Zhao Xiao took a slow breath, trying to steady his heartbeat that had yet to calm after meeting that friendly cultivator. He held Zhao Long's small hand, and the two of them walked again through the bustling city. The voices of merchants, the scent of spices, and the footsteps of hundreds of people filled the air once more, swallowing the previous incident as if it had never happened. Yet for Zhao Xiao, the encounter lingered deeply. Something about it shook his long-held view of cultivators.
"Father…" Zhao Long's small voice broke his thoughts. The child glanced back toward the road they had come from. "Father, was that grandpa just now… a cultivator? His clothes looked like one."
Zhao Xiao didn't turn around. He kept his eyes forward, his steps slightly faster. "It seems so," he answered softly.
Zhao Long waited for more, but Zhao Xiao fell silent. Inside, words he didn't speak filled his mind. That's right… perhaps not all cultivators are arrogant. There are still people like him. A small relief warmed his heart, yet the feeling of safety did not fully settle. Or maybe… it was just a mask? Perhaps he acted kindly to appear dignified to others. If that's the case, I must stay cautious. That old man will surely remember what happened earlier.
He looked at his son for a moment. "Long'er," he said suddenly, "we should go home soon. I forgot—I need to help your mother with something."
Zhao Long pursed his lips, his face falling. "Really? But Mother seemed fine…"
Zhao Xiao gently stroked his son's head. "Of course she's fine. But I have something to settle with her. Once I buy the vegetables, we'll go home immediately. Understand?"
Though disappointed, Zhao Long nodded softly. "Alright…"
They walked toward the main market area. The merchants' voices grew louder, the smell of fresh vegetables mixing with damp earth and the smoke of roasting food. Among the crowd, Zhao Xiao approached a simple vegetable stall filled with spinach, radish, and scallions. The vendor was an elderly woman with her hair tied in a low bun, her wrinkled face softened by a sincere smile.
"Good morning, Ma'am," Zhao Xiao said gently.
"Oh, Zhao Xiao. Here again today?" she asked warmly.
"Yes. I'll buy the usual," he replied, pointing at the basket.
The woman prepared it for him, while Zhao Xiao kept his warm smile. It wasn't forced; this was genuinely how he treated everyone in the city. Life was difficult, but he always remained kind.
After weighing and wrapping the vegetables, the vendor said, "Everything is three silver coins."
Zhao Xiao took out the last coins he had, placing them with both hands. In his heart, he murmured, This should be enough for five days. My wife will be happy. He glanced at the sky turning yellowish—an early sign of dusk. It's already late. I must go home quickly.
"Thank you, Ma'am," he said with a respectful bow.
He turned around, opening his mouth to call his son. "Long'er—"
But his voice stopped.
In front of him… there was no small figure with black hair. Only passing shoppers, busy vendors, and unfamiliar children running around. Zhao Long was nowhere to be seen.
Zhao Xiao's heart seemed to stop beating.
"Long'er?" he repeated, louder this time. His voice trembled.
There was no answer.
He looked left—only sacks of vegetables and a boy who wasn't his son. He looked right—several men carrying wooden crates, none resembling Zhao Long.
His chest tightened instantly.
No… impossible… he thought in panic. I wasn't paying attention. I focused too much on buying vegetables. Long'er… Long'er is no longer within my reach…
He set down the vegetable basket with trembling hands. His breaths came sharp and rapid, as if his lungs were being squeezed. He pushed through the people in front of him, forcing his body into the crowd.
"Long'er! Long'er!!"
Several people turned to look, but none understood. A vendor asked, "Zhao Xiao, what's wrong? What happened?"
Zhao Xiao didn't answer. He kept searching, his face pale as paper. He scanned every corner, every gap between stalls, every shifting shadow. But all he saw were unfamiliar faces.
He ran to the center of the market, where the road split into four directions. Human traffic was denser there. Children ran, merchants shouted, and the clang of metal from a nearby workshop echoed loudly.
Too many sounds.
Too many people.
Too many possibilities.
"LONG'ER!!!"
His shout shook the air.
But still… no answer.
