A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 14 (Patreon)

A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 14

…

Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 2500

…

A storm of blades and flesh.

I recalled the battles that I witnessed and fought time and time again.

There was the battle set in the north in a plum grove. The peasantry was long cast out by the bandits and begged the Sect for aid. In exchange, a portion of their harvests would be given to the Sect. Though there was an immortal amongst the banditry, a self-styled roaming king, it was decided to undertake the mission for the sake of all those who would be fed by the excess of fruits.

The bandits had wielded axes and chains and maces, which were reinforced by their innate ability. The swords of a few broke and they fell like hewn timber, or they were shattered by maces, or ripped through by chains with sharpened edges. Years of training and practice became meaningless in the face of raw force and power.

And, in turn, the Beggar’s sect fought and killed as well.

My blade carved through flesh as strong as iron, carved through bone as strong as steel, and those who thought themselves impervious to harm died with surprise and pain written on their features. I felt the parting of flesh travel from my palm, up to my shoulder, and into my mind. They struggled in vain at the last moment, so different from training tools or wood or even animals, as they tried to live no matter the cost in the face of immense danger.

When the battle was over, with a score of us dead and the bandits all dispatched, the plum grove was covered in blood, chunks of flesh, and offal. Not of animals or monsters, but of people. There was no place untouched by battle, and blood dripped even from the tallest branches and their leaves, and many of the budding fruits were enrobed in darkening scarlet.

That was but one battle that I had faced in my life amongst dozens and dozens.

More often than not, I sharpened my blade on the flesh of my opponents than a whetstone, until I found myself where I was now.

Hunted before being rescued by Zhang… who changed everything in an instant.

In all the battles that I’d ever been in, I could see him there now. His mere presence alone would cause most to flee, and he would not allow them to do so. The world itself heeded his commands. Vines would reach from the ground to drag in his foes into soil. The same soil would churn and churn at alarming speed as rock sharpened themselves to be as sharp as forged steel. If that was not enough, with a glance, he’d create a flame so pure that it would turn to ash anything that it touched… or create a sharped gale of wind that would cut through his foes with a thought.

And… and… he’d turn to me with naught but a look of innocence in his gaze, whereupon he’d ask me if he did things as I’d asked.

With those thoughts, I walked through the Grand Bazaar of the desert alone, until I found myself before Zi Long once more.

…

Zi Long was clad in white robes and a red shawl. Upon her small feet were red slippers and her hair was done in two braids, which joined together into one at her nape. Her skin was fair and her eyes sharp. Without a doubt, she’d grow into a slender beauty that would entrance any man… and they would quail before her the moment they realized she could hear their every thought.

“Indeed, I find the perversions of many men to be tiring, so I typically nip it in the bud in my presence.” She looked over a table full of papers and notes my way. I gave her a bow of respect, but as I expected, she already knew what I was present. “Yes, yes. You’re afraid that you’ll use my father. Go ahead. If you can sway him and somehow bid him to do as you wish, then you may do so.”

I could not help but be surprised at her words.

Once more, it was obvious to her.

“Lady Ying, Heiress of the Beggar Sect, and the Begging Blade… you’ve met my father. Have you, since meeting him, ever felt in control?” She raised an eyebrow at me. I found my thoughts suddenly cease at her words, as I realized the truth of the matter “Yes, you swayed him to do one thing or another. But, yes, you have never truly managed to make him do anything he doesn’t wish to, no?”

“There was the matter with the Fei’yen clan.” I found myself protesting, while Zi Long stood and gestured. A teapot filled with water filled with energy and tea leaves flowed from a pouch. Their mere presence filled the air with the scent of strong jasmine. It was a mystical ingredient which immortals would kill for, yet she placed it in the pot of tea and began to prepare with little grace. “I did my utmost to see him paid righteously for his work and grant him what he deserves.”

“And, so, you had my father do his duty as a farmer to earn as much as he could. That is what a farmer does, therefore he has done so. He is my father, therefore he fights me at my strongest to ensure I shall be strong forevermore.” Zi Long fetched a tin from atop a shelf with a thought and her power responded. It floated towards her and fell into her hands, whereupon she floated several baked sweets from within. Mastery over energy to such an extent would be limited to the eldest and most skilled immortals. She used it to fetch treats. “How do you expect to turn him upon all the foes of the Beggars Sect? Enlighten me of your plans and machinations, Lady Ying. How shall you turn my father into your personal sword? With your feminine wiles, perhaps? He’ll just make an honest woman out of you, you know?”

“T-that’s… that wouldn’t…” I felt a feverish blush on my face. I tried to deny those words. Zi Long snorted in an unladylike manner and served tea and treats. I found myself sitting across from her as she served us both. I couldn’t hold my posture and I slouched… my head falling into my hands as I realized just what she was implying. “That wouldn’t happen!”

Zi Long said nothing, took a sip of tea, and then spoke once more.

Ignoring my protests utterly.

“Allow me to tell you what would happen if you don’t leave my father’s side. You will be swept up in the myriad of strange happenings he stumbles into on the regular. In my brief weeks with him, he encountered a River Goddess, found secrets regarding creating life, and created a world in miniature beneath the farm. He has slain countless bandits and strange individuals who stumbled onto his farm with ill intent… and encountered women who fall head over heels for him within weeks of meeting.”

Zi Long suddenly gestured towards the tarp roof above and Yuen fell from the shadows onto a seat that grew from the floor. Sheepishly, Yuen nodded my way and tried to glare at Zi Long.

She pointed at the Dragon-blooded woman.

“Yuen, you asked my father to help you save your clan. What did he do?”

