In the overcast Shu State City, nightfall came a little earlier than usual.
The sky had already grown dim, though it wasn't yet seven o'clock.
Along both sides of Kangning Street, shops began to light up lanterns, one by one, casting a warm, pearly-white glow.
Some lanterns were plain and white, while others bore characters like "Medicine," "Books," or "Cloth."
In any case, they lit the way for the passing pedestrians.
Chen Yi held an Oil Paper Umbrella, walking unhurriedly along the side of the bluestone road to avoid blocking any passing carriages.
A fine, continuous drizzle tapped against the surface of the umbrella, making a series of faint, pattering sounds.
It mixed with the chirping of cicadas, the rumble of passing carriage wheels, and the sounds of laughter and arguments from the pedestrians all around.
It was noisy, but it was the lively clamor of the mortal world.
