Mingzhou's borderlands were vast. Zhou Huai'an's route led northwest out of Mingzhou, through the desert, and then into Songzhou.
This route had been tested by passing merchant caravans and was relatively safe. Moreover, should they encounter pursuers while crossing the desert, they could, if left with no other choice, slip into the sands and shake them off.
About thirty li from Mingzhou's border checkpoint, beside the road every merchant caravan had to take, stood an inn amid the yellow sands.
The inn had been built with extreme simplicity, without the slightest architectural refinement, much less carved railings, jade-like halls, or tiered pavilions.
It was merely a wooden inn with two floors, looking thoroughly dilapidated. Even the banner bearing the character for wine on the flagpole outside had been torn into strips by the yellow winds of the desert, winds sharp enough to crack one's face.
Yet this shabby inn exuded an air of ruggedness, boldness, and savagery from within and without.
Rumor had it that passing merchants all enjoyed stopping here to rest.
"I never thought my Welcoming Guest Inn was some luxurious establishment."
"But now, I think the inn before us is at least nine streets worse than my Welcoming Guest Inn!"
Tang Yuanlou could barely open his eyes against the blowing sand. He was covered in dust, and his woven bamboo hat bore a layer of sand a finger thick.
He looked exceptionally bedraggled, entirely unlike the neatly dressed Boss Tang of Mingzhou City.
Yet Tang Yuanlou's heart raced, his excitement impossible to conceal.
How long had it been? Even he could not remember. Today, he was finally carrying out an assignment in the field and no longer had to stay cooped up in Mingzhou City every day.
Especially since this mission involved fighting the infamous Eastern Depot