Clay Nest.
The trio stood in front of one of the alleys leading to the Appendix, each member looking very different.
Xin exuded an air of aloofness as he stood clad in his armor, the weight of his guandao glaive resting on his shoulder. He also had his arbalest on a strap behind his back, and wore a quiver of bolts on his hip.
Lei, in contrast, donned a vibrant red robe that seemed to echo his upbeat demeanor. His clip-on earrings, delicately adorned, underlined his playful spirit. Still, he carried a long saber on his side, hidden in a sheath, and carried himself like a moment who wouldn't hesitate to pull out and use it.
Feng Chonglin, draped in the master's robe, appeared sickly and pale, except for his lively gaze that exposed an active, perceptive mind.
Xin felt uneasy. It was an afternoon, and the negotiations had already concluded.
Feng Chonglin promised Xin a normal alchemist assistant's salary, as per sect rates, and twenty minutes of consulting him on any questions that he could ask every day. Lei and Feng Chonglin split the profits fifty-fifty, with Lei taking care of accounting and business dealings, while Feng Chonglin organized the laboratory and the logistics, all while training Xin.
Of course, it was an uneven deal. Xin wouldn't just work the lab, he would probably oversee the uneducated workers provided by the guild, take care of the lab and the clients, and perform a lot of minor assignments, all for the salary of a normal assistant!
The students were skipping their first ever Elemental hall training, where they could refine their qi abilities and progress as cultivators, all for this new endeavor. Feng Chonglin promised the sect that the duo would return to their usual schedules once they managed to stabilize the business.
"I don't see any 'lookers'. This quarter should be clean" - Lei shared his observations.
"So, what other businesses are there nearby?"
"There is another alchemist shop, a guy I know works there. His sister was an alchemist, her lab was wrecked not too long ago. We'll sell different goods, there is no overlap, shouldn't be an issue."
"Interesting." - Chonglin squinted his eyes.
Xin instantly understood the implications of Lei's words and turned away. The audacity! Steal half their lab, and then open a new shop across the street? Lei was truly shameless. Need to make sure they never see the lab equipment, or they could recognize it. It is a serious possibility, couldn't he at least warn me?
"There are some crowded living apartments, with big, poor families. Could be worse, but they'll behave. Shouldn't be a problem."
"And?" Feng Chonglin suspected that Lei kept the "juice" for the end.
"There is also a Tongue's gang. They've got a warehouse and a safehouse down the street. They roof this district."
"Any cultivators in this gang?"
"Tongue is a bottom-tier rank one. Poison path. A rare element, but I guess not so rare, eh, grandpa? Don't worry, I think even I could take him, with you on our side, he won't be a problem."
"I will prepare accordingly. So, how come this Tongue let a hit happen on his territory? Mayhaps it was him who organized or sanctioned it?"
"Guy is a drug addict, he's got no street cred. Bottom of the barrel among other gang leaders. Don't fall for his tough guy bluffing."
They entered the Appendix.
"This building?" - Feng Chonglin guessed.
"Yeah. There was a barber here. Two barbers, in fact. Worked cheaply, pulled out enough teeth to rent a better building. Now it's filled with squatters."
"Lei, are you sure that we can just occupy a building like that?" - Xin was curious. How does this even work?
"Yeah, this building is unclaimed. In such a district, as long as you can hold it, it's yours. Still, if you are squatting, you pay the city a rent. If you stop, they can evict you."
"And these homeless don't pay?"
"What do you think? Of course, they don't, it's just too inconvenient to push them out. Still, once we're set up, we'll have to register with the city council. I've got it covered. Let's go inside."
It was a two-story building, with a damaged facade, once covered with somewhat expensive wooden carved ornaments.
The painting on the wood was mostly peeled off, one of the side walls was covered in piss stains, and even the sign was torn off. Luckily, there were no windows to break, as there were window shutters in their place.
Before Lei even opened the door, his nose was assaulted by a myriad of scents, one more disgusting than the other.
"Ew. For fuck's sake!" - he kicked the door in disgust.
Before the eyes of the trio appeared a tight living space, where former furniture was used as makeshift tables and chairs. The counter was littered with trash gathered from all over the city, and there were food remnants in every corner. Xin instantly noticed the distinctive smell of rats, who clearly infested the house.
The only person in front of the trio was a miserable old man, dressed in smelly rags, drinking alcohol from a wooden bowl.
"Gicha. You hya?" - He mumbled.
"The fuck are you mumbling, cunt? You live alone here?" - Lei channeled his thuggish persona.
"Ughhh. Fuckmup..." - He pointed upwards.
"What did you just call me? Get the fuck out!" - Lei approached him, but Feng Chonglin put a hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down. No need to act tough yet."
This exchange was interrupted by a child's cry. It quickly ceased, but it was clear that it came from the second floor.
Xin felt as if his heart was stabbed. Are we about to evict a child? A baby? The trio climbed the old, creaking stairs, and opened the door to the second floor.
"Fuck." - Lei could only swear, his equivalent of being speechless.
The men saw three people, sleeping in the sleeping bags made out of rice bags, stacked on top of each other. The fourth sleeping place was an actual wooden bed, probably the property of the previous owners. It was occupied by a terrified young girl, holding a baby to her chest.
"Guys, it's over. Find a new place to stay at." - Lei decided to cut it short.
"Please, don't... don't! We have nothing to give you!" - The woman cried.
Lei approached one of the men and kicked him in the gut.
"Wake up, I said! Can't ya hear me?" - They couldn't.
Feng Chonglin intervened.
"They are intoxicated. Cacti dust, probably. Look at the tremors."
"You with them?" Lei pointed at the girl.
"Th-They helped me. Gave me rice, said they have a place to sleep. Tried to get me to do drugs, I refused."
