Chapter 23 Old Ox

"....Are these real?" Mo Xiaowen mumbled in confusion. The missions listed on the board were simply absurd. Not due to their difficulty, but because of their simplicity.

'Sweep the Whale Subduing Plaza, Assist in Transporting Food, Dust the Library........aren't these just chores.' He was surprised at the simplicity of the missions, if he was allowed to he could've even completed these in the 1st Stage.

In fact when he took the time to look around, he realised not many people were at the Mission Board. 'There aren't even any missions with specific requirements.' Just as Mo Xiaowen was going to fall into contemplation, he felt a hand on his back.

"I haven't seen you here before, a newbie aren't ya?" A gruff voice sounded behind Mo Xiaowen. Looking backwards, a large hulking man entered the boy's view. His skin was bronze in colour while every inch of his body was packed with muscle.

"Ahem, yes I am." The boy replied awkwardly, he had no clue who this man was but he seemed way too jubilant almost as if he was trying to sell him something.

"Great, well don't I have an offer for you! See I have this mission which requires me to go to Sea Glass City, but I need a helper. You won't have to do much and I'll give you 20 silver for helping me out." The man explained, a large toothy grin on his face.

Hearing this Mo Xiaowen was quite tempted. The money alone was more than any of the chores on the board and going to Sea Glass City was also a big incentive. "Sure but what exactly will I have to do?" The boy asked cautiously.

"Ah nothing much, do you know how to ride a horse?" The man inquired, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Obviously....do you not know how to?" Mo Xiaowen replied to which the man simply nodded while rubbing the back of his head. "So I just need to take you to Sea Glass City and back?" He continued his questioning. Once again the man nodded his head.

"Then we have a deal, I am Mo Xiaowen." The boy introduced himself while holding out his hand.

"I go by Old Ox." The man likewise introduced himself before taking the boys hand. Shaking on the deal, the two then went towards the stables.

Disciples weren't allowed there on normal circumstances, only when they had a mission pertaining to the stables or one that took them outside the Sect were they allowed to go to the stables.

Once they arrived there Old Ox immediately headed to the Stable Manager and explained the situation. This whole process only took about a minute, it seemed as though it was a common occurrence.

Old Ox and the Stable Manager then came out with jet black horse. "You've ridden horses before right kid?" The Stable Manager asked once again to make sure.

Mo Xiaowen simply nodded at the question. 'Wasn't one of the entrance tests a horse riding test?' He realised as he gave it more thought. So why couldn't this Old Ox ride a horse? It didn't make much sense.

"Well then, good luck kid." The Stable Manager patted him on the shoulder before heading back inside.

"Do I just get on?" Mo Xiaowen asked Old Ox as he approached the horse.

"Ya don't worry about it. All the horses here are tamed and won't do anything. This here is Black Flash, a 6th Stage Wild Beast. We'll be able to reach Sea Glass City with him in about 30 minutes" Old Ox explained before tapping Black Flash's behind.

Almost instantly the horse looked back at Old Ox somewhat annoyed. "Come on old buddy don't look at me like that. Now lets get going Mo Xiaowen." Old Ox said before getting on Black Flash. Soon after Mo Xiaowen followed suit and they made their way to Sea Glass City.

"So how old are you?" Old Ox asked attempting to start a conversation.

"I am 13 years and 4 months old. What about you?" He replied oddly specifically.

"Ah, I should be about..... 20 this year. I've really gotten old, time sure does fly." Old Ox chuckled.

"Old? In this world Qi Gathering cultivators can live to 150, and Core Formation experts can even reach 300 years of age. You're still in the prime of your youth." Mo Xiaowen retorted his eyes focused intently on the road ahead.

"Ahh, that's what you th-in-k....b-ut ev...." Old Ox was saying before he suddenly stopped talking.

"Thump."

And then out of nowhere Mo Xiaowen felt a weight on his back. "Oi is this a joke?" Mo Xiaowen asked as he turned around. What he saw was far from what he expected. Old Ox had fallen asleep and fell forward onto his back.

'.....Is this why he can't ride horses, is he narcoleptic?' Mo Xiaowen was utterly confused. Stopping Black Flash, Mo Xiaowen dismounted the horse before adjusting Old Ox's position. This way he wasn't lying on Mo Xiaowen but wouldn't fall off either. They then continued on their way to Sea Glass City, Old Ox snoring the entirety of the way there.

Almost 30 minutes later the trio arrived at Sea Glass City. It was a large city, as was expected of the Capital City of the Flood Dragon Kingdom. It was surrounded by large 30 meter tall walls which were lined with guards. Arriving at the gate of the city, Mo Xiaowen dismounted the horse before lining up to enter.

"Next."

The guard said, it was their turn to enter. "Old Ox wake up." Mo Xiaowen attempted to wake him up.

"Do you two have pass, or are you going to pay the entry fee?" The guard asked almost robotically.

"W-" Before Mo Xiaowen could even begin to respond he was cut off.

"E-Eh? Where am I? AH yes, Sea Glass City. Good going Mo Xiaowen. Sir Guard we're disciples of the Demonic Cliff Sect, as per the agreement we're given free passage. Here's my medallion." Old Ox replied before handing the guard a medallion.

Inspecting it for a moment the guard then nodded his head before letting them through. Finally they had arrived in Sea Glass City.