Holy Era 1464.
More than five hundred years ago.
Holy Light Pure Land, Etiquette Province, Qianxin City.
This city was the provincial capital of Etiquette Province, vast in area, crowded with buildings, prosperous in commerce, and teeming with people.
Along the flat, broad city avenues, commoners streamed back and forth, while enclosed carriages passed in an unbroken flow.
A long-haired young man walked along one side of the street with his head held high and his chest out.
He had long jet-black hair, a tall and upright build, handsome and refined features, and wore a simple, low-key set of plain clothes.
The young man's name was Miusaliqi. Barely past twenty, he was a clerical worker in the provincial church of Etiquette Province.
All of a sudden, a burst of commotion came from behind him.
"Robbery! Robbery! Someone, help me!"
Miusaliqi turned around and saw a young noblewoman shouting frantically from the other side of the street.
At the same time, a masked man clutched a handbag and dashed into a dark alley.
The surrounding crowd had scarcely reacted, merely staring blankly as the thief vanished beyond the alley.
Only Miusaliqi broke into a run without the slightest hesitation, giving chase with all his might.
Tall and long-limbed, he forced the other man into a dead end in just a few strides.
Then, with nowhere left to run, the thief whipped out a dagger and threatened Miusaliqi in a panicked voice:
"Stay back if you don't want to get hurt!"
Miusaliqi calmly tried to soothe him.
"Sir, please calm down. Robbery and assault with a weapon are both crimes. Please think of your future. Follow my instructions now, and you may still receive a lighter sentence afterward."
The thief snarled hoarsely:
"My future? What a joke! I'm already at the end