79 The Exchange 1 (1/2)

Chapter 79: The Exchange 1

Sitting in the car, Garen glanced at the driver and Jaden sitting in front. Both were silent. It didn't seem like they intended to speak.

He turned to look out the car window. The buildings in Hela City were similar to those in Huaishan City, but taller. Some were even tens of meters tall, straight and boxlike, like huge pieces of stacking blocks. The shadows they cast were massive and black.

The motorcade seemed to drive from under the shadow of a building immediately into another. Garen could vaguely make out that there were external lifts on the sides of some of the tall buildings. They were those old-fashioned ones made of wood and metal with an extremely slow speed.

Pedestrians on the streets were fashionably dressed. Some girls and rich ladies even wore slightly revealing clothing, displaying their slim figures.

The motorcade kept going forward. Time passed. The buildings on both sides became less dense and older. The scene outside gradually resembled Huaishan City, and the pedestrians seemed to dress more modestly as well.

This was the first time Garen left Huaishan. Previously, he had thought it was one of the more modern places of this era. He didn't expect Hela City to be so much more developed than it.

The car slowed as it drove into this area. Soon it turned a corner into an underground carpark within a housing area.

The car gradually slowed to a halt, and the engine was cut off.

”We're here. Please step out,” Jaden said in a low voice.

Garen nodded, pulled the handle and stepped out. He scanned the whole underground carpark—it was filled with silver-striped cars. There were a few still driving in, yet to park, and some with car doors open and the passengers standing around the cars taking in their surroundings.

The sound of car doors closing echoed around the carpark. His master Fei Baiyun stepped out accompanied by two Celestial Circle Gate disciples. Garen quickly walked over to follow behind his master.

”This way please.” Jaden bowed respectfully, then walked toward the elevators in a far corner of the carpark.

A few Celestial Circle Gate disciples trailed behind, leading Garen and his master.

”What a grand display by the Celestial Circle Gate. They escorted us with police cars and sent so many disciples to receive the practitioners of Secret Martial Art from all sects,” Garen said.

”This is normal. The Gate Master of the Celestial Circle Gate has several disciples who serve as senior officials in this province and a few other neighboring ones. He has a lot of soft power,” Fei Baiyun explained softly. ”You'll be directed to the student area later. Take care, don't get into trouble.”

”Yes, Master.” Garen nodded.

They followed Jayden into the elevator.

The inner walls of the elevator were made of mahogany. It was spacious inside. The floor was covered with a square black rug with ”The Celestial Circle Gate” printed in calligraphy on it.

The few of them were silent inside the elevator. The movement of the elevator could barely be felt.

Ding…

The elevator announced its stop, and the doors slowly opened. Beyond the doors was a black corridor with stone floor and walls. Every few steps along the corridor, a disciple in a sharp black suit stood in attention, lending a sense of formality to the atmosphere.

The corridor was linked to others at both ends. From time to time, there would be people in all manner of dress passing through the corridor, escorted by the Celestial Circle Gate disciples. All of them went toward the left.

Jayden led Fai Baiyun and Garen into the corridor, then turned left into a wider one.

Garen walked along the passage. He could feel the cold hard stone surface beneath his feet. There was a faint scent of incense in the air.

He had a vague sense of excitement. It was his first time being at a grand event like this. Putting aside all else, just by looking at the two rows of disciples in black suits standing in attention—sharp and alert, with fingertips like sharp spikes, emitting a faint white glow—one could tell that they were not mediocre.

His master in front started greeting peers upon turning the corner. It seemed like he had met some close acquaintances. Fei Baiyun put his arm over the shoulder of a short and stout man and walked with him. They greeted each other affectionately.

Garen lowered his head and looked solemn.

He walked into a small hall with a circular fountain.

”Senior Brother, please follow me,” a Celestial Circle female disciple walked over to Garen and politely said. She led him away from Fei Baiyun and the rest, toward a corridor on the right. Several disciples from other sects, like Garen, were led toward the same direction.

They followed the female disciple to the end of the corridor and entered a spacious square black hall which was filled with large mahogany round tables and chairs. A lot of people were already seated inside.

By a wall in the hall, a few clowns in colorful clothing were performing an act, attracting bursts of laughter from the crowd.

No one noticed as Garen walked in. The female disciple handed him a sign with 'The White Cloud Gate' written on it and left.