Zishi, late night
Although Tongling County doesn't enforce a curfew, the streets were mostly empty at this hour, and the shops were gradually closing their doors, making the area quite desolate.
Even the bustling Shengxin Residence, which normally teemed with voices and was a hustle and bustle of incoming and outgoing carriages, was now deserted.
The servant, assigned to the night shift at the entrance, was listlessly yawning when he suddenly noticed three figures approaching from around the corner. He hurriedly summoned up his energy and went to greet them.
However, as the three figures came closer, the servant, recognizing their attire, instantly lost all sense of drowsiness, his nerves taut with alertness.
All three were clad in black robes.
The one leading, an elderly man with half-white hair, had the largest stature and carried a long staff on his back.
The person to his left was robust, like an iron tower, with a four-foot long blade hanging at his waist.
