Liang, the blacksmith, carefully examined the metal pieces and chains Shun had laid out on the counter, his experienced eyes assessing their worth. He sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Ah, I’m sorry, lad. This lot isn’t worth much—maybe a few copper coins if I’m feeling generous,” he said, shaking his head. “Now, if this were a few days from now, you might have been looking at a better deal. Once the arrangement with the Greenwood Brotherhood comes into effect, the demand could rise.”

Shun’s ears perked up at that. “Deal with the Greenwood Brotherhood?” he asked, trying to keep his tone casual, though his curiosity was piqued.

Liang gave a grim chuckle. “Aye, it seems you’re out of the loop, son. The Greenwood Brotherhood has been making the rounds, offering ‘protection’ to every village and town in the Jing Mountains. And by offering, I mean threatening. I hear even the governor made a deal with them. Basically, they’re collecting a ‘protection fee’ from anyone who doesn’t want to end up on the wrong side of their blades.”

“Protection fee, huh?” Shun scoffed. “Sounds more like a ransom. Pay up, or they’ll come and ransack the place anyway.”

Liang paused for a moment, then burst out laughing, the hearty sound filling the otherwise quiet shop. “You’re a sharp one, aren’t you? That’s exactly what it is—a ransom. They’re not protecting anyone but themselves. It’s all about controlling the Jing Mountains through fear and intimidation.”

Shun nodded, thinking it over. “So, should I hold onto these and wait for a better price when the deal comes through?” he asked, trying to gauge Liang’s reaction.

The blacksmith shook his head. “No, no, lad. If you do that, your brotherhood will be in even worse shape come winter. There’s no guarantee that trade between the Empire and the Jing Mountains will resume anytime soon, even if this so-called deal takes effect.” He leaned back, crossing his arms. “The fear of Greenwood Bandits ambushing caravans is high. Merchants traveling between the Central Plains and the mountains have been avoiding this route ever since last week’s attacks. I doubt they’ll be eager to take risks again just because of some new arrangement.”

Shun listened carefully, nodding in agreement. “You’re right. Even if trade opens up, it won’t be worth the risk unless they’re moving high-value goods. In the end, it’s the people of the Jing Mountains who will suffer, not the merchants back in the Central Plains.”

Liang’s expression softened, and he gave a sly grin. “Ah, but there’s still a way to turn this into something profitable,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of intrigue. “There happens to be a particular merchant in town right now. He’s not heading to the Central Plains but to the Frost Kingdom, and I’ve heard he’s in desperate need of metal parts to make his carriage wheels fit for the snowy terrain.”

Shun’s eyes widened slightly. “You mean to say you could sell these parts to him?”

Liang laughed, a low, knowing sound. “Precisely. It’d be good business for me too. I’ve been struggling to make ends meet since the iron supply from the Central Plains dried up, and no one’s placing orders for anything. This merchant, though—he’s in a hurry to leave. Something’s got him spooked, and he’s willing to pay extra to get his wheels fixed. He even offered me double if I could make it happen, but without iron, I’m stuck.”

Shun’s mind raced, trying to piece together the implications. “So, how much are we talking?” he asked, hoping to get a clearer idea of what he could expect.

Liang’s smile grew wider, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Now, why do you think I’m telling you all this, lad? I can’t give you a price right now because I’ll need to speak with the merchant in the morning. Once I know what he’s willing to pay, I can offer you a proper rate. Until then, it’s all just guesswork.”

Shun frowned, the uncertainty weighing on him. “I understand, but…” He hesitated, glancing around the shop. “I don’t exactly have money to spare for a place to stay tonight. It’s been rough, and well, the Greenwood Bandits took more from us than just supplies.”

Liang’s expression softened with a hint of sympathy. “Ah, I see. Those bastards have made life miserable for everyone, haven’t they?” He sighed, tapping his fingers on the counter thoughtfully. “Well, lad, how about this? You stay at my place tonight. No need to spend what little you have on an inn. It’s cold out there, and you look like you could use a warm bed. We’ll sort things out with the merchant in the morning. I get my profit, and you get the money you need for supplies. It’s a win-win, don’t you think?”

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Shun was taken aback by the offer. He had expected haggling, maybe even rejection, but not this level of kindness. He glanced at Liang, trying to gauge his intentions. The old man seemed genuine, and perhaps it was their shared disdain for the Greenwood Brotherhood that bridged the gap between them.

