Third person PoV
Deep into the snaking compound, far away from any type of natural light stood the young Huan facing an old and disfigured man. Dressed in silks of black and red with the Blood drop of the cult on his chest, the man sat on a chair as he read a parchment. The room was large and rich with books and countless boxes, vials and other vessels. Each had things floating inside them, things that made it hard for the young girl to look at anywhere else than the man before her as the cold light coming crystals embedded in the ceilings hurt her eyes.
“ Cell number: 125, designation: female, age: child; Subject 125FC, that will be your name from now on, so do keep it in mind. Hmm, I am reading in your file’s note that you are the daughter of some peak Core stage cultivator? Quite the strong one two at that, slaying 15 other core cultivators is no trivial thing. Please reply.” The man talked with a long rasp, his throat scared and pierced with thin needles as parts of his cheeks were missing.
“Y-yes sir.” She was scared, it has only been a week since she had woken up in a cell in the compound.
“You’ll address me as: Master Black or Lord alchemist, not anything else, am I understood?” His gaze turned sharp on her when she nodded, asphyxiating the poor child as she felt herself pressed into the ground by the man’s spirit, her throat tightening around her windpipe.
“When I ask you a question, you will reply with your voice, in a calm, clear and intelligible way. No nodding, or anything like that. Am. I. Understood?” The pressure doubled for a moment, before retrieving. Huan was left gasping, one knee on the floor as she managed to keep her eyes on the man.
“... Y-es… Master Black. Understood…” He nodded at her, a satisfied smile on his burned face as the upper left corner of his lips was missing, showing his sharp non-human teeth. “Impressive will for one so young. Maybe I will have you work for me. Do you know how to read, 125FC?” He turned around, searching for something on his large desk, grabbing a large glass bottle filled with eyes as he set it to the side. Huan had to hold her mouth closed to not retch on the spot, seeing the eyes turning to her as if they were still alive.
“There it is. The Demonic Flesh Metamorphosis cultivation technique. A rather obscure and primitive body cultivation, It’s been a few centuries since it was lost, or at least thought to be. Only to be found being used to fix someone’s shelves, can you believe it?” He turned around, in his hand an old manuscript with an indented mark in the middle of it. There was a genuine smile on his face, one that froze Huan’s blood as he looked at her with hope and wonder.
“Rejoice, 125FC. Your pitiful fate is turning around, from now on you’ll be working for me, testing this old body cultivation technique. The manuscript has been badly damaged, but you’ll practice that transcript I will create from it. And, in the case that we succeed, I will see that your status amongst the cult is elevated from slave and test subject to servant. Would you like that, Subject 125FC?” The man's offer is genuine, looking at her with high expectations. Huan couldn’t help but agree, the hope of freedom overpowered the looming threat of pain and death she felt and heard since she was bought at that auction.
“Yes! I would like that, Lord alchemist.” She bowed to him, deep and low like the old man in the cell next to her had instructed. She held the bow until the sharply dressed elder allowed her to be at ease. There was hope in her heart, to flee, to leave this place behind and return to her grandpa’s village. Wherever it is from where she is. Yet her neighbour's warning echoed in her mind:’ Forget about making it out of here, that’s probably for the best if you don’t attach yourself to that idea.’
‘I will prove him wrong! I will not give up, whatever it takes, I will do it to go back home.’
“Most perfect, this is what I like to see in an assistant: courage and determination. Maybe I will even instruct a few of my recipes to you if you are talented enough. For now, I want you to read the original manuscript out loud to me while I make a transcript of it. Then you’ll return to your cell and practice the technique. I will assign a servant to assist your progress and keep you healthy and fed. I expect a detailed report everyday after dinner for the first month or until you reach a new stage or bottleneck in your bodily cultivation. Am I understood?” He extended the old book, the threads making the binding were on the verge of giving out.
“Yes Master Black.” She bowed once again, this time more confident and sure of herself. She even allowed herself to smile, something she had been warned against doing.
