Chapter 6- A Man Who Struggles for What He Wants

"Young Master Nihil, I-"

The old shopkeeper tried to speak, but he was interrupted by Au Mieu.

"That is no longer my name, just call me Ah Mieu."

The old shopkeeper swallowed a lump of saliva and nervously corrected himself.

"Young Master Ah Mieu, all the information on the Eastern District's Han Clan is here."

"Is that so?"

Ah Mieu calmly said, before lifting his hand to tap the pile of documents with his index finger, and then added.

"If these are truly everything on the Han Clan, then I'm quite confused. During the development of the Han Clan a hundred years ago, it is said in these documents that Han Mo appeared in the Eastern District, and after acquiring several concubines, he founded the Han Clan. He then single-handedly led the Han Clan to defeat the low-tier and mid-tier powers to become the third major Clan in the Eastern District. Even the interference of those two major Clans through those low-tier and mid-tier powers was unable to stop the Han Clan's rise."

Ah Mieu paused here and stared at the old shopkeeper, who squirmed in his seat for a bit before using his sleeves to wipe the cold sweat that appeared on his forehead.

After scrutinizing the old shopkeeper for a few seconds, Ah Mieu looked away to stare out the door; the sun was just about to set, and some shops had their light turned on.

With the patience of a Saint, Ah Mieu began tapping his index finger on the stack of documents before slowly saying.

"Let's not mention the fact that the Han Clan never recruited any Martial Artists experts during their rise. Instead, let's focus on the battles Han Mo himself participated in. Even though they occurred nearly a hundred years ago, your organization managed to record everything in great detail. In those battles, Han Mo was revealed to have reached the Grandmaster realm in the Martial Arts system. Your organization also detailed the Martial Arts he used and his method of fighting. Everything seems fine on the surface, but both his Martial Arts and his method of fighting seem too standard for a Grandmaster Realm expert. It's as if he were trying to imitate a Grandmaster while battling."

When the old shopkeeper heard those words, his pupils violently constricted, and he shot up from his seat as if his butt had been burned.

"Young Master Nih—Au Mieu, I—I-"

"Sit down."

Before the old shopkeeper could explain himself, Au Mieu cut him off. Even though his voice was low and calm, it caused a shiver to go down the old shopkeeper's spine. He immediately sat back down and clamped his mouth shut.

"I had already suspected that Han Mo was a cultivator from the Upper Circles, but these details of his battles confirmed it. With that said, the question now is why a cultivator from the Upper Circles came down to the Outer Circle to disguise himself as a Martial Artist and create a Clan."

After saying this, Au Mieu finally turned to look at the old shopkeeper before continuing.

"Do you still refuse to tell me which power the Han Clan is descended from in the Upper Circles?"

The old shopkeeper had his heart beating rapidly in his chest, but he managed to calm down his emotions somewhat to respond.

"Young Master Ah Mieu, t—this information is not available in the Han Clan's file because this pertains to a date before their creation. So…"

The old shopkeeper's words trailed off here.

Seeing that the old shopkeeper still refused to give him what he wanted, Au Mieu released a sigh and said.

"Fine, I won't make things difficult for a little Outer Disciple like yourself. My dissatisfaction is directed to your Shadow Messenger Guild's top echelon. It seems even an omniscient power like them still has to worry about a few powers in the city. Well, there are only a few though..."

The old shopkeeper acted like he hadn't heard those last few words from Ah Mieu. It was something a small figure like him should not delve into.

After speaking, Ah Mieu pouted his lips. He stopped tapping the documents and began playing with his snow-white toes as he went into deep thought. Only after a minute had passed did he turn to the old shopkeeper and say.

"Okay, I understand the identity of Han Mo is not within the Han Clan's files, but there is still a detail missing from them."

Au Mieu sorted through the documents on the counter, then picked out a bundle and handed it to the old shopkeeper while explaining.

"Among his concubines, Han Mo fathered twelve children, four girls and eight boys. Among his eight sons, all of them decided to stay within the Han Clan, except for the youngest son, Han Min-Ho. It's said that at the age of thirteen, he visited the Inner Circle in search of joining a Sect to become a cultivator. However, the information about him stopped there, and only resumed ten years later when he suddenly returned to the Han Clan. But not even ten days later, he died, leaving his son, Yoon-Min, behind. Isn't that strange? Which Sect did Han Min-Ho join in those ten years? Who did he have a child with? Why did he immediately die after returning to the Han Clan?"

The old shopkeeper was reading the document, and upon hearing Au Mieu's questions, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"This—I don't know why this information was not included in the Han Clan's files."

The old shopkeeper said as he looked up at Ah Mieu with a complicated expression on his face.

Hearing this, Au Mieu let out another sigh. He took the document from the old shopkeeper's hand and then placed it on top of the pile on the counter before putting everything in his storage ring that was on his left index finger.

After doing that, he jumped down from the counter and put on his shoes. Turning to the old shopkeeper, Ah Mieu smiled and said.

"Now that I've finished, I'll take my leave."

The old shopkeeper bowed politely and said.

"Young Master Au Mieu, please feel free to come back if you have any matters you wish to know."

"Hm."

Ah Mieu hummed in response as he waved goodbye from behind before stepping out of the shop.

At this moment, the sun was fully set, and each shop had its light on, which illuminated the street.

Suddenly, a growl came from Ah Mieu's stomach as he smelled the fragrant aroma of steam buns coming from a simple stall in front of a shop a little bit down the street.

Ah Mieu rubbed his stomach as he looked over.

"I haven't eaten anything in three days. Maybe I should find something to eat before I head to the Han Clan."

