"Oh, fellow," sighs the soldier, mouth pulling into an almost sympathetic grimace. He pockets the coins and gives his compatriots an idle glance over his shoulder; one of them, at least, has lost interest in antagonizing Tuo, and has come to stand next to the troublemaker's side. "You really should've just taken the coin and gone on your way."

"But don't you get any ideas." This said by the last remaining soldier still standing menacingly beside Tuo. "No need to go tattling to the rest of the guard, eh?" He seizes Tuo's upper arm--

--which he should not have done. The only warning the soldier receives is Tuo's narrowed eyes, before he spits directly at the soldier's face. The man reels back in shock, then promptly backhands Tuo right across the face with enough force to send him sprawling into the snow. "Fuck--fucking freak!"

Tuo lands hard, blood clearly visible spilling from his nose and split lip when he twists around to watch the soldier struggling to wipe spittle from his eyes, and though bloodied, it's impossible to miss his satisfied smile. yeah that's right, fucko, that is spit freezing on your skin.

"Well then," says the first soldier, already rolling up his sleeves.