A Storm Sweeps the City, and the Marquis Emerges from Seclusion
The first snow of Hongguang Forty-Eighth Year came a little earlier than last year.
January 5th. Just two days after the New Year Festival, heavy snow began falling over Lanling City. It was the first snow of the new year.
Snowflakes flew thick and fast, wrapping the entire city in silver and dressing it in white.
Snow covered the glazed tiles atop the city walls. The towers rose high, while snowflakes spun through the wind.
A thick layer of snow had already blanketed the streets. As pedestrians in heavy cotton robes passed by, the snow beneath their feet let out a crisp crunch, crunch.
Inside a restaurant in the Inner City, steam billowed and voices roared.
Smack! The striking block slammed down on the table. A storyteller sat atop a wooden platform in the center of the first-floor hall:
"Several lines in the annals bear names, while Mount Bei Mang holds countless barren graves. Those before us sowed the seeds, and those after us reaped them—nothing more than dragons contending with tigers!"
"Today, I'll tell you all about several recent events in the martial world worthy of being recorded in history!"
The storyteller's voice had barely fallen before the entire hall erupted in applause.
The restaurant's business was so booming, and so many patrons were willing to brave the heavy snow to come here, because a storyteller gave free performances for the restaurant's guests every day.
The stories were also updated regularly. From major court affairs to martial-world legends, they kept closely abreast of current events.
Today happened to be the day for an "update":
"Three months ago, the Red Dust Pavilion Master's personal disciple, Shen Tu Yue, ranked second on the Wind and Cloud Overall Rankings, ended her