The next morning.
He Xi slept until after nine, then hurriedly scrambled out of bed.
He quickly polished off the breakfast Ms. Cassandra had prepared for him in just a few bites, then dashed out the door with half a meat pie still stuffed in his mouth.
"I'm done for! I'm going to be late!"
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The town streets were bustling with pedestrians that morning. He couldn't use Wild Charge without making a huge commotion, so he jogged all the way, hurrying as fast as he could toward the Oak Tavern.
When he finally reached the tavern, panting, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"Good. That guy Belt isn't here yet."
He found a shady spot beneath an oak tree not far away, caught his breath, and waited for Belt.
But for a habitual offender, there were only two kinds of lateness: once and countless times.
He Xi waited under the tree for nearly an hour before Belt's familiar figure finally ambled around the corner, in no hurry at all.
"Hey, brother Galen! Lovely weather today, huh? Haha..." Belt laughed awkwardly, trying to change the subject with his usual trick.
He Xi sighed.
Forget it. I'm the one who needs his help, after all.
He got straight to the point. "How long will it take to get to your friend's place?"
"It's not far from here. We can get there in an hour." Then he seemed to remember something and added in a low voice, "But listen, no matter what you see or hear later, don't be surprised. Just leave everything to me."
Though He Xi didn't understand why he said that, he nodded.
The two walked side by side toward Hai En's place.
Just as Belt had said, it really wasn't far. They