"The Flowing Fire Festival takes place over seven days in mid-July, during which the entire Jielou City will hold a grand parade with seven stages: the lighting of incense, calling upon the gods, circumambulating the city, the startle dance, offering of voices, sending off the departed, and the return of the troops..." The travel agency guide was introducing the schedule to the tourists, and Hexia also listened to part of it.
Afterward, she left the tour groups, exited the station on her own, and walked into the vast steel jungle.
Many of the high-rise buildings along the road had been abandoned, but the first to the third floors were still being used, and a good number of shops were open for business. The neon lights in their signs, changing and flickering, were especially eye-catching and vibrant against the surrounding grey concrete and steel.
