Chapter 51: The City of Spring
The following morning arrived beneath clear blue skies.
The camp was dismantled with the same efficiency that had built it the evening before. Tents vanished into storage rings, wagons were inspected one final time, and the Mountain Chargers were fed before being harnessed to their carriages once again.
The only reminder of the previous night's battle was the empty ground where the campfire had burned and the absence of the monsters that had once surrounded them.
Everything else had already become another story for the road.
The caravan reached the end of the canyon before noon.
Sunlight spilled freely across the open plains beyond, warm enough that Yun Che instinctively loosened the collar of his coat.
Brightvale
"So this is another lord's territory..."
He glanced back toward the canyon entrance.
It already seemed surprisingly distant.
Ahead, surrounded by fields of green instead of snow, stood the first city beyond Lord Shen's lands.
Its walls weren't as imposing as Stoneford's, nor were they built for war. Colorful banners fluttered from the towers, flower gardens lined the roads approaching the gates, and farmers guided carts full of fresh vegetables toward the markets.
The atmosphere felt... lighter.
Even the people smiled more openly.
The guards at the gate immediately recognized Elder Ruan.
A middle-aged captain descended from the battlements wearing polished scale armor with a crimson cloak draped across his shoulders.
His stern expression disappeared the moment he saw the old captain.
"Ruan!"
"You old wolf."
Elder Ruan snorted.
"And you're still getting fat behind those walls, Qiao."
Captain Qiao laughed loudly.
"My wife insists I eat properly."
"I can see."
The two old soldiers clasped forearms instead of bowing.
Years of familiarity showed in the easy greeting.
After exchanging a few jokes, Elder Ruan's expression became serious.
"We encountered something unusual."
Captain Qiao immediately listened.
"A Gray Ash Manticore."
"The Third Stage of the Foundation Realm."
"It attacked alongside native canyon monsters."
The captain frowned.
"...A mountain species?"
Elder Ruan nodded.
"It shouldn't have been anywhere near the canyon."
"I'd recommend sending patrols to investigate."
"If one migrated..."
"There may be another."
Captain Qiao didn't hesitate.
"I'll dispatch scouts this afternoon."
"If anything has settled near the trade road, we'll deal with it."
The two veterans exchanged one final nod before the caravan was allowed through.
Unlike Stoneford...
This city felt alive in an entirely different way.
Lord Shen's lands had always been orderly.
Practical.
Disciplined.
Here...
Everything seemed brighter.
Flower baskets hung from nearly every window.
Painted murals decorated ordinary houses.
Musicians played in open squares simply because they felt like it.
Children chased one another through the streets carrying colorful ribbons.
Even the market stalls looked more cheerful.
The greatest surprise of all, however...
Was the weather.
Lin Xia stopped in the middle of the street and slowly removed her gloves.
"...It's warm."
No snow.
No icy wind.
Only a gentle spring breeze carrying the scent of flowers.
Yun Che looked around in quiet amazement.
The breeze was mild by local standards. To Yun Che, it felt almost hot.
"So this is what spring actually looks like..."
The roads were lined with blooming cherry-colored trees.
Green grass covered the parks.
Butterflies drifted lazily between flowerbeds.
It felt like entering another world.
The caravan would remain for the entire day.
The next major city lay ten days away.
Between the two were only scattered villages and small towns.
This would be their last opportunity to purchase supplies before another long journey.
As soon as the wagons entered the consortium warehouse, Elder Liang immediately took charge.
"Unload everything."
"Separate the monster materials."
"Notify our buyers."
Several employees hurried away carrying documents.
Within an hour, messengers had already visited blacksmith guilds, alchemy workshops, spirit restaurants, leather craftsmen, and medicinal companies.
The consortium did not begin searching for customers after arriving. Its local office already maintained lists of reliable buyers, current prices, and the materials each workshop required.
Business moved astonishingly quickly.
The Gray Ash Manticore alone attracted multiple buyers.
Negotiations concluded before the afternoon.
The agreed payment was transferred directly to Elder Ruan after the Azure Wolf Consortium deducted its standard ten-percent processing fee.
Professional.
Efficient.
Exactly what Yun Che had begun expecting from merchants.
"Go enjoy yourselves."
Jin Wei clapped his hands together.
"We've earned one peaceful afternoon."
Elder Ruan agreed.
"Bao Kun."
"Shen Rui."
"Escort them."
The two guards acknowledged immediately.
Bao Kun looked delighted.
"I've never actually toured this city either."
"We pass through often," Bao Kun admitted, "but usually I see the gate, the warehouse, and whichever inn has enough space for Snow."
Shen Rui merely sighed.
"I knew this would become babysitting duty."
