First Arrival in Jinguan City

After another day of travel, the trees grew sparse beside the ancient post road outside Jinguan City.

Chen Qing stopped and turned to the enormous Wolf King beside him. "We'll go on from here, Little Wind. Jinguan City is crowded, with eyes everywhere. You can't show yourself."

A low whine rumbled in Little Wind's throat. Its sturdy body stepped forward, and it stubbornly nudged Chen Qing's arm with its head. Reluctance filled its dark green eyes.

Chen Qing chuckled and reached up to rub the thick fur behind Little Wind's ears. "What, are you throwing a tantrum now? Or do you want the city guards to mistake you for game, skewer you, and roast you over a fire?"

Little Wind immediately snorted, baring its gleaming fangs as it let out a threatening growl.

"You won't listen when I reason with you," Chen Qing said with a helpless shake of his head. He turned to the quiet little girl beside him. "A Ning, why don't you try talking some sense into it?"

A Ning nodded obediently. She reached out and gently wrapped her arms around Little Wind's thick neck, pressing her cheek against its warm fur. "Little Wind, be good and wait for us in the mountains, okay? Big brother will protect me, so don't worry."

Little Wind lowered its head, its nose lightly brushing A Ning's delicate hand. A few almost plaintive whimpers came from its throat. It raised its head and stared at Chen Qing for a moment, its gaze sharp and solemn, as if conveying a silent charge.

Chen Qing remained calm, but nodded solemnly in promise. "Don't worry."

Little Wind finally gave in. It rubbed its big head against A Ning's embrace one last time, then turned resolutely and bounded away. Its agile form flashed like a silver-gray bolt of lightning, vanishing into the lush mountains beyond the city in just a few leaps.

"Too bad Little Wind can't shrink down a bit," Lan Tianye remarked with a click of his tongue.

Chen Qing heard Lan Tianye's muttered words and buried the thought in his heart.

The carriage rolled over the final stretch of bumpy dirt road, and beneath its wheels, the path became a broad, smooth avenue paved with bluestone. The din of voices, carts, and hawkers surged toward them like a tide, carrying the bustle and warmth unique to the heart of the Central Plains.

Lan Tianye flung open the carriage curtain and stuck his head out the window. His eyes widened as he let out a long cry of amazement. "Wow!"

Before them, Jinguan City's towering walls stretched into the distance. The gates teemed with carts and horses, while crowds of people jostled shoulder to shoulder.

Sedan chairs of all kinds, carriages, mules laden with goods, and all manner of wandering martial artists with swords at their sides merged into a vast stream of people, moving slowly and orderly through the enormous gate.

Above them, flags fluttered from the city towers, and armored soldiers stood at attention, their armor gleaming sharply in the sunlight.

Unlike the rugged frontier of Iron Wall City or the delicate bustle of Zeyun Town, Jinguan City exuded a grand, complex splendor, steeped in centuries of history.

"Now this is a real city!" Lan Tianye exclaimed, looking around so excitedly that he could hardly take it all in. "Chen, look! That building's so tall! Those people are wearing such beautiful clothes! Wow, there's even a street performer!"

Chen Qing's gaze swept across several people in the crowd who appeared to be standing casually, but whose sharp eyes scanned everyone entering the city.

Beneath the city's prosperity lay a complicated order, and eyes watching from the shadows.

He could tell that at least three pairs of eyes had lingered on their carriage when it passed through the gate.

A Ning seemed unsettled by the crush of people and the noise. She edged closer behind him, a trace of anxiety in her wide, dark eyes.

Chen Qing patted her arm and gave A Ning a reassuring look.

Once they were inside, the sights were even more dazzling. Shops crowded both sides of the broad streets, their wine banners fluttering and signs packed together. Silk shops, restaurants, teahouses, apothecaries, smithies, pawnshops—there was everything one could imagine.

The air was a jumble of food aromas, spices, the smell of horses, and the distinctive din of a great city.

Lan Tianye was like a mouse fallen into a rice jar, finding everything new and exciting. Every so often he cried out in surprise, drawing sidelong glances from passersby.

But seeing that he was from out of town, they didn't think much of it. After all, every visitor marveled at Jinguan City's splendor.

Chen Qing didn't stop to wander. Leading the carriage, he avoided the busiest main thoroughfare and turned into a quieter side street.

His gaze passed over the signs of one inn after another before settling on the mouth of a somewhat secluded alley paved with bluestone. A half-worn sign hung there: "Guiyun Inn."

The inn's facade was unassuming, even a little shabby, but the doorstep was clean and the threshold smooth, signs of age and careful upkeep. A young attendant in a clean short jacket stood by the entrance, wearing the genial smile of a man who knew the value of a good welcome, though he wasn't overly familiar.

