[IC] The Jade Stream

[Zeroth]

The gates of Mingdu Temple stood wide open after the intruder's passing. Already a few townsfolk were beginning to gather there, watching and waiting to see what would happen. Given the school's fame, it wasn't often some wandering warrior would challenge them--there were many who sought to join the school, but few who were arrogant enough to believe they could best it. Over time, the more curious began to trickle into the temple proper, nervously passing through the gate before peering into the grounds. No one was there to stop them--Zhang Li's entire class, even the wounded Xun, now stood transfixed by the two warriors before them.

Dai Xin slowly crept forward, sliding his feet with only the motion of his ankles and pulling his body along. Zhang Li waited for him, hands and arms relaxed.

There was a puff of dust from Dai Xin's back foot, and in an instant he had covered the distance. His right foot stepped through into a new stance, coming down heel first. With the same rolling motion as the rest of his foot came down flat on the ground, he turned his hips and punched straight. Though so many parts of his body were moving in tandem to generate power, the side-punch only took fractions of a second. In less time than that, Zhang Li reacted. His right leg stepped back and he settled his hips lower, his knees twined together, and at the same time he swept aside Dai Xin's punch with a circular sweep of the arm. He stepped forward again, the same blocking hand coming up to strike, but Dai Xin had already pushed back with his front foot and retreated. There was no pause between this and the next attack, and the redhaired man lunged with the same punch. This time it was a jab; instead of sweeping it away Zhang Li slapped the side of Dai Xin's hand and deflected it, then swept the same arm in the opposite direction to brush away Dai Xin's follow up strike with his other arm. At the same time he had begun to step back again, but found Dai Xin's left foot had come forward and set heel-to-heel with his right, preventing him from changing his stance. Without hesitation Zhang spun the opposite direction, his legs corkscrewing together again but with the right over the left this time. He flung out both arms, one behind for balance, the other slapping at Dai Xin's face. But this was no woman's slap--the striking surface was the hard heel of his palm, supported by the bone of his wrist. Dai Xin's eyes followed its path, growing wider as it came closer to his temple...

At the last moment he escaped, retreating in the same way as before. And once again he leapt back in, moving in a straight and direct line. This time he punched with his left hand first, a mirrored image of the very first attack he'd made. Zhang Li unwound his legs, his rear arm whipping around to slap Dai Xin's fist with a loud smack, forcing it far towards the right and across Dai Xin's body, and his own arm reached across to his opposite hip. It was like he had lashed out with a piece of rope, and its momentum carried it until it wrapped back around him. But by twisting his hips again, back the way he'd come, that same arm whipped out again, this time like a string with an iron weight at its end. That weight was Zhang Li's fist, knuckles tilted slightly for a back-fist strike. Again Dai Xin retreated, his eyes following the path of Zhang Li's strike. Its momentum carried it all the way through where its target would have been, but when it reached alignment with the instructor's shoulder it snapped back as if it had hit some kind of spring. The strength of a Five Wheel Striking master's hips and core body must have been immense to control such rapid and powerful spinning strikes.

"His movements are so basic...he goes in and out on straight lines and only throws one dimensional punches." one of the students said. "Teacher Zhang hasn't been hit once!" Some of the others cheered their teacher on or booed the intruder, but Zhang Li kept his eyes on his opponent, who once again came in with a combination of punches--three this time--and had them deflected by the spinning and twisting motions of Five Wheel Striking Style before retreating.

They don't notice that I haven't hit him once either. the instructor thought. He would have been tense with apprehension, but he let out a deep exhalation and stayed relaxed. He's fast, and powerful--any one of those strikes could break bones or knock someone out. But what's his strategy? Could he be...

This time Dai Xin jabbed with the left hand, and when Zhang Li flicked his wrist to deflect it the intruder's right leg came up from the rear to throw a snapping front kick. The fabric of Dai Xin's pants let out a crack like a whip, it was so fast. For the first time he got past Zhang Li's front hand, but the rear hand received the kick with a soft palm, letting Dai Xin's foot push his arm back until his elbow was past his ribs. Zhang Li spun his hips, attempting to drag the leg and straighten it out so he could break the knee with a downward chopping strike, but Dai Xin pulled it back before he could tighten his grip on it, and again the redhaired man retreated and lunged back in with a different combination...

