Adrian frowned as he was deep in contemplation. He didn’t bother struggling when the guards came and tied him up. There was no use struggling. His biggest regret was that he was likely not going to get paid at all now. He sighed while he curled into a ball in the corner of the prison cell.

Surprisingly, the interaction between the tall man and Adrian was very candid and cordial. This meant some fists were raised and many profanities were heard, but no one was actually hurt in the entire process. The tall man was supposedly Ren Fang, or as he quickly learned, “Young Master Fang,” the fiancé of Ling Jiang.

Young Ling Jiang really was from a much higher hierarchy than Adrian had previously expected. There was much significance in having a family household name. With the rise and fall of many during the wars that ravaged the country, many families rose and fell in power. With the rise of a new ruler, old families that were allied with the previous were usually demolished. The people in those families were usually excommunicated or exterminated. Those that escaped would forever lose their name in history, as the new ruler feared a possible rebellion. 

Ironically enough, Adrian bemused, this solution proved to be fruitless. In fact, it had the opposite effect. Some people that escaped renounced their name and lived under a false name. Some people gave up their family name to live forever in servitude. Others banded together under a new household family name and rebelled. Unfortunately, some succeeded, and some failed.

Incidentally, the country currently did not even have a name that the people could stand united under. These constant uprisings with a new ruler taking over the country every few years ultimately weakened the country as a whole. Many speculate that those with the power to leave should leave immediately. It was a common belief that the surrounding nations would eventually invade. Others presumed that the monsters in the nearby wilderness were getting wilder as of late and would attack soon. There were even some that believed the country was cursed. Such thoughts had further harmed the growth of the country as many left the country, but few dared enter.

However, strange occurrences have been occurring around town recently. The common folk fear that there may be a new disease spreading as many people were becoming strangely pale. It is said that once the color of their skin paled, they would become extremely unresponsive. They were extremely active during the night, but they were sluggish during the day.

Adrian remembered hearing a story about a lady that was crushed under a wagon in the streets in the middle of the day. Many people thought that she had died, yet she stood back up and wandered off like nobody’s business. It is said that she was extremely violent towards anyone who tried to help her. Moreover, she was reportedly especially ferocious against a group of men that tried to rob her in the middle of the night.

Adrian sighed. While most people wanted to leave, all Adrian wanted to do was to live freely in the streets where he was born.  However, to do that, he needed money. The only solace was that he did not have to pay rent for the jail cell that he currently resided in.

It was not that he was not afraid of death, but more that he understood that he was not in any imminent threat of death. It was to his benefit that “Young Master Fang” had reacted so predictably during their chance encounter. If Adrian were to be falsely accused, then rumors would spread like wildfire. It was a matter of playing the waiting game. However, time meant money, and he didn’t have a lot of time left.

Adrian lightly coughed into his hands when he suddenly heard the sound of keys fumbling against each other. Then, he heard the sound of a lock being turned. He quickly wiped his hands on the edge of his ragged old shirt, leaving a trail of red substance, and stood to attention with his back as straight as the wall behind him.

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There was an older man with graying hair standing behind the jail guard. He had an especially kind face. However, after glancing over Adrian, he frowned slightly.

“Boy, did my future son-in-law treat you that roughly?” the older man asked.

Adrian shook his head and replied meekly: “Master Jiang, I presume?”

Master Jiang nodded his head slowly, as if he were in deep contemplation. Despite how kind he looked, Adrian had noticed a sudden change of expression in his eyes that sent chills down his back. Although it was a minute change, Adrian felt like it was a fierce intent to kill and it was directed at none other than him! Adrian’s palms started to sweat a little bit. The fear was creeping in. Perhaps he was not as safe as he had originally presumed.

He had originally heard in the streets that Master Jiang was most noble and kind, almost like an unsung hero. He was exceptionally understanding to the plights of the people and he firmly pursued justice. Adrian no longer knew if he believed in what he heard. Someone that is supposedly so kind would undoubtedly have mercy on his soul. The level of intensity in the killing glare that he had received was simply not normal.

 “And you, dear boy?” asked Master Jiang.

Still feeling pressured, Adrian’s reply was short and to the point: “Adrian, just Adrian.”  

“I see,” Master Jiang replied solemnly. He understood the implications of having such a simple name, especially such a foreign name.

Adrian licked his lips and said, “This may be out of my position to speak –“

“Speak and I will listen,” Master Jiang interrupted. His eyes met directly with Adrian’s.

Adrian felt that he had met his match. With all the experience he has had in the past, he could not read Master Jiang’s thoughts. With the exception of the death glare he had noticed earlier, this man in front of him exuded respect and exceeding kindness. Perhaps he had imagined it?

With nothing to lose, Adrian continued, “Would you kindly provide me with some herbs so that I may take my medicine? Young Master Fang did not lay a finger on me; however, I have a chronic disease that I was born with. It seems that I had overexerted myself last night and need to take my medicine earlier than expected.”

Hearing this, the guard first backed away from Adrian when he heard that Adrian had a chronic disease. Then, his mouth opened into a wide circle when Adrian finished talking. On the other hand, Master Jiang’s expressions stayed the same the entire time. Somehow, seeing this scared Adrian more, yet he feared making any questionable movements. Adrian bit his tongue since he realized that he said very ambiguous things. As if the guard could read Adrian’s mind, his mouth became a wider circle as he shifted his eyes between the two.

“I’ll have Ling Ling bring it to you personally. She told me that she was especially satisfied with your performance last night. She learned a lot from you,” responded Master Jiang in a playful manner.

Adrian was so shocked by his response that he simply smiled awkwardly. At this point, the guard’s mouth could not get any wider. The guard was so confused now that it seemed as if he was having a meltdown as he shifted his eyes rapidly between the two trying to figure out what had actually transpired.