WIP-Lin Kuei Recruits
So same warnings that come with most other WIPs this isn't beta read or proof read. There's probably spelling mistakes and grammer mistakes. There are mentioned threats to minors and starvation. As well as referenced death and other warnings that I can't think of at this point
He was so hungry, and he knew Kuai Liang was hungry too because he was crying so much.
He needs to get some money. He knows a farmer nearby would give them food, and he didn’t care how they got money.
He ignores the pain in his stomach as he sneaks out of his little hideout. Leaving Kuai Liang softly crying all by himself, swaddled up and unable to move. A man is wearing strange armor. Expensive-looking armor.
The man looked dangerous, and if he wasn’t so scared, so worried about Kuai Liang, he would wait for an easier target.
He sneaks behind the man, making sure no one sees him.
Especially not that cabbage man. He can’t stop trembling at how the man threatened to cut off his fingers if he tried that again.
Bi-Han glances at the man, who seems distracted by something. He sneaks his hand into the man’s coin pouch and grabs just a couple coins before running away.
He doesn’t need much, just…he just needs to feed Kuai Liang.
His little brother was so tiny, and he was losing so much of the baby fat already.
He misses mother and father so much. They died from the strange sickness that ran through their village.
Bi-Han was sure they were the only survivors. But, his little baby brother was only around a year old, and he was eleven. He couldn’t find any other way to feed Kuai Liang without giving him up to some random family.
He won’t give his little brother. He feels so cold at just the thought of losing Kuai Liang.
He sneaks back to their current hideout. Kuai Liang is still quietly crying. “Bi! Bi!” Kuai Liang calls out.
Bi-Han lets out a sigh as he pulls out his spoils.
Gold coins, the man was carrying around gold coins.
They.,..they could get so much food from this. It could feed them for weeks. He wouldn’t have to be hungry for the next couple of weeks.
Bi-Han lets out a nervous chuckle. Surely the man won’t notice just a few coins missing. If his entire pouch was filled with gold coins, he wouldn’t notice a few are missing.
He crawls over and unswaddles Kuai Liang. “Come on didi, we’re going to get some food.”
Kuai babbles at that as he reaches up to grab his hand. “Fo?”
“Yeah, food.” Bi-Han confirms as he stows the gold coins away and leaves their hideout. “Enough food to make you fat.” He jokes as he pokes Kuai Liang’s cheek.
It doesn’t squish as much as it used to. “How about we go to the farmer now and get you some nice milk?”
A hand grabs the back of his neck and picks him up off the ground.
Bi-Han struggles not to drop Kuai Liang as he tries to squirm out of the grip. He's scared.
“So….the little thief has another mouth to feed?” A man, the man he stole from, asks.
Bi-Han feels his throat clog up with terror, he’s so cold, and the man drops him to the ground.
The man looks over him with an unreadable expression, and his mask hides most of his face.
Bi-Han shields Kuai Liang the best he can. “Please, don’t hurt him. I don’t care what you do to me.”
“What should I do with a little thief and his useless little brother,” The man taunts.
He’s so cold. He feels so cold.
“Maybe I should just kill you two and take back my money.”
Rage fills Bi-Han, and his vision goes white as the familiar sound of ice forming fills the air.
His vision clears to the man looking at him with ice clinging to his legs. Bi-Han grabs Kuai Liang and runs.
He doesn’t make it far before he’s blindsided by a burst of water that knocks Kuai Liang from his arms.
His little brother starts crying, and Bi-Han can only watch with horror as the water brings his baby brother to the man’s arms.
“No,” Bi-Han whispers as Kuai Liang thrashes around in the man’s arms.
“Bi! Bi!” Kuai Liang cries out as he turns in the man’s arms and reaches out to him.
The man gently rocks Kuai Liang in his arms before approaching Bi-Han, “So, Bi. It looks like you are full of surprises.”
He was going to die, and who knows what the man was planning on doing to his little brother.
The man gently lifts Bi-Han’s chin. “You’re thin, too thin and frail. What happened to your parents?”
Bi-Han pulls his chin away from the man’s grip, “They’re gone. What’s it to you?”
“I have an offer, young man. If you’re smart, you’ll listen.” The man starts to explain as he kneels down.
And gives Kuai Liang back to him, “You can keep up this thievery and likely be killed by someone far less forgiving than me and leave the little one here to starve to death.”
Bi-Han wants to get sick but doesn’t have anything in his stomach to puke. “Or?”
“Or you can come with me and join my clan.” The man offers, “We’ll feed you, clothe you, and give you a safe place to live.”
Bi-Han looks at the man skeptically, “What’s the catch?”
“The catch is you, and the little one will have to train; train to fight, train to kill. That power of yours will help you.” The man tells him, “And then once you’re done training, you’ll be sent on jobs to support the clan and pay us back for taking care of you.”
Bi-Han scowls, “So, we’ll be your slaves?”
“You’ll be our family,” Hydro tells him as he takes off his mask. He looks so young. “I won’t say it will be easy, but Lin Kuei…we take care of each other.”
Bi-Han looks at the man, “Who are you?”
“My name is Hydro, what do you say Bi?” Hydro tells him.
Bi-Han looks down at Kuai Liang, who looks up at him with wide innocent eyes. The Lin Kuei…he…he wants a family. “I…we accept.”
Hydro smirks and scoops both of them up, “Alright then, first order of business is to feed you two. Any preferences.”
“Nothing rotting,” Bi-Han tells him without hesitation as Kuai Liang babbles and reaches to play with Hyrdo’s armor.
Hydro scoffs, “Like I would feed you two rotting food. Lin Kuei are above such things.”
Bi-Han thinks he’ll like being a Lin Kuei.
