Li Xiaojun followed the woman through the village, the curious stares of the locals trailing behind them. Her pace was calm and unhurried, a stark contrast to the weight of the tension Xiaojun felt growing with every step. He kept his distance, not entirely sure what her angle was. He'd been in enough sketchy situations back in Newer Borealis to know when something smelled off, and this situation reeked of hidden agendas.
The woman led him to a small, secluded tea house on the edge of the village. The inside was sparse but clean, with low tables and floor cushions neatly arranged. A steaming pot of tea waited on one of the tables, as if the place had been expecting them. She sat down gracefully and gestured for him to do the same.
Xiaojun hesitated but eventually took a seat across from her, keeping his eyes on her the whole time. She poured tea into two small cups, her movements precise and deliberate. There was something about her that unsettled him—not in the way the thugs earlier had, but in a much more subtle way. She was dangerous, but it wasn't brute strength. It was something else.
After a moment of silence, she slid a cup toward him. "Drink."
"I'm not thirsty," Xiaojun said flatly, his tone nonchalant, but his eyes never leaving hers.
She smiled faintly, clearly amused. "Careful. Suspicion is a useful tool, but too much can turn it into a cage."
"I'll take my chances," Xiaojun said, leaning back. "Now, what do you want?"
She took a sip of her tea before speaking again. "You're not from here, are you? This world, I mean."
Xiaojun's eyes narrowed. "What makes you say that?"
"There's something off about you," she said, studying him closely. "Your power—it's raw, unrefined, but strong. Stronger than most at your level. And the way you handle yourself, it's like you're following someone else's script. Something external."
Xiaojun's mind raced. This woman wasn't just making idle guesses. She was piecing things together in a way that made him uncomfortable. He'd already decided not to trust her, but now he felt the need to be even more guarded.
"And who are you, exactly?" Xiaojun asked, deflecting the focus. "Some kind of sect leader?"
The woman chuckled softly. "I'm no sect leader. I'm a merchant. Of sorts."
Xiaojun raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like a merchant."
"That's because I deal in things that aren't sold in markets," she said, her smile returning. "Information, for example. Opportunities, like I mentioned earlier. People like you... interest me."
Xiaojun didn't like where this was going. "And what do you expect in return for these 'opportunities'?"
"Simple," she said, leaning forward slightly. "You help me, and I'll help you."
"Help you how?"
"There's a situation brewing not far from here," she said, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Two rival sects are at each other's throats, and it's only a matter of time before it turns into a full-scale conflict. Normally, that wouldn't concern someone like me, but there's something else involved—an artifact that both sects are after. A powerful relic that could shift the balance of power in this region."
Xiaojun frowned. "And what does that have to do with me?"
"The artifact is heavily guarded," she continued. "Both sects have it locked down, but neither side can make a move without risking open war. That's where you come in. You're an outsider—someone who can move between the sects without drawing attention. You're strong enough to handle yourself, but not powerful enough to be seen as a major threat. You're... the perfect middle ground."
"You want me to steal this thing?" Xiaojun asked, not hiding his skepticism.
"Retrieve it," she corrected, as if the wording mattered. "And bring it to me. I'll make sure you're well rewarded for your efforts. Power, wealth, connections—whatever it is you're looking for, I can provide it."
Xiaojun leaned back, crossing his arms. "Sounds like a lot of risk for a stranger like me."
She tilted her head slightly. "And what else are you going to do? Wander around aimlessly, hoping to figure out where you are and how to survive in a world you don't fully understand? You might have power now, but that won't be enough forever."
Xiaojun remained silent, weighing her words. He hated being cornered into situations like this, but she wasn't wrong. He needed information, resources, and time to figure out what had happened to him and how this world worked. Maybe this was a way to buy himself some breathing room.
Still, something about the whole deal felt off. He didn't trust her, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let her dictate his moves. But if he played along, at least for now, he could see what she was really after.
"Let's say I'm interested," Xiaojun said cautiously. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," she replied smoothly. "Just results. Get me the artifact, and you'll get what you're owed."
"And if I don't?"
The woman's smile faded slightly, her eyes hardening. "I wouldn't recommend that. Let's just say... it would be in your best interest to succeed."
Xiaojun didn't need her to elaborate. It was a thinly veiled threat, but he'd dealt with worse. He wasn't intimidated, just annoyed that he'd been dragged into this situation so soon after arriving in this world.
After a long pause, he gave a small nod. "Fine. I'll take a look at your little problem."
The woman's smile returned, satisfied. "Good. I'll send someone with more details once you're closer to the sect's territory. For now, keep a low profile. And don't attract too much attention."
Xiaojun stood up, not bothering with formalities. "Anything else?"
She shook her head. "That will be all. For now."
Xiaojun turned and left the tea house, his mind already working through the situation. He didn't like being manipulated, but at least now he had a direction. If this artifact was as powerful as she implied, it might give him an edge in this world. He wasn't about to blindly trust her promises, but he'd play the game for now—on his own terms.
As he made his way back toward the village road, Xiaojun glanced around, his instincts sharp. Whatever was coming, he had a feeling this was only the beginning.