Long Yin was regretting his decision to get Jin Lu feminine clothing with each step they took down the street. Men and women both turned to stare at Jin Lu's ethereal presence, making Long Yin's fingers itch and crackle with lightning. If it wasn't for the constant tug on his belt from Jin Lu holding it, he would have lost his mind from possessive jealousy. He wasn't far from that as it was.
Jin Lu was excited to explore the city. She still didn't understand how the economy in this world worked, so she looked around at the stalls, finally finding a fruit stand. Tugging Long Yin over, she picked up something that looked like a glowing pink apple.
"Excuse me, how much is this?" The young girl turned her head, her eyes widening at the vision in front of her.
"T- ta- take it," she urged, stuttering to get the words out. Jin Lu frowned, fishing in her bag for a few coppers.
"Here, is this enough?" She held out three copper coins as the girl shook her head, backing away in fear. Jin Lu sighed and put the coins back in her bag.
"Thank you." Jin Lu turned away, inspecting the apple before she took a bite. It was strange, but tasty, like an apple and a cherry mixed together with the texture of a pear. Jin Lu wanted to ask what it was, but she was afraid to bring attention to her ignorance.
Finishing the fruit, Jin Lu tossed the remaining top piece into a rubbish heap between two buildings.
I wonder if I could make money by introducing garbage bins?
The sound of strings had Jin Lu's head whipping around the marketplace. A young man was sitting on a wooden crate playing a small lap harp. He looked like a bard from a fantasy tale with his short, pointed hat and long, knee-high boots. There was even a red feather in his cap!
Jin Lu hurried over, so focused on the music that she let go of Long Yin's belt. The tune the bard played wasn't something she was familiar with and there were a few sour notes, but the way his fingers flew across the strings made Jin Lu smile brightly. She stood with the crowd of onlookers, too mesmerized to realize that Long Yin wasn't with her.
The music ended, and the boy bowed, pushing a harp case suggestively toward the surrounding spectators. A few threw some coins into the case, including Jin Lu, who smiled at the harpist.
"Where did you learn to play like that?" she asked. The boy stood frozen for a moment before he was able to speak.
"My family taught me," he said shyly. His cheeks turned red, and he scuffed his shoe into the dirt.
"They own the music store down that way." The boy waved his hand vaguely down the road before stooping to collect his offerings and return the harp to its case.
"Do you want to see?" He didn't look at Jin Lu as he asked, instead taking small steps in the direction he had indicated. Jin Lu looked around for Long Yin. It was strange that he hadn't shown up yet, or that her ankle hadn't given out by this time.
Figuring that he would find her when he was ready, Jin Lu decided to follow the boy down the street. The growing crowd made Jin Lu feel uncomfortable, but she ignored them as they passed the different shops and stalls.
"I'm Luo Yingfa," the boy introduced himself as they stopped in front of a small building. The entrance was pleasantly simple with a bamboo overhang. A wooden sign leaned next to the door with an ingrained harp painted black and yellow. The window display held a bright, tan-colored guqin that made Jin Lu's fingers itch to touch it. A small bell rang when Luo Yingfa opened the door, motioning Jin Lu to follow.
Jin Lu nodded absently at the thin, middle-aged man behind the counter, her focus on the instruments surrounding her. She was surprised and pleased by the variety of instruments they had available. Flutes, pipes, violins, and guitars were hanging from walls or nestled in open cases on shelves.
Jin Lu's hand hovered over a pan flute, looking at the shopkeeper for permission. He waved his hand in consent, and Jin Lu carefully held it in her hands. A Chinese dragon was etched onto the longest reed, the yellows, and reds of the glaze making it look alive against the almost black-brown of the wood. Without thinking, Jin Lu placed it to her lips and started playing a haunting lullaby. The notes were pure and sweet, filling the small space.
Jin Lu closed her tearing eyes as she concentrated, joy ringing in her soul now that she was able to play. Images as faint as a mirage flowed around the unexpecting Jin Lu, causing Luo Yingfa and the shopkeeper to exchange a look. Luo Yingfa disappeared through the curtain behind the counter as the shopkeeper quietly went to the front door, locking it.
Jin Lu stopped playing, taking a deep breath as the last note of the song faded out. Her joyful smile turned puzzled when she saw the shopkeeper standing in front of the door. Before she could ask what was going on, she caught a shadow out of the corner of her eye. The pipes slipped from her fingers as she dropped her body, sliding her leg behind her and twisting it sideways. The satisfying sound of someone crashing into the displays came just as a bag was rammed over her head.
Jin Lu took a deep breath to scream, and something sickeningly sweet coated her tongue. She started coughing as her throat and mouth went numb, as though she had been dosed at the dentist's office. Jin Lu started to feel disoriented and groggy, while her mouth felt filled with cotton. She tried to scream again, but only air escaped her lips. Jin Lu closed her eyes as they started to sting and burn uncontrollably.
"Good catch, Yingfa! Not only will this woman sell well, but her clothing is top quality too," the shopkeeper said as he walked from the direction of the door. Jin Lu was slung over someone's shoulder as the two spoke. Given the height, she didn't think that it was Luo Yingfa. Jin Lu felt a tug on her wrists as something was tied around them, and she was carried away.
The bag on Jin Lu's head distorted the sounds around her until she didn't know who was who or where she was. A sense of weightlessness followed by a sudden drop in gravity made her stomach flip, but she held back the nausea. Jin Lu was unceremoniously tossed to the ground. The bag was ripped from her head a moment later.
Jin Lu was a mess. Her eyes were puffy and swollen from the powder. The charcoal pencil she had painstakingly applied created black streaks down her cheeks from her tears. She was unable to fully close her mouth as she panted for air. Her only saving grace were her clothes. Though they were a little rumbled, they didn't show a speck of dust or grime. Even her boots looked shiny and new.
A sharp clang ripped through Jin Lu's head, making her wince. The surrounding shadows pulsed and wavered, making it difficult to see where she was. She felt dirt under her hands and brick walls at her back as she carefully ran her fingers along the available surfaces nearest to her. Something slid along her neck and she jolted, smiling even as her head began to pound from the sudden movement.
"LONG YIN!"
The mental scream made her dizzy, but it quickly faded as Jin Lu waited anxiously for a reply.
"Jin Lu, where are you?"
Long Yin's mental voice was calm, deadly and Jin Lu felt her heart shudder in fear even as tears of relief sprang to her eyes.
"I don't know. I followed Luo Yingfa to his family's music shop, and they kidnapped me!"
Jin Lu's adrenaline spiked, and she trapped a sob in her throat. She hated that she always cried when she was furious and couldn't do anything about it.
Stupid, Jinny. I don't want to be a woman anymore!
The absurd thought made Jin Lu snicker before laying back with a defeated sigh.
"Got it. I will be with you soon, My Yang."
Jin Lu smiled faintly before closing her eyes and letting her mind drift until the poison left her system.