Yu Xiao's mind went blank; for a moment, she heard only the faint chirp of a bird in her ear.
Deliberately, the old man stepped out of his stall and moved through the space where Yu Xiao stood, lost in a daze. When waving his hand didn't work, he snapped his fingers sharply beside her ear.
It worked—Yu Xiao blinked, consciousness returning. As her vision cleared, she saw the old man's incomplete teeth stretched in a gentle smile.
"In this place, people need to stay aware and sharp. There's no point in losing oneself in the center of the crowd," he warned quietly.
After speaking, the old man returned to his stall, though Yu Xiao could still feel his gaze lingering on her. Another customer soon arrived, drawing his attention away. Speechless, Yu Xiao realized she had no choice but to move on.
She walked a short distance, then glanced back. The old man was preoccupied with his new customer. It was better not to disturb him or ask for more.
With a quiet sigh, she turned and walked away—surprised to feel a subtle sense of freedom stirring inside her.
The market was lively, overflowing with people tending to their own business, children darting and laughing everywhere.
Yu Xiao wandered deeper into the heart of the Beiming Outbound Market, letting the crowd carry her forward like a gentle current. Her white veil fluttered with each step, but she no longer felt the urge to hide so desperately. Here, amid the living pulse of the place, she could finally breathe.
The lanes twisted and widened into a colorful maze of sound and spectacle. Vendors called out in rhythmic chants, voices overlapping in a cheerful din:
"Fresh Moonshadow Ginseng—harvested at midnight, qi as pure as starlight!"
"Warm snow-silk scarves—keep the chill from your bones, only ten low-grade stones!"
"Spirit-roasted chestnuts! Hot, sweet, bursting with essence—two for one stone!"
Children darted everywhere, fearless and bright-eyed. A small boy, no older than six, balanced on a wooden crate, pretending it was a flying sword as his friends cheered him on.
"Higher, higher! You're almost to the clouds!" one girl shouted, clapping her mittened hands. When he "crashed" into a pile of soft wool blankets, the stall owner laughed and tossed him a warm dumpling from her basket. "Fly again tomorrow, little hero," she said, ruffling his hair.
Nearby, a group of girls huddled around a street musician playing a bamboo flute. The melody was light and playful, rising and falling like wind through snow-laden pines. One girl swayed in time, her braid swinging; another tried to mimic the tune on a leaf, puffing her cheeks until the leaf squeaked and sent everyone into giggles. Their laughter rang out, clear and unguarded, cutting through the hum of the market like bells.
Further along, an elderly couple sat side by side on a low bench, sharing a single bowl of steaming noodle soup. The husband carefully lifted a spoonful to his wife's lips; she accepted it with a fond smile and returned the gesture. They spoke in soft murmurs, words lost to the crowd, but their hands remained linked—two weathered palms resting together as if they had never learned how to let go.
A troupe of traveling performers had set up in a cleared circle: three young men juggled glowing ice orbs that shifted color with every toss. A fourth spun flaming hoops, carefully warded to contain the heat, drawing gasps and applause. When a toddler wandered too close, one juggler knelt instantly, catching an orb mid-air and pressing it gently into the child's hands. It glowed softly, harmless and warm. The child stared in wonder, then squealed with delight as the orb pulsed in time with his heartbeat. Parents nearby smiled, nodding gratefully.
Even the animals are added to the market's life. A pair of tame snow foxes—fur so white they nearly vanished against the drifts—curled beside their owner's stall, tails twitching in rhythm to the music. A child approached cautiously; one fox lifted its head, sniffed the tiny outstretched hand, then nuzzled it gently. The child beamed, whispering, "You're so soft…"
Yu Xiao paused beside a stall selling tiny wind chimes carved from glacial jade. Each chime rang with a different note when the breeze touched it—soft, clear, almost like distant laughter. She reached out, letting one brush her fingertip. The sound was so pure, it made her chest ache for something she couldn't name.
All around her, people moved with purpose and without hurry: —a mother bargaining for winter boots while her baby slept peacefully on her back; —two old friends arguing over whose turn it was to pay for tea, both secretly trying to slip coins to the vendor first; —a young cultivator showing off a new qi-gathering pendant to his shy sweetheart, who blushed but couldn't hide her smile.
