The inn stood on the outskirts of Qinghe, and as Reon walked at a leisurely pace, he took in the surroundings.
"All the houses here look just like the ones from ancient China," he mused, his eyes drifting over the sloped rooftops and stone walls weathered with time.
Before long, the quiet road gave way to the vibrant hum of Qinghe’s bustling marketplace.
Bustling!
Bustling!
Murmur!
Murmur!
The streets were alive with movement—carriages rattling over cobblestones, merchants shouting, farmers hauling produce, travelers exchanging stories and coin.
Stalls lined both sides of the cobbled path. Vendors raised their voices in competition, creating a chaotic yet oddly musical symphony of trade.
"Fresh radishes! Still covered in morning dew!"
"Fifty copper a bundle—no less!"
"Five for fifty copper?" a customer bartered.
"Fine, take it!" the vendor grumbled with a smile.
"Look here! Plump peaches, sweet as first love!"
An old man hunched beneath a straw hat held up a basket of mushrooms, his hands still dusted with soil.
A young girl ran past, chasing cabbages that had fallen from her cart, drawing laughter from the surrounding shopkeepers.
From deeper in the market, the rhythmic clang of a blacksmith’s hammer rang out—steady and strong, like the heartbeat of the city.
Reon observed it all. People haggling over onions. Old women counting coins with trembling fingers.
Children tugging at sleeves, eyes locked on sweets they couldn’t afford.
Life here... was fragile. Simple. Yet it pulsed with a kind of stubborn resilience.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Everyone’s just trying to survive... Life really is harsh, even in this world," he murmured to himself.
Then he caught a whiff—an irresistible scent of sizzling meat.
He followed it to a humble skewer stall where an elderly vendor stood, idle and alone.
Reon approached with a warm expression.
"Uncle, three chicken skewers please," he said, placing a gold coin on the worn wooden counter.
The old man blinked in surprise but quickly handed him the freshly grilled skewer.
"Here you go, son," he said with a kind grin.
Reon paused, momentarily stunned.
Son... It was the first time anyone had ever called him that.
He didn’t comment—just smiled, quietly touched.
It doesn’t feel bad... being called son, even once, he thought.
He handed two skewers to Cloudia and the little white tiger, then took a bite of his own.
The flavor exploded across his tongue—savory, rich, and perfectly spiced.
"Mmm... Delicious," he murmured with a satisfied nod.
From within the Inner Beast Domain, Cloudia also took a bite.
"Master, it’s so tasty! Can I have another, please?" she asked eagerly.
The white tiger gave a soft growl of approval, its tail swishing happily. It clearly wanted more too.
"Two more, please, uncle," Reon said, turning to the vendor with a smile.
"Of course, son," the old vendor said cheerfully.
Reon handed the skewers into the Inner Beast Domain, then gently slid the gold coin toward the old vendor.
The moment the man caught sight of the gleaming coin, his hands froze, and a flicker of unease passed over his face.
"S-Sir... I-I don’t have change for something that big..."
Reon waved it off. "It’s alright. You can keep it."
"But it’s only seventy-five copper... you’re giving too mu—"
"Your skewer was worth it," Reon said with a sincere smile. "Keep making them. I’ll come back every day while I’m here."
With that, he turned and continued his walk into the heart of the city—blending into the crowd, one more passerby in the tapestry of Qinghe’s bustling life.
After a few more minutes of walking, he stopped in front of a large clothing store, its wide glass windows displaying elegant dresses and robes fluttering gently in the breeze.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Hey, Cloudia," Reon said, his voice laced with warmth. "How about I buy you some clothes?"
From within the Inner Beast Domain, her soft voice echoed in his mind.
"But I already have one, Master."
"I know," Reon replied.
"You’ve got that high-grade magical attire from the Beast Continent—the one that adapts to your form whenever you shift between fox and human, even changing colors to match."
"It’s practical, sure... but how about wearing some normal human clothes for a change?"
A pause. Then—
"Hmm... if Master insists, I suppose I don’t mind."
"Then come out," he said.
"But won’t I draw attention?" Cloudia asked, hesitant. "My presence might alarm the people here."
"It’s fine. Only the shopkeeper will see you. Besides, they’re mortals with no cultivation. Even if they noticed, they wouldn’t pose any threat."
With a shimmer of swirling mist, Cloudia emerged—first in her small fox form, perching delicately on Reon’s shoulder.
Then, as they stepped into the shop, her form shimmered again.
A graceful young woman with silver hair, fox-like ears, and enchanting blue eyes now stood beside Reon.
The shopkeeper—a kindly woman in her late thirties—approached with a welcoming smile that quickly turned into wide-eyed shock.
"W-Where did she come from?" she asked, blinking in disbelief.
"B-Beast Tribe?" the woman whispered, covering her mouth in astonishment.
"I’ve only heard myths... My grandmother used to say they were stunningly beautiful and lived for centuries...
Now that I see her... she really does look like a celestial maiden."
Cloudia’s ears twitched at the compliment.
"Thank you, Aunty," she said, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Reon chuckled inwardly.
"Hmm, her grandma probably meant Elves... Though it’s true—those of legendary beast lineage can rival even the High Elves in beauty."
"Can you show us some of your finest clothes for her?" Reon asked.
"Of course! We have everything from casual robes to premium dresses," the shopkeeper said, clearly excited.
Reon glanced at Cloudia. "Go with her and pick anything you like."
The woman eagerly led Cloudia to the rows of silk and embroidered garments.
Cloudia explored the selection with curious wonder, eventually gathering a few outfits in her arms before calling to Reon.
"Master, come with me," she said, grabbing his hand gently.
"Huh? Where to?"
"Just come," she insisted.
She led him just outside the changing room.
"Wait here... and tell me which one suits me best, alright?" she said with a small, bashful smile before vanishing behind the curtain.
Moments later—
She stepped out in a red and blue embroidered qipao, the silk clinging gracefully to her figure.
"How do I look, Master?"
Reon nodded, amused. "You look good. Cute."
Cloudia blushed faintly, then ducked behind the curtain again.
"N-Next one," she muttered shyly.
She reemerged in a red and white elegant hanfu, its long sleeves swaying like petals in the wind.
Reon smiled. "Too cute."
Then a mix of azure and emerald silk—a noble design that shimmered in the light.
"Incredibly cute."
Finally, a pink and white floral hanfu that seemed to bloom around her like spring itself.
"Incredibly... overbearingly... cute," Reon said, meeting her gaze, which had already dropped in shy embarrassment.
Cloudia’s face had turned the color of ripe tomatoes. She quickly retreated behind the curtain, flustered.
"Geez... Master, if you say it like that, I won’t be able to decide which one to pick!" she pouted, her cheeks tinged with shyness.
Reon turned to the shopkeeper. "We’ll take all the ones she tried."
"Yes, sir!" the woman said cheerfully. "That will be eighty gold coins."
"M-Master... that’s too expensive," Cloudia said, peeking out nervously. "Let’s look for simpler ones."
"It’s fine, Cloudia," Reon said, patting her head gently.
"I know you’re from a noble tribe—you probably love wearing elegant and expensive clothes.
I’ve got money now, and I want to spoil you a little. If there’s anything else you like, don’t hesitate."
Cloudia lowered her gaze, face still red. "T-Thank you, Master."
Then, as if steeling herself, she turned back with trembling fingers holding something... delicate.
"Th-Then... can I get this one too?" she asked, voice barely a whisper.
Reon’s eyes widened in shock when he saw what she was holding.