Ning Province, the Yamen of the Xuanyin Department.
The high gates and big courtyard are guarded strictly, with every brick and tile black as ink. From a distance, it looks like a dark and demonic cave, which justifies the Xuanyin Department's other name - the Black Clothes Yamen.
Inside the grand building, a three-meter-long painting of a ferocious tiger descending the hill is situated right in the middle of the north wall. It appears vivid and menacing, much like a tiger roaring in the woods naturally.
If forest beasts could perceive it, they would still respect its imposing aura.
The painting was done by Zhu Bangchun, the retired Emperor of Wu Zhou, when he was still in power. At that time, the Xuanyin Department rose to power. Wherever their blades went, heads rolled. The power of the Xuanyin Department was so overwhelming that even the Imperial Sect had to retreat three times. Zhu Bangchun once praised it as the "Claws and Fangs of the Emperor."
