Azure Phoenix Kingdom.
Within the bustling streets of Redhill City, the night was alive with laughter, drunken chatter, and the faint hum of lutes from a nearby tavern.
At one corner table, three men huddled close, voices low and heavy with drink.
"Did you hear?" one of them whispered, leaning forward over his chipped mug as though sharing a forbidden truth.
His eyes darted toward the counter, wary of eavesdroppers. "The Fang Family's been crushed!"
The second man snorted, lifting his cup with a shaky grin. "Crushed? Hah! I heard the same thing. Whole damn clan got dragged into a bloodbath! They say their old clan head fought till his last breath—stubborn fool didn't know when to die." He laughed and threw back his drink, wine spilling down his chin.
Before the laughter could fade, a third man at their table, face red from too much liquor and eyes burning with indignation slammed his cup down so hard the table rattled.
The spill soaked through the wood, but he didn't care.
