A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 16 (Patreon)

A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 16

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 2500

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Interlude: Yuen

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Zhang’s daughter prepared a whole caravan of gifts for her father, which he happily returned as an investment back to her. She took the gift back with grace and humility, though many of her employees shuddered when she stated that she’d be putting it to very good use. I could only imagine that she was going to use all that gold and silk to dominate the trade markets in the desert.

And, if any of her competitors tried to get her killed, they’ll find themselves with the nasty surprise that they’re trying to fight and kill a Dragon.

Not someone with the blood of the Dragon, such as myself, but a true, fully-fledged Dragon being raised to the apex of her species by one of the most powerful sorcerers to exist.

A sorcerer who I owed life to, who solved the problems of my people, and who now planned to take a wife.

By creating one himself.

That fact resounded in my head our whole trip back to his farm, but it didn’t seem real until I found myself looking at him, inside the massive underground pseudo-world he created, with a massive tree at its center.

By all means, I should’ve been frightened and awed by the showcase in skill and power.

Zhang turned the underground of his farm into a veritable world under his control. Stone turned into metal-like sheets and formed a perfect orb in which whole cities could be housed. It was so immense that after he added water and clouds, both stayed and lingered in the topmost half of the sphere. The massive tree that was its center was mountainous and its topmost broke into the cloud front. It was surrounded by lush forests, fields, and lakes in every direction. If you stood at its base and looked at the horizon, you wouldn’t see the end of the immense sphere.

Zhang created an entire world, filled it with plants, creatures, and magic of his won making, yet I could only truly think of one thing: why the hell was he making his own wife!?

So engrossed with the thought was I that I barely recalled what happened, until I stared at the creature in question as she was ready to be ‘born.’

In the back of my mind, I was interpreting the messages being sent to me by my senses. The woman in the large, glowing orb being born from the immense, glowing tree wasn’t a normal person. She was something closer to the ancient, divine soldiers used by the immortal empire that fell so long ago. In the stories, those with talent and potential were interred into massive alchemical coffins, which in turn was filled with reagents, grown flesh, and more that was lost to time.

The children awoke from their slumber, after being broken apart into nothing, into bodies that towered over the battlefield which could wield immense power and might with ease.  It was an age of Divine Soldiers fighting against one another, as Dragons waged war in the sky, and mythical beasts fought beside armies of mortals with mastery over either the blade or sorcery. Most of the coffins were destroyed when the Empire fell apart, the Sects and their leaders destroying all that could oppose them with near-impunity after the armies fell apart in civil conflict.

They judged the Divine Soldiers to be too mighty for their realm of immortals and rule over the entire planet.

Yet, here and now, I looked upon a tree with thousands of dazzling fruit, each one with a Divine Soldier in them, and the firstborn amongst them was being born now.

One who would rule over the rest and be untouchable by a whole army of creatures meant to break the heavens themselves. The world itself felt like it held its breath as the fruit burst around her and she was ‘born’ standing. Skin as pale and flawless as the finest porcelain, with a slender figure, the still showcased perfect musculature, and a face that even immortals would fall for in an instant. Her hair was the color of lavender and so were her eyes, save for the pupils, which were a bright gold.

The moment she looked upon me, I felt as though I was being judged by a giant that encompassed the whole sky, and I was but an ant in her palm. It was like the moment that she was born, she was meant to dominate the entire world—

“Okay, your name is Bai, and I need you to use this broom to clean the front porch! I’ll be cleaning the inside of the house!”

“Understood, master.”

“Good! Once the house I shall clean, we can all have breakfast together and talk about you!”

“Me?”

“Yep! We need to figure lots of things out, since the scroll only said you were strong, but nothing else about you. I need to know how to take care of you and all your sisters!”

“Ah, I understand. I will do my best to think on that while cleaning the front porch.”

“Great!”

And, just like that, Zhang named her, asked her to do a chore, and asked her to think about herself for a talk for breakfast.

I don’t know why I’m surprised.

I looked over to my right and found Ying sporting the same look of confusion and acceptance as I was.

Yep.

As always, when Zhang decides to embark on any path, he decides to make his own way without any hint of hesitation while everyone else could just desperately try and follow.

I truly hoped that all these divine creatures with immense power and ability to level cities weren’t all going to end up tenants in Zhang’s eyes.

Ah, who am I kidding?

He’s totally going to just use these divine warriors as tenants for his new land.

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“Here you go, Yuen, your favorite!” Zhang gave me a big, wide smile as he served me a large roasted piece of meat. I’d watched the wild oxen get put on the ground, skinned, and gutted just an hour ago, after we left Zhang’s newly-created realm. The spices on the meat were just pepper, cumin, and salt. It was my favorite meal. The difference between this one and all the others was that it was brimming with energy. While Bai was consuming it as a matter of fact, I hesitated along with Ying. Zhang had imbued power into her meal, too. “And, let’s all eat!”

Zhang unconsciously practiced cultivation. That’s why, when we first met, I’d thought of him as some sorcerer sent to extract information from me and bring ruin to my people, after we’d finally secured a home and freed ourselves from use by the immortals for their pills and elixirs. I’d thought that I would have to fight him, or at least find a way to die before he overpowered me, but instead I found myself… eating a meal with him as I usually did.

It was silly for me to hesitate, since I knew that he wouldn’t harm me.

He wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Not unless he had good reason, then that fly would be obliterated from existence in an instant.

“Thank you, Zhang.” Ying bowed her head and looked every bit the proper princess of a Sect. Even though she came from the Beggar’s sect, her beauty was without question.  She wore her hair long and a band bound it against her scalp, to prevent it from blocking her view in battle. She wore light blue robes well-fitted for combat and Zhang’s gifted blade hung at her hip. “I appreciate you preparing a meal for us.”

