And she knew that Ash was clearly waiting for her.
In fact, the group of women Ash had pulled to the side were all looking at the woman in blue now, too.
Holding out one hand toward the group, he held the other out toward the woman. He wasn’t about to let the only orange escape.
Clearly distressed, the woman looked to the left at the master who’d been handing out the pills. They were the only other individual in the entire area.
Staring back at the young woman, the man stood up abruptly from the table he was using. Picking it up, he vanished it into a storage space and then left via a door behind him which was for sect faculty only.
Realizing she had no other alternative, the woman began walking toward Ash.
There it is again. Abandoning a young lady in distress because they owe her nothing, and she offered nothing.
Nor did the master even consider coming over to help all these women I singled out.
No one did. They all walked by and didn’t care because it wasn’t them.
Amoral.
Amoral bug people.
Well, we’re going to fix that. Starting here and now.
Because that’s how you fix something like this. By becoming the damn strongest in the entire nation and battering them all into submission.
Until they stop fighting.
Until they stop destroying one another.
Until they actually start caring about people other than themselves.
To do that, I’m going to have to force them to do it.
The woman in the blue dress started walking a lot faster and veered away from Ash, toward the path.
“Stop,” Ash commanded.
As if someone had yanked an invisible leash, the woman came to a full and near stumbling halt.
“With the others, please,” Ash said.
Nodding her head, the curly-haired woman slowly walked by Ash and joined the other women.
“What… what are you going to do with us, Master Sheng?” asked a woman from the middle of the pack.
“Are we to be concubines? Like Mei and Na?” asked a second woman.
“You won’t kill us, will you? I heard you took a girl with white eyes and killed her,” said a third.
“Ah, no,” Ash said, holding up his hands as the woman in the blue dress joined the others. “I’m not going to turn you into concubines, and Mei and Na aren’t concubines by the way. Nor am I going to kill you. Chunhua is actually quite well.”
There was a sudden deluge of questions from everyone there. To the point that Ash had to shout wordlessly to get them to quiet down.
“Questions can be asked later. Right now, I have a question for all of you,” Ash said, his green eyes moving from face to face. “Each and every one of you has talent that is untapped or under-utilized. For whatever reason it may be, you were never given the… opportunity… to rise to your full potential.
“Some of you have so much talent that I wonder how anyone could have missed it.”
Expressions were changing now, even as he spoke.
Nervous glances had changed to hard and direct eye contact. Hands that’d been held in front of faces or across chests were now down at their sides. Shoulders and heads were leaning toward Ash rather than away from him. Each and every one of them had fully turned toward him, as well.
“I want to nurture you,” Ash said simply. “I want to invest in you. To build you up. Make you more. Turn you into a powerful person who can command respect and demand face.
“I’m willing to do that for a very low cost, as well. And before you jump to conclusions, no, it isn’t sex. It isn’t money either. Or doing anything that would degrade you.
“My price is very simple. Join my alliance. Swear an oath on your full and whole cultivation to be my ally. Serve me as I work to change the world.
“A world that never had an interest in you and would have squeezed you dry of all your worth. Never contributing back a single thing to you. Or a sect that would let you be carried off by a single man and… forgotten.
“Do you think for a single second that I couldn’t just walk you all to my home and… vanish you? The faculty would think nothing of it except perhaps, ‘oh well, they couldn’t defend themselves so more resources for others’ and consider it done.”
A number of the women were nodding their heads at this. There were furrowed brows, squinting eyes, and grimly pressed lips in the group.
Perhaps they were remembering slights to them or how they’d ended up at this point.
“No one stood up for you when I had you step to the side. You were dead to them the moment I had you in my sights,” Ash said, shaking his head, his tone forlorn and weary. “And if I truly had evil in my heart, that’d be that.
“Thankfully, I do not. It’s the opposite. I wish to make you a force that wouldn’t let such a thing happen. And as long as we, as an alliance, allow no one to stop us, we could change things.
“And so, here we are. I’m offering to give you the resources to become more. To protect you with my own self should the need arise. To teach you the abilities and cultivation methods that your poor Dantians cry out for, but cannot receive.
“Where the others turn you out, neglect you, and reject you, I’ve sought you out, and I’m asking for your help. Help me, to help you. Swear an oath to me on your cultivation, come back with me to Sheng Street, and become empowered. We’ll then simply claim all the houses in a row until nothing exists but our alliance. From my house, to the end.”
“Yes,” said a woman immediately. She was tall, with black hair and hard eyes. “Yes. I swear it. On my cultivation as a whole. I swear it to you. Empower me.”
“Thank you,” Ash said before anyone else could jump in and add their own. “Let’s go to Sheng Street where I can show you a bit of my power. My resources. And then I’ll receive your oaths.
“If you’re not interested, you’re welcome to leave now.”
Ash took a step to the side and gestured at the empty boulevard behind himself.
“Please know, however, that I will not take you into my alliance after this. Those I invite, get only one invitation,” Ash said. “So… remember this moment.”