[Muttonhawk]

"Yeah, it's, uh...it looks comfortable," Kyang commented in lieu of knowing much of anything about fashion. She could at least appreciate the craftsmanship.

Kyang was going to try asking another question, but given the pace they were keeping, the doors of the school were already in sight. "Oh, well I guess we can just walk in after all," Kyang said as villagers seemed to creep through the wide open gates to watch the commotion within.

"You know, I never expected to set foot in the Mingdu school." Kyang dipped her head side to side, stretching and emitting small cracking sounds, "I was actually thinking to come here to train, but the only person I knew of that trained here was my great grandfather, and he died without endorsing anyone to go." Kyang wasn't sure if Torako would even be interested, but she spoke on anyway, "So without that and without Daeyang-Gug letting girls into the military, here I am, making do with what I have." Kyang looked to Torako and Liu in turn, "How about you two? Any connection with the school?"

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

The relaxed voices of Kyang and Torako coming from behind Liu meant that, at the very least, they weren't straying too far off from their intended path. It'd have been quite worrisome if they ended up... Well, the mayor's personal house, for one. Though it was extravagant and could very easily be mistaken for a hall of some sort... Well, it wasn't, for one. Plus, the around-the-clock guard duty wasn't exactly the most forgiving group...

Yeah, that wouldn't have been easy to explain. Or deal with. or both.

As the three of them approached the gates to the school, though, Kyang asked the two of them an... Interesting question. Their association with the school, was it? Well, he had no reason to conceal that information...

"I graduated from the place, actually." he said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders as the crowd seemed to slowly slip inside the gates. "Even as a former disciple, I'm allowed to come and go as I please and train with their equipment as I wish. It's... Convenient at times, I guess."

That being said, Liu slipped inside and beckoned for the other two to follow; it seemed like the master had taken up today's challenger.

"...Seriously, though, that's one serious ball of fire he's got for a head..." Liu joked quietly as he watched the spectacle unfold in front of him.

[VitaVitaAR]

"This is the first time I've ever been here!" chirped Torako cheerfully, in response to Kyang's question. She smiled happily at the other girl, before her focus soundly swung to the fight. She was, she had to confess, not exactly the most well-versed in hand to hand combat. Her skills lay in a much more... rapidly deadly area. Swords, after all, were much more likely to cut someone in half then a fist was. Unless you were hitting very, very hard. Maybe.

Regardless, she did have some knowledge of fighting, to say the least, and she found herself analyzing the challenger's tactics. He was moving in just like that, and mostly focusing on dodging... It was either that he knew the style, which was unlikely, or he was relying purely on speed and skill to get out of the way. But given he wasn't counterattacking... it was possible he was trying to understand the enemy's style.

Certainly different from an assassin's approach, which was to kill the enemy quickly and cleanly.

[Zeroth]

Despite the fact Zhang Li had barely moved from his position, while Dai Xin had been far more energetic, the bald monk was the first to start sweating, his breath losing its calm, steady rhythm. Dai Xin once more came at him with a flurry, a kick followed by punches and then another kick, all of them straight attacks targeting the face or body. Each one was swept away by the graceful, spiraling movements of the instructor.

The essence of Five Wheel Striking is to let the opponent come to you, and strike them down while deflecting. Each counter is designed NOT to miss--I pull his arm and hold him in place, or I direct his momentum so that he is unbalanced. Dai Xin had already gotten away, but was coming back in just as hard and fast as he had begun the match. Yet he manages to evade, every time. He has never seen our style before, of that I am sure. He can't be predicting my movements...he's simply fast and strong enough to get away, every time.

This time, even as all his attacks missed their mark, Dai Xin had a smile on his face as he stepped back.

