Early morning as before the sun rose, Hua Yuanshi and Hua Yuexi were up and ready to go about their business for the day.
The faint gray light of dawn crept through the cracked wooden window of their small room in the Feng Palace Inn. Outside, the town was only just beginning to stir. The distant clatter of carts, the soft crowing of roosters, and the sleepy voices of vendors preparing their stalls drifted through the quiet streets.
Inside the room, however, the two sisters were already moving quickly.
Hua Yuanshi had taken her bath, styled her hair and put on the beautiful pale blue dress she had bought in the market. The dress flowed softly around her figure, elegant but not overly extravagant.
She sat before the bronze mirror while Hua Yuexi stood behind her, carefully adjusting the hairpins.
"Don't move," Yuexi muttered.
"I'm not moving," Yuanshi replied, though her fingers twisted the edge of her sleeve.
Once satisfied, Yuexi stepped back.
"Good. You look like you were born into a sect."
Yuanshi snorted softly. "Let's hope they think so too."
She and Hua Yuexi painted their face with a white paste they'd bought in the market two days ago and also soaked their handkerchiefs in red berry juice to look like blood. Yuexi dabbed the paste onto Yuanshi's cheeks until her complexion became deathly pale.
"Perfect," Yuexi said with satisfaction. "You look like you're dying."
"That comforting?" Yuanshi raised a brow.
Yuexi ignored the comment and continued working.
They added some spots on their legs and hands to look like they were ill and poisoned. The reddish spots spread across their skin like signs of sickness. Anyone who looked closely would think the poison was already eating them alive.
Finally, they sprayed their perfumes and they were satisfied with their look.
The faint fragrance masked the sour scent of the berry juice.
Yuanshi looked at her reflection one last time.
A pale, delicate beauty stared back at her.
Perfect.
Thet left Ergu at the inn and instructed him not to go out after leaving with with food.
Ergu looked confused as he sat cross-legged on the bed holding a steamed bun.
"Why can't I come with you?" he asked.
Yuanshi patted his head. "Because today's work is dangerous."
Yuexi added firmly, "Stay here. If we're not back by evening, eat the rest of the food and keep the door locked."
Ergu nodded reluctantly.
Following that they hailed a carriage and carried themselves over to the Ruishang restaurant attached to the Ruishang inn.
The carriage rattled through the awakening streets. Vendors shouted, children ran across the road, and early travelers moved in and out of the town gates.
As the carriage stopped before the Ruishang Inn, both sisters inhaled deeply.
This was the largest inn in the city.
And the place where most cultivators stayed. A mysterious veiled woman accompanied by an attendant easily drew attention.
At the entrance stood a young attendant who quickly stepped forward.
"Greetings honored guests. How may I assist—"
Before he could finish speaking, Hua Yuexi stepped forward sharply, her chin raised slightly.
"My lady, Lady Feng Min of the Flying Sword Sect, requires a table."
Her voice carried the faint arrogance expected of a sect servant.
The attendant froze.
"…Flying Sword Sect?"
His brows furrowed slightly.
He had worked in Ruishang Inn for years and he had seen disciples from many sects. But he had never heard of this one. His gaze unconsciously shifted toward Yuanshi.
She stood quietly behind Yuexi, posture straight, veil covering her face. An aura of calm surrounded her. Yet… the attendant could not sense even a trace of cultivation from her.
That made him even more uneasy.
Still, he forced a polite smile.
"My apologies, honored guests. May I ask which region the Flying Sword Sect—"
Before he could finish, Yuexi let out a cold humph.
"You dare question my lady?"
The temperature around them seemed to drop slightly. Several nearby cultivators glanced over. Yuanshi gently lifted her hand as if stopping Yuexi.
"Qing," she said softly.
"I've told you not to do that."
Her voice was calm, gentle… yet faintly weak. Yuanshi produced something from her sleeve.
A green jade seal.
The moment the jade appeared, the attendant's pupils shrank.
The jade was flawless.
Its carving intricate and ancient.
Even someone without cultivation could tell it was not ordinary.
Yuanshi placed it lightly in his palm.
"This is the sect seal."
Her voice was soft.
"But if it troubles you, we will simply dine elsewhere."
The attendant instantly panicked.
Cold sweat broke across his forehead.
"N-No! That won't be necessary!"
He bowed deeply.
"My apologies, Lady Feng Min! Please forgive my ignorance!"
He quickly waved toward a waiter nearby.
"You! Take Lady Feng Min to a private table immediately!"
The waiter hurried over nervously.
The two sisters exchanged the faintest glance beneath their veils.
Only then did they follow the waiter deeper into the restaurant.
But as they walked, both sisters' backs were already soaked with sweat.
The moment they crossed the threshold of the restaurant, the atmosphere changed.
Upon entering the room, there was a difference in the pressure that they felt stepping into a room with cultivators.
It was very heavy. Like invisible mountains pressing down on their shoulders. Their breathing grew shallow.
They almost couldn't walk properly but the two sisters squared their shoulders and walked lightly with delicate steps although their hands were balled into fists at their side and their faces were covered with sweat beneath the veils.
