Jushi disliked running errands for a spoiled likes of Tao. He did them because no other fool paid ten silver coins a month. But that was beside the point.

The Old Hag Wang had a pension for keeping people waiting. After all, she was an Elder, and he was but a leaflet compared to her.

Jushi walked through the streets, dodging, manoeuvring letting his nose get enamoured by the many scents of the streets.

Fried rice, dumplings, roasted chickens, sweet potatoes. The variety of food found in Shaanxi, would make anyone’s stomach flutter and grumble from the scent.

The chatter and chants of monks passing by, made Jushi feel alive. The urge to brandish his spear was evident, as he never fought a monk before.

He didn’t learn the spear to be some half-beat warrior, but as his skills were paltry to those of the Jianghu he relegated himself to bodyguard duty.

A duty that paid him well.

The duty paid him well, enough to make him almost forget his former life of living in poverty and hunger on the streets of Shaanxi.

Jushi felt his robes tug to his right, then looked right. It was a child, face covered in dirt, smeared in ash.

The child’s lips were as white as snow, which made her tanned skin stand out more.

This could’ve been me, in another life Jushi thought if I didn’t join the Golden Bowl Sect.

Jushi pulled out his pouch, fishing for a few of copper coins. He sprinkled four coins into the into the child’s hand, then clasped them shut. “Spend wisely, Child,” Jushi said, kneeling. “And ensure no one knows it’s yours. If you have trouble, go to the wishing well and tell them your wishes and your troubles, understood?”

The child smiled, dipping her head into a nod, and then scampered through the busy crowd of the street.

These moments were rare for Jushi, rarer than a blooming flower in a desert.

Not like he’d ever been to the desert, but that’s how he felt, watching as the child left his eyesight bypassing the vendors like a bee.

Jushi found his way to Old Hag Wang, sifting through the crowd like an eel and eventually found himself outside her residents.

The gate was large, but nothing a man such as himself couldn’t break with a palm strike. He approached the door, and then knocked on its door like a drum.

Two men groaned the door open and ushered him without many words. “Brother Di, Brother Sen,” he said, with a bow.

“Ju’er, welcome home,” Di said firmly.

He raised his head and followed Di and Sen as they led him through a dimly lit corridor, droplets of rain falling from his cloak. They took him through a series of turns that eventually led him to his destination.

The courtyard of the estate was always beautiful. It held a calming ambience which made Jushi feel at peace.

The clashing sound of the artificial waterfall foamed to his right, next to a flower bed which was made up of lilies.

Two women appeared in his eye sight, exiting one of the buildings located on the eastern section of the estate. Both of them wore yellow and purple hanfus and held pretty smiles as they slowly approached him.

The taste in the wind changed, from green to lavender. The closer the woman got, the stronger he could taste it on his tongue.

The women split apart, leaving Jushi to be the centre of attention. He looked at both of them with glances, seeing the sparkle in their brown and black eyes.

His eyes glanced down, at their chest and he watched as both of their cheeks flushed red. He stepped to the left, trying to grab one by the wrist, but a familiar voice sounded off in front of him. “You’re as predictable as they come, you know that Ju’er?” Madam Wang said sharply

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Jushi stepped back, catching himself without realising it. Then stood tall, rolling his neck as Madam Wang appeared in front of him, leaning on her cane, shaking her head, as if she was about to scold a child.

The swaying yellow and green Hanfu she wore had intricate designs coming down the sleeves, which interloped around her waist and down the back of her dress.

To her left, a young woman held her hand as she walked down the steps that led to what he believed was her room.

Another woman appeared to her right. She wore a blue Hanfu with silver lines stitched around the edges of the hanfu. In her hand, was a table which she kept close to her chest.

She ran in front of the old woman placing the table between Jushi and her and then retreated into Madam Wang’s room.

Another young girl appeared from behind Jushi holding a tray, it had a teapot with two cups. She placed the tray on the table, placing the cups on either end. “I'm hoping to hear good news today Ju’er,” she said, showing the creases of her long worn-out smile.

“And good news you shall have Madam Wang.” He continued.

“Hooo...” Wang said, ushering herself into the lotus position.

Wang placed her cane to her right and then ushered the bodyguard to have a seat.

