The summer in Tong'an City arrived earlier than in Fire Knife Village. Before May had even fully kicked in, standing beneath the blazing sun during the day would douse one with steamy heat, only for the night breezes to gradually ease that smothering oppression.
Two red lanterns hung in front of the entrance to Dong'an Inn, fluttering and clattering in the wind, their flames flickering and swaying. Before curfew, the city still saw pedestrians, and not far down the street, a dessert stall with a hanging lantern stretched shadows long and skewed.
