[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4y69RxS.png?1[/img][/center][right][hr][color=gray][b]Guixiang, City of Living Rubies[/b]
Present Day[/color][hr][/right]
[indent]The twin-tailed girl didn’t expect much of a pleasant reception when she arrived in Guixiang, but to be approached in such a manner was a little unexpected. Did they make the connection? And why of all reasons was her very distant sister standing only a few feet from her? Was this merely a coincidence or something that spoke of a greater plot? 

[i][color=C4484C]Experience dictates that coincidence is nonexistent.[/color][/i]

Shuozhen considered the thought. But even if there was a plot against her, Shuozhen knew she needed to keep her wits about her and play along for the time being. Still, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to drop her hand to her sword to prepare for the first strike. She stopped herself from doing so, of course, but it did not stop the pressing anxiety in the back of her mind. The nagging feeling often made her feel like she was paranoid, but her experience with such matters tended to assure her that she was prepared rather than paranoid – and Shuozhen liked being prepared. Plus, she had an ace in the hole if things did get out of hand. Though she did not want to rely on her exaltation as doing such would be a wonton death wish.

The woman had [i]directly[/i] looked at her, so Shuozhen felt she was on the spot. As her mentor would tell her, it was time to act. As much as Shuozhen would’ve [i]preferred[/i] to remain quiet and read the room a bit deeper, she had little choice. But what was the right answer? The truth was that she had traveled all the way to the famed “City of Living Rubies” to investigate a certain rumor that she had heard sometime ago. She supposed it would count as [i]sight-seeing[/i]. Technically. She was seeing sights, after all.

[color=C4484C]“Sight-seeing, naturally. Guixiang is one of the marvels of the world, after all.”[/color] She paused for a moment before adding another comment, though really it was an inquiry. [color=C4484C]“Do you call for audiences with all of your city’s guests like this often? or is this a special occasion?”[/color][/indent]