And he has the stamina to continue this rate of attack. In development of his body, regardless of technique, he's superior. Is he the kind of fighter who focused on fundamentals--basic punches and kicks, relying on sheer speed and power to win against more technical opponents?

Dai Xin lunged forward, but this time his attack was one that had already failed. The basic side-punch he had begun the match with. By itself, it had failed. Added into a combination, it had failed. Again, Zhang Li took a step back with his right leg, his right arm making a wide circle to sweep the blow away as he coiled his legs together and let his hips sink.

As their arms were swept together, and they reached the peak of the circle...Dai Xin's own arm began a circle in the same direction, rotating back up and around in a back-fist strike at Zhang Li's face. The instructor's eyes widened, and his own arm continued its circle, chasing after Dai Xin's...

His palm clasped Dai Xin's forearm and pushed down, away from him, before the strike could reach full extension.

Dai Xin spun, the motion drawing his legs together in the same stance as Zhang Li, right knee in front of the left, knees supporting each other and hips sinking. His left hand came around from behind, whipping out so quickly his sleeve popped.

With the same technique Zhang Li had attempted earlier, Dai Xin struck his opponent's jaw with the heel of his palm. There was a loud sound, not like flesh on flesh but heavy wooden logs clunking together. The students let out gasping cries. Zhang Li's head spun violently as he bent forward at the waist.

He wanted...to see...how our techniques worked...

Dai Xin spun again, legs uncoiling, torso torquing. His right hand whipped around, slamming the same palm heel strike into Zhang Li's chest. The stance the monk had taken allowed his hips and body to twist and spin easily, and kept him facing the opponent sidelong to reduce the number of targets his opponent could hit--but it didn't have enough root to withstand direct attacks from the front. Zhang Li was knocked backwards, hitting the ground shoulder first and reflexively rolling. He came up on his feet, still reeling. Dai Xin was already moving.

The next technique wasn't so basic. Dai Xin was still a stride's distance from his opponent, yet with precise use of his hip flexors and the sole of his foot, he slid along the ground as he raised his knee. It was almost like the act of readying that kick was pulling him forward. The speed and lack of leg movement meant less ability to read the technique, and it snapped out in a blink. The edge of his foot slammed into Zhang Li's chest again, and this time lifted him off his feet, blasting him backwards. Again he hit the ground, but this time he slid on his back, before rolling onto his side, one hand clutching his chest. He struggled to get up, pushing himself with one hand.

Dai Xin loomed over him, cast in shadow, and his fist came down. Zhang Li felt the wind from it as the man's knuckles stopped less than a fraction of an inch from his nose.

"Do you yield?"

"I...I admit defeat..."

Dai Xin grabbed him by the shoulder of his uniform and helped him to his feet, dusting him off with light slaps before stepping back and bowing once more, left hand clasped over his right fist.

"Thank you for teaching me. May I have the honor of facing the headmaster now?" he asked.

While Zhang Li stared in confusion, the students were not so quiet. They immediately began railing against the results of the fight. Some of the townsfolk watching didn't seem happy either; they had reason to be proud of Mingdu Temple, obviously.

"Hey! That's Brother Liu over there!" one of the students shouted. Immediately several of them ran to the young hunter, looking to a graduate of their school now that their instructor had fallen. "Brother Liu, Brother Liu! You're strong, right?! Help us throw this outsider out of here!"

Dai Xin straightened from his bow, and turned his head to look at the man they were addressing. His eyes narrowed slightly.

[Muttonhawk]

Despite the crowd that had formed, stepping into the school seemed ominous. There would be history and secrets in these cloister walls. The openness of it now made the one man challenger seem like an invading army. The challenger was obviously a master martial artist. His vibrant dress fluttered and snapped with expert movements as he traded blows with a revered instructor. Theirs was a dance without music, but with equal grace and beauty. The way the challenger moved seemed to defy the limits of human strength and speed, and...

