Xin Wei had always known that the city would be tough, but he never could have imagined just how far he would sink in order to survive. In the two years since he arrived, he had beco a criminal, preying on the weak and desperate in order to make ends et. He had no qualms about stealing from rchants, mugging unsuspecting travelers, or even picking pockets in crowded markets.
As he road the streets, always on the lookout for his next opportunity, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his cunning and resourcefulness. But deep down, he knew that this life was not sustainable. He was constantly looking over his shoulder, wondering when his luck would run out and he would be caught by the guards.
Despite the dangers, Xin Wei found a sense of belonging in the Criminal District, a place where outcasts and fugitives could hide from the law and build their own twisted version of society. It was here that he joined a gang, finding strength in numbers and a sense of purpose in the group's illicit activities.
Yet even as he rose through the ranks and gained the respect of his fellow gang mbers, Xin Wei couldn't shake the feeling that he was trapped in a never-ending cycle of cri and violence. He knew that he needed to find a way out, but he couldn't see any path forward. For now, he was stuck in the shadows, living a life of sin and desperation.
"Xin Wei, wake up! We're in trouble!"
Inside a broken wooden house, a child around the age of 13 was fumbling around in a panic. Xin Wei sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he looked at the boy, who was panting and sweating.
"Hou Yang? What's happening? Why did you wake up?" Xin Wei asked, taking in the sight of the boy. Hou Yang was an orphan, around the age of 13, and a mber of the gang that Xin Wei had joined. His skin was a sickly yellow color, and his disheveled dark hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat. His clothes were ragged and dirty, with patches sewn haphazardly all over the place.
"They are cracking down on us! I've just heard they raided the Kang gang and Luo gang's headquarters… They're doing a purge!" Hou Yang gasped out, fear etched on his face.
"Wait, what? What gave them the guts? Are you sure? Luo gang leader is a stage 2 Qi Trainee," Xin Wei said, frowning in confusion. He had done his research on Qi Experts, knowing that intel and information were more easily accessible within criminal organizations.
To beco a Qi Expert, one had to pass through three stages. The first stage involved sensing the Qi in the surroundings. The second stage involved controlling the Qi, and the third stage involved absorbing the Qi bit by bit to strengthen the body and prepare it for "Qi Ascension". These people, who were in the process of becoming Qi Experts, were called Qi Trainees. Xin Wei still didn't know much about Qi Ascension, but he knew that in the criminal district, as long as you had the money, you could buy anything.
"The-They said the Noble Families dispatched their troops, including multiple Qi Trainees and even the Level 3 Fu Rong!" Hou Yang exclaid, his voice shaking with fear.
Xin Wei's eyes widened in shock at the news. A level 3 Qi Trainee was no joke! Soone at that level could easily wipe out the entire criminal district, unless the big shots intervened, which was unlikely since they preferred to keep a low profile.
"Where are we going though?" Xin Wei asked, his mind racing as he tried to co up with a plan.
"First we are getting Jin Bao and Lai Yaoting, then we will et up with the boss. The boss said he has a plan for us," Hou Yang replied, looking relieved to have a plan in place.
Jin Bao and Lai Yaoting were also orphan children who had joined the gang in order to make a living and survive in this cruel environnt. Like Xin Wei, they were part of the Long gang, which was almost entirely made up of orphans. In the criminal district, it seed that all gang mbers were either criminals, orphans, or slave escapees.
"A plan for us?" Xin Wei repeated, feeling a sense of unease wash over him.
"Yes, he said we are going to leave the city and travel up south to the Tang Mountains. Boss Long Gen said he knows soone there," Hou Yang replied, frowning at the thought.
The Tang Mountains were an area known for their dangers and ferocious beasts, and without the help of a powerful Qi Trainee or Qi Expert, one would surely perish. But when Xin Wei heard this, his eyes shone with hope. Surely, anyone who could survive in the Tang Mountains must be at least a level 3 Qi Trainee or a Qi Expert, right?
"Alright… Let's get Jin Bao and Lao Yoating and go," Xin Wei said, determination in his voice as he stood up. He knew that this would be a risky journey, but he was willing to take the risk if it ant that he could start his cultivation journey and eventually return ho.
After gathering the other two mbers, Xin Wei and the group made their way to a desolate alley and t up with the rest of the Long gang. Fortunately, they t with no obstacles on the way, and the purge team of the Noble Families was still a good distance away, giving them enough ti to prepare and leave the city.
As Xin Wei arrived at the eting place, he was surprised to see that almost every person in the Long gang was a child. Each and every one of them was an orphan, ranging in age from 8 to 14. They all looked worn and tired, with dirty clothes and gaunt faces, but there was a fire in their eyes that showed they were determined to survive.
"Alright, listen up," a boy around the age of 13, who was apparently the leader of the gang, spoke up. "We are going to leave the city and head to the Tang Mountains. Boss Long Gen has arranged for us to et with soone there who can help us. It's going to be a dangerous journey, but we have to take the risk if we want to survive. Are you all with ?"
There was a chorus of agreent from the group, and Xin Wei nodded along with them, determined to see this journey through to the end.
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