Severing Time & Space

Confrontation Part I

"I thought... haaah haaah... I thought we were... not... exercising... today..." Hou Jingshu gasped between great lungfuls of breath.

"We're not," Wu Jian said.

Wu Meiying nodded. "That was just to keep us warmed up."

"You... you call that... huff huff... you call that a warm up?"

"Yes."

"That's right."

"You two... are crazy."

Her words resulted in two grins, which made Hou Jingshu realize they were taking being called crazy as a compliment. She sighed and pushed some sweaty hair out of her face. It was a good thing she never wore makeup like most noble ladies in the imperial court, or it would have been running down her face in ugly streaks.

It was a busy day in Zahn City. As they entered from the south, the group was inundated with the everyday life of normal citizens going about their business. A young group of boys ran through the streets. Several women were gossiping by the side of the road. Two old men were sitting at a table, playing a game of xiangqi. The scent of fresh bread filled the air, and Wu Jian took a deep breath as he realized he was hungry.

"Let's get a snack," he suggested.

"Glutton," Wu Meiying teased.

"You say that like you're not hungry too."

At that moment, a loud gurgling echoed around them, but it didn't come from Wu Meiying. She and Wu Jian turned to Hou Jingshu, whose cheeks were lit up like bonfires at a festival.

"Y-you can't blame me for being hungry after we just ran here," she said, turning her head.

Wu Jian and Wu Meiying shared a grin that Hou Jingshu could not look at directly. It was too embarrassing.

They bought a basket of steamed buns with a variety of fillings. Wu Jian prefered savory buns filled with pork, but Wu Meiying had a preference for red bean paste, and Hou Jingshu liked the black sesame seed filling. He bit into the steamed bun and allowed the savory flavor of pork and spices to fill his mouth as the three of them walked with no immediate destination in mind.

"After we eat, I would like to hit the local medicine shop to see if they have anything good," Wu Jian said.

"Then after we see what the medicine shop has, we can go to the library," Wu Meiying added before looking at Hou Jingshu. "Is there anywhere in particular that you want to visit?"

"Not really." Hou Jingshu shook her head. "I'm more interested in taking in the atmosphere than going somewhere specific."

The group traveled to the local medicine shop, which was called Won Ju's Medicine. A powerful herbal scent filled the air as they entered. It was overpowering and caused Hou Jingshu to cough and hold her nose. Wu Jian and Wu Meiying smiled upon seeing this, as they had done the same thing the first time they entered.

"Ah. If it isn't young Master Wu Jian and Lady Wu Meiying. Welcome. Welcome," said the man standing behind a counter. He was tall and reedy, with brown hair that hung around his face and sharp eyes. Most people would have mistaken him for a dishonest merchant with his looks. However, Wu Jian and Wu Meiying had been coming to his shop for several years now and he had never tried to cheat them.

"Won Ju, it's good to see you. Do you have anything new for us?" asked Wu Jian as they walked up to the counter. Hou Jingshu was pressing the sleeves of her hanfu to her nose, but she was also looking at all the ingredients located in jars that lined the shelves with interest.

"Has something caught your eye?" asked Wu Meiying.

"Oh, no." Hou Jingshu shook her head. "I was just wondering why these ingredients weren't sealed in jade or a spatial box."