On New Year's Eve, Lishan City was ablaze with lights.
Lanterns hung before the doors of every household, dispelling the winter night's chill. The air was filled with the faint smell of saltpeter from spent firecrackers, mingling with the aromas of New Year's Eve dinners wafting from every home. Together, they created a rich, festive atmosphere.
Deep within the Wang Mansion, in an elegantly furnished hall where a brazier burned brightly.
The Wang Family's Patriarch, Wang Zhengyang, was dressed in casual brocade robes. A relaxed smile graced his scholarly face as he sat around the brazier with his son and daughter, who had recently returned home from the Qingxuan Sect.
His eldest son, Wang Miao, had a tall, straight posture and a handsome face. His gentle eyes held a deep-seated composure.
