Yang had been informed of his mission by Casimar. Such a request would do two things. The first would cement his position as the first disciple. Like Fonta, he’d opened fifteen meridians and was ready to gain his secondary talent early. He continued his morning ritual, trimming his sideburns and then practicing an exercise that pushed his cultivation forward. The sun outside had begun to rise on the day of their first big request.
Long Yang drew his current weapon, a long thin straight sword built more for thrusting than slashing, but could do so quite well when motivated. A sword meant mostly for formal duels rather than use against monsters. He sat it on his bed. Next to it was a greatsword with less mobility but better suited to his need to hunt monsters. Finally, Yang’s gaze landed on a bastard sword, the weapon was normal and unadorned. In his indecision, Yang decided he would take all three with him just in case. His master had shown him that each weapon had a use, multiple blades would let him learn what suited him best.
A knock on his door woke him from his contemplation on battle clothes.
“Brother Yang! This is Tang! I have come to inform you that the eradication team is heading out in ten minutes! You’re late!”
“Ten minutes?” Yang looked out his window and scowled. The sun had dashed across the sky as if to mock him for his contemplation. Yang grabbed some combat robes and began to choose his shoes.
“Five minutes!” Tang yelled as he dashed away so that he wasn’t late.
“Eh? Ok!” Yang threw on a pair of shoes and opened his window. He’d be late if he went the normal route, so he chose an alternative.
Jumping out of his window Yang landed in the courtyard with a crash as he looked confused as to why he was the only one present.
Tang arrived soon after. “Outer sect courtyard!”
“Oh.” Yang started his dashing and the duo ran to the larger courtyard near the entrance of the sect.
Casimar stood on a pedestal, his hands behind his back as he examined those who just arrived.
“If I call your name, you will be on the advanced strike team for this request. Everyone else is recommended to find three others and form smaller groups for extermination. The strike team will consist of eight of us, starting with Zara of the Flame, Knue Dohl, Merham, Ling Akwe, Derdof, Uriel, Bao Tang, and myself.”
Yang stood there dumbstruck as he was excluded from the strike team. Sure, everyone listed was at least awakened, but he’d beaten most of them in duels in the past. He was better at fighting even with the gap in strength from their cultivation.
Yang looked at Tang.
Tang looked guilty. “The monsters hit hard, you wouldn’t survive long against them as you are. Maybe try again after you break into the awakened tier.”
Yang would have argued his foundation broke through that gap in strength. But doing so would make him look petulant. Casimar was still much stronger than him. Although he hadn’t seen Zara fight, he knew the team had at least two heavy hitters.
“Weasels,” Yang whispered before looking towards the many inner sect disciples who’d grouped and the outers who didn’t meet his gaze.
“Any objections?” Casimar spoke plainly.
There were none, and those who grouped up seemed to head to receive supplies from the quartermaster.
Said quartermaster was the penny pincher to Fonta’s greedy nature. The older man was very exact in materials. His thick bifocals and thin fingers told of someone who hadn’t seen much physical work but held many a pen.
Yang stood there for a long time watching as group after group formed and waited to be approached for he was quite strong. He was sure people would want him.
As the last group of three formed. Yang approached them with confusion.
“Mind if I come along and round out the numbers to four?”
Said group contained three women around his age one wielded a lute, another held a set of razor-sharp cards, and the third was covered head to toe in silk.
Two of the women gave Yang a look of disgust, while the third used body language to accomplish that.
“What's wrong with me? I’m strong, handsome, and can work well with others.”
“We’re onto your womanizing ways first disciple. Leave us alone.” Stated the one in cloth.
“My what?” Yang’s eyes shot towards Tang who hadn't gone far as his position was secured.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Tang looked like he was holding in laughter which cued the others in on something that was missing.
“We all heard the story, Yang. The young master who hit on our great sect leader's younger sister. Then used words that made her very uncomfortable. Then the great leader slapped some sense into you, and you decided to reform your womanizing ways, yet you surround yourself with women in which you show no interest, and spend time practicing their hobbies. Why would a man be croquetting? Methinks the sect leader slapped you weird.”
“There is a logical explanation that I can’t tell you at this moment for the last bit. But for the beginning stuff, I paid her a compliment, she blushed and I got my face kicked in. They are twins, and at the time he was behind in growth spurts. Also, Crocheting is necessary for my future. Or so I’ve been told.”
The group of three had snuck off as Yang and Tang talked leaving no one for Yang to group with.
“Looks like no group wants you. Guess you need to stay here while–”
“Oh hey, Yang! Brother Fonta said that you were supposed to be my bodyguard for this trip. Why are you even here?” Angel ran up with a group of novice healers, assistants, and a porter.
“Eh?” Yang turned to Tang.
“I may have been messing with you, out of a petty sense of spite,” Tang stated honestly before dashing away.
“You did embarrass him on the first day, but most already knew you were coming with us today. Though it seems he’s been spreading rumors that will make it difficult for you in the future.”
“Meh, so long as it stays as an inside joke at the sect I don’t care. My first encounter with Fonta was a string of misunderstandings and eye-opening situations. Wait- when people say I hit on his sister, are they assuming it's you?”
