It was just past noon.

Hanan was always crowded, but today, it felt especially packed. The inns were full to bursting, with people dragging in extra chairs to make any sort of seating possible. Even the attendants were busier than usual.

“Another bamboo leaf tea here!” “Yes! Coming right up!”

The clamor of voices filled the air, only heightened by the larger-than-normal crowd. Despite the congestion, there was something unusual: a clear path had been made amidst the throng.

It felt like even more people had gathered because of this pathway, likely intended for people or carriages to pass through. …