— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀— now, how do I make do?⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

— 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹 。

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

|| I will get to replies soon. It has been a very busy period. And I have been working on his carrd.

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

|| I have been super, really, outrageously busy.

[𝘔𝘈𝘋𝘈𝘔 𝘠𝘈𝘔𝘈 @BeastEmpress]

🏮: Last of the bunch!

[𝘔𝘈𝘋𝘈𝘔 𝘠𝘈𝘔𝘈 @BeastEmpress]

『𝔽𝕆𝕏 𝕆𝔽 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕌ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 』

🏮

"ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴏʀ ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ? ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏʟᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴜɴʀᴜʟʏ ᴄᴏꜱᴛᴜᴍᴇʀꜱ, ᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴏɴ ꜱᴀᴄʀᴇᴅ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅꜱ."

❤ & ♻

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

|| Replies soon.

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

|| Apologies, I have been busy.

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

« meantime, the others settled back down, continuing with their meals, while some just chattered away with their convoy-mates.

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

‘Ah, then we will be sure to remain indoors as soon as the sun begins to set… and as for the supplies, we—.’

“I will go, you lot can just focus on resting up… we cannot risk any stragglers in the city if the threat of the night is genuine, especially when we only have »

[Iяιѕ Ɲιgнтяαу @IrisNightray]

Nothing escapes her eye, she had sensed it the moment he stepped past her barrier and into her domain. What a peculiar man, she had thought to herself, but his matters were not hers to decipher. All she cared about for the moment was to be hospitable towards her guests --

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

« our way back?”

Despite Francis’ disapproval, Liuxing himself was equally unhinged, which gave Fushan much to worry about.

‘A-ah then I shall entrust you with the trouble, Li Gongzi(Mr. Li)… please take care and return safely!’

A bow was given towards him.

In the »

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

“Do you think I am one?”

A sigh cascades from his lips, pouring her a cup. He has not met anyone this ‘lively’ ever since he last spent time within the Imperial Court.

His peers he once studied with boasted with vibrance such as hers.

[𝖆 𝒟𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓎 𝓯𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻 ༝༚˖᯽ ݁˖ @_VysteriaSancta]

"As you wish."

She was caught off guard by his solemn voice of request, pulling her back to reality. The woman sat across and spoke.

"Seasons pass by, and ones we cherish. Are you perhaps another kindred soul?"

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

« merchant asked out of mere curiosity.

Yet whereas for Liuxing, he was equally curious for a different reason… if not more. Though he took care to be passive, for his guise as a ‘young warrior’ was still intact.

Unless, she already has her suspicions.

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

“My fate ended long ago, string severed and diagram sundered.” A cryptic idiom left his lips.

‘If that’s the case, we are all eternally grateful for your hospitality.’

Everyone from the convoy at the table rose and performed the very same bow towards her in gratitude. »

[Iяιѕ Ɲιgнтяαу @IrisNightray]

It is more accurate to assume that she was everywhere all at once, just like the wind itself, unpredictable and unrestrained. While her demeanour felt cold and unapproachable, there was no real malice or anger in her voice. It was almost... 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 in nature. --

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

« were we able to hold out until our arrival, I hope you wouldn’t mind we take the time to restock for our long way home?’

A dry laughter of defeat came from Fushan, acknowledging their losses

‘However… might I ask why? do dangers lurk in the dark here upon nightfall?’

The »

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

« heard of it.”

Everyone fell silent to hear him out.

His attention then shift towards the Duchess, meeting her cold gaze with his own.

“Do you have any insights as to why word of your realm would fall unto our ears, Your Ladyship?”

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

My Lady?

Immediately, his eyes shot towards the very end of the table which was usually reserved for the head of the household.

And lo’, there was that wind again, and this time along with it came the Lady Duchesss, to everyone’s shock and awe. The whole table began to »

[Iяιѕ Ɲιgнтяαу @IrisNightray]

The elderly man listened quietly, taking in every word and making a note of everything. It was the first time someone had wanted to establish trade routes with the Dukedom. If he was surprised, he didn't show it, though it wasn't the trade route proposal that caught him --

[— 𝐋𝐈 𝐋𝐈𝐔𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 。 @Yenzetsu]

« delivered, this time deepened with regret.

“I’m afraid they have already been exposed, Rui Gongzi(Mr. Rui).” Liuxing finally spoke, looking at him.

“With the nature of the Dukedom and its secretive existence, we should never have been here in the first place… let alone »