A Harmless Misunderstanding

The story begins with two threads.

In a narrow alley, only the short, thin youth from the Wind and Fire Gang remained, looking down at his eldest and second brothers lying on the ground. He had the fleeting thought of robbing them and fleeing immediately.

But having struggled and scraped by in Glutton City, he had finally found loyal brothers who accepted him. If he left now, he would be alone again. Thinking this over, he quickly dismissed the idea.

He carried his eldest and second brothers to the largest clinic in the southern part of the city, asking the doctor to treat their wounds before moving them to beds in the inner ward. The clinic was vast, with dozens of inner rooms, each holding seven or eight beds, crowded with patients.

The tall youth and the short, stout boy had external injuries. For cultivators, a little dressing and medicine sufficed; after some time, they would heal on their own, so their treatment was swift.

When they woke, the tall youth scolded the thin one, “Third brother, you know our situation well enough. Coming to the clinic for minor wounds—how long are we going to keep paying for medicine?”

“Big brother, your injury isn’t serious, but second brother is nearly dying...” the thin youth said weakly.

“Nonsense!” the short, stout boy lying nearby raised his neck stubbornly. “My body is toughened by martial training. I’m not afraid of such small wounds! Even if I got cut again, I would be fine!”

As a martial artist with robust qi and blood, once the wound was bandaged, recovery was rapid. He already looked much better.

The thin youth was scolded for bringing them to the clinic and hung his head silently.

“All right, all right,” the tall youth softened, patting his brothers’ shoulders and speaking loudly, “Our situation is tough now. We have to think twice before spending on medicine. But I swear, I will lead you all to greatness. No matter how hard we get hit in the future, we won’t worry about medicine costs!”

“I believe in you, big brother!” the stout youth’s blood boiled with excitement.

The thin youth hesitated, then said, “Big brother, if one day we really do become great, can we stop getting beaten up?”

“...” The tall youth was caught off guard by the question, silent for a moment, then cursed, “You talk too much! Go get the medicine!”

The thin youth slunk out to fetch the medicine.

Soon, he returned breathlessly. “Big brother, second brother! I saw the person who attacked us again!”

“Hm?”

The tall and stout youths jolted awake, jumping up and peeking out quietly in the direction the thin youth pointed.

It was the brocade-clad youth who had just defeated all three of them with a single move, now accompanied by a white-robed man, seeking treatment at the clinic’s front hall.

“What should we do?” The tall youth turned sharply, frightened. “We definitely can’t beat him. Forget revenge; maybe we should run?”

“Big brother, I have an idea.” The stout youth suddenly said, his small eyes shining with cunning.

...

When the brocade youth and the white-robed man entered another room, the three of them sneaked out quietly.

After waiting a moment in the main hall, they saw a large, bearded man come to buy medicine. Though he shared the same third level cultivation, his imposing aura was commanding.

“He looks fierce enough. Let’s go with him,” the tall youth nudged the thin one forward.

Though reluctant, the thin youth forced himself to approach. As the bearded man finished buying his medicine, the thin youth pretended to walk with his head down and collided into him.

“Hey?” The bearded man raised his eyebrow, clearly quick-tempered.

“Sorry! Sorry!” The thin youth apologized rapidly and then dashed into the inner hall.

“Hmph.” The bearded man snorted angrily but paid no more attention and strode toward the door—only to be called back suddenly.

“Brother, did you lose some herbs?” A stout figure approached and whispered.

“Hm?” The bearded man was surprised but checked his storage talisman, discovering he was indeed missing a rare herb. He demanded, “What’s going on?”

“I just saw someone sneak your medicine onto their tray. You didn’t notice, but it’s over there, and they’re about to walk away with it!” The stout youth pointed.

The bearded man turned to see a brocade-clad youth who had just taken medicine from the counter, carrying a tray with the missing herb plainly visible.

“Ha! What kind of thief dares steal from me?” The bearded man flew into a rage and gave chase.

