August 23rd, 1454, of the Imperial Calendar. The day seemed entirely ordinary. The south remained scorching hot, and the merchants who traveled between north and south year-round seemed to have grown accustomed to such weather. Letting the blazing sun beat down on their faces, they leaned against the carts pulled by Turtle Shell Beasts, squinting as if they were rather enjoying the sunlight. The carts hauled enormous insulated chests filled with all sorts of seafood.
These merchants toiled day in and day out. Though the work was exhausting, the profits were quite substantial. Crabs from the southern Sea Domain, for instance, could sell for several times their original price once transported to the Imperial Capital. For people like them, the life of the nobility—reaping rewards with almost no effort—was something they dared not even dream of.
"Uncle Wang, you all never have a moment to rest, always on the road year-round. Aren't you tired?"
