The morning market was lively as always.
Asiya sat under her little parasol.
Not a single customer.
The child ghost sighed dramatically.
"...Business is dead."
"It isn't dead."
Asiya unwrapped a mango candy.
"It's sleeping."
"...That's worse."
An elderly woman stopped by.
"My granddaughter keeps having nightmares."
Asiya listened.
Then handed her a small folded talisman.
"Hang it near the window."
"How much?"
Asiya thought.
"...Twenty yuan."
The old woman smiled.
"You're charging too little."
Asiya blinked.
"...I like grandmothers."
The child ghost whispered,
"...Weakness discovered."
---
Later-
The smell of grilled meat drifted through the market.
Asiya stopped.
Looked.
Looked again.
The child ghost followed her gaze.
"...No."
"...Yes."
"...We have work."
"...Food first."
Five minutes later-
She sat on a tiny plastic stool, eating skewers.
Cheeks puffed as she chewed.
The child ghost floated nearby.
"...You defeated an ancient horror yesterday."
"Mhm."
"...And today you're happiest because of barbecue."
"Mhm."
"...You're impossible."
"I'm hungry."
The shop owner laughed.
"Little girl, have another one. On me."
Asiya's eyes lit up.
"...Thank you."
The child ghost sighed.
"...She has been bribed."
---
After lunch-
Asiya wandered the older part of the market.
Hair ribbons.
"...Pretty."
Tiny carved animals.
"...Cute."
Wind chimes.
She tapped one.
Chime...
"...Nice."
The child ghost: "...Are we shopping?"
"We're looking."
"...At everything."
"Mhm."
"...Without buying."
"I'm comparing."
"...You say that every time."
Eventually-
She stopped at a narrow wooden shop.
Old sign. Faded.
Herbs on the ceiling.
Shelves full of yellow talisman paper.
Brushes. Spirit ink. Cinnabar. Peach wood.
The elderly shopkeeper looked up.
Then smiled.
"You're back."
"Mhm."
"You ran out already?"
"...Things exploded."
The old man nodded.
"Again?"
"...Again."
He came back with bundles.
Fresh paper. Spirit ink. Cinnabar. Peach charms.
Asiya counted her money.
Looked up hopefully.
"...Discount?"
The old man laughed.
"You ask every time."
"...Sometimes it works."
"...Persistent."
"...Economical."
He thought hard.
"Five yuan off."
Asiya brightened instantly.
"...Thank you."
---
Asiya hugged the paper bag and stepped out of the shop.
She was looking down, counting the coins left.
Bump.
She walked straight into someone.
A tall young man.
Handsome.
Black jacket.
Annoyed face.
He frowned and stepped back.
"Tsk. Can't you see, idiot?"
Asiya looked up calmly.
Blinked once.
"...No."
"...What?"
"I said no," Asiya said simply.
"I wasn't looking."
The man stared.
"...Are you serious?"
"Mhm."
She adjusted the paper bag in her arms.
"...You're in the way."
The child ghost immediately popped up beside her.
"...Oh. Oh we're doing this."
The young man's eye twitched.
"You bumped into me."
"Did I?"
"...Yes!"
Asiya tilted her head.
"...Then I'm sorry."
Flat voice.
Zero guilt.
She took one step to walk around him.
The man opened his mouth again, but Asiya was already gone.
Walking away like nothing happened.
The child ghost floated after her, whispering.
"...He's staring."
"...Let him."
"...He looks mad."
"...He looks pretty."
"...WHAT."
"...Handsome and mad. Rare combo."
The child ghost: "..."
"...Your priorities are broken."
---
Afternoon sun.
The market buzzed behind her.
Ordinary. Peaceful.
The child ghost: "...So. We made money."
"Mhm."
"...Then spent it all."
"Mhm."
"...We're poor again."
"For now."
"...You always say that."
"I'm usually right."
The ghost chuckled.
"...She always is."
Asiya smiled and ate a mango candy.
"...Today's been nice."
A breeze passed.
For one second-
The jade bracelet on her wrist pulsed.
She paused.
Looked to the horizon.
"...Still quiet."
The pulse faded.
She adjusted the bag.
"...Good."
Then kept walking.
Behind her, the market stayed lively.
Ahead, the sun turned the street gold.
And far beneath Ryan City-
Under ancient stone-
One enormous chain trembled.
Clink.
No one heard it.
Except something waiting in the dark.
_After some time
Asiya walked through the front gate of Lei Mansion.
She had barely taken three steps-
When she noticed two unfamiliar people standing quietly in the courtyard.
A man.
And a woman.
Both looked exhausted.
Their clothes were neat, but their faces showed several sleepless nights.
The woman clutched a small stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest.
The moment they saw Asiya-
They immediately stood.
"...Miss Lei?"
Asiya blinked.
"...Mhm?"
The couple exchanged a nervous glance.
Then-
The man bowed deeply.
"Please..."
"We're begging you."
"Please save our child."
Silence settled over the courtyard.
The child ghost stopped floating.
Even the long-haired ghost became unusually quiet.
Asiya tilted her head.
"...Me?"
The woman nodded quickly.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Our son has been in the hospital for four days."
"The doctors say there's nothing physically wrong with him."
"But..."
"He won't wake up."
Her voice trembled.
"He just keeps sleeping."
"We've tried every hospital."
"Every specialist."
"No one knows what's happening."
The man clenched his fists.
"We were about to give up..."
"Then someone told us about you."
Asiya blinked once.
"...Someone?"
The man nodded.
"An elderly woman."
"You helped her ."
"If anyone could help our son..."
"It would be Miss Lei."
The child ghost whispered proudly,
"...Word-of-mouth advertising."
The long-haired ghost smiled.
"...The best kind."
The woman stepped forward.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"We know this sounds impossible."
"We know you're young."
"But..."
She held the little stuffed rabbit closer.
"Please."
"If there's even a tiny chance..."
"Please save our son."
The courtyard fell silent.
Asiya looked at the couple for a long moment.
Then she asked quietly,
"...How old is he?"
"...Eight."
She nodded once.
"...Which hospital?"
The man quickly told her the name.
Asiya remained thoughtful.
Then-
She adjusted the paper bag in her arms.
"...I'll take a look."
The couple's eyes widened.
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"I can't promise anything."
"I need to see him first."
"If it's an ordinary illness..."
"The doctors know more than I do."
"But..."
Her jade bracelet gave the faintest pulse.
"...If it isn't ordinary..."
A calm little smile appeared on her face.
"...Then I'll handle it."
The couple bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you."
"Thank you so much."
The child ghost puffed out its tiny chest.
"...Our business is growing."
The long-haired ghost nodded.
"...One satisfied customer at a time."
Asiya sighed softly.
"...Let's go."
She carefully carried her bag of talisman supplies.
Hopefully...
She wouldn't need them.
But somehow-
She had a feeling she would.
---