becoming Trevon's bodyguard.

Trevon could only sit inside the Wagon while looking around. "Look at that grape, you must purchase it for me, Jerry!"

"Yes, young master."

"Wow, what is that cake at that stall!"

"It is a cake from a neighbor country, young master" Jerry answered again.

"Get that also for me!" Trevon looked to another stall, "Ah… and that snack also."

"Yes, young master." He swore that Trevon had asked the same cake in Bluestar.

"Wait, look at that sword on that cultivator!" Trevon pointed to a cultivator. "I like the design, get that for me!"

"Yes, Young Master." Jerry said while getting a cold shudder. The famous Treasure Snatcher, Trevon opened his eye in Redwood.

While Trevon was famous as the treasure snatcher. It was his bodyguard problem either to purchase, to force, or to steal if necessary. Of course, which action they did was depended on the other party's background.

"Now, I am happy. Hahaha." Trevon laughed happily.

"Wow, write what I want or I might even forget the things myself."

That was the worst of their young master, he often forgot what he wanted. There were times, that they needed to brace danger because of their young master's whim and he actually forgot about the things. There was also the chance that their young master remembered the things he wanted, but the bodyguards forgot. In this case, he would make the things worse for his bodyguards.

Being the bodyguards for Trevon was one of the worst positions in the family. However, the rewards were also one of the best, especially for their cultivation. They also wanted to repay some debt to Alvaro their real master. If not, why would anyone become his bodyguard or perhaps a better term, his task runners?

"Add that… and that… wow… also, that purple clothed girl, get her name and information for me…"

"Look at that rabbit, get that for me, and don't forget to dye it red. I want a red rabbit like that fire rabbit." Trevon pointed to a small rabbit in a cute little girl's hand.

The Treasure Snatcher, Trevon did not discriminate his victims. From a small family lord till a lowly slave, from a little girl to a frail grandpa, from a beautiful lady till an ugly duckling, he would snatch them all.

"We reached the family pavilion young master Alvaro." Cyde interrupted Trevon's list. He might list even more things if the Wagon continued.

"Ok. Jerry, give that list to me." Alvaro stepped down from wagon stairs and asked for Trevon's list. He looked at it and tore it into small parts. "Anyone who dares to get the things on the list for Trevon, I will kill them myself."

"Father… why do you need to go that far?" Trevon complained. "At last allows them to get that purple girl's name. OK?" He tried to bargain.

"You…." Alvaro got annoyed by Trevon. "No exception! Everyone hears me?"

"Yes, master!" The six-men heave a happy sigh. This what always happened every day on Trevon's life. He would ask this and that, and his father would stop his madness. It was always the worst day for the bodyguards if Alvaro went on a mission.

Finally, they arrived at the family pavilions. Whom did his father want Trevon to meet? Wait for the next part of the story!