Chapter 33. Fengshi City
Perched on the edge of a mountain range, the city of Fengshi bustles with activity from dawn until dusk. The air is crisp and filled with a constant breeze, evidence of the wind crystal deposits that lie beneath the surface. This unique ore has made Fengshi a crucial hub for artisans and craftsmen seeking the elusive mineral to create powerful wind-based artefacts. The cityscape is a mix of towering stone structures and intricate wooden windmills, which harness the perpetual gusts that sweep through the narrow streets. At its heart stands the imposing Meng Manor, a sprawling estate that dominates the skyline and serves as a stark reminder of the city’s new power structure.
The Meng Family’s rise to power was swift and ruthless. Once a minor house in the region, they orchestrated a hostile takeover of the wind crystal mines, forcibly ousting the Zi Family, who had governed Fengshi for generations. The Meng’s mercenaries stormed the city’s defences, and within days, the Zi leaders were either imprisoned, exiled, or executed. Since then, the Meng Family has tightened their grip on the city’s wealth, controlling the mining operations with an iron fist. The mines are heavily guarded, and only those with direct permission from the Mengs are allowed access, ensuring that no other faction can challenge their monopoly.
Despite the harsh rule, Fengshi has prospered under the Meng Family’s reign, with the wind crystal trade attracting merchants and buyers from distant lands.
Young Master Meng Wuya is practising his wind skills. His hand moved, the bamboo shoots in the distance sliced like a tofu and fell. He nodded in satisfaction and looked at the servant.
"Is news spreading?" Meng Wuya asked.
"Yes, Young Master." The Servant nodded.
"Everything According to the plan." Meng Wuya said.
The news spread like wildfire through the streets of Fengshi. At first, it was just a whisper—merchants muttering to each other in the market, travellers exchanging rumours at the city gates. But within hours, the entire city was abuzz with the shocking announcement: Madam Zi, the esteemed mother of the legendary genius Zi Long, was to be executed in a month. People spoke in hushed tones, fearful of the Meng Family’s enforcers, yet the news had already ignited a spark of unrest among the citizens.
Madam Zi was a revered figure in Fengshi, known for her wisdom and grace. Despite the brutal fall of the Zi Family, she had remained in the city, quietly living out her days in a modest dwelling on the outskirts. Many saw her as a symbol of the city’s former glory, a reminder of the times before the Meng Family’s ruthless takeover. The announcement of her execution was more than just an act of retribution—it was a blatant display of power by the Mengs, a warning to anyone who dared to challenge their authority and also to lure the former Genius.
┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉
Few days later Zi Long received a letter. His eyes filled with rage and his body was shivering like a volcano that was about to erupt.