Morning came too quickly.

Rae woke to sunlight streaming through the window. The village was already awake. He could hear movement below. Voices. Normal sounds.

Not afraid anymore.

He dressed. Strapped his sword to his back. Shouldered his pack.

The cloth stayed in his pocket this time. No need for it now.

He took one last look around the small room. Then left.

Downstairs, the innkeeper stood behind the counter. He looked up as Rae descended.

His eyes widened slightly. Recognition.

This was the blind fighter. Without the cloth. Young. Burn-scarred. Green eyes that saw everything.

The innkeeper opened his mouth. Closed it. Then bowed his head deeply.

Some things didn't need words.

Rae nodded once and walked out.

The village square was transformed.

Bandits and villagers working side by side. A broken cart being repaired. Shutters rehung. The crater from Long Wei's club already filled and smoothed.

Children played near the well. Actually played. Laughing.

An old woman swept her doorstep. She glanced at Rae. Looked right past him. Just another traveler.

None of them recognized him without the cloth.

He walked through it all, heading for the southern road.

Long Wei stood at the village entrance, arms crossed. His Qi was stronger today. Still damaged, but recovering.

He saw Rae approaching. Grinned.

"Leaving already, boss?"

His voice carried. Deliberate. Loud enough.

Rae's eyes narrowed. "Don't."

Long Wei's grin widened. He turned back toward the village. Cupped his hands around his mouth.

"THE BOSS IS LEAVING!"

Rae stopped walking. "Long Wei—"

Too late.

Villagers looked up from their work. Confused. The boss?

Long Wei gestured at Rae. "The one who saved you last night. Your protector."

An old woman squinted at Rae. "The blind boy?"

"Not blind," Long Wei said, still grinning. "Just clever."

Understanding rippled through the crowd.

The young man without a cloth. Green eyes. Burn scars on his jaw.

It was him.

The fighter who'd defeated Long Wei. Who'd changed everything in one night.

The blind fighter.

Their savior.

Someone dropped their tool. Then another.

People emerged from houses. From fields. Gathering near the square.

All of them looking at Rae.

Rae stood frozen, wanting to disappear into the ground.

Then the shouts began.

"THANK YOU, BOSS!"

"SAFE TRAVELS!"

"YOU SAVED US!"

The old man who'd nearly died pushed through the crowd. Bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground. "Thank you. For my life. For everything."

The children waved. Excited. The legendary blind fighter was real. And he was leaving.

Even the farmers stopped their work. Bowed their heads in respect.

"DON'T FORGET US, BOSS!"

"COME BACK SOON!"

"WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOUR VILLAGE!"

Rae's face went red. He could feel it burning.

Long Wei was laughing now. Full belly laugh. "Should've kept the cloth on, boss."

Rae turned and started walking. Fast.

The shouts followed him down the road.

"FAREWELL, BOSS!"

"THANK YOU!"

"SAFE JOURNEY!"

Behind him, Long Wei called out one last time. "Try not to start any more gangs on the way!"

More laughter from the bandits.

Rae kept walking. Didn't look back.

He rounded a bend in the road. The village disappeared behind trees.

Finally, Silence.

The path ahead stretched southeast. Ten more days to arrive at Vortex Pavilion. Maybe less if he moved faster. The chance to get stronger, to find answers about his clan was getting closer every day.

He walked on the road for a day without seeing a living soul.

He was starting to understand why people used horses. Then he heard it. Wheels creaking. A horse’s steady plodding. A cart coming up the road behind him.

Rae stepped to the side, let it pass.

An old man drove it. Gray beard. Weathered face. The cart was half-full of vegetables, probably heading to market.

The old man glanced at Rae. Kept going.
“Excuse me,” Rae called. 

The cart stopped. The old man looked back. “Aye?” 

“Are you heading toward Pyo town?”

“Aye.”

Rae pulled out a copper coin. “Could I ride with you? For this?”
The old man studied him.

“Hop on,” he said, pocketing the coin.

Rae climbed into the back of the cart. Settled among the vegetable crates.

The cart lurched forward when someone shouted.
“Waaait!” 

A young man. Seventeen maybe. Messy dark hair. Worn robes with faded red and black. Bruised face. Split lip.

The old man pulled the cart to a stop.

The young man climbed on before anyone could object. Settled himself on the opposite side of the cart from Rae.

Grinned. “Thanks, I would have fainted if I walked a second more.”

The old man grunted and started the cart moving again.

Rae studied the newcomer.

East Fang colors. Sub-sect markings.

The young man noticed him staring. “I know, I have a lot of charm. Not only girls can resist me, even boys now.”

Rae said nothing.

“You heading to the Vortex?”

Rae nodded.

“Me too,“ The young man said as he fixed his hair. “My name is Yuan from Claw Fang, you?”

“Rae.”

Yuan waited. Then laughed. “Not much for conversation, huh?”
“No.”
“Fair enough.” Yuan closed his eyes. “Wake me when we get there.”

The cart rolled on.
Rae leaned back, closed his eyes. Let the rhythmic creaking of wheels lull him into a half-doze.

Two hours passed. Maybe three. The cart arrived at Pyo Town just as the last light faded.

The old man pulled to a stop near the market square.

“End of the line, lads.”
Rae climbed down. Stretched.

Yuan hopped off the other side.
The old man held out his hand. “That’ll be two copper. One for each of you.”

Rae froze. “What?”

“Three coppers. One at the start, and one at the arrival.”
“I already paid you one copper.”
“Aye. And your friend there owes two too.”
“I don’t even know him!” Rae turned.

Yuan was already gone. Disappeared into the crowded market square.

“He said you will be for him. He is already off, but you are still here. That’s three coppers total.”

Rae’s jaw clenched.
He pulled out the copper and gave it to the man.
“Farewell, young lad.” The old man pocketed both coins and drove his cart away.

Rae stood alone in the market square.

It buzzed with activity. Vendors calling. People haggling.

His hands curled into fists. 

That bastard.

“If I find him,” Rae muttered, scanning the market place for messy dark hair.

“Would you look at that!”