Haun was surprised to see his nephew there and said, “Jaeng? Why are you here?”
Jaeng replied:
“I was going on a mission for the sect outside the walls. Now tell me, why do you look hurt? Everyone was talking about a fight between disciples, so I decided to check it out, but why are you here?”
“Well, I ran into some trouble while working, and these kids saved my life.”
Jaeng and Haun spoke briefly.
After hearing everything that had happened, Jaeng gritted his teeth, “Bastards!” He approached Tristan and Yue and bowed.
“Dusk and Yue, I am deeply grateful that you saved my uncle. I owe you both.”
Yue responded, “It was nothing. We just did what we had to do.”
Tristan remained silent.
Haun said, “Jaeng told me you’re leaving the city for a long trip. My wife and granddaughter sell delicious food outside the walls. Would you like to stop by for a meal? I know it’s not much, but I’d like to repay your kindness somehow.”
“Sure! I’d really appreciate that,” Yue said.
Tristan's attention turned to his stomach as it growled. Due to his fast metabolism, he got hungry quickly. Shrugging, he said, “Alright.”
image [https://i.imgur.com/CJALaUN.png]
After some time, they crossed the walls and arrived in a busy area with various people at their stalls trying to sell something—some selling food and others, handmade objects.
Haun's family’s food stall was simple but welcoming. The aged wooden benches and the aroma of spices in the air brought a sense of comfort that contrasted with the recent battle.
Tristan saw an older lady and a young girl, slightly older than him, preparing various noodles.
“Haun? Why are you here so early? Did something happen? Jaeng?” The woman approached with a worried expression.
Haun spent some time explaining what had happened to her.
The lady approached Tristan and Yue, bowing deeply.
“Thank you so much, young masters, for defending my husband. We are deeply grateful for your kindness. Our family is indebted to you.”
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Feeling embarrassed, Yue tried unsuccessfully to stop the lady from continuing her series of bows.
“We only did what was right. Those who use the Dao path to oppress the weak are trash. You don’t need to thank us,” Yue said.
Even so, Haun's entire family continued to thank them a few more times.
Afterward, Haun's wife approached Jaeng.
“Jaeng, how you've grown. You look like a real man now. Are you doing well in the sect? Are they treating you well there?”
Feeling embarrassed, Jaeng replied, “Ah, thank you, Aunt Mingmi, yes …” He coughed a little, “Life in the sect is great.”
After the family reunion, Haun invited Tristan and Yue to sit down.
Mingmi brought a steaming bowl of noodles. The smell was intoxicating—a combination of rich broth, spices, and the subtle touch of fresh herbs. The noodles were long and soft, submerged in a vibrant red broth, topped with succulent pieces of mushrooms and vegetables.
"This is the house special, kids. Eat, you need to regain your strength after that fight."
Tristan’s dark, shadowy eyes almost glistened, reflecting the oily broth.
He nodded, accepting the gesture. He firmly grasped the chopsticks, making swift and precise movements as he lifted a large portion of noodles, watching the steam rise before bringing it to his mouth.
He blew on it a little and filled his mouth with noodles, chewing slowly.
The taste was truly delicious. The robust broth pleased his palate, with a balanced mix of salty and spicy flavors dancing on his tongue. The noodles, perfectly cooked, had a soft texture that contrasted with the firm mushrooms and the light crunch of the vegetables. It was a comforting sensation.
‘Simple but tasty, and even better—free.’ That detail made the meal all the more enjoyable.
Haun's wife, with a gentle smile, approached, bringing a teapot.
“Kids, drink some tea. It’ll help digest the noodles.”
Tristan accepted with a silent nod, drinking the hot, bitter liquid that perfectly complemented the strong flavors of the noodles.
While most of his focus was on eating, he still overheard something that caught his attention.
A man with a worn-out appearance, wrinkled clothes, and a vacant expression wandered near the food stall.
Haun signaled to him, catching his attention, and approached, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Jaujing! You can’t go on like this. It seems like you haven’t eaten in a long time. You need to keep your strength up in times like these.”
Two men sitting near Tristan spoke:
“Poor guy, it looks like Jinjia is still missing,” one of them said, shaking his head and sighing.
The other said, “Another one. I can’t imagine what he’s going through. She was such a kind girl. I wonder when this will stop.” He clenched his fists and added, “Tsk, what the hell is happening in this city?”
His friend responded:
“I’m starting to think the rumors about demons roaming the city might be real.”
‘Demons roaming the city?’ Tristan thought.
Yue, who was obviously also listening to everything they said, stood up, walked over to them, and asked:
“Excuse me, but has someone gone missing? Is something strange happening in the city? Could you tell me more about it?”
The two men looked at Yue, and though she was just a child, they clearly felt uneasy when they saw the clothes she wore.
To common folk like them, a martial artist was like a figure from legends.
“Ah, please forgive us, noble lady. We didn’t mean to trouble you with mere commoners' rumors…”
“Wait!” Seeing their nervousness around her, she decided to reassure them and explained:
“You can relax. I’m not a noble. I’m also a commoner. I just want to know if something wrong is happening here.”
The fear they felt was replaced by surprise at her kind and respectful behavior.
One of them gathered the courage to speak: “A few months ago, some people started disappearing and never returned. At first, it was just one or two people a month, but now almost someone disappears every week. The strangest part is that most of the people who disappear are young girls.”