"Good question." The man put his cup on the table and leaned back in his chair.
"I was standing on the east side of the north gate city wall, next to a crossbowman in a gray robe."
As the fight was going on, a bone dragon suddenly descended from the clouds. With a flap of its wings, the wind pressure lifted a brick from the crenellation and smashed it directly into me, causing me to lose 300 health points.
I glanced down at my health bar and thought, "Not bad, still half left."
"Then what?"
"Then I calmly said to the crossbowman next to me, 'Brother, I'm going down to replenish my health,' and went down the city wall."
As soon as I reached the corner of the stairs, the north gate broke down.
I looked back and saw a horse-drawn carriage parked on the side of the street, so I jumped in.
There were already seven or eight people on the bus, and one of the men even gave me his seat.
The carriage sped towards the east gate. Looking back, I could still see the flashes of crossbow bolts on the city wall, but after it turned a corner, they disappeared from view.
He finished the last bit of ale at the bottom of the glass and placed it upside down on the table.
As she turned around, she caught a glimpse of the people coming in through the door. She first saw Lucy and was about to greet her when her gaze fell on the three figures behind her. Her words caught in her throat.
Then, lowering his voice, he said to his companion beside him, "Butler Lucy... who are those people behind you? My goodness, nine golden rings..."
The companion next to him glanced to the side and lowered his voice even further: "Didn't you watch the live broadcast from Daxia? That's Lin Feng, the city lord of Fenghuo City. During the last orc invasion, he single-handedly killed two orc lords at Hangu Pass, the kind where he chased and killed tens of thousands of orcs all by himself."
The people at the table exchanged glances, and no one said anything more, but their eyes couldn't help but drift towards the stairs.
Lucy didn't stop. She led the three of them up to the second floor, pushed open the door of a cubicle facing the street, and stepped aside to let them in: "Please come in. This room is by the street and you can see the street view to the east. It's also very private."
The room was small but bright, with the window open, and the afternoon sun shining obliquely on the table.
The tablecloth was light gray linen with wheat ear patterns embroidered along the edges.
After the four of them sat down, Lucy stood by the table and opened a parchment menu: "White Tower City doesn't have many specialties, but there is one worth trying: Stillwater River Silverfish, roasted with local herbs from the Morninglight Plains, and served with honey and black pepper."
Jiang Zhaoyue asked, "Is there anything special about this dish?"
Lucy explained, "The silverfish in the Stillwater River are only available during this season, and their flesh is firm and doesn't fall apart easily."
The herb is a type of fine-leaved mint that grows wild on the plains. After being dried and ground into powder, it's sprinkled on grilled fish for a refreshing flavor that complements the black pepper perfectly.
After listening, Lin Feng glanced out the window and said, "Then let's try one first."
Lucy nodded, then recommended two side dishes and a locally brewed ale, before going downstairs to make the arrangements.
The cubicle fell silent, save for the occasional sounds from the street outside the window and the faint clanging of hammers in the distance.
Jiang Zhaoyue leaned back in her chair, her gaze lingering on the street scene outside the window for a moment: "Lord, how long do you plan to stay in White Tower City this time?"
Lin Feng leaned back in his chair: "About thirty days or so, no more than forty days at most."
Jiang Yelan's voice came from the window seat: "Isn't the underground city still sealed for over eighty days?"
Lin Feng's lips twitched very slightly, like a micro-expression that suggested he had guessed something but had no intention of explaining.
"Yes, over eighty days, that's right." He didn't continue.
Jiang Yelan glanced at him, as if confirming the tone of his words, before turning her gaze back to the window.
When Lucy brought out a large platter of food, the anchovies were grilled to a golden brown, sprinkled with chopped herbs and a little coarse salt, and served with a dish of honey and a small basket of rye bread.
She then brought over a bowl of mushroom soup and a small jug of ale.
Lin Feng took a bite of the fish. The flesh was indeed firm, and the herb flavor was not strong, which just covered the fishy smell.
He nodded: "This is good."
Jiang Zhaoyue took a bite and commented a few words more than Lin Feng: "The fish skin is crispy, the inside is not dry, and the flavor of the herbs is not overpowering. This dish is very well made."
Jiang Yelan picked up a piece of fish, chewed it twice, swallowed it, and said only two words: "Okay."
Lucy poured them another bottle of ale.
After a few bites, the conversation lightened up a bit, and Jiang Zhaoyue asked when this shop in White Tower City opened. Lucy said that the tavern opened only a few years after the city was built, which is older than most of the current residents.
The group chatted casually. There were fewer pedestrians on the street outside the window than before, and the sunlight had changed from an oblique angle to a lower slant.
After finishing their meal, Lucy paid the bill and led the three of them southwest.
After passing through the commercial district, the street gradually narrows.
The height of the houses on both sides has decreased, from two or three stories to mostly only one story. The eaves are low, and some windows are closed while others are open, allowing people to move around in the dim interior.
The twilight light slanted in from the west, cutting the street in two; the bright side glowed with warmth, while the dark side already seemed to be deep into the evening.
The Church of Holy Light is at the end of the street, a gray-white stone building with a pointed roof and stained glass windows.
The pattern has faded considerably, but the outlines of oak leaves and holy light can still be discerned.
Several people were sitting on the steps in front of the church, some with their heads down, and some leaning against the door frame with their eyes closed.
A man carrying an old cloth bag strode out of the alley, took a few steps toward the church, then slowed down, as if in a compromise between being in a hurry and not wanting to offend anyone.
Lucy slowed her pace: "The church is currently open during the day for refugees to rest; you can go in and sit down."
Lin Feng glanced inside the church. It was darker inside than outside. Several rows of benches were occupied by people. Some had their heads bowed and hands clasped, while others leaned back and rested with their eyes closed. Several bundles were piled up in the corner.
A little girl, about seven or eight years old, ran out of the church entrance, clutching a small handful of wildflowers in her hand.
She stopped in front of Jiang Zhaoyue, looked up at her, and handed her the flowers: "Sister, you are so beautiful. Can you take me to see the city wall?"
Jiang Zhaoyue squatted down and took the bouquet of flowers, the stems still damp with soil: "The city wall is very high, and there's a battle going on up there right now, so it's not safe. I'll take you to see it after the fighting is over."
"Really?"
"real."
The little girl grinned, then turned and ran back to the church entrance.
A young woman was standing there looking this way, her face showing a hint of apology and anxiety.
The little girl ran to her side, tugged at her clothes, and said something.
The woman crouched down, patted the little girl's shoulder, and then nodded in Jiang Zhaoyue's direction without saying a word.
At that moment, a priest in a greyish-white robe walked out of the church entrance and stood on the steps. His voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for the people queuing at the entrance to hear.
"Everyone, dinner is ready. Line up, everyone will get some."
The crowd began to move toward the entrance. There was no pushing or shoving, and the line quickly formed, stretching from the church entrance to the street corner.
The little girl returned to the group, standing beside her mother, still clutching the stems of the flowers in her hand.
She glanced back at Jiang Zhaoyue, then turned back.
Lucy stood to the side: "Want to go in and take a look?"
Lin Feng turned his gaze away from the quiet line and replied, "No, let's go to our lodgings."