Lin Xia laughed.
"I promise we won't get lost."
"...That's exactly what people say before getting lost."
The four wandered through the bustling streets together.
Every corner revealed something new.
Candied fruit.
Honey cakes.
Flower tea.
Painted masks.
Street musicians.
Traveling storytellers.
Lin Xia repeatedly stopped to examine cloth merchants while Jin Wei somehow managed to start friendly conversations with nearly every shopkeeper they passed.
Yun Che simply enjoyed watching.
There was no pressure.
No deadlines.
Only people living ordinary lives.
Then they heard music.
Not the gentle melodies of wandering musicians.
Something louder.
Something grander.
Following the sound brought them to a huge open square.
Brightly colored tents filled the area.
Painted wagons surrounded a large circular stage.
A sign proudly announced:
The Golden Moon Traveling Circus
Lin Xia blinked.
"...What's a circus?"
Yun Che had seen circuses in films and read about them in books during his first life. Somehow, across two lives, he had never actually attended one.
Bao Kun smiled broadly and knowingly.
"Let's find out."
The performance had already begun.
An acrobat sprinted toward the center of the stage before suddenly leaping into empty air.
Gasps echoed through the audience.
Instead of falling...
He stepped upon invisible platforms.
Air Steps.
Another performer joined him.
Then another.
Soon half a dozen acrobats danced through the sky, bouncing effortlessly between invisible footholds as though gravity had become merely a suggestion.
Children around the stage cheered wildly.
Even Bao Kun couldn't hide his smile.
The next act featured fire breathers.
Unlike ordinary entertainers...
These were genuine cultivators.
Streams of flame twisted into blooming flowers before becoming spinning wheels of fire.
One performer even created a gigantic phoenix that circled above the audience before dissolving into harmless sparks.
The applause became deafening.
Monster tamers followed.
Small spirit beasts obeyed whistles and hand signals with astonishing precision.
Foxes balanced atop wolves.
Tiny monkeys performed sword forms using wooden sticks.
A colorful bird repeatedly stole hats from the audience before returning them with exaggerated bows.
Mirage watched the performance intently from Yun Che's shoulder.
Every so often she tilted her head as though silently judging the other beasts.
Finally, a translucent formation spread over the stage, shutting out the afternoon sunlight until the square appeared to fall into twilight.
An elderly man dressed in flowing blue robes walked quietly onto the stage.
An Illusion Master.
Without speaking a single word...
He raised one hand.
The world changed.
The sky disappeared.
Clouds rolled overhead.
Towering mountains emerged from nothing.
Ancient palaces floated among the heavens.
Immense sects stood proudly upon impossible peaks.
The audience forgot to breathe.
Then...
A shadow crossed the illusionary sky.
Something vast descended through the clouds.
A dragon.
Its body stretched across the heavens like a living mountain.
Dark crimson scales shimmered beneath golden lightning.
Twin jaws opened in a silent roar while countless whiskers drifted through the clouds.
It resembled something from forgotten legends.
Even Yun Che found himself staring speechlessly.
"...Beautiful..."
The illusion felt almost real.
For several heartbeats...
No one remembered they stood inside an ordinary city square.
Which was exactly what someone else had been waiting for.
Among the crowd...
Several children quietly moved between distracted spectators.
Their movements were practiced.
Invisible.
One carefully loosened a merchant's coin pouch.
Another slipped a bracelet from an elderly woman's sleeve.
A third reached toward an expensive-looking belt ornament.
Shen Rui had glanced at the dragon only once. After confirming it was an illusion, his attention returned to the audience.
"There."
He moved.
The nearest child never saw him coming.
A small wrist was caught gently but firmly.
Another tried running.
Bao Kun stepped sideways without even looking.
The boy bumped directly into the giant's chest before tumbling harmlessly backward.
"...Got another."
Within moments...
Three young thieves stood together looking thoroughly miserable.
None appeared older than twelve.
Shen Rui folded his arms.
"Names."
Silence.
"Who sent you?"
The children looked at one another.
Still silent.
Bao Kun crouched beside them.
"Easy, Shen."
"They're just kids."
"They're thieves."
Bao Kun looked at their thin faces and patched clothing.
"They look hungry."
"Hungry children can still work for adults."
Before either guard could continue...
Lin Xia suddenly froze.
Her hand moved beneath her cloak toward the silver case hanging from her belt.
Her fingers found an empty loop.
The colour drained from her face.
"My rune pen."
Everyone turned.
"The one my master gave me..."
She searched the ground despite already knowing it would not be there.
"It's gone."
Shen Rui's attention snapped toward the children.
He searched them quickly. A coin pouch. Two bracelets. A carved belt ornament. Several loose pieces of silver.
