The Formation Rises

The next morning, outside Eastern Pavilion Gate of Western Pacification Prefecture City.

Since the establishment of the Southern Desert Governorate, the focus of defense had shifted westward as well. Western Pacification Prefecture City had naturally gone from the front line to the rear, its role as a vital border pass gradually transforming into that of a transportation hub.

Before dawn had fully broken, long lines of carts laden with all manner of goods were already waiting to enter the city.

Squads of fully armed soldiers filed out from among them, beginning to maintain order at the scene.

Merchants and clerks dressed in every fashion hurried back and forth, issuing instructions and preparing to enter the city.

Compared to the first two groups, the saber-carrying caravan guards appeared far more idle. Once they had entered the bounds of Western Pacification Prefecture City, their work was naturally over, so they gathered in twos and threes to chat and shoot the breeze.

"Fucking rotten luck. I finally made a trip to the Western Frontier, only to run into a curfew."

"What's so rotten about that? Once the curfew's in place, we'll probably be stuck in the city for two or three days. Isn't that the perfect chance for the brothers to find some fun? It's been over a month since we've had any meat."

"You dumb melon! Use your brain and think about why there's a curfew! The fighting must've started up west of here! With the shopkeeper's temperament, he'll definitely be looking to seek wealth amid danger. If our luck's bad, we'll probably be in deep trouble."

"Huh?"

"."

"."

Listening to the conversations of the ordinary martial disciples around them, Si Zijing glanced at the ponytailed woman in casual clothes beside him, then suddenly let out an amused "ah" and said,