Kaiming City was an outer city surrounding the Yanzhou provincial capital. Its scale was considerable; though named a county seat, it was in truth the size of a prefectural city, with seven hundred thousand people living within and without. Especially after the Great Snow Disaster, Liang Prefecture had been grievously stricken, and at least tens of thousands of famine refugees and disaster victims had fled here.
Already densely populated and serving as an auxiliary city beyond the provincial capital, it had been built with considerable grandeur. A vast river, dozens of meters wide, flowed past the city gates and eastward, forming a natural moat. To cross it, one had to tread across the enormous stone bridge built over its surface.
Upon the enormous stone bridge, carts and horses streamed past while pedestrians flowed like weaving threads. Together with the rushing river beneath their feet, it formed a uniquely splendid sight—the most magnificent scene Meng Zhao's party had witnessed in recent days.
By now, Lu Hou'er had more or less completely digested what he had gained at Lishou Mountain. His cultivation had become even more refined, his realm lofty enough that he could be considered a powerhouse standing alone in a region, naturally carrying himself with majesty and bearing.
Yet at Meng Zhao's side, he was exceedingly eager and fawning, his mouth never stopping as he told Meng Zhao of the local customs, strange tales, and amusing anecdotes, interspersed with descriptions of the various factions.
The reason Lu Hou'er was so excited—and so familiar with this place—was simple. Kaiming City was the headquarters of his Pai Gang. Coming here was the same as returning safely home. How could he not be thrilled and happy?
From Lu Hou'er's words, Meng Zhao came to understand some of Kaiming City's hidden intricacies and its