The bodyguard flapped his robes, taking a seat, pouring a cup of tea for Old Lady Wang, and one for himself. “You haven’t forgotten your etiquette training despite holding that spear as if it were your woman.”

Jushi smiled, letting his hand slide against the spear handle for a second and felt the killing aura of Madam Wang’s bodyguard flood into the courtyard. “As if I could ever forget Madam Wang’s training,” Jushi said.

Jushi noted the wrinkles she held on her face weren’t as defined as he expected today. Her skin was as smooth as a cobblestone, still showing some youthfulness. Her hair was wrapped in a messy bun, with strands wafting around her eyes.

In her day, she was probably quite a beauty, because, in Jushi’s eyes, she still held an aura about herself that made him yearn for her, especially when she had a discerning look, each time she turned around.

The old woman’s lips curled into a wrinkly smile, and her eyes looked as closed. She raised her hands and the killing aura dissipated in an instant.

Jushi took a sip of the tea, embracing the earthy taste and felt the water from his tongue dilute the taste. “beir root?”

“Yes, I've been having trouble with my bowels. I need the assistance.”

“Understood.”

“How’s my granddaughter, is that beast treating her well?”

“Hostess Li is fine, Madam Wang.”

“Good, Now tell me why are you here? Or are you here for that idiot of a Young Master you serve”

“The Young Master has some girls to sell.”

“That was fast,” Madam Wang said with a smile, “Ju’er, I must say, your plan has worked out to be more efficient than I expected. Stealing the wine shipment from Anqing worked out perfectly. Now that he wants to sell the girls, we can sell him back his wine at double the price!”

“As according to your plan,” Jushi said, pouring another cup for Madam Wang.

“How much taels is he short of before he can pay his father back?”

“He claims to be forty gold taels short, but I believe it is eighty gold taels.”

“Eighty? Good Good. The Red Lantern will soon be mine!”

“…and?”

“And what?” Madam Wang said coyly.

“Madam Wang, we made a deal. Or do I have to remind you?”

“No Jushi, you do not have to remind me…but it is as I told you the first time. If Li’er says yes, I would allow the marriage…other than that. Do not force anything down my throat you cannot hope to pull free.”

“Madam Wang!”

“Ju’er…do not tempt me, boy.” She said firmly. “You know full well I never promised Li’er to you. I agreed to your plan, yes. But I never said that Li’er was part of it, but you insisted…have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t, but you promised you would’ve talked highly of me, to her. That is all I ever requested!”

“And I shall!”

You better, Jushi thought, or I’ll slaughter your entire house once I reach the Divination Realm!

Jushi’s lips curled into a smile. “Thank You, Madam Wang, I appreciate your kindness to such a lowly man such as myself.”

He raised the teacup, and downed it in one gulp, feeling the earthy bitterness within his mouth. He sucked in a little wind and placed the teacup down, eyeing the old woman.

“Is that all you came here for?” Madam Wang asked.

“Of course not, I cam—“

Madam Wang raised her hand, stopping Jushi from speaking further.

Jushi looked at her confused and was about to speak, but she smiled at him and then stared past him. “Young Master Tao what brings you here? Warrior Jushi was now telling me the price you were looking to sell those girls to me.”

“Madam Wang Long, It has been a while, how have you been?” Tao said with a bow.

“I’ve been well, up until you sent this ingrate haggling with me.”

“Haggling?” Tao asked confused.

“Yes…haggling.

Tao heaved a long sigh and eyed Jushi disappointed. He waved his hand, dismissing him. “Report back, Madam Wang and I have some business to discuss.”

“But Young Master.” Jushi pleaded.

“Relax child, the fool didn’t offend me. There’s no need to send him away.”

“I’m not here to discuss the sale Madam Wang, I’m here regarding something else.”

“Hooo, you know my fee lad, you sure want t—“

A loud smack followed by rattling ceramic groaned out from the table. Madam Wang’s eyes glassed as she saw the pouch lying on the table.

She picked it up with her left hand, hefting it, then open the pouch. She smiled, showing her missing teeth and slid the pouch into her sleeve pocket. “I will be seeing you around Jushi,” She said.

“Young Master Tao, please…have a seat. It seems we have much to discuss.

“We Madam Wang…We do.”