Apollo cultivated peacefully, his breathing steady and quiet. With his legs crossed and hands above his forehead, he resembled a statue, unmoving and calm. The Qi around him was absorbed, encircling before entering through his mouth and nose. Following the pattern of the Simple Breathing Technique, it revolved inside his body, strengthening every cell.
If the scarecrow from the training ground were beside him, it would record his cultivation progress, with the water slowly rising.
As time passed, the number of people on the street gradually diminished. Some glanced in the beggar boy's direction, but no one stepped up to give him alms. This changed when the Filly restaurant beside the beggar was almost closed.
Two women came out from the glass door and immediately noticed the beggar as they turned left.
"So that's him," Filly muttered. They walked towards him and stopped a few steps away.
"Hmm?" Gail, standing behind her, tilted her head to the side, sensing something unusual. She scrutinized the beggar but found nothing amiss besides his posture. "Where have I felt this feeling before?"
"What do you mean?" Filly asked, curious about the expression on Gail's face.
"It's nothing, really. I just feel a certain familiarity," Gail explained.
"I see," Filly nodded, making a mental note before glancing back at the beggar. She observed him closely but couldn't discern the 'familiarity' Gail mentioned. Perhaps it was just Gail's imagination?
"Ehem!" Filly cleared her throat loudly, trying to get the beggar's attention. "Ehem! Ehem!"
Still, the beggar remained unresponsive.
"He's asleep," Gail pointed out, hearing the steady rhythm of his breathing.
"Wake him up," Filly ordered, stepping to the side.
"Alright," Gail pushed her glasses up before she stood in front of the beggar. "Let's see if you still won't wake up with this!" She raised her foot to send a swift kick towards the beggar's head.
"That's not what I me–" Filly's eyes widened, caught off guard by Gail's sudden action. She didn't manage to finish her words as the kick landed, sending the beggar tumbling to the ground and hitting the wall of the neighboring building.
Filly's body visibly tensed up. She assumed her battle stance, using her senses to their fullest. Although she wasn't as focused on cultivation due to her business pursuits, she was still a 2nd-step Foundation Building cultivator.
After a few seconds, nothing happened.
"Nothing?" Filly adjusted her posture, her face slightly red with embarrassment. She turned to Gail with an annoyed expression. "Why did you do that? I told you to wake him up, not kick him!"
"S-sorry!" Gail bowed, her face flushed with embarrassment. Trained to 'wake up' people using various methods, the conventional approach hadn't immediately come to mind.
Filly sighed while massaging her forehead. "Sigh… let's see if he's awake."
"Aw, what the hell?!" Suddenly, someone shouted, and both women looked at the beggar. He was already on his feet, dusting off his clothes and rubbing his face. He looked at them angrily and shouted, "Don't you guys have basic respect for human beings?!"
Filly and Gail exchanged glances before Filly stepped forward.
"We do, but not to a beggar like you," Filly said matter-of-factly, keeping a wary eye on him, still unsure if there might be an 'expert' hiding behind him. It was still a suspicion, and nothing was certain yet. There was a chance this beggar was a wandering cultivator or simply an ordinary beggar, and Ned was just being unlucky.
"Why do people keep discriminating against beggars?" Apollo muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. Despite his words, he knew he might have done the same if he were still in his previous world. He wasn't a saint to begin with.
"I will say this once: you need to leave, or don't blame me if we resort to force," Filly warned, squinting at him.
"And who are you to tell me that?" Apollo raised an eyebrow, crossing his hands defensively in front of him. Despite his outward demeanor, he felt nervous deep inside. He glanced at the woman in front of him, then at the woman with glasses who looked at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
He sensed that the woman with glasses was strong; if he hadn't blocked her attack at the last minute, he might have passed out from her kick. His hand that he used for blocking still ached.
"Me? I'm the owner of Filly restaurant!" Filly announced proudly, puffing up her chest at the mention of her establishment.
Damn! The boss is here! That's why she brought a strong bodyguard! Apollo thought quickly. "Oh? Is that so?
Before Filly could respond, he darted away towards the distance.
"Gail! Stop him!" Filly shouted, watching as the boy quickly gained distance. He was surprisingly fast!
"In my own way or the conventional method?" Gail asked, readying herself.
"Just do whatever you like!"
"Alright!" Gail nodded, crouching down. With a deep breath, she catapulted herself forward, her movements blurring as she appeared instantly in front of the beggar!
"Eh?" Apollo's eyes widened in surprise at the woman's incredible speed. A hand covered his face suddenly, and then he felt himself falling backward, a sharp impact following with pain shooting through his back.
Gail used her right hand to cover Apollo's face and pinned him to the ground. "Stay still!"
"Great!" Filly commented from behind them.
Gail glanced up at Filly. "What should we do now?"
After a moment's thought, Filly spoke decisively. "Let's bring him inside the restaurant. We can question him there and find out his true identity."
"Understood," Gail nodded, reaching to grab Apollo. But she recoiled in surprise when something wet and slippery touched her palm, causing her to let go of Apollo's face. "W-what is that?"
She glanced down at Apollo and noticed his tongue sticking out as far as it could with his eyes closed.
Realizing what had happened, Apollo opened his eyes and saw the woman with glasses looking at him with disgust. "Hehe, my bad!"
"Come here!" Gail grabbed Apollo like a chicken and dragged him inside the restaurant, while Filly opened the door for them.