Business had been slow in the city lately.
Master Wang led Bai Mo to a small soup shop.
"Feng!"
"I've brought you some business!"
At Master Wang's shout, a man of about the same age with salt-and-pepper hair emerged from the soup shop.
"Master Wang." The man, who wore an apron, casually wiped his hands on it.
Master Wang nodded in greeting.
"This is Shopkeeper Bai."
The man, Feng, jumped in surprise.
"You mean *the* Alchemist Bai!?"
Bai Mo quickly waved his hands dismissively.
"That's an undeserved reputation. We all just make a living on the same street..."
"I was hoping you could lend me a hand, Master Feng."
Despite his polite words, Bai Mo didn't recognize the shop at all.
Looking toward a corner, he could see several scattered cages.
Some were covered with cloth, and a HISSING sound came from within one of them.
Master Feng looked a little embarrassed.
