All was silent. Wisps of light appeared on the eastern horizon, and the sky turned fish-belly white.
Everything around them resembled a pale ink-wash painting, filled with the pleasant fragrance of fresh grass.
On the mountain road, an ox cart slowly made its way toward a fork at the foot of the mountain.
Black canvas concealed the inside of the cart, leaving only the driver in view.
He wore blue robes and a pair of black satin Free-and-Easy Shoes.
A bamboo hat rested on his head above a fair, clean face.
Li Ping'an took a deep breath of the mountain air, and a refreshing sensation traveled from his nose into his mind.
There were two people inside the carriage.
One was a woman in red resting with her eyes closed-Yun Shu, the Shushan disciple.
Opposite her was a petite girl blinking her large, watery eyes.
With her arms folded and her cheeks puffed out, she watched Yun Shu somewhat warily.
Beside her was a small animal.
It looked very much like a honey badger.
The little girl stared at the animal curiously and could not resist reaching out to stroke it.
Such soft, silky fur~
Poke, poke, poke. How fun.
Suddenly, Run Tu opened his eyes and looked up at the little girl with a brooding gaze.
The little girl blinked and grinned. "Hello~"
"Hello," Run Tu said.
The girl: ...
Σ(⊙▽⊙"
It... it talked!? How could it talk?
The girl jumped in fright.
Run Tu gave a lazy yawn. "How ignorant."
The Great Sui border lay just ahead.
Wind and snow lashed at them, and a squad of elite cavalry appeared ahead.
The cavalry spotted Li Ping'an's group and immediately galloped toward them.
At the head of the charge was a black horse, its entire body
without a single