The thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl lifted her sallow face, thanking him repeatedly through her sobs. Ignoring the filth on the ground, she knelt and began picking up the scattered medicinal herbs.
After gathering the herbs at her feet, she looked toward the mouth of the alley.
More herbs were scattered there, but it was clear the young girl was too afraid to go get them.
"Leave them," Tang Wen said with a silent sigh.
CLINK.
The girl froze, staring blankly at the piece of silver that had landed in front of her. "Sir? I... I'm not selling myself."
Tang Wen looked at her scrawny, bean-sprout-like frame...
"You're thinking too much. Go to an apothecary and buy a few more packets."
"I... I'm too scared to go back."
Tang Wen glanced in the direction the thug had vanished. "Do you know where the Black Water Gang's apothecary is?"
"Yes, but it's very expensive there."
"That's where we're going. Lead the way," Tang Wen said, his voice ice-cold.
