These girls, though they had trained in some Western Lands arts and knew of a place called True Heaven Palace, had no idea where the palace actually was.
The Western Lands are vast, no smaller than Everpeace or the Great Ruins. Most people living in the Great Ruins have heard of Dao Gate, but few actually know where it is.
It's the same here in the Western Lands.
Quinn felt a twinge of regret for having killed that True Heaven Palace disciple.
Up ahead, a splendid city came into view. The girls on the running box were headed there for the festival market. This was Fairgrace City, its streets overflowing with blooming flowers. Green vines climbed the city walls, huge blossoms opened atop the ramparts, and towers were festooned with flowers—purple, crimson, dazzling and vibrant.
As they drew closer, Quinn saw that some of the flowers behaved like sprites—slender, graceful girls emerged from the blooms, softly singing songs in strange, lilting tongues. These were flower spirits, awakened by the townsfolk’s sorcery, dotting Fairgrace City with enchantment.
There were also vine girls in green dresses, and begonia girls with bright blossoms in their hair, weaving through tall buildings and wide avenues.
Stone giants—formed from living rock—were pounding great drums. In the sky, nameless flowers floated by, each bearing a flower spirit who played flute and lute, circling the stone giants in musical flight.
Quinn entered the city, feeling for all the world like a country boy seeing the big city for the first time. He watched as towering house giants—buildings that had sprouted legs—strode down the streets. Boys and girls leaned out from windows, gazing around, their laughter ringing clear. Long silk ribbons floated from one house giant’s window to another, forming airy bridges. Girls in festive finery walked these ribbons from house to house, slipping away to secret trysts with their sweethearts.
“It’s the Flower-Mountain Festival!” Kira Bear cried out, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Kira Bear exclaimed excitedly, "My mother took me to play! True Heaven Palace’s Flower-Mountain Festival is even livelier than this!"
Quinn scooped up Kira Bear, bid farewell to the girls on the running box, and rode Bruno the Dragon-Qilin through these wondrous, dazzling streets. The Western Lands’ splendor was beyond imagining—so different from Everpeace, full of exotic charm.
As he walked through this city brimming with foreign enchantment, many girls tossed him scented sachets. One bold girl even glided over on a silk sash, took his hand, and tried to spirit him away into a house giant for a tryst.
Quinn gently released the flying girl’s hand; she floated back into the buildings like a fairy, already searching for another handsome partner.
When he’d first met True Heaven Palace’s female disciples, they’d been fierce and intimidating, so Quinn’s impression of Western women wasn’t great. But here in Fairgrace City, he found himself drawn in by the local customs and warmth.
The annual Flower-Mountain Festival was truly a sight to behold—lively beyond compare.
Quinn made his way through the crowds and the walking house giants, finally reaching the quieter heart of the city, where things were much calmer than before.
"The people living here must be Fairgrace City’s landlord class. They should know something about True Heaven Palace," Quinn reasoned to himself.
Just then, a green vine shot forward and unfurled before Quinn. A large blossom opened, and from within stepped a girl in pink, smiling sweetly: "Are you Young Master Quinn?"
Quinn nodded.
The girl stepped out of the flower, its stamen still trailing behind her. She smiled, "Young Master, my mistress invites you. Please follow me."
Someone here knows who I am? Quinn wondered.
Quinn was surprised. He leapt down from Bruno’s back and said, "Lead the way, miss."
The girl landed lightly, guiding Quinn to a grand estate. The manor looked like a stately Everpeace estate—imposing and elegant. At the gate, two stone lions stood up, turned to inspect Quinn and Bruno, then sat back down on their pedestals.
Quinn followed the flower spirit girl into the manor, where crowds of youths bustled about. Most were not human—they were spirits formed from flowers, trees, jade, or even mysterious gold and copper.
This manor isn’t Western in style at all, Quinn thought—it actually resembles Everpeace architecture... Wait, those gold and copper spirits...
Quinn paused, eyes falling on a walking cauldron. It was full of food, and had just climbed onto a fire spirit’s head to cook its meal.
That cauldron’s a spirit weapon! Can spirit weapons be awakened too? Quinn marveled.
Suddenly, a wave of insight swept over Quinn. He slowed, lost in thought.
He sensed a whole new path for reform!