The afternoon sun beat down on the crowded thoroughfares of the Azure Dragon capital, baking the limestone flags and filling the air with the sharp scent of roasted meat, spiced tea, and thousands of bustling bodies.
Through the dense, noisy throngs of the central market, two figures walked side by side.
Sheng Lu tossed a hot, vinegar-dipped dumpling into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully as he dodged a merchant pushing a cart of silk bolts. Beside him, Lee Bie kept his hands loosely at his sides, his gaze sweeping over the sea of faces without a trace of tension. They wore standard core disciple robes, nothing flashy, but enough to catch the eye of anyone paying attention.
