I appear to have spoken too soon.

On the way back to the main area, a few of the demi humans that were healed seemed to have questioned themselves on whether it was a good idea to stay.

Specifically, whether another group could take them in, in exchange for information about the extent of our capabilities.

Quite a few people had gone through this, including some children. They fired off sporadically as I rushed back to that section of the caverns.

However, for all but three people, most of them had returned to good standing for the contract within a few minutes.

Nonetheless, I immediately headed over to resolve the remaining situation. For the three people still out of the contract limits, one of them was a bird demi human.

Gong was already with the potential bird betrayer and was talking them through the situation and what their options were. It appears the underground aspect had made them want to leave, but they seem to now understand the situation.

And the unfortunate lack of choice that they have here.

The other two situations seemed to resolve themselves. My scan reveals it was a combination of other demi humans talking to them and the fact that they could die, that made them step back from that mentally. Thus, releasing them from the paralyzing condition.

We checked with each one to make sure they now clearly understand the position they were in and that they realize now how much more absurdly generous we are, compared to other groups.

To resolve any future situations, Gong gathered everyone into the central room for this area, and explained the ramifications of no longer having the demi human curse.

That even if they escape the contract and pass information to another group, the other groups would likely kill them and everyone they know, because of the ramifications of the curse being dispelled. There are no exceptions to the knowledge rule, so even powerful groups have to step lightly.

Which spread more fear around, but hardened the resolve of others.

In a quick switch around, though, Gong also talked about how much of an opportunity this is for demi humans as a whole. Of the things they will be able to do, after they grow strong enough and go through these challenges. How the many kids around here can now live fulfilling lives after cultivating to a higher level. How flying demi humans will now be able to go into the sky without fear.

For those of the more… personally focused leaning, she talked about how they could now protect themselves. That they could earn and receive large amounts of money, when they finally can become open cultivators. Experiencing levels of luxury they couldn’t even dream of previously.

As she talks more and more about what could be waiting for them, the group seems to get turned to the idea. Bringing them from a low state, up to a slightly hopeful one.

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It’s actually a good motivating tactic.

There’s no way back for them, which means the only thing they can do is move forward. Some seemed to have realized this.

Hopefully, no one else will need to learn hard lessons. Let alone dying for stupid reasons.

With those thoughts brought out into the open, it appears everyone seems to have major concerns, but ultimately no one is thinking of betraying us.

How long this will be maintained, will be the question. At least the paralysis and wordage in the contract strongly pushes people to trying to make it so that the group succeeds, since there is no other option.

With this issue solved, I begin my trek back to the main area, and specifically my bed.

It’s honestly a bit surprising, but after that point, nothing really happens.

Gong seemed to have planned to have people work in different areas of The Cave, performing some activities that normally would be done by spiders, such as farming.

She’s also having them do training, similar to what she was doing for me, but much more intense. The exception is that all of them, even the children, seem to be better at it than I am.

It’s not so much the physical aspect which I seem to be able to match most of them with, but the mental aspect. Even with my healing, at the points that I’m willing to give up, they keep going.

She’s actually been having me work with them while they’ve been doing the training, while I’m still here. Taking advantage of the fact that they can train harder while I’m here and heal them afterwards.

Even the elderly demi humans seem to benefit from this.

One of the cool things I discovered about my healing, regarding age, is that while it’s not able to reverse aging itself, it can heal the negative side effects of it and essentially make them younger in body.

For example, something that was a major problem in my world, dementia. Not only that, but because of that previous healing, all their arthritis is gone and they’re able to build up muscle pretty easily.

Wrinkles are also gone, and they all seem to have smooth faces and unblemished skin. Some 60-year-old women look to only be in their 20s or 30s, causing me to give them a second look before stopping myself.

One elderly man looks like a bodybuilder because of the amount that he’s working out. When talking with one of the other demi humans, it appears this used to be his physique when he was younger.

I think I see why Gong wanted me to work with some of these people while they’re doing their training. She wanted me to see the type of mindset that I need to have to be able to survive in this world.

It also a good indicator of the stakes, of what they’re trying to accomplish here. Of what I am now involved with and have started.

If all of this goes South, then I can probably expect to either have to be on the run for the rest of my life or to die a horrific death, by curse-obligated cultivators.

Which reminds me, Big Sis Crane definitely knows that Gong no longer has the demi human curse. It’s clear that she’s on her side, but even so…

There’s just not enough that I know about her to make a solid take on what she might do and in what circumstances. I suppose I should take solace in the fact that as long as the healing removes the obligation for the curse/notification, that we should be somewhat safe.

Which also brings me to another conundrum.

Since I had discovered the existence of Qi in this world, I’ve been mentally staying away from the big possibility of getting a cultivation method from my scanning ability. When learning about the world, when I first got here, I skipped over it since I got a really bad feeling from even looking into it.

However, there is now a large group of cultivation-ready people here. All waiting to cultivate, so they can remove the curse on their race. Seeing the fire and struggle they are going through to make this happen, even without an easy method to get it, makes me want to look into this more.

Which doesn’t even take into account my own wishes to get the strongest method… which would likely need my scan to find.

It’s time to discover why it felt like such a bad idea to attempt to pull a cultivation method, body cultivation method, or any variation of using Qi.

With this in mind, I dive into my scan to discover one of the major aspects of this world.

Luckily, my scan seems to finally be at a level at which I can even attempt it.