FujiwaraPhoenix

The Jade Stream

Liu glanced at the little 'bao fight' going on in the center of the table before letting out a little snicker, then shaking his head and turning to the more... Serious matters at hand. The fact that Kyang was incredibly eager to do this aside, willingly putting out someone as bait felt more like something to be done as a last resort than as a primary plan. Thinking about it like that, though... If the bandits figured out that the four of them were snooping about, and if they realized that they were planning to bait them, wouldn't they simply not fall for the bait?

"In regards to what we've got as options here... So far, you're making logical points here, Dai Xin." he said, nodding his head before sighing. "It's a shame, though, that nobody's been able to get a lick of information in regards to a lookout or someone of the sort. The suspects that statement would suggest are very influential people, and trying to interrogate them would be like a tiger defeating a dragon. So I'd recommend against that."

With that said, he turned to Kyang, who still seemed to be recoiling from the sudden shift in balance in regards to the bao from earlier.
"As for what I do know... Since it's the talk of the town, rumors get around quite easily. The bandits seem to be hoarding their ill-gotten gains, so offering to sell it might not be the best course of action. And for older bait-and-switch tactics... Well, let's just say that people come back missing a few things."

Stopping for a moment, Liu closed his eyes and began sifting through his memories. Who the rumors were from, how trustworthy they were, the proof thereafter...

"But most of the people who tackled the job weren't masters; more often than not, they were cocky students that thought they could take on the world. A lesson in humility, I assume, but they come back crippled for weeks, if not months. They seem to avoid the moderately experienced like the plague, which may prove to be a bit of a hassle."

Right, there was that. But the students had been so thoroughly rattled by the rumors and the results that none would dare try. Unless...

"Actually, I do have a plan in mind, now that I've thought about it a bit. I've still got my old training outfit back at home; if I can masquerade as one of those students and hunt around with Torako with you two tailing us, we might have a chance. Granted, that blade of yours might have to be held onto by either of our two peers, but it has a chance to work."

Turning to Torako and the rest for confirmation, Liu shrugged his shoulders and added a closing remark.

"Or would it be better to snoop around for info? Either way's got chances of backfiring on us real hard."

The Jade Stream

Well, you've got the bao war on the table.

The Jade Stream

Liu looked at Xin expectantly and, with a shrug, took a sip of his tea before placing the cup back on the table.

"Well, if we had found the bandits, we'd have sent a team out for them by now. They used to be a nuisance, but with all the trade that's been picking up recently they've started pulling off more convoluted ambushes." he sighed, shaking his head. "But yeah, we've got a bounty on their heads. It's decently large from what I can see, and it's growing every day. But even with all these new prospective bounty hunters out there, nobody's got any leads."

Shaking his head, Liu moved to grab another bao off the plate, but was stopped by Kyang's suggestion that the four of them go hunting for the bandits themselves. Well, three of them seemed to be in agreement...

"...Er... I guess... If you're strapped for cash, we might as well try." Liu sighed, holding up his hands in defeat. "Not gonna try and stop you, but... You know, maybe we should finish eating first."

With that said, Liu took a bite out of his bao and chewed it thoroughly before swallowing.

"So, if we're going down this path... From what I hear, the bandits tend to strike loaded caravans that decide to pass, regardless of time and day. Also lone women, probably for reasons you'd expect. Now that I say it out loud, though... Yeah, let's go cut those guys up. It doesn't feel right, breathing the same air that they do."

Long Way Home: A Multiversal Crossover RP(FULL)

I dunno, I'm here waiting so it doesn't look like a solo Youmu/Accelerator/Last Order adventure.

Synchronization Overdrive: A school-based supernatural RP with a twist

Here.

Synchronization Overdrive: A school-based supernatural RP with a twist

I mean, if it's come to that point, then I can't really argue against it.

The Jade Stream

Liu watched silently as the platter of bao seemed to disappear right in front of him, a sigh exiting his lips as he turned back towards the kitchen. A second serving might be necessary now, given the situation...

"Hobbies, huh?" Liu responded, half-absentmindedly as he began to go through the final costs for the meal given how much everyone had eaten (or would eat) in his head. "Well, I guess... I can read, given how I was taught at the school and all, but I'd much rather be hunting. Job's not a hobby, but it's close enough."

Taking a moment to realize he had been spacing out, the young hunter blinked and shook his head, slapping his face with both hands to bring some clarity back to his world.

"Okay. Well, that aside... I'm hoping you guys have got some place to stay tonight. Some weird rumors have been going around about bandits attacking travelers on the roads recently. I'm pretty sure you're all able to handle yourselves, but... Well, never hurt to be safe, right?"

As the nonchalant comment came and went, the old shopkeeper came out of the kitchen, this time with another platter of bao in one hand and a teapot with some teacups in the other.

"...Wow. I was just about to ask for some tea, too." Liu laughed, helping the man place the two plates safely onto the table.

"Yeah, had a feeling you would. need me to cook some more food for you all?"

"Nah, won't be necessary. Thanks for the offer, though."

Less than a matter of 'not wanting more', really; that Torako girl by herself could very easily empty his wallet, given the chance. With that in mind, Liu calmly began pouring some of the tea into each of the teacups, handing them out as he completed each one before placing the pot down and drinking some of his own.

The Jade Stream

For now it'll be more character driven. Ramping up will come soon, but for now it'll be a tad slow.

The Jade Stream

A sigh of relief left Liu's mouth as the other three guests he had brought with him began devouring the bao left and right. The one worry he had was that they wouldn't take well to them, but since he was wrong, there was nothing left to worry about.
...
Except the pace at which they were devouring them. Torako in particular was an egregious example of this; she had downed all those bowls of soup earlier, and she had somehow managed to polish off a good third of the buns in the time it had taken for him to eat two. What was she, some kind of monster? A bottomless hole?

"I think... We may require some more bao." he laughed nervously as he turned to the kitchen. It'd take a while for Mr. Zhang to have the next order ready, so hopefully they wouldn't get rowdy. They didn't seem like the type, luckily enough, but it never hurt to play it safe. Maybe he could ask if some tea could be put on...

Kyang's question was... Interesting, to say the least, but he could go along with it. Given the way things were going, he might be stuck with these people for a while, so there was no point in not gathering information. The same went for giving it out.

"Ah... My parents live here in Mingdu; father works on the fields, mother as an aide at the medicine house. I mean, when you live in a tight-knit community like the one here, though, everyone's basically extended family. I've got no complaints about that, of course." he stated, a smile on his face. "Though they are starting to get a bit old... Gotta start picking up the pace in hunting big game, or else it might get a bit hard to continue saving as usual."

The Jade Stream

We Soma now guys. :D
But don't worry, that'll change soon enough.