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Two men, one of them amazing tall given his mixed blood, and the other was rather scruffy with hair that fell down in his eyes, were flanking a much smaller boy with long blue hair. A small group that almost felt like a small family were one to not know what the group was a part of. The tallest among them was Qiang Di, the leader of a local group of bandits that inhabited a bath house that was on the very edge of town. A man like Qiang Di wasn't easy to miss given the fact that he towered over most other people having Russian blood in his veins, not to mention that the aura he gave off was a rather powerful one that would make most people quake in their shoes. The other man, the one with the pale skin and white hair that hid his eyes completely was one of Qiang Di's two lovers, his name was Po Zei. Like his Boss and Lover he wasn't one that was easy to miss due to being a rather... strange man who only ever came out at night, didn't deal well with the sun, and claimed to see and speak with spirits.

The two of them were leading Xiulong, Qiang Di's latest acquisition, to a beautiful field where the night blooming flowers grew in an abundance. The tall Bandit Leader was known for spoiling those that he liked and that followed after him in a manner that was loyal with unwavering. It was why he enjoying this young boy who had been born from the stolen lotus flower. He seemed quite sweet and eager to please from what he'd seen so far, he was half tempted to have him train under Tian Mi given what her work used to be but he wasn't quite sure yet. The hardest part of that would be the fact that Po Zei would get his hackles up if he knew the woman he despised was being allowed to train Xiulong and he was not. Due to his love of Po and Tian he had to be careful with not getting them into anymore cat fights then they got in on their own.

"Feel free to go and play among the flowers, Xiulong." He said, one large hand ruffling the boy's hair before it slid to his back and gave him a nudge forward. The boy gave a happy sound, nodded his head, and trotted forward among the many flowers, kicking a few of them up and caused them to float up in the air as he passed by them. He giggled as he went, looking around the area, finding it to be rather beautiful. He was so happy that Master Di had brought him here to play! It was nice to get out with Po as well since he knew a lot of the time the man didn't leave his rooms. It was a special day indeed! Or night technically since the sun was setting.

Po Zei watched as Xiulong looked out over the his Boss, "I can... smell blood." He murmured, wondering if someone were laying dead somewhere within the flower field.

"Oh? Leave it be, it will be a good lesson for him to see a body given he will be running with the gang once he grows up. Better to get used to such things early." He said, knowing that it was likely that Xiulong would end up with blood on his hands one day. He plopped down on the ground, reaching into his robes so that he could get out his pipe so that he set to preparing it so that he could smoke it.

The blue haired boy didn't seem as sensitive to the scent as Po Zei was, nor was he close enough to hear what the pale man had said. Instead he merely continued on forward through the flowers and it was only pure luck that caused him to spot the one who was weeping among the trees. He paused for a moment, tilted his head to the side, then slowed his pace, turned, and slowly approached the other boy. He didn't say anything, just looked him over and then as he got closer he knelt down along side him. He wondered what one should say to someone who was in tears? As he didn't know really he instead lifted a small hand and reached out to lay it gently on Qiu Shui's hair.

There were people who cried before Qiang Di but from what he'd seen thus far they were all at fault, people that owed Master Di money, people that messed with what was his, and those that stepped into his territory without an invitation but he had a feeling those sorts of things didn't apply here so reacting in the same sort of haughty manner that Master Di used wouldn't really work, would it?

Xiulong felt a bit guilty when the other boy flinched as he hadn't meant to hurt him... he withdrew his hands to let them rest in his lap before he sat up in a more confident manner as he found himself feeling as though the other had dismissed him without even looking at him. He wondered what he mean. Workers, shop, service?

"You sound like Tian Mi." He told him, he said thinking of the ex-prostitute who ran the bath house that he was at quite often with Master Di, she was awake and running the place during the day and often used such speech though it was a little above him what exactly she was telling him since he hadn't been born to terribly long ago, "I have no interest in this shop that you speak of and I am not the Boss of my group so I require no service from you either." If this boy were to serve anyone it would be Master Di but since he had Po Zei and Xiulong with him the blue haired boy saw no reason for why Qiang Di would need this other boy for anything.

"Your hurt, do you need tended to? Po Zei tends to Master Di's wounds, he might be able to help you... though he would tell you that he is better at serving the dead then he is at serving the living."

Xiulong starred at him for a long moment before giving a nod of his head, "I must say that I am impressed by your resilience, I have seen grown men cry over worse wounds." He murmured, having seen a man just a day ago whimper like a child and end up begging for mercy after Master Di did little more then stomp on his fingers. What a weakling that one had been he thought idly to himself before he shook his head, not wanting to think in such a mean manner over people he didn't know but any enemy of his Boss was an enemy of his, the first lesson he'd learned from Tian Mi and Po Zei had been that one.

He gave him a smile, "Master Di would like your strength I bet." He said with a smile, as though trying to compliment the other boy, wanting to see him perk up a little bit before he shifted so that he was sitting more comfortably, "If you are certain that you won't visit with Po Zei I suppose I can't force you, I am not as strong as Master Di as of yet so I am unable to do so." That man could likely lift this boy up and toss him over his shoulder with one hand and without even blinking he bet!

