Shībài zhě walked down the busy streets and through allies, where he would ask random people questions, while David watched him from behind to see how Shībài zhě completes a job like this. The job seemed simple to David but with the way Shībài zhě was asking people questions and was investigating, it seemed quite hard. The job was to take care of a small-time gang that had been asking for protection money from different stores specifically a place called Wangfujing street where a large number of stores and restaurants were located. After each person that Shībài zhě met, David asked what the purpose was for that, but all he did was tell David to keep quiet. David expected Shībài zhě to go to the street first to ask what the owners knew but the number of detours he took ended up taking them much further away from the street instead and the more people he questioned, more irritated he seemed to get. After 2 hours of interrogating people, Shībài zhě finally headed towards Wangfujing street.

“Did you get what you were looking for?” David asked Shībài zhě as they were walking.

“More or less.” He answered.

“You know, we’re partners. So, it would be helpful if we share information with each other. You know.”

“Ok let me make one thing clear.” Shībài zhě said back with irritation in his voice. “We are not ‘Partners’. You are just an annoyance that I am stuck with for who knows how long. So just shut up and keep on following me.”

“But aren’t you, my teacher? You said that you would teach me how to fight.”

“Yes, I will because I felt bad for you. It was out of pity, understand. No other reason.”

David felt heartbroken at those words, and he didn’t say a single thing. Shībài zhě sighed as he was expecting a retort by David, but he kept quiet and continued walking.

By the time they had reached the street, it was already 6 P.M. Shībài zhě looked around for any signs of trouble while David was stuck in his own thoughts. After a while, Shībài zhě was tired of looking so he decided to sit on a bench where David was already sitting.

“No luck?” David asked. After being quiet the whole time.

“No.” Shībài zhě answered. “The people I asked all said that they would appear here at this time but so far no one has shown up.”

“Ok,” David answered in a strong but saddened voice.

“We need to talk.” Shībài zhě said as he noticed that.

“About what?”

“About what happened earlier. I’m sorry.”

“Does that fix what happened? Out of all the people I have ever met, there were only two people who ever cared for me. My mom, and my older brother. I thought you would be the third.”

“The reason I wanted to help you wasn’t out of pity.”

“What?”

“It was because I saw how hard you were working towards making others happy but not yourself. It reminded me of how hard I used to work for my family. I thought that if I help you get stronger, you will be able to fight for yourself and lead a better life than me.”

“So, you were trying to protect me?”

“Yeah. Kinda.”

Both of them looked at each other. David felt a sense of warmness in Shībài zhě’s eyes and tears began to appear in his eyes. He suddenly looked away.

“Is the baby gonna cry?” Shībài zhě taunted David with a childish voice.

“No. I’m just helping you” David said as he was surprised that he was still able to cry despite not having a physical body.

“Oh yeah, and how’s that.”

“By telling you that I found the people we were looking for,” David answered as he pointed towards a group of people who were threatening a worker in a back alley.

Both Shībài zhě and David got up as they made their way toward the gang.