The streets leading to the City Lord's personal mansion were quieter than usual, the clamor of merchants and wandering cultivators fading with each step Lin Mu took.
The sprawling residence stood apart from the rest of Ash Crown City, its towering walls and shimmering protective arrays marking it as a place of prestige and power.
The guards at the gate stiffened when they saw him approach, their initial composure slipping in an instant.
They bowed deeply, but their eyes betrayed them... wide, glimmering, almost trembling. It was the look of men who had trained all their lives, only to suddenly find themselves face-to-face with a living legend.
"Senior Lin Mu!" one of them greeted, his voice filled with awe. "The City Lord has been awaiting your arrival. Please, this way!"
The other guards and servants in the mansion chimed in respectfully, every word carrying reverence.
