So I should probably explain the structure of the weeks here. They had a four day work week with three days off. It was a great setup, almost as good as the four days off, three days working that I aspired to.

I, a dedicated hard charger, did not want to partake in more five day work weeks with a nine to five. That was something for my past life.

Then there were a lot of seasonal festivals that made whole weeks nothing but a series of tournaments and celebrations. This was a slow time of year in a thankfully temperate climate. I hadn't actually seen a calendar everyone just seemed to know what day it was, mostly likely out of repetition.

This setup, combined with my inability to stop working even in a fantasy world, is why I ended up doing group therapy every day. My back, also gave me a reason to double down on my work. Generally, therapy is done sitting down, as there isn't a physical portion of it.

I didn't have much else to do for the rest of the week except debate on what I was going to train on next. It was work in the morning and then afternoons free. And to be quite honest, I had put myself on this position. The victims that still stayed on -most of them- couldn't pay me. I wouldn't have accepted money from them if they could have either. I had ideas of a work study job position for them but we would see what happened once they were all done. I put all of those ideas to the side and settled in the thing I finally had enough information to start.

I had asked Moon Lee about a potential path to let me split myself into multiple clones like Doom bots, and she was researching it. It was something that a fourth round cultivator like myself could pull off but I didn't know where to start. I had an idea of what I wanted to make, now I had to flesh it out.

This led to a few nights perusing All of the path techniques that the moon clan had. Once I had exhausted those and found three potential candidates. I asked the Jin clan for help. That was about the time that I felt good enough to begin training again. This meant that I was going to have to dedicate some time to training, sometime to reading up on a path and sometime to group therapy. Lorenzo and I decided that we would have off days from group therapy that lined up with the 3-day weekends. As it was an intensive outpatient process, we didn't want them to think that we abandoned them, but the point of therapy is to get to a goal. It's not to make more money for the therapist. If I could do this for free, I would. It wasn't until that first day where I had nothing scheduled that I realized I was trying to over schedule myself.

Of course, I dove back into one of the four potential paths I found. My dreamscape path gave me the ability to create illusions on a small scale around me. It was within a defined area where I could make someone see something. Or I could pull them into a dreamscape and the entire thing would be a fabricated secondary reality.

My other main ability the tactile telekinesis let me grab onto things and float them however, I wanted to. I'd used this a great effect when I needed to borrow a broom and fly after that cell of demonic cultivators. That worked well with my Tai Chi training, although really was just being fast and strong that had saved me this whole time. If I was going to get to the next realm I would need to figure out a way to define who I was and what my path was. Others be damned if I wasn't able to grab someone and hulk slam them into the ground against their will several times repeatedly.

It was the least I could do for a determined enemy. I wanted to provide the ultimate in customer service and if that took the form of a ridiculously overpowered path, then that was alright. I could accept that.

So there I sat early on my first day off, relaxing in the guest accommodations of the Moon clan with four path manuals in front of me. It wasn't the first time that analysis paralysis had full on stopped me from doing what I needed to do, but it was comforting that for all the things I had done, the life I had led before and now, that I was still willing to procrastinate.

The first path entitled 'Illusions and Shadows: Shade' was something pointedly about making intangible shades of myself. I leafed through the explanation of how I would use Qi to affix a signature of myself onto first one then two shades. After a brief overview I put it to the side. It was definitely interesting, but didn't seem too applicable to what I wanted to do, if the clones couldn't interact with things.

That ability to work independently and make actions upon the environment was important to me if this was going to be a compelling technique. I don't dream of labor, that whole thing about a dream job is not for me. I dream of things being effortless and days where I can do what I want without having to deal with invasive sales people.

The second path I opened up looked promising. 'Double Trouble' created a tangible clone for a brief time that had to stay close to you to be viable. The problem with that was that I wanted my clones to be able to work semi independently and more than a meter away from me. Some of the principles might be transferable so I put that on the keep pile.