“Hmmm… Be careful, this manuscript is the only thing that is separating you from another change in your fate.” He taped the glass vessel he moved earlier, another smile on his face as the crease of his eyes deepened, the scared burns made it worse as she felt her stomach sink, realising she had done something wrong.
After two hours where she had struggled to read the old mystical text aloud, being reprimanded with strikes from the Black alchemist cane. She had completed her first task, her ribs sore as she kept her tears from tarnishing the old paper.
“Alright, here’s the transcript I made from the parts that were too damaged. Good luck to you Subject 125FC. I am afraid it will not be enough, but perhaps you would prove me wrong again. It would be a waste if you were to break after all. Xiao’Yanmei, come here” He yelled, his voice sore and low like a growl as the door behind Huan opened up.
“Yes master Black? How can I be of assistance?” Huan turned around and saw a tall woman, immaculate raven black hair framing her white jade face. She bowed gracefully and smoothly, at ease in her element and confident in herself. She remembered Huan from her mother, she had the same kind of energy about her.
“You’ll be taking care of subject 125FC as she is to practice an old cultivation technique, assist as needed and make sure she is well fed and healthy. I won’t accept any missteps.” The woman bowed and acknowledged the Elder’s order with calm. “Yes lord alchemist. I will see to her, your will is my command.”
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Yanmei’s PoV
“Tell me, subject 125FC. How is your progress? I can tell that you are already much more resilient than the regular mortal child, yet I can’t help but be amazed at the speed of your current advancement.” The black alchemist asked, walking inside his garden inside the cult. Close behind him were both his recent project and the servant responsible for it. All around him were all the other ideas and successes he had accomplished over the last 60 decades. He relished in seeing how well each and every one of them fared since he completed them. Pausing before each, admiring his handiwork and the mastery of his craft.
It would have been a most acclaimed exposition had it not been for the nature of his past projects: flesh-crafting, soul-bending and many more demonic crafts. This garden wasn’t silent or relaxing either, as each “plants”, “trees” groaned with pain, and the wails of trapped and tortured souls echoed in the air.
‘I hate this place, the stench of piss, rot and defecation is ruining my clothes every time. It’s as if even the smell is trying to leave this place. Oh no… He is going to pluck another flower.’ I make a quick and discreet sign to my charge as the two of us plug our ears just in time as the mass of writhing “earth” screams in pain. Shaking the room with sound filled with pure pain and horror.
“Hmmm~ Would you like a Flowering Eye? It’s good for your spiritual perception.” I press the girl to accept it, ‘the last time someone refused one of Master Black’s gifts they found themselves added to the collection.’ I can’t help but look at the potted plant hanging from the ceiling ahead of us, the man’s name sanctioned to oblivion as his body became a mere ornament.
“I’ve been making good progress, Master black. All that remains is the deeper part: bones and ligament.” My charge bowed after she swallowed the crystalised eye pistil. Her face and body trembling in abject disgust as she did so, yet the lord alchemist couldn’t be bothered as he touched the long leaves like hair of another tree.
“Is that so? Hmm. I think you’re missing some muscles. Yanmei, tear her left lats. I can see that some of her skin on her right side of her face isn’t bearing any wounds yet. Peel it off and tear the flesh underneath. I don’t know if it is because you’re young or afraid, but you need to take the Demonic Flesh Metamorphosis with the proper mindset. Otherwise everything that you’ve endured would be a waste. To have each part of your body wounded and broken only to forget about something as insignificant like the cartilage of your nose could greatly diminish efficiency of the technique and undermine its true value, you know? Plus, the reversing effects won’t work appropriately too. Making you look like this for the rest of your life.”
I couldn’t stop myself from shuddering. My charge, who so willingly did all of those things to herself looked worse than Master black. Her head had turned bald when her hair had caught fire. most of her skin either had cuts, burns or deep scars. She had held high for a long time, breaking herself down on her own. Yet, I could see the despair in her eyes. She was silent now when she ‘practiced’ the technique, chanting those perverse verse and mantra as she chipped at herself.
