Tang San jumped, spinning around to find Xiao Wu beaming up at him, her head tilted in curious confusion. She had spotted him instantly despite his attempt to remain hidden.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her pink eyes wide with genuine surprise. "I thought you were at the smithy! Did you finish early? Do you want to join our tour? This is Rongrong! Her dad paid a whole silver coin!"
Tang San's mind went blank, utterly unprepared for this confrontation. He couldn't very well admit he had been worried about a predatory client.
"I, uh... Mei and I finished with Master Feng earlier than expected," he stammered, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. "I was on my way back to the academy when I saw you. I wanted to make sure you were alright."
His eyes shifted to the well-dressed girl beside Xiao Wu. Now that his initial panic had subsided, he noticed something familiar about her delicate features and intelligent eyes. The feeling was mutual - Ning Rongrong was studying him with equal intensity, a faint frown of concentration on her brow.
"You..." she began, stepping closer. "Have we met before? There's something about you that feels familiar."
Tang San gave a slight, polite bow. "Young Miss, I believe I would remember making your acquaintance. Yet I must admit I share the same feeling." He paused thoughtfully. "Perhaps we passed each other on the street when you first arrived. Nuoding City isn't large."
Ning Rongrong's frown deepened. Her instincts told her it was more than a passing glance, but without clear memory, she reluctantly nodded. "Yes, perhaps that's it."
Xiao Wu giggled at their exchange. "How funny! When we first met, I told her the same thing! Come on, the tour's barely started!" She linked arms with Ning Rongrong and pulled her down the street, with Tang San following curiously behind.
"First stop!" Xiao Wu announced with a tour guide's flourish, "The Eastern Market! Best place for spirit beast materials and herbs!" She pointed out various stalls as they walked, the setting sun casting long shadows and painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. "That vendor gets fresh moonlight grass every Tuesday, and old man Li over there has the best prices for sharp-toothed rabbit pelts!"
As they wandered through the bustling market, Tang San fell into step beside Ning Rongrong. "If you don't mind me asking, Miss Rongrong," he began politely, "what brings someone like you to a city like Nuoding?"
Ning Rongrong smiled, her eyes scanning the lively market with apparent delight. "My father has business in Suotuo City," she explained. "I may have... strongly suggested that I should accompany him." She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Life in the sect can be rather confined. I wanted to see the world outside our walls again - even if it's just a small city market at sunset." She gestured around them at the lanterns beginning to glow as the sky deepened to a soft orange.
Tang San followed her gaze, noticing how the fading sunlight set the city's stone walls aglow. "There's value expanding ones view," he agreed. "Sometimes the most ordinary things contain unexpected beauty."
Xiao Wu, overhearing their conversation, bounced back to join them. "Oh! That reminds me! You have to see the sunset from Blacksmith's Bridge! It's the best view in the city when the light hits the river just right!" She grabbed both their hands and pulled them toward a stone bridge spanning the slow-moving river that wound through Nuoding City.
As they reached the crest of the bridge, the three of them paused. The water below reflected the brilliant orange and pink of the sunset sky, and the first lantern lights along the riverbank began to twinkle like early stars. For a moment, they simply stood there watching as day gave way to evening, the sounds of the city softening around them.
"It's lovely," Ning Rongrong said quietly, her usually animated face softened by the fading light.
"Told you!" Xiao Wu said proudly, though she too seemed momentarily captivated by the view.
As the last sliver of sun dipped below the horizon, they continued their tour, moving from the bridge into the narrower streets where the evening food vendors were setting up their stalls. The air filled with the scent of roasting meats, spices, and something sweet...
As they turned a corner, the sweet scent of melted sugar led them to a candy haw stand where an old man dipped glossy red berries into amber syrup. Feeling guilty for his intrusion, Tang San bought two sticks and offered one to each girl.
"As an apology for interrupting your tour," he said politely to Ning Rongrong.
As their fingers brushed during the exchange, Ning Rongrong's eyes fixed on the candy hawthorn. A memory surfaced - the scent of smoke and blood, running for days with her wounded Sword Grandpa, hiding in a cold warehouse in a mountain village. A young boy bringing them food, his eyes kind and understanding beyond his years.
Her head snapped up, eyes wide with revelation. "It's you!" she gasped, her polite demeanor vanishing. "From the village near the mountain pass! You gave us food and helped hide my grandfather!"
The memory rushed back to Tang San, too - the frightened child asking for help, the severely wounded elder. "That was you?" he asked in astonishment.
Ning Rongrong's eyes glistened with emotion. "You helped us when the Spirit Hall was chasing us. Without your help..." She didn't need to finish the sentence.
Xiao Wu watched with wide-eyed fascination, though she felt an unexpected twinge of something she couldn't name. "Wow, Brother San! You never told me you saved a princess!"
Tang San shook his head modestly. "I just did what anyone would do. I'm glad you both were safe."
Ning Rongrong took a bite of the candy hawthorn, a genuine smile replacing her earlier haughtiness. "This tastes even better than I remembered," she said softly.
Their moment was interrupted by a Seven Treasure Glass Sect disciple hurrying over. "Young Mistress! There you are! You shouldn't run off with... locals." His dismissive tone toward Tang San and Xiao Wu instantly reignited Ning Rongrong's spirit.
"They're not just 'locals'! This is Tang San - he's the one who helped Sword Grandpa and me!" Before the disciple could respond, she linked arms with both Tang San and Xiao Wu. "You're both coming to meet my father! He'll want to thank you properly!"
As the confused disciple trailed behind, Xiao Wu suddenly skidded to a halt. "Wait! The tour isn't over! We haven't seen the star of the city yet!"
Tang San nodded reasonably. "Xiao Wu's right, Miss Rongrong. A deal is a deal."
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with delight. "Even better! You," she told the disciple, "tell my father to join us! He can meet Tang San, and we'll all see the star of the city together!"
Despite the disciple's protests, she shooed him away before grabbing both her new friends' hands. "This way! The commercial district has the best view!" she declared, pulling them excitedly down the lantern-lit streets, the night's adventure far from over.