For some reason, as I read this I felt like there would be an oblique mention of needing to do a dance move to activate the technique. Complete transparency on my part, I couldn't dance my way out of a paper bag. Thankfully it's a rare thing for people to actually watch and care when I'm dancing. Probably during prom when the mojito incident came up, but the less said about that, the better.

The third path I approached with trepidation. 'Clockwork Golem' created an enduring clone that would meet a lot of my requirements, but require a heavy upkeep in terms of Qi. I really liked the idea of an enduring clone but I wanted the Qi to return back to me as the clone dissolved. I wondered if I could combine a little bit of one and a little bit of the other to make as better path on my own. It would have to meet my requirements-all of the specific problems that I had with the first three paths. Perhaps the fourth one would offer me something.

I idly thought about how good a meat bun would taste and realized that I had once again reached midday without one. It might have been my hunger the broke me out of my focus but I realized far too late that I should have stopped a while back. It was like waking up briefly from a dream. A pleasant dream where I was lucid dreaming my way through one bite at a time.

The debate between lunch and not was quickly won by the gurgle in my stomach. I accepted that it was my time and made my way to the commissary. The smells roused me into a faster walk.

After going through the remnants of breakfast cast-offs, I felt much better and more at ease. Feeding the beast worked out well for me. I found a large jug of fresh water and drank my fill.

Full and hydrated I strode back to guest quarters with a renewed focus. It was time to get to the bottom of this decision and then push the envelope a bit further.

The final path manual, "Light Clone" was very close to what I actually wanted. It let me create a clone made out of an illusion. That clone did not have to stay within the meter of me that another technique required . And it did not have an owner is ongoing Qi requirement.

So naturally, I'm looking at skeptically. Nothing good ever just happens, right?

I was going to take what I needed out of this turn into my own technique. Clock work shadows or something? Could that be a thing? I resolved to make notes.

---

Now I'm not going to be the first person to complain about the police, but I will be the loudest. Mostly because they weren't as strong as I was now.

Today was going to be the day when I gave Inspector Bao some instruction. He and I were set to meet up right after group therapy.

"Now remember, you are the writer of your own destiny. What happened to you, you may hold to the end of your days, but if you stay on the path, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel," Lorenzo said, wrapping for the day.

A lot of hugs and claps on the back later and a familiar blue robed figure met us by the gate. Lorenzo gave me a look. He had been brought up on the latest developments. He, more than anyone else understood my ambivalence about working with the constabulary. We moved towards him, walking together.

"Maybe they will be better this time?" Lorenzo said.

"Maybe. I'm going to see if I can give him an incentive," I said.

"An incentive?"

His knowing smile gave me life.

"Ah the good Inspector Bao."

"Cultivator Joseph. The constabulary has some questions for you."

"Walk with me, Bao," I said, turning on a dime to walk towards my most hated place.

"I-uh-"

His awkwardness was palpable even as I faced the other direction and beat feet the other way. Then I made my way to that fateful place.

"I'm not doing this for your health so hurry up. I'm definitely doing it for mine. I want you to understand. Come with me."

I opened the large wooden door, pushing it back. It was wide enough for three people to walk side by side. Inside the musty smell gave you pause for only a second. We were in.

"When I first came to this place. I thought it was nothing special."

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I pulled on the hatch. The rope handle was worn and gritty, a reminder of how long this place has been in use.

"There is a special smell in a place where someone has died. It's something that you never forget."

Behind me I heard gagging.

"In this room, dozens of men and women died. They were incapacitated and then fed to demonic cultivators. Some of their blood is still here now. It will never be cleaned. The stain of what happened here may never lift from the souls of the ones we saved. So the next time that I come to you with a hot tip, I expect that you will take it with the amount of seriousness that it requires."

He gulped. I still hadn't turned around. I knew he was there because he was intimidated of me. He knew that I was stronger than he was. He had felt me unveil. However, I didn't want him to just do things because I was stronger. I wasn't a despot. I was not prepared to be a tyrant. I was prepared to hold the man by his ear while I helped him administer justice. If we needed to have a police force in western jewel then then they were going to have to go after demonic cultivators.

"This-How did this happen?"

