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[b]Trade Road[/b][/center]


The colors of autumn draped around Daokai like an orange magenta robe. The skies were peaceful today, but charcoal clouds were looming from the western coast. Military Officer Peng Do and Zhu Li were traveling on horseback down the main trade road connecting the City of Virtue to the City of Udai. For the past several days they've been gathering info about The Pale Hunter, coordinating with Prime Minister Guan Zen about the recruitment of heroes tasked for the job. Peng had expressed his reluctance about the idea of enlisting citizens. He understood the propaganda behind the move, and though these people were capable fighters, he felt more comfortable having obedient officers that would follow his every command. The grizzly old veteran even suggested recruiting within the Iron Schools academy, but Prime Minister Guan Zen wouldn't budge. 

"The Emperor demands it so." Guan simply stated. Such was the way in Daokai. Further grievance on Peng's end would only aggravate the Emperor. Nothing good ever comes of that. 

At the very least, he had Zhu Li by his side. She had served with him during the campaigns against the Dragon Fang Liberation Army. Logical and fearless, the battle hardened easterner was loyal to him like a loving daughter, one that would kill for him without hesitation. He will need her loyalty for the coming days.    

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[b]North Central:[/b] [i]Shami's Stop[/i][/center]

Between the expansive greenery and farmlands of rural Udai stands a lonesome trade station. The dying sun casts the golden rooftop decor ablaze, shining like a beacon for wayward travelers. The giant ornate blade mounted just below the highest rooftop belongs to Ra Daiyan, the legendary warrior of Udai who slayed a thousand bandits. While the legendary weapon is a nice tourist attraction, it also serves as a warning for any would-be thieves looking to cause trouble. There might not be official security on duty, but anyone looking to start a raucous with Old Man Oba Shami would have to deal with his adoring patrons, who've made the tavern section of the station their second home. The facility itself was about as large as one of the Five Fortresses surrounding the City of Virtue. The 1st floor was like a small market, full of local vendors pedaling food and wares of all sorts. The second floor acts as an inn with four private suites and two main community rooms that could fit as many as twenty people, while the third floor is Oba Shami's personal living quarters. 

Yuo Zhang slowly opened his eyes. The sky was dark and his body was aching. He tried lifting his head, but when he did, it felt as if all of Daokai collapsed onto his skull. He rested back onto his pillow of mud and cursed at the stars. Yuo had arrived at Shami's Stop a day earlier than expected. Per instructions given to some Military Officer named Peng, he was to wait for his arrival at the trade station with the others. His calligraphy was crude, a stark contrast to the delicate strokes of Prime Minister Guan Zen who cosigned the message. Yuo believed a person's writing hand told a lot about a person, and so far, he wasn't too impressed with Officer Peng. After hours of chitchat with the locals he found his way to the tavern, as if magnetically pulled towards the inevitable debauchery that would leave him laid out by the horses. 

"There he is." Yuo heard the quiet whisper, but only groaned in response. Foot steps approaching. Boots can be heard sludging through the mud. 

"Here...I...am..." Yuo managed to utter, eyes now shut tightly as he tried to stop the world from spinning. A pair of hands carried him upright, then pinned him firmly against the wall. "No... lay me back down. The mud is better." The hands were now groping for his pockets. Yuo laughed, mentioning that he was ticklish. When the hands found nothing of value, a cold blade pressed up against his throat. 

"You better have some money or Old Man Oba is gonna be cleaning up your dead body with the horse shit!" Yuo didn't want to open his eyes. Not because he was scared, but dulling pain boring into his skull wasn't letting up. He sensed there was at least four people; two holding him up against the wall, with two others in the background - most likely the lookout. Yuo smiled as he felt the warmth against the cobblestone wall of Shami's Stop. Despite the knife to his throat, it turned out to be a much better resting spot than the ground. 

"Hey!" Another voice yelled. His breath made Yuo gag. "We saw you earlier today, going around buying things in market. We know you got money, so spit it up!"

He eventually spat something up, but unfortunately for the thieves, it was not money. Yuo vomited all over the two men that held him down. The blade left his throat as they staggered back in disgust. They could've killed him right then and there, but the primal urge to beat him up took over. Those were expensive clothes they had on. Stolen, but expensive nonetheless. Yuo was thrown to the ground like a rag doll as the four men began raining down kicks and punches. All he could think about was how warm the cobblestone wall felt.