Red Talon Piercing The Darkness

Since Zhu Bai had taken over the care of Hong Zhao's living quarters, he had made it a habit to learn the boy's routine since he had come out of the dungeon. Most days he would see a constant fluctuation in the energy around his room and was able to tell when he was cultivating. He would take the opportunity to clean the room when he would be less noticed. Hong Zhao always cultivated atop his bed, making changing sheets impossible, but he did sweep and put new clothing in the dresser by the desk. He also changed the water within the bath, knowing that the water was used almost daily.

As the boy noticed Hong Zhao's qi funnel, he could tell that he was growing even stronger each day. He wasn't able to gauge his strength due to his lower cultivation of the fifth star student rank, he could still tell that it was a much deeper cultivation base than even his guard. Some days when he was done with his cleaning, he would stay and watch the mysterious boy cultivate in admiration. Though Li Xiao had forbid the growth of the average cultivator to go past the student rank, he seemed to either be exempt from this law, or he just didn't care.

One day as he cleaned, he noticed a few hand fulls of pills upon the dresser and looked at it in confusion. He was certain that Hong Zhao had his own storage ring, so why exactly would these be left out?

"Those are for Zhu Bai." A young yet matured voice sounded from the bed, startling the boy. "I saw that your cultivation base was only at the fifth star student rank. I was already double that last year. You should be able to do better with the cultivation technique under the pills as well."

"We are not allowed to raise our strength past the student rank." Zhu Bai said breathlessly as he looked at the pills. "I thank Hong Zhao for the thought, but I am just a simple servant."

"Simple," Hong Zhao mused as he put his finger and thumb to his chin as if he were deep in thought. The image of a child as young as him doing this was slightly wrong, sending a chill down Zhu Bai's spine. "You may be simple, but do you really want to be a servant?" He raised an eyebrow as he looked at the boy. He knew there was only one true response to this, yet he knew Zhu Bai would never admit it.

"We live and die for the sake of our lord Li Xiao." Zhu Bai said with strength in his voice. If he gave into Hong Zhao's words, there was a possibility that he would end up like his namesake, a stake through his head and used as a decoration. He had not known his father, aside from the shriveled corpse of a head that his earliest memories would never be able to forget. He was born into fear, how could he just forget it? His name itself was a warning to him not to try to climb higher than he was worth.

"Take the resources." Hong Zhao said not unkindly. "They are a gift. If you choose not to use them, sell them and get something nice."

Zhu Bai searched Hong Zhao's expression for any kind of deceit. His brothers and sisters always looked for ways to make him trip up, in order to get him in trouble, yet all he saw was a friendly expression.

Hong Zhao sighed as he saw the hesitation. "I am in the city lord's estate as an esteemed guest, yet it feels like I'm a prisoner in a lavish cell. Can you blame me for wishing to make a friend?"

"A friend?" Zhu Bai was slightly dumbfounded. As far as he knew, Zheng Guo wanted Hong Zhao to remain in his quarters with limited interaction, yet the man said it was for the safety of the others. He had heard of the men that this boy had killed within the dungeon. He knew that the men and women of the city now thought twice before getting caught in a crime, for the threat of being sent to the dungeons was now more like a death sentence.

"Yes, a friend." Hong Zhao's voice was kind as he looked at the boy. "Now imagine that I wish to make a friend. Would that friend be safe within the estate if he were a low rank? Maybe someone would wish to use you for malicious intents towards me. What if they were to threaten your mother just to get to you, ensuring that you do something for them for the sake of hurting me?"

When Zhu Bai thought of this, he was able to see through Hong Zhao's cool expression to the loneliness behind the mask. If nothing, he had to be cultivating just to pass the time, knowing that if he made any connections, he might end up getting someone hurt.

"All I want is a break from the monotony of this lavish cell." Hong Zhao looked around his quarters with an anxious expression. "I have been here for a few months now, and all I've seen of the city is what I can see out of this window. I only know Xuan Hua, but he could hardly be considered a friend." He raised an eyebrow and his lip curled into a slight smile. "He is also twenty years my senior, so tell me. Does this existence excite you?"

"Then if this young servant could help stave off your boredom, I would be willing to be your friend." Zhu Bai said hesitantly. "I see you every day anyway."

"Then take the resources and come sit next to me. I wish for some company while I cultivate." He smiled as he shifted his body to one side of the bed and patted where he had been sitting before. "I'm sure this will be fine right, Xuan Hua?" Hong Zhao looked at the door in expectation.

"I have already told mistress Zhu-Lai Yu that her son will be held up for some time." A deep voice called from the other side of the door. "So take as long as you wish."

"See?" Hong Zhao's eyebrows went up as he gave an innocent smile. "There's nothing wrong with wanting a friend, or Xuan Hua would have already sent you away."

Zhu Bai smiled and shook his head slightly before taking a qi absorbing pill and popped it into his mouth. The pill dissolved into pure energy and poured down his throat. An overwhelming power seemed to course through his veins, begging to be refined. It was the first time he had ever taken a pill before and was slightly overwhelmed with its potency.

Taking his seat next to Hong Zhao, the two began to cultivate. One had a look of determination, while the other smiled on. He now had a friend, and an excuse to leave the estate when he needed to. His cell seemed to open just a little through one small change.