That night, Yu Hua did not even eat dinner before heading straight to a rundown tavern in the south of the city.
In a private room overlooking the street on the tavern's second floor, Jia Shi was drinking alone.
He had a rat-faced look, with two thin mustaches curled high. His brocade robe had been washed nearly white, and a Jade Pendant of unknown origin hung from his waist, jingling whenever he walked.
He and Yu Hua were fellow townsmen who had come to Chentang Pass together to make a living. Yu Hua dealt in furs, while he worked as an insignificant clerk at the county office.
The two got along like peas in a pod. Their greatest shared hobby was envying everyone who lived better than they did.
Yu Hua pushed open the door and sat opposite him. Without taking a sip of tea, he lowered his voice and began venting.
"He's back."
"Who?"
"Li Jing's freak son. He came back from Qianyuan Mountain."
Jia Shi set down his wine cup, his little mustache twitching.
"You certainly got the news quickly."
Yu Hua leaned closer, a sinister curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"He took a Master named Taiyi."
From Golden Light Cave on Qianyuan Mountain."
"Qianyuan Mountain... isn't that within Xiqi territory?"
"You're right."
Yu Hua tapped the table twice, his knuckles knocking dully against it.
"I asked around. That Taiyi is close with the people over in Xiqi."
"Tell me, Li Jing's son took someone from Xiqi as his Master. If word of this reaches Chaoge..."
Jia Shi narrowed his eyes, his mustache curling up further. He raised his wine cup and took a sip, holding it in his mouth for a long while before swallowing.
"You mean—colluding with the enemy?"
"I never said that."