Cultivating Chaos

by William D. Arand

“And yet she didn’t stop her husband from throwing you and your brother out when it was clear he’d have to give up a few pleasantries so you could eat,” Ash countered. “Or so you explained.”

  Yue sighed and stopped in front of a small, rundown building. It was a multi-level, multi-family dwelling. One could tell from the outside that it had four sections, and each one contained a different family.

  “She didn’t stop him. No. She did fight it, though.”

  “Which is a lovely sentiment that did absolutely nothing,” Ash said with a shrug of his shoulders. “You yourself said you were just barely making it on the streets.”

  Ash had a problem with people who didn’t look out for their family members. He knew where it was rooted, but that didn’t change it at all.

  Where are you, Trav?

  “Yes… just barely. If we had suffered any setback at all… my honor would have been forever ruined,” Yue said, her tone going flat and cold.

  Squaring her small frame up, Yue marched forward and knocked firmly on the door.

  Ash clasped his hands behind his back and put on a neutral smile. He was only here to observe and lend assistance to her as needed. Beyond that, there wasn’t much he was supposed to do.

  Ten seconds went by before the door slowly opened an inch. Enough for Ash to see someone’s eye.

  “Yue?” said someone behind the door. “Is that you?”

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  The door swung open and a slightly taller and older version of Yue stepped out from inside.

  “Yue!” the woman said, moving forward and wrapping up the younger woman in a hug. “Yue, I’m so happy to see you! I went to look for you in Xing. No one had seen you or Jie for a while.”

  That’s right. Her brother’s name is Li Jie. Jie must be what his family call him.

  “…ooking for us? Why?” Yue said, her aunt still holding tightly to her.

  “Because what I let happen was wrong. Heng was wrong. I told him I was going to get you two and bring you home and he could deal with it or leave,” said the older woman. “So he left. Your mother’s sewing kit was still here, so I’ve become a seamstress just as she was. It’s a little tighter around the house than it used to be, but without Heng I can easily bring you and your brother back home.”

  Ash chewed at the inside of his cheek. He was nervous now. Nervous and unsure.

  Yet also delighted for Yue. She had an opportunity here and now.

  One that he might not be able to resist, himself.

  Going home.

  Maybe staying here in Jinhai would be best for her. It would certainly be less dangerous. She could easily set up a merchant’s shop here and would probably do well for herself.

  There wasn’t a need for her to travel around with him, putting herself in danger. Her family wanted her back and had made room for her. Her and her brother.

  “…ank you but no, Auntie Ai,” Yue said, gently disentangling herself from her aunt.

  “What? I don’t understand,” said Auntie Ai. “I want you to come back. This isn’t me feeling guilty. My guilt was over letting what happened happen. I want you here because you’re family.”

  Yue smiled at her aunt and then took a step toward Ash. She reached up and set her hand on his arm.

  “I’d like to introduce you to someone very important to me. He rescued me from the streets of Xing City, got Jie into a sect, and provided me with my livelihood.

  “His name is Ashley Sheng. Ash, this is my aunt, Ai.”

  Ash bowed his head toward Yue’s aunt and smiled.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ai. Please, call me Ash.”

  The older woman stared at Yue for a second longer before looking to Ash.

  “You need to treat Yue well. She deserves great kindness, though the world has shown her little,” Ai said, her brows coming down partially over her eyes. “And what is it that you do?”

  “He’s a cultivator,” Yue said before he could respond. “As am I, now. We both joined a sect together. I asked him to come visit you with me before we headed back out tomorrow.”

  Ai’s face slowly smoothed out, her eyes locked on Yue.

  “Sweetie, your Dantian wasn’t large enough… How is that possible?” Ai asked.

  “It’s a long story. Could we perhaps come in? I’d like to sit and talk for a bit. I also brought you something,” Yue said.

  Several hours later, Ash and Yue left Auntie Ai’s house.

  Taking a deep breath and letting it out in a whoosh, Yue giggled to herself.

