---
The thick gates of Amberlight City creaked open slowly as Su Yang approached. The guards who stood behind them bore armor half-polished and weary eyes. They glanced at the Seven Valley Sect insignia stitched into Su Yang's sleeve, then exchanged uncertain looks before one of them stepped forward hesitantly.
"You… you are the one sent from the sect?"
Su Yang nodded. "I am Su Yang, here on assignment. Take me to the City Lord."
The guard saluted awkwardly and gestured for him to follow. Luo Mei stayed close, supporting her injured uncle, who was offered quick transport on a wooden cart by a sympathetic soldier.
As Su Yang entered the city proper, he glanced around quickly, absorbing details.
The inner streets were quiet—too quiet for late afternoon. Most shops were shuttered. A few people walked quickly between buildings with their heads down. Patrols were infrequent, and those that did pass seemed disorganized. The scent of blood still lingered faintly near the edges of the market.
The city was under siege, not by walls or weapons—but by fear.
> "This place feels like it's rotting from the inside," Su Yang thought grimly.
---
The City Lord's residence was a modest stone manor built into the base of the mountain wall. It lacked the grandeur of a noble estate but radiated discipline and strength. Su Yang appreciated that.
Inside the hall, a lean, broad-shouldered man sat at a simple wooden table surrounded by several advisors and guards. His armor was dusty, and his eyes red with exhaustion—but his spine was straight, and his aura firm.
"City Lord Wei Zhen," one guard announced. "The representative from the Seven Valley Sect has arrived."
Wei Zhen stood immediately. "Thank the heavens. Su Yang, is it? Come in."
Su Yang gave a respectful bow. "Yes, City Lord. I bring aid and instructions under sealed order from the Valley Master."
He handed over the jade scroll. Wei Zhen accepted it carefully, broke the seal, and read the contents. As his eyes moved over the glowing characters, his expression shifted—first to relief, then to deep concern.
"So it's as I feared," Wei Zhen murmured. "The sect believes there's internal sabotage."
Su Yang nodded. "And it will be my task to find it."
That caused a stir among the councilors gathered nearby. A plump, red-faced man stepped forward with a sneer. "With all due respect, City Lord, this boy looks barely past seventeen. You expect him to root out spies and fight bandits?"
"Councilor Yu," Wei Zhen said sternly, "this 'boy' was chosen by the Valley Master herself. If she trusts him, so will we."
Su Yang met the man's stare without blinking. "Whether you believe me or not changes nothing. I'll protect this city—with or without your help."
Councilor Yu scoffed but said no more.
Wei Zhen stepped in. "Forgive him. Many here are afraid, and fear breeds doubt. We've been under pressure for months."
Su Yang nodded. "I understand. I'll begin by assessing the city's defenses, and I'll need access to all previous patrol logs, attack maps, and storage manifests."
Another man in dark green robes, older and calmer than Yu, stepped forward. "I'll prepare those. I'm Advisor Shen—overseer of civil affairs. Not all of us are opposed to help."
Su Yang gave him a respectful nod.
> "So… not all the councilors are corrupt. But some clearly are."
---
That evening, Wei Zhen hosted Su Yang for a simple meal in his study.
Over rice, pickled vegetables, and wild boar, Wei Zhen spoke more freely.
"My father ruled this city before me. He was a warrior, not a politician. When he died, the sect supported my claim as City Lord. But some of the noble houses had hoped to restore their influence. Yu's family was once in power, and they've never forgiven me."
Su Yang listened carefully.
"Two months ago, bandits began attacking our trade routes. At first, it seemed random. But then every route we reinforced got ambushed… while the weak ones were left alone."
"So they know the patrol shifts," Su Yang murmured.
Wei Zhen nodded grimly. "Exactly. I started altering the plans last-minute. That's when the ambushes failed. But then… they stopped entirely. It was as if they knew I'd caught on."
"That means the spy is high-ranking," Su Yang concluded. "They must have access to all your route changes—even last-minute ones."
Wei Zhen leaned forward. "Find them, Su Yang. And I'll give you full support. But… tread carefully. I can't protect you from the noble families' schemes. Not here."
"I'm not afraid of schemes," Su Yang said softly. "Only stagnation."
---
After the meal, Su Yang walked out into the moonlit courtyard of the manor.
Max sat waiting under the stars, his eyes glowing faintly in the dark. Su Yang knelt and scratched behind his ears.
"Well, Max… we have our task. There's a traitor hiding behind fine robes, and a bandit army lurking in the mountains."
Max gave a low bark.
Su Yang looked up at the stars, his tone unreadable.
> "Let's start with the patrol logs tomorrow. If we can find the pattern, we'll find the mole. And then…"
His eyes flickered with flame.
> "…we'll burn their whole plan to ash."
---