Amid the vast expanse of ancient China, where myths and reality coexisted, lay the mystical city of Lóngchéng. Its towering pagodas and ornate bridges cast long, dark silhouettes in the radiant light of a full moon, bathing the city in a surreal glow.
In this mystical realm, a whispered legend echoed through the cobbled streets, passed down from generation to generation. It spoke of an elusive creature, the Azure Serpent, guardian of Lóngchéng, who slumbered beneath the ancient Dragon Gate Bridge. For centuries, the people of Lóngchéng believed that as long as the serpent rested undisturbed, the city would prosper.
One fateful evening, as the fragrant incense wafted through the air, illuminating the temple offerings, a shadowy figure emerged from the inky waters of the canal that wound beneath the Dragon Gate Bridge. It was Zhihao, a young scholar with eyes full of wonder and ambition. His presence in the city had been preordained, or so he believed.
