An family's team was approaching Ghost Forest City's East Gate at a steady but quick pace.
There was a long row of carriages before them but they didn't need to wait; there was an old gold-coloured plaque with the –Ancient word hanging from each carriage that gave off a distinctive breath. All Ancient Clans had nine of them; there were some families that had more, of course.
The mighty Armoured White Panthers slowed down at this time because of the driver of each carriage call. As they passed by the carriages' line, all the people turned their heads to look up to them. At first, there were many who were displeased but as soon as their eyes landed on the golden plaque, they hide their inner complain and they were overcome by shock and awe. They never thought about encountering an Ancient family at this time outside the city, the competition was going to start tomorrow after all. Whispers began to arise, making the long waiting lively.
As they drove towards the gate entrance, the awed eyes and chit-chat of the people diminished.
Soon, they came to be before the East Gate. The city guards were checking upon the foremost team which had hundreds of people and tens of luxurious carriages pulled by fine mounts; they were Wind Black Horses. It was a Big Clan as it had such a wealth, but it was a Neo Clan and not an Ancient one. Therefore, the city guards' Captain who had been overseen this team shifted his attention, stepping forward to An family's line up. The Captain gave his greetings, receiving a reply from Xiu Tu, An family's guards Captain; after a brief exchange of words, they entered unhindered.
The sound of a fluttering curtain opening was heard; it came from the biggest and fanciest carriage from the Big Clan. A girl with black hair and a pink veil covering the lower half of her beautiful face poked her head out, her big and dark eyes looked at the dust and vanishing carriages entering before them with furrowed brows. She closed her curtain and unhappily said, "Hmph, I can't believe that we need to be checked before entering each dammed city and pay the according fee. That team had fewer people and its carriages weren't as luxurious as us, but they passed just like that".
A seventeen-year-old youth clad in dark blue saw her fuming with rage. He was used to such tantrums, he sipped a bit wine and said, "Elder sister, they come from an Ancient Clan, it is normal. Though, it is probably a falling one. The ones that kept their top status usually bring more people. Still, these are rules decreed since long ago, mean to benefit the Ancient families; the Imperial family can't change and won't change them".
She harrumphed, "Hmph, I know, little brother". What bothered her the most, was that some Ancient Clans had decayed and still had the privileges given to them long ago; that was unjust.
He rolled his amber eyes and said, "Then, why irking about this every time?"
"It's not every time; I only vent my displeasure when I'm alone with you". She crossed her arms and turned around to look through the gossamer curtain.
Before her little brother could say something, she said, "We must get a good position to make things easier our father. If we do it, father will have one more card and within some years we will be a Top Clan".
"You wouldn't be this bothered if you had accepted to be a Consort of the Crown Prince". He shrugged his shoulders. Even if they were to be a Top Clan, they were still going to be a Neo Clan with fewer privileges than Ancient Clans. At least, the decreed ones only meant for Ancient Clans will never be given to them. But if they were to be the in-laws of the Imperial family, they will probably be able to get them.
She turned back her head to look at his little brother who was two years younger, saying, "You don't joke with me. I had to pull many strings for father to forget that and not to mention it to His Imperial Majesty".
"Eldest sister, don't get angry, I know. I was just joking. There are more shady things there than in our backyard, but I think you would have been well there; you are smarter than father after all".
"Hmph", she harrumphed before closing her eyes to rest.
He saw her action but he still said after sipping more wine, "And speaking about the backyard things, what are we going to do with..."
"Later", she didn't let him finish his question with a cutting word.
Watching her eldest sister attitude, he understood he had said too much; he smiled with some regret and kept quiet, waiting for the city guards to finish to cross the East Gate and enter Ghost Forest City.
At this time, An family's carriages had just come out from the entrance's long passage. The City was bustling with people everywhere that the carriages' way had also people walking on it. But being three carriages pulled by such majestic beasts, the people quickly made way; if it were to be a sole carriage pulled by a more commonly used mysterious beasts, it would have been a difficult task.
The guards driving didn't speed up even with the path cleared; they went slowly for their young masters enjoyment.
It was a pity that the person they most wanted to enjoy the view was sleeping soundly inside the main carriage...
