Cultivating Chaos 2

by William D. Arand

  “I welcome the challenge,” Mei replied warmly with a wide smile. “All of you should compete with me. I will relish casting you all down, then allow Ash to come tend to your wounds, before returning to me.”

  “Th-thank you for doing that, Yue,” said Ash, trying to firm up his resolve. Getting the Sheng family formally recognized was something he needed to have done.

  The bride thing had definitely been jarring, however.

  “I listed Gen as an honored elder as well as the head elder. I also included your parents,” Yue said, as her eyes swung back to Ash. “Your sister, as well. They’re all part of the main family. I put your father as the originator for this branch, though you’re the head of it. Gen was very specific about putting you as the head.”

  “It’s so that no one can move against us except for those at our own age or family level. And… let’s be honest, we’re technically quite small,” Mei said with a chuckle. “If Gen was the head, it would open us up to many more enemies.

  “Oh, that reminds me—”

  Mei turned in place, though not moving away from Ash, and caught Na with her eyes.

  “We need to start converting all the Deng holdings to Sheng. As the last daughters of the Deng, we should formally start doing that,” explained Mei.

  “I’ve already been working with Yue, Mistress Sheng,” Na said, bobbing her head once. “Everything that we could transfer, has been transferred. We’ve also already been systematically determining the statuses of all known caches.

  “All in the name of Master Sheng and for him, of course.”

  “Yes. All for you, Ashley. Na and I have been working very diligently on this. I listed her as your Handmaiden and my personal servant,” Yue said.

  “And the battle lines are firmly drawn. Na has pushed Mei back a step, and lined up with Yue formally. This is so very interesting. I should write a book about all this. Just from their side of course. Their story is more interesting than you are,” Locke grumbled. “Love, politics, scheming, battling for position. Ah… it’d sell well. Romance makes a girl’s heart pound.”

  Keeping himself from rolling his eyes, Ash smiled and nodded his head instead.

  “Thank you, Yue, Na, I appreciate it and—”

  “Ah-ha!” shouted a voice from inside. It sounded like the Inner Sect master.

  “Got it,” Locke said with more than a little amusement.

  “I have right here the p… what…? Where did it go?” asked the same voice. “It was… it was right here.”

  “What?” Mater Li-Yong demanded. “A pillow? You ripped open a pillow? Why did you rip open a pillow? This is disgraceful. You’re just looking for a way to punish Ashley.”

  “No… I p—I found it. It was here,” said the master.

  “Yes! It was there, we saw it!” said a younger voice, presumably one of the disciples.

  “If you saw it, then where is it? I see nothing. Nothing at all,” Li-Yong said, his voice growing colder by the second. “Nothing except a bunch of Inner Sect lackeys trying to get someone else in trouble. This ends here and now, after you leave compensation for these pillows you ruined.

  “Later, I shall go speak to your master and the sect leader. It is absolutely disgraceful for you to do such a thing.”

  “I had it in my hand. The proof was right here,” the master stated, clearly unwilling to let this drop.

  “And yet it isn’t there now,” Li-Yong countered. “That means you either imagined it, or you’re lying and trying to get Ashley in trouble. This ends. Now. Pay for the pillows.”

  There was a soft thump and the clatter of what sounded like rocks.

  “Now get out,” demanded Li-Yong.

  The four disciples and the master scurried out of Ash’s home and left. They headed down the street quickly, as if their feet were on fire.

  Clucking his tongue as he exited Ash’s home, Li-Yong sighed and looked at Ash.

  “My apologies,” Li-Yong muttered. “Mistress Zha permitted this nonsense to occur by allowing them to even come speak with you. She’s not strong enough to lead the Outer Sect.”

  “And the Inner Sect is obviously corrupt,” Ash added. “But we’ve known that for a while. After all, they allowed what happened with the Deng and did nothing.”

  “Yes… though, I suspect that was partially motivated by greed,” Li-Yong offered, putting his hands into his sleeves and holding them in front of himself. “As I spend more time here, I have come to find much more has changed than I originally suspected.

