Sexy Sect Babes Two: Chapter One (Patreon)

Jian Yang was in a foul mood, the rabbit-kin’s ears bobbing irritably in time with her stomping gait.

“Oh quit sulking Jian.” Her friend, fellow rabbit-kin and fellow sect member smirked at her as the pair and their guards made their way down the main street. “It’s not that big a deal.”

“Five copper for a mooncake, Wuying?” Jian spat back, hand moving to smooth down her expensive robes. “It’s daylight robbery is what it is. I tell you now Wuying, the mortals are getting uppity.”

Her fellow cultivator rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. “There is a war on, y’know.”

Jian scowled. “Then they should work harder! As payment for the fact that their betters are fighting and dying to protect them. But do they do that? No, they raise their prices in a callous attempt to profit from the situation.”

Her friend just shrugged. “What else do you expect? They’re peasants.”

Jian wanted to argue, but after a moment, conceded the point. What else did she expect indeed? Such was the nature of mortals. Weak. Deceitful. Scheming.

Craven too, she thought. A few beasts attack their podunk little villages and the cowards all flee to the walls of Ten Huo, desperate to hide behind the might of the sects.

The young mistress wrinkled her nose as she looked around. The street she and her escort were on was packed to capacity. Filled to the brim with mortals doing… whatever it is that mortals did when they weren’t overcharging for mooncakes. Apparently every inn in the city was packed to capacity – and near every alley as well.

Jian could certainly believe it based on the smell alone. It was one of the few occasions for which found herself lamenting the enhanced senses her cultivation provided her.

“The magistrate would do well to cast them all out.” The young woman muttered. “Parasites cowering behind the strength of their betters.”

Wuying just shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Not that Jian noticed. She took it for granted that her fellow practitioner would side with her. Instead, her focus was entirely on glaring at the crowds around them. Fortunately, said crowds knew their place. They steered well clear of the pair of young mistresses and their guards.

And those that didn’t… well, that was what the guards were for. Clad in the brown and white stripes of the Brazen Claw Sect and equipped with a lamellar cuirass and plumed helms, they were mortals certainly, but of a slightly more capable sort. Not exactly a high bar to reach, but it was enough to make them marginally more tolerable in Jian’s eyes.

Not least of all because the twelve men accompanying her knew their place, not a one showing even a hint of dissatisfaction as she lambasted their mortal kin well within their earshot. Instead, the ox-kin remained utterly stoic, vigilantly watching thier surroundings. The men’s swords were sheathed, but they were more than ready to lash out with a shove or a kick to any fool that failed to show proper deference to the ten – or was it nine now? – families by failing to clear a path fast enough.

As one soul failed to do – though in a surprise turn of events, he was not shoved aside by the powerful arm of her guard.

Jian watched, amusement and irritation flaring in her gut as one of her guards utterly failed to perform his duties.

Though it was not hard to see why. While her guards were all of Ox-kin heritage – as was the current fashion – and towered over most of the mortals in the street, this seemed to be a rare occasion where one had met his match.

Not by much admittedly, but there was no denying that this fur clad stranger had a good inch on the guard – if one ignored said guard’s horns.

The man was huge. Blonde haired and clad in simple furs, it was clear he hailed from the mountain tribes. With a large pack on his back, he was likely a trader - or perhaps a talented hunter, going by the finery of his coat?

Jian was inclined towards the latter. A trader would not have been caught lollygagging in the middle of the street like a simpleton, as he gormlessly took in the buildings around them. No, this was likely a country bumpkin who was in the city for the first time.

Another cowardly refugee cowering beneath the aegis of his betters.

Now, while his amazement was understandable, Ten Huo was likely the third greatest city in the Northern Provinces, it did not forgive his disrespect.

Disrespect that only grew as the man casually glanced down at the forearm that had been none-too-gently shoved into his side, before his gaze trailed up to lock eyes with the red faced and straining ox-kin attached to said forearm.

Then he had the audacity to raise a single eyebrow, before his eyes roamed over the rest of Jian’s procession, as if noticing them for the first time.

“I take it you want me to move?” he said finally.

Beside her, Wuying giggled. Jian though was not so sanguine about this show of disrespect. She’d be sure to chastise the guard later for embarrassing the sect with his meager showing, but for now her attention was entirely on this hunter.

“Step back,” she announced.

The ox-man hesitated, turning back to her with a pitiful and fearful expression on her face. “Mistress, I-”

“Step back.” She strode forward. “You have already embarrassed me enough with your ineptitude, do not compound your shame further with disobedience.”