‘I still don’t know if this task is her punishment or mine.’ I couldn’t do anything other than comfort the girl, bandage her wounds and apply salves. She knows how much I hate it when I have to hurt her, to help her along the technique. Yet, she smiles at me every time. Knowing full well what would happen to the both of us if this task staggered for too long.
“I understand, Lord alchemist. I will strive to meet your expectations.” She bows again, still as determined as before.
“Return to your cell then. Report back in a month's time or something unexpected. I will increase the food allocation as you begin the next part of the technique.”
We bow before leaving this accursed place behind. Once out, I feel the girl taking my hand in hers. “Thank you, big sis. I don’t think I could have kept my composure if I didn’t plug my ears.” My heart breaks as I kneel down, taking the girl in my arms, warm tears flowing down my cheeks. ‘I am the only one knowing her name, the only one who cares enough about her, yet I am also the one hurting her the most.’ I couldn’t reconcile those two sides as I started to break down.
“it’s alright, Big sis will keep you safe whatever happens. Now come. The less time we spend here, the safer we will be.” I get up and start walking, my hands still holding hers.
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“I promise you big sis. If I manage to make it through, I will strive to become a disciple and take you as my servant… I will protect you.” I couldn’t say or do anything except squeeze her hands tightly.
The way back was uneventful, yet it only meant that I had to do my disgusting duty: mutilating a child, one that believed in me.
“Please, lay down. Big sis will do her best to make it as quick as possible.”
I pulled the chirurgical kit Master Black lent, taking a thin blade from it. I could see my face in it, a cruel monster’s face. ‘Please forgive me.’
I sit to her side as she laid down on her cot, her back exposed. I feel myself wanting to end myself as I see her back. Burns and cuts everywhere, most of it was scarred. Yet somehow, Master Black was right: a part of her lat had been left untouched.
Readying the knife, I tried my best to still my hand as I pushed it into her flesh.
The screams ended after the first ten minutes, Huan, my charge, turned silent as she endured, holding her tears and pain down. Yet it was my fault that she had to redo those two parts; ‘had I not been such a weak minded woman, I wouldn’t have to make her suffer more than needed.’ I stopped, my dirty work done as I couldn’t repress my hands from trembling.
I quickly cleaned her exposed and torn muscles as I tried to hold back my tears.
“I… I am… sorry … big sis…”
‘No, please, don’t apologies. Not to me. You… you deserve so much. So much more than being here… I am really sorry…’
“Yanmei~ Still torturing the poor girl?” Someone spoke, his voice suave yet I couldn’t feel anything other than disgust and fear as I kept bandaging Huan’s body.
“Inner disciple Quan, please do not disturb my work for Lord Black alchemist, he was in a poor mood today. I am already afraid of what could happen to me.” ‘Please, get lost, I don't have time to lose to you.’
“And that’s why I invited Canlan to help bandage and nurse her, he will join us later.” I could feel his hands wrapping around me. I nearly batted him away. ‘That could have been bad…’
“That’s right, know your place, you servant wench.” I felt his hand going under my clothes.
“Let go of Big sis Yanmei!” Huan yelled as she got up, her back still bleeding as she tried to protect me.
“Come one now, Quan. Don’t be a pervert in front of a child. Take her to the room and while I heal the brat. If we hear a word from any of you, there will be consequences.” Another man said as he entered the cell, grabbing Huan’s skull and pressing something at the base of her neck, making her fall to the floor, unconscious.
“There, this should make her sleep until I've bandaged your work. Don’t break the woman too fast, I want to taste some of that fight she has in her Quan.”
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Huan’s PoV
It’s already been 6 months since big sis Yanmei disappeared. Master Black has been surprised, and angry at that. Yet, nothing happened. A new servant took Big sis’ place. I didn’t like this one, she didn’t talk or didn’t care like Big sis Yanmei. Plus I’ve seen her smile when she was helping me, ‘accidentally’ overdoing Master black’s precise instruction, making every bone she broke more painful. Refusing to give me the mending pills that have been registered for me, claiming that it was : ”a new protocol from Lord alchemist.” But she had let me know it was a lie.
