The Sword Edge Marquis's estate stood near the center of the southern district of Heaven Dou City, in a prime location. After all, aside from the royal family and the truly top-ranking nobles, the Sword Edge Marquis already held a position of considerable stature.
Unlike other districts, the southern district was patrolled by imperial troops at night, and the Sword Edge Marquis's estate was guarded by his own personal troops.
"Brother Li, how about we find a couple of guys to cover our shifts later, then head to Spring Snow Tower in the northern district and have some fun? I heard Wang Wu and the others say yesterday that Spring Snow Tower got a new batch of girls. Not a single one of them has a flaw."
Outside the Sword Edge Marquis's estate, a soldier clad in fine iron armor and holding a spear spoke quietly to the soldier on the other side of the gate.
"Want to get yourself killed? Don't drag me into it. We're guarding the lord's gate right now. If anything happens because we abandoned our post, nine heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it."
The other soldier was clearly more dutiful. He rejected the temptation outright.
Just then, a drop of liquid fell from the sky and struck his helmet with a thunk.
"Hm? Is it raining? Damn, what rotten luck. It rains when we're on duty, and now, forget going to Spring Snow Tower tomorrow—we'll be lucky if we don't get sick."
Seeing the raindrops, each as large as beans, on the ground, the soldier was at a loss for words. He was just about to back under the eaves to shelter from the rain when his gaze froze on the road in the distance.
In the middle of the road, a blank