Zhao Lian is a sheriff without a county. A member of an old magical order called the Shuli Go, she was raised to uphold the law and protect her fellow citizens. But after her order was disassembled, she was left with no choice but to wander in search of work for someone with her very particular set of skills.

When she stumbles across a group of bandits plundering a merchant's wagon, she steps in to save the only innocent survivor. Quickly though, Lian learns innocent is not the right word to describe him. This new addition to her life pushes her out of her comfort zone and into a run from the law, but his impact on her life is only just beginning.

The second story in the saga of the Central Empire's most famous Shuli Go, this continues to build the world and set of characters which will be central to future installments.