When Siu reached the sect’s forest boundary, he felt himself getting exhausted, his energies depleting, and not because he was dragging the Ironclaw by its broken neck with one hand. It was more about how he exhausted the stored energy in his bones and muscles, realizing what he had to do next. He had to keep improving his bones, focusing on his breathing, meditation, and training, to make sure that his marrows were washed, prepared, and transformed. Only then will they be able to draw energy from the air he breathes and distribute it throughout his body via his blood. While thinking about what he has to do next so he won't be exhausted by just one fight, he wholly forgot about the small fox tucked against his cracked ribs with the other arm... or the cut across his cheeks. Or the three going along his collarbone. Which was good, because if his mind focused on them, they would all be hurting and stinging so much that he might very well collapse and wake up to find himself becoming a dinner for an animal.

  Keeping his mind occupied by thinking about his next step on cultivation, he didn’t slow down until the familiar stone markers came into view and he finally crossed back into the Sect’s protection. Only then did his body sag, stumbling with his step, but only for him to quickly take a deep breath, steadying himself.

  “Easy…” he exhaled, finally remembering he wasn't alone and began adjusting the fox so she wouldn’t press against his wounds, but to be hidden behind his robe. "Ouch..." He hissed and looked at her mismatched eyes, which were shut tightly, her tiny breaths shallow and trembling. “You aren't well either, eh? No matter... We are almost there.”

  A few minutes later, when he returned looking like someone who had lost a fight, a pair of Outer Disciples heading towards the forest saw him in his blood-soaked, limping state, quickly realizing who he was.

  “You...” the first one started, then blinked hard, thinking that someone had tried to murder a fellow disciple. Only then did he notice what Siu was dragging, “Is that… is that a Bluetipped Ironclaw?!”

  "Yeah," Siu nodded while he kept walking, “Only a young one, not a fully grown adult.”

  "Still..." The second disciple stepped forward slowly, looking Siu up and down. “You… killed it alone?”

  “Yes,” Siu answered simply, not wanting to go into details, but a bit alerted, thinking that they may try to rob him here and now. “I’d like it stored... Do you think it's still possible? It was an... unclean kill.”

  “That...” the disciple thought, looking at the broken neck of the bird, “Yes. Some of the good stuff is ruined, but just cut off the head, and you can save the rest. You could harvest a few good things from an Ironclaw... not only to eat but to craft with...”

  "Mhm. Thanks for the info." Siu nodded and then continued on his way, bowing his head slightly, leaving the two to stand there, not wanting to show how exhausted he was.

  With that in mind, Siu had dragged the carcass to the nearest receiving platform, where most hunts were registered to the disciples so others may not claim valuable prizes as their own. The clerk on duty, apparently a pretty much still-asleep disciple, was mid-yawn when she turned to him, and then froze for a moment. Who would come in the morning looking like he had been killed twice?!

  “…You’re kidding me.”

  “Why would I?” Siu asked with a groan, hauling the bird’s body onto the counter, hissing from pain, reopening some of his already closing wounds.

  "It got you good, eh?" The girl walked out from behind, being a bit cautious but impressed despite everything. After looking over Siu, she leaned down, examining the Ironclaw’s cracked neck, its twisted spine, before opening the wings to check and noticing the blood on its claws. “How in the...” She glanced at Siu again, at the fresh cuts along his shoulder, taking a deep breath, “…Well. You got lucky.”

  “Maybe." He nodded, not wanting to stand here more than he had to, because he was feeling... woozy. "Can you handle it?” he asked, keeping his voice as stable as possible.

  “Obviously.” She waved him off, though her eyes kept drifting back to him, trying to piece together what had happened from his injuries. “Name and mission token? Or was this a personal hunt? Because if this was done to prove yourself, this was stupid. Or if you went on a mission above your league, well, you were stupid again.”

  "It was a stupid fight, I agree," he said, showing her that it was an Elder's mission, "And the bird was not the target, but the eggs."

