Meanwhile, a thousand li south of Shu State Prefecture City, deep within a dense forest.
A clearing a hundred zhang wide had been carved out of the woods. Some trees were cut down to stumps, others were uprooted completely, and the ground had been leveled.
The area was illuminated by surrounding bonfires.
Within the clearing, dozens of temporary wooden huts stood in neat rows.
Hanging on the outer wooden fence were the red banners of the Xiao Family and wolf-head carvings of the Wumeng Mountain Race.
Several of the Xiao Family's Personal Guard, clad in black armor, were patrolling the perimeter.
It was late at night, but Xiao Jinghong was not resting.
She was at her desk handling official business, her eyes beneath the half-armor mask as calm as still water. The wolf hair brush in her hand would either circle a passage or jot down a few words.
She worked quickly.
