While Sho had lost a large chunk of his memories, it wasn't all gone. He remembered going all sorts of places and doing all types of things. This was why he wasn't too curious about the sect. He'd already seen some of what the sect had offered. The main issue was that he'd done all this with someone he couldn't remember.
Regardless, Sho wasn't new to the world. Because of this, he didn't even bother turning around, and continued eating.
The server, however, froze. She knew who this was. Everyone who regularly went here, did.
"Are you deaf? Kick him out!" The voice said, again.
At this point, the server turned to Sho, her eyes hesitant. This restaurant was in the core section of the town, which meant that outer disciples did not go there often unless they were working for the place. This didn't mean that they were banned from going there. It was just that they were not usually not rich enough to afford a meal, nor was it worth it anyways. They'd just walk for a while to a place where they'd be looked down, even if they did have the money.
As for how everyone knew Sho was an outer disciple, they all have different robes. Though he had seen different robes in his new home, he hadn't changed into them. His old robes still passed the sniff test so he hadn't seen a problem in wearing them to go eat, especially since it would be just him.
But even in an apocalypse, there would be assholes.
Sho turned around to see an obese balding man somehow still in his twenties. His face was a light sweaty red though it wasn't clear if it was from the anger at being slighted or the effort it took to exert himself just this much.
Beside him was a girl about Sho's age. She was somewhat pretty but Sho went back to eating, uncaring. She didn't look the slightest bit interested in what was going on. She was most likely just using this fat guy for his money.
Seeing Sho go back to eating as if he was a bystander, made the server a bit frantic. She couldn't simply kick him out. If he reported her, then it was likely she'd lose this job. At the same time, she couldn't ignore this fat man. He was Andres Andeers. He was a regular customer and being a core disciple, he was definitely too strong to ignore. He only came here with various women which only made any confrontation worse. Freaking out, the server hesitated a bit.
"Hey, who's yelling in my establishment?" A man with a pencil mustache, walked out, ignoring the fact that he was also now yelling.
"Oi Merd, this bastard is wasting everyone's time and he won't leave."
"Oh, Andres. Has he already paid?"
"Doesn't matter. Kick him out."
Sho grew suspicious while continuing to gobble his rice. 'This seems so forced.' He thought. 'This "Merd" guy looks like he just prepared to step out and make a fuss. And why the hell are the two of them arguing? It's his restaurant. Either he listens to him and kicks me out or he ignores him.'
Sho didn't really have a problem with getting removed as long as he got his money's worth. This was why he complacently continued gobbling down the rice under the contemptuous eyes of several others.
Most of them had seen the same thing Sho was seeing but assumed Sho was in on it. Some already looked down on him due to his outer disciple status but now even those who were originally sympathetic, began disliking him. It was clear that Andres hired Sho to come here so he could make this fuss and impress the girl beside him.
Merd hesitated. "If he's a paying customer, I'm not sure.."
Andres blew up. "Shut up! He's an eyesore. If you can't kick him out, then I will. No one so pathetic should be in my lady's presence while she eats. Hey, brat, get out."
Sho finally realized the scheme he was in, and his eyes grew a little colder. However he was only partially done with his bowl of rice so he didn't react.
To be honest, Andres had already planned something similar to this. What better way was there to impress a lady than to show your dominance over other men? That was his thought process at least. He'd paid for another outer disciple to come here so he could make a fuss and kick them out. However, this was perfect. Now he could do the same without paying a single sect point. This outer disciple would do what he said if he knew what was best for him at least.
Seeing Sho had no reaction and kept eating, Andres lumbered over to him. "How hungry are you, you fat fuck? When I say to do something, you do it." Then he shoved Sho's face into the bowl of rice breaking it. The faces of disdain only grew.
Andres smirked before his face suddenly contorted in pain and he looked down to see a fist in his abdomen. This outer disciple bastard had actually punched him. What was worse was that the punch had actually hurt him and sent him stumbling a couple of feet back
"It seems like you need a lesson in discipline", Andres growled.
Sho looked up to see a large fist heading straight at his head. It was fast but not beyond Sho's reactions. Ducking out the way, he threw another punch at Andres, causing him to stumble back again.
By now, no one cared if this was staged. It was incredibly entertaining.
Andres, seeing that he was making a fool of himself, truly became outraged. He didn't bother to say anything but stomped back up to Sho, the speed of his punch far outstripping the earlier one.
This time, Sho couldn't dodge and opted for blocking it. He'd already been in a bad position as Andres blocked the way to the rest of the restaurant, trapping Sho near his table. This punch, however, sent him crashing into the wall.
Sho watched as Andres moved the table and chairs out of the way, and walked towards him. Ignoring the pain, he got up, and threw a punch at Andres once he got in range. However, once the punch hit, Sho felt a splitting pain in his fist. A sense of danger hit him just then. Looking up from his now bloody fist, he saw a gray fist heading towards him. In a split second, Sho understood. 'This bastard's Path..'
However, the realization didn't block the hit for him. Getting hit in the face hurts like a bitch.
His head spun and his body didn't listen to him. However, his senses screamed at him. Sluggishly moving, he held his arms in front of him to block whatever was coming at him. The punch still connected, sending Sho down.
A stray thought flew into Sho's mind just then. Moving his heavy head, he looked up and his eyes turned a light gray. Focusing on Andres, Sho saw his synapses fire, his muscles flex, and his skin ripple as his foot descended on Sho.
"Andres, you're wasting time." A nonchalant feminine voice rang out.
Andres, hearing this, seemed to remember where he was. "Ah sorry, darling, I'll be done in a sec", he said, almost sheepishly. Then he looked down at Sho, snorting, picking him up, dragging him to the door, and throwing him out. "Let's eat, darling", Andres said, his face still red from the exertion of fighting.
Sho, taking a few seconds to recollect himself, got up. His eyes lit up in fury but he began to walk home. He'd get destroyed if he tried fighting him again. Ignoring the disdainful glances, he trudged home. Luckily, no one tried to press him.
He saw a letter from Lahon in his mailbox and read it. Essentially, he would be a witness at Juge's trial, regardless of whether he cared about the trial or not.
Treating his various cuts, he went to bed. However, he couldn't sleep. His mind replayed each second of the fight, his eyes open. After an hour of this, he decided he wasn't going to sleep. Taking off his clothes, he walked up the stairs. However, instead of going to the Spiritual Strengthening Room to calm down, he walked inside the Physical Strengthening Room.
Walking to the tub, he raised and then lowered himself into the dark purplish liquid in the tub. As soon as he got in, he felt a burning sensation. However, he didn't get out, gritting his teeth. Closing his eyes, he submerged his head in the tub too.
This tub was full of a special type of acid. It was meant to break down his skin and make it tougher. This did not mean he would just be turning his entire body into a giant callus. Rather, his skin cells themselves would get tougher.
This is where he stayed for the rest of the night, the pain keeping him awake for the entire experience. Well, again, it wasn't like he would've gone to sleep regardless. After a few hours of the grueling torture, he got out of the tub, and walked to the window. Looking through the blinds, he saw the sun peeking its head out. After drinking one of the regeneration shakes on the table, he got refreshed and waited. While he wanted revenge on Andres, he could, at least, take some of his anger on Juge.