The streets of Moya were alive with the midday bustle—vendors calling out their wares, children darting between market stalls, and the faint clang of blacksmiths hammering at their forges. Mei'yin weaved through the crowd, eyes sparkling with curiosity. She paused at every stall, touching fabrics, sniffing spices, and peering at baskets of fruits and flowers.
"This… this is so much better than sitting at home!" she whispered, twirling between two merchants selling brightly dyed silks. "Everything smells… and looks… and feels alive!"
Her wanderings led her to a narrow alley where a group of street performers was entertaining a small crowd. One juggler tossed flaming torches high into the air, catching them deftly, while a small monkey danced along a rope. Mei'yin's eyes lit up.
"Oh! Can I try?" she asked, bounding forward with uncontainable enthusiasm.
"Careful, little lady," a performer called, noticing her excitement. "It's not a game for the untrained."
Mei'yin pouted for a moment, then noticed a vendor selling colorful ribbons nearby. With a mischievous grin, she snatched a handful and tied them around the performer's monkey, causing the animal to freeze in surprise. The crowd burst into laughter, and Mei'yin giggled along, clapping her hands in delight.
"You little rascal!" the performer laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, you can help me for a bit, but no more ribbons!"
As she joined the performance, twirling and mimicking the juggling motions, Mei'yin felt the thrill of freedom coursing through her. For a brief moment, the worry of Yuming being away, of her sisters, of responsibilities—it all melted away.
Just then, she noticed a familiar figure at the edge of the market—a young man moving with purpose, his aura unmistakable. It was Yuxi, though he seemed absorbed in his own task. Mei'yin's grin widened. Perhaps the day would hold even more surprises than she imagined.
Mei'yin crouched behind a low wall, her sharp eyes scanning the bustling streets of Moya. Now, with the sun dipping low, she noticed movement that made her pause.
Across the square, a group of men—Ye's men—lingered near a supply depot. They didn't seem to have noticed her yet, merely standing in small clusters, talking quietly, their weapons resting at their sides. Mei'yin's brow furrowed.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, weighing her options. A part of her wanted to run straight into the streets, perhaps to see how close she could get without being noticed. Another part reminded her that she was on her own—without Xiao, without Ling, without Yang.
Mei'yin let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh, a mischievous smirk forming on her lips. "Well, I guess we'll just see what you're up to," she murmured, keeping to the shadows as she began to circle around, careful to remain unseen.
Her hand brushed against the small dagger at her belt, not for attack, but for comfort. She knew the men weren't actively hunting her—yet. But Mei'yin was no ordinary girl. She could observe, anticipate, and vanish before trouble even thought to notice her. And if they were planning something, she'd be ready.
For now, she continued her stealthy exploration, every step measured, her eyes flicking from alleyway to rooftop, calculating, curious, and daring—all at once.
Yuming returned to Baoli Zong, her steps quiet as she entered the courtyard. Almost immediately, Mei'yin's sisters, Xiao and Lingxi, approached her, concern written across their faces.
"Yuming," Xiao asked gently, "did you meet Mei in Moya?"
Yuming shook her head. "No. I didn't see her at all."
Before Lingxi could respond, a young man appeared, walking briskly toward them. In his hands was a small folded note, which he handed to Xiao.
Xiao opened it and read quickly, her expression softening. "Mei'yin says she'll come back when she's done having fun," she said with a faint smile. She looked up at Yuming, assuming the two would return together eventually.
Lingxi's eyes narrowed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Always so quick to excuse her mischief. She disappears for days, leaves a note like it's a game, and you just accept it?"
Xiao tilted her head, calm and patient. "Ling, she's grown. She's careful in her own way. I know she's safe. Let's give her the space she needs."
Lingxi crossed her arms, unconvinced, her gaze lingering on the note. "I don't know… I can't just ignore this."
Xiao placed a hand on her sister's shoulder once more, a gentle reminder that sometimes trust was the best way forward—even when dealing with Mei'yin's notorious naughtiness.
