"Sorry, it seems I frightened you," Qidunston said, turning back and withdrawing his gaze.
He studied the two young people before him again. His gaze settled on Zeng Mu's face with evident satisfaction, as though he had secretly discerned the presence of something unusual.
Zeng Mu felt uneasy under those remarkably distinguished eyes. He turned his head slightly, presenting his cheek and looking elsewhere, not daring to meet them directly.
Just as he was about to speak and excuse himself, Qidunston spoke first. "No matter how I look at you two youngsters, I can't see you as ordinary people. Perhaps you're a Knight and a Healer?"
Both were startled by his words. He could tell who we are just by looking? No, that's impossible. How could anything so strange happen? Both murmured this inwardly.
A faint smile touched Qidunston's lips as he continued, "You aren't newlyweds, and you certainly didn't come to Vites Town specifically for sightseeing. You're just passing through, aren't you?"
They nodded in unison. Having received the right answer, Qidunston spoke more firmly and quickly. "Then let me guess. Where are you going?"
"Merchants' children? No. You both have distinctive bearing, but you're rather too different, and you don't look like siblings, so that isn't it."
"Travelers returning home? No. There's a heartfelt simplicity in your bearing, manner, and speech, quite unlike children raised under the influence of red clay, so that isn't it either."
"Then... let me think... Oh, I have it. You're going to attend the biennial Temple Capital Banquet, aren't you?"
Zeng Mu and Ma Linya could not hide the amazement on their faces. After exchanging a glance, they looked at Qidunston and asked together, "How could you tell?"
He chuckled and pointed out the window. "I guessed it when I saw the horse