Tianyin City stood tall and magnificent, like a living painting stretched beneath the horizon. Built on a highland overlooking a sacred lake, the city sparkled like a gem nestled in the arms of a gentle mist. Towering structures with curved rooftops reflected ancient architecture, stone bridges arched over clear canals, and red lanterns swayed slowly in the autumn breeze.
The moment they entered the city, Su Daji's eyes widened in wonder. Her gaze sparkled like a child seeing the outside world for the first time. "Look! Roasted phoenix buns! And—that vendor is selling folding fans with dragon paintings!"
Tang Wu, of course, was instantly swept up by her excitement. "Are you sure those are phoenix buns? Not just regular chicken with too much chili?"
Leon sighed, pulling his cloak's hood deeper. "We haven't even reached the inn yet. Don't get lost. And don't buy anything... weird."
Too late—Tang Wu was already holding two skewers of honey-glazed octopus. "It's fine. I feel like this is going to be a spiritual journey."
Meanwhile, Mo Tian glanced once toward the distant silhouette of Tianyin Academy before turning to Jian Mo. "I have to go. There's an urgent matter with the Alliance Leader. I'll rejoin you before the initiation ceremony."
Jian Mo simply nodded. "Be careful, Master Mo."
Without another word, Mo Tian darted toward the northern part of the city, his figure vanishing into the hanging mist.
The small group continued their journey. Along the way, street performers and artists captivated their attention—dancers with flame-colored veils, blind beggars playing bamboo flutes, and children racing on carved wooden dragon toys.
Su Daji laughed as Tang Wu tried to mimic the dancer's veil technique. "That's not a veil. That's a cloth belt from a clothing merchant!"
"Hey! I'm practicing the 'Drunken Dragon Dances at Dusk' move!" Tang Wu declared with confidence, just before slipping and nearly kissing a wooden dragon's snout.
Leon couldn't help a short laugh, though he quickly disguised it with a fake cough. "You look more like a turtle skidding on ice."
By the time they reached the city center, the sun had begun to dip westward, casting a golden hue across the vast Tianyin Lake. There, the academy stood like a celestial palace, its white pillars adorned with coiling dragon carvings.
"We're going to study there?" Su Daji whispered, half in disbelief.
Jian Mo nodded. "That place has produced great warriors and scholars for the past three centuries. But also... many who were destroyed by their own ambition."
Tang Wu nudged Leon. "Do you think they have a canteen?"
Leon glanced lazily. "If they don't, you'll be the first to starve."
"I can survive. I once lived three days eating only grass roots and ants."
"That's not something to brag about," Leon replied dryly.
Laughing, joking, and exchanging playful jabs, they wandered through the evening market, now buzzing with life. Lanterns lit one by one, bathing the streets in warm light. Traditional music floated in from afar, and the sweet scent of osmanthus blossoms filled the air.
Amid the beauty and bustle of Tianyin, they briefly forgot their painful pasts. For now, they were just a group of young people with fresh hopes.
And though the night had wrapped the city in its embrace, their spirits were only just beginning to shine.
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