Morning arrived as usual at Li Mansion, but TanTan was already wide awake and full of energy. The moment she opened her eyes, she remembered that QingQing still hadn't told her the name of the place they had discussed the previous day.
Today, I must find some clues... about HuaMuTan's killer. And hopefully... by doing this, I can find a way to return and see Mom again. Can I?
Only then did TanTan realize something. She had been so focused on finding HuaMuTan's killer that she had almost forgotten about her own biggest problem: finding a way back to her real time.
Her excitement suddenly faded.
She missed home. She missed her mother terribly. Yet, she had absolutely no clue how to return.
After a moment of gloom, she clenched her fists and encouraged herself.
"Come on, TanTan! Don't give up! There must be a way... There has to be a way to go back!"
"Go back where, XiaoJie?"
XiaoRue's voice came from the doorway. As usual, she had entered the room carrying fresh water for TanTan to wash her face and feet. It seemed she had overheard TanTan talking to herself, and her unexpected question stopped TanTan from saying anything more.
"It's... nothing."
But XiaoRue remained concerned.
"XiaoJie, do you miss Hua Mansion?"
She assumed TanTan was feeling homesick.
"Hmm... I miss my home very much."
Although the home TanTan was thinking of was certainly not Hua Mansion.
"If XiaoJie misses Hua Mansion, why don't you ask Queen Grandmother when you see her later? Perhaps Her Majesty will grant your wish."
Can she grant my wish to return to the future? I don't think so.
TanTan gave XiaoRue a faint smile before looking at her hesitantly.
"XiaoRue... um... if someone wished for something magical to happen, like... traveling to the future, what would you think? Is it possible?"
With everything that had happened since arriving in this world, TanTan had never really had the chance to ask XiaoRue such a question.
XiaoRue raised her eyebrows, then gave her a puzzled look.
"XiaoJie... do you want to know your future? If you do, we can visit the temple and have your destiny read again, just like we do every New Year."
"No... I mean actually going to the future! Living in a future time!"
TanTan tried to explain.
XiaoRue's expression turned worried.
"There's no such thing, XiaoJie. That's impossible! Um... XiaoJie, are you feeling all right?"
TanTan sighed.
What am I thinking? I woke up in an ancient world, not a fantasy world! But... if traveling through time is impossible, how did I end up here in the first place?
She climbed out of bed and began changing her clothes.
"I'm fine. It's just a dream I had, XiaoRue. I think I was living in the future."
Ever since she had arrived in this ancient world, TanTan had often dreamed about her mother. Unfortunately, she could no longer remember those dreams as clearly as she once could.
"And was it a beautiful dream, XiaoJie?"
"Yes, it was..."
But there was no point dwelling on it now. She had other things to do.
"XiaoRue, is QingQing awake yet?"
XiaoRue nodded as she poured tea for TanTan.
"She is in the inner courtyard, showing FangFang some martial arts practice."
"Oh!"
TanTan's face immediately brightened. She didn't wait any longer before heading toward the inner courtyard.
"I want to watch too!"
In the inner courtyard, QingQing moved swiftly from one spot to another, her sword dancing gracefully through the air. Her movements were so fluid that it almost seemed as if she were performing a dance rather than practicing martial arts.
FangFang, who was holding her little doll as usual, watched with sparkling eyes. She clapped excitedly whenever QingQing leaped into the air, her tiny hands coming together again and again.
TanTan arrived just in time to watch QingQing complete a series of elegant sword movements.
So quick and precise... QingQing's martial arts skills must be quite impressive.
Her performance reminded TanTan of the sword demonstrations she had seen in the modern world.
If QingQing lived in modern times, she could probably become an Olympic sword athlete! Hmm... I wonder if she could teach me a few moves.
TanTan remembered the last time someone had attacked her with a sword. It would certainly be useful to know how to defend herself instead of always having to run away.
