First Arrival at Jinguan City

After another day of travel, the woods outside Jinguan City grew thinner along the ancient post road.

Chen Qing stopped and turned to the large wolf beside him. "We'll stop here, Little Wind. Jinguan City is crowded and full of prying eyes; it's not safe for you to be seen."

Little Wind let out a low whine from its throat. Its sturdy body stepped forward, and it stubbornly nudged Chen Qing's arm with its head. Its emerald green eyes were filled with reluctance.

Chen Qing chuckled and reached out to rub the thick fur behind Little Wind's ears. "What's this, getting temperamental? Do you want the city guards to mistake you for wild game and roast you over a fire?"

Little Wind immediately snorted, baring its sharp white teeth and letting out a threatening growl.

"You don't listen when I speak nicely," Chen Qing shook his head helplessly and turned to the quiet little girl beside him. "A Ning, can you try to persuade it?"

A Ning nodded obediently, reached out her small hand, and gently hugged Little Wind's thick neck. She pressed her cheek against its warm fur and said softly, "Little Wind, be good. Can you wait for us in the mountains? Brother will protect me, so don't worry."

Little Wind lowered its head, its nose tip lightly brushing A Ning's tender hand. It let out a few whimpers that sounded almost like a complaint. It then looked up at Chen Qing for a moment, its gaze sharp and serious, as if conveying a silent plea.

Chen Qing's expression was calm, but he nodded solemnly in promise. "Don't worry."

Little Wind finally relented, affectionately nuzzling A Ning's embrace with its large head before resolutely turning away. Its agile form became a silver-grey lightning bolt, disappearing into the lush mountains outside the city in just a few leaps.

"What a shame, if only Little Wind could be smaller," Lan Tianye muttered.

Chen Qing heard Lan Tianye's low remark and kept the thought in his heart.

The carriage passed the last bumpy stretch of dirt road, and the wheels transitioned to a smooth, wide bluestone path. The sounds of bustling crowds, carriages, and vendors surged like a tide, carrying the unique prosperity and vibrancy of the central plains.

Lan Tianye "swished" the carriage curtain aside, poked his head out the window, his eyes wide, and let out a long gasp of amazement. "Wow—!"

Before them, the walls of Jinguan City stretched majestically, the city gate was a scene of constant traffic, with pedestrians flowing like water, shoulder to shoulder.

All sorts of palanquins, carriages, mules and horses laden with goods, as well as martial artists with swords at their waists and diverse appearances, merged into a massive stream of people, moving slowly and orderly through the enormous city gate archway.

On the city towers, flags fluttered, and armored soldiers stood at attention, their armor glinting sharply in the sunlight.

In stark contrast to the rugged frontier of Iron Wall City and the delicate liveliness of Zeyun Town, Jinguan City displayed a grandeur and complexity that had been cultivated over centuries.

"This is a truly great city!" Lan Tianye excitedly looked left and right, his eyes almost overwhelmed. "Brother Chen, look! That building is so tall! The clothes those people are wearing are so beautiful! Wow, there are even acrobats!"

Chen Qing's gaze swept over several figures standing seemingly casually in the crowd, their eyes sharp as they scanned the incoming flow of people.

Beneath the city's prosperity lay a complex order and a network of eyes and ears.

He could feel that as their carriage entered the city gate, at least three pairs of eyes had lingered on them for a moment.

A Ning seemed startled by the overwhelming crowd and noise, shrinking back slightly behind him. Her clear black and white eyes held a trace of unease.

Chen Qing patted her arm, giving her a reassuring look.

Successfully entering the city, the scene within was even more dazzling. Shops lined both sides of the wide streets, their banners fluttering, signs standing tall. Silk shops, restaurants, teahouses, pharmacies, blacksmiths, pawnshops... everything was there.

The air was a mixture of food aromas, spices, the scent of horses, and a unique clamor that belonged to a large city.

Lan Tianye was like a mouse that had fallen into a rice bin, finding everything novel, exclaiming loudly from time to time, drawing the attention of passersby.

But seeing that he was a stranger, people didn't find it unusual. After all, every outsider would marvel at the splendor of Jinguan City.

Chen Qing did not linger to sightsee. Leading the carriage, he avoided the busiest main roads and turned into a quieter side street.

His gaze swept over the signs of various inns, finally stopping at the entrance of a slightly secluded alley paved with bluestone slabs. A slightly worn sign hung at the alley entrance—"Guiyun Inn."

The inn's facade was not ostentatious, even a bit simple, but the steps were clean, and the threshold was smooth, showing the passage of time and good upkeep. A waiter in a clean short tunic stood at the door, wearing a smile that suggested business prosperity but was not overly enthusiastic.

"This is it," Chen Qing said.

