A Familiar Face
Liu Zhihao stood at the entrance of the inn, watching as the rain pounded against the roof and the windows. It had been three days since he left the previous town, and he was beginning to grow weary. His clothes were soaked, and he could feel the cold wind cutting through him.
He had decided to take shelter in this small town for the night, hoping to rest and continue his journey in the morning. As he walked through the inn's hallway, he could feel the stares of the other guests on him.
He couldn't blame them; he was a stranger in this place, and he knew he looked out of place. But he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else about him that drew their attention.
As he walked towards the front desk to rent a room, he saw a familiar face in the corner of his eye. He turned to look and saw a man sitting at the far end of the room, looking straight at him.
Liu Zhihao recognized him immediately. It was the man he had encountered on the road a few days ago, the one who had given him directions and some food.
He couldn't believe his luck. He had been wandering aimlessly for days, hoping to find some kind of guide, and here he was, meeting the same person again.
The man noticed him looking and smiled, beckoning him over. Liu Zhihao approached cautiously, unsure of what to expect.
"Hello again," the man said as Liu Zhihao sat down. "What brings you here?"
"I was just passing through," Liu Zhihao said. "I needed a place to rest for the night."
The man nodded, and the two fell into an easy conversation. Liu Zhihao learned that the man was a merchant, traveling between towns to sell his wares.
As they talked, Liu Zhihao couldn't help but feel a strange connection to the man. He felt like he could trust him, even though they had only met briefly before.
Before long, the conversation turned to martial arts, and Liu Zhihao found himself sharing some of his knowledge and experiences.
The man listened intently, asking questions and nodding along. Liu Zhihao couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his abilities, even as he tried to downplay them.
As the night wore on, the two parted ways, promising to meet again if they crossed paths. Liu Zhihao couldn't shake the feeling that this chance encounter was more than just luck. It was as if fate had brought them together for a reason.