Outwardly, the sight would have been comical, how the massive armored ox-kin paled as he stepped away from the stranger, bowing deeply to the slight rabbit-kin.  Of course, all that changed when one realized said young woman was a cultivator.

Satisfied, for now, Jian turned her attention back toward the…

“Hey!” She shouted. “Get back here!”

The barbarian was already walking away from her.

As if she would let him get away with disrespecting the Brazen Claw Sect so easily!

At her shout, he stopped in his tracks, turning to look back at her. Then the fool actually doubled down on his audacity by glancing around, as if there were anyone else present that Jian might have been referring to.

Jian found herself grinding her teeth as she strode up to the man. Unfortunately, as she only reached his chest, she had to look up to meet his gaze.

“You have guts, hunter, to dare disrespect me so. You think you can just walk away from that? Kowtow thrice before me, and I may let you off lightly.” Though as her eyes regarded the finery of the wolfskin coat he was wearing – was there just a hint of ki coming off it? – another thought occurred to her. “And leave your coat. It will serve as payment for retaining your worthless life.”

“Yeah… no.”

Of all the things she had expected to hear next, that wasn’t one of them. It actually took her a second to process it.

Then she got angry.

“Insolence. I gave you fair warning and sufficient means to avoid your just rewards.” Her first lashed out. “Take this!”

She threw out a casual open palm strike to the man’s diaphragm – only for it to be pushed aside.

Not slapped. Not blocked. Pushed.

Such was her surprise that her instincts took over and she launched another series of attacks, seamlessly flowing into the forms.

Yet each was once more casually pushed aside. It was as if she were fighting water, as her opponent’s palms refused to touch her own, merely guiding aside her forearms with the most economical of movements. Yet his feet, the greatest tool of any fighter, remained firmly planted on the ground, as he neither backpedaled nor advanced.

And throughout it all, a strange clicking seemed to emanate from… under his coat?

Mind catching up with her, she slid but a half pace backwards to reassess the situation.

This was no peasant. He was clearly a cultivator.

Yet she did not recognize him – and male cultivators were not so bountiful in this world that she would not know of any that were within the city. Especially one as distinctive as this Northerner.

Rapidly, her mind raced through what she knew of him in an attempt to place his likely origins – and more importantly, who his backers might be. For while conflicts between lower level sect members might be easily overlooked, strikes against a male belonging to a sect carried far greater consequences.

No visible ancestral traits? A wolf fur coat? Northern features? Hidden ki? A strange clicking sound?

The bunny kin paled as she came to a realization. And a glance back at Wuyin made her realize that her friend had likely come to the same conclusion.

Jian had just crossed fists with the Slayer of Cui the Malformed, the Hidden Master of Jiangshi.

She bowed. Instantly. Leaving herself defenseless should the man choose to strike her down. Not that it would have mattered if she had her defenses raised. Their most recent clash was proof of that. She had been handled as easily as one would a child. Even if she quietly considered herself a rising talent, Jian knew she was no match for a sect elder, yet alone a sect leader.

And by extension, that meant she knew she was no match for a man that had slain both a sect elder and leader.

Simultaneously.

“Young mistress apologizes to Hidden Master,” she said.

Shame burned at her core at being forced to supplicate herself before all these onlookers, but that shame dwelled beneath an iron curtain of fear. Not just from the man before her, but for the consequences that would likely come of it.

The sect elders would be furious if they heard of this. It was no secret that the Brazen Claw – along with the rest of the Nine Families - were hoping to make inroads with this mysterious new crafter and beast tamer. Even ignoring the fact that he was male, crafters of any talent were a rarity outside of the inner provinces.

Beyond that, many an alchemist within the sects had been salivating at the thought of what reagents might be harvested from the peculiar beast that apparently accompanied him. For if there was one, there might be more. And if plied, this newcomer might be inclined to direct the city’s alchemists to where those beasts dwelled.

That there existed such a fervor for the reagents that might be carved from the beast’s body was a feat made all the more impressive by the current glut of crafting materials the recent ‘Instinctive Incursion’ had provided.

In recent days for a cultivator to find a Spirit Beast was as easy found as turning over a palm. They were rampant outside the walls of the city. An unexpected, and likely unintentional, benefit of the madness brought on by the Great Enemy’s foul techniques.

Empress above, apparently even the normal animals were beginning to show promise as a source of more basic reagents. Whole new classifications of beast were appearing. Each providing greater and greater reagents to aid in cultivation.

A new age was dawning. A golden age of cultivation.

One that foolish self might not live to see given that she had just-

“It’s fine.”

So caught up in her self recriminations was she that she actually missed the first words the Hidden Master had said. Cursing herself for a fool, she carefully spoke, making sure to remain bowed as she did.

