The long day in the bustling capital finally drew to a close. The sun dipped low behind the tall spires of the Dragon Kingdom, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks. Luo Feng, Miya, Kael, and Lin Wang walked the crowded streets, legs tired from hours of trading and the weight of two heavy pouches of gold now safely tucked inside Luo Feng's Storage Bag. The city noise slowly faded as they searched for a quiet place to rest.
After asking a few passersby, they found a modest but clean inn tucked away on a quieter side street. A wooden sign swung gently above the door: The Silver Lantern Inn. They pushed open the door and stepped inside.
A young, beautiful little girl—no more than five years old, with rosy cheeks and neatly braided hair—came running up to them with a polite curtsy. "Welcome, travelers!" she said in a sweet, clear voice. "I'm Lila. Please follow me to Mama!"
She took Miya's hand trustingly and led the four of them to a wooden desk at the back of the cozy common room. Behind the desk sat her mother, a kind-faced woman in her thirties, smiling warmly as she looked up from her ledger.
"Good evening," the innkeeper said. "How may I help you?"
Luo Feng bowed politely. "We need two rooms for the night, please. One for the two young men, and one for us." He glanced at Miya, who blushed but nodded with a small, happy smile.
The innkeeper nodded without question. "Of course. That will be eight silver coins total—simple but clean rooms, with fresh linens and a hot meal in the morning."
Luo Feng paid her from a small handful of coins he had taken from the duke's fortune earlier, adding a few extra coppers as thanks. The woman's eyes widened at the generous payment, but she only smiled brighter and handed them two iron keys.
Lila bounced on her toes. "Good night, travelers! Sleep well!"
Kael and Lin Wang took their key and headed upstairs first, waving goodnight with tired but satisfied grins. Luo Feng and Miya followed the narrow wooden stairs to their own room at the end of the hall. It was small but warm—two soft beds pushed together, a window overlooking the quiet street, and a single lantern glowing on the table.
The moment the door clicked shut, Miya turned to Luo Feng. Without a word she stepped close, rose on her toes, and kissed him softly on the lips. It was gentle, full of the love that had grown over months of walking side by side. Luo Feng wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back, his heart steady and warm.
They changed into their simple sleeping clothes, blew out the lantern, and slipped under the blankets together. Miya rested her head on his chest, one arm draped across him. Luo Feng held her close, his hand gently stroking her hair.
"Thank you for everything," she whispered in the dark. "For the village… for me… for this."
Luo Feng smiled against her forehead. "Sleep well, my love. Tomorrow we finish our business and start the journey home."
In the next room, Kael and Lin Wang were already snoring softly after a long day.
Outside, the capital's distant sounds faded into night. Inside the quiet inn room, Luo Feng and Miya fell asleep together under one blanket, hearts full, bodies warm, dreaming of green fields and the future they would build once they returned to Eden Village.
Morning would come soon enough, but for now, the unblessed traveler and the girl who had stolen his heart rested peacefully in each other's arms.