Yuri made her way towards the front amidst a splattering of applause from an energetic crowd. The mob was looking for a good show, especially one that involved a pretty girl.

On the platform, the ‘alchemist’ brazenly swung his arm around her shoulders and invited everyone to pay attention. She fidgeted uncomfortably under his weight.

“Cooperate missy, and you’ll be rewarded,” the man spoke in a hushed tone before resuming his phony cheerfulness.

With a swish of his colorful sleeves, a black cauldron appeared on the table. He pointed at the various materials for Yuri to mix - one pound of yellow gum weed, four pinches of salt, three ten-year-old ginsengs, and a whole host of other ingredients.

Yuri quietly complied but glanced at Jin for reassurance. He gave her the thumbs up and grinned.

‘What’s he thinking? Didn’t he say to lay low?’ Yuri frowned in thought. Telling her to help the shady ‘alchemist’ with his demonstration was the antithesis of ‘laying low.’

Had she not traveled with him for a week, Yuri would have never known that Jin, while usually all serious and business, had a mischievous side to him. She wondered what devious plans had currently sprung in his mind.

“And that’s all the ingredients! Thank you, Miss...uhh…,” the man was left hanging.

“Miss Fenghuang,” she corrected.

“Ah, let’s give Miss Fenghuang another round of applause,” the man instructed the crowd. 

Many of the spectators clapped and whistled, so Yuri played along, smiling and bowing.

“Now behold,” stated the man, making a series of exaggerated movements. A blue spiritual flame, the hallmark of a true professional alchemist, engulfed his right hand. Gasps were heard. No one had really expected him to be telling the truth.

In a practiced motion the alchemist tapped various points on the cauldron with his flaming hand, ending with a final slap to its belly.

“Stop him now!” a voice from the crowd suddenly barked, but it was too late.

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The deed was already done. A colorful fog cloud spewed from the contents of the cauldron, rapidly enshrouding the whole area. 

Yuri felt something slip into her sleeves.

“Bring the bracelet to me at the Dragon Pavilion in two days. If I’m not there, consider it yours,” the man said quietly.

“Why should I?” Yuri retorted in defiance, unhappy at how the stranger was taking liberties with her inside the obscure fog.

“I’ll make it worth your while, missy,” the man suavely replied. Then she felt him disappear.

Disorder ensued. The crowd scrambled to find a way out of the fog - men, women, and children all screaming and stumbling over each other in a mad rush to escape the chaos. 

“Master Jin!” Yuri shouted frantically.

“I’m right here,” a voice responded close by, which almost gave her a fright. 

Without warning, she was carried away from the fray and out of sight.

“You can put me down now, thank you very much. I have two legs as well you know,” Yuri said sheepishly after they were in the clear.

Jin promptly obeyed. He inspected her while she patted her robes.

“Are you okay? What was that all about?” he asked.

Herself confused, Yuri summarized the preceding events and showed Jin the gold bracelet interlaced with large blue diamonds. She noticed his eyes glimmer with recognition.

“Did you know this was going to happen?” she asked suspiciously.

“I had an inkling,” Jin admitted. “I was hoping to fish in troubled waters, and it turned out to be quite profitable.”

He handed a red spatial ring to Yuri, who then scowled. It was probably stolen.

“At my expense?”

Jin looked at her straight in the eyes. Then without a word, he interlocked his hand with hers and led them further away from the scene towards their next destination.

“You may not believe me right now when I say it, but I would never let you fall into harm’s way. What kind of a master would I be if I couldn’t guarantee your safety,” replied Jin after an awkward period of silence.

Yuri could feel her heart flutter in response. Although they were still technically strangers, Yuri realized she had subconsciously come to rely on him for emotional support. In the dusky twilight, his back seemed sturdy and dependable.

‘When did I begin feeling comfortable holding hands with him?’ she thought wryly. ‘Is it because he saved my life?’

“Why?” Yuri could not help but ask.

Jin opted not to answer, but his expression suggested that even he didn’t know the real reason.

“Nevermind. I think we should give this bracelet back to him,” suggested Yuri, trying to steer the conversation in another direction.

Jin only nodded in agreement. 

“Your call,” was all he said.