With his lips pressed together, Tao Hua hobbled stiffly toward the end of the scroll. He tried his damnest to catch that dratted thing, but it just kept slipping out of his hands.
And his stance?
It…it was something.
This poor man had his legs awkwardly parted on either side of the receding paper, bending in an attempt to grab it.
"Come on!" he whispered a cry, gritting his teeth. But he just couldn't seem to grab it! This act of being "inconspicuous" attracted not only the shopkeeper's attention but also the handsome, mysterious, and potentially dangerous man.
To add onto that pile of adjectives, he also looked very much irked!
Though annoyed he may be, that had nothing on Tao Hua's attention. He finally swooped that scroll in his hand, jumping it up like a poorly fitted sheet. In his victory, he unknowingly yelled, "Yes!"
But froze, staring straight at nothing.
"See? He's an odd one," said the shopkeeper with a lazy smile. "Best not to pay him any mind."
The stranger furrowed his brows, watching as Tao Hua took a few steps back and glanced at him, and then away. In fact, he repeated this a few times, tucking that crumpled scroll close to his chest.
In a lower voice, the sword-bearing man mumbled, "I guess so."
"Here, here." The shopkeeper slapped his hand on the desk. "Let's talk money and books, kind Young Master."
His pale eyes studied Tao Hua for only a moment more before resigning and turning back to the shopkeeper. And thus, Tao Hua immediately tried to roll up that crinkled scroll with hands more clumsy than they were delicate.
It was a poor sight for any perfectionist.
When he finally rolled it up, he hid behind it once more, watching as the two conversed.
"What'cha looking for?" The shopkeeper smiled wide, almost predatory. "This humble one promises we have it!"
"History books," the stranger placed his hand on the desk, bending slightly. "Anything on relics?"
"A'wha?" Though confused, the shopkeeper seemed to keep his composure, hands pressing together excitedly. "Could the Young Master repeat that?"
"…" The man's head tilted slightly, and Tao Hua noticed how his arms tensed with the ruffle of his black robe. "Relics?"
"Huh?"
"Oh…my…" With a sigh, the man slowly enunciated each syllable, as if trying to reach the man's level. "A…re…lic?"
Tao Hua glanced up at the beams, tracing each splintered piece of wood. A part of him felt sympathy for this fool—it was a play he'd watched many times over.
In fact, scratch that, he was the main character of this terribly written tragedy.
Relics were gifts bestowed upon many regions in Zhonglai, often granted by a god. Not much is known about them, or their purpose.
All that was understood about these mysterious items was very little.
The first was that they were filled with an unknown amount of spiritual energy, more than human comprehension, and more than any cultivator could handle.
The second was that they had only started appearing in the last two hundred years.
This often excited the scholars around the country, as each were designed specifically for each region. For example, the one in the Imperial Capital's relic was a beautifully crafted hairpin, made of jade and gold.
It was said to be fit for a woman of great beauty. However, the hairpin was heavily guarded and unused. The capital protected it more than they did their people.
And even if this mysterious man was studying these relics, it was a hopeless endeavour. As hopeless as trying to get this shopkeeper's help. Most of the relics across the country had been snatched by a mysterious thief; a skilled one that had even the Imperial Capital up in arms.
Well, a band of thieves was a better way of describing the heist. This had been going on for the last two hundred years since their appearance.
Why even bother…? Tao Hua's forehead wrinkled. He genuinely found it puzzling. Not even Father can figure anything out about them…
"Remic?" The shopkeeper smiled proudly, entwining his fingers together.
The hand that was pressed to the desk began to whiten, just as the man's slender fingers twitched. After a moment of silence, he curled that hand into a fist.
"How do you not know what I'm talking about?"
"My apologies, Young Master!" The shopkeeper slowly opened his eyes, sitting back and away from the stranger. "Siyue Town is rather isolated."
"How…you know what? Nevermind. This is going nowhere." The man straightened up, and Tao Hua watched as his shoulders flattened into a perfect posture. "History? Just focus on that. Where can I find the history books on this town?"
"Ah! Great question, Young Master Sir!" With a clap, the shopkeeper separated his hands and pointed in the same direction as Tao Hua. Stiffening, Tao Hua's heartbeat pounded just as the man slowly turned to face him.
The shopkeeper continued. "You can find it past the Odd Man! See? Just past him where all the scrolls and brown books are."
The man's eyes fell on Tao Hua, and in an emotionless voice, he said, "For someone who owns a bookstore, you're certainly well-read."
"Of course, Young Master! Anything to hel—" But the shopkeeper paused, staring down at the desk in contemplation of this man's words. The man had already made his way toward Tao Hua,
Therefore, with a shrug, the shopkeeper just sat back and basked in what he thought was a compliment.
Holding his breath, Tao Hua brought that scroll up higher, fearfully hiding behind the ink and papyrus scent, just as the man stopped before him and stared.
"…"
What made it even more awkward for our poor princess was how quiet the shop was. The muffling voices outside became clearer the longer the two stood, and with each passing second, the white noise only heightened.
"…"
"I-I'm sorry!" Tao Hua immediately ducked behind the crumpled scroll. His eyes jittered, and he traced the bottom of the scroll for what felt like an eternity in that deep silence.
But even guarded by paper, nothing stopped time in the little bookstore. The protection was only metaphorical and did Tao Hua a disservice.
Because within the walls of a place often emptied stood not one but two souls fated by an encounter.
Face to scroll.
Chapter end.