I couldn’t help but glare at her as Master Black was examining my body. I had completed the whole Demonic Flesh Metamorphosis cultivation. And Master Black was excited and happy about it. My skin was covered in scars anymore, it wasn’t tight and itchy. I could freely move around, roll my neck and limbs without tugging at the scars.
“Most impressive work, I really must congratulate myself more for what I do. Congratulations to you too, I guess. Subject 125FC, you’ve done an admirable job following my instruction. Looking at you now, your body took to the demonic physique like fish to water. If there was someone worth to bet with, I would bet that your body most likely advanced to puberty thanks to the energy in your dantian. How do you feel? stronger? Tougher too, I would guess. Please reply.”
“Yes Master Black. I do not even feel tired after all the trials you’ve given me, Lord alchemist.” I was a bit sore, but that was more due to the recent change than the exertion. The technique had, overnight, activated and made my whole body burn from the inside as my flesh bubbled over my bones. Bones that had started to grind on each other as they moved, lengthened and became denser. The pain I felt then was incomparable to what I endured to break each of my bones, muscles and ligaments.
“Right, I can still see some remains from the cultivation, either you didn’t follow my instructions to the letter, or someone refused to give you the needed supplements.” I could see the bad woman who took yanmei’s place, blanching.
“M-my lord. I’ve done eve-” She couldn’t even finish talking as her body split in the middle, cut in two from her to groin as the two halves of her body fell to the ground.
“There has been enough meddling in my affairs recently. Like I would forgive a mere servant.” I swallowed hard as the air felt heavy.
“Tell me, girl. Would you like to see what happened to Yanmei?” His voice turned soft as he started walking for the door, signalling for me to follow him.
I accepted his offer before dressing myself back. I followed the cruel Lord as he walked deep into the prison wing of the compound, taking more and more turns, the corridor becoming older and less maintained the further in we went, before stopping in front of a dark cell.
“There. Look.” His words were short and sharp, his expression calm. Yet I could recognise that he was angry.
Looking inside the dark cell, I could make out the form of someone sitting against the back wall of the decrepit cell.
“Let me help you.” With a snap of his finger, a pale blue fire wisp appeared in his hand. Lighting the somber and dark room.
There, sitting on the floor, was Yanmei. Her entire body was bruised as her eyes were vacant. Her belly was large too. She was trembling and shivering as soon as the light turned on, yet when our eyes met. She had started crying, tears going down her swollen cheeks as a rough voice came from her. Nothing but an intelligible wail of pain and sorrow as she then tried to hide herself.
“Look at what they’ve done to her. Mere Inner disciples, and yet they had the gall to lay hands on my most able servant.” He talked as he knelt to my side. One of his hands on my shoulder.
“What would you do to the two of them if you were stronger than them?” He whispers in my ears, his anger barely concealed as my own rose even higher.
“I would destroy them, Lord alchemist. They’ve meddled in your affairs and taken from you. They do not deserve any merci, pity or forgiveness.” I spoke without thinking, my anger pulsing in my mind as I felt the metal bars cracking as I balled my fists around them.
“From now on, you aren’t a test subject, thus meaning that you aren’t under my protection anymore. Whatever it still means in this damn farce of a cult. Do you know what will happen if they find you?” He didn’t say a single word as he pointed at Yanmei with his finger. But instead of fear or horror, my anger transformed. Not into rage, but cold hatred.
“I will give you tools and techniques, make you ready to take them on. And when the time comes. Kill them for me, for her. Will you do it?” Like an evil spirit from stories he promised me power in exchange for doing his bidding. Yet, I couldn’t see myself refusing.
“Yes Master Black.”
‘If even being a servant of the Blood Demon cult means my life is bound to be at the mercy of others. There’s no other way… I am so sorry big sis. I will make them pay for what they have done to you.’
We returned in silence to his office where he gave me a new manuscript before sending me back to my cell where I spent the rest of the day reading and learning its content.
But I noticed that after dinner, words started blurring into one another, my mind struggling to read. And before I knew it, I collapsed.