“Pardon Great Master, this lowly young mistress did not quite hear you?”

The man grunted irritably. “I said it was fine.”

…It was fine?

Though Jian could comprehend the words individually, when put in order they made no sense.

It was fine? She had attacked a hidden master. Mistaken him for a mortal. Made to steal his coat. And he said it was fine?

“Just… try to be a little less hotheaded in future.” He continued, heedless of her confusion. “I mean, Christ, I was going to move. No need to shove.”

She did not know what a ‘Christ’ was, but it did not matter.

She was going to live!

In spite of that, she only dared to look up once she heard him turn away. And when she did, he was just… walking away, his massive travel pack disappearing into the crowds.

Only once he was out of sight did she dare to breathe again though.

Wuyin was at her side in moments. “Jian, you idiot. You just nearly got us all killed.”

Jian turned to glare weakly at her friend. “How was I to know the Slayer of Cui was just wandering around? What kind of… sadist walks around while hiding their ki?”

The man was like a walking punji trap, just waiting for some poor hapless initiate to stumble across him. How was one supposed to anticipate that? Be polite to every mortal they came across on the off chance one of them happened to be a hidden master?

“Apparently our city’s newest bachelor does,” her friend continued. “Forget that though. I need a drink and you’re paying.”

Jian just nodded.

She had no issue with that proposed plan of action. Hell, she wouldn’t even complain about whatever insane markup the innkeeper had applied to his wine.

Though as she stood up once more, she couldnt help but wonder if… well, given that the hidden master had not struck her down for her audacity…

Perhaps he had taken a shine to her?

She shook her head.

Still, she would have to seek him out at some point. To apologize for her actions. Formally.

Yes, she would do that.

It was only right.

I’ve heard he has been gifted the former holdings of the Marble Cloud Sect. A poisoned apple to be sure. Perhaps he might be grateful for an opportunity to dwell in a more… refined setting while his entourage worked to restore the compound?

She could provide that. She just needed to call in a few favors with a few of her aunts.

-----------------------

“So let me get this straight, you’re selling the gonnes, one of your biggest advantages in this ‘world’ to people like that.”

Jack sighed, turning to where Lin had just appeared from.

“Hello Lin,” he grunted. “Nice of you to show up again. It’s a shame you weren’t pelting me with your sage advice five minutes ago.”

Instead he’d turned to suddenly find the crowd around them had disappeared – as had his guide. It had been downright eerie. Like a shoal of fish suddenly turning as one when a shark showed up.

Then some asshole with horns was trying to tackle him.

For her part, the mortal goat woman managed to look a little sheepish. “I, ah, yeah…”

“You acted out of habit while forgetting that you were dealing with someone who wasn’t from the city?” Or even this world for that matter. And Lin was just about the only person on this plane of existence who was privy to that fact.

“Yeah.” She nodded slowly.

Jack just shook his head. “Whatever. It’s done now. Here’s hoping I’m a big enough name around here that little miss coat-stealer doesn’t hold a grudge.”

He certainly hoped she didn’t, because his arms were already starting to bruise just from trying to block her strikes. Even with his microbot swarm hidden discreetly secreted under his clothes puppeteering him like a marionette - with the skills of a mixed martial arts master - his arms felt like they were on fire.

He missed his armor. Even if it was slow and cumbersome as shit.

Just another thing on the long list of things I need to work on, he thought. Preferably before I do my back in lugging around all the shit in this bag.

His arms reached up to shift the straps around his shoulders where the damn things were digging into his skin. Gene-therapies or not, neither batteries nor an interdimensional storage emitter were meant to be carried around by a normal human.

He almost jumped as he felt the microbots under his clothes suddenly snake down the legs of his pants, before locking around his ankles. Then the machines did something and the weight on his back seemed to disappear. Or at least, become more evenly distributed.

Did… did they just turn themselves into a harness, he thought.

He’d certainly not ordered them to do that. Had they acted on his subconscious impulse? That was… useful. And more than a little concerning, given the whole command and control system was something he’d jury rigged himself with the aid of his suit’s dumb AI.

Must have messed up the neural interface if we’re getting subconscious bleed over, he thought irritably. thought irritably. Yet another problem to fix.

“You still didn’t answer my question,” Lin continued..

He glanced down at her. “Remind me what that was.”

She rolled her eyes, something that ironically made him happy rather than irritated. A few months back she’d never have dared to be so ‘impudent’. Especially after a recent screw up.

“Why are you selling our main advantage over the Ten Families to the Ten Families? You’ve seen how they act. If you give away our main strength over them they’ll walk all over us.”