  "This is a male," her eyebrows rose as she checked the mission slip, "And I see no eggs, so... I guess you failed, huh?"

  "Pretty much," Siu didn’t flinch when hearing it, smiling to himself. It was facts, and there was no hiding from those.

  "Don't feel down!" She clicked her tongue but didn’t mock him, walking back over to her place, handing him an identification token, "At least you got something. Here!"

  "Thanks."

  “Come and get the processed parts in three days." She added, taking it over, "The commission fee for prepping it will be 5% of the total value we can extract out of it. Don't be late for coming for your haul, because if we have to store it, the rate is going to go up and up until we claim the whole carcass!"

  "Noted, thanks. I'll be here on the third morning."

  "Mhm!" She smiled at him again, "And go to the healing hall before you pass out.”

  "That was my plan," Siu inclined his head, before turning around, “Thank you.”

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  "Don't, it's my job."

  She was right... And... He really needed a bath. The only thing he didn't think of was the people seeing him so battered, dragging himself towards it, which gave rise to rumors that quickly began spreading, becoming more and more horrid the farther they spread.

  ...

  ....

  ......

  By the time Siu reached the Healing Hall, his legs were visibly trembling, and he began seeing two if he let his focus wane. He had been here multiple times in the past, so at least he could find it without any issues... But then he realized there was one glaring problem. So big in fact, that it stopped him at the entrance.

  "Oh..." He exhaled, almost falling over then and there. He had no more CC at hand. All he had, he had used up to gather everything he may need for the mission, investing all his money into it, and having the confidence to complete it. Yet... here he was. Broke. "I became overconfident... didn't I?" He asked himself, wanting to laugh, smiling and shaking his head.

  He knew this didn't mean he was broke forever; the corpse at least would bring in some money, even if he had failed the objective, which meant no payout from there. But the Ironclaw corpse wouldn’t be processed for days... So until then... he will have to suffer and hope his injuries won't turn into something permanent and debilitating, a hidden crack in his body that makes his future unpredictable. But... there wasn't much he could do, because healing baths weren't charity. He was about to accept the reality and turn around when a voice interrupted his thoughts.

  “Leaving already? In your state?”

  "Without payment, there are no services." He answered simply, stopping and looking towards the voice, seeing a young man standing there.

  “Toban,” he said, nodding his head when their eyes met, "And yes, I know of you. Siu, right?"

  "Right," Siu answered, watching as the man's eyes went down Siu’s bloodied shoulder, towards to see what he was holding around his ribs... but the fox was hidden behind his clothes, and he couldn't really tell. But... he knew there was something, not just a bruised chest.

  “Rough morning,” Toban said mildly, looking back at his face, noting to himself how Siu didn't answer this time around, already being cautious. “I heard,” he continued, unbothered by the silence, “You got yourself an Ironclaw, huh? And to boot, getting it solo...” He smiled, making Siu think about who the informant was... The girl who took it? The people handling it? Or the two disciples whom he met coming back...? “Impressive. Also stupid.”

  “Not here for the commentary,” Siu said flatly, thinking that it may have been the girl... she also called it stupid.

  “No,” Toban agreed, “You are not. You’re here because you barely stand on your feet.” And with that, he smiled like an old friend, “Tell you what! I’ll cover the bath,” he pulled out a little bag, flicking it, letting the CC inside clink like gold coins. “Full treatment, with no corners cut.”

  "..." Siu’s eyes narrowed at once, realizing this was pretty much a devil's deal, “I don't believe in charity,” he muttered, realizing there was another life that really needs that bath, hiding in his robes.

  “Me neither,” Toban inclined his head. “This is a loan.”

  "Honest," Siu nodded, his posture loosening a little. He liked it when someone wasn't trying to maintain a facade he could see through, but instead decided to be upfront about it.

  “I expect repayment,” Toban continued, still smiling, “Not in CC.” He added quickly, “But you will owe me a favor."

