A number of people standing in front of their houses called out to him as he passed. Almost all of them were people he’d recruited recently.
Though there were some people he didn’t recognize who were carrying furniture out of or into homes. Quite a few of them, in fact.
Must be paid laborers.
Keeping to himself, Ash walked slowly into the inner areas of the Outer Sect. All around as far as he could see, classes were being held, training was being conducted, and sparring sessions were underway.
No one bothered him.
No one called out to him either, for that matter.
It was as if Ash were a ghost wandering the grounds.
The decidedly obvious lack of interest in him didn’t feel like a snub, however. Nor were they avoiding him out of disgust.
To Ash, it felt far more like fear or a wish to remain as distant from him as possible.
Which continued all the way to the library.
No sooner had he crossed the threshold of that old building, than he felt a number of eyes on him. Eyes of those who wanted to go out and greet him or talk to him.
The library was filled with people. At every table were disciples.
Reading, studying, or just sitting there, cultivating.
I… uh… hm. That’s different.
Very different.
Scratching at the back of his neck, Ash kept moving toward the back of the library. Where he’d almost always found Gen or Gen found him.
This time, however, he didn’t find Gen.
He found twelve young women sitting at the table where he’d often worked with Gen, all doing much the same as everyone else he’d seen.
Though all of these individuals were clearly much stronger than those he saw at the edges of the library and near the entrance.
Each and every one of them had an indicator over their head. The vast majority had a purple symbol, though a few had blue, and there was a single orange, as well.
“Master Sheng,” said one of the purples in a soft voice as they stood up from their seat.
“Hey,” Ash murmured, waving a hand. He didn’t really want to talk to them, but it was hard not to given that he’d walked a straight path for this location. There wasn’t anything else back here that would technically be of interest other than the table.
“I was hoping to speak with you, Master Sheng,” said the orange, also getting to her feet.
Fuck. This isn’t what I wanted at all.
“I appreciate that… and I’m sure we can arrange some time to talk later. Right now, I’m just trying to find Master Gen,” Ash explained.
“And found him you have,” whispered Gen’s voice from off to one side. He was standing near a bookshelf. “Come, Ashley Sheng. We’ll speak elsewhere.”
All the women at the table looked rather spooked. As if they hadn’t expected Gen to be there or had even considered it.
Turning where he stood, Gen began to amble away, his cane and footfalls making no noise at all.
Oh, thank the heavens.
Ash moved a bit quicker and caught up with the older man as he turned into a hallway. Ash had never noticed it before, but it was quite clearly there.
“It’s hidden from prying eyes,” Gen said, still moving along. “I had quite a number of people trying to find me early on that I didn’t wish to see.”
“Ah,” Ash said. He didn’t need to be told to not discuss this with anyone. He was also flattered at his master’s trust.
Turning once more, Gen vanished into a doorway.
“So, what is it you wished to discuss?” Gen asked as Ash entered the room.
Looking around the office he’d entered—or study perhaps, as Ash considered it—he was struck with the fact that outside of some books, there wasn’t much here.
There was an obviously new shelf directly behind the desk, however. It held a number of things. Looking them over quickly, Ash realized they were all awards, rewards, and recognitions from very recent activities.
“You like it?” Gen asked with a chuckle, turning to look up at the shelf. “I know I do. Especially the Master’s Medallion. I even had the luxury of dipping it in Master Deng’s broken body before he died. After I thrashed him.
“That was most gratifying. Especially when I told him that Mei was a wasted talent in the Deng family and she’d be your wife. Oh, the look on his face. So very… succulent.”
The dark chuckle that came out of Gen’s mouth made Ash’s skin prickle.
He lifted a hand and pointed at a medallion that was resting in a glass case. There was a very obvious dried bloody smear across the front of it.
Right.
Okay. Right. Gen… Gen is Gen.
“I mean, I’m glad you’re proud of what we accomplished but—”
“And this one is very special to me,” Gen said, indicating a small golden trophy shaped like a cauldron. “Yue won so handily, so easily, that they didn’t even really bother to judge it. It really made my heart happy to be able to grind that into everyone else’s face.
“I mean, you did realize the Inner Sect had people in that tournament, too, did you not?”
Truth was, Ash hadn’t realized that.
“Speaking of the Inner Sect,” Ash started. “How bad is it?”
“Is what, the Inner Sect? Full of the types of people that would have done well in the Deng family,” Gen said with a shrug of his shoulders. The fearsome smile on his face hadn’t faded. “I’m sure when the time comes, you’ll lead a lovely crusade through their ranks. I look forward to dipping my Inner Sect Master’s Medallion in the current Inner Sect master’s broken body. Alive or dead, it matters not. His spirit will surely wail.”
Gen is so very Gen. Always… respect Gen.
“I meant… more along the lines of did I… start a war with them?” Ash asked, getting straight to it. “I mean, it felt like Bartek was a crony of theirs. Was he?”
“Most certainly on both accounts. A definite war with them, and definitely a crony,” Gen replied. “But what does that matter? We’ll stomp them flat just as easily as we did the Deng.