He shrugged. “Ignoring the fact that there’s a war on – and as bad as our local cultivators are, the ones from outside the Empire are worse?”

Much worse. He still shivered when he remembered the twisted… weregoat thing Yin had turned into. Apparently all Instinctive cultivators were like that. And while he was dubious of any source of information that came from Imperial sources, he wasn’t about to dismiss them entirely.

“Yes.” Lin’s response was instantaneous. “The Empire will endure. The Dragon Empress herself has taken to the field. No enemy could stand against her.”

The last sentence was spoken with all the surety of someone stating the sun would rise tomorrow.

It was funny, as critical as Lin could be of the Empire, she sounded utterly certain of its longevity. And he couldn’t blame her for that. The Empire had been around longer than any single polity on Earth. Much longer.

The Great Wall surrounding the Empire had never been breached before though. That was a new trick on the part of the Arch Traitor.

Hell, not only had the Great Enemy breached the walls, but they also seemed to have thrown the entire logistical chain of the Empire on its head with whatever technique had driven the local wildlife wild before later turning them into warped monsters.

And logistics were what won wars back on Earth. Now, perhaps that was different here in magical not-china, but Jack himself wasn’t so sure.

Not least of all because in all the months he’d been here in this world he’d heard less than nothing from the Northern front where the breach had occurred. Mortal guards and Sect cultivators went north, but precious little news trickled back.

And in his experience, when an organization provided no news, it meant they had only bad news to share.

That concern was only compounded by the fact that the Dragon Empress, essentially a god in the eyes of her people, had ended her decades long seclusion in the Celestial Court to descend to Earth to lead the war effort herself.

It didn’t bode well for any organization when the company’s founder ended their vacation to take the reigns back from the interim CEO.

“We can’t keep them.” He said quietly, keeping his other worries to himself. “Not ‘don’t want to’. Can’t. If we tried, it wouldn’t be long before people started making their own without us. Better to get in on the ground floor of this new tech and get as much profit out of it as we can while we can.”

Lin glanced up at him, green eyes shining. “Make their own? How? Gonnes are… something totally new. No one has ever seen anything like it before in the entire history of the Empire.”

And given a year or two, there’ll  probably be some geniuses that intuitively know more about firearms than I do, he thought. Of course, those people won’t have access to an entire society’s scientific catalog to pull on, so I’m not too worried about being out-teched.

“And now they have.” He shook his head. “The genie is out of the bottle. Examples of guns will get out. Through bribery or straight up thievery, they’ll get out. And the sects will set their people to figuring out how they work. Blacksmiths will figure out the principles behind the gun. Alchemists the gunpowder.”

Lin frowned, but made no argument. He could see she wasn’t convinced by his argument, but that was fine. He didn’t need to convince her.

And he didn’t think he was wrong. If he tried to keep guns to himself, all that would happen was that someone else would profit from making a… cheap Chinese knock off. Better to just cut out the middleman and sell them from the start.

Because, despite all his power, there were a great many resources that he could only get from the sects.

Cultivation resources. Enchanted metals. Manpower.

All sorts of things he could find uses for.

“Besides,” he said finally. “It’s not like I’ll be giving them my best stuff.”

His eyes tracked to the hotel they were staying in and the members of the Jiangshi militia stood outside. Clad in the steel armor and wrapped in the distinctive blue cloak that was their uniform, they made for an imposing sight.

Moreso than the city or sect guards, who had a cuirass, a helmet and a spear or short sword to their name and little else.

That wasn’t what impressed him about them.

No, what truly made them dangerous – even in a world of insane magical martial arts wizards – was the rifle slung over their shoulder.

Gone was the breach loader he’d originally made, and gone was the abominable revolver rifle that had replaced it. No, these rifles held a beautiful new bolt action reload system and, more importantly, a thick block magazine.

It was a weapon powerful enough to kill an elephant. Or a particularly ornery cultivator. And he had a feeling he’d need that killing power in the days ahead.

Especially now that I no longer have my armor.

“Gents,” he called to the two men standing outside. “Call up Gao and see if he’s secured our new lodgings.”

He was gratified by how quickly they snapped to attention, one hurrying inside to speak to the squad’s radio operator.

He grinned to himself. For his services he’d been gifted the former compound of the Marble Cloud Sect. He'd sent Gao and Ren to check it out first on the blonde woman's advice, but now he was curious as to what kind of setup a city sect had.

And what improvements he could make to it.

Indoor plumbing first, I think. Then a few dozen reams of razor wire around the outer walls. Oh, and a surveillance system. Can’t forget about that.