Cultivating Chaos 4 -Ch7-

Ash flowed into the group of men his blades held in tight as he determined where to strike first.

Even as he moved he felt his Dao swell up from inside. Where the momentum of the fight, the area around him, and even the city came into sharp focus.

The fight he was about to engage had a momentum that was more like sandpaper. There was no height to it, as they were just citizens after all, but it was all peaks and valleys when you got close to it.

For what they were in Ash’s momentum were but specks, though powerful in Gutter itself. Which was in the middle of a drastic reordering due to Ash pushing himself into the politics of the day of it.

In the microcosm of this fight, Ash was a drum-beat. Heavy, thudding, and dictating the pace of the rest of those involved. That regardless of what they wanted, they would be beholden to him and his desires for the rhythm.

The Gutter was responding to him and he was rapidly turning it to fit his needs as well. The longer his presence was felt in any way in the Gutter, the more direct his influence would force it to change and the longer it’ll take for his presence to fade.

The city didn’t respond to him in any way. It’s momentum carried on with it’s own current.

It was obvious that these seven men could feel the instant and sudden pressure Ash dropped on them. To the point that he ended up moving past them without even having touched them.

“Oh. Right,” Ash muttered, standing past where the seven men were now laying on the ground. Nodding his head, he realized he’d forgotten that they were but citizens.

Putting the pressure of his Dao on them, adding his killing intent, and the weight of his Qi, knocked them flat. Knocking half of them out, outright.

Clicking his tongue, then running the tip along the inside of his teeth, Ash felt rather stupid. A lot like he’d pulled a sledgehammer out of his toolshed to crush an ant with a full overhead swing.

“You… you just… I,” whispered Song behind him.

“Help me pull them into your shack there,” Ash said and vanished his swords back into the hall. Turning around, he grabbed two men by the front of their clothes and began dragging them over. “I’ll kill them when Hui gets back and then we’ll head out. Then get rid of the bodies so there’s nothing left behind.”

“I-okay. Okay. Yes, Master Sheng,” Song squeaked out. She moved forward and grabbed the closest unconscious man.

She began to slowly inch the man to the lean-to.

Ah… yeah. I guess I’ll be moving them all myself. She doesn’t have any muscle to her at all.

We’ll wait for Hui to come back, cut their throats, dump the bodies into the Hall, then head out. Get some information out of these two kids and then… then we’ll probably go see whoever’s running this city.

Because while I was originally content to just live here and do nothing, I think it’d be better if I ran the city. Even if I just ran it for someone else.

As long as I’m allowed to make the rules for the city, I’ll gladly let someone else tell me what I need to give them from the city as tribute.

Well… up until I take over their position, too.

Qi-Lord Sheng sounds like a fun title.

I bet it’d even help me with my goal of getting out of here.

It only took twenty minutes for them to wait for Hui, slaughter the unconscious men, store their bodies in the Hall, and make it back to the inn she’d set up for them.

“We have the room for three months. I forced him to give me a good price, but not too good. I also paid half up front, the other half, halfway through the time spent here. I saw no reason to rent a room in a different location than ours. We’re directly across the hall, Song,” explained Hui as she shoved the door open. She ushered Song inside. “I’ll pay the rest of the rental to the inn-keeper personally when the time comes. I do not trust him nor do I think that innkeeper would mean well for us. If I hadn’t told him I’d crush his head if he did something stupid when I rented the first room, I suspect he’d have already tried to sell our information to thieves.”

Ash came along behind her still carrying Tan. Moving into the interior he spotted a nearby bed. Walking over to it he dropped the boy into it. Song was standing near the window and had her hands held in front of herself.

She was still nervous around Ash, though not as much as she had been when he’d first met her. In fact, she seemed more afraid of his power, than who he was as a person.

In other words, that he’d kill her, rather than assault her.

Which to be fair was a far more likely outcome all things considered.

Considering that killing her was something he didn’t want to do meant both fears were pointless.

At least to him.