Behind him, the three youths huddled in a corner, peeking out to watch the commotion.

The tall youth laughed, “Second brother, it’s got to be you—our Wind and Fire Gang’s clever one.”

“Of course...” The stout youth began to boast but stopped abruptly.

He saw the brocade youth raise his hand, releasing that same sharp azure crescent blade flash. For some reason, a dark premonition gripped his heart.

“Big brother, third brother, do you see if I have a knife stuck in my back?” he asked calmly.

The tall and thin youths glanced and nodded silently.

“Ah!” The stout youth screamed and promptly collapsed again with a dull thud.

“No good, don’t draw him here.” The tall youth bit his lip, fearing the brocade youth would discover them. “Let’s run!”

He yanked the flying leaf quick blade from the stout youth’s back and threw it aside, worried the brocade youth might track the weapon’s energy for revenge.

The stout youth, with the blade removed, bled profusely from a large cross-shaped wound in his back.

...

Meanwhile, the bearded man halted his attack after the brocade youth summoned a flying sword for defense.

“Disciple of Mount Shu?” he asked.

“That’s right,” the brocade youth replied.

“I am a disciple of the Wood Guard Sect...” The bearded man immediately retracted his abilities, then asked, “Why would a disciple of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect steal my herbs?”

“Why do you say that?” the brocade youth was puzzled.

He had heard of the Wood Guard Sect before, a minor faction that emerged from the splintering of the Heavenly Star Cult.

The bearded man stepped forward, pointing at the golden herb in the brocade youth’s tray.

“This is clearly the herb I just bought. Why is it in your tray?”

Only then did the brocade youth notice the herb wasn’t mentioned by the doctor, and his small payment wouldn’t have covered such a rare herb.

He shrugged calmly. “I don’t know. Perhaps a mistake by the clinic staff. If it’s yours, just take it back. No need for a fight.”

The bearded man nodded. “That makes sense. I was hasty—I only wanted to recover my herbs. My apologies.”

“Then it’s settled.”

With that, the bearded man took back his herb and left.

The brocade youth watched his retreating figure, feeling that although the man was impulsive, he was reasonable... and refrained from fighting once he saw he was from Mount Shu.

He looked toward where the flying leaf quick blade had fallen, seeing only a blood-stained talisman and a pool of blood, but no injured person.

Hearing the earlier scream, he had worried the blade might have accidentally struck someone else. It seemed so, but why had the person fled? Didn’t they want compensation?

This... was truly a good person.

Back in the inner ward, the herbs were finally being brewed.

Wen Renmo lay there and asked, “What was all that commotion outside just now?”

“Just some minor misunderstanding,” the brocade youth shook his head. “Wen Renmo, I’ll leave these herbs here for you and take my leave. I have other matters to attend to.”

“Alright. I’m already very grateful for your help,” Wen Renmo said sincerely. “Our meeting is fate; now we can call ourselves friends.”

“That’s very good,” the brocade youth smiled.

After bidding Wen Renmo farewell and leaving the clinic, he noticed the sky had darkened. He hadn’t even reached the First Grade Sword Pavilion yet after a day spent in Glutton City.

He planned to wait until later to go, intending first to exchange some Vermilion Bird coins, then buy that man-faced demon at the Beast Hall. The cycle puppets were a great matter, and he wished not to delay.

He had spent seven hundred on the stealth cloth earlier and now needed eight hundred more—one thousand five hundred in total. Without Wen Renmo’s help with a Green Dragon coin, he wouldn’t have enough savings.

After exchanging for Vermilion Bird coins at the city gate, he returned to the Beast Hall. Night had fully fallen, but there was no curfew in Glutton City; the night only made things livelier.

Lights from myriad homes sparkled below, like a river of stars when viewed from above.

As he approached the Beast Hall’s entrance, ready to knock, he suddenly sensed a strange aura.

A roar echoed—

[End of excerpt.]