"You're an adult now, yet you still barely qualify as second-rate. Sometimes I'm left wondering if you're truly my daughter."
Ken Yuan, a low-ranking member of the Zzhang sect, held her tongue and kept her head bowed down. She was on her knees, forced to prostrate herself before the man she hated most in the world while the carriage rolled forward through the woods.
Despite the burning rage she felt, she managed to force out a tone of respect. "Forgive my incompetence, great elder." Ken Yuan said softly. "I apologize that my uselessness has caused you such error."
A heavy foot pressed into her bowed-down head and began to grind itself into the top of her skull, the wooden sandal causing her great pain, but she managed to hold her cries in. "You should be ashamed. You're my fifty-fifth child. Don't you know how important the number five is? You should have reached a realm of power not seen since my fifth son. What was his name again?"
"B-Brother Seoh Yuan." Ken Yuan spat out.
"Yes, him. Se-what's his face. He was a child I could be proud of. A shame he wasn't able to grasp the principle of self-rejuvenation. He might still be alive, and I wouldn't be stuck with a worthless tool like you. Now I'll have to wait till the five hundred and fifty-fifth child if I want to pierce past the barrier and leave a lasting mark on Mordheim's Shogun. It'll take me another one, maybe even two hundred years at least now."
Standing on her head, pressing it further into the ground, was her father. He was an old man, almost ancient, with long gray hair and a matching gray beard. His skin was full of wrinkles, yet his body still possessed incredible muscles, a testament to years of martial arts training that had been ingrained in him. A body that, no matter how much age ate away at it, only grew stronger and stronger. It was a body that was also flawed, though.
Not only was her father's flesh covered head to toe in scars, but the brown gi he wore had its left sleeve empty, for he had lost an arm long ago when he first attempted to engage the king of Estiria in combat. Despite such damage, he continued to cultivate, much to the dismay of Ken Yuan.
Her father ran his fingers through his long beard and kept his foot pressed over Ken Yuan's head as he looked down at her. He was currently seated in his personal carriage, and the only other person, besides the horses pulling the carriage, was his daughter. His eyes raked over her form and settled on the gourd that hung off her belt.
"You still insist on using that worthless spirit?" Her father mused. "You're an adult now and married; how about I give you one of mine as a wedding gift?"
"I'm not getting rid of Yujin." This time, Ken Yuan was unable to suppress the wrath in her voice.
"Fine, fine, but at the very least, you could do what that barbaric whore, Medora, did and devour that worthless spirit and fuse with it." Her father hummed. "The balance of your qi lines would be less unstable, and you'd be able to function. You might even gain the Path of Mask changing, which could be a good boon to the sect." Her father stopped speaking when he saw the look in her eyes. No longer was she staring at the ground; now her eyes were cast up at him and held a fire behind them that made even him hesitate. "So, that is out of the question as well? You'll continue to remain in a state of mediocrity?"
"I'll continue to do my best." Ken Yuan corrected.
At last, the pain in her head faded as her father mercifully lifted his foot. He clicked his tongue and turned away, looking out the window as the scenery passed. "It seems we are nearing the Reanjiao clan palace. How have your meetings with the son been?"
Ken sat up and adjusted her hair, trying to smooth it out. "We haven't talked much, but he is very handsome. I suppose he'll make for a good husband."
Her father let out a laugh. "Too bad you won't make for a good wife. You'll be nothing more than a tool he can use to stabilize his own qi lines."
There were many ways to cultivate qi. Some were more barbaric than others. Her father kept trying and trying to force her to grow better and better. Still, her body had reached its peak, and her progress of qi refining was slower than the rest of her many siblings, so her father had decided that instead of further training her, he would simply use her in another way.
Her father set up a political marriage for her.
She knew this would come one day. All members of the Zzhang sect did it to make amends and bonds with the other factions around Rossum, and in some ways, she had been looking forward to it, but that had been when it was on her own terms with people she selected for herself. She didn't get the luxury of deciding who her lover was.
There wasn't even a celebration or fancy event either. She got to meet the man she would be living with once, and that was it. Jin Reanjiao was her new husband.