Several women looked like they were considering leaving.
Then two green circles and a single blue left, moving away from the group at a very quick walk.
“And there they go,” Ash said, looking back at the rest. “And when they come to regret their decision in the future, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves.”
“What… what if we really don’t have any talent,” said the orange circle woman. “What if you were wrong and… and… you tried to… to invest in us and there wasn’t anything there.”
Her eyes flicked up to Ash and surprised him. They were dark blue. Her eyes weren’t the normal shape and size for this veil, either.
They were far more akin to his original homeworld, in fact.
Now that he was looking at her closely, he was surprised to find that it looked as if her hair was dyed as well.
The roots looked almost red.
As if she were a redhead with blue eyes.
“I can guarantee you, that each of you has a talent that isn’t being used as well as it could,” Ash said. “So much so, that I can promise you that even if you don’t have a talent, I’ll still take care of you. I’ll defend you, provide for you, and ensure your safety.”
“Really?” asked the redheaded, blue-eyed Outlander who belonged here about as much as Ash did.
“Yes. Really. Now… how about those oaths? I’d love to take you back home and show you Chunhua—the young woman with the white eyes that one of you mentioned—who is going to be a very powerful young woman by next week, if I don’t miss my guess.”
That statement felt like a turning point to Ash.
Every woman there blinked, processed what was said, and seemed to understand.
They weren’t guinea pigs or the first-round tests. They were those
he’d gone looking for after he’d already tried out what he wanted to do.
After he’d already succeeded.
A chorus of oaths were sworn at him then. The wild overlap of voices making it impossible to tell who said what.
“Everyone swore an oath that works except for the—”
“I swear my cultivation and myself to you, Ashley Sheng. Master Sheng,” said the redhead, her dark-blue eyes locked to his own eyes. “And I hope you don’t regret it when you find out I really don’t have any talent at all, but I look forward to finally feeling safe for the first time since I arrived here.”
How could she ever think she has no talent? She really has no clue?
“She has below average talent in martial arts and probably would lose to Chunhua even without Essence in her Qi Sea. In fact, you could probably beat her using only martial arts, against her cultivation abilities.”
What?
Ash was dumbstruck. If what Locke had just said was true, this woman really was absolutely worthless.
Then his mind recoiled at that thought. If he disparaged her due to her talent, was he any better than the sect? Any better than those he degraded?
Never mind. I’ll make it work. I’m sure we can figure out a way for her to assist with the alliance.
“Oh, that’s for certain. She’s probably the single most talented Qi Healer we’ve come across so far, in all of our travels. She’s just garbage for the martial aspect of being in a sect,” Locke said.
Qi… Healer?
He hadn’t expected Locke to say that.
Qi Healers were one of the rarest types of cultivators out there. They could command high prices because they could actually heal others with their Qi.
Ash had been healed by a Qi Healer not long ago for the tournament.
“For a Qi Healer such as yourself, I think I’d move the heavens and the earth for you,” Ash said, bowing at the waist to the redheaded woman.
“I… what?” she asked.
She has no idea what she is.
And no one knew.
What a perfect example of the problem.
Eight
“And with that, you will need to continue to search for your Dao,” said the middle-aged woman sitting at the front of the group. Light-brown hair, attractive for her age, and looking like she actually didn’t want to be here, she was almost a clone of any other master Ash had met here so far.
Up to this point, she’d been walking them through a very watered-down version of what Gen had done for him privately.
So watered-down that it was practically worthless to Ash. Not to mention, he was fairly certain that his Dantian wasn’t really at this level anymore.
Ash took her statement as her deciding to end the class but not wanting anyone to stop what they were doing.
In fact, the woman was already getting to her feet and packing away the items she’d brought with her. Though she did leave out the scented candle that was burning.
Frowning and feeling like he needed to do something other than contemplating his navel, Ash decided to try to get back to his Dao.
Or at the least, give himself an internal once-over.
Focusing inward, he looked inside himself.
His Qi Sea was slowly swirling around the golden pillar. The motion and speed were synchronized across the entirety of it. Moving as one, the outer edge moving with the same momentum as the inner ring circling the pillar itself.
Turning his attention towards the pillar, he found it was the same as it always was.
Massive, golden, and unmovable.
Mentally, Ash had to force himself to not go looking at his middle Dantian. Locke had warned him away from looking at it because he knew what Ash would do.
Checking a sigh, he forced his awareness out of his inner search and back to those around him.
This was a class that had been assigned to him and his alliance by the master leading it. Everyone else in the group apparently was also selected for this class.
Opening his eyes, Ash looked at those directly around him.
Mei, Jia, Yue, and Chunhua were all with him.
Tala and Moira were, of course, not allowed to be here as they were classified as weapons.
Na had chosen to remain behind and care for the twenty-some-odd female cultivators that he had brought back yesterday.
Everyone but Ash seemed to be deep in their thoughts, searching for whatever they could of their Dao.