Mei'yin had been wandering through Moya for days, the novelty of the city and its winding streets keeping her entertained.
She perched atop a low rooftop, the wind tugging at her hair, eyes scanning the bustling streets below. A grin tugged at her lips as a mischievous idea formed. "If I tell sister Xiao or Ling, they'll never allow it… better to leave a little note."
Sliding a piece of parchment from her satchel, she quickly scribbled a short message: "Gone exploring for a few days! Will return if the fun stops. ◕‿◕" and left a playful smiley at the bottom. Tucking the note carefully, she vanished into the alleyways before anyone could notice.
As Mei'yin strolled through the crowded market, she waved cheerfully at several familiar faces. "Morning, Mei! Careful with the baskets today!" one vendor called, chuckling. Another baker grinned. "Ah, Mei'yin! You've got a knack for showing up when things get lively!"
"Of course," Mei'yin replied with a wink, flipping her braid over her shoulder. "Wouldn't miss the fun for the world." The market buzzed with her presence; some smiled knowingly at her mischievous energy, while others shook their heads at her fearless antics.
But even amid the friendly nods, Mei'yin's sharp eyes caught movement from the edges of the crowd—figures lurking in the shadows. Not following yet, but clearly observing.
Her grin widened, heart beating faster. "Interesting…." She remained light on her feet, keeping her pace casual while noting the direction of the watchers. A game, she thought, a new kind of adventure.
Mei'yin darted between stalls with her usual restless energy, her arms full of random trinkets she'd bartered for, when—
Thud!
She bumped into a firm figure. The items in her hands nearly spilled, but a steady hand caught her by the wrist before she could stumble.
"Careful," came the familiar calm voice.
Mei'yin looked up, blinking. "Qin Yuxi?!"
And then her gaze shifted to the small boy at his side—five, maybe six years old, clutching tightly to Yuxi's sleeve with one hand and a carved wooden sword with the other. His sharp eyes blinked at her curiously, so alike to Yuxi's that she immediately knew.
Her jaw dropped a little. "Wait—this must be…" She leaned forward, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Your son!."
The boy straightened, almost defensive. "That's me. Who are you?"
Mei'yin grinned wider, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm Feng Mei'yin. Your father's… hm, let's just say I'm someone who likes bothering him."
Qin Zhen's brows furrowed. "You're the loud one Aunt Yuming mentioned?"
Yuxi's eyes narrowed slightly at his son. "Zhen."
But Mei'yin laughed out loud, throwing her head back. "HA! So Yuming really talks about me, huh? Loud—she's not wrong." She crouched down a little so she could look Qin Zhen in the eye. "And you… look just like your father. Same serious face. Hmph, scary!"
Qin Zhen puffed his cheeks. "I'm not scary!"
Mei'yin smirked, poking the toy sword he was holding. "Not yet, maybe. But you will be one day. Just don't end up boring like your father, okay?"
Yuxi let out a quiet sigh, adjusting the boy's collar with composed patience. "That's enough."
But she only grinned, tilting her head. "Relax, Yuxi, I already knew about him—Yuming told me. Just didn't expect to bump into you with him here in the market."
Her eyes softened slightly, curiosity peeking through her playful mask. "You hide him well."
For the briefest moment, Yuxi's gaze flicked down at his son, the hard edges of his expression gentling. "Because not everything needs to be seen by the world."
Mei'yin studied the two of them—father and son—her grin slowly fading into something quieter. Still, she broke the silence with a teasing whisper to Qin Zhen. "Don't worry. If your father gets too stiff, come find me. I'll teach you how to have fun."
Qin Zhen's lips curved into the smallest, shyest smile.
And though Yuxi said nothing, the faintest flicker of relief passed through his eyes—because despite Mei'yin's antics, he knew she meant it.
Just then, Qin Zhen tugged at his father's sleeve. "Papa… I'm hungry."
Yuxi's eyes softened. Without hesitation, he crouched slightly to Zhen's level. "We'll eat. Don't worry." Straightening, he glanced at Mei'yin, his tone even as always but carrying a quiet weight. "There's an inn nearby. Come with us."
