278 Big Li and Little Li meet Little Yan (1/2)

When he went to buy stuff this time, Remian loaded a small hand-cart with sacks and crates. He doubled his foodstuff calculations to include Little Yan's needs, got extra wooden dishes and utensils (they used chopsticks), herb-gathering tools, a second set of bedding (otherwise he'd be sleeping in the chair again tonight), two hats, three masks, four scarves and five sets of clothing at roughly Little Yan's size.

”Two sets of tunic and pants; three casual plain robes.” Little Yan hugged her new clothes when he showed them to her. ”Thank you! I love them!”

Remian breathed a slow sigh of relief. He'd been worried she'd ask about skirts and dresses, all of which he basically knew nothing about. The clothes he'd gotten her were functional, almost utilitarian, and there was nothing particularly pretty about any of them, but they were clean, new, and well-made (at least he thought so).

Big Li or Little Li would be horrified to wear such poor, plain clothes, but Little Yan beamed as though she'd just been given treasures.

As Little Yan tried on her new clothes though, Remian thought of something and realized he'd slipped up. With his back to the girl changing clothes, he said, ”We need to get you new shoes too. Yours are almost falling apart. What's your size?”

There was a pause. ”I can go with you. I can wear a hat and go try them on myself.”

Remian thought it over. ”That would be good. Shoes must fit comfortably, and simply telling me your size is risky. Best to try them on yourself.”

In order to hide the slave-brand, Little Yan wore a headscarf, and a mask, and then added a bamboo hat on top of that. Hesitantly, almost shyly, she followed him out and back to the markets of Scorched Earth City.

Who knew they'd bump into Big Li and Little Li.

”Lem Yan?!” Little Li gasped. ”Where have you been?”

”Lem Yan?” Big Li gaped. ”Who's your girlfriend?!”

Zhao Feng and Mu Hou were actually also there. From Big Li's thoughts it was easy to see that they had beaten out, outspent, or outright bought out the other three of the competition.

”She's not…” Remian began, then hesitated. Just how was he to explain Xiao Yan? Sister? Employee? Pet??

”Master, are these your friends?” Xiao Yan asked suddenly.

Just to clarify, based on her language, the word 'Master' here addresses him as her teacher, not her owner. In other words, she was claiming to be his disciple.

”Oh? She is your disciple?” Big Li immediately lost interest.

”Oh? You have a disciple?” Zhao Feng suddenly started paying attention.

Uhoh. What did we do to draw the eye of this homicidal calamity?

”Do you have other disciples?” Zhao Feng asked.

”Um… yeah?” Remian said, thinking of Mindy, George and Tim.

”Are they all capable of using the same abilities you have, to sense danger in the mists?” Zhao Feng pressed, intently.

Remian frowned. ”Um… I don't think so? Maybe one or two of them might have picked it up on their own. But it's not something I teach them.”

”What DO you teach them?” Little Li asked.

”What did I teach them…?” Remian scratched his head. ”First, I taught them how to roast meat. Then I taught them how to wash dishes properly. I guess you could say it's mainly survival skills, and a bit about how to hunt and fight.”

”How to fight? You?” Big Li burst out laughing. ”You can't even fight Little Li!”

”Hey, at least they can cook.” Little Li defended Remian.

My dear aunt, if that's what you call a good defense, please don't defend me!

”It must be hard… seeing as she's a cripple. She can't cultivate either.” Zhao Feng observed. ”A cripple teaching a cripple… I'm almost curious. Almost.”

Mu Hou suddenly cleared his throat. ”Ease off. He's probably just tricked her along for cheap labor.”

”Labor? Whatever for?” Big Li asked, eyes wide. ”Do you know what he's been up to?”

”Of course. I know everything!” Mu Hou said expansively. ”Remian came in to the Alchemist Guild to sell trapvine cores on his own the other day. Tell me, Remian… has your harvest increased since you have a free helper at your side now?”

Remian didn't think there was any reason to hide it. ”Definitely.”

”Ah.” Big Li suddenly look enlightened and just a little more approving of Remian.

”Ugh.” Little Li, on the other hand, looked a bit disgusted.