Uh oh

Grandpa Ling found me in the morning sitting in the middle of the room with a blank look. "Boy! Did you even sleep last night?" I give him a strained smile as I say "There was a mosquito in my room..." Grandpa Ling frowns and says "Judging by your looks... you're probably from a wealthy family huh?"

I want to laugh but quickly clear my throat saying "Are you going to sell the chives?" Grampa Ling nods and says "It's always good to get an early start!" I nod in agreement and quickly follow him out. Grandma Ling hands us each a rice ball before waving us off.

I look at the rice ball with conflicted feelings. I eat the thing in under three minutes as I follow behind Grampa Ling. Was I even in the game? This wasn't anything like the game! The layout... the houses... the food... nothing was right! What was happening?

As we make it to the market, Grandpa Ling begins setting up the small table with the chives and a few other things Grandma Ling made. I stand beside Grandpa Ling as people begin filling the other stalls around us. I think I'm in shock...

Grandpa Ling smacks my back and says "She'd like a bundle... where's your head at boy?" I blink several times before awkwardly laughing and handing the lady a bundle. The lady puts a copper piece in my hand confusing me.

I look at it before looking at Grandpa Ling in confusion. He frowns as he takes it saying "You've never seen money before?" I feel my eyes widen as I finally understand. That copper piece was money?? Grandpa Ling sighs as he says "Boy, I don't know what happened but you should go back to your family if you can. Pretty boys like you don't last long in this world."

I scrunch up my face realizing what he was trying to say... I probably look like a spoiled rich kid from a wealthy family that ran away in a fit. I sigh and continue helping the old man. I need to figure out what to do... figure out what happened.

"Well, well... Look who it is." I look up to find the man from yesterday who was dressed in black smiling at me. I curl my lip up and say "It's too early in the morning to be lookin' at your ugly mug." The man's face instantly falls as he says "You really are courting death."

I roll my eyes and say "Shoo... I'm trying to do business." I look over to see Grandpa Ling selling a bundle to someone else, not paying attention. I look back over to see the bug from yesterday standing across the street watching. My eyes grow huge before I quickly squat down, hitting my head on the way.

Shit that hurt! I rub my forehead as I try not to panic. Did he see me? I look up to find the man in black staring at me with confusion "What are you doing?" The man asks before I put my finger up to shush him. I then begin to crab-walk away towards the ally behind us. I have no idea who the bug was but he was clearly very strong and probably extremely dangerous.

If this was before, I would have shoved a bundle of chives up both their noses but now I'm running away for dear life. I can get hurt! And if I can get hurt... that means I could probably be killed! I bump into something and say "Please move!"

I hear a low chuckle that has my hair standing up. That laugh... I look up to find the bug staring down at me with cold black eyes. Shit... "Uh... look, yesterday was a mistake okay? I.. I was temporarily insane! I had a fever so I wasn't thinking straight." I say lamely while still crouching.

He arches a dark eyebrow and smirks at me while saying "You're pleading insanity?" Grandpa Ling comes around the corner saying "What in the world are you doing boy? We..." His words die off as he finally sees the man standing before me.

He immediately bows in fear making me frown. I stand up and rub my legs. "Is this your grandson?" The bug asks. Grandpa Ling quickly shakes his head saying "He was kind enough to help me gather chives so he stayed with us last night... is there something wrong my Lord?" I slide over to hide Grandpa Ling in a protective manner.