Victory Gate.
Commonly referred to by old Kyoto residents as the Red Street.
An ordinary Kyoto University teacher fussing alone over dinner in the kitchen.
The burning cloud on the horizon resembles an ink painting.
Standing beneath the plaque reading "Cao Residence".
Song Chaoge stands by the door pillar, not entering, calmly staring at the long street, his gaze blank, unsure what he's thinking about, or how long he's been waiting.
As a sacred place in the hearts of northern drifters, the bustling heart of Shen Zhou, the congestion and liveliness of Kyoto rivals Tokyo, self-proclaimed as Asia's largest city.
In a place like Kyoto, even cramped underground chambers are filled with dream pursuers, yet it's rare to find such a vast, quiet street.
Finally.
A domestically-produced electric vehicle drives into the street painted by the sunset, disrupting the solitude of the red street.
The car halts at the entrance of Cao Residence.