"They mostly hypnotized them. The back part over there that was where they killed them. Some of these people in group therapy still have nightmares about it. Made them blind and shit."

I let the silence permeate. He was going to be very uncomfortable and I needed him to understand. I didn't need him afraid of me. I was also wary of overdoing it. When I was a kid I came on too strong, especially on things that I was interested in.

Right now?

I was interested in this man understanding why. I needed him to put himself in the shoes of the ones we lost and the ones we saved. I needed him angry at the cultivators. He needed to be motivated to hunt them down. I couldn't think of a better place to do it than here.

"...They really did all of that? I mean I heard the rumors, but the official report lacks some of the emotion that you put into it."

"I have had dreams that turned quickly into nightmares. It is not a pretty sight. I would not wish this upon my worst enemy. But I had the best possible outcome. I got to see the end of it, and see these victims to safety."

"I see."

"Now what did you have to say?"

"Well as it turns out all three were demonic cultivators and we wanted to understand how you knew that to be true. There are no outward signs that tipped us off and not to alarm you but well we don't understand it. We needed a core elder to examine their cultivation in order to make an assessment. But then, you're a Nascent soul according to the dossier we complied on you."

What would a file on me look like? I wondered if they would get my beard right.

"Of course. There's a mark that only they can see. For some reason I'm able to view their mark, some interaction between myself and my bonded spirit beast was the initial reason we discovered it."

Min appeared by my side as if to back up my cause. She had grown quite fast since her advancement and now she had taken the chance to follow him unnoticed to work on her stealth and veiling. She had been unnoticed so far, so her sudden appearance caused a gasp. Min have him a low bow.

Then she began to pull on her qi to make an illusion. She was illustrating my point, visually.

"It's ultraviolet, part of the light spectrum. It isn't normally visible."

She showed him the markings that had tipped us off. The sharp Fang over the lip of the model she had used was crisp. It clearly showed a purple fang where there shouldn't be anything. True they called themselves red fang or their cover, green velvet. I got to thinking if people who grew up here had a tough time seeing some of the colors in either end of the spectrum.

"And you can both see this?"

We nodded. Her illusory copy highlighted what was actually there.

"Do you think there any more of them? In western jewel?"

"I know she isn't convinced that she found them all, but it's such a large undertaking- if they find out what's tipping us off then we could lose our edge."

"How can the constabulary fix this problem?"

"I'm so glad you asked."

I can see his face contort itself into the most amusing half smirk. Now I had him exactly where I wanted him.

"You're setting me up here, trying to make me emotional. My entire job is to be emotionless and detached."

"Up until you see an atrocity like this. Some of the victims are going to need help for the rest of their lives," I said, rubbing my fingers together, "We live in a society where the strong must protect the weak."

"This is true, but I don't need to-"

"You don't have to have emotions to be a good constable. The entire system doesn't require it," I said flaring my qi, "But you need to understand that things like this can't happen anymore. Not while I live and breathe."

He took a step back and slouched. The fire had gone out from his eyes. He had come to question me. Even after his experience working with me last time, he still wasn't getting it. I began to walk back to the hatch. I briefly considered leaving him here to stew, but then he might break out and I want to preserve this the way it had been.

We were quiet on the way back up towards the gate. Lorenzo was there, talking with Xueyie about the day. They were deep in discussion about something that they were not aware of. He was probably explaining why you had to not give out protective information. She hadn't grown up in an individualistic culture. The Taoists were a group of theater kids and you can imagine what that would be like. I didn't want to as I had gone up around dozens of kids that thought they were the next best, Hollywood star.

I was just glad that none of them had heard the words improv before. Otherwise we might have a problem.

" Cultivator Joseph," she said, with a slight head Bob, "Inspector Bao. So good to see you. Inspector. Was our performance the other day sufficient?"

"It was, thank you. Your service to the emperor has not gone unnoticed. The strongest cultivators can triumph over any opponent, but to do so while leaving one unscathed enough to question, that is something special."

She leaned in. I swear that she was about to do a hair flip or something.

