บท 220: Chapter Twenty - We explore the market of west town

The snow naturally melted over the course of the following day and after breakfast on the day proceeding, Jin Li, Leon and Sun stepped into a carriage arranged by Mond and began their journey to the west town.

In passing, the day before was spent grooming two idle Coeurl after taking them to exercise at the riding grounds of the army's base, less their muscles and instincts become numb from inactivity. The pair had cruelly chased a stubborn horse that had been ignoring the soldier attempting to coax it. Without the intelligence of an Equine, the horse had become startled, throwing off the soldier before fleeing (he wasn't hurt) unaware that the Coeurl weren't planning on actually hurting it. Of course, if prey runs...

Grooming was another affair. Coeurl's were felines but they were not cats, especially Wu Ye who no longer had fur. After washing in water of a decent temperature, Coeurl scales liked to be oiled less they harden and crack and have to be shed exposing the fragile flesh beneath. In the wild, a Coeurl might use the oils obtained from the fatty parts of its meal to coat itchy parts of its hide with its long tongue, but there were always places difficult to reach. Plus, the scent of raw animal fat was not exactly pleasant.

Li Ming, on the other hand, had areas about its neck to gently brush with a comb, which also did not want to be coated in oils, plus the excitable beast was not easy to settle now it had its human's attention. Leon had spent some time grooming the not so little Coeurl draped across his lap.

That had been yesterday, today was another day. The Coeurl remained in the stable, teasing the servants occasionally, lazing about otherwise, while their humans were travelling and exploring another region of Cenapar.

West town was likely the place most merchants gathered, due to its river linking sea and the fertile southern farms. Thus there were a hodgepodge of courtyard properties and small palaces half circling the area more abundant with shops and stores, restaurants and teahouses. There were also areas with market stalls and opportunist vendors, who would throw blankets on the ground to display their wares rather than rent a basic stall for a month. At least until the guards came along. At that point, if they did not flee with their things and earnings, they would likely have to pay a fine (also known as a bribe) before being let off with a warning.

Of course this town would naturally have a red light district as well, but this was off to one side and not a place Sun had ever visited for all his trips to West town.

Even though the air was still cold and the sky remained a steely grey, the streets were filled with the bustling of people, their raucous calls, bantering and bartering. The clinking of coins was often heard in this market area, the chime of brass coins rather than silver and for the most part, buyer and seller departed content. Numerous aromas also filled the air, but the scent of hot oil and spice rose above them all to become dominant.

As the three were jostled, Leon found his hand captured by Jin Li, but poor Sun had to rely on himself to ensure that the trio remained together. Fortunately, Sun was light of foot or he surely would be separated in this kind of crowd.

Leon's eyes wandered past the various food stalls with the heavy smells not sitting comfortably with his stomach and instead were drawn to others. Such as the stall selling silver trinkets and the stall selling wooden dolls for children. There was also a stall selling embroidery threads and handkerchiefs. This latter he bought two white, silk ones for Jin Li, one embroidered with the a golden koi swimming in blue waters and the other with a brightly coloured persimmon growing on a branch with green leaves. In return, he found stuffed in his own hands a handkerchief embroidered with a magpie in a wutong tree.

Sun rolled his eyes at such dog-food, recalling what his Di-sister once told him about the symbolism of the last one as she embroidered a similar pattern upon a token pouch for her husband; the wutong tree along symbolised longevity, but with a magpie in its branches it could express sharing joy together in this long life.

After this stall, Leon became drawn to one selling herbs, but the quality was only so-so and instead he ended up bartering for the seeds of a few common herbs that he did not already own. This was because, while they were easily cared for once established, growing them from scratch was another matter. So seeds were not distributed to students at the institute, nor would most shops bother to stock them, simply the buying the herbs from farmers in the industry instead. The vendor therefore thought Leon must be a bit dumb and so easy to trick coin from. He did not bargain on the malevolent shadow standing behind the small youth, so while he did not make a loss, he did not managed to take advantage either.

Sun purchased some sweet pastries, which he and Leon enjoyed as they paused for a break, while Jin Li wandered off after discovering a stall selling weapons, unable to resist the lure. He returned with a conceited expression of one who has managed to find a treasure hidden in muck and the glint in his eye suggested that he had further more secured it at a fraction of its actual worth. Indeed, the vendor had been vastly unaware of what he held in amongst the blunt blades and rusted knives to one side that he was pretty much selling as scrap. Only the discerning eye of a martial arts cultivator would ever be able to spy that the tarnished sword coated with a thin layer of red rust held a matrix of spiritual energy in its handle and blade, waiting to be activated.

To this end, Jin Li later purchased vinegar and mineral oil as well as a soft bristle brush. That evening he would soak and brush and tenderly treat this sword with the touch of a lover. The rust removed and the sheen of the blade restored beautifully, he would continue to polish and coax the weapon, marking it with his blood to claim a bond of ownership with his spiritual energy. And eventually, it would be a pouting Leon who grabbed him and dragged him to bed, where Jin Li found that he would have to coax his unhappy lover with a much more attentive touch and finally subdue him in a night of dual cultivation.

As the afternoon wore on and their purchases began to mount, their stomachs overfull as well with treats and fried food, they began heading back to the carriage and awaiting driver, when a voice called out suddenly from the crowd;

"Leo? Leo! Is that really you?!"