Three days later, Tsushima Prefecture welcomed a special group of guests.
"Has this place really changed hands already?" Tsi Hong looked around in astonishment from atop her horse. Even though they had confirmed it repeatedly beforehand through the Sound Transmission Device, she still found it hard to believe.
After a war, a city would often be left devastated, its people too afraid to venture outside for fear that disaster might fall from the sky. Desolation and oppression were usually the dominant notes after a battle. Yet here, Tsi Hong saw an entirely different sight. Not only were there residents on the streets, most of them were smiling as though celebrating a festival—the whole city had not merely escaped the effects of war, but seemed even more vibrant than anywhere else.
"Shouldn't we have grown used to things that defy common sense by now?" Wuyue Yao showed a rare hint of a smile. Since taking over the queen's duties, the pressure on her had grown by the day. Tsi Qing's capture had kept her awake night after night, and only the news of someone escaping from Bumi Prefecture had rekindled her hope. It had been a long time since she had experienced a moment when she could loosen the string in her heart, even slightly.
"Lady Wuyue, let's hurry," Tsi Hong said impatiently, flicking her riding whip. "Tsi Qing is still waiting for us to rescue him!"
Wuyue Yao nodded and urged everyone to pick up the pace.
After all, that was her wish as well.
Before long, the Great Miko's party met Xia Fan, Ning Wanjun, and the others in the city lord's pavilion.
This was the first meeting between the two sides in half a year, only this time, the location had changed to Yama Island.
At the sight