Cultivating Chaos

by William D. Arand

  All three women nodded their heads at the same time.

  They weren’t surprised, and Locke had apparently been right. It was a believable explanation for them.

  “That explains much,” Moira murmured.

  “It does,” Jia agreed.

  Everyone fell silent after their group sharing. The wagon moved along slowly in their place in the traveling column.

  They passed through the guard checkpoint and gate without concern. The recruiter at the head of the procession had already confirmed and checked everyone in, Ash supposed.

  “This is where we part ways,” Ying Yue said with a smile. “I’ll track you down later today, once I settle the wagon and shop. I’ll keep a hold of this one for now.”

  Ying Yue pointed to the blank-eyed Rabbit woman in her cart.

  “Thanks Yue,” Ash said, giving her a wave. “See you later.”

  Turning her wagon off the street they were on, she headed down another.

  “Could you go with her, Moira?” Ash asked after a second. “Keep an eye on the newcomer. I get the impression she might try to do something stupid.”

  “Hmm? Alright. That’ll save me from being bored and having to watch whatever it is the other cultists make you do.

  “Be safe,” Moira said. She gave him a pat on the back before she followed Ying Yue.

  “You treat her like an equal,” Jia said neutrally as they were slowly pressed up into the people ahead of them.

  Whatever was going on up ahead, it was taking some time for each person.

  “She is an equal, isn’t she? It’s not as if she didn’t fight with us on the road.”

  Jia opened her mouth, then closed it. “True… you did not actually order her to assist. In fact, you have not given her an order until today, truly. Even then, it was open for her to decline.

  “She does as you ask.”

  “…will be tested for their element, given their rank, and placed accordingly. Do not use abilities or cultivation unless asked to do so,” said a young man walking down the line. “Students will be tested for their element, given…”

  His voice grew fainter as he passed by and continued down the line.

  Just like the airport security guards. Saying the same thing all day.

  Please have your laptops in a separate tray and your carry-on in another.

  “All will be well. Everyone mistakes you for an outlander rather than a Fated One,” Jia said, touching his forearm.

  Ash didn’t reply, just watched the line move.

  ***

  “Name?” asked a middle-aged man hunched over a desk.

  They’d brought Ash into this small, empty room when he’d made it to the front of the line.

  “Ashley Sheng, of the Sheng family. I have a brother and sister here already,” Ash said, watching the man who paid him no attention at all.

  “Sheng? Sheng… Sheng.” The man leaned over and picked up a different scroll at his side, then started to read through it.

  “Ah… they would be… Jing and Yan?”

  “Yes, that’s them,” Ash said with a grin.

  “Hmph. Your current rank?” the man asked.

  The way his tone changed after confirming the relations felt strange to Ash, but he didn’t have a way to question it without being rude.

  “Rank four.”

  The man nodded and jotted something down.

  “And how many abilities did you learn from the…” Pausing, the man looked to another sheet of parchment next to the one he was reading. “Spark’s Jump Sect.”

  “None,” Ash said honestly.

  Sighing, the man nodded his head.

  “Please activate your cultivation for me,” said the man. Holding up his left hand, he began to release Essence in a steady stream.

  Ash blinked and then immediately utilized his actual cultivation skill.

  It felt sluggish, though.

  Sluggish and very slow.

  “You lost that fight with Jia, remember? You’re still suffering a backlash.”

  Crap. I won’t be able to do much in the way of training for a bit, then. I’ll have to wait until it goes away.

  I completely forgot about that.

  Damn.

  Resigning himself, Ash made the best of a bad situation and focused entirely on cultivating.

  “Your ability is rank two of ten,” the man said, writing something down and ending his Essence flow. “You’ll be almost the lowest-ranking disciple we have in the Outer Ring. Don’t let that stop you, though. You’ll receive the same rewards as the bottom ten percent of the disciples, and you can always improve your standing through duels.

  “Do that enough and you’ll move into the next bracket and receive better rewards.”

  Reaching behind him, he picked up a marker with a key on it and then set it down on the table. “Rooms are assigned by arrival. I hope you spoke to those in front of you and behind you in line; they’ll be your neighbors.

  “Exit the door to your left, and follow the path until you reach your new home. Numbers are marked clearly by posts.

  “Good luck.”

  Before Ash had even fully grasped the placard with its key, the man had turned to the door.

  “Next!”

  Moving to the exit, Ash stumbled along in a bit of a stunned silence.

  He’d expected to be treated poorly, but even this seemed negligent to the point of retardation.

  How do they even manage to help their members grow? Is this just a bigger, dumber version of Spark’s Jump?

  Exiting through the indicated door, Ash kept his feet moving.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he said to himself. “I’m not here to grow or learn or anything. I’m here to help Yan and Jing. That’s it.

  “After I get settled in, I’ll go see them. See if the stones I sent them helped out and if they need more.”

  Ash nodded once, firming up his thoughts.

  Watching his left and right, he wandered down the dirt path, looking from marker to marker as he went.

  The houses all had the same cookie-cutter exterior. The only differences were in their decorations. Pots, plants, a banner, a city or clan flag were fairly common adornments.