"There it is." Ken Yuan looked up when she heard her father speaking, and for a moment her breath was stolen. "Your new home."
"It's bigger than I thought it would be," Ken muttered.
The Reanjiao palace was placed at the top of a large hill that wasn't quite big enough to be called a mountain. It overlooked a nearby village, and the palace itself was fashioned out of white stone, and a bamboo forest surrounded the path that led up to it. Servants were already waiting outside, and rain lightly sprinkled down, brought on by a reverse waterfall. As the name suggested, it was a waterfall that lifted into the air instead of falling down. It went up and up, piercing past the clouds themselves.
Her father tugged on his beard again, clearly annoyed. "Show-offs. They act all high and mighty, yet they're barely qualified to be their own clan. They're lucky they have such talent, or I'd have never considered giving them one of my kids, not even a worthless one like you."
Reanjiao was a small but powerful clan. Unlike the Yuan clan, which sought to make bonds with spirits, the Reanjiao clan focused more on gathering qi naturally for the art of joint cultivation.
In Rossum, there were clans, and then there were sects. A sect was formed from various clans, which came together and placed their trust in one another. She herself was part of the Yuan clan, which was in charge of the Zzhang sect, which had a lot of other smaller clans scattered within. The Reanjiao weren't associated with any sects and were relatively small but still quite resourceful.
That was why her father was so eager for this marriage, even if he didn't show it. If they could get the Reanjiao family under their thumb, it could help them in defeating not just the other sects but also Mordehim, which was currently invading, and there was almost nothing they could do other than attempt to drive them back due to the massive barrier around the country and how far across the sea it was.
Soon enough, the carriage stopped, and Ken Yuan, along with her father, stepped out. Several of the servants all bowed. "Greetings, great elder," and then to her, "Lord Yuan."
"As I promised Elder Reanjiao, I brought one of my daughters." Her father patted her on the shoulder and shoved her forward. "She's an adult now, and it's about time she pulls her own weight. I believe she and the young master have already met, and now that they're joined together, I'll be leaving her in your capable hands."
Ken Yuan had to bite her tongue as hard as she could to hold in the bitter remark that wanted to force its way out of her lips. She somehow held it in and gave a nod to the servants, allowing them to rise up. Her father was already seated in his carriage and didn't even bother with a goodbye, leaving her all alone, now belonging entirely to the Reanjiao family.
"Take me to the young master," Ken ordered, folding her arms.
"Of course." A servant nodded and led her into the palace.
Beyond the gates lay the courtyard, which featured a large hedge maze and a sandy field, with the servants hard at work to keep it looking clean and pristine. The inside of the palace was comprised of various halls, featuring an expensive red carpet and multiple paintings and gems that resided in cases. Although the clan was small, the Reanjiao family had rapidly risen through the ranks, and where there was power, there was wealth.
The servant continued to lead her through the halls, and soon enough, they arrived at the young master's bedchamber. After being allowed to enter, Ken Yuan slowly stepped into the room and came face-to-face with her husband.
Jin Reanjiao was a rather handsome young man in his early twenties. He had flawless, pale skin, as most young cultivators did, and a lean, fit build. His blonde hair was tidy, and his eyes had a faint green light in them. White robes lazily clung to his body like silk, waiting to be taken off, and he was seated at the edge of his bed, looking up at her with a faint smile.
The bedchamber itself was what she had been expecting. The bed was designed for two people, and the room featured a carpeted floor that was soft to the touch. Everything screamed of money, and also in the air was a faint smell. It was pleasant and tickled her nose. Likely a type of medicine meant to be used to get people in the mood.
"Ah, so you've finally arrived?" Jin Reanjiao asked, almost purring as he spoke. "Welcome. I've been waiting for you, Lord Ken Yuan. Out of all your father's daughters, you alone managed to capture my eye."
Ken cringed at his words. She gave a faint nod, though. "I am honored to be of assistance to you, young master. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know."
Jin Reanjiao stood up, and he grabbed the front of his robes, tugging them open. He proudly placed his hands on either side of his hips. "Now that we're married, it's only natural that we finalize our marriage. Care to join me in joint cultivation?"