...Kyang snorted and failed to stifle a short laugh at Liu's comment. The challenger's hair looked like it was dipped in the same dye as his bright red shirt. It perhaps cracked the atmosphere of the fight in front of them, but it was no less impressive to watch.

The tail end of the fight came about with several well placed hits from the challenger, throwing the instructor along the ground until he had no choice but to give up or die. Kyang was thoroughly impressed with the skill put on display, but what she was really wondering was...

"Why is this guy here, anyway?" Kyang asked no one in particular.

When attention came to Liu in the outrage caused by the challenger's victory, Kyang stepped out of the way of those approaching him. Kyang might have tried to provide useful advice had she been able to watch the entire fight, but that didn't seem an option. "Uh, Liu? Perhaps you could try talking to him!?"

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

Liu had to hand it to the challenger; beating old Zhang was certainly an impressive feat. He himself had only managed to best him after taking him on countless times, and even then it was only by a stroke of luck that he did so. As he was about to applaud the fiery-headed martial artist, though, everyone in the room suddenly turned to him and asked him to best the man who did in one try what he took ages to do.

"...Er... I'm... Not exactly... A barehanded combatant, if you guys haven't forgotten." Liu laughed nervously, eyeing the crowd carefully. They seemed disappointed in him, but... Well, damn, he definitely wouldn't come out unscathed if he jumped into this headfirst. "Remember, I've always been more of a weapons person; when it comes to martial arts, things usually don't end up well for me."

The way he spoke made the crowd even more agitated, and one man even shouted that he was 'nothing more than a coward with no balls' or something to that extent. Okay, now that was just rude.

"Look. You wouldn't set in an archer into combat against a swordsman, right?" Liu appealed, worriedly trying to calm the crowd. "I know everyone's got the village's pride to preserve, but that doesn't mean tossing whatever you have at him will fix anything! Furthermore, I have no reason to point my blade at anyone here; nobody's life is in danger, after all!"

The shouting and jeering seemed to grow even worse, and Liu could only stand there and sigh. These people and their persistence... Honestly...

"...Maybe it was a mistake coming here..." Liu said, sweatdrops forming on his forehead as the crowd grew louder. Turning to the red-haired fighter, Liu's eyes were almost pleading for assistance in settling the rowdy townsfolk. Preferably without conflict.

[Zeroth]

"I do not mind if you are a swordsman." Dai Xin said with a nod to Liu. "Martial arts are martial arts, regardless of blade or fist. Though, even if you were willing to kill me..." He looked at the girl in Rikoku style dress for a moment. "You would do better to send the young lady."

He turned and walked towards the doors leading further into the temple, unworried about a mob attack or an ambush. Before he got there, however, they were pushed open, and a new crowd entered. The advanced students held the doors open and lined up, respectfully making a path for two other men. One was handsome, with well kept hair tied in a long braid--his features were such that one might use the Rikokan term "bishonen." He had a calm, collected air, and walked with impeccable posture and a polearm held in the crook of one elbow. It was a weapon known as the Nine Dragons Trident, a long staff topped with multiple blades that made it look like a weather vane, along with a trident spear-head. Out of the many weapon forms taught at the Five Wheel Striking Style, this was the most advanced and dangerous of them all.

The second man was a short, old, white haired fellow who was all smiles. He wore a simple, undecorated shirt and pants that looked more like something one might wear in the privacy of their own homes rather than at a prestigious martial arts school. The clothes were traditional and old-fashioned, and hung loosely on his withered frame.

"Master Min, I must apologize." Zhang Li said, barely managing a bow while still rubbing the spot where he'd been kicked. "This man wishes to challenge you; I could not deter him." Dai Xin bowed, as if Zhang Li were introducing him instead of making an excuse for his presence.

