act14mini

Oh right, spring is coming. The weather's starting to warm up, and beasts will be on the move. Be careful, if you're in a hurry.

Appreciate it.

You told me you left home to 'become an adventurer,' but it turns out you haven't made it far from home... At first, I thought you were deliberately leading me the wrong way.

Well, the Jianghu is big, and I barely just set out on my journey before I ran into you...

Besides, I'm not stupid. If I led you to some uninhabited wilderness, wouldn't we both starve to death?

Even if I was trying to get away, I'd come up with a better idea.

You sure know how to handle yourself.

Let's eat first. Who knows when next we'll be able to have a good meal after we leave town.

Order whatever you'd like.

Anything? You're paying?

I don't have much on me, so if I end up not having enough to cover it, I'll leave you behind to do dishes.

You jest, my friend. A small eatery like this only has enough offerings to sate your hunger.

Ugh, you'd better not expect me to hold back. Hand me the menu!

I want this one, this one, this one... Actually, give me one of everything!

Excuse me, young sir, are you sure the two of you can...?

(Writes on the table with tea)

Huh...?

('I've been kidnapped–')

(*gasps*) ––!

('Get help–')

Are you done yet?

Almost. Let's go with this for now!

Okay... Alright...

Where are you going?

To the washroom. What, are you gonna follow me?

Don't try any funny business.

That kid just signaled to me that he's been kidnapped...

I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary when those two walked in. I thought they were just siblings... I have no idea what's going on...

Are they inside right now?

Phew...

That woman... wouldn't follow me here, right...?

Hmph! Keep dreaming, if you think you can catch me.

What awful luck...

So much for the Shanhaizhong. I thought I was joining a pretty awesome gang, but they ended up getting taken out by one woman... And now, I'm running for my life here.

Didn't make any money, didn't learn kung fu, and even the bag of jerky I got out of it is gone now.

Fang Xiaoshi sits down on the cold, hard ground.

He curses twice, but that sound is overpowered by his stomach growling.

A young man wandering the Jianghu, the world of kung fu, his growling belly empty; the sky is high and the clouds distant, nothing around him but vast emptiness.

I should've had a couple mouthfuls of food before running off... Where am I supposed to go now...?

I told you, you only get three strikes.

How did you–

My patience has limits.

Why won't you just leave me alone?!

If I leave you alone in the wilderness, you'll die.

So what if I die? What do you care?!

My whole life, nobody's ever given a damn if I live or die.

Why should others care about a life that you don't yourself want?

What the hell do you know...?

You've never experienced a life of wandering ever since you were a kid, living by yourself with nobody to rely on.

Stop being all pretentious! How could a powerful swordswoman like you possibly understand–

(*gasps*) ––!

The boy turns around, only to realize that he is not the only hungry creature in the woods. From the trees' dusky, mottled shadows, a tuskbeast slowly emerges.

The tuskbeast's blood-red eyes flicker like candles in the dark night, its low-pitched growls making the grass and trees quiver and cower.

H-Help...

Don't move!

I'm not...

Don't make a sound. Don't run. And don't turn your back on it.

Don't panic. Make your way towards me slowly. Get behind me...

I... can't...

Careful now–

Perhaps due to the loose fallen leaves beneath his feet, perhaps due to his nerves, the boy staggers and falls to the ground.

The tuskbeast catches the scent of his fear, keenly seizing the opportunity to hunt. It rushes out at almost the same time as the swordswoman.

On the battlefield, the claws of the tuskbeast should have been no threat at all to the sword.

Had there not been a child in need of protection behind it.

Here, eat up.

I ruined your jerky, so here's some roast to make up for it.

Are you okay?

In what way?

Are you talking about the scratch I got from the tuskbeast, or about how mad you've made me?

This... is for you.

It's medicine my dad taught me how to make. He always takes it with him when he goes hunting, and it's good for treating scratches and bites from wild beasts.

How do I know there's no poison in it?

The boy draws out his knife and makes a deep cut, then pours some powder out from the medicine bottle to apply to the wound.

Though he grits his teeth in pain, he firmly resolves to not utter a sound.

Now do you trust me?

You sure took your sweet time, but you're still my hero.

Hmph. So this is what tuskbeast meat tastes like... Ugh, it's tough and gamey.

Consider yourself lucky to get to eat cooked meat in the wilderness at all.

You do have a point... When I was with those men up in the mountains, it'd be months between a single bite of meat.

Are you talking about your 'boys?' Even the villains known far and wide couldn't get enough food to eat?

Why are you making fun of me...?

I've seen my fair share of kids your age running away from home after arguing with their family, but I've never met a kid so desperate to be the bad guy.

...I don't want people looking down on me.

What does it matter if you're good or bad? If nobody's scared of you, then you're gonna get bullied.

Who taught you that nonsense?

I figured it out myself... from experience!

You're only half-correct.

When you become feared, it's true that nobody will bully you anymore. Instead, they'll join hands to get rid of you.

The only way avoid making enemies is to avoid treating others as enemies.

I... can I ask you a question?

Your kung fu is so powerful... Where did you learn it?

If you get thrown out there to fend for yourself across the Jianghu for five years, then get tossed into war for another five, you'll be at a similar level. If you survive.

Also, I had an exceptionally strong teacher.

Even stronger than you?

Much stronger.

Then, if I train hard from now on, how long would it take for me to reach your level?

Ten years.

Ten years?!

Assuming you survived, that is.

M-Ma'am...