Yuen blinked.

“He went and saved my clan.”

“Exactly, then he went back home the same day and thought nothing of it. Hundreds of people that were sick, living in secrecy, and afraid… saved in an afternoon, and father simply moved on. All because a friend of him asked for help.” Yuen nodded at the words, before putting together what was happening just as I did. “Exactly, the two of you are not some outside forces that will destroy his life. Fate has made it so that father will intervene, act, and find himself solving one problem or another quite often. And, he will. The most important moments of your lives, whether it be the fate of your clans or your sects, is a mere afternoon distraction from his duties as a farmer."

I opened my mouth to disagree, to tell her such was not the case, but in the end my mouth closed.

It seemed insane to say that the Beggar Sect’s problems were lesser than a farm, but Zi Long stared into my eyes and I was forced to consider it.

What could I present to Zhang as a problem that he would not solve in an instant? I feared that I would use him, that I would turn him into someone else, but if I asked him to destroy the foes of the Sect… he would do so in but a few days and go back to his farm. It would be a simple favor from him, and he wouldn’t ask as a single question. He’d look at me, smile, and ask where we need to go, solve my problems, and go back after devastating all the Beggar Sect’s foes.

I looked at Yuen, whose problems he had solved, and she nodded at my realization.

Zi Long took that moment to clap and draw both our attention.

“The two of you are good people. That much I can discern. In fact, if you were not, I would’ve asked father to wipe away your memories after seeing you both off with gifts. Such a thing is within my power.” The casual declaration sent a chill up my spine. She said it the same way one would say that the sun was rising. I knew not what to fear more. That Zhang could do such a thing, or that Zi Long could ask him to do so and have it done. “I am speaking to you both now, because you have earned a measure of trust, and I bid you both to make use of it. Become my father’s allies, friends, and confidants. He is still learning and growing as we speak. From the both of you, I hope that he learns of the greater world, new skills to enrich his life, and grow as a person… because I want fortune to smile upon him more than it already has.”

Zi Long stood and gestured at the cooling tea and cookies.

I took them and so did Yuen, as she moved to return to her desk.

My thoughts were running rampant, as I took in her words.

All my problems and life were but a means for… Zhang to learn? Zhang was still growing stronger? Zhang was the center of interesting times and fate itself seemed to flow towards him?

So many questions filled my mind, but they were all wiped away when Zi Long spoke again behind her desk.

“Father intends to have as many children as he can afford by the way. 12 at least. Prepare yourselves.”

I also almost choked on my tea.

“T-twelve!?”

“As many as he could!?”

“Silly, mortals! He’s a master of shaping the body, it would hardly even hurt!”

…

I found Zhang in the Bazaar and swathed in bright yellow clothes from head to toe. The only reason I recognized him was that his face was not obscured, and his pale skin stood out from the rest of the tanned crowd.

“Oh, hi, Lady Ying! How are you today?” Several women in the crowd, some in booths, but many not, glared at my approach. One reaching for his pocket snatched her hand back, after feeling the sting of my power. The crowd around him parted. “Look at what I bought! They told me it’s really special, so I had to buy it no matter what!”

I looked at the fabric.

“It is not, Lord Zhang. It is mere silk. Well-dyed silk, but silk nonetheless.”

“Oh, but that’s very special! My father told me that silk is only for nobility! This is great!” As always, my fears of using him to achieve the ends of my Sect faded the moment I spoke to him. He smiled with such innocence and joy that I couldn’t help but feel the need to protect him from anything. Not only that, but much of the crowd started to run as I couldn’t help but feel anger, and that anger made my power flare. Guards nearby began to sweat, albeit at the desert heat, but calmed when I soothed my emotions when the courtiers retreated. “Would you like some? They only ask for some gold, and I can make lots!”

“You shouldn’t, Lord Zhang. It would bring harm to people.”

“Oh? How?” Zhang looked surprised and stared at me, while idly playing with a perfect orb of gold between two fingers. “I don’t see how this soft metal can hurt anyone.”

“Some people use it as currency. Too much of it will make the currency worthless.”

“How does that work?” He tilted his head to the side, then once again to another side. A frown formed on his face. “Coins are made all the time, right?”

Lady Long’s words resounded in my head.

She wished for Zhang to be taught, to learn, and to improve.

Our presence ensured that he would.

“There is a set number of coins made every year. Each amount is a singular value. If there are more coins than that value, then each coin will be lesser.” I did my utmost to share what I knew with him, but I did not know enough to explain perfectly. Still, it was basic and understand, which made Zhang smile and nod. I tried to explain further. “For example, you have two bushels of wheat, and their price has been decided. If a third bushel was made, and the price does not change, each bushel would be worth less, correct?”

“Oh, I see now! I can’t just create money out of thin air, or money will become worthless!”

“Yes, Lord Zhang. Very good.”

“Thank you, Lady Ying!” He beamed at me and nodded, before making the gold orb turn to dust. His features concentrated for a second… and the dust in his palm turned into vibrant gems. “I should make some pretty, shiny things and sell them for money, then I can use that money, right? It’s just like selling crops!”

It was nothing like selling crops, but I nodded nonetheless.

“Yes, you’ll have to ask a merchant for more knowledge, but that is the basics of the matter.”

“Got it, I’ll do just that… and now I can buy you something pretty after somebody buys this, right?” He grinned, and before I could protest, he took my hand and led me into the bazaar. “C’mon, Lady Ying! My father always told me to cherish my friends!”

My heart clenched at those words, and I felt a smile forming on my face.

Everything seemed so impossible when not around him, but when I was… everything just made sense and nothing else mattered.