By the time they left the crowd behind, the noise had already faded into the distance.

The road ahead returned to its usual rhythm, filled with movement and scattered voices, but the atmosphere around the three of them had changed.

No one spoke at first.

Their steps were steady, but slower than before.

Bai Ming walked slightly behind, her gaze lowered, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Fu Li noticed it.

She exchanged a quick glance with Fu Fei, then lightly nudged her with her elbow.

Fu Fei understood immediately.

"...Bai Ming," Fu Li called, her tone deliberately light, "do not keep that kind of expression on your face."

Bai Ming did not respond.

She continued walking, her silence heavier than before.

Fu Li let out a small breath, then suddenly laughed.

"You are thinking too much," she said. "If you ask me, the heavens simply punished them."

Bai Ming’s steps slowed slightly.

Fu Li continued,

"Men like that must have caused trouble somewhere else," she said. "It is not surprising that they ended up like that."

She turned to look at Bai Ming.

"So stop worrying about it," she added. "They got what they deserved."

Fu Fei nodded gently.

"She is right," she said in a calmer tone. "There is no need to trouble yourself over people like that."

Bai Ming finally lifted her gaze slightly.

She looked at them.

Then she nodded once.

"...I am not worried," she said.

And it was true.

She was not worried about those men.

She did not feel pity for them.

She was not even disturbed by their deaths.

What unsettled her—

Was something else.

Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.

Her thoughts returned to the same point again.

Han Fuji.

Could he really do something like that?

The thought came quietly.

But she pushed it away just as quickly.

Why would he?

Those men had not offended him.

They had not crossed his path.

And it was not as if he cared about her enough to go that far.

That idea did not make sense.

Bai Ming exhaled softly.

"...I am overthinking," she said under her breath.

It had to be a coincidence.

Nothing more.

She lifted her head fully this time, forcing her thoughts to settle.

"There is no connection," she added quietly.

Fu Li, hearing her, smiled.

"That is better," she said. "Focus on what we came here to do."

Fu Fei gave a small nod.

"Yes," she said. "We still need to find something."

Bai Ming did not argue.

"...Alright," she said.

And just like that—

They continued walking toward the market, blending once again into the crowd.

But even as Bai Ming moved forward...

A small part of her mind did not completely let go of that thought.

Even if she told herself it was nothing..

It did not disappear.

....

As the three of them walked further, the road gradually became busier until they finally stepped into the main market.

The change was immediate.

Voices filled the air from every direction as vendors called out, trying to attract customers. People moved past them in steady streams, some carrying goods, others stopping at stalls to bargain. Shops lined both sides of the road, and the entire place felt alive with movement.

Even young girls around their age could be seen moving about with purpose.

Fu Li slowed slightly, her eyes moving from one place to another.

"There are so many people here," she said.

Bai Ming remained quiet as she observed everything carefully before speaking.

"Now that we are here," she said calmly, "what exactly are we going to do?"

Her question was simple, but it carried weight.

"If finding work was easy," she continued, "then people would not be struggling the way they are in the barren lands."

Fu Fei nodded in agreement.

"That is true," she said.

She then turned her attention to Bai Ming.

"What are you good at?" she asked.

Bai Ming paused.

Her steps slowed slightly as she thought.

She was a woman, and in a place like this, that alone limited what she could do. She could read and write, but that was all. It was not enough to earn a living here.

Her gaze lowered slightly.

"There is nothing much," she said.

Before she could say anything more, Fu Li spoke up.

"That is not true," she said.

Both of them turned to look at her.

Fu Li smiled brightly.

"Bai Ming is a very good cook," she said with confidence.

Bai Ming blinked slightly.

"That is just something I learned at home," she replied.

Fu Li shook her head immediately.

"That still counts," she said. "Not everyone can cook well."

Fu Fei looked at Bai Ming again, her expression turning thoughtful.

"Can you cook for many people?" she asked.

Bai Ming hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, I can."

Her answer was simple, but certain.

Fu Li’s expression brightened.

"Then that is it," she said. "We can look for a place that needs a cook."

Fu Fei did not respond immediately. Instead, she looked around the market more carefully before speaking.

"Places like that already have people," she said. "And even if they need someone, they will not easily trust strangers."

The excitement on Fu Li’s face faded slightly.

"That is true," she admitted.

Bai Ming remained quiet, her eyes following the movement of people around them as her thoughts settled.

Finding work was not simple.

Not here.

Not at a time like this.

For a brief moment, the three of them stood there, surrounded by noise and movement, yet unsure of where to begin.

Then Fu Li straightened slightly.

"Let us at least try," she said.

She looked at both of them.

"We did not come all this way just to stand here."

Fu Fei let out a soft breath.

"That is also true," she said.

Bai Ming nodded once.

"Then we should start looking," she said.

They continued walking until the noise of the market grew louder again, and the road opened into a wider path lined with shops and small inns.

Not far ahead, a wooden board stood at the side of the road, with several notices pinned onto it.

Fu Li was the first to notice.

"Wait," she said, slowing her steps before walking toward it.

Fu Fei and Bai Ming followed.

Fu Li leaned in slightly, reading aloud,

"Cook needed... accountant needed... servers needed..."

Her eyes brightened immediately.

She turned to the others, pointing at the board with clear excitement.

"This is perfect," she said. "Even if I cannot cook, I can work as a server here."

Fu Fei looked at the board more carefully, her expression thoughtful.

"That could work," she said.

Fu Li then turned to Bai Ming without hesitation.

"And you," she added, "you can apply as the cook. It suits you perfectly."

Her smile widened.

"If all three of us get accepted, we can work in the same place."

Bai Ming smiled, though there was a hint of hesitation in it.

"That sounds good," she said slowly.

Then she looked back at the board.

"But... which inn is this?" she asked.

"There is no name written here."

Fu Fei noticed it as well.

"That is strange," she said.

Just as they were about to look around and ask—

A voice came from behind them.

"I do."

The tone was familiar.

And unpleasant.

The three of them turned at the same time.

Standing a few steps behind them—

Li Manman.

A faint, knowing smile rested on her lips, one that did not reach her eyes.

Behind her stood Fu Fong.