Majid let out a deep breath, he escaped the sword gang territory to the Black Lotus territory. He came here only because the black Lotus wasn't on good terms with the other one, and it was the best place to know about the Devine Lotus Sect. Thought the houses and everything was the same, it was different somehow, he can't put it into words... it was peaceful than the gloomy neighborhoods in the Swords Gang territory.
But he soon heard a commotion, so he harried into an alley and stuck out the edge of his head, his eyes observing the area. He could see two people stopped not so far from him, they were wearing the same brown robe as the gang members he crossed before, but with distinctive embroidery. These guys are definitely after me and must be a Core Experts since they think I am one. Majid didn't stand any longer "Teemao lets go," he went deeper into the alley.
"Stop right there," damn, I underestimated this bald head, it was easy to track him following this lead, he didn't stop though, he rushed out of the alley from the other side, the 2 men rushed after him, but they stopped as they found him in the street waiting for them with Teemao. If shit hit the fan, he hoped the commotion could attract The Black Lotus Gang in this crowded street.
"Senior brother, let me handle this," Majid cupped his hand and bowed a little bit to Teemao, the latter was chocked it came from nowhere, what the hell, but he soon collected himself, he started to get used to Majid weird ideas. He kept his confusion to himself and nodded back. Majid stepped forward.
"What is this about," Majid let his aura out and put his hands behind his back facing them unperturbed. The Enforcers were taken aback by the event, wasn't supposed to be only one Core Expert, how came there was even one powerful than the other.
"It's him, Enforcer Jinre, Enforcer Ganji," Dongi, and his lackeys soon came as well. He looked at Majid with his eyes spouting fire.
"Why didn't you report another Core Expert," Enforcer Jinre looked at him with his reddened round face his pig-like nose let out steam. Dongi good mood crashed, where is the other Expert. Before he could say anything Jinre ignored him and looked at Ganji.
"Senior Ganji, let me test him," Ganji nodded his head as his arrow-like brows raised looking at Majid in interest, the side of his head was shaved making his long hair stream down like a tail. Jinre was conflicted about the unexpected Expert, but no matter how he looked at the boys, they didn't look the part.
F**k, Majid was at his wit's end, since his aura was shocking he played this card again, and granted an even higher status to Teemao, the pressure was a far cry from that of Lao Ji or Fiery so he was composed in his acting. And they bought into his scam, so he hoped that would level the ground so they could talk things out in a civilized manner. But now it seems he can't avoid a clash. Though there was a chance he could deal with them, he didn't want to risk it, it could take many times the wrong turn, he has one life after all, and there's Teemao as well.
People scattered away as they felt the tension, Jinre rushed at him in a flash, his body was surrounded by the Qi aura, most people couldn't see as he drew his sword, and slashed at Majid's chest. The latter didn't budge as he drew his bone and slashed back, the bone and sword clashed but the bone continued as the sword broke, Jinre immediately retreated in shock but not before the bone hit him, though his reflex reduced the damage, his shoulder still hurts like hell.
The smug smile on Dongi's face melted, and everyone eyes widened, who the hell is this boy. How can he overpower an established Core Expert. As the outcome dawned on them, their chock grows even more. Especially those who were from the start, Ganji looked at Teemao fearfully, and there someone more powerful at this young age, who's these guys.
Majid was relaxed when he was able to follow Jinre's movements, he could compensate for his lack of toughness with his Qi and bone, but not his reflex. Indeed it was the right choice to train my senses. And this bone really, he doubted anyone in the initial core realm can take more than one hit. But he wasn't in a good shape either, though he wasn't injured, his hand was stunned, he almost lost his grip on the bone, and used a third of his Qi, Jenri obviously didn't go all out. If this fight continued he wouldn't last more than three moves. He was content with his first impression, but the gear on his mind was spinning at full speed looking for his next move.
If i knew this, I would have waited till tomorrow, they wouldn't dare bully a school disciple, damn it. But then one of their lackeys murmured to himself, could he be from the powerful sect at the capital, the Cloud Temple, the man's eyes were fearful at the idea and Majid didn't miss his words with his sense on the edge.
Who's that, the Cloud Temple, Majid wondered when a bulb lit in his mind, yeah that's it. He looked at the man gratefully. He pumped his chest forward and raised his head looking at them like his the emperor, with his bone on his side he was fearless.
