《Heavenly Martial Harmony》


 C***1 The First Tribulation

    Late night on a city block surrounded by the glow of towering skyscrapers, a shadowed figure hustled along the sidewalk eager to be home.


    They say cities are alive, and yet their glow blocks out the stars and their grey concrete covers the earth.


    The street was devoid of activity, but for this one pitiable human being named Shen Ling.


    Shen Ling lived a worthless life with neither friends nor relatives nor a single soul of comfort. Her accomplishments were meager, and yet so too were her tribulations. She could not say she lived a harsh life nor had she encountered any great fortune. However, her misery was apparent to any who looked upon her plain and ordinary face.


    The crisp evening air of the city held no remorse for a tired woman. Although Shen Ling didn¡¯t actively crave the attentions of others, for she hardly knew of such compassion in her own life, she suffered silently from a malady of the spirit that any stranger could immediately identify as loneliness. If one were to total the sum of her 21 years on the earth, one could title this number; invisible. From the perspective of the heavens, Shen Ling was little more than a forgotten shadowy speck in the dirt, existing in a metropolis of opportunities missed.


    A dull metallic gong echoed from an alleyway as she walked passed. Startled, Shen Ling paused to investigate the cause of the noise.


    ¡°Look boss. This one thinks it can escape.¡± A dark haired beauty in a torn white dress stumbled out of the alleyway, tripping and scraping her hands against the concrete.


    ¡°Help me. Please help me,¡± she begged at Shen Ling¡¯s feet, her face a dreadful mask of tears and fear.


    Three men casually stepped out from the darkness. Their clothing, while not exactly matching, appeared to be coordinated as a subtle type of uniform. An ill intent filled their wanton eyes. They held themselves upright with arrogance and viciousness, the imposing nature of a pack of starving wolves.


    Formidable. Too formidable!


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re looking at? Scram!¡±


    Shen Ling bowed her head to the ground, not daring to look upon these terrifying men. But in doing so, her eyes intersected with the beauty crawling desperately toward her.


    ¡°Please.¡± She reached her snow white trembling hand out to Shen Ling¡¯s pant leg.


    I can¡¯t. Shen Ling stepped backward into the street. This was what was known as cowardice, having never encountered the true trauma of violence. She was only a simple manufacturing worker on her way home from a day like every other before it. Her mind reeled from the shock, barely able to process the situation unravelling before her eyes. This was none of her business.


    ¡°Smart choice tough guy.¡± The men began dragging the beauty back into the alley.


    The beauty glared at Shen Ling with a savage depth of cold hatred. Her rage boiled over into action, and she poured it onto her captors, kicking, screaming, punching in utterly futile desperation.


    The men took the beating with smirks and laughter. ¡°So feisty. She¡¯s going to be fun. I bet this one is going to last a while.¡±


    It¡¯s not my fault. Shen Ling had finally encountered a truly heinous tribulation. And like a newborn, she was powerless in every respect. In fact, as the men disappeared into the darkness with the beauty, Shen Ling felt relief; she felt safe. Secretly, she had always resented that due to her plain appearance and simple features, she was often mistaken for a man. But this night, for a brief moment, she was grateful.


    A pair of headlights blared their blinding light. A horn sounded. Shen Ling stared down the lights like a stunned fawn in the face of a lion. The impact shattered her legs and crushed her torso sending her flying backward bouncing across the pavement. She died suffering, bleeding out on her back looking up at a sky without stars.


    The world became an infinite grey mist. Words appeared and numbers scrolled inside Shen Ling¡¯s consciousness to the tune of arcade tones.


    Life Score


    Good Deeds +66,666,666


    Evil Acts -66,666,666


    Total Karma 0


    Karmic Verdict


    Absolute Zero


    Rebirth Rank


    Beginner Level 1


    It was impossible to know how long Shen Ling drifted through the mist as a bodiless spirit. Seconds and eons were comparable in this infinite space, but whether the former or the latter, at some point two circular gateways appeared amidst the grey mist. Shen Ling¡¯s ghostly form drifted naturally between them. On the left was a black tunnel, while on the right was a white matching tunnel.


    Which path is the right one?


    In her ghostly form it was nearly impossible to concentrate. It was as if her mind had been truly detached from the universe and was only now awakened. After a short time of pondering, Shen Ling was beginning to favour the white path. Very slowly, as if in response to her heart''s desire, her spirit form floated toward the white gateway.


    An inch before she reached the faintly glowing threshold of the white tunnel, a tiny light flashed from the center of the black tunnel.


    Huh? What was that?


    The white sparkle drew her attention, focussing her mind. It twinkled again like a star in the night sky. Shen Ling floated toward the tiny star at the center of the black gateway, drawn toward the flickering light by a deep lingering desire to see the numinous night sky.


    Shen Ling reached out with her ghostly arm, seemingly holding the star itself in her palm.


    The threshold of the black gateway had been breached. The idle tunnel came to life before Shen Ling¡¯s senses. A spinning vortex of black clouds laced with arcing red lightning bolts sucked her soul forward in a deadly vacuum.


    Ding. (The oven timer)


    In a clearing of blood red dirt surrounded by a forest of leafless grey trees, seven children all roughly twelve years of age materialized on top of a row of thirteen boulders. Six other identical flattened stones were left empty without children.


