Mountain Sea Realm, Nanli Kingdom.
Along a rugged mountain path, a large black donkey carried a scholar and two chests of luggage as it trudged onward.
The scholar wore a blue robe and looked to be in his early twenties. Though his features were ordinary, his eyes were bright and lively, carrying the refined air unique to men of letters. A longsword hung at his waist.
At sunset, the scholar riding the gray donkey finally emerged from the mountains and turned onto a flat, open official road.
His destination was Qing'an County Town ahead.
The scholar was fortunate enough to enter the city before its gates closed.
Qing'an County lay in the southwest of Nanli Kingdom. The county town had a population of tens of thousands, and its land and water transport were not particularly developed, so it could not be called prosperous. Yet it was far from the ravages of war and was therefore relatively peaceful and tranquil.
As evening deepened, the blue-robed scholar found an inn and took lodging there.
The innkeeper was exceedingly hospitable and personally came out to receive him. "May I ask your honored surname, sir? And how many nights will you be staying at my humble inn?"
The scholar handed the black donkey's reins to an inn servant to care for it, then smiled. "My surname is Wang. I have come to this fine place to make a living, so I hope the proprietor will look after me."
After a pause, he added, "I'll stay for three nights first."
"So it is Mister Wang."
The innkeeper said solemnly, "I would not dare speak of looking after you. My inn happens to have an empty superior room. Would you care to stay there first?"
Nanli Kingdom had always valued both civil and martial pursuits, and