Descending from One-Leaf Pavilion atop the mountain and following the official road outward, it took but a brief period on horseback before arriving at the teahouse where many events had previously unfolded.
Further ahead, the official road would generally split into two. One led to the heartlands of Jiangnan Road, passing through numerous large cities such as Danyang County and Gusu City, while the other skirted these major cities and bent towards Jian'nan Road, entering Shu County.
Today, the teahouse still stood, yet it was deserted, with only overturned tables and chairs remaining. Anything of minor value that was portable had been taken. As the wind blew through, the curtains once weighed down by old men with stones flapped loudly without cease. It felt as desolate as the Northern Frontier, even though it was located on Jiangnan Road.
It wasn't only the environment and scenery that were desolate, but the hearts of people even more so.
