The idea of earth, wind, water, and fire as the forces of creation was something Arthur had heard about in his previous life, so it came as no surprise to find the same belief held true in the world of Douluo Continent.
Before the two could continue their conversation, a commotion erupted outside. The crowd began surging deeper into the snack street.
Meanwhile, Tang Wulin had followed Xie Xie into a small restaurant. The stove was lined with burners, and inside clay pots, braised beef simmered until tender, its rich aroma pouring straight into their nostrils. Half the seats at the five square tables inside were already taken.
The warm, meat-scented air chased away the chill from outside.
"It smells amazing. I didn't expect you to like this kind of place, Xie Xie," Tang Wulin said, surprised.
Xie Xie, unusually soft compared to his normal aloof demeanor, replied quietly, "My mom used to love this place."
The owner, Uncle Li, greeted them with a familiar smile and set down two servings of braised beef in clay pots, along with white rice and side dishes. "Xie Xie brought a friend today? The side dishes are on me."
He reached out and ruffled Xie Xie's hair. Xie Xie, who was usually fastidious about being touched, didn't pull away. He even smiled.
It was a side of him that completely shattered the image Tang Wulin had built up in his mind.
"What are you waiting for? Eat up."
The beef melted in the mouth, the rich broth soaked into the rice, and Tang Wulin ate without pause.
Xie Xie suddenly called Uncle Li over and ordered ten more servings. He had long since figured out Tang Wulin's appetite, which left Tang Wulin scratching his head in embarrassment.
The two chatted as they ate, but at some point Xie Xie's eyes turned red. "My mom gave me my name. She said it was to cherish the chance encounter that brought her and my dad together. But when she was gravely ill, he didn't even make it back to see her one last time."
He slumped forward on the table, his usual coldness gone.
Uncle Li brought over more beef and, having been watching Xie Xie all along, sighed and added for Tang Wulin's benefit, "This kid was first brought here by his mother. After that, he always came alone. You're the first friend I've ever seen him bring." Hearing that, Tang Wulin gave Xie Xie a quiet pat on the back.
Xie Xie wiped his eyes and shot him a glare. "Forget this ever happened. Don't you dare bring it up again!"
The two then looked at each other and laughed, and the mood gradually warmed.
After finishing their meal, they walked out to the street side by side to let their food settle.
Xie Xie suddenly pointed back toward the restaurant they had just left. "What's going on over there?"
A crowd had gathered in the direction of the braised beef shop. His chest tightened, and he broke into a run.
When he got close, he saw that the stove in front of the shop had been overturned. Clay pots lay shattered across the ground, beef broth pooled everywhere.
Uncle Li had collapsed in the doorway, blood at the corner of his mouth and one eye slowly swelling shut. He was crying out at three hulking men, "That's how I make a living!"
The leader of the group, Guang Long, stood there bare-armed with a dragon tattoo coiling up his forearm and sneered, "No protection money, no business!"
"Guang Long, it's not that I won't pay. I genuinely have no money. It's all gone to my family's medical bills," Uncle Li pleaded. "Please don't smash the place. If I can't pay for my wife's treatment, I won't have a reason to live."
Guang Long showed not a shred of mercy. "Whether you live or die is none of my business. No money? Then don't run a shop. Let someone who can pay take this spot. Get lost, stop taking up space."
"Uncle Li!" Xie Xie rushed to his side and helped him up.
Tang Wulin glared at Guang Long. "How could you treat Uncle Li like this!"
Guang Long looked at the two kids and burst out laughing. "Little brats sticking their noses in? Scram!"
He shoved at Tang Wulin, who swung a fist back. Guang Long stumbled, then came charging in return. The two exchanged blows, and Tang Wulin was pushed back two steps. Guang Long's strength was tremendous, and on top of that, he released two soul rings.
Just as Guang Long lunged for Tang Wulin again, Tang Wulin summoned his Blue Silver Grass with his right hand, instantly binding Guang Long's limbs.
Xie Xie seized the opening with practiced coordination, pressing a dagger against Guang Long's throat. "Apologize to Uncle Li and pay him back. Or I'll kill you."
