The Divine Sword Sect's influence stretched across three prefectures and twelve commanderies. Besides the eight commanderies of Jian Prefecture, it included three commanderies in Xuan Prefecture and the lone Taiping Prefecture in Ming Prefecture.
Though it was called Taiping Prefecture, the place was anything but peaceful.
With its many towering mountains and rugged ridges, it had been a land of barren hills and treacherous waters since ancient times. Its people were fierce, and bandits plagued the region.
The Taiping Cult Rebellion more than a thousand years ago had begun in Taiping Prefecture. It ultimately led to the fall of the former Great Yan Dynasty and the rise of the Dachang Dynasty.
After Dachang was established, it adopted a policy of replacing the people to completely sever the Taiping Cult's roots. The remaining population was relocated to various prefectures, while large numbers of outsiders were brought in from neighboring prefectures and commanderies.
As a result, Taiping Prefecture was dotted with martial lineages and sects of every size. On top of that, the Min River separated it from the other commanderies of Ming Prefecture, making travel difficult. With no powerful force able to control the situation, Taiping Prefecture remained unstable.
Only after the Divine Sword Sect's influence began to seep into the region did a genuine balance emerge.
Even so, undercurrents still swirled beneath the surface, and clashes between rival forces were commonplace.
That evening, a fast horse raced toward the city gates of Taiping Prefecture.
"Good thing the gates aren't shut yet. Otherwise, I'd have to sleep outside the city."
Li Gan, astride the horse, breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
After accepting the mission, he had ridden at full speed without stopping for a moment.
Even so, he had spent a full two days and one night on the road.