"Do you know who we are," Jinre pressed on his injured shoulder as he shouted, he became like a barking dog, even Ganji was fazed, he wasn't much powerful than Jinre, yet the latter was crushed easily.
"Whatever you might be I don't care, I will give you a chance to survive, kneel before me, beg for my signior forgiveness," no one was able to say anything, it was absurd but Majid wasn't done yet, "We have our reasons to keep our identity secret, if we are forced to reveal it, It would be too late to regret then,"
Teemao face was perspiring even more behind him, our identity my ass, if they knew it we're dead meat.
"Do you know who supports us," Dongi shouted enraged, how come even the Enforcers can't handle him, though it was forbidden to reveal their relationship with the sect, they always used in an indirect way to threaten powerful enemies.
"What a joke, these frogs don't know how high the sky, not only the sect behind you, even the whole city would be turned upside down, when my Master came," Majid didn't hold back, as he kept his eye on the lackey from before, with each arrogant comment he said the latter expression darkened even more.
"How dare you," Enforcer Ganji couldn't take it anymore, he never faced such humiliation before, even their sect treat them with some respect as Enforcers. He strode toward Majid, though he was perturbed, their reputation was at the stake here.
Cold sweat started to gather on Majid's forehead, yeah you look like a careful man, say it damn it, what are you waiting for, I will owe you a favor, I swear just say it... Just as Ganji was about to attack, "Enforcer Ganji wait," the lackey rushed toward him and whispered something in his ears, immediately Enforcer Ganji's eyes bulged and fixated on Majid, indeed this kind of talents could only be from the mighty sects. His legs rooted in their place before they give out as his knees hit the ground, his head followed.
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"Forgive us honorable disciples of-"
"Stop, I said I don't want to reveal my identity," though he wanted to stop the man from prostrating, as this concept was sad and disgusting to him, even though it was common in his culture, it was only to god never to anything or being. I told to kneel not prostrate damn it.
"Yes, yes, you, what are waiting for, harry up and apologize," the others didn't know what was wrong, but they understood they hit a hard rock this time. Everyone started to prostrate even unrelated people prostrated from fear, if the gang was forced to their knees, what of them, mortals.
Majid smacked his face, "everyone stands up," he can't take it anymore, but no one reacted, "NOW!..." only then that people stood frightened, "and you, SCRAM! don't let me see your faces again,"
Teemao was speechless, even the instigator Majid was, he knew the biggest sin in this world was offending the wrong person, but he wasn't really hoping for much, he just wants them to hesitate, but the result was spectacular. Many thanks, baldies of the Cloud Temple.
"Yes, yes," the gang member started to retreat immediately, "wait," their legs rooted in the ground, and the color of their faces turned blue again.
Majid had other thoughts, "Young Master, what are you doing," Teemao whispered grudgingly, just as his soul returned the latter was looking for trouble again.
"Understood senior brother," Majid said loudly, Teemao felt like fainting, the heck did you understand.
"To appease my senior brother, leave that girl behind, we need someone to serve us," Mina jumped in fright as Majid nonchalantly pointed at her, she's the one who created this whole drama, Majid wasn't about to let her go easily. And he really was in need of some information, but all of all these guys it was the only decent looking one, how to describe it, their face were criminals. I don't know if their looks led them to this path or their path led to their look. He didn't feel like asking any of them.
It didn't take them much time for The Enforcers to push her forward, only Dongi was grounding his teeth, Majid was delighted at his look.
"Look at their shabby clothes, do you think these-" before Dongi completed his sentence he found himself spinning in the air, that he saw the stars.
"Excuse us," Gamji carried Dongi himself and commanded everyone to retreat, they disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"You see Teemao, I told you this bald head would save us," he whispered, then harried away as well and ordered Mina to follow them. The girl kept throwing side glances at him from her bowed head, but she soon relaxed, Majid only asked her about the city, the school, and sects... the girl didn't disappoint him, indeed women are top-notch intel agents. But he came across a worrying detail, the school examination test both the aura and physical levels. He thought it would be easy to bluff his way with his powerful aura and attract a powerful Master, but now it seems he must hide his aura instead.
Majid was now a 5th level cultivator, though he didn't finish the corresponding organs tempering completely according to the system, he satisfies the standard for a fifth level after finishing his last muscle level and his senses level. It was already good enough, but it might not give him the right to choose his master. What's worse, he might end up being chosen by his enemies. The school staff is mostly of the 4 sects, each recruits disciples for their respective sects. His fire affinity can attract tree sects in this city, the alchemist and artifact sects, the Divine Lotus and Divine Hammer, and his enemies the Blazing Sword Sect.
