Qin Tianyu found himself back in the market once more, the second time in a single day. The activity had dwindled as it moved into the afternoon; the morning shoppers seeking fresh food had come and gone. There were still a few people wandering around the stalls, but the market was quieter now.
Tianyu needed to purchase some essentials for Red Hare, his new horse, and he wasn't quite sure where to find them. He spent a few minutes scanning the area, and to his surprise, he spotted someone he recognized – the young boy who had stolen a loaf of bread earlier.
Approaching the boy, who sat against a wall with wary eyes scanning his surroundings, Tianyu couldn't help but be impressed by the boy's vigilance and quick thinking.
"Hey there, young man," Tianyu began. "I wonder if you can help me?"
The boy, still cautious, replied brusquely, "What do you want?"
Tianyu offered a friendly smile and continued, "I don't know this market very well, and I could use a guide. Are you interested? I'll buy you some food as thanks."
The offer of food quickly melted the boy's initial resistance. He nodded in agreement and asked, "What are you looking for?"
Tianyu explained that he had recently tamed a horse and needed some supplies like horse feed, a saddle, and reins. He didn't think he would need a hitching post since Red Hare was a gift from the system and was unlikely to run away.
Considering for a moment, the boy nodded and said, "Follow me."
Taking off down an alleyway, the boy led Tianyu to a stable that wasn't part of the main market but was nearby. While Tianyu conducted business with a stable hand, arranging for the delivery of the required goods to his home for a silver coin, the boy waited at a distance.
Satisfied with the transaction, Tianyu returned to the boy. "Let's go get some food," he suggested.
The boy agreed, and they ventured back into the market. They stumbled upon a skewer stall, and Tianyu decided to treat them both to some skewers. The aroma was tantalizing, and even Tianyu's mouth watered.
Sitting on a low wall, they enjoyed their skewers. Tianyu struck up a conversation, asking the boy for his name.
The boy replied curtly, "Don't have one."
Tianyu couldn't help but piece together that the boy must have been abandoned or orphaned. Without a name, he likely had no home either. It seemed pointless to ask too many questions; this boy was clearly at the bottom rung of society.
Introducing himself as Tianyu, he decided, "I think I'll call you Yinying."
"Why?" the boy questioned.
"Well," Tianyu explained, "if I ever need your help to find something in the future, I won't have to call you 'boy.'"
Deep in thought, the boy repeated the name to himself, seeming to accept it.
Tianyu offered another skewer and announced that he was going to explore the market some more. He encouraged Yinying to take care of himself and then walked away with a smile.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
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Meanwhile, back at Tianyu's home, there was a loud banging on the gate.
Qin Li Mei went to answer it and was met with a terrifying sight. A carriage stood nearby, and the Qin Family butler was once again at their residence, this time accompanied by two armed guards.
In the same condescending tone as before, the butler ordered Qin Li Mei, "Get in the carriage; you're being summoned."
Terrified, Qin Li Mei slammed the gate shut and shouted, "No!"
The butler cast a disdainful look and turned to the armed guards. "Grab her and bring her."
The guards forcefully kicked down the wooden gate, causing Qin Li Mei to fall and hit her head on the ground. They then roughly picked her up, dragged her into the carriage, and departed swiftly.
Observing from his workshop, Mister Hao noticed the carriage with the Qin Family crest speeding away. He went next door to investigate and discovered the broken gate and a small bloodstain on the ground. Qin Li Mei and Tianyu were nowhere to be found.
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In the market, Tianyu began paying attention to the less fortunate people, noticing their living conditions and the extent of their struggles. He found it utterly repulsive.
Suddenly, he heard a voice in the distance shouting, "Let go of my sister!"
Paying close attention, Tianyu made his way toward the voice, which continued, "Stop! I'll kill you!"
In a nearby alley, Tianyu discovered a young boy, not older than fourteen, pinned down by two grown men. The boy fought desperately, but his strength was no match for his assailants.
