At dawn, three sturdy steeds galloped down a broad, deserted official road. Hooves flew, whips cracked through the air, and fine sand and gravel spiraled up behind them, like speed and passion from another world.
The three riders were two men and a woman. They had clearly ridden through the night at full speed, yet there was little fatigue or weathered hardship on their faces. Instead, they were brimming with vigor, high spirits, and life.
"My lord, Xiangzhou is still half a day away. Why don't we rest first? We may be fine, but these three fine horses need a break."
As he lashed his horse's rump and urged it faster, a burly middle-aged man in a yellow brocade robe rose and fell with the horse's motion. His bright eyes remained fixed on the young man ahead as he spoke.
"Whoa! Fine, we'll do as you say. My stomach is empty too. Let's have some dry rations to tide us over, then once we reach Xiangzhou, we can properly treat ourselves."
The young man who replied wore a plain-colored martial outfit. He was spirited and striking, his resolute face filled with masculine valor and dominance.
His deep eyes in particular resembled sharpened blades, as though they could sever the demons lurking within a man's heart.
As for the final woman, she too wore a martial outfit. Her features were exquisite, her beauty peerless, while her clothing outlined a devilishly alluring figure that made mouths water. She was an exceptionally rare beauty.
These three were none other than the Divine Constable Gate trio hurrying from Dingzhou to Xiangzhou: Xiang Yang, Nan Fenglan, and Huang Shaoxiong.
When Xiang Yang and Nan Fenglan had left Lingya Mountain that day, Bai Miaoqin at the mountain's foot had remained unaware. The two then hurried all