As they entered further, the atmosphere shifted. The interior was dimly lit, with the faint glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows on the canvas walls. The air was thick with the scent of spices and dried goods, a stark contrast to the despair outside. Shelves lined with various supplies—dried meats, grains, and jars of preserved fruits—filled the space, hinting at the merchant's wares.

  Kai’s eyes darted around, taking in the assortment of goods. He could see the potential for trade here, but he also sensed the underlying tension in the air. The guard’s presence loomed large, a constant reminder that this was not a place to try anything sneaky.

  At the far end of the tent, a figure emerged from behind a stack of crates, drawing attention with his imposing presence. Sato was a rotund middle-aged man, his face lined with age yet lacking the marks of hard labor, suggesting a life of comfort rather than toil. A constant sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead, giving him a greasy look. His sharp, calculating eyes seemed to take in every detail, weighing opportunities and threats alike.

  Dressed in an extravagant tunic adorned with vibrant patterns, Sato exuded an air of opulence that contrasted sharply with the desperation and poverty outside the tent. A futou perched atop his head added a touch of traditional flair, yet it was the way he carried himself that truly commanded respect. There was a certain gravitas in his posture, a blend of confidence and authority that spoke of years spent navigating the complexities of trade and negotiation.

  Sato’s gaze flickered momentarily to the guard, a subtle acknowledgment of the unspoken rules that governed their interaction, before returning to Kai with a keen intensity. It was clear that the merchant was assessing the situation, weighing Kai’s worth against the backdrop of the bustling marketplace.

  “Ah, a newcomer,” Sato said, his voice smooth yet laced with a hint of curiosity. “I hear you wish to trade.” His greasy smile did little to inspire trust, and Kai felt a shiver run down his spine. “I suppose you’re here for food, but you don’t look like you have much to offer. Although…” His gaze shifted to Lu Bu, the child clutching Kai’s hand. “Are you perhaps considering trading that child for supplies?” The cruel, greedy smile that spread across his face sent a chill through the air.

  At the mention of being sold, Lu Bu turned to Kai, his eyes wide. A flicker of worry crossed his young face, and he seemed to inch closer to Kai, seeking reassurance.

  Kai himself was taken aback by the suggestion. The idea of selling a child was utterly foreign to him, especially in the territory of the Righteous Alliance, where such acts were unthinkable. Yet here was Sato, bluntly offering to buy a human life as if it were just cattle. The audacity of it left Kai momentarily speechless, grappling with the moral implications of what he had just heard.

  “Such a thing is unthinkable,” Kai said, his voice steadying as he met Sato’s gaze with defiance. “Why would you even suggest such a thing?” The conviction in his words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the merchant’s insidious proposition.

  The merchant's smile quickly shifted into a frown as soon as he realized that Kai wasn’t there to trade Lu Bu. “Oh, you must be a new arrival,” Sato said, his tone dripping with condescension. “Well, we do things differently here in Zan.”

  “I didn’t know Zan dealt in slaves,” Kai replied, his voice steady but filled with disbelief.

  “Oh, heaven no. It’s not slavery. It’s indentured servitude,” Sato retorted, waving a dismissive hand as if to brush away the accusation. His eyes glinted with a mix of arrogance and self-righteousness, as if he believed he was offering a more benevolent service.

  “It still sounds like slavery to me,” Kai shot back, his brow furrowing in frustration. The very idea of trading a child for supplies was abhorrent, and he could feel the heat rising in his chest.

  “Bah! What would a southerner know?” Sato scoffed, his voice rising with indignation. “Indentured servants are housed, fed, and can earn their freedom. It’s far better than dying out on the streets like all those poor sods in this camp. The other parents who entrusted me with their children understood this.” He leaned in closer, his expression a mix of pride and disdain.

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  Kai felt his fists clench tightly as anger surged within him. The realization that Sato was exploiting the desperation of these refugees, turning their children into commodities, ignited a fire in his chest. How could someone be so callous, so devoid of empathy? The thought of Lu Bu being treated as a mere bargaining chip sent a wave of nausea through him.