Further down the alley, a well-fed, balding man held a young girl, around ten or eleven, in a compromising position.
"Shout all you want, scum," the man sneered. "I'm going to have my fun, and you're going to watch."
"What the hell is going on here?!" A voice shouted down the alley, drawing the attention of everybody.
"Piss off boy, if you don't want to die," the fat man said.
With eyes full of shock, the young boy recognized the man.
"Tianyu! Sir! Please save my sister!" Yinying begged, his eyes flowing with tears.
The fat man interjected, "You know this scum?" He laughed "Kill him" he ordered the two men.
The men got up off of Yinying, turned, and ran towards Tianyu.
Tianyu at this point knew what was going on, and he pulled out his Halberd.
There was a shocked look on the faces of the two men who were rushing Tianyu as he pulled out his weapon. They soon stopped in their tracks and started panicking a little. They were unarmed, and this young man had pulled out a weapon.
Without warning, Tianyu made the first move. He swung his Halberd in a chopping motion and to his slight surprise, he cleaved both men in half.
[You have gained 40 exp points]
This is the difference between realms. Tianyu is a foundation realm cultivator. Although he may be at the lowest realm of cultivation, to a regular mortal he was unstoppable.
A surprise was on the face of Yinying, as he had no idea how strong Tianyu was. All he knew was that he had a horse and paid with food. The look on the fat man's face, however, was much worse. He was panicking.
"Let go of the girl, or I'll kill you" Tianyu spoke coldly.
"Y-y-yes, yes sir," He let the girl go who ran towards her brother Yinying "There, I let her go. I'll never do anything like this again, I promise. Please let me go"
Tianyu had a look of disgust on his face, as he put away his weapon.
A slight glint could be seen in the eyes of the fat man, as he knew he could escape with his life.
Tianyu walked up to the fat man, who was sweating profusely.
"Thank you, sir. I promise I'll never lay a finger on anyone ever again" he promised.
Tianyu smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. What followed was a swift kick to his knees. Tianyu had shattered the bones in his knees.
Screaming in agony and falling to the ground, the fat man looked on in terror.
"Yinying," Tianyu called over "What do you want to do?" he posed the question.
Looking a little stupefied over everything that has happened at this point, Yinying looks Tianyu in the eyes.
Regardless of Yinying's answer, Tianyu would kill this man. People like this are a plague and need to be eradicated.
Thinking for a moment, unsure if he should let the fat man go as he had learned his lesson, he turned to look at his younger sister. Seeing the tears running down her face, and the red marks on her wrist, Yinying's eyes turned colder.
"He deserves to die" Yinying finally answered.
The fat man couldn't believe what he had heard. Surely, he wasn't going to be killed because of the words of this homeless orphan, right? No person would kill someone of his social stature for scum like him.
Tianyu nodded in satisfaction and said "Good," Tianyu then pulled out one of his needles, and extended it towards Yinying.
"Then kill him," Tianyu said bluntly. "A man should be accountable for his words."
Slightly shocked, Yinying looked at his sister once more, who was also looking shocked, and hardened his resolve. He then took the needle from Tianyu's hands, walked over to the fat man, and although hesitating for a moment, stabbed the fat man with the needle.
The poison is very fast, and in moments the skin of the fat man had turned a sickly green color, and he bled from his orifices.
Tianyu nodded in approval as he dissolved the needle.
"Yinying," he called out, "Do you want to follow me from today onwards?" He extended the offer.
Although he was shocked, and he wanted to say yes right away, he looked towards his sister once more.
Tianyu noticing this, revised his offer. "Both of you can come with me," he explained. "You will both have a place to sleep, and food to eat."
Shocked by this offer once more, he ran over next to his sister and pulled her over in front of Tianyu. He then dropped down to his knees and kowtowed, urging his sister to do the same.
"We will follow, master," he said with reverence.
Nodding in satisfaction, Tianyu turned to leave and said "Let's go"