Dongcheng – Eastern City
Dongcheng, a barren desert city. A place where merchants come and go, rarely staying for long. Life here flows like the desert wind—dry, harsh, and always changing direction.
In one of the dining pavilions, the sound of musical instruments echoes softly. Several people sit enjoying the dance of a girl known as Shuyin. A female entertainer with alluring curves and a beautiful face like a spring flower—making anyone who sees her pause for a moment.
The dance is over. Shuyin returns to her room, then meets someone.
"This time… what else does she want?" Shuyin says in a soft and graceful voice.
"Haha, Miss Shuyin. This certainly isn't free," the man in front of her replies as he places down some coins.
"What do you mean?"
"Watch this city. I'm looking for a man. I don't know what he looks like. But Master Wangyuan said he's handsome… sharp-eyed, tall, long-haired, and has a black line on his hand."
"Hm? You want me to hurt a handsome man?" Shuyin smiled slightly, teasing.
"I didn't tell you to hurt him. If you find him, just let me know. If you succeed, there will be an extra for you, Miss Shuyin."
"Alright. You may go."
Shuyin gestured to her guards.
"Ampo, prepare the most beautiful dance song for tomorrow. We are going to welcome someone."
"Alright, miss."
---
🐪 A few miles from Dongcheng…
"I'm hot…" Luo Yian said with a pale face.
"Yian! Your essence is starting to fade… You're seriously injured!" Wei Qiren exclaimed, panicking.
But Luo Yian sat cross-legged, concentrating. He patted his body, trying to neutralize his own essence. Sweat poured down his forehead.
An hour later, his body had calmed down a little. But anyone could tell—the damage inside wasn't easy to see.
"You're stifling your inner strength with essence. That's crazy! If you continue like this, your strength will slowly drain away."
"As long as I can survive to Moyan and kill him with my own hands… I don't care if I lose everything. Even being crippled is fine."
Qiren fell silent. He just realized, what Yian had was probably far deeper than any grudge he had ever felt.
"How much longer until Moyan?" Yian asked, quietly.
"After leaving this place, it will take us about eight days to reach Dongcheng—that is if we ride horses…"
"Eight days?" Yian muttered.
"And from Dongcheng to Moyan, it's half a month's journey."
"Do you have a horse?"
"I am a bandit, but I am not rich enough to buy a horse," Qiren snapped.
"Then we'll walk…"
"Yes, and during that time you can recover your essence, right?"
Yian shook his head.
"The fight I caused in Moyan must have spread. They must be looking for me."
"What?! So you are being hunted?! Going to Moyan now is the same as seeking death!"
"I've almost died many times, Qiren. Once again, I don't mind."
Qiren looked at him, annoyed but also worried.
"Yian… I just remembered. I almost died once, half of my essence was gone. But an old man in Dongcheng saved me. In two days, my essence recovered…"
Yian immediately stared at him sharply.
"Then, let's go to Dongcheng now."
Meanwhile on the other side. After a few days Luo Yian left. Qin Zeyu, An Jua and Zhi Mei went on their journey to find Luo Yian. Now the villagers of Fenglin village were satisfied, their village began to come back to life, dead plants alive fresh and happy.
"What do you think he's doing?" Zhi Mei asked.
"I heard, after causing a riot in Moyan, he just disappeared." Qin Zeyu said his sahur listlessly.
After their long journey, they entered the big city of Dongcheng. Here there was a lot of rhythmic music and camels. This city looked beautiful.
An Jua got off the horse that Zhi Mei was riding. "Where are you going after this?" she asked softly.
"We're going to look for Luo Yian."
An Jua nodded slowly. "I'll stop here, Grandpa Mo is gone. I have to support myself, there are many merchants coming in here, maybe I can join one of them." An Jua said with a small smile looking around her.
"But An, will you be okay?" Zhi Mei asked.
Qin Zeyu took off his scarf and put it on An Jua. "You must not show this mark to anyone. And don't tell any stories about yourself, just think of yourself as being born with a new identity"
An Jua nodded her head in understanding, and said goodbye to her friend. "Hey, where are you going after this? Who knows, I might catch up."
"Maybe we'll turn back to Moyan." Qin Zeyu said softly and smiled.
However, they would stay in this city for a few days, waiting for An Jua to get a job.
They entered one of the biggest dance houses in the city, Shuyin welcomed the three of them herself. She started pulling Qin Zeyu up and started dancing.
Zhi Mei saw that a little annoyed.
"Sir, drink it." Shuyin danced and gave the drink to Qin Zeyu. She said She touched the man's hand and pulled a little of the clothes on the man's hand.
Shuyin didn't see any signs, she smiled and then returned to her room. The person she was looking for was really hard to find, she had met several people but none of them had a mark on their hands.
"Excuse me, can you accept me to work here?" An Jua asked one of the waiters.
"Are you looking for a job? It's empty here, you can wash the dishes." Ampo explained.
"Okay, when can I start?"
"Today, you change your clothes and go to the back." Ampo said again delivering food to several guests.
Zhi Mei walked annoyedly towards Qin Zeyu. "Do you like her?" she snapped.
However, Qin Zeyu didn't understand anything. He felt like he was being hypnotized. "What?"
"Do you like being touched by that girl?"
"I-I don't understand, I think I've been here alone all this time"
Yes, this city cannot be underestimated. Poison experts, illusionists, all sorts are here. So you can't just be careless.
"Where is An Jua?"
"She's already working, in this place." Zhi Mei snapped and walked away.
"Miss Shuyin, have you found her?"
"Can't you be patient, this is not according to my prediction. That person hasn't appeared yet, usually I can feel a few miles away who will come here. But I haven't felt anything, maybe he didn't go here." Shuyin snapped.
"Anyway, just wait, he must be here."
"How important is he?" Shuyin asked.
"Luo Yian, so important!"
"Him?" Shuyin was shocked