Chapter Five: The Small Town Inn

After confirming with a passerby that the distant peak was indeed North Spirit Mountain, the two children could not hide the joy on their faces. The exhaustion that had built up on the journey now weighed heavily upon them. July felt hungrier than ever, and after only a few steps into the city, she was so weak she could barely walk. Stepping Immortal forced himself to suppress his fatigue and carried July into the Family Inn. The innkeeper’s assistant was about to turn them away, but after Stepping Immortal pleaded and promised they would not disturb the other diners, and seeing how pitiful the two children looked, he finally let them stay.

It was not mealtime, and there was only one occupied table in the dining hall. The children both knew how fortunate they were not to be driven out and dared not hope for entrance to any other inn. They sat together on the floor in a corner, two tables away, quietly watching, hoping that the diners might finish soon and leave behind some leftovers to ease their hunger.

July stretched out her legs as she sat, her face twisted in discomfort from the pain of walking. Stepping Immortal, noticing this, quickly began to knead and massage her legs to ease her pain. Sometimes, July would giggle at the ticklishness, but would swiftly cover her mouth, fearing to annoy the guest and be thrown out.

At the table sat five people: two boys dressed in silver brocade, their complexions fair as jade—one with refined, delicate features, the other with bold brows and a heroic air. By their bowls rested ornate, gem-inlaid swords still sheathed. The girl with them had a rosy tint to her skin, her eyes and brows lovely as blossoming peach flowers, and a fox fur coat draped over her shoulders made her appear even more exquisite.

The two elders at the table, both over fifty, seemed a married couple, sitting close and holding hands as they spoke. The man’s attire was simple—a thin blue homespun robe, unsuited for the winter cold—while the woman wore little as well, though her outer garment was of sumptuous silk.

When July could not help another giggle, the girl at the table glanced over, then beckoned to them with a wave. Seeing her kind smile, the children guessed she must be a good-hearted soul and hurried over. Stepping Immortal raised his hand, placing his small palm to his forehead and giving a slight nod. “Fortunate to meet you, miss.”

The gesture was odd, immediately piquing the curiosity of the three children at the table. The two adults, who had been sitting with their sides to Stepping Immortal, turned to study him as well.

“What kind of gesture is that?” the girl asked, unable to contain her curiosity. Before Stepping Immortal could reply, the woman in the silver robe smiled and inquired, “Are you from the Soul Spirit Sect?”

“Yes,” Stepping Immortal answered. He dared not stare directly at the woman, yet could not help but notice that she must have been breathtakingly beautiful in her youth—her grace and charm still evident, despite her age, her white hair and lined skin unable to conceal her beauty.

The young girl laughed lightly. “So that’s the etiquette of the Soul Spirit Sect? Master, it truly is strange.” As she spoke, she scooped a bowl of rice, and the two boys helped by adding dishes, soon filling two bowls to the brim. They handed the bowls to Stepping Immortal and July, urging them to eat.

When the two children took the food and thanked them, intending to step aside, the woman in silver laughed and insisted they eat sitting down. As the five at the table only occupied three sides, Stepping Immortal thanked her, pulled a chair farther away, and invited July to sit and eat. “We’re dirty and smelly; it’s best not to sit too close,” he explained with another word of thanks.

The woman did not press them, but turned to her companion with a meaningful smile. “Fate,” she murmured.

The man gave a slight, noncommittal smile and sipped his tea.

The woman in silver continued, “Zheng is truly despicable, sending General Cold Wind to destroy the Soul Spirit Sect. Who among the Soul Spirit people does not resent and hate Zheng...”

July, spoon halfway to her mouth, immediately asked, “Do you hate Zheng too?” Stepping Immortal tried to stop her but was too late.

The woman couldn’t help but laugh, her amusement deepening at Stepping Immortal’s wary expression. “You’re not afraid to admit being from the Soul Spirit Sect, but you fear being known to hate Zheng?”

July, flustered, glanced between the woman and Stepping Immortal, unsure what to say.

“The Soul Spirit Sect has people everywhere. Innocent ones are not hunted or wanted by any government; what is there to fear in admitting it? But fugitives from Soul Spirit Mountain are another matter. One must be cautious—not out of fear, but because such reckless sacrifice is foolish and unwise.” The woman in silver smiled at her companion. “Such cunning and integrity at such a young age.”