Guang Long wasn't afraid. He scoffed, "You think you've got what it takes to kill me, kid?"
Though Xie Xie had never killed anyone, the fury in him had already reached a boiling point.
He pressed the dagger down harder, only to find that the man's skin had turned iron-gray, his neck solid as metal.
Guang Long threw a punch at Xie Xie.
"Watch out!" Tang Wulin called the warning while yanking on the Blue Silver Grass still wrapped around Guang Long.
At that moment, a figure appeared without warning beside Guang Long, pressed a hand down on him, and Guang Long crumpled to the ground.
Xie Xie looked up, and his face lit up instantly. "Arthur!"
"What happened here?"
Arthur had heard the commotion and was told someone had smashed up a shop and started a fight. He came straight over.
He couldn't help everyone, but whenever he came across something like this, he wouldn't let it pass.
He arrived to find this scene.
A quick look told him this was something that had happened in the original story. Even with his involvement, Xie Xie frequented this shop, and sooner or later a confrontation with Guang Long was inevitable.
Still, it was better to understand the full picture first.
Seeing Arthur arrive, Tang Wulin ran over, and together with Xie Xie they recounted the whole situation from beginning to end.
"Oh? Quite the attitude. Even said out loud you didn't think he'd be killed." Having confirmed it matched what he already suspected, Arthur pressed a foot down on Guang Long's head.
In his view, people like this were worse than evil soul masters. Evil soul masters deserved death, which made Guang Long all the more deserving of the same.
Guang Long tried to push the foot off his head but couldn't summon any strength. "Kid, do you know who I am? My brother is Guangbiao, captain of East Sea City's Mecha Brigade!"
"Then do you know who I am?" Arthur raised an eyebrow, then suddenly crouched down and pressed a fingertip lightly against the dragon tattoo on Guang Long's arm, right at the point where he had earlier blocked the circulation of soul power through the man's meridians.
Guang Long instantly went limp, as if his bones had been hollowed out. The harder he tried to channel his soul power, the more his entire body shook with pain. Even the curses he wanted to hurl got stuck in his throat.
The two lackeys nearby went pale, their legs trembling. Neither dared step forward, not when even Guang Long was completely powerless to resist.
From somewhere in the crowd came a sharp voice, "Isn't that Guang Long? Someone's finally putting him in his place!"
Another murmured in agreement, "Uncle Li is such a good man. His wife is bedridden, and that shop is all he has. Guang Long is absolutely rotten."
The words drifted into Guang Long's ears. His face flushed the color of a pig's liver, but he could only grit his teeth and endure. "You dare hurt me, my brother will..."
"Hurt you?" Arthur shook his head. "You just asked Xie Xie if he dared kill you."
"Now let me ask you the same question. Do you think I dare?"
His voice was quiet, but it carried a pressure that sent a chill down the spine.
Guang Long was genuinely afraid now. He could tell this person was nothing like Xie Xie had been. His voice trembled. "I was wrong. I'll compensate Uncle Li for his shop. I'm sorry." Every last trace of his earlier arrogance had vanished, replaced by nothing but raw terror.
Arthur turned to look at Xie Xie, who was still supporting Uncle Li. "Do you know how much the damages come to?"
Xie Xie immediately consulted with Uncle Li and reported the total.
Guang Long frantically ordered his lackeys to hand over the money, then apologized while pinned under Arthur's foot.
Uncle Li looked at the bills in front of him, then at the trembling Guang Long, and finally let out a long sigh. "That's enough. Just don't come causing trouble again."
"Don't worry, he won't be back to cause any more trouble." Arthur shook his head slightly, putting Uncle Li at ease.
When he chose to help someone, he saw it through. He had originally intended to kill Guang Long outright. But a glance at Uncle Li's worried expression and the surrounding crowd made him reconsider; it would not sit well with the people here.
Better to have Guang Long thrown in prison for life.
Arthur was confident that once Guang Long was locked away, not even his brother the Mecha Brigade captain would be able to pull him out.
That was the confidence that came from having the right backing.
~~~
Author's Note: I totally made up the element stuff. Please don't take it too seriously. I'm basically just winging it here.