Cultivating Chaos Read online

  “I… beg your pardon?”

  “Your ideal woman. You always have the girls chasing after you. Eventually you’ll need to settle down.

  “What’s your ideal?”

  “I have not considered it. And it is a frivolous thought,” Jia said, her lips pressed into a line as she glared at the two women walking by.

  “Is it so frivolous though? I mean, look at it from my point of view. If I fail my examination, I’ll be looking to secure a wife and get a job.

  “For you, you’ll be heading to start your life as a cultivator, but I can’t imagine you won’t be traveling a similar path.

  “So… what’s your ideal woman?”

  Jia’s brow furrowed, her eyes staring into the middle distance.

  “Do you think it so likely that you will fail?” she asked. “And if you did, what kind of woman would you look for?”

  “Up to this point, there’s been no indication that I’ll ever pass. As to a woman I’d look for,” Ash said as his thoughts turned inward.

  He really hadn’t considered it. He was largely tolerated and mostly ignored by everyone in Xing City. This went for women as well.

  It’d never really been a concern or a question, since it seemed like he’d have to strive valiantly to turn a woman’s favor toward him.

  Deciding to mess with Jia instead of take her question seriously, Ash smirked.

  “It’s a shame you’re a man, Jia. Your personality is right up my alley. You’re also far too pretty. Got any sisters that look just like you?” Ash asked.

  Jia glared at him now.

  “I have no sisters that I would ever allow you to meet,” she said in a frosty tone.

  “Don’t have to get so defensive. Only asking. I mean—”

  A low-toned bell rang out, signaling all acolytes to proceed to their designated duties.

  “Another time,” Jia said, dismissing the conversation with a wave of her hand.

  Ash nodded.

  His Dantian was finally open. He’d cultivated and now had a Qi Sea.

  The power of the heavens had fed his body. Ash desperately wanted to see what he could do now because of that.

  Walking alongside Jia to their practice room, he felt different.

  He was excited. Brimming with a desire to see how much he’d improved since the last time. To see if he could return the favor that’d been given to him so many times.

  I’m going to break Lim’s jaw if I can.

  Jia yanked his sleeve suddenly.

  Looking at her, Ash found himself practically in the fighting ring. He’d almost just walked into the ring before they’d even begun, so lost he was in his own desires.

  And in the fantasy of breaking Lim. Over and over.

  Everyone else in their examination group was already present. They were all looking to Ash.

  Even Elder Shin seemed at a loss with Ash’s seeming lack of awareness.

  Suppose I do usually try to avoid fighting until I’m forced.

  “So eager to start us off today?” the elder said.

  “Ah, that is—”

  “Wonderful—come, come. Step into the ring. We’ll have you start us off. Jia, since you seemed interested, you may join him,” Shin said.

  That’ll work just fine. Jia fights me fairly, so… this’ll be an excellent warm-up.

  Moving to the center of the room, Ash waited. As soon as Jia joined him, he pressed his fists together in front of himself and bowed his head fractionally to her.

  Jia was on him in a flash. Her feet slid one over the other as she flowed toward him.

  Except, where he normally was forced to simply watch her and try to react, he now viewed her as if she were moving normally.

  The whip-crack speed she’d had prior to this was gone.

  Frowning at the change, Ash chalked it up to his now being a formal cultivator.

  Jia flicked a fist toward his face as she moved.

  Catching it and diverting it to one side with his forearm, Ash took a step back habitually to redirect the force her attacks generated.

  But there was none to redirect this time.

  The force of her attack was that of a young woman, no longer the heavy blow it had been even just yesterday.

  Her attacks were still smooth, filled with a liquid grace. They were still sharp and felt pronounced and practiced.

  But the speed and strength that had threatened to overwhelm him before were gone.

  Ash felt his heart rate skyrocket. He could fight them evenly. Fight them evenly, and their natural benefits of being cultivators would do them no good.

  I can win!

