Cultivating Chaos 2

by William D. Arand

  “I believe Tala and I are sufficient,” Na added. “Though to be truthful, I begin to suspect Master Sheng could fight us all at once, and win.”

  “She’s correct. Especially if you start using your Dao again and didn’t care if you harmed them,” Locke said.

  Ash didn’t really want to think about his Dao. The fact that he’d actually tapped into the flow of time was mildly concerning to him.

  He didn’t even want to consider what the consequences would be for that as far as a tribulation went.

  I’m going to get destroyed.

  “I would expect you to. Your Dao is too powerful. Be thankful Gen is preparing a defense for you,” said Locke.

  Leaving Sheng Street, Ash entered the first plaza and was mildly surprised.

  There was no one there.

  Not in any direction.

  As far as he could see from one end to the other, it was devoid of people. Not even the signs of people.

  “It’s still kinda dark out,” Ash mumbled, looking around. “Sun isn’t even fully risen yet.”

  “Hmph,” grunted Tala. “Let’s go find someone and take their armband.”

  “Let’s not,” Na disagreed. “We shouldn’t engage if we don’t have to.”

  Shaking his head, Ash scratched at his cheek.

  He could feel light stubble there.

  Forgot to shave. Need to do that. Beards aren’t really that much of a thing here.

  About as common as someone coming at you head-on when you expect it in a battle.

  Because normally… normally… well… maybe?

  Ash turned around and looked back the way he’d come from.

  He could see where the street bisected at the original intersection from the entrance and testing areas.

  If it were me, I’d attack from there. It’s a lot more open and harder to defend. Isn’t it?

  But only after launching some type of distraction somewhere else.

  And a distraction could be as simple as not being there at all. Isn’t it?

  Or match it with an attack at a different location.

  “What were the rules again?” Ash asked.

  “You cannot enter another’s home, and if you lose your armband, you must return home,” Na stated.

  “Nothing about out of bounds otherwise?” Ash inquired.

  “No. Why?”

  Moving back to where they’d started from, Ash was surprised to find Chunhua there engaged in a conversation with Rou.

  “Chunhua, what are you doing here?” Ash asked coming over to the sorceress.

  “Ah, Mei and Jia were moving to the plaza entrance from the new road. There were reports that people were massing there,” Chunhua said, turning her white eyes toward him. “Yue has retreated back to begin working on her alchemy again, and I was asked to come relay the movements to you.”

  “So… who’s at the original intersection then?” Ash asked.

  “My squad and Yue’s. But it isn’t likely anyone will come from that direction. It goes out of the sect itself and into the city,” Chunhua said, shaking her head.

  “Why?” Ash asked simply.

  “Why what?”

  “Why? Why wouldn’t they attack from that direction?”

  “B-because it goes out of the sect and into the city,” Chunhua repeated.

  “And? That’s not off-limits. Na just told me that. Is it off-limits or not?” Ash asked, looking between the two women.

  “No one has ever attacked from there,” Na said firmly. “The Deng family always won the armband wars. The city was never included.”

  “Yeah, and those were always fought in the upper end of the homes. Weren’t they?” Ash asked. “When was the last time anyone bothered with this street?”

  The blank look on Na’s face was all the answer he needed.

  Shit. They’re going to attack from the city side.

  “It’s what I would do, yes. Especially given what they likely expect from us,” Locke agreed. “But if I may be so bold? I cannot begin to even think children that such as yourself could consider such an attack. And being outside of the sect past curfew hours would be a considerable problem.”

  Not if they’re working with the Inner Sect. They control most of the city security, don’t they? It’s part of their training?

  “Ah… I… yes. That would make sense. What are you waiting for then, Chosen One?”

  Shaking his head at the title, Ash looked at Moira.

  “Hey, could you please get up into the sky and take a look toward the city? I’ve got an ugly feeling about it,” Ash requested.

