Xing watched as Susu sailed into the air, leaving him behind speaking to himself. He knew she’d react that, especially the moment he uttered those words, but by Bodhidharma’s light! The words just flowed like a damn river, He thought bitterly.

Susu’s fiery has transcended ever since her hands graced the child’s presence. Xing didn’t like it…but he expected it. It was like dealing with her fury when Shi Qiu called off their engagement. No…this is way worst than that!

Her world, now, revolved around that child. It made Xing feel slightly jaded. But he understood her anger, as she was righteous, passionate and downright dogmatic on matters she believed in.

Xing however, shared her tenacity to protect the child. He didn’t understand why he shared, but the child was innocent.

Innocent of past crimes by her people.

Innocent to people’s judgment of her kin colour.

But most of all. Innocent to Life.

feel an urge to protect the child.

He thought how her emerald eyes held that glint of innocence. He couldn’t help but admit, they were as hypnotic as the finest jade stones in all of Huaxia, Xing thought.

Yet, his words about the child only served to infuriate Susu. “I must fix this.” He said softly, watching the stream below, “But how?”

Susu would need days to quell her anger. Three days at least. And Xing didn’t know if he could last that long without seeing the child. What’s happening to me, He mused. I’m becoming like Su’er, “I miss her already.”

Xing kicked off the ground sailing into air. He leapt from roof to roof using his Qinggong, hoping to catch wind of Susu’s trail.

He couldn’t, so instead, he began to wander around the city rooftops, hoping he would find her. His search went on for a few hours, but nothing came of it.

He then searched food vendors, textile merchants, rouge and accessory stalls. She’s a woman at heart Xing mused, passing a mirror stall and noticing a chest filled with chains, rings and anything that would make a woman enamoured.

A thought entered Xing’s mind, and he turned around, doubling back to the accessory merchant. Her lips curled into a smile and approached the female merchant, hands clasped behind his back. “Hello!”

The woman stepped forward, smiling prettily. She placed the mirror in her hand on the counter at an angle. Xing reached out with his right hand, barely catching it with his fingertips.

He flicked it up, catching it with his left hand and placed it back on the counter, then gave the woman a broad smile. “Careful sister, that looks expensive, we can’t have you dropping such fine accessories.”

The woman nodded without saying a word, her cheeks were pale, but flushed red in an instant as if something had aroused her attention.

Xing noticed her eyes straying towards his chest, forcing him to tilt his head down. “Sister? I’m up here,”

She giggled and nodded. “Sorry Brother, I’m a bit entrapped right now.”

“Excuse me?” Xing asked, confused.

“Nothing.” She said shaking her, as she pushed such thoughts of Xing from her mind. “How can I help a young hero such as yourself today?”

Xing picked up one of the many mirrors on the stall. He turned in it in his hands and eyed it intensely. Su’er would love this, He thought.

The design of the mirror was simple, but enough to make it look distinct. The handle was designed in the form of a rope knot and painted silver. It had three small ribbons engraved on the handle, painted purple. Su’er loves purples…this might not be enough to quell her anger, but it’s a start, Xing pondered.

“twenty copper coins.” The merchant girl said.

“Pricey,” Xing said with a whistle.

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“…but worth each stone, sir.”

“I bet. I’m not sure if I should buy it though. You see, I’ve recently angered my wife and it usually takes three to four days to soothe her. The mirror might help, but if I buy this for twenty coppers, she’ll kill me!

“You should’ve bought food and milk! Can’t see you see we have a baby travelling with us Brother Xing?!” He heard her bickering in his ears.

The woman’s lips drew to a line, and then she caught herself, curving them back into a smile. Her flushed cheeks were now as pale as her forehead, drained of what little blood had rushed there.

“It’s easy to quell a wife’s anger, Brother.” The merchant girl said coldly. “Just do what requires of a man, and she’ll soften faster than the finest silk robes.”

The woman snatched the mirror from Xing’s hand, placed it back between the mirrors and continued smiling at anyone who walked by. “You probably can’t afford it anyway,” She said, eyeing him up and down, judging him.

Xing took a deep gulp and nodded, as the saliva went down his throat, he realised how foolish he sounded, but that didn’t stop him from laughing, full of shame.

He then went on hunting for milk for the child. He’d even asked around about Uoni Plums and Versen seeds to his surprise.

