Inside and Outside the City Gates

Toward evening, Lu Yuan caught sight of Nuoding City's outline.

Gray-black walls crouched along the horizon, towering well above Maple Leaf Town's earthen palisade. Tiny black figures patrolled the ramparts, and a few flags fluttered lazily. The gatehouse had upturned eaves and interlocking brackets, while the passage beneath it yawned black as an open mouth.

Streams of people converged here, growing dense.

The closer he got, the more palpable the invisible pressure became.

Outside the gate passage stood two squads of guards. They wore gray-white uniforms embroidered at the chest with the emblem of a crossed sword and scepter-Soul Masters from Spirit Hall. Eight in all, their eyes raked the crowd like knives. They spoke little and moved briskly. Some people flashed wooden tokens or badges, and the guards nodded them through. Others were stopped, questioned, and had their luggage searched.

Lu Yuan joined the end of the line and slowly shuffled forward.

He watched.

A middle-aged man in brocade robes presented a silver family badge. The guards immediately straightened their backs, smiles spreading across their faces.

A few youths in blue-and-white academy uniforms had bronze school badges pinned to their chests. The guards let them through with a glance.

Then came a man with a pack on his back. A guard stopped him. "Where are you from?" "Black Stone Village, up north." "What are you coming into the city for?" "Selling pelts, trading for salt and medicine." His luggage was opened and searched: a few animal pelts and some mountain produce. After poking through it with his scabbard, the guard waved him on. "Go ahead. Remember the rules."

Only two or three people remained ahead of Lu Yuan.

He took a deep breath and hugged the bundle against his chest a little tighter.

"Next."

The voice was flat. The Soul Master conducting the checks was in his thirties, with a long, lean face and sharp eyes. His gaze lingered on Lu Yuan's patched, worn clothes and muddy trouser legs before settling on his face.

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"Where are you from?"

"Maple Leaf Town."

"Maple Leaf Town?" The Soul Master thought for a moment. "That little place in the northwest of the Star Luo Empire? What did you come all the way here for?"

"I wanted to see if I could get into an academy." Lu Yuan's voice was quiet but clear.

The Soul Master raised an eyebrow. "How old? Have you undergone Martial Soul Awakening?"

"Six. I've awakened it. Blue Silver Grass, half a level of Innate Soul Power."

Another guard beside him couldn't hold back a snort of laughter, though he immediately stifled it.

The thin-faced Soul Master's expression barely changed. He nodded. "A Trash Martial Soul and trash Soul Power, and you came all the way to Nuoding City... you've certainly got ideas." His tone gave no indication whether he was mocking him or stating a fact. "Your luggage."

Lu Yuan set his bundle on the ground and untied it. Inside were a few old clothes, half a flatbread, a waterskin, notes wrapped in oiled paper, and a small cloth pouch containing samples of Bristle Rat bristles.

The Soul Master used his scabbard to move the clothes aside and lift the oiled-paper package. "What's this?"

"Notes I use to learn to read."

The Soul Master opened it and leafed through the pages. There were neat characters and simple diagrams, with dried bloodstains in places. After a few glances, he closed it and tossed it back. Then he lifted the small cloth pouch.

"And what's this?"

"Rat hair I picked up on the road. I wanted to see if I could trade it for some money." Lu Yuan lowered his eyes.

The Soul Master opened it, pinched up a bristle, and examined it. He curled his lip and tossed it back. "Bristle Rat hair. Not worth much. General stores in the city buy it for about two Copper Soul Coins a jin."

"Thank you, sir."

The Soul Master waved a hand. "Go on in. Remember the rules, and don't cause trouble."

Lu Yuan tied up his bundle, slung it over his back, and entered the gate passage.

Shadow closed over him. Footsteps echoed beneath the vaulted ceiling. After a dozen or so steps, light and clamor from the other end burst upon him.

He narrowed his eyes.

The street was wide, its bluestone paving worn smooth underfoot. Shops stood in row upon row on either side, their signs bright with color. Weapon shops hung out models of swords and sabers, medicinal herb shops gave off the scent of medicine, and there were clothing stores, restaurants, teahouses... all gleaming and splendid.

Pedestrians rubbed shoulders in the crush. Soul Masters in magnificent robes strolled at leisure with servants in tow. Boys and girls in academy uniforms gathered in groups of three or five, their laughter ringing out. There were ordinary townspeople too, but most hurried along with their heads down.

Noisy, prosperous.

But cold as well.

