~ Earlier that day in the Qianlong Province
The explosion tore through the quiet forest like the roar of a sleeping dragon suddenly awakened. The air quivered, and a wave of splinters, dirt, and startled birds erupted into the fading light. The carriage, once a polished vessel of comfort, now lay half-buried in a shallow ditch, one wheel still spinning aimlessly as smoke coiled from the shattered frame. ~whoooosh~
The frightened horses neighed madly, their reins tangled as they kicked against the earth. A guard, his armor cracked and smeared with blood, struggled to rise beside the wreckage before collapsing again, unmoving.
Li Wuji stood on a rocky ridge not far from the scene, his black robes fluttering in the aftermath of his attack. The malicious grin upon his lips deepened, his eyes reflecting the orange hue of the setting sun.
