Cultivating Chaos
Page 40
“Yes, Master Gen. That’s what we did,” Ash said.
“Hm. I’d like a more thorough accounting. To really understand all that happened. But that can wait for another time. When we’re not struggling to put the sect back together.
“And speaking of that, the sect leader will want to see you soon, I imagine. It is by no small means that it is our faction alone he still leads,” Gen said.
It’d been several days since Ash had last seen Jing.
Since then, they’d remained in the Outer Sect, acting as a controlling force. Supplies were waylaid that were intended for the Deng members, and Gen and his allies had a fallback point to rest and restock.
It’d been a battle of attrition in the end. Little had happened outside of daily battles until the Deng clan members who remained had all surrendered or fled.
“We’re at his disposal,” Ash said.
“No… not everyone else. Just you, Ash. I’m afraid you’ll not be able to hide some of what you can do after this.
“It’s too obvious,” Gen said with a shrug. “For what it’s worth, I trust the sect leader to keep it secret. Though if he does, he won’t be able to do much to give you anything in the way of assistance.
“Anonymity does limit his capabilities, after all.”
Ash didn’t really care, and he shrugged his shoulders.
“I have what I need. I don’t think there is much he could offer or do for me that I would want right now,” Ash said honestly.
Gen reached up and ran a finger along the edge of his burned skin.
“Yes, I can imagine,” Gen said. “So, what is your plan then? My understanding was you were wanting to take vengeance on the Deng clan. As far as they’re concerned in the sect, that is done and taken care of.
“They no longer exist here. Though their allies remain.”
Letting his eyes drop to the floor, Ash wasn’t quite sure how to respond. He really didn’t know what he wanted to do right now.
“I think… I want to get into the Inner Sect. Lie low. Gain more power,” Ash said after a minute of self-reflection. “Sure, I have many gifts and things available to me, but I don’t have the power to protect myself. At least, not completely. I need time to develop.”
Nodding, Gen pressed a hand to his chin.
“That’s a fairly wise outlook on the whole situation. That isn’t exactly quick, though. It’ll take time.”
“Yeah, well, I have that,” Ash said. “My biggest issue right now is just… being left alone, I think.”
Gen chuckled at that.
“Yes. So it would seem. I don’t think this is the end of your troubles, though. Just because the Deng have left doesn’t mean you are any more well liked or respected.
“If anything, in doing what you did, all the other families in the sect—other clans—will look to you and try to determine what you are. What you’re doing.
“I would wager that your life is going to be the furthest thing from peaceful. Though… at least it will be relatively safe here,” Gen said. “Relatively.”
Ash closed his eyes and pressed his hands to his forehead.
“He’s not wrong. But at least we have a place to hang our hat, so to speak. This isn’t a bad place to build our strength, Chosen One.”
“I’ll leave you to your thoughts. The sect leader will probably ask to see you tomorrow, if I don’t miss my guess.
“You should rest; you look tired,” Gen said.
Ash pulled his hands away from his face, except Gen was already gone. He was quiet, very quiet. And his ability to vanish without a sound was getting better.
It only took about ten seconds before someone walked in. Ash knew everyone else was outside and probably wanted to talk to him about various things.
Though he hadn’t expected Jia to be the first one in.
“I wish to speak,” Jia said, standing in front of Ash. Her hands were twisting into each other, her fingers locked tight. “About… what all happened and me.”
“Alright,” Ash said, looking up at the woman. This really didn’t feel like the time or place, but he wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
The sooner he could settle Jia back into place, the better.
“I wanted to be defeated by you,” she said. “I wanted you to beat me black and blue. To crush me as if I were not a threat.”
Blinking, Ash raised his eyebrows at that. He wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“I wanted that, because then I could validate… what I was thinking. That I was not wrong in my actions,” Jia said. “You know I ran away from my family. I spoke of it once.”
“Yeah,” Ash said.
“I did so because they wished to marry me off once I reached a certain point in my cultivator’s path.
“They wanted me to stop so I would not eventually grow stronger than the man I would be given to.
“Instead, I ran away, and here I am,” Jia said. “And you… changed the rules for me. I am very strong, now. If I am able to continue this way, I can challenge for the leadership of my clan.
“Except… I do not wish for that.”
“Uh huh,” Ash said, still confused.
“I wish to remain here. With you. And if you were able to defeat me, then remaining here made sense. I did not have to leave because you were stronger than me.”
“And when I couldn’t instantly beat you, you felt… scared?”
Jia’s brows bunched up, and then she nodded once. “Yes. That would be accurate.
“I was. But no longer. I understand… myself now… or at least more so.”
“That’s good.”
“Though, I have another problem,” Jia said with a sad smile.
“Alright?” Ash was barely able to keep up right now, and he wasn’t sure he wanted a surprise of bad news at the moment.
“I received a letter from my cousin. She was my one friend at home.
“She visited me once in Xing City,” Jia said with a sigh.
“Apparently, my location has been discovered. It is very likely that in the next six months, I will have someone try to come and claim me,” Jia said. “And I would ask for your assistance in this matter.”
Jia suddenly clenched her hands into her clothes and bent down toward him at the waist.
“I need your help, Ashley Sheng. Please assist me in breaking free of my family. I think they will send a peak mortal refiner to fetch me,” she said.
A peak mortal refiner? What the hell am I supposed to do against that?
“It is my older brother, and I desperately hope we can do this without killing or permanently harming him,” Jia asked, her head dipping lower still.
Great. Ok.
Ash leaned back into his chair with a sigh.
“Yeah. I get it. I’ll do everything I can to help, Jia. Family counts, after all. One way or the other,” Ash said.
And that leads me back to the other problem.
Where are you, Trav, and how do I find you?
“Then… thank you, Ash. I am in your debt,” Jia said, standing up. “If you do not mind, I would like to start paying that back.
“Would you be willing to have dinner with me?”
“Rather forward of her. Good for her,” Locke said. “Let’s say yes.”
Ash smiled and set his chin in his hand.
“Why not,” he said.
“Good. I will let Yue and Mei know that I have secured you for myself, so they may need to alter their plans.
“Tala and Moira have already agreed to watch the houses,” Jia said, giving him a bright and wide smile. “And I know just where to take you to hide from prying eyes.”
“Very forward of her. Hm. Maybe she finally figured out what she wanted, after all,” Locke said. “You.”
Thank you, dear reader!
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Ash’s travels through the Veils, be sure to check out the other novels in the VeilVerse:
Asgard Awakening: Blaise Corvin
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If you enjoyed this book, try out the books of some of my close friends. I can heartily recommend them.
Blaise Corvin- A close and dear friend of mine. He’s been there for me since I was nothing but a rookie with a single book to my name. He told me from the start that it was clear I had talent and had to keep writing. His background in European martial arts creates an accurate and detail driven action segments as well as his world building.
https://www.amazon.com/Blaise-Corvin/e/B01LYK8VG5
John Van Stry- John was an author I read, and re-read, and re-read again, before I was an author. In a world of books written for everything except harems, I found that not only did I truly enjoy his writing, but his concepts as well.
In discovering he was an indie author, I realized that there was nothing separating me from being just like him. I attribute him as an influence in my own work.
He now has two pen names, and both are great.
https://www.amazon.com/John-Van-Stry/e/B004U7JY8I
Jan Stryvant-
https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Stryvant/e/B06ZY7L62L
Daniel Schinhofen- Daniel was another one of those early adopters of my work who encouraged and pushed me along. He’s almost as introverted as I am, so we get along famously. He recently released a new book, and by all accounts including mine, is a well written author with interesting storylines.
https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Schinhofen/e/B01LXQWPZA