Stepping into the restaurant, Liam was met with a scene he knew he would never forget.
The Azure Crane was alive in every sense of the word. The moment he crossed the threshold, a tide of sound and scent rushed over him.
The chatter of voices overlapped in a chorus of noise: travelers boasting of their journeys, cultivators debating techniques and prices of spirit herbs. Wooden chopsticks clicked against ceramic bowls, cups clinked as wine was poured, and laughter rolled like thunder from one corner where a group of burly men played an unknown game.
The smell was intoxicating. Rich broths laced with fragrant herbs simmered somewhere in the kitchen, mixing with the savory aroma of roasted spirit beast meat. There was also the earthy scent of spirit grains being steamed.
The décor was no less eye-catching. Lanterns painted with cranes in flight swayed gently from the rafters. The walls were decorated with ink paintings of mountains and rivers.
