Instant Karma

By the time Tafari had arrived at the restaurant, it was nighttime, and the lights were lit. The customers had left, and it was time for him to start working.

He saw Mr Ming doing his usually nightly tallying for the day in the back.

"Hey kiddo, How did it go at the sale? did you get any of the things you wanted, I wonder?" He asked with a smile.

With a smirk plastered over his face, Taf replied,

"It was a good day indeed, old man Ming; I got a journal which is said to have the life of a mortal that served a cultivator before his death.

I'm really eager to go and read it after I have finished up my night's work."

Exciting and wanting to divulge all about his day, Taf continued,

" Unfortunately, the poor Bing Gang met in an accident today, and I got to say I was the puppeteer that pulled the strings." He said smugly as he spoke.

" Really, what did you do this time?

Didn't I beg you to keep yourself out of trouble for once?" Mr Ming had a stern look on his face as he questioned.

"To be honest, they forced my hand this time to be as vicious as I was, so they got what they had coming to them."

Taf laughed as while reliving his ordeal to the old man,

"I got to say it was a real bashing, though. One that will be remembered through the ages." 

"Is that so? tell me all about it while you wash up the pots and plates." A curious look was on Mr Ming's face as he heard what Taf said.

"How could little you give a big bashing to those twice your age? Give me all the details."

Taf then stated all the happenings with his run-in with the gangs and how he had used a borrowed knife to get the job done. He spoke of the never-ending pelting bestowed on the Gang members as they pleaded for mercy.

Mr Ming was shocked at the details and then patted him on the shoulder.

"Although I don't always support your actions, you did it the right way this time. Why get your hands dirty when you can borrow?"

Evidently proud of the kid's accomplishment, he went further into detail,

" Also, it seems you have been listening to my advice by always keeping calm in sticky situations and thinking about the option that you are given.

Whenever you are given three, there is always a fourth or fifth that was not easily seen."

The old man Ming winked at him and continued with his reassuring patting on the shoulder.

"Moments like this make me proud.

Haha!

You remind me of my time as a youth and getting into trouble.

Sigh!

Those were some fun times." He said while thinking of his youth,

" Then there comes a time when you have to grow up and walk away from the mischief and troubles.

Being more responsible in your own decision makings. That's the way forward to becoming a man."

He spoke, but Taf felt it was not just him, but his past self Mr Ming was referring to when he offered those words of wisdom.

"Old senior Ming, I wondered if you knew any martial arts that you could teach me?

It's getting to the point that I feel I should learn to defend myself instead of depending on running and trickery."

With evident longing Taf anxiously questioned. Who could he find to teach him? This was on his mind the whole journey back.

" I know you are a fighter from back in the old days, as you tell me stories of your past glorious times every night as I clean up," Tafari further the conversation as he washed a pot in his hand,

" Though I think there was some embellishment because who are we kidding, old man Ming, you fought eight single-handed and came out unscathed," Taf stated with a sarcastic tone.

PLOP!

Tafari rubbed his head as pain ran through his scalp.

" This old man was the grandest of fighters back in the day. I stated eighty, but my shifting in and out as heads and limbs were smashed could have been fifty, or a hundred, who knows?" Mr Ming confessed with a heroic tone,

" I have knowledge of many hidden techniques that I can teach you and legendary techniques that have been forbidden."

He continued as a smug look of a master appeared on his face.

Tafari became excited with the mere mention of " hidden", " legendary", and " forbidden" techniques.

However, Taf quickly returned to reality when he remembered who he was conversing with.

How many have this old man con with his flowery and sweet words?

He knew Mr Ming as a professional when selling an idea. This man could sell you sand in the middle of the desert and seawater while floating on the ocean.

After seeing the look of none belief displayed on Taf's face, Mr Ming shrugged, " You will see when the lessons begin."

As they spoke, four unwelcomed figures started laughing as they made their way in.

" You know I love karma; it has its way of evening things out. You brought wrath upon my members, and I bring unmitigated vengeance upon you in return.

I like it, so I think we should call it instant karma."

Unedited Version

To be continued...