    Dozens of people knelt before the rebirth boulders, praying for their offerings to be enough to spawn a child.


    Shen Ling stood atop a large boulder carved with a glowing hexagram pattern of connecting foreign runes. The dense heat of the air drove her to sweat almost immediately.


    Voracious laughter erupted from below! ¡°Finally, my son is born! Welcome him. Welcome to the Netherworld!¡± barked a tall well built man with a shortly trimmed ruby beard, standing up next to a petite middle aged woman with azure hair. She smiled and clung to her husband¡¯s side, the traces of tears forming around her dark smiling eyes. ¡°Tell me my son, what are you called?¡±


    Huh, what now?


    Similar, if less boisterous, meetings took place on another six boulders throughout the clearing, while the last six groups retreated in failure toward the surrounding grey forest.


    ¡°Shen Ling,¡± she said with only minor hesitation.


    ¡°What a formidable name. It is definitely worthy of being the name of Shen Shudun¡¯s son!¡± The burly man¡¯s bravado filled the clearing. That the two had the same rare surname could not be coincidence.


    ¡°Oh Shudun, it looks like this year your meager offering to the heavens was finally accepted.¡± A lean man with a pointed black beard wearing a purple robe tied closed with jade rope strode out from a nearby crowd. Next to him was a twelve year old boy in the orange robes of new birth, which all the recently materialized children wore. ¡°Your mouse droppings were finally successful.¡±


    ¡°Bellruse . . .¡± Shen Shudun growled. ¡°Your offering was accepted as well, I see.¡± Lao Bellruse was the uncle of the chieftain of the tribe, and Shen Shudun had no choice but to bow his head and give the scoundrel face. Although they were both members of the Redwall tribe, the Lao clan was its main branch, while Shen Shudun and his wife were merely associates, not even branch members.


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    ¡°My son, Lao Dong, has four tier dual horns and is bound to be the next genius of my Lao clan.¡± Lao Bellruse slapped his newly reborn son on the back. ¡°Tell us, what is the state of your boy¡¯s potential?¡±


    It was only after this uncle Lao mentioned horns that Shen Ling noticed all of the people around her had various types of horns protruding from just above their foreheads. Twelve year old Lao Dong¡¯s pair of horns did indeed each have three narrow ridged tiers culminating in a forth pointed tier.


    D-d-d-devils?! Shen Ling was electrified with shock.


    ¡°Let us see,¡± vouched Shen Shudun. He grabbed his son by the waist and lifted the struggling child down from the metre tall boulder. But no horns were readily apparent atop his boy¡¯s head.


    Evil laughter broke out from the entire group of Lao patrons. ¡°One tier horns.¡±


    ¡°And they can¡¯t even be seen through his hair.¡±


    ¡°What a trash.¡±


    ¡°Might as well kill himself.¡±


    ¡°No qi potential at all,¡± they jeered.


    Shen Shudun ignored them, instead running his hand through Shen Ling¡¯s black hair. He could not feel even the trace of the tiniest horn, not in the center of the forehead, nor upon any side. He even checked the back, where horns don¡¯t grow. How was this possible?


    The tiny family of three quietly left the clearing under a barrage of heckling whispers and arrogant stares.


    To Shen Ling, her body was only that of a weak twelve year old, and she¡¯d been mysteriously transported to a foreign land. The malicious stares from the crowd drove her into fearful silence. She quickly dismissed any thoughts of running away, after all, where would she go? She had no choice but to quietly follow the couple into the eerie dead forest.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Shen Ling hesitantly asked once they were truly alone.


    ¡°Shen Ling, it is best if you stay your questions until we get home.¡± The gentleness of the voice of the woman claiming to be her new mother took Shen Ling by surprise. Her voice was as light as a wind chime and as refreshing as an ocean breeze, and although she was not youthful, somehow she presented as a true specimen of ideal feminine beauty.


    Shen Shudun took the lead. A two meter long wooden stave appeared in his hands from out of nowhere. He used it to crush the walls of dry thorny vines which often blocked their path. Only seconds after they passed through these vine walls, the plants suddenly came alive like snakes, regrowing across the path before hardening into razor sharp blockades once again.


    To Shen Ling, this dead forest became a much more frightening place. But in her heart she thought the couple she followed had no ill intentions toward her, and so she could journey together with them without feeling overly anxious.


    ¡°Halt,¡± Shen Shudun ordered. ¡°One . . . two Dire Rats. Wu Jia, keep moving along the road. I leave our son in your hands.¡±


    Wu Jia was frantic with worry. ¡°Shudun-¡±


    ¡°Go. I¡¯ll catch up to you,¡± he insisted. Shen Shudun lept off the beaten path and into the brown brambles with ease, moving faster than an olympic athlete.


    Wu Jia gripped her son¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t let go.¡± She extended her water elemental qi into an aura across her skin and extended it over that of Shen Ling as well. An azure liquid light covered their bodies.


    ¡°What¡¯s this!¡± asked Shen Ling.


    ¡°It will keep you safe. Hold on tightly.¡± Wu Jia sprinted along the path at great speed, the vine walls parted for her as doors opened by servants for their master.


    Shen Ling felt as if she were surfing on a wave, each step propelling her forward tens of metres.


