Perhaps because dusk was falling, the shop's door had already been left half-closed. Faint lamplight spilled through the gap and fell across Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan stood outside the shop, looking at the half-closed door, and could not help feeling a little wistful.
He had never expected his aimless stumbling around back then to lead him to a Dou Huang expert living here in seclusion. The outcome had truly caught him by surprise.
"That old fellow must be getting impatient by now."
Xiao Yan glanced over his shoulder at the street, where the crowds had thinned considerably, and shook his head with a quiet chuckle. Then he gently pushed the door open, slipped inside, and pulled it firmly shut behind him.
Inside the shop, a Moonlight Stone embedded in the ceiling gave off a soft, gentle glow, illuminating the interior quite brightly.
Behind the counter, Hai Bodong had his head lowered as he carefully drew the map in his hands. His position seemed to block the door behind him completely, while his attention remained on guard against everything in the shop.
At that moment, four other people were browsing maps inside.
All four wore rather lavish clothes, and several burly men stood respectfully behind them. When Xiao Yan entered, they could not help turning to look.
But after seeing his travel-worn appearance, they turned back and lazily continued choosing from the maps laid out before them.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan swept his gaze across the four customers' faces.
The three men were fairly good-looking, though a trace of arrogance flickered in their eyes. The remaining woman was exceptionally pretty, her tight red dress outlining her shapely figure.
So much so that the three men beside her occasionally stole glances at her alluring silhouette.
Admiration and desire flashed in their eyes, but