  “Did you see the look on her face when I gave her the card?” she asked.

  “I did. It would seem you wanted to do the same thing I did.”

  “You did? I never actually asked. I mean, I talked to your sister for a bit, but… where’s your family?” Yue asked. “Your family here, that is. I know you’re not from this veil.”

  “Father Duyi and Mother Far live in a very nice neighborhood now. I gave them more than enough spirit stones to live extremely comfortably for their age.

  “I also set aside an account for them to tap into if they ever needed more. Nothing extravagant but… more than they’d ever need to live the rest of their lives in peace,” Ash said.

  Yue grinned at him and slipped her arm through his. “You’re a good man, Ashley Sheng.”

  Thirty-One

  Gen gave the group a final look.

  “Remain in the compound until I have a chance to speak to the locals. Everyone here has already heard about what we’re about.

  “You’re welcome to talk to them, though I do caution some amount of apprehension. While they’re more than likely willing to join us, there’s no guarantee of that yet. One and all, they’re victims of the Deng family. Be sure to not mention Mei’s heritage,” Gen said. “And honestly, I’d hate to eliminate people I don’t have to just because one of you let too much information slip.”

  Eliminate one of them? Holy shit.

  “This is no game. No cheap trick. If we succeed in this, we’ll have recruited a private army of cultivators contracted and bound to no one but us.

  “Have a care, we’re about to enter into a stage that is competitive with the top clans around the Jade Fist,” Gen said with his wolf-like grin. “In the meantime, you should all consider the next tournament that will occur in the sect. We have one every few months to keep you all on your toes.

  “A friend in the sect sent me the information. Apparently, it was announced the day after we left.”

  And another way for the Deng family to try and impact us.

  “It will be a team battle. Each team is allowed four members. Outside of limiting the item usage only to sanctioned weapons, there are no rules,” Gen said. “That means it’ll be the six of you against whatever they throw at us. This wouldn’t be a bad time to begin considering how to fight as a team. It isn’t quite the same as individual combat, after all.”

  Waiting for a second and seeing no response from any of his disciples, Gen left them there. His cane tapping away as he walked out the courtyard they were in. Attached to it was several rooms that had been prepared for their stay.

  “Gen seems to have planned this out,” Jia said, idly tapping a finger against her chin. “I think I may have underestimated his desire to wipe out the Deng family.”

  “To be fair, what they did to him was criminal,” Tala said. “If someone were to separate me from my power, deliberately, and suffer little to no repercussions, I’d probably have a lot of rage built up as well.”

  Moira nodded her head and grunted her agreement.

  Feeling the strange tension in the air, Ash looked to the one person who had a personal investment in the Deng family.

  Mei.

  She looked pained to Ash. The corners of her eyes were wrinkled, her brow furrowed, and her bottom lip stuck between her teeth.

  As if feeling his gaze on her, Mei’s eyes moved to him. She gave him a tired smile and immediately worked to look unconcerned.


  “It’s okay, Mei,” Yue said, apparently having seen the same thing. “If the Deng clan was doing this the right way, then very few but those at the top would know about this type of things being done.

  “The things you yourself did weren’t exactly kind, but neither did you go out and kill someone. Or maim them.”

  “No,” Mei said, as everyone turned to look at her. “No, I didn’t. But apparently there were others in my age group who did. I heard what they said to Ash. They were there not to stop him, but to kill or maim him. To cripple him.

  “Those were very different orders than what I was given.”

  “Then that only supports my own statement. They were giving orders to those that could carry them out, based on what they believed each person was capable of. What were your orders, exactly?” Yue pressed.

  “To slow, stall, or beat Ash to the top. That was it. I’m… I’m one of the strongest in the current Outer Sect generation. They believed I could be a match for him,” Mei said with a bitter smile.

  “I didn’t exactly beat you, Mei. You’ll remember someone slugged you in the back of the head,” Ash offered.

