149 On The Search

After getting up and eating, I stretch a little and watch as Mango stuffs himself with eggs. After stretching, I turn to him and say "We're going into town today to look for a place that holds natural springs."

Mango chokes on his eggs and looks at me with fear. He swallows hard and hits his little chest as he says "Do you not remember the last time we went to town? It ended in a disaster!!" I give him a bored look as I say "You have two minutes to get ready. I'll wait for you outside." 

His panic grows as he starts shoving all the food in his little cheeks. I slowly walk out of the house and look up at the bright blue sky. Why does it never rain here!? I sigh and turn to look for Mango but he's right there. 

He crawls up my dress and perches himself on my shoulder and says "Ready!" I smirk and start our way back to the town we were in before. I heard people call it the capital so it must be one of the larger towns around. 

There has to be at least one person there who knows where I can find natural springs. We make good time and before I know it, we're back in the familiar capital. The food stalls were open, serving delicious food while the other stalls try to sell goods. 

Some were selling hair accessories while others were selling makeup and medicine. I stop on the side of the busy street and tap my chin while deep in thought. After watching the shop owners and workers, I know how to ask around. 

I walk up to a stall selling jewelry and act like I'm shopping for my next piece. A middle-aged man smiles broadly at me and says "Does something catch this young lady's eye?" I look up to the man and watch him suck in. 

I blink and slowly smile at him as I say "As a matter of fact, something did catch my eye." He tries to quickly collect himself and awkwardly smiles at me but he can't seem to get over my eye color. "Wh.. what can I do for you?" He studders out with hesitation. 

I pick up a plain, white jade hairpin and slowly twist it between my fingers as I ask "Are there any natural springs around here?" He struggles not to reach out and take the precious jade pin as he nervously licks his lips and says "Ah... I, yes. It's about a three days walk from here." 

The jade was clearly one of his best items so his nervousness was justified. I smile at him and say "Wonderful! I'll take this." His eyes light up in delight before he dims a little and says "This Jade pin is very expensive my lady. It's two hundred silvers." 

I pull out the silvers from the rune and hand him a bag with three hundred silvers as I say "I'm adding an extra hundred for the information." His eyes light up in delight as he nods and takes the money with gratefulness. 

As soon as he has the money, he opens the bag and takes a quick look before quickly putting the bag away and saying "Just head north. You'll pass a small town that's known for their rice fields but if you keep going, you'll find mountains. You'll find the natural springs in the mountains." 

I give him a large smile and nod to him in thanks before turning around and heading North. I slip the jade pin in my hair as we walk through the town. Mango leans over and says "Tell me again why we're looking for natural springs?" 

I sigh and easily glide through the crowd, ignoring all the looks as I say "The magic in this world is weak so I'm thinking that the longer a body of water has remained here, the more magic it'll hold." Mango's face takes on a look of confusion as he asks "Why not just find a lake or a pond?"

I smirk and buy two apples as I say "Because they come from natural springs. Natural springs would be the oldest so that's where we'll start. If the natural springs don't work, I'll need to find an ocean." I hand Mango an apple as I continue through the crowd. 

Mango bites into the apple and nods his head in understanding before asking "So, if the natural springs don't work and the sea doesn't either, what do we try next?" I slow my pace a bit as I softly say "Make this world our new home." 

Mango stops mid-bite before slowly looking over to me with concern. He clears his throat and asks "We would be stuck here? Forever?" I gently rub the red and yellow apple in my hand as I slightly nod my head and say "Yes, we'd be stuck here forever." 

Mango tears up before saying "I don't want to stay here though... I want to go back home." I sigh again and say "Mango, we wouldn't be in this situation right now if you had just listened. I get why you like adventures but some adventures are too dangerous. The price you have to pay for such an adventure... is too high." 

When I see men in front of me blocking the road, I come to a slow stop and see a familiar face. Yin Zhelan steps forward and gives me a knowing smile before saying "I was starting to think I had lost you for good. I believe you and I have some unfinished business." 

I come to a full stop and narrow my eyes at him before giving him a tight smile. I look around to see everyone else on the street turning around and quickly walking away. I look back to Yin Zhelan and say "I'm confused. I thought I made myself perfectly clear the other day."

His smile grows as he says "I think I can change your mind. Let me show you just what it is that I have to offer." I roll my eyes and mutter "Unless you have a super old natural spring, we have nothing to talk about." 

He frowns for a split second before giving me a blindingly bright smile and saying "As a matter of fact, I do! My residence was built around the ancient spring. It's said to have healing powers." I nearly drop the apple as I look at him in disbelief. 

Seeing my look, he quickly lifts his hand and says "I swear to you. You can ask the many cultivators here in the capital that have used the spring." I arch a dark eyebrow and weigh my options. It would save me a few days of traveling... 

If it doesn't work, I'll just try the others. I have no problem overpowering this man or his men. I tilt my head from side to side before saying "I guess I will have to judge that for myself." Yin Zhelan's face lights up with triumph as he says "Please do!"