  “Of course,” Moira said, her wings snapping out at her sides. She was airborne in two flaps and rapidly climbing into the air.

  “Chunhua, Na, stay here and keep the gate. Rou, Tala, you’re with me,” Ash said, moving off at a quick trot back toward house number ten.

  Moving as fast as he dared without raising a concern, Ash had one goal in mind.

  Passing by a number of women training, talking, or simply being ready, he was once again struck by the sudden increase in population of his alliance.

  Slowly, Na appeared on his right, matching pace with him.

  Turning his head fully toward her, he considered telling her to leave and listen to him.

  “Don’t bother,” Na said. “I’d rather lose my cultivation than be somewhere else.”

  With that said, Ash snapped his mouth shut and looked ahead again.

  “Ah, poor little doggie. No teeth to his bite. You keep that up and Na might have her way with you before Mei can,” said Locke with a chortle.

  “You’re not getting in my bed,” Ash grumbled aloud.

  “I’m not?” Tala demanded suddenly. “Why not? Is my elegant self not good enough? I’m more than good enough, you filthy peasant! I’ll bed you until Moira has to clean you up and give you back to your bed-doctor!”

  “You know. You’re kind of like… kind of like a walking comedy at times,” Locke mused. “Normally, people would call me a trickster but… uh… I don’t need to really do anything. You just manage it all yourself, Chosen One.”

  “I… what? No! Not you. Na,” Ash said, turning at the intersection of the tenth house and moving down the path toward the testing building.

  “Oh. Well. Of course, I’m good enough,” Tala replied flippantly. “You should only be so lucky as to invite me to your bed.

  “Na is but a concubine and should be last.”

  “Yes, Master Sheng,” said Na. “First, middle, last. Bed me as you wish.”

  “You’re stupid. All of you. Stupid,” Ash growled, coming to a stop at the door to the building.

  There was no way anyone would be able to get onto this street from the city without going through the building.

  Ash flung the door open and looked inside.

  There was no one there at all. It was empty, dark, and cold.

  Uh.

  Did I fuck up?

  Maybe Jia and Mei went the right way after all.

  “I mean, I did warn you that it was unlikely that children of your mentality could come up with such a brilliant plan and strategy,” Locke said. “Really. That’s more in line with the nobility of a different generation and age. With a name like Alexander or the like.”

  You’re a twat.

  A soft thump next to him broke his attention away from the asshole in his head.

  “They’re there,” Moira said in a rush. Her wings came down and settled onto her back.

  “Uh, they’re there?” Ash repeated.

  “They’re coming up the street from the city,” Moira said. “Lots of them. They all appear to be from the Shu Alliance. I saw the armbands, before you ask.”

  Oh, yeah. Her eyesight is way too good.

  “How great is their number?” Tala asked.

  “More than enough to wipe us out to the last,” Moira said with a dismissive hand wave. “Even with the strength we have, there are simply too many of them.”

  “The
Shu Alliance isn’t the strongest, but they’re indeed the biggest,” Na confirmed.

  “Fantastic. Moira, Rou, go get everyone mobilized to head this way. Tala, Na, we’re going to go play stopgap,” Ash said, and then marched into the cold, dark, empty building.

  A building that would likely hold a large number of people in moments—bleeding, fighting, and throwing around far too much Qi.

  “What are we doing? You can’t actually expect to hold them off,” Locke said.

  Well, I do expect I’ll be able to hold them off. Just not forever, or even for very long.

  This is the only way through. It’s why they’re trying to do it quietly.

  This is our Hot Gates.

  “You are neither a Spartan, nor a King,” Locke muttered.

  Standing directly in front of the doorway, Ash got into a defensive posture. He immediately activated all of his abilities and began to cycle his Qi Sea.

  Seconds after pushing the Qi into motion, it became a wild and whirling vortex. The walls of his Dantian were coated in it as it rushed faster and faster.

  The golden statues of those who’d sworn themselves to him remained still and untouched. As if they were part of the Sea itself.

