Old Stone Lord

By the time Ye An arrived in Crosswater Town, it was getting late.

The stone marker at the entrance bore the words "Crosswater Town." The town was much larger than he had imagined.

It was hardly a town at all. It was more like a city.

Shops lined both sides of the main street. This was an important crossroads, and the businesses here were far larger than those in many other places.

"When did you get here?"

"Half a day before you! Do you know how boring that was?" Lin Wanyue stood and dusted off her hands now that Ye An had finally arrived. "Come on. Let's go to the place Crosswater Town arranged for us."

They crossed the main street and came to a tidy courtyard in the West District.

The courtyard was small, with two side rooms and a main hall. An old apricot tree stood in the middle. Autumn wind slipped through gaps in the courtyard wall, bringing a faint rustling sound.

Lin Wanyue walked around the courtyard, pushed open a side-room door, and took a look. She nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Cleaner than I expected."

Once they had settled in, they decided to get a look at Crosswater Town's layout.

They walked the length of the main street, from the West District to the East District, then back again.

Halfway down the street, Lin Wanyue slowed. Her gaze settled on a steaming food stall.

The stall stood in a corner by the road. An old cloth banner bore the words "Savory Sauce Noodles."

Lin Wanyue glanced at the stall, then turned to Ye An. "You brought money, right?"

Without waiting for his answer, Lin Wanyue went straight over and sat at a low table. She called to the couple running the stall, "Boss, two bowls