"That's it?" - Lei slightly pulled his saber out of the hilt.
"What do you mean, good sir? That's it! I didn't know it's your place, I'll leave!"
"How old are you?" - Feng Chonglin asked.
"I'm... seventeen, master. Please have mercy on me, I have a child. Hush, hush." - She shook the baby.
Feng Chonglin approached her.
"Open your mouth. Show me your teeth."
Xin intervened.
"Is this necessary?" - Every fiber of his being revolted against what was going on. Can't they just be done with what they came for? Why extend the torture? Frankly, he wanted to feed the girl and help her out. She was shaking uncontrollably as she opened her mouth. Feng Chonglin grabbed her by the chin and looked inside her mouth.
"I see." - He sighed. "Take a few copper coins and fuck off. My advice - donate the kid to the orphanage. You won't ever be a good mother. If you sleep with anyone else before you get treatment - I'll kill you. Now scram."
"Huh? Fine, master, I am leaving, just don't hurt us, please?" - She grabbed the coins, bowed lowly, and rushed out of the building.
"What was that, master?" - Xin was confused.
"Had some nasty rashes inside of her mouth. Carried an illness, activated by repeated contact. Sexual. Serious. Checked her teeth. She's not seventeen, all I am going to say. Younger."
Xin felt the black fog in his chest again, protecting his heart from being stung by the pain. This bitch. How could she spawn a child? Irresponsible. Wait, what am I even thinking? What if it wasn't her choice?
"What's with that puppy look, kid? Get over it. Xin, Lei, throw this trash outside. Then hydrate them." - He pointed at the twitching men.
The youngsters obeyed, and soon the building was clear of people.
Xin went outside, trying to gasp for fresh air. Instead, he inhaled a miasma of piss and vomit, and vomited himself.
Lei approached him and touched his spine.
"You okay, bro? It... it had to be done."
"I'll manage. Shit." - Xin exhaled.
"Hey, you two! Let's talk!" - someone called from behind.
Huh?
"Wu Lei, it's you, you damn scoundrel!" - It was Uncle Ti, from the gambling den!
Lei prepared to fight and put a hand on his hilt. Xin also prepared his crossbow.
"Huh?" - Lei looked at the old man and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Relax, Lei! And tell your goon to calm down. It's me, Ti! Long time no see!" - He actually looked friendly!
"I... you caught me by surprise, man. Nice to see you." - Lei was dumbfounded. Is this some bluff?
"Hey, thank you again for that girl. She was everything I ever wanted in a woman! Too bad things turned out like that."
"I heard. Really sad about your sister. Is she alright?" - Lei was relieved. Seems that the man didn't make a connection!
Xin closed his eyes. He just finished vomiting, but now he didn't know whether to laugh or cry!
"Those cunts, I'll find them. Wanted to hire you to help investigate this, but heard you went into closed cultivation for the tryouts. Sis is fine, she is slowly recovering. Had a serious head injury. Our lab was wrecked, though. Had to take a few more side gigs, some pretty nasty, and sold my secret stash. The lab is still far from its former glory."
His secret stash? Lei was disappointed he didn't find it. Indeed, there were no dao shards or fire path materials in his loot, quite disappointing.
"That sucks. Sorry, the guild ordered me to join the sect. Not much I could do. I hope she comes back even stronger."
"Oh, that she will. She's got a fighting spirit, that bitch! She won't go down easily! Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"The guild wants us to overtake this building and open a shop, they found a new supplier. Don't worry, I asked about you, we'll focus on different goods, no overlap. In fact, we'll probably attract clients towards each other."
Uncle Ti looked suspicious. "Let's hope it's true. Otherwise, you wouldn't want to fuck with two cultivators, eh, young master? Hehehe." - He rubbed his palms.
Xin rolled his eyes. What a clown. I wonder if he could survive a crossbow bolt to the face.
Feng Chonglin left the building, his hands behind his back.
"Greetings, gentleman." He bowed. "You got any business with us?"
"This your master?" - He asked Lei. Lei nodded.
"Oh, nothing in particular. Me and Lei know each other, that's all. It's also nice to greet your new neighbors."
"Got it. Did you bring any welcoming gifts? It's customary to bring gifts." - Feng Chonglin crossed his arms.
"Huh? What?"
"Relax. It's a joke. If you need anything — just ask." - A joking extortion was still a power move. Feng Chonglin didn't like the way Uncle Ti spoke with his subordinates, so he decided to poke him a bit. He also decided to ask some questions:
"Uncle Ti, right? May I ask you something?"
"Sure, pal. What's your name?"
"Feng Chonglin. That Tongue guy, you pay him for the 'roof'?"
"No, it's useless. He actually tried to extort me, so I asked some guys from the tavern to stand up for me and sis. He backed down."
"If he ever bothers any of us, we could come up with a solution. Consider this an offer."
"I get it. Damn, Lei, I see that you are in serious hands. Haha, alright. I'll get going, I've got a lot of work. See you." - They bowed to each other, and the man left.
Feng Chonglin approached Wu Lei, his stare no longer lively, but creepy.
"You think it's funny?"
"What?" Lei looked at him innocently.
"You robbed this guy." - Feng Chonglin stated it as a matter of fact.
"Huh? Robbed? Me? What are you talking about?"
"Whatever, squirt. Make sure it doesn't bite us in the ass."
Xin was creeped out. How did Feng Chonglin figure it out? He decided to ask.
"Lei? Robbed him? What are you talking about? If it's true, how did you come to this conclusion?"
Feng Chonglin ignored the hunter.
"Lei, go bring the cleaning crew. Fast. Xin, let's go and plan the lab, we've got a massive ledger to fill."