Chapter 12: Alley

A girl in black robes walked into the depths of the alley. Occasionally, some houses displayed festive red lanterns. Compared to others, this veiled girl had no family's careful planning, no elaborate schemes laid out far in advance. She was alone, venturing into this small town.

Not far down the alley stood a boy in brocade robes, reverently holding a jade seal the size of a child's palm. Carved with dragons and tigers, it shimmered in the sunlight, with wisps of radiant light glowing within. The boy gazed at the treasure, his face filled with rapture.

Beside him, a tall old man knelt on one knee, carefully wiping the mud from the boy's boots with his sleeve.

The boy had already noticed the strange girl. Her veil was a simple style, and she carried a narrow blade in a green scabbard. Her steps were steady, making it obvious she wasn't a local.

He paid her no mind, engrossed in examining the ancient jade seal. In his heart, he even hoped the girl would be tempted to steal it. Otherwise, it would be too boring.

He had already obtained two treasures, far exceeding his expectations. If he didn't find something to do, he'd have to leave with the old servant, which felt like something was missing.

It was like back home, thousands of miles away, where he wore a golden robe with nine pythons, yet it always felt like one claw was missing.

Here in the town, each chosen one could carry three tokens, placed in embroidered pouches. One pouch had to be given to the gatekeeper as a toll, regardless of their status or the gate's condition. Even a king or a sect master had to follow the rules. The other two pouches meant you could take two treasures out of the town. Otherwise, you'd have to return everything. The tokens were three unique copper coins: a good-luck coin for celebrating house building, a New Year's coin hung on peach wood charms, and a coin held by the statue of the city god. They were made of rare gold essence. For commoners, even silver was rare, let alone a pouch full of "gold." It was enough to make people sell their heirlooms willingly.

The boy had studied the coins, unrecorded in history, but couldn't figure out their secrets.

The girl, radiating coldness, walked straight ahead, ignoring them.

The boy changed his mind. He put the jade seal in a prepared bag, hanging it on his waist, but stayed in the middle of the alley, blocking the way.

The tall, pale old man stood up, his voice soft and effeminate. "Your Highness, she is a practitioner who has entered the inner circle. We must be careful. Outside the town, she would be nothing. But here, even my martial body is suppressed. If I use my full power, my meridians will flood. It would be catastrophic. My death is a small matter; your safety is paramount. If your path is hindered because of my negligence, how can I face His Majesty and the Empress?"

The boy teased, "Grandpa Wu, you talk more since leaving the palace. Before, you only said a few things, less than my sister's parrot."

The old man, calling himself "Zan Jia", oozed subservience, taking pride in his loyalty as a palace eunuch.

Seeing the boy didn't understand, he said, "Your Highness, she might pose a threat here."

The boy lazily smiled. "I've heard the path of cultivation is chaotic, with many heretics and unorthodox methods. But we just met. Is she really going to kill for treasure? That's unlikely. If everyone was like that, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

The old man sighed. The mountain immortals and the earthly dynasty, seemed friendly, but actually hated each other.

The boy felt disheartened. "Forget it. Blaming her for everything is not the way of a great man."

The girl reached him, her left hand on her blade.

The boy smiled, stepping aside.

The girl slowed, warily watching.

The old eunuch frowned at her bandaged hands.

"Presumptuous!"

He roared, his voice like thunder. He slid forward, pushing the boy against the wall, and opened his left hand.

A dull thud came from his palm.

Someone had thrown a stone at the boy's head.

It was powerful enough to pierce a wall.

The old man shattered the stone, but instead of attacking the thrower, he punched the girl.

She hesitated, suppressing her instinct to draw her blade, and dodged the punch.

The wind from the punch ruffled her veil.

The old man turned his fist, aiming for her head.

She raised her arms, hands crossed, to defend.

She slid back several steps.

She exhaled, adjusting her veil.

She was angry.

She turned to the old man, who was looking around, and said, "If it wasn't for me, you'd be dead."

The old man ignored her, now considering the stone thrower the bigger threat.

Besides the two of them, there were only two outsiders.

Across the alley, a tall, thin masked man stood.

His arms were muscular, like iron balls.

He had two pouches on his waist, full of round objects.

He stood there, as if to say the attack was just a warning.

His cold gaze lingered on the girl.

He grinned, sticking out his tongue, his eyes burning.

The girl chuckled and said two words.

"Come back!"

As soon as she spoke, a sword returned to her side.

It flew around her, spinning like a child begging for attention.

She said, "Scram!"

The sword vanished.

The two were stunned.

The old eunuch wasn't shocked by the flying sword itself.

He was horrified that she could control it freely here.

It reminded him of his youth, his fear of a high-ranking eunuch he saw in the palace.

Not the eunuch himself, but the glaring crimson of his robes.

The boy smiled self-deprecatingly, and asked "Grandpa Wu, are you alright?"

The old eunuch shook his head gravely. "Be careful. If necessary, I will..."

The boy waved his hand and asked, "Should we apologize?"

The old man was taken aback, then felt grief and self-reproach.

The servant dies for the shame of the master.

Especially for royalty!

But the boy smiled, "Grandpa Wu, what's so hard about saying sorry if you did wrong?"

The old man still felt it was wrong. The boy walked to the girl.

In that moment, the old man was overwhelmed.

The boy's back was spotless.