7. The One who disappeared
(4 Hours Later, At the entrance of Golden Prosperity City)
The trip back from the abandoned ruins was uneventful. He avoided all the monsters and did not stray far from the road. Every time Mo Tian saw a merchant caravan or a mercenary squadron, he hid in the forest. This ensured that he did not come across anyone from the Zheng Family by accident.
When he arrived at the entrance of Golden Prosperity City, he saw more patrol guards than when he arrived yesterday. Additionally, every merchant was being checked for cargo and knights were checked for their IDs. This meant that the city has received news about what has happened in the abandoned ruins and searching for the old man, but Mo Tian could not guarantee that he was not included in this search. This made the situation rather tricky. So, instead of taking the entrance Mo Tian started circling around the city, looking for a place where he could infiltrate the city without anyone noticing.
After some time he arrived at the slums outside this city. Contrary to White Lotus City, Golden Prosperity City was too big to have everyone inhabit the city. Therefore all the poor people gathered outside of the city walls. Here there were little to no guards in the area and there were a lot of abandoned houses where he could camp out.
He quickly found an old house in the slums on the north side of the city, which was next to a shop. He undressed the guard outfit that was too big for him and repurposed it into a rag that he could wear. After all a 10 year old can not really wear an adult guard uniform without looking ridiculous. When he was done, he looked like a short kid with torn green robes. He looked around the house. There was not much left. The whole building had been plundered empty by the people of the slums. The only thing he found was a bunch of old rags and a basement hidden underneath some crooked floor planks he could use to cultivate in secret. In the end, Mo Tian used the bunch of old rags he found to create a makeshift futon. After he was done, he quietly went to sleep.
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(Midnight, At the entrance of Golden Prosperity City)
The towering stone gates of Golden Prosperity City loomed in the moonlight, their iron-bound doors slightly ajar to allow the trickle of late-night travelers. Torchlight flickered against weathered walls, casting long shadows that danced across the cobbled road. A pair of guards stood watch, their eyes dull from boredom, paying little mind to the cloaked figures lingering near the base of the gate.
In front of the enormous entrance gate of Golden Prosperity City stood two robed man in discussion. One of them glanced around and said to the other "Do you really think that demon spawn has reached the city? Should he not be outside in the slums."
The other responded quickly "The guards of Golden Prosperity City were especially wary during the day for a prison break that has happened in the area. It is the perfect situation for a brat like that to sneak in. He has escaped the Jian family multiple times, so he is smart enough to realize that."
After thinking for a moment the first man said "How are we going into the city? We had a good relation with City Lord Bai, because of Jian Feng. However this is the territory of the Zheng family. If they catch us, they will think that we are spies trying to infiltrate."
The other quickly replied "We need to be careful not to get caught. Normally, You can only enter the city during the day. Through some black merchants, I found that you can bribe the guards of the city gate at night. But it is going to cost a heavy sack of gold coins. From there, we are on our own."
When the other man started walking towards the City Gate. The robed man hesitated for only a moment before following. When they arrived before the Guard at the gate, the guard said "Merchant License please. Who are you and what are you doing in Golden Prosperity City". The robed man glanced around, fingers twitching slightly before reaching into his sleeve. From the folds of his robe, he withdrew a small pouch. He slid it into the hand of the guard. He then said "We are travelers looking to buy necessities from the city."
The guard opened the bag, seeing the small stack of gold coins glistening in the dim light. He quickly closed the small bag and nodded slightly. He then walked the robed men to a small door next to the gate, exclusive for guards. The guard let them in and quickly closed the door.
When they entered the city, they saw many empty streets with torchlight flickering every so often. Shortly after they entered an alley and their forms swallowed by the dark as the torchlight passed over empty cobblestone.
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(The morning, at the Golden Prosperity City Lord's mansion)
The grand hall of Golden Prosperity City's Lord's Manor trembled under the weight of silence. Massive bookshelves lined the chamber filled with books and 2 statues behind the city lord's desk, carved with ferocious beasts, their gem eyes gleaming. Leaning forward on the desk sat City Lord Zheng Renshu, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests of his throne.
Before him, Zheng Xi, his son, stood with his head lowered, sweat glistening on his brow despite the cold air. He had seen his father angry before, but never like this.
"You incompetent fool!" Zheng Renshu's voice cracked like a whip, sending echoes bouncing across the chamber. "Do you have any idea what you've done?! That trade site was worth more than half this city's damn revenue!" He shot to his feet, his heavy robe billowing, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the trembling son.
Zheng Xi swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Father, I—"
"Silence!" Zheng Renshu's palm slammed against the armrest, splintering the lacquered wood. "Do you think apologies will bring back the lost silver? The lost goods? The connections we've spent years cultivating?!" His voice dropped into a dangerous growl, his dark eyes burning with suppressed fury.
Zheng Xi clenched his fists. "The guards were overwhelmed! whoever attacked us wasn't ordinary! It wasn't my fault!"
"Not your fault?!" Zheng Renshu's gaze turned sharper than a blade. "Then whose fault is it, Ren? The beggars you like to catch? The heavens? The ghosts of the ancestors?!" He strode from behind his desk, stopping just a breath away from his son. "That slave trade business was your responsibility! Yet, you let some nameless demon walk out and expose it to the whole world!"
Zheng Xi flinched but held his ground. "We can rebuild…"
A loud crack split the air as Zheng Renshu's backhand struck his son's face, sending him staggering to the side.
"Rebuild? With what? With your half-witted excuses?!" Zheng Renshu's voice was low now, cold and venomous. "You lost me more than coin today, boy. You lost influence. Prestige. Respect. Do you know what happens when people see weakness in a city lord?" He stepped even closer, his breath hot against his son's ear. "They start to think we're no different than the ones we sell."
Zheng Xi gritted his teeth, rubbing his throbbing cheek, but he did not speak.
Zheng Renshu took a deep breath, straightening his robe. The rage in his expression did not fade, but it was buried now—cold, calculated, waiting.
"You will fix this, Ren." His voice was iron now, commanding and merciless. "Find out who did this. Find them and make them suffer. If you fail me again…" His gaze darkened, and the air grew heavy with unspoken threats.
Zheng Xi bowed stiffly, fists trembling at his sides.
"Yes, Father."
As Zheng Xi walked out, his face was cold as he walked towards his room to think about who could have done it.