  Leaping forward, Ash closed in on Jia as fast as he could. His body was on her before he realized it.

  Her eyes widened as Ash loomed over her.

  Unsteady and unsure of himself, Ash made a short uppercut with his right arm, turning himself into the blow.

  Catching her just below her ribs, he felt the air whoosh out from her lungs.

  I caught her! I caught her?

  Jia crumpled at the middle, the force of his blow apparently too much for her body to handle.

  Catching her with his left arm, he held her around the middle.

  “I’m so sorry Jia, are you alright?” Ash asked, not wanting to drop her.

  She held on to his arms, her fingers clasped tight to him.

  “Strong-blow,” she said between two gasps. She tilted her face up to him, her eyes wide and brows raised.

  It was a question.

  “Yes. That was an unaided strike, though,” Ash said softly, hoping his words would only reach her.

  A small smile flitted across her face, and she nodded.

  After taking two steps away from him, she seemed to have regained her balance.

  Moving back to where she’d come from, Jia sat down. She tilted to one side, apparently favoring the side the blow had struck.

  Pressing his fists together, Ash bowed deeply to Jia, then turned to Elder Shin.

  “I’m ready for my next opponent,” Ash said.

  Elder Shin didn’t respond to Ash. Instead, his eyes were narrowed. His entire focus seemed to be on Ash’s body. Or more to the point, something inside his body.

  “So… you managed to unlock your Dantian,” Shin said. His tone was odd, a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. “We shall continue with the practice matches as we always do.

  “Though I do expect you to abide by the rules.”

  “I shall obey the rules, exactly as if I were Lim,” Ash said, pressing his fists together. He couldn’t help himself—he wanted to pay back some of the rage and insults he’d suffered here.

  Shin’s face turned red with anger at the implied insult, since everyone knew Lim broke the rules at every single match.

  “Hmph, let’s have another opponent brought up immediately, then. Go on up there, Gong,” Shin said, indicating another acolyte.

  Gong was the second strongest in the class. Just after Lim.

  Though he was much more of a bully than Lim was, if that were possible. He didn’t just break the rules; he looked for opportunities to do so.

  It didn’t help matters that he seemed to be Lim’s personal toadie.

  I guess that means I get to use Coiled Spring Step, doesn’t it?

  Ash smiled and pressed his fists together toward Gong.

  The other man charged Ash as soon as he dipped his head toward him.

  Apparently we’re beyond any sense of respect, as well.

  Ash was once again surprised at how slow Gong seemed now compared to previously.

  Gong’s fist cocked back and then launched forward, red streaks screaming off it as if it were scorching the very air it cut through.

  Surprised and unwilling to take the blow head on, Ash immediately stepped to the left. At the same time, he deflected Gong’s fist wide, then slammed his fist into the man’s shoulder as he passed by.

  Stumbling sideways, Gong practically fell over himself as he tried to recove
r from his wild swing.

  “Elder, would you please warn Gong? I do believe that was an ability just now.

  “I’d truly hate for him to be injured if his ability somehow failed him and caused him a problem,” Ash said.

  The room got quiet as all eyes turned to Shin.

  This was normally when he’d admonish someone for using an ability on Ash. Not being lectured by Ash for not judicating the match appropriately.

  Shin snorted and crossed his arms in front of himself.

  “Watch your manners, Ash. Gong… do not use abilities,” said Shin.

  Gong turned, roared, and charged at Ash again.

  Before he’d even gotten halfway to Ash, his fists were once again glowing with bright-red streaks of energy.

  Fine.

  Ash didn’t care anymore. He’d been pushed around long enough, and if this was how they were going to treat him even after he’d opened his Dantian, then he’d respond in kind.

  Ash shortened the distance between himself and Gong, stepping straight into the gap. Moving down low, he rotated his body around, pulling his right shoulder back.

  Gong’s arm passed uselessly by Ash’s head, doing absolutely nothing.