Ken Yuan wasn't shocked when he stripped before her. She knew this had been coming and had expected it. It was only natural that her new husband would want to sleep with her, especially since she knew how attractive she was. Many men, as well as women, wanted her. There was one issue, though.
Jin Reanjiao wasn't packing much.
"Well." Jin Reanjiao cut through her thoughts when he noticed she hadn't moved. "Go on. What do you think of it? Beautiful, is it not?"
"It's very… Delicate looking."
"Go ahead and take yours off." Jin Reanjiao instructed as he folded his arms. "We'll engage in joint cultivation and see how far we can both grow."
"I doubt you'll be doing any growing," Ken muttered under her breath.
"What?"
"Nothing." Ken Yuan sighed, and she began to undo her robes.
Everyone had a unique type of qi, but in Rossum, it went further. The balance of qi that men and women possessed was vastly different, with each side having only half of what the other was lacking. Of course, a coin was only complete when both halves came together, and that was where joint cultivation came in. It was a common practice in Rossum, involving a man and a woman sharing their qi with one another to help each other develop. There were many ways to do this, but of course, the most common was through the use of physical touch. The more, the better.
Naturally, it didn't take long before humans did what they did best and found a way to make it involve sex. That's right, joint cultivation was essentially two members of a clan coming together and doing the nasty dance to improve their qi. This was because qi was strongest during bouts of intense emotion, and sexual intercourse was a shortcut to building up those emotions.
It was better if the two people doing the act loved each other deeply. In fact, if the love and feelings were strong enough and entirely mutual, then it would be possible to trade a large amount of qi with just the simple act of holding hands.
When it came to strangers, though, let's just say, one-night stands were extremely popular in Rossum.
"Let's get this over with." Ken's own robes dropped to the floor, and she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Jin. His own limbs snaked around her, and their lips connected as they fell back onto the bed.
When it was all said and done, Ken Yuan and Jin Reanjiao rested under the covers. Jin Reanjiao was utterly out of breath, his face flushed, and he was panting, his eyes very heavy. She sat next to him in the bed, lying beneath the covers with a dissatisfied look on her face.
Jin Reanjiao wiped his brow and let out a grunt. "How was it, my wife? Was it good for you?"
"Uh huh…" She hadn't finished. It lasted less than ten minutes. Ken Yuan slid out of the bed and grabbed her robes, slipping them back on.
"Where are you going?" Jin Reanjiao tried to ask, but he was cut off by a yawn and looked as if he would fall asleep at any moment.
Ken Yuan put on another false smile. "I'd like to walk around my new home. Is that okay with you, young master?"
"Yes, yes, do whatever you want." Jin Reanjiao rolled over, and his eyes closed. "I'm gonna…" His voice trailed off as he fell asleep.
Ken quickly left the room. In truth, she had no plans of walking around and instead would find a servant who could fulfill her needs. Male or female, it didn't matter. Jin Reanjiao had been totally lacking. They were barely even able to exchange qi due to how short he lasted as well. Pathetically small, and lacking stamina…
Right as she stepped out of the room, Ken Yuan suddenly noticed something. A flicker of orange caught her attention, and she walked over to the window. Her eyes widened when she saw it. In the direction of the village, a fire had suddenly started. It was massive in size, growing ever larger.
"How did a fire that big start?" Ken questioned in horror. "Why didn't the palace cultivators do anything to put it out—"
Suddenly, the glass in front of her shattered as something pierced through it. She was barely able to dodge it, spinning out of the way just in time as a massive arrow slammed into the wall next to her. Ken Yuan stood up and turned just in time to see the arrow light up, bright red runes scattering across it. A runic formula used by the Spell Swords!
She raised her arms up, but it was too late. The arrow exploded in a massive, bright red flash, blowing the entire hallway to bits…
Everything faded and twisted, but Ken Yuan wasn't dead. Instead, she suddenly found herself in someone's arms.
"T-Teacher?" Ken questioned in total shock when she glanced up and saw her teacher.
