“I’m so sorry, Master Ji, it’s my first time paying for protection,” stammered the owner as he put the red envelope on the table with two trembling hands. “I didn’t know, I didn’t know. I apologize.”

  “Your bubble shark pops once a week.” Ji (季) ate his mochi slowly. “You are new. I understand.” He dug his toothpick into the last mochi and left it there before pocketing the envelope.

  The owner bowed to the gangster repeatedly as Ji stood in front of the shop and held his fingers to his mouth. Slowly, he blew colorful bubbles that formed a shark. The people passing by immediately scattered as the shark took form, and a boy who was curious about the bubbles was pulled away by his mother.

  “How much for the mochi?”

  The owner tried to hide his surprise by bowing deeply. “For you, Master Ji, it is free. On the house!”

  Ji tilted his head and looked inside the shop, then pulled out a handful of coins and laid it on the table, then plucked the last mochi with the toothpick.

  “I sincerely hope your business will prosper under our protection.”

  The streets of Zhixia (指下城) were always packed even in the mornings as the residents went about their businesses and errands in the shadow of YiZhi Mountain (一指山). But despite the packed streets, Ji felt unhindered in his route.

  A cat ran by - chased by a child who bumped into his leg. Ji caught the little girl before she fell into the mud.

  Her eyes lit up as she saw him. “Mochi Big Brother (麻糬大哥)!”

  “Stupid little girl -” the mother ran out, and then paused as she saw Ji. Her eyes darted towards the Shark tattoo on his shoulder and her face whitened. “Heavens forbid.” She walked slowly towards them, her hands gripped tightly onto her satchel. “Daughter, come here. Do not disturb that …. gentleman (先生) from his walk.” She stopped a few meters away from them and held out her hand, beckoning towards her daughter.

  Ji looked down at the girl, and held the last bit of mochi to her. She looked at her mother, and then looked at him. “For me?” the little girl asked.

  He didn’t answer, just put it closer to her. Temptation prevailed and she ate it immediately.

  “Thank you, Mochi Big Brother!” she spoke with a mouthful of mochi, running back to her mother. The woman caught her daughter and bowed gratefully to Ji, then disappeared into the crowd.

  Ji continued on his way.

  “Ah, Mochi Big Brother,” waved another owner as Ji ducked his head in. “I have your envelope ready! Did you want the usual? Salted or sweet?”

  Ji glanced at the menu board. “Salted.”

  He ate, watching the throngs of citizens pass by. “Owner, you have changed your salt.”

  The owner bobbed his head briefly, “Your palate is astounding, as usual, Mochi Big Brother. Yes, unfortunately, trade routes have been disrupted. The War-God has recently marched upon the Bloody Prince of the East and taken Haifeng (海峰城) last week - the merchants tell me that we can only secure salt from the Northern Mines at the same price.”

  Chewing silently, Ji considered, then swallowed. “They said the War-God is peaceful upon annexing a city.”

  “Well, rumors has he is,” acknowledged the owner, “But as Haifeng was only conquered about a week ago, it seems that none of the merchants have dared re-open the trade routes. They want to know if the Bloody Prince will attempt to retake the city, though I doubt it, given the state he left it in.”

  “What other things were being traded from Haifeng?”

  The owner stroked his beard. “Hm. Besides sea salt and dried fish, there were Haifeng’s specialties such as wine sauce and wheat noodles. Additionally, whatever the sea-traders would bring, but our Zhixia citizens could hardly afford those and the merchants that would bring those are rare.”

  “I see.” Ji stood up and placed several coins on the table. “I will blow your bubble shark now.”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  He went outside and finished blowing the mark of protection, but then the owner rushed out. “Mochi Big Brother, you overpaid. Here is your change!”

  “Keep it. I sincerely hope your business prospers under our protection.”

  And Ji continued his route, asking about each shop owners’ supply situation, eating their mochi as he went about.

  “The springiness is different,” Ji commented to another owner.

  “I apologize, Mochi Big Brother. The Bloody Prince had burnt all of Haifeng’s fields when he retreated and the ashes have been tainting the river; we have been using water from the wells instead, provided so graciously by the Sharks.”

  “I thought the RainBringer had put out the fires.”

