Volume One, Chapter Sixty-Two: A Place to Settle

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“Brother Mo, Sister Qing, this is the place,” announced a young woman named Cuihua as she led Mo De and Mu Qing through the village, stopping outside a house at the eastern edge. The pair gazed at the large kang bed inside, both falling into thoughtful silence.

They exchanged a glance, but neither could bring themselves to trouble the villagers further by requesting another room. They’d make do—with such a spacious kang, it would suffice.

“The bedding will be brought over soon by someone from the village. Aunt Liu will prepare lunch for everyone and bring it over. Is there anything you can’t eat?” Cuihua asked, chatting as she swept the room.

“No, nothing at all, we can eat anything,” Mu Qing replied quickly. After all, the local specialty canned foods—disturbing in both appearance and taste—had left her queasy. A hot meal was more than she could wish for.

Mo De stepped in to help tidy up, so Cuihua handed him the broom, then took Mu Qing, along with a water bucket, to the old well at the eastern end of the village.

“All the water for drinking, washing, and cooking comes from here. If you need anything else, just let me know,” Cuihua explained, drawing up two buckets of clear water.

“I’ll help,” Mu Qing said, and the two young women each carried a bucket back to the house.

One bucket was used to wipe down the furniture, the other was poured into a small vat for the two guests to use for washing and drinking.

“The privy is just east of the house—a walk of two or three hundred meters,” the girl added efficiently, and with Mo De’s domestic skills, the empty house was soon in order. She wiped her brow and continued to explain the lay of the land.

“But unless there’s any urgent need, please try not to leave the east side of the village. It’s restless outside these days, and there are a few hot-tempered households cooped up here. If a quarrel breaks out, it could complicate things.” Cuihua seriously cautioned them to stay put, and both readily agreed. After all, they were only here to rest, not to snoop around. Staying quietly in their room suited them fine.

“There have already been two other groups of guests, staying southeast and northeast of here. Those groups are larger, so after the arrangements, this was the only room left,” Cuihua said, her smile gentle and dimples showing. “Sorry to squeeze you both into one room.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Having a place to rest is more than enough,” Mu Qing replied, drawing the girl to sit beside her. “But we do worry about the cost of imposing on the village like this...”

“Don’t mention it. We’ll talk about that after the moon phase tide passes,” Cuihua assured her kindly, having noticed that their possessions were limited to a single bundle—most of their belongings must have been lost in that accident.

Following the village chief’s private instructions before receiving them, Cuihua comforted these two siblings who’d likely lost everything. “As long as we all get through this moon phase tide safely, that’s what matters most.”

“Thank you so much,” Mu Qing said, taking the girl’s hand with sincere gratitude.

At this point, neither she nor Mo De could offer anything for board and lodging. The only things left were the realm-stone dagger, wrapped in cloth, and the bundle Mo De had prepared outside the village. Their storage ring and the pair of matching rings were already stowed away. They scarcely had any cash left, and their precious metals and desert beast parts were hardly suitable to offer here. As guests, it was best to be discreet. Their storage items had to remain hidden.

While the women chatted, clean bedding was delivered, but the sight of the bright red, intricately embroidered quilts left Mo De and Mu Qing momentarily speechless.

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“My cousin made an extra wedding quilt when her daughter got married—never been used, perfectly clean and fresh!” the middle-aged man who brought the bedding said proudly, thumping his chest as he boasted about the village’s hospitality.

Guests received the best: food, clothing, bedding—everything provided.

At noon, Aunt Liu pushed a small cart from house to house, knocking and delivering meals. Mo De glanced out the window to see doors opening along the eastern row, people greeting Aunt Liu with a smile and handing back the previous meal’s boxes.

“Lunchtime, Cuihua!” Aunt Liu called, rolling her cart over and handing three meal boxes and a small pail to their door.

“Thank you, Auntie!” Cuihua said, a little puzzled by the third serving.

“I made an extra for you too, so you can enjoy something nice for a change,” Aunt Liu whispered. Seeing Mo De and Mu Qing step out, she added with a smile, “The chief thought you two might get bored, so he asked Cuihua to keep you company.”

“That’s wonderful—Cuihua, if you have time, do come and chat with us,” Mu Qing said warmly, inviting her in without reservation.

Perhaps to welcome their arrival, this lunch was unexpectedly lavish. The aroma seeped through the boxes, making their mouths water as Cuihua set out bowls and chopsticks.

