After stepping out of the Pavilion, Yue Rin finally let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Her anxiety is a curse. She must have looked ridiculous back there, stuttering like that. Hah.
What was done was done. Two hundred spirit stones lighter, one secret realm entry token richer.
As the Central Market carried her along on its usual tide of bodies and noise. Her hand slid into the inner pocket of her cloak, thumb finding the token and brushing over its face. It was faintly warm, and that warmth crept up into her chest, like her heart had decided to get sentimental without asking permission.
It was the first gift anyone besides her parents had given her, across both lifetimes.
The thought of them landed like a pebble to the forehead. Two faces she might never see again, and the question that always followed right after.
How were they handling her death?
Yue Rin shook her head hard enough that her hood shifted, then shoved the spiral of thoughts down where it belonged.
She just hoped they would move on and live well.
Before she could wear a groove into the wood, she forced her hand away from the token and looked up at the sky.
Afternoon was still a while off.
Then reality hit.
She was going to the public bath with A-Ling.
That meant A-Ling would see her shabby clothes. And after that… they might even walk around together.
Decision made.
Yue Rin would buy something presentable.
And soap. And shampoo.
The bathhouse provided some, sure, but it was always the cheap kind. If she brought good ones, it would look thoughtful.
Or it would look like she was trying too hard.
Yue Rin ignored that thought, because it was correct.
Her steps turned south, toward the street nobody called Noble Market out loud, though everyone knew who it was made for. A place where prices were sharp enough to bite, and even cultivators didn't wander in casually unless they enjoyed bleeding money.
At the entrance, hesitation caught her step.
Then she reached up and tugged her hood down.
Last time she'd wandered in by accident, the stares had been so heavy her skin tried to crawl off her body, and a guard had even stopped her for questions. She couldn't blame them. A cloaked person with a hidden face did look like an assassin, or a cult member, or both.
She gathered her hair into a quick bun, smoothed the loose strands, and stepped in.
The change was immediate. The air smelled cleaner, sweeter, like someone scrubbed the street daily. Maybe there was a formation at work. Maybe nobles simply paid people to polish stone until it shone. Either way, it felt like walking into a different world that happened to share the same sky.
First on the list: clothes.
Yue Rin moved at an unhurried pace, eyes skimming signboards and window displays, hunting for the prettiest women's clothing shop she could find. Even without her hood, a few strange looks still landed on her, and her hair and eyes did not help.
At least now the stares were more 'foreign beauty' than 'probable murderer'.
Then a sign caught her eye.
Moon-Embroidery Pavilion.
The name sounded soft, and the garments on display looked even softer.
Yue Rin muttered under her breath, "Alright. Let's see what you have in store for me."
As Yue Ruin pushed open the door and stepped inside, a bell chimed.
A young woman appeared almost immediately, as if she'd been waiting just out of sight. Gentle face, bright eyes, posture straight and practiced. Not stiff, just trained. Her uniform was elegant, sleeves neat, hair pinned with a simple pearl stick. A name tag rested at her chest.
Mei Xiu.
Her gaze flicked from Yue Rin's face to her hair, then her eyes, and there wasn't even a trace of contempt for the shabby cloak. If anything, her attention sharpened, the way a jeweler's would when a rare stone landed on the counter.
"Welcome to Moon Embroidery Pavilion, esteemed customer. Please browse at your leisure. If you have a style in mind, I will gladly guide you to suitable pieces. And if you would rather shop in peace, simply enjoy the selection. I will remain close should you need anything."
That greeting was embarrassingly refined.
Yue Rin hesitated for half a breath. "I'd like to browse by myself… for now."
"Of course." Mei Xiu stepped aside with a small gesture. "Please enjoy. I'll be close at hand."
Only after she moved did the shop truly sink in.
