The first light of dawn crept through the narrow crack of a shutter, casting a trembling sliver of pale gold across the muted walls. Li Wei awoke, his limbs stiff from the hard timber beneath him. He sat up slowly from the impromptu cot, its thin wool mattress creaking in protest. The chamber remained still, almost bereft—yet for now it sufficed.
He scanned the modest surroundings: bare wooden beams overhead, a single low window to the east, a plain earthen floor covered by a few simple mats. One corner held a rough wooden chest; another, a bundle of cloaks and travel charts tied in cloth.
The faint scent of last night's broth lingered in the air, mingling with the must of the chamber. He drew in a breath and exhaled, steeling himself for the day.
