Robed Man

[The day passes by, but you only see ordinary townspeople, so you stay hidden from sight…]

As different people walked by, Lem's simulated self nearly approached them several times, but he always ended up restraining himself.

If he made the wrong judgment, then it could ruin his chances to initiate a trade. It was better to be too cautious than to put his life at unnecessary risk.

Lem did not mind this approach. His enthusiasm was not dampened by the inaction, as all he cared about was whether his simulated self would succeed in making contact with a martial disciple.

The time it took was of no consequence.

[Night falls. You eat from your rations and fall asleep…]

[Day 11: You feel slightly weaker due to the evil power consuming your vitality…

You continue waiting by the road…

In the early morning, you see a few townspeople walking along the road, but none of them look like disciples…]

Lem's simulated self was growing more impatient.

After spending a night beside the road, he had continued to pass on more opportunities.

It felt like he was just waiting for the evil to degrade his mind.

Lem could tell that he was on the brink of approaching the next person who walked by regardless of who they were or what they looked like.

At least then he could try to convey a message to a martial disciple through them. 

There was noise coming from the town end of the road.

A scrawny man passed by. He was holding a spear in his off hand at an awkward angle.

Lem's simulated self did not act.

Just one more! He had waited so long. The next one had to be a martial disciple!

He heard footsteps, and his attention was drawn back to the road. It was a robed man with a large beard. He was a lone traveler with a sword at his belt, and a calm expression on his face. A man who had seen the world for all its vicissitudes.

It fit the appearance that he imagined a cultivator would have!

Without a second's hesitation, Lem's simulated self stood up, and pushed his way through the brush.

He tucked the spear behind his back and raised his arms to indicate that he had no intention of starting a conflict. At the same time he gave a friendly smile.

The robed man turned and looked over at him with a discerning eye. His face was grave. 

Lem could not tell whether he had been surprised or if he had been waiting for Lem's simulated self to reveal himself.

He did not feel any danger, but this was easily explained away. A disciple of an immortal lineage would certainly have techniques to conceal their presence.

Lem's simulated self bowed deeply.

"Senior, I apologize for the intrusion, but I have knowledge of a spiritual treasure, a water lily. It is not guarded by beasts of any kind. I will freely tell you its location, and even lead you to it if you wish. I have only a small request to make in return."

Lem's simulated self did not ask if the robed man was a cultivator directly, because he did not want to offend him.

He also had not forgotten the words that the guards had told him.

It may be true that disciples had hesitancy around spiritual treasures because of beasts, but would this hold true when the treasure was not guarded by a beast, but by a tree instead?