(2) Silver Coins and Shadows

"Four meat buns for just two silver coins!" shouted an old man beside his stall, his weathered hands deftly flipping the golden buns. Their crisp exteriors promised warmth and savory delight.

The enticing aroma filled the air, drawing passersby to his stall. A line quickly formed as hungry customers eagerly exchanged silver for a taste of his famous buns.

To the left, a woman called out with equal fervor,

"Freshly baked pastries! Sweet and filled with red bean paste! Two for a silver!"

Her table was a colorful display of flaky pastries, each one glistening with a touch of syrup that caught the morning light.

Children tugged at their parents' sleeves, their eyes wide with anticipation as they pointed to the treats.

The market square buzzed with activity as friends laughed and chatted, their voices mingling with the clatter of dishes and the sizzle of pans.

Nearby, a blacksmith's forge crackled, the rhythmic clang of metal on metal punctuating the atmosphere.

Smoke curled into the air, heightening the sensory overload as the blacksmith wiped his brow and glanced up to greet familiar faces.

In the center of the square, a fruit vendor displayed her vibrant produce: juicy peaches, plump oranges, and shiny apples, all artfully arranged and inviting passersby to pick and savor their freshness.

"Get your fresh fruit here! Only the ripest for you!" she called out, her eyes sparkling with the joy of the morning rush. Her stall attracted a gathering of mothers and children, each eager to fill their baskets with the season's finest offerings.

Near the fountain, a musician strummed a lute, his soft melodies contrasting with the lively shouts of the vendors.

A small crowd gathered, swaying to the rhythm, their feet tapping as they enjoyed the brief escape from the bustling market.

Among them, an elderly couple shared a tender moment, laughing as they reminisced about the days of their youth.

"What a day!" A young man dressed in a long-sleeved black hanfu shouted, stretching both hands into the air as he yawned. 

Beside him stood a young woman, about an inch taller than he was, wearing the same black, long-sleeved hanfu. Her expression remained calm and unreadable. 

"Aiya, Senior, why the long face? Relax a bit! We've been guarding the west gate for four days straight—why not enjoy ourselves a little?"

This senior was none other than Li Wang Zhu, and the young man beside her, standing at 6'0", was Pu Lian. Both were disciples training under the same master, along with several others. 

"I agreed to your terms, so stop pestering me," Wang Zhu said irritably, scanning the bustling crowd.

She had never liked crowded places. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, they always made her uneasy. 

"We've been here long enough. Let's go back." 

Pu Lian groaned in exasperation, his face twisting in displeasure.

"Esh! As always, you have no sense of fun."

Wang Zhu shot him a fierce glare, and he immediately fell silent—though not without rolling his eyes subtly.

As they continued walking, the noise of the market gradually faded, the surroundings growing quieter.

It wasn't long before Pu Lian regained enough confidence to speak again. 

"Ahem! As you said, you agreed to my terms. You'll accompany me down the mountain, and in return, I won't tell my father—who, by the way, is our master—about your secret meeting with Wu Jan last week—"

Before he could finish, Wang Zhu suddenly raised her right arm in front of him, halting both his words and his steps. Her face was sharp with alertness.

"What is it?" He asked, puzzled.

Wang Zhu's brows knitted as she glanced towards the left side of a secluded alley.

Pu Lian tilted his head to look at the location she was looking at, but a sudden, chilling gust swept over him, prickling his skin and making the hairs on his arms stand up. He swallowed nervously.

"In that alley... could it be?" He trailed off, his voice barely a whisper. The words caught in his throat, and he swallowed hard, his pulse quickening as fear prickled through him, stealing his breath.

He dared not finish the words, afraid that whatever was lurking there would hear him and rush toward them with no second.

Wang Zhu gripped the side of her sword and gazed intently into the shadowy alley, where sunlight failed to reach. Her expression was steely.

"Go to the inn we stopped by earlier and wait for me there. If I haven't returned by sunset, send up a flare and wait for the others to arrive before coming back for me."

Pu Lian, who had a low level of cultivation, immediately nodded and, without hesitation, obeyed, using a burst of martial strength to hurry off.

As someone who had yet to reach the core foundation of cultivation despite many years of hard work, staying there would only be a hindrance.

His age and Wang Zhu's were not that far apart, yet his gift for cultivation was slower and weaker than hers.

As a man, he felt insulted at being surpassed by a woman, but he had no choice but to accept it and try harder to achieve what he needed, no matter how long it took.

Although there were easier ways to achieve his desires, he preferred the proper, challenging path. For him, taking the easy path felt like cheating and offered no lasting fulfillment.

What truly mattered were the experiences and lessons gained through patience and the pursuit of true strength. What value did an achievement have if it was attained through cheating?

Just before he left, he noticed his senior's posture tense and ready for a fight. He recognized that stance; years of hunting demons with his father had taught him that what lurked in that dark alley was undoubtedly a demon.

Seeing that he was now at a safe distance, Wang Zhu strode steadily into the alley. The sickening stench of rotting fruit and decaying animals immediately permeated the air.

She didn't flinch—her calm expression was a testament to her many years of experience.