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The dragon pursued him relentlessly until he reached a mountain that pierced the clouds. The man finally stopped and shouted.....
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The carts rumbled slowly down the white stone road, the sound of hooves and wheels echoing faintly against the tall buildings around them. The air had changed as they entered the heart of Moondragon City. It smelled cleaner, touched by the cool river and spices that drifted from street vendors. The silver river glittered to their right, its wide current cutting through the city like a blade of light. Even from the roadside they could see boats gliding by, their paper lanterns trembling softly from the water under the boat.
The group slowed down again to admire the sight. The river's surface shimmered under the moonlight. Arched bridges of pale stone stretched over it, connecting the four grand districts of the city. Merchants and cultivators alike crossed them.
Wang Shuren smiled faintly. "The Moondragon River. It flows from the Moonshadow Range and the Dragon's Spine Mountains through the city before reaching a large lake, it is said it is very far north, towards the sects."
As they continued deeper into the city, the world around them shifted constantly. New smells, new colors, new sounds, it was overwhelming and fascinating at once.
There were stores everywhere, their signs written in bold brushstrokes and painted gold or crimson. Rows of jade ornaments glittered behind glass; silken robes hung in shop windows; vendors called out to passing travelers, waving skewers of roasted meat or cups of sweet fruit wine.
"Come, taste the delicacy of the Pearl Ocean!""Fresh spirit herbs! Refine your qi, strengthen your core!""Lucky charms blessed by the Xie temple, protection for young cultivators!"
Every step offered something new.
For the children, it was almost dizzying, they had spent their lives in the quiet Xincheng, where the loudest sound at night was the croaking of frogs or the crackle of firewood, and sometimes Long Tianyu, or his mother. Here, the entire world seemed alive.
Yet among the crowds, not everything was bright.
At one corner, a thin boy crouched near a tea house, his ribs showing through the tatters of his shirt. His hand was outstretched, trembling slightly, as he whispered to passers-by. Farther ahead, a girl barely younger than Hua Qingqing sat against a wall, holding a sleeping child wrapped in a torn blanket. Few people stopped to look at them.
The group fell silent as they walked past.
Lin Yue slowed her steps, watching the children as they disappeared behind the turning crowd. Her hands tightened around the straps of her pack. Even in a city this grand, suffering still lived in the shadows.
When they stopped at a crossroad, she looked down, her voice quiet. "Some of them… they don't even have shoes."
Wang Lihua rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "The city is vast, child. Wealth and poverty walk side by side. That is the way of the world."
Lin Yue nodded slowly, but her heart felt heavy. When I'm stronger, she thought, I'll help them. I don't know how yet, but I will.
For now, she knew her strength was still too small. But that spark of resolve quietly took root within her.
As they went on, the streets grew busier. People talked about sects and clans, about martial events and duels fought by cultivators whose names they had never heard before. Everywhere, there were banners fluttering with crests, swords, beasts, flames, clouds. The air itself seemed charged with excitement.
"Did you hear? The Xie Clan is hosting an exhibition today before the sect selections!"
"Bah, the Yu Clan will outshine them this year, just wait and see."
The children listened, but most of it sounded like distant thunder, loud, impressive, but hard to understand.
Eventually, Wang Shuren pointed ahead. A large wooden sign hung from a building with white stone pillars and a roof of deep blue tiles. Two silver swords crossed in its center, gleaming faintly in the light.
"The Silver Sword Inn," he said. "This will do for tonight."
The name, Wang Lihua explained, was taken from both the river and the Xie Clan's famous sword cultivation.
Inside, the air was warm and filled with the smell of roasting meat and vegetables. A few travelers sat at long tables, drinking and laughing, while others spoke quietly over bowls of soup. Smoke curled lazily toward the ceiling beams.
The innkeeper, a round-faced man with a friendly smile, greeted them and arranged their stay. Rooms were few, so several of the younger ones would have to share. None complained after weeks on the road, a proper bed felt like luxury right now.
When they went upstairs, the floorboards creaked softly under their feet. The rooms were small but tidy, with wooden walls, straw mats, and paper lanterns that glowed like captured moons.
Downstairs, Wang Shuren and Wang Lihua sat by the hearth. The long journey had taken its toll; even cultivators felt the ache of travel. They spoke little, only sharing a look of relief that they had made it safely. The children had grown so much already, stronger, quieter and more mature.
When Long Tianyu and the others came down again, still eager to explore, Wang Shuren raised a hand. "Not tonight. Rest. The city is vast and full of strangers. You might offend someone without meaning to."
Long Tianyu opened his mouth to protest, then saw the tiredness in the Wang parents eyes.
"Alright." Reluctantly, they agreed.
The night outside was alive with sounds, bells ringing in the distance, the chatter of late merchants, the faint hum of qi from passing cultivators. Even within the inn, the air thrummed faintly, as if the city itself breathed with power.
As the lamps dimmed, the group prepared for sleep. The rooms filled with the soft rustle of blankets and quiet whispers.
In one room, Lin Yue couldn't sleep. The image of the children on the streets kept returning to her mind. She thought of their faces, thin, hollow, yet still human, still alive.
If I can become strong enough, she thought, maybe I can change something.
She turned toward the wall, pulling the blanket around her shoulders. The faint sounds of the city filtered through the paper windows: distant laughter, footsteps, the murmur of water.
Zang Liu sat by the window in another room, sketching the river one last time by lantern light. The curve of the water reflected in his ink strokes, each line calm and steady.
Nong Xuanfeng lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. "Do you think we'll meet real sect disciples tomorrow?" he asked.
Chen Jie rolled onto his side. "Of course we will. And one day, they'll be meeting us."
Xiao Chi said nothing. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands resting on his knees. The faces of the bandits still haunted him sometimes, flashes of blood, the weight of his spear. But he stayed silent, focusing on the faint hum of his qi instead.
Jin Lian sat nearby, polishing his weapon. "No point in worrying," he said quietly. "We'll just do what we've trained for."
Xiao Chi's mood suddenly changed when he thought of Xincheng.
"Hey, Tianyu, make sure you wake up on time tomorrow," Xiao Chi said with a grin, stretching his arms behind his head. "Could you imagine teacher's face if you missed joining a sect and had to wait three years because you overslept?" He chuckled, reminding everyone of the countless times Long Tianyu had been late to morning training, even Jin Lian had been told the stories from Xincheng.
Long Tianyu snorted, crossing his arms. "You'd be lucky to be chosen by a rat tomorrow."
"Oh yeah? Just watch me!" Xiao Chi shot back. "Me and Jin Lian will go straight to the Scarlet Battlefield!"
"Really?" Nong Xuanfeng asked, raising an eyebrow, barely hiding a smirk.
"Mm!" Xiao Chi nodded firmly, brimming with confidence.
Long Tianyu grinned. "Hey, hey, you'd be lucky not to end up cleaning pots for the rest of your life!"
"LONG TIANYU! How dare you look down on me!" Xiao Chi lunged forward.
In seconds, the room filled with laughter and shouts as the two started wrestling on the floor, rolling back and forth while the others cheered and laughed. Thankfully, they'd long since learned to control their strength otherwise they would have surprised the people in the room below them.
When they finally stopped, both were out of breath and grinning from ear to ear. For a brief moment, the tension of the upcoming day melted away, replaced by the warmth of friendship and the sound of laughter echoing softly through the Silver Sword Inn.
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End of chapter 9 - Harsh Reality