Shuurei, Eigetsu, Kourin, Ensei and Seiran leave for their journey to Sa Province, all the while assassins are following them, hired by the Sa Clan. Eigetsu, Kourin, Ensei and Seiran are caught during their stay in a hotel, while Shuurei is safely hidden.
秀麗和影月出發前往茶州，同行者除了有擔任州牧輔佐的燕青和武官的靜蘭之外，還有得到秀麗許可一起上路的香鈴。州牧的赴任，必須在三個月內抵達茶州的州都才行。如果過了期限還未能抵達，就會被視為自動放棄任務而被解除州牧的資格。秀麗等人前往赴任的茶州情勢相當不穩，茶家也暗中派出手下打算對新州牧不利。
