The Xianzhou "Luofu," Sea of Stars Skiffs port.
At some point, the rain-bringing Arbiter of the Grotto-Heaven Department had summoned a shower.
The dock's stifling heat was scattered by the heavy moisture in the air. Many people opened oil-paper umbrellas, while others donned bamboo hats, rolled up their trousers, lowered their heads, and passed through the curtain of rain.
Fine, dense raindrops drifted through the sky like gleaming pearls, softly rolling beneath the heavens or spinning once in midair before falling in a gentle scatter.
"Handsome young sir, you seem to be in quite a hurry. Would you like an umbrella?"
On a trestle bridge, a young woman cradled a stack of paper umbrellas and called out to passersby who had come without one.
Bai Heng, dressed in fitted black clothes with raindrops clinging to his brows and eyes, stopped. He casually opened a red oil-paper umbrella, examined it for a moment, and said,
"I'll take this one."
"Thank you for your patronage. Take care."
Several Credits landed in her palm.
A traveler holding a red umbrella had appeared on the bridge.
Of course, Bai Heng would never admit that he had bought the umbrella because he had lost himself in those repeated calls of "handsome young sir."
After passing through the drizzling central district of the Sea of Stars Skiffs, the surrounding buildings gradually grew denser.
By the time he reached Chang Le Tian, there were pastry shops steaming red date cakes, street-side card parlors, and storytellers speaking in authentic local accents. Not only was the scenery livelier, but so were the crowds.
"No worries, no worries. Lady Diviner has been busy with official duties lately... Pong! Why not take advantage of this free time to play a few rounds in Chang Le Tian... Huh, my turn? Kong!"
A