Day 7,118

Even before the rooster rose from its barn, and when the sky was in its slumber, Haoran was already packing his necessities. His sneaky fingers and feet managed to be an accomplice in kidnapping a bun from the steamers in the kitchen. At such an early hour, Haoran refused to be the centre of attention from the castle maidens and cooks as he knew well that they would rush to assist him. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't spoilt. He was indeed spoiled since birth not just by his parents, but everyone in the castle since he is the one and only prince of the current Pang Empire. Everyone in the castle knew that should any misfortunes befall the king, he would be the one next in line. And, deep down Haoran was aware that it was not something to be proud of.

With fame, responsibilities pile up and the weight will only grow.

As he took a bite of the lotus paste bun, he strode across the gardens which reminded him of the freedom he had when he was just four. No worries about officials degrading his skills or generals that might belittle him for his sword skills. Well, if he was to tell a tale, no one would listen except for his sisters who always loved hearing his stories regardless of how silly they were. He was glad he took the time to bid them a tiny farewell last since they were all preoccupied with their respective classes in the morning. Finding the familiar path to his mother's special peach tree, Haoran smiled at the pictures being etched onto its bark and the tree did a great job by loyally carrying the stories for decades.

Haoran did not take a long time to spot his mother in her most elegant outfit where light yellow and orange silk outshone the falling leaves. Jet black embroideries were seen adorned in an orderly fashion by the sleeves of her attire, making her skin glow. Next to her was his one and only uncle who was in the most modest hanfu he had ever worn in the castle. It struck him at that moment that Haoran rarely saw him in regular clothing since he always returned with heavy armouries due to his duties or even general uniforms stained with specks of dust and sands of the cities. It made his Uncle Jingyi look more appealing in hanfus. A rare sight indeed.

"Did you bring your knives? Money?" questioned Jingyi as Haoran was twirled like a new toy being picked off its designated shelves. "Good choice of outfit. Plain. Lack of royal patterns and no royal jade or any outstanding accessories. I don't want you standing out when you are in the village, do you understand me, Haoran?"

"Yes, General Hao," saluted Haoran and continued. "I will do as told and lay low among the villagers. Just like you taught me."

Haoran straightened his back when his uncle tapped on his shoulders. A soft whine escaped his lips when Jingyi ruffled his neatly combed hair. Laughing, Haoran sank into his mother's embrace to thank her for agreeing to allow him further explorations of the outside world. Ever since he was a child, he had little knowledge about the outside world for even when he traveled with the king to the opposite kingdom, the guards preferred to use shortcuts to prevent unwanted attention. Royal generals surrounded the carriage to prevent mishaps and to protect their safety.

The old memory of riots did not go unnoticed. Back then, he was too young to understand what was going on, but through royal gatherings and discussions, Haoran got a grasp and idea of all current and latest information. Sometimes, Haoran was aware that the officials mentioned that his father did not do much to help the citizens, but deep down from the core of his soul, Haoran knew by rote that his parents cared about the citizens more than anyone. According to the accounts, the royal palace contributed a lot to the people and cared a lot for their welfare. There must be some hidden agendas beyond these castle walls and royal courts. Haoran had his suspicions, and this was the perfect chance for him to inspect.

Once he bid his farewells to his mother, Haoran exited the Cui Palace accompanied by Scholar Tang who floated gracefully by his side, tossing him extra history lessons of some nearby villages. The West focused more on agriculture while the South was concentrated on seas that led them to fisheries. Some had mixed business, focusing more on trading from different kingdoms. Scholar Tang's gestures were almost blinded by the sunlight, making him like a camouflage. He taught him some routes that would lead to hidden villages and also spots where some government officials would be residing for external royal duties.

"I guess this is where your limitation and route ends, so goodbye?" questioned Haoran who stopped his steps and stared at the opened gate before shifting his gaze to the space next to him.

"I refuse to accept your goodbye since I will be here eagerly waiting for your return from time to time. I still want to listen to all your stories. The world is beautiful, yet it has malicious hearts that can ruin the landscape," said Scholar Tang and continued. "You might be a prince who is used to being protected, Haoran, but I trust you know your way around. See you soon, my prince."

Setting foot out of the royal grounds, the air grew thinner as the cool breeze swept past his clothing. Silver and gold fences spread on the sides with different nameplates above the large doors. None of the houses seemed familiar to him except for the one painted in light blue, located right at the edge of the secluded area. Smoke was seen to be emitted from the back of the humble home, and an acrid scent clouded his senses as he passed. That was the home of their best royal medic who invited only him to his abode for some personal medical lessons. After hearing stories of many students being chased off the medic's property, Haoran was certain that he only did it out of respect for the royal family members.

When Haoran exited the last checkpoint, the gates behind him shut tight as horse carts were seen right at the side to transport travellers to their respective destinations. Coachmen brushed the hooves of their horses and proceeded to clean the horseshoes. Bells rang on each corner, attracting customers from all different demographic backgrounds to purchase their niche. Along the streets, children were chasing after each other, singing poems that spread like wildfire from previous histories or overnight oral messages. Vendors were also seen and heard arguing with their customers in terms of prices and qualities. Some were even doing their best to lure Haoran to buy their products, and he would love to admit that some were very talented in means of arts and crafts.