Finding the plums and seeds was a lot easier than finding milk. Everywhere he’d gone was sold out, which was infuriating, especially after the ‘lecture’, he received from the vendor.

Luckily, Xing eventually found some milk and refilled eight pouches worth, more than enough for them to make the journey to Kaihua Library.

Xing began searching for Susu once more, but as he expected, nothing came up.

The taverns and inns were empty, which too soured his mood.

Longyan was the third-largest city in Huaxia and was filled with dozens if not hundreds of travellers and merchants.

This, was where he loved to be, the city, with the likes of such folks. Tales and Songs would lighten his mood, so the urge to ignore such taverns was like quenching a fire when the meat sizzled right in front of him, leaving it raw, but now that a child was involved. He had to be a bit more responsible, and think ahead, like a fight he’d often found himself engrossed in.

“Brothers and Sisters.” Xing bellowed, drawing the Golden Bowl Sect members. Xing found himself at Longyan’s Golden Bowl Sect office.

The building was two stories and was made of oak but smelled purely of wine and meat. Just the way I like it, He thought, licking his lips and tasting the wind.

As the sweet essence of the wine drifted around him. He caught himself before he could allow his body to react. The confused expressions of the Golden Bowl Sect members made him smile. “Apologies for barging in but I am in need of your help.” He said.

A bellowing growl emanated from his stomach, shaming him further. He licked his lips and slapped his stomach. “Apologies yet again, It’s been a while since I had a proper meal and wine.”

“Speak friend, we don’t have much time for idle talk.” A Golden Bowl Sect member chided

“I’m looking for my wife, she’s was heading in the direction of the Steep Forest. She’s wearing purple and white robes. The conical hat she wore had a white veil. Last I saw her, she was heading east, towards the Steep Forest.”

The Golden Bowl Sect members eyed each other, looking for answers. “This is Longyan Brother,” The leader said, “All women here wear veils , and many of them have children as well.”

“You’re right brother, apologies. She was using Qinggong atop the roofs.”

“Qinggong?” A woman said more than asked. “Ahh…yes…I saw a woman holding a child heading to the Steep Forest, north though, not east.

“Thank you, Sister! Are there any inns of note on the north of Longyan?”

“Of course!”

Xing studied himself for a moment and realised that Susu wouldn’t stay at an Inn. Unlike Yellow Orchid Village, the people within the village kept to themselves. In Longyan, however, that was different. Information was key…especially if a strange woman came in wearing a veil and covering a child in the same fashion that we did. That might draw suspicion.

“What about the forest, is there anything of note on the North Side, like an inn, right outside of the city perhaps?”

“The north? No. The majority of the inns outside are more to the west and southern sides. The only thing of note in the North are a few shrines.”

“Ping’an Shrine?”

“YES!” The woman said firmly, drawing everyone’s eyes. “Ping’an Shrine is there! For sure.”

Xing cupped his palms and give a bow, showing respect to the Golden Bowl Sect members, “Thank you brothers and sisters your help has truly been helpful!”

He pulled his stone pouch free and was about to hand them a donation. The leader stepped forward, raising his hand. “You know better than that brother!” He said. Xing was confused for a moment, then remembered the etiquette of paying tribute to the Golden Bowl Sect.

“Bodhidharma’s blessings upon you all” Xing said, spinning around and darting in the air like a fly. He pulled three copper coins from his pouch, kicking off a chimney with what little grace he had in his Qinggong and tossed the copper coins in the air.

The copper coins hit a window and then bounced off the plant only to fall into the nearest golden bowl well. Xing stared back, ensuring they landed in the bowl. Then twirled himself in the air, floating from roof to roof making his way to the Steep Forest.

It took him a few minutes to get there, and in those minutes he noted how thick the smog was around the city. It was hazy, smelly and protrude…truly protrude. At that moment, he finally understood why Susu hated big cities. The stench does sting the scent of the sky. He mused.

Xing made it to the gate in the north, soaring above the watch towers, only to hear their curses from afar. He gave them a mocking salute and sprinted across the ground, feeling each stone hit the bottom of his heel, stifling his momentum.

He ignored it, then continued his lengthy strides, then skipped to the trees, leaping from tree to tree as best as he could. Then a loud boom resonated into the air to the east. His head snapped right, and a flock of birds fluttered in the air as if running from something. Xing was unsure if to head in that direction, but something told him to check.

A simple detour can’t hurt, right? Xing asked himself.

Right.