CC6 -ch 9-

Ash stared down at the icy plains covered in snow below him.

The strange ground beneath looking quite similar to how the plains and hills rolled around his home town, was odd to Ash. As if it weren’t lacking in soil and vegetation and just covered in a layer of snow.

“The temperature is quite low,” remarked Chunhua and tentatively blew out a breath beyond the window of the flying contraption they were in.

A cloud practically formed out of her mouth as she did it and it trailed behind them.

“Oh! That’s really neat!” Xiuying chirped, turned, and stuck her head out one of the windows. She immediately began breathing out loudly.

Sometimes in short breaths, sometimes in long strings. Creating strange puffs and poofs of breath moving along behind them.

Ash followed them as they moved out behind them and saw the slow flying jets in the air. They were still trailing them though at a significant distance.

“They’re so very curious,” Moira remarked, also looking out the back of the vehicle. “I’ve gotten close to them more than a few times. They’re quite fast. Faster than I would have considered possible for citizens.

“Machines of your technological era are mighty indeed, Ashley.

“It makes me wonder what would happen if you were to include such technology with the Knights. How far would they go? How far could they go?”

Ash nodded his head at that, it was something he had considered as well.

Then he looked straight ahead again, then down.

The chains were slowly shifting around as if they were approaching their destination.

“It’s starting to shift again,” Ash warned them. “It’s definitely here, where-ever here is.”

“South pole. You’re at the south pole,” remarked Locke. “I’ve been in contact with most of the nations by the way. They’re very curious, but keeping their distance.

“I made sure they understood we’re just searching for a portal back home. One that only you could open. That if it happened to fall within a nation’s boundaries, we’d be happy to work with them to get access.

“It’s a bit silly to say it that way I admit, somewhat putting our cards on the table, so to speak. But given the tenseness in their words and how they asked their questions, I think they needed more information.

“By the way, they finally stopped trying to sneak people onto Sheng Island. Most of them attempted to get aboard by disguising themselves as crew, despite the fact that we did head-counts and warned them before hand.

“In total it was just above a hundred people sent to the Sheng Fortress. Brides appeared, forced a ring on them, took them over, then came back with the ring.

“The ships were broken down and stored in the Hall, of course.”

Good, good.

Go ahead and assign fines or warnings as you see fit.

Peering out one of the windows, Ash then looked back to his boots.

The chains were indeed rapidly shifting.

Until they were just about under him.

“Slow down, it’s nearly under us,” he requested, staring at his boots.

“Yes, Lord Sheng,” reported one of the Brides at the front. They made several motions with their hands and they slowed consierably. “Please advise me when to stop, Lord Sheng, or to change course if need be. I’m still moving on the line you gave me earlier.”

With a nod of his head, Ash stared at the chains.

Right up until the moment they were just about between his boots.

“This is obviously it,” murmured Xiuying.

“Stop, yes,” agreed Ash, then looked to Xiuying, then out the window when he realized she was staring down at the area bleow them.

On the field of snow and ice beneath them was what looked like some sort of base. Made out of several hangar like buildings and a geodesic dome.

“It appears that there’s something interesting here,” he said almost to himself as he stared at the base. “Locke, sweetie. Where am I?”

“Exact point that would be the south-pole. That station below you is likely part of a science station to explore the south-pole. Though it does make me curious as to why the portal would be below it, if not at it.”

“Put us down outside of that base’s immediate vicinity, Bride,” Ash ordered. “We’ll see pretty quickly if the portal is at the location… or below it.

“Given that everyone seems very surprised as to us moving about as we are, and seem unaware of what we are, I’m betting the portal is below. Below and likely long forgotten.

“Buried under the ice as perhaps everyone fled to the other world and then leaving it behind. Assuming that no one would ever be following them.

“Doubly so if they couldn’t even cultivate while they were here. There would be no Qi to draw after all.”

An odd thought struck him.

Is Ghast available?

Our last dinner was more or less canceled since she had to go settle that little tiff between families.

It’s not my fault we didn’t have dinner.

Despite it not being his fault that they hadn’t had dinner in the end, he still felt guilty.

“She’s available, yes. Nor is she mad at you. Though she’s very mad at the two families that stopped her from seeing you. As a Sheng Realm Lord, she has many responsibilities. Having to deal with two bickering families was… not something she should’ve been working on.

“She’s hired out many more people to handle such things in the future to prevent repeat issues. Only things that actually require her attention should reach her now.”

I want to see her at the next available opportunity.

I need her—

Ash’s thought came to a stop as he watched people start to file out of the base.

“I… yes. I’ll make sure to set that up. I have no doubt she’ll want to see you. Also, the base you’re landing in, is part of what’s called… well, just call it the Commonwealth and that’s fine.

“They’re the ones that sent that Drone in. They also tried to slip some agents in by ship. They haven’t responded to much of it at all.

“I can’t quite figure them out, if I’m being honest.