  Na put herself on Ash’s left, her spear materializing from thin air. This time, the tip was a round and blunted thing, rather than the lethal one.

  On his right, Tala stepped up next to him, her two-handed sword held almost parallel to the ground. A thin sheen of magic along the edge spoke to it being blunted as well.

  Could use that big fucking thing as an I-beam if she wanted t—

  The door swung inward and Ash was face to face with a young man.

  Darting forward, Ash smashed him in the chest with an open palm. At the same time, he jerked the armband away from the man’s arm and flung it into the ring.

  Stepping back into position, Ash clicked the chain into place at his hip.

  The Qi he gained from the individual wasn’t very much, but it would help once he started to pull on his Dao.

  Na’s spear flicked forward and caught the next person coming in the door just under their ribs.

  With a whoosh of air, they collapsed in a heap right there.

  It was at that moment, however, that they were instantly overrun.

  There were so many people pushing to get into the building from behind that even if the ones in front were trampled, the others would still gain access.

  Dropping back, the trio ended up being backed up to the door they’d come through.

  “If they touch my elegant self in any way, I’m holding you responsible,” Tala hissed.

  “Wouldn’t worry about that. One of Gen’s people isn’t far away. I imagine after the last problem with the Inner Sect, they’re keeping an eye on you,” Locke offered.

  “Sure, whatever, shut up and fi—”

  Ash had to stop talking as a woman with a staff rushed him.

  Gritting his teeth, Ash yanked on his Dao far earlier than he wanted to. Pulling it into action, he submerged himself into it as quickly as he could.

  The staff whistled around toward Ash’s head with far too much speed to dodge.

  Using his left arm, he deflected it high and wide.

  Before he could respond and counterattack, she was shoved out of the way by someone else. Another woman stabbed forward with a spear quite similar to Na’s, but shorter.

  Grabbing the spear with one hand, Ash worked to redirect its momentum instead. Pulling it to the side, it slid past him and hit the door behind him.

  Smashing his right hand down into the middle of the spear, he broke it in half and was left with half of it in his left hand.

  Stumbling away, the woman vanished into the crowd and was replaced by a large man who was in no way, shape, or form a child.

  “No, that’s a child. They’re just big for their age? I dunno,” Locke offered up helpfully.

  Unable to even disagree, Ash was forced into action instead. Throwing the half of a spear in his hand at his current opponent, he had a brief moment of satisfaction.

  It clacked hard into the man’s brow and sent him backward like a tree falling in the forest.

  His Dao wasn’t yet responding to Ash, however. It felt sluggish and resistant to his desires.

  Putting the new chain into place, Ash had a second to breathe.

  Tala was holding her own quite skillfully on his right. Her bladework kept everyone at bay, even as she occasionally threw out her newfound Fire abilities.

  Truth be told, she seemed to be holding out better than Ash was.

  I’m not made for this overwhelming force thing. My specialty is fighting one on one.

  Na’s spear flashed out in front of him and connected with a woman’s jaw, clearly shattering it and sending the woman to one side. Only for her to get knocked down by someone else and flung to the ground.

  Gritting his teeth, Ash realized it was going to be now or never.

  Na was having to cover for him, as was Tala.

  If he didn’t pick up his slack, he would be the weak link.

  And then Ash realized his mistake.

  Letting all his emotions—stress, anger, frustration, and a great deal of sexual tension—go, he embraced his Dao and dove deep down into the momentum of the situation.

  Acting as a rock to be bashed against by an ocean was exactly the wrong way to handle this.

  That wasn’t momentum at all.

  It was counter to momentum.

  Wading out into the crowd of bodies, Ash idly began to redirect kicks, punches, and weapon attacks on his person to elsewhere.

  Blocking a sword slash to the side, he brought it around to intersect with someone else’s shin. Effectively using someone else’s momentum to his benefit, rather than stopping either one.

  In that moment, Ash began to see the attacks before they came.

