“Welcome. Which faction are you from? Could you show some ID?” Her voice rang like a soft bell under a gilded arch.
We stepped through a lavish doorway. Two young attendants in maid dress glided over, smiles warm as spring light.
“Faction?” I echoed, a reflex like a ripple over still water.
“Yes. We only serve guests from major factions. If not, please dine next door. The food’s just as good.” Her tone flowed like a clear stream.
I nodded. No wonder the hall felt quiet as a garden after rain. Behind them, only a few scattered patrons sat; the rest hid in private rooms like lanterns behind screens.
“Our identities are inconvenient to share for now. Miss, will this do?” I kept my voice calm, like snow settling.
I slipped a Purplegold Coin into each of their hands. The coins flashed like violet suns at dusk. I held back from taking out more; too much showy glitter draws moths.
“This is… a Purplegold Coin?!” Their eyes widened, then steadied like sails catching wind. “If we offended, please forgive. The third-floor VIP suite awaits. Since you’ve paid, all expenses today are waived.”
“Mm. Let’s eat first.”
“Of course. This way, please.” Their steps were soundless, like rain on silk.
We followed up the stairs. Halfway to the second floor, a thought tugged like a breeze at my sleeve. “Lixue, after we eat, do you want to rest or stroll outside?”
“Rest, of course. Emperor, were you thinking of a walk? I don’t mind.” Her gaze was calm as moonlight on water.
“No. I was thinking rest too.” The weariness in me ebbed like a tide after storm.
I turned to the attendants. “Do you have a place to rest? A room or something.”
“Certainly. As you can see, rooms are the one thing we don’t lack.” The left-hand attendant’s smile curved like a crescent. “While you dine, we’ll prepare a deluxe double room.”
She glanced at our joined hands, quick as a sparrow’s look. A harmless misunderstanding. We wouldn’t be sleeping apart anyway.
We entered the VIP room. Soft chairs welcomed us like clouds. Steam rose from fresh tea, drifting like morning mist. I took a sip; not bad, like a cool stream under summer shade.
“Order whatever you like. We’ll serve it quickly.” She offered us a menu, parchment crisp as autumn leaves.
“Alright.”
Lixue and I chose several signature dishes, plus pastries and drinks. Names glimmered like lanterns on a night canal.
“There are books in the cabinet by the window. If you get bored waiting, feel free to read.” They noted our picks, bowed like willow fronds, and slipped out.
...
Outside the door.
“Sister Sha, they didn’t show ID. Why let them in, and into the VIP suite? Isn’t that against the rules?” The junior’s whisper fluttered like a sparrow.
“You’re new. There’s much you don’t know.” Her answer was steady as a keel. “Look at their faces, so striking, and their bearing, so noble. Do they look ordinary? They tossed a Purplegold Coin like a pebble in a pond. Their status is beyond us. Also, we don’t have the power to make every guest show ID.”
“Makes sense. Then why set that rule at all?” The question hung like a paper kite.
“To separate the titled from the ordinary. We don’t serve ordinary folk.” Her tone was a knife’s clean edge. “Train your eye. At least learn who’s ordinary and who’s not.”
“I’ll work hard! They’re both so beautiful. It’s my first time seeing that. Even the Elven Kind aren’t any finer, right?” Awe sparkled like frost.
“Exactly. They’re so flawless it hardly leaves room for envy.” A sigh drifted like smoke.
...
“Lixue, want to look at any book?”
I opened the cabinet. Books lined it like bricks of incense. Lixue sipped tea where she sat, steam veiling her lashes.
“See if there’s geography. First we need to know exactly where we are.” Her voice was clear as a compass point.
“Geography… Let me check. Got one. It’s on this region.” The cover smelled of ink and salt air.
From the book, we traced our place like stars on a chart. We were in the Qingsea Domain, northern Blessed Land.
Its area, resources, and population were mid-level, like a steady flame. Tourism was known and lively, full of scenic sites, with a climate gentle year-round.
Factions numbered in the dozens. The strongest was the Sea-Moon Pavilion, which owned and ran this establishment. A Law Realm expert held the fort like an anchor stone.
As for our exact spot, we were in Seasand Town on the eastern Qingsea coast, a seaside town with flowers in the balconies and gulls in the air.
“Emperor, I’ve got a proposal.”
“What is it?” My mood lifted like a window opened.
“If we’re not rushing back or looking for Wilsar and Molor, we could wander the Qingsea for a while and rest.” Her suggestion was warm as sunlight on decks.
“Rest… We did run ourselves ragged. Crisis after crisis.” The memory stung like windburn, then faded.
Qianji Sister and Aunt Saintvoice were at home. With them there, we didn’t need to worry. And we didn’t know Wilsar and Molor’s situation. Moving rashly could step into knives.
I nodded, the choice settling like dust on jade. “No problem. Let’s rest, just as you said.”
“Mm.” Her smile was a quiet harbor.
We didn’t wait long. Ten minutes later, a knock thumped softly like a drum. With our leave, the attendants brought in fragrant dishes, setting them down one by one like chess pieces.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Pastries will come later. Please enjoy the mains first.”
“Thanks.”
“This is our work. We hope you enjoy.” They bowed and left, skirts whispering like reeds.
“This smells great. Lixue, let’s eat while it’s hot… Huh? You’ve already ladled the soup, even mine.” The bowls steamed like small clouds.
“Of course. Emperor, wash your hands first.” She gathered a floating sphere of water. It hovered in front of me like a crystal. I dipped my hands in; cool, soothing, mountain-spring sweet.
Prepared, we started lunch. Maybe hunger made it brighter, but every bite sang, though this place was already solid. Flavors rose like waves and fell like silk.
We finished the last dessert. Full, content, we asked the attendants to lead us to the room next.
“This is your key. Please keep it. Return it when you leave.” The brass shone like a coin in dawn light.
The room was larger than I’d expected, spacious and neat, air fresh as pine. The balcony and window faced the sea, a scroll of blue spread to the horizon.
Bedding—pillows, quilts, sheets—was new, crisp as sun-dried linen. The bathroom was spotless, and there was a bath inside the room. Overall, it was worth the Purplegold Coins like value set in jade.
“Though there’s a bath here, our hot spring is famous in Seasand Town. If you’d like to go, just let us know.” Her smile rippled like warm water.
