After leaving the old man, Han Liang felt both relieved and satisfied. Turning to the Second Commander, he smiled lightly.
"Dinner is on me tonight."
They walked together to a nearby inn. The table was soon set, and drinks were brought. When the servant women approached, Han Liang casually gestured toward one of them.
"Take care of him," he said, nodding toward the Second Commander.
The woman hesitated for a moment, pretending reluctance, but then stepped closer and began to fill the Commander's cup. Soon, laughter and the sound of cups filled the table.
After a few cups, Han Liang leaned back slightly, a teasing smile on his face.
"I suppose you'll be staying here tonight."
Not waiting for an answer, and already a little drunk, he left the inn and returned to their lodging. The moment he entered his room, he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.
The next morning, he woke with an unfamiliar excitement. There was a lightness in his chest, a quiet sense of anticipation. Today, everything would be finalized.
He waited for the Second Commander, then the two of them made their way to the registrar. The old man was already there. Ink dried slowly across the papers as seals were pressed one after another. By the time the final payment was made, the shop officially belonged to them, though it had been registered under the Second Commander's name.
Han Liang chose not to reveal his identity as a sect leader.
For a moment, Han Liang imagined telling Gu Feng everything.
He would have been happy to hear it.
The warmth in his chest faded quickly. A shadow passed through his expression. He still knew nothing about Gu Feng's life—his home, his family, where he truly belonged.
"The world is too large for us to meet only once."
By noon, they returned to the market to see the shop once more. When they saw the official notice displayed, both of them smiled.
"This is the beginning of something new," Han Liang said. "I have a good feeling about this place."
When they entered, the shop was covered in dust. The shelves were empty, and broken pieces of old pottery were scattered in the corners. The place felt abandoned, but not beyond repair.
Han Liang took a slow breath.
"First, we clean everything."
They would need to find someone trustworthy to take care of it. After that, the shop could be arranged for weapon production. His thoughts drifted briefly to Simon.
"Maybe we can learn new weapon designs from him… and sell them here," he said.
The old owner had told them he would leave within a week. That gave them enough time to prepare.
"First the shop, then the house," Han Liang said, already thinking ahead. "We still have two weeks here. It would be good to spend at least one of them in our own place."
His mind wandered to the garden.
Roses.
Lilacs.
Peach trees.
For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine it.
If Gu Feng were here… he would like it.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Han Liang stood there in silence, looking around the empty space that would soon become something else entirely.
A new shop.
A new home.
And, for the first time in a long while, something to look forward to.