C11 Duross City

After several days of journeying, Jie Mu and Yu Wen finally reached the outskirts of Duross City. The trip had been uneventful, though the heat was intense. Without their internal energy to shield them, they would have surely succumbed to heatstroke.

From a distance, Jie Mu could make out the imposing structure of a vast city, emblazoned with the words "Duross City." He had encountered ancient cities before, notably on Zither Island, but none possessed the splendor and majesty of this one.

The city walls, towering a hundred meters high, seemed to stretch on endlessly. Even before setting foot within its gates, the bustling activity and the stream of carriages hinted at the city's vibrancy.

Atop the walls, soldiers from Region No.1 were on guard, their uniforms a clear indication of their allegiance.

Jie Mu was eager to explore, but Yu Wen gestured for them to take a different path, steering the carriage away from the city.

"Our destination isn't inside the city, but in the outskirts," she whispered to Jie Mu. "It's best we avoid drawing attention from prying eyes."

He nodded in agreement, understanding her logic. Yet, the allure of the Mighty City beckoned; he had never visited such a place before. His experiences in the large cities of Zither Island and Silent Sea had been limited to residential areas.

Turning to Yu Wen, he asked quietly, "Have you been here before? You seem quite familiar with it. But haven't you been in Fragrance Light Valley for the last three years?"

With a haughty hum, Yu Wen replied, "I've been to plenty of places. Plus, with my intelligence, I remember every road I've ever traveled."

Jie Mu shot her a look, tempted to tease her about her vanity, but a twinge of pain on his face made him reconsider.

Yu Wen, with practiced ease, navigated the carriage swiftly to the outskirts of Duross, arriving at Crouching Dragon Slope. Jie Mu peered at a passing milestone and then gazed into the distance, where a series of ancient buildings stretched across the landscape, their arrangement exuding an old-world charm.

From a distance, these houses didn't resemble the old ones, as they appeared quite new, likely constructed not so long ago.

Nowadays, few people undertake the construction of such traditional architecture due to numerous restrictions that make it unsuitable for the fast-paced development of modern urban areas and the burgeoning population.

In the suburbs, however, where the population is sparse, building these ancient-style structures is more feasible.

Shortly after entering Crouching Dragon Slope, a sleek, pitch-black car overtook their carriage, speeding into the cluster of ancient buildings. Jie Mu watched the vehicle with envy, admiring its streamlined shape and the imposing presence it commanded, particularly the monstrous emblem on the car that seemed to come alive as it passed by.

He whispered in awe, "What a stunning car! It must belong to someone of high status."

Yu Wen's expression darkened as she watched the car vanish into the distance, her thoughts racing. "Why have they come here? Are they attempting to court the Zhang family? Could they be seeking to disrupt the equilibrium?"

The carriage continued at a leisurely pace into the heart of the ancient buildings. Upon entry, Jie Mu noticed several men in black standing sentry at the entrance. As they delved deeper, the number of these guards grew, some patrolling, others standing watch, all contributing to the well-ordered atmosphere of the place. These were no ordinary individuals; each man in black possessed internal energy, and Jie Mu found their levels of skill inscrutable.

Yet this was merely the periphery of the buildings. Further inside, the scene transformed entirely. In the inner reaches of Crouching Dragon Slope, people of all ages were engaged in leisurely activities: playing mahjong, laughing, frolicking, and engaging in idle chatter – a picture of contented community life. The area also boasted a variety of shops, including rice vendors, restaurants, general stores, and even schools, where numerous children were immersed in their studies.

Jie Mu mused to himself, "Could this be a hidden utopia? It hardly seems like the home of a martial arts lineage." The place felt entirely disconnected from the outside world, its simple charm preserved, as if untouched by external influences.

The existence of such traditional villages within the thriving metropolis of Duross City was a marvel that left onlookers in awe.

These individuals were clearly affluent. Every woman on the sidewalk was adorned in gold and silver, and every person was dressed in designer labels. The items they carried were all quite pricey, far beyond what one might call ordinary wealth.

These folks were the epitome of nouveau riche. But shouldn't they be residing in the city? What brought them to this rural area?

Jie Mu mused to himself, "They must be part of the Duross Zhang family. For them, living in the city is trivial. Residing here is a badge of honor."

Yet, nobody offered Jie Mu an explanation. Yu Wen maintained a solemn expression, her gaze fixed ahead, weighed down by her thoughts.

As they continued on, Jie Mu was taken aback by a sight before him: a group of children practicing martial arts together in the street! They appeared to be around eleven or twelve years old, yet each possessed an aura of internal energy.

Their youth meant they couldn't conceal the energy's ebb and flow, which became apparent during their training. Surprisingly, many of these children had internal energy surpassing Jie Mu's own!

Jie Mu swallowed hard, murmuring in admiration, "This is the hallmark of a prestigious family."

Yu Wen had also noticed the children but spared them only a brief glance before continuing to drive, her face devoid of emotion. To her, such scenes were commonplace in a large family.