  Exploding forward, Ash triggered his Coiled Spring Step as he punched with his right fist.

  The rapid acceleration of his body, along with the force of the strike, was devastating.

  The sound of Gong’s ribs crackling like twigs being stepped on was audible. But that wasn’t the end of the punishment Ash was going to give Gong.

  Before Shin could stop the match or Gong could surrender, Ash let loose a left uppercut, triggering his Coiled Spring Step once more.

  Gong’s head spun to the left, his jaw snapping to the side. His knees went out from under him and he collapsed to the ground like he was dead.

  Elder Shin shot to his feet, his face pale.

  Rushing over to Gong’s side, he began to lay his hands about the young man’s head and neck.

  “Oh dear,” Ash said in a flat tone. “It seems he didn’t listen to Elder Shin and hurt himself. With the amount of strength he put into those strikes, even my weak strikes must have caused great damage.

  “Should I go summon another elder to let them know Gong has fallen and needs help?”

  There was a problem with that suggestion, of course.

  The moment someone else was notified about an acolyte getting hurt, they’d want to investigate what was going on.

  And if they started poking around, it would be likely that Elder Shin would be revealed for one and all to see.

  It didn’t matter if others were doing it as well—all that would matter was that Shin had been revealed.

  And his enemies would use it to their advantage.

  “No,” Shin said decisively, pushing something into Gong’s mouth. “He’ll be fine. He just needs to sit to one side as he recovers.”

  “Great, I’m very glad to hear that,” Ash said in the same flat tone. “I was concerned for his health. I leave him in your care.

  “I’m ready for my next fight, though, Elder Shin. I look forward to it. Since I’ve now defeated the top two acolytes, I believe Lim would be next.”

  Ash turned to face the young man in question and pressed his fists together.

  All eyes turned to Lim, wondering what would happen next and excited to see it.

  Nothing got hearts beating faster in the nine kingdoms than things like this.

  Four

  Lim looked equal parts enraged and nervous. Ash and the rest of the room stared at him.

  Not a word was said. Nor was a single sound made. The room was dead silent with the truth of the situation.

  It was no secret that Gong took it easy on Lim in their bouts. After all, there was nothing for him to gain in hurting his boss.

  Gong was considerably stronger in a straight fight than Lim.

  There was of course the possibility that Lim had been holding back this entire time, but most everyone would think that unlikely.

  “Unless you concede that you’re weaker than I am,” Ash said, fists still pressed together. “And at that point, I will be happy to take my seat. Once you kowtow to me and express your defeat, of course.”

  Part of Ash’s mind screamed that this was all the things he knew he shouldn’t be doing. That he was provoking someone he would be better off simply leaving alone.

  But it was the angry, bitter warrior in his heart. A warrior who had striven to the best of his ability despite not being on an equal playing field.

  And now that the levels were even, he had no desire at all to hold back.

  He wanted to make them suffer for everything they’d done to him.

  At least a little. Ash couldn’t say he was an angry or bitter man at heart. He was more than happy to return everything given to him.

  Kindness with kindness, anger with anger, and violence with violence.

  Ash waited, fists pressed together. Staring straight at Lim, unmoving.

  He was forcing Lim to answer. This truly would prove to be the most worthwhile move in this situation, Ash thought. It’d remove any doubt for anyone involved, and there would be no question in regard to how it happened.

  Elder Shin laid Gong down outside the arena and turned angrily toward Ash. He looked as if he could chew up rocks with the amount of tension in his jaw.

  Yet he said nothing, and did nothing. He stood there as if rooted in place by his very feet.

  Everything had happened exactly within the rules. And as Ash had warned, Gong had known he might end up getting hurt if he broke the rules.

  The only person Shin could blame was himself. He was also the only person the other elders would hold to blame in the incident, as he was supposed to watch over this group of acolytes.

  Gong had been defeated, and in such a way that’d cause Shin to suffer shame.

