Arriving on the docks of an unknown village . Mist lifts from cedar-planked docks as tidewater laps softly. Lanterns sway, painted with soot-spirits that blink and drift. Narrow boats creak, their prows carved like forest gods.An old ferryman bows. “This is our Village,” he says. “Mind the water—river spirits wander hungry tonight.”Across the inlet, a … Continue reading Gotham diaspora: Xiao AoJi’s quest