Passing by a tiny restaurant, Haoran decided to get himself a fresh bowl of noodles since he heard outstanding compliments from a young couple who had just stepped out. As per their words, soft, tangy, silky, and chewy bowl of noodles with freshly made bouncy meatballs and fishballs. Just through his imagination, he was already craving for some. On second thought, it would be nice to pair them with a pot of hot tea. Haoran set foot into the restaurant where the bells jingled welcoming his presence and a server was immediately sent to attend to him.

"Welcome, our dear customer! Table for one I see. Please follow me to your seat. We currently have a space with a great view. You can enjoy your meal while watching the markets and the hills."

Haoran smiled in appreciation of the warm welcome as he climbed up the stairs with the server's guidance. Along his way, he spotted customers from all walks of life, wealthy and normal enjoying their breakfast. As he sat, he ordered a bowl of their famous spicy sliced noodles with fried handmade meatballs. In the market, everyone was busy executing their daily activities. The sight of a new circus troupe at the edge of the city did not go unnoticed. Uncle Tang had briefed him on the villagers' tradition that every six months, they agreed to allow the same circus members to perform as a form of entertainment and celebration for their ability to preserve among the cities with their professions. Perhaps two nights later, he could spend his time in the circus.

"Where did you hear it from? I have to admit that the rent for the stalls has increased. It's a little over the top don't you think since they increased it just a week ago? Poor Fai Ge, his profits were all taken away. What do they even take us for? Do we look like we have a lot?" The man questioned setting himself at the table next to Haoran and placing all the groceries down before calling out for the server to take their orders.

"That's not even the worst part of it," said the man with straw hats. "Lao Tu was being threatened by one of the collectors earlier for not paying a sufficient amount of rent this month. And, that is not even the last of it. They pressured him to fork out two months' rent by the end month or else he would no longer have the rights to the stall he always had. I wonder if the other ministries knew about this. We, the common people are suffering day by day with additional rents, taxes, and lack of resources while they sit in their luxurious homes."

"Yesterday, I went to several herbal shops and there was nothing left at all!" exclaimed the other. "I needed some white fungi for my wife's illness, but they refused to sell it to me, saying that all controlled herbs are fully booked a couple of days earlier. I needed only one hundred grams of it so I asked if I could get it another day, but even that, they refused. They said all of it was fully booked! What a great joke!"

"What's the logic in that?! You supply when there are demands," cried the earlier man who thanked the server for his tea. "Everyone deserves a fair treatment. Do they think only the fortunate rich deserve to be treated while we are left to rot...."

"They are not wrong, sir."

Haoran's attention was snapped away from the conversation as the ghastly voice danced in the air of the empty seat, directing his sight to the chair opposite him. She had adorable pigtails with round black eyes, though her pale skin had some indication that she might be an entity from the supernatural realm. He could not judge since even the living had naturally pale skin with rosy cheeks like hers. His speculations were confirmed when the server placed the meals before him and walked away without taking any orders from the little girl in front of him. She seemed to be starving as she stared at the meatballs hungrily. Despite pitying the child, Haoran had no right to offer spirits any meal unless he had incense and proper prayers indicated for meal offerings for them. Even then, he needed her name, but the living are forbidden to ask an unknown spirit their names unless they are proceeding for prayers. Besides, making any offerings on someone else's property would be rude.

Drawing invisible characters on the table as Haoran savoured his meal, the girl's expression changed.

"Medicine was scarce. I did not have sufficient amount to survive, and during the past few months, the water passage had been infiltrated with impurities, making it unhygienic for consumption. Every day, my father had to head to the hills to get clean water for me. I was born with a weak body, sire, and just last month, I passed during a rainy night," she explained and tilted her head to watch Haoran eat. "The customers are right about what they said. When I was alive, my father had to go to the wells or hills far away for water sources. Now, I wish that my father had an easier life since he is ageing day by day. Can you help us?"

"It's not something I can promise you fully, child, but I can try," Haoran replied in invisible written words once he set his chopsticks down and continued. "Did your father get any healers for you?"

A smile flashed across her face when she watched Haoran drinking the remaining soup to its last bits.

"He did. I was slowly recovering until the healer demanded more payment. We did not have enough even after my father sold off the last necklace my mother left for me. If he continued healing me, he would have to sell this shop off to someone else. Everyone is doing something to survive, human nature, but the healers among us kept demanding more. We commoners are passing the day like mayflies. Most businesses who are working for the ministries or royal officials refused to proceed with their business with us because they knew there would not be much profit from us. This is a major injustice going on around us. How many more have to suffer in the living?"

The child took a glance outside, watching the busy road and the people who were purchasing their daily needs. Within seconds, she disappeared from Haoran's sight. He knew she was somewhere around. For all his years of dwelling in the supernatural world, Haoran knew that the spirits do not disappear. They would reside in familiar places around walking distance and lingered around, trying to have fun or select jumpscare partners. In a group, they could travel anywhere as long as one of them had resided in those places. He was confident that she had several friends with her or else it would be a boring life to remain here among the living and even heartbroken to watch her father struggle to make ends meet.