No rune pen.
His eyes moved toward the cheering crowd surrounding the illusionary dragon.
The three children had not been the entire team.
They had been the hands that distracted, stole, and passed.
Somewhere within the celebrating crowd...
A fourth young thief was already running away with something far more valuable than money.
------------------------------------
The three captured children had been brave...
Until Shen Rui looked at them.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't draw a weapon.
He simply folded his arms and stared.
The boys immediately burst into tears.
"I-I didn't do anything!"
"It wasn't my idea!"
"P-Please don't kill us!"
Shen Rui crouched until his eyes were level with theirs.
"Where is your hideout?"
The boys cried harder.
"Tell me."
Silence.
Shen Rui slowly reached toward the nearest child.
Before he could touch him, Bao Kun caught his wrist.
"Enough."
Shen Rui glanced sideways.
"They're withholding information."
"They're children."
"They're thieves."
"They're frightened."
Bao sighed.
"I know exactly what you're thinking."
Shen Rui raised an eyebrow.
"No, you don't."
"I do."
Bao folded his arms.
"You'll threaten to break one arm."
"If they still don't speak, you'll break a finger."
"If they keep resisting..."
"...you'll move to the other arm."
Shen Rui didn't deny it.
"It works."
Bao groaned.
"That's exactly the problem."
Lin Xia knelt before them. Her hand instinctively moved toward the rune pen that normally hung from her belt.
Her fingers found only the empty loop.
Pain briefly tightened her expression before she forced herself to smile.
"Listen to me."
"We aren't here to hurt your friends."
"We only want my rune pen back."
"That's all."
"If you tell us where your friend went..."
"...everyone can go home safely."
The children lowered their heads.
Not one answered.
One little girl bit her lip so hard tears rolled down her cheeks.
Another shook his head repeatedly.
"We can't..."
"We promised."
Shen Rui sighed.
"Wasted time."
Lin Xia stood immediately.
"There has to be another way."
"And if there isn't?"
"There always is."
The two looked at one another.
Neither willing to back down.
Within seconds...
The discussion became an argument.
Bao tried calming both sides.
Jin Wei attempted changing the subject.
For several moments...
Everyone's attention shifted away from the children.
Which was exactly what the children had hoped for.
"Run!"
All three scattered in different directions.
"...Seriously?"
Bao Kun could have caught all three before they crossed the square.
He took one step—and stopped when Shen Rui raised a hand.
"Let them go."
Jin Wei pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I honestly thought you had some peaceful solution prepared."
He looked directly at Shen Rui.
Shen Rui calmly dusted off his sleeves.
"I was never going to harm them."
Jin Wei stared at him. "Bao just described, in considerable detail, how you intended to break their limbs."
"That was the threat."
Shen Rui raised one finger. A nearly invisible silver powder clung beneath the nail.
"Before they ran, I marked each of them with tracking dust."
"You expected them to escape?"
"I expected frightened children to return to the people they were protecting."
He looked toward the direction the children had fled.
"You assumed violence was my only option."
"That says more about your prejudice than about me."
Jin Wei opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"...Did..."
"...did I just get verbally lectured by an uncultured warrior?"
Bao burst into laughter.
Even Lin Xia couldn't hide a smile.
Shen Rui simply looked confused.
"I fail to see what's amusing."
"Enough."
Yun Che stood.
"We're wasting time."
"Mirage and Whisper are following them as well, so let's go." Yun Che said.
Shen Rui glanced at him.
"Good. Redundancy is the difference between preparation and arrogance."
The pursuit led them away from the colorful festival.
Away from the laughter.
Away from the wealthy merchants.
The streets slowly changed.
Stone buildings became wooden ones.
Flower gardens disappeared.
Roads became narrower.
Paint peeled from walls.
Laundry hung between crowded buildings.
Children played barefoot beside cracked wells.
The lively city slowly gave way to a district forgotten by prosperity.
Even Jin Wei's expression became serious.
"...I haven't been here before."
Bao quietly nodded.
"Most visitors never come."
The streets twisted repeatedly.
Eventually...
Mirage circled once overhead.
Whisper emerged from an alley before pointing toward a weathered building.
An old wooden sign creaked gently above the entrance.
Spring Hope Orphanage
Lin Xia blinked.
"...An orphanage?"
The front door opened before they could knock.
An elderly woman greeted them with a warm smile.
Her gray hair had been neatly tied behind her head.
Simple robes covered by countless patches suggested years of careful repairs.
Despite obvious exhaustion...
Her eyes remained kind.
"Oh?"
"Welcome."
She looked over the young visitors.
"You must be travelers."
Her smile widened hopefully.
"Have you perhaps come to donate?"
