Baixi City.
It lay in the southern part of Wei Kingdom, a remote town.
Fortunately, it was so far out of the way that the people of Baixi City had been affected far less by this War between Humans and Demons.
Just north of the city stood a private school.
The teacher accepted students regardless of status. Anyone who wanted to send their child to study there needed only to pay one jin of rice or flour each month.
The school had been open for a full fifteen years.
But today was its final lesson.
After saying goodbye to his students, the scholar slowly made his way home.
When he got back,
he swept the courtyard alone, then gathered some clothes and put them in his Storage Bag.
At last, he took the long sword that had been kept in the cabinet, picked up a Bamboo Hat, and walked out of his room.
But just as the scholar closed the door and turned around, a woman in a dark robe stood before him, smiling.
"Well, Senior Brother, long time no see." Shang Jiuli's eyes curved with her smile, just as they had more than ten years ago.
"Mm. It has been a long time." Luo Yang nodded, his tone calm. "How about it? Want to sit in the courtyard for a while?"
"Have you got tea?" Shang Jiuli asked.
"I have wine." Luo Yang patted the Wine Gourd at his waist.
"Never mind, never mind. I won't drink after you, Senior Brother." Shang Jiuli looked a little disgusted.
"Oh, good. I wouldn't want you to drink it anyway. I've spent ages brewing this wine, and I can hardly bear to part with it." Luo Yang hadn't really intended to offer her any; he'd only been polite.
Shang Jiuli wasn't upset.