    After many kilometers, Wu Jia slid to a halt along the winding path. Blocking their road was a wild brown vermin as large as a tiger with menacing saw blade teeth and beady red demonic eyes.


    Terrible. What poor luck they had to encounter not one or two, but three sin beasts!


    Wu Jia drew a silver hairpin from the bun on her head releasing her long beautiful azure hair. The blue auras surrounding their bodies quickly faded.


    ¡°Flee. We should run,¡± Shen Ling said.


    ¡°It is faster than us,¡± explained Wu Jia in a steady voice.


    Shen Ling was startled by Wu Jia¡¯s complete state of calm. She could only watch her new mother¡¯s back as the proud woman took a martial stance in front of her.


    The wave dancer martial art was amongst the most powerful in the entire Demonic Netherworld, able to flow with the speed of a river and crash with the power of a waterfall.


    Wu Jia poured her last drop of water elemental qi into the hairpin, preparing to meet the Dire Rat head on. A life for a life.


    ¡°Skreee!¡± The beast charged, baring its deadly maw of fangs.


    Wu Jia¡¯s body rippled forward as if dancing on water. ¡®Tidal spear!¡¯


    The impact blew both opponents backward.


    Shen Ling caught her new mother, bracing the unconscious Wu Jia from behind as they both skidded backwards in the red dirt, finally collapsing one atop the other.


    The Dire Rat had a grievous bleeding wound on its neck, and it wailed even as it thumped and rolled to a stop. But the sin beast was only wounded and it quickly regained its footing, snarling at the human who¡¯d injured it.


    Shen Ling saw the glimmer of a silver hairpin lay strewn in the dirt near Wu Jia¡¯s limp hand.


    In its berserk rage the wounded sin beast sensed weakness and charged yet again, desperate to tear apart its prey.


    Shen Ling felt for the second time in her life, mortal fear, the violent reality of the untamable world. An image of a desperate beauty in a torn white dress came to mind. The first true tribulation she faced, she had failed, and it had cost her her life. From the bottom of her heart, Shen Ling did not want this fate repeated for a second time. No one would be harmed again in front of her eyes due to her weakness. Gripping the hairpin with both hands, Shen Ling stood her ground as the Dire Rat barrelled toward her. At the very least, this time she would die with dignity.


    In the last instant, a red and brown blur streaked to the fore. The burly man¡¯s leather vest and pants were scarred and stained with blood, various wounds covering his body. He leaned heavily against his wooden stave.


    Suddenly and with inhuman speed, the stave whipped through the air like a spear, ¡®Meteor strike.¡¯


    Shen Ling could not even track the lightning fast movement with her eyes. The butt end of the stave crushed the Dire Rat¡¯s skull, plunging its head into the ground leaving cracks in the earth.


    Shen Ling let the hairpin drop from her quaking hands. She didn¡¯t die. Thank the heavens!


    ¡°Made it in time.¡± Shen Shudun panted with groaning relief.


    Only then did Shen Ling notice that her new father was missing his right leg from the knee down. The bloody stump was wrapped round and around with a tourniquet of thorny vines, piercing deeply into his flesh, covering the red dirt with splatters of fresh blood.


    ¡°Shen Ling, it¡¯s time for father to bring you and your mother home.¡± Despite his serious injuries, the man had a giant frightening grin plastered on his face.


    Remarkable.

 C***2 A Realm of Slaughter

    C***2 A Realm of Slaughter


    The Demonic Netherworld continent is vast, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of endless terrain, forests, mountains, deserts, tundras and swamps surrounding a single massive central mountain; the Nine Hells Mountain. Countless evil souls from innumerable material planes gathered in this single Demonic Netherworld to suffer for their living sins and battle for the power to change their fates.


    Minuscule Redwall Village, home to the insignificant Redwall Tribe, was situated in the Undying Forest near the centre of the Demonic Netherworld continent, a short 500 km outside the infamous Nine Hells Mountain. The architecture of the village was a compact five tiered blood red ziggurat the size of a tiny mountain, protected on all sides by a three metre outer grey log palisade guarding it from the dangerous sin beasts lurking in the Undying Forest. Built into the four sides of the ziggurat were two story red clay buildings with various narrow alleyways leading into the interior of each level. Atop these outer structures was a narrow exterior ramped roadway which wrapped around the exterior of the entire village ziggurat like a serpent, connecting each level. Redwall Village was cramped, 30,000 tribesman squeezed into the tiniest possible space so as to guarantee their safety against the deadly might of roaming sin hordes.


    Hundreds of devil villagers filled the exterior narrow streets beside long rows of red clay buildings, doing the various chores of the tribe.


    A dozen imposing guards in brown furs holding feathered spears stood on either side of the village entrance as a wounded man and a boy carrying a woman on his back slowly approached.


    ¡°Shen Shudun! What happened to the innkeeper?¡± Captain of the watch, Mai Lok, shouted.


    ¡°Trouble on the Thorny Path. It¡¯s okay, she¡¯s only fainted from exhaustion,¡± Shen Shudun replied.