"And did you learn anything from these demonic cultivators?"

"We learned that they are demonic cultivators. That part is no longer in dispute. They are some of the first ever captured alive and as such once we are done with them they are going to be sent via airship to the capital. There are some strong mind cultivators that are going to take a look into how they got away with what they did. An estimate that they were at the second realm, which meant the day had killed at least five to ten people on their way there. Those deaths, though indiscriminate, still hurt the larger cause. So thank you."

His face looked truly apologetic for the first time. I may have been a bit too hard on the man.

"Now I believe you had some questions for us? Anything you have to ask me if you can say in front of my associate, don't worry."

"You won't cut me off every other word like last time?"

"No of course not, unless that's what you want, Inspector Bao. However I will warn you that all three of us are ready for lunch so please do hurry up."

He had several questions about how we tracked them down (trade secret), why we didn't didn't kill them if we knew (on principle) and if we had any other information that might lead to finding more demonic cultivators.

"That last one," I said, "I only have the smallest idea of where we might find more. There could be ten more cells here. There could also be no more. My spirit beast as part of her training will be searching for more of them. I suppose we could dive into one of their minds and do some forensic psychology to see if they knew anything but... Bao, why are you looking at me like that?"

"You can look into their minds? Then you can interrogate them for us?"

"The dreamscape is not like an interrogation chamber; they would be fully conscious there. They might not want to give any information out. Plus shouldn't you guys have someone who can look into dreams or do something similar on staff right now?"

His brow furrowed. Maybe he didn't. Maybe all the money that the constabulary took in wasn't going anywhere good. Maybe they didn't have enough money. I gave him a look that I wanted him to explain.

He for his part pulled at his collar.

"That's not something we generally have. We have to refer those specific cases out to specialists like yourself-"

"Let me stop you right there, guy. I believe in rehabilitation. And it's not that I don't think that they should be lying over the rest of their lives, but if it was any other crime besides murder and cannibalism, I might think that they should do their time and get out of prison. I come from a place where prison itself is a big business. And it really shouldn't be. So if you figured to ask me about this and try to gauge my intent. Let me be clear. Let me be crystal clear. I will find and root out any demonic cultivators in western jewel given time. But I am not going to turn my skills into something like that."

"That wouldn't be right, would it Joe? A therapist must be free to choose their own clients, right?"

I had the urge to pat her on the head. She would have thought it was hilarious but I didn't think it was the time of the place. We both turned to face him as one. It felt good to be on the same side even if we had a difference of opinion.

"Cultivator Joseph, please, if we can get back on track. There are a number of people that we suspect are demonic cultivators of the red fang sect that were killed during the incident. We have now made a network of the people who we know were red fang agents and are trying to extend the web out to their larger family structure."

He left out that they would probably be brought in for questioning and tested for demonic pathways. There was something there about beast cores as well that Min had mentioned earlier.

"Demonic cultivators, they don't have to use human sacrifices do they? They can use beast cores?"

I wanted to test a theory. Beast cores were said to be something that cultivators could use to build themselves up. Instead of fighting and cultivation, they could consume beast cores. Consuming too many would make one susceptible to heart demons, which then could lead to a bottleneck in cultivation. The beast cores that I had grabbed on my last hunt had been sold, so I hadn't even thought about it.

"I don't know everything about demonic cultivators but it seems possible?"

"So there's another way for them to advance, but they for whatever reason are not using it? Possibly?"

Inspector Bao wiped his forehead. His sweat was beginning to affect the integrity of his hairline, as more and more strands decided that today was the day to make themselves known.

"Er-yes-possibly," he squeaked out, "We don't know what we don't know.

To me it seemed like he didn't know anything. His every move seemed calculated to not do his job. In his line of work actually doing the work was a hazard. I gave him enough rope to hang himself, metaphorically. I motioned for him to continue questioning, but he was almost certainly scraping the bottom of the tea pot at this point.

"If you have anything else, please do visit us. The next time we get a report from you, we will take it seriously, I assure you."

"That's all I ask.”