  “There is a sect not far from here. The Flaming Mantis. A sect that is rapidly growing and wants to expand further. Much of their cultivator recruitment comes from the same cities and towns as the Jade Fist and the others.”

  Ash offered no comment to this. He was hoping that Li-Yong would continue or offer more information.

  “If I were to guess… I believe the Deng family and the Inner Sect were attempting to take over the Jade Fist,” murmured Li-Yong, “so that they could sell everything over to the Flaming Mantis. The grounds, treasury, and students. Do it in such a way that everything could look normal from the outside, but slowly erode everything away from the inside.

  “Doing so in such a way would leave the sect leader with only his own authority to resolve it. It also would not provoke any previous students who have become powerful from returning to right the wrong.”

  Blinking, Ash couldn’t quite believe his ears. This was all so complicated and convoluted to him.

  He wasn’t an astute business major or a political-maneuvering shark. That was best left to people who had heavy names like Alexander or Felix.

  “They… it’s a take-over?” Yue asked. “But… that’s so risky.”

  “Apparently not so risky as one might think,” Li-Yong said with a smirk. “If not for a small group of young people, it’s very likely this could have already happened and come to pass. No?”

  As if a bolt of lightning had jumped from person to person, Ash and his group stared at Li-Yong without words.

  “I mean, have you truly not considered your role in this?” Li-Yong asked with a laugh. “You may not have been there, fighting with everyone who paid with their bodies. A bloody price that was paid on both sides for their beliefs.

  “But you brought us here. Me, here. You were a force-multiplier that didn’t just shape the face of the fight, but provided one side with the weapons to actually fight. The blacksmith behind the weapon that was forged.”

  Li-Yong slowly looked from person to person, then started to laugh. A deep and actually joyful laugh.

  When he finally stopped, he shook his head and wiped a few tears from his eyes.

  “Ah, you are all so young, and yet you’ve already done so much. It is interesting to see such talent and bright outstanding minds, behind such youthful eyes and souls,” Li-Yong said, then chuckled once more. “Mmm. A good reminder for me, I suppose. Now… you said you wished to discuss your tribulation?”

  “Yes,” Ash said, stepping away from Mei and bowing toward Li-Yong. “I experienced what felt like an attack. It attempted to stop my heart. I was forced to engage my Dao and cultivate to defend myself.”

  “Cultivate? Last night?” Li-Yong asked, watching Ash carefully.

  “Yes. It was late. I woke up with chest pain,” Ash explained. He considered elaborating but Li-Yong wasn’t the type who wanted useless information.

  “Well. That explains the Qi wave that swept through the sect,” muttered the master. “Hm. We’ll need to move Gen’s preparations into play sooner rather than later then.”

  Looking at the others once more, Li-Yong pointed at Mei.

  “Are you experiencing your tribulation?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’ve felt the edges of it,” Mei said quickly.

  Li-Yong pointed at Jia.

  “Yes, Master Li-Yong. It has attacked me only once so far,” Jia confirmed.

  Next, Li-Yong pointed at Yue.

  “I… I think so? I was making som
e medicine for Ash and it felt like my hands were suddenly on fire and—”

  “Yes, tribulation,” Li-Yong said, interrupting her. Then he pointed at Na. “And you, Na Sheng?”

  Inhaling slowly, Na lifted her chin.

  “My tribulation is due to arrive any day. I’ve made the appropriate preparations for it,” Na declared. “I will be able to rise to a Mortal Refiner without issue.”

  “Of course, she did,” Mei muttered under her breath to no one.

  Moving his hand over, Li-Yong then pointed at Chunhua.

  “The elements call to me,” said the sorceress. “I can feel the hum of the Qi at all hours now.”

  Looking grim, Li-Yong finally moved to Rou.

  “Nothing,” Rou said with a wide smile. “But I’m not really a cultivator anymore. I’m Ash’s personal Qi Healer. It would be lovely if I never had a tribulation at all.”

