The courtyard carried the smell of wet grass placed across the animals in pens.Ren stood beside the donkey he had brought back.
His hand moved along the animal’s neck in slow passes. The donkey breathed quietly through its nose.
Across the courtyard, his uncle sat on a low stool near the wall. He packed tobacco into a narrow pipe with the careful patience of a man who had done the same motion ten thousand times.
“You found Momu” the old man said.
He did not look up.
“Yes.”
"Was it hard? "
"No"
The pipe clicked as the flame caught. Smoke rose between them, thin and grey.
Ren did not move.
The other animals shifted in the pen. A cow lifted its head, ribs showing too clearly beneath the hide. A goat pulled weakly against its rope, chewing at nothing.
“Uncle,” Ren said after a moment.
The old man glanced up.
“Can you start buying livestock.”
The pipe stopped halfway to his mouth.
“Buying?” he said. “The livestock prices have been climbing up recently, and you want me to buy?”
“Yes, there is an opportunity" Ren explained.
"What kind?" Uncle glared at Ren.
Ren walked toward the pen gate. He pushed it slightly. The wood answered with a slow, complaining creak.
“Buy as many as you can.”
Now the old man stood.
“Tell me what kind of opportunity?”
" Buy them"
Ren stayed silent for a moment, but looked at the uncle.The uncle shrugged.The wind crossed the courtyard, slow and dry. Dust lifted from the ground and settled again near their feet.
The old man studied his nephew carefully.
“Yes,” Ren said.
Silence settled between them.
“If we hold the animals,” Ren carefully explained, “buyers will have no other choice.”
“And if no one comes?”
“They will.”
The old man searched his face.He looked at Ren for hesitation but found none.
“You’ve changed,” the uncle said quietly.
Ren did not answer.
After a long moment, the old man exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
“I’ll start asking in the nearby villages.”
"The more, the better" Ren said.
The uncle narrowed his eyes again.
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Night arrived without rain.
The river moved through the dark fields like a long, patient breath.Ren walked alone to the bank where the soil stayed soft even in dry seasons.
The pressure inside his chest had been building since morning. Now it had settled into something steady.
Something waiting.
Ren closed his eyes while looking at the pieces of glasses scattered around.
Then
Warmth rose through his body.
His breathing deepened.
The river grew clearer in his ears.
Water sliding around stone.
Roots drinking beneath the bank.
The soft pull of the current against the shore.
His heartbeat slowed.
The pressure inside him shifted and it settled.
Second Layer.
Ren opened his eyes.
The night had sharpened.
Tree branches stood clearer against the sky. Even the shadows seemed to have weight.
He stood slowly.
For the first time since morning, his body felt balanced.
Stronger.
Yet the memory of the boy by the river remained.
Strength always demanded something in return.
Ren turned toward the distant lights of the town.
And walked back.
The sect’s storehouse smelled of oil, ink, and old paper. Lin entered without knocking.
“He summoned you" she said.
Yan closed the ledger before him.
The ink on the final line had not fully dried.
But Yan stood and went along with Lin, they crossed the outer courtyard and climbed toward the Inner Wing.
Their footsteps echoed softly against stone.
The inner wing was large, it was an open field with multiple buildings.
Two iron-bound doors waited at the end of their journey. Muchen stepped forward before they could reach them.
“The Elder changed his mind, he is not meeting anyone,” he said.
“I am not here to visit,” Yan replied.
Muchen looked at him more carefully now, “Then why are you here?”
“I want to join Elder Chao’s faction.”
“You already work here, a Servant” Muchen said. “You manage the storehouse.”
“That's not how I want to stay" Yan said calmly.
“I am here to become more than a Servant, I want to swear my loyalty”
Muchen folded his arms.
“Servant, What did you say? How dare you? " Muchen grabbed his collar.
And then he looked around, seeing all eyes on him, he released the collar.
"Why should the Elder accept you? You are his as long as you are a servant"
"Don't dream High. A servant should remain as one"
Yan did not hurry his answer.
“Let me meet the Elder, the Elder will understand " Yan said.
“Understands what?” Muchen said as he stepped forward and glared at Yan.
“That placement decides value.” Yan stared at Muchen right back.
Silence settled into the corridor.
Behind the iron doors came a faint sound.
“What did you say...?” Muchen pressed his body against Yan
“I believe Elder Chao knows how to place people well.”
There was no pride in Yan’s voice.
Muchen watched him for several long seconds.
“Hump! You think he will make you a disciple" Muchen asked.
“No” Yan replied.
“But, he will place me where I deserve to be”
The corridor seemed to grow heavier.
“Muchen, bring him in” a voice came from behind the doors. Muchen shifted slightly aside.
Behind the iron doors, a lock turned.
Yan stood still, he glared at the door that was being opened.