“Father always said that being able to cook is a skill I’ll always appreciate!” Zhang gave a wide grin. Without his large cloak, he just wore the clothes of a farmer. Usually, in the city and during his lessons, he dressed far better. However, we were in the small home built by his great grandfather. He dressed as a farmer did. Laborer’s clothes, befitting his station, with the color of brown and the robe’s lower portion not reaching past his knees. You’d never suspect him to be a sorcerer of immense power and might. “And, he’s right! It’s always great to have someone enjoy what you make!”

“This meal is very good, master.” Bai wore the same clothes as Zhang, but her beauty and elegance made the clothes seem ridiculous on her. Like a nobleman was making a royal beauty dress like a peasant for some sort of play. Her bosom made it so she couldn’t completely close the robes upper portion, her hair shone more brightly against the dull brown of the shirt, and the fact that the robes were shortened to not be muddied only ensured that her long and slender legs were showcased. She sat beside Zhang like a princess wed to a farmer like some sort of fable of true love triumphing over all. “Is there more?”

“Oh, right! You need to eat lots, but this this sort of food. Here!” Zhang smiled and extended his hand. “Give me one moment.”

From the wooden floorboards came forth a small tree, which rapidly bore fruit from branches too small. They were unlike any trees that I’d ever seen before. The leaves glittered like they were speckled with silver, and the trunk was a pure white. The fruits, as well, were like berries, but with skin that glittered with barely constrained power.

Each one was filled with power, to the point I was sure many Sect Masters would go to war for one, but Zhang picked dozens into a bowl with a smile and handed it off to Bai. If I ate one, I was sure that my body would be overwhelmed with energy and I would perish without assistance, but the Divine Soldier’s eyes merely brightened as she ate them, and I felt her power slowly, but surely begin to increase.

She could grow stronger than she already was.

“This is very good. Thank you, Master.” Bai gave him a beaming smile, the juice of the fruit she ate staining her lips a bright red, and Zhang fussed over her instantly and wiped her mouth. The lightest of blushes played on her face, and I knew from that moment on that I needn’t worry about Bai and the rest of the Divine soldiers. There must be some form of control method over them that Zhang had at his disposal, but I doubted that he would have to use it. “But I like the food you cook better.”

Oh.

I looked over at Ying, and I found her looking at me.

Bai’s intentions were very clear to both of us now.

“Thank you, I’ll do my best to cook for you lots, then!” Zhang beamed at her. He was happy to hear her words, so I kept quiet. However, as I did, I felt Bai look my way… and smile in a way that nearly had me break my utensils in my hand. She knew what she was doing. I erased my notions and beliefs that this Divine Soldier still had to mature. I didn’t know how nor why, but the fact was clear: I was dealing with a fully-fledged person. Soldiers, after all, must be able to understand and think, so whatever method she was created must’ve put knowledge and experiences in her mind. “I’m going to cook some more now, so if anyone wants more, just tell me!”

With that Zhang happily got up and left to the outside kitchen, leaving me and Ying sitting across from the Divine Soldier.

She wasted no time.

“Neither of you are fit to be with Master. Allies and companions, perhaps, but certainly not partners in existence.” The mask of incompetence fell away, and Bai sat like a regent. There was no denying that, despite her clothing and the home that surrounded her. She’d better fit a throne surrounded by thousands of loyal attendants and tens of thousands of supplicating nobility. This was a creature meant to dominate everything beneath the Heavens and the rest of the fruits of the tree below were nothing more than extensions of her reach. Hands and eyes for her to command and use. “You hesitate when he can reforge you into something greater. You imbibe meals that barely raise your power. The foes Master will face, as the world entire begins to spin on a singular axis around him, will grind you into dust in but moments. Hold your distance, so you cause him no suffering.”

With those words, I found myself at a loss.

She was right. The Divine Soldier realized the truth of the matter. Zhang couldn’t remain hidden forever. Zi Long had said as much. He found himself entangled in scheme after scheme again and again incessantly. His power and might will bake him either the most coveted of allies, to the point where all would align themselves to him, or create the most dangerous of foes. All that oppose him will study, will grow, and will train solely for someone overcome him.

If we did not accept all the power he offered, if we did not sharpen ourselves to our utmost of our abilities, we would become nothing more than people he would mourn in the future.

Still, as I was engrossed in those thoughts, Ying spoke with a growl.

The Beggar’s Sect swordswoman, despite her weakness, showed aggression against a being forged for wars not seen for centuries.

“And, you assume that Zhang is incapable. That he could not live as he wishes, even if he was discovered, and that I would not do my utmost to see such a future come to pass.” Ying’s face was like steel. Her eyes narrowed and teeth grit. Bai’s words wasn’t just an affront to her, but an affront to Zhang, in her view. “I know not whether I have a place in his heart, or am deserving of it, but I shall grow strong enough through my own means to help him.”

And, with those words said, I found my spirits restored.

“And, I feel the same. I don’t know what the future has in store for me and Zhang, but I do know that I won’t betray him or cause him to suffer. After all that he’s done for me and my kin, that would be a shame I could not even bear even in death.” It was difficult, but the more I spoke, the more I dispelled the fear and concern that had arisen with Bai’s voice. These words were true. They were what I truly felt. So, my spirits were roused. “I will not fail him. Ever.”

For a moment, I thought that the Divine Soldier would strike us both down for our words, but instead she let loose a breath and shook her head.

“Then, I wash my hands of you both. Your failures shall be your own, as will your successes. But know it, I shall not give my Master to either of you.”

With the gauntlet thus thrown, Zhang returned with arms laden with many dishes, and she feigned innocence once more.

What a dangerous foe, indeed.