In that moment, Jiho felt a surge of inner strength, a fierce determination that she had never known before.
The shadow lingered for a moment longer before slowly retreating, its presence fading into the background.
Jiho exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her body relaxing slightly as the tension ebbed away.
With the basket in her hands, Jiho turned and walked away, her steps steady and purposeful. As she turned around, the old man suddenly appeared in front of her, his mocking smile unchanged.
"Ack!" Jiho exclaimed, her surprise causing her to instinctively throw the basket in his direction. The basket hit the old man square in the face, causing his smile to vanish instantly. The basket clattered to the ground, its contents spilling out. The old man's expression froze in shock before quickly transforming into one of anger. His muscles tensed, and his eyes blazed with fury. "What. The. Heck. Is. The meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
