"Hey, it’s okay." Shin blinked. He crouched down and began helping her collect the scattered items.
The moment his hand reached toward one of them, the girl flinched violently.
"I-I’m sorry... Please don’t hit me."
"Hit you?" Shin froze.
"Why would I hit you?" He looked at her in confusion.
The girl’s tense shoulders slowly relaxed. Only then did Shin notice the tears gathering in her eyes.
"I-I lost all my money... and I can’t find my mom." Her voice cracked. Tears began streaming down her cheeks.
Shin stared at the girl in silence.
She looked to be around his age. Her clothes were slightly dirty, and her hair was messy from wandering through the crowded streets. Her eyes constantly darted across the surrounding crowd, desperately searching for a familiar face.
Shin glanced around. There were thousands of people here. Finding a missing person among them would be nearly impossible.
"Where’s your mother?" he asked gently.
"I... I don’t know."
"And your father?"
"I don’t know." The girl shook her head.
Shin scratched his cheek. This was a problem. He turned toward Rei for help but Rei wasn’t looking at him. Her attention was fixed on the massive golden formation floating above the arena.
The formation suddenly flashed.
OUTER MARTIAL CONTEST - FIRST ROUND
Names began appearing across its surface. Rei’s name was among them. Shin’s wasn’t.
"Stay here, I’ll finish this quickly." Rei said.
She glanced briefly toward Shin and the girl before turning toward the arena. Yet as she walked away, her steps slowed.
Something about the girl felt strange. Her body structure suggested that she had undergone some form of physical training. More importantly, there was something unusual about her eyes.
Rei couldn’t quite explain it. A strange sensation lingered in the back of her mind. She glanced over her shoulder one final time. The girl was standing beside Shin, quietly wiping away her tears.
’It’s probably just anxiety.’ Rei dismissed the feeling. With the first match about to begin, she turned around and headed toward the arena.
Rei disappeared into the crowd, leaving Shin standing beside the unfamiliar girl. Shin watched in the direction she had gone.
"Is... your sister going to be okay?" The girl wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks.
"Of course. She’s much stronger than me." Shin grinned.
"Really?" The girl blinked.
"Yep. She’s terrifying." Shin nodded proudly.
The girl stared at him for a moment before covering her mouth. A small giggle escaped.
"What’s funny?" Shin tilted his head.
"Nothing."
"You laughed."
"I didn’t."
"You definitely did."
The girl’s shoulders shook as she tried to suppress another laugh. For the first time since they had met, there was no fear in her expression.
"What’s your name?" Shin smiled.
The girl hesitated.
"Li...Lian."
"Li Lian?"
Shin repeated the name. "That’s a nice name."
"Thank you." The girl blushed slightly at the remark.
"Well, Li Lian, we’re going to find your mother." Shin pointed toward the bustling streets.
"But we might as well have some fun while we’re looking for your mom." He placed his hands on his hips.
"Fun?" Li Lian looked around at the countless stalls surrounding them.
"Of course. I have money." Shin reached into his robes and pulled out the spirit stones Karn had given him.
"That’s a lot!" Li Lian’s eyes widened.
"Is it?" Shin stared at the stones. He looked genuinely confused.
"You could buy a lot with that. An outer sect disciple would have to save up 7 to 8 months worth of monthly distributions to get that much." Li Lian nodded vigorously.
"Oh? You seem to be quite knowledgeable about the outer sect..." Shin spoke as he observed Li Lian who was clearly a mortal with no cultivation.
"I... heard people talking about it." Li Lian froze for half a second.
"Oh... Then let’s buy a lot." Shin’s smile widened.
There were stalls stretching along both sides of the street, each one competing to attract the attention of the countless disciples passing by.
"Fresh Spirit Beast skewers! Qi-Replenishing Soup!"
"Snow Lotus Cakes! Spirit Fruit! Fresh Spirit Fruit!"
"What should we try first?" Shin’s head turned toward every voice.
"I’ve never had any of those." Li Lian looked at the stalls.
"Then we’ll try everything."
"Everything?" One of Li Lian’s eyebrows raised higher in doubt.
"Everything. Two bowls!" Shin pointed toward the nearest stall.
"That’ll be two spirit stones." The vendor smiled.
Shin immediately handed them over.
"You don’t have to spend so much on me." Li Lian stared at him.
"It’s fine." Shin smiled.
"Our master gave them to us to spend." He paused.
"Well... he said we could spend them freely."
"Your master sounds nice." Li Lian smiled faintly.
’I wish mine was...-" Li Lian mumbled under her breath before getting cut off by Shin.
"He is. He’s the best." Shin nodded enthusiastically. The two sat beside one another and began eating. Li Lian took one spoonful of the soup.
"It’s good." Her eyes widened.
"I told you!" Shin immediately took another mouthful.
"...Hot." Then his expression changed.
"You said it was good." Li Lian stared at him.
"It is... cough cough"
"Then why are you crying?"
"I’m not crying...!!" A tear rolled down Shin’s cheek.
"HAHA!!" Li Lian burst into laughter.
As Li Lian’s laughter died down, she asked another question that was on her mind.
"We shared a whole meal together and I haven’t even gotten your name, big brother." Li Lian asked as she glanced at him coquettishly.
"Shin. My name is Shin." He smiled happily.
"I have another question if Big brother is willing to answer." Li Lian asked coquettishly.
"Hm? What is your question?" Shin tilted his head.
"Why do you wear that blindfold? I want to see your eyes but it’s blocking it." She spoke while puffing her cheeks out slightly in frustration.
"Eh? Ah! This?" Shin pointed at his blindfold.
"Yes, what else would I be talking about?" Li Lian spoke, rolling her eyes slightly.
"Oh, ah well... my master told me to wear it because I failed his initiation test." Shin spoke while scratching his head.
"Hm? Why would he do such a cruel thing." She spoke as she laid her hand on Shin’s cheek.
"Ah...? No, It’s just- It’s that I learned something else as well due to it. So it’s all good." Shin’s cheeks blushed pink, his words became erratic due to being flustered.
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