But his talent might not attract his target, Majid was interested in The Divine Lotus, it was the top power of the city, but that wasn't the only reason. Though most of their disciples are alchemist, less powerful than fighting specialist cultivators, they could make the best fighting cultivators with their flourishing business, and expertise in medicines. Their resources are the best. And that was exactly what Majid needed the most, to temper his body. The problem was that they rely on quality rather on quantity when choosing their fighters, they scout only the best talent, they alone have a third of the Fusion masters of the city. And the genius of the last year was at the seventh layer of the body tempering at the age of 10, so his 5th level wouldn't be on their radar.
Thought the divine hammer was similar to some extent above the other fighting clans, it didn't much up to the Divine Lotus. Weapon business is profitable, but it wasn't as consumable as medicines, and they can't help his cultivation as much either.
Fighting oriented sects also have their specialists but they just can't compare to specialized clans. The quality of their goods was way inferior and so was their revenue. Relying on their fighting manpower, they hunt beasts and gather precious herbs, but due to competition, there is just so much they can find. But hunting in itself helps their disciples grow stronger, so they keep a balance to a certain extent.
This thing was obvious to Majid, comparing business and weapon-driven countries like the Koreas. Or the manufacturing countries, and resource-based economies. The later works for the first delivering its resources only to buy them back with much higher prices, it's easy to see the core of this network.
Majid stopped himself from worrying too much about the matter, he would think about it in the night. The evening was approaching and he still has somethings to ask. He knew being weak won't allow him to make strong allies, a strong master alone isn't enough. But If you don't have the power yourself, you can only buy it, offering some kind of benefits. So he asked about the good business in the city, so he can think of a business for himself.
He thought first of introducing simple things like cement, soap... but these things, would take a lot of time to make with a low gain margin, he can make a lot of money from it but he needs to sacrifice his cultivation. He thought of hiring someone to do the work for him, but if his business showed some prospect others would just steal it easily with power. He needed something that can't be learned easily, which can make him a lot of money with each piece and the least effort possible.
As he was rubbing his chin, his eyes stopped at Mina, and a horrid smile showed on his face that it made her step back, "yes that's it, hahaha,".
"Why are you looking at me like that," Mina hugged her chest retreating more.
"Why are you acting like a virgin now," weren't you the one who was twisting and squirming your sexiness at me before.
"Fear not, I have no interest in you," His mind was working on his business plan, maybe this is a perfect idea in the short term, but I need to make sure it won't create me any problem.
"Do tell me, is prostitution common in this city," this time Mina was sure this baldy was up to no good, but she didn't know how to answer to that. She couldn't escape either, she can't afford to offend him.
"Yes it is common, but but," her mind ran wild, as a blush appeared on her face.
"What about the school disciples are they adulterous,"
Just what exactly is this guy thinking, even Teemao who was enjoying his new identity as the senior brother was bewildered.
"There's some, but they are looked down upon," her eyes avoided him.
"Just tell me the truth, don't add your intentions, and then you can leave," he looked intently before he said, "have any disciple been punished before for adultery," Even though his idea didn't involve any prostitution, it was closely related, so a ban on the former might affect his idea.
"No,"
"Any rules in the school or the city against it,"
"Not that I know of,"
Majid nodded his head, "great, now lead us to a hotel,"
Teemao, Mina, and some bystanders faltered, almost kissing the ground, bro, didn't you say you're not interested in her.
"Never mind, you can go," upon second thought, it wasn't a good idea to let her know where they would spend the night. Just when she was about to run away, Majid shouted.
"Wait," Mina cursed in her heart.
"Tell me where's the Market," she told him and escaped in a flash.
"Why is this girl so scared," he didn't understand, she's supposedly a gang member.
And right then a little girl came running and smiling, she stopped when she noticed him. He looked at the little girl, and a smile couldn't help show, look at this cute little thing. Yeah I'm just a boy now I don't have to keep restricting myself with my old soul, no one's gonna think badly of me anymore.
"Hello, kitty, koti koti..." He smiled as he approached her, with his stiff face.
"Mommy!" the little girl runs to her mother screaming, her mother gives him a distasteful stare and took her daughter away.
"Teemao, let's go, it seems we need a new skin." Teemao only shook his head as he followed him.