April drew to a close, and the sea wind grew wetter, the weather turning hot. Zuwaro, tanned dark by the sun, stood at the prow and looked out. The vast ocean stretched boundless before him; the long journey had gone out and come back, and familiar sights entered his eyes once more. Not far away, three long rivers came from the east, converging and parting again as they flowed together into the endless Western Sea. And on the fertile land where the long rivers crisscrossed, a low yet prosperous city-state appeared.
"Whew! Praise the Main God! Four thousand li north, then three thousand li back. Seven thousand li by boat there and back, more than three months spent, and the fleet has finally returned to Tecos land and reached Three Rivers City! From here, another thousand li southeast, and we'll be back at the kingdom's coast, at the mouth of the Talsas River. This shocking, endless journey is finally about to be complete!"
Thinking this, Zuwaro was filled with emotion. As a Purepecha priest born in Apa County, in the past twenty-odd years, the largest lake he had known was Lake Ato, just over a hundred li long. The farthest road he had ever traveled had only been the three hundred-plus li from Apa County to the Royal Capital of Tzintzuntzan, to study at Shenwei University.
Yet after he graduated from Shenwei University in the Royal Capital with outstanding marks, a written order came from the Chief Minister, the sage Jatiri. And the order itself came from His Highness's will. In the kingdom's various affairs, young priests who had graduated from Shenwei University would always be given priority for consideration.
"The Main God bears witness! Four thousand li north, scouting intelligence along the way, leaving men behind with familiar tribes,