Birds flitted past the window, their songs drifting in and out of hearing. The sweet scent of flowers carried the breath of the earth, while gentle breezes stirred the hearts of the morning dewdrops.
At dawn, the sky was faintly visible in an icy gray hue. It promised blue skies and white clouds, perfect weather for sleeping in, yet the beds were empty. Zeng Mu and Kanni had both risen early.
Though last night's dance had been warm and unforgettable, it had also left them exhausted. Almost every woman had danced with both of them, making them the last two men to go to bed. Judging by the moon's position, it had been nearly two in the morning. Zhao Xinning, on the other hand, had slipped into the neighboring house to sleep at around nine.
Kanni led his horse quietly toward the end of the alley, his eyelids shadowed with fatigue. Clearly, he had not slept enough. Rubbing the sore back of his neck with his free hand, he grumbled, "Oh, this is miserable. Not enough sleep, and a stiff neck on top of it. At least the weather's good today. If it were raining, the muddy roads would slow the horses enough to add at least an hour to our trip to Sand City."
"Don't talk yet. Wait until we're farther away. We'll be in trouble if they find out," Zeng Mu reminded him quietly.
A minute later, the alley houses had dwindled far behind them. Both men mounted their horses, ready to set off.
Kanni turned toward him and asked, "Nameless, is it really all right for us to sneak away like this? Without even saying goodbye? This is my first time doing something like this. It feels strange."
"It's called leaving without saying goodbye. You have to