In Lanyue Garden's inner courtyard, four exquisitely built pavilions burned fiercely. A strong wind whipped the flames into dancing serpents that surged skyward.
Roof tiles and wooden beams collapsed in an unending roar.
Waves of heat poured out.
Though late autumn had arrived, and Lanyue Garden stood where the Yudai River met the Longji River, the sturdy men gathering there were roasted until their bodies burned and sweat streamed down their faces.
But not one of them cared. All looked up in shock, their gazes turning as one toward a single spot.
Atop an artificial hill over twenty feet high, where hot air met cold wind, stood a handsome, heroic young man in blue. His long hair flew, his robes snapped, and the Silver Spear caught the daylight as he looked down on the crowd.
He stood at ease, his expression calm, as though he had climbed up to admire the garden's scenery, only to have the crowd spoil his pleasure.
Most of them stood stunned, astonishment on their faces.
They had come from the outer grounds under their masters' orders to capture the so-called "madman," but they did not recognize Hong Yuan.
Only the wealthy nobles who had fled the inner courtyard, and Guo Zhen, arriving under the protection of armored soldiers, recognized him. Guo Zhen's eyes reddened as cries of alarm and furious shouts rang out.
"That's him!"
"He's the vicious killer!"
"Quick! Surround him! Don't let him escape!"
"Kill him!"
"Whoever captures or kills him will receive ten thousand taels of silver and ten large shops in the county..."
Ming Province was rich beyond compare, and Linjiang Prefecture was a land of fish and rice. River and salt transport flourished there, merchants with vast fortunes were plentiful, and the great families rooted there for dozens of generations—or