Touch Of Eternity - The mortal trails Book 1

The Swallow's Flight

The morning sun hung low over the village of Xiangbei, casting long shadows across the narrow cobblestone streets. A gentle mist clung to the earth, and the smell of dew-soaked earth mixed with the faint scent of incense burning from the temple at the village center. The people of Xiangbei stirred slowly, starting their daily rituals, merchants opened their stalls, housewives swept their courtyards, and elders gathered to sip tea under the banyan tree.

But while the village awoke in its usual peaceful rhythm, one young woman was already fully immersed in the day, darting through the marketplace like a gust of wind, unseen, yet everywhere at once.

Xiaoyan was her name, though the villagers had come to call her "The Little Swallow." With her light frame and quick reflexes, she was always moving, always exploring, always a step ahead of anyone who dared to chase her. Her wide, almond-shaped eyes, sparkling with mischief, were matched only by her heart-shaped face that often glowed with an innocent sweetness. Yet beneath that seemingly innocent exterior lay the heart of a true troublemaker.

Today, like most days, Xiaoyan had risen before dawn, slipping out of her small home near the river while her father, a humble fisherman, slept soundly, unaware of his daughter's latest plans. She tiptoed barefoot across the wooden floor, snatched up her satchel, and disappeared into the early morning mist, leaving behind nothing but the faint flutter of her sleeve in the breeze.

Xiaoyan had one goal this morning: mooncakes.

The moon festival was fast approaching, and old Master Luo, the village's most renowned merchant, had begun preparing his precious mooncakes to sell at the festival. Each year, they were a coveted treat, flavored with sweet red bean paste, lotus seeds, and the finest candied fruits. Master Luo had a reputation for guarding his wares fiercely, but to Xiaoyan, that made it all the more fun.

A Mischievous Plan

She crouched behind a stack of wooden crates, her eyes fixed on the merchant's shop. The shop's wooden doors had not yet opened, but through a crack in the window, Xiaoyan could see the fresh batch of mooncakes laid out on the counter, waiting for the customers who would soon flood the marketplace.

She smirked. "Too easy."

With a flick of her wrist, she pulled a small bundle of herbs from her satchel. They weren't ordinary herbs, these were the dried leaves of the Baihua plant, a rare find in the forests beyond Xiangbei, known to release a pungent odor that no one could stand. She had discovered the plant by accident during one of her many adventures into the forbidden parts of the woods, but she'd quickly learned its uses.

Xiaoyan crept closer, silently moving through the narrow alley between two houses. She waited for the right moment, listening carefully for the sound of footsteps inside the shop. Master Luo was an early riser, but he was old, and his movements were slow. Just as she heard the faintest creak of wood from inside, Xiaoyan tossed the bundle of herbs through the crack in the window.

She darted back to her hiding spot, grinning to herself as she heard the commotion begin.

"By the gods!" Master Luo's voice rang out in fury. "What is that smell?!"

She watched with glee as the old man stumbled out of his shop, his face twisted in disgust, his hands waving in the air to clear the invisible stench. He cursed under his breath, muttering about how some foul creature must have died in the walls of his shop.

Taking her chance, Xiaoyan slipped into the store. Her steps were light, barely disturbing the wooden floor as she moved toward the counter where the mooncakes sat, gleaming in their golden wrappers. She reached for one, then another, stuffing them quickly into her satchel.