The Next Morning
The day was bright, sunlight pouring into the room, its golden ray casting a warm glow that heralded a new beginning.
"Ugh".
Xue Lian opened his eyes, only to be struck by the brightness of the day, forcing him to shut them again.
Although, not too long he opened them, the day was so bright, but he had to endure it.
"W…what's this?" he mumbled, as he rose from where he laid. His hands cleaning his eyes, trying to make sense of where he was.
He looked around for a short while, scanning every part of the room, his expression bewildered, and then it came.
"Oh… I am in another word."
His tone sounded so depressed and disappointed, as if he had expected more from this. And that was when the thought hit him.
"The brothel Manager…"
He looked at his sides, but she wasn't there. He remembered laying down here while she was still asleep.
"Could she have left?"
Xue Lian stood and scanned his apartment, but she was nowhere to be seen. Her clothes weren't in he bedroom, clear proof that she had already left.
"Ugh."
Xue Lian held his head, a certain energy coursing through it. It was unbearable, but he forced himself to.
Looking for a good way, he went to the kitchen and took a sip of water to refresh his memories.
After that, he felt calm and steady, no dizziness whatsoever, everything was good.
Although he heard a growling sound. It was from his stomach. He realized that he hadn't eaten anything since he entered this world.
Even before he died. That morning, nothing had entered his mouth.
Still in the kitchen area, he searched for what he could eat, anything. However, there was nothing.
The place was as barren as they come. The only thing he could have access to was… water.
"What kind of high-ranking son lives without food?" he muttered, half in disbelief.
He shook his head, heading for the bathroom. He planned on getting washed and afterwards head to get something to eat.
-
A few minutes later,
Xue Lian camr out from his home, dressed in a sleek black robe lined with subtle silver patterns, its thick fabric flowing like shadow. A black sash clinched his waist, and the faint glint of runes marked him with quiet authority.
The third son of a high-ranking clan.
He smirked, the fresh wind swirling around him like a silent companion.
He stepped onto the road, where the streets buzzed with people. Some were opening their shops, others hurried through the crowd, gathering what they needed for the day.
Xue Lian hand was at his back, tucked into his robe. His chin up, proud, savoring the fresh air, it was as if he was embracing the free life he had just been gifted with.
While strolling down the busy street, his stomach growled again, as if reminding him, it was the reason he came outside.
Xue Lian placed his hand on his stomach, as if telling it… he was aware.
He gazed aimlessly at each shop he passed, checking if any had a place he could get anything to eat.
He wandered past each shop, his gaze drifting from one to the next, searching from any place that might offer something to eat.
"Tch…"
"Why are most of them only selling metals and weapons. The ones that sell things that were edibles, were only ingredients that are used for cooking.?
"No fast food?"
/grrrowl/
"Damn. I need to find a place as soon as I can."
As Xue Lian hurried along, clutching his was growling stomach, a little figure approached him.
"Are you hungry… mister?"
The voice spoke out. Little, calm weak and curious.
Xue Lian gazed below. It was a young child , not more than five. He had brown eye that's flickered while gazing at the big person before him. He was curious, and at the same time cute.
"Yes…little one." Xue Lian responded. "…I am indeed looking for a place to eat."
The child didn't utter a word as he held, tightly a certain object that resembled a doll.
The child pointed at a modest looking shop, its color dull, its exterior lifeless. Yet a sign hung up above, indicating it served fast meals.
Xue Lian gazed at the weird looking shop just a few metres before him, and then back at the child. However, the child was no longer at his side.
"What?"
Xue Lian stared perplexed, he was certain the child was just right beside him.
"Where did he go?"
One moment, he was there and in a blank of an eye, he wasn't.
This seems strange, considering that fact that a child couldn't have moved that quick.
Then again, he a child. He had proper seen something intriguing, and run off to it.
Xue Lian didn't think much of it. He knew that could be the only reason. Although what bothered him, was that he didn't get to thank the child.
At this point, he felt calm, his hand tucked back into his robe, behind his back. He walked gracefully to the direction of the shop.
A slight smile emerged on his face, as if he had already met his savior.
Upon getting there, it wasn't just a shop, it was an open front restaurant framed by faded red shapes. Inside, wooden stools and low tables filled the space, with people quietly enjoying their meals amid the scent of herbs and spices.
The aroma of the meals is was taken by the wind, into Xue Lian's nose, its scent magnificent, spectacular, and most of all…delicious.
/grrrowl!/
"Yeah yeah… I know."
Xue Lian mumbled, his composure ruined as he held his stomach, rushing into the restaurant.
..
Xue Lian found himself seated on a stool, at from if him was a table. He gazed around, the place a bit shabby. It wasn't all that fancy, but had just about anything that a normal restaurant of the golden era could have.
Not too long after he was seated, a young boy in his teens, around fifteen to seventeen of age, stood before him.
"What can I get you today… your graceful Sir?" the boy spoke, his voice, sharp, precise and confident. He stood in an elegant manner, his hand crossed behind his back.
One look at him, and it will tell you that he had been doing this for a long time.
Xue Lian gazed fixed onto him, he wasn't admiring how the boy stood before him, or whether he had worked here for a longest time, all that mattered to him was satisfying his growling stomach.
"I'd get anything that could be satisfying for two meals of the day." Xue Lian ordered. He didn't exactly know any meal of these culture, so by saying any, he meant whatever was available.
The boy bowed and sprinted off to get his order. Meanwhile, Xue Lian took the opportunity to explore more on his surroundings.
Men and women of different nature sat across him. They either had a bow or sword attached to them, as if they were hunters preparing for a day's hunt.
Xue Lian couldn't tell if that was the actual reason, or if there was a fight about to happen in a certain time of them day.
'A tournament perhaps?'
He wasn't sure. However something was unsettled him. He could feel the gaze of upon him, fierce and piercing, like a predator watching his prey.
A few minutes passed and his food was delivered to him. In his front were two soups in a bowl, along with two loaves of bread. Nothing more, nothing less. That was all that was brought to him.
As the waiter boy was about to leave, Xue Lian caught his hand.
"Wait…" He uttered, while the boys stopped.
"Is this what a two meal looks like?"
The waiter boy was perplexed, he didn't know what to say, because to him that's what it was. However, he managed to speak, as the eyes of the customer holding his hand were a bit terrifying.
"I…I'm sorry but that's what you ordered." The boy stuttered, his hands shaking as if feeling that the customer was about to go on a rampage, since it was normal here.
"No. This isn't what I ordered, This is…"
"Don't pressure the kid too much while he does his job."
A calm unfamiliar voice interrupted from behind, cutting Xue Lian off mid sentence.