Hu Win slurped his noodles as the warm atmosphere of the bustling restaurant filled the air. The flavors were rich, a stark contrast to the intensity of their earlier training. Across from him, Jian sat calm and collected, his eyes flickering with amusement as he devoured his meal.
But Hu Win's curiosity wouldn't let him enjoy the food in peace. The conversation they had earlier about the Octons still lingered in his mind. He placed his chopsticks down and looked at Jian seriously.
"Jian," Hu Win began, catching the older man's attention.
"What now?" Jian asked, swallowing a mouthful of rice and raising an eyebrow.
"That story about you being a member of the Octons… How strong are you, really?" Hu Win asked, leaning forward slightly.
Jian paused for a moment, then grinned as if the question amused him. He casually took another bite of food before responding. "There's no human—no, I mean no being—in this world who can beat me."
Hu Win's face immediately fell in disappointment. "That's such a lame answer!" he exclaimed. "You couldn't even beat the three remaining members of the Octons back then. And there are a ton of people out there who can probably handle them easily!"
Jian chuckled at Hu Win's frustration, his grin never faltering. "That was four years ago, Hu Win."
"Four years isn't that long!" Hu Win shot back, crossing his arms.
Jian leaned back in his chair, finishing the last of his rice in a few quick bites. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Hu Win with a calm but serious expression. "When I was a kid, people called me the most talented in my family. No, scratch that—they said I was the most talented they'd ever seen in the West."
Hu Win raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Really?"
"Really," Jian replied, nodding. "They said I'd surpass my brother in just a few years."
"Your brother?" Hu Win asked curiously.
Jian's gaze turned distant for a moment as if recalling a memory. "Yeah. He's known as the King of the West."
Hu Win blinked, trying to process the weight of that statement. "Your brother is the King of the West? The King of the West?"
"That's what I said," Jian replied casually.
Hu Win sat back in his chair, taking a moment to let the information sink in. "Alright, I guess I can believe that… but if you're so talented, why does this town have such a strange relationship with you?"
"What do you mean?" Jian asked, though his grin suggested he already knew what Hu Win was getting at.
"Well," Hu Win began, "if your family was so well-respected, why does it seem like the people here avoid you? And why were people glaring at us when we walked into town?"
Jian's grin widened as he placed his chopsticks down and leaned forward slightly. "You're curious about everything, aren't you?"
"Of course! It doesn't make sense," Hu Win replied.
Jian shrugged. "This town respected my family a lot back in the day. My family took care of this place, helped its people, and protected them from outside threats. When my family was wiped out, the town held a massive funeral to honor them. They even created traditions to keep our memory alive."
"Wait," Hu Win interrupted, confused. "If your family was so important, why don't they recognize you? Why don't they seem to know who you are?"
Jian's smile turned wry. "Because they think I'm dead too."
Hu Win's jaw dropped. "They think you're dead?"
"Yep," Jian replied, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "That's why they don't mention me or look at me the same way they do my family. As far as they're concerned, I'm just some wandering stranger."
Hu Win shook his head, baffled. "That's insane. How do you just let them think that?"
"It's easier this way," Jian replied.
Before Hu Win could press further, another thought struck him. "Wait a minute. When we entered the town earlier, I noticed people glaring at us intensely. Why would they do that if they don't even know who you are?"
Jian laughed, a sound that was both amused and mischievous. "Ah, that? That's because of my nickname."
"Your nickname?" Hu Win repeated.
Jian nodded. "They call me the Heavenly Demon."
"Heavenly Demon?" Hu Win's voice was a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
"Every time I enter a town," Jian explained, "problems seem to follow. People spread rumors that I bring trouble with me wherever I go. And sometimes… well, those rumors aren't completely wrong."
"What kind of problems?" Hu Win asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, let me give you an example," Jian said, leaning forward. "A few years ago, I visited a town called Haofo in Xiozai City. The place was ruled by a cult called the Black Crowd. They were extorting money from the townsfolk, leaving families in poverty."
"What did you do?" Hu Win asked, already suspecting the answer.
Jian's grin turned dangerous. "I killed every single member of the Black Crowd."
Hu Win's eyes widened in shock. "You killed all of them?"
"Of course," Jian replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Hu Win sighed and shook his head. "No wonder people glare at you. You're like a walking disaster."
Jian laughed again, clearly unbothered by the criticism. "Oh, and I told everyone who knew me to spread the word: If they ever see me, they should glare at me intensely. That way, I'd know they're keeping an eye on their town. It's a little game I play with them."
Hu Win stared at Jian in disbelief. "You're impossible."
Jian shrugged. "Hey, it works. The townspeople keep their guard up, and I get to have a little fun."
Despite himself, Hu Win couldn't help but laugh. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
Jian grinned. "Are you going to finish your food?"
Hu Win looked down at his half-eaten bowl of ramen and shook his head. "Probably not. That training did wonders—I don't even feel hungry or tired anymore."
"Good," Jian said, snatching the bowl away and finishing the ramen in a matter of seconds. "We're going back to training."
Hu Win's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? What kind of training this time?"
Jian smirked. "Durability training."
Hu Win blinked in confusion. "Wait, wasn't that what we were already doing?"
Jian shook his head. "That wasn't training. That was just to see if you could handle using the Aura Pull technique."
Hu Win tilted his head. "What's the difference?"
Jian leaned forward, his tone serious. "The difference is that you're far more talented than most martial artists I've ever seen. An average martial artist would take months just to pull aura into one hand. You did it over your entire body in just two tries."
Hu Win's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Jian nodded. "It's rare to see someone progress as quickly as you have. Honestly, you might be even more talented than me."
Hu Win's face lit up with pride, his eyes glittering. "Do you really mean that?"
Jian chuckled and ruffled Hu Win's hair. "Don't let it go to your head, kid. You've got a long way to go."
Hu Win grinned and shouted, "Yes, I'm proud of it!"
Jian shook his head, amused by Hu Win's enthusiasm. As they left the restaurant and stepped back into the bustling streets of Huin, the bond between them felt stronger than ever. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a while, Hu Win felt confident he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.