  Nearly spinning in place, Ash rotated around a thrust that was aimed for his head, ducked down and stepped under a high kick, and then moved forward into the embrace of a young woman who hadn’t been aware he was there.

  Wrapping his arms around her hips, he took a step to the left and swung her around directly into a rather hard punch from another.

  Curling to one side, the woman took the entirety of the blow, her knees going out from under her and falling away from Ash’s hands.

  Attaching several chains to himself, Ash could feel the Qi flow into him and offset the extreme usage from his Dao.

  A ghostly fist flew in through the space where his head would be, giving Ash an eerie view of the inside of their arm.

  Dodging to one side, he reached up and caught the arm as it followed its intended course. Taking a step while holding onto that arm, Ash threw the person into the crowd directly in front of himself.

  Even as he made the move, he was forced to step inward to move away from a knee someone tried to blast into his lower back.

  Casually as could be, without any force at all, Ash took hold of the young lady’s knee and jerked her in close to himself.

  Once more he grabbed hold of another person, wrapping his arms up around her.

  Turning in place, and stepping into the crowd, he brought her around into several kicks and punches all aimed at him.

  And we conserve our momentum while robbing them of theirs.

  We act within our Dao, to preserve it, and use it.

  Smiling to himself, Ash let the woman go. She slumped down to the ground, her hands moving toward her quite badly bruised back.

  “Well. This is somewhat amusing,” Locke muttered. “There’s just one problem, though, and it’s going to catch up with us soon.”

  Oh, yeah? What’s that?

  Ash reached out and snagged a young man around the shoulder with both hands. That same man was in the middle of throwing a particularly strong side kick.

  Leaning with the man’s balance, Ash brought him straight down into another man’s elbow attack.

  The clonk of the bone on bone was lou
d amongst the din of battle.

  “You lost your armband. The first woman you gave a hug to, took it. You forgot what the point of the fight was,” Locke accused.

  Oh, shit.

  “Don’t worry about it too much. Most of the people you’re fighting have already lost theirs, too. Na and Tala kept their head even when you didn’t,” Locke said. “Good thing they’re smarter than you are.”

  Right?

  Good thing.

  Ash took in a woman’s punch, capturing it between his hands and letting the momentum move him back a step. Grabbing hold of her wrist, he turned, put his back to her, and literally tossed her over himself to crash into three other people.

  Whatever.

  I’ll just keep fighting until the judge comes over and taps me out. I’ll just pretend I didn’t notice.

  “That’s… well, yeah. That works.”

  Ash nodded his head and went down low to avoid a flurry of punches from two people at the same time.

  Until he was disqualified, he’d just fight on.

  My larger concern is… why the sudden contest? It seems out of nowhere.

  Unplanned, in fact.

  “Yes. Something else definitely seems to be happening,” Locke agreed.

  Eighteen

  Yawning, Ash shifted his weight around on the couch.

  “It’s over today, isn’t it?” he asked, turning to look at Na and Tala who were sitting at the table nearby.

  “Yes, it ends today, Master Sheng,” Na confirmed. Likely for the fifth or sixth time, Ash reminded himself. “Technically tomorrow morning when the sun rises, but unofficially, it will end tonight and armbands will be counted.”

  “Are you that eager to get out? My glorified and exquisite self should be all you need,” Tala murmured, moving a card across the table toward Na.

  The two had spent a considerable amount of time talking and playing since they’d been eliminated. As the houses were off-limits to those who weren’t out of the war, that also meant sleeping arrangements had changed a bit and that once you entered a home, you were expected to be in the home until the war was over.

  Na chuckled and picked up the card, then laid down two others that made up a three-card run for her.

  “Perhaps Master Sheng is overwhelmed by your lovely self and that’s the problem,” Na offered, then pulled a card from her hand and laid it into the middle. “I mean, he did lock his door last night against intruders. And as a concubine, I’m not the one who he would fear. Is that not so?”