I sat there in a daze, chomping away on dumplings.
“This stingy bunch... They won’t even fill you up.”
Gwak Du Uncle glanced at the plain dumpling in my hand and grumbled.
No helping it.
This was the best we could do.
After getting kicked out of the Drunken Cloud Pavilion, I explained everything to Uncle, and he flew into a rage, ready to throw down with that waiter.
He couldn’t stand seeing treated like that.
What a guy who lives and dies by his emotions. In the end, I had to hold him back.
Then Uncle went to a shabbier inn and dug up the info himself.
The problem was, I couldn’t show my face at inns, so he asked for food he could take away...
...and in this Central Plains with no takeout containers, the options were limited.
Only stuff that could be wrapped in cloth bundles.
No soups. No saucy dishes. No spicy food with chili oil that’d stain clothes...
...which left dumplings.
And even those were hollow ones without filling.
Uncle had no choice but to take what he could get.
“This was info worth a feast. And all we get are empty dumplings.”
Uncle sighed toward the inn.
I tapped his leg to console him again.
“Uncle. I’m fine. Thanks.”
Seeing stuff my face with plain dumplings in this food-famous Chengdu must’ve tugged at his heartstrings, because he said,
“...I’m the one who’s sorry. Should’ve been more careful. Have I been mooching off you too much?”
“...Even with money, I couldn’t spend it. Has nothing to do with that.”
Still, no one dies of hunger. My belly was sorta full.
The spinning world had steadied.
But as always, the real issue was what ca next.
If selling such valuable info only got us empty dumplings... what else could we do here?
How’s my luck this bad?
Right at this mont, the Tang Clan of Sichuan gets scamd by soone who looks just like .
“...Wow... that’s impressive, though.”
I hadn’t realized until I saw it with my own eyes, but I was witnessing the Tang Clan’s influence over Chengdu in real ti.
Before long, every guy who looked like was wearing a Tang token at their waist.
And as those guys multiplied, the suspicious stares turned toward folks like who weren’t wearing one.
Power sure is scary.
“Once the Tang Clan marks you, you can’t even set foot in Chengdu.”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
A middle-aged man stretched his neck as he walked up to and said,
“Hey, friend. No Tang token on you? The Tang Clan’s looking for a guy right now... You’ll get misunderstood like this. Why not go to them and verify your identity?”
I let out a hollow laugh.
Gwak Du Uncle shot back first.
“Does a Beggars’ Sect beggar need to check that too?”
“Beggars can’t scam? If you’re innocent, just go and co back. Heard the Tang Clan’s giving beggars free bowls of noodles. What’s the harm?”
“We’ll handle it ourselves, so mind your own business.”
“Tch, touchy. I was just giving friendly advice.”
The man walked off, clicking his tongue.
Anyone could spot the suspicion planted in his eyes.
Even the passersby who’d seen the exchange were giving weird looks now.
The noose was tightening.
“...Up we go.”
Uncle and I both stood at the sa ti.
We both sensed it was ti to move.
Once we’d shifted to a decent spot, Uncle shuddered and said,
“...Damn, that’s scary. If you’d really pissed off Dang Soran, would it have co to this?”
“Tell about it. Good thing she doesn’t know I’m here.”
Scary for real.
A clan that can control a whole city.
What’s this if not a kingdom?
Poison King as the king, Dang Soran as the princess.
...Nah, Poison King’s wrapped around Dang Soran’s finger, so she’s the real power here.
As we walked, we ended up in Chengdu’s market.
The place I’d wandered for days looking for leads, but now even that was off-limits.
No token, no human treatnt.
“Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s call it quits.”
I’d made up my mind.
Nothing left to do here. Throwing a fit wouldn’t change that.
“No point anymore.”
The past couple weeks felt like a total wash.
Couldn’t escape Cheongwol’s grasp, ca to Chengdu and achieved zilch...
...ti to give up.
Uncle nodded.
“...Yeah. No choice.”
“Ei! Looking for workers heading to Mount Ei!!”