As always, Feng's eyes were squeezed shut, but his usual calm look was gone, replaced with a look of rage. He held her in his arms, and she realized they were outside now. Not only that, but the smell of smoke had grown intense.
Ken's eyes went wide when she saw that the palace was on fire, and the sounds of screaming filled the air. They were under attack! How out of it had she been that she had missed everything up to this point?
"What's going on?" Ken asked.
"Your father." Feng practically snarled out. "That bastard. I can't believe he used you like that. He was willing to let you die."
"F-Feng? What are you saying?"
Feng didn't stop marching. He was in the courtyard making his way to a set of heavy doors that would lead to the bamboo trail. "He knew there was an attack coming, but he didn't warn anyone. His talks with the Reanjiao clan didn't go the way he wanted, so he decided to get rid of their strongest member, hoping that would weaken the clan to the point where they'd fall in line and obey him. Even knowing Mordheim was going to attack this palace, he still placed you in it so you could tire the young master out. Your father wants Jin dead but knows he can't do it himself! If he died from a Spell Sword's attack, then the Reanjiao clan wouldn't have any way to pin it on the Yuan clan and would be weakened to the point of obedience. Worse yet, they wouldn't even be able to pin it on your father, since no one would assume he'd throw his own daughter into the trap, yet that fucker did!"
Ken felt her face pale at Feng's words. Her father always hated weak children, and she was one of the weak ones, so was it shocking to hear that he'd use her as a pawn just on the off chance he could kill Jin? Her father had left in a hurry as well, now that she thought about it. Did she truly mean so little to him?
The palace itself was being torn to bits, waves of qi and aura clashing as people were cut down. Mordheim's Spell Swords were no joke, wielding pure and refined sword aura, mixing it with elements and runes, allowing them to weave powerful bursts of energy into existence that cut down foes. They all wore various black robes and carried different styles of swords that could slash even the great flesh of a cultivator.
Two Spell Swords noticed her and Feng fleeing and appeared in front of the gate, holding their weapons up. They didn't even have time to do anything, though, as Feng supported her with one arm and lifted his other hand up, making a slashing motion. He didn't speak any words or form any hand signs, but a thin red line of blood split both men in half, along with a majority of the wall that surrounded the palace.
Feng stepped past the dead bodies and held her with both arms again as he left the palace walls and began to march down the forest path. More men tried to stop him, but again, more red lines appeared, all so thin they were almost impossible to see, and each functioning like a razor wire that reduced the Spell Swords into chunks before they even knew what happened.
Feng wasn't holding back. He was pissed. Angrier than he had ever been in his life. "Thank Han, I was able to get to this palace in time," Feng growled. "Your father sent me away on a mission, but when I heard about the attack, I flew back here as fast as I could."
"W-Where are we going?" Ken asked.
"Anywhere but here." Feng hissed. "Your father broke the last bit of trust I had in him. He's lucky his father isn't around anymore, or he'd be beaten senseless by the great elder. We need to get out of this nation while we still can. I've enchanted a ship; it's down at the docks, and it'll take us far away."
The forest led down from the palace to a lower town district. Like the palace, it was also on fire, burning down and crumbling to bits. Dead scattered the streets, and yet Ken didn't feel all that sad. The truth was, she hated a lot of Rossum. The lands were beautiful, and she truly loved the nation itself, but its people, the ones who ruled it, and the ones who held power, were all rotten to their core.
In Rossum, you were either strong or you were weak. You were either a mighty lion or you were a pathetic mutt that existed only for breeding. Growing up, she had been kicked around by a lot of the people in the town, especially when Feng wasn't around. She wasn't happy that the people were dead, but she also didn't feel sorrow.
Feng kept going and soon passed through the town where the docks were located. No ship was visible, but as Feng got closer, he placed her onto her own two feet and held his hand out. It glowed with a golden light, and the air shimmered and twisted, and suddenly a ship appeared. However, calling it a ship was a little much. It was made out of bamboo and had several large bags on it that likely had food and water, but that was it. It glowed and shimmered with runes that would allow it to sail on its own, a destination already built inside of it.
