Chapter 162: Old Ba Sing Se

Chapter 162: Old Ba Sing SeChapter 162: Old Ba Sing Se

"Hehe, looking sweet again~!"

Ignoring the indecent hollers, as usual, a dark-haired matured figure in a slightly washed-up light green robes walked with a basket between her arm and waist that caused her hips to have a sway which made many gazes land on her. Pursing her lips but not holding the urge to lash out, she stepped into a small cottage. Her expression visibly livened up when she entered the warmth of her home and set the material for tonight's dinner on the nearest pedestal.

"Did you clean up the stove as I asked you to?" She called out as a fair-skinned woman that looked like the older woman snuck her head out and scowled, "I don't understand why Zuzu isn't the one doing the cleaning!"

Used to her daughter's constant pestering, the woman shrugged, "Because today it's your turn to do so. Besides, where is your brother?"

"He went out playing pretend again. It's honestly pathetic."

The woman thought for a while and then questioned, "Do you mean he's out working on the farm?"

The girl suddenly looked at her side and finding a distinct lack of a pair of swords and a mask, smirked, "No, mother. He went out to play pretend and relieve his fantasies of saving a girl. That's why I take him to the tavern night in and out so he can stop with this foolishness."

The woman rolled her eyes at her daughter's theatrics, clearly not believing the tale, "Fine, fine. You're free to spend your day as you like."

"Of course," The girl shrugged, "I'm the princess. I will do as I like." She asserted but the woman only hummed, "As long as you don't miss out on your chores."

"Yes, yes..." The girl rolled her eyes, too, "Oh, Ty Lee is coming to the city, or so I heard. She's part of that circus. Would you like to accompany me?"

The woman's frame stiffened for a second and she fell thoughtful, "As long as it's out of the inner walls."

"Hmm, I'm going out... oh, I also heard the neighbors begging for a beating before you entered," The daughter mustered and looked over her shoulders with her nails dragging across the wooden doorframe only for the woman to sigh sheepishly, "There's no need for violence, Azu. Besides, what are you going to do if I do find someone attractive? You know, your mother is single, after all."

This made the daughter named Azu snort through her nostrils and she muttered, "We'll see."

"Fine. You keep calling your brother's name but the two of you need to think about settling down soon enough. Alright? If you want, I can ask—"

"I'm not going to marry some peasant!" The girl snapped with cold fury reaching her face, "And as much as you try to act, everything in this filth bothers you just as much as it does to me! And for crying out loud, do something about Zuzu! He's in over his head!"

With that, the girl slammed the doors and walked out while the woman sighed deeply and bit her lips in sadness. She eventually shook her head and heaved a deep sight to clear the frustration in her heart.

"Phew~ Azu! It sounded like a big fight! What, your mum wants you to find a man? I believe I qualify for the task, eh? Now that I see... you've got your mum's—"

The same man who had hollered not too long ago chimed again. Azu turned to look at him. Disgusting, she thought instantly while he continued to speak and the next second, she snatched his mouth with her nails digging into the flesh of his cheek as her growl echoed, "You wanna have a go? Is that it?" Her nails seemed to have gotten hotter. Searing.

The man cried out in pain as the hurriedly patted her hand, "It's a joke! Aye, I'm kidding! You know me, Azu—"

"Zuzu won't be the one who has a drink with you next time you try your luck with my mother. Or do you want me to hand you to the soldiers, hmm? I'm sure they would love to know all about your affiliations with the devils..."

The youth's expression changed as he spat, "Fine! Just— Agh, fine, alright? Jeez! I'm sorry, Azu!"

She snorted and finally let go of him. As she began to walk away, the woman shot him a glance once again, "Oh, and if you see Zuzu, tell him that your mother was asking if he could fuck her. With your pop's being on the farm and all and me rejecting her."

The youth finally looked as if he'd swallowed a bug but Azu coldly stared at him, "Do tell him that... because I will ask him and if you haven't then..."

She smiled and turned away, leaving the youth with a troubled expression.

---

"So... this is Old Ba Sing Se," Nik rode the carriage while Iroh sat beside him. They viewed a village from the distance surrounded by plots and plots of rice with only a few paths to travel.

"Phoenix City, once called Ba Sing Se, was divided into three portions. The Upper, Middle, and Lower rings. The upper and middle rings included higher nobles, wealthy traders, and amazing craftsmen that had made a name for themselves but the lower ring only constituted the desperate and the poor and held the highest number of criminals.

Right now, the Phoenix King is gradually clearing and spreading out the population of the lower ring outside the inner walls and making Phoenix City only for the wealthy."

"So? They didn't like it and made Old Ba Sing Se?" Nik smiled.

"No... the Old Ba Sing Se is... a tribute. A bad one at that. My younger brother wants this village to exist so the world can see what has become of the once-mighty Ba Sing Se."

"I see... so when can we start training?" Nik looked at the man as he chuckled, "As soon as we find a place to settle."

"Wait? We? You're not staying with us." Nik frowned.

