The next morning, the crimson sun rose in the east. Luoyang, this centuries-old imperial capital, basked in its radiant glow.
A new day had begun.
A continuous creaking and droning rang out as the massive city gates slowly opened, welcoming arrivals and seeing off departures. The people who had long been waiting outside the gates began moving forward, preparing to enter the city. Yin Kuang and the others were mixed in among them.
In fact, Yin Kuang and the other six had arrived outside Luoyang around two in the morning. They had intended to slip into the city under cover of darkness, only to find that Luoyang's defenses were far tighter than he had imagined. The walls were tall, and the bluestones used to build them fit together so tightly that there were no gaps at all. After several failed attempts to infiltrate the city, they could only give up.
Affected once again by this Fifth Epoch world, the group—who normally never knew fatigue—was suddenly overcome by exhaustion. With no other choice, they found a place in the wilderness to rest for the night. They also picked up several sets of rough homespun clothes from a village and disguised themselves.
The city gate was guarded with exceptional strictness. Every person entering the city had to undergo a thorough inspection, clearly to prevent spies from slipping inside.
When it was Yin Kuang's group's turn, a minor conflict broke out. Two soldiers who did not know their place wanted to search Qian Qianqian and Murong Yan, but naturally, the two girls refused. Things nearly escalated. Fortunately, Yin Kuang spent some money to avert disaster, and the young officer on duty knew when to back down, allowing them into the city.
Though it was wartime, this centuries-old imperial capital remained prosperous and bustling.