Cold sweat trickled down his back. His legs trembled. Horrifying possibilities crashed into his mind—kidnapping, getting lost, being trampled, or worse… encountering an evil cultivator.
Zhao Xiao struck his chest with trembling fists. "Idiot! You fool, Zhao Xiao! You swore to protect your family… yet you can't even protect your own child!"
He kept moving, forcing himself through the crowd even as his body nearly collapsed. His voice grew hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.
Until a nearby bread seller called out anxiously, "Zhao Xiao! What happened? Are you looking for Zhao Long?"
Zhao Xiao spun around with frantic eyes. "Did you see him?! Did you see where Long'er went?!"
The woman shook her head, pale at the sight of his panic. "No… I saw him behind you earlier. Then… he disappeared in the crowd…"
The answer pierced his heart like a blade.
Zhao Xiao closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a mixture of fear and determination. He clenched his vegetable basket tightly—then threw it to the ground. The vegetables scattered everywhere, but he no longer cared.
"I must find Long'er…" he whispered, barely audible. "No matter what…"
Zhao Xiao ran, checking every building corner, alley, and narrow street. Every person he met was asked with a cracked voice, "Have you seen a little boy? Black hair, blue eyes, wearing a gray shirt! Please—tell me if you've seen him!" Most shook their heads, some shrugged, and others didn't even stop walking. His breath grew heavier. His legs felt like they were bound by stone, but he forced them to keep moving. Wooden houses with green roofs, old cracked shops, and red pillars lining the streets passed before his eyes. Sweat drenched his clothes.
The sun crawled downward, turning the sky a dull orange. Shadows stretched long, making the small town feel like a darkening labyrinth. But Zhao Xiao had no choice. "Keep going… keep going… I won't go home until I find Long'er…" he whispered, voice breaking but determination burning.
Meanwhile, Zhao Long was tossed around in the sea of people. His small body was pushed again and again by an indifferent crowd. He searched for his father's face, but everything looked unfamiliar. His breath hitched, his eyes grew hot. "Father… where are you…" he murmured before sobs erupted. Tears streamed down his cheeks, catching a few glances. But instead of helping, some simply whispered to each other, treating him like a small inconvenience amid their busy day. Why… why will no one help me…? Should I cry louder? Someone… anyone, please!! His silent screams echoed, but no one answered.
Until finally, an elderly woman—slightly plump, hunched over with a woven basket—stopped in front of him. She looked at him with gentle, glistening eyes. "Little one… are you alright?" she asked, her voice hoarse but warm. She took a piece of candy from her pocket and offered it. "Where are your parents?"
Zhao Long wiped his tears with trembling hands. "I… got lost… Father was here earlier… he was buying vegetables… then I couldn't find him anymore…"
The old woman nodded with understanding. "Then come with me, child. Let's go to the market. Your father might be waiting there." She held his hand, guiding him slowly through the now-thinning crowd as the sun began to set.
Across the town, Zhao Xiao finally collapsed to his knees on dusty ground. His legs shook violently, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He looked at the reddening sky, then closed his eyes and pressed his hands together. "Heavens… anyone who can hear… please… let me find my son… take anything from me, as long as Long'er is safe…" His voice broke, drowned by his own sobs.
When he lowered his head, he finally realized—the basket of vegetables he bought was gone. He remembered dropping it in his panic. "Idiot… this is all my fault…" he whispered, striking the ground with clenched fists. Rage, fear, and regret crashed into him like a merciless storm. His tears burst again—
but this time… something changed.
As his tears fell, the world around him felt… different.
The voices of the people suddenly sharpened—far clearer than before. He could hear two merchants whispering in the distance, the footsteps of dozens of people, even the rustling of leaves in the wind. He froze, lifting his head with widened eyes. What… is this? Is this… a miracle?
He pressed a hand to his chest, listening carefully. He could hear… the heartbeats of children running, their quick breaths, the rhythm of their small steps.
"Heavens… is this your answer…?" he murmured, voice trembling.
Without hesitation, Zhao Xiao rose and looked around in all directions. "Long'er!!" he shouted with all his strength. He followed those faint sounds one by one, searching for the one heartbeat he knew best.
"That small breath… where are you… Long'er…"