The second morning inside the Imperial Competition Grounds began with rain.
Not heavy.
Just enough to make the stone pathways damp and the air cooler than usual.
Song Jia stepped outside Courtyard Nine and looked toward the central board.
Several participants were already gathered there.
Sun Xun stood near the back.
He noticed her almost immediately.
"Morning."
"Morning."
His eyes moved toward the pouch at her waist.
"How many tokens?"
Song Jia stared at him.
"You asked yesterday."
"And you refused yesterday."
"I'll refuse today too."
Sun sighed.
"You've become stingy."
"With information."
"Same thing."
"No."
Before he could continue, Ding Yijun approached.
"I see you're arguing already."
"We aren't arguing." Sun said.
Song Jia spoke at the same time.
"He keeps asking unnecessary questions."
Ding Yijun looked between them.
"That sounded like an argument."
Sun smiled.
Song Jia ignored both men and turned toward the task board.
