Thoughts and Actions

Just as Teacher Li was about to chase after his student, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.

Focusing for a second, he realized it was only Jian Dai, his student's father, and the greatest swordsman in the Zhou Kingdom, as well as City Lord of the Frost Sword City.

"Hahahaha! There's no need!" Jian Dai said as he slapped the back of Teacher Li, breaking his balance due to his great strength.

Teacher Li regaining his balance looked to Jian Dai who simply didn't seem to care.

"Xuan'er will be fine. He's never been one to look for a fight."

...

The Zhou Kingdom, Frost Sword City, Merchant Centre

Jian Xuan was walking around the shops that many merchants had set up.

Some sold weapons of all types, such as spears, swords, axes, bows, and even some sort of special gloves.

However, none of the shops had sold what he wanted!

For Jian Xuan, his favourite weapon was a staff!

Many had dismissed it as being simply a long stick, or a spear without an edge of sharpness, but, Jian Xuan adored it.

He had thoughts of having a staff, though not any ordinary staff. It would be about as tall he would be, made from a Spirit Tree, augmented by a Spirit Stone, and with engravings of times older then he was.

Such thoughts of his came from his admiration of Spirit King Liang, the first Zhou King who had used his staff to change the weather itself through manipulating the Qi circulation of the world around him.

It was also from this, that Jian Xuan wished to become a Spirit Cultivator, and not a Body-Tempering Cultivator unlike the rest of his family.

Though, none of that mattered as it was right now. Jian Xuan continued to look if any shops sold any staffs. While it was true that he could ask his father for one, he did not want to.

His father had given him a large amount of money, though less than his elder brother, as it was done by seniority. If he still had money, would he ask for money? No, he wouldn't.

It wasn't a matter of pride, it was a matter that he shouldn't bother with his father. Elder Brother Qing lent him money, anyway.

As Jian Xuan continued to walk, he saw more and more weapon shops, likely set up due to the recent increase of bandits, which had lead to an increase of mercenaries, who would then fight each other.

The winner would then sell the weapons of the enemy as merchants, as there were many other matters to important to deal with, the City Lord was far to busy to determine between bandits and mercenary, especially when they were known to change side as quickly as gold or danger appeared.

Noticing that there were no merchants selling any staffs, Jian Xuan began to move to where all the food was.

As he did, he chose a random store, and decided to sit down, ordering his food, he received it and---

"Do not take them! Please, I will do anything! Take my own life!" An elderly voice cried out and Jian Xuan looked to see where it came from, it was a few meters away with a group people covering it.

Taking a look at his food, and the group of people covering the noise, he decided to choose the latter as it seemed more important.

Quickly, but, quietly making it over, he made it through the group of people, to his sight, he saw an old man with tattered clothes and wounds all over his bodies, evidently, he was attacked by the other people who were bandits by the look of their clothes and actions.

"Why should we? You lied to us and disappeared! Your life is useless, but, there are many that would wish to purch--- employ your children!"

Jian Xuan noted the bandit's careful use of words. Slavery had been banned for several centuries, though some bandits still did it. The only group large enough to truly practise it was the Dark Moon Bandits, though they were located in another 'World Sea'.

"Please... Allow me one more chance!" The old man continued to speak out, though in response he was met with a kick to his face.

As the bandits continued their attack, Jian Xuan looked to see if anyone would intervene.

Among the crowd, he saw some city guards, however, they were evidently afraid of a burly man who seemed to the leader of the bandits.

Continuing to look around, his eyes with that of a middle-aged man's next to him, who looking at Jian Xuan's eyes noticed the confusion, "You're wondering why the city guards, aren't doing anything?"

Jian Xuan nodded, and the man replied, "That's Bandit Chief Ru, though, that's likely just a name he stole from one of many he's killed... There are rumours that he's at the Spirit Collection level..."

Hearing the information, Jian Xuan noted it down in his head, Spirit Collection was the level after Spirit Opening.

Even with his fleshly body refined by the meat of Spirit Beasts, Jian Xuan knew he could only deal with those in the lowest levels of Spirit Opening or Strength Tempering.

He had no chance if he decided to help. Still, he had to do something. And though, part of him told to walk away. He had to do something. Even if he didn't know what to do.

So, he started to walk forward, and he expected his feet to be heavy, yet, they were light, and every step became lighter.

He was small, tall for his age, but, compared to the bandits he looked as he was, a child. Despite that, he stood out, with the eyes of the people quickly beginning to look more and more towards him, in fear and in confusion as they whispered.

"What's that boy doing?"

"Surely, he doesn't think that..."

"Perhaps, he is related?"

"Unlikely..."

"How unfortunate! To many die young..."

As Jian Xuan came closer and closer to the old man, the whisper of the crowds became louder and louder as some bandits noticed Jian Xuan.

Though none of them cared enough as to do anything, to them, it was just another a child, perhaps lost? It didn't matter.

Though strangely, the city guards began to move towards the child, and in response, Bandit Chief Ru took out his axe from his back, it was nearly as tall as himself and twice the height of an average man.

It had intimidated the city guards before, yet, it stopped working now strangely to the bandit chief's confusion.

As the bandits noticed the city guards coming closer, for some reason, unafraid of their bandit chief now, they stepped back without noticing.

Though one bandit figured that he could get at least one more kick to the old man.

Getting into position, he delivered his kick, and he expected it to hit the old man's head. Yet, it didn't. Someone young, perhaps fifteen or sixteen had caught his kick.

Looking at him in the eyes, the bandit asked, "Don't you know who we are!? Don't you fear the name of the Cold Hill Mountain Bandits?"

Cold Hill Mountain Bandits, it sounded familiar, but, Jian Xuan was unable to exactly remember where from.

The bandit then attempted to move, however, he found his leg was stuck, the boy in front of him had a powerful grip.

Jian Xuan then after thinking for quite a bit answered, "I don't know who you are."