Realizing that my face must have shown some sort of displeasure with the person in front of me, I hurriedly bow my head and clasp my hands in a greeting.

“Junior Brother Li greets Elder Brother Yi Shao Long.”

Nodding his head while eying me I realize a lot of people in our immediate surrounding had been drawn by our conversation. With nothing to do other than being bored in a queue, the people around me were very interested in knowing if this was a fight or just plain bullying.

After inspecting me for a few moments, Yi’s expression turned confused and curious.

“Junio Brother, how is your condition, did your body get better?”

Knowing that he had seen my injured shoulder, I understood immediately why he had asked the question. It wasn’t normal that a person with an injured body to be walking around the sect lively only two weeks after the incident, even worse, with books under the same shoulder that he had injured.

Quickly regaining composure I found the most believable lie and spewed it without remorse. I couldn't tell him, a perfect stranger, the truth about the transformation I had suffered.

“Elder Brother, I had a medicinal pill from the apothecary pavilion on my living quarters so when I woke up I when there and took it. It was really fortunate that I had saved enough money to buy one as an insurance.”

“I see, I see, that is good, you don’t seem as stupid as people make you out to be. You see I came here from the artifact auction just outside the treasure hall because my friend had told me that you had recovered to the point of putting books under your armpits. I just couldn't believe it, but it's good that you could afford those medicinal pills and that you save one for emergencies.”

Trying very hard not to twist my face in a sour frown I thanked the heavens for my past life and the acting abilities I had gained over the years of dealing with all kinds of people. Letting the insults slide because the person in front of me was at least an experienced Foundation expert due to him being able to use flying treasures, I continued the uncomfortable conversation while the people around us are smirking and sneering at our conversation.

“Yes Elder Brother, I was fortunate enough to have received your kindness and on top Yao’s help.”

“I wonder why even after you came here, you didn’t even try to seek me out and thank me.”

Yi’s face suddenly turned from mild indifference to one of a sneer and mockery.

“Honestly I thought you wouldn’t be able to keep your face straight after I insulted you, but it seems I was wrong. Truly wonderful that you are able to keep yourself busy even after I wasted my time bringing you back to the sect, only to know you were a wastrel that didn't have anything to your name. So as you can see, what kind of compensation are you going to give me!?”

Quickly realizing the mood change in Yi Shao Long’s personality I could only look at him in absolute disgust, people from earth were liars and deceivers, some had tried many times to extort money from me. While they always had an underlining of greed in their eyes, this Yi was normal just a second ago only to change drastically in a flash.

“What, you thought I had saved you for free, what an innocent kid.”

Looking around, Yi encouraged people to laugh at me and my supposed ‘innocence’ while taking my disgusted face as a confused and fearful one.

‘This guy, I can understand he wants to be rewarded but even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I am too poor to even mention, my only possessions are the meager coins to eat and the clothes in my body.

Even so, I need to think of something and fast.’

Suddenly tilting my head in a confused and questioning angle, I raise my brows and open my mouth in surprise.

“Elder Brother, how could I a lowly person be able to give you anything that would benefit your cultivation. I am even ashamed to think such things.

I am sorry, what you want from me is too much, I do not have pill nor money so please forgive me.”

Shouting to the best of my abilities, the hall that was filled with noise suddenly turned quiet as every person that was not paying attention to our little discussion quickly turned their heads to look at us, whispering.

The teachers, the ones that I was targeting with my loud voice looked at us in surprise while I changed my expression of confusion to one of fear.

“Y-you, what are you saying.”

From everyone in the hall, the most surprised one was without a doubt Yi Shao Long as his former cocky demeanor dissipated and his eyes focused on the teachers that were frowning at my words.

One of the most known rules in the Heavenly Fire’s Sect was that extorsion was absolutely forbidden due to the sect’s greed.

Everyone knew that greed was the only motivation for the Elders of the Sect, being so, any extortion to the disciples independently from their status was forbidden because they were afraid that people wouldn't turn in their monthly quotas.

There was also the problem of face, they as cultivator representing the sect couldn't allow people to extort each other and letting the Empire see them as a gathering of barbaric cultivators.

Whispering Yi Shao Long said,

“You are pushing your luck Li Xiao Nu!”

Looking at him with a fake surprised face I clasped my hands and bowed while saying.

“Elder Brother, I need to go eat, so if you excuse me.”

Seeing that the teachers were approaching for a better look at our discussion I took advantage of Yi's tied hands to leave.

“Y-you can’t leave you bastard!”

Turning slowly around I could not help but gloat at Yi’s embarrassed face, of course, he would seek some form of revenge, but I was hoping to be far away from the sect by that time.

‘I really need to leave this place and go explore this world, this place doesn't have anything that I need besides basic common knowledge. If I just had more time to study those books in depth.’

After leaving towards another division of the central pavilion hall and waiting in line at the Sects canteen I grabbing a low-grade hunger pill and finished my business there.

Heading immediately towards the registry desk I ended up asking for a new guide to the sect rules.

Getting everything done turned out to be quite the slow process reminding me of the long lines at the DMV or other government agencies on earth, where one could be expected to wait for hours to have their turn.

So, as the sun settled down I decided to head towards the apothecary guild where I could buy the introduction to alchemy, but I was naive to think I could buy the book with the meager amount of money I had left after buying the satiating pill.

I had left the pavilion late in the afternoon and explored the rest of the sect, ending up buying a pair of candles.

With nothing else to do, I headed back into my little resting place and read the books I had borrowed for the rest of the cold night.