As evening fell, dusk deepened. The wind howled, and the air was exceptionally frigid.
By December, heavy snow was rare. Instead, light snow would fall occasionally. This resulted in a dry cold, something seldom seen in the winters of Linji City.
The wide Bailu Avenue was sparsely populated. At the end of the street, tucked into a wind-sheltered corner, a wonton stall was quite lively, with several customers sitting on low stools, eating steaming hot wontons.
A nearby teahouse, in contrast, was quiet and deserted. Only two men were there, wrapped in heavy padded coats and wearing sable fur hats, with Long Sabers at their waists. They huddled in their seats, occasionally sipping hot tea to warm themselves.
Just then, a horse-drawn carriage emerged from a narrow alley near Jishui Lake. It crossed Bailu Avenue and headed northwest.
One of the men tossed a few copper coins on the table, gestured to his companion, and they rose and quickly exited the teahouse.