The invitation caught her off guard. For a heartbeat, Mei'yin felt her breath hitch, warmth crawling up her neck. She quickly masked it with a mischievous smirk. "Oh? The great Qin Yuxi actually inviting me? I must be dreaming."
Yuxi arched a brow, unimpressed. "You can refuse."
"Refuse?" She scoffed, hands on her hips. "When free food is involved? Never!"
Qin Zhen chuckled, the seriousness of his father mirrored yet softened by youthful brightness. "She is loud, papa."
Mei'yin gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Loud? Me? Hey child, you wound me!" But she winked at him afterward, earning a tiny laugh.
As they walked toward the inn, Mei'yin deliberately trailed just a step behind, stealing quick glances at Yuxi's back—straight, unshaken, and impossibly steady.
The inn smelled of warm broth and freshly baked bread. Qin Zhen climbed into a chair eagerly, his little hands drumming the wooden table as if to hurry the food along. Mei'yin sat across from him, chin propped on her palm, sneaking sideways glances at Yuxi who was calmly ordering from the innkeeper.
When Yuxi finally settled, he turned his sharp eyes on her. his voice low but direct, "what are you doing in Moya?"
Mei'yin straightened, caught off guard. Oh no, oh no, she thought, tapping her fingers rapidly. "Me? Uh… sightseeing! Yes! The market here is lively, and I… I wanted to see if they had new hairpins. You know me, can't resist shiny things." She flashed him a grin, hoping it would do the trick.
Yuxi raised one brow but said nothing, clearly unconvinced yet unwilling to push further.
Just then, a broad-shouldered man set down steaming bowls of noodles on their table. He narrowed his eyes slightly, studying them longer than necessary. "Travelers?" he asked casually, though the weight in his tone wasn't casual at all. "Where are you from?"
Mei'yin's heart skipped. Instinct prickled at her—suspicious, definitely suspicious. Without thinking, she blurted, "We're… a family! I'm Qin Yin, his wife, and this is our son."
The man's gaze flicked toward Qin Zhen. Mei'yin froze. What's his name again? Her mind went blank, panic rising as she opened her mouth but no words came.
Before the silence stretched too long, Yuxi's voice cut smoothly across the table. "Qin Zhen," he supplied, calm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Qin Zhen, happily slurping noodles, nodded enthusiastically. "That's me!"
The man lingered for a breath, then gave a short grunt. "Hn. Enjoy your meal." He walked away, though Mei'yin's eyes followed him warily until he disappeared behind the counter.
She exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest. "That was close…"
Yuxi gave her a long, unreadable look. "Qin Yin?" he asked dryly.
Mei'yin's face burned red. She quickly waved her hands. "I panicked, okay?! Better wife than servant!"
Qin Zhen giggled, noodles dangling from his mouth. "Mama Yin~" he sang teasingly.
Mei'yin buried her face in her hands, groaning. Could this day get any more embarrassing?
When the tension from the earlier encounter eased, Mei'yin leaned forward, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "But… Yuxi," she asked carefully, "aren't you on a mission? Why would you bring a child with you?"
Qin Zhen perked up before his father could answer, swinging his legs under the table. "I'm going to Yunjian!" he declared proudly.
Mei'yin blinked. "Yunjian?"
Yuxi's voice was calm, steady. "Yes. He'll stay there for a time. It's safer."
"But why Yunjian specifically?" Mei'yin pressed, her brows furrowing.
Before Yuxi could speak, Qin Zhen beat him to it, grinning wide. "Because I'll study there! And play with Mo Rui—(Master Mo Xiang's son)."
Mei'yin sat back, slightly stunned. A strange warmth filled her chest at seeing the boy's enthusiasm, but at the same time, her mind replayed the sharp eyes of the man who had questioned them earlier.
The noise of the inn seemed distant as her smile faded into something more sober. She tapped her fingers on the table once, then glanced at Yuxi. "About that man earlier…" she began quietly.
