Chapter 108: Searching for... hope
The scent of frying dough drifted through the windows before the sun fully climbed over Yin City’s rooftops.
Feng Jiao Xue sat by the low wooden table near the window, the sleeves of her robe neatly folded as she carefully poured warm tea into two chipped cups. The innkeeper had offered breakfast in exchange for a few extra coins, and she had agreed without much thought. They needed something hot. Something grounding.
Across from her, Mo Tianze blinked sleepily, still adjusting to the light. His silver ears twitched at the sounds of the city coming back to life beyond the walls, merchants setting up stalls, wheels creaking over cobblestones, hawkers calling out.
His tail swayed slowly behind him, loose and relaxed for once.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked without looking up.
"Well enough," he murmured, rubbing at one eye with the back of his hand. "Better than yesterday, at least."
Feng Jiao Xue nodded and pushed a plate toward him, simple rice porridge, pickled vegetables, and an egg that had probably seen better days.
Mo Tianze gave her a tired smile. "Sister, I can cook for something better for you if you want."
"It’s fine. The porridge is warm." she replied. "That’s more than we’ve had in a while."
He didn’t argue. He just started eating, and for a while, the silence between them was peaceful.
But the weight of what she had to say settled somewhere between them, heavier than any teacup or dish.