That’s when soone bellowed in the bustling market.
Uncle and I whipped our heads around.
It was a rchant.
Standing on a cart hitched to a sturdy horse, he waved his arms and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“No pay! But I’ll give you a ride and simple als! In return, help load the cart and lend a hand on the road! To Ei! Heading to Mount Ei!”
Not many folks heading ho would go to Mount Ei, so he was probably recruiting like this.
Cheaper than hiring laborers.
I glanced at my waist.
...No token. Will they take us?
Uncle looked conflicted too.
I said,
“No harm in trying, right?”
“True enough. Let’s go.”
Uncle and I stood before the rchant.
“Heading to Mount Ei?”
The shouting rchant looked down at .
“That’s right. You too?”
“Yeah, we want to go there.”
The rchant eyed my hands, shoulders, and back, then nodded.
“You both look like you’ve done so hard labor. But...”
He glanced at my waist.
“...no Tang token...”
“No good?”
The rchant scratched his head and said,
“Why not go to the Tang Clan and get your token?”
“About to leave town. Too much hassle. You know the lines for those tokens?”
“Well...”
“If not, we’ll pass. We walked to Chengdu; we can walk back.”
“...Hold on. Got it. You know how to drive a cart?”
“Teach , and I’ll learn.”
“Good. Hop on this one for now. I’ll bring another cart.”
He patted his cart and hopped down.
We exchanged cupped-hands salutes.
“Just wait in the cart?”
“Better than standing in the sun. Up to you. Fine outside too.”
“...We’ll wait inside. Thanks.”
The rchant nodded lightly.
“There’s already a couple folks in there. Chat if you’re bored.”
As the rchant left to fetch the other cart, Uncle and I smiled.
“At least luck’s with us at the end.”
“Yeah. Didn’t expect a ride to Mount Ei.”
We lifted the rear flap and climbed in carefully.
Sure enough, two people were inside.
...Huh.
One was a martial artist.
The sword propped beside him exuded a heavy presence.
Couldn’t tell his sect.
Hidden Dragon Society tourist maybe?
Next to him sat soone with a cloth pulled low over their head.
Hiding their identity, breathing quietly.
The martial artist’s aura made even them seem unapproachable.
...Fat chance of chit-chat.
Should’ve stayed outside.
As I debated hopping off, the martial artist spoke.
“Climb in. Looks like we’re traveling together.”
...Fine. We’re all going to Mount Ei anyway. No point chickening out.
Uncle and I boarded.
Uncle joked,
“What sect’s esteed senior are you?”
Creeeak... jolt.
The cart started moving.
“Huh? Why’s it moving?”
As Uncle moved to check, the martial artist lightly pressed his thigh down and said,
“This one is... a retainer of the Tang Clan of Sichuan.”
...Tang Clan?
Swish.
The person beside him revealed their face.
Uncle and I froze.
“Young Master.”
A woman with a bright smile.
“I’ve been waiting.”
It was Dang Soran.
.
.
.
Jolt, jolt.
In the rocking cart, we swayed like dolls.
Suffocating tension.
...Fuck, do these people have a disease that kills them if they don’t scare folks?
Cheongwol and now Dang Soran—why are they all like this...!
“Young Master. Long ti no see.”
“...”
“Thinner than last ti...?”
“...”
“...Why so quiet?”
Uncle gently stroked my thigh.
That snapped back.
“Ah, haha. Yeah. Long ti, Miss.”
“Hm? Your speech is different. Weren’t you kinda arrogant back then—”
“—Ah! Haha!! Was I? Don’t rember. If so, my apologies. Haha.”
Uncle’s grip tightened at Dang Soran’s jab.
Like he was asking what the hell I’d done!
Can’t say.
Tang Clan martial artist glaring right there.
I looked at Dang Soran.
Her half-lidded eyes sparkled with amusent.
This woman’s doing it on purpose.
I was confused.
Was Dang Soran always like this?
