Hong Liangyu left Creek Tower, hurrying along in the dim moonlight. Old, dry branches of trees lined both sides of the Official Road, continuous and crisscrossing. Initially, he could still see mountain martens and wild deer, and occasionally crows would circle overhead. But soon, all traces disappeared. As he continued, he encountered charred debris of broken bricks and tiles, and large patches of dark blood stains on the ground, but no bodies were to be found.
Suddenly, the earth on the Official Road trembled and the dry grass shook as more than thirty Cavalry came galloping towards him.
A chill wind that could pierce through bones slipped into Hong Liangyu's collar. He bowed his head, crossed his hands and tucked them into his sleeves, and bunched up his neck, silently stepping aside off the road.
