Kanada City had always been quiet.Too quiet.When merchants lost their businesses, they blamed bad luck. When caravans disappeared, they blamed bandits. When prices increased, they blamed poor harvests. When neighbors closed their shops, they sighed... and carried on with their own lives.No one had known the truth. Until now.The raid on the northern warehouse changed everything. By sunrise, the entire city was talking about it. Tea houses overflowed with customers. Market stalls became gathering places. Every conversation revolved around the same subject: the hidden warehouse, the stolen goods, the Voss Alliance."You heard they found thousands of bags of grain?""I heard it was five warehouses' worth!""My brother was there!""They recovered medicines that disappeared two years ago!""No wonder my business failed!""They've been robbing us all along!"Rumors spread through every district. But unlike before... these rumors were true.Near the eastern marketplace, an elderly woman s

The city had become restless. Every street carried whispers of the Voss Alliance. Every marketplace buzzed with rumors of corruption. Every day another merchant disappeared from Marcus Voss's side.Yet amid the growing chaos... one man remained steadfast.Darius Kane.Unlike the merchants who chased profit, Darius had never cared about wealth. He cared about order. Discipline. Loyalty. To him, the Alliance had been nothing more than an organization protecting trade from chaos.Or so he believed.Late that afternoon, a message arrived at Blackstone Manor. It bore no signature. Only four words:North Watchtower. Sunset. Alone.Darius stared at the note for several moments. Then he quietly folded it."I'll go."The abandoned watchtower overlooked the northern trade road. Years ago, soldiers had guarded the route from bandits. Now only broken walls and faded banners remained.As the sun dipped below the horizon, Darius climbed the worn stone steps. A lone figure already stood at the top.

The changes did not happen overnight. Cities wounded for years did not heal in a matter of days. But for the first time in a long time... Kanada City was healing.The first signs appeared in the marketplace. Shops that had remained shuttered for months slowly reopened. Dusty signboards were cleaned. Broken windows were replaced. Merchants who had nearly abandoned the city unlocked their doors once more.The sound of hammers echoed through the streets as workers repaired neglected storefronts. Laughter gradually replaced silence. Hope replaced despair.The city was alive again.Outside the eastern gate, a long caravan slowly entered Kanada. Unlike before, the merchants wore genuine smiles.One caravan became three. Three became ten. Within weeks, the city's roads were once again filled with wagons carrying grain, cloth, medicine, timber, and spices. The trade routes that had been secretly manipulated by the Voss Alliance were reopened under strict government supervision.Travel became

Before dawn, the three travelers had already left the borders of Kanada City far behind.The bustling trade roads gradually gave way to open plains, rolling hills, and winding mountain paths. The sounds of merchants haggling were replaced by birdsong and the steady rhythm of horses' hooves.For the first time in weeks...Their journey had no pressing enemy to chase.No conspiracy to unravel.Only a destination.The first town they passed through was called Willow Crossing, a modest settlement built around a busy river port. Although much smaller than Kanada City, its streets were lively with travelers coming from every direction.As Wang entered the town, his stomach growled loudly."I don't care how legendary Moon Brim Sect is," he declared dramatically. "If I don't eat soon, I won't live long enough to join it."Chi sighed."You've been hungry since sunrise.""I was hungry before sunrise."Sawyer couldn't help smiling."You two find us a place to eat.""I'll ask around."The brother

The closer they drew to the foot of Moon Brim Sect, the more crowded the roads became.What had started as a trickle of travelers soon became an endless sea of people.Young men and women.Old warriors escorting their children.Nobles riding luxurious horse-drawn carriages.Merchant families followed by dozens of servants carrying expensive luggage.Former soldiers bearing old scars across their faces.Village youths dressed in patched clothes, carrying nothing but worn wooden weapons.Everyone...Regardless of status...Had come for one purpose.To become a disciple of Moon Brim Sect."This is insane..."Wang muttered as he looked around."I thought we'd see a few hundred people.""There are thousands."Chi glanced ahead before correcting him."Tens of thousands."The crowd stretched as far as the eye could see.The entrance plaza beneath the mountain was enormous, yet it was packed with hopeful applicants.People stood shoulder to shoulder.Laughter.Arguments.Boasting.Nervous whi