Red Talon Piercing The Darkness

"Just give me a drink and I'll make whatever pill you want." Yeng Feng said for the hundredth time that night, which added to the thousands of times he had said the same sentence since he had lost his apprenticeship. He knew that some wines within this tavern had qualities that raised one's fire elemental qi. In order for him to do more than one pill a day, he would have to have one of these wines.

Though even if he were to have a stockpile of serpent's fire, he doubted anyone would buy what he was selling. His master Zhan Jia had thoroughly ruined his reputation just because the old man was so short sighted. If he would only see that pills that enhance were only half of what alchemy really was, he would have noticed that his apprentice was a genius, not wrong.

Yet no matter how many times he raised the argument that night, nothing had changed and he was still thrown out. His home which he had lived in under his apprenticeship was taken from him, and he squandered the rest of his earnings trying to make more pills to sell. He had a vast selection to sell, yet no one would lower themselves to buy from him, even at a quarter of the asking price from any other apothecaries.

"Who would ever buy anything from a drunk?" An older man laughed as he glared at Yeng Feng. "You should try a different calling. It's obvious that pill making was not your strong suit."

Yeng Feng glared at the man who had laughed at him. It was obvious this man had been tasked with slandering him by his old master. Every time he had come to sell his stock, the man would always be there to drive away the customers.

"How are you still welcome within the Boar's Hide Tavern anyway?" The man continued as he glared at Yeng Feng. "I thought this establishment required a significant backing just to get in?" He looked at the tavern keeper who only raised his hands and shook his head as if to say 'don't look at me, I have no idea.' He sighed before taking the collar of Yeng Feng's robe and hoisted him over his shoulder. The smaller man kicked and squirmed, yet he couldn't break free. He started to question why he hadn't just consumed the pills he had made himself and became stronger instead of trying to peddle them.

"I think it's time you go to the other tavern, don't you think?" He opened the door and threw Yeng Feng into the street. "And don't come back, you lousy drunk!" He yelled at the top of his voice, attracting the glances of the many people who walked the streets. Everyone looked at Yeng Feng with disgust, or tried not to look at him at all as they continued on their way.

"Mommy, what's going on over there?" A little girl asked her mother while walking hand in hand with her.

"Nothing little one, just ignore it." The older woman said while giving Yeng Feng a hateful glare over her shoulder.

"I'm not a drunk!" Yeng Feng yelled back at the man while looking around at the many people. "I'm simply an alchemist who wishes for some wine to boost my elemental qi!" He looked around, hoping to see someone who would be willing to stand up for him, yet they all just kept their eyes straight forward as they continued down the road. No one spared him a glance. Who would try to help a drunk? Wouldn't he just ask them for money so he can go back and get more to drink?

Looking around helplessly, Yeng Feng noticed the expressions on the many people's faces and his mood shrank. Of course they would believe this man. Who wouldn't? When he looked down, he saw the clothes of a beggar. He had pawned off his fine clothes in order to afford food and materials in order to refine pills. Everything he had gained while under his apprenticeship went towards a pill furnace which he felt pride in getting at first. Now every time he saw it, he was reminded of what he could do, but no longer could do within the eyes of the masses.

The man gave one last sneer at Yeng Feng before once again going back into the tavern and shutting the door behind him. He was eager to spend the two silver Zhan Jia had promised anyone who helped slander the name of Yeng Feng.

Yeng Feng was roiling with indignation as he picked himself up off the street and began to pat himself down. Dust flew from his simple brown robes as he patted them. While he did, he could feel bone under a thin layer of skin, which added to his discomfort. This was apparently how one was to get rid of a genius. Take away what he was good at by slandering him, and then take away his livelihood. Eventually he would starve and die on the street. He looked up hatefully at the tavern before turning on his heel and walking to the exit to the city.

He had long since regretted taking the apprenticeship with Zhan Jia. Since the moment he was slandered, his world was ruined. He tried to return home to his family, but they sent him a letter stating that he was disowned. It was their pride and joy that he had been picked as an apprentice alchemist. He was to return to them an esteemed pill maker to bring honor to them, yet since he was turned away by his master, he was also turned away by those who would have benefited from his name.

Now all he owned was in a small shack on the outskirts of the forest. He would be lucky if he saw a fierce beast which happened to wander into one of his various traps in order to gain meat, yet when he looked at them tonight, they all lay bare. "No food tonight then." He muttered as he brushed away the leather sheet he had placed as a makeshift door. When he entered, he sat on his sleeping mat and felt something underneath.

Shifting off of his blanket, he felt under the covers and his hand landed on five round objects and a piece of paper. Raising everything to see it, he glimpsed five gold coins and a note. After reading it, he read it again and again, praying that the next time he read it, it wouldn't say something different. Could this be what he was looking for? He clenched the gold in his hands so strongly, a trickle of blood formed around his palm. Then he made his way back out of his hut. He had finally been given a job, and he wasn't about to mess it up now.

As he accepted the job and went out for supplies, a little plume of smoke rose from the corner as a small rate disappeared into nothing.