As night fell like a vast sheet of black silk, slowly draping itself over heaven and earth, Luoyang City lay beneath it like a great imperial seal pressed upon the land.
When the third watch drum sounded at the hour of Xu, the distant walls of blue brick, four zhang and seven chi high, had swallowed the last rays of sunset. Between the battlements, lanterns bobbed in the hands of impatient night guards.
Inside the city, lights spread from the gate towers through the streets and alleys, like spilled gold dust flowing through the seventy-two wards. The most brilliant lights belonged to Prince Fu's residence in the city center. It loomed in the darkness like a crouching behemoth, and anyone with good eyes could make out the cold moon reflected in the glazed chiwen beasts perched on its towering roof ridges.
The Luo River flowed through the city from the southwest, winding quietly around it. Beneath the arch of the Rainbow Bridge, its surface reflected as many lights as the riverbanks on either side, shimmering beautifully.
But neither Linghu Chong nor Lu Dayou had any mind to admire Luoyang's breathtaking nightscape.
They had just returned from their "business" in Hengshan, and now they were merely making do for a night at an inn by the Luo River, planning to set off for Mount Hua early the next morning.
"Wonderful!"
"I can finally get some proper rest!"
As he spoke, Lu Dayou set down his things, then flopped straight onto the rather spacious bed.
This was the last first-class room left at the inn. Besides, it was already late at night, and neither of them could be bothered to look for another place, so they decided to make do. It was far better than spending the night outdoors, exposed to the