"Greetings, Honored Grandmaster of Five Wheels Striking School. I am--"

"Silence!" snapped the man holding the trident. He levied the weapon, the tip of its topmost blade at eye level with the intruder. "You dare presume to come here, injure our students, and expect us to listen to your ridiculous requests!? I don't know how you defeated Brother Zhang, but I for one--"

"There there, Yuen." the old man's voice was soft, but when he spoke everyone bent their ear to listen. He waved one gnarled hand at the other man, and the trident was withdrawn. Then, to Dai Xin, "Forgive our master of weapons, he's very high strung. I don't have a problem with your challenge...but it seems you've already had quite the match, eh?" He walked towards Dai Xin, and though the redhaired man perceivably tensed up, the master passed within striking range, then grabbing range, then on past towards the crowd gathered at the entrance. He looked out at them for a moment, then turned back to Dai Xin. "My, perhaps we should make this a show and charge admission." He cracked a grin that was missing a few teeth. "Tell you what, youngster. An old man like me needs time to prepare for this kind of thing anyway, and you're probably tired from coming all the way from...wherever, then having a match with Zhang. What say we do this tomorrow?"

"Thank you for your consideration, master, but I am afraid I would rather begin as soon as possible." Dai Xin turned so that he was able to look at the grandmaster, but without turning his back on the still visibly angry Yuen.

"You youngsters, always so impatient. But you know, they say it's old people who do everything early. Get up early, go to sleep early, eat early--speaking of that, it was noon not too long ago, it'll be supper soon enough!" The old man laughed cheerfully. "Mingdu has a lot of great eating places. You should go visit them, eat up hearty! After all,"

The grandmaster opened his eyes more fully, and there was an instant shift in the pressure of the air as that dull brown gaze locked onto Dai Xin's own.

"It'd be a shame if I killed you before you got to experience it."

The man closed his eyes as he smiled, and it was like a gate to hell had been slammed shut. Once again moving with a happy-go-lucky spring to his step, he turned to Liu and waved at the boy.

"Oh, little Liu, how are you my boy? Still a hit with the ladies, I see!" He waved Dai Xin over, and after he glanced back towards Yuen, the redhead walked over to join the group. "You know all the good places, since you sell 'em the meat! Show Master Dai Xin here around town, let him unwind before our match tomorrow!"

"Master Min," Yuen spoke up, "I must object to this; please, allow me to face him here, and there will be no need for you to risk your health on--

Old Min blew a raspberry and headed towards the main temple building, waving off his apprentice.

"Only thing that'll risk my health is the smell of your hair product, boy-o! C'mon, let's get the missus to make some snacks we can sell tomorrow, we'll make a killin'!"

With one last glare, Yuen followed his teacher. Zhang nervously bowed to Dai Xin, before ordering all of the students back to their training. After a moment the crowd, too, began to disperse. There were many dirty glares directed towards the outsider, but eventually Dai Xin was left alone with this "Liu" and the two women accompanying him. He was the tallest of the four, it seemed, and tilted his head as a way of greeting.

"Hello."

[VitaVitaAR]

"Hello!"

That had been a pretty impressive display! Though she didn't really understand everything that happened afterwards. It was a totally different fighting style then her own, though she felt as if she could counter it if she needed to, and somewhere she'd never been before. But still, it had been great fun to watch! As the new people approached, she gave a wide, cheerful grin, especially to the taller boy who approached them. He was the one who'd given a direct greeting, after all.

"I'm Ushijima Torako!" she gave a happy introduction to him. After all, it was a new person, and she always liked talking to new people. Especially when they gave her food. Or sake. Sake was good too! "That was really fun to watch! I've never been here before, so I wasn't familiar with any of the styles they teach or anything like that! This place has great food and great shows and great fighting and everything!"

[Muttonhawk]

The appearance of the grand master could not have come sooner. Kyang was fearing that either a riot would start or Liu would be forced to get beaten up - perhaps even both. Surprisingly enough, the master was very casual in his approach; it was refreshing in comparison to all the sticks in the mud that seemed to make up the rest of the school. It made Kyang smile. The surprises continued as the master actually talked the challenger away, but this surprise was not a pleasant one. Kyang let her head and shoulders fall in frustration as an additional dangerous martial artist joined the group.