Finishing the last piece of meatball with satisfaction, Haoran went to pay for his meal at the counter and headed out. The sun had just risen. All walks of life began to flock to the markets. Government officials were out patrolling, and several generals rode their horses swiftly across the roads to their checkpoints. Curiosity danced among his veins when he spotted the girl's transparent figure taking a shade into a herbal shop. She lingered by the shed, popping her head out several times to look at him as if to lure him down the rabbit hole. Once he took a few steps forward, she disappeared fully into the darkness behind her.

Lai Yi Herbal Shop.

The bells jingled above his head when he stepped in. The scent of boiling herbs filled his nose, causing him to cough at the malodorous air. Waving his hands to swat the scent away, Haoran glanced towards the goji berries scattered and smashed on the ground. Arguments came from the counter with major slamming. As he took another glance at the door behind the counter, Haoran spotted the child spirit laughing and disappeared with another child. Not saying another word, Haoran cleared his throat to gain the shop owner's attention.

"Welcome, dear customer!" beamed the owner with a lack of sincerity as he swatted the other boy's palms from his table when he stood closer. "Get out of my sight now! I have a customer here to attend to. It's a bad day enough that my goods were rejected and now, you have ruined my supplies. Move!"

When the owner beamed at his presence, Haoran felt as if he was watching a live-action opera dance, minus the delicate songs and traditional theatre makeup. Regardless, he smiled, tilting his head to the side to study the boy whose face was covered with old and fresh scratch marks. His clothes were crumpled, and the edges patched with different colours and types of fabrics. Those small pieces of hair that stuck out like torn threads of an unwanted blanket did not go unnoticed. He stepped forward, ignoring the owner, and helped the boy up, dusting away some smashed berries that stuck on his garment.

"What seems to be the problem?" asked Haoran, facing the owner who took a glance at him and added. "It is a little too early for the ruckus, don't you think?"

"There is no too early for anything here in the markets, sir. I was robbed in broad daylight. Look at the mess and the losses I have to bear!" he exclaimed waving his hands to point at the herbs scattered on the ground. "This boy always purchases the most expensive herbs we have. I would be happy to sell those to them, but for the last two purchases he refused to pay, and mind you, sir, this is already the third time. How long more do I have to suffer the losses, not including the herbs that were torn."

The owner was holding onto the packets of torn herbs and pleading with pitiful eyes. In a time when words were the headlines, Haoran knew he needed to pick a rational solution. Compensating to the owner did not feel like the best solution after he noticed a couple of boxes ready to be delivered to the castle, including the few price tags that were clearly over the base price the economic ministers had set just the last week. Haoran breathed heavily, picking out some of the money from his money packet. He handed it to the owner.

"Get me three new sets of herbs that he needed, and I will pay for the ones earlier too," spoke Haoran as he was aware that the boy was in a dire situation since he required those herbs despite it being overpriced.

Upon accepting the money, there was no other conversation needed. The seller quickly packed everything Haoran had ordered, throwing in some additional packets of herbs. Turning to his side to look at the boy, Haoran noticed him eyeing every packet carefully as the owner weighed them on a scale. He did not seem like someone from around the area. Around his neck was a jade necklace carved in the shape of a snowflake. When the seller handed Haoran the packets, Haoran motioned for the boy to take them.

The frown disappeared from his features as the boy exited the shop. He counted the packets happily as they walked into the market, avoiding people who were carrying multiple bags.

"What is your name? I'm Ailun," said the boy as they walked. "In exchange for your kindness, will you join me for lunch at my home?"

"Nice to meet you, Ailun, I'm Haoran,' he answered. "I would not want to be a bother since you will have someone waiting for you at home. If you do not mind me asking, who are you buying those herbs for?"

"You are not a bother, Haoran. These," he spoke and lifted the herbs with a bright smile. "They are for my mother. Please join us for lunch. We live close by."

Haoran lifted his eyebrows at his words. Close by? Everyone who lives in the village area does not dress in torn clothing. They usually dressed in modest clothing to maintain their status.

"Come on, Haoran. Just lunch. And yes, I live nearby. Just behind those hills," Ailun pointed to the visible hills as they walked closer to the edge of the market. "Scrape away just lunch. After what you did for me, join me for lunch and tea time, will you? I do not like to owe someone a favor. I intend to repay it."

"Then, I will not hesitate. Thank you for the kind invitation, Ailun," answered Haoran.

Walking past the last stall that sold steam buns, they walked deeper towards the hills. As he set foot into the opening of the cave, Haoran picked his steps carefully, taking over Ailun's steps and warnings about the large holes in between. A cool breeze swept past his figure. Haoran would have thought it was just wind, but when he saw a few transparent figures dancing in the air, he turned to look at them. Some of them had similar jade necklaces matching the marks at the back of their necks.

"Mister, Mister," the spirit whispered floating just next to Haoran. "Leave the place while you can. Turn back to the light. Leave. Please turn back while you can." 

Word Count: 3,476 words

Cumulative Words: 7,027 words