Un-Kase arrived at the towering gates shortly before dawn, the pale pink light peeking over the tops of the trees. There were no guards stationed outside the gates and he was momentarily stumped on how to proceed. Thinking back, he remembered the guardhouse he had seen when his mother led him away from the city. He knew how Chosen were supposed to act, and he could easily mimick their attitude. He took a few deep breaths to prepare his chest and built up the energy to roar his challenge through the thick wood.
“I am the wandering Chosen, Un-Kase, of the Dragon Sect, you will open this gate if you do not wish me to destroy it!”
He took a few deep inhales as he recovered from the roar, waiting for the gate to open. He couldn't actually break the gate down, but the people inside didn't know that. He really hoped that they would take his bait, otherwise he would be very embarrassed. And thankfully they did, ironbound wood creaking open slowly as the guard within stood at attention.
Un-Kase strolled through the gate and looked to the guard wearing leadership colors.
“This city is… Xey, correct?”
“Yes, Honored Chosen, you stand in the great City of Xey, home of the illustrious Prismatic Eagle Sect.”
“Good.”
Un-Kase walked away from the guard who proceeded to stammer and stumble after him.
“Please, Honored Chosen! Allow this humble guard to escort you to an establishment where you can rest!”
Un-Kase froze, unsure of how to respond to the request, before a thought sparked.
“Guardsman. Do you imply that I am incapable of walking a city on my own?”
The guards eyes widened.
“N-no! Please-”
“Oh, so you imply that my sense of direction cannot be trusted?”
“Lord Chosen, I-”
“I see, you believe I am in need of your protection, is that it? Or did your tongue simply flap incorrectly and I am free to leave?”
“Of course you are free to leave! I would never dream of trying to impede the path of a Chosen!”
Un-Kase walked away, thankful that he had managed to play that situation off and get away from the gate. He made sure to walk slowly, each step taken deliberately as he held his nose in the air. People scrambled out of his way and he walked to the town square unimpeded. He took a deep breath of the scents of the city that he hadn't smelled in years. The smells of spices and frying foods wafted on the gentle breeze, but beneath that was an undercurrent of filth.
He hadn't realized before how much the city stank, the smell of unwashed bodies and sewage clung to the stone. It was masked by the better smells of civilization, but only just. He walked up to the first food stall that caught his eye, the man behind it selling skewers of meat and vegetables.
“How much?”
“One tin piece per skewer.”
He reached into the pouch he had stolen from the sect members and produced three small grey coins. Exchanging them for the skewers, he continued to walk while he ate, taking in the bustle of the city. The meat tasted good, it had the spices and seasonings that he had missed, but it also tasted… hollow. It felt like there was something missing from the food, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
He threw the remaining two skewers on the ground, coincidentally near an emaciated looking child. He walked down the streets that were imprinted on the back of his mind and quickly arrived at his destination. The Floating Lotus Pleasure House looked just like he remembered it, stylishly painted flowers on the walls and long red banners hanging from all the windows. He stood there for an eternal moment, frozen in memories of the past and indecisive about the future.
Before he could re enter his childhood home however, a figure approached him. He was dressed similarly to the sect members he had killed, with the exception of a golden sash and belt.
“A thousand pardons brother, are you Un-Kase, Disciple of the Dragon Sect?”
Un-Kase didn't know how to react to this sudden appearance and question, but took a moment to imagine how a real Chosen would act.
“I am Un-Kase, Senior Disciple of the Dragon Sect. Since you have addressed me, am I to believe you are a disciple of this city's Sect?”
“Indeed I am, Elder Brother, I come bearing an invitation from the Grand Elders of the Prismatic Eagle Sect. We have prepared rooms and a celebration to receive such an honored guest as a Disciple of the Dragon Sect!”
Un-Kase froze momentarily, he hadn't realized the Sect he had made up really existed! He could try to play this off, but that might get him in more trouble. He would just have to keep pretending and hope everything turned out well.
“Hm. I suppose I can accept the hospitality of your Sect. Lead the way.”
The disciple bowed to him with his hands pressed together, fingers pointing down, before rushing away. Un-Kase had no difficulties keeping pace with the other man however, and followed right on the man's tail.
Core Disciple Pyon Lao was initially disgusted with the supposed Chosen he had been sent to ‘escort’. He wore ugly brown robes, which were admittedly cut in an interesting style, and his hair was cropped short and hung wild about his face. A true Chosen would maintain proper appearance and keep their hair bound in a knot or tail. He approached and inquired about the identity of the Chosen, a formality that bore no great weight.
But the other man did not respond right away. Instead, he stared Pyon Lao down, his bright yellow eyes cold and calculating, the eyes of a predator.
“I am Un-Kase, Senior Disciple of the Dragon Sect. Since you have addressed me, am I to believe you are a disciple of this city's Sect?”
A Senior Disciple!? What had the sect been thinking, sending someone as lowly as him to greet a Senior Disciple? He needed to try and save face, and the first of which was at least pretending he knew of the Dragon Sect.