A low and almost inaudible groan sounded from Kyang right up until the red head gave a greeting. Kyang looked up at him with a squint, but managed to straighten up. "How are you doing, boxer?" Kyang said with little enthusiasm, "Call me Kyang. What's your name?"

Even though Kyang seemed outwardly annoyed, she liked the prospect of going out on the town, if only to mooch some hospitality rather than sleep out on the street. Who knows? Maybe networking with these fighter types would get her an in with a job in town? None of them seemed like bloodthirsty psychopaths, at least.

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

The red-haired fighter had decided not to help him, but thankfully the headmaster had managed to arrive in the nick of time. Despite his somewhat-senile and often eccentric behavior, Liu could always rely on his miraculous appearances to resolve incidents like these. At heart, it seemed he was still responsible... Probably. The old man's offhanded comment about him being 'popular with the ladies,' though, caused Liu's face to turn red from the realization of what he was referring to. Right. He had led those two girls over here to resolve the issue back at the Blue Dragon, but that effectively meant that he was to be their guide for the time being.

And then he was saddled with the responsibility to show this man- Dai Xin- around as well. By no means could he ever refuse a request from the headmaster, though; that sort of disrespect was unthinkable to its most logical extreme and more. With that in mind, Liu turned to Xin and, with the crowd fully dispersed, bowed his head in turn.

"Hello. My name is Liu, family name Fengxian. It seems I'll be guiding you around for the day."

With those formalities out of the way, Liu wiped the sweat off of his brow and straightened himself. Even though they had just come from a restaurant, he was essentially told to bring them to a place to eat. By no means could he go back, or the staff would be at his throat... Or cowering in fear again. So where would work...?

"Ah!" Liu exclaimed, the moment of realization involuntarily causing him to perk up. "I know the perfect way to settle this. Follow me, if you would."

With that said, the young hunter led the group out of the temple's gates and to the eastern section of the town. It wasn't as fancy as the Blue Dragon, but the cha siu bao sold by the old man running the shop in question were tasty and more importantly, cheap. Hopefully, these three wouldn't end up eating through his pay for today, or he'd be in a bit of trouble...

[Zeroth]

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Torako, Miss Kyang, young master Fengxian. This one is Dai Xin, of the Fist of the Sky." He did the usual hand-clasp and bow. The corners of his mouth quirked upwards just a bit as Torako exclaimed how interesting everything was. "Indeed, the school of Mingdu is great. Five Wheel Striking Style has an amazing method of generating power, even though its methodology is defensive."

Liu declared that he knew just the place, and Dai Xin followed along with the others, though he still had questions. He talked as they walked, though he also glanced about here and there to take in the sights. Being a crossroads of the Three Kingdoms, Mingdu was primarily of Yunzhen culture, yet there were obvious signs of influence from Rikokan and Daeyang architecture and style. The clothing of the townsfolk was just as varied as the design of the buildings, and the nature of the town as a road for merchants and trade meant that many families could afford to wear brightly colored or brilliantly embroidered clothes.

"I notice that all three of you carry weaponry. I believe Five Wheel Striking is known to teach the jian and the guan dao, as do many styles, but what of you, Miss Torako? That form of sword is known in Rikoku as the katana, correct? May I ask what style you practice?"

[VitaVitaAR]

"Oh?"

Clutching the sheathed sword, Torako raised it to display it better. The sheath itself was somewhat decorated, a lily tied to the end and several painted onto the wood itself.

"Taketori-chan is a katana, yeah!" she declared cheerfully as she held up the blade. It was rather odd, most likely, to hear the sword referred to in such a manner. After all, it was an endearing honorific... about a katana. It wasn't exactly one of the most logical things that came out of Torako's mouth, to say the least. But still, she rather insisted on it in almost all circumstances. She lowered the sword back to her side after a moment, still grinning. She liked talking about Taketori, really. Even though she had forsaken the course of life as an assassin, she still liked her sword a great deal.