“It is rare indeed,” the man replied blandly, sipping his tea.

Stepping Immortal watched them warily. “Do you intend to turn us in for a reward?”

At once, the young girl who had beckoned them over slammed her hand on the table, face flushed with anger. “How dare you! My master would never stoop to such shameful deeds! You two ignorant beggar children—”

“No need to argue with him,” the woman interrupted.

The girl obediently quieted, bowing her head in assent.

“I spoke out of turn—please forgive my offense,” Stepping Immortal said solemnly. The woman smiled, drained her cup, and asked where they were headed.

“North Spirit Mountain,” July replied eagerly, relieved when Stepping Immortal did not rebuke her. She felt the woman must be good-hearted, and liked her very much.

“To seek Master North Spirit as a teacher,” Stepping Immortal added, reasoning that since so much had been revealed, there was no harm in being open. From the way the girl addressed the woman, he guessed she must be a renowned master; ordinary martial folk could never wear such finery, so he had not recognized them as martial artists at first.

In the rigid social hierarchy, a common martial artist dressed so extravagantly would be guilty of rebellion. That was why Stepping Immortal had initially assumed they were officials.

“Master North Spirit... As it happens, we are also heading to North Spirit Mountain. The road is perilous—why not come with us?” the young girl urged. “You should thank my master! North Spirit Mountain is treacherous; how could you hope to climb it alone?”

Stepping Immortal noticed the two silent boys at the table exchanging glances with the wine-drinking man, and suspicion flickered in his heart. “We don’t dare trouble you, but thank you for your kindness. We will never forget your gift of food today, and if ever we have the chance, we will repay it. We are too filthy to accompany you; we’ll take our leave.” He once again raised his hand to his forehead and nodded in the Soul Spirit Sect’s salute.

The girl bristled with displeasure, about to retort, but the woman held her back.

“Let them go.”

“Hmph! So ungrateful!” the girl muttered, pouting; the flush on her lovely face only made her more charming.

July followed Stepping Immortal and crouched some distance away to continue eating, glancing up at the woman at the table from time to time, sensing no malice in her, but unwilling to go against Stepping Immortal’s intent.

The woman watched July devour her food with a smile. Noticing that Stepping Immortal had barely eaten, giving almost all his share to July, she waited until July had nearly emptied the bowl before offering to give some back, and only when Stepping Immortal promised to finish the leftovers did she relent.

The woman called the innkeeper over, ordering two more roast chickens, two bowls of lotus seed soup, a tableful of stir-fried dishes, and a bucket of rice to be sent to the children, paying with silver and instructing that they eat at the side table.

“Why is Master so kind to those beggar children? They’re so ungrateful!” the girl complained.

The woman laughed softly. “Let’s see just how much that little girl can eat.”

The girl believed her, watching with eager curiosity. “She’s a little younger than me and so thin—how can she eat so much?”

She watched, astonished, as July made the rice in the bucket steadily decrease until it was scraped clean, not a grain left. The dishes, too, were devoured so thoroughly that not even a drop of soup remained. The girl’s curiosity turned to shock, then amazement, and finally disbelief.

That wooden bucket could almost fit half of July’s body inside!

Yet July, unsatisfied, began gnawing the chicken bones, crunching them one by one. The girl could hardly believe anyone could eat so much, or with such disregard for manners.

She was still staring when her master announced it was time to go. Snapping to attention, she snatched up her whip and left the inn, glancing back at every step.

July was so engrossed in eating she did not notice when the group left. Seeing the chicken bones in front of Stepping Immortal, she reached over, took a piece, and began to chew.

“Try it—the stuff inside the bones is delicious!”

She had already stuffed a bone into Stepping Immortal’s mouth as she spoke. He, half laughing, held the end, and seeing July’s eager face, decided to chew it himself. To his surprise, there really was a unique taste inside, and he finally understood why July loved to gnaw bones.

“It really is good!”

“If only it were a big pork bone—the marrow inside is even more fragrant and smooth!”

Seeing Stepping Immortal enjoy it, July propped her chin in her hands and stopped eating, watching him instead. After he had eaten several, he noticed and urged her to eat with him.

“I’ve already had enough. You’ve barely eaten anything.”

“Alright, then! This really is tasty—I won’t be polite.”