“I know that didn’t happen, you know it didn’t happen. Don’t you have that bride tournament? Why does that matter?” Angel asked plainly.
Yang suspected Angel was in on the prank and sighed as he accepted that realization. If the rumors were repellent then he’d accept it while it made life easier.
“So what is this squad in charge of?”
“Rescue, evacuation, and retrieving the injured. Fonta has given us expensive supplies meant for healing. Though he did complain that he was bleeding money.”
“Nothing new. So while they fight we make sure people don’t die?”
“Correct. Only something a first disciple could do.”
“Well good.”
“Now tell me, why weren't you in your room when I came to get you?”
“Tang Bao!” Yang bellowed as he looked for him, the two needed to trade some pointers.
----------------------------------------
Fonta looked over the list of applicants going on the mission, 84 of his 132 students were going. The list was long though the vast majority were still in the elpmet stages of their training with a total of five awakened stage cultivators.
“If there is a Matron or stronger, we'll need a powerful strike team. I nominate Yang for a position above ground helping with the healers.” Fonta stated.
“Why?” Uriel stated.
“Yang can think on his feet and is the least likely to seek glory at the cost of his life or the lives of his sectmates. Tang Bao is strong, but more reckless than I am, and not as evasive. He’d do some good damage above ground but when he messes up, it will likely end in an attack that wipes out more than just him.”
“What about Merham, he’s a defensive—”
“He isn’t mobile enough to get around the battlefield, though he could keep the others alive, Ling is the opposite, he can dart around the battlefield but won’t last more than a direct hit.”
“Knull is strong but I wouldn’t recommend having him near the other cultivators,” Casimar added.
“And Derdof?” Zara asked.
“Nothing wrong with him, he’s an archer and would be more helpful underground unless their people mess up below,” Fonta stated.
“Yang isn’t going to be happy about that.”
“He’s the emergency protection. If he was needed then things have gone from bad to horrible. I can trust half of the strike team to be competent, but the rest are strong wildcards that need to be monitored.” Fonta added as he leaned on a clenched fist.
Rei nodded and crossed her arms. "We will learn if they are strong or if they are rushing through cultivation in an attempt to get payback."
----------------------------------------
While heading to the small village to the southeast a group of brigands stationed on the side of the road.
An older man with a large beard and tired expression walked up to their caravan full of supplies. He seemed quite thin and crazed as he stopped at the front of the vessel.”
“What ya need?” Zara asked with his best Fonta impersonation. A cutlass held on her hips ready to be used if the next words were not chosen carefully.
“I have many starving brothers and sisters. The war destroyed many lives.”
“What do you need?” Zara asked apathetically, power encasing the man and forcing him to kneel.
Some of the brigands looked ready to fight after hearing that tone and seeing the power.
“We require food. Our lands were ravaged and our farms razed. We do have some money but many of us won’t survive the trip to the capital.”
“How much money do you have?”
“10,000 Silcrates. Or Silks.”
Zara seemed confused and looked back in her cart.
Casimar hopped out of the carriage and held out his right hand causing the ground to wrap around the ever-present brigand.
“Silks are the gilded currency of the Kingdom of sand. What are you doing in our country?”
“Our village was on the border! We were contested.”
“Which village?” Casimar narrowed his vision.
“Parcan sir.”
“That's on the wrong side of the border. Why are you heading north?”
“The capital sir.”
Casimar didn’t sense any verbal deceit but something felt off. Something he couldn’t place.
Yang walked past Casimar and then hopped out of the leading carriage. “You’re deserters aren’t you?”
“No! No no no…” They insisted but in a way they were right.
“You have some military training, but you also appear to come from a border village. Why abandon your homes now?”
“Demons, lots of powerful demons have come to our county and laid waste to the countryside before deposing the rulers.”
Casimar looked over the brigands again and frowned. “You aren’t all from the border, are you? In fact, only those we can see currently, but you have more people somewhere else.”
The leader seemed to panic. “I I d-di.”
“It’s fine but are there truly no awakened cultivators among you?”
“Every cultivator above Elpmet was either killed or enslaved with their vile magic. From what I’ve been told. They are building a tower of some sort.”
“They plan on building a portal home. That would be impossible without enough mana in the environment. No offense but this area is dry mana-wise, but when a creature dies the mana inside them explodes outward exponentially. Using that mana is usually forbidden to demons as many believe it consumes the souls of those used. Necromancy is one of the few magics that are heavily restricted.”
“My people are going to be sacrificed?”
“It should take them four years to complete the towers regardless. Plenty of time to form a strike team. Continue north for eight hours and you will arrive at our sect. Rely what you heard there and we’ll get you sorted as for funds how much are Silks worth.” Zara stated.
“One Silk is said to be 10 ducks but…”
“Give me what you have and I’ll give you some of our supplies.”
Zara received the 10,000 silks which were worth 20,000 ducks; their artificial value appeared to be heavily inflated. She spent 2,500 on food and supplies and the rest on a wagon led by metal horses.
The wagon built itself outside of the carriage as the horses were created from ambient mana, and food and supplies were added to the wagon soon after.
“Will this do?” Zara asked.
“Thank you, great benefactor.”
“Head to the sect and our leaders there will be able to get in contact with the empire.