She leaned over to Jie Mu and said softly, "Our academy is unlike the typical martial factions. We focus on mastering the Machine Arts, so our martial skills don't progress quickly at first."

"Once we've attained a certain proficiency in the Machine Arts, our teachers will dedicate themselves to our martial training. Then, our advancement in martial skills will skyrocket!"

Hearing this, Jie Mu's heart swelled with aspiration.

After a considerable journey, the carriage finally halted before a grand estate, and they disembarked.

Before them stood an imposing gate, pitch black and massive, stretching five meters wide and over eight meters tall. The surrounding walls towered even higher, easily surpassing ten meters.

From a distance, Jie Mu sensed that this place was far from ordinary, exuding a majestic presence and a sense of oppression. As he approached the Zhang family's gate, the air seemed to grow noticeably fresher.

Four men in black stood vigilantly before the gate, safeguarding its security. Observing them, Jie Mu felt as though he was in the presence of towering mountains, their martial skill clearly profound and inscrutable.

One of the guards eyed the pair and strode forward, gesturing dismissively, "Where did you two spring from? Move along now."

Yu Wen gave him a measured look and spoke softly, "Atop South Jade Mountain, within Fragrance Light Valley, beneath the Clear Stream Waterfall, the Machine Arts shake heaven and earth!"

The guard, a brawny man clad in black, paused, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He then respectfully bowed to Yu Wen, "Please wait here, Miss. I'll inform the household of your arrival."

With that, he turned and made his way through the gate in just a few strides.

Shortly after, a young man emerged, clad in white, his demeanor both handsome and distinguished. Upon seeing him, Yu Wen greeted him with a smile, "Brother Xuan, it's been too long. Do you still recognize me?"

The young man appraised her, a smile breaking across his face as recognition dawned, "Ah, the young lady from the academy, surely the sister from the Yu family. Indeed, time has graced you with even more charm."

Yu Wen's smile widened, and she exchanged a knowing glance with Jie Mu before they followed the young man.

As they walked, he explained, "My father is presently occupied with guests and cannot receive you just yet. I invite you to rest here for a moment. Once he's available, he will surely welcome you both."

Yu Wen nodded in understanding, "Uncle Zhang is an important man; it's only natural he's busy."

The young man offered a perfectly timed smile and opened a side door to reveal a quaint courtyard with several rooms. "These guest rooms will be your accommodations for the next few days."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wen smiled and expressed her gratitude, "Then I owe you one, Brother Xuan."

Once she finished speaking, she called out to Jie Mu, "Jie Mu, take the carriage to the shed."

Without a word, Jie Mu obediently parked the carriage in the shed.

Yu Wen exchanged pleasantries with the young man, who then closed the door behind him as he departed.

Once they were settled, Jie Mu took a seat on the guest room bed, while Yu Wen perched on a stool, her face clouded with concern.

Noticing Yu Wen's demeanor, Jie Mu asked with a hint of bewilderment, "What's troubling you? You've been like this since we arrived at Crouching Dragon Slope. What's going on?"

Yu Wen let out a sigh, "That carriage we saw earlier, do you know where it's from?"

"Where?" Jie Mu inquired, puzzled.

"Where else but Yanjing? With the Qilin emblem, it's unmistakable," she replied.

"Yanjing?" Jie Mu gasped, suddenly remembering the words his father had imparted to him in his youth.

The South Horned Dragon, the North Qilin, the East Prosperity, and the West Prosperity Fierce Killer!

These were the renowned Four Uniques, the most formidable masters of their time.

Among them, three wielded immense power, with North Qilin and East Prosperity Yiwei being the strongest, locked in a perpetual standoff.

Jie Mu still harbored doubts, "But isn't the Qilin Society in conflict with East Prosperity? How does that involve our academy?"

"Moreover, isn't our academy nestled within South Jade Mountain? They couldn't possibly reach us there."

Frustrated, Yu Wen's tone grew sharp.

"You don't understand a thing. Our academy and East Prosperity have been allies for years."

"During the great north-south war over a decade ago, our academy deployed numerous masters to keep the situation at bay."

"In the world of martial arts, a balance of power suits our academy's interests. East Prosperity has been the underdog, so we've consistently backed them, which, of course, has drawn the Qilin Society's enmity."

Jie Mu nodded, piecing things together, "The Zhang family controls a critical hub like Duross, a crossroads for the entirety of Region No.1."

"East Prosperity and the Qilin Society are adversaries, which makes their standing crucial!"

"Should they align with the Qilin Society, the existing balance will surely be disrupted. In such a scenario, East Prosperity would be unable to coordinate between its northern and southern regions, nor connect its eastern and western territories. They would be left with no choice but to endure the onslaught."

"Moreover, should the academy form a partnership with East Prosperity, it too would fall within the Qilin Society's crosshairs!"

Yu Wen nodded in agreement, "That's precisely what I've been concerned about."