    Mai Lok was a warrior completely loyal to the tribe. In terms of value to the tribe, the innkeeper¡¯s life was much more important than the life of a mid level hunter like Shen Shudun.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Who¡¯s the boy?¡±


    ¡°What? Do you even need to ask? Of course this is Shen Ling. My son!¡±


    Shen Ling didn¡¯t dare to correct Shudun. In her past life she was a plain faced girl, and due in no small part to her hairstyle and fashion, was often mistaken for a male. She grew up without a mother to guide her in the artwork of feminine charm, and never really saw the point in trying to be other than what she was, a naturally androgynous tomboy. Dressing in men¡¯s pants and shirts was simply more comfortable and less confusing than the alternative. The disguise also offered a measure of safety for an orphan girl raised in the system.


    The Captain of the watch weighed Shen Ling with his eyes, lingering on her forehead. A grim frown of pity quickly morphed into a half smile. ¡°Congratulations. You and the innkeeper have been trying for so long . . .¡±


    Shen Shudun showed no sign of disappointment. On the contrary, his routinely serious and off putting manner had become awkwardly cheerful. Who knew the brute had so many teeth.


    ¡°You two,¡± Mai Lok pointed at a pair of fur armoured underlings. ¡°Take the innkeeper back to her shop. Shudun, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll need to inspect both of your inventories.¡±


    The two men hoisted Wu Jia¡¯s limp form from Shen Ling¡¯s shoulders and very carefully bore her through the gates into town. Shen Shudun allowed this without protest, as the men wouldn¡¯t dare lay inappropriate hands on this innkeeper.


    The inspection was routine. One third of all hunting and gathering spoils went to the village as tax and it was left to the city watch to enforce this and other common laws.


    Shen Shudun touched a dark intricate tattooed bracelet on his wrist and the ink instantly leapt off his skin hovering in the air above his forearm, forming a printed list.


    ¡°Two level four Dire Rat corpses. You were lucky to keep your life Shudun, though I¡¯m not sure they were worth losing a leg for . . . Your turn,¡± Mai Lok said.


    ¡°Umm . . .¡±


    ¡°Shen Ling, lift up your sleeve and touch the markings on your heaven¡¯s bangle,¡± Shen Shudun instructed.


    The thin faded lines on Shen Ling¡¯s wrist were not at all like her father¡¯s, being instead just a few faded strokes in a simple pattern, but she did as requested. After having been a grown woman in her past life, the adults surrounding her all appeared as giants in comparison to her new childhood form and were naturally quite intimidating. She didn''t want to risk offending anyone. With a touch, Shen Ling¡¯s arm warmed and a few lines of ink drifted into the air.


    It was like a real life video game menu.


    INVENTORY (Empty)


    Shen Ling had a soft spot for video games in her past life, although she deftly partook in moderation. Still, there was something mystical about the fantasy worlds found in games. For the first time, she nearly forgot about the anxiety of being in this new world, and felt true profound wonderment at its strange magic.


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    ¡°Good enough. Report to the slaughterer.¡±


    Shen Ling took her hand off the markings and the ink drifted back onto her wrist.


    ¡°Slaughterer?¡± She swallowed, knocked from her reverie.


    Shen Shudun laughed at his son¡¯s earnest distress. ¡°Come, I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Adjacent to the entrance, just outside of the village palisade, was a small wooden shop built into the wall. Upon entering, Shen Ling was overwhelmed by the smell of blood and entrails. A skinny man with a prominent nose hacked at a large piece of unidentifiable meat on his butcher¡¯s block. Work benches filled the tiny space, and hundreds of edged tools cluttered the walls and dangled from the ceiling. Through a narrow open cellar door in the corner, Shen Ling spotted beast skins and carcasses hung in gruesome fashion.


    ¡°Greetings Shen Shudun. Ho ho ho, what do we have here? I never took you for a man who would sell his own meat.¡± The skinny man laughed fervently at his own bad joke. ¡°Or did the innkeeper finally come to her senses and cut you off? Cut you off. Get it? Ho ho ho!¡±


    ¡°Is this how you speak to your best customers, Chow Gan?¡± Despite the slurs, Shen Shudun still managed to keep smiling.


    ¡°No need to be so serious.¡± The slaughterer rarely saw Shudun smile, and he couldn¡¯t miss this chance to be a barb. ¡°What have you brought for me honourable hunter?¡± Chow Gan finally noticed the short boy in Shen Shudun¡¯s shadow. ¡°Not much meat on this young one, but I bet he¡¯d be tender. Fresh meat is the best for cultivating. Ho ho ho.¡± The slaughterer¡¯s smile was missing teeth and those remaining were filed into points, giving the man a wild and murderous countenance.


    ¡°The first time you meet my son and you¡¯re already teasing him like a lousy uncle.¡±


    ¡°Oh Shudun! The heavens accepted your offering!¡± Chow Gan had a genuinely terrifying smile on his face, similar to Shudun¡¯s. The pair of them clasped arms looking like a pair of wild beasts. ¡°Since this is a special occasion, I¡¯ll make sure to give you a bargain.¡± Their facial features clenched as their mutual grips tightened to their limits.


    What¡¯s wrong with these two? It was like they¡¯d forgotten about Shen Ling altogether.


    ¡°Well, in that case I¡¯m not ashamed to accept brother Gan¡¯s generosity.¡± The two finally relented. Shen Shudun waved his arm over the counter and the corpses of two big rats appeared out of thin air.