She laughed softly.
"You all look much too young to be adopting children."
Lin Xia glanced awkwardly toward Shen Rui.
The scout started walking toward the woman.
She quickly caught his sleeve.
"No."
He gently removed her hand.
"I'm not going to frighten her."
For once...
Lin Xia believed him.
Jin Wei stepped forward with his usual friendly smile.
"Madam..."
"We're afraid we've encountered a small problem."
The woman looked puzzled.
"What happened?"
"We believe several children from this orphanage have begun stealing in the market."
The smile disappeared.
"...I'm sorry?"
Her voice trembled.
"Do you have proof?"
Before Jin Wei could answer...
Yun Che spoke calmly.
"One of the children has Miss Lin's rune pen."
"It was stolen this afternoon."
"If we find the pen..."
"...we'll leave immediately."
The elderly woman stood frozen.
Then slowly nodded.
"...Come with me."
The second floor was crowded.
Much more crowded than Yun Che expected.
Beds had been pushed together until barely enough space remained to walk.
Several children shared each blanket.
Others sat on the floor reading worn books whose pages had been repaired countless times.
The room became completely silent as strangers entered.
Near the window...
One boy sat pretending to read.
His hands trembled.
His eyes refused to meet anyone's gaze.
Yun Che didn't look at him.
Instead...
He quietly watched Mirage.
The Azure Monarch butterfly drifted through the room as though admiring the sunlight.
The children watched her with wonder.
"Pretty..."
One little girl whispered.
A moment later...
Whisper emerged from beneath a bed.
Several children gasped.
Neither spirit beast made the slightest threatening movement.
Mirage simply landed upon an old cupboard.
Yun Che walked over.
He reached behind it.
His fingers closed around something smooth.
He pulled out a familiar wooden case.
Lin Xia inhaled sharply.
"My rune pen..."
She accepted it carefully.
Running her fingers across the engraved surface.
Relief filled her face.
"It isn't damaged..."
She hugged the case tightly against her chest.
Silence lingered.
Then...
The four children from the circus stepped forward first.
After several seconds, two older children joined them.
The oldest couldn't have been more than 14.
They immediately dropped to their knees.
"Please!"
One boy lowered his head until it touched the floor.
"Don't hurt Directress Mei!"
"It wasn't her!"
Another child quickly spoke.
"The other children don't know!"
"We did it!"
"We're the ones who steal!"
"They had nothing to do with it!"
One after another...
The children confessed.
No excuses.
Only fear.
Fear...
Not for themselves.
But for everyone else.
"We didn't keep the money," the oldest boy said.
He pointed toward a cabinet beside the beds.
Inside were sacks of rice, dried vegetables, cheap medicine, lamp oil, and several bundles of firewood.
Directress Mei stared at them.
"The grocer donated those."
The boy lowered his head.
"No. We bought them."
"With stolen money?"
He nodded.
The elderly woman's face slowly lost all color.
Her hands began shaking.
"...You..."
She looked from one child to another.
"...You've been stealing?"
The children couldn't answer.
Their silence said enough.
The directress closed her eyes.
For several long moments...
No one spoke.
When she finally opened them again...
They were filled with tears.
She bowed deeply.
So deeply her forehead nearly touched the wooden floor.
"I..."
"...I ask your forgiveness."
Lin Xia immediately stepped forward.
"Please don't—"
The old woman gently shook her head.
"This is my responsibility."
"I failed them."
Her voice broke.
"I couldn't give them enough food."
"Enough clothes."
"Enough hope."
"This orphanage belongs to the city..."
"But there are simply too many children."
She looked around the overcrowded room.
Every bed was occupied.
Every corner held another small blanket.
"We receive enough to survive."
"Not enough to truly live."
"The older children must have..."
She couldn't finish.
The realization had finally reached her.
While she believed they were playing outside...
They had been risking their lives in the streets.
Stealing.
Not for toys.
Not for themselves.
But to help feed the younger children sleeping around them.
The room fell completely silent.
Even Shen Rui, who had shown no sympathy toward the thieves only an hour earlier, remained silent.
The oldest boy slowly raised his head.
"Directress Mei didn't fail us."
His voice trembled, but he forced the words out.
"She stopped eating dinner so the little ones could have more. Aunt Lan sold her winter coat. Brother Han works until midnight repairing shoes."
He pointed toward the crowded beds.
"It still wasn't enough."
Another child wiped his eyes.
"The circus came. There were rich people everywhere. We thought..."
He could not finish.
Shen Rui finished for him.
"You thought they could afford to lose what you needed."
The boy nodded.
Shen Rui's expression remained hard.
But when he spoke again, his voice was quieter.
"Show us everything you took."