The wagon that Li Yu was pushing lurched. The suction of the mud broke with a loud SHLOOP. The wheels found purchase on the underlying rock as Li Yu practically lifted the rear axle with his momentum.

  The wagon shot forward, clearing the pit and rolling onto dry ground. The crowd went silent. Then, a cheer erupted.

  Li Yu waded back into the mud, grabbed the second wagon and repeated the process. Then the third.

  By the time he was done, he was covered in mud from the waist down. He climbed out of the pit and was shaking his legs to get rid of some of the mud.

  The lead merchant, a portly man who had been wringing his hands on the sidelines, ran up to him.

  "Incredible! That was incredible strength, young man! Are you a martial artist or cultivator?"

  "I do a lot of squats. You can do this too with a bit of training." Li Yu said with a smile while scraping mud off his shin.

  "You saved us days of delay," the merchant beamed. "Please, allow me to repay you. Gold? Silver?"

  Li Yu sniffed the air. He caught a scent coming from the second wagon. It was a pungent, salty and savory smell that made his mouth water.

  "Is that... fermenting beans from that wagon?"

  "Ah! Yes!" The merchant nodded vigorously. "That is Thousand-Year Soy Paste from the Southern fermenters. We are taking it to the capital."

  "I don't need gold," Li Yu said. "I’ll take a jar of that paste."

  The merchant blinked. "Just... bean paste? But that is a condiment!"

  "To a cook, it's gold," Li Yu smiled.

  Five minutes later, Li Yu was back on the road. He now had a clay jar tucked into his pack. He didn’t feel like storing it away in his ring, he wanted to carry his newly acquired jar. He looked down at his muddy boots and laughed. He felt ridiculous and wonderful.

  Tekton had a hard time understanding why Li Yu did what he did or why he seemed happier from doing so. Wasn’t that just a simple act that he could do without even lifting a finger? He then got a whiff of the soy paste and became curious of it.

  "Don't even think about it," Li Yu warned. "That's for the stew."

  They reached the border city of River-Bend at dusk. The city was built on the banks of the Great Serpentine River. It was the night of a Lantern Festival.

  Li Yu walked through the crowded streets, the noise washing over him. Hawkers were selling fried dough, sweet syrups and masks. Children ran between legs and were laughing. The air smelled of sugar and river water.

  He stopped at a stall and bought a bag of Sugar-Spun Clouds—cotton candy that tasted faintly of mint. He tore off a piece and offered it to Tekton. The centipede’s mandibles clicked and the sugar vanished. ‘That’s actually quite nice. Get me some more of it!’ Tekton commented.

  Li Yu wandered down to the riverbank. Thousands of people were there, crouching by the water, lighting candles inside paper lotus flowers and setting them adrift. The river looked like a reflection of the sky, a stream of fire flowing into the dark.

  He found a quiet spot on a grassy knoll, away from the main crush of the crowd. He sat down, resting his elbows on his knees, watching the lights. A mix of emotions went through Li Yu.

  "It seems like several places like to light lanterns and float them over the water. This brings back memories of the ceremony we had for those that passed away in my sect’s tragedy... However, it’s also peaceful." Li Yu whispered. "This is why I fight, Tekton. Getting resources and respect is a nice side thing.... I do it for this and for myself."

  A soft sound broke his reverie. It was the sound of sniffling.

  He looked to his left. A few yards away and sitting in the shadow of a willow tree was a little boy. He couldn't have been more than six. He was hugging his knees and his shoulders were shaking.

  Li Yu finished the candy he had and wiped his hands. He shifted closer to the boy but was trying not to loom.

  "Rough night?" he asked softly.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The boy jumped at the sound. He wasn’t aware that anyone was here. He looked up with wide and teary eyes. He saw the man with the kind young face and the strange rust-colored metal bracelet on his wrist. It was very unique so it stood out.

  "I... I broke it," he whispered as he pointed to the mud.

  A paper lantern lay there and was crushed. It was a cheap one and made of rough paper and bamboo. It looked like it was mainly self made but it was ruined.

  "Mama gave me two coppers," the boy hiccupped. "It was for Grandma. She died last winter. I wanted to tell her I’m being good and we are doing well."

  Li Yu looked at the crushed lantern and listened to the boy’s words. He felt a pang in his chest that no sword wound could match.

  "Well," Li Yu said as he was scratching his chin. "That is a problem. But you know... those paper lanterns are kind of flimsy. Everyone has them. Grandma might get confused."

  He reached into his travel pack. "I think Grandma deserves something special. Something unique."

