The innkeeper waved a hand dismissively, though his eyes softened at Kai’s words. “There’s no need for that, young man. We need to look after one another in troubling times like—”

  “Hey! What is the meaning of this?!” a voice suddenly bellowed, cutting off the innkeeper mid-sentence.

  The entire room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward the source of the outburst. Sitting at a corner table was a rugged boatman, his face flushed with anger. In one hand, he held the lid of a steam basket, and in front of him sat the empty basket itself. His other hand slammed down on the table, rattling the dishes.

  “I ordered steamed fish! Where the hell is it!?” he roared, his voice echoing through the inn.

  The innkeeper’s expression shifted from surprise to irritation as he stood up, his chair scraping against the wooden floor. “What are you going on about?” he said, striding over to the man’s table.

  Kai’s eyes darted between the innkeeper and the man. He felt a growing sense of apprehension, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck. Something about the situation felt off. He then went wide eyed as he realized something.

  Reaching into his spatial ring with subtlety, Kai retrieved a bundle of furs he’d skinned during his time in the wilds. He made it look as though he was pulling them from beneath his clothing, then laid them on the table in front of the boatman who had been sitting with.

  “Please tell the innkeeper these are for him, for the food,” Kai said quietly, his voice barely audible over the rising commotion.

  The boatman blinked in surprise, looking down at the furs. “Um, sure. But I don’t think the innkee—”

  Before he could finish, Kai had already scooped up his baozi and was moving swiftly toward the door.

  “Hey, where are you going?” the boatman called after him, but Kai didn’t respond. He slipped out of the inn, the door creaking shut behind him.

  Outside, Kai paused for a moment, scanning his surroundings. The street was relatively quiet, with only a few passersby going about their business. His eyes landed on a narrow alley between two buildings, shadowed and empty. Perfect.

  Without wasting another second, Kai moved quickly but deliberately, avoiding any sudden movements that might draw attention. He kept his head down, his pace steady, as he made his way toward the alley.

  Once inside, Kai paused and glanced around one last time to ensure no one had followed him. The narrow passage was empty, the only sound the faint rustle of wind brushing against the walls. Satisfied, he reached toward his right shoulder, his fingers grasping at what seemed like empty air. With a quick motion, he pulled the shadow fox, Yinying, out of the shadows by the scruff of her neck, her small form materializing into visible sight.

  Kai looked down at Yinying, his expression a mix of exasperation and disappointment. The fox, her sleek black fur shimmering faintly in the dim light, wore a guilty expression. Clenched in the corner of her mouth was the unmistakable fin of a fish. Kai’s suspicions were confirmed. Earlier, when he had heard the boatman yelling about his missing fish, he had caught the faint scent of fish coming from his shoulder. It hadn’t taken him long to piece together what had happened: Yinying, ever the mischievous creature, had used her shadow-walking ability to sneak into the kitchen, steal the fish, and return to her hiding spot on his shoulder—all without being seen. Realizing the potential trouble this could cause, Kai had made a quick exit to deal with the situation.

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  Kai sighed deeply, his tone carrying the weight of a disappointed parent. “I told you not to attract attention, and what do you do? You steal a fish?”

  Yinying’s ears drooped, her violet eyes downcast as if she understood the gravity of her actions. She let out a soft, almost apologetic whine, the fish fin still dangling from her mouth.

  Kai crossed his arms, his voice firm but not unkind. “If you wanted something tasty to eat, you could’ve just waited. I was given some baozi back at the inn. You could’ve had one of those after we left.”

  At the mention of food, Yinying’s ears perked up, her tails giving a tentative wag. The gluttonous fox’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect of more delicious treats.

  Kai raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Don’t give me that look. You’re not getting those baozi now, not after what you just pulled. Your brothers, Snow, or Igni will get them instead.”

  Yinying’s ears flattened again, her entire demeanor shifting to one of utter dejection. She let out a low, mournful whimper, as if the world had just ended.

  Kai shook his head, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips despite himself. “Alright, listen. This time, stay by me and don’t steal anything. Got it?”

  The shadow fox, still looking thoroughly chastised, nodded reluctantly, her eyes wide and pleading.

  “Good,” Kai said, his tone softening. He lifted Yinying and placed her back on his shoulder. In an instant, her form blurred and melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight once more.

  Kai adjusted his clothing and took a deep breath, glancing back toward the entrance of the alley. “Let’s hope that’s the last bit of excitement for today,” he muttered under his breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension from Yinying’s antics.

  He took a cautious step forward, his eyes scanning the area as he prepared to continue his journey. But then he froze. Standing by the dock, as still and ominous as a shadow at midnight, was a peculiar figure. The sight of them sent a chill racing down Kai’s spine, and the color drained from his face. His heart pounded in his chest as he quickly retreated, darting back into the alley and pressing his back against the cold, rough wall. His breathing came in shallow, uneven gasps, his mind racing with a mix of fear and disbelief.

  After a moment, he forced himself to calm down and crept toward the edge of the wall, cautiously peeking around the corner to get a better look at the figure.

  Standing there, as motionless as a statue, was someone clad in black and grey robes. Embroidered on the back of the robes was the symbol of a weight scale, its threads shimmering faintly in the dim light. But what truly set this person apart was the mask they wore—a simple, featureless gray mask that wrapped entirely around their head. It was utterly devoid of any distinguishing features: no eyeholes, no mouth, no markings of any kind. It was as if the mask itself was a void, swallowing all light and identity. The strange attire made it impossible to discern the person’s gender, age, or even their intentions. They were an enigma, a blank slate that radiated an aura of cold, unyielding authority.

  Kai’s stomach churned as he stared at the figure, who seemed completely unaware of his presence. Despite the lack of visible eyes, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the person could see everything. The weight of their presence was suffocating, like a storm cloud gathering on the horizon, ready to unleash its fury.

  “Yup, no doubt about it. T-That’s a Faceless Judge,” Kai nervously mumbled under his breath, his voice barely audible even to himself.

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