The wolves howled in the distance, and Lei shuddered.

"Calm down, they are pretty far from us, and they won't chase us up here. For now." Xin wasn't too bothered about the beasts.

"How do you know? Sounded pretty close to me."

"It's the terrain. The sound travels along the river, as the trees won't block it. Don't worry. I left my home more than nine hours ago, yet there are no wolves anywhere close. Means my smell traps worked. Anyway, the wolves chased up here are probably the weaklings, the main feast is right there," Xin pointed north towards Tealstone, obscured behind the hills.

"Nice speech, smartass, except your occupation as a hunter is blinding you. You know the wolves, but not their masters. Someone controlled the beast tide and pincered the city. We don't know the full story, but it's not dumb to assume they'd want to kill the witnesses."

"It's naive to think that I'm the only survivor. The bureaucrats had their portal magic, and some xiandao masters had flying swords and mounts with them, so they obviously survived. What good is it in chasing me?" Lei is just panicking, Xin concluded. Losing a hand does that to a man.

"We don't know, why would this tide attack the city anyway? Who gathered it? That's what scares me. It looks pointless, and came out of nowhere."

"Look, I'm wondering the same thing, but I'm not panicking. Calm down, you aren't helping much with your whining."

Despite the stoic facade, Xin was quite irritated. Something was gripping his chest, gnawing at him. He wanted to vomit again, and his eyes were dry, since he barely blinked, yet he kept walking.

"Whatever. Where are you taking me, anyway? The trail I usually use is to the west." Lei pointed sideways.

"If there are indeed beasts chasing us, let's take a precaution and filter at least some of them out. I'll help you climb the hills, something a wolf or a similar animal won't be able to do, and then we'll make a hook towards Liao's homestead. It's a decent place, I know some people there."

Wu Lei nodded.

All went according to plan, yet by the end of it, Xin felt beaten. Having to carry bags and help Lei climb for hours, all in a hurry and injured, not even his bracer was able to take all of the fatigue away. By the end of this forced march, they both smelled like dung and looked on par. It was almost evening.

Their efforts weren't for nothing, as they could soon see the fires of Liao's homestead not too far away. A pretty if simple wooden outpost, made out of several buildings, housing four extended families of farmers, a roadside inn and a stable, all surrounded by a wall made out of thick spiked logs. Combined with the wheat fields nearby, the homestead painted a beautiful resonance of manmade and nature.

Xin approached the gates and called out:

"Auntie Liao, open up! We need your hospitality."

"Huh, who's that?" A male voice replied, sounding rather surprised.

"It's me, Xin, Lang Shuo's son! Auntie knows me."

"What? Let them in? Sure."

The man who just opened the gate was looking at them suspiciously through the little gaps between the logs

"Cousin, now they are your responsibility, I'll get back to drinking." He said, then pointed the pair towards a younger man, in his early twenties.

"Hey, Xin, it's me, Yi. You probably don't remember me, but I remember your dad. You also came when you were younger. And who's that with you?"

"I remember you, Chicklet Yi, and your funny anecdotes, hehe. This with me is Wu Lei, he is from the cityfolk, sadly he got maimed and needs help. Is uncle Luli still available as an alchemist?"

"If you can call that alchemy. You'll have to wait till morning, he got shitfaced with some goons from the Fist sect. They've been slacking off from some sort of mission for hours now, but said they're leaving in the morning. Knowing them, they'll probably stay till afternoon, complaining about the hangover."

Xin's facial expression barely changed, but his heart sank. Those guys, again? They aren't even honest criminals, just some weird bullies, perverting the teachings of the Way into a parody of itself. I usually acted cold and aloof, but respectful, and it was enough to keep myself from harm, yet this time, with Tealstone gone, they might feel emboldened.

Lei seemed even more grim when he heard the news. The pair looked at each other, then talked for a minute to plan ahead. Stay vigilant, don't draw too much attention or provoke them. But don't show weakness, this might be bad as well.

And so they entered the inn.

It was pretty cozy, with simple bamboo furniture and tableware, a fireplace, and cheap statuettes of various famous martial artists on the counter. There was also a thin ladder leading to the second floor, which served as a simple communal sleeping place, with bamboo beds covered by thin linen bed sheets. No rooms, no separation, just a big floor and a bunch of beds. Some city folk would find such simplicity exotic, but most would feel repulsed and want to go home.

Xin bowed respectfully to a trio of martial artists, all bald and wearing orange robes, and greeted them.

"May the gods be with you on this fine night, gentlemen. Hope your cups are full and your food is fresh, as they say." He then turned to an empty table, leaned his crossbow and spear on the wall, then sat down, putting the backpack under the table.

He was slightly anxious, these guys probably won't like him. And indeed, they put their fists together in a salute, yet stared suspiciously from under their eyebrows. Lei nodded and said "good evening," then sat down on his chair as well, paying them no further attention.

Xin felt the pressure rise in the air. They can tell that Lei is anxious. And that I am, too.

Auntie Liao was already rushing down from the second floor, with some wooden dishes in hand. She was a lively woman, in the dawn of her middle ages.

