A faint red glow shimmered over Spring Breeze, like a door to the underworld cracked open just enough to spill out blood-tinged light. In the chill of winter, a damp fog rose steadily, mingling with that eerie crimson hue and cloaking the entire ward.0

“Don’t go out. We have enough supplies down here to last us a while.”0

In an underground cellar, Fang Jianlong and the young woman in green sat facing each other in the darkness. Aside from a cleverly designed peephole that looked out at the world above, they were completely cut off from the outside.0

“My surname is Zhu, Zhu Qiao’er.”0

“Fang Jianlong.”0

Zhu Qiao’er sighed softly. “You came at such a bad time, Young Master Fang…”0

“What exactly happened here?” Fang Jianlong touched a letter he was carrying, still hoping to complete the task Li Yuan had given him.0

Zhu Qiao’er propped her chin on her hands, looking troubled. “The uprising of the undying husks, naturally. My father posted me behind the lines, thinking the turmoil wouldn’t spread to a little place like Spring Breeze, but…turns out he was wrong.”0

Fang Jianlong hesitated. “I’m sorry about earlier, my subordinate who attacked you…”0

“It’s not your fault. He was just under the influence of something beyond his control,” she said.0

He gave a self-deprecating...0