  “At least he fought you,” Jia complained. “He will not even fight me earnestly. He forfeited our one serious fight and now refuses to do anything but spar with me.”

  Ash shrugged and then started to follow in the same direction as Gen. “I see no point in it. And we’ve talked about it before.”

  “Yes, yes. You are afraid that if you win, I will become bitter and leave you. There is little chance of that, but I will grant you your wish for now. You cannot evade me forever, Ashley Sheng,” Jia said toward his back.

  “I’m not evading you; I just don’t want to fight you. Try coming at me from a different angle.

  “I’m going for a walk. I want to talk to some of these people,” Ash called over his shoulder before he turned the corner and left the courtyard.

  The soft pat of booted feet chased after him. Ash grinned and checked over his shoulder, wondering what Jia wanted now.

  Only to find Mei closing in on him.

  “Mei?” he asked, curious about her intentions.

  “Just because Jia is blind to what you’re saying doesn’t mean I am. I decided to attack you from a different angle. I’ll escort you and play your game rather than try to force you into mine,” Mei said. “My reasoning for being willing to play is rather simple. I just want to be around you for the time being.”

  “That’s… an interesting reason,” Ash said, unsure how to continue.

  “I’m a few years older than you. Your sister’s age, in fact. Chalk it up to an older woman’s intuition.”

  “Hm. Fair enough. Well, you’re welcome to join me. Lord knows having attractive company is never a bad thing,” Ash said, looking back ahead.

  “You’re flirting with me? Why?” Mei asked, falling in next to him. “You barely know me.”

  “I’m not exactly wrong, though. You are rather pretty, Mei,” Ash said.

  “Hm. Fine. I think you use flirting as a distraction, though, to a degree. It’s also why I’m willing to play your game. I think you half expect it to end the conversation, and half hope it won’t.”

  “Suppose we’ll find out, won’t we, Miss Older Woman?”

  Mei smiled at him and fell silent as she folded her hands into one another.

  Walking along next to him, she cleared her throat, obviously ready to continue.

  “Suppose we will. Maybe you prefer an older woman. I could look after you and play the older-sister role. Spoil you as a good older woman should.

  “I have a number of younger siblings. Or… I did.”

  Mei’s playful smile disintegrated to nothing rapidly through her own words.

  Ash could imagine what she was going through. He’d been dropped here with absolutely no one and nothing.

  Reaching out, he linked his arm into hers and pulled her a little closer to his side.

  “I understand. I’m not from this veil. I arrived with no one and nothing. I was completely alone,” Ash said. As he guided Mei along, they ended up on an outside walking path. From manicured yards and stones to a dirt path and shrubs and trees. “But you’re not alone. I know we started off on the wrong foot—”

  “You don’t say?” Mei asked, her tone gaining back some of her previous mischievousness.

  “Yes, the wrong foot. But given the situation, you were doing what you felt was right. What you had to do,” Ash said, patting Mei’s wrist with his free hand. “And I get it. I’ve personally forgiven you, and we can move forward.”

  “Forward? Forward to what, pray tell?” Mei asked, partially turning her head to face him. Her smile had broadened as she watched him.

  “Guess we’ll find out when we get there. For now, the path. Let’s just walk and talk. You’re not as aggressive as Jia, but you’re still fun to talk to,” Ash admitted.

  “That’s because I don’t want to beat you. To match you,” Mei said, reaching over to pat his hand on her wrist. “I just want to be near you. You’re a Fated One.”

  Ash wanted to sigh. He was growing weary of the titles.

  “It doesn’t hurt that you’re attractive. You have a great body, too,” Mei said, watching him. “Well, being completely honest, that has a lot to do with it. That and I like your approach to life.”

  Unable to say anything because his brain had shut down completely after being complimented, Ash just kept walking.

  Mei hummed musically to herself and turned her face to the path again. Her fingernails lightly grazed back and forth along Ash’s forearm, making his skin prickle all over.

  ***

  Walking back into the courtyard at was the center of the rooms they were staying at, Ash couldn’t help but grin.