Inside, the Great Elder wanted to give at his eldest young master and little miss a brief introduction of the places they were passing by, but An Yu Yong stopped him as An Bing Qing had fallen asleep and he didn't want anything to wake her up yet; though he didn't think she would wake up with just that.
The Great Elder didn't know his thought and just acknowledged his words; because the atmosphere still was stiff, he decided to drink a refreshing but warm tea to disperse the slight coldness he felt.
This rhythm was perfect but they were losing time; therefore, An Yu Yong quietly stood up, activated a rune in the middle of the wall were Xue Zi Hui and the Great Elder were resting their backs, making an opening.
"Captain Xiu Tu..." He whispered to him some orders before closing the opening and turning back to his seat. He didn't close his eyes like Xue Zi Hui but took out a book to read; it was a book describing this area.
The Captain passed An Yu Yong's commands to the corresponding people and soon plenty of the guards and some young men mingled within the cramped streets.
More than an hour later, they reached the inn where they were going to stay.
"Eldest young master, Great Elder, we have arrived", Captain Xiu Tu's manly voice was passed from outside through a rune mean for that.
"Ah", An Yu Yong gave a light reply as he turned to see his little sister; An Bing Qing was still wearing the veiled hat as she had fallen asleep as soon as she gave up from making a conversation.
'I wonder if I would be able to wake her up', he thought.
"Little sister, it's time to wake up. Once you are in your room, you can sleep more", he coaxed her to wake up with a charming voice.
Xue Zi Hui who had his eyes still closed frowned at his tone; it was annoying to his ears but he didn't say anything, loosening his furrowed brows in an instant.
An Yu Yong who thought that he will need to call her more times, was surprised when he saw her moving.
The still drowsy An Bing Qing opened her sleepy eyes; she sat with a straight back and rubbed her eyes with her sleeves before looking around like a lost deer.
"Little sister, you have amazed your eldest brother. It seems that you really want to sleep more. Tsk, tsk..." He molested her. He knew that she had listened to his call just as an annoying sound without discerning the actual words.
"Huh?" Just as he thought, she was at a lost that she didn't know how to argue back.
An Yu Yong wanted to continue but an indifferent voice sounded, "We have arrived at the inn, you quickly up".
"Eh? Oh..." An Bing Qing nodded at Xue Zi Hui's words. She stood up and stretched her limbs without caring for the present people.
The Great Elder was the first to step out from the carriage at her movement. Xue Zi Hui turned around but didn't step out while An Yu Yong sighed because of her little sister carelessness before staring unhappily towards Xue Zi Hui's way.
At length, she placed her hands on her hips and cheerfully said, "All right, let's go".
At her words, Xui Zi Hui was the first to go out, followed by An Yu Yong.
An Bing Qing was the last and was supported by An Yu Yong when she stepped down from the carriage. She wanted to call Xue Zi Hui to help her as well, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did Zi Hui go?" She asked An Yu Yong as her feet touched the ground.
He replied nonchalantly, "I don't know".
Seeing this, she turned towards the Great Elder without asking again.
The Great Elder pondered a bit before answering with hidden shame, "I also don't know, little miss".
An Yu Yong nodded in his heart at the Great Elder's reply.
"Oh", An Bing Qing didn't inquire more; she was sure that the Great Elder didn't know. Xue Zi Hui must have slipped away. She furrowed her pretty brows; though she knew he was all right for now as the poison was in control, she was still worried.
At long last, she sighed and looked up at the inn's entrance. There were two words engraved above it on a big white jade tablet, she read it without voicing words, 'Ancient Inn'.
This was not only the biggest and luxurious inn of Ghost Forest City but also from the whole Empire and as the name implied, this inn was only meant to Ancient Clans and it was only opened during this time as it has a strange formation on it.
The inn had twelve floors: the first floor was where the restaurant and entertainment rooms were; the twelfth was where the inn's staff resided; and the floors between them were for the Ancient Clan and Imperial family's people to stay. With a whole floor being for each clan; but with the passing time and the fall of three Ancient Clans, the Imperial family passed to occupy two whole floors, leaving two vacant ones which the other powerful Ancient families couldn't be bothered to take. That was why, even though they have arrived with the time counted, they weren't worried about a location to stay.