When QingQing finally finished, FangFang burst into enthusiastic applause. TanTan joined her, clapping just as loudly.
FangFang soon noticed her arrival and happily ran over.
"YangMu!"
She threw her arms around TanTan, who smiled warmly at her. Her gaze then fell on the little doll FangFang was still holding.
"Good morning, FangFang... and good morning to you too, Xiaomei."
She gently tapped the doll's nose.
Uncle Tong, who had been accompanying FangFang, bowed politely to TanTan before reminding the little girl,
"FangFang XiaoJie, you should greet your YangMu properly."
FangFang immediately straightened up and gave TanTan a polite bow.
"FangFang greets YangMu!"
TanTan glanced at Uncle Tong and chuckled inwardly.
Uncle Tong is really taking his responsibility seriously, even when it comes to teaching FangFang her manners. He reminds me of my old, strict teacher.
Uncle Tong widened his eyes at her reaction.
"Is something amusing, Young Madam?"
TanTan gave him an apologetic smile.
"It's nothing."
FangFang then grabbed TanTan's right hand.
"YangMu, let's play!"
"Ehem."
Uncle Tong deliberately cleared his throat.
"I'm afraid FangFang XiaoJie has to begin her studies now. FangFang XiaoJie, you promised me that you would start studying after watching Miss QingQing's practice."
"Uhm..."
FangFang clearly wasn't pleased. She looked up at TanTan, hoping for some help, and began swinging her hand pleadingly.
"YangMu... I want to play with YangMu!"
No matter how adorable FangFang looked, TanTan knew she shouldn't encourage her to skip her lessons. Besides, she wanted to have a private conversation with QingQing.
She crouched down until she was at eye level with FangFang.
"Uncle Tong is right, FangFang. You should study first, okay? Look, Xiaomei wants to study too. As a good big sister, shouldn't you keep her company? We can play together afterward."
FangFang still looked reluctant.
"Will you really play with me after I finish studying, YangMu?"
"Of course! I promise. Let's seal it with a pinky promise!"
TanTan hooked her little finger around FangFang's and gently swung their hands together to seal their agreement.
That seemed to cheer FangFang up. She happily excused herself from everyone before obediently following Uncle Tong away.
"You're really good with children!" QingQing remarked, watching FangFang leave. "I wonder why there's a rumor that you hate children and are always willing to hurt them."
She looked at TanTan with genuine confusion. The HuaMuTan she had met was so different from the woman described in those rumors.
TanTan could only laugh awkwardly.
"Well, you should never believe everything you hear in rumors."
Now that they were finally alone, her expression turned serious.
"QingQing, let's continue our conversation from yesterday. You promised to tell me about that place, remember?"
QingQing glanced around before suggesting they sit at the marble table nearby.
"So, you really want to know about it?" She sighed and settled into a seat. "Very well. I'll tell you."
"If you're looking for mysterious masked men, the place I'd recommend is the black market."
"The black market?" TanTan repeated.
The name sounded exactly like the sort of place where criminals would gather.
"That's right. It's a place where you can find all kinds of strange and rare things, provided you're willing to pay the price. You'll also encounter people from the underground world there. Your Silver Mask might be one of them."
TanTan immediately leaned forward, her interest piqued.
"Where is it? How can I get there?"
"Wow, take it easy, girl!" QingQing laughed. "Didn't I tell you yesterday? It's not an easy place to enter. It's outside the law, you know. Not everyone is allowed in. You either need to be a member or have someone on the inside who can bring you there."
"So, how do I get in?"
"There's another problem. The location and the time change every time. It's not like you can simply walk up to a gate and ask to be let in."
TanTan frowned.
"Then what should I do?"
"Just wait. My sister has promised to help you. For now, all we can do is wait for her to send us some information."
TanTan was not pleased with that answer.
Wait? How long am I supposed to wait?
Her excitement had quickly turned into disappointment.
"So... that's it? We just wait?"