The Qing Consortium, Stronghold 111.
At the stroke of midnight, the copper bell in the middle of the stronghold was struck by someone working for the Qing Consortium.
The sound of the bell that symbolized peace in the new year resonated across the stronghold. Soon after, firecrackers, of which many of the rich could afford, started popping in front of their houses. The children had also come out onto the streets and were excitedly taking in the sights. They were all wearing their new clothes and even holding little firecracker tubes that they picked off from the main bunch.
Qing Zhen was standing out in the yard of his villa. His hair had grown much longer since he wasn't even able to get a barber to come over after being put under house arrest here with Luo Lan.
Suddenly, a crow flew over in the dark of the night. It soared between the sound of the firecrackers going off and did not seem one bit affected by it.
