Walking by a stand along the busy street, a jade-green fan possessing a mountain drawing caught Liu Ming's attention. He immediately thought of Liuyue who could have used it to cover her face back then at the city lord's office.

"Boss, how much is this?"

"Five coins," answered the older woman on the other side busy chewing and blowing her face with a red fan to curb the afternoon heat.

"What? That expensive?"

"You think I'm expensive? Then try those witches over there. They're selling them for ten coins," she informed raising her palm.

'But those are five fingers,' he said to himself.

"Can't you go lower? Three coins? I-"

"Young man, you look like an upright person. Please don't destroy my small business just because I'm a mortal. I have children to look after with this business."

He didn't buy the excuse, but he ended up buying the fan with the monthly allowance Ren had given them: fifty coins per month to each disciple.

He still had a lot in his savings since Ren was paying for their rooms and their meals. The allowance was meant to be spent on their personal needs. Though he had warned them not to indulge in any flesh desires that might veer their minds and interrupt their cultivations.

With the fan now in his hands, he decided to go find Liuyue back at the inn.

Suddenly, three people flashed above him on their swords, heading in the direction of the city lord's office which also had underground prisons.

"Master. I hope there won't be any further problems."

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

Ren was brought into the city lord's office once more by the guards who handled him like he was a piece of trash they would trample on any second. Seated in front of the desk were three females with thin veils falling from above their noses to hide their identities.

"What are you doing? Make him kneel!" The city Lord yelled standing from behind the desk, wearing a domineering expression even though he leaked of sex.

The guards grabbed Ren's shoulders, intending to push him on the floor. But they couldn't move him even a quarter of an inch.

"Say what you want to say to me. I don't have a habit of falling on my knees."

"Senior sister, this man is just arrogant. Should we just teach him a lesson by beating him up?"

The female with purple eyes got up, a rage-filled glint in them that threatened to bore holes through Ren's body.

"You caused a scene last night and tried to escape punishment. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I was defending myself."

She scoffed, annoyed. "Defending from what?"

"Defending my honor. Do you have any idea what they were thinking about when they laid their lustful eyes on me?"

"Even if that is true, you shouldn't have-"

"Look, little girl-" he broke the cuffs and brought his hands forward massaging his sore wrists, "-if you think I'm in the wrong, then I'm afraid your brain needs some improvements. If there's nothing else, I'd like to go back. Those cells were filthy," he murmured that last part diverting his eyes to the fat man at the desk. "Do you know that your guards pee in those cells just because they're too lazy to find a bathroom?"

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"Hey!" The girl snapped feeling ignored and belittled. "I'm the one who will administer your punishment. You will receive fifty lashes and a fine of one thousand coins."

"What? Are you saying that I'm paying for my own arrest?"

"Stop talking back." A golden whip appeared in her left hand. "Turn around and-"

A crossed expression filled Ren's face. "I said. I. Did. Nothing. Wrong." His eyes burst into golden flames, his anger exploding. Why should he be punished for what he had done? They should have been rewarding him for taking care of those sexual predators after all the disgusting things they had said about this very woman in front of him.

"If you insist on harming me, then I have no choice but to...fight back," he finished and countless fire daggers formed behind him. But they had evolved. The flames dancing around the daggers were black like his void.

He sent one flying at the wall, slicing it.

What was left was a huge gash that seemed to be painted in thick black ink. It didn't end there, the flames began eating the wall from the cut, creating a hole wide enough for two people to walk through it.

The damaged wall exposed what lay on the other side; a bed, with a female clutching the covers on her chest with a horrified expression and stifled cries from her lips.

Ren's eyes hadn't left the woman in front of him, studying the fear that had narrowed her breathing just like the others in the room.

"I could have easily killed them," he breathed putting away the dagger flames. "I just taught them a lesson."

They were all paralyzed on their feet, their pupils dilated, and their minds shaken till they forgot they could fight.

Their leader gave herself a mental slap, reminding herself that she carried the reputation of their sect at that moment. Seeing and feeling the odd intensity of the flames opened her eyes. This man's cultivation was weird, and she couldn't charge for a fight blindly lest the consequences fall on her master, who had always taught her to think before jumping.

The whip disappeared.

"Who are you? Which sect are you from?"

"My name is not important. But I'm from Dragon Sword Sect."

"That... I've never heard of-"

"It's a newly established sect."

"Then, may I speak to your master and offer a formal apology?"

"You cannot. But if you bring your master, maybe they can come to a reasonable agreement. After all, I am the victim here."

She looked to the side to think. His words made a lot of sense. All she'd need to do was sweet-talk her Master to solve this misunderstanding as quietly as possible. "Then, where do we meet?"

"At the inn from last night. When you get there, ask them to take you to Master Renshen. I hope the compensation will be worth the pain I have endured."

'Pain? You best those men so badly, what pain did you endure?' "Okay. We'll be there tomorrow."

'Power. That is all these people respect. How ridiculous, but, interesting.'

###########

Ren paced up and down his room in a moderately angry manner. Every time he stopped, he'd glare at the three disciples kneeling in front of the door, their faces hidden in shame. "I did all that for nothing?"

Silence.

"And none of you bothered to tell me before you left?"

Liuyue lifted her head, putting on a pitiful face to guilt-trap him.

"Don't look at me like that. You'll kneel here until morning. This will be your first punishment from me." His eyes bounced on Wu Tao. "You!" They all glanced at their master.

"Yes, master?" Wu Tao responded.

"I will present you the questions for your fourth test. Hiring someone to feed those beasts is costing us money. If this goes on, you won't get any allowance."

Wu Tao maintained a firm expression, accepting his scolding as the maturest of the three. "I understand, Master... When is the test?"

"Tonight."

Liuyue and Liu Ming looked at their brother, bottling their desire to laugh to his face.

"You two."

"Ye-yes, Master?" "Yes, Master?"

"I want you to scout the mountains outside the city. Search for any nodes or richer spiritual veins. Though I doubt we'll be lucky to find any."

The city was popular after all, with its best resources already grabbed. Ren, at least, understood this much. They'd be extremely blessed to even find an unoccupied land with any veins.

After the scoldings, Ren sat on his bed cross-legged and Clay climbed into his head.

Hours later, Liuyue and Liu Ming's heads began nodding as they fought against the sleep calling for them. Wu Tao, on the other hand, remained solid, his eyes closed and his fists clenched. Whenever he felt like he was dozing off, he'd pinch his thighs to keep him awake.

Ren noticed their battles and his heart softened despite how angry he had been earlier. He used his roots to carry both Liuyue and Liu Ming and then placed them on his bed, dividing it with the pillows to keep them separated. "You can leave. Go and-"

"No, master. I will endure this. If I can't take this little punishment, then how can I be worthy of following you."

"Gawd," he sighed. "I just wanted to see how much you three can persevere. But your bodies are not that strong to-"

"Master, please. Let me finish this punishment. I will also answer the test. If I fail, I don't expect any allowance."

"How diligent. Then, here are the questions." A golden strand came out of Ren's forehead and swiftly floated to enter Wu Tao's head.

Even though he still hadn't started cultivating any skills or unlocked his innate ability, he still had some qi in him from his master.

"Let me know when you're done answering them."

"M-h!' Wu Tao nodded.