Yan Cijin was laughing again by the time they reached the first cluster of shops.
Qingxi was a small but lively town built around a market square and a narrow river. Most of its buildings were made of timber and pale stone, with tiled roofs that shone after the morning mist. There was an herbalist near the eastern gate, a grain merchant beside the bridge, and several food stalls arranged beneath awnings of faded red cloth. The town served travelers going to and from Mount Hua, so it was used to seeing martial artists pass through. Even so, the presence of two women as striking as Bai Li and Yan Cijin drew more attention than an ordinary visit.
