The Awakening of the Awakener

Investigating

Unfortunately, XiFan knew very little about this token. Other then the fact that it was a rather recent thing which Lu Ping had managed to acquire, he knew next to nothing about how the other had obtained it, or what it was used for. What further complicated problems was that he had not really seen it all that clearly, and there was never really an opportunity to try and see it more clearly, given the fact that Lu Ping had it on him at all times. XiFan had to admit that this left...well quite a few problems. The first being how was he to begin searching for more information on the token if he could not even really describe it? It was rather problematic as the first thing that XiFan would have to do to be able to get a clearer picture about why it was that Lu Ping seemed so out of sorts as of late would be to obtain the token, and that was quite a big problem, as any time he saw it Lu Ping was holding it within his palms, and it was also dark.

It would seem that Lu Ping had it on him at all times, and had even taken to having it on his person during his sleep. While XiFan was willing to do quite a bit to figure out what it was about this token that seemed do agonize his junior so, he would not stoop so low to patting him down whilst the other was sleeping. That was just a little bit too much for him to bear. However, distantly, he realized that there was something else that he could do. Though that could come with its own problems.

Su. Tang. It was that girl that had come with Lu Ping in the beginning. The two had been found together and both were scarcely clinging to life, although Lu Ping had been far worse off then the girl had been. The two claimed to be brother and sister, and while Xifan definitely had his debate on whether or not the two were actually blood related, there was no questioning the sibling bond that the two shared with each other. Su Tang was endlessly worried about Lu Ping, and XiFan knew that if anyone would know who was bothering Lu Ping, it would be her. The two were together, and they were both definitely hiding something.

He would have to convince her to help him, however, which was going to be slightly problematic. There was also the possibility that she already knew what was worrying Lu Ping, in which case going to the girl would help would complicate matters rather then actually help anything, something that he was not really sure that he wanted to deal with at the moment. 

There was also something to the affect that if Lu Ping found out that XiFan was worrying over him, to the point of actually investigating him, the other would merely put on a bigger show to try and convince everyone that he was fine. XiFan had to admit, the other was quite the actor, and definitely knew how to handle things efficiently. His ability to make everyone think or believe what he wanted them to with a few well placed words or actions was quite admirable. XiFan envied that.

His only other option, in that regard, would be to try and take it off Lu Ping's person, or find a way to get Lu Ping to part with it. While he was not really confident in his ability to do so, he had to conclude that would be the most likely form of action. His original plan of going to Su Tang he knew was flawed. There was a great likelihood that she already knew what was bothering him, and so his asking her for aid would only create problems for him, as she would likely tell Lu Ping what was going on. 

--

Lu Ping had managed to shrug off Su Tang and the pesky senior disciple. While it was not a good idea to go waltzing about town when his former captors were in the same area, he needed information. He could not go on worrying about the Mountain and Sea gang, and depending on who it was that was in the area, he was likely not their main target, which meant that others would be in danger as well, which was further something that he would prefer not to allow. 

Sure, he was rather callous, but this was his place of residence, he may as well protect whoever he could in the meantime. Su Tang and XiFan would only complicate things. He needed information, and for that he was going to have to ask questions, or at the very least go wondering around town. Such actions would cause the two Wind Takers to have questions about what he was doing, as well as why, and that was not something that he needed. XiFan was already being troublesome with his nosiness, and he did not need Su Tang to be placed in any more danger then she already allowed herself to be in by even associating with him still. 

Furthermore, it was not just uncomfortable questions. While Lu Ping hated to admit it, depending on who was in town, he was in danger, irregardless of they found him sooner or later. A couple of low level miscreants would not be much trouble, but if they were not, or if there was a lot of them, and Lu Ping was seen with the Wind Takers, they would rain hell down upon them. One thing which Lu Ping did not want to even begin to allow. Sure, he may no care all that much about what would happen to them, but he owed them. He had been housed by them for ages, and it would be poor judgement to allow such a thing to go unchecked. Since the Senior Disciple still made him participate in those stupid runs, the likelihood that he would be seen was increased, and so he would rather know if the people in the town were those who would recognize them, or not. 

It was dangerous, and the main reason that he had been forced to shrug the senior disciple and su tang off first. It had not been easy either. The two had been both following and checking up on him quite a bit lately. While the worry perhaps should be flattering, it was more annoying then anything else. 

Upon entering one of the best places to obtain information, the local tavern, Lu Ping simply sat himself in a corner, and waited. Listening to all sorts of idle chit chat, he knew that eventually, he would get lucky and someone would give him some sort of information.

He just had not thought it would be the gang themselves.