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After a long day of busking, Xie Lian felt hungry. He earned enough to get some warm food. Hunger rumbled through his body like an old friend. The buns at the shop nearby looked delicious and Xie Lian knew he would buy at least two.
Entering into the shop, Xie Lian exchanged smiles with the workers and bought two buns. They smelled wonderful and made him all the more hungry. He would eat one and save the other for later.
Enjoying the taste, Xie Lian finished his food and left the establishment. He decided that he would stay in a temple nearby and spend the next couple days looking for scraps before he moved on to the next town.
He didn’t want to trouble the town with any future potential bad luck to happen.
Passing through towns like the wind in the breeze was not unusual for Xie Lian. Despite his deep desire for someone to be there alongside him and for conversation, his luck never made him stay in one location too long.
The worry of bringing destruction to communities always made Xie Lian leave before getting too attached.
Besides having Ruoye always by his side and being his life long companion spanning hundreds of years soothed the ache of loneliness just enough to be content.
Xie Lian was so lost in thought that when a small force ran into him, he had not moved in time to avoid it. Despite not being knocked over, he still was not sure what happened exactly.
When Xie Lian looked down at what ran into him, a familiar child with ragged thread barren robes was sprawled over the dirt and panting.
He remembers this child.
Months ago, when Xie Lian first arrived to a major hold. He had a day not unlike today of busking to earn money.
Just as Xie Lian planned on leaving the corner he was at, he noticed two children in the alley nearby partially hidden by shadows. They were both relatively small for their age, not uncommon for street children unfortunately.
One was taller with grey eyes and the other smaller with green eyes. The taller one had a genial smile on his face, one to appease and warm strangers hearts.
The smaller one had a fierce glare and scowl, Xie Lian thought he looked not unlike a feral kitten ready to hiss and scratch to defend himself.
Both looked terribly thin with old ragged clothing. Noticing them clutching their stomachs, it was obvious to Xie Lian what they needed.
Xie Lian smiled in their direction, upon them realizing Xie Lian noticing them, the smaller one scowled even harder.
Not waiting for them to react, he made his way over to the two.“Would you two like to join dinner tonight? It might not be much but I could get some buns and share?”
After saying his offer, he received two responses.
The taller one smiled, “You’re too kind, daozhang but-“ but then got cut off by the smaller one puffing up in anger, “what makes you think we need anything from you.”
The other boy who was eyeing Xie Lian in suspicion near panicked, touching his friend by the shoulder “Xiao Jiu, don’t offend-“
Xiao Jiu? had turned his face to his friend and quietly hissed “Qi-ge,” as a warning to probably not interfere.
Xie Lian assumed the boy thought he could not hear. Not that surprising, he knew he didn’t look like a valiant cultivator.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself, did I? You may call me Xie Lian, even if you don’t want to join me, I wouldn’t mind sharing the food nonetheless.”
Xiao Jiu narrowed his eyes, “why do you want to help us so badly? Are you an idiot or is it something else you want from us”
Something else to want from them? Pondering what the child meant, it occurred to him a moment later.
Street children don’t have pleasant lives, whether orphans or abandoned , living off the scraps or the generosity of others left them vulnerable and without protection.
Under all the dirt, the boys had the type of face the lesser sort would leer at.
Panicking himself a little and waving his hands back and forth, “Oh, nothing like that, nothing like that. Being scared is understandable. I will go but the offer is always there.”
Finishing his statement with a smile, he went to turn around and leave.
Maybe he didn’t want Xie Lian to have the final word but Xiao Jiu angrily said “Scared? I’m not scared and why are you turning around and leaving. Of course your offer was empty.”
Taken aback but not necessarily offended, Xie Lian turned to face them and said, “Come along then, I saw a stand with a good offer.”
Walking in the direction of the stand, both boys followed after. While on the way, he learned their names.
The fierce angry one was Shen Jiu and the passive taller one was Yue Qi.
At the stand, Xie Lian had enough for two. Not wanting to alert the boys, he moved as if pocketing a bun for himself and he turned around with two steamed buns in hand.
Offering them to the boys, Shen Jiu snatched them as if they would disappear otherwise. Keeping one for himself and handing the other to Yue Qi.
Not too long after that, Xie Lian found out that was being eyed as a potential mark. Xiao Jiu was eyeing the money he earned to steal and use for him and the other boy.
He discovered this when he went to the same corner the next day to busk some more.
Seeing Shen Jiu and Yue Qi in the same alley he smiled and continued with the rest of his performances.
Sharing meals with the two boys happened over the span of the next few weeks.
It didn’t happen every day, so luckily Xie Lian was able to use his profits for himself on those days but otherwise he knew the two needed more than he did.
It was only last week when while his back was turned, he sensed one of them approaching and taking the money before running off.
Pretending he didn’t notice, Xie Lian turned around to an empty alley. Sighing to himself, Xie Lian didn’t know if he would laugh or cry.
To see one of them weeks later wasn’t unpleasant. He didn’t blame the two and people have done him far worse than taking meager earnings to survive another day.
Frowning in concern, Xie Lian could not help but ask, “Yue-Qi? Are you alright?”
As if reality clicked into place, the boy starting kowtowing and apologizing rapidly, “Xie-daozhang, I apologize, I- I did not see you, please forgive me for running into you and don’t be angry for earlier-“
Despite the inherent rudeness of stopping a person mid-speech, Xie Lian interrupted nonetheless. “It is fine, you did not hurt me.”
