Yuan Peninsula, Part II

“Come. We should find an inn,” Mei Ling said.

Wu Jian nodded. “You’re right.”

While many of the buildings lay in ruins, there were some that stood tall. It looked like they had been remade from the ground up. He could also see some people hard at work, their bronzed backs sweating under the blazing sun, as they lugged wooden beams and stone blocks to various construction zones. It seemed that even with the hardships they faced, the people who made the Yuan Peninsula their home continued to struggle defiantly against their fate.

There were other things he noticed as well, some of which caused him concern. Several groups of people decked in disparate uniforms and carrying weapons walked along the streets. While a few carried the bearing of former military, there were also quite a few who looked like ruffians, their faces lined with arrogance. Quite a few people darted away from these groups when they appeared.

“Mercenaries?” wondered Wu Jian out loud.