Lu Yuan stood at the edge of the gate passage's exit and watched for quite a while. Then he set off along the main road. He walked slowly, his eyes sweeping over both sides.

He noticed that the people entering and leaving the lavishly decorated shops were dressed just as finely. Occasionally, someone as shabbily dressed as he was tried to enter, only for a shop assistant at the door to subtly block them with his body.

After he had walked for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, the main road curved to the right. Rather than follow it, he went straight ahead and slipped into a somewhat narrower side street.

The scene changed at once.

The paving stones were broken, with filthy water pooling in the cracks. On either side were mostly low storefronts or street stalls. They sold a hodgepodge of goods: old, rusty ironware, medicinal herbs of poor quality, worn leather armor, and all manner of odds and ends.

Most of the customers were weary-faced people in ordinary clothes. Here and there, a low-level Soul Master with faint Soul Power fluctuations picked through goods at a stall, bargaining in quick, low voices.

The air was thick with a mixture of sweat, mold, and cheap grease.

Walking down this street, Lu Yuan felt a little more at ease. At least far fewer of the looks cast his way were condescending; more held the numbness of those at the bottom themselves, or a merchant's appraising scrutiny.

He spotted a stall displaying a few old books. Its owner was a gaunt old man dozing with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

Lu Yuan squatted down to look through them. Most were tales and romances, though there were also two incomplete books on farming. He picked up a small booklet with a worn cover.

"A Brief Analysis of Basic Soul Power Guidance: Incomplete Handwritten Copy."

His heart skipped a beat. He examined the contents closely. They contained only the crudest descriptions of Soul Power circulation, some of them even incorrect. It wasn't worth much.

"How much is this one?" he asked.

The old man opened one eye and glanced over. "Five Copper Soul Coins."

Lu Yuan silently put it down. He had only seventeen Copper Soul Coins in his pocket altogether. Five for an incomplete copy riddled with errors wasn't worth it.

He got up and continued on.

Two stalls farther along, he stopped.

Ahead was a small shop with a somewhat tidier frontage. A wooden sign hung outside, its paint mottled and peeling: "Soul Master Texts." A few books sat in the display window under a thin layer of dust.

Lu Yuan approached, his gaze settling on one of them.

"Illustrated Guide to Common Soul Beasts of the Continent: Abridged Edition."

The book was thin, with a cardboard cover bearing a simple drawing of a wolf-shaped Soul Beast. He stared at the little wooden price tag for a long time.

Carved into it were the words: "Price: three Silver Soul Coins."

Three Silver Soul Coins meant three hundred Copper Soul Coins.

He unconsciously squeezed the seventeen Copper Soul Coins in his pocket, their edges pressing into his palm.

The window reflected his face: thin and sallow, with eyes that looked somewhat long and narrow because he kept them slightly squinted. The patches on his clothes stood out in the reflection.

He looked away, turned, and left.

He had to find somewhere to stay first.

He walked farther along the street and asked at several of the cheapest inns. Even the cheapest shared sleeping platform cost five Copper Soul Coins a night, meals not included.

He did the math and finally chose a small, shabby-fronted inn near the city wall. The owner was a one-eyed old man with a pipe clenched between his teeth.

"How many days?"

"One night for now."

"Shared platform, spot by the wall, four Copper Soul Coins. Bring your own bedding."

Lu Yuan counted out four Copper Soul Coins and set them on the counter. The old man swept them over with his pipe, tucked them into his clothes, and tossed him a key tied to a wooden tag. "First room on the left in the back courtyard. We close the doors at the hour of Hai. Miss it, and we won't wait."

The room was small, crowded with six shared wooden sleeping platforms. The air smelled of old mold and sweat. The spot by the wall was fairly clean. He put down his bundle and sat on the hard boards.

Outside the window, the sky darkened.

He took the half flatbread from his bundle and ate it slowly. Then he pulled out his notes, turned to a blank page by the last light coming through the window, and bit his index finger.

A bead of blood welled up.

He quickly sketched on the paper: the towering city gate, the Spirit Hall guards, the splendid main street, the shabby side street, and the illustrated guide priced at three Silver Soul Coins.

Beside them, he noted: City entry checks distinguish between people according to their identity badges. Districts are clearly divided by resources and status. Price of basic knowledge (abridged Soul Beast guide): 300 Copper Soul Coins. Personal funds: 13 Copper Soul Coins.

When he finished, he folded the page and tucked it back into the pocket against his body.

