Farewell to the Sword Maiden Outside Yujing City, the Sick-Faced Man in the Fragrant Osmanthus Carriage

"Clatter, clatter..."

The carriage wheels rolled leisurely over stone slabs bleached gray by years of rain, singing a wooden ballad rich with rhythm.

The golden osmanthus trees lining both sides of the road looked even more radiant beneath the crimson-gold, scale-like light cast by the morning sun. Swaying their waists in the breeze, their fragrance drifted for ten miles.

The bronze-colored fragrant osmanthus carriage, clearly costly to hire, entered through the main city gate bearing the ancient plaque of "Yujing City," yet not a single person in the long queue that had waited all night so much as glanced its way.

Only the old captain of the city guards, squatting without a shred of dignity in a golden osmanthus tree by the gate, a piece of braised beef in one hand and osmanthus brew in the other, his mouth greasy and cheeks flushed red, stopped chewing in surprise. He rubbed at his gleaming dark circles and cast a sidelong glance.

"Another big shot..."

"A descendant of the Void Clan?"

He leaped down from the golden osmanthus tree and pointed at the bronze carriage about to vanish into the distance, intending to call it back for registration.

Yujing City had its rules. Even the Heavenly King himself had to obey them—who cared whether you were a Void Clan descendant or a descendant of a living demi-saint? Stroking his beard, the old captain jumped to the gate and slapped the headgear clean off a listless squad member. "All of you, get your spirits up!"

"Have you already forgotten the Sky City disaster in the Eastern Region a month ago? Those birdmen might come knocking today!"

"These are troubled times. I'm warning you—don't let every fly and rat into the city. If something happens, you won't be able to bear the responsibility!"

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