Yuanshi City was an ancient, majestic tropolis that served as the seat of authority for the orthodox faction of Yen-Lu.
The stone streets were worn by centuries of footsteps, wide canals reflected the tiled roofs, and tiers of skyscrapers where the residents of the city communed.
Sohow, the city felt older than the regi that governed it. Its laws, rituals, and institutions were layered like sedints.
It was quite the surreal experience for Adam, who aimlessly wandered through the streets, sipping on sake and occasionally munching on stead dumplings.
Yuanshi was built in broad rings.
The outer ring held markets, docks, and artisans. The middle ring contained residential wards, embassies of various clans and sects, and training courts. The innermost ring surrounded the grand headquarters of the Arcane Alliance, as well as several other administrative buildings.
Major roads extended from the headquarters and administrative complex. Smaller alley and waterways weaved between neighborhoods. Moreover, canals doubled as transport routes.
The ground gently rose towards the center, culminating in a raised plateau where the headquarters of the Arcane Alliance stood, visible from miles away. That was one of the reasons why the headquarters building appeared to be the tallest in the city.
Adam sat in a gondola as it andered through the canals in the outer ring. He observed the tall buildings on either side of the waterway with utmost fascination. There were many like him—tourists—in the gondola with similar expressions.
The outer ring was ho to bustling quays, warehouses, spice markets, rchants from all over the continent, lantern-lit teahouses, and, of course, sake bars.
Artisans, Artificers, and Herbalists had made this ring their hos. This was where they conducted business.
Noticing a potion store, Adam jumped off the gondola and walked towards it.
"Hey, you can’t do that!" The gondolier scread in frustration. "That’s what landing quays are for, damn it!"
Of course, Adam ignored him and entered the potion store. Contrary to the Herbalists from the West, who focused on concocting potions in liquid form, the Herbalists of the East transford the liquid potions into a solid state, creating pills.
After buying an encyclopedia about the magical herbs and ingredients found in Yen-Lu, Adam continued to explore the beautiful city.
The outer ring was the largest and also the most bustling. Adam even found lecture halls, libraries, and small academies that offered training in martial arts.
He entered an alley where people paraded fantastical beasts and sold magical components for spells. There were also so very famous local restaurants in there. Unbeknownst to him, he had ended up staying in this alley for the better part of the day, eating oriental cuisine and enjoying fine sake.
By the ti he erged from that alley, it was already nightti. Yuanshi truly ca alive after the sun had set. The countless rooms in the skyscrapers looming overhead lit up with a warm glow. Looking up from anywhere on the main road or an alley felt like looking at a sky full of artificial stars.
He had only explored a fraction of the outer ring when he decided it was ti to et Goro and settle in at the Tsuitsui Clan’s residence in the middle ring.
"Halt!" A guard at the Mana Liquefaction Rank stopped Adam in front of one of the many gates leading to the middle ring. "Show your residence permit."
"Auhh?" Adam scratched his head awkwardly.
The guard frowned. "Residence permit. Show it to ."
"Auhh-auhh." Adam shrugged.
What the hell is a residence permit? He wondered.
The guard’s frown deepened. "You can’t enter without a residence permit. Now get lost. Don’t show your face, uh, mask, here again, or I’ll throw you behind bars!"
Adam remained silent, thinking to himself, Why didn’t Goro give the permit? So damn careless!
He shrugged, then turned back around. It would be unwise of him to make a scene out here in the greatest city in Yen-Lu. Regardless of his relationship with the Tsuitsui Clan or the Baihua Sect, he couldn’t misbehave here. Besides, he didn’t wish to draw unwanted attention.
"Auhh..." He stood in the middle of a bustling street, wondering what to do now.
Forget it, I’ll go explore the outer ring so more, he thought, making up his mind.
Hopefully, Goro or Bai Xun will find soon enough.
But this city is so damn big...
Just as he’d taken a few steps, he suddenly paused. He unstrapped Gege from his back, then retrieved a piece of paper from inside its mouth.
Before leaving Baihua Sect, Elder Bai Zhenren had given him instructions on finding soone in Yuanshi and delivering an item to them.
I might as well do that, he thought.
Confirming the address on the piece of paper, he headed in that direction.
As he weaved through the packed crowd, he couldn’t help but wonder about the strangeness of it all.
Why did he ask to deliver this item? He could have tasked either Bai Xun or Bai Ge, or any other disciple from the Baihua Sect, for that matter.
Adam did find it quite peculiar, but didn’t think much of it.
Elder Zhenren said eting this person would be very beneficial to , and I don’t think he was lying, he wondered.
Now, there could be the slightest possibility that this could all be a trap. However, Adam chose to proceed nonetheless.
One, he didn’t think soone like Bai Zhenren would do sothing nefarious to him. Two, even if his judgnt of Bai Zhenren turned out to be wrong and this endeavor did turn out to be a trap, he was certain in his abilities to protect himself at the very least.
Well, whatever. At least, I’ll get to explore the outer ring a bit more.
For so strange reason, he suddenly recalled Elder Bai Zhenren’s words:
When you allow yourself to simply be lost, to stop resisting and let the world guide you, you eventually realign with the natural order of things.
His lips curled into a faint smile.
Let the world guide you, huh?
I suppose this is the Way, isn’t it?
After taking several twists and turns, weaving through the crowd, spending almost two hours trying to find the address, Adam still hadn’t reached the destination.
Just when he was wondering if he was lost, an unfamiliar voice echoed inside his shattered mind:
’You are being followed!’
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