CC6 -ch 8-

Ash watched the small craft heading toward the island at high speed.

It had a number of people with on board and they were all wearing uniforms.

Over the last three days, several ships had attempted to enter the immediate waters around Sheng island. Each one had approached in a different manner and aboard a different ship, but they were all clearly from the same origin.

Admittedly Ash didn’t know what origin, but he suspected it was the very same nation that they’d arrived in to begin with.

While they’d seemed fairly similar to the location Ash had come from originally, their mentality had been very different in the end. Not to mention it had felt like their government was very much a big brother state.

He was saddened, but it also wasn’t surprising.

“Hmph. Be a dear, Chu, and curb them away while making it obvious. They’re not welcome,” Ash muttered. “So rude… we received so many other communication packages from other nations, yet this one in particular seems to want to exert force over us.”

“Yes. That’s fine though. Their over-eagerness to show force gives us an answer that’s easy to deal with,” Chunhua answered and lifted up her right hand.

A wall of ocean water rose up out of itself and became a hand.

Massive, grasping, and looking quite menacing, the hand had clawed fingers and reached out for the oncoming boat.

Which immediately swerved away from the hand.

Unfortunately the hand was literally made out of the ocean that the boat was on, allowing it to simply chase after the boat. The fingers idly splayed out in a casual way as the hand came down toward the boat.

“I think that’s enough,” Chunhua murmured and then lightly pulled her hand back. She made a dismissive shooing motion, which the hand replicated perfectly.

Only to collapse back into the water and be nothing more.

In the end it was a perfect demonstration and conveyed what they wanted it to.

“Fuck around, find out,” Ash paraphrased with a smile.

“Oh me, oh my. I seem to be on the receiving end of a lot of the former, have I done too much of the latter?” purred Siu, standing idly at Ash’s side.

He couldn’t deny he had been putting a lot of attention into the woman as of late.

Everyone else was busy in expanding the island other than Siu and Xiuying.

Tasks great and small to turn it into a new Sheng alliance fortress. A place for people to come train, cultivate, and work.

Which is really just making a whole lot of buildings and “prettying things up”, or being on guard. Patrolling for the possibility of people trying to slip onto the island.

I never would’ve thought we needed so many plants, bushes, and trees, but alright.

Though the flower gardens are rather nice.

Especially for acting as a giant filter for the alliance.

Siu sighed and prodded Ash’s side.

“Come now, I made such a fun comment. You’re supposed to at least think of me a little bit. Shouldn’t you be feeding my Dao?”  Siu purred, pressing in close to his side.

“Stop it, Sister Siu. He feeds your Dao so much that Sister Ghast is experiencing something she never has before. She envies you,” Xiuying said with a laugh while clapping her hands together rapidly. “Chu! That was so amazing. We should practice with that kind of thing.

“You could do so much with the ocean! We should see if there’s any interesting in this worlds tech that we could use.”

Ash raised his eyebrows at that idea.

He imagined there was indeed likely tech that could be utilized.

“I… well… hmph,” Siu huffed and unfolded a fan, holding to Ash’s left arm with her right. She began to lightly fan her face. “We should prepare. We have a meeting with a number of nations in a row.”

“Yes… we should,” agreed Ash with a checked sigh.

At the moment he really wanted to go check in with Jia, Mei, and Na. The three women were actually doing quite well and were as healthy as could be.

They were just more akin to a citizen at the moment as they couldn’t hold any Qi at all.

No sooner than any Qi entered their system than they would immediately start to suffer the effects of the plague once again.

He had duties to perform.

Duties that on this day was mostly of being a figurehead.

Ash met with seven dignitaries and the conversations of each genuinely went along the same routes.

The Sheng were open to trade, more than happy to deal in any possible trade-good, but would only accept trade by ocean-going vessels.

Everything above Sheng territory and the area surrounding it would all be no-fly zones and there would be no warnings given. Anything overhead would simply be knocked out of the sky.

Tourism wasn’t allowed at this time, but it was a possibility in the future.