  The owner bowed his head, “Certainly, Mochi Big Brother, all praise the Rainbringer, Queen of Dragons. But ashes remain, even after a divine rain. They are washing into the rivers, and I dare not use that ashen water for food I serve to customers until the carps return. I suspect it may take several weeks, if not months.”

  Ji chewed and swallowed, then left his coins on the table and blew another bubble shark. The colors glinted in the afternoon glow.

  It was time to visit the Red Light District.

  HuaLang (花浪樓) Chamber’s Madame personally greeted him with a bow as she presented the week’s red envelope.

  “Master Ji, won’t you come rest inside today~?” she laid a gentle hand on his forearm as he blew the bubble shark and affixed it to their sign. “Why, the sight of you was so stunning to my Flowers that two of them felt light-headed last week and refused to see any customers for several days.”

  “Light-headed?” Ji questioned.

  The Madame’s eyes widened at his answer even as she covered her mouth with her fan. “Why yes, light-headed. After all, my Flowers must desire your company so much, and you have been so handsomely brash that -”

  “Show them to me.”

  “Oh, of course!” the Madame snapped her fan closed, and beckoned Ji inside HuaLang Chamber. “Master Ji is...requesting my Flowers that felt light-headed at your handsome sight last week?”

  Ji nodded.

  “Certainly~” she whistled at an attendant, “Will Master Ji follow the young maid and await my Flowers to attend you?”

  The room was dimly lit by a brazier and the cloying scent of perfume hung thickly. Ji waited for the maid to close the door before he walked to the brazier and pulled out the incense, before lighting a candle.

  A gentle knock on the door was followed by the maid’s voice, “Master Ji, two Flowers for you~”

  “Come in.” Ji ordered.

  The girls glided in, and Ji looked them over. “Master Ji, we have come to attend to you for tonight, if you would please -”

  “Sit on the bed,” he interjected, rolling up his sleeves and lifting the candle before turning to them. He gazed at their expressions, then added, “...and relax.”

  The girls looked at each other, and did as he bid them.

  He walked up to them and held the candle up so he could see their forms. Beautiful, but trembling.

  “May I look at your faces?” Ji asked.

  The girls looked upwards at him, and he gently tilted the first girl’s chin upwards as he examined her eyes and face.

  “The both of you fainted last week,” he stated, as he dropped her chin and looked at the other’s eyes.

  “Um, yes,” replied the first girl. “Master Ji, should we undress?”

  “Turn your backs to me and undress your top half,” Ji instructed. The girls turned around and shrugged off their veils and clothes, and Ji stated, “I will touch your backs. It may feel hot, but do not panic.”

  He pressed his palms against their backs and concentrated, feeling for their meridians. Disrupted. He probed gently around, and was satisfied that neither of them had been fed controlling drugs. The Madame had kept her word to him.

  He retracted his hands. “Both of you two are sensitive to leyline disruption. Rest for a week.”

  “Leylines?” asked the second girl, visibly confused.

  Ji put the candle behind him so his shadow cast them in the dark. “RainBringer uses leylines for divine rain. Your bodies react to the change.”

  “We cannot rest for another week,” the first girl lowered her head, “Madame has already given us several days to recuperate.”

  “I will talk to your Madame.”

  The girls looked at each other and then stammered their thanks. Ji handed them their clothes. “Stay warm - and avoid rice wine for a month.”

  Ji left the room and asked the maid to bring the Madame to him.

  “I had thought it bizarre that you would finally accept my invitation after so many years, Master Ji,” the Madame hid her lips behind a fan. “And to think that the rumors about Mochi Big Brother are true.”

  Ji ignored her statement. “Avoid using the river water for tea and request the Sharks for well water access. I will put in a word.” He murmured and put a stack of coins on the table.

  “And these are…?” the Madame asked cautiously, eyes glowering at the coins.

  “Consider those two Flowers bought by me for the week and let them rest.”

  The fan closed with a snap. “Master Ji, this is far more than -”

  But Ji was leaving.

  “I sincerely hope that your business will prosper under our protection.”

  also no longer canon, it served as a great way for me to explore the world for myself and still functions as a very vague outline. I did consider posting the full original draft of BtH, but it's a bit embarrassing while also spoiling some major plot points I plan on keeping.

  thank you to all my readers for being patient, and extra thanks for anyone willing to give me an honest review.