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“Well well well, would you look at that? looks who’s waking up, Quan! Little girl wonder is back.” I heard a voice as soon as I came too. I didn’t need to open my eyes to recognize the voice, nor the name he called. It was them. The two who harmed Big sis!
“GNNN!”
“Look at her Quan, So much fight in her already. Much better than that old wench. Don’t tire yourself too much girl. You won’t be able to move unless we untie you. I guess congratulations are in order, you are already at the Ki gathering stage. At your age you could be considered a genius, even offered a spot as an elder’s heir if it wasn’t for your status as a servant.” The first man talked, mocking her as he moved to the side. Taking a large box from the floor.
“But none of that will matter from now on. We’ve already changed the books and names on the prisoners list: From now on you’re a nobody. A mere toy for us. One we already started working on.”
‘ What ?! What did they do to me?!’ I couldn’t help but feel my stomach sink as I struggled against the ropes binding my hands together.
“I told you to not try struggling, bitch. Whatever you do, you won’t be able to lift a finger against us. Blame your useless family and your lack of talent, had you been more useful, you wouldn’t have found yourself as a mere test subject.”
“Shut up yo-” his fist collides with my face as he punches me. Yet his cruel smile turns into a frown. “Hey, Quan, did you botch the formation? Why don’t I feel Ki exiting her body? Come on man, you know it’s impossible to redo a Demonic Harvest formation. You screwed up, man.” The first talked to the second behind her, yet something was swelling in her Dantian. Her Ki reserve beneath her navel never felt so full, It even started burning her.
“Wait, it was supposed to be a formation? not a trigram?” Quan, the man responsible for the mistake, sounded really confused. Yet Huan knew what was going on, she remembers this feeling, This was Ki. Fully transformed and usable Ki, flowing into her dantian from somewhere deeper.
[When Ki is available in your dantian, you need to cycle it around your body, making it pass from your heart through the rest of your body in a clockwise rotation, passing by each acupoints and spiritual veins you’ve unlocked. This will strengthen your body to the peak of your current stage, but will also deplete your Ki fast without proper technique. But keep in mind that if your dantian is unable to handle your ki, you could experience a Ki Deviation. Ki Deviation will cripple you, your Ki will go wild and ravage your meridians like wild rivers flooding villages, destroying your ability to cultivate or channel Ki, if you survive that is.]
"What is that bitch smiling? You've gone crazy already?" I moved my Ki as I've learned, feeling the fatigue and drowsiness from whatever drug they've slipped me fading away. And with a gleeful smile, I pulled at my wrist, the cord starting to creak.
"Wait, fuck what are you doing?! Stop fighting bitch!" He hits me again and again, yet the pain is nothing compared to having to break every part of my body. It only gave me more and more Ki as I pushed more and more of the energy through my spiritual veins, faster. The cord broke with the sound of a cracking whip as I jumped on the first man. My fist cracked his skull as he went flying.
I couldn't react in time as I felt something sharp cut across my back. 'Bastard nearly cut me in two.' I turn around, and throw the remaining rope to his face. He parried it with ease, yet as he was about to boast, my fist sank into his stomach, making him keel over.
Taking his sword I start hacking at him, chopping his arms from his shoulders only to find something poking out of my guts. Turning my head back, I can see the face of the first man, Can-something, trembling with unbridled furry, yet his eyes showed me his doubts and fear.
Taking the tip of the blade extending from my belly, I pull him forward as I whip my head back. Crashing it in his chin as he stumbles to the side. Pulling away the sword from my back, I can feel that whatever is giving Ki, is now offering less of the energy but instead, I can see the hole in my flesh patching up.
With a smile bordering their own when I woke up, I started hacking at their body, starting with their legs and arms.
I didn't stop until all of my anger and hatred was gone, until there was nothing whole to cut apart. That was when two arms wrapped around me from behind. I tried to fight back but the soft voice I heard did something to my mind as I broke down.
"It's alright, they are long dead now. And you are alive, you can rest now."