Anyone found on the island that didn’t belong would be classified as an enemy combatant and promptly eliminated.

At this time, people just weren’t welcome.

It was rough, but the truth.

No sooner than he was done, Ash threw it all to Locke and her machine like mind, the horde of Brides that he knew often helped her with these kind of thing.

Including Jia, Na, and Mei since they were all awake.

“Do you think they’ll listen, Lord Sheng?” Na asked in a quiet voice as she set down a tray of tea and snacks in front of him. “Your demands were clear. Simple. For them to do anything else in this area would be quite pro-vocational.

“There’s nothing else out here but us and the only thing to see is us, the Sheng.”

“I’m sure someone will. They won’t believe me or anything I’ve said,” Ash mumbled, staring out at the ocean waves washing up on the beach. There were a number of Brides and Knights out there.

Training or just enjoying themselves.

“They’ll do something, we’ll demonstrate our obvious power, they’ll pretend it didn’t happen, we’ll pretend it didn’t happen, and things will normalize,” said Ash, his eyes gravitating to the sudden appearance of Xiuying.

Dressed in a flattering bathing suit she ran straight toward the waterline.

And promptly tripped, landing face first in the wet sand just as the water drew away.

Oof… my poor Xiu.

I should go—

Hui, Siu, and Mei as well as Brides he didn’t know swarmed Xiuying.

They picked her up, wiped her off, checked her over, then released her back to her own ends. Having her hair fixed, back patted, and more than a few hugs given.

Xiuying, for her part, was all smiles in seconds.

Only to run off right back to the ocean, her arms coming up excitedly as she was smacked by a wave.

“You need not worry over our Fortune’s Chosen. She’s well loved,” Na stated and sat herself down next to him. She picked up the teacup she had poured for herself. “You think it’ll be that simple? With the other nations, that is.”

“I do. I really do. I think it’ll turn out to be somewhat boring, as well,” Ash explained further. He picked up the teacup Na had prepared for him. “Thank you Handmaiden Na. I missed you and your attentive care of me.

“But yes, that simple. There will be a few flare ups, they’ll get pissy when we make sure every person who comes in by ship, leaves on that ship. That unless everyone is account for, the ship won’t be leaving, nor will it be welcome back.

“I’m sure we’ll find a few people sneaking onto the island at some point in the future and they’ll just… get sent to Ghast. I’m sure she’ll find a place for them somewhere in the fortress.

“Beyond that, it’s more of a non-issue now.

“We’ve got our formations up, we’re well defended and reinforced repeatedly, and even the illusion blocking us from satellite view is up.”

Ash nodded his head to his own words.

He really wasn’t too concerned with the politics of it all.

As long as they remained actually neutral, invited trade, and kept to themselves, that’d be what happened.

His true concern, where the bulk of his interest was, was finding the portal.

This world wouldn’t really be something that interested him until much later on. When they were well established as a neutral entity and would be able to travel more freely.

Until such a time as that, it was a waiting game while trying to find the portal.

That was his focus.

He had already been combing over the map’s Agent Crow had provided them but he wasn’t quite sure where the portal would be, but he had his guesses. Assumptions based on what he thought the Emperor would do and how he would structure such a thing.

The entry point to this place had been put up in such a way that it wouldn’t be easy to get to the exit immediately.

That made it seem like to Ash that it would be expected that anyone who came here, would need time to be ‘processed’ or evaluated. Such individuals wouldn’t normally be coming here without being subjected to an inspection of sorts.

At least, originally.

At some point it’d all fallen apart and was no more.

The fact that it had no Qi was certainly a tell tale sign to Ash that this place was more than likely a harvesting grounds.

Cultivator clans and families came here to collect more people to work for them.

Makes even more sense when you consider how diverse the prison population had been.

That it was full of ‘outlanders’ except they weren’t outlanders at all.

Though it does make me curious why there isn’t more outlanders in our original plane.

Maybe this world doesn’t even lead back home and that’s why there’s so few outlanders.

In fact… there’s no telling how many worlds are between our home world, home plane, and where we are now.

