Big Bro Bai and Skinny Liu were growing desperate now, slashing and hacking with more fury, but it was all in vain.
Hao wasn’t even breaking a sweat.
Every time their blades came close, he simply shifted his weight, sidestepping their strikes.
“Come on, try harder.” Hao muttered, grinning.
“I’m waiting for something worth my time.”
Big Bro Bai roared and swung his saber down again, this time with more force.
But Hao didn’t dodge.
He stepped in, raised one hand, and swatted Big Bro Bai’s arm to the side.
The trajectory of the saber shifted, scraping against the wall with a harsh clang, sending a few chips of stone flying.
Before Big Bro Bai could react, Hao’s fist smashed into his cheek.
There was no qi behind it.
But the punch was fast, clean, and heavy enough to leave a bright bruise on Big Bro Bai’s face.
“Guh – !”
He stumbled.
Hao followed up with a kick to the side.
It landed, but his footwork was off.
He didn’t really know how to kick, so it just sent the man staggering a few steps back.
From the side, Skinny Liu charged with a dagger, eyes filled with panic.
Hao twisted his body, his palm shooting forward to slap the blade away.
Then he struck out with his elbow.
It hit the man square in the chest and sent him tumbling.
They weren’t strong enough to fight back.
There was no need to drag it on.
Hao raised a hand.
Golden threads of light flickered into view between his fingers.
Sunflare Needle Strike.
A blur of afterimages – too fast for an untrained eye.
Thin beams of solar qi pierced into their shoulders, their thighs, and knees.
Nothing fatal.
But it would be a long time before either could stand again.
With the two bandits collapsed on the ground, groaning and twitching, Hao turned to Kurome.
“Kurome, do you have anything that can mess with their memory?”
“Erase it or something?”
’I am afraid I am not capable of that, Master.’ Kurome turned to glance at the rat curled lazily on her back. ’But… Little Sneak might possess such an ability.’ ’Little Sneak, do you have a method to assist Master in this matter?’
’I do have that ability, Big Sister. But do really I have to help this human?’
Kurome stared at Little Sneak.
Blink.
’Fine, fine.’
’You gave me food earlier, I’ll help.’
’Only this time, okay!’
He jumped off Kurome and landed silently between the unconscious thugs.
Dark mist began to ooze from his fur.
Then it pulsed.
A shadowy veil crept up their bodies, wrapping around their heads like living fog.
Shadow Snatch.
An innate ability of Little Sneak’s bloodline.
It allowed him to absorb and erase the short-term memories of a target.
Everything related to this alley, this fight, and Hao – gone.
Hao frowned, watching the scene.
He couldn’t see anything.
Little Sneak just stood there, eyes glowing faintly.
Was it because he was too weak?
Or did the technique require special eyes or spiritual sense to perceive?
Moments later, the shadows retracted back into Little Sneak’s body.
He trotted over to Kurome and leapt back onto her back.
’It’s done, human.’
’I don’t owe you anything anymore.’
Hao didn’t fully grasp what Little Sneak had done, but he trusted him. After all, if Kurome had faith in him, that was all that mattered.
“Good job, Chibisuke. That was an impressive ability you have there,” Hao said with a grin.
Little Sneak flicked his tail irritably. ’Chibi again? I told you not to call me that.’
’And your flattery won’t make me submit to you!’
Hao chuckled and then dragged Big Bro Bai and Skinny Liu’s bodies, propping them against the wall in a messy heap.
They appeared to be napping peacefully, if not for Big Bro Bai’s cheek, slightly swollen from Hao’s punch.
Hao and the others returned to the Dimensional Convenience Store.
As they entered, Little Sneak sent a mental transmission to Kurome.
’Big Sister, I’m sure you also noticed the man on the high ground. What should we do with him?’
’It seems his target was this human.’ Little Sneak looked at Hao.
’Let him be for now. If he truly wants to make a move, my master could easily deal with him.’ Kurome relied.
’And I’m sure my master already knows what fate awaits that man if he dares to act.’
As if on cue, a figure landed in the alley with a light thud, having leapt down from the rooftop.
This was Qin Zhui.
A rogue cultivator at the 7th Stage of the Saint Apprentice Realm – wanted for theft, ambush, and murder.
He had a habit of targeting newcomers to Sovereign City, those unfamiliar with its back alleys and hidden paths.
He would’ve been arrested long ago if not for his slippery tactics and thorough knowledge of the city’s twisting maze of streets.
Qin Zhui crouched beside the two unconscious thugs and gave each a sharp slap.
“You two are completely useless.” he muttered, clicking his tongue.
He had tossed these fools a couple of silver coins, expecting them to rough up some foreign brat.
At the very least, draw blood. Instead, they got laid out like dead fish.
Still, it wasn’t a total loss.
Judging from the aftermath, the kid was a bit stronger than expected – but not out of Qin Zhui’s league.
A few stages below him, maybe. Manageable.
He rifled through their pockets with a grunt, retrieving the same silver coins he had paid, along with a few copper coins that clinked sadly in his hand.
He stood and followed the path the boy had taken.
Eventually, he reached it.
The words above the door made him pause.
“Dimensional Convenience Store.”
Qin Zhui stepped closer, trying to peek through the glass walls and door – but the inside was a blur, like a fogged mirror.
He couldn’t see anything past it.
Strange.
But it didn’t change anything.
This was the perfect place to corner the brat.
A quiet space, far from crowds. No one to intervene.
No one to witness.
He smirked and reached for the door handle.
’Let’s see what valuables you’re hiding, little rat.’
[A/N: Yo, Kae here. Popping in not for anything dramatic – just wanted to check in and ask a small favor. I’m always trying to get better at writing, so if you’ve noticed anything that could be improved – pacing, character stuff, dialogue, anything – feel free to let me know.]