As the guard scrutinized the fur Jingyi was dragging, his suspicion deepened upon seeing the meat bundled within it. His gaze narrowed, suspicion etched on his features as he leveled an accusing glare at Jingyi.

  "Where did you steal this from?" the guard demanded, his voice laced with authority and accusation.

  Jingyi met his gaze calmly, her voice steady and composed as she replied, "I didn't steal it. I hunted it myself and intend to sell it."

  The guard's lips curled into a mocking smile, a sneer of disbelief twisting his features. "Hunted it yourself, eh? More likely you're just another thief trying to make a quick profit. I'll have to confiscate this 'hunted' meat from you."

  As the guard reached for her, Jingyi's hand instinctively moved to her sword, her eyes flashing with defiance. But before the confrontation could escalate further, a voice interrupted them from behind, causing both Jingyi and the guard to turn in surprise.

  "Is robbing little kids your idea of fun, Zhang?" The voice was smooth and confident, belonging to a handsome, well-dressed young man who approached them with a casual swagger.

  The guard, visibly flustered, quickly straightened up and greeted the newcomer with a nervous nod. "Young Chief, I was just..."

  The young man waved off the guard's explanation with a dismissive gesture, his gaze shifting to Jingyi with a friendly smile. "I apologize for Zhang's behavior. He can be overzealous at times. My name is Li Wei, and I would like to buy the meat and fur from you."

  Jingyi regarded Li Wei with a cold stare, her guard still up despite his friendly demeanor. "For how much?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion.

  Li Wei considered her question for a moment, his gaze thoughtful as he assessed the value of the goods before him. "I'll give you five silver taels," he replied, his tone casual but firm.

  Jingyi's understanding of the world's currency allowed her to quickly calculate that this offer was less than optimal. She knew she could fetch a higher price if she sold the goods fairly. However, she also recognized that her body was currently that of a young child and the chances of shopkeepers taking her seriously was low. Right now she should focus on the importance of securing entry into the village and acquiring some much-needed funds.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  After a brief internal debate, Jingyi made a calculated decision and nodded in acceptance. "Agreed," she said tersely, her eyes never leaving Li Wei's.

  Without hesitation, Li Wei reached into his pocket and produced five silver taels, tossing them casually to the ground at Jingyi's feet. "There you go," he said with a charming smile. "Now, Zhang, take the fur and meat to my house."

  The guard, now visibly flustered and eager to comply, hastily gathered up the goods and scurried off, leaving Jingyi alone with Li Wei.

  With the obstacle removed, Jingyi stooped to pick up the taels from the ground, her expression unreadable as she followed Li Wei into the village, her mind already turning to her next move.

  As Jingyi walked away from Li Wei, oblivious to the servant being instructed to keep an eye on her, her mind focused on finding shelter for the night.

  As Jingyi entered the bustling village, she saw that the streets were crowded with people going about their daily business, and the air was filled with the sounds and smells of the marketplace. Ignoring the curious glances thrown her way, Jingyi made her way through the throng, her senses somewhat relaxed now that she was out of danger.

  Unbeknownst to her, Li Wei had instructed a servant to keep an eye on her, wary of the mysterious stranger who had entered the village with a bundle of fur and meat. As Jingyi walked away, the servant discreetly followed, blending into the crowd as he kept a careful watch on her movements.

  Entering the inn, Jingyi approached the innkeeper and inquired about the cost of a room for the night. To her dismay, the innkeeper quoted her two silver taels, a price that she knew was exorbitant, even by village standards.

  "Two silver taels?" Jingyi repeated incredulously, her voice tinged with disbelief. "That's highway robbery. In the capital, I could get a room for a week with that much."

  The innkeeper, realizing that Jingyi was not an ignorant child, gritted his teeth and begrudgingly offered a lower price. "Fine, one silver teal for five days," he relented, his tone curt.

  ingyi nodded in acceptance, satisfied that she had negotiated a more reasonable price. "And does that include water for washing and a meal each day?" she inquired, her voice firm.

  The innkeeper nodded curtly, eager to finalize the transaction and be done with the conversation. "Yes, yes, of course," he muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "I'll have a boy show you to your room."

  Moments later, a young boy appeared at the innkeeper's summons, his curious gaze fixed on Jingyi's sword. "Have you ever used that sword?" he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

  Jingyi glanced at him nonchalantly, her expression unreadable. "I'm a hunter," she replied simply, offering no further explanation.

  Undeterred, the boy persisted, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Can I see it?" he asked eagerly, reaching out a hand.

  Jingyi's eyes narrowed at the boy's audacity, and she shook her head firmly. "No," she said simply, her tone brooking no argument. "Now, lead me to my room."

  The boy's face flushed with anger at Jingyi's refusal, and he clenched his fists in frustration. With a muttered curse, he tossed the wooden pass indicating Jingyi's rental agreement onto the floor in front of her and stormed off.

  Jingyi said nothing, her expression impassive as she picked up the pass and followed the boy to her room. Without a word or even a glance of concern, she closed the door behind her, leaving the boy seething with anger in the hallway.