Life in a bright, friendly village became a kind of purification for the trinity of travelers, and the last evening was a rebirth. The impressions turned out to be so vivid that at first it was even difficult to get comfortable in the next city, located at the foot of the mountain closer to the pass through which trade caravans usually went. They were lucky that the place itself was quite calm, having fallen into a routine for decades, and the locals had already gotten used to the new faces flashing from time to time. Deciding not to linger for a long time, the companions spent a couple of days in comfortable beds and again gathered to go wherever the road would lead, trying to find a more suitable place to stay there before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Although this time they were not in the village, the adventures found them on their own, catching them at the gate in the person of one of the guards, who was finishing his night shift. "Respected daozhangs better not go through the mountains," he said muffledly, pushing the doors apart. - Why? Xie Lian asked, despite the fact that they would most likely not follow the advice they heard and go straight ahead. At least they know what will be waiting for them along the way. "There is a demon in the mountain," the man said. Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows, unimpressed. - Truth? "The man would lie about something like that!" Pure truth! Hey, confirm, - he turned to his comrade, and he readily nodded, feigning stone seriousness. "They say it's several zhangs tall, changes color at night, and eats people. Because of him, we lost one caravan, transporting wood and all utensils. "Something doesn't add up here," Mu Qing intervened, crossing his arms over his chest. "We were walking along the main street and saw people harnessing horses and loading carts. A demon who kills people has settled in the mountains, and at such a time you are going to trade? Sounds like crap. Xie Lian was forced to agree: what kind of person in their right mind would head straight for the heart of danger? Moreover, in this city there was not a single strong spellcaster capable of accompanying such a procession. After that incident with the cliff, he was not going to allow himself to be so easily succumbed to dubious tricks. Noticing how doubtful his words were, the guard immediately waved his hands, attracting attention. "No, Daozhang didn't get it right. The new caravan is going to be led around, not straight. If a demon hides in grief then you should just go around it, "he hastily explained. It was Hua Cheng's turn to snort sarcastically. "And what makes you think that the demon himself will not go around after people?" he asked sarcastically, causing the two men to turn pale and look at each other. "We didn't even think about it. Due to the fact that the first caravan disappeared in the mountains, many transactions were disrupted, and trade contracts are the main source of our livelihood. We cannot afford to lose another game, but we cannot sit idly by either. With a sigh, Mu Qing turned to his companions. His expression remained aloof, but his brows drawn to the bridge of his nose betrayed thoughtfulness. - What do we do? - he asked. They could really just go straight ahead and hope they meet the demon first, however, no one guaranteed that he would not be frightened by the power coming from Xie Lian or Hua Cheng. And no one guaranteed that the demon would not choose larger prey for itself, trying to catch the caravan. Smiling, Xie Lian hid his hands in his sleeves. "Looks like Mu Qing has already made up his mind," he said, and the crease between the guy's eyebrows slightly smoothed out as his raised shoulders relaxed. Noticing this, the prince turned to the older guard. - Can we talk to the people organizing the trip? We are traveling spellcasters and could help you stay safe while traveling. Not believing his luck, the man looked at the guy dressed in monastic robes, whose appearance radiated confidence and calmness. Before the daozhang could change his mind, the man immediately bowed and profusely thanked him, believing that these three were sent to their city by heaven. After half a stick of incense had burned, they were led to a rough-looking man sitting on top of one of the harnessed carts, informing him that the gentlemen of the spellcasters had offered their help. "And why would I believe in selfless help?" he asked sullenly, giving the trio a hard look in disbelief. - Do you know how many such "conscientious" we meet every other time? And then you don't get the goods. "I assure you, we have no ulterior motives, we just want to help kind people," Xie Lian replied amiably, but this time his calming aura had no effect. The man snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. "If I were paid every time I hear this, then these caravans would not have to be driven," he said. Such rudeness angered Mu Qing, and he snorted in the same way, grinning caustically, after which he turned to Xie Lian: "Since they themselves are so diligently dodging help, I suggest that we don't waste our time, we already lingered longer than necessary. During this time, we could go a long way. Hua Cheng agreed and gave the man a cold look. Sometimes people thought they were too omnipotent, no matter who stood in front of them. Even during his lifetime he despised such things, and even more so after death. Next to the wagon stood a boy, seemingly younger than all of them, - he was probably something like a fetch-give assistant, so he did not dare to raise his voice while the elders were talking. Noticing how the situation escalated, he involuntarily shrugged his head into his shoulders, looking at the daozhang with a slight fright, until his eyes stumbled upon three amulets hanging over black clothes that were slightly faded in the sun. - Senior, they do not lie, - the boy turned to the man, and he looked at him sternly, frowning in displeasure. - Why do you think so? he asked anyway. The young man pointed his finger towards Mu Qing, who raised his eyebrows in a silent question. "I heard about him - this is the traveler Fu Yao. Remember my uncle went to the neighboring province last season? It was him he met on the road when he was almost ambushed by robbers who were waiting for him to rob him. Uncle said that Fu Yao had three colors of charms on his belt. The man turned his gaze back to the so-called Fu Yao. It was too small for a local legend, although the name really remained on the lips of those who were used to living on the road. Merchants often discussed it among themselves, intersecting. "The name is Fu Yao?" he asked, receiving a short nod in response. Do you help those in need on the road?