“Anyways. I’ve already notified them that we might be working in the area around their base for the portal.

“Apparently, lots of countries have claims to this winter wasteland, though a number of them don’t respect each others claims. Some even state that there is no ownership possible.

“I can’t imagine we’ll get access to their base without greasing palms but… we won’t have an issue setting up our own ‘base’ so to speak.”

Delightful.

Several people in very thick clothes waddle across the hip dip snow toward Ash’s flying device even as it touched down.

“Tala, be a beautiful Bunny Wife and help your husband out?” Ash asked, looking over to the warrior. “Go melt a path for those poor chilly citizens? They’re not going to do very well trying to get to us.

“Chunhua, clear us an area?

“For my Earth Brides, please erect me a fortress? A shield as well so we don’t have to be spied on or have snow fall on us. While the cold won’t bother us, I’d rather not deal with it.

“Any water or ice Brides should begin preparing to dig into the ice.”

“Yes, Lord Sheng,” came a communal answer.

Tala had stood up then leaned over toward Ash. She grabbed the roof, angled herself forward, and tilted her head to the side while smiling at Ash.

One of her ears slid to the side and she gave him a perfect look that mixed a sexual nature with a sweetness that somehow Tala could only manage.

“Be sure to reward your Cuddly Bunny Wife? She works hard for you,” she whined, lifting up her free hand to press it to her jaw and then slowly looked away. Only to peek at him from the side. “I’ll go now… my husband asked me for a favor. How can my glorious Cuddly Bunny Wife self decline.”

Standing up slowly, and ending the lovely view down the top of her outfit, Tala sauntered out of the open door and flames rose up around her. She immediately began clearing a path to the people trundling to Ash and company.

A number of other Brides quickly exited and began working at the area around them.

Ash and the rest all got up and moved to the door.

Xiuying hesitated at the entry before exiting, briefly causing a blockage at the doorway.

Only to promptly trip, land face-first in the snow, and nearly be swallowed up by it.

“Guess I’m digging there first,” Ash muttered and stepped out after Xiuying.

He grabbed her up by the wrists and pulled her out of the snow.

There was a perfect Xiuying imprint in the snow.

“Brides, dig where Xiu fell,” Ash ordered and gestured at the impression. “Probably right in the middle of her little snow angel there. Just wait for the Earth Brides to finish up and for the others to put up our shield.”

Ash guided Xiuying away and into the larger area that was rapidly being cleared away with fire.

It wouldn’t take long he imagined.

Then they’d be digging down quite quickly.

“How you’re out here!? It’s below a hundred and thirty five degrees right now!” called a voice to the side.

Glancing over, Ash saw that it was the people from the base talking to Tala.

“This? This isn’t so bad. A bit cold, yes,” Tala said with a laugh, then made a casual gesture with her hand. “It’s fine. We mean you no harm.

“We’re here for—”

Ash looked back to his people clearing and building.

He didn’t need to concern himself with what Tala told them. He imagined it would be exactly what Mei, Jia, Na, or Locke had already coached her own.

“Before you ask, Jia, Mei, and Na are all doing quite well. I’ve dumped a mountain load of paperwork and Sheng duties since they’re more or less citizens at the moment. Don’t be concerned.”

Thank you wifey.

Ever the diligent lady.

Ash put his arm around Xiuying and hung onto her the same way he often did Mei and just watched his people work.

***

Chuckling, Ash shook his head as the gigantic Qi-made drill burrowed downward. Pushing ever more ice up to the top which was quickly stolen up by the Brides and thrown somewhere else.

He wouldn’t be surprised if there was a room somewhere that’d been converted into a training room for those with a frozen type of Qi.

This ice would likely be sent there if only to be trained with, he imagined.

“I didn’t even think about it, but this is probably a lot easier than having the Brides do all the work,” Siu remarked as she just watched the massive drill endlessly spin. “Honestly, I find the machinery of this world more and more fascinating.

“We really do need to determine a way to begin recruiting people from this world. Somehow bring them into the fold and incorporate them. That way we can begin getting a grip on their technology must faster than we would as outsiders.

“I admit I do have a few ideas on how to do it, but it would be clandestine at best since we wouldn’t have permission.

“That or we ask for embassies and then the opportunity to open martial arts training dojos. Then just use that to filter for new individuals.”

“That idea seems practical,” Moira affirmed, also staring at the drill.

In fact, everyone was.

Everyone was rather fascinated by the giant drill Ash had built in the center of the stone fortification.

“I approve of the idea,” declared Hui. She then pointed at Siu.

Who smiled in return to Hui and then turned to look at Ash.

She’d done it in a way that caused him to look at her even as she held to his Qi construction. He raised his eyebrows curiously, expecting something but not knowing what it could be.

Siu pushed out her lower lip, put her hands together in behind her waist, tilted her chin down, and then pulled her shoulders in.

