Before the towering gates of the City Lord's Mansion, two rows of guards stood straight as javelins, their armor gleaming with a grim, icy light beneath the sun.
When they saw Liu Gaoyuan and his party approaching in a mighty procession, like surging waves, they were naturally on high alert at first.
The guards gripped their weapons tightly, their knuckles whitening from the force. Their gazes blazed like torches, like sentries braced for battle; at the slightest disturbance, they would pounce like leopards.
But after Liu Gaoyuan stated his purpose and it was reported upward, the mansion ultimately ushered them inside after some deliberation and scrutiny.
Lin Xiaoqing had only just returned to the City Lord's Mansion. The journey had left her somewhat weary, yet before she could even rest her feet, she heard that Liu Gaoyuan and the others had come seeking an audience. She was slightly surprised, though it was also only to be expected.
If the Lineage forces within the city had remained completely silent, she would have been even more uneasy.
Her slender body stiffened slightly. Then she took a deep breath, as though pressing down all her exhaustion and unease, steadied herself, and hurried back to her room to straighten her clothes.
She gently combed her slightly disheveled hair until it was neat, its black strands falling smoothly over her shoulders like silk.
Her fair hands carefully smoothed the wrinkles from her elegant pale dress, as though she intended to face the unknown challenge in her most perfect state.
With light, lotus-like steps, she entered the reception hall with a calm expression.
When Liu Gaoyuan and the others saw Lin Xiaoqing, they merely gave slight nods of acknowledgment. Their perfunctoriness was plain for all to see.
They only showed her basic respect for the sake