Knowledge had to be recorded. So did his present circumstances.

He lay down, the wooden boards pressing against his bones.

Tomorrow, he had to go take a look at that place.

The following afternoon, Lu Yuan stood at the foot of the steps to the city library.

The building was imposing, constructed of pure white marble, with towering columns carved in relief with books and stars. The dozen or so steps were spotless. The heavy doors were made of dark wood inlaid with bronze ornaments, and the plaque above them read: Nuoding City Public Library.

But what drew Lu Yuan's attention was a bronze plaque nailed to a column beside the entrance.

Its lettering was clear and cold:

"Rules of admission: 1. Entry requires valid proof of Soul Master rank or a letter of recommendation from an academy. 2. Maintain silence; loud noise is prohibited. 3. Books must not be damaged; violators will be severely punished."

His gaze lingered on the first line for a long time.

Proof of Soul Master rank. Or an academy recommendation letter.

He had neither.

People occasionally came and went on the steps. Some wore Soul Master robes with rank badges pinned to their chests; others were academy students carrying letters stamped with red seals. They climbed the steps, pushed open the heavy doors, and disappeared inside.

Through the gaps as the doors opened and closed, he could glimpse bookshelves reaching to the ceiling, while the faint mingled scent of old paper and ink drifted out.

The scent made Lu Yuan's fingertips itch slightly.

He stood on the bottom step, head tilted back as he looked at the bronze plaque, his mind working rapidly. Forging proof was impossible. Getting a recommendation letter? He would need to make contact with someone at an academy, and he had no connections at all right now. Or could he demonstrate his "value" and get the gatekeeper to make an exception?

The risk was too great.

Deep in thought, he didn't notice someone coming down the steps.

A young woman in a plain, modified blue-green robe was hurrying along with a stack of old books in her arms. A simple pair of glasses ground from crystal rested on her nose; behind the lenses, her eyes were bright and intent.

As she passed Lu Yuan, she seemed to glance instinctively at the shabbily dressed boy standing below the steps, staring up at the notice.

Her gaze lingered for an instant on his intent face as he stood unable to gain entry.

Almost at the same time, the library doors at the top of the steps opened again. Several boys in matching blue-and-white academy uniforms came out, talking and laughing. One of them caught sight of Lu Yuan below the steps out of the corner of his eye, and his laughter stopped abruptly.

He nudged a companion with his elbow and tipped his chin toward Lu Yuan.

The boys all looked over.

Then undisguised snickering broke out.

"Hey, you down there." The voice came from above the steps, pitched deliberately high. "Don't block the way. This isn't a place just any stray cat or dog can enter."

Lu Yuan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

He slowly lowered his head, turned around, and looked toward the voice.

Three boys stood on the steps, looking down at him. The one who had spoken stood in the middle and was the tallest, his face openly displaying superiority and mockery. Their school badges were brass-colored.

The woman in the blue-green robe had already descended the steps. Hearing the voice, she paused. She didn't turn around, but her fingers tightened slightly around the books.

Lu Yuan looked at the three boys, his face largely expressionless. After two seconds of silence, he turned sideways and stepped aside, clearing the path through the middle of the steps.

His movement was calm.

The tall boy seemed dissatisfied with his reaction. He curled his lip and was about to say something else when a companion tugged at him.

"Come on. Why bother picking a fight with some country kid?"

Only then did the three swagger down the steps. As they passed Lu Yuan, the tall boy deliberately bumped him with his shoulder.

Lu Yuan staggered from the impact but said nothing.

Only after the three had gone far away did he straighten up again and brush off the shoulder that had been struck. Then he looked up once more at the plaque above the library doors and the cold bronze notice.

His gaze was calm.

He turned, stepped down the last stair, and joined the flow of people on the street. Walking at an unhurried pace, he soon disappeared around the corner.

Below the steps, the woman in the blue-green robe walked a dozen or so paces with her books before stopping and looking back in the direction Lu Yuan had disappeared. Her eyes narrowed slightly behind her lenses, a trace of almost imperceptible thoughtfulness in them.

She lowered her head and glanced at the cover of the topmost book in the stack in her arms-"Analysis of Abnormal Low-Level Soul Power Circulation Cases: Selected Manuscripts"-then looked up toward the library and sighed softly.

Then she too turned and slowly walked away, in the direction opposite Lu Yuan.

The setting sun stretched her shadow long, casting it at an angle across the smooth but cold marble steps.