The border market was loud before they even saw it.
Shouts, laughter, cart wheels, a few off-key instruments fighting each other, and the smell of fried dough strong enough to make Shen Lu's stomach betray his dignity.
Tang Ye's eyes lit up like someone had turned him back on. "Food."
Gu Li's voice was stern. "Water first."
Tang Ye's face fell. "You hate joy."
Gu Li didn't blink. "Correct."
Pei Xun muttered, "He's consistent."
Yue rode inside Tang Ye's robe like a spoiled prince, only his ears showing. In Shen Lu's mind he said, If you buy me something, I will allow it.
Shen Lu thought back, dry: You're not in charge.
Yue's tail-flick of confidence came through his tone. I am absolutely in charge.
Xie Han laughed quietly, like he'd somehow heard the whole argument without hearing a word. "Your fox is bossy."
Tang Ye looked proud. "He has standards."
Helian Feng stopped at the edge of the market and scanned the crowd, cold and focused. "Masks on. Don't cluster."
Shen Lu adjusted his mask. He told himself he didn't feel disappointed when Helian Feng didn't say anything else.
Then Helian Feng did something unexpected.
He reached out and tugged Shen Lu's sleeve once. Not hard. Not gentle either. Just… a signal.
"Stay where I can see you," Helian Feng said.
Shen Lu's mouth twisted. "Yes, Mother."
Pei Xun choked on air.
Tang Ye's eyes went wide, delighted. Xie Han's smile sharpened so much it looked painful.
Helian Feng didn't react at all. "Good."
Shen Lu stared at him. "That's not—"
Helian Feng walked into the market like the conversation was finished.
Pei Xun leaned closer to Shen Lu and murmured, "Mother."
Shen Lu hissed, "If you say it again I'll put ink in your tea."
Pei Xun's tone stayed dry. "He already does that. It's called culture."
Gu Li cut in, stern. "Enough. Move."
They split into pairs without making it obvious.
Gu Li and Pei Xun headed for a medicine stall to restock herbs and paper. Xie Han drifted toward a weapon rack like it had personally insulted him. Tang Ye beelined toward food, dragging Shen Lu with him because Tang Ye had decided Shen Lu looked like someone who needed sugar.
Helian Feng stayed a few paces behind, pretending he wasn't following.
Shen Lu pretended he didn't notice.
Tang Ye stopped at a stall with skewers sizzling over coals. The vendor's face was shiny with sweat and pride.
"Two," Tang Ye said brightly. Then, after a pause, he added, "Three."
Yue's head popped out of Tang Ye's robe instantly. In Shen Lu's mind: Mine.
The vendor blinked at the fox. "That one eats meat?"
Tang Ye smiled. "He eats everything."
Yue's ears flattened, offended. I do not eat everything. I eat quality.
Shen Lu couldn't help it. A laugh slipped out, small and surprised.
Helian Feng's gaze flicked to him.
Just once.
Like he was checking whether Shen Lu was still real.
Shen Lu's throat tightened and he looked away fast, pretending the skewers were the most interesting thing in the world.
Tang Ye handed Shen Lu a skewer. "Eat."
Shen Lu frowned. "We're low on stones."
Tang Ye waved a hand. "I negotiated."
Pei Xun's voice appeared from nowhere, dry and accusing, "You did not negotiate. You smiled until the man gave you a discount."
Tang Ye looked offended. "That's negotiating."
Pei Xun sighed. "That's flirting."
Tang Ye's face went red. "I wasn't—"
Yue, chewing, added into Shen Lu's mind: He was.
Shen Lu almost laughed again.
Helian Feng stepped closer, eyes scanning the crowd. "Don't stand still."
Tang Ye nodded quickly and started walking while eating, like a talented disaster.
Shen Lu followed, chewing slowly.
It tasted good.
Too good for a life like this.
They passed a stall selling hairpins and ribbons. Shen Lu didn't even slow down, but Tang Ye did.
Tang Ye picked up a plain black ribbon and held it up. "This would look good on you."
Shen Lu nearly choked. "On me?"
Tang Ye nodded, serious. "To tie your hair back. You always have strands falling. It's annoying."
Shen Lu stared. "So it's a gift and an insult."
Tang Ye smiled. "Yes."
Helian Feng's gaze flicked to the ribbon.
Tang Ye noticed and brightened. "Or on Helian Feng. Imagine."
Pei Xun walked up at exactly the wrong time and said, dry, "Imagine him with a bow."
Xie Han drifted by, saw the ribbon, and immediately said, "Buy it. I'll tie it."
Helian Feng's voice was ice. "No."
Tang Ye's smile turned wicked. "Why not."
Helian Feng didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Shen Lu felt something warm and stupid in his chest and hated it.
Yue, in Shen Lu's mind, said with satisfaction: He cares.
Shen Lu thought back, fierce: Be quiet.
Yue replied instantly: No.
Tang Ye bought the ribbon anyway.
Not for Helian Feng.
For Yue.
Yue accepted it with great dignity, then immediately refused to let Tang Ye tie it. Tang Ye tried, got his finger bitten lightly, and yelped.
Gu Li appeared at that moment, stern as a thunderclap. "What happened."
Tang Ye held up his finger. "I was attacked."
Yue's eyes looked innocent.
Pei Xun said, dry, "The fox is teaching him consent."
Gu Li stared at Tang Ye's finger, then at Yue, then at Tang Ye again. "Good."
Tang Ye looked betrayed. "You're on his side?"
Gu Li's voice stayed stern. "Yes."
Xie Han laughed softly. "This group has hierarchy now."
Shen Lu watched the whole thing and felt, for a moment, like the market noise had pushed the underworld far away.
Like they were just… people.
A healer who scolded like breathing.
A paper cultivator who complained like prayer.
A cheerful liar with a fox who had standards.
A blade-shadow who treated danger like a hobby.
And Helian Feng, cold and controlled, getting silently bullied by a ribbon.
Helian Feng turned slightly and caught Shen Lu looking.
Shen Lu's chest tightened.
He tried to look away.
Too late.
Helian Feng's voice came low, so only Shen Lu heard it. "You laughed."
Shen Lu's mouth twisted. "Am I not allowed."
Helian Feng's gaze stayed on him for a beat longer than necessary. "You should."
Shen Lu didn't have an answer for that.
So he ate his skewer and walked beside Helian Feng through the loud market, trying not to smile like an idiot.
And in Shen Lu's mind, Yue said, very smugly: I will plan the wedding.
Shen Lu nearly choked again.