Finally lowering his gaze when being locked in a stare with his host because too much, Mùchén settled for scowling at the sheet that was once more covering his body. He could go to the nearest Sui sect stronghold and borrow the 10,000 teals. But someone, somewhere would eventually want to know why he had needed that amount of currency. So what else did he have to trade with? It was with reluctance that he looked up again, eyes hard and expression sour. But he remained quiet. He had nothing but his skills, but he didn’t want to reveal even that much of himself.

Xie Feng gave the man time to think, but eventually when it became clear he wasn’t going to offer any options, Xie Feng turned fully around and folded his arms before himself, one hand raised to rest fingertips to his lips in amused consideration. “Very well… if you have no ideas.. I guess I’ll just have to extract my price from your body.” He grinned playfully, though there was a slyness to his eyes as he did so.

Mùchén jerked, sitting up straighter as his glare rekindled. “What did you say?!” He demanded in a threatening tone, skin going pale under the flush of renewed rage.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not going to eat you.” Xie Feng assured with a bell-like laugh. “I’ll sell you to the nearest whore house. How’s that?” As he spoke, he watched his charge with interest, just to see how red the man could go.  Very red indeed, was the answer a moment later as Xie Feng suddenly feared his captive might have a heart attack from sheer fury and embarrassment. Shaking his head lightly as the injured man spluttered dire threats of dismemberment and sacrilege, Xie Feng held up a hand and, while trying to hold back his snickers, attempted to reassure the man he was just joking.

“Sorry sorry.. I couldn’t resist. My, you are an uptight one aren’t you?” Making a ‘calm down’ gesture with one hand as he wiped at the tears pooling in the corner of his eyes with the other. “Calm down. I won’t eat or sell you. But you do owe me the 10,000 tales.” He insisted, head tilting as he watched the painfully bright red colour fade just a little from the other man’s face. “Anyway, give it some thought. You aren’t ready to get out of bed yet. So you have until you are fit enough to help around this place to come up with a suggestion. Or I may just turn my little joke into reality.” He warned, giving Mùchén a pointed look.

“Right, I need to go out. I may be gone for a few days. There is left-over broth in the kitchen and I’ve got some meat, rice and vegetables in the storehouse. It should be enough for you for a week or more.” Finally he pulled out a dark coloured cloak from the pile of cloth he’d been fussing with earlier and draped it over his shoulders. “I expect you to be healing well while I’m gone. Don’t bother trying to run away, you wont get far in your state and I may not come rescue you again.” With a cheery little wave, Xie Feng swept from the small room, taking the empty bowl with him.

Once the curtain had settled back into place and stopped swaying, Mùchén sagged back against the wall, his skin was still hot and his insides felt sore. As if just getting angry had been too much for his recovering wounds. If he was going to escape… this was the time to try. Three days should get him far enough away from here that it will be too difficult to find him. The demon didn’t know what his skills were, after all.

Finally with a plan in mind and feeling more settled about his immediate future, Mùchén quickly fell back asleep, his body demanding more recovery time.