Chapter 119: Chapter 119: A Meeting
The morning sun ascended with a languid grace, its light brushing over the rooftops like a painter’s first stroke on fresh canvas. Golden shafts pierced through the mist-drenched alleys of the quiet village, casting narrow shadows that stretched like the fingers of ghosts. Amidst this quiet theater, Li Wei moved with resolute poise, his steps muted against the damp cobblestones.
Having just emerged from a shadowed warehouse, he now walked through the back-routes of the city—alleys seldom traversed save by cats and those who preferred their footsteps unheard.
His form blended with the greys and browns of stone walls, his robe fluttering faintly behind him, catching the breeze that carried whispers of incense, sewage, and salt. He had been coerced into a relationship that benefited both parties, on the surface.
His destination was the branch office of the Merchant Union—neutral ground, or so Tang Li had assured him. "None shall hinder you within those walls," she had said the night before, "unless you give them cause."
The building loomed ahead—a modest structure in the administrative quarter, its stone walls veined with age. Two guards in lacquered chest plates stood at the entrance beneath a red-tiled overhang. Their halberds leaned against the wall behind them, attention temporarily drawn away from duty.
"I’m telling you, Brother Hu," one said, voice low but heated, "that lake’s cursed. I’ve not seen a single fisherman come back in days." The guard was clearly on edge, he was not someone that easily got frightened, after all his job did require courage.
Brother Hu scratched the stubble on his jaw, unimpressed. "They probably left, same as many others. No need to imagine monsters at the bottom of every lake or pond." His colleague on the other hand was the definition of a skeptic, not bothering to even consider the possibility that his words may be true.
"But they didn’t leave,
" the first argued, eyes narrowed. "They vanished. Gone without a word. Even Old Jin, who used to sell eel by the dozen—he’s got roots deeper than the town well." While it was plausible that the old fisherman had departed, the likelihood was rather low."Perhaps he got tired of fishing and ran off with a widow." His colleague did not see things that way and merely considered the event as just another coincidence.
"Brother Hu..." The older man gave a small sigh but did not answer. His eyes flicked toward the horizon where the haze of morning still clung like a second skin.
He had seen the signs, as well—shadows moving under the water, ripples too large for a fish to produce. But like the Council, he clung to reason as a drunkard clings to his cup. Just then, a voice broke their musings.
"Greetings," Li Wei said, his tone level and firm. "Is the head merchant in?" The young master appeared before them in a matter of moments, it took the duo a second to respond to the abrupt visitor.
The guards jolted. One scrambled for his halberd before recognition settled in his gaze. "Y-yes... proceed down the corridor and turn left. She’s expecting you."
Li Wei gave a curt nod. "Many thanks."
As he passed them, he could feel their gazes still fixated on him. Once he had gone, the guards leaned toward one another again. "That’s him," whispered the first. "The boy who caused a stir throughout Crescent Moon City and walked off laughing. How has the Protector not caged him yet?"
"Because caging a firestorm only burns the hand," Brother Hu murmured. "And I think he’s more than just a foreign vagabond."
"There’s wealth in his step. You can see it, can’t you? But why reside in a village so far from value?"
"Because sometimes the safest place to keep gold... is in a pile of dung."
Both nodded solemnly.
Meanwhile, within the Union’s hall, Li Wei’s steps echoed faintly across the tiled floor. He moved with the quiet surety of a wolf in a sheepfold—cautious, but never hesitant. When he reached Tang Li’s office, the door opened before he could knock.
The interior defied expectation. No towering bookshelves. No gaudy wall scrolls proclaiming wisdom or authority. A plain desk sat at the room’s center, flanked by a modest bookshelf, its volumes stacked neatly. The walls were sparsely decorated—only a few ink paintings depicting mountains and cranes. The scent of jasmine hung in the air, clean and composed.
Tang Li looked up, offering a small smile. Her blue gown shimmered in the light filtering through the lattice windows, and a single aquamarine pin held her hair in place like a frozen ripple in a stream.
"Glad to see you in good health," she greeted, drawing open a lower drawer and withdrawing a parchment.
She unrolled it and smoothed the edges with care. "This is the layout of the council compound. Use the back entrance—they rotate guards there every six hours, and the blind spots are most frequent at dusk."
Li Wei studied the parchment, nodding once. "The map you gave of the village helped. This will suffice."
A pause hung in the air before he spoke again, voice softer but edged with curiosity. "Your aid is appreciated. But what is your intent, Tang Li? Why stake yourself in this?"
He kept his gaze on her, searching for flickers in her expression. In his world, help came with strings, and smiles often preceded betrayal.
Tang Li leaned back in her chair, folding her hands atop the table. "My reasons are... obscure," she admitted. "You don’t need my help to succeed. But I offer it nonetheless. Why? Because aiding you prevents bloodshed between you and the council. And if I can keep things smooth, perhaps I will stay standing longer."
Her voice held no false sweetness. Only tired candor.
Li Wei weighed her words. True, he had the strength to batter his way through any mortal resistance, but such violence risked more than wounds—it risked erasing the very evidence he sought. No records survive fire. And power, when used without caution, often fed itself upon ash.
He extended a hand. "Then give it here. I’ll place some faith in you."
Tang Li passed him the parchment. Their hands did not touch, yet a certain understanding passed between them.