[To think, Jin Guangyao needs to stop and get his bearings, the nerve!! No— that's too harshly nonsensical, even for Huaisang, who continues to stand there and fret at the corner of the stair he's chosen to cling to. If he gets a splinter, it's his own fault - but that's for Future Huaisang to worry about.

For now, lips pursed and gaze sliding off to the side, while he recalls his very important business—]

I didn't see anything, I don't think... Ah! [ah!!!!! enthusiasm!!!] The shopkeeper who sold me a string of beads mentioned a good place to drink!

[So. It's not a fancy tea shop. Baubles are different. Huaisang moves like he's about to take to pacing, but - well, maybe not so much after the floor almost ate san-ge. He does a much sillier sort of rock back and forth on the balls of his feet, trying to recall landmarks.]

...A malevolent water god?

[The Red has a several-story carving of an octopus on the front, you see.]