It was a pose that was more likely to be expressed by Tala as far as he’d seen previously.

Now being done by the lovely Siu in a way that lost all it’s sweetness but had an edge to it he couldn’t place. A heated warmth that pulled at him to help her.

Because she’d help him later.

“Ashley, would you please assist me with this?” she said in a purr. “I want an embassy so I can keep adding people to my Brides. I’m the Commander of most of it right now with so many of my seniors out on leave.

“Won’t you help your Siu Sheng? Please, Ashley dearest?”

Siu blinked in a long and slow way, one leg bending at the knee and her hip shifting to the side as she did it. Her top half tipped a bit more toward him and her shirt unfolded at the v-neck.

“A… ahem. Of course,” Ash squeaked out even as the drill nearly slid away from him and chewed at the edge of the hole it’d made. Snapping his eyes away from Siu and back to his work. “It was part of our long term plan anyways.”

“Liar.”

“I’m sure Locke Sheng already has plans in motion,” he tried instead.

“I… well, I do. She is my partner after all. I try to get ahead of what the Brides, need, too.”

“Thank you, my love,” chirped Siu, bounced once in place, then stood up and unfolded her fan. Holding it in front of her face till only her eyes were visible. “Thank you for the thoughts, too.”

Not wanting to be standing up here any longer, Ash began drawing in his Qi, only to realize he couldn’t.

Ghast had been eagerly filling him up with Qi even as he drilled downward.

An eternal torrent of warm happy feelings being sent his way with the Qi.

Casting the entirety of the drill into the Hall he peered down the massive hole.

“Ah, that looks like fun!” Hui said and them jumped into the hole.

“Actually, it does,” added Moira, her wings expanding. Then she stepped into the hole. “Everyone else remain up here.”

The golden eyed owl dropped away into the hole directly behind Hui.

It was six foot in diameter so there was at least room enough for two people.

“Did I do it well?” Siu asked, having turned to Tala.

“My Elegant Cuddly Bunny Wife self would think so,” Tala murmured in agreement. A whisper, in fact. So soft he didn’t think it would carry to most people other than Ash and Siu as they were the closest. “But it’s not an act on my part. I really do… I want to be this way.”

“I know, but I am what I want to be. Which is a tempting tease,” Siu said, her fan still fluttering away beside her face and blocking Ash’s view of her. “Oh, I needed to talk to you about the duty roster.”

Ash turned and looked to Xiuying on the other side of the hole. She was quite far from it and had her back to the stone wall, though it was obvious she wanted to peek in.

Grinning, he walked over to where she stood, offered her his arm, then escorted her to the edge of the hole once she’d accepted. His free hand came over to clamp to the top of her forearm, just to make sure she wouldn’t manage to fall down it.

“Was it obvious?” she asked, glancing at him with a smile.

“Only because I pay attention,” he answered, peering down the deep dark hole.

Xiuying nodded her head, the fingers of her left hand pressing to her stomach as she stared down the hole.

“Uhm… what if you dug too deep? Or not enough?” she asked.

“In the first case, Hui and Moira are wasting their time,” admitted Ash with a chuckle. “But they’re doing what they want. In the latter, I dig more.”

“Oh. Yes. That… that makes sense,” Xiuying whispered, then turned and looked to him.

With a smile that was like a gift, she stared into his face.

“You make my life happy and bright,” she got out in a voice that sounded strained, if not crushed. That the words were barely able to be pushed out. “I… I don’t feel like a Cultivator anymore. Just a young woman. And… and I’m happy. So happy.”

Xiuying pulled her hands up from Ash’s put them together in front of her chest and let out a shuddering breath.

“I could easily just let this world go with how happy I am,” she breathed.

Once more summoning the lord of red flags.

“How about—”

Xiuying’s feet came out from under her and she tumbled down into the hole along with a hail of ice.

Wincing, Ash leaned over and looked down the hole.

A surprised and wide eyed Xiuying was what he saw as she began to fall only to vanish into the darkness.

“Xiuying fell in!” Ash shouted down the hole for Hui and Moira, then jumped to chase after her.

There was a noise behind him and Ash looked over his shoulder.

Siu and Tala had jumped into the hole as well.

The former’s sleeves fluttering out behind her as she dove in, while the latter had her arms and legs spread in an odd X.

“Here we go,” Ash said to himself against he wind as it pulled at him.

Then fell into the dark, passing into the shadows of the icy depths.

It was exciting.

Hm, at what point did I fully adopt to the cultivator life?

I’m not sure I could live in a normal world like this without struggling to find something exciting.

“A while ago, dear. A while ago. Right around the time you opened up your bed to multiple women, in fact.”

Ash couldn’t argue that fact and it genuinely sounded about right.

After all, he was even sleeping with Xiuying, Hui, and Siu now. There wasn’t a single woman in his inner-circle that wasn’t sharing his bed with him.

“As if you’re complaining. We both know you love being a carousel.”