    The slaughterer went to work on the carcasses, cleanly dismembering them. The process was surprisingly quick, and the tools he used all glowed with that same strange azure light Wu Jia had demonstrated in the undying forest.


    Shen Ling awkwardly waited. ¡°What is that blue light?¡± she asked, embarrassed that her inner voice had escaped of its own accord.


    ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s water elemental qi.¡± Shen Shudun answered. ¡°Only those proficient in water elemental qi are fit to be slaughterers, cooks, and healers. In the Netherworld, it¡¯s a rare qi trait.¡±


    ¡°Umm . . . What¡¯s qi?¡±


    This was the first time Shen Shudun looked at Shen Ling with less than pleased eyes. Even the slaughterer gave pause. ¡°You don¡¯t know about qi? How old were you when you . . .¡± Shen Shudun smacked his forehead with his palm, unsure of how to answer such a ridiculous question.


    Suddenly, two packages of meat flew across the room. With wide eyes Shudun caught them both on the tip of his stave. ¡°Brother Gan, this is . . .¡±


    ¡°I only kept the pelts. This is my gift for you and the innkeeper. As for your son, he can just call me Brother Gan, and you can call me your grandpa! Ho ho ho.¡±


    Shen Shudun was hesitant to accept at first, but by the end of Chow Gan¡¯s speech he was ready to beat the slaughterer to death with his own meat. But a slaughterer who didn¡¯t collect properly for the clan was not treated lightly, and the two packages were truly pies falling from the sky. ¡°. . . I¡¯ll certainly curse your name as I leave . . .¡± But over his dead body would he call Chow Gan his Grandpa!


    ¡°Go, go. I have work to do.¡±


    ¡°Shen Ling, when we leave the shop you must not look too pleased. It is traditional to curse and spit when leaving the slaughterer.¡± Shen Shudun frowned. ¡°Especially this slaughterer,¡± he added loud enough to ensure Chow Gan could hear.


    ¡°What is there to be pleased about?¡± she asked, genuinely confused. So far, nothing in this afterlife was the least bit pleasant.


    ¡°Perfect. Just like that.¡± Shen Shudun grinned, his good mood returning after only a few words from his long awaited child. ¡°My son is so talented already,¡± he giggled proudly.

 C***3 The Blue Button Inn

    C***3 The Blue Button Inn


    A fiery sun blazed down upon a wooden sign hung on short chains from a pole connected to the side of a narrow red clay building on the third tier of the ziggurat village. Painted in azure on the sign were a pair of blue toggles and even they seemed to sweat in the arid heat, not to mention the people inside these red clay kilns, which made up the majority of the ziggurat''s exterior buildings.


    Passersby were startled by a furious roar from within the building, but paid such a disturbance little mind.


    ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re a girl?!¡± Shudun barked.


    Shen Ling sat at a wooden table in the temporarily closed and empty Blue Button Inn. Across from her sat a pair of concerned parents with looks of shock, skepticism and concern.


    Wu Jia slapped the back of Shen Shudun¡¯s head. ¡°Is that any way to address our only daughter whom we¡¯ve waited all this time for? Are you a frog trapped in a well?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± said Shen Ling. Perhaps in the eyes of the man who¡¯d saved her life, she was a disappointment. But it was also true that had she declared herself a girl from the beginning then this misunderstanding might have been avoided, and in turn might haved saved face for her parents. She truly felt regret over these difficult circumstances and part of the blame she was eager to accept.


    ¡°En, it was as much my fault. Though I must confess Ling¡¯er, you look to me more a boy than a girl.¡± Shen Shudun was not an overly prideful man. Years of surviving in this harsh Demonic Netherworld made him infinitely more adaptable. Although he wasn¡¯t considered a weakling in the village, he was also not amongst the truly powerful. As such, he had learned to quickly embrace his own faults and be magnanimous.


    ¡°Do I really?¡± Shen Ling asked. In her last life she¡¯d been this way as well.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, except for your horns, your physical body will be the same as it was in your previous life,¡± said Wu Jia. ¡°The body you have now, is the same one you had as a child in the lower plane.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Shen Ling nodded, looking over herself. The orange robe was rather baggy, and she couldn¡¯t remember if this was what she looked like when she was younger, though without a mirror she couldn¡¯t discount the premise either.


    ¡°That is your birth robe. Everyone materializes wearing one when they are reborn,¡± said Shen Shudun.


    ¡°Reborn . . . Does that mean that this is really the afterlife?¡± asked Shen Ling.


    ¡°Umm . . . it might be better for you to think of this life as your second life,¡± said Shen Shudun.


    Shen Ling thought that there were likely a lot of important things she needed to know, but she¡¯d never been very capable when it came to complicated situations, often choosing to simply avoid them entirely. So she decided to just accept what her father told her without discussion.


    Wu Jia obviously wasn¡¯t satisfied with Shudun¡¯s explanation, nor her daughter¡¯s willingness to spinelessly go along with it either. ¡°When you died in your previous life, you became a spirit in the afterlife and the heavens judged you in accordance with the Samsara. As a spirit with negative karma you were sent into the chaotic vortex and stayed there, until the heavens accepted our sacrifice and sent you to us. Although we are not your original parents, our souls are bound by karmic destiny,¡± explained Wu Jia.


    ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it works,¡± said Shen Shudun, rubbing his bearded chin.


    ¡°How could you not know that much!?!¡± yelled Wu Jia.


    Shen Ling rubbed the back of her head offering a weak placating smile. It seemed like her parents were both the types not afraid of familial argument. Wu Jia, the woman who seemed to be a silent icy beauty in public, was actually a boiling fearsome tiger at home.


    ¡®It¡¯s not like we are all born with your background,¡¯ is what Shen Shudun wanted to say. But he instead chose to show mercy to the back of his head. ¡°Wu Jia, should we not show more face to our new daughter. There¡¯s still so much to teach her . . .¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    ¡°. . . For instance, Shen Ling¡¯s already discovered the heaven¡¯s bangle. Shen Ling, by touching an object and pressing upon it with your willpower, you can collect it into your inventory, and even use your skills to inspect the item and find its secret properties. The skill to do this is called Divination.¡±


    Judging by the smug look on Shen Shudun¡¯s face, Shen Ling could tell that her father was rather proud of this explanation, where contrarily Wu Jia seemed to be shaking her head dismissively.


    ¡°Shen Ling, has your father explained to you about ¡®Status¡¯ yet?¡± As Shen Ling shook her head in reply, Wu Jia snorted at Shudun, ¡°Don¡¯t you think we might want to start with ¡®Status¡¯?¡±


    Shen Shudun exhaled a gust of irritated wind. There really was no victory nor retreat for a husband with a tiger in his bed. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the tutoring to you then . . .¡±


    ¡°Wu Jia-¡±


    ¡°Please call me mother,¡± interrupted Wu Jia.


    ¡°. . . Mother . . . don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit too hard on father?¡± Shen Ling proffered.


    Shen Shudun¡¯s demeanor changed entirely. At first he was quite disappointed by the revelation of losing a son for a daughter, but now he saw in his daughter a companion of familial spirit. A partner with which to defy the household heavenly tigress.


    Disgusting tears of joy sprinkled down an overly masculine face riddled with pathetic paternal pride. Shen Ling had no idea what to make of this.


    Wu Jia carried on as if she never heard the comment. ¡°Status, like Inventory, is a common technique that all people under heaven and earth are able to utilize. All you have to do is close your eyes and empower your inner voice with willpower and think the command mantra, ¡®Status.¡¯¡±


    After following said instructions, Shen Ling felt a little awkward and after a moment she hazarded a squinting one eyed peek.


    ¡°Did you succeed?¡± asked Shen Shudun.


    Shen ling shook her head, pursing her lips.


    ¡°Then concentrate. You have to visualize the character of ¡®Status¡¯ and push against it with your willpower,¡± encouraged Wu Jia.


    ¡°En, it¡¯s working.¡± Why couldn¡¯t Wu Jia have explained it better from the beginning? Now that Shen Ling knew the trick of it, a window opened in her consciousness that reminded her of an app on her mobile phone, except that it appeared on the back of her eyelids.


    _____________


    [STATUS]


    Shen Ling


    Beginner Level 1


    Parameters


    Strength: 3


    Agility: 3


    Body: 3


    Speed: 3


    Intelligence: 5


    Spirit: 10


    Love: 2


    Hate: 0


    Karmic Verdict


    Absolute Zero


    Dao (Skills)


    ???


    _____________


    It was official, the afterlife was a video game. Shen Ling carefully read through the data, swallowing a bitter spark of revulsion. ¡°It¡¯s a video game . . .¡± she mumbled.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°A game?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, does status remind you of something from the lower planes?¡± asked Wu Jia.


    ¡°It¡¯s just like a video game.¡±


    ¡°What is that, a sort of game?¡±


    ¡°You know like a game you play on your computer . . . or console . . . or phone . . .¡± Her parents stared back at her with blank expressions.


    A light dawned on Wu Jia¡¯s face. ¡°Ling¡¯er, could it be that the lower plane you¡¯re from follows the Dao of Machines?¡±


    ¡°I . . . don¡¯t know.¡± This mysterious magical land was so much different than Shen Ling¡¯s little blue planet Earth.


    Their conversation carried on through the night as Shen Shudun and Wu Jia explained much of the basic principles of the world. They were exceptionally surprised by Shen Ling¡¯s declaration of the lack of qi, or spiritual energy on her previous plane. To them it was completely foreign, almost as if an entire world was disconnected from the heavens entirely.


    A small room on the second floor was prepared for Shen Ling, and she slept through the remainder of the night and half of the next day, her pillow moist with the soft tears of past remorse and the unknowable future. Yet a part of her felt blessed to have these two new people in her life. For although it was difficult to see them as the parents she never had, at least she knew them as friends. Even if they were horned devils.


    Meanwhile, a pair of new parents stood in the Blue Button Inn¡¯s tiny kitchen.


    ¡°What did we do wrong?¡± asked Shen Shudun with earnest worry.


