Chapter 1

  A few weeks after the events of Barin’s Fist, Jake stood before the plaque to his master’s tomb staring up into grey overcast sky. “I did it master; I killed the ones responsible for killing my family.” Jake whispered kneeling before the plaque. “Now I don’t know what to do or where to go.” His eyes clouded with emotion; Soot hopped over to Jake; the large crow cooed at Jake with concern. “It’s okay, I’m just a little lost I have no idea what I should do now, everything was easy when I had a goal to pursue.” Jake said petting Soot’s head. “Master Lian, you trained me well for my revenge, but you didn’t prepare me for what happens after.” Running his hand over the plaque. “...hey…heY…HEY! You in the hat and duster.”

  Jake came back from his mind wandering, finishing the mouthful of noodles he was eating. Looking over at the man who had called out to him he saw three individuals dressed on red robes with an orange crane motif embroidered on them. The one who called out to him was bald and barrel chested, “Do you think you can just ignore us? How dare you show disrespect to the Fire Crane school.” His two companions cheered their companion on “You tell him Bear Hu!” “He obviously should pay us for the disrespect he has shown us.”

  Jake quickly scanned the area, seeing many mortals enjoying a lunch stop on their travels down the road. He saw how fearful they were, of course they knew that collateral damage was given when cultivators fought. Thinking to himself “I could just apologize and hope that will end it,” looking at the trio and the greedy and malicious smiles on their faces, “no I don’t think that will work, these fools are bullies they revel in abusing the power they wield, if I apologize, they will just push for more.” With a sigh of resignation Jake sets his bowl down, and channeled wind chi into an air blast technique.

  Quickly standing and releasing the technique at the trio, the air blast sends them flying away from the mortals that were gathered at the rest stop, flinging them into an empty field. Jake quickly moved after the trio, making sure to catch them before they regained their balance. Catching up with them before they could land, Jake leapt into the air, using a roundhouse kick he smashed Bear Hu in the back of his head, sending him crashing into the ground. Quickly focusing wind chi and compressing it under his feet. Jake pushes off the air, aiming a knee at the next cultivator slamming into his chest, feeling the cultivator’s ribs break with a crack and seeing blood spew from the cultivators’ mouth, Jake let him fall to the ground unconscious.

  The third cultivator managed to gain control of his fall before Jake could get to him landing roughly on the ground on all fours. Jake charged at the third cultivator throwing a flurry of punches, overwhelming the cultivator’s defenses, breaking his jaw, sending him crashing into his friends.

  Standing before the three injured cultivators moaning in pain on the ground. “Why?” Jake asked in annoyance. Groaning in pain Bear Hu looked at Jake “What?” his eyes unfocused. Sighing Jake answered, “Why did you decide to start a fight when you are so weak, starting a fight with a random cultivator that could easily lead to your death.” Spitting out dirt and blood Bear Hu said, “You’re an unaffiliated cultivator, most are weak because they have no backing and are easy to intimidate into giving their resources away.”

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  Clicking his tongue in aggravation “So you attack and rob people minding their own business, using your group and school to intimidate them?” Jake looked at the three in disgust. Bear Hu seeing the disgust in Jakes eyes, grows angry, and attempts to stand only for Jakes killing intent forcing him and his friends to the ground. “I think I will do the same, each you will give me ten gold taels worth of valuables or I will punish you.” Three pale wide-eyed faces look up at Jake “We don’t have that much, it is impossible...” Jake silenced their whining with more of his killing intent “I will give you thirty seconds to place the items in front of you.” Their faces full of despair, the trio attempts to find the amount needed.

  “Time is up; hmm it looks like you didn’t meet my requirements.” Jake scanned his eyes over the pitiful pile of items. “Please spare us master cultivator! We will never attempt to harm anyone else again.” The trio kowtowed before Jake. “I will take two of your digits as punishment.” Jake said as he channeled wind chi into air blades, quickly Jake used the technique to remove the thumb and pinky finger from the right hand of all three causing all three to grab their hand, staring at Jake in fear. Gathering the digits with wind chi Jake used fire chi to incinerate the digits in front of the trio, letting the wind scatter the ashes. “You can go now, I would suggest you change your behavior in the future unless you wish to die early.” Jake said coldly. The three rose and began to run away, Bear Hu turned to Jake when he was far away “You will regret this, once we return the master will come after you for crippling us!” Jake shaking his head “Then I suppose I should just kill you now then.” Stepping towards the three cultivators, sending them scrambling to run faster.

  Heading back over to his table to finish his noodles he paused; Soot was gobbling down the last of his noodles. “I was going to finish those you know.” Soot hopped around cawing in laughter, smirking “you are a troublemaker Soot.” Jake collected his bowl using water and fire chi to clean it, he placed it back in his dimensional bag. Turning to the noodle maker Jake bowed “Those noodles were delicious, thank you.” Startled by Jakes action the noodle maker bowed deeply “Thank you for your gratitude master cultivator.” Another patron of the noodle shack said, “You should get out of here as quickly as you can, they will come back with one of their seniors since you injured their disciples.” Turning to the patron “I intend to, I wouldn’t want to cause any more problems for the people here.” Jake said. Chuckling in surprise “I am surprised, most cultivators don’t give us mortals much consideration.” The patron remarked.

  “Be careful out there master cultivator, there have been rumors of spirit beasts and cultivators filling the roads, both are equally dangerous for someone travelling alone.” The noodle maker tells Jake. “That is true, the spirit beasts have been making trouble lately attacking farms and caravans. Governor Tan sent out an order for the sects and schools to deal with the spirit beasts, if they present a hundred spirit beast cores, they will get an invitation to the tournament that will be taking place in the capital.” The patron said.

  Giving a respectful bow to the noodle maker and patron “I thank you for the warning and information, may you have a good day.” Turning and heading down the road Jake spoke to Soot “So the spirit beasts are attacking people in the area, I suppose we can do something about that don’t you think?” Soot crowed with agreement.