“Your weapon would like to thank you again, Ashley,” Hui stated as she closed the door. “You’re showing great care in honing it’s edge. Hui is very happy to be taken care of so well. Especially since Hui hasn’t done anything yet deserving of reward. Hui wonders what will happen when she actually completes something noteworthy.

“Or if you take Hui to bed. Would that be equally noteworthy? Especially if Hui does her best? Your weapon is very excited to see what you’ll do to keep her honed.”

“You… you mean happy,” Song interjected.

It was surprising to see her talk at all, but more so that she would correct one of them.

Then again, she did seem far more at ease with Hui than Ash.

“He’s trying to keep you happy, Hui,” Song suggested. “If he was trying to-to keep you honed as you called it, wouldn’t he treat you as an item? Or just something to be used?

“It’s obvious he’s stronger than you are. If he needed only a weapon to use, wouldn’t he treat you differently?”

Ash couldn’t argue that point. Song clearly had a profound understand of people and likely had a high Emotional Quotient.

Or so he thought if she was able to deduce this much already.

Before Hui could respond to that, there was a knock on the door, followed by it simply opening. Locke stood in the doorway with a blazing grin.

“Honey, I’m home,” she declared and then skipped into the room, dragging Rou along behind her. The Qi-Healer was winded but didn’t look too run down. She also had a bag she was carrying.

“More loot?” Ash asked with a grin, indicating the bag.

“Clothes. A few pretty things as promised for Hui,” Locke answered, indicating the other woman who was still internalizing what Song had said. “And the rest is for Song and Tan. There’s no way we can let them run around in rags if we’re going to be taking care of them.”

“Most certainly-not in rags,” Rou got out in two breaths. She was already moving over to where the young boy lay on the bed. “This’ll take me-only a moment-to fix. A perfect demonstration for me.”

Rou sounded excited and laid a hand to the boy’s brow.

“Mm. That’s my Qi-Healer,” Ash said, indicating Rou while catching Song’s eye. “And this one… is my little wild-cat, Locke.”

“Mrow?” Locke asked with a laugh and fished out something from the bag and descended on Song. She held it up against the young woman while holding her shoulder with her other hand. “Oh, that’s good. Though you’re too skinny. You have a good build and a pretty face, you’re just… a scarecrow though.

“We’ll fix that. Rou will take care of the rest and get you sorted out. After that… well… the rest is on you as only you can fix your own thoughts.”

Locke had fished out another set of clothing and held it up to the very confused Song. Her eyes were wide and jumping between Locke and Rou. Worry for herself and worry for her brother fighting for position.

“So, Song,” Ash jumped in with. “Who’s in charge of the city when the Qi-Lord is away, and where are they? I think I’d like to go see if they’re strong at all.”

He’d seen enough of this city to know he wanted to clean it up. If only for the people like Song, Tan, and at one point in time, Yue.

Not to mention it was now quite obvious there were a bunch of citizens living here. All trying to make their lives less miserable.

There could be people just like his parents here, too.

Song was staring at him with wide almost unseeing eyes.

***

Walking slowly along, Ash felt somewhat pleased. Song had clearly directed him to the right place.

There were a great number of men with simple weapons that were quite visible. The entire area was a run down warehouse that’d been converted into what might be a mansion.

If you squinted hard enough and turned your head to one side so you couldn’t see it as well, that is. It was the most well off building in the city though and this section of the city could only be called “affluent” by comparison.

Which would pass for just above the “slums” of Xing city.

“The lowest of the low,” Ash murmured quietly as he, Locke, and Hui strolled past the entrance. Song had advised them of what was locally around and had pointed out that there was a business plaza nearby.

They could theoretically pass by this “mansion” without issue as many people did to get somewhere else. Though that hadn’t worked out as well as he’d hoped so far.

If they were walking to the end of a street that’d just be suspicious as all hell.

Except that wasn’t the problem.

What the problem was, of course, Hui and Locke.