  He pulled out a Moon-Melon he had bought from a farmer earlier that day. It was a small round fruit with a thick translucent rind.

  "Do you like melons?" Li Yu asked.

  The boy nodded slowly.

  "Watch this."

  Li Yu pulled a small paring knife from out of nowhere. He used his hands. They were steady and precise. Li Yu wasn’t particularly skilled at this but he was good enough to make it look nice. He sliced the top off the melon and scooped out the fruit. He then handed the sweet flesh to the boy on a clean leaf.

  "Eat that. It’s sweet."

  The boy munched on the fruit and continued to watch Li Yu. Li Yu went to work. He carved the rind. Chips of green skin flew. He carved petals. He carved intricate vines but made a few mistakes here and there. Mistakes that could easily be covered up by the overall design. In minutes, the simple fruit was transformed into a blooming lotus. The rind was shaved thin enough to be transparent.

  He took the small candle from her crushed lantern and placed it inside the melon.

  "Okay," Li Yu said. "Light it up."

  The boy struck a flint he had on him with trembling hands. The wick caught.

  The melon lantern glowed. But it wasn't the yellow light of the paper lanterns. The light filtered through the green rind, turning a soft ethereal emerald color. It was sturdy, heavy and quite beautiful.

  "It’s green!" the boy gasped. "Like a firefly!"

  "It floats better, too," Li Yu said. "Go on."

  He walked him to the water’s edge. The boy placed the melon lantern in the water. It bobbed heavily, stable and bright and drifted out into the current. The emerald light cut through the sea of yellow, distinct and proud.

  "Goodbye, Grandma!" the boy shouted and waved.

  The boy watched it until it was just a green speck in the distance. Then he turned to Li Yu and hugged his leg, burying his face in his dried muddy robes.

  "Thank you, Mister!"

  "You're welcome," Li Yu patted his head. "Be good. Grandma will watch over you."

  "Is that a bug?" He pointed at Tekton who had poked his head out of the sleeve to watch the lights.

  "That's Tekton," Li Yu whispered conspiratorially. "He’s very nice."

  The boy laughed slightly. His mother came running over then, calling his name. Li Yu stepped back into the shadows of the willow tree and faded away before he could be thanked or questioned.

  As he walked back toward the inn in the area, he was touching the cold metal of the Command Token on his belt and he felt a bit lighter. People’s lives continued onwards all the time. Tonight there was no trouble, just time to reflect and cherish memories.

  "No rifts tonight," Li Yu murmured. "Just lanterns."

  The next day his journey continued. The geography didn't change gradually; it happened all at once. One moment they were in the rolling hills and the next, they crossed a ridge and the world turned blue.

  The Azure Mist Province lived up to its name. The air was heavy with humidity, carrying the scent of wet earth and growing things. A low, perpetual fog clung to the ground, swirling around the knees of the travelers.

  Below them lay a valley of breathtaking complexity. Rice paddies were carved into every available slope and reflected the sky like shattered mirrors. Canals crisscrossed the land like veins, connecting massive placid lakes.

  "We’re here, Tekton," Li Yu said, stopping to take a deep breath. He pulled out the map Shen Tu had given him.

  "Misty Harbor," Li Yu read. "It’s a town built entirely on stilts over the largest lake. They say the fish jump right into the pots at times."

  "We need a boat," Li Yu decided. "I am not walking on water. I want the full experience."

  They descended into the valley and flagged down a passing ox-cart driver who was heading toward the water.

  "Heading to the Harbor?" Li Yu asked the old driver.

  "Aye," the driver nodded while eyeing Li Yu’s muddy boots. "Hop in, traveler. Two coppers for the ride. I hope you don’t mind, times are tough on everyone."

  Li Yu tossed him a silver coin. "Tell me about the fish here."

  The driver’s eyes widened and he cracked his whip gently. "The fish? Oh, lad, you’re in for a treat. The Golden Carp here are so tender you can eat the bones. And the spice! We use the Blue-Fire Peppers..."

  The cart rumbled down the path and disappeared into the mist. Li Yu leaned back against a sack of grain and closed his eyes. He listened to the old man talk about peppers and carp, about rain seasons and harvest festivals.

  Currently he wasn't the leader of the Golden Shell. He wasn't the Alliance's Firefighter. He wasn't the destroyer of the Crimson Fang.

  He was just Li Yu. A boy looking for a good meal and enjoying his surroundings.

  "Tekton," Li Yu whispered. "I think we’re going to like it here."

  The centipede vibrated happily against his wrist as the mist swallowed them up. It was as if it was welcoming them into the quiet mystery of the East.