  “Forty-two?” Ash asked, glancing at his marker again and then to the post. “Forty-two. Alright. That’s… a bit odd.”

  Anything with the number four was typically omitted in this culture. It was simply an unlucky number that seemed to go hand in hand with death.

  Walking toward the door, Ash gave it a quick once-over.

  It wasn’t anything special. If anything, it looked like an oversized ranch house back in California. “Going to be comfy for Moira, myself, and the Rabbit woman in there.

  “Let’s hope it’s bigger than it seems on the outside.”

  “Ah, a new disciple,” said a voice behind Ash.

  Restraining his frustration and snapping his mouth shut before he said something he’d regret, Ash turned around.

  A younger man in the robes of the Jade Fist was smiling at him. He looked like every other person he’d seen lately. Lean, fit, brown hair, brown eyes.

  “Good morning. I’m your house elder. I’m responsible for those in the buildings from one to one hundred,” said the man. “Since I’ve found you so early, let’s proceed with your elemental Qi test and move from there. This’ll make it that much easier for you to settle in.”

  “Elemental Qi test?” Ash asked, honestly unsure of the situation.

  “Yes. For us to place you with an appropriate elder for Qi classes, we’ll need to determine the element that resides in your Qi.

  “Push some out from your palm, but keep it controlled with your Spiritual Sense.”

  Spiritual Sense…? I don’t even—

  “I believe Spiritual Sense is just a way of saying your focus. In the abilities that mention it, it seems to be a visualization of your focus and intent,” Locke said, interrupting Ash’s startled thoughts.

  Blinking rapidly, Ash held
up a hand and began to force some of his Qi out through his palm. He focused his entire being on keeping the Qi in a tight, small ball. Just above the flesh of his hand.

  A small, translucent, unmoving sphere appeared in his palm. Sitting there, it seemed more like a rock than anything else.

  “Huh. I’m not really sure what element that is,” said the house elder. Reaching out with a finger, he poked the Qi lightly. “Very solid. Hm. The coloring is more like Wind than Earth though.

  “We’ll put you in with the odd ones for now until we can figure out what it actually is.”

  “Odd… ones?” Ash asked, not sure he liked the way it’d been said.

  “Ah, yes, sorry. They’re those who have elemental Qi that doesn’t quite match up. Like having Water the element, but not fresh water.”

  “That… can happen?”

  “It’s rare, but it can happen. The Nine Kingdoms is a vast place, and the lowest realm. To believe we know everything would be a calamity,” said the house elder with a smile. “Alright. I’ll assign you accordingly. You can dismiss your Qi now.”

  Writing something down on a paper Ash hadn’t noticed, the house elder nodded to himself.

  “Ah, before you go—I was wondering if you could help me?” Ash asked, wondering if this could be his chance.

  “Mm?” The House Elder didn’t look up from his scroll as he continued to write.

  “Could you direct me to the houses of Jing Sheng and Yan Sheng? They’re my family and I’d like to see them.”

  Hand freezing in mid-stroke, the house elder looked at Ash quietly for a moment.

  “Ah… Jing is in the upper-numbered homes. You’ll not be able to enter that area without a pass.

  “Yan is… Yan is in house number four.”

  “Four?” Ash asked.

  “Yes, she lost a series of duels. Ah… I’ll be going now. Excuse me.”

  Frowning as the house elder left quickly, Ash was at a loss. It felt like a lot had gone unsaid in that conversation.

  “If she’s in house four… that means I already passed her. Let’s go see her. I can inspect the house another time.

  “In fact, maybe I can pick her up and then head over to get Yue and Moira.”

  Ash turned around the way he’d come and started heading back.

  Paying a bit more attention this time, he noticed that the further he got to the lowest number, the worse the path was.

  Stopping at number ten, Ash was confused. Looking to the left of the path and behind himself a ways, he could clearly see the course he’d taken from his testing.

  These homes were so far off the beaten path that one would have to literally walk further away from testing to reach them.

  Why would Yan be back here but Jing somewhere else? Did he get forced into an alliance or something?

  When they’d left together, they’d been as thick as thieves. Where one had gone, the other had followed.

  Ash finally reached house number four. It was much like all the other homes he’d seen, though it was devoid of decorations. The path outside and leading up to it was nothing but rutted dirt. What little grass existed was clearly dying, and the entire front area would soon be little more than a field of dirt.

  Feeling rather annoyed, and like his temper was slowly starting to boil, Ash headed for the front door.

  Taking a short breath, he knocked on the door firmly.

  “Go away, I have nothing left to fight me over,” came a voice from inside.

  Startled and shocked, Ash didn’t know how to respond.

  It had sounded like Yan, but not like something Yan would say.

  “Did you not hear me? Go away!”

  The door snapped open as the voice finished talking, and Ash was face to face with Yan.

  She was a few inches taller than him. Her eyes were black like pitch and her hair looked as if it had been painted with ink. Her face was as pale as death, on the other hand.

  Pale to the point of looking sickly.

  “Ash?” she whispered, looking at him.

  Grinning, he held his arms open to her.

  “I’m not here to fight you for something, but if I have to fight for something, I’ll fight for a hug,” he said.

