Qiao Zhi maintained this steady pace with a calm mind. She didn't encounter any more bandits along the road, but she came across many different kinds of people. Of them all, the traveling merchants fascinated her the most. They always had stories—some true, most exaggerated—but that didn't matter. Their tales, filled with fire-breathing beasts, miracle medicines, and hidden sects, entertained the weary and lifted the spirits of those who listened. Even Qiao Zhi, stoic as she was, found herself smiling faintly more than once.
It had been a long time since she had last experienced a moment of such peace. Since she was separated from her Gu'er, each passing second had felt like a lifetime in hell. Without her, the world had dulled, lost its color, and even breathing had felt like a burden. But now—now that she had found a way to retrieve her Gu'er, to piece her soul back together—the unbearable weight eased just enough to allow a sliver of hope to shine through.
