"Xieren." He answered, looking away. The man's eyes were worrisome. It was dangerous in the same way other men's gaze could be but he still felt like prey.

"No Surname?" Xieren shook his head. "I see. That would explain a lot" He muttered, missing Xieren's confused look. "You really don't know a thing about women, do you?"

"W-women?" He echoed, completely put off balance by the sudden subject change.

"Yes, women. You know, females, ladies, the fairer sex?" He smirked, gesturing behind him to his shelf. "Do you want me to pull out my diagram, cause I have one rea-"

"No!" He shouted, much more bothered than he was used to. Blushing, he turned away. "I-I mean, I know what you mean but why bring this up-"

"I need you for a task that involves a woman but can't be done by a young girl like Xinyi."

"So you want me to do it?" He concluded, his eyes burning with suspicion but Zhihao paid it no mind.

"Indeed. You aren't doing anything else, are you?" He asked, knowing the answer already. Everyone on the grounds knew Master Shao was currently in seclusion. Zhihao knew because Zi Shuren was super pissy about it. He wanted to talk to Master Shao for whatever reason. He even went so far as to claim that the man was avoiding him.

Be careful, brother, or else someone might suspect something questionable about your moodiness. He thought, thinking of Zi Shuren pouty face.

"No, but-"

"Then, please do this task for me." He interrupted, smiling jovially as if he wasn't dumping his chores onto him. "As thanks."

***

Xieren found himself back in town, this time the sun having set some time before and alone. Though he couldn't help but be relieved that he was alone.

Women in suggestive outfits were everywhere. Bared shoulders and sultry looks surrounded him and the young man wasn't sure what to do. He'd been asked to look for someone but why in this kind of area?

Was this Elder Fang's way of teaching him about women? Cause surely there were a better ways than this?!

Wary, Xieren tried to keep out of sight, slipping into one of the alleyways. At least then, he could avoid the looks the women were giving him. They were clearly wondering why someone as young (looking) as him was doing in such a place.

He too wondered, considering how undignified it was for a cultivator to be in such a place. While he might not be a proper cultivator yet, he still represented the TianJian sect which is why he changed his clothes. It was a double-sided sword too, since others might mistake him for a vagrant and try to harm him. With no formal training, he'd quickly be immobilized by anyone bigger.

"Move aside" A voice that tickled the young man's heart said, buried under the noise of the street. Xieren stopped, hearing noises coming from an alleyway nearby. Instinct from years of being homeless told him it was best if he left it alone. Considering the area, it probably wasn't worth the trouble.

Despite that, his feet carried him forward, his heart racing with excitement. What he was excited about was a mystery to him but he wanted to get closer.

"Oi, baby, just give up." A man slurred out, sounding annoyed but excited. "It' be good if you just give in and let us get a good look at ya."

"We promise to be gentle." Another one laughed, coming into the young man's view. "We just wanna check and see if you are what you say you are."

Drawing close but keeping out of sight, Xieren looked over the scene. There were a handful of men, dressed raggedy and clearly drunk from how they wobbled on their feet. All of them were staring at a single figure pressed against a wall.

At first, Xieren thought it was a woman, considering the men's statement but soon changed his mind as he took a better look. Through the figures clothes were just as humble as the men surrounding them, he could see the masculine edges peeking from beneath the fabric. Broad shoulders and sharp angles graced his features. Though he couldn't be exactly sure since it was dark.

"Leave me be." He replied, his voice reminding the young man of days before, when he had chased after the owner of that voice. The man who smells wonderful and had his heart racing with excitement.

Just as he was about to get closer, the drunken men leaped forward to attack. They weren't formally trained, Xieren could tell. Their movements were clearly telegraphed and they often got in the way of the other movements. They weren't the polished and graceful strikes he had grown accustomed to in the sect.

Despite the lack of grace, they were more than enough to face a non-cultivator like the man pinned to the wall. For the first time in a long time, concern for another bloomed in Xieren's heart, making him want to rush forward and help. While he wasn't well versed in combat, since Shizun failed to train him properly, he did know how to fight a little from his time on the streets. Plus the few spells he knew would-

Just as he made up a strategy to help, the scene changed in a blink of an eye. The would-be victim had moved, taking two of his attackers down with precise and elegant strikes that had them curling on the floor in agony. They were sure to no rise again for a while.

Xieren watched with wonder as the opposing men fell one by one, Tankian's strikes as beautiful and graceful as a dancer inflaming the heart of his audience. The only thing was...

He fought quite... uniquely.

When one fought, it was rare to see someone so deliberately go for... sensitive areas but Tankian almost exclusively did so. His long legs would strike between the legs of his opponent and when he curled up in pain, he would knee him in the face. Not to mention all the dirt kicked into the eyes of those close and the strikes to the back of the knees.

By the end, Tankian was standing in the middle of the alleyway, staring down at the fallen drunks around him. Panting, he relaxed somewhat, probably intending to leave soon. But from the wreckage, one man, the one who started it all, tried to sneak up behind him.

Seeing as Tankian clearly failed to notice the man, he moved to help. Summoning what little qi he had, he released a small flame from his palm. The spell was weak, really only strong enough to illuminate a small room at best but a flame was a flame. Hitting the man's back, he screamed out at the sudden heat, reaching around to put it out.

Before he could, Tankian roundhouse kicked him in the head, knocking him out and leaving the two alone.

Taking in the man before him, Xieren was a bit awed. He wasn't what he expected to see. Long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, revealing most of his face though it didn't help any. His face was mostly obscured by a mask covering the lower half of his face. The little skin he saw was stained reddish-brown, as if he'd been burned.

But the thing that drew his eye the most was his eyes. Bright and luminous eyes the color of figs but not nearly as appealing as his eyes. They were stoic and cold looking but Xieren kept staring, wanting to fall into them.

With slightly furrowed brows, Tankian turned away, mumbling something under his breath. He probably hadn't intended to be heard but Xieren's hearing was better than most so he definitely heard him mutter:

"Damn it."