The banquet could only be described with a single word: chaotic. There was dancing, then singing, then more drinking, and someone would laugh heartily as they handed you a large leg of lamb. The merrymaking continued late into the night, and the people of the Great Desert remained as enthusiastic as ever, showing no signs of stopping. The Grand Elder ordered jar after jar of stockpiled wine to be brought out, as if they were prepared to drink until dawn.
A cool breeze sobered Zheng Xiu up a bit. He noticed that during the feast, couples would hold hands and slip away—the men panting, the women bashful. He wasn't sure if they were just going to the latrine or something else entirely.
Some left and others joined, but the bonfire was always surrounded by a crowd.
The moon climbed high, hiding behind the clouds.
The starlight was dim, but the bonfire burned bright.
"Let's go."
