The trio escaped just before anyone could recognize them as the wolf's owners, but they still made sure to slightly adjust their facial illusion masks before resuming their wander along the line.
Closer to the gate, the crowd grew more bustling, and the presence of guards increased as they dealt with visitors and checked vehicles. The three were drawn by a relatively huge gap, not too far from the gate.
"P-Please give me some more time! I just have to repair the axle somehow," they found a man, desperately pleading with one of the guards. They stood beside an expensive-looking carriage, but it stood somewhat lop-sided. Apparently, the axle broke, and one of the wheels came off. It was blocking one of the lanes with traffic backing up behind it.
"Hmm... You have 15 minutes to get this thing moving. If this isn't gone by then, you will be fined, and we will pull it off the road," the guard said grumpily and continued his tour along the tine to inspect people and vehicles.
The man he had spoken to, a slightly rotund man in loose, expensive robes, bowed over and over in gratitude as the guard left. The next moment, he started calling out to the other people in the line, obviously desperate for help, any help.
"Please, is there an artificer here!? Somebody, anybody who could repair the axle? Or maybe someone who could lend a Wind Spirit Stone?" he started calling out desperately. Mina gave Seth that look. Even Fin gave him that look.
The blacksmith rolled his eyes with a sigh.
"Stop crying so loudly; I will repair the axle," the blacksmith told the merchant-looking man with a sigh. The man looked at him like a puppy that found his forever home. The blacksmith felt creeped out seeing a middle-aged, rotund man with a pornstache looking at him with big, wet, puppy eyes.
"Are you truly willing to help? You can really repair it?!" he exclaimed, clutching his hands. "May I know your name, savior? I'm Sarul, eunuch of Lady Yin of the Yin Family. It would really be a great help if you could repair the carriage. I'm currently on an important errand and have neither the time nor the money to deal with the guards and pay a potential fine. How long do you think you will take?" the eunuch vomited a wall of text. Increasing the blacksmith's repair speed.
"Just a moment," the blacksmith said taciturnly, as Charon's Obol appeared in his hand. The eunuch made a few steps back, seeing the dangerous tool. Meanwhile, Seth lifted the left back corner of the carriage, where the wheel broke off, with one hand.
The eunuch marveled at the sight, while the blacksmith set it down on his knee. This way his hands were free to properly prepare the axle and wheel. As for the repair itself, it had the man gaping even more.
Seth simply aligned the broken ends of the wooden axle and gave it a gentle tap with his hammer.
"Repair.
Under the curious eyes, the common wood was practically welded back together in an instant. The spot where it was originally broken was barely discernible if one knew where it was; otherwise, it was impossible.
"This should do to get in the city," the blacksmith mumbled, downplaying his work, as the weld was likely stronger than the whole rest of the axle. The whole carriage might rot, but this forged wood would remain.
"This humble servant offers ten thousand kowtows to the esteemed master! By fixing our broken wheel, you have saved this lowly one from being flayed alive. I shall report your celestial benevolence to My Lady the moment I return. Her Grace will surely bestow upon you mountains of spirit stones and priceless treasures to reward your grand virtue!" The eunuch tanked him ostentatiously, bowing so deep he almost fell to his knees. It seemed almost fake, but Seth didn't detect any lies.
"There is no need; it was just a broken axle. Don't worry about it, " the blacksmith tried to deal with this overreaction. The eunuch's face momentarily dropped. His grand smile faltered as he looked at him with a slight look of disappointment.
He sighed softly and gave another deep, dramatic bow, giving Seth a sad look. "Ai ya... Savior is truly too detached from the mortal world," the eunuch murmured, slightly shaking his head.
"To treat a favor to the young lady as mere kindling..." he gave the bard a look of gentle pity, and bowed again, as a sign of acceptance. "Since Master wishes to remain a hidden dragon, this servant will not force your hand. May your path be smooth. However, if you ever need a favor, don't hesitate to find thee Floating Cloud Manor. Just ask for Fu Gui, Manager of the Third Courtyard," the eunuch added an introduction to the end of their conversation.
"Then I wish you smooth travels, Fu Gui," Seth said and gave him a studied, respectful bow, cupping his fist. With that , the separated from the from the fat little eunuch who returned back in the carriage.
"I think we should also return to our carriage now," the blacksmith suggested. They had been walking around for something over an hour and almost reached the city gate. The carriage would have moved too and couldn't me far from where they were now.
If they walked back now, they probably had another half hour before it would be their turn at the gate. With that in mind, the trio crossed the broad road and walked back on the other side of the long line of travelers.
The way back was short and uneventful; they soon returned to the carriage, only to find another situation. There was a loud commotion surrounding the place where their carriage was supposed to be. Seth had a bad feeling.
"Relinquish the carriage to us, worthless mud-leg! A fine piece as this, only I am worthy to ride it!" they heard someone exclaim. The voice sounded rather young. They pushed through the gawkers to find that a young noble in lavish, embroidered robes was standing before the carriage.
He was flanked by two burly sect guards wielding heavy sabers. The noble was sneering, but also breathing kind of worked up, pointing a jade-ringed finger directly at Abeja, who was looking down at him from the coach box.
"Go fucking die in a ditch already, you spoiled piece of rotten meat! I pity the parents that gave birth to a crotch goblin like you! On the other hand, they are probably the incompetent hobos that raised you into a piece of shit!" Abeja finally exploded, demonstrating what it meant to be created by a bard.
The crowd went absolutely silent. The young man had frozen; the sneer on his face had vanished. His face turned an unnatural, mottled purple as the words sank in. Even his guards stood stunned, confused by the sudden eruption. How could a mere servant dare to spew such vulgarities? How could anyone go as far as to pity and blame the parents?
It was clear this was the first time this boy faced opposition in his life; he was truly a spoiled brat.
"You...You dog... You disgusting, gutter-born filth..." the noble young man stammered, trying to find his words. A tangible pressure flared up around him as he unleashed his spiritual aura, kicking up dust and loose pebbles.
"A piece of mortal trash dares to curse my lineage?!" In his fit of rage, he drew his sword, the blade humming with a sharp, murderous light.
"I will not just kill you," the noble snarled, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "I am going to peel your skin off inch by inch, tear out your tongue, and hunt down every single person who shares your bloodline so they can join you in that ditch! Guards! Hold him down! Do not let him die too quickly!"
The two sect guards moved instantly, overcoming their confusion; grins spread across their faces as they rushed at Abeja with sardonic smiles.