The sun over Chang'an's Western Market hung above the eaves, heating the green tiles of the old blacksmith's shop until they were scorching. Lin Shaoyang's hand grew slick with sweat around his hammer. Sparks flew from the anvil and landed on his forearm, dotting his wheat-colored skin with tiny red marks. Next door, the storyteller at the teahouse was reaching an exciting part of his tale, slamming his block so hard it boomed: "The Taihua Sword Sect's Astonishing Swan Sword Manual: the first move, Wild Geese Skimming the Shadows, can cut down arrows flying through a downpour; the second move, Starfire Burns the City, can draw out the sparks from a furnace..."