Being as attractive as they were, they got looks from everyone. Even with wearing normal clothes retrieved from the Hall, that did nothing to emphasize them other than being martial artists which was how most people dressed, they still got a great deal of attention.

“It really is quite terrible, isn’t it,” Locke agreed then huffed. “Alright, I think I should head back and make sure Rou and the kids are okay. You don’t need me here and realistically, I need to work on attaching my soul again. We’ve only been here for a day and a half but it feels like forever.”

“That’s fine,” Ash said and turned his gaze to Locke. He grinned at her. “Go rest, my beloved wife, Locke Sheng. Sleep, attach your soul, watch over the others. Hui and I will be fine.

“I’m going to go see if I can’t get an audience with their leader. See where it ends up. Maybe take over the city today, maybe not. Really depends on how strong he is, I suppose.

“Because I really… I’m not… this city can’t remain like this. There’s so many things that could be done just to make life easier for everyone and it wouldn’t even take very much effort.”

Locke smiled affectionately at him, wrinkled her nosed, and exposed her upper teeth in the doing. She shook her head a bit and reached out, patting his cheek.

“Oooh, that’s my Chosen One. My personal Chosen One,” crooned Locke. “You just can’t stand leaving this city of citizens under this tyrannical boot heel. Can you?

“It’s fine. It’s fine. If you weren’t this way, I wouldn’t have chosen you, after all. This is well within expectations. Completely.”

“Well, that and being the lord of the city will make it easier for us to punch through later, won’t it?” Ash argued.

“Maybe. It might. Could equally be just as easy as hunkering down in the inn-room and letting things come as they may,” Locke countered. Then she leaned in and kissed him briefly. “Watch over him Hui, he gets into trouble easily. His heart often leads the way rather than his head.”

“Hui will do everything she can to make sure Ashley survives and gets what he wants,” confirmed Hui. “Hui’s purpose is whatever Ashley defines for her.”

Ash sighed and smiled at Locke.

It’s like having Na around all over again. Just… maybe a bit worse.

Na at least tells me what she wants.

He waved a hand at Locke, then turned around. Heading for the warehouse front, he stopped in front of the guards there.

Behind him, he heard Locke start walking off back to the rooms they’d rented.

“Hi, I’d like to pay my respects to the lord of the city. Any chance I could get a meeting?” Ash asked with a grin.

The two guards, armed with iron spears and some odd looking armor, had been rather shocked at his approach.

“Uh… he’s holding court,” said the guard on the left.

“Is that a yes?” Ash prompted.

“Yeah,” said the guard on the right. Then he opened the door and held it open. “Just uh… go to the line of petitioners on the left side of the room. You can plead your case when you reach the front.”

“Really? Fantastic,” Ash remarked with a cheerful laugh. This was working out remarkably well for some reason.

Hui entered before he could and moved into the warehouse-mansion. Ash followed her in.

They came into a large open area with a number of seats to each side. They were arranged in a way as if they were to watch a sporting event. Most of the seats were filled and had a number of people in some of the better clothes Ash had seen so far.

In the middle area was a number of people lined up on the left. All standing around though waiting quietly.

At the back was a man on a very elevated dais, sitting on a throne. He looked quite bored and had an elbow resting on the arm of the chair. He had extremely dark black hair and light brown eyes. There was a sour look on his face as if he’d been gnawing on a lemon rind.

Standing beside the man on the throne was a cultivator.

His body was covered in a black robe, black tunic, and black pants. He even had a black hood that covered his head and face. His dark brown eyes were the only really visible part of him.

His power was that on a level that’d barely be an Empowered Mortal.

His Qi felt half empty to Ash.

Like a water-canteen with a hole in it. Dripping slowly out onto the ground.

Hey… Locke… what would you say my power level is.

Not my cultivator level, but what I could probably fight in a stand up fight?

“Hmm? Oh… ah… probably like… a peak Awakened Mortal? Your gains from killing the Realm Lord were significant,” Locke Answered. “You’re almost at the point of moving into an Enlightened Mortal, you know. We’ll have to capture your tribulation when it shows up.”

