As Han Yu wandered the streets, weighing these thoughts, a familiar voice interrupted his reverie.
"Han Yi! Co have a al with us!"
Han Yu turned to see one of the caravan guards waving from a nearby tavern. The man was stocky, with a ruddy complexion and a friendly grin that revealed more teeth than usual. His dark hair was cropped short, and his eyes glead with a mixture of curiosity and warmth.
The invitation was a welco break. Han Yu nodded and followed him inside.
The tavern was a dim, smoky place, filled with the din of laughter and conversation. Rough wooden tables were scattered unevenly throughout the room, their surfaces scarred by years of wear and spilled drinks. A few lanterns hung from the low ceiling, casting flickering shadows that danced across the faces of the patrons.
Han Yu slid into a seat among the guards, who greeted him with nods and casual smiles. Soon, plates of simple but hearty food were set before them: thick slices of roasted at, bowls of steaming vegetable stew, and crusty loaves of bread. A jug of warm rice wine was passed around, the scent sharp and slightly sweet.
The n ate with relish, their conversation weaving between jokes, tales of close calls with wild beasts, and complaints about the harshness of the plateau.
Between bites, the scarred young guard across from Han Yu leaned in, his tone lowering. "So, what’s your plan now, Han Yi? Your job with the caravan ended now that we reached the town, doesn’t it? You sticking around with us, or moving on?"
Han Yu considered the question carefully. His thoughts flicked back to the docunts he’d uncovered, the whispered rumors about the Mist Eye Sect’s movents, and the increasing unrest near the caldera.
"I think I’ll stick with you all until Wujin City," he answered finally. "After that... I’ll find sothing else to do."
The guard chuckled, a deep, easy sound. "Scared of this kind of work, huh?"
Han Yu laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Yeah, maybe a little. Especially after what happened at the outpost. Those fire beasts, the tremors... and then the Nascent Soul elder showed up. I’ve never seen anything like that before."
The guards exchanged knowing glances. The ntion of the elder stirred a montary hush, then one of them spoke up, voice low and respectful. "He’s no joke. A Nascent Soul cultivator is sothing else entirely. Most of us wouldn’t last a second if he set his sights on us."
Han Yu nodded, the weight of that truth settling heavily on his shoulders. It was one thing to fight beasts or even rogue disciples, but another entirely to stand before a cultivator with power so imnse it could change the tide of battle with a single gesture.
"Better to be cautious," said the scarred guard, raising his cup in a small toast. "A little fear keeps you alive."
Han Yu mirrored the gesture, letting the warm wine slide down his throat. The warmth spread through him, soothing nerves sharpened by months of uncertainty and danger.
As the night deepened, the guards’ conversation drifted to lighter topics—gas they played to pass the long journeys, favorite hunting spots, and the odd characters they’d t along the trade routes. Han Yu listened carefully, committing nas and stories to mory, always searching for clues beneath the surface.
For now, blending in, playing the part of a simple hunter-turned-guard, and staying alive was his only path forward.
Tomorrow, the caravan would set out again, carrying him closer to Wujin City and whatever secrets lay hidden beyond the mist-shrouded mountains.
***
The morning air was crisp and cool as the caravan roused itself from a night’s rest in the supply town. The sun had just begun to peek over the distant mountains, casting long shadows that stretched across the dusty streets.
Han Yu, now going by the alias Han Yi, packed his belongings with practiced efficiency. He kept a low profile, blending seamlessly with the other guards and rchants preparing for the next leg of their journey.
As they set out, the atmosphere felt markedly lighter than the tense march to the caldera outpost. The path ahead led toward Wujin City, a bustling trade hub closer to the heart of Mist Eye Sect’s territory.
Unlike the treacherous detours around the volcanic caldera, this route skirted around the great Mist Shroud Mountains rather than climbing their jagged peaks. The route took them through dense forests and rolling hills, landscapes alive with the chorus of chirping birds and rustling leaves.
The caravan moved steadily, each day marked by steady progress and the rhythmic clatter of hooves and wheels on the uneven dirt road. The guards remained vigilant, scanning the tree lines for any sign of the wild beasts that often road these parts.
A few minor encounters did occur — a lone beast darted from the underbrush, only to be dispatched swiftly by alert archers or a well-aid spirit skill. But the threats were nothing like the fiery infernos they had faced near the caldera, and the tension in the group was noticeably lower.
Han Yu kept to himself mostly, silently observing his new companions. Over the course of the week, the monotony of the journey was broken only by brief conversations, the swapping of stories about past exploits, and the occasional laughter sparked by a careless joke.
As the seventh day drew to a close, the dense forest gave way to the sprawling outskirts of Wujin City. The city walls lood large, made of gray stone and fortified with banners bearing the emblem of the Mist Eye Sect fluttering proudly in the breeze. The steady hum of city life was a sharp contrast to the quiet wilds they had traversed.
Upon arrival, the caravan rolled smoothly into the city gates and disbanded with practiced efficiency. rchants went their separate ways to resupply, guards found their quarters, and the bustling crowd swallowed the group in a wave of activity.
But Han Yu remained with the rchant Kuo, who had been overseeing the caravan’s operations.
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