Roadblocking Baleful Intent

Shen Hui and Lu Huan traveled east along the official road.

The road was not particularly wide, its surface packed yellow earth hardened over the years by the feet of travelers and the wheels of carts.

Passersby occasionally went by them.

There were peddlers carrying shoulder poles, old men leading donkeys, and women with bamboo baskets on their arms.

Everyone went their own way. Even when they brushed past one another, they did not exchange a word.

Lu Huan walked ahead, light on her feet like a restless sparrow, looking here and there and never willing to stay still.

Shen Hui did not walk quickly, always keeping several paces behind her.

He rather enjoyed this time.

Distant mountains lay dark as painted brows, clouds drifted overhead, and the only sound by his ears was the wind.

There was no demonic aura or stench of blood, nor were there those human tragedies weighing upon his heart.

There was only a road, a child, and a stretch of peace that seemed as though it would never end.

After noon, the sun gradually slanted westward, and there were far fewer travelers on the road.

Just then, Shen Hui heard a sound.

At first it was very distant, as though it had wound its way out from behind a mountain hollow.

He listened closely. It was the sound of a suona, intermittent and not particularly well played, yet shrill and vigorous.

Along with the suona came an exceedingly loud clang-clang.

After they walked a little farther, the sounds grew clearer, and a procession appeared at the far end of the road.

Calling it a procession was a stretch. There were only five or six people in all.

At the very front were two sedan bearers in somewhat worn short jackets.

One before and one