  Sato’s eyes narrowed, and he seemed to sense Kai’s disapproval radiating from him like heat. “If you don’t like it, then go back to the south, you filthy mongrel,” he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. The insult hung in the air, a stark reminder of the divide between them, but Kai stood his ground, unwilling to back down in the face of such cruelty.

  Kai swallowed back his fury, reminding himself of the costly mistake he had made when he lost his cool while trading for medicine back at the Ember Sword Sect. He wouldn’t allow himself to be provoked again. Instead, he steeled his resolve and focused on the reason he was here.

  “I’m not here to trade this child, and I’m not here to barter for food,” he said, his voice steady and clear. “I’m looking for a map of Zan.”

  “A map?” Sato raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “What do you need a map for?”

  “I intend to go further north,”Kai replied, his tone firm.

  Sato chuckled, a low, mocking sound that echoed in the dimly lit tent. “Heh, you’re not going to find a better situation up north. Most of the big cities of Zan are right here on the border. Beyond that, it’s mostly vast wilderness, dotted with small, struggling communities. You’ll be trading one hardship for another.”

  “I’m willing to take that risk,” Kai said, his voice unwavering. “I have my reasons for going, and I won’t be deterred.”

  Sato leaned back, crossing his arms over his expansive belly, his expression shifting from amusement to curiosity. “You’re either very brave or very foolish. Most people who come through here are just trying to survive and find safety, not venture into the unknown. What are you hoping to find?”

  “My reasons are my own,” Kai replied, his voice steady. “Do you have a map that I can trade for?”

  Sato studied him for a moment, his calculating eyes narrowing as if weighing Kai’s worth. “Well, I might have a map or two, but they don’t come cheap. And you don’t look like you have much of value on you to offer. Unless…” He glanced at Lu Bu, a predatory gleam in his eyes, almost licking his lips at the thought of acquiring the child.

  Lu Bu, sensing the merchant’s gaze, instinctively hid behind Kai, fear etched on his small face. Memories of being captured and caged by bandits flooded back, and he shivered at the thought of being snatched away again.

  “I’m not interested in trading Lu Bu or any other child,” Kai reiterated, his voice firm and resolute. “But I do have animal hides that should be worth something.”

  “Animal hides, huh?” Sato’s interest piqued, and a smirk crept across his face. “So you’re a hunter. That explains your confidence about heading north. Not worried about the wild beasts lurking in the shadows, are you?”

  “Instead of trying to analyze me, can we focus on making this trade?” Kai replied, irritation creeping into his tone. He was growing impatient with Sato’s games.

  Sato crossed his arms, his expression shifting to one of mock contemplation. “Well, maps are quite valuable, and the market value of hides has dropped significantly. I would need enough leather to make at least twenty coats for me to even consider parting with a map.”

  “Twenty coats?” Kai echoed, incredulously.

  The amount of leather Sato was asking for was utterly ridiculous. While it was true that maps held significant value, they should only cost the ink, the paper, and the time it took to draw them. Moreover, maps weren’t particularly difficult to copy, which kept the price down even further. When Kai added all these factors together, it became painfully clear that a single map didn’t come close to the value of twenty coats’ worth of leather.

  It was clear that the merchant was attempting to extort him, exploiting his need for a map to maneuver him into a corner. The very idea of this greasy man trying to coerce him into a position where he would have to sell Lu Bu was infuriating to Kai. There was no way he would allow that to happen; he would fight tooth and nail to protect Lu Bu from the clutches of someone like Sato.

  “A staggering amount, I know, but if you consider—” Sato began, his voice dripping with condescension, but he was abruptly cut off.

  “Very well, give me a moment,” Kai interjected, his tone resolute as he turned and exited the tent, Lu Bu following closely behind.

  Sato likely assumed that Kai was just another desperate refugee, like so many others who had passed through this camp, willing to bend to the merchant’s will. But Kai was no mortal; he was a cultivator, and he possessed skills and resources that Sato could never anticipate.

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