Chapter 88
The moment Feng Jiao Xue dismounted from Yin Xiao, Mo Tianze practically bounced off behind her, his golden eyes wide as he took in their surroundings.
The village was nothing like the rigid grandeur of the empire’s cities. Here, the very ground pulsed with life, woven seamlessly with magic. Stone pathways gleamed faintly under their feet, absorbing the warmth of the sun and releasing it in a comforting glow. Floating lanterns, their flames flickering in unnatural hues of blue and violet, swayed gently in the afternoon breeze. Vines threaded with tiny luminous flowers coiled around wooden beams, their petals opening and closing in response to the passersby. Even the air shimmered faintly, humming with the quiet, ever-present thrum of magic.
Mo Tianze took a deep breath, as if trying to absorb the very essence of the village. His ears twitched at every unfamiliar sound, the faint hum of enchantments layered over buildings, the laughter of children as they used minor levitation spells to chase each other through the streets. There was no fear, no restrictions, magic was alive here, an accepted and integral part of daily life.
"Jiao Xue, this place is..." His voice trailed off as he turned to her, his tail flicking behind him, betraying his excitement.
Feng Jiao Xue watched him quietly, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She had no need to ask, she could see it in the way he held himself, the way his gaze darted from one marvel to another. This wasn’t just amazement. It was the wonder of someone seeing something he had never been allowed to believe was his to have.
Before she had bought him, he had been shackled, caged. Even after gaining his freedom, even after becoming one of the strongest young cultivators in the empire, that part of his past had never truly left him. But here, surrounded by magic so freely used, Mo Tianze seemed... unburdened.
A rare warmth settled in her chest.
"Come on," she said, her tone softer than usual. "Let’s explore."
Mo Tianze needed no further prompting. He eagerly matched her stride as they made their way into the heart of the village, weaving through the bustling streets.
They passed by an open-air bakery where golden bread loaves floated in and out of brick ovens, the scent of honey and spice filling the air. A magician waved his hand, and the bread wrapped itself in crisp parchment, tying itself with a strand of conjured twine before floating into the hands of waiting customers.
Mo Tianze paused, eyes locked on a nearby stall where crystal-like candies spun in the air, their shapes shifting as if responding to his gaze.