"If there's nothing going on between you two, why would she bring you to the market? I've never seen her bring anyone else here before… Wait, you said you've only known Little Butterfly for a month?" The Bear suddenly frowned at Yang Kai, as though something had clicked. "You're a newcomer who arrived a month ago?"
Yang Kai nodded. "That's right!"
The Bear slapped his own forehead and burst into hearty laughter. "No wonder you look unfamiliar — turns out you're new here!" His smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a vicious snarl. "And a newcomer dares to make a move on my woman? You got a death wish?"
Yang Kai was speechless. "Friend, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Miss Die You and I aren't that close. She just kindly brought me along because I'm new and unfamiliar with this market — she wanted to help me broaden my horizons, that's all."
"Is that all?" The Bear's copper-bell-sized eyes stared Yang Kai down, the great axe held across his body in a posture that made clear he could swing again at any moment.
"What else could there be?"
"Hmph!" Hot air snorted from the Bear's nostrils as he looked Yang Kai up and down. It was a long moment before he spoke. "Count yourself lucky, boy. Mark my words — Little Butterfly is my woman. If you dare make a move on her, I'll make you regret ever being born." He rubbed his chin with a look of disdain. "Though honestly, I doubt Little Butterfly would even be interested in someone like you."
*Someone like me wouldn't suit her, but someone like YOU would?* Yang Kai was inwardly exasperated, baffled at where this man's supreme self-confidence came from. Still, he said aloud, "You make a fair point, friend. Miss Die You is naturally beautiful and gentle in temperament — only a remarkable man of true heroic bearing like yourself could be worthy of her!"
The Bear had been wearing a fearsome expression, but the moment he heard this, he burst into booming laughter. His gaze toward Yang Kai softened considerably, and he nodded repeatedly. "Well said! In all of Fire Spirit Ground — no, in all of Seven Skillful Ground — there's no one more worthy of Little Butterfly than yours truly. No one else has the qualifications! You've got a good eye, boy. What's your name?"
Yang Kai cupped his fists. "Junior brother Yang Kai."
The Bear nodded. "I've noted your name. It's rare for a newcomer to have that kind of insight. Stick with me from now on. If anyone in Fire Spirit Ground gives you trouble, just drop my name." He thumbed his chest proudly. "Remember it — I am Xiang Yong!"
"So it's Brother Xiang! What a powerful and commanding name. Just hearing it fills me with admiration."
"Save the flattery!" Xiang Yong said the words, but the grin spreading across his face was impossible to hide.
"Brother Xiang, you're also from Fire Spirit Ground?" Yang Kai asked, sounding curious.
"I am. What's so strange about that?"
"No, nothing at all — I was simply curious. A man of your imposing presence and ferocity, and yet I've never seen you before."
"Never saw me before? Well, now you have — and it's never too late!"
"Absolutely. Meeting a man like Brother Xiang today — I can die without regrets." Yang Kai cleared his throat and looked at him. "Now that the misunderstanding's been cleared up, may I head back?"
"Go on!"
Yang Kai excused himself and started to slip past him.
"Wait!" Xiang Yong suddenly flashed in front of him again, axe swinging down to cut off Yang Kai's path. He eyed Yang Kai sideways. "If Little Butterfly asks about this later…"
"We hit it off the moment we met, and Brother Xiang has been nothing but generous and welcoming to me…" The answer rolled off Yang Kai's tongue without a moment's hesitation.
Xiang Yong's face split into a broad, delighted grin. "You're alright, kid! I like you. Fine — go on back."
Taking his leave of Xiang Yong, Yang Kai headed straight for Fire Spirit Ground. When he reached the village where the menial quarters were located, he used his token to dispel the restriction on his room and stepped inside. He had barely sat down when a knock came at the door.
He opened it to find Die You standing outside, looking him over from head to toe. "Are you all right?"
"Of course I'm all right. What could have happened?" Yang Kai blinked innocently.
"Good. Someone told me that Xiang Yong had left the menial quarters, and I was just about to go check when I saw you come back."
"Xiang Yong? Who's Xiang Yong?"
"The guy who was following me around today — the one who looks like a bear." Die You said it and then laughed at her own description.
"Oh!" Yang Kai put on an expression of sudden realization. "So that was Xiang Yong. But what does him leaving the menial quarters have to do with me?"
"It had better not have anything to do with you," Die You said. She then produced two items. "Oh, right — I bought these for you today and forgot to give them to you."
They turned out to be a greenwood box and two cases of Hundred-Refinement Incense.
Yang Kai accepted them with a nod of thanks. "Once I've saved up enough Opening Heaven Pills, I'll return them to you with interest."
"No rush." Die You smiled. "Get some rest, then. I'm heading back." As she spoke, a yawn escaped her, and that languid expression crept back onto her face.
"I won't see you out." Yang Kai nodded.
After Die You left, Yang Kai closed the door and took out the greenwood box and the Hundred-Refinement Incense to examine them. He had received both items from Old Fang before and used them to catch insects, so they were anything but unfamiliar.