Chunhua’s eyes flicked open, the colorless orbs sliding towards him as she realized he wasn’t participating.
Ash shrugged his shoulders at her. He’d probably have to explain what Gen had done for his Dao later when everyone got back home.
“That was insightful,” Chunhua murmured, her voice soft.
“Oh? I’m glad to hear that. You… sure you’re doing okay? Still look awfully pale,” Ash asked. She’d insisted on going to this class today. She’d thought that if she was going to get better, it’d be with moving about, not laying in a bed all day for hours on end.
Personally, Ash just thought she was angry at waking up naked next to Na, but he didn’t voice that opinion. It was better left unsaid as far as he could figure.
“I’m doing very well. Tired but… well. My Dantian is filling much faster than I expected. The cul—my… new cultivation technique is very effective. Thank you for assisting me in its purchase.”
“Uh-huh,” Ash said, not really interested in discussing that. As far as he was concerned, or at least what he was willing to think of, Chunhua was a tool. She wouldn’t be part of his family, but would be closer to what Na was.
Just like all the women we brought back yesterday. Chunhua is one of them. That’s it.
At the periphery of his vision, Ash noticed Na heading his way. Moving at a sedate pace, the young woman looked as she always did.
Determined, dedicated, and as unapproachable as a drawn blade.
Ash came first in her mind, her duties second, and everything else—including her own well-being—was miles afterward.
Moving over to the patch of grass where Ash and everyone else remained seated, Na stood quietly to one side. The instructor was well and truly gone now, and all that remained of her presence was the candle.
Na’s eyes flicked from the other students to their own group, and then to Ash.
Her gaze stuck to him as if he were the only thing worth notice.
Ugh.
I really… don’t… Mei wouldn’t care that much if I dumped Na in the ring.
Right?
“Na and Mei speak often when you’re not around according to Tala, I’ll remind you. Often on how they can organize their efforts.
“Admittedly this is third-party information, but… I cannot even begin to imagine Tala lying about something like that. She’s more likely to call herself a hideous abomination than lie to you, Chosen One,” Locke murmured.
Yeah. Yeah… I mean… yeah.
Okay. Can’t… vanish her.
Is there like… a potion or something we could give her? Anything in the ol’ archives?
“Yes, there are a number of items, but I wouldn’t advise using any of them. You’d have to have Yue do it. As far as I can tell, Mei and Yue are as thick as thieves,” Locke countered.
Oh. That’s… a good point.
Hm. Maybe I can talk her down a bit with no one else around.
“I believe the chances of that to be as likely as you are to convince Mei that you would make a poor husband, Chosen One, but you are welcome to waste the breath,” Locke said.
Getting to his feet quietly, Ash brushed off his bottom and headed over to Na.
“Master Sheng, how may I serve?” Na asked. Her tone had taken on an edge that he couldn’t quite place. Though it made him slightly uneasy.
It was similar to the fanatical and deferential belief in him that Yue showed. But this was something more, and less, at the same time.
Ash smiled at Na and realized that Locke was probably
right in his estimation of changing Na’s mind.
“Are you hungry, thirsty, do you need me personally?” Na asked, her eyes moving back and forth as if searching for answers across his face.
“Uh… what? Need you personally?” Ash asked, not really understanding her question.
“There is a place not far where you could avail yourself of me and—”
“No!” Ash replied with a bit too much volume. Glancing around, he was quite thankful that everyone was still engaged in the Dao lesson.
Except for Chunhua, who was standing right behind him and listening to the conversation.
“No,” Ash said again, much more quietly this time. “And stop offering that.”
“I understand. Moira takes care of your needs adequately. I will remain available and ready, of course, and offer when I feel I should,” Na said.
“You don’t listen very well for a servant,” growled Ash, losing his patience.
Na smiled at him, her eyes crinkling up in true mirth.
“Because I’m not a servant. I’m your personal attendant. Your Handmaiden. I will serve you in the way I feel best suits you. I’ve given everything of myself to you. I’m all yours. I’ll never betray you. I would rather die first. But I’m not a servant and will heed no command you give me that would lower your own estimation to others,” Na explained.
“That makes no sense at all,” Ash said, feeling confused. He felt like her entire statement was contradictory.
“You may consult Mei, then,” Na said, nodding her head. “How may I provide for you?”
“You… I… ugh. I need—”
A shout nearby caught him off guard and in the middle of his sentence.
Turning toward that direction, he was unprepared for the giant glowing fist that crashed into his face.
Tumbling end over end, Ash smacked and bounced across the grass as his head rang.
Coming to a stop with his face down in the grass, he truly didn’t know what had actually happened.
“Roll left,” Locke advised.
Doing as he was told, Ash rolled to the left and then got to his hands and knees. Activating Spring Step, Ash sprang much as a cat might.
Leaping forward, Ash went almost nowhere. Instead, he did a spectacular face-plant into the dirt.
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