  Yan’s eyes blinked slowly, and then she lunged forward and wrapped him up in a tight, smothering hug.

  Then she started bawling, her face pressed into his neck. Deep, sobbing wails seemed to come up from the very pit of her soul.

  Awkwardly, Ash wrapped his arms around her and patted her back.

  “There, there. How about you invite me in and we can talk? Clearly something has gone wrong,” he said.

  Seventeen

  Managing to crab walk in through the open door, Ash dragged Yan along with him.

  Her furniture looked battered and worn, though sturdy. She had nothing of any value that one couldn’t get cheaply at any market stall in her home.

  The new problem, though, was trying to get her to talk.

  Getting into the home had proved to be much easier in retrospect than getting her to calm down. Her hysterical crying continued for what felt like forever to Ash.

  And all he could do was awkwardly pat her on the back and be held by her.

  She’d always been kind to him, but she had always kept him at arm’s length. In essence, she’d become the stern but watchful older sister he’d never had.

  Right now, she was little more than a blubbering mess.

  The change was shocking to him.

  Sniffling, Yan wiped at her face with her hands, her eyes moving everywhere but to Ash. She let herself be seated into a chair directly next to a second, which Ash took.

  “Are you visiting?” she asked finally, her voice almost steady. “Did Mother and Father ask you to come see how we… I was doing?”

  “No. I joined the sect, actually. Mother and Father did say you and Jing weren’t doing so well, though. It’s what prompted me to come see what I could do to help. Or at least, to support you two,” Ash said. “I take it you didn’t get my letter? Or at least, you maybe didn’t believe it?”

  “Letter?” Yan asked, her fingers brushing at her eyes again. “You joined the sect?”

  “Ah… yeah. I sent a letter. Along with one hundred spirit stones for you,” Ash said, shaking his head. “I paid for a special courier. It should have made it here. I sent one for you and one for Jing.”

  Yan’s mouth hung open, her hands halfway between her lap and her face.

  “You sent one to each of us?” she asked.

  “Yeah. A letter for you, and a hundred spirit stones for each of you.”

  “Where did you even get two hundred spirit stones? No, no, wait. You sent it to both of us… and not that long ago?”

  “Not that long ago at all. It was—”

  “He stole them,” Yan said, interrupting him.

  “What?”

  “He stole them. He stole the stones you sent me, and the letter.” Yan’s eyes unfocused and she looked to the middle distance.

  “Who stole them? I sent it to you. The courier?”

  “No. Jing. He stole them. He suddenly had a lot of wealth on his hands not long ago. He bought a number of abilities, made friends, and left me… here. Alone.

  “And I’ve lost everything since then.”

  Yan laughed softly, tears starting to spill down her face again.

  “Brother Jing… why did you do this to me? All for a hundred stones,” she murmured.

  Ash wasn’t quite sure what to say. The series of events seemed painfully easy to follow.

  It was just almost too hard to believe, though.

  Yan looked up at him and gave him a smile.

  “I’m glad to see you, Ash. Though I fear there is not much you can do for me. Whatever you did to get those stones for me was wasted.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said.

  Ash let out a slow breath, then snorted.

  “I wouldn’t worry about those stones. I have significantly more availa
ble, and I can get more if we need.

  “Let’s… let’s assume that maybe we’re wrong about Jing for now. What do you need immediately?” Ash asked. “What would be the best thing for you, today?”

  Yan nodded her head a bit.

  “I need to buy a better cultivation skill. The one I’m using isn’t ideal for me, but it was all I could afford.

  “There was no way I’d be able to earn any resources without cultivating, either, so I was trapped.”

  “That’s not a problem. I’ll get you a cultivation skill. When you left home, you were an Earth element. Has that changed?”

  “No. But… how are you going to get a skill? Ash, you didn’t even have your Dantian open when I left.

  “I’m so glad you were able to do so, but I honestly don’t see—”

  “Get out here, Yan!” shouted a voice from outside. “I’ve come to fight you for the simple joy of beating you to the ground.”

  Yan’s face froze up, and her eyes partially glazed over.

  “Yan!” shouted the voice from outside.

  “The scan I’ve performed shows a group of people outside. At least ten. They are all equal to your strength or less.

  “None should be a problem if you wanted to fight them,” Locke said.

  Ash looked to the door and clicked his tongue.

  He wasn’t someone who would run to a fight. To battle for the sake of it.

  But he was someone who would go all out on anyone who went after his family.

  “Is there any law in the sect I should know about in regard to hurting, maiming, or killing other disciples?” Ash asked.

  “What? Uhm, hurting is acceptable in duels. Maiming is frowned upon, and killing another member will get you kicked out.

  “What—”

  Ash got to his feet and stormed over to the door. Before he reached it, he activated all his abilities and set them to run at full.

  Opening the door, he stepped outside.

  A group of young men and women were all surrounding another young man who was several steps out in front of the rest.

  They’d all had smug looks on their faces when Ash had first stepped out. Now they all looked confused.

  “You’re looking for a fight? I’ll take you up on it,” Ash said. “Will you fight me, then? Or will you tuck your tail between your legs and run away and hide?”