"Huh? Aren't we going to that big restaurant over there?" Lan Tianye asked, pointing with some disappointment at the three-story building with carved beams and painted columns on the main street.

"Quiet," Chen Qing stated concisely, handing the carriage reins to the approaching waiter.

The waiter took them skillfully. "Rest assured, sir, we'll feed your horses well. Are you here for a meal or to stay?"

"To stay, two superior rooms," Chen Qing replied, his gaze casually sweeping across the inn's lobby. The interior was elegantly decorated, with a few tables of guests dining quietly. It seemed ordinary, but Chen Qing noticed the calluses on the tigers' mouths of two men at one table, and the long bundles placed by their hands.

In another corner, an old man who looked like an accountant was steadily and powerfully moving his abacus beads, his temples slightly bulging.

This Guiyun Inn, while appearing ordinary, was not so simple.

The waiter smiled and agreed, leading them inside to register.

Although Lan Tianye was disappointed not to be staying at a luxurious hotel, he still curiously observed the inn's interior, especially the martial artists at the tables, whom he secretly eyed several times.

A Ning followed Chen Qing closely. Only when they entered the relatively quiet back courtyard area for the guest rooms did she slightly relax her grip on his clothes.

After settling their luggage, it was already evening. The three of them ate in the inn's lobby, ordering a few local dishes.

As the food was served, Lan Tianye ate ravenously, praising indistinctly, "Mmm! The food in Jinguan City tastes amazing! Much better than dry rations!"

Chen Qing ate as quietly and refinedly as ever, but it was clear he was satisfied with the taste of the dishes. A Ning cautiously took a bite of the seemingly non-spicy steamed egg, her eyes lighting up slightly as she ate small mouthfuls.

At this moment, the conversation from the nearby table of martial artists drifted over.

"...Did you hear? 'Flowing Shadow Sword' Situ Zhao defeated seven challengers in a row at the arena west of the city the other day. He's the talk of the town!"

"Hmph, just showmanship. Which true master would show off in an arena? However, the Canoe Gang and the Salt Gang have been clashing again recently over the docks. They even fought at the Jinsha River Estuary last night, drawing blood..."

"Tsk, this Jinguan City, it looks peaceful, but there are undercurrents beneath the surface. I heard that the night before last, something strange happened at a ruined temple dozens of miles away. Several skilled martial artists inexplicably fell unconscious. When they woke up, they couldn't explain anything, only remembering hearing a sound like a roaring tidal wave from a flute..."

As the man was speaking enthusiastically, he suddenly felt his companion kicking his feet and realized that the entire lobby had become quiet at some point. Many eyes were subtly glancing towards the table in the corner with the little girl and the unfamiliar guests.

The speaking man followed their gaze and saw the young man in green calmly picking up a piece of food with his chopsticks. His movements were natural, yet inexplicably, they exuded a strange sense of pressure.

He suddenly remembered the increasingly widespread rumors about the mysterious "Young Master Star Mark" who was said to be accompanied by a quiet little girl... The man's heart sank, and he immediately fell silent, lowering his head to shovel food into his mouth, not daring to say another word.

Lan Tianye listened intently. Seeing them suddenly stop talking, he was a little disappointed and whispered, "Why did you stop? The incident at the ruined temple was just..." Chen Qing glanced at him, and Lan Tianye immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

After dinner, Chen Qing asked the waiter to bring hot water and instructed everyone to wash up and rest. The continuous travel had indeed made rest necessary.

Lan Tianye, full of energy, was looking out at the street scene from the second-floor window after washing up. Jinguan City's night market was bustling, with lights like dragons and a deafening roar of voices, which captivated him.

In Chen Qing's room, A Ning was already fast asleep. He stood alone by the window, gazing at a magnificent and brilliantly lit complex of buildings in the distance, the highest point in the city. This was the center of Jinguan City – the location of the Shu King's Mansion.

Moonlight spilled onto his calm profile, his gaze deep, lost in thought. The token, neither gold nor wood, gifted by Old Daoist Wu, flipped silently in his hand.

The next morning, as Chen Qing opened his door, he saw Lan Tianye, with dark circles under his eyes from excitement and lack of sleep, waiting at the entrance.

"Brother Chen! Shall we go explore the city today? I heard Jinguan City's Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, and snacks are all superb! Also, the biggest teahouse in the city, 'Wangjiang Tower,' is the most well-informed place. Shall we go sit there?"

Chen Qing looked at A Ning, who had also woken up and was looking at him with expectant eyes, and after a moment's thought, he nodded.

"Hooray!" Lan Tianye cheered and immediately rushed downstairs to arrange breakfast.

A new day in Jinguan City had just begun.

Chen Qing's choice to stop here was like a drop of water merging into a river, not causing much of a stir. However, perhaps, certain watchful eyes had already quietly settled upon him.