  “Unlikely. Yours will simply be more to do with Qi and its usage,” Li-Yong said, letting his hand drop to his side. “I must prepare your formation immediately. You will remain in this formation until all of you have finished your tribulation. Bring enough food and water for several days. You will need it.”

  Turning away from the group, Li-Yong began to walk away down Sheng Street.

  “I will return this evening,” Li-Yong called over his shoulder.

  Leaving everyone standing there without a clue as to what to do.

  Other than perhaps prepare.

  “I suppose that means I won’t be able to go to dinner with you,” Na murmured. “Sorry, Yue.”

  Yue made a vague shooing motion as if it wasn’t a bother.

  “Ah. She was going to bring Yue along. That makes sense. They’re partners in this after all. Smart girls. They’re going to win, in the end,” Locke said. “And by the way. The item they were planting? A nice little artifact that assists with Alchemy. It’s not quite a philosopher’s stone, but it’ll be a wonderful gift for Yue.

  “Maybe after you get those ankles of hers behind her head?”

  Ash nodded his head slowly at first, then began to shake it back and forth.

  Thirty-Three

  I still find it hard to believe we don’t have enough food. We had loads of it.

  “I mean, I’m also feeding two other people,” Locke grumbled. “And I’ve been doing my best to make sure they get a balanced diet, Chosen One.”

  No. What you mean is you’ve been treating them every time they get closer. And now we’re running low because of that.

  Locke didn’t respond.

  Which Ash took as acceptance of his statement being factual.

  Shaking his head, Ash continued to put food that would travel well into his basket. Which primarily seemed to consist of dried fruits, nuts, salted or dried meats, and hard bread.

  “Don’t forget the pork. Ehrinis really likes pork,” Locke reminded Ash for the third time. “Every time I put some on their table, she immediately goes after Tai and drags him into the bedroom.”

  Rolling his eyes, Ash didn’t respond. He’d already told Locke that he’d take care of it. Him nagging incessantly wasn’t going to make Ash go over there any faster.

  You’re really invested in this little deserted-island romance you’ve created for them.

  “There really isn’t much else for me to do. It’s almost a form of… entertainment at this point. Live vicariously through her. Them,” Locke admitted. “Though… though, I wouldn’t mind it if we could collect others? I’m sure I could create an entire—”

  No! No. We’re not going to abduct people just for you to play dolls with them.

  “Dolls. Yes. Hm. Rather depressing when you think about it. Playing with dolls. Right back to being a kid all over again,” Locke complained.

  Letting out a short breath, Ash moved away from the shelf and started over for the counter. The last thing he needed to do was pity Locke.

  “Are you all done, Master Sheng?” Na asked, remaining at his right side.

  “Yeah. Not much else to get other than more of the same. And I’ve got plenty of that,” Ash answered.

  “Yes. I have quite a bit, as well,” Chunhua agreed from his left. “It should be more than enough. Are you sure you don’t want me to grab anything for you, Na? My basket isn’t quite as full as Ashley’s.”

  “I’m already prepared. I assumed this time would come given Master Gen’s prior comments,” said Na with a dip of her head toward Chunhua. “Though I appreciate the gesture.”

  “You’re always one step ahead of everyone else,” said Ash, getting in line. They were, of course, utilizing one of Yue’s shops. He always put his money back into her businesses whenever he could. He also declined any and every type of discount her employees tried to give him.

  “I try to be. That way no one can surprise me,” Na admitted. “The last person who surprised me, then did so twice more by saving my life and protecting me from everyone else.”

  “Yes. He does seem to be a walking romance fable at times, doesn’t he?” Chunhua murmured. “Even my own experience is like something out of a tale heard at an inn. From… a nobody with nothing, to… what I am today.”

  “Yes. It was quite impressive when you defeated Mei this morning,” Na agreed. “Mistress Sheng is not a weak woman.”

  She beat Mei?

  “I wasn’t there, but… I would assume so, given that’s what Na said,” Locke replied airily. “It’s not as if I’m psychic, Chosen One.