Braised pork with glass noodles, stewed cabbage, and a cold herb salad—just three dishes, but in generous portions. Growing up in East Sands Village, Cuihua was used to heavy labor and ate heartily, while the other two had wandered the desert for nearly ten days. In the last few days, forced to survive on canned goods, they had tried to use some hunted creatures as food, but had to give up for lack of seasoning.

The three ate in silence, their chopsticks flashing as they quickly polished off the two small pots of stew and the heaping plate of salad. The rice bucket was soon emptied into their bellies.

After cleaning up, while Cuihua and Mu Qing washed the dishes, Mo De heard approaching footsteps outside.

“Chief, what brings you here?” Cuihua asked in surprise when she saw who followed Mo De inside.

The old man smiled, ruffling Cuihua’s hair with his rough hand. “Aunt Liu needs you for a bit. I’ll keep our guests company.”

“Alright!” The girl darted off like a wild rabbit toward the west.

“She’s still so scatterbrained...” Shang Qingwen chuckled, watching her disappear, then closed the door.

“Do you two, Qin Mo and Qin Qing, find everything to your liking?” the village chief asked, taking Cuihua’s seat.

“Very much so,” they replied, but refrained from making conversation. They could tell this visit was purposeful; the chief had sent Cuihua away, clearly wanting a private word.

“You’re both perceptive—I’m sure you realize that silly girl was meant to keep an eye on you, in case you wandered. Times are unsettled,” Shang said directly, breaking the ice.

“Of course,” Mo De replied with a smile. “We’re outsiders, and it’s only right that the village be cautious.”

“And chatting with Cuihua is enjoyable,” Mu Qing added. “After we were separated from our caravan, we were lucky to find this village. Just having a roof over our heads is a blessing.”

“Even if you were separated from the Gilded Dawn Caravan, to survive the tide and reach us... you must be formidable,” Shang Qingwen said. He didn’t believe that mere “luck” could have brought these two safely through the moon phase tide.

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A practitioner at the Awakening Realm might lose consciousness after just a short exposure to the frenzied anomalies of the moon phase tide. Only those in the Second Awakening or the Outer Realms could hope to leave the safe zones or barriers during this time, and even then, they could not truly come and go without peril. Even a master at the Wishful Realm faced real danger during an ordinary moon phase tide, let alone one as wild and chaotic as this full-moon-level surge.

Judging by their youth, the man and woman before him could not possibly be peak Wishful Realm masters, but anyone who traveled with the Gilded Dawn Caravan had to be at least a Second Awakening adept.

“There’s something I must ask of you,” the old man said, his eyes glinting. Mo De and Mu Qing exchanged a look. Here it was—his true purpose.

“Please, go ahead,” Mo De replied, while Mu Qing’s expression grew serious.

“As you must know, this moon phase tide is marked as full-moon level; the disasters it brings are far greater than usual,” Shang Qingwen began slowly, stroking his beard.

“Indeed. Were it not for that sandstorm dragon that appeared out of nowhere, Sister Qing and I wouldn’t have been separated from the caravan,” Mo De replied, improvising a story.

“At present, our defenses and supplies are sufficient, and we’ve repelled beast attacks twice. But I worry that, as the tide intensifies, we may face both natural disasters and beast hordes at once...” The chief’s brow furrowed.

“If there’s anything I can do, please instruct me,” Mo De offered at once. “Master Liu always said, ‘Every surviving settlement is a testament to human resilience, and our most precious treasure. If trouble comes, we will not stand by.’”

At the mention of “Master Liu,” Shang Qingwen’s last doubts vanished. As village chief, he knew well that Lewis Luthman, steward for the Five Great Patrons, also served as honorary head of the Gilded Dawn Caravan. “Master Liu” was what caravan members called him.

“Then I’ll rely on you both,” the old man said, rising and bowing deeply.

Startled, Mo De and Mu Qing hurried to help him up. They could not accept such an honor from an elder of his years.

“I won’t disturb you further—the silly girl should be back soon.” Shang Qingwen opened the door, smiling as he watched Cuihua dash back.

“Chief, Brother Mo, Sister Qing—Aunt Liu sent some pastries for you to try!” Cuihua stopped short at the door, seeing the chief already leaving.

“Try some before you go,” she urged, waving two large boxes of sweets at him.

“I’m too old for all that sugar—leave them for you young folks.” The old man affectionately patted her head and headed west with his cane.

“Then we’ll eat! Aunt Liu’s pastries are the best in the village—everyone says so,” Cuihua declared, ushering Mo De and Mu Qing inside. Her round face lit up with a bright, dimpled smile.