Chapter 27: Ram’s Herb Shop

“Ram’s Herb Shop,” Wu Qingsong muttered as he held a piece of paper with those words neatly written on it.

He scanned the bustling commercial district near the port, searching for a sign that matched the name.

This area was a hive of activity, even surpassing the lively shopping streets near the city gates. In essence, the commercial heart of Umber was centered along this singular road that linked the port to the city gates. Beyond this artery of commerce were warehouses, workshops, and extensive residential zones.

Receiving an education in this world was no small feat. Wu Qingsong had asked at a trade academy founded by the Commercial Guild. The prerequisites for admission included being smart, loyal, and either being born in Umber or having been a resident for at least three years. Additionally, graduates were obliged to serve a seven-year apprenticeship with one of the major guilds. Even if one were willing to enter into what was effectively a contract of bound servitude, the tuition fees were prohibitively expensive.

Private tutors were scarce as well. In Umber, the literate were predominantly employed by one of the three major guilds, making them unlikely to offer their expertise casually. Moreover, literacy was a badge of elevated social status, a ticket out of manual labor, and they guarded it fiercely, unwilling to impart the knowledge except to their own offspring.

Nonetheless, Wu Qingsong had luck on his side. He found a tutor in the son of a restaurant owner.

Though he lacked the qualifications, and the funds, to attend the trade academy, he’d had the good fortune to learn to read during his apprenticeship at a trading company. He negotiated a quid pro quo arrangement with the boy, or more accurately, with the boy’s mother–reading lessons in exchange for tutoring the boy in mathematics.

Yet, one question hung unanswered. How could someone illiterate be skilled in mathematics? The restaurant owner’s wife hadn’t picked up on this inconsistency, and Wu Qingsong had no intention of enlightening her. Unfortunately, the young tutor was only afforded one day off in every ten-day cycle, so despite having an agreement, they had yet to begin their lessons.

Fearing the accidental disclosure of sensitive information, Wu Qingsong chose not to ask for directions to Ram’s Herb Shop. Instead, he relied on his own legs, circling the commercial district twice before finally discovering the shop tucked away in a quiet side street.

Observing from a discreet distance, he noticed that the majority of patrons were middle-aged beastwomen. Detecting no signs of surveillance, he seized an opportune moment when the coast was clear and swiftly entered the shop.

“Welcome!” greeted the shopkeeper, a petite beastwoman with a paleness as fair as ivory. A faint shadow encircled her eyes, particularly just beneath them, as if touched lightly by ink. Far from diminishing her beauty, it lent her an enigmatic and exotic allure.

On seeing Wu Qingsong, her ears instantly perked up, and he observed her bushy tail elevate, adorned with alternating black and white rings.

“So, what can I assist you with?” Her eyebrows arched knowingly, as though she had already discerned his identity. Nevertheless, Wu Qingsong produced the wooden token that Nina had given him and presented it to her.

“In that case, please make your way to the back room for some tea,” the shopkeeper responded, her eyes shimmering with intrigue. She immediately secured the shop door and set out a sign.

‘’Closed for Business,’ perhaps?’ Wu Qingsong speculated as he surveyed his surroundings.

Though not expansive, the shop was designed with an ingenious blend of furnishings and an array of displays, providing a captivating visual sensation and evoking an indescribable sense of mystery.

Along one wall, a series of large cabinets were laden with jars and boxes of various sizes. The opposite side featured a cabinet filled with numerous small drawers. By the window, where sunlight streamed in, an assortment of plants and herbs were displayed, infusing the room with a lively, vibrant energy.

The shop exuded a comforting fragrance that defied description, likely emanating from some form of aromatherapy. 

At that moment, the shopkeeper delicately tapped a bell situated nearby. In response, a beastman emerged, his head humorously resembling an instant noodle bowl. 

Wu Qingsong couldn’t contain his laughter, eliciting a puzzled look from the beastman, who had features akin to a raccoon. The comical look on the raccoonman’s face spurred another involuntary chuckle from Wu Qingsong.

“My apologies,” he hastily said.

“You have an issue with raccoonfolk, do you?” The diminutive creature’s size belied a clearly volatile temperament.

“Not at all. I apologize. I just never met someone from your race before.”

His answer didn’t sit well with the raccoonman. However, a call from the shopkeeper diffused the situation, prompting the irate raccoonman to guide Wu Qingsong to a lounge at the back of the shop.

While the initial encounter could hardly be called successful, the tension eased after the raccoonman served tea and snacks and then exited the room.

“I assumed you’d already left Umber,” the shopkeeper remarked. With a graceful sweep of her luxuriant tail to one side, she elegantly sat on the sofa facing him and took a refined sip from her teacup.

“You’re aware of me?”

“The couriers mentioned that a black-haired half-elf might come seeking aid.”

“Is that all?” Wu Qingsong pressed further.

“The less I know about their business, the better off I am,” the shopkeeper responded, her smile unfaltering.

Her noncommittal attitude left Wu Qingsong pondering. Was this establishment a secure base or an intelligence post for the insurgent group led by the Moon Maiden, or was it simply a shop with a tenuous affiliation to the rebels?

The identity of the person he was dealing with here would have a significant impact on Wu Qingsong’s upcoming plans. Although he wouldn’t call their relationship deep, he had already interacted with Nina Lams on two separate occasions, and the interactions had been largely positive.

Her bounty poster was a common sight in the square of Umber. As a fugitive with a high price on her head, she had personally intervened to rescue attacked villages and even carried out sabotage missions in Rem City. What impressed Wu Qingsong most was her commitment to her companions. She had gone as far as rescuing him despite having no strong ties to him.

She had further won his trust by taking considerable risks to escort Liuli out of Rem City and bring them to Karagados. She thoughtfully provided a change of clothes, offered sound advice, and contributed a significant sum of money. All these acts had cemented her image as someone both trustworthy and compassionate in Wu Qingsong’s mind.

If not for these past interactions, Nina Lams wouldn’t have been the first person to cross his mind after hearing Harold’s words.

She appeared to be a reliable and competent potential ally. However, if this shop only maintained a loose affiliation with her, then the raccoonwoman shopkeeper currently before him couldn’t easily be added to his list of trustworthy individuals.

“Would it be possible for you to get in touch with them on my behalf?” Wu Qingsong cautiously asked.

“Certainly, but you should know there are risks. Unless the message is of utmost importance, it might take a while to get through,” the raccoonwoman responded, sipping her tea without a hint of urgency.

“Should we consider ourselves allies on the same front? If so, could you clarify what exactly is the relationship between this shop and them?” Wu Qingsong couldn’t hold back the question any longer.

The raccoonwoman chuckled softly and shook her head, tactfully avoiding his somewhat impertinent query.

Wu Qingsong felt a mixture of awkwardness, annoyance, and frustration at the lack of a direct answer. Standing up, he said, “If that’s the case, please inform the Moon Maiden as promptly as possible. I have urgent matters that require a face-to-face discussion with her. If meeting here is inconvenient for her, I am willing to wait on the outskirts of the city or in the vicinity of Karagados.”

“Could you specify what these urgent matters pertain to?”

Choosing discretion just as she had earlier, Wu Qingsong responded with only a faint smile. She wasn’t bothered by his reticence and stood up as well. “So, how should I contact you once they have a reply?”

After briefly hesitating, Wu Qingsong replied, “I’ll be passing by this place daily. If there’s any news, please place that pot of red flowers outside the door as a signal.”

“And may I know your name?”

“You can simply call me Wu.”

The raccoonwoman smiled warmly again. “Nice to meet you, Wu. You can call me Ram. I have this sense that we’re destined to become good friends.”