"Imagine this, the postman ate his rice in his bed. Disrespectful, I can take it, but the man is such a heavy burden on his horse! The size on that man, what a poor creature." She furrowed her brows and playfully put her hands on her hips to express her discontent. The Fist sect members didn't smile or respond.

"Who are you two, young men? Oh, my, you look beaten. What are your names?" She asked her new guests.

"Auntie, it's me, Xin. And this here is Wu Lei, he's from Clay Nest. We'd like to tell you the news."

"Xin? No way! So tall, so handsome, such clear skin and manly features. Is this the duckling I once knew? Oh, I remember your father fondly, such a scholar, such a gentleman. Let me pour you some tea, and you can tell us the news, deal?"

One of the bald men called out from a corner, "Hey, grandma, you said you don't serve tea, only rice wine, liquor and water, how do we get this sort of special treatment? Is money not enough, huh?"

Fuck. Was his annoyance genuine or was he looking for a reason to escalate? Anyway, I need to ease the tension somehow. Think. Pick the most optimal words, they will be decisive.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"Why don't you shut your shutter and keep eating, you ballsack? You are a guest, respect the host or fuck off." Blurted out Wu Lei.

What? Xin's eyes were as wide as that tiger's when he raised his spear to finish him. Auntie Liao was bewildered, too, and almost dropped a teapot in her hands. One of the monks clenched his chopsticks out of surprise, yet they slipped off each other, and one of them fell from his grip, under the table. He hoped that no one would notice, but amidst the silence, it was the loudest sound in the room. What a loss of face.

"What did you just say, you mongrel?"

"Did they shave your ears off too, you ballsack?"

"Master, let me teach this man a lesson, he is courting death!"

"I courted your mom about two days ago, why don't you..."

Xin interrupted him, pulling the torn sleeve of his severed arm.

"What's wrong with you? Shut up, man!" Xin stood up to say something, yet the monk had already prepared to charge Lei.

"No. Sit down." Another monk, behind his back, clearly his senior, pinched the skin of his elbow and forced him to sit back again, seemingly with no effort. His facial expression was calm and didn't show any sign of intoxication.

"Let's hear what this young man has to say first."

Xin's mind raced. What's wrong with Lei? What do I even say?

"Forgive me, gentlemen. My friend is not well. As you can see, he recently lost his arm, so I pumped him with some medicine, and he still has trouble differentiating between sleep and reality. You probably reminded him of someone from his past, please don't take it personally.

I, on the other hand, am rather glad to share company with such refined... Company in these hard times, and in these hard times... Would like to share some news with you. Some bad news." Blundered it. Damn.

Auntie Liao was about to inject her own line into this conversation, yet one small glance from the older bald monk, just one eyebrow raise, was enough to make her abandon this idea.

"You are speaking about Tealstone," the monk stated confidently.

"Precisely so. I am but a simple hunter, and as I came back to the hilltop observing the town, the whole settlement was already pincered. The beast tide, led by a giant black boar, was laying ruin to the town, and there was no way in or out of this vicious encircling.

Terrifying sight. As I rushed out to get some help, to warn someone, my friend and I were attacked by a group of bandits, led by a tiger yaoguai, who maimed my friend and injured me. Afterwards, we recovered and rushed towards civilization, the wild beasts following our tracks. Now we are here, and my friend is rather distressed, his medication acting weirdly, so forgive him, please. That's what a gentleman would do!"

"I'd say you made it all up, but I've read the reports of several different yaoguai demons moving in this direction, which matches your story. We've been sent here for recon, and you brought us valuable information. Thank you. We'll forgive your friend if he apologises once he sobers up. Another condition is that you hear me out and consider my proposal."

"Fuck no!" Lei got agitated again. "Don't listen to this bald fraud! Every word of his is a lie. He slacked off on a recon mission because he is a fucking weakling. His proposal will be something like 'please become our outer disciples, shave the hair on your heads and below your waist, then farm us rice in exchange for our retarded fisting manuals. I'd rather die!"

Xin was in utter confusion. Why is Lei so agitated?

"Shut the fuck up, Lei, or I'll punch you out, I swear. This gentleman saved you face, be humble enough to accept it."

The "gentleman" monk breathed out with a weird whistle, probably some Qigong technique. It seemed it was hard for him to keep his composure amid Lei's babbling.

"So, young master, I can see it in your posture that you are not an ordinary man. Will you hear me out?"

"Alright, gladly," Xin bowed respectfully.

"I see that you both are vagabonds, injured and tired. I'd like to make you an offer, and please think twice before rejecting or accepting, as no matter what you answer, your life will irrevocably change."

"Oh, here it comes..." Lei wanted to keep talking, but Xin kicked his crotch under the table.

"Our sect is looking for outer disciples, and with Tealstone beheaded, we'll look to expand. This means new opportunities to move up, for everyone. If you two truly felled a group of bandits which included a yaoguai, you'll be tested and retroactively awarded your first contribution points, despite not being sect members at the time.

