There were wooden fences on either side, and quickly the road turned narrow enough that the carriage moved more slowly.
Small houses started to appear. The carriage rolled between the first cluster of homes and moved through the village.
Then the wagon finally stopped near a small open yard beside one of the houses.
"Here we are," the driver said. "My home. You can stay for the night at least."
"Thank you, but we should keep moving," I said politely, rejecting the idea. "The longer we stay in one place…"
"Brother," Yue Lian's voice was small. She'd woken during the conversation. "I'm tired. Can we stay? Just for a little while?" She looked up at me, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.
I hesitated, thinking deeply. Not about Yue Lian's request, but about something related to this merchant.
"Please?" she added.
"Sigh, alright."
The merchant smiled. "Good. My wife will prepare something warm. You both need proper rest."
"Thank you."
As we climbed down from the carriage, a boy came running from the house. He stopped nearby and started staring at us with curious eyes.
The driver noticed his reaction and smiled faintly."This is Dom, my son—Oi brat what are you doing, greet our guests."
The boy immediately bowed to his father's shout, then looked at Yue Lian, who smiled gently at him causing his face to redden.
But ignoring this all, I turned to look instead, not at the boy but past him directly to the small market located at the center of the village. The merchant noticed the direction of my gaze.
He chuckled."If you want, go take a walk through the village market. Dom, go with them."
Yue Lian's eyes brightened upon hearing this. She turned toward me, as if she wanted to go too, but I was already heading to the market.
We walked through the village together. Yue Lian stayed in the middle, holding my elbow and watching everything around her. The boy looked around too, but more as if he were keeping an eye on Yue Lian.
The market area was modest. Stalls with vegetables, tools, and other daily necessities.
"Brother, I want this!" Yue Lian called, pointing at a small carved wooden toy at one of the stalls.
But I passed over her request and walked toward a horse seller instead. He was an old man brushing a black horse beside him.
"A good horse." I said. "I'm looking to buy one."
The old man turned towards me, then to the strong brown mare tied a couple of meters away.
"Sir, the one over there is best. She will carry you a long distance without causing any trouble."
I glanced at the mare, but my eyes were already on the black horse beside him.
"Haha, old man, I am asking you how much for this one?"
The old man stopped brushing.
"Apologies, sir, but not for sale, not for sale." he said instantly, without even mentioning an amount.
Looking again at the horse. It was strong with clear eyes full of life, and maybe the best one in my eyes.
"I will give you thirty spirit stones." I named the price with a serious tone.
The brush slipped slightly in the old man's hand. His eyes open wide."Thirty!?"
Among mortals, spirit stones were rare. One alone could feed a family for a month. But thirty… the old man's reaction was understandable. That was an amount that could change a family's fate.
The old man swallowed and looked at the black horse. His hand rested on its neck almost unconsciously.
"This one.. Aah." he said quickly. "Forty… no, fifty spirit stones.
The greed, it was obvious.
I let out a quiet breath."Old man, I will make one last offer. Thirty-two spirit stones. Take it, or I'll walk away."
The old man hesitated looking at me, who was ready to leave.
"Fine. Thirty two!"
I pulled out a pouch and counted out thirty-two spirit stones into his hand. In truth, they came straight from my inventory. He took them without comment and handed me the reins.
"He's yours. Treat him well."
"Mm."
I turned. Yue Lian was right there with the boy. Her cheeks puffed out like a blow fish, but the moment she saw the horse.
"Ha! Did you really buy this horse?" she said excitedly.
I nodded.
"Can I ride it? Can I? Please?"
I sighed and lifted her up, placing her gently on top of the back of the horse. She giggled as she grasped the mane lightly.
"It's so tall! Look how tall I am now!"
The boy looked up at her with admiration.
"Yes!"
Her laughter continued. The kind of sound children made when everything was new and exciting.
We returned to the merchant's house. The family of four - the merchant, his wife, his son and another old man, who was the father of the merchant - welcomed us warmly. And had already prepared dinner.
Yue Lian ate with them, laughing and talking easily, blending in as if she had always been there. While I sat apart, eating quietly under the cloth which hid my face partly.
After dinner, they led us to a separate room, where two sleeping mats were laid out with thick blankets.
"Rest well," the wife said, smiling. "If you need anything, just call."
"Thank you," Yue Lian replied.
The door closed and we were alone.
Yue Lian immediately dove under the blankets, pulling them up to her chin.
"This is the best! So warm, so soft… different!" She looked at me with those puppy eyes. "Can we stay another day? Please? I want to see more of the village!"
"We'll see."
"Please… we can leave tomorrow and… and Dom said he'll show me the big ground where the others play…" She kept talking. Eventually, her words slowed and then stopped. She had fallen into a deep sleep.
Afterwards, I sat in a lotus position, circulating my spiritual essence through the meridians.
Time passed, and slowly everything grew quiet… until I heard whispers right outside the door.
"Just get in the room. They're both in deep sleep by now." ( Old voice.)
"Are you sure this is okay?" (woman's voice)
"Still worrying? The drug should have worked." (old voice)
"But." ( women's voices)
"Shut up! Did you not see that horse? I heard from Dom that he bought it for thirty-two spirit stones. He must have more… maybe he's a thief!"
A pause.
"And that little girl. She's perfect for my grandson. Did you not see how Dom looked at her? So sweet. We are truly lucky"
"Father is right, let's get done with this."
SILENCE
The door opened slowly. The woman stepped in first, carrying a lantern.
Following her, two men then stepped in. The lantern's glow stretched across the room, and their eyes slowly adjusted. They looked toward the sleeping mats, expecting to see two figures there.
Then they gasped. All three at once.
Because right beside the mat I was sitting upright, cross-legged, looking directly at them.
I smiled under the cloth as my eyes narrowed.
They stood in the doorway, frozen, looking at me like they were confronted by some miraculous sight. The lantern that the woman held in her hands started trembling slightly.
I moved a little, allowing the light to reflect off my shifting position. Their gazes followed, hesitant and uncertain.
The merchant was the first to find his voice. "You, how?... the drug should have..."
"Worked?"
I tilted my head."It did work on her." I glanced briefly toward Yue Lian, then back to them.
"Well, I was still going to come for you and the horse seller, but you saved me the walk, hehe."
None of them moved. But finally, the merchant stepped forward. The knife in his hand glinted sharply, and beside him, the old man straightened, a small laugh escaping his throat.
"This works out cleanly…. Brat, kill yourself now or we will make it very painful for you."
"Mm?" I stared at the old man, who was so warm and soft before, but now…
"Sigh, Is that so?"