“That’s... very generous of you, sir,” Shun said, still a bit wary but grateful nonetheless. “Thank you.”

Liang waved off the gratitude with a dismissive hand. “Don’t mention it. I hate seeing folk getting pushed around by those Greenwood thugs. Besides, if I can make a little coin out of this deal, then why not? We all need to survive these times.”

As they finished talking, Liang began tidying up the counter, preparing to finally close up for the night. “Come on, then,” he said, motioning for Shun to follow him. “I’ll set you up in the spare room. Tomorrow’s a new day, and if we’re lucky, we might just turn this situation to our advantage.”

Shun followed him, a mix of relief and caution swirling within him. He hadn’t planned on staying the night, but if it meant a chance to secure funds and learn more about the situation in the Jing Mountains, he was willing to take the risk.

After a few minutes of walking through the dark, winding streets, they approached a large, imposing house. Shun squinted, trying to make out the characters etched on the gate walls, but the dim light made it impossible to read. Even in the shadows, though, he could tell this place was far too grand to be a simple blacksmith’s residence. The elegant architecture, the sturdy, well-maintained walls, and the faint glow from the lanterns within hinted at wealth and refinement.

Liang noticed the confusion on Shun's face and chuckled softly. “Ah, I see you’re wondering how an old blacksmith like me can afford a place like this. Well, I’m no rich merchant, lad. I’m just renting a small part of the mansion,” he explained. He gestured toward the corner of the property, where a smaller, more modest section of the building stood, separated from the main house by a narrow alleyway. “I live over there. It’s humble, but it suits my needs.”

Shun felt a bit more at ease as they walked toward the smaller annex. The grandeur of the mansion had initially set him on edge, making him wonder if Liang had some hidden agenda. But now, it made sense—Liang was simply a tenant, occupying a portion of a much larger estate.

The annex was neat and orderly, with a few potted plants lining the doorway and a wooden overhang that shielded it from the elements. Liang led Shun to the entrance, and then pointed to a room on the right side. “That’s where you’ll be sleeping tonight. It used to belong to my younger brother before he left town. There’s a nice, thick woolen futon in there, so you won’t be freezing your toes off,” he said with a warm smile.

Shun peered inside the room. It was modest but comfortable, with a low wooden table in the corner, a set of drawers, and a futon neatly laid out on a tatami mat. The futon, padded and covered with a soft woolen blanket, looked inviting after a long day of walking and bartering. The room smelled faintly of cedar wood. He felt a sense of relief wash over him. “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate this,” he said, bowing his head slightly.

“Don’t mention it, lad. Rest up. We’ll speak with that merchant first thing in the morning and see what kind of deal we can strike. But for now, get some sleep,” Liang said, giving Shun a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading off to his own room.

Meanwhile, Minho was hunched over, eyes glued to the glowing screen of the [Smartphone]. She had finally managed to decipher a significant portion of what the concept of “moving images”is, after hours of reading and searching through the [Internet], she now understood that these were called [Videos]. It was one of the most common ways of conveying information in the society where this [Smartphone] originated from.

Minho had initially been baffled, unable to comprehend how such vivid, lifelike images could be captured and replayed at will. She had assumed it was some form of advanced magic, a spell to trap moments in time, allowing people to see and hear them over and over again. Even after learning about the technology behind it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was some sort of enchantment—an enchantment far more powerful than anything she had ever seen.

As she continued to read, she learned more about how videos were used for everything from entertainment to education, and even for communication. But the idea of actually watching one right now didn’t seem wise. The device would make sounds, and she didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention in the dead of night. So, she decided against playing any of the videos, opting instead to save that curiosity for a quieter, more secure moment.

Still, she was in awe. If this small, handheld device could do so much, what kind of place must it have come from? A place where people could record events and share them with others across vast distances… it was a concept that boggled her mind. Despite her fatigue, Minho found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the [Smartphone]. There was so much more to learn, and the more she discovered, the more she wanted to know.

After what felt like hours of skimming through articles, forums, and pages of information, her eyelids began to grow heavy. She hadn't slept properly for the past two days, too engrossed in her newfound obsession with the [Smartphone] to care about rest. But tomorrow would be a big day—she and her companions were planning to attempt opening the vault in the tunnel, and she needed to be well-rested.

With a reluctant sigh, Minho finally set the [Smartphone] aside and lay down, pulling her blanket over herself.