The morning sun painted the bustling Tang port in gold.
Leena stepped off the boat—and froze.
Red lanterns swayed in the breeze.
The air carried the scent of incense, roasted duck, and river mist.
Maya clutched her arm.
"Madam… everyone is staring."
She was right.
The people of Chang'an slowed their steps to gawk at the veiled foreign beauty with the wide, dark eyes.
Some whispered. Some smiled.
But to Leena, it felt like stepping into another world.
"Leena!"
She turned to see Merchant Bao, her father's old friend, a man with a kind smile and an ink‑stained beard, waving from the crowd.
He led them through winding streets and wooden gates into his spacious estate.
The courtyard was a painting come to life:
A small pond with floating lotus blossoms, a white stone bridge reflected in the water, bamboo swaying softly, whispering secrets.
"This will be your room," Bao said, sliding open a polished wooden door.
"You may rest here as long as you need."
Leena bowed. "Thank you. Please, tell me how I can repay you."
Bao chuckled. "Help me with the shop and errands. That will be enough."
But then, his tone shifted.
"Do not wander the streets at night," he warned, voice low.
"Not now."
Leena's heart skipped.
As she closed her bedroom door, she didn't know that from the rooftops above, a pair of sharp eyes already watched her every move…
The hunter had found his prey.