“Not really, no. I think we’re only a single portal away though. The strength of the bonds are quite similar between those in our original realm, and the Sheng fortress realm”

Ahhh, well that’s good news.

Thanks for sharing, my beautiful wife.

Any concerns with me dumping all this government, political, buiding what-nots to you?

A lot of this is nitpicking over details, deals, and agreements and I honestly wouldn’t keep up with it well enough.

Ask me to punch someone, solve a situation, or save someone and I’m all set to go.

I’m your Cultivator.

Planning? Bare essentials only.

After all, it’s you and the others who have built the Sheng alliance for me.

“It’s not a problem. I do agree with your thoughts and sentiments about how it will go. I’m not overly concerned. I think it’ll more or less go the direction you told Na.

“Shouldn’t be an issue.

“I’ve already been testing the formations against some of the shells, and explosive things I stole from the ships. I’m sure they’ll notice when they go check their arsenal inventory but… that’ll hopefully be a while from now.

“We’re well situated so long as the formation keeps that link to you.”

How’s our Sheng Ocean?

“Fine. Lots of fish. They’re breeding well. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about doing anything with it. I’ve sent a number of water Qi brides to go collect more fish and things. Add to it. It’s very well stocked and should be good for a long while.

“We also have begun pulling in lots of sunken ships!

“There’s a great many ships that’ve sunk and a lot of them have some really neat things. Or just valuables.

“We found one this morning in a very deep part of the ocean that was filled with chests of gold coins and the like. I have no idea how old it is but it was mostly rotten and only the weight of the coins kept it all at the bottom.

“Though… uh… we only found it because Xiuying fell off the Qi-creation we made and she did it while holding onto a rock she liked. She sunk right to the bottom.”

Figures.

Grinning, Ash looked back out the window.

Xiuying was in the process of being swept out to sea it looked like.

A swarm of Brides were chasing after her.

“Again?” Na asked, leaning over to look out the window as well. “We literally had to pull her back in last night, too. For as much as she loves the ocean, she swims as well as adding feet to a snake.”

“She really does,” Ash agreed, watching the beautiful woman flounder about as the Brides powered through the waves toward her.

***

Staring down at the water rushing by, then out ahead of them, Ash was bored.

As excited as he’d been to get off the island, that excitement had become somewhat sour.

Sticking to deep water, Ash, Chunhua, Hui, Siu, Moira, Tala, Xiuying, and a Bridal Party filled with Brides he didn’t know, were flying through the air. Aboard a strange ship made of a combination of elements and guided by a number of the Brides.

It was impressive.

Truly so.

As well as it being incredibly swift, too.

The look of it had even been made in such a way to look like a strange fantastical beast with wings. Something that this world more than likely had only considered in their media.

Despite all that… this was dull to Ash.

The endless ocean in every direction was as boring as could be without anything to keep his interest on the horizon.

“—started playing around with a new game. The last one was really fun,” Xiuying exclaimed. “How about you, Miss Cuddly Bunny Wife?”

Tala laughed, looked to Xiuying, then put an arm around the smaller woman.

“I’ve been training with the Knights. My way of sword fighting is against masses of people and to hold an area,” said the pretty Bunny woman. “I haven’t been able to practice as much as I want, but the Knights are more than willing to humor me. They try to attack and approach while I hold an area.

“It’s quite enjoyable though they’re frustrating. If I rely on any Qi at all it rapidly devolves into a loss on my part as it escalates. The more I rely on my body and senses the better it goes for me as it gives them nothing to work with.”

“Ashley,” Hui said and looked away from the front of the craft and to him. “There is endless ocean in front of us. There are two continents to either side of us though considerably far away.

“How’s our heading and direction? Any change there?”

“Straight ahead. Straight ahead and down. Though it feels like it’s moving more downward. So we’re either getting closer or it really is beneath the earth’s surface,” Ash answered, watching Hui.

She had several maps balanced on her knees as well as an electronic device.