She was straightforward as the protagonist’s ally.
Not the type to enjoy troubling people.
Now it felt like watching so spoiled rich girl.
Dang Soran said,
“I’ve wanted to see you since that day. Our goodbye was so sudden, right?”
My brain was spinning.
“...W-why would you want to see ...? Haha.”
“Who knows? Don’t you know best?”
...Gonna kill ? Getting madder the more she chewed on it?
Maybe that day was the worst humiliation of her life?
Should I grovel? What about Uncle?
But Dang Soran casually changed the subject like nothing happened.
“Anyway, what brings you to Chengdu?”
“Business...”
“...Thousand-Year Flower?”
Uncle and I both flinched.
Even the Tang martial artist frowned, puzzled.
I instinctively gave Dang Soran pleading eyes.
Please stop there!
Dang Soran just grinned happily. The Tang martial artist eyed her curiously.
“W-why would I co here for Cheongwol Miss...?”
“Hm? Not here to see Wol-i at the Hidden Dragon Society?”
“Ah...! Y-yeah! Right, that.”
Dang Soran smiled lightly, then voiced doubt.
“But did you call her ‘Cheongwol Miss’ before...? My mory says otherwise...”
“W-what else would you call Cheongwol Miss?”
“True. Otherwise you’d be crazy.”
“...”
Dang Soran stared at with subtle eyes for a while, giggled once, then sighed deeply.
“Haa... Just teasing, Young Master. Relax.”
“Yes?”
Dang Soran’s deanor eased too.
“Sorry for the hassle to et you. Thought you’d show up quick. Wanted to treat you to a al, but why didn’t you?”
...How? After you smacked my feet and stord off yelling.
But that ans...
“So all this... was just to et ?”
“Seed most natural. coming to you is weird, dragging you is weirder... Wanted to say thanks.”
Overwheld by her power. All this really for ?
Chaebol daughters operate different.
“...Thanks... for what?”
Her gentle vibe eased Uncle and up.
Didn’t seem like a murder plot.
“You helped that day. Felt bad leaving without thanks.”
“N-no big deal. Didn’t even help, right?”
Got my soles smacked, yelled at you, left. What thanks?
Just spare .
Dang Soran smiled quietly.
“Help or not, thanks are in order.”
...Whoa. Felt so class there.
“...No need to thank .”
“No. Makes feel better.”
“...Thanks received. Glad you’re grateful. Feels good.”
I gestured to the cart’s rear.
“If that’s all, can we hop off...?”
Dang Soran just smiled, no reply.
“...”
“...”
Awkward silence. I rolled my eyes around.
She broke it.
“...You really have gotten thinner, Young Master.”
“...Well...”
“Heading back to Mount Ei?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll struggle like that. Eat up proper before you go.”
“...”
“Stop by the Tang Clan. Let treat you to a al. That much okay?”
The dumplings from earlier were already gone.
After days of barely eating, the offer tempted hard.
Non-starvers don’t get it. How pathetic true hunger feels.
How strong food’s pull is.
Saliva pooled at the re suggestion.
“...Just... a al?”
I blurted.
Not gonna torture inside, make an ‘Ei beggar’ exhibit, test poisons... right?
Dang Soran tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.
“al not enough? Want more—?”
“—N-no, no. Not that.”
“Fill up good, then head out. Lend a cart if needed. Just a mont.”
I glanced at Gwak Du Uncle.
He’d dropped his guard too.
Fair enough.
Maybe I was overthinking.
It’s Dang Soran.
Protagonist’s key ally.
No way she’d kill a nobody like over a foot-smack.
She’s good people. Don’t mistake kindness for malice.
The more we talked, the more it felt like pure intentions.
“...Alright. One al it is.”
A fleeting odd glint in Dang Soran’s eyes.
‘...Haa.’
A dangerous exhale.
But so quick, probably my imagination.
Victim complex still acting up.
Dang Soran smiled purely.
“Sure.”
She wiggled her foot and said,
“Ah... sure.”
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