-
A dragon roared with fury at the fleeing thief. The greatsword on the man's back slowed him down significantly....
-
Since the events with the Bloodwind Band, the group had grown quiet. The laughter that used to fill the nights had faded; even the horses seemed to walk softer, as if they didn't want to disturb the silence that followed them down the mountain paths.
Long Tianyu sat at the front of the cart beside Wang Shuren, staring at the road ahead. His hands gripped the wooden frame. He had been thinking more than he ever had before, about a potential battle, about the blood, about what could have happened if they hadn't cultivated.
If they hadn't had the strength to fight back…What would have become of Wang Lihua, Lin Yue, Xiao Chi… Hua Qingqing, Zang Liu, Nong Xuanfeng and the others?
The thought alone made his chest tighten and his blood boil. He clenched his fists tighter. I have to change, he told himself. I have to.
-
The days blurred together after that.
To Xiao Chi and Chen Jie, the journey felt endless. Their bodies were strong but their minds were full of thoughts. Sometimes they spoke, but mostly they sat in silence, lost in thought.
When the carts stopped by rivers or resting spots, Zang Liu would pull out his brushes and draw. His strokes were calm and precise, each painting capturing the beauty of a slow river, a bending willow, the glint of the sun through mist. A few travelers stopped to watch, impressed. Some even offered him silver to buy it, but Zang Liu only smiled and shook his head.
"These aren't for sale," he'd say softly. "They're for remembering."
As they neared Moondragon City, the road grew busier.
Merchants, wandering cultivators, and hopeful young men and women traveled the same route. Every mile brought more wagons, more noise, more chatter. The air itself seemed to hum with excitement.
The road became smoother, paved with white stone that caught the sunlight. Along the edges stood tall pillars meant to hold lanterns that would shine during the night. The carts creaked as they curved around a massive tree whose roots crawled over the path like coiled serpents.
The bend was long, the sight ahead hidden by dense leaves and sprawling fauna. But when they cleared the corner, the group fell silent.
In front of them stretched a long descending road, and far below, filling the valley, stood Moondragon City.
"Look," Wang Shuren said, smiling as he pointed ahead. "There it is. Moondragon City."
The group leaned forward, eyes wide, breaths catching at the sight.
"Wow…" Nong Xuanfeng's voice trembled. "Those mountains are as tall as Shadowjade Mountain!"
Wang Lihua smiled faintly. "To the left is the Moonshadow Range," she said, her voice carrying a touch of nostalgia. "To the right is the Dragon's Spine Mountains. And look, the river that runs through the city. If we are lucky with no clouds tonight it will glow silver, like a living moondragon winding through the river."
For a moment, no one spoke.
After weeks of travel through mud and forest, the vast city looked like a world of light and promise.
Each of the great clans and the City Lord held their own quadrant within the walls.
"The northeast belongs to the City Lord Gao," Wang Lihua explained. "The northwest is ruled by the Xie Clan. To the southwest lies the Yu Clan, and the southeast belongs to the Bai Clan. You'll likely see family members from each during the sect selection. So remember to show respect, and don't get involved in things that don't concern you."
The younger ones nodded, though most were too distracted by the view to really hear.
From their point of view, Moondragon City seemed like it stretched endlessly, a sprawling sea of rooftops and towers glimmering in the sunlight. A few tall pagodas rose like mountains among the waves of tiled roofs, and colossal walls surrounded the city.
By the time they reached the city gates, the sun was beginning to lower, tinting the walls with gold. The gates themselves were massive carved of dark wood, reinforced with golden streaks that shimmered faintly with spiritual light.
"Wow, Qingqing, look at those walls!" Long Tianyu said while pointing, his voice full of awe. "They're so tall!"
Hua Qingqing sat behind him, just as amazed. "It's even taller than I imagined…"
Nong Xuanfeng crossed his arms. "Cultivators must have helped build that," he said thoughtfully.
