Chapter 7: The Road to Ping Shui City

A New Path Forward

David Haipoli stood on the outskirts of the village, watching the dirt path that led toward Ping Shui City. The wind carried the distant scent of the market streets, the clatter of merchants peddling their goods, and the murmurs of countless voices woven together in the pulse of a thriving settlement.

It had been weeks since he had arrived in the village—weeks since he had stepped out of the ashes of his ruined past and found purpose once more.

The people of Ping Shui's outskirts were no longer passive victims of Lord Wu's oppression. Under his guidance, they had begun to resist—subtly, carefully, in ways that made life difficult for their oppressors. But small victories were not enough.

To truly challenge Wu's rule, David needed resources, allies, and influence. And for that, he had to leave the village.

Lily stood beside him, arms crossed. "You're sure about this?"

David turned to her, his expression unwavering. "I need to see Ping Shui for myself. If we're going to defeat Lord Wu, we have to understand how deep his control runs."

Lily exhaled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Then I'm coming with you."

David raised an eyebrow. "Lily—"

"You can't just walk into a city like that," she interrupted. "You don't know the streets, the markets, the people. You'll stand out like a sore thumb." She smirked. "Besides, you still owe me for saving your life. I think a trip to the city is fair repayment."

David hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But we stay quiet. We watch and we listen. No unnecessary risks."

Lily grinned. "Deal."

---

The City of Power and Corruption

As they entered Ping Shui City, David immediately felt the weight of its atmosphere.

It was a place of contradictions—bustling markets filled with traders from all over the empire, grand manors where nobles wined and dined, and shadowed alleyways where the desperate and the criminal alike whispered of debts unpaid.

Lily led him through the busy streets with ease, weaving through crowds with the practiced grace of someone who knew exactly where to go and what to avoid.

David took everything in—the presence of Wu's guards at every major intersection, the way merchants lowered their voices when discussing taxes, the undercurrent of unease that tainted even the liveliest parts of the city.

"Lord Wu's influence is everywhere," David muttered, watching as a group of his enforcers shook down a merchant for unpaid 'fees'.

Lily's expression darkened. "It's been like this for years. Ever since your family—" She stopped herself.

David's jaw tightened. "Ever since my family fell."

She nodded. "The city was always corrupt, but after the Haipoli Guild was destroyed, men like Wu took over. Now, they do whatever they want."

David watched as the merchant handed over his silver coins, his hands shaking.

David clenched his fists. That should have been his family's wealth to protect. Not Wu's to exploit.

---

The Underground Circles

As night fell, Lily led David to a quieter part of the city, a district where the wealthy rarely tread. The streets here were narrower, the buildings closer together, and the air was thick with the scent of cheap ale and secrecy.

"This is where you find the people who really know what's happening in Ping Shui," Lily whispered. "If there's anyone who hates Wu as much as we do, they'll be here."

David followed her into a tavern, the kind of place where information traded hands more often than drinks.

At a corner table sat a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek. Lily approached him first. "Long time no see, Jiang."

The man looked up, his gaze sharp despite his casual posture. "Didn't think I'd see you again, Lily." His eyes flicked toward David. "And who's this?"

"Someone with a reason to hate Lord Wu," Lily replied smoothly.

Jiang studied David for a long moment before leaning back. "Plenty of people hate Wu, girl. Doesn't mean they can do anything about it."

David met Jiang's gaze without flinching. "I intend to change that."

Jiang chuckled. "Ambitious. But ambition without power is just a dream."

David leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I don't need to dream. I need men. Fighters. People who want to see Wu fall."

Jiang's smirk faded slightly.

"That's dangerous talk."

David didn't back down. "It's only dangerous if we fail. But with the right people, the right strategy—we can tear him down piece by piece."

Jiang tapped his fingers on the table, thoughtful. "You're serious about this."

"Dead serious," David said.

For the first time, Jiang looked intrigued. "There's a group," he admitted. "Not fighters, but smugglers, informants. They don't like Wu any more than you do. Maybe they'll listen."

David nodded. "Tell me where to find them."

Jiang hesitated, then finally said, "The Midnight Market. Tomorrow night."

David's lips curled into a small smile. "Then that's where we'll be."

---

A Dangerous Future

As David and Lily left the tavern, the streets of Ping Shui seemed darker, more alive with unseen threats.

"That went well," Lily muttered.

David nodded. "It's a start. If we can rally the right people, we'll have a real chance to take down Wu."

Lily shot him a look. "You're really planning something big, aren't you?"

David glanced back at the city, his mind already working through the pieces. "Not just something big, Lily. Something unstoppable."

And with that, the first real step toward rebellion had begun.