However, Ah Mieu recalled the predicament he was in. When he was leaving the Nine Desires Pavilion, the manager had 'generously' gifted him a storage ring and a thousand Imperial Coins for his services, but it seemed she got the last laugh as he was now sitting on a mountain of treasure but couldn't spend it in the Outer Circle.

After thinking for a moment, Ah Mieu thought of something, but the idea made him blush. However, he had no choice. He turned back and entered the shop.

After a moment, Ah Mieu exited the shop, and his face was even more flushed.

He had originally intended to exchange an Imperial Coin for some Mortal Coins or at least some White Coins; however, the shopkeeper had instead returned to him the change he should have received after buying the information on the Han Clan.

Suppressing his embarrassment, Ah Mieu turned and headed for the steam bun stall. After reaching, he bought six steam buns that were about the size of an adult's fist.

The owner of the steam bun stall became excited seeing that Ah Mieu was willing to buy so many of his buns. He even added an extra one as he packed the buns into a simple bamboo food box and gave it to him.

After taking the bamboo food box, Ah Mieu decided to walk along the street to look at what the other shops were selling while he ate his steamed buns.

However, he hadn't walked for long before a small child came up to him asking for change while holding out a small wooden bowl.

Ah Mieu swallowed the piece of bun in his mouth and looked at this child. His hair and clothes were covered in dust, and through the holes in his clothes, he could see bruises all over his body.

The child, who looked to be about eight or nine, stared up at Ah Mieu with an apprehensive expression on his face. His hand holding the wooden bowl was trembling, which caused the two copper coins inside to lightly cling against each other.

Ah Mieu smiled, and after shifting the bamboo food box to his right hand, he reached out with his left hand towards the child.

The child, seeing this, instinctively closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. However, the slap he thought was coming never came. Instead, he felt a hand gently rubbing his head. This surprised him, and he looked up at the older brother in front of him with a doubtful expression on his face.

After brushing off a little bit of the dirt from the boy's hair, Ah Mieu rested his hand on his head and asked with a smile.

"Do you want some of my buns?"

He extended the bamboo food box toward the boy.

The boy hesitated, wondering if this older brother was up to no good. However, he remembered seeing that he had eaten a few of those buns just fine. With that, the boy nodded at Ah Mieu.

"Then go ahead."

Ah Mieu said, gesturing to the buns.

The boy stared at the three remaining buns inside the bamboo food box. The steam was still radiating from them. He reached out and tentatively picked up one while making sure his dirt-covered hand didn't touch the others or the bamboo food box.

However, just as the boy picked up the bun and got ready to eat it. He heard the kind older brother say.

"Only one?"

The boy looked up, surprised, but seeing this, Ah Mieu pointed at the small wooden bowl in his hand and said.

"Let me hold that for you."

The boy hesitated upon hearing that, but Ah Mieu didn't give him any time to react as he reached out and took the wooden bowl from his hand before stuffing the bamboo food box into his grasp.

The boy was still slightly confused about this situation when Ah Mieu suddenly wrapped a hand around his shoulders and said excitedly.

"I want to buy more buns. Can you follow me?"

However, once again, Ah Mieu didn't wait for the boy's response. He firmly held his shoulders and dragged him towards the steam bun stall that was a few shops back.

The boy was initially a bit timid, but on the way to the stall, Ah Mieu asked him a bunch of questions about the area and the different shops. Slowly, the boy's apprehension and timidness faded. With a mouth filled with the bun's meat filling, he answered Ah Mieu's questions with enthusiasm.

Upon reaching the steam bun stall, the owner's eyes lit up upon seeing Ah Mieu. However, his eyes darted to the boy next to him, and he frowned.

Ah Mieu acted like he hadn't seen the owner's expression and ordered twenty more buns.

The stall owner's frown immediately disappeared, and he happily packed up the buns into four bamboo food boxes, five in each.

The boy had finished the three buns, and seeing Ah Mieu buying so many, he unintentionally gulped down a lump of saliva. However, as the stall owner was packing up the buns, his attention involuntarily landed on the stick candies and other pastries set up in front of the stall in neat rows. Though a few were missing, having been bought by other patrons.

After taking the buns from the stall owner, Ah Mieu saw the boy gazing at the candies and pastries, so he asked with a smile.

"Do you want me to buy some of these for you as well?"

The boy immediately looked away from the candies and pastries before waving his hands in refusal.

"No, Big Brother Ah Mieu, I don't want any."

Ah Mieu smiled at him, and the boy, upon seeing this, blushed a bit but still refused to admit it.

After shaking his head, Ah Mieu turned to the stall owner and said.

"Can you sell me one of the apple candies?"

The stall owner had been observing the interaction with Ah Mieu and the boy. Hearing Ah Mieu's request, he waved his hand dismissively and said.

"You've bought so many buns from me; you can take one candy for free. However, you shouldn't spoil brats like these too much; they're nothing but an eyesore."

Ah Mieu acted like he hadn't heard the stall owner's latter words and turned to the boy, who had sadly lowered his head.

"You heard him. Go ahead and take the one you want."

With his head still lowered, the boy said softly.

"I-I really don't want it, Big Brother Ah Mieu."

Seeing the boy's behavior, the smile on Ah Mieu's face fell, and his tone turned stern as he said.

"Amon, raise your head."

The boy, who was named Amon, instinctively raised his head due to Ah Mieu's stern voice. He looked up at Ah Mieu nervously, thinking he was angry with him; however, the smile returned to Ah Mieu's face as he said.

"A man who struggles for what he wants has nothing to be ashamed of, so you should never bow your head. Do you understand?"