A long counter ran along the right wall, polished dark wood with gold inlay. Behind it was a narrow staff walkway, with an opening near the back to pass through. In the middle of the shop, a golden chandelier hung like something that didn't belong anywhere near Yue Rin's budget, scattering warm light across silk and embroidery until everything looked too expensive to even breathe near.
Rows of wooden racks filled the floor, arranged like displays in a painting. Outer robes in pale gradients, layered skirts, fitted jackets with narrow sleeves, shawls stitched with moon-thread patterns, belts with delicate metal clasps. Along the walls, shelves held bolts of fabric, each wrapped and labeled in clean script. Toward the back stood taller racks with formal dresses and ceremonial pieces, and beside them, a quieter corner screened by a folding panel where inner garments were shown more discreetly.
It was dazzling.
Yue Rin's pockets trembled in fear.
But she steadied her resolve. Her first outing. Her first real day like this. If she skimped now, she'd regret it forever.
If this helped them become real friends, then her Ledger card could complain about it later.
So the browsing began in earnest.
And… nothing truly caught her eye.
Everything was beautiful, but in the way a museum was beautiful. Too ancient. Too formal. Too much fabric doing too many dramatic things at once. In her old life, she'd watched outfits like these on screens and thought they were gorgeous. Wearing them, though, was another story.
Mei Xiu watched from a polite distance, close enough to help, far enough not to be annoying. When she finally approached, the timing was perfect, like she could smell indecision.
"Esteemed customer, may I offer a suggestion? If you aren't finding something that matches your taste, we also provide custom tailoring. You describe what you want, choose the fabric, and we make it for you."
Custom service.
Yue Rin's heart lifted. "I need it this afternoon. Is that possible?"
Mei Xiu considered for a breath. "That depends on the complexity. If the design is simple and the fabric is ready, we can rush it."
Simple was doable.
So Yue Rin described what she actually wanted. A set that felt normal in her bones, the kind of clean, practical cut she remembered from her old world. Straight trousers in sturdy indigo cloth, shaped to sit properly at the waist without binding the legs. A plain white top, soft and fitted enough to look neat, but loose enough that her shoulders and arms could move freely. Nothing that would snag, trail, or get in the way if she had to run, climb, or throw a punch.
Mei Xiu listened without interrupting, only asking what mattered: waist height, leg shape, whether pockets were needed, how fitted the top should be, whether Yue Rin wanted the collar open or closed. Her expression remained perfectly professional, giving no sign that she found the request strange.
Then they chose the fabrics. For the trousers, a tough indigo twill that looked plain at first, but carried a subtle sheen under light. For the top, a soft white cloth that felt cool against the skin, like it had been woven with patience.
Since Yue Rin was already here, she commissioned several sets of inner garments too. If she was spending money, she might as well spend it where it actually mattered.
A chest-band with two narrow shoulder straps that crossed behind, so it stayed in place without constant adjustment or rubbing. Short under-trousers for comfort and movement. Simple, breathable, and made from fabric chosen for its softness.
Mei Xiu guided her to a changing room screened by a folding panel and thick curtains, then asked Yue Rin to remove her cloak and outer clothes, including the chest binder, so she could measure properly.
Embarrassment rose fast.
But itchy inner garments were worse than embarrassment, and tight ones were worse than death.
So Yue Rin endured it.
Mei Xiu measured quickly and professionally, eyes on the cloth tape, not on Yue Rin. When she finished, Yue Rin dressed again, and the heat in her face eased a little.
"These will be ready by noon," Mei Xiu said, making notes with a thin brush on a slip of paper. "If you return then, we will have everything prepared."
Noon.
Perfect.
Yue Rin left Moon-Embroidery Pavilion with her mind lighter, and stepped back into the flow of the street.
Next on the list: hair shampoo and body soap.
While Yue Rin continued her errands, a different scene unfolded on the second floor of the Rogue Alliance Pavilion.
* * * *
A-Ling stopped before a pinewood door and knocked twice.
A rough voice answered from within. "Come in."
