"You need a bigger pot. Or maybe it's time to...settle down."

Han's branches were much stronger now, healthier, and radiated a special energy.

When Ren left the room to go eat, Clay slipped into the pot and dug around the roots before pouring out its qi through its mouth. Once done, it used its tail to move back the soil before sliding out of the pot and out of the room entirely.

As Han absorbed the pure energy over the hours by itself, a phantom appeared above its tip. One of a purple-haired boy in a fetal position who looked about seven years old. It opened its eyes, and a small fluctuation surged outwards like wind blowing all around it.

###############

"The fairies have come down to bless us."

"It's the fairies, look!"

"So beautiful."

"Move! I want to see them."

"You're too ugly to catch their attention. You should wait around for the butcher's daughter and marry her."

The group of men near Ren's table started bickering. He did not bother looking at the so-called fairies, not when he was busy enjoying his warm meal. All he noted were their cultivation levels, with none below five hundred.

Other than the girls these men were ogling, Ren could pick up the breaths of so many strong beings in the inn. 'It truly is the city of cultivators.'

The men's fight went on for about five more minutes, slowly gnawing away Ren's peace of mind. He thought of leaving the diner, but he still wasn't done eating. But should he leave? These men were in the wrong.

He got up and walked over to their table, keeping a composed demeanor even though he was aching to slap their mouths off their faces.

They stopped yelling when they saw him stop close to them.

"Yo yo yo! Why is this pretty boy here? Do you want to keep us company for the night?"

"Even though he's a man, he's not bad-looking. But I don't do men."

Ren's left eye twitched hearing them objectify him so easily.

"Hey, bo-"

*Bam*

He grabbed one by the back of his hair and smashed his face in his bowl, breaking both the bowl and the table. His companions were quick to jump from their seats and out of the danger.

"This rascal!" One yelled, dashing to grab Ren's clothes, but he tripped and fell nose-first on the rough floor at Ren's feet. "Aaah!" He groaned lifting his head while his nose bled like a faucet. "What, how?" He tried to find what had tripped him but the floor was even.

Covering his right foot with qi, Ren lifted it to stop on the man's back when a small protective formation appeared, restricting him.

Thinking the person who had interfered was one of the three remaining cowards, he glared their way, but they only cowered away, frightened by his sudden violence.

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"Have mercy, Sir!" Two cried before scurrying away, waiting not for any more of his wrath. The third man wanted to run, but his feet were shaking profusely, rendering him immobile.

"They're only mortals. Do you have to be so ruthless?" Asked the girl who was approaching the scene. Behind her were four other females, all dressed in white hanfus with black veils covering half their faces.

Suddenly, murmurs from the spectators who hadn't been bothered by the incident arose, and their eyes focused more on the women than Ren, who was just...a good-looking boy to them.

He glanced their way to make eye contact with the one who had spoken. Once the contact was made, he lifted his foot again and brought it down on the man's back, crushing both the array and his spine.

A loud growl sliced the air which irritated Ren more.

He added a kick to the man's ribs, thrusting him toward the woman who stood not far from him.

"You can keep him," he said turning to go back to his table.

"Stop!" She ordered and one of her companions materialized in front of him, a sword at his throat. "We are patrolling the city tonight. You have disrupted the peace of the people here. You have to follow us back and receive the punishment."

Lazy to argue with them, Ren simply took a step forward, walking into his black hole. His food would be added to the room fees.

Those left behind in the diner could only share their confused and surprised glances. Some felt proud of Ren for humiliating the female disciples, who were known for their arrogance, while others felt pity for him for angering the women.

"Find him!" The leader yelled, her blood boiling with rage. "Search the whole city if you have to. I want him found before morning."

She looked down at the wounded man, disgust hidden behind her eyes. "Treat him and send him to prison."

"Yes, senior sister."

They picked him up along with the one whose face had been smashed on the table and carried them out of the diner.

The leader looked around one more time, releasing her qi to intimidate anyone who'd think of causing trouble. But some just stared at her through relaxed gazes, withholding from attacking her only because of the sect's influence over the city.

############

"Master! Master!" Liuyue called impatiently outside his door, disrupting his practice. "Master! Something bad has happened. Please come out."

Filled with irritation, Ren put on his clothes and walked out of the room, promising to pinch her cheek red if it wasn't an emergency. "What is it?"

"Master, your portraits are all over the city," she answered showing him one of these said portraits.

It was in black and white, yet depicted all his features so clearly, like a memory straight on paper. "One thousand coins?" He scoffed. "Liuyue."

"Yes, Master?"

"Let's go make some money."

In the late hours of the afternoon, Ren was shoved through the doors of the city lord's office. Behind him were his disciples who had bound him with cuffs that 'would' suppress his cultivation.

"Greetings, city Lord." They saluted bowing.

"We've caught the person you're looking for."

The city Lord jumped to his feet, pushing the female who had been on his lap aside as a wicked grin stretched his lips widely. The greed in those black eyes of his was revolting, but they ignored it. They were here for the money.

"It really is him!" He rushed from behind the desk, unrolling a portrait and holding it up against Ren's head. "Ha! Ha! Ha! I've caught a big fish for them. Now my contribution points will be double that witch's." He crumpled the paper and tossed it on the floor. "Guards!"

The four men who had been standing outside the office ran in, hands on their sheathed swords.

"Take him away. Lock him up in the special cells and guard him with your lives."

"Yes, master!"

They grabbed Ren by his elbows and pulled him out of the office in rough hurls.

'I'm sorry Master,' Liuyue apologized telepathically.

'Collect the money and leave here immediately. I'll let you all know when I'm done with them,' he said to the three.

The city Lord hurried back to his desk and pulled the girl in his arms before kissing her in front of them.

Flushed, Liuyue whirled around, shocked by the scene which would have been considered immoral according to their customs.

Liu Ming and Wu Tao only averted their eyes, with the former experiencing heat beneath his cheeks. He had never shared any intimacy with a woman because all his life, he had been focused on trying to survive.

"Ahem!" Wu Tao cleared his throat, interrupting the wet kiss which he honestly found disgusting. "What about our mon-"

"Go back, you will be paid when they pick him up," the City Lord dismissed them insolently, never taking his eyes off his woman even for a moment. "I'm in a good mood. Let us go celebrate," he whispered to her, groping her rear greedily.

She just giggled letting him touch her body. "Okay, master."

Further ignoring them, the city Lord walked out of his own office, the girl clinging to his arm, as they giggled and flirted with each other.

Wu Tao sighed disappointedly. "Should we tell Master what has just happened?"

"I don't think they're going to give us any money. We've been tricked whilst thinking we're tricking them," said Liu Ming.

The two turned to look at their senior sister, who was younger than them by age. "Liuyue," Liu Ming called tapping her shoulder.

She jumped startled, hiding her face using her sleeve.

"Le-let us leave as Master told us."