The next morning a young girl in simple brown robes arrived at the smithy.

“Is master Xinyi here?” I don’t think I’ve ever heard a kid that sounded so tired.

“Eh, is that the fat one or the little one?” I scratched my head. They had both told me their names last night but I had already pulled out the spiced liquor by then.

“Probably the fat one.” She shrugged. I gave a thumbs up and she looked at me sideways. I really wish hand gestures translated too.

I kicked the bed that had the two old men passed out on it. They began to stir and both jumped when they realized they had been cuddling.

“Some kid’s here for ya.” I yawned and went to make coffee.

The rat was already seated next to the fire pit and had brewed himself tea. I’m pretty sure there's some sort of etiquette about serving guests but I consider it more rude to give people things they dislike.

I sat across from him and tried to do the same motion he did when he activated the ring he had given me. He grunted and gestured for me to come closer.

“If you moan like that again I’ll cut you.” He eyed me while he made a motion over my hand and I was hit by that electric feel again. The three boxes were out in the open and I sort of just stared at them for a moment.

If I could figure out how to use it, this ring was worth way more than he should be paying for the letter opener I had made, yet he had placed the payment in the ring and just given me all of it.

“Isn’t this way too much?” I seriously couldn’t feel comfortable with this. I didn’t even need to look in the boxes to know they contained things that were expensive as hell. All of them had golden ornamentation and jewelry embedded in them. The one in the center even had a golden snake with ruby eyes coiled around its entirety.

“Too much? What do you think you gave me?” He continued to sip his tea.

“A letter opener.” He nearly spit the tea out. Then he started to laugh.

“At my age that is what I'll probably be using it for more often than not.” He continued to laugh. I shrugged and took my cup of coffee with me to the river bank. I couldn't bring myself to think about whatever magic bullshit was in those boxes.

I had been neglecting my workout the past few days. When I got there Hu was already practicing. He had taken over my spot on top of the boulder. I know it sounds a bit crazy but this rock has been a sort of stabilizing part of my life here. It was big enough to sunbathe on top of and when the sun hits it just right, the forest almost sings.

Hu released a pulse of energy as he swung his saber at whatever enemy he was imagining. Even the kid was able to use magic powers now.

I could see a sort of red line that appeared wherever he swung. It remained in the air for only a fraction of a moment before dissipating.

I watched for a bit longer. It would be a lie to say I’m not jealous but honestly I probably shouldn’t even be alive. If I hadn’t gotten lucky with the village I arrived in I could have been killed on the spot.

It was also kind of pathetic for a grown man to be jealous of a kid.

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I stretched and began my daily routine. Focus on the breathing. Feel every motion. Push out any thoughts of jealousy or contempt. Breathe deeply. Empty yourself of everything.

I could almost feel a path inside of me that called out to be followed.

I think I lost track of time. When I came back to my senses Hu was gone and in the spot he had been occupying atop the boulder was a large rat in silk robes. He was watching me closely.

“You don’t know how to fight do you?” The rat seemed a bit confused as he asked.

“Enough to defend myself.” I was a bit peeved at the way he said it. I might not like fighting but at the end of the day I have trained for years.

“No, no it isn’t.” He spoke simply and directly. The confusion turned to an almost sad expression.

I was starting to hate how expressive this guy's face was.

When dinner time came around the rat, who was named Shu apparently, was still with us.

“You got what you ordered now leave so I can fix the damn formations you broke.” Long Fa seemed angry with him. Shu just smiled as he pulled out an envelope and passed it to the old man. There was a war of expressions on his face as he read the contents.

“Since… Since when?” He settled on resignation.

“Who did you think the main investor was? I was surprised when second brother asked me to come here of all places to look for you.” The rat continued to sip his tea.

“Then, why?” The old man set down the paper he had been given and was suddenly tired.

“I always felt bad for that kid. When he said he wanted something for his family I couldn’t say no.” The rat shrugged as he spoke.

“I didn’t expect such a windfall from such a small investment.” Shu was smirking.

Hu and I were both confused by the conversation that was going on next to us.

“I should have seen something like this coming.” Long Fa sighed.

“You should have. Greed and arrogance is a terrible combination for such an old man.” Shu seemed to have a habit of rebuking people quite directly.

“And don’t worry about the formations. I’ve already given the workers better designs than what you planned to implement. We can’t have anyone trying to take control of this place.” He continued to smirk.

“Anyone other than you, you mean.” Long Fa sighed again as he looked at the envelope that was sitting in front of him.

_________________________________________

Min Ryong had noticed him while she was trying to eat. He was just in the spiritual realm so it wasn’t like he could actually do anything to her but it was still incredibly annoying. She often had people stare at her when they saw her red hair and long saber. Usually they just ran in fear. She had been enjoying this idle little village where the people seemed to be fearless.

This man was evaluating her. He was probably afraid that she was going to butcher this town. She had been hired to protect the place so there wasn’t any risk of that. Besides, Asura's Blade was an art that only worked on a real battlefield not any random village like some sort of blood cultist skill.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t have any fun. She wasn’t allowed to kill the man but scaring him a bit should be fine. It was always fun to scare old soldiers like him.

After she had evaded his tailing she turned the hunter into the hunted. She followed him for some time before he seemed to give up on finding her again. Much faster than she had expected him to as well.

He then began to make his way to one of the larger homes that had been completed. Apparently he had a goal here. He was inside for some time before he came out again with a confused expression on his face. The owner of the house seemed overjoyed that the man had arrived. Almost trying to drag him back inside for a drink.

He then made his way towards the edge of the village where the smithy was.

There were two people fighting there. They were good. Damn good. She couldn’t even see them yet but the clashes could be felt even from this distance. The pulses of energy were strong but contained. Like they knew they could destroy everything around them if they went overboard.

It was probably best to avoid people like that when they were in the middle of a fight. She considered getting closer to see if the strong foreigner was involved. It didn’t seem likely though. He reminded her of a small animal. Even though she barely came up to his chin.

The man that she had followed seemed to have a similar thought as he turned back and went to the restaurant again.

He ordered a drink and sat down while contemplating. He didn’t even touch the cup while he stared into the distance.

Well now it was boring. There was no point in trying to scare someone that just witnessed a heavenly realm battle.