Earth City lay buried beneath an endless hush of snow.
White stretched as far as the eye could see, rooftops, streets, distant peaks, all glazed in frost that shimmered under the sun's pale gold light. The wind howled through the high structures, cold enough to bite into bone, yet the city itself stood serene… almost deceptively peaceful.
At the heart of it, the great pagoda towered into the heavens.
Within its highest chamber, warmth gathered.
A steady fire crackled within an ornate hearth, its glow dancing across carved walls and polished floors. Yet even that warmth did little to soften the presence standing by the window.
Rong Yue.
His hands were clasped behind his back, posture straight, unmoving. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest betrayed life, each breath leaving behind a thin veil of mist in the cold air.
The frozen city reflected in his blue feline eyes, which were tight with a sudden urgency.
The doors opened slowly.
