act49side

<p=2>Two days before the day of the full moon, Hour of Ch'en</>

*sigh*... *siiiigh*...

What are you sighing for? Does your tooth hurt?

It's my HEAD that hurts!

If you have too much time on your hands, go count the cabbage stock for winter.

Hey—

Are you going or not?

Going where, when the sun hasn't even climbed above the rooftops?

Don't play the fool with me! The city is almost empty. Why do you stay?

Almost means it's not totally empty. Travelers, soldiers on duty, they all need to eat.

Besides, we have someone right here in the restaurant.

She doesn't count!

If you don't go now, there's nothing I can do when the Sui Regulator hears of her visit to this place.

I just put the fowlbeast on the grill, and there are another four or five dishes still to be served. There's no rush.

Oh, you're just—!

Stop worrying so much, first thing in the morning. Go open the door, if you really have too much time on your hands. It's business as usual for breakfast hours!

You're bold as a boulder, you know that?

What else can I do?

If you're sleepy, go to bed. If you're hungry, eat something. Who knows when someone might suddenly miss a certain taste? A customer could show up at any moment—

See? A customer just showed up.

Take a seat you like! Only the breakfast menu is available right now—

Oh, it's you.

What are you doing here?

I'm not sure what you're asking... I run this place. What else would I be doing?

You 'people' just keep getting more and more ridiculous.

Why the rudeness? Insulting the chef before you've taken a single bite?

Keep this up, and I'll kick you out. Even my patience has its limits.

The frosty individual walks into the restaurant and sits down at the table beside Yu.

What flavors does Savors at Yu's savor?

All of them, of course, from sweet to sour to salty to spicy.

And to get the smell of fire and smoke all over yourself... do you like this?

Of course. Can't be a good cook, if you don't like to cook.

I can't speak to anything else, but I'm pretty confident in my cooking.

I could make a couple of dishes for you. On the house.

One has to taste different flavors in life. Isn't it a waste to be obsessed with a single flavor?

Ah... but I guess I can't really use these words to persuade you.

They say, 'he who tells others to forgive and forget will be struck by lightning.' Besides, I guess the bad blood between you is pretty thick.

I understand how you feel. Really!

You have every reason to hate Yan, hate humanity, hate It... and I suppose it's not out of the question for the hatred to last a thousand years.

But if you keep hating and hating, with nothing to do but let the hate destroy you... is it really worth it?

You remind me of my brother, come to think of it...

You're not afraid of me at all.

Why should I be?

Beggars, mandarins, even the gods in Heaven and the Feranmuts of legend, they're all customers when they walk into this restaurant.

You're different from the others...

You're unusual, even among your... kind.

You don't look concerned at all, even when your life is on the line.

*sigh*... I guess I've gotten used to living in fear. It's been this way for a century.

Your timing isn't great, I have to say. You would really have had a treat, if you had come when the ingredients were still fresh in the kitchen.

Sometimes, all it takes to change your mood is a nice, hot meal. Maybe the things that seemed impossible will solve themselves.

The buns are ready, chef, but our breakfast sign is gone! Did Blaze—

There's actually a customer? At this hour?

A Candleholder?

All alone... far too arrogant, you are.

Feeble, ignorant, juvenile... you and these ants.

Her sword is already raised before She has finished Her sentence.

Stop!

Chef—

Like the falling of the judge's gavel, or the crack of thunder in winter.

It is supposed to be a dining table, but it feels like a court of law.

All is silent.

The dining table is no place for swords and bloodshed.

Pick up your chopsticks, if you're here to eat. Don't let good food go to waste.

And if you're not here to eat, you ought to get out.

Its parts... protect the humans of the Sui Regulator...

How ironic.

We don't need you to tell us how to live our lives.

On the other hand, I would suggest that you eat something. Hunger tends to make one grumpy.

The woman quietly pushes a steaming plate of buns in front of Ya.

Enjoy, while it's hot.

...Hmph.

Ya looks coldly at the buns in front of Her, before turning to leave.

You're going?

The Shanhaizhong's words were truth mixed with falsehood, but I <i>will</i> get my hands on what she promised to deliver to me.

As for you... I've met many of Its incarnations, but none who answer my questions straightforwardly. What use is there for you people?

I will not say that an eye for an eye is unreasonable, but you should watch your step, in case someone has dug a pit for you.

Ridiculous.

Does She speak of the proxies, the Shanhaizhong, Herself, or the steaming plate of buns in front of Her?

Phew... good thing you showed up, Jun.

It doesn't seem like She's here for any particular reason. Looks like She's been tricked by someone. Whether I'm here or not doesn't make much of a difference.

It's not 'us' that She's after.

...*sigh*.

What is it?

I just feel like She must have led a hard life.

A road of hardship that only leads to even greater hardship.

Never mind that. Does my second oldest sister have business here in Baizao?

I have an appointment to keep.

An appointment? How about you sit down and enjoy a meal, if you're not in a hurry—

I'm afraid it might be a little hard to sit down and enjoy anything...

Considering the burning smell coming from the kitchen.

Oh no... my roast fowlbeast!

Stop.

The sound of paulownia seeds striking the ground rings clear through the faint morning autumn wind.

The slender woman in front of her has a nervous expression on her face, seemingly trying to hide her timidity at all costs.

A visitor? When there is a general evacuation order throughout Baizao?

Who are you? What business do you have in the Sky Mirror Pavilion?

I didn't mean to disturb—do you work here?

You must have seen the strange soldiers all over the city. They seem to have originated here.

Could you please tell me exactly what happened?

The Pavilion does not need an outsider meddling in its affairs. Besides, your identity is unknown, and you have trespassed into this place, armed.