"Alright," Feng placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's leave while we still—"
The sound of whistling cut Feng off, and he went silent. His face scrunched up, and the blind man spun around. Ken did the same and saw the man who was approaching them.
It was another Spell Sword, but this one was different. He was lean and calm-looking, wearing emerald green robes, and clutching a sword that hung from his belt. He had black, messy hair and dull brown eyes, as well as a bit of facial hair. He was also covered in red. Blood clung to him, staining his robes, his flesh, his hair, and even his teeth when he smiled.
Ken Yuan felt her face pale because she knew who this was. He was a great general of Mordheim known for his cruelty. He was simply called Wolf.
"Well, well, well." Wolf's voice came out in a taunting tone, and he casually drew his katana. "I thought this mission was going to be boring, but I seem to have spotted a rare sight indeed. The mighty Blood Serpent stands before me." Wolf pointed his sword directly at Feng. "Care to dance with me, lizard?"
"Lord Ken Yuan." Feng began to roll up the sleeves of his robes. "Please get onto the boat."
"But—"
"That's an order. One from the teacher you respect so much."
Ken clenched her teeth and felt her hand ball up into a fist. "You're coming as well?"
"I'll catch up." Feng smiled. His hands glowed with a golden light, and the flesh around his arms began to twist and change, as red scales grew along his arms and claws jutted from his fingers. "Go, my Lord, go and find yourself. Go and live."
Without warning, Feng stabbed his arm out, and a wave of red blood launched toward Wolf. Unlike the other Spell Swords, Wolf cut through the attack, a massive wave of green aura exploding around his body. The swordsman laughed and raised his blade up, and his other hand went over his face.
"Oh," black energy seeped out of his palm, and suddenly his shadow began to lift and mold, swimming into the palm of his hand and taking on a new shape. "This is gonna be fun." The shadows became a black wolf-like mask, which the man donned, and he smashed his sword down as hard as he could. "Ril Kinetic Slash!" An unseen force launched from his blade as an invisible energy launched forward!
Feng clasped his hands together, and a wall of blood formed in front of him, blocking the unseen strike, but it quickly crumbled as Wolf met the blind man in melee and began to dance around Feng, slicing into his shoulder; black fire gushed out of his sword.
Feng gritted his teeth and ignored the burning flame and clapped his hands together, firing out a thin beam of blood that sliced through hundreds of buildings, but Wolf ducked under it, not getting hit by the attack.
"Casting a spell without an incantation?" Wolf laughed, clearly in bliss. "The rumors are true about you, aren't they! You're a monster! A magical beast!"
"That black flame that screams out of your blade," Feng growled, and he rammed a powerful punch into Wolf's stomach, launching the man back. "You bastards really are using the corpse of the Ebony Knight to fuel yourselves, aren't you?!"
Wolf just laughed even louder, not phased by the punch that sent him flying back, and the black flames grew larger, coating his entire sword. "So what if we are! It's a dog-eat-dog world, and right now, you're going to be my next meal!"
Feng glared back at Ken, who had remained frozen in place. "Go, you stupid girl!" He screamed again, and this time Ken obeyed.
She took off running and dove into the boat just in time for Wolf to unleash another Ril-level strike, slicing most of the town apart. The magic in the boat caused it to go flying through the water at an incredible speed. She had to hold onto something so that she wasn't blasted overboard.
The last she saw of Feng was him opening his mouth and unleashing a wave of intense fire in the direction of Wolf.
Her body finally gave out after that, and Ken Yuan blacked out.
"Why are you showing me this?" At the same time, Ken Yuan watched the scene play out, far above, standing in the sky.
Everything twisted and broke, and the next thing she knew, she stood in a field of white fire, with the king's core floating behind her.
"It's on your mind a lot, isn't it?"
"So what if it is?" Ken asked, frowning.
"I find it interesting, is all." The core mused. "You hate your homeland, right?"
"I don't hate the land itself; its air is rich and clean, especially compared to here." Ken snorted. "The people could all go die, though, and I couldn't care less."