  Tala and Moira were once again sparring. Practicing their abilities and sword work.

  The most surprising thing, though, was how much Tala had improved. She’d started as a strong swordswoman and had become an equal to Moira at spell work and sword work.

  If not perhaps a touch stronger.

  “The abilities we provided her have shored up any gaps she had. She is… formidable. I’ve also put together a workup for Moira that would only add a few things to her spell inventory but would more than likely make her much more capable.

  “I… did the same for Mei as well. I also included a more useful cultivation ability for her based on her Earth Qi. Thankfully, she won’t have to empty her Dantian, but it’ll take her time to refine her Qi Sea,” Locke said suddenly.

  Ok, you really can read my thoughts. Stop hiding it.

  “Fine. Yes. Recently I’ve become able to read your thoughts.”

  Good. That’s… actually a bit easier, if you think about it. I didn’t like talking out loud to myself. Sounded like a crazy person.

  “For all you know, I’m a figment of your imagination and you are talking to yourself,” Locke supplied happily. “Chosen One.”

  Jia and Yue were off talking to one side and seemed amused at Ash’s arrival.

  Before Ash could ask about it, Jia’s face locked into a frozen mask. Her eyes were on a spot behind Ash.

  Feeling a sudden itch between his shoulder blades, Ash pushed Mei behind him and turned to face whatever it was Jia had seen.

  An older man stood there, his hands held behind his back. He had a congenial smile on his face, but his eyes were ice cold. Cold and lacking anything that could be identified as human.

  “Hello young ones,” said the older man.

  Ash looked to immediately highlight and categorize the man. A small red box greeted him. Rolling out the text, the worst possible scenario seemed to confirm itself.

  What would you like your tombstone to say?

  “Hello, we were just retiring to our rooms,” Ash said, moving backward to the rest of his group. “Gen said he’d be back right about now, so we were going to wait for him.”

  “Did he now?” said the old man. “Well, I’ll just have to make it
quick, then. Hand over the Deng girl and I’ll leave. Very clean, very simple.”

  Moira and Tala appeared at Ash’s sides. Flanking him, their weapons held loosely in their hands.

  “I am afraid we cannot hand you our companion. She is essential to us and our goals. She is providing us with a wealth of information about the Deng clan,” Jia said, taking Moira’s right as Yue took Tala’s left.

  “He’s a ninth-rank mortal refiner. At least. I would say he is likely stronger than Gen. From what I can tell, however, his Dantian is fractured and delicate. He is in a very similar situation to Gen,” Locke provided.

  “I don’t think we can—”

  “Hush, Mei,” Ash said, interrupting her before she could suggest something stupid. Like sacrificing herself.

  “Mei? Mei Ling of Deng?” the old man asked. Everyone could feel the energy he began to circulate through his meridians.

  It was tantamount to loading and chambering a round in a gun.

  “Mei Ling, our companion,” Ash said. “And Gen will be returning any second. I’d like to see what he does once he finds out about this.

  “Remember this moment, senior. This is the moment you can still walk away from this.”

  Ash activated his toggled abilities and then flexed his hands at his sides.

  If this goes off, it’ll be fast and brutal. Need to keep moving and keep changing with whatever is happening.

  “Oh, I think I’ll do just fine,” the old man said.

  Then he darted forward, lashing out with a strike at Ash’s head.

  Ducking to one side, Ash didn’t dodge in time. The old man was simply too fast. Though instead of striking Ash’s skull, he hit him in the shoulder.

  Feeling his bones creak with the force of the blow and his arm go numb, Ash fell back two steps.

  Bright-blue Essence appeared all around the older man. Wincing in pain, he looked very confused at what had just happened.

  Locke! You said his Dantian is cracked. Can I hit it with a Qi attack using my Spiritual Perception?!

  Jia moved in, water curling up around her arms as she lashed out with a series of swift attacks.

  The older man went to block with one hand and was knocked a single step back.