"As for style, I was trained in the Hyaku Hanabira Ittou-Ryu Kenjutsu," she declared. Iaijutsu techniques were also somewhat commonly taught in conjunction with the style, yes... after all, it was very much about overwhelming speed. The hundred petals referred to a hundred attacks rapidly paced to overwhelm the enemy. Speed and skill was absolutely a must for such a style. "I don't know if I'm what anyone would call the best at it, though."

[Muttonhawk]

While Torako was facing away from her, Kyang ran a hand down her face in disbelief. Taketori-chan? Heavens above, if Torako pulls out that sword only to reveal a strand of bamboo with a smiling face carved into it, Kyang thought she might just break down in insanity.

However, for all her continued amazement at Torako, Kyang found a more pertinent issue in her mind that she decided to approach Liu and murmur quietly to him about. "Hey, Liu, uh..." Kyang put on an attempt at a charming smile, "Where we're going, it doesn't cost too much money, does it? If so, I'm really going to need those directions to the mayor."

Kyang stopped short of asking for a few coins or a meal. She hated asking for help in the first place, but exploiting Liu at this point would just be unsporting. Then again, if the place they were headed was indeed cheap, Kyang thought it might be useful to know where it was for later and tag along anyway.

Once the answer was had, Kyang had some time before she made a decision to stay or go, so she probed this Dai Xin guy to satisfy her curiosity. "So, Xin, what's your goal in fighting the headmaster back there? Anything apart from the whole self-perfection thing?"

[Zeroth]

"How interesting." Dai Xin said, smiling at Torako somewhat like one might humor a small child. "I feel as if that style rings a bell, but I am not as familiar with the arts of Rikoku. Perhaps it will jog my memory later." He gave a slight nod of his head. "However, Miss Torako, have confidence in your abilities. I am sure you are stronger than you think."

When Kyang asked about money, surprisingly enough, Dai Xin reached beneath his red robe and pulled out a bag large enough to fit in both hands and full to the brim with jingling coins.

"I have money if we require it, Miss Kyang." When she followed up with the question of why he wanted to face the headmaster, he again nodded towards the bag. "Whenever I defeat a master and declare myself the new owner of their school, I require the students to pay me as if they were renewing their membership with said school. I let them continue payment to the former headmasters after that, since I cannot stay in one place, but the understood agreement is that I will collect as I please whenever I pass through again."

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

Given Kyang's actions, Liu was fairly certain about her financial situation now; it was no wonder, then, that she had requested that information a moment earlier. As things were right now, she was likely about to start scraping the bottom of the barrel for money, if she hadn't already. But the giant bag of coins that Xin pulled out... Now THAT was an entirely different story.

"No problem. I know the shopkeep; he's quite friendly, and the stuff's great for the price he makes them for. Don't think you need piles of money to purchase most of what he's got."

With a smile, Liu came to a stop near a small, rustic-looking shop nestled in between a tailor's store and a blacksmith's forge. The exterior was worn, likely due to the effects that time usually had on things, but it remained as sturdy as ever. There was no door, but there were a few flaps of cloth covering the entryway from wind or rain. It was certainly no rich man's restaurant, but the old-timey charm that this place had was ingrained in his memory. Even as a child, Liu had found the shopkeeper to be as nice as ever, often offering to sell to the students at a reduced price or even on the house if they accomplished something beyond expectations.

Might have been because he was purportedly an acquaintance of the old headmaster, but rumors would always remain rumors.

"Come on; let's head inside. I haven't come by in a while, so I need to catch up with old man Zhang."

With that remark tossed out as unceremoniously as the rest, Liu casually stepped into the shop and called out.

"Mr. Zhang? You in here?"

"Always have been, always will be! What do you need, little Fengxian?"

The voice that resounded sounded like it came from a strong, robust man, and ESPECIALLY not one as old as he was. The wrinkles on his forehead and his white hair made clear his old age, but his body seemed to have been toned just as well as any one of the teachers back at the school.

"Table for four, please! And bring us the usual: thirty bao, fresh steamed!"

"Certainly! Just sit right over there-" the man responded, pointing to a table off to the side- "And I'll call you up when they're ready."