  "..." Siu weighed his options, and no matter what... they were terrible. Then again, the fox shifted weakly inside his robe, hitting his cracked ribs, making him wince and feel the pain, now interfering with his breathing... Ruining his future prospects with something this stupid? He won't do it.

  “Fine,” he said, exhaling a turbid cloud of air, “I accept.”

  "Good!" Toban’s smile widened a lot, walking over and placing the tiny bag in his arms, looking into his eyes, "Relax! I am not evil, I'm just... opportunistic. We will talk when you are back in tip-top shape, hm? See ya around, Just Siu!” He chuckled, clamping his shoulders, luckily at the uninjured side.

  ...

  ....

  ......

  The bath chamber was quiet when Siu entered, and Toban wasn't joking. He handed him a Sun Crystal along with seven Flame Crystals... Precisely counted out, enough for the perfect healing bath for his level. He wasn't even going to lie in a tub; instead, there was a pool sunk deep into the floor in this room, the water filled with the essence of herbs and maybe even some sect-made concoctions. He knew that Toban was probably more dangerous than he first believed... but this was something he very much needed now, so he stripped without ceremony, his body already wanting to sink into it and just slip into a meditative rest.

  The heat hit him all at once as he sat down, clearing his airways, causing him to snort and cough, and a clump of dried blood to land in the water, but the moment it did... it began dissolving and disappearing. Feeling its effects, Siu just hissed, his teeth clenching together as the water seeped into the cuts, getting into his body and bloodstream, traveling all around him... Healing always hurts. But it was working.

  "Haaah..." He leaned back with a shaky breath, and only then did he remember the fox. “Right,” he muttered, reaching out for his robes next to the pool.

  He carefully lifted her from it and lowered her into the water beside him, keeping one hand firm around her scruff to stop her from slipping under. The moment her fur touched the bath, a faint glow rippled across her small body as the medicinal water began to work, not making any difference between human or animal. It was then that she twitched, then squeaked, suddenly her golden and silver eyes snapping wide open.

  "Welcome back to the living," Siu muttered, watching as for half a heartbeat, the fox just stared forward, trying to remember where she was... or who she was. Then... she realized she was in a bath, with a man.

  A naked man.

  She immediately began panicking, splashing, yelping, trying to scramble away, her claws skidding and slashing uselessly against the water's surface, looking like a cat who realized she hated water.

  “Easy,” Siu said immediately, tightening his grip just enough to keep her from flailing, “Easy! You’re safe. This is good, let it do its job!”

  Of course, he didn't know how much she understood, but probably not much, because she snapped at the air near his hand, letting out a tiny, furious sound that would have been threatening if she weren’t shaking like a leaf, her eyes showing way too much fear... or shame? He couldn't tell.

  “I’m not eating you,” he added dryly. “Even if you don't like baths, stay still and let it heal you, stupid.”

  That only made her freeze... Did he call her... stupid? Slowly, she turned her head, then her gaze traveled up to his face... Then her ears flattened, and another sound came out of her that was somewhere between a whine and a very offended hiss from being called... stupid.

  "You are stupid," Siu snorted despite himself. “Relax! I saved you from being a breakfast meal. I now save you a second time, letting you heal. You owe me two lifetimes over, do you hear?”

  Suddenly, the tiny little fox went limp in his hold, as if giving up, realizing everything was futile... Maybe she did understand him. Whatever the case was, Siu shifted, letting her rest against the side of the pool while keeping a hand near her in case she slipped.

  “See?” he said quietly. “Healing... Just stay put and let it do its job.”

  Noting that she didn't try to climb out or run away, instead just float there like a little black sponge, Siu leaned his head back against the stone, eyes barely open, feeling his ribs tremble and move, realigning themselves inside his chest.

  "Oh well..." He muttered to himself, throwing the idea of owing someone a debt out of his mind, "Not everything can go smoothly all the time."