"Bah, don't thank me, lad. Just remember to eat something good while you're here," the driver laughed, flicking the reins. "You've got that hungry look about you!"
A faint smile tugged at Tian Lei's lips as the cart rolled away, leaving him at the gates amid the growing crowd.
He joined the line of travelers entering the city, handing over a few spirit coins at the toll post. Once through, the air changed—dense with spirit energy, alive with motion and sound. The streets were paved in white stone that shimmered faintly under the afternoon light, lined with inns, markets, and towers crowned with beast-shaped ornaments.
He walked for a while, taking in the architecture and rhythm of the place. Despite the bustling crowd, every corner seemed disciplined, watched, structured—a city governed by order, not chaos.
