Adventures of Fu: Fu Is Defeated, But Promises Payback, Takes A Good Walk To Clear His Head, And Meets Black Fox Again!

Trigger Warning: If You Have Triggers, Better Don't Read. This post should be fine, but honestly, I can't guess what some people might be triggered by.

Link to the previous session!

After the fight, Fu woke up in the compound of the Resplendent Phoenix society, which are the gamblers organizing tournaments.

The Tiger was there (I need to remember his name, but for now That Huge Red Tiger would do).

 He told me he was worried that he'd struck Fu too hard. The beggar, of course, objected.

"Drop that, man! It's a martial art tournament, who expects to fight and not get punched? Ha! Better tell me, did you win?"
 

"Nah. I won the next, but lost in the finals."
 

Fu was aghast.
 

"How could you lose to someone else after winning against me?!? That's preposterous. You were carrying both of our names at this point!"

"Hey, come on, man....you'd banged me up pretty good! It was a fair fight, she'd just taken way less damage at this point!"

This calmed Fu a bit. But the follow-up made his hackles raise again.
 

"Anyway, I saw you have talent. Despite being small, you strike strongly! You just need to learn the best style out there, the Red Tiger!"
 

IC, the Red Tiger clan are the kind of people who love to fight in exhibition matches, strong and aggressive, and profess that their style is the best. OOC, I'm sure you've seen the type...

"That's a weird way to pronounce 'Bandit-Beating Staff', my friend", Fu grinned. (That's his style).

"Yes, I did lose, but if it was a real fight, I would have made short work of you...that's what your style is best for, fights on an arena. But I hate it to speak empty words, what about me proving you my words next time I pass by the capital? I need to return to my Shifu in Middle city!"

"Fine by me! A good fight is always great! I'll show you that Red Tiger is best!" 

Fu shook his head.
 

"Don't count on it...and rest and heal until then!"
 

"You too! And feed well...you beggars don't eat enough to be really strong, the way we do!"
 

Fu, who had been eating off the table of one of the richest people in the world for a few weeks, merely smirked.
 

That's how Fu left the Golden Capital - having lost in his first fight, and without having gained fame!
 

But defeated he wasn't. He was just chewing candy. The kind of candy the Jings have been giving him.
 

That's like a D&D character carrying minor healing potions and chugging them along like energy drinks. Of course, we don't do the "drink during a combat" bullshit, because frankly, my willing suspension of disbelief only goes so far.
 

After that he went to the inn where he had to meet Black Fox...the previous night. They'd just left him to sleep, because the healer said it's good for him.
 

But, unexpectedly (for Fu), there was a magic kite there and a note, both waiting for him. "If you need a transport to Middle City, use the kite. Black Fox".

Fu thought about it, shrugged, and took it. Black Fox's portals are instaneous, he would rather not waste time. But he also knew that they must not be seen, because it's a spell most people don't know even to exist!
 

As you'd notice, we always knock out prisoners before transporting them. Those we like, with sleep powder. Those we don't, with a guillotine-like "sleeper hold" or acupressure attacks. (And those we really don't like, with extreme prejudice... cue "Four Southern Winds".)

So Fu went to find a relatively distant place. He also wanted to see the country a bit more.
 

The day ended near a village. He inquired about the name of the village at the local inhabitants, and learned that a certain scholar lives there, and his daughter has found good employment and is sending him money. They have suspicions she might be working in the "Rivers and Willows" business**, though...
 

That was clarified by Black Fox subsequently (he arrived near the torii gate after midnight). He said the village's name looked familiar, and then when Fu told him what he'd learned, the Jing xia*** explained the scholar who lives here left the administration after getting in a conflict with a corrupt magistrate.
 

No wonder Jing is keeping an eye on him. Fu, however, only remarked such men are to be respected, and we moved on...to an in that works late!
 

Why? Black Fox was in the mood for treating me to some steak after Fu's stomach rumbled. Small wonder, he'd only had a cup of noodles that day!
 

Fu is frugal when not being treated by people of money, as any beggar should be! (He's trying to become a xia, but he's not there yet, in his own opinion).

Either way, we went there, and then some guys arrived. Black Fox recognized them as dubious and decided to go and check their rooms.
 

He is one of the better thieves, when he sets his mind on it, too. Fu even joked that he's just doing it to show off!

Black Fox just told him not to wait for him, and that he's going to come to sleep after checking the group. 

Then Fu went to sleep. Nothing could go wrong, right?!?

 

 

*OOC speaking, Fu almost wasn't using one of his 5 techniques, "Roll With The Impact". Additionally, his style has a lot of techniques like "Danger Sense" and "Blind Fighting", which are of no use to an arena fight, but are quite useful to a xia! Even his purely combat techniques are made for defense and survival - Multiple Defenses is stronger than Multiple Attacks in anything but a 1:1 fight, and Roll With The Impact is flat-out better than Iron Skin at any level... if you can afford to retreat. Of course, for a spy, which is what beggars really are in the setting, that retreat is "free movement" and greatly useful to break out of engagement and run.
Except, of course, in a leitai arena you can retreat maybe twice. Leitai has no ring ropes, and being knocked out means you lose. If you remember the movie Bloodsport, that's what those fights look like...KO/TKO, submission, ring out!

 
**They're right, but not the way they imagine it: she's an allied NPC of my first character, Wang, and is doing the accounting for his bordello, while studying to take her Imperial Exams.

Wolf made it clear that he approves of this strongly - in fact, he has told her to study a lot, because he expects lots of people shall be necessary for the state administration... does he plan a shake-up? Of course he is planning a shake-up. Why do you think Wang's session title is "Rooting Out Corruption, Bringing Punishment To The Wicked"?

***To be honest, the Jing family aren't xia. They're more akin to xian. (Despite the similar words, one of these means "martial artist protecting the truth and justice", the other means "immortal wizard who flies in the clouds on the back of a crane and pulls miraculous objects from his sleeves").