<blockquote>"I must bring a token from each of the borders," he says to Shang Qinghua when they return to Mobei Jun's quarters. "Salt from the sea in the east, cypress boughs from the west, camellia blossoms from south, ice from the north. The blood of the new generation."
"It's barely spring, my king," Shang Qinghua says. "How are you supposed to set up a tablet in the fall?"
"Poorly."
Shang Qinghua sighs. "And why is there always blood?" He's already turned aside, casting his eyes toward the paperwork spread out on Mobei Jun's desk, accrued during Shang Qinghua's absence. The usual shadows dig soft half-moons beneath his eyes.
"Hit me again," Mobei Jun says.</blockquote>
