Zhi inspects the three men quickly as the man is talking. Three boxes appear, one in front of each person, slightly blocking his vision for a moment while he looks them over.
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Name: Xu Hui
Age: 39
Karma: Bad
Dao Paths: None
Cultivation: Xiantian 6/9
Cultivation Technique: None
Constitution: None
Bloodline: None
Occupation: Lieutenant for Mo Pengfei
Mood: Displessed
Talent: Knitting (not used)
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Name: Nameless Thug 1
Cultivation: Xiantian 2/9
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Name: Nameless Thug 2
Cultivation: Xiantian 3/9
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…
……
Really? Nameless Thug 1 and 2? Is this a joke?
[It is not a joke, you have no reason to know the names of such people. Why waste time learning it?]
Then why is the Hui guy named?
[All bosses are named.]
Zhi reaches up to pinch his nose, a sigh escaping his mouth as he does. The three men look at him more closely as he does.
Dropping his hand, while removing his other arm from Zhao’s shoulders,he steps forward. “You know there is a funny story about why Qiang never came today.” The nicer dressed man looks Zhi up and down before saying, “Oh, let me guess. He was on his way to pay, but ran into a poor beggar child and decided to help them like last time? Or did he pass by the orphanage again and lose track of time telling stories to the kids there?” The man sneers, while looking at Zhi.
“While those are all valid reasons why he didn’t pay you before, he was actually on his way to pay you today. But unfortunately he was beaten up and robbed of all his money.” The two men behind him smile like they just heard a good joke. The nicer dressed man says “So then he must be at the healer right now? Trying to get services with no money, right?”
Zhi looks behind him to see Qiang and his wife walking up the small street talking to each other. They have yet to notice Zhao and Zhi are stopped in front of their house or the men they are talking with. Zhi turns to look back at the man before saying, “Actually his wife just went to pick him up. While me and Zhao were out enjoying a meal and talking about his new job and duties.” Looking back, Zhi yells toward Qiang and his wife Ya. “Ya, bring that worthless husband of yours over here!”
Qiang and his wife look over and notice the men standing in front of Zhi and Zhao. Qiang seems about to run at the sight of them, but his wife is faster and she grabs the back of his collar and begins to push him forward towards the men. As they get closer they leave the darker area of the street and come into the light of the street lamp in front of their house. The nicer dressed man and his two minions look on in shock as Hai Qiang’s face is revealed to the light.
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The lump on his head has gone down slightly, but his face is still a few different shades of purple, with some light brown. Only one eye is open, but it is still busted up surrounded in a black circle. His other eye is completely swollen shut. While his lips are purple and thick like a couple of sausages. Zhi grabs his shoulder and forces the man down to his knees in front of them. “Now, as you can see. Qiang might be better looking than normal, but for most people this is what happens when you get the shit kicked out of you.”
Both the men behind the man smile at Zhi’s words, but don’t laugh. The man in front regards Qiang for a moment before saying. “This man told me that you were beaten and robbed today. Who would dare rob you in Mo Pengfei territory?”
Zhi walks around in front of Qiang, grabbing him by the chin to make him look up at his face, he winks at the man while saying, “Yes Qiang, tell this man who it was that “robbed you” today. Who would dare to rob someone in the “great Mo Pengfei’s” territory.” Releasing Qiang’s chin, Zhi steps back and looks over at the nicely dressed man with a smirk on his face.
Qiang actually crawls forward and says while looking up at the nicely dressed man. “Boss Hui, I was on my way to pay today I swear. I even had all the money, but I ran into this man here. He is the one who robbed me. He took everything I had and almost beat me to death. I begged him to stop, I told him the money was for Boss Pengfei. But he said he didn’t know or care who that was, he just kept hitting me.” Qiang had some tears running down from both eyes, his face was distorted even worse as he cried looking up at the man.
The man looked slightly disgusted and at the same time pissed off. He looks at Zhi and says, “Who are you? You dare to cause trouble in the territory of Mo Pengfei and even say you don’t care who he is?” The two men behind him reach for their clubs and lean forward slightly, waiting for the order they know is coming.
