[You are dirty and hungry, small enough not to attract too much ire for stealing yet, but also not big or strong enough to defend yourself or what food you can get from the stray dogs that wander around the town. You've gone two days without now, your stomach a roaring pit to replace the angry throb of the bite on your leg now that it's begun to fade (oh, and won't that be a sign of your potential for strong cultivation later, that you can heal such a wound so fast at your age?)

It's the leg that keeps you from running, when the tall man in violet exclaims at the sight of your face. "Please, don't be scared," he says, and you stare at him, because he's not the first adult you think has wanted to grab you but he's definitely the first one to ask about it first. His voice is...kind. Calm. "Do you recognize the name Cangse Sanren, little one?"

You're surprised enough by your mother's name to nod, though you still crowd further under the shelter where he found you when he offers you his hand. His brow creases a little in thought.

There's a stand selling melon nearby, and he buys two sticks of the fruit, summer-sweet and fresh. You can see he hasn't poisoned it or played any trick with it, and he's kept it in your view the whole time, so you accept one of the skewers when he offers it.

You eat it together. It's one of the best things you've ever tasted.



In the memory's wake, a ghost of Jiang Fengmian has appeared in the alley mouth, still and unmoving. Blood trickles from his mouth; there are many wounds through his chest and stomach.

He might have to walk through him to get back outside...?]