Realization clicked in Shan Yifeng's mind, and he grinned. "Elder Akha. She's a proper lady, kind and soft-spoken."
Angie nodded, eyes gleaming. "Yes, that's her. She is the one. I need you to get that ring for me, Shan Yifeng."
There was a pause.
Not pressure. Not command. Just a favor. A small request, sealed in the trusting tone of a big sister whispering secrets under the sun.
Shan looked at the half-eaten apple in his hand, then back at her.
"…Alright. I'll find a way."
Angie smiled, warm and sweet but in her mind, the gate to freedom was already half-open.
That evening, after the training grounds had emptied and the sun dipped behind the mountains, Shan Yifeng found himself drawn toward Elder Mati's house…
The sun had begun to dip behind the mountains, casting golden light across the rooftops, and the wind carried the faint scent of wild herbs.
As he stepped into the herb-lined porch, Mati looked up from her potted plants with a gentle smile.