“Indeed I am, Elder Brother, I come bearing an invitation from the Grand Elders of the Prismatic Eagle Sect. We have prepared rooms and a celebration to receive such an honored guest as a Disciple of the Dragon Sect!”
The Senior Disciple tensed, and Pyon Lao accepted his death. He wasn't sure exactly how he had offended the man, but he would accept the punishment to spare his Sect the humiliation.
“Hm. I suppose I can accept the hospitality of your Sect. Lead the way.”
Pyon Lao thanked every ancestor that watched over him for his stay of execution. It was clear by his tone that Venerated Senior Disciple Un-Kase was angry, but he had shown mercy to a lowly core disciple like himself. He bowed deeply, hands pressed together in subservience, and rushed away. The Senior Disciple of course had no issues following after him and if anything looked upset that Pyon Lao wasn't moving faster.
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Un-Kase looked at the fancily decorated walls with awe while he waited for his guide to catch his breath. The man had run the entire way to the grounds of his Sect and was breathing shockingly heavily. He would have expected the disciples to have more stamina than this, but the fellow didn't seem very strong. The stylish swirls and jagged edges of the designs made his head and eyes swim for a moment before his focus shifted.
An image suddenly stood out, hidden in the designs of the wall and it was one he recognized quickly. The image was of one of those strange 4 eyed birds racing along the wall, the giant explosion of feathers trailing behind. Un-Kase felt a brief spike of fear at the memory, but it was batted away by the energy swirling in his chest. Should he encounter one of these birds again, he would destroy it, and probably eat it.
“This one begs your forgiveness, please, allow me to escort you through our gate.”
The fellow was sweating and walked forward, trailing his fingers along the feathers. He traced a line of the design that nearly lost his attention, but Un-Kase forced his eyes to follow. The disciple ended at the talon, where he pressed on the first and third claws. A section of the wall swung inward, revealing a well manicured garden that lay beyond.
Un-Kase followed the disciple through the gate and was immediately put on edge. He felt eyes on him. Something was watching him and his instincts screamed that it wanted him dead. He followed his instincts and glared at a wall, sending a wave of his bloodlust forward. The watching didn't end, but seemed to lessen slightly. The disciple led him around the twisting path of the garden, finishing at a massive circular door embossed with another bird.
“Senior Disciple Un-Kase, a servant shall lead you to a room, where you may relax and decompress from the rigors of traveling.”
“Very well.”
The disciple stood there for a moment, before bowing again and hurrying away. Un-Kase swung the door open and a young woman bowed deeply to him as he stepped through.
“Welcome Honored Chosen, my name is Liu Gen, please allow this humble servant to escort you to your accommodations.”
“Of course.”
The woman smiled at him and he felt a strange rush of heat. She was incredibly attractive, even more so than the Ladies of the House. She had tanned skin and black hair, vibrant green eyes twinkling above full pink lips. Her hair was braided, and held in a spiraling bun on the back of her head, bound with two long metal needles. Her robes were mostly green with a few blue and yellow accents, the sigil of the Sect emblazoned on the chest.
He followed her quickly as she led the way to a room, standing aside as she opened the door. He was stunned with the lavish decor, drapery in the Sect colors hanging all around the room. Paintings of beautiful sceneries and majestic creatures graced what sections of the walls that weren't windows. Four separate carts had been wheeled into the room and were nearly groaning under the weight of the food they held.
Un-Kase stalked up to the first cart and took a deep breath of the amazing smells. Spices, fats, herbs and meat tangled together in a mess of bliss. He grabbed at the first dish, a slice of pinkish meat, dripping in some kind of sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth. His tongue exploded in ecstasy, the meat so tender he didn't even need to chew! He snatched up a dumpling and stuffed it in his mouth, the hot soup spilling over his teeth and down his throat.
He ate nearly the entire cart, hand to mouth, in a rush that would have made him feel ashamed if it wasn't so good. He belatedly noticed a bottle set in the center of the table and ripped out the cork, guzzling the liquid inside. It was sweet and fruity, with a hint of bitterness that paired surprisingly well. He nearly drained the bottle by the time his thirst was sated, and noticed the servant had moved to an inner door.
“If the Chosen has sated his appetite for the moment, may this lowly servant assist in a bath?”
At the thought of a hot bath he practically leapt across the room, tearing open the door she stood next to. She let out a squeak of surprise and stumbled back, but he paid her no mind. The room was hot, with a thick, heavy humidity that stifled the lungs. In the center was a large metal tub, with wisps of steam rising from the surface of the water. He tore off the robes in so much of a hurry he nearly actually tore them.
“W-wait, the water needs tempering!”
He didn't listen to her, lowering himself into the almost boiling water with a groan of unrestrained pleasure.
“It's been soooo long since I had a hot bath! It feels like heaven!”
“I-I am so glad the Chosen approves! Would you prefer scented or unscented soaps?”