She opened the door, stepped in, and pulled it closed behind her.
Inside sat a slightly older man behind a desk, hair streaked with silver at the temples, brows thick and sharp like they'd been carved from stone. His robe was plain but well-kept. His eyes, half-lidded over a stack of documents, carried the calm of someone used to being obeyed.
A small wooden nameplate rested on the desk: Cui Zheng. Beneath it, in smaller characters, Manager.
Beside him stood another man, tall and composed, robes crisp, hands folded behind his back. His face gave nothing away, like a sword kept in its sheath.
Cui Zheng didn't bother looking up. "So, finally paid me a visit? I almost thought you'd forgotten about me."
A-Ling kept her smile professional and clean. "I've been busy training for my new job these past few days."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm the one who scheduled it for you." Cui Zheng waved a hand, impatient. "Enlighten me. Why the sudden visit?"
"The tokens are all sold, work isn't as heavy as before. I was wondering if I could leave early today."
Cui Zheng lifted his gaze at last, studying her like a ledger entry. "First time you've asked to leave early. Something important happen?"
"No." A-Ling's tone stayed steady. "I'm meeting a friend later. I wanted to head home first and grab a few things."
"Oho." Cui Zheng's mouth twitched. "And who's this friend?"
A-Ling's eyes narrowed. "I don't think I'm obligated to tell you that."
Cui Zheng raised an eyebrow, amused. "Alright. But you know what you have to do to earn it, right?"
A-Ling's ears reddened. Her eyes flicked to the man beside him, then back. "It's too embarrassing when someone's here."
"My assistant?" Cui Zheng waved again. "Treat him like air."
The assistant's expression twitched, just once, but he kept his gaze forward.
Cui Zheng leaned back. "So? Do you want to leave early or not?"
After a heartbeat of hesitation, A-Ling sighed and stepped within arm's reach.
Cui Zheng reached out and pinched both her cheeks, stretching them like she was still ten.
"Oh, how stubborn you are," he said, laughing under his breath. "Just like your father."
"S-stop it," A-Ling mumbled, the words squashed and crooked between his fingers. "I'm not a little girl anymore."
She batted at his arm with small punches until he released her.
Her cheeks were left red as ripe berries. She huffed, spun on her heel, and headed for the door. As she opened it, she whispered under her breath, so softly it was almost swallowed by the room.
"Thank you, Uncle… for turning a blind eye."
Cui Zheng barked out a laugh. "There was no harm done. You ended up selling it anyway. You did worse when you were youn-"
Before he could finish, A-Ling was already gone, and the door slammed hard enough to rattle the frame.
Cui Zheng stared at the closed door for a moment, then exhaled through his nose.
"Oh, Lin Shun," he murmured. "If only you could see how beautiful your daughter has grown."
Then he turned to his assistant, eyes suddenly cold.
"What did I just hear about some men pestering my friend's daughter?"
The assistant broke into a sweat. "Sir, the people you hired were told to act only if someone laid hands on her. Those men only threw a few remarks…"
Cui Zheng's fist slammed onto the desk.
The desk jolted. Papers fluttered; an ink brush clattered and rolled.
"Are they golems?" he snapped. "Following a single order without thinking? Replace them. Get better ones. And if this happens again, it's off with your head."
The pressure in the room thickened, and the assistant's back went stiff.
"Yes, sir. Immediately." He swallowed, desperate to escape, then tried to shift the topic. "Also… what about the cloaked person the young miss knows?"
Cui Zheng waved it off. "Don't worry about them. A-Ling's smarter than you think. And I've already confirmed they're a woman."
The assistant wanted to say more, but decided he quite enjoyed having a neck.
After bowing, he hurried out.
Left alone, Cui Zheng shook his head once, as if shaking off unnecessary thoughts, then pulled the nearest stack of documents closer.
Work was work.
And the pile wasn't getting any smaller.