A city of the Central Plains

The city's towering blue-black walls stretched across the end of the road like a mountain ridge.

If Jiufeng City's outer wall was little more than a courtyard fence, and Zhangwei City's walls had something of a defensive fortification about them, then the walls here were the very pinnacle of an ancient fortress.

They probably stood over twenty-five meters tall, the equivalent of seven or eight stories in modern terms. Lookout towers and archery towers rose above the ramparts, making their defensive strength truly impressive.

Chen Xuan couldn't quite understand it. They should have been deep in the Central Plains now, where there ought to be little threat of war. Why had the city's outer walls been fortified to such an extent?

"...This place looks remarkably prosperous." They were still half a li from the gates when Liu Shuyue voiced her admiration. "Even Qi's Royal City looks rather shabby beside it."

Horses and carriages streamed along the main road, with drivers' shouts rising one after another. Signs of thriving commerce were evident before they even entered the city—vendors pushed wheelbarrows along the roadside, hawking everything from bracelets and earrings to fruit and vegetables. Numerous simple buildings stood outside the walls as well. Judging by the flags fluttering from their window frames, there were inns, teahouses, banks, pawnshops... It was practically a small city outside the city.

After another hundred paces, Chen Xuan could finally make out the sign hanging above the entrance.

"Chang... 'an City?"

His heart gave a thump, and his lingering anxiety finally settled.

Thank goodness. It was a name he recognized.

"That's strange. The second round of the Anglo-French Hundred Years' War has already started over there, so why is this still Chang'an City?" Lin Qing asked, puzzled. "Is something wrong with my retrieval database? Shouldn't Chang'an have