Shouts of battle shattered the mist before dawn as the flying-fish robes of the Xuan'an Bureau and the night-gear of the Yingdun Alliance flooded over the vermilion walls of the sacred altar.
As Constable Gu Qinghuan’s Xiuchun Saber pried loose the final tripwire, her wooden hairpin snapped with a faint crack—it was one Pi Yanlin had whittled for her in the service quarters just last month, claiming it was lighter than a bronze pin and better suited to her swift, saber-swinging style.
"Constable Gu! Chiyan is in the side hall of the main temple!" came the reminder from a young constable behind her, punctuated by the sharp crackle of sparks.
Chapter 94