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It was not yet dawn.
The faint purple night sky was sprinkled with goose-feather-like heavy snow, adding a stark white background to the desolate world.
In front of the Meridian Gate.
Officials of the Capital City above Proper Fifth Rank braved the cold, all standing respectfully, occasionally breathing out warm mists of air. They conversed, with words like "taking office," "retirement," "blood column," "Tiger Hunter," and "not yet full" emerging amid the snowstorm from time to time.
As the year drew to a close and a big recess approached without disasters or troubles, there should have been nothing important to report in the Capital City. The discussions mainly revolved around the new year's appointments and assignments from the Ministry of Personnel. However, the conversation invariably returned to last night's blood column phenomenon.
A blood column one hundred and twenty zhang high had shot up into the sky.
