A small farmhouse courtyard on West Street, Windrise Stronghold.
The house was low, its walls peeling; one glance was enough to tell that it belonged to a family at the bottom of the Stronghold.
Yet two men dressed as guards stood outside the courtyard gate, both burly and powerfully built.
Inside, a young woman in coarse cloth clothing, her features lovely and dignified, was washing clothes beside the well.
Her hair hung loose, and her pretty face looked rather haggard. Her round, dark eyes seemed somewhat hollow, without any spark.
Beside her, a boy of seven or eight was helping her, fetching water one moment and carrying a basin the next.
Suddenly, a sharp rebuke came from outside. "Halt! The City Guard Battalion is conducting official business. All others, stay back..."
But the words cut off abruptly, followed by the dull sounds of fists striking flesh.
Soon, the sounds stopped.
Then, with a creak, the gate swung open.
A young man with a straight, tall bearing and a handsome, resolute face walked slowly inside.
Behind him followed a man built like an iron tower.
The burly man did not enter. He stayed by the gate and closed it.
The young woman hurried to her feet and shielded the little boy behind her.
"Are you Bai Shuang?"
The young man was Chen Shi'an.
Bai Shuang nodded, staring at Chen Shi'an with fearful, guarded eyes. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Chen Shi'an looked Bai Shuang up and down. "My name is Chen Shi'an."
"Chen Shi'an? You're Chen Shi'an, Deputy Commander of the Demon Hunting Camp?"
Surprise and delight appeared on Bai Shuang's face. Then she dropped to her knees with a thud. "Commander Chen, please hurry and save Hou Fang."
Chen Shi'an strode forward and helped her up.
Tears were