Canghe County City.
The heavy snow reached ankle-deep, the air pierced by bone-chilling cold.
There were very few people left on the streets, almost none in sight—not solely because of the cold, but due to the turmoil in the county city, with everyone fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.
Shouts and cries of killing echoed everywhere, growing louder the closer one got to the central County Magistrate's Office.
The stench of blood permeated the air, adding an even frostier undertone to this icy landscape.
Ordinary residents, in the face of such a looming storm, were no more than a fragile lone boat drifting in a turbulent current. A single misstep could bring disaster crashing down upon them.
The wealthy families within the city were no exception. Except for those influential clans actively participating in this game of power, the rest shut their doors tightly, restraining their family members and servants, dreading that any misstep might invite catastrophe.
