Tianjin's inner city.
The two crossed the bustling Secondhand Clothing Street and headed straight for the noisy Execution Grounds.
Qin Geng sat on the back of the cart, his gaze sweeping over the townspeople along the street, who craned their necks and wore all manner of expressions.
Today was a momentous day. Foreigners were to be beheaded at the Execution Grounds. The news had grown wings and flown through every street and alley in Tianjin long ago, yet he had only just heard.
Lu Xingmin sat sideways, rolling two walnuts in his hand as he spoke to Qin Geng.
"Xiao Wu, once this happens today, we'll have torn up all pretenses with the foreigners."
Lu Xingmin spoke quietly, but the cold wind lent his words a grim edge. "The court used to be weak, always bowing and scraping to the foreigners. Even when they killed people or set fires, it usually ended with compensation or some scapegoat taking the blame. This time is different. This is a lawful execution, and blood will be spilled."
Qin Geng nodded, his expression calm. "Yes. The Dragon Vein is at stake, after all."
"Exactly."
A sharp glint flashed through Lu Xingmin's eyes, and he lowered his voice. "The Dragon Vein is the root of this land. The foreigners saw that and wanted to sever Great Xin's national fortune. If they succeeded and the Dragon Vein broke, the cultivation paths of all our Hundred Trades—Martial Artists, Way Cultivators, even Paper Effigy Makers like me—would be cut off."
"This crossed the line."
"Rotten as the court is, muddleheaded as the two sovereigns are, they still understand what their survival rests on. So the word from above is firm this time: kill!"
Lu Xingmin paused, then smiled. "This also gives me a chance to tell you about