It was afternoon, the time when the winter sun was most dazzling as it fell on the Inkpaint Mountains, which were a short distance from the county capital. The name of the mountains came from the monochrome landscape. Everything was either black or white. There was no vegetation here, and the only animal life came in the form of a snake called an inkpaint viper. The monochrome mountains, and the boulders that dotted them, really looked like an ink painting.16

Atop a mountain in that ‘ink painting’ sat six people.2

They had split up in a very clear manner. One sat alone up front. One sat in the middle. Four sat in the back. The person sitting up front was the Captain. He looked very pleased with himself as he looked back at Xu Qing, then the four other people further back. Those four were Kong Xianglong, Sir Mountain-River, Wang Chen, and Duskspirit. They seemed to be mostly ignoring the Captain, and were focusing primarily on Xu Qing. All had curious expressions on their faces.1

This was the spot where Xu Qing and Kong Xianglong had agreed to meet. The latter was going to help out with the ‘show’ that Xu Qing and the Captain needed to put on.0

“Alright, everybody ready to get started?” the Captain said coolly.0

Xu Qing nodded.0

The Captain tilted his chin up proudly as he produced two medicinal pill bottles. He gave one to Xu Qing.0

“Each bottle has a single shadeheaven demonmoon tablet in it....4