Yuxi's gaze lifted, alert immediately.
"I don't like it," Mei'yin admitted, her tone stripped of its usual playfulness. "He wasn't just curious. Something about him felt… wrong. Suspicious." She straightened, lowering her voice further. "When you've sent Qin Zhen safely to Yunjian… meet me. There's something we need to talk about."
For a heartbeat, Yuxi simply studied her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a small nod, he agreed.
Qin Zhen, oblivious to the weight of their exchange, happily slurped the last of his noodles. "Mama, finish yours before it gets cold!"
Yuxi wasted no time. After safely delivering Qin Zhen to Yunjian, he immediately returned to the spot Mei'yin had told him. She was already there, leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed, as if she had been waiting for hours—though her bright eyes betrayed both impatience and mischief.
"You're fast," she said, a grin tugging at her lips. "Did you run all the way back?"
Yuxi exhaled softly, ignoring the tease. "You said you had something important."
Her smile faded into a more attentive look. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "For days now, I've been roaming Moya. Watching. Listening. And one thing became clear—the Ye's men are moving in a way that isn't random."
Yuxi's brows drew together. "What do you mean?"
Mei'yin crouched, picking up a twig, and began tracing crude patterns in the dirt. "Look. They shift posts every few days, always opposite to where the spirits are gathering in the forest. Almost like they're herding them, keeping a balance… but also creating gaps." She tapped the ground twice, circling one of the points she had drawn. "The gaps are where they exchange information. Small, quick, almost impossible to notice unless you're bored enough to watch every step they take. The man in the inn earlier is an enemy. "
She looked up at him, half-smirking. "Lucky for you, I was very bored."
Yuxi studied the messy map on the ground, then looked back at her. His eyes narrowed, not with suspicion, but with a rare flicker of surprise. "I've been tracking them for weeks," he admitted slowly, "and I couldn't catch that pattern. You… actually saw through it."
For a moment, Mei'yin's mischief slipped away. She straightened, dusting her hands. "I told you, didn't I? I may play around, but I'm not blind." Then, just as quickly, she winked, her grin returning. "Besides, someone has to save the great Yuxi from overthinking too much."
Yuxi shook his head slightly, but his lips almost curved into a smile. "You're reckless… but impressive."
Her eyes gleamed at the words, though she turned away to hide the blush creeping to her cheeks.
Yuxi's gaze hardened, his voice low but firm. "You're not in Moya just to wander. You're here because of the enemy."
Mei'yin tilted her head, shaking it with a playful smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of truth. "Wrong. At first, I only wanted to find Yuming. But then…" She lifted a hand, gesturing vaguely to the forest around them. "…I had fun here. And when those men caught my eye, I couldn't ignore it anymore. So, I watched. Unexpected, hm?"
He frowned slightly, the weight of his concern clear. But before he could say more, she clasped her hands together in mock pleading, her tone turning light. "Don't tell my siblings about this, alright? If they knew I was sneaking around watching Ye's men, they'd drag me back by the ear."
Yuxi's expression softened just enough to show a flicker of amusement. "You're reckless, Mei'yin." His voice dropped lower, steadier. "And Yuming already returned to Baoli Zong. She didn't see you here."
The smile on Mei'yin's lips faltered for a heartbeat, but then she forced it back, shrugging. "Figures… she always runs faster than me."
Yuxi studied her face, the stubborn mischief, the fire in her eyes. For all her antics, she had risked herself alone in Moya, and that realization struck deeper than he let on.
Almost without thinking, he reached out and brushed a stray leaf tangled in her hair. "You should be more careful."
Mei'yin blinked, caught off guard, and for once her playful façade cracked. She froze, her cheeks warming as she met his calm, steady gaze. "...You're too serious," she muttered, half-pouting, half-flustered.
"And you're too careless," he countered quietly.
Yuxi let out the faintest hum, almost a laugh, though his eyes lingered on her a second too long before he finally looked away.