The cold wind was like a knife, the chill pierced the bones, and the sky was filled with swirling, drifting snow, enshrouding the world in a vast expanse of white.
This winter, however, was much colder than in previous years. Among the common folk, there were rumors that after the chaos caused by the Locust Demon, the heavens and earth sought to cleanse the foul air and give the mountains and rivers of the new dynasty a clear visage.
In such weather, even if the people wanted to earn merit points, they couldn't move; they could only stay cooped up at home, which also allowed them to recuperate and rest.
For a time, smoke rose from the chimneys of villages across Central State, pigs were slaughtered and sheep butchered, as they prepared for a peaceful New Year.