He had only ever smelled the hints of the scented soaps the Ladies used, and had never dreamed he would try any himself!
“Scented please!”
He had expected the woman to hand him a lump of soap and leave him alone, but instead she knelt beside the tub and began to lather the soap in her hands. When she first touched his shoulders, he was skeptical, when her fingers began to work out the knots in his muscles, he relaxed, when she moved on to his hair, he melted. She moved her hands over his body methodically, fingers like steel prodding and working out the stresses he hadn't known he had.
She washed his back, his arms, his feet and up his legs, before finally reaching the point of no return. As her fingers gripped him, he shivered, and a feeling he hadn't experienced before suffused his body.
“I am here to assist the Chosen in any way he likes…”
Un-Kase wasn't sure what he was feeling, but his instincts were screaming at him, roaring at him. His mind had no idea what was going on, but his body suffered no such lack. As he looked into her smiling face, his mind became fuzzy, and everything else faded from existence.
Liu Gen hated playing the servant, even if it was to get close to some dangerous rival Chosen. He supposedly killed that upstart Lao Fin-Mang, but that was hardly impressive. He might have managed to reach the Inner Ring, but she was a Core Disciple, and had mastered the Precise Talon Strikes The Heart techniques. She was more than prepared to strike down this fool, preferably as soon as possible.
“Senior Disciple Un-Kase, a servant shall lead you to a room, where you may relax and decompress from the rigors of traveling.”
She heard the exchange through the door and was momentarily startled. Her target was a Senior Disciple? Granted she was amazing enough that she shouldn’t have any troubles, this would be a sizable boon to her advancement!
The door swung open and she put on her best docile servant girl face.
“Welcome Honored Chosen, my name is Liu Gen, please allow this humble servant to escort you to your accommodations.”
“Of course.”
The voice was much more gruff than she expected, sounding almost like a growl. She looked up at him and saw his glowing yellow eyes practically devouring her. She felt a blossom of heat in the pit of her stomach and thought perhaps this task wouldn't be too loathe. She turned away so her thoughts wouldn't be read on her face. She led him to the room she had been told, opening the door to reveal the lavish appointments and carts laden with spiritually rich food.
Before she could say anything, the other Chosen rushed past her and began tearing at the food. He ate like a man starved, shoving morsels into his mouth with wild abandon, finishing it off by chugging down the wine. The entire cart had been laced with mild toxins and sedatives that should weaken him to the point of not being able to fight back. Next was to get him to bathe in hot water to loosen his muscles and assist his blood flow to let the poisons spread properly.
“If the Chosen has sated his appetite for the moment, may this lowly servant assist in a bath?”
At her words his gaze snapped towards her and he leapt forward, over the cart. She might not object to having some fun with her target, but this was a little sudden! She stumbled back to try and beg a moment, but he ignored her completely, ripping the door to the bath chamber open and stepping through. The heat rushed out around him in a cloud of steam and by the time she stood up to continue her duties, he had already stripped.
He had looked fairly attractive in his ragged robes, strangely designed as they were, but out of them he was nearly irresistible! The other members of the Sect were almost uniformly lithe and graceful. Un-Kase on the other hand was chiseled from slabs of stone turned into glorious rippling muscle! His body was covered in a resplendent lattice of thin, criss crossing scars, showing that he was indeed a battle tempered warrior.
His hair which had looked so out of place before now looked right at home on the rugged, wild man before her. He looked like a carved statue of a god of war, and, if the glimpses she caught between his thighs was any indication, had the right proportions too! Before she could think to stop him, he had already raised a leg (aaah) to step into the bath and she shouted to try and stop him
“W-wait, the water needs tempering!”
He paid her no mind, sinking into the tub with a groan that sent little jolts of static through her.
“It's been soooo long since I had a hot bath! It feels like heaven!”
That felt like heaven!? It was literally boiling just a few minutes ago! How could anyone sit in water that hot and not scream in pain?
“I-I am so glad the Chosen approves! Would you prefer scented or unscented soaps?”
She had already picked up an unscented bar, knowing that men generally regarded scents as frivolous and emasculating. Which is why she took a second to react when he requested a scented soap, but swapped the bars she was holding and knelt next to the tub. It, er, he was even more glorious closer up! She lathered her hands and began to rub at his shoulders, shocked at the resistance of his muscles. She had to strain her fingers to work beneath the skin, but it was more than worth it for the little moans he let out while she worked.
She washed his hair next, surprised at the amount of gunk that she found on his scalp. But since he was a wandering Chosen, he obviously had more important things to deal with. She finished his upper body, and moved on to his feet, making her way up his legs and trying not to rush. Finally, however, she couldn't hold back anymore and grabbed at her prize, causing him to take a sharp breath in. She didn't forget however that she was to play the servant, and refrained from ordering him to the bed.
“I am here to assist the Chosen in any way he likes…”
His eyes stared at her hungrily, a naked look of lust on his face. But when his gorgeous yellow eyes clouded over, she had the distinct feeling that she had made a mistake.