Kang, Xiao Yun, and Lena were walking through the suburban area around the Old Temple zone, heading toward the main avenue run by the Bruisers.
They could have gotten there faster using airblades, but Kang had suggested walking instead. He wanted to observe the surroundings himself, and besides, a slow walk would help Lena's body recover after all that strenuous training.
Xiao Yun didn't mind either. In fact, she enjoyed it—she'd been neglected by her senior brother for days now. Though he probably had his reasons, Xiao Yun highly doubted it was anything other than Lena sis taking up all of his time.
"Senior brother, can I ask you something?" she said softly, a little hesitant.
"You can drop all that prudish etiquette when we're not training. Just ask away. Actually, since you're the current Dojo Master, feel free to just order me around whenever you want something done."
Kang said it cheerfully, causing Xiao Yun to gasp in surprise.
"But I could never…"
"How nice~" Lena mumbled, clearly envious of her.
"What was your question again?" Kang turned back to Xiao Yun.
"Um… it's about the Core Forms," she said, looking uncertain.
Kang raised an eyebrow.
"I've been focusing on them these days and… today they felt a little different."
"Oh? Different how?" Kang's tone shifted to genuine curiosity.
"I don't really know how to explain it. It's like whenever I finish a whole routine, my body feels..."
"Refreshed? Lighter?"
Kang asked casually. He knew that feeling all too well. Xiao Yun's eyes lit up.
"Yes! Exactly! It was that kind of feeling!"
Kang nodded. It was sooner than he expected, but still within his estimation. This was a clear sign that Xiao Yun's body was ready for a Qi awakening, it was only a matter of time now. The problem was, that "time" could mean anything from a few days to almost a year, according to the longest case recorded. What she needed was a trigger, something to spark it into motion. It could happen after an exhausting fight, a sudden moment of enlightenment, or even something as mundane as waking up one morning. These triggers were fickle and unique to each person.
As for Kang, his had been the moment he first laid eyes on a porn magazine. A secret he fully intended to take to his grave.
"It's a good sign," he said simply. "Keep it up."
Kang didn't elaborate, but Xiao Yun seemed to grasp the deeper meaning behind his words. There wasn't much point in hiding it now, she must have already sensed what was happening. Their eyes met in quiet understanding, Xiao Yun's expression a mix of relief and disbelief.
"Why are you so gentle with her when I'm the one getting all the spartan treatment?"
Lena protested, cheeks puffed up in mock indignation. Kang glanced at the smiling Xiao Yun, then leaned close to whisper into Lena's ear.
"Don't worry, her time will come," he said with a grin. "And you can bet it'll be way harsher than yours. She's the Dojo Master after all. Gotta set an example, no?"
Lena stared at him in horror. I'm sorry, Yunyun. I should've never feel envious of you. Rest in peace, my sister. I'll never forget you.
"By the way," Kang said, "why are we heading to the main avenue again?" He'd just been following along without really asking.
"Oh, I didn't tell you? We're buying some electric appliances," Lena explained. "Back then there wasn't any point, but now that we've got our own power system, it'll make things way more convenient."
That made sense. Kang still couldn't believe he'd been hand-washing his own clothes these past few days. And this was supposed to be the future? More like few-furniture, he thought, chuckling inwardly at his terrible pun.
"Kotori didn't come with us?" Xiao Yun asked.
"She's got her own patrol to take care of," Lena said with a shrug. "It's just shopping, we can handle it."
The Orphans had two patrol teams on duty around their turf. Being the red-light district of the area, their zone always needed a strong hand to keep things in order. Trouble came easy when your business involved the sex trade.
As Kang was thinking that, a woman burst out from a nearby alley. She were scantily clad, her face pale with panic. One look told Kang clearly what her profession was. A prostitute, or as they called them here, a pixie.
Her eyes darted around until she spotted them. She ran straight toward them, shouting.
"Razorgirl! It's a furu, with heavily-augmented Smiths!"
And just like that, trouble found them.
-----
Inside the alley, a small crowd had gathered in front of a store lit by a garish pink neon sign that read [Pink Pussy].
