Rainfall City of the Great Fall Dynasty was not considered a major city within the dynasty as a whole, but Ni Ya, the city lord who governed it, was one of the younger generation's acknowledged experts. His father, Ni Jie, was also an important figure in the royal capital, a retainer to the two ruling dukes and an official in the temple, permitted to stand beside the altar when sacrifices were offered to Heaven and Earth.
With the son of such a figure stationed here, the people of the city naturally felt at ease and had far fewer misgivings. Even when barbarian tribes or savage beasts occasionally attacked the city, the city lord would lead his own brothers to fend them off.
In this day and age, this city could be called a place where people lived and worked in peace. Many city dwellers even spent their spare time chatting in crude taverns built from a few pieces of wood, telling one another stories.
At such times, those well-traveled youths who had even received priestly education could stand out and become the focus of the entire tavern—
For they could recount a whole story from beginning to end. In this era and world, where supplies were relatively scarce, productivity was low, and even smelting techniques had not fully spread, listening to stories was one of the most important forms of entertainment. For many vigorous men who yearned for the outside world, listening to tales ranked second only to what went on in the bedroom at night.
Today was no exception. A crowd had gathered early in the morning, sitting on the ground around two people and pressing them with questions—
"Did Lord Pan Lang escape danger once again?"
"Did the Sword Saint truly die?"
Questions like these rang out without