[The Hero's Welcome]
The rising sun touched the gates of the Yao Capital as they slowly ground open. Gold-tiled roofs and jade eaves shimmered through the mist. Gu Xingyu and her party stepped into the city where power and heritage intertwined.
Xingyu wore a simple white robe embroidered with subtle Yao-patterns, the Mist-Flower tucked into her hair. Her calm aura radiated dignity. The Five Yao walked in formation, each dressed in their elemental colors, the Yao-keys at their waists glowing with a restrained brilliance.
The citizens stopped in their tracks. Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through wheat.
"Are those... the Five Yao? They're so young!"
Lin Lie walked at the front, his back straight as a shield, his eyes fixed forward. Cang Yuan, ever the rogue, didn't bother hiding his amusement; he winked at a group of girls, eliciting a wave of muffled shrieks.
[The People's Commentary]
"Look! The one in dark gold is the Gold Yao, right? What a presence!"
"The one in red is so handsome! My mother said Fire Yao have tempers, but look at those eyes... I think he's a tsundere!"
"I wouldn't mind being glared at by him for the rest of my life!" A group of girls huddled together, faces flushed with excitement.
"Wait, look at the one in blue... the Water Yao? He looks like he walked out of a painting. He just smiled at me!"
"Don't be delusional, he smiles at everyone like that—he's a total flirt!"
"I don't care! I'd propose to him right now if I could!"
Cang Yuan overheard them and gave a slight tilt of his head, nodding toward them. The girls nearly fainted on the spot.
Meanwhile, an old man stroked his beard and sighed. "These lads... they don't just look good; they have steady gazes and strong spirits. Not like those palace officials who only know how to talk."
"Well said!" a baker chimed in. "Look at the boy in green. His eyes are so bright and clever—sharper than my dog!"
Sang Qi whipped his head around, looking offended. "Hey! Who made that comparison? I'm a brilliant Wood Yao physician, not a dog! Though... I am quite clever," he muttered, stealing a glance at Xingyu to see if she'd heard.
Luo Ye overheard the "tsundere" comment and his face turned beet-red. He glared at the crowd. "What are you all babbling about?!"
The girls screamed in delight. "Aah! He really did glare! So cool!"
Lin Lie picked up his pace, his ears turning pink. He pretended to inspect his mechanical devices, but he almost tripped when he heard girls debating if he was the "hardest to get."
Li Yan walked at the rear, silent as a mountain. When a child asked, "Mama, is the tall uncle the strongest?" he slowed his pace just a fraction, a soft glint in his eyes that said he heard, even if he didn't speak.
[The "Reality Dating Show"]
As the commotion over the Five Yao settled, the crowd's focus shifted to the woman following them.
"Who is the lady at the back? She doesn't look like she's from our world."
"Haven't you heard? That's the legendary Saintess! She came from another realm to summon the Five Yao and save us!"
"She's beautiful... but in a different way. She looks so... gentle yet firm."
"Don't you see how they're protecting her? Especially the Fire Yao... he won't take his eyes off the surroundings."
"And the Wood Yao just fixed her cloak... how sweet!"
"I think she matches the cold Gold Yao better. The vibe between them is so steady."
"No way! The Water Yao just smiled at her... he's definitely the lead!"
Gu Xingyu's lip twitched. She muttered under her breath, "...Why did this suddenly turn into a reality dating show?"
She glanced at the five men beside her. Luo Ye looked like a guard dog on high alert. "If anyone touches you, I'm cutting their hand off."
Cang Yuan grinned. "A bit proud to be the envy of the city, aren't you, little Star?"
Sang Qi sighed. "I should have given you a veil... you're stealing all our thunder."
Lin Lie didn't speak, but his hand hovered near her shoulder as if to shield her from the crowd. Li Yan shifted his position to create a physical barrier between her and the onlookers.
[The Path to the Throne]
A lump formed in Xingyu's throat. She had never expected this. She wasn't being rejected as an outsider; she was being seen as a beacon of hope.
The morning light paved the palace corridor with gold. At the front of the formation:
Gold Yao · Lin Lie: The steady axis of the team.
Fire Yao · Luo Ye: The vanguard ready for battle.
Water Yao · Cang Yuan: The watchful eye behind a smile.
Wood Yao · Sang Qi: The hidden tenderness and healing.
Earth Yao · Li Yan: The moving fortress, blocking the noise.
And behind them—the reason they had gathered. She didn't lead from the front; instead, the Five Yao carved a path for her through the unknown.
Xingyu knew this wasn't a coronation walk—it was an interrogation. She wasn't a king, nor a perfect saint. She took a deep breath, clutching the pocket watch in her pocket.
No matter how the wind changes, she thought, we made it here together.