The hour of the Rabbit had just passed. A thin mist still shrouded the South District as Yi Yang changed into his Acting Patrol Commander's uniform, hung the South City Prison Command Token at his waist, and headed south alone.
The southern part of Yunlin County City had never been a bustling place.
The farther he walked, the narrower the streets became and the fewer shops lined them. Past the third alley, even the breakfast stalls vanished, leaving only a few shabby houses with yellowed door-god prints pasted on their doors. Whenever the wind blew, the corners of the paper rustled and fluttered.
Farther on, even the barking of dogs grew scarce. South City Prison stood at the end of a low-lying stretch of land.
Its black stone walls stood twenty feet high, their faces streaked with dark trails left by rain. From a distance, the entire prison resembled an old beast crouched on the ground, eyes closed, yet ready at any moment to open its jaws and swallow a man.
Patrol Guards walked along the wall, but their movements were languid.
One even leaned against a parapet and yawned. Only halfway through his yawn did he notice Yi Yang approaching and slowly straighten up.
No one came to welcome him. No handover party waited.
There was no sign of Zhang Debiao, the prison warden who was about to step down.
Not even a minor clerk was there to relay a message.
Yi Yang stopped before the main gate and looked up at the peeling plaque above it.
South City Prison.
The four characters had been gnawed ragged by wind and rain. They suited the rules of this place well enough.
Only when Yi Yang came within five paces did one of the two Patrol Guards at the gate lift