[Well, this was new. And awkward. Zhao stood frozen in the middle of the Canteen area--a cafeteria by any other name from the looks of it to the Chinese mafioso. While not entirely unfamiliar it wasn't exactly where he had been two seconds ago. Qing Jin would have made more sense. Hell, if he was drunk enough to be missing how he got here that wouldn't have surprised him in the least. He'd wandered into the restaurant more than once a little plastered and needing his bodyguards to escort him to the back areas out of sight to sober up.

But this was not the Qing Jin, and these people were not Liumang or other esteemed patrons. They were... he had no clue. A few of them ignored him entirely as if it were just another Tuesday. Some surreptitiously slunk off to the exits (and Zhao knew what that meant in the long run, he could recognize that sort of behavior in a heartbeat). Yet a few others approached him, cautiously. That's when Zhao realized he had his weapon in hand. Oh, yeah. He'd been with Kasuga-kun on a Part-Time Hero job. Well, this was even more awkward now.

It didn't help when the people started speaking English at him.]

Ah, shit. Happen to know any Japanese? Chinese?

[He sighed. This was going to be slow going. His English was...not the greatest. Why did he cut ties with Mabuchi again? Right, murderous bastard that betrayed and tortured him to try to take charge. Still, his language skills would have been nice right about now.]

Uh. Say again?

[Maybe more slowly this time for the guy trying to parse out the foreign language. Where the hell was he? This was going to be a long day. He looked around, glancing about to see if there was anyone else around as lost and confused as himself.]

[Ohho~ Now this was one heck of a gym. Large and spacious, boasting several different training areas, and a load of various equipment. Zhao was immediately drawn towards the combat training areas first and foremost. He watched from the sidelines for a moment as an instructor went over some basics for new students, arms crossed over his chest and stance in a lopsided lean to one side. From the looks of him, he might have been a beginner himself if his baggy clothes and carefree attitude were anything to go by. He looked like he dressed stylishly--and expensively if that ton of jewelry was real (spoiler: it all was)--and tried to look like a punk straight out of a gangster movie. The joke was on anyone who made fun of him as he immediately smiled his cooked Cheshire Cat smile and freely admitted that he was, in fact, part of a gang back home. Or, had been, at any rate.

The instructor on hand didn't waste any time with formalities or sympathies. If Zhao didn't want to take this seriously then that was on his head. Of course, the instructor also wasn't expecting the Chinese man to actually show true form whenever it was his turn to spar with the helper that was testing newbies out. Zhao wiped the floor with him even after the helper shifted tactics and tried to up his game. Zhao simply laughed.]

That all you got?

[He was quickly escorted off the sparring mat and talked to privately, thus ruining his fun. However, after his discussion he did get the chance to show off more of his combat prowess by demonstrating his various kung fu styles as well as showing his aptitude for melee weapons. He explained his favorite was the Chinese saber but he also picked up a spear and twirled it around expertly for a while to show off, too. Anything they handed him Zhao seemed to either know how to handle already or picked up very quickly.

Eventually he moved on to firearms. He quickly demonstrated his knowledge of the working mechanisms of a gun to prevent anyone trying to lecture him on maintenance and general safety. He fired a couple of shots off to prove he could hit a target. Satisfied, he was assured he'd be allowed access to the weapons he'd arrived with so long as he followed the rules concerning them. Fine, he could play along.

The next part may have surprised anyone watching him. He moved to where there was actual cooking going on. Maybe he was just looking for a quick and easy bite to eat without actually leaving the gym to go find a meal? Yep, seemed that way.]

Do you mind?

[He asked someone holding a pan and took it from them while they wondered if they should or not. There was only basics to work with but that didn't stop the former Liumang leader from making something quite tasty. He offered a bite to someone looking curious--and before he knew it, he had a small gathering of people asking him to make them treats in between training. Funnily enough, he agreed and even seemed to enjoy the requests and praise.]

Anyone else want something before I move on?

[Working at night didn't bother the former gangster. This was his haunting time. The beach really cramped his style but he made due. He would have laughed at the squeaking sand if anyone familiar had been around to make jokes with. As it was, he simply found a spot to set up and wait out the night.

He was surprised--and, admittedly, concerned--when the figure showed up on the beach. They looked awful and Zhao approached almost immediately. However, his instincts screamed at him to slow down as he neared the person and he knew to follow that gut reaction. Sometimes that was all that kept a person alive on the streets in the underworld. He called out cautiously.]

Hey. You all right? Can you move?

[No response. His concern grew. Was it the person that made him uneasy or the sight of the unidentifiable injuries? If someone, or something, did this to that person, was it still around? Was his instinct telling him to keep an eye out for whatever caused this in the first place? The idea had him on edge but after a moment of hesitation he moved forward cautiously anyway. This person needed help.

To say he was startled by the sudden lunge towards him as he got too close was an understatement.]

Shit! What the hell? [After an awkward backwards cat roll, Zhao stood up to stare at the creature before him.] What the fuck is that thing!?

[This shit wasn't real, was it? This was exactly the kind of crazy shit they warned people about back at ADI but the hell if Zhao had actually been prepared for it for real. He reached behind him as the thing approached for another attempt at turning him into a meal, going for his weapon.]

[[Hit me with something else! All good.]]