“Then straight ahead is where we’ll go. According to the map’s its… a large and empty wasteland of ice and snow,” Hui remarked, looking curious and interested. “It would be good to set a base up there if only so we can harvest ice, snow, or train there. We have a number of Brides and Brothers who utilize a similar Qi.”

“Not a problem. I can build out another base type of artifact,” Ash promised. “We’d just have to have a location to defend and utilize. Perhaps we could carve out a section below the ground and dig down to put in a large cave. Away from prying eyes.”

“I like that idea. Is that what maybe the portal, or who built it did I wonder?” asked Moira, the bright eyed Owl tilting her head to one side. “If it hasn’t been discovered in this realm, and no one knows about Cultivators, it would stand to reason that those who came through the portal to come here, hid.

“Hid away and took everything with them.

“Where else would be safer than a location that’s quite lethal to those who have no powers and where they could hide from the satellites above.”

The word satellite had sounded out in Moira’s mouth but she had worked it out reasonably well. By and large, everyone in his group was adapting quite well to all the new things.

“That makes almost too much sense, Moira,” Siu stated and then took in a slow hissing breath. “Too much sense. I feel like your statement has perhaps cracked this wide open for us.

“I wonder if this location we’re heading to has any indigenous peoples. If there are countries with a claim on it. It would be good to know that.”

“We could always ask the numerous planes and boats following us,” remarked Hui in a dry tone. “They yet trail behind us. Giving us distance but clearly wanting to know what we’re doing and where we’re going.”

“I’m working on setting up more normal diplomatic relations. They’re offering a number of ways to communicate with them and I’m sorting through the options. I’m trying to limit their ability to spy on us.

“The best option so far is a satellite connection with a terminal and a computer that would be able to reach it. The company who owns the service has offered to provide it to us free of charge but desperately wants to meet with you in exchange.

“I’ve already promised it and set up a date to meet them. It would be in their host country which has been… cautious of us, but not too problematic.

“We also caught a stealth drone of theirs that flew overhead.

“They haven’t mentioned it, we haven’t mentioned it, they seem well aware of the fact that we know it was them and are trying to… let it die.”

That’s fine.

We expected something like this.

Rip apart the drone for anything useful and then offer them anything back that we don’t need.

I think that would be a suitable admonishment and allow them to accept the situation as well as let them know that we don’t need their tech.

“Already working toward that end.”

“—interesting at least,” Xiuying chirped, bouncing in place. “I like snow. Snow is really hard to get hurt on. It just goes ‘foof’ when you land on it. Or it sprays out in every direction.”

“I think this is more like… snow that has never melted and become quite compacted. If not outright becoming ice,” advised Hui.

“Oh… I’m going to smash my nose and knees alot aren’t I?” whined Xiuying, turning her head to the side. Looking at Tala she raised her eyebrows. “Will you keep an eye on me, Sister? Other than Ash you’re the most able to keep me from making a mess of myself more often than not.”

Tala only laughed, ruffled Xiuying’s hair, then looked to Ash.

“My Cuddly Bunny Wife self seems to be overly soft anymore,” she said in her sugary sweet voice. One ear flopped over part of her face in an oddly overly cute way. Her head tilted down and he got a tilted look from her. “I hope you can see me as both your silky soft bunny-girl and sword wielding defender?”

Siu clicked her tongue, clacked her fan open, and began to fan herself with it.

“It seems I need to work on my softness,” she remarked, her eyes sliding from Tala to Ash. “To be an inviting Bunny Wife.”

To be fair, Ash was having a hard time not thinking of Tala and the sugary center that she’d developed to sit at the center of her prideful outward self.

A center she only allowed to be seen around those closest to him and himself.

“I think I can see where we’re going. It’s… cliffs of ice. With a lot of ice at the bottom of it. I think beyond those ice cliffs might be… more ice,” Hui murmured, staring out ahead of their craft.

Ash looked away and toward the front.

He could indeed see cliffs of ice out ahead of them.

“Fascinating,” he whispered, eyes picking back and forth across the glittering landscape.