Kang almost burst out laughing when he saw the name. Now that's what he call straightforward. Pink Honey massage parlor? Please. He'd take Pink Pussy over it any day.
A young man stood out sharply among the crowd. Dressed in fancy designer clothes completely out of place for this rundown area, he was shielded by two hulking Smiths in black vests and sunglasses. Both of their left arms were augmented with thick cyberware that bulked up even under their sleeves.
The three were standing before a few angry women, one of whom had clearly been shoved to the ground. The young man's face was red with rage.
"You low-life pixies! Who the hell do you think I am? I'm not paying you a single cred!"
"You're not going anywhere without paying for the mess you made, you damn furu!"
The pixie on the ground spat back, glaring up at him.
"Why should I pay you when I didn't even get to stick it in?!"
The young man, couldn't have been more than seventeen years old, was shouting at the top of his lungs now.
"It's not my fault your little brother threw up before the real thing!"
That broke the tension immediately. The other pixies burst into laughter, their faces full of pity and ridicule. Another clueless virgin sneaking out for his first time, trying to act tough in the red-light district. They'd seen plenty of those, just not one with fully augmented Smiths as backup.
The young man, humiliated and burning with anger, turned on his Smiths.
"What are you waiting for?! Beat these low-lifes to a pulp and get me out of here!"
Before the Smiths could move, a cold voice cut through the noise.
"That would be a very stupid decision, drek! I suggest you think twice before doing something your parents will regret."
Lena approached them, with Kang and Xiao Yun on her sides. She ignored the young man completely and addressed the Smiths instead.
"Didn't you two warn him about how things work here? Or are you just as brain-dead, walking into this zone without a clue who runs it?"
"Watch your mouth, Razorgirl!"
One of the Smiths barked, his tone dripping with menace.
"Oh, so you do know who I am. That makes things easier, then."
Lena brushed a hand through her short, colored hair in a confident flick. This was her turf. Here, her word was law.
Suddenly the young man cut into their conversation with glee in his voice.
"Hey, who's this sexy broad? I want her! What's her price?"
Then his gaze slid to Xiao Yun, and his grin widened.
"Damn, and the one next to her too. I'll take both, what do they call that again? Oh yeah, a threesome! Name your price, pixies!"
The alley went dead silent. Even his own Smiths looked uneasy, they weren't prepared for stupidity at this level. Kang was already thinking about the creds they'd get from recycling these idiots.
"Sorry, drek, I'm not a pixie." Lena said sweetly, though her eyes were anything but kind. "And even if I were, I wouldn't take a damn furu as a client."
"I'm not a furu!" the young man snapped. "I didn't even get to stick it in, why should I pay her?"
"Premature ejaculation isn't a valid reason to skip your bill, dear customer~"
Lena replied with a mocking tone. The pixies roared with laughter again. Even Kang had to bite his lip to keep from cracking up.
"We can help you with that problem, though." Lena added with a teasing wink.
"R-Really?" The young man perked up immediately, eyes darting hungrily between her and Xiao Yun. "Yeah, with hot chicks like you I could totally..."
"It's simple." Lena interrupted him. "We cut your useless little brother off and replace it with a chrome one. You won't feel any pleasure during the act though, but at least your pixie can finally enjoy herself. That'd be a huge improvement, don't you think?"
The laughter that followed was deafening. Even Xiao Yun and Kang couldn't hold back anymore. That was Razorgirl for you, her tongue was almost as deadly as her legs.
Finally realizing he was being treated like a fool, the young man couldn't take it anymore.
"Get all of them! This is an order. You were paid to listen to me, right?" he barked.
The two Smiths exchanged a look, then nodded. They'd heard of the gangs in this area, but hadn't thought much of them. They were professionals, not looking for trouble with anyone, yet they did not fear them either. Silently they stepped forward to face Lena.
"Nothing personal, Razorgirl. It's just business." One of them said.
"That's fine, I'm actually grateful!" Lena replied cheerfully. "Thanks for contributing to our household appliances fund."