  And now Lim was Ash’s next target, and by the very same rules, he had to admit defeat or step into the ring.

  Shin could do nothing.

  This isn’t something where you can just skirt the rules, you old bastard. Where you can just overlook something because I wasn’t a cultivator.

  Now I’m one of you, and you cannot simply push inconvenient things aside.

  Seeming to recognize the situation he was in, Lim finally got to his feet.

  “I’ll fight you of course, Ashley. And when I’m done, you can kowtow to me in defeat,” Lim said, moving to the middle of the ring.

  “I accept your wager. The loser shall kowtow, and the winner will receive today’s rewards for being the top acolyte,” Ash said. “I’ll even allow you the pleasure of the first move.

  “Come, let’s exchange pointers.”

  “I suggest you both follow the rules,” Shin said, stressing the last word.

  “Oh, of course. I’ll follow them just as Lim has always followed them, Elder Shin,” Ash said.

  Lim looked as if he’d swallowed a very bitter pill. Then he pressed his fists together to Ash and began moving slowly towards him.

  Falling into a defensive stance, Ash felt at ease.

  Martial arts had always been an outlet for him. Between dealing with school problems and family members who didn’t want him around, his one constant had been martial arts.

  Tournaments, training, and getting better.

  Lim blurred and started to move around Ash’s side.

  Previously, Lim had simply appeared next to Ash. This time was different.

  This time, Ash could see him moving. As if he were moving at a normal speed.

  Activating the Spring Step, Ash tried to set it up so he’d simply be behind the spot Lim stopped at.

  Throwing a punch at that space before Lim even arrived, Ash put his weight into the blow.

  Stopping partway through his ability, Lim went sprawling to the ground and rolled several times.

  He looked spooked when he came to a stop off to one side of the fighting area.

  Ash was left punching thi
n air.

  Smirking at Lim, Ash stood upright and snapped his fingers.

  “So close. I almost had you, Lim,” Ash said. He started moving forward toward Lim at a casual speed.

  Ash wasn’t about to risk his advantage carelessly.

  “Ash, do you dare use an ability in front of me so casually?” Shin asked.

  “I’m so sorry, Elder Shin. I was so shocked at Lim using his own that I just responded.

  “I do promise I’ll follow the rules as closely as Lim does,” Ash said, not bothering to hide the condescension in his voice. “Do you plan on scolding Lim in the same way?”

  Shin flinched at the words. He’d been called out again in front of all the acolytes who reported to him.

  The amount of respect—the sheer lack of face—Ash was giving him was abominable.

  Shin finally turned his head toward Lim.

  “Don’t use your abilities,” he said tersely.

  Ash had to imagine that he actually meant it for once. If Lim continued to use his abilities, it’d be hard to punish Ash for using his own.

  “Come here, Lim. Let me give you a pointer or two.”

  Lim got to his feet and moved away from Ash, his posture defensive.

  “Going to run away? There’s no time limit here. We fight till one wins. Those are the rules, remember?” Ash taunted.

  Lim shook his head, as if denying what had been said. Then he slowly began inching toward Ash.

  When they closed within range, Ash lashed out with a palm strike.

  Lim deflected it, barely, but Ash was already bringing his other arm rapidly around.

  A sharp crack sounded throughout as the openhanded slap snapped Lim’s chin to one side.

  Stepping back quickly, Ash laughed.

  “What, is that it? One slap and you’re going to quit?” he asked to the woozy-looking Lim. “Did I slap the bravery out of you?

  “Slap your balls out of your sack?”

  Someone snickered.

  In the silence of the arena, it felt as loud as a crack of thunder.

  “Fine, I’ll just finish this and collect my reward. Let’s give you another slap and see if you go down,” Ash said, moving back in toward Lim.

  Lim had barely managed to put himself to rights by now. Apparently the openhanded slap had rung his bell more than anyone had thought.

  Then his outline and figure began to blur.