Apocrypha: Fortuitous Encounter. (Patreon)

Here is the axed part of the chapter. I think it doesn't fit quite well, but threat may be me. Also, there has been a small update to Chapter 59.1, just fleshing out a bit more conversation. the chapter remains largely unchanged.

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The rest of the day passed quite pleasantly, if a little boringly. The sights and sounds of the city steadily grated on Gou Ren, once he got used to them, and Tigu too seemed to dislike the crowds. The giant Still-thing was kind of neat he supposed.

So while the rest of the group kept wandering from stall to stall, Gou Ren decided to excuse himself, and instead do something that interested him, promising to meet up with everybody else later.

Namely find a building to discreetly scale, and just… well, look at the city. It was damn amazing, how people could figure all this stuff out, and then do it all without Qi. It took enough work as it was with it! Buildings that stretched into the sky. The massive palace, that could probably fit all of Verdant Hill into it.

It was just so interesting, though it wasn’t lost on him that he liked the city itself, but not the multitudes of people that came with it.

“‘Tis not often the youth of today takes an interest in the works of mortals.” A voice behind him mused, and Gou Ren jumped, jerking around.

Gou Ren blinked at the older man, clad in a simple robe with a hat that covered his eyes. It had seen better days, as it had a rather large hole that had been patched in it. He carried a box in his hands.

Something twinged in Gou Ren’s mind. Qi.there was… well, it felt a bit weird, but there was Qi there, so he was probably a cultivator. Gou Ren swallowed thickly, unsure of what to do.

“Ah, my apologies, I did not mean to intrude.” The man stated, but it was obviously a formality. He looked a bit annoyed, and tired, if Gou Ren was honest.

So Gou Ren shrugged.

“It's big enough for both of us.” he said, simply moving over a bit.

Some of the man’s irritation faded, and he nodded, sitting down beside him.

“As for why I’m lookin’ at the street, well, its pretty neat, how everything is organized. And just being able to do it all with math and without any Qi at all...”

The man seemed surprised, and nodded his head firmly when he heard the word organized.

“Indeed. Organization is key!” He declared, and then sighed. “Though sometimes it alone is not enough.” He grumbled, and opened the box he was holding. It smelled faintly of maple, though they had the barest drizzle of syrup overtop. They did look pretty tasty though.

The man sighed again, as he looked at them. “The end of finite things is always a cause for sorrow.” He muttered.  He opened the box, and there was the faint smell of maple. He plucked out a pastry and took a bite.

Gou Ren frowned at the syrup covered treat. Must have been what Yun Ren was talking about, and they would probably taste better with some more syrup...

He rummaged around in his pack.

“Trade ya”. He offered, holding up the bottle of syrup.

The other man’s eyes widened briefly.

“And the price for this boon?” The man asked.

“...one of your pastries?” Gou ren ventured.

The man chuckled, the irritation fading.

“Then the bargain is struck.” The man agreed, shuffling closer to Gou Ren.

Gou Ren shrugged, as he drizzled more of the syrup out onto the pastries.”...you looked like you had a rough day.”

The man chuckled. “Indeed. Though it pains me that it is so plain upon my features that it is discernible so readily. But you are correct, mine organization had some.. Issues. Faulty information, long journeys and conflicting reports. It is quite a vexation.”

Gou Ren shrugged. “Sounds rough.”

The man actually smiled at that.

“Yet enough about my troubles. How goes your meditations upon organisation?” the man asked.

Gou Ren shrugged. “Eh. it's a bit confusing at times, and I have a lot to learn.”

The man nodded. “The first step to knowledge is admitting one has none, so say the founders.” The man stroked his chin. “Though the bargain was for a pastry… here. A fortuitous encounter, for both of us.”

Gou Ren raised an eyebrow at the scroll he was handed, as the man popped the last pastry in his mouth.

Meditations upon civilization, Xiao Han. The scroll read.

“Uh, thanks—” Gou Ren started, but the man was already gone.

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While kind of funny, I don't think it fit. May just be me though.