"We'll stay here," Chen Qing said.

"Huh? We're not going to that big restaurant over there?" Lan Tianye asked, disappointed, pointing to the three-story building with ornate carvings and painted beams on the main street.

"Quiet," Chen Qing replied tersely, handing the reins to the attendant who came over.

The attendant took them deftly. "Rest assured, sir. Your horses will be fed well. Will you be staying the night or just stopping for a meal?"

"We'll stay. Two upper rooms," Chen Qing said, his gaze casually sweeping across the inn's main hall. The interior was tastefully decorated, and a few tables of guests were eating in low voices. They seemed ordinary, but Chen Qing noticed the calluses on the thumbs and forefingers of two men at one table, as well as the long bundles beside them.

In another corner, an old man who looked like a bookkeeper worked his abacus with steady, powerful fingers. His temples bulged slightly.

Guiyun Inn looked ordinary, but it was clearly not so simple.

The attendant smiled and agreed, then led them inside to register.

Though Lan Tianye regretted missing out on a luxurious restaurant, he was still curious about Guiyun Inn's interior. He especially kept sneaking glances at the martial artists at the tables.

A Ning stayed close to Chen Qing. It wasn't until they reached the quieter guest rooms in the rear courtyard that she relaxed her grip on the hem of her clothes.

By the time they had settled in, evening had fallen. The three of them ate in the inn's main hall, ordering a few local dishes.

When the food arrived, Lan Tianye wolfed it down, praising it between mouthfuls. "Mmm! Jinguan City's food really is something else. It's so much better than hardtack!"

Chen Qing ate quietly and with good manners, but it was clear he liked the dishes. A Ning cautiously tried a bite of what looked like mild steamed egg. Her eyes brightened, and she began eating in small bites.

Just then, the conversation at the table beside them drifted over.

"...Have you heard? 'Flowing Shadow Sword' Situ Zhao defeated seven challengers in a row at the arena in the west of the city the day before yesterday. He's been the talk of the town!"

"Hmph, he's just putting on a show. What real master would show off in an arena? The Canoe Gang and the Salt Gang have been at each other again over the docks. They even fought at the Jinsha River Estuary last night. Blood was spilled..."

"Tsk, Jinguan City looks peaceful, but there are undercurrents churning beneath the surface. I heard something strange happened at an abandoned temple dozens of miles away the night before last. Several martial artists passed out for no apparent reason, and when they woke up, none of them could explain it. They only remembered hearing a flute song like monstrous waves crashing down..."

As the man spoke with increasing animation, he suddenly felt his companion kicking him hard. At the same time, he noticed that the whole hall had grown quieter. Several people were casting sidelong glances toward the corner, where a stranger sat with a little girl.

Following their gazes, the man saw the young man in blue calmly picking up a bite of food. His movements were natural, yet somehow he exerted an inexplicable pressure.

He suddenly remembered the recent rumors about the mysterious "Young Master Star Mark," who was said to be accompanied by a taciturn little girl... The man's heart skipped a beat. He immediately fell silent and bent his head over his food, not daring to say another word.

Lan Tianye had been listening with rapt attention. When they suddenly stopped talking, he looked disappointed and whispered, "Why'd they stop? That thing at the abandoned temple wasn't..." Chen Qing glanced at him, and Lan Tianye immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

After dinner, Chen Qing asked the attendant to bring hot water and told everyone to wash up and rest. After so many days on the road, they needed a chance to recover.

Lan Tianye was full of energy. Even after washing up, he leaned by the second-floor window to watch the streets. Jinguan City's night market blazed with lights like a winding dragon, and the roar of voices held him spellbound.

In Chen Qing's room, A Ning had already fallen fast asleep. He stood alone by the window, gazing toward a brilliantly lit, imposing cluster of buildings at the highest point in the city. That was the heart of Jinguan City: the Shu King's Mansion.

Moonlight fell across his tranquil profile. His gaze was deep, and no one could tell what he was pondering. In his hand, the token Old Daoist Wu had given him—neither metal nor wood—turned silently over and over.

Early the next morning, Chen Qing had only just opened his door when he saw Lan Tianye waiting outside, sporting dark circles under his eyes from a night of excitement.

"Chen! Let's go explore the city today! I heard Jinguan City's Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, and snacks are all exceptional! And the city's biggest teahouse, Wangjiang Tower, is where you go for the latest news. Let's check it out!"

Chen Qing looked at A Ning, who had also gotten up and was gazing at him expectantly. After a brief pause, he nodded.

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

A new day in Jinguan City had just begun.

Chen Qing's arrival here was like a drop joining a river. It had caused no great stir, but perhaps certain watchful eyes had already quietly settled on him.