The Caged Dragon Finds Its Waters

The wind whips up the sand, and jagged rocks jut from the ground.

A figure comes from afar, wearing a bamboo hat and a veil over his face.

He stands eight chi tall, a jeweled glass gourd hanging from his waist. In one hand, he holds a three-foot-three-inch horsetail whisk. Wearing oxhide boots, he raises his hand and counts on his fingers.

"The dragon lies in the east, trapped within the city."

As usual, I'm putting the author's note up front. Please read it through. If you decide you don't like the story afterward, just click the top-right corner. Thank you.

Author's note: 1. This short story was inspired by Lao Gan Ma's song "Life and Death in the Jianghu."

Author's note: 2. My education is limited, and I don't really understand anything too profound. I'll do my best to express myself.

Author's note: 3. Everyone interprets lyrics differently. I can only write what I see in them, and this is just my personal take.

Author's note: 4. Most of the ideas in this short story come from Baidu, combined with my own understanding, so they may not be correct. If you want to learn about these topics in greater depth, please study them yourself. If you already have, then please be kind and let any misconceptions in the story pass with a smile. This is important.

Author's note: 5. This short story is entirely set in a fictional world. The place names, sects, martial arts, and even the ideas are all made up and do not exist! If anything seems similar, please remember that this is fiction and distinguish it from this story. This is very important!

Author's note: 6. This story has been authorized by the lyricist, Nan Qi.

Those are the main points. Now, enjoy the story, and thank you for your support. *Bows.*

Finally, if I get inspiration and permission, I'll continue this series.

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