I sat nearby, observing him from the corner of my eye, while pretending to enjoy the flowers at the stall. Suddenly, I heard a commotion at the inn’s entrance. Two rough-looking men, dragging along a girl with a terrified expression, barged in.
The girl’s hands were tightly bound, and her legs were trembling as though they had given out. Her silent sobbing seemed to be a plea for help. Yet the two men ignored her protests and her obvious fear, hauling her inside as if she were an object to be traded.
Zijing, who had just finished his meal, glanced up. Without a word, he shifted his focus back to his food. His calm demeanor didn’t waver even a bit, making it seem like the scene before him had nothing to do with him.
However, as the girl was dragged further inside, the man at the counter—the innkeeper—called out, “Stand down!” His shout was loud and firm, but the girl’s captors didn’t falter. Zijing, though still seated, didn’t react until the innkeeper locked eyes with him and urgently said, “Sir, you must intervene!”
I was stunned by this sudden turn of events. It seemed the innkeeper believed that Zijing could easily resolve the situation. Before I could think further, Zijing had already stood up and made his way toward the commotion.
With a single glance, he stood before the men and asked in a calm but authoritative voice, “What’s going on here?”
One of the men, his face darkened, threatened: “Kid, mind your own business. If you meddle, you’ll pay for it with your life…”
Zijing didn’t respond to the threat. He stepped forward, raised his hand slightly, and without much effort, snatched away the weapon one of the men was holding. The blade, meant to intimidate, ended up clattering to the ground. The man froze, unable to process what had just happened, while Zijing calmly placed the blade aside. As though dismissing the entire situation, he said softly, “Unpleasant.”
The men hesitated, looking at each other in fear, and eventually fled, dragging the girl with them. Seizing the moment, I rushed forward and quickly pried the girl free from their grasp, shouting at the men, “Cowards!”
Zijing didn’t bother to intervene further. He glanced at the commotion briefly, then turned around and walked back to his seat. His calm demeanor seemed to suggest that everything was already resolved. Was it really over? How could he handle the matter so effortlessly?
The girl, trembling but relieved, knelt on the ground and cried out, “My lord! I’m the daughter of a gold merchant. Thank you for saving me!”
Zijing paused and gave her a cold glance. “I didn’t save you,” he replied simply, his tone detached. He turned and left, leaving the girl too stunned to follow. Instead, she stayed on the ground, bowing repeatedly as she murmured, “Thank you, my lord.”
“…”
I stayed silent as well, wondering how someone like Zijing could remain so composed while saving lives. What others would consider an act of heroism seemed to be just another trivial moment for him.
This entire scene served as a reminder of what the elder had warned me about. Zijing’s decisions were his own; he acted as he saw fit and didn’t tolerate interference. My mission required patience and tact because a single misstep could end any chance of building trust.
The girl, still frightened, thanked him profusely despite his cold attitude. I took the opportunity to step closer, offering to help her up. As I bent down, I felt a piercing gaze from Zijing. When I looked up, I saw him glancing my way with a faint, mocking smile. It sent a chill down my spine.
“It’s my turn to step in now,” I whispered to myself, suppressing my unease. Despite my discomfort, I smiled politely and walked toward him.
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