A Smooth Start

In this "tribe" surrounded by mountains.

Lanterns swayed beneath the eaves, casting shadows of people coming and going in front of the doors.

People in colorful short jackets whispered among themselves. An auntie carrying a basket of wild greens passed by, craned her neck to peer at the crowd, and asked curiously, "The stage is set up?"

"It is, it is! Ah, what a lucky day. So many people have come to our village!" a younger woman replied cheerfully. The elaborate silver ornaments hanging from her ears jingled as she moved.

"That's right. First a traveling troupe came to rest, then some travelers came looking for lodging. Oh, my!" The wrinkles on the middle-aged man's face deepened with his grin. "That's a lot of money!"

"Who can blame them? Your house is the biggest. If I'd known, I'd have told my Ah Lang to build another story onto ours," someone chided.

Whatever they talked about, all the villagers were in high spirits.

Amid the bustle, a tall figure slowly emerged from a corner and pushed open the door of a brightly lit house.

As soon as he entered, the figure sat down beside the dining table. The kerosene lamp illuminated his rugged features, and his bronze skin radiated a restrained strength.

"People from Pojing have arrived." He propped his chin on one hand, his deep voice tinged with laziness, and spoke to the woman in the room. "They're on the village road."

"Oh, then we'll go meet them in a bit," the woman replied gently, without a hint of surprise.

She was clearly more concerned with matters in Suan Yu County. She said to the bronze-skinned man, "I'm sure the trigger for opening the instance is the troupe that suddenly showed up. Nie Lang, Yan Ming isn't here this time,