The rumors made him sound miraculous: give him plant materials, and he could refine them into Curios.
If Zhao Hu failed to latch onto a patron like that, he would spend the rest of his life under the weasels... picking through their shit for food.
Before, he had had no choice.
Now Yang Yong was right here.
Cradling the box of instant noodles, he strode toward the green light.
Several villagers had already gathered outside it.
They dared not approach, only watching from a distance and talking in hushed voices.
Zhao Hu passed through the crowd and stopped before the green light. He took a deep breath, cupped his fists, and lowered his voice to a near whisper. "Zhao Hu requests an audience with Yang, Deputy City Lord."
Inside the courtyard, Yang Yong did not even lift his eyelids.
Yezi floated in midair, pointed a little finger toward the gate, and yawned. "Someone's here."
"Let him in."
Yezi waved her little hand, and a crack opened in the middle of the green light, just wide enough for one person to slip through sideways.
Holding the box, Zhao Hu bent down and ducked inside.
The green light closed behind him.
The wailing, chatter, and wind outside vanished all at once.
In the air... there was only the sweet scent of corn.
Yang Yong sat on the stone steps, still holding half an ear of corn.
Long Ya stood beside him, clutching a wooden bowl to her chest and looking at Zhao Hu as though he were a thief.
Zhao Hu gently set the box on the ground, cupped his fists, and bowed very low.
"Yang, Deputy City Lord, I've long heard of your reputation. My name is Zhao Hu."
"You helped us back by Black Water Marsh. I've never forgotten that