Nice.

Thanks, dear.

Love you bunches.

There was a flustered and warm response that came back to him from Locke, but no words. She was rather happy. Happy, suddenly nervous, and unable to process her own emotions.

This was still all incredibly new to her, but Ash was starting to get really confident about how to push her into a good spot.

Compliments and care.

“Cultivator,” Hui remarked, her eyes having found the same person Ash had noticed. “Weak. Hui can stomp him for power. He feels wrong.”

Ash couldn’t argue that point. Even he felt like the person standing next to the throne wasn’t a good person. Edge-lord outfit aside, he had a general wrongness to Ash’s sense for momentum.

The man was running counter to the rest of the city and was throwing out hard spikes. Ones that completely eclipsed the city lord sitting in the throne.

“Maybe a puppet?” asked Ash, tilting his head to one side.

Those around the two of them were staring at them with wide eyes. Most likely shocked at their conversation. Not that Ash could blame them for their responses.

This isn’t… are we being overly aggressive? Is this too much?

“I mean… yes? But in the same breath, does it matter? You wouldn’t have sat around and let something happen. You would have crossed paths with these people one way or another. Better you do it on your terms than theirs,” Locke explained. “It’s… it’s like trying to make oil and water mix. At some point, they’ll separate. No matter how much you mix it. There’s no way you’d have sat around and watched these things happen.

“It’s not who you are to watch. You were lazy, once upon a time, but even then you’d act if you saw something that bothered you.

“You wanted to go slowly and wait to act and ended up being forced to, too often. Now, you’ve moved past that to the point that you’re moving beyond what even I’m expecting. You’ll find a balance at some point and you’ll feel better about it. Personally, I like what you’re doing.”

“What’re you doing here,” whispered an urgent voice at Ash’s side. “Don’t you know what’ll happen if you come here with such a beautiful sister?”

Looking to the speaker, Ash found a man in his early forties standing there. He was dressed in the same uniform that Ash had noticed of the guards out front.

Surprised, Ash raised his eyebrows.

“The Hand will take her,” hissed the guard, motioning at Hui. “You, please… you must leave, young lady. Flee before he notices you. You cannot remain here for your own safety.”

The way the guard was gesturing was toward a door between racks of seats. There were two guards there and they had the door open. They were motioning as subtly as they could, but were clearly waving Hui on.

Huh… they don’t want us to get in trouble.

Well, that’s reassuring. Though also odd.

Glancing to the where the Dais was, Ash noticed something this time that he hadn’t previously. Something he’d overlooked somehow.

The guards behind the throne were different than those that were in the front half of the audience hall.

They were dressed in a similar way as to the ones Ash had exterminated, in fact. Their uniforms were all as dark black as the cultivator who stood near the throne.

In fact, now that he was looking, they all had the same symbol over their hearts.

The cultivator wore the same symbol.

Except the man on the throne didn’t wear such a symbol, nor did the guards that were trying to escort Ash out of the throne room. None of these guards had the partially Qi-infused weapons he’d looted earlier, either.

Those behind the cultivator did.

“Oh. I had it backwards,” Ash remarked with a chuckle.

“You there, what’re you doing!?” called the cultivator.

The guard hesitated, then turned away from Ash and Hui. He hurried up to the front of the line and performed a polite bow.

“Merely questioning them, lord Hand,” answered the guard. “They arrived late and were not part of the original group allowed to enter the hall.”

“Oh? I’ll question them personally. You two, come on up to the front,” demanded the cultivator who was apparently “lord Hand” and worked for the Qi-lord directly.

“Hui is eager to kill them all,” said Hui, looking to Ash with wide eyes and a smile that twitched into place. “Will Ashley kill them to hone H— to make Hui happy?”

I miss you, Jia.

Mei.

Even you, Na. I miss you all.

You were all a crazy I understood in a way.