You'll be given some basic materials and spirit stones as a starting capital, and a basic monthly allowance, enough to sustain you. As you progress in battle prowess and education, you'll rank up, which brings more status and benefits. Let me tell you about the benefits..."

Xin politely interrupted, "It won't be necessary, master. I must humbly decline. You see, master, I am not worthy of your sect, as I am both aloof and impulsive, and hate being around people for long stretches of time. My friend here, even worse. The life you described, it's good for a normal person, yet I am not fit for it. Forgive us, the problem lies with us, not with you."

"A humble, even humiliating rejection. You are smart, boy. I like it. And your friend, too, he clearly has the balls. Let me put it this way. Right now, you two are potential recruits, but if you decline, I'd have to detain you two for the disruption of public order and suspicious behaviour, and you'll be escorted to be questioned by the sect's higher-ups. The question is, would you want to enter our sect as hot prospects or as detained criminals? Your choice."

"Here we go, man. You should have kicked your own crotch, you dumb fuck."

"You aren't helping, smartass. Being right and winning are two different things!"

The bald fraud started losing his patience. To insult him was bearable, but to bicker in front of him, ignoring him and making him wait was too much! His disciples were also clearly jealous of the special treatment these vagabonds were getting.

"Oh, and to add, you, youngster. I see that you lost an arm, we can heal it back."

"Lost an arm? It's there, in my bag," Lei nodded confidently.

"I see," the monk's head started turning red. Xin smiled, even if the situation was dire. Lei was a true copycat and a scoundrel. Steals my jokes, copies Jun's key. Adaptability through imitation, I assume he's just like that in combat. Interesting.

"There is someone you forgot to ask, young man!" Auntie Liao exclaimed, pointing her finger at the monk, flabbergasted at being called a young man. She continued: "This poor pair had just witnessed a massacre, and were forced to kill in self-defence, yet you bully them like you're some street thugs.

I know fuck all about the sects and politics, but I know a lot about our sacred traditions of hospitality! You act like you are this inn's masters, yet you're merely our guests! This insults the four generations of my ancestors, who built and maintained this place. This won't stand!"

The old monk's face twisted, his mouth revealing a disgusted expression.

"Did I just hear what I heard? You, a peasant, threatening me, a sect master? Giving me orders, reprimanding me? I've been too kind to you all, let me think of what lesson I should teach you."

"Slap her, master! And these two, knock them out and bring them to the sect. That's what we should do!"

Auntie Liao was relentless, though, and unleashed her final argument:

"You see, young man, we've got five generations living here, and if I go and wake up the middle three, it's a sizable force of a dozen men to teach you a lesson. So how about you behave and leave this place on your own? You can finish your food and drinks, I'll wait."

Lei chuckled. This master might be strong, but taking on a dozen men, with two of them being strong mortals, is still pretty risky. He already dodged his mission in the first place, he hides his fear behind the pretense of being sophisticated and reasonable, but when it comes to fight or flight, he is "flight." Bald fraud, just as I thought. Ah! Lei's severed arm pulsated in excruciating pain, snapping him back to reality.

The monk stood up and went past Lei and Xin, to the second floor, acting detached as his disciples followed him.

"Master, why didn't we teach them a lesson?"

Everyone could hear the argument happening above, the walls of the inn were pretty thin, and the doorway wasn't very tight.

"You see, my disciple, it's actually a show of strength. A show of resolve. If these mortals raised even a finger on us, we'd have to slaughter them all, and then kill this old woman as well, for egging them all on."

Auntie Liao was furious, her expression saying 'who did he just call old?'.

The monk continued, speaking to his disciple, his true audience located below, of course:

"To leave this inn with a dozen corpses, to leave so many children without fathers, and elderly people without caretakers, over some situation created by two outsiders, would be a truly careless act. And these two, we have no time for them, let them pray that our paths won't cross again. Still, we should thank destiny for providing us with valuable intel. Our mission is over, let's go and collect the contribution points."

"Master, I see now, your wisdom is as profound as always!"

The trio left the inn, ignoring the other guests. The monk threw a coin into a wooden bowl standing on the counter without even looking, calmly proclaimed "Should be enough" and left. Great precision on that throw, even Lei was impressed.

Xin exhaled.

"The fuck is wrong with you? Lei, what was that?"

"I don't know, man, I just had this feeling these guys would try and probe us, so I followed my instinct."

"In what world is calling a master a bald fraud in front of his disciples a way to de-escalate conflict?"

"I'd rather get my shit kicked in than grovel again. You were pathetic."

"So you saw your past self in my current act? Sort your past out, but don't involve me. I am just trying to survive. You think you know it all, just because you cheated death once? You won't last very long, cease it."

"What's done is done, I have my reasons to be angry with them, and all's well that ends well, don't you agree?"

"No, I don't agree. I think you are an idiot. You also stole my joke without giving me credit, you scoundrel."

"It was an obvious joke to make. Your jokes are ordinary, being funnier than old man Jun is not an achievement."

"Oh, Xin, I am glad that you made a new friend, but it's getting hot here when you two argue. Let me open the shutters to let some fresh air in."