There was still some time before the festival began. Leaving aside May, Dawn, Ash, and the others, who went to browse the equally makeshift night market nearby, Xia You saw Cynthia talking to Crasher Wake, unable to get away for the moment, and promptly slipped off.
Of course, he had not left to go somewhere else. He was simply avoiding Cynthia, and rather than joining Ash and the others, he greeted Cheryl and then went looking for somewhere quiet where no one else would be around.
He did not even dare go to the local guesthouses, afraid Cynthia would corner him there.
After all, as he saw it, Cynthia could not keep traveling with them forever. As long as he made it through tonight safely without giving her a chance to confront him, then tomorrow, when their whole group gathered together, there would be even less she could do to him.
So as long as he kept her from finding him tonight, he could pretty much weather this crisis.
But clearly, he had underestimated Cynthia's determination over this matter.
Although Crasher Wake had held Cynthia up with small talk, her attention had actually remained on Xia You the entire time.
She had already considered that he might run away!
Despite looking completely unconcerned, the moment she caught a glimpse of Xia You slipping past and disappearing into a dark alley out of the corner of her eye, she hurriedly ended the conversation and followed at a brisk pace.
The two disappeared into the alley one after the other, barely seven or eight seconds apart.
Yet even in that short time, when Cynthia entered the alley, she found nothing ahead of her. Xia You was nowhere to be seen!
But rather than getting angry, Cynthia smiled.
*He's a little clever. He