44. You Are A Boy?

"Hehe, I was heading toward your place. Why are you just leaving the central region?"

"We stopped by the battle arena."

"Oh, my class finished late today, hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"Keep who waiting?" Mia asks.

"Hmm? Tanji didn't tell you?"

"I didn't tell her what?" Tanji asks with a slight frown.

"We agreed on attending the auction, did you forget?"

"Auction?"

"Yeah, Sheng's auction house is having an auction today."

"Oh, it's today," Tanji says with a bigger frown. He bit his lower lips as he thought. "Today is the day you betrayed me."

"Is something wrong?" Xuan asks.

"I totally forgot. Shit, I already spent most of my money, I'm sorry."

"We can just go and experience it."

"That's true," Mia says.

"Sorry, I need to make some pills and Mia is going to help me out."

"Oh, okay. I'll be off then," Xuan flashes a smile and runs away.

"You are lucky Shin can't face a third stage core formation expert yet. I promise I'll make you sorry for what you did to Mia," Tanji says in his head and turns to Mia. "Let's go."

"Okay elder brother."

"Hmm? That's?"

Mia turns to the direction Tanji was looking at. A little boy was being led away by two others.

"Are those bullies? Why are they bullying a Dot?"

"Mia, did the academy take in new disciples?"

"Hmm? Yeah, the process should still be ongoing. I think they started yesterday for disciples. And two days ago for Dots."

"I see, so he is already here. I had thought he'll be here in a few days."

"Huh? Who are you talking about?"

"You don't know him," Tanji replied and says in his head. "I have to make him my friend."

Tanji takes a step and follows after the bullies who led the Dot away. "Elder brother, don't tell me you want to get involved!" says Mia who follows after him.

"I want to, hehe."

"Ugh, do you need my help?" Mia sighs.

"No just watch."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I am," Tanji says and watched as the bullies walked into a shop.

…

"Seniors please could you let me go…" Rue pleas as two boys led him into a shop.

"Keep your mouth shut," one of the boys ordered.

The inside of the shop was almost empty though it was tidy. It seemed the shop was running low on stocks.

"Senior brother, we brought another one," the other said.

"Good, good," a voice sounded and a boy walked out from behind a shelf. "Is he from the Q Dorm?"

"Yes."

"Good. Little brother, what's your name?"

"I'm Rue, senior," Rue replies.

"Tell me is your care taker a new disciple?"

"He isn't."

"Don't lie to me, I know all the names of all the old disciples."

"I'm not lying, why would I lie to senior?"

"Alright, you'll take us to your place. I want to have a talk with him."

"Senior wants to talk with him…"

"Yes, but before that, bring out everything on you so I…"

The door to the shop opens interrupting him. Rue turns to see a boy and a girl stepping in together.

"We are close, come back later."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, I'm here for him. Rue, let's go."

Rue frowns at the boys words. Who was he? And how did he know his name?

"Are you his caretaker?"

"No, but I know him and I'm taking him with me. Is there any problem with that?"

"Well, I still have business with him so come back later."

"Unless you want to get in trouble, you will let him go and not bother him again."

"Are you threatening me? Ha! Don't make me laugh. You are only at the eighth stage, you aren't my match."

"Unless you are willing to receive punishment and pay the fine for breaking the academy's number two rule, you will leave him and not bother him again." Rue watches him bring out a sword. "I am more than ready to, are you?"

"You are bluffing!"

"Let's find out." Rue watches him walk forward towards them. Only stopping some feet away. "I don't see why I have to bluff."

~Swoosh~

He swung his sword vertically at the boy nearest to him. Luckily, the boy had reacted in time. Unfortunately, the sword grazed his face, leaving a cut behind.

"Shit."

"You…"

"There really isn't a reason for me to bluff," he interrupts the head bully. "One, I wasn't bullying anyone. Two, I have the money to pay, I don't think you do. And three, I don't need to worry about punishment, because I'm sure neither of you will be reporting about this."

He stretches a token at the bullies and their eyes widen. The head bully squints as his face goes dark.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Tanji, the new third grade alchemist of Bi Bin's shop. Unless you want to interrupt the business of Bi Bin's shop, you are free to report me for raising my blade at you."

"Tch…"

"Rue, what you waiting for? Let's go."

"Huh? Yes, elder brother," Rue says and walks over to Tanji's side.

"We'll be leaving," Tanji announces.

"Don't let me catch you outside the academy."

"What's your name?" Tanji asks.

"Get lost!"

"You don't have to be so mad. See ya then."

With that Tanji walks out, and Rue follows after him and the girl quickly.

…

After stepping out of the shop, Tanji leads Mia and Rue away. They head into the market, only stopping when they were some distance away.

Honestly, Rue was nervous to be beside Tanji. But he felt it was safer, that was why he followed.

"You came here to get something right?" Tanji asks.

"Yes, senior," Rue replies.

"Senior?"

"Elder brother… yes elder brother."

"Stop being so stiff, he won't bite you," Mia smiles at Rue and turns to Tanji. "Elder brother, what if that guy had decided to fight?"

"Then we would have fought, I had you beside me after all."

"I can't take on a ninth stage, you know."

"Against the both of us, any average ninth stage will be beaten black and blue."

"What if he wasn't average? And was like Shin, who is way stronger than his realm?"

"Alright, alright, I won't do something like that next time."

"Good, well, the little fella turned out to be cute."

"So Rue, what do you wanna get?"

"Um… elder brother, if I may… how do you know my name?" Rue asks.

"Oh, we've met before, you don't remember because I had a mask on. I was asking for directions and you and your peers directed me. One of them had called your name."

"I don't remember that."

"So what are you here to get? And why are you alone?"

"Some necessities like beds and beddings. I'm alone because my elder brother is…" Rue pauses and looks at them.

"Is what?" Mia asks sweetly.

"Is currently healing."

"How did he get wounded?"

"I don't know exactly."

"Give me a description of your elder brother," Tanji instructed.

"Um… he… he has some burnt scars on his face."

"Yikes, that's too bad," Mia says.

"He is definitely the one," Tanji thought. "Here's what will happen. Mia take him around to get everything he needs and meet me where we saw Rue."

"Okay, elder brother."

.

.

.

"Hmm, I've reached the second stage," Hiro opens his eyes. "I finally found out what grandfather did back then. He should have told me at least."

Hiro placed his hand on his stomach and sighed. While he cultivated, he realized there was something in his body that pulled most of the Yuan Qi he took into his body. And that something was in his abdomen region. To be precise, at his dantian; just below his navel. About sixty percent of the Yuan Qi he took in flowed into that thing, while only forty percent was stored in his body.

"Well, I can't do anything about it," he says and stands to his feet. After which he walks out of the room. "Rue isn't back yet. Did he get into trouble?"

He makes his way to the well and looks into it. "How do I use this?" he mutters.

"This is where we live," Rue's voice sounds as the gate to the place opens.

"You are kidding, right? Our place is the next one to the east. It's just fifteen meters away," a girls voice sounds.

Hiro turns and sees Rue entering through the gate. "Hmm, who are these two girls?" Hiro asks in his head.

"Oh, elder brother, I'm back. I was able to get everything," Rue says the moment he saw Hiro by the well.

"Hmm?" Hiro snaps back to reality and turns to Rue. "Oh, that's good."

"Allow me to introduce, elder brother Tanji and elder sister Mia. I got into some trouble and they helped me out," Rue introduced the two behind.

"Wait, elder brother? You are a boy?" Hiro spat out calmly.