The core hummed. "I allow people from all over the world to come to my land and be part of my kingdom. Closing yourself off stops the ability to learn and grow. That said, you seem to harbor only hatred for your homeland. If you cannot feel love for the place you grew up in, why should you be expected to feel love for this land?"
"Isn't it normal for people to seek something better?" Ken asked. "My homeland is shitty, so naturally I'd look for a better place to stay."
"And yet, that's a lie." The core hummed. "In fact, you not only don't have love for this land or yours, but you have no love or desire to seek a better solution. To you, the ideal outcome would be to arrive back in your homeland and live happily in the mountains. That's what you're planning to do as well, aren't you? Once you kill your father. You'll leave it all behind."
"You're annoying," Ken said flatly.
"You have no thought of helping my land out, do you?" The core glowed red, and this time the air around it seemed to crackle. "You don't view anyone here worthy of your respect either."
"That's not true." Ken hissed.
"I can see your thoughts. Even the ones you have your eye on, you just view as a means to an end." The core spat back at her. "The Lot heir could make for a great refinement pill if she is harvested properly. The young Hawker could make for a decent sword if taught a bit more. Perhaps I can get him on my side and let him meet Feng." The core spoke some of the thoughts she had. "You don't view them as people. They're just a means to make you stronger—even us Knights. You didn't join this guild to become a true Knight. You just want the chance to earn Knight gear, and as soon as you get it, you'll drop everything and run back to your land in order to kill your father."
"He deserves to die!" Ken yelled out.
"Then do it with your own power." The core flashed again. "I don't want you in my land. Get out."
Ken went to argue, but suddenly, silver chains wrapped tightly around her arms and legs. The next thing she knew, she was blasted out of the gate and crashed to the floor in a heap. The gate didn't just reject her; it completely blacklisted her.
She didn't even have a second to clear her thoughts before two Knights suddenly appeared and grabbed the chain, forcing her up.
"Get off of me." Ken hissed, but one of the Knights casually smacked her in the back of her neck, and instantly she was knocked out.
"I'm shocked only one exam-taker got spat out." The Knight muttered. "I thought for sure several of those Mordheim freaks would be selected, and yet only a member of the Yuan family got offered up. How odd."
"Nothing to see here, folks!" Pretty Face called out as the crowd stared on in shock. "It seems we had a terrorist in our ranks! Don't worry, she'll be dealt with accordingly!"
Olivia felt shock go through her. "Ken was a terrorist—"
She didn't get to finish her sentence as Davi took off. He rapidly tore his way through the crowd, who were all muttering and seemed confused by what was going on. He was about to step out and reach the Knights, but a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. Davi whipped around and saw the face of Sune.
The Knight shook her head. "Where are they taking her?" Davi demanded, his voice cold, as he watched the other Knights pick Ken up and begin to head to the exit. "What are they going to do to her?"
"Don't worry." Sune kept a grip on Davi's shoulder, preventing him from running off. "She'll be fine."
"I don't believe you," Davi said flatly.
"I'm telling the truth." Sune nodded. "The core didn't like her and viewed her motives as interfering with our kingdom. She's part of the Yuan family, so they won't kill her. She'll be sent back home, where she belongs, and banned from ever entering the kingdom ever again." Sune hesitated for a moment. "Did you like her?"
"Not really," Davi said after thinking on the question. "She was kind of an asshole. That said, she was still my teammate. It's only natural for me to get worried about her."
Sune let out a soft snort. "I see. So that's why you were picked."
"What?"
"Nothing. Look, kid, I'll make sure she's okay. Go back to your friends. Ken Yuan will be just fine. You have my word." Sune placed her hand over her heart and nodded.
Davi's frown grew, but realistically, what could he do? The captains were all present, so if he did start a fight to try to get Ken, he'd likely be killed in an instant. He didn't like it, but he had to accept it. Slowly, Davi nodded and turned away. "Okay, but if I find out she got hurt in any way…"
Sune was about to make a joke, but the look in Davi's eyes caused her to pause and shiver. It wasn't the look a new recruit should have. She silently watched Davi head back to Olivia and the others.
"This year has been interesting." Sune mused, and she looked back toward the gate. "I see why the king made the choices that he did."