Late at night, outside the city.
A fog, of unknown origin, spread, cold and hazy.
The ground was damp and cold.
Without its iron gates, the city entrance loomed like a terrifying abyssal maw, ready to swallow any living thing that passed by.
Two figures, one tall and one short, both draped in straw raincoats and wearing bamboo hats, emerged from the dim white fog.
They gazed at the massive, heavy city walls, which appeared and disappeared in the mist.
The shorter figure, keeping his voice low, said, "The last message from the Hu Brothers was that they entered this county town."
"Let's go in and take a look," the taller figure replied, craning his neck, his voice shrill.
At the city gate, the dozing gatekeeper, seeing them approach, rubbed his eyes and called out, "Who goes there?"
HISS—
Eyes bulging, the gatekeeper looked down in disbelief.
A heart, still beating and struggling, lay in the shorter figure's hand.
"You…"
