Although no one said it aloud when they met, everyone knew full well that the Great Xia Ancient Dynasty had not gone to such lengths to uproot the entire Central Province and break through the boundary merely to settle somewhere else and continue developing in peace.
They brimmed with ambition, intent on unifying the Human World.
Yet such boldness and ambition were a tremendous blessing for the ordinary mortals of this land.
Yun Qing drained the last mouthful of tea from his cup, set the empty cup beside the threshold, stood up, and stretched.
"We'll see. There's plenty of time yet."
Half a month passed like this.
Business at the shop was pitifully slow. Most customers came to buy little things like needles, thread, or rough paper, left a few copper coins, and departed. Some came in to leaf through the old books, then put them down without even asking the price.
Yun Qing was in no hurry. Every day, he sat behind the counter working his abacus, dried medicinal herbs, and repaired old books. Occasionally, he brewed a pot of coarse tea and leisurely watched the sun rise and set over the street, and the people come and go.
A mortal's days were as plain as the tea in his cup. Steeped too long, it grew bitter, but savored carefully, it held a hint of lingering sweetness.
Only, Yun Qing tilted his head back to look at the sky, sighed softly, then lowered his gaze to the little beggar by the door.
When he opened the shop the morning before last, he had spotted a dark shape curled up in the corner by the wall. Ragged clothes, a body covered in mud and grime, curled tightly into itself like an abandoned, sickly cat.
Yun Qing swept a glance over