Outside Chongshan Pass, on the official road.
A carriage came swaying along. It was old and shabby, and even the curtain at the front was covered in dust.
On the carriage, an elder with a head full of white frost, dressed in a dark-blue robe, drove a bony nag at an unhurried pace.
The elder looked at the majestic Chongshan Pass, a bitter smile on his wrinkle-carved face.
"Sigh, the sect master is truly unreliable, actually making an old fellow like me trek ten thousand li to this bitter, cold land!"
"When I get back, I'll definitely make the sect master compensate me with three hundred blood servants, to make up for all the hardship and losses I've suffered these days!"
The elder wobbled onward, muttering nonstop under his breath.
Soon, it was his turn to enter the city. The soldier on duty at the gate glanced at him, then briefly checked his travel permit and let him into the city.
Entering South City of Chongshan Pass was not difficult. As long as one did not look like much of a threat, the soldiers on duty would not ask too many questions. But trying to enter North City was much harder.
Basically, aside from the officials and soldiers of the various yamens, other people found it very difficult to enter North City.
Not long after the elder entered the city, he ran into a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat.
"Kou Rong, patrol of Tian Quan Star Hall, greets Lord East Pavilion!" The middle-aged man came before the elder and cupped his fists in salute.
The elder narrowed his eyes and looked at him with a beaming smile. "You've met me before?"
"This subordinate went to the main hall before and had the fortune to meet Lord East Pavilion once!"