  “And don’t forget the po—”

  Locke stopped talking in mid-sentence, which gave Ash pause.

  Na and Chunhua were still chatting as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Which meant whatever Locke had sensed that caused him pause wasn’t anywhere in the immediate vicinity.

  Locke?

  The silence Ash got as an answer unnerved him. It disquieted him to the very core of his being.

  Locke was never silent if he had something he wanted to say.

  “Two unaffiliated masters are heading this way quickly!” Locke said in a rush. “The normal security we have around us left a few minutes ago. I don’t know why. I just assumed it was a shift change! We need to leave! Now!”

  Dumping his basket into the Hall, along with Chunhua’s, Ash turned on his heel and started running for the back door.

  He had no reason to ever doubt Locke. He might withhold information from him from time to time, but he’d always been keen on keeping Ash safe.

  Na and Chunhua were behind him a second after he simply blasted through the back wall. He’d pay Yue for damages, but he needed to get out now.

  Stutter-stepping for a moment, Ash caught his balance and looked around.

  He was behind Yue’s shop, which was on a raised part of the city. She’d bought into an elevated district that looked down on others.

  Which meant that behind her shop was a cliff.

  Not waiting, Ash stepped off the lip and started to slide down the hill. As if he were skiing down the slope itself, he held his hands out at his sides and tried to keep his balance. His boots skidded and bumped across the rocky surface as he picked up more and more speed with every second.

  “Get down! Move! There’s an—”

  Not waiting for him to finish his warning, Ash tried to throw himself backward. To drop down onto his back and slow his descent enough that whatever was coming would pass him by.

  A roaring ball of something Ash couldn’t even begin to identify shrieked past him. It came from above and behind him. If he’d kept going, it would have likely torn his head and torso from his waist.

  Slamming down into the ground, the ball simply vanished out of sight. The scream of its power was subdued almost instantly, though he could still hear it. Now it just had a strange muffled effect to it.

  Muffled like it’s underground.

  Undergr—

  In front of Ash, the ground yawned open. A hole the size of the orb that’d passed him carved straight through the rock.

  Scrabbling at the ro
cky ground with fingers and boot heels, Ash slowed himself partially.

  All he managed was to make it so he didn’t go flying into the hole at full speed. Instead, it was only at about half speed.

  Shooting into it, he bounced off the interior of the hole and then began to slide down the wall.

  Above him, the light dwindled rapidly as he fell faster and faster.

  Below, he could see the ball of chaotic energy drilling further and further into the earth.

  Trying to marshal his thoughts into some coherent semblance of useful actions, Ash didn’t see the change in the shape of the wall below him and promptly smashed his forehead into an outcropping.

  Everything faded out into a dull, roaring blackness a second after that.

  Almost as quickly as the lights had gone out, they came back on.

  Coming back to himself, Ash didn’t know where he was for several seconds. He felt like he should still be falling.

  Except the light from above that he’d been focusing on was gone.

  The ball of chaos below him was also missing.

  All around him was impenetrable darkness.

  “Ashley?” asked a soft voice. A warm hand pressed to his cheek. Trailing across his cheekbone was a finger, even as several fingernails lightly scratched at the back of his head. “Oh, thank the heavens.”

  Realizing his eyes were closed and that’s why he couldn’t see, Ash tried to get them to open. Pulling at his eyelids with all the concentration he could muster.

  As if they were on a time delay and not responding to his commands, his eyes slowly opened.

  Hovering above him was Chunhua, staring down at him.

  Partly off to the side of her shoulder and behind her, was a floating ball of Qi. It lit up their surroundings in a soft, mellow way.

  “Ashley, can you speak?” asked Na, appearing over Chunhua’s other shoulder.

  “I was falling,” mumbled Ash.

  “I caught you,” Chunhua said with a sheepish smile, nodding her head. “You were falling so fast. But I was able to catch up to you. Then I grabbed you. The… attack kept going downward, but it’d passed through a cavern. I just… took you in there. Then I sealed the wall behind us. No one will know where we went.”