Chu Changying and Su Wen were atop the Shimmering Dragon Inn's highest balcony. They braced for impact, from some sort of thunderous force to assault them from the crumbling volcano and the vibrant red lava that flowed outward.
But that impact never came, at least not nearly to the magnitude that expected. When the cloud of ash hit them, Su Wen alone was able to stave off its dangerous effects. Buildings around them set ablaze but the Shimmering Dragon Inn remained unaffected.
Chu Changying frowned, not quite understanding what had happened.
As though reading her mind, Su Wen spoke, "There was a barrier that was momentarily erected around the mountain. I would assume that was what soaked up much of the impact."