“Stupid old hag, she dare call me that and pull on my tail infront of a client? She’s more ludicrous than I thought.” I huffed, I was angry but I could be for too long as I was approaching the ‘location provided’ by the client. It was an old shack of some kind, it looked like someone had lived there a long time ago, a collapsed roof, scarred wooden walls and the left side of the house looked like it was ready to cave in. “Was our client serious?” This shack looked like it had been ransacked years ago, and he expected me to find a bangle like that drawing somewhere in here? I shouldn't complain, I have a job to do so I should do it. I let my staff float idly behind me as I carefully walked up to the dilapidated old shack, I pushed open the door and looked around. Cobwebs, buckets and boxes, as well as a table sitting in the middle of the room, and sat upon the table was the bangle covered in layers of dust buildup. There it was, sitting right there, this was a trap, of course something was bound to go wrong, this was too simple. “So foolish, but, I can't go back without it, grab it and run to the door, simple as that.” I psyched myself up for this, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, my fur was standing on end, one huge indication to turn around and leave without the piece of jewelry. But no, this guy was paying too much, I knew that Lao De Nu would split this seventy to thirty but I didn't care it was too much to pass up, so I darted to the table and grabbed the bracelet, turning immediately to the door. I wasn't quick enough but soon found out why I was so on edge, well more like the reason I was so on edge found me. I was tripped up by a large battle axe crashing into the floor on my right side, splitting the wooden floorboards as it was dragged back to its owner, a demon. I’ve had my fair share of demon run-in’s, but this was one that I hadn’t expected to see tonight. I was too busy being in shock so that gave the demon time to charge at me, grab me by the tail and throw me through the dirty glass window. I took a few moments to recover from the impact of being thrown through the window and hitting the dirt, I looked up and saw the demon break the shack down and stomp towards me mumbling, Over and over again, I saw the bangle sitting in the dirt a few feet away from me, scrambling to the piece of jewelry was probably a mistake, because the next thing I knew I was knocked back into a tree with more searing pain, this time on my left cheek. My eyes were built up with water as my head was throbbing in pain, I moved my hand to my cheek and winced. Looking at my fingers I saw the crimson liquid running down them, I thought it best that I don't stick around for long. I pulled my staff from my side and grasped the middle point of it, I drew my other hand back while holding my staff to the sky, I grit my teeth as the demon got ready to charge at me again but as it started running I was long gone into the sky. I sat on my staff, panting and groaning in pain, it was somewhat worth it however because I had gotten the bangle. I plucked the piece off my tail and took a good look at it, beautiful it was, dirty but beautiful. I took off, back to the shack while I polished the bangle. I was exhausted and injured, getting thrown through a window isn’t ideal for most people, y’know? The shack was lit up with small lanterns by the time Tao had returned, it was nearly dusk, he slowed as he got off his staff, he was beyond ready for food, a bath and sleep. Staggering into the shack, Tao saw that the client was still there, having tea with Lao De Nu. Tao walked to the table and placed the cloth wrapped bangle on the table, He looked at Lao De Nu and then the client and spoke. “I’m sorry for the wait.” Tao sounded absolutely broken, coupled with the extensive injuries on his face he looked like something that was ready to fall apart completely. “Hey, no worries, you just take care of yourself, here, take this.” The client took out a good sized sack, of what Tao assumed was his payment, Lao De Nu was ready to take it but the client lifted the bag and walked back to Tao who was leaning on the doorframe. “All this is just yours, you don't owe that woman a single thing, okay?” Tao saw the client smile as he handed Tao the sack, taking his other hand and putting it on top of the bag. Tao nodded slowly as the client patted Tao’s hand, the client turned back to the woman and thanked her for tea and the games. Tao spotted the paper on the table with tally marks under some names, then he saw the winners name, ‘Sun Wukong’. Tao watched the client leave the shop but as he hobbled out to speak to the fabled Monkey king, he was gone he had more than likely flown back to flower fruit mountain. With disappointment and pain weighing him down, Tao hobbled back inside the shack and made his way past the old woman scowling at him. “You know you have to pay me half of that right?” Tao looked at the woman calmly. “He said I don't owe you a dime, ma’am.” He smiled as blood dripped from his cheek and onto the floor. The old woman huffed and watched Tao leave the lobby of the shop, she made haste to walk after him to start making dinner, she stopped and looked at the blood on the floor, she thought about Tao, about how much he had done for her and she treats him like a bug. She made a very good decision, she was to apologize at dinner.