Leaving Blue City behind felt almost surreal.
The moment they passed beyond the last low buildings and sparse farmlands, the sense of stagnation that had clung to the place loosened its grip.
Lin Mu stood at the edge of a shallow hill overlooking the winding stone road that led south, the faint blue rooftops already shrinking into the distance. The sky above was clear, washed in pale sunlight, and the air carried the quiet stillness of a world that had long grown used to being overlooked.
"This really was a town pretending to be a city," Cattaleya muttered, cracking her neck.
Meng Bai nodded. "I think the guards there could barely handle spirit beasts, let alone immortals."
Daoist Chu exhaled slowly. "It explains why information moves so slowly here. Few travelers, fewer messengers, and almost no pressure to modernize."
Lin Mu did not reply immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and sent a familiar pulse of intent outward.
"Shrubby," he called.
