Wu Shuan arrived early, dressed in a simple gray robe and carrying a slender blade across his back. Calm and composed as ever, he nodded once to Han Yu.
"You seem focused," Wu Shuan remarked, eyeing Han Yu's unusually neat appearance.
"I am," Han Yu replied. "This time, I plan to return from a mission without dying."
"A worthy goal," Wu Shuan said with a faint smirk.
Moments later, a loud crash echoed from the outer walkway, followed by a cascade of apologies and several birds flying away in panic.
"I'm okay! I'm fine!" came the unmistakable voice of Fatty Kui.
Han Yu and Wu Shuan turned to see Fatty Kui stumbling toward them, one sandal on, the other missing, with his robe half-tied and a faint trail of flour dust following behind.
"I tripped over a chicken," Fatty Kui huffed. "Again. I swear, those birds are sent by my master to test me."
"Or you're just cursed," Han Yu muttered.
Fatty Kui dropped a large bundle on the ground with a loud thud. It bounced once.
