Chapter 4: A Town Shrouded in Secrecy

Natsou and Kei headed for the market — where gossip spread faster than wildfire — hoping to find out which town had been attacked. Natsou asked every vendor she could find, but no one seemed to know.

"Ugh! Why does no one know about this?!" she groaned in frustration.

"Let me try," Kei said, walking toward an elderly couple selling couple bracelets.

"Good afternoon, sir, ma'am," he said, picking up a small bracelet. "Just asking — how much is this one?"

"Ten silvers," the lady replied.

"Oh, that's pricey," Kei said, "but I'll buy it. Do you have one with a yin and yang theme?"

"We do, mister!"

Natsou stormed over, her face flushed with anger. "I thought you were going to ask about the attacked town! Why are you buying couple bracelets, you fool?!"

The old man looked up at her. "You're looking for the town that was recently attacked?"

Natsou's eyes widened. "Yes! Do you know which one it is?"

The man nodded slowly.

"Everyone knows," the lady added, "but Master Hiro forbade anyone from talking about it anymore..."

"Father did that?!" Natsou exclaimed.

"Oh! So you're Master Hiro's daughter, milady?"

"Yes. Please — can you tell us which town it is?"

"I'm afraid I can't," the lady said softly. "Your father said..."

"I know, but..." Natsou started, then was cut off.

"How about this," Kei said, stepping forward, "I'll buy all of your bracelets if you tell us. Every single one."

The man hesitated. "Uhm..."

"Really," Kei insisted. "Just tell us the town's name."

The couple exchanged worried glances. "Sorry, we still can't," the man said.

Without a second thought, Natsou dropped to her knees. "Please tell us. I beg you."

"Milady, please don't do that!" the lady cried out.

"My father is sick," Natsou said, her voice thick with emotion. "He's too stubborn to take care of himself, and I can't bear to see his health get worse. As his daughter, I need to solve this for him. Please."

She bowed her head so low it touched the ground. "I beg you."

Kei knelt beside her and bowed too. "We're begging you!"

The couple's faces softened with pity. "Please, stand up, milady, mister," the lady said gently.

"Let's go inside our home first," the man added. "We can't talk about this out here."

"Thank you," Natsou and Kei said in unison, standing up.

They followed the couple into their small house. "Please, come in," the lady said, gesturing to some stools. "Sit."

"Thank you," Kei said, sitting carefully.

"We can't share details outside because of your father's order," the lady explained. "If anyone saw us telling you, we'd be punished."

"I know, and I'm sorry for the trouble," Natsou said. "But we really need to know."

"I understand," the lady said. "It's a healing town — the people there practice healing cultivation."

"A healing town?"

"Yes. Its name is Dangxia."

"Dangxia?"

"That's right. It's completely devastated now — everyone who survived has left."

"Thank you so much, sir and ma'am," Natsou said, pulling out her coin purse. "As promised, we'll buy all of your bracelets."

The couple's faces lit up. "Thank you!"

End of chapter 6

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