Jiannan Circuit

The morning fog was thick.

It rose from between the mountain valleys, swallowing the rolling green peaks whole.

Only a few hazy dark-blue outlines remained, like ink blots spreading across rice paper.

The rains of the past few days had long since washed the official road beyond recognition.

Three riders made their way along the road at a slow pace.

Hooves sank into the mud, splashing water with dull, heavy sounds.

All three wore black garments and wolf-fur cloaks, blades hanging at their waists. Clearly, they were no ordinary commoners.

After traveling on in silence for a while, a three-way fork appeared ahead on the road.

Just then.

A crisp clatter of hooves drifted unhurriedly from the fork to their right.

The young man in front frowned. The two behind him stopped at once, and their previously relaxed expressions instantly turned grave.

Clang.

As if by prior agreement, all three placed their hands on the hilts at their waists.

The fog churned.

A figure slowly emerged from within it.

As the figure drew near and they saw who it was, the three men's taut nerves did not relax in the slightest.

The newcomer was also riding a black horse, though the horse looked entirely ordinary, with none of the bearing of a fine steed.

Seated upon it was a young girl.

She wore the most ordinary black clothes, her long hair casually tied behind her head with a strip of cloth. Though she wore no makeup, her face was almost excessively beautiful.

For such a breathtakingly beautiful girl to suddenly appear on an official road in this desolate wilderness was rather strange.

"..."

The three had no intention of speaking, and neither did the girl.

She merely cast them a sidelong glance, then lightly nudged her horse's flank. The black