    Wu Jia shook her head. ¡°Our offerings were pure yang given at the peak of the sun after a night with no moon . . .¡±


    ¡°Is it possible . . . should I go upstairs and . . . peek? Ouch! Stop, stop.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, this is a blessing in disguise. I always wanted a daughter.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Jia. You don¡¯t understand what it means to grow up in the nether basin. Girls here are treated . . . sometimes they are . . . this place-¡± Shen Shudun was not a naive pup. Compared to the Nine Hells Mountain nations, the entire nether basin was a tribal wilderness inhabited by the weak and ruled by the fierce. There were no great clans or sects to create stability, nor great walls to block the sin hordes. ¡°This is a much crueler place than your homeland.¡±


    An icy cold aura surrounded Wu Jia, her face a mask of frozen severity. ¡°Shen Ling is my daughter. The Redwall tribe won¡¯t risk offending me. I won¡¯t let any barbarians harm a hair on her head.¡±


    ¡°You underestimate the Lao clan. They won¡¯t mistreat Shen Ling, just the opposite. They¡¯ll marry her.¡± Shen Shudun let the weight of his words sink into Wu Jia¡¯s skin. Although he had to admit that in most respects Wu Jia was far superior to himself, but when it came to the depraved nether basin of violence and despair, only a child of this type of suffering could understand the depth of its malicious nature.


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow it.¡±


    ¡°And how would you stop it!¡± he yelled. Shen Shudun very rarely raised his voice in anger toward his beloved wife. ¡°They treat you like a goddess now, because you cook their meat and fatten their experience levels. And they know that at any time you could refuse. If they threaten you, you could leave, or at the worst, take your own life . . .


    ¡°But what happens when it is not your life on the line, but Shen Ling¡¯ers. When they have her way up in the fifth tier wrapped in blood silk and gorging on sin. Could you refuse them then? Could you leave then?¡±


    What kind of mother did he think she was? Of course, Wu Jia would give everything for her child. There was no pregnancy in the Netherworld. The bonds forged here were decreed by the heavens created by the soul and bound by blood. Every life was supported by an unforeseeable destiny.


    ¡°In that case I . . . I would be their scullion.¡± Her husband was right, she truly had eyes but could not see Mt. Tai. ¡°We should leave. We could find another tribe. I could hide my abilities. Be your simple little one-tier wife.¡±


    Shen Shudun wrapped Wu Jia in his arms, pressing her head against his chest. His fingers brushed against the short spikes protruding from his wife¡¯s forehead, so thick at their base and yet barely one tier high.


    ¡°They look so shameful.¡±


    ¡°I think they¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m powerless now, just a trash.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re a trash Jia then what does that make me?¡±


    ¡°Trash¡¯s trash,¡± she replied, the corners of her mouth rising slightly.


    ¡°To forever be your trash is all I ever want in this life.¡±


    ¡°You sap. Do you want me to rejuvenate your leg?¡±


    After the final close encounter with the dire rat, Shen Shudun had mixed his elemental qi with mud and applied an earth style healing technique, but his earth qi wasn¡¯t as suited to healing as Wu Jia''s water qi. But, only a water practitioner beyond the four seasons phase could regrow limbs! Shen Shudun never inquired as to his wife¡¯s past, although she¡¯d revealed small parts over the years. But even he was shocked by her latest offer. It meant that his wife had once been a planar realm practitioner! A god-like figure!


    It should be known that in the Demonic Netherworld, practitioners cultivate martial strength in stages. The stages start first with beginner and then immediately move into the four seasons phase: spring, summer, autumn and winter stages. Beyond the four seasons phase is the planar phase which has four more stages: the earthly realm, the profound realm, the perfect realm, and lastly the immortal realm. In the entire vast nether basin, which surrounds the great Nine Hells Mountain and makes up most of the land of the Netherworld continent, a practitioner beyond the four seasons phase is almost a mythical being. In perspective, of all the practitioners in the Redwall tribe, despite being located near the foot of the Nine Hells Mountain, the most powerful was only in the late yang of the autumn stage.


    ¡°You can¡¯t regrow my leg!¡±


    ¡°Yes I can!¡± Wu Jia blurted in response. ¡°Though it might take a few days, maybe a week to gather enough qi.¡± She looked almost hurt by the admittance of this weakness.


    ¡°Wu Jia, if you did that then everyone would know your background wasn¡¯t simple. You must absolutely not reveal that kind of history to the Lao clan. It could turn the whole village upside down." The world''s first planar innkeeper!


    Wu Jia rubbed her cheek against her husband¡¯s broad muscular chest. ¡°What should we do about Ling¡¯er? She has such small horns.¡±


    ¡°Eh . . . girls are truly much more troublesome than boys.¡± A sudden pain struck his ribcage. ¡°Erf. I meant, I wish we had a boy. Erf. That¡¯s not what I- Erf.¡±


    Sometimes silence is the best medicine.


    Wait. An epiphany coalesced. Could that actually work?

 C***4 Wherefore art thou Pinocchio?

    C***4 Wherefore art thou Pinocchio?


    The common room of the Blue Button Inn contained only four square tables, each of which was crowded with residents of the Redwall tribe. A young girl draped in cheap cloth hustled out from the kitchen carrying a tray of icy wine too big for her skinny immature arms. A single two and a half tier ruby horn extruded from the centre of her forehead, matching the bright set of girlish freckles on her pale cheeks.


