Wang Zhu paid him no mind and simply continued walking down the path. Zui, unfazed, walked alongside her.
Over time, he had learned that the woman beside him was one of few words, only speaking when a conversation held meaning for her.
"So, your name starts with 'Zhu'? What's your full name?" he asked.
Wang Zhu glanced at him briefly before turning away, offering no reply.
"Come on, why so stingy and secretive? I told you my real name, didn't I? It's just Zui. I forgot my last name. It's been so long since I last heard it."
He cast a sideways glance at Wang Zhu, but her expression remained neutral.
"So?" he prompted.
"Li Wang Zhu," she unexpectedly replied.
"Li Wang Zhu. I like it!" Zui grinned before tilting his head.
"By the way, who was that man shouting at you? Was it your younger brother?"
Wang Zhu came to an abrupt halt and looked straight at him.
"No,"
"No? Lover, then? Does your sect even allow such things?" Zui continued, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Wang Zhu raised an eyebrow at him, her expression remain unreadable.
Lover? What kind of nonsense...
That word had never once crossed her mind.
"Your breath stinks," she said flatly, already walking ahead without sparing him another glance.
"Huh—what?" Zui quickly cupped a hand over his mouth, breathing into it and sniffed hard. Nothing.
"Hey! How dare you—I was just asking a question! Out of pure, heartfelt curiosity! Come on wait up!" He shouted after her, breaking into a half-jog to catch up.
The day ended, and another quickly began. The streets came alive under the sun, bustling with the energy of a busy market day.
The air was rich with the sounds of cheerful chatter, the clinking of coins, and the sweet aroma of sizzling street food drifting through the crowd.
People strolled alongside their companions, families, and children. Some carrying bags of treats, others animatedly discussing their purchases as they browsed stalls brimming with fresh produce and handmade goods.
Vendors lined the street, their stalls overflowing with colorful, tantalizing wares. The lively hum of bartering filled the air as eager shoppers haggled over prices, their voices blending into the rhythmic pulse of the marketplace.
Amid the crowd, Zui's gaze landed on a stall covered in bright red fruit, each piece glistening under a shimmering layer of syrup.
Tanghulu.
A candied fruit on skewers, caught his eye, the glossy crimson apples sparkling in the sunlight. He couldn't help but wonder how they tasted.
Curious, he turned to Wang Zhu.
"Do you have any pennies?" he asked, his voice brimming with anticipation.
Wang Zhu came to an abrupt stop, her sharp gaze locking onto him with a flicker of suspicion. The corners of her lips twitched downward, and her fingers curled slightly over the fabric of her sleeve.
"What? Pennies are for buying things, aren't they?" Zui interjected, tilting his head as if the answer should have been obvious. Yet, Wang Zhu's piercing stare remained firm, unyielding.
"Aiya, could you stop looking at me so seriously all the time?" he whined, throwing his hands in the air.
She didn't respond.
With an exasperated sigh, Zui continued,
"I'm not some wandering demon you're used to dealing with. So rest assured, I won't rob you or do whatever else you're thinking. As I said earlier, I've never killed anyone. And in case you forgot, let me remind you again."
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"Ahem! I was never trained to use my abilities as a weapon, so you're perfectly safe around me. Now, do you have some pennies or not?"
A long pause stretched between them. Then, as if weighing his words, Wang Zhu let out a barely audible breath.
Without a word, she slipped a hand into the folds of her hanfu and took a small coin; a ten-cent piece. The dull silver glinted in the dimming sunlight as she held it out in her palm.
Zui's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he snatched the coin from her grasp and, in a blur of movement, darted toward the candy stand.
His steps were featherlight, carrying him forward with the unrestrained excitement of a child about to taste the sweetest indulgence.
Behind him, Wang Zhu remained still, watching as he ran off with her money. Her expression was unreadable, yet she didn't seem to mind that he had taken it without asking.
The night before, they had traveled without rest or food, pressing forward through the darkness. Now, at last, they had arrived in Jijui, the first capital of the northern region, just as the city's establishments were beginning to open.
So, demons crave human food as well…
The thought crossed Wang Zhu's mind unexpectedly.
She had never encountered a single record of demons desiring human food, only humans.
Moments later, Zui returned, panting slightly from his run. He stretched out his right hand, holding a second skewer of Tanghulu, which he had bought with Wang Zhu's money. The glossy, sugar-coated fruit gleamed under the morning light.
"Here! This is yours," he said with an innocent grin, his eyes sparkling.
"Hurry, take it. My hand is getting sore!"
Wang Zhu took the skewer absentmindedly, her gaze lingering on Zui as he devoured the first Tanghulu with childlike glee. His eyes practically shone with delight as he savored the sweet treat.
"Thank you for this," he mumbled between bites, his voice muffled.
Wang Zhu blinked.
She could hardly believe it. A demon, likely over a hundred years old, eating human food with the enthusiasm of a child.
"Is this your first time eating this?" she asked, her tone curious.
"Correction—this is my first time eating human food," Zui answered enthusiastically, still savoring the candy.
"I never got the chance before because… Well, my elder sister didn't have money to buy any. I never complained, though. We demons can survive without food, so..."
Without a word, Wang Zhu extended her skewer of Tanghulu to him, the sticky coating glistening in the light.
Zui's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected gesture, then lit up with joy. He eagerly accepted the treat without hesitation, his grin stretching ear to ear.
"Thank you!" he said, his voice brimming with happiness as he took a bite.
"I can't believe how delicious this is! What's this crunchy white stuff on the outside?"
Wang Zhu glanced at him, her expression impassive.
"Sugar. White sugar," she replied simply.
Zui nodded, clearly fascinated by the new flavor.
"White sugar," he echoed, as if the discovery had never once occurred to him.