A three-way crossroads lay at the border between southern Wudao Prefecture and northern Shang'an Prefecture. For thirty li in any direction, there wasn't a single household—only a lone teahouse at the intersection offered a place for travelers to rest.
The teahouse did decent business, and every day, it was bustling with people both inside and out.
「Noon.」
The early spring sun struggled to pierce the clouds and pour its warmth onto the land, but the thick cloud cover kept its rays weak. A shifting sea breeze caused the temperature to rise and fall unpredictably.
Outside the teahouse, six horsemen suddenly appeared on the yellow dirt road leading down from Wudao Prefecture...