"Thanks!"

With that settled, Liu took a seat off to the side, his back against the wall as he waited for the others to slip inside.

[Muttonhawk]

The bag that Xin produced made Kyang pull a frown for two reasons. The first was that he presumed to pay for her by implication, but the second pertained to how it related to his 'occupation'. Kyang looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "So you just turn up, beat their best fighters, stick around until they pay you, and then up and leave? Sounds an awful lot like you're extorting them, if you ask me."

If was perhaps not the wisest move to assume Xin's intentions, especially when Kyang knew for a fact that he could probably shatter her ribcage like a straw house. However, Xin had put Kyang's mood to a less rational form of pissed off with his statements.

The little eatery that they walked into was certainly less up-market than the Blue Dragon, but Kyang liked it. It promised better prices and the fragrance of good food. It was preferable to her - practical and enjoyable.

"Thirty pork buns?" Kyang asked, sounding a little confused, "They had better be as good as you say."

[Zeroth]

"Indeed, it is." Dai Xin said, confessing to extortion as easily as another might say "why yes I did get a haircut, thanks for noticing." He didn't look proud of the fact, but nor did he look ashamed. He didn't even react to Kyang's disapproving look or tone of voice. There was a word for what he was doing, extortion fit the definition, and he didn't care one way or the other about it. "Many others have been angry with me, but I am glad to accept their challenge any time. It is thanks to them that I am able to eat and afford lodging through my travels, as I cannot open my own school right now."

As they sat down, Dai Xin chose the seat that placed his back closest to the wall, and sat facing the rest of the establishment. Just once he slowly turned his head, sweeping his gaze from the entrance all the way to the opposite side of the dining hall, towards the kitchens.

"Indeed, young master," he called to Liu alongside Kyang. "Are you sure only thirty will be enough? Also, may we have tea?"

[VitaVitaAR]

"Haaah, that's such a nice thing to say!" replied Torako cheerfully, giving Dai Xin a wide smile when he told her she must be better then she thinks. She replaced Taketori by her side, and happily sat down with the others in anticipation of meat buns. This was her kind of 'showing around'! She could smell the meat buns cooking and they smelled pretty fantastic... cheap or expensive, large amounts or small numbers. When it came to food, the taste was what mattered! If it was good, Torako would eat it. Likely in extremely excessive amounts. To say the girl was a human sinkhole was in no way an exaggeration.

As Dai-Xin explained exactly what his goals were, Torako rested her head on her hands, leaning forward on the table as she did, her trailing sleeves pooling on the wooden surface. So that was it, was it? How... pragmatic. "I have to wonder what the students or the former headmaster think about that... oh well!"

She sat back, feet lightly kicking as she did. It was a rather ridiculous sight, really. Torako certainly didn't look threatening, to say the least.

"This food smells great! I can't wait at all!"

[FujiwaraPhoenix]

"Trust me, you won't be disappointed."

The 'old' Mr. Zhang arrived with a platter of bao in hand, a cocky grin plastered onto his face. Even if he wasn't the most "refined" cook in Mingdu, there was no reason not to cook and serve as he did. It was a shop meant for the locals and not tourists, after all; people would have long since stopped coming if that was the case.

The bao, were, of course, fresh out of the pot; with steam still rising from their peaks, the smell of the pork wafted around the room, pervading every nook and cranny of the shop. Well, specialties were as they were, after all.

"Hope you all like them! I took the liberty of preparing another batch, so if you're still hungry, just ask!"

Liu smiled; that hospitality never seemed to fade, and the energy he seemed to exude gave life to what would otherwise be... Well, a peaceful shop. He liked that. It wasn't forced, not in the least.

"Thanks. Today's on me." Liu said, dropping fifteen silver pieces into the owner's hand as he carefully placed the platter in the center of the table. "Any left over, just save it for my next time by."

"Appreciated."

And just like that, the old man moved swiftly back into the kitchen to continue his craft.

"So... Yeah. I'll let you guys take the first ones; common courtesy and all that."