Xie Lian helped the boy rise and looked him once over. Yue Qi looked worse for wear, seemingly stressed out to his limit. He hoped the money would help but he knew it wouldn’t last forever.
Xie Lian gave the boy a smile, “If you tell me what happened, I would be happy to help”.
Yue Qi still seemed lost, as if unused to kindness, touch or still reeling from the fall.
Xie Lian wondered if he worried about any possible retaliation from what happened before. Additionally, it was strange to see him without his much angrier shadow.
The boy seems to shake himself and finally looks at Xie Lian, “This lowly one apologizes. I won’t bother you any more. There is nothing to worry about.”
The idea that Xie Lian’s continual kindness from before they stole from him would extend to even now seemed out of the question.
Xie Lian replied “Let me be the judge of that”. Whether the situation was dire or not with little time to spare or the child being too exhausted to argue further.
He informed Xie Lian of the problem at hand.
Shen Jiu had been sold.
He knew that street children, especially those without protection could easily be plucked off the street and sold into slavery. But it never stopped being devastating to hear.
Xiao Jiu was sold to a noble family.
Lost, and worried, Yue Qi was running into the direction of the village near Qiu Manor. Supposedly where his friend was taken after being bought and taken away.
Slavery is something Xie Lian truly despised. Angered and with the wish to help, he responded the only way he knew was right, “Let’s go then, I will help free your friend.”
Yue Qi was stunned at Xie Lian’s response. Hope stirring in his chest, “Xie-daozhang, I don’t want to impose but only if you’re sure”.
Xie Lian smiling and grasping Yue Qi’s hand, “Let’s go save Shen Jiu then, shall we?”
Yue Qi not presented with any better option, could not help but nod, a lump forming in his throat. Any worries of Xie Lian having bad intentions were completely outweighed with his desperate worry and fear for what Xiao Jiu could be going through.
And there was just something about Xie Lian, something that felt safe and good. Yue Qi despite any fear or apprehension of letting a stranger take his hand or help rescue Xiao Jiu felt like Xie Lian was someone special, different from the others.
It was only with that thinking which caused him to nod. With his nonverbal approval, Xie Lian allowed Yue Qi to lead the way to carry out this rescue.
-
Reaching the village, Xie Lian could see the manor looming in the background. He knew that this would not end well, but a promise is a promise. He would help Yue Qi, rescue Shen Jiu and take the boys somewhere safe, and continue his travels.
He noticed when grasping Yue Qi’s hand, the sheer potential the boy had with cultivation. With the right teacher, he knew the boy could go far.
But now was not the time for that. Upon reaching the village, Xie Lian asked around for information about the Qiu Family.
He quickly discovered that the manor did belong to the Qiu Family. The family wasn’t liked well by the town. The son was known for his cruelty and the daughter was spoiled.
Not wanting to bring attention to their rescue. Xie Lian decided to end any more discussion with the villagers.
Turning to Yue Qi, “After dark, we will go and investigate. If we can’t find him tonight, I will infiltrate on my own, do you understand?”
“But Xie-daozhang, I want to help find Xiao Jiu-“
“I understand you want to save him and it’s very admirable but it will be easier that way. Now let’s wait til night fall.”
Ending the conversation, Xie Lian instructed Yue Qi on what to do and afterwards the two waited.
-
Once it was dark, Xie Lian and Yue Qi made their way to the manor. After reconnaissance, Xie Lian found a shed in the back.
With Yue Qi not too far behind, seeing a window, Xie Lian peeked in. For once, Xie Lian’s luck didn’t fail him. While injured and trapped, there was Shen Jiu.
Upon seeing Xie Lian, the boy looked shocked and disbelieving. “You? Why are you here?”
Before Xie Lian could answer his question, Yue Qi realized they found Xiao Jiu interrupted.
“Xiao Jiu! We found you, I don’t know what I would’ve done without Xie-daozhong”
“You asked him for help? Why would you-“
While the two talked, Xie Lian tried to open the door to the shed without much luck. Before letting boys notice the problem, using his strength, he opened the door with more force.
“I understand you may be shocked but I ran into Yue Qi in another town, he let me know what happened.”
Shen Jiu kept switching from looking at Xie Lian and Yue Qi before stopping and saying a small “why”.
Xie Lian smiled, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, simply replied “I hold no grudges of what happened before. I won’t leave you to such a fate. Now let’s leave this discussion for later.”
Noticing Xiao Jiu about to argue, Yue Qi quickly moved to Shen Jiu’s side helping him up before Shen Jiu hissed in pain.
Yue Qi looked panicked, “Xiao Jiu what happened?”
Shen Jiu clammed up, clearly not wanting to divulge anything.
Xie Lian intervened, while he knew Shen Jiu wouldn’t receive it well. He scooped him up. “Let’s go, we need to make distance before anyone is alerted we were here.”
As if predicting a reaction, Yue Qi pleadingly said, “Xiao Jiu, let Xie-daozhang help.”
Whether too tired to argue from his injuries, resigned to his new fate, or finally accepting Xie Lian’s kindness, Shen Jiu did a small quick nod.
Not wanting to risk any complications, Xie Lian with Shen Jiu in his arms left the Qiu Residence with Yue Qi not far behind.
Without any fanfare, flames or death, Shen Jiu made his escape in a quieter fashion.
Xie Lian forever changed the fate of the two boys that night.
No broken promise that would irreparably damage their relationship until death. No broken cultivation. No lifetime full of anger, pain and regret. As for Xie Lian, not knowing the consequences of his actions and how it would change his future forever.