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The sky over Sound Curtain City was dark and oppressive, with gathering clouds casting a somber filter over the metropolis. It was about to rain. The crowded city center began to split as people diverted to shopping malls and underground pathways, unwilling to stay outside even if they carried umbrellas. The sudden summer rains came and went quickly, often bringing no relief, just another layer of steamy heat.
Gongsun Ce walked silently through the crowd with Qiluo's shoulder in his arm. Most of the surrounding faces were lighthearted, making the two outsiders appear out of place. A few high school students who had just finished class were not far away, loudly discussing pop music with the brashness of youth.
