Compared to the grandeur and splendor of the Ruen Dynasty's imperial palace, the Northern Qiang’s royal city was less extravagant but carried a deeper, more solemn presence.0

Walking along the stone-paved roads of the royal city, Dang Gui habitually touched the golden hoop on his left ear. Among the Northern Qiang, men customarily wore rings on their ears, while women adorned their wrists. The material, be it gold, silver, iron, or copper, signified their social standing.0

Despite having lived in Northern Qiang for many years, Dang Gui still disliked the sensation of something hanging from his ear.0

As he walked through the royal city at night, he thought that the empty city was so silent that it felt like a vast tomb. The only sound accompanying him was that of his own footsteps. Dang Gui often thought that the royal city was nothing more than an enormous cage, and inside, the primary prisoner was the Northern Qiang King, Yelü Jiejia.0

Occasionally, patrolling guards carrying torches would approach, but they would retreat without question upon seeing Dang Gui display his Qihuang Society token. The King of Northern Qiang put his greatest trust not in his favored ministers or his most decorated generals, but rather...0