Beaten... Badly

Liu Ming escorted Tea through the city streets, leading her to a less-populated area of the city. This area is of course where the Foreign Affairs office is located. Tea, however, was fidgeting silently, eyeing the corners. Liu Ming noticed this and tried calming her down. "We're headed to the Foreign Affairs office, it's where I work and sleep.

Tea seemed to stop fidgeting as badly as she was moments ago, however, there was still some distrust in her eyes. Liu Ming shook his head, after all, it was her choice to believe his words.

They neared the old building, coming towards the door. Liu Ming opened it for Tea, ushering her inside the warm building. The wind was picking up outside since there was a small storm heading their way. The weather on this planet was quite eccentric, one moment it was perfectly sunny, whereas the next it would be a downpour.

Yan Bao looked at Liu Ming and Tea quietly in the corner, a small smile forming on her mouth. "Well now, who have you decided to bring into my office, Liu Ming?"

Liu Ming looked at her for a moment, deciding whether or not he should tell the truth. He shook his head. Clearing his throat he spoke, "She was nearly unconscious when I found her on the road, I decided to help her out." Liu Ming shrugged his shoulders. He didn't really care what Yan Bao thought, he just hoped she would allow Tea to stay. After all, he wouldn't want to have to throw her away after promising a place to stay.

Liu Ming looked at Tea, and gave a small smile, hoping to cheer her up. Being forced to do labor and then beat for it was cruel, and no one should have to go through that with no gains. Liu Ming thought silently while Yan Bao stared at him and Tea.

Yan Bao spoke up, "If you offer her your room she can stay there, however, she must split your chores with you. As well as your pay." Yan Bao chuckled after that. Liu Ming's face grew red, "Well, alright, I suppose that's the best compromise I'm going to get. Come with me, I'll show you the way to the room." Liu Ming guided Tea through a sea of books and old paper, leading to a door.

Inside the room was an old bed, a desk crammed with papers, and a small dresser at the end of the bed. It wasn't fancy, but it served Liu Ming's purposes, and now it should fill Tea's too, probably.

"This is where you will sleep, you can have the bottom two dresser drawers, and don't worry about the desk, I'll clean that tomorrow. I'll also fill you in on your duties tomorrow as well." Liu Ming said, flashing Tea with a wide smile. Tea sat down on the bed, "Thank you." She said those words quietly, however, they didn't escape Liu Ming's ears. He nodded his head and left her to her own devices. "Dinner's in a few hours, I'll come knock on your door, okay?" Liu Ming said, closing the door.

Tea sat on the bed, folding her hands in her lap. 'If he hadn't saved me, I would probably be dead, slumped over in the corner of the alleyway.'

The next few weeks passed quietly as Liu Ming absorbed Qi and helped Yan Bao around the office space. Liu Ming was now infinitely close to the third stage of Qi Gathering. Once Liu Ming reached the first Qi compression, his innate power would awaken.

Every Qi user had an innate ability given at birth. Of course special items or treasures could influence the awakening power, and some people might awaken no power at all. Like the disgusting man Liu Ming had beaten a few weeks ago to save Tea. Liu Ming was curious to see what kind of ability he would awaken, and if he would be able to use it to help further him along his path to the peak.

Liu Ming's knowledge over the past few weeks had also expanded greatly. He learned the city's name, Ziridia, as well as some basic history for it. There was a festival of sorts coming up as well. The city hummed quietly with excitement in anticipation for the event as there was a small fighting tournament.

The main reason for Liu Ming's interest in the tournament was that the various sects would be sending people to watch the event and look out for new recruits. This was Liu Ming's chance to enter the spotlight! Not only would he garner the attention of the sects, he could also take the chance to sharpen up his combat capabilities.

Liu Ming was excited for these opportunities, so much so that he wasn't paying attention to where he was walking. Liu Ming's shoulder brushed lightly against another persons and he was forced out of his stupor. "Ah, I'm sorry." Liu Ming said bowing, seeing that this character was a noble of Ziridia. The brooch on the man's white robes indicating his superior position within the city.

