The golden dragon’s form was half hidden within the clouds, but its exposed head showed an expression of fury the moment it heard those wailing, ghostly cries. From the rolling black clouds, a dragon claw reached out, slashing through the void above Chang’an.

In an instant, golden light rained down from the heavens like a shower.

When the black mist touched the golden light, a shrill, miserable scream rang out once more.

Yet, within that scream, there was a hint of despair. The black mist that was struck by the golden raindrops instantly turned to nothingness, vanishing without a trace.

The black mist was afraid!

With a roar that echoed above Chang’an, it turned into streams of black smoke and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Very soon, Chang’an returned to its original state.

Seeing the black mist retreat, the golden dragon let out a dragon’s roar, then transformed into a streak of golden light and disappeared into the imperial city.

David Sutton’s body was left exposed on the long street.

He was covered in blood, lying motionless on the ground, looking just like a corpse.

Anhuamen Avenue returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

Chang’an, too, fell back into silence.

Thunder rumbled from within the clouds, a flash of silver lightning appeared, and then a torrential downpour began.

“Ami, Ami, are you alright?!”

Brian Chandler crawled out of the gutter, stumbling over to David Sutton’s side.

He grabbed David Sutton in his arms, shouting loudly, “Ami, don’t scare me, wake up, wake up!”

David Sutton slowly opened his eyes.

But his eyes were full of confusion. He looked at Brian Chandler as if he were a stranger.

“Ami, I’m just glad you’re okay!”

Brian Chandler was overjoyed, but then he noticed that David Sutton seemed a bit off.

“Ami, what’s wrong?”

David Sutton didn’t answer. Instead, he struggled to sit up, looking around.

A trace of panic flashed across his pale face.

He coughed twice, and in a hoarse voice that Brian Chandler had never heard before, said, “Who are you? Where is this place?”

Chapter One: Chang’an, Chang’an (Part One)

February, the Waking of Insects.

Outside the city of Chang’an, the apricot blossoms were already in full bloom, exuding vibrant life.

John Adams opened the door and stretched lazily under the eaves. It had rained lightly the night before, and the air still carried a faint earthy scent, refreshing the spirit. His head, which had felt a bit groggy, now cleared up considerably.

It was the spring of the first year of Yonghui. The chill of early spring lingered, and the mornings in Chang’an were still a bit cold.

“Leonard Grant, are you ready?”

John Adams called out from outside the door, and soon a sturdy man hurried over.

“Master, everything is ready.”

“Then let’s go.”

John Adams nodded and stepped outside.

The man named Leonard Grant followed closely behind, matching his pace.

John Adams, courtesy name Huaiying, was a native of Taiyuan.

He was born into an official family and was known as a child prodigy from a young age.

Now, at twenty-one, his family had pulled some strings to send him to Chang’an to study at the Imperial Academy, hoping he would one day earn official rank through the examinations.

Since Emperor Yang of Sui established the imperial examination system, and after Emperor Taizong Li Shimin ascended the throne and promoted it further,

the imperial exams had become the path for countless scholars. Of course, John Adams could have entered officialdom through his family’s connections, but he knew well that if he could pass the exams, his future achievements would far surpass those gained through family privilege. So he decided to come to Chang’an to study.

In Taiyuan, the Di family was considered upper-middle class.

But in Chang’an, John Adams knew very well that the little money he had would hardly be enough to get by.

As the saying goes, living in Chang’an is no easy feat.

After the reign of Zhen Guan, with Chang’an as the capital of the Tang Empire, prices had soared, and it was truly more than an out-of-town scholar like him could afford.

Fortunately, the food, clothing, and lodging of Imperial Academy students were all covered by the government, saving a lot of expenses.

According to the rules of the Imperial Academy, students could live in the accommodations arranged by the Academy after enrollment. Of course, if they preferred not to, they could find their own place to live. The Academy would then provide a subsidy to reimburse their rent.

The Academy’s accommodations were mostly near the imperial city, where rents were high.

If one could find a cheaper place to live, the Academy would still reimburse according to the official accommodation rate. This created a price difference. For students from wealthy families, that difference might not matter much. But for ordinary families, even a small difference could improve their lives, making it the obvious choice.

Yesterday, John Adams had already reported to the Academy. After listening to the advice of some senior students, he finally decided to find his own place to live.

Chang’an in the spring of the first year of Yonghui felt a bit desolate.

Last year, Emperor Taizong passed away, casting a shadow over Chang’an.

The passing of the Heavenly Khan brought a hint of chaos to the once-prosperous Tang Empire. The new emperor was lost in grief and neglected state affairs. Fortunately, veteran ministers like Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang stabilized the situation, preventing major unrest in the empire. But what kind of emperor would the new ruler be? Where would the empire go from here? Everyone felt a trace of confusion and fear. At the same time, there was a glimmer of hope and anticipation, quietly stirring the heart.

It was in this strange atmosphere that John Adams, accompanied by Leonard Grant, arrived at the Western Market.