Leaving from the north gate of Pingjiang City, the official road heading northwest was already crowded with people before dawn.
The small village nestled at the foot of Gui Mountain was even more lively. The villagers here were well aware that many people would come to pay respects at the mountain today, and with seasoned experience, whether it was soy milk and steamed buns, meat pies and rice porridge, or even roasted sweet potatoes, the place was already bustling with a morning market scene, as the swarming crowds eagerly dug into their purses while anxiously waiting their turn.
Including Shen Hao, all Xuanqing Guard members who had been temporarily dispatched to Pingjiang City had arrived today. They drew a cordon behind the village and set up five patrol points, covering one another in a strategic formation. Shen Hao's Black Banner Battalion held the frontmost position, perfectly placed to overlook the giant stone marking the entrance to the Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute.