He nodded his head, "Of course, its the job of someone like to follow my Master with complete loyalty. That is what Tian Mi and Po Zei tell me at least." He told the other boy then gave a bit of a thoughtful sound, "Not that I would want to cross him since I have seen him while he is doing business." He found himself wondering what he was going to say about the Madame, wondering what she was and what he wished she were but he was sure it wasn't something that he was allowed to speak out loud from the way he cut off.

"We were going for a walk, Po Zei isn't about to go out during the day because the sun makes him ill. Only when its late like this and the sun is down is he able to go out comfortably." He explained, glancing over his shoulder back in the direction that he'd come from, "It gives them time alone as well, Tian Mi and Po Zei do nothing but fight when they are near one another but both seem to love Master Di, its quite awkward at times." That last bit was whispered.

Xiulong nodded, "If you are certain." He murmured, not sounding as though he really thought that Qiu Shui should be left alone but it wasn't as though he were as confident as Master Di was when it came to ordering people around and forcing them to bend to his will. Such confidence and ability was something that came with age he believed.

A moment later though the pretty boy was teetering in a strange manner and suddenly collapsing to the ground in a manner that drew a cry from his lips. He starred for a moment at the fallen boy before he spun around, "Master Di! Po Zei!" He cried out, to his Master and his Master's lover.

Qiang Di gave a bit of a chuckle, "Seems as though he found the source of the blood." He murmured from where he was lounging before he finally pushed up to his feet, he would go and check up on him now that he had seen whatever it was to be seen out there. Po Zei rose to his feet next to his Master, straightening out his robes before following along in Master Di's wake, going to where the blue haired boy was standing. It took Xiulong only a moment to rush over to them, grasping hold of his Master's hand and stood closer to him.

"There.. there is a boy there, Master Di... hes hurt and he... he collapsed!" He said in a rush, "I told him that Po Zei could help but he didn't want to get the help... said he was fine and then he fainted!"

Po Zei was already moving forward to look the boy over, his eyes hidden behind his white hair before he gave a thoughtful sort of noise, "Hes been worked over pretty good, Qiang Di, almost like a crude version of what you do to those who annoy you the most." He said, not moving to do a thing though until he was given the expressed order to do so.

Qiang Di looked the fallen form over closely before he reached down to take hold of Qiu Shui's chin, turning his face so he could look it over. He was a cute thing, wasn't he? He supposed that they could help for that reason alone, "Where does he belong, Xiulong?" He asked of his blue haired follower.

The boy shook his head, "I do not know, Master Di. He spoke of a woman, one called Madame, said something about not being a worker at the shop but that it was close by."

Qiang Di chuckled, "I see, so hes one of those is he?" He murmured, catching hold of the boy by his robes and lifted him up off the ground, "Come along Po Zei, Xiulong, its time to go and visit with the Madame." He said, smirking up a storm as he turned to walk in that direction. Po Zei and Xiulong exchanged a look before they were hurrying along after the much taller man.

Qiang Di was not a subtle sort of man, not really one to sneak around in the shadows. Instead he headed straight to his destination which was the shop that was nearby. He looked at the girls that were nearby before he gave a couple of them long, drawn out looks that caused Po Zei to prickle just a little. In his mind these women were no better then Tian Mi and he instantly couldn't stand them. Even more so when Qiang Di gave his attention to them, flirting with a couple of them before he turned to one of them, "We were curious if this belonged to the shop." He said, patting a hand on the back of the kid that was draped over his shoulder.

Xiulong looked up at Po Zei for a moment then looked over at the women that were standing there, they were interesting enough, brightly clothed, "They look... kind of like birds, don't they Po Zei?" He murmured to the white haired man who stood at his side.

The guy merely shrugged, arms crossing over his chest, "I suppose so." He murmured, not as interested in the woman as Xiulong seemed to be, not that the boy really had any idea where they were or what these women were capable of. He stepped closer to his Master, reaching a hand out to rest it on his shoulder, "Master Di."

The man looked back over his shoulder in a thoughtful manner before he gave a slow nod of his head, "Yes, yes." He murmured, then patting his strong hand against Qiu Shui's back, "We found this little lost flower and we were wondering if he belonged here, if not we will be more then happy to take him home. I am sure my Xiulong could use a cute pet to play with." He said with a wide smile.

Such a comment caused Xiulong to gulp in a surprised breath, a cute pet? What?

Qiang couldn't help but to laugh when the girls referred to the smaller boy as a weed instead of a flower, "Well, even weeds can be useful." He said, knowing that Po Zei had a bunch of interest in various plants, even ones that were quite ugly, due to his skills as an herbalist and doctor.

He smiled at the woman who was speaking with him, able to tell right away that she seemed to know her way around things and he couldn't help but to give her a friendly sort of smile. He turned his head when he heard the Madame's voice and his smile seemed only to get that much wider, "Is that so? I could always lay claim to him since I was the one that picked him up at such a time of day... what if he had fallen into the hands of some villain?" As though Qiang Di wasn't just that.

"I would like to offer up the services of my man Po Zei, he is who practices the healing arts and would appear as though the little weed could use one." He said, using the nickname that the other prostitute had used in reference to the boy, "If I am to be here keeping company with one of your women its best that he doesn't wait around idly."