The man's face broke into a smile. "Well, hello there, citizen." Liu Ming didn't like the look in the mans eyes when he had said those words. They had a glint of anger hidden in their depth. "Now, you're a fresh face around here. I haven't seen you before. You must be new to the city, correct?" The man said, approaching Liu Ming slowly.

Liu Ming nodded. He didn't like how the man was approaching him, but he couldn't walk away due to that being seen as disrespectful. Liu Ming sighed, "Yes, I'm quite new to the city. I haven't had the chance to explore any of the surrounding shops, yet, and decided today was a good day to explore." Liu Ming said this with a smile.

Liu Ming was trying to diffuse the tension as much as possible. He had seen those eyes many times in his past life's older brother. "Since it's your first time visiting our proud city, I won't be too harsh." The man said, approaching Liu Ming directly. The man moved his fist back lightly, and started gathering Qi.

Liu Ming had no choice but to take this punch, as fighting back would end with him being slaughtered mercilessly. Liu Ming's pupils constricted, waiting to see where the punch would land, gathering Qi to protect that area in an instant. However, what Lin Ming didn't count on was that the noble man had seen what he was doing.

'Insolent pest.' The noble man thought, throwing out a fast fist at Liu Ming. The fist itself looked slow, but it approached him quickly somehow. Liu Ming furrowed his brows, using his eyes to their fullest capacity to see where the punch would land. Liu Ming instinctively hardened the area that he thought the fist would hit, but right as the fist closed in to hit him it suddenly split into four mirages.

The four fists hit Liu Ming in both his shoulders and his stomach. Liu Ming was sent flying away, blood flowing out his mouth as he received internal injuries.

'This hurts way... more than the disgusting man's kick did.' Liu Ming thought to himself, crashing into the ground, tumbling dozens of times before skidding to a stop in front of an old man's stall. His entire body felt like mush. Liu Ming knew he had broken a few ribs, not to mention the rashes he received from sliding across stone.

The old man looked at Liu Ming with blue, puzzled eyes. The old man sighed, 'The youths these days sure are sturdy...'

The noble man approached Liu Ming. His slow footsteps somehow crossing dozens of meters in a matter of seconds. The old man took off the apron that he wore, setting it lightly on the stool he was sitting on. He approached the front of the stall, stopping in front of Liu Ming. He casually looked over at his condition and internally sighed, what poor misfortune to run into the Yun family's young monster genius.

"That's enough Young Master Yun, I believe the boy's had enough, wouldn't you say?" The old man said, standing in front of Liu Ming protectively. The Young Master Yun stopped in his approach. His face began to grimace. "Master Lian, why do you protect that trash? He's more worthless than the stones I'm standing on."

The old man's face turned ugly, "Enough, boy! Do you not see his condition, he is half dead! What would your father do to you if he found out that you mercilessly murdered a young man, for accidentally brushing against your shoulder." Old man Lian's words were harsh.

The Young Master Yun turned around in a humph, and proceeded to walk to a large building in the distance. Old man Lian let out a sigh of relief. He pondered for a moment, looking at Liu Ming.

"Boy, can you hear me? Are you still awake?" He said gently. Liu Ming gave out a slight grunt, coughing up blood. "Good, I will take you in for a few days to heal. After that you will go, understand?" Liu Ming grunted again, more blood spilling out.

'Poor boy, can't even walk the streets without being beaten.' Old man Lian sighed, closing his stall and picking up Liu Ming, bringing him to an old house. The front gate led to an exquisite garden, being tended to by and old women, old man Lian's wife. The garden itself was a place of zen, as well as a gathering spot for Qi. The Qi here was in an unusual abundance.

Old man Lian's wife looked over at Lian holding Liu Ming. She sucked in a short breathe. "Oh, the poor boy... bring him here." She said quickly, setting her gardening tools on the well-trimmed grass. Old man Lian walked over slowly with Liu Ming, setting him down gently on the grass.

Old man Lian's wife looked at his condition and grimaced. She took her hands and placed one on his head, and one on his Qi core. Her hands glowed white as Qi began to flow from her and into Liu Ming.

Liu Ming's pained expression eased slowly. He fell unconscious shortly after.