Chapter 255

Thirty miles outside Baima Ford, on the official highway. The night was as dark as ink, and a long dragon of torches wound and slithered along the muddy official road like a burning giant python. Horse hooves trampled through the standing water, splashing mud that took on a dark red hue in the firelight, resembling spilled blood. Minister of War Yang Ting rode upon a fine steed from the Western Regions, wearing a crimson python robe over his plate armor that caught the torchlight with a blood-like sheen. In his hand, he clutched a freshly delivered military dispatch. The paper was soaked through with sweat, its edges curled and wrinkled, the smudged ink looking as though it had been rubbed repeatedly.