"It's just never a good idea to let them think you're easy to play around with, you know... oh, and just because they tip you, it doesn't mean you owe them something."

"Nik... this isn't that kind of place..." Michi finally interrupted with a chuckle as Nik gave a snicker of his own, "Believe me. It's a village full of frustrated men and women. This IS that kind of place. Again, I'll be with you guys but it isn't a bad thing to know how to deal with annoyances, you know."

They eventually shrugged. And as he said, he'd be right here with them. Although this wasn't what the two had in their mind but working alongside Nik as he showed them the 'ropes' certainly ignited a lot of imagination within the two mature women.

"Hmm... so let's say," Michi stood and sauntered around the table to sit on Nik's lap, "If someone were to sit on you, what would you do to punish them?" Her hands hung over his shoulders as he looked thoughtful and replied seriously, "Be flattered but reject them nonetheless." Not even expecting a response much less a serious one, Michi went into a daze before giggling, "Then maybe I can allow others to flatter me~ hmm? What do you think of that?"

"What do I think of that?" Nik smirked and gripped her hips, a lust-filled growl making his way through his lips and his eyes glinting with such possessiveness that it overshadowed the grip of his hand over her tushy, "I think I need to punish your needy little ass for even entertaining such ideas!"

Both of his hands suddenly slapped her butt as she shook for a second, her own eyes glazing slightly as she breathed hotly, "I can't wait for this shop to attract some troublemakers..."

Nik chuckled, kissing her lips for a second as she finally stood up after having her fill and walked towards her seat once again.

"Say, Master... you don't really talk about your... you know, new world, too," Alone or with Michi, Poppy took to calling him Master for very lurid and specific reasons as Nik leaned back on his chair and shrugged, "Because I'm nothing there. I don't have any residence of my own. Heck, when I arrived there, I was so lost that I didn't know what I wanted until I met her," he gestured towards Michi with his chin, making her flush with sweet sensation spreading around her body, "But here I have accomplished so much... I'm the Nut Cracking Messiah..."

And then their expressions turned bleak. Everyone around Nik considered him important and felt he had too much potential to keep calling himself the... Nut Cracking Messiah...

They'd tried to steer him away from the moniker but Nik wouldn't budge. There are some things even Nik would stand up for. Food, Well-Earned Titles, and Women wanting his tender touch even if they still don't have such needs yet. Nik didn't care about other morality and decided to go with the flow instead. Forming a rigid moral compass would only serve to restrict him, after all

"Why the sudden interest in my homeworld?"

"I just felt curious. After all, your words suggest that it's wildly different in every way..." Poppy smiled and leaned against her desk.

Before they could continue their conversation, someone finally pushed open the doors of their finest establishment and walked in.

"Right! Don't ya bastards know that ya need to—" One look at the burly 1 and burly 2 with tattoos revealed to Nik that they didn't want any tea... but how would he be a great employee and an equally invested partner of the shop if he didn't persuade anyone who enters to have at least one cup?

The next second, the two men found themselves sinking into the ground, and finally, Nik slapping them until they did apologize... even when they hadn't done anything.

"See? This is what I was talking about. You have to be the aggressive one so that you are in control. Right, Michi, why don't you tell these gentlemen the best tea they will get to drink, hmm?" Nik looked at her, finding both of them gazing at his back with a heavy flush.

"R-right, yes, of course. Do take a seat. Now, would you like a cup of Mint Kell Tea? It costs 30 coins each but I assure you proper satisfaction." She smiled pleasantly and just when the two men were about to have some thoughts of their own, they couldn't help but glance at the overwhelming presence sprawled on a chair not far away from them and nodded, "Y-yes... but we don't have any money..." One of them spoke after a second as Nik waved a pouch, "Oh? How sad... thank you for considering our shop. Now get out."

"My pouch!" The one who spoke hissed but two earthen hands tightly gripped their bodies and set them out of the shop.

"Here," Walking towards the dazed Poppy, Nik winked and set the pouch on the counter, and as he leaned to kiss her, too, Iroh barged out from the kitchen, "I heard customers!"

"They paid and left," Poppy yelped and took the pouch before turning it upside down into the drawer...

"They paid and left?" Iroh muttered, "These people are filthy rich... I wonder why Ozai kicked them out..."

"Crazy world," Nik shook his head and sighed.

Even if Iroh felt something sneaky at play, he was quite shameless and wouldn't deny free coin. That's how government runs a nation.

"Won't they come back and cause more trouble?" Michi finally regained her bearings. She, alongside Poppy, was stunned to see Nik act roguishly. He certainly was one, but seeing him take on the role while still having a job like theirs... heated their thoughts. He certainly seemed like a professional in plundering things.

"Them? Who knows. Didn't you say Iroh is one of the best Firebenders in the world? He can take care of things or we can always run away." He shrugged.

It didn't cost them a thing to set up the shop and they were already earning profits so they could certainly run away.

With that in mind, Nik once again sat down on a seat closer to the entrance and eagerly waited for a new customer.

***

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