“We’ve already managed to capture a few of their lesser masters and were able to get all sorts of information out of them.”
“Uh… right,” Ash said.
“Nothing for you to worry about. Students only truly need fear other students,” Gen said with a wave of his hand and a laugh. “Besides, they shouldn’t have come to the Outer Sect to spy. They knew better.”
“Then, yeah… I started a war,” Ash said.
“Of course. But you knew you would,” Gen said, shaking his head with a grin. “You still killed him. Didn’t stop you. And how did you kill him by the way?
“No one could prove you had anything to do with it, other than destroying his forearms and hands by reverting his energy back to himself. Which wasn’t what killed him, obviously.”
“Uhm,” Ash said, then held his hands up in front of himself. “I leech Qi from anything I hit. If I leech them to the point that they have none left, it kills them. People can’t see it, though.”
“Would you show me?” Gen asked.
Trust given is trust earned.
“Of course, Master Gen,” said Ash, coming around to his side of the desk.
Reaching out, he lightly patted Gen on the shoulder, then attached the very weak-looking and pathetic chain to his chest.
“I see,” Gen said, his eyes narrowed as he stared at his shoulder, then Ash, then his shoulder again. “I can’t see it. But I can feel it. How interesting. The strength of the attack dictates the leech effect?”
“Yeah. I was pulling on Bartek really hard,” Ash admitted, dismissing the Qi Chain.
“Could have let him live but… that seemed like the wrong answer,” said Ash.
“Most definitely the wrong answer. Never allow an enemy to live if you don’t have to,” Gen said, looking back to Ash. “Though that doesn’t seem like the only thing you came to see me about.”
“I opened my middle Dantian,” deadpanned Ash. “I also built… my Dao… into it, I think. I haven’t checked because I’m afraid to do so.”
Gen’s eyebrows crawled up his forehead and stuck there.
“I also… well, my Dao is momentum,” Ash said. “Flowing, redirecting, changing, or moving with momentum. Kinda like water going down a stream.”
Saying nothing, Gen only watched him.
“And I… I got to the point that I could see the flow of… I guess… time,” Ash said. “I could see what Bartek was going to do before he did it and… and I just… I murdered him. It was like fighting a blind citizen who’d never had a day of instruction before.”
Sitting there, Gen looked like more of a statue than a living man of flesh and bone.
Folding his hands in his lap, Ash didn’t really know what to say further.
“Well. If that’s true—and I don’t doubt you, Ashley—then I’d say your Dao is going to be the bane of your existence,” Gen said. “Because if it’s something that strong… something that… fate-defying… you’re going to have a very… very… bad tribulation when you cross over into Mortal Refining. And every one after that.”
Errgh.
Bad is an understatement, I think.
“Very much so, Chosen One,” Locke said.
“Could you show me? Tap into your Dao for me,” Gen asked.
Shrugging his shoulders, Ash closed his eyes and sought his inner Qi Sea. It took a few moments, but he found it easily enough. Sitting there in the middle of it all was his golden pillar.
A pillar that dominated the ocean and looked almost more like an island now, rather than just a column.
Rising straight up to the top and beyond.
As soon as he touched it, he felt his entire self get wrenched into a different perspective. One that was draining him quickly of Qi as he sat there.
The feeling was the same as he’d felt during his fight, but now he knew why he was so tired.
His Dao drained him harder than he’d crushed juice-boxes as a little kid.
Gen’s hand rocketed out across the desk at him and straight towards his face.
Dodging to one side without a thought or concern, Ash ended up moving out of the way entirely.
Before Gen had even thrown the punch, Ash was already well outside of its path.
“Ah,” Gen said, his extended hand in the space Ash’s head had just been. “It would seem… that you truly are going to have a very bad tribulation. We’ll need to prepare for it.”
Nodding his head slightly, Ash dismissed his Dao. It was simply too much to hold onto if he wasn’t using it actively or draining someone else.
He hoped it wouldn’t always be that way, but for right now, it wasn’t something he could just use as he liked.
“Prepare extensively. Pills, potions, food, and defensive relics. We’ll need to prepare everything possible,” Gen said, the concern on his face flashing away in an instant. Replaced by his predatory and wolf-like smile. “We’ll have the rest of your group also participate at the same time. I think… I think it would be rather grand to show off all my students’ tribulations at the same time.
“I honestly thought Yue would have a considerable issue given her alchemy but this is going to be levels beyond that. Yes. I’ll have to ask the sect leader to allow me to put up a defensive formation. I think a five-point one would be suitable. You could each take a position in the formation.”
“Right. Ah, sure,” Ash said. He wasn’t really following that closely. It sounded like Gen was just verbalizing his thoughts aloud rather than speaking to Ash directly.
“I’ll go speak with Bao immediately,” Gen said, shaking his head, still grinning. “Such a lovely time I’m having as of late.”
“Glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself,” Ash said with only a little bitterness in his voice. He’d felt like the last several months had been anything but enjoyable.