It was ordinary. Messy. Warm.
And in the middle of all that ordinary warmth, Yu Xiao felt—for just a moment—like she belonged somewhere again.
She drew in a slow breath, the cold air sharp and clean in her lungs, scented with chestnuts, pine smoke, and the faint sweetness of moonberries.
"Maybe," she whispered to herself, "this is what living looks like."
She adjusted her veil one last time, squared her shoulders, and stepped forward into the crowd—not as a lost stranger anymore, but as someone who might, just might, find her way by walking through the life happening all around her.
Yu Xiao folded her arms tighter across her ribs, the thin white veil doing little to hide the faint frown creasing her brow.
"Didn't Xue Wuya mention earlier that this place is dangerous?" she murmured to herself. "How did it end up so... lively and brightly lit?"
The question hung in the cold air, unanswered except by the market itself.
Another stall caught her eye. She approached and, almost without thinking, ran her fingers gently over the hanging love locks, smoothing their cool metal. A small snort escaped her as she caught herself—of course, she would be drawn to these, of all things.
"The funniest thing is, why am I suddenly drawn to these cheap trinkets? And if I were to give one away... who would it be for?"
A brief pause, then realization flickered across her face.
"Xue Wuya and Lan Qingwe!" she murmured, a smile hidden beneath her veil. "Yes, it's perfect!"
A woman in her thirties or forties approached with a warm smile.
"Young lady, would you like to buy one?" she asked softly. "Most people choose these for someone they love. I have a feeling you want one for your special someone, too." Her voice was slow and gentle.
Yu Xiao's eyes reflected a reluctant smile. "No, actually, I'd like to buy these as gifts for my friends."
"Friends? How fortunate they are to have someone who wishes them happiness," the woman remarked, gently lifting a pair of love locks from the hanger. "Do you have a lover?"
The question caught Yu Xiao off guard. The woman's eyes sparkled as she teased her with a quiet, knowing smile.
"No—never," Yu Xiao replied quickly.
Still smiling, the woman gently took Yu Xiao's hand and placed the love locks in her palm. "You shouldn't be so certain," she said softly. "I can sense you once cherished someone deeply, but he didn't value your affection. Don't worry—he simply wasn't the right one for you. You're a beautiful young woman. The person you're destined for will never hesitate to risk everything for you."
Yu Xiao lowered her gaze to her palm, slowly curling her fingers around the love locks.
"These are free," the woman said gently. "Take them and give them to your friends."
With that, she turned away and quietly began arranging her merchandise.
A sheepish smile appeared on Yu Xiao's face; she couldn't quite suppress the rush of emotion she felt.
How did that woman know she'd once cherished someone?
Yes, she had—only to have her trust taken advantage of.
Lin Chen was the first person she ever loved. Thankfully, she hadn't given him everything.
Even though her reputation had been ruined, at least she still retained her self-respect.
If she ever changed her mind and decided to love again, she would have the confidence to face her future beloved with pride.
What now? What was she thinking? This all felt so reckless.
Yu Xiao shut her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.
Thinking about love now only reminded her—because of love, she had been betrayed.
She let out a heavy sigh.
A wave of self-reproach washed over her. "Shameless," she murmured, barely audible behind her veil.
Her brooding was interrupted by a small, tentative voice.
"Ma'am, please give me some food." A filthy young boy stood before her, holding up a cracked bowl in both hands. His eyes, wide and hungry, met hers.
Yu Xiao lowered her gaze, a tightness rising in her chest. Even with her face hidden, her eyes betrayed the emotion she felt.
"Food," the boy repeated, pressing his bowl closer, hope flickering in his eyes.
Moved by his plea, Yu Xiao crouched down to his level. Gently, she brushed aside a stray lock of hair from his face.
"I don't have many spirit stones," she said softly, her voice warm and reassuring as she held the boy's thin arms. "But I do have another idea. How about we eat together? I'm hungry too. Would you like that?"
The boy nodded quietly.
Yu Xiao rose, taking his arm in hers. "Let's go."
He didn't hesitate, following her through the bustling market until they found a simple eatery.
Turning to him with a gentle smile, she added, "I'm not sure if you'll like the food here, but that's all right. As long as we fill our stomachs, that's what matters."