The ninth day of the ninth month, in the first year of Dingxi.
It was late autumn. Luojing was festooned with lanterns and decorations, and cultivators and travelers from all corners of the world could be seen everywhere.
Cloud-Bearing Lane, near the Wanan County yamen.
The old house, passed down since the founding of the nation, had been newly renovated. A plaque reading "Xie Residence" hung above its entrance.
Early that morning, urgent knocking rang out from deep within the residence:
Knock, knock, knock-
"Lord Xie? Old Xie?-"
Knock, knock, knock-
Inside the bedroom, Xie Wen lay fast asleep. Only after a long while did he wake groggily. Looking around the bedroom he had lived in for half his life, he still felt as though a lifetime had passed. He sat up, surveyed the familiar furniture and ornaments, then called, "Little Deng?"
When father and son had lived here, Xie Jinhuan had been rather driven, rising before dawn to study all the arts essential to a male model. Hearing a sound, Coal Ball would come knocking.
Tap, tap, tap, tap-
But there was clearly no sound from Coal Ball outside today. After all, Xie Wen had long since stopped being Wanan's county commandant.
Xie Wen collected himself for a moment before answering, "I'm awake, I'm awake. What are you wailing like someone died for, this early-"
He threw on a robe and rose to open the door.
Da Biaozi, tall and burly as a city wall, appeared in the doorway and slapped his hands together. "Oh, finally, you're awake! Didn't we agree to meet at the yamen this morning? Why are you still sleeping here?"
"Huh?"
Xie Wen looked blank and rubbed his head. "I'm not the county commandant anymore. What are we meeting at the yamen for?"
Yang Dabiao