The buzz of the city pressed against Robert the moment he crossed the gates. It was not simply noise—it was alive, a breathing tide of sound and sensation. The overlapping clatter of wheels, merchants shouting prices, the rhythmic chanting of cultivators promoting their sect's minor techniques, and the laughter of children skipping barefoot through alleys.
Each note blended into a song that was equal parts chaos and order, the heartbeat of Celestial Brook City.
Robert maintained the slightly worn-out appearance of a traveling tradesman. But inside, his heartbeat accelerated. All around him, he sensed qi currents flowing through the streets like invisible rivers.
Each formation embedded in the city's stone tugged at his senses. Every glance, every whisper in the crowd could conceal danger. He reminded himself: I am no longer Robert Osborn, heir of the Osborn clan. I am Roderick, a traveling merchant from the eastern provinces.