Don't stumble.
Don't show fear.
Just walk.
Finally they reached their table.
Upon seating, they breathed a sigh of relief and look around for prey.
They ordered a cup of tea and some cakes while waiting.
Time passed slowly.
One hour.
Then another.
Yuanshi sipped her tea carefully, occasionally coughing weakly into her blood-stained handkerchief.
Yuexi leaned closer and whispered, "Do you think they're coming today?"
"They always come," Yuanshi murmured.
Then finally
Nearly two hours passed.
Yuanshi slowly sipped tea while Yuexi stood quietly beside her like a proper attendant.
Inside, however, both of them were growing restless.
Where are the idiots…
Just when Yuexi was beginning to lose patience
A loud voice came from the table behind them.
"I'm telling you! The longevity fruit is definitely somewhere in the Mo Kingdom!"
Several young cultivators were gathered around the table.
They wore robes embroidered with the crest of the Crystal Moon Sect.
Yuanshi and Yuexi immediately exchanged a glance.
Bingo.
Yuanshi slowly rose from her seat.
Her movements were slow and graceful.
But beneath the table Yuexi could see her fingers trembling.
The two sisters approached the group.
At that moment several cultivators in the restaurant glanced toward them curiously.
Yuanshi stopped beside their table.
Then she spoke softly.
"Fellow cultivators… I heard that you were discussing the longevity fruit."
Her voice was weak.
She covered her mouth and coughed lightly.
Cough.
When she lowered her hand, several red spots were visible on her pale wrist.
The cultivators froze.
One of them frowned.
"…Who are you?"
Yuanshi bowed slightly.
"This one is a sister from the distant Flying Sword Sect. I am also in pursuit of the longevity fruit like you."
The group immediately exchanged suspicious looks.
"Flying Sword Sect?"
"Never heard of it."
Another cultivator narrowed his eyes.
More importantly…
They could not sense her cultivation.
Not even the slightest fluctuation.
That was extremely strange.
Either she was a mortal…
Or she was far stronger than them.
One cultivator slammed his cup down.
"Do you think we're idiots?"
"What Flying Sword Sect?!"
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
Before Yuanshi could respond, Yuexi stepped forward angrily.
"How dare you speak to my miss like that!"
Her voice rose sharply.
"If not for circumstances, why would we come to this backwater kingdom!"
Several people nearby gasped softly.
The cultivators' expressions darkened.
Yuanshi immediately sighed softly.
"Qing. I told you not to do that."
"But miss!" Yuexi protested.
"If not for the misfortune we encountered, how could these ones disrespect you like this!"
Yuanshi shook her head helplessly.
Then she turned back to the cultivators.
"Fellow brothers… if you doubt me…"
She slowly placed the jade seal on the table.
"This is the seal of our sect."
The cultivators leaned closer.
Their expressions changed slightly.
Yuanshi continued quietly.
"I came here to search for the longevity fruit like you all."
"However… I was ambushed on the way."
Her fingers trembled faintly.
"My attendants and my mount were attacked."
"We fought them off successfully… but their goal was to poison us."
Her voice lowered.
"We only discovered the poison when it was already too late."
Several cultivators frowned.
Yuanshi coughed again.
"We only survived because our cultivation is stronger… but using my power worsens the poison."
She lowered her head slightly.
"My beloved mount… also died."
Her voice cracked.
A faint whimper escaped her lips.
The cultivators exchanged looks.
They could see her pale lips trembling beneath the veil.
Yuanshi took a shaky breath.
"Before I left, my master gave me a map to the longevity fruit."
That sentence exploded like thunder in the room.
"What?!"
"A map?!"
Yuanshi continued softly.
"It is something she treasures deeply as she she received it as a gift from an old friend back then." she said with a sigh
"I feared losing it… so I made several copies before coming."
She paused.
Then said quietly,
"I am willing to sell those copies to fellow cultivators."
"I only need enough money to purchase a new mount… so I may return to my sect and seek treatment for the poison."
For a moment the room was silent.
Then
Chaos erupted.
"I'LL BUY IT!"
"Name your price!"
"I'll give 100 taels!"
"200!"
"300!"
The price skyrocketed instantly.
Yuanshi's heart pounded violently beneath her chest.
Under the table Yuexi squeezed her hand.
We struck gold.
But at that moment
On the second floor balcony overlooking the restaurant…
A man sat quietly by the railing, wearing black colored clothes that seemed to glow. Surely, it cost more than she could ever make.
He wore a fox mask.
Leaning lazily against the wooden railing, he watched the entire scene unfold below.
His gaze rested directly on Yuanshi.
Sharp and amused. Almost akin to a predator watching a clever little animal.
Yuanshi suddenly felt a chill crawl up her spine.
Her eyes lifted instinctively.
Their gazes met and for a brief moment,her knees almost buckled as she felt a sense of grave danger emanating from the man.
Upon selling all the maps, she bowed lightly to all the cultivators saying,
"Thank you for doing me this great favor as I can now go home."