Leaving behind Qingfeng City—a place that carried a decade of memories and growth—Lin Chen and Su Yao headed north, their hearts filled with yearning and anticipation for the future as they made their way toward Beiyuan City. After traveling for several days, a magnificent and imposing city finally appeared before them.
Beiyuan City's walls towered into the clouds, built from massive bluestones that rendered them incomparably sturdy. Banners fluttered atop the ramparts, where guards wore solemn expressions, keeping a vigilant eye on every movement outside the city. The towering main gate stood dozens of zhang high, its heavy doors wide open to welcome people from all directions. Stepping inside, the broad streets were wide enough for ten carriages to travel abreast. Shops lined both sides of the thoroughfare, with the cries of vendors and the haggling of customers rising in an endless chorus. Pavilions and storied buildings stood in graceful disorder, some resplendent in gold and jade, others quaint and elegant. The streets bustled with a dense crowd of pedestrians: arrogant nobles in luxurious attire, hurried and exhausted merchants, and sharp-eyed adventurers bearing weapons.
They paused briefly at a bustling tea house in the city, gaining a preliminary understanding of Beiyuan City's political landscape through conversations with fellow patrons and the waitstaff. Beiyuan City was governed by five major aristocratic families: the Zhao Family, Qian Family, Sun Family, Li F…
Chapter 51