Without answering the question of Jiu Jin, Yilu Lok looks back at the direction of the bagger and his eyes fall on someone besides the bagger.
Beside the bagger there is a cat. The cat is small, its colour black and it is lying peacefully in front of the bagger. The cat has a small, light red collar around its neck. Its eyes are closed, indicating it is asleep or resting. The cat's paws are white, creating a contrast against its dark fur.
Although the cat looks normal, Yilu Lok feels something amiss and walks towards the cat.
"Hey bagger, get lost from here. This is not a place where someone like you can beg."
The guard says to the bagger. The old beggar looks at the guard.
"Sir guard I am old, I had thought that my son would be my support in my old age so I gave everything I have to him, my savings and my property. But as soon as he got everything he kicked me out, in order to make a living I have been begging since this morning. I am too tired. I will rest for some time and take my leave."
The guard looks at the beggar with fury.
"You damn beggar got lost from here. I don't care about your life story. You are ruining the view of The Hall of a Thousand Blades."
"But sir.."
Before the old beggar can complete his sentence the guard extends his hand and grabs the old beggar and tries to throw him out.
Yilu Lok is just a few meters away from where the cat is. The cat also feels someone and opens its eyes and with sleepy eyes looks at Yilu Lok.
As the eye of the cat and Yilu Lok meet the cat startles and jumps at the lap of the old bagger. The guard is startled and he lets go of the old beggar.
"What happened, small friend?"
The old bagger strokes the cat and asks in a gentle voice.
"You damn beggar."
The guard again extends his hand to grab the old beggar forcefully. But before the hand can reach the old beggar Yilu Lok catches his hand. The guard turns around and his eyes fall on Yilu Lok.
"Who the hell are you? and how dare you stop me."
The guard angrily tries to shake his hand off. Yilu Lok's physical strength is many times that of a normal person no matter how hard the guard tries he is unable to free his hand.That stuns the guard but next second he regains his composure and tries to inject his inner qi into his hand.
But before he can do that his entire body stiffens.
'What? a master.'
"What do you think you are doing in front of the young master?"
The guard wants to say something but no words come from his mouth and with great effort he moves his eyes at Yilu Lok.
'Who.. who is this young man to have a master as a guard.'
"Let him go."
As Yilu Lok commands, Jiu Jin release the pressure from the guard. The guard is out of breath and he takes deep breaths.
The old beggar looks at Yilu Lok, his eyes sharepens. But it only lasted for a second and soon his eyes returned back to normal. The change was so subtle no one noticed it, not even Jiu Jin or Yilu Lok.
Yilu Lok looks at the old beggar.
The beggar looks about seventy years old with long, graying white hair tied back in a loose ponytail. He has a matching goatee and a weary, yet kind, expression. His clothing is somewhat loose and torn from some places. He is sitting on what appears to be a light-colored, sandy or dusty surface, with his legs folded to one side.
"Old sir, is that black cat yours?"
The old beggar shakes his head.
"Young man, I am just a homeless beggar. How can I have a cat? This small friend here was injured when I found it. I nursed it so it is following me."
Yilu Lok nods in understanding.
"Can I touch it?"
The old beggar does not say anything. The guard finally regains his breaths.
"You old beggar, the young master is asking something, why don't you answer. Young master give me a sec…"
Before he can complete his sentence Yilu Lok looks at him with cold eyes. The guard's body suddenly froze and he closed his mouth without uttering a single word.
Yilu Lok turns his face around the old beggar and his cold eyes return to normal as he waits for the reply of the old beggar.
After a few seconds the beggar finally replies.
"Young man you are free to touch it but it depends on this small friend's will. If it attacks you I am not at fault."
"I understand."
Yilu Lok smiles and extends his hand toward the head of the cat and gently pats it. For a few seconds the cat is sceptical but soon gives in and enjoys the patting. This scene stuns the old beggar but soon he laughs and says.
"Young master, it seems this small friend likes you. If it's not too much, can you take care of this small friend?"
Yilu Lok looks at the beggar and says.
"You are giving this cat to me."
"Is there something wrong, young man? I am old and a beggar. I am not even sure I can get food for myself let alone for this small friend."
"Is that really the reason?"
"So what else would there be."
Yilu Lok stares at the old man for a second and says with a smile.
"From my point of view neither you nor this cat is as simple as they look."
The old beggar expression changes to sternness and he asks.
"What do you mean young man?"
Yilu Lok lightly smiles and says.
"Nothing, since you wish to give the cat to me I will take it. Also, can you tell me its name?"
The old beggar looks at the face of Yilu Lok for some time and says.
"This small friend does not have a name since young man you are taking it you should name it."
Yilu Lok ponders and says.
"Hmm I am not good at naming things but what about Midnight."
The old beggar nods and says.
"Although a bit sketchy, this name is not too bad."
Yilu Lok takes three silver from his pocket and places them at the hand of the old beggar.
The old beggar is startled and asks.
"What are you doing?"
"Take it as compensation for wasting your time. You are old and time is precious after all."
The old beggar looks at the three silver coins
and puts them in his pocket.
"Who are you calling old? I can still live for more than a hundred years."
"Ya ya I get it I am leaving now."
Without waiting for a second Yilu Lok lifts the black cat into his arms and turns around and starts walking.
The old beggar looks at him with a dumbfold expression but soon shakes his head and smiles.
The guard doesn't know what to do and looks at the beggar to tell him to leave.
"Why did you gave it to him?"
The guard freezes, unable to move and a figure behind him says with a calm voice.
The old beggar stands up and says.
"I just had a hunch."
"You do know what that little creature is right, do you think that boy will be able to handle it."
The old beggar looks at the figure and says.
"I don't know, I would also like to see how this unfolds. Considering whose blood flows in that boy's veins everything will be alright. And should I say congratulations since you have broken through."
"Hmph! leave it since you don't even mean it."
The figure behind the guard disappears and the guard falls to his knees gasping for air.
The old beggar also disappears leaving only the gasping guard. Sweat began to pour from his head as he understood in what kind of trouble he was getting into.
***
Some time later both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin enter the Azure Crane Pavilion with Midnight.
Yilu Lok begins to walk towards his room and finds the escorts waiting for him and Jiu Jin.
As they spot Yilu Yan and Jiu Jin they run towards them. They looked at Jiu Jin left and right and sighes in relief. Surprised, Jiu Jin asks.
"What happened?"
One of the guards says.
"Captain, we are glad you are alright."
Jiu Jin smiles at how his team members care about him. Feeling touched by his comrades with a smile says.
"You guys, I am so touched that you care so much about me."
The escorts look at each other and one of the guards says with great courage.
"It's not that captain we heard a guard of a merchant's son got arrested for offending a member of the Tang family and was detained. They said the guard looked like a leacher and a womaniser."
Jiu Jin's face turn purple and the escort continues.
"Considering the appearance, we thought the captain was detained. With the young master identity he would be alright but on the other hand captain…"
With a dark face Jiu Jin says.
"Go on go on."
The escort takes a deep breath and says.
"We were afraid that with the captain detained we would be broke so we were glad you were alright."