Wang Shuren nodded. "Most likely. Haha, maybe one day you children will build a wall like this over in Xincheng."
Long Tianyu straightened his back, his tone serious. "Mmm. We will."
A couple of merchants nearby overheard and laughed.
"Hah! Every year it's the same. Kids dreaming of building grand cities before they've even entered its gates!" one of them said, shaking his head.
Long Tianyu frowned but said nothing.
They left their horses and carts at a stable outside the gate since it was too expensive to bring them into the city itself. Wang Shuren paid the fee, and the group continued on foot.
At the gate stood a dozen guards dressed in golden armor trimmed with white, the insignia of City Lord Gao. Their spears gleamed under the light, the discipline in their posture unmistakable.
"Those are the City Lord's men," Wang Lihua whispered to the children. "We haven't spoken much of him before, compared to the clans, his family isn't as large, and he's less likely to offend others. But make no mistake… the City Lord holds great power here."
The guards inspected the travelers with practiced eyes. When their turn came, Wang Lihua handed over a wooden pass and exchanged a few polite words. After a moment, the guards waved them through.
Inside, the noise hit them immediately.
The streets were alive with vendors shouting, bells clanging, carts creaking, and the steady murmur of hundreds of people. Scents of roasted meat, herbs, and incense mixed in the air. The children slowed their pace, their heads turning in every direction, trying to take it all in.
"Look at that!" Hua Qingqing said, tugging on Long Tianyu's sleeve.
She pointed to a food stall where round red buns steamed over a pot. "What are those?"
The vendor grinned. "Fire plums! Soft on the outside, spicy inside! Three for one silver!"
Hua Qingqing giggled, but she and Long Tianyu only looked. They knew better than to spend money yet.
Nong Xuanfeng's eyes darted from one side of the street to the other, searching. When he spotted a forge, glowing orange in the distance, his eyes lit up. "A real city forge… I wonder what kind of metal they use here," he muttered to himself, half in awe.
Wang Mei stopped at a stall selling books, her fingers brushing the spines reverently. "So many stories… travel journals, even poetry," she murmured.
Zang Liu found a small shop selling paint and brushes. He bought a few new colors with the silver his family had given him, smiling quietly as he packed them away.
Lin Yue lingered near an apothecary. The air was rich with the smell of herbs and dried flowers. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, her whole face softening. "I could stay here forever…" she whispered.
Song Xue walked around, from her eyes, new patters still flickered about.
Wang Lihua watched them with a gentle smile. It was their first time in a city like this, full of life, full of opportunity.
But not everyone shared the same lightness.
At the back of the group, Xiao Chi, Chen Jie, and Jin Lian walked in silence. Their faces were calm, but their eyes were distant. They had handed over every coin and valuable from the Bloodwind Band to Wang Shuren and Wang Lihua before leaving, asking them to send it back to their families.
Even when the Wang family offered to let them keep even a small share, they refused.
The road ahead led deeper into the city. Wang Lihua pointed toward a signpost."Look there. The city is divided into districts — we're heading northwest, toward the Xie Clan's quarter. We'll find an inn there for the night."
It was a long walk, and the crowd thickened as they went. Merchants called out to sell their goods, children ran through the streets laughing, and hawkers carried trays of candied fruit on sticks. Everywhere they looked, there was movement, color, life.
For the first time since the Bloodwind Band, even Xiao Chi felt a small warmth return to his chest.
The sun began to set behind the mountains, and the lanterns on the pillars flared to life one by one; glowing softly. The river that ran through the city caught the light, shimmering silver, winding between the districts like a dragon at rest.
They stopped on a small bridge overlooking the water.
"It's beautiful…" Hua Qingqing said quietly.
Wang Lihua nodded. "This city is a dream to some and a battlefield to others. Remember that."
Her words hung in the air as the lights reflected across their faces.
They had survived the forest, the bandits, and their own fear. But what awaited them in Moondragon City would be something else entirely.
-
End of chapter 8 - Moondragon City