Side Story: A fateful meeting pt.1

In Eastsea City's Marketplace, the bustling sound of the city could be heard. The sound of hawkers and stall owners selling their products filled the area. Walking through the crowded place Xie Xie couldn't help but complain about the heat and people.

Looking around he had been browsing the stores for a gift for Mu Xi, her birthday was coming up soon and she would soon be graduating and attending Eastsea Academy.

He had never been good at giving gifts, shaking his head he could only hope he could select something she would like. He had considered buying her a hammer or smithing gloves yet he thought perhaps those gifts might be callus.

Behind him he had noticed some people had been following him for some time. Taking a quick glimpse behind him he saw five shady men in cloaks slowly surround him. Soon he heard a sound from behind him

"Little girl, why don't you have some fun with us big bros"

Xie Xie's lips twitched. Little girl? He held his anger inside.. he might not have any martial soul but he always kept a dagger with him.

Nodding his head he could only follow the cloaked men

"Hehehe, brother 5 we have a good catch. She has such a pretty face. How much do you think she will sell for?"

"Shut up, we aren't out of here yet. Hehe should we have some fun with her before we get rid of her?"

Walking into an alleyway away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Darkness covered the area and any sounds coming from the alleyway would be drowned away from the sound of the marketplace. The perfect place to commit a crime and also the perfect place for their demise. Xie Xie smiled, his hands were feeling jittery. It had been so long since he had fought someone had he was getting excited. He wanted to hear their screams and pleas for help.

Just before he took out his knife and was about to slash the man behind him in the throat. He was stopped by a shout.

"Stop right there!!"

Xie Xie saw a tall cloaked person rush towards him

Standing in front of him now, Xie Xie noticed that the cloaked person had a slim build, his mood was dampened. He had wanted to slice these people into pieces, yet someone interrupted before he could start.

"Hmph, you bastards dare to kidnap a little girl?!"

Brown hair could be seen from the cloaked person as he had become taller and bulkier. Soon the cloaked man started to swiftly beat the kidnappers up.

Xie Xie wasn't the type of person to let someone else take care of his problem. In fact he was quite the vindictive person, although he wouldn't be able to kill them like he had planned. He would make their life miserable. He dashed into the fight and circulated energy into his fists.

*Poof*

It looked terrifying how fast Xie Xie appeared in front of the person yet when Xie Xie attacked the man he only felt a soft punch.

"HAHAHAHAHA, is that all you have?!"

Suddenly the man felt his insides turn, as a sharp pain hit him where Xie Xie had softly punched.

"ARRGGHHHH AHHH"

Xie Xie looked at the man clutching his stomach on the floor. His energy felt drained, he didn't know how much damage the gentle fist could do before. Yet, looking at the man foaming from his mouth he could see the potential destructive force it had.

He turned towards his next opponent yet when he turned around he saw the tall cloaked figure had already finished with the rest of them. He had been too distracted analyzing the damage the gentle fist could do.

"Are you okay?"

Looking at the tall cloaked figure visibly shrink and the brown hair recede he was curious at who had helped him

"Are you scared of me?"

He could see the head of the person droop, he could tell, from the voice and the body language. It was only a child, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of courage this child had to act like a hero.

"No, I'm not. Thank you"

Smiling at the person, he had noticed they had hurt their leg. He kneeled down to inspect it.

The person was alarmed and stepped back

"You're injured, let me take a look"

Xie Xie stood there until he was given a nod of approval

Xie Xie looked at the injured leg, it was smooth and white like an unblemished jade. He tore a piece of his shirt and wrapped it around the leg.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

The cloaked person shook his head

Shaking his head looking at how the cloaked person stumbled trying to walk. He couldn't help but squat down in front of the person

"Get on, you can't walk right?"

"I..can walk fine"

Xie Xie chuckled as he poked the person lightly to see them struggle to keep balance

"Haha, you call that fine. Just hop on"

Xie Xie knelt down and looked back towards the person waiting for them

For what felt like eternity, the cloaked person reluctantly wrapped around their hands around Xie Xies neck to get a piggy back ride.

Xie Xie found this person interesting. He had always looked down on those who played hero but could never bring himself to hate them. He once had a friend who put others before himself but in the end was betrayed by those he once protected.

He felt the soft and stubble skin of the person, it was squishy and bouncy yet had some muscle. It reminded him clearly of Mu Xi who was the same.

"Hmm?

Xie Xie could tell, not only was the person young but also a girl. Only a girl would have such fair skin and soft legs. Yet, he had thought about himself...he also had fair skin and no matter how much stronger he got he never could exceed his current muscle mass.

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Quick Chapter I wrote up during my 10 min lunch break. I'll try and edit and finish pt.2 when I get home.