Black Wind Mountain was located in Lizhou, north of the Liao Kingdom.
The mountain was treacherous, with towering ridges, steep cliffs, and ravines so deep they seemed bottomless. Ten years ago, hunters and herb gatherers still roamed its slopes, but in recent years, it had become all but deserted.
The villages within the mountains either vanished without a trace or their inhabitants had moved away entirely, abandoning Black Wind Mountain.
Even the outlying towns and villages were largely abandoned. For miles around Black Wind Mountain, not even the cry of a rooster could be heard, only rows upon rows of burial mounds.
A skeletally thin Daoist ambled along a dirt road overgrown with withered grass. He rode a fine steed with a glossy coat, a Long Banner resting on his shoulder.
Nine sheep trotted clumsily behind him. They were plump, with lightly curled wool, and looked quite charming.