Zhi looks at the man, as if he is looking down on an ant before saying, “You wish to know who I am?” He slowly raises his left hand, his staff appearing in his hand. With part of it now resting on Hui’s shoulder. All three men’s eyes go wide, but none of them move an inch. “You are not worthy of knowing my name.”
Lifting the staff and tapping Hui’s cheek with the end of it, causing the rings to chime out with the tap. Zhi brings his arm back down and causes it to chime out again as he plants the staff into the ground. Releasing his hand from the staff, it stays standing as he walks over to Hui and puts his arm over the frozen man’s shoulder. “Now, it looks like we have a little problem today, don't we “little boss Hui.”
Sweat is forming on Hui’s forehead as he replies, “There is no problem at all sir.”
Zhi points down at Qiang, still on the ground then over to his wife and Zhao before saying. “This man and his family are my personal slaves. If they owe someone a debt, then that means I owe someone a debt. Is that not correct? And if I owe someone a debt, then there is definitely a problem.”
The man has visible beads of sweat pouring down his face as he replies, “It was just a misunderstanding, I just remembered that he has already paid in full the other day. Me and the boys were just walking by on the way to Madam Feng Fenfang’s Flower Bed. Isn’t that right boys?” Both men behind him speak up at the same time. “That’s right boss.”
Zhi slaps the man’s back hard causing him to stubble forward slightly. “Well since it was just a misunderstanding, I guess I can let this go. But I will need something from all of you in exchange.” Hui looks at Zhi before saying, “This lowly Xu Hui will gladly help you, just ask.”
Extending his arm towards the man he says, “Give me your money pouch and we can consider this water under the bridge.” The man hesitates for a moment, but grits his teeth. Then reaches into his shirt and hands Zhi a hefty money pouch. Zhi turns, his now empty hand still out to the other two men. They look at Hui, who just nods at them. They both reach in their shirts and pull out a small pouch, handing it over to Zhi.
“Good, it looks like our business is done. You can leave and I don't want to see you around here any more. Do you understand?” Hui nods his head rapidly before saying, “Come on, lets go.” He doesn’t wait to see if his men are following him. He is already walking down the street, almost jogging away. The other two men, not far behind them. A box appears in front of Zhi as he watches them disappear.
[Limited Quest is complete, including bonus objective. Would you like to turn in the quest now?]
No, let's get inside and ask some questions first then I will.
The Hai family hasn’t moved, just looking where the three men ran off too. Touching his staff to store it away, Zhi reaches down and helps Qiang stand up. “You know that was a pretty good touch with the tears. Let's go inside and talk about what just happened.” They all look at me, before Ya walks up to the door and opens it, walking inside. Qiang follows in behind her followed by Zhi with Zhao last.
The door opens into a hallway, the only light can be seen at the end of the hallway. There are four doors, two on each side of the hallway. They walk past the doors and appear in a dining room and kitchen area. The combined rooms are much like the outside of the house, slightly run down but taken care of. The kitchen area is simple, a small stove, some storage cabinets, a counter and what looks like a sink with a bucket next to it.
The dining area is just a table with some chairs around it. There is a door between the two rooms that looks like it leads outside. The sole light source in the room comes from a yellow crystal that is embedded in the ceiling.
The Hai’s sit down around a well worn dining table and Zhi joins them at an empty seat. “So, it looks like you owe some people money, Qiang. How much is it and why?” Zhao looks confused at the question and asks. “Didn’t you just clear his debt and scare them off?”
Qiang is actually the first to reply, “They might leave me alone for a while, but since Zhi here decided to take all of their money. They might think the thing he did with his staff was a cheap trick and come back with more men.”
Zhao still looks confused and asks, “Why would they think it was some kind of trick? It was clearly not there and then it was.”
Qiang shakes his head and says, “Because what cultivator steals money from normal people? They will think it was a trick, just because he did that.”
Zhi actually looks surprised at that statement and says, “I thought they would come back no matter what, so I figured I would make some money now and more when they come back to get their teeth kicked in.”