Snowflakes drifted across the nighttime sky.
Kyoto Prefecture felt the onset of winter earlier than in past years; under a sky oppressed by gloomy clouds, even the street lanterns seemed dimmed.
Sparse snowflakes fell, leaving only a blurry glimmer of light.
Despite this, the common folk from the two counties found it difficult to sleep, let alone the nobility residing near the Imperial City.
"The Southern Barbarian army is pressing down; I fear South-Garrison Pass may not hold."
"Master, isn't the leader of the Southern Barbarian Sect the wife of Prince of the Southern Garrison? Why has a war suddenly erupted?"
"We expected the demons outside Beixiong Pass to move south first, but the thunder was loud yet the rain was little—a few Little Demons are even less than this flurry of snow."
"My lady, the conflict with the Southern Barbarians isn't as simple as it appears."
