Legend of the Divine Archer

Sheng Yin managed to slip away from her sister's watchful eyes and approached Yan Jin. She was drawn to him, sensing a kindred spirit. Despite their brief encounter, she felt that Yan Jin saw her as a whole person, not just someone with a disability. This was a rare experience for her, and her curiosity grew.

As she neared, Yan Jin reached out and gently lifted her into his arms. "You don't like big crowds either?" he asked, his voice soft.

"No," a small voice echoed in his mind, surprising him.

"Teach me how to do that," Yan Jin requested, intrigued.

"You have such a powerful soul, and you don't know how?" Sheng Yin's mental voice sounded genuinely surprised.

He shook his head. "No one has ever taught me."

"Grandma taught me," she replied. "She said the power of the soul is the power of the will."

"Your grandma sounds awesome," Yan Jin said with a smile.

"Yes, Grandma loves me the most. She gives me shortcake all the time," Sheng Yin's thoughts were filled with warmth and affection for her grandmother.

"I'll wait for you to teach me later," Yan Jin said, just as Scara, his little bird, poked its head out from under his robes.

"What is that?" Sheng Yin asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"This is Scara," Yan Jin explained. "Scara, say hi to Sheng Yin." The bird chirped in response and flew around the girl, bringing a bright smile to her face as it distracted her for a moment.

As Sheng Yin played with Scara, Yan Jin's mind raced with the new information she had given him. If soul power was indeed tied to the strength of one's will, its potential applications were far greater than he had realized. Up until now, he had used his soul energy like a sonar to compensate for his blindness and as a form of telekinesis.

But now, with the discovery of telepathy, the versatility of soul force seemed boundless.

Yan Jin's thoughts wandered as he pondered the possibilities. Telepathy could open new doors, allowing him to communicate and strategize in ways he hadn't imagined before.

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The caravan was composed of a few dozen carts, bustling with merchants from various trades, all unified under one banner for the journey north. As soon as Yan Jin and Wei Xi arrived with Sheng Yin, a middle-aged man, dressed in the same navy-blue clothing as the others, rushed forward and embraced her.

The way everyone deferred to him made it clear that he was the leader of the expedition and Sheng Yin's father.

Once he was informed of what had happened, the man approached Yan Jin and Wei Xi with gratitude evident in his eyes. "I am Sheng Lao, Sheng Yin's father. Thank you for saving my daughter. I hear you're heading north. It would be my pleasure if you joined us for the rest of the trip."

Just then, another man arrived, accompanied by several others in warrior armor. This man, radiating an aura of authority, appeared to be the leader of the escort assigned to protect the caravan. His eyes narrowed as he took in Yan Jin and Wei Xi's appearance—dressed in makeshift clothing and holding simple iron weapons. Clearly unimpressed, he was quick to show his disdain.

Wei Xi noticed the reaction and recalled something his brother often said: "People reveal their true nature by how they treat those they consider beneath them."

The escort leader turned to Sheng Lao, his tone sharp. "Chief Sheng, we've already delayed searching for your daughter. Now you want to add strangers to the convoy. This isn't part of our contract."

Sheng Lao remained calm. "I know, but they saved my daughter, and they're heading north too. We can be flexible, and we can discuss amendments to the escort contract." With that, he pulled the leader aside to negotiate.

As the night settled in, Yan Jin and Wei Xi found a spot by the fire. The cold was biting, but the warmth of the flames provided some comfort.

"It's rare for Sheng Yin to take a liking to someone so quickly," Sheng Li, Sheng Yin's older sister, remarked as she watched her sister interact with Yan Jin.

"That's because most don't take the time to listen. She has a lot to say," Yan Jin responded, his tone gentle as he continued to engage with the little girl.

Sheng Li didn't press further. She had always worried about her sister, who had been deaf and mute since birth. Seeing her so comfortable with a stranger stirred a mix of emotions within her.

"What are you two doing in the north?" she asked, turning to Wei Xi.

"It's my coming-of-age ceremony, so we're on an adventure. What about you?" Wei Xi replied casually.

"My father came up with the idea of forming a merchant union for a winter expedition. We sold our house and pooled all our savings for this trip," Sheng Li sighed. "But the escort agency has been taking advantage of us, looking for any excuse to extort more money."

Sheng Lao returned just then, having finished his negotiations. "What are you telling our guests, Sheng Li? Please, ignore her," he said with a warm smile before addressing Yan Jin. "Yes, everything's been sorted out. We'll be departing early in the morning."

--

Later that night, as Yan Jin and Wei Xi lay in their shared bed, they exchanged the information they had gathered.

"The Sheng family is descended from a long line of merchants, but they've faced a series of disasters that have eroded their wealth and influence over the years," Wei Xi began. "This expedition is their biggest gamble, and it's been going poorly. They've been repeatedly targeted by a pack of thunder wolves, and they can't seem to shake them off."

"I also heard that the escort company has done a terrible job of protecting their goods—nearly a quarter of it has been lost, and they're not even halfway through the journey," he added, his voice tinged with concern.

Yan Jin listened carefully before responding. "Sheng Lao is a seasoned merchant. He wouldn't undertake something this big if he were easily shaken. The escort is clearly shallow and greedy, but there's more to this. Either Sheng Lao has a trump card, or the real purpose of this convoy has nothing to do with the merchandise."

Wei Xi nodded thoughtfully. "We'll wait and see," he said, his voice tired but determined. "For now, I'm just glad to have a bed. I'm tired of sleeping in the cold."