“Indeed!” Gen said standing and picking up his cane once again. “Much more enjoyable than wasting away in the library. Much, much more enjoyable.”
I think I’d prefer the library.
Fifteen
Making his way back to his home, Ash didn’t realize how long he’d actually been gone.
After Gen had left, Ash had sat there in contemplative peace.
Silence.
Where no one bothered him, no one wanted to talk to him, and no one needed anything.
Walking at the same sedate pace, Ash couldn’t help but notice there was an entirely different crowd of people moving about on the streets of the Outer Sect.
People he didn’t recognize, know, or have any thoughts of one way or another.
It was almost as if the old population had been entirely replaced with another one.
“We’ve run across a few of these individuals at earlier times, but no one we’ve had any direct interaction with,” Locke said. “Though there does appear to be something up ahead for us.”
Turning to face directly ahead, Ash saw a small group of people blocking the exit of the plaza he was using to get home.
There were perhaps five or six people standing there, each one looking like they wanted someone to come close to them.
Bandits? Again?
I mean… I know they’re kinda lax on the whole ‘robbing others’ rule right now, but this is getting ridiculous.
“Gen or Zha would tell you it weeds out the weak, Chosen One,” Locke said.
Yeah, and I’d tell you that’d be someone like Rou or Yue. Who needed just a little effort and—
“It’s not that I disagree with you,” Locke said, interrupting him before he could really get going. “I’m merely stating what they’d say.”
Grimacing, Ash came to a stop. He really wasn’t sure how to proceed further without looping around to another path entirely.
Except he suspected that there’d be a group of people waiting there as well.
“Fuck it,” Ash said, shaking his head.
Lifting his chin up, he started walking toward the group. This was the quickest way to get back to Sheng Street. He wasn’t going to deviate now just for the sake of trying to be non-confrontational.
Walking right up to the group, who were all staring at Ash now, Ash came to a stop.
“Move, or be moved,” Ash said calmly. “And you may remember this moment later if you decide to be moved, as it will not be a pleasant experience for anyone.”
The young man in front of Ash laughed at that. Then he reached up and lightly shoved at Ash’s shoulder.
“And who the hell do you think you are, huh? To tell me that to my face in my own plaza?” asked the young man.
“I’m Ashley Sheng, and I’m going home,” Ash said. Slowly, he moved into a defensive stance. At the same time, he began calling up his abilities and activating him.
The last thing he needed right now was a fight, but he wasn’t about to let anyone abuse him in any way without his permission.
“Ashley… Sheng?” asked someone in the group.
“Move, or be moved,” Ash repeated. He was done talking.
Spring Step forward.
Lead with the elbow. Drop the man in the front down, and attach the chain. Strike out with a straight blow across the one on the left’s jaw with whatever we have left of Spring Step.
Attach that chain, as well, and then fade back several steps.
Bring up a rod of—
“Sorry, sorry,” said a woman from somewhere in the group. She bodily shoved the one in front to one side and then pulled a few others back several steps. “Thought you were someone else.”
Frowning, Ash couldn’t really understand the change in their posture. When he’d first gotten into position, they’d looked rather confident.
“You may leave,” said a voice from behind him.
Glancing over his shoulder, Ash found Moira standing there. Her wings were outs
pread and wide. The white feathers practically glowed against the darkening evening.
Her right hand held her sword casually to one side. Metal Essence traveled up one edge and down the other, giving the sword a strange greenish glow.
Of course. They believe her, but not me.
“How many Owls do you know? I only know one. That’s just me, though. Maybe you know more?” Locke asked.
Dropping his stance, Ash sighed and pressed a hand to his brow. At the same time, the would-be bandits departed, fleeing in two different directions.
“You shouldn’t have left without accompaniment,” Moira chided him. “You’re too valuable to us to be wandering around the sect by yourself.”
“Uh-huh,” Ash said and started walking forward again. “Or maybe I just expected you to be watching me.”
“You didn’t,” Moira said tersely. There was the clack of her sword being rammed home into its scabbard. “Don’t be cross with me just because you made a mistake.”
“I’m not being—”
Ash snapped his mouth shut with an audible click.
I’m being dumb and cross.
“Yep. You are. Good thing you noticed it before she got too mad to come to bed with us,” Locke said.
“I’m sorry, Moira. You’re right,” Ash said, not slowing down. He wanted to get home now. “I’m just angry and annoyed. Things feel like they are just spiraling out of control. More and more people are looking to me to lead them and I can feel the pressure building up. Like a weight. On my head.”
There was a soft fluttering noise of Moira’s wings and then she was beside him. One of her wings curled around his shoulders.
“It’s well that you realize it. And also that you see what’s happening,” Moira said, leaning forward to stare at him. Her large eyes practically glowed in the fading light. “Many more will flock to your banner. You will be forced to lead and guide them. You cannot claim you’re a poor leader and simply sit this one out, or leave it to others.”
Unable to meet her eyes, he looked away even as they walked forward.
Ash promptly lost his concentration and tripped over something he didn’t see on the path.
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