    Shen Shudun unexpectedly wore a frilly white apron over the hardened leather armour of a warrior. He followed the lass out of the kitchen carrying a second tray, which bore plates of Wu Jia¡¯s finely crafted delicacies. A loud thump could be heard with every second step he took, and those with a keen eye (or a pair of ears) quickly came to notice the boot tucked under his pant leg was not a boot at all, but a roughly hewn red clay brick!


    The food and drink was quietly welcomed by a table of finely dressed patrons, who refused to stoop so low as to acknowledge their commoner servers. Shen Shudun and the little girl spent no time on unwanted niceties, and quickly disappeared back into the kitchen.


    ¡°Their noses could touch the sky,¡± teased Cai Min, revealing a toothy smile. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for mother-in-law Wu, I bet none of those fat heads would ever come down to the third level.¡±


    ¡°Keep hold of your tongue, you little brat,¡± warned Shen Shudun, as he playfully dishevelled Cai Min¡¯s auburn curls.


    ¡°Cai Min, since when did I become your mother-in-law?¡± Wu Jia was dressed in an outfit of white silk that she only wore when cooking, her azure hair neatly pinned back into a matronly braided bun.


    ¡°Big Sister Wu, word has already spread throughout the whole ziggurat. Grumpy hunter Shen Shudun offered up his own hairy leg as heavenly tribute so the Redwall tribe¡¯s number one beauty Innkeeper could finally have the son she¡¯s spent years pining after.¡±


    ¡°Eh, who calls me the hairy legged grumpy hunter!?¡± Both ladies ignored Shen Shudun¡¯s feeble protest.


    Wu Jia crossed her arms under her athletic chest, a cool twinge arcing on her lips. ¡°And what proof do you have Cai Min? Rumours weigh as much as wind; those that spread them are nothing but hot air, and worse still are those drafty enough to believe them.¡±


    ¡°Err, you mean it¡¯s just a rumour and I can¡¯t make the Innkeeper my mother-in-law . . .¡± Cai Min was truly a personality as flightful as a bird, a trait often mistakenly reserved for the young. For although Cai Min had the body of a child, she had already lived the life of a grandmother with thirty-six grandchildren! And she was determined to repeat this venture in the Demonic Netherworld too.


    ¡°No need to make that face. Shen Ling is upstairs resting,¡± Wu Jia confirmed.


    Cai Min immediately brightened. ¡°But it¡¯s nearly noon. I better go wake him up!¡± A beige blur disappeared out of the kitchen, launching itself up the steep narrow staircase, and bursting into the only room with a closed door.


    Shen Ling woke, slightly raising her cheek from her pillow, by habit rolling onto her back and flapping her palm at an imaginary alarm clock. ¡°Five more minutes.¡± Suddenly a great mass was upon her. Shen Ling¡¯s eyes opened only to see a young girl with a tiny nose and a head of reddish brown curls mounted atop her like riding a horse.


    Slap!


    ¡°What did you do that fo-¡± It HURTS!


    Cai Min let out a passionate scream. ¡°Oh Lingling, you perverted stallion! How could you be so aggressive. Don¡¯t you know this is this young lady¡¯s first time! Oh, you are so well proportioned, what a man!¡± Cai Min made certain to yell loud enough for the entire Inn to hear.


    Shen Ling was utterly stupefied, but did what any sleeping bear would do and slapped her assailant right back across the face.


    It was Cai Min¡¯s turn to be aghast. ¡°You hit me.¡±


    ¡°You hit me!¡± Shen Ling retorted.


    ¡°But I¡¯m a girl,¡± Cai Min protested, touching her fingers to the red mark on her cheek.


    ¡°Well I¡¯m a gir-¡±


    ¡°Shen Ling!¡± Wu Jia interrupted, her white leather boots aglow with blue water qi. ¡°As a man, you shouldn¡¯t hit ladies . . . or Cai Min.¡±


    As a man?!


    ¡°Hey! What is that supposed to mean Big Sister Wu?¡± Cai Min was flustered, but pretended to be caught in a scandalous scenario, covering her already covered beige dress with Shen Ling¡¯s blankets.


    ¡°Ladies who work at an Inn don¡¯t make scenes in front of the guests. Now get off of Ling¡¯er. He has work to do with his father in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Dishes. But what about my sweet chastity?!¡± Wu Jia rousted Cai Min and shuffled her out the door. ¡°Oh my little Lingling, she can¡¯t keep us apart.¡± The door abruptly closed on Cai Min¡¯s fortunately short nose. ¡°Wait it¡¯s my job to help stumpy with the dishes.¡±


    ¡°Not today, go home Cai Min.¡± Wu Jia let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back against the door.


    ¡°Waa!¡± came a muffled cry.


    If this was how Shen Ling was going to wake up every morning then she thought she might actually learn to miss her alarm clock. Still half asleep, Shen Ling listened patiently to a lecturing Wu Jia explain to her why she was going to have to pretend to be a boy. When the harangue finally ended, Shen Ling didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Obviously, as a modern woman, Shen Ling didn¡¯t want to be married off to a complete stranger, or to be used as a political pawn against her new found family. After only one night, her life had become a cruel joke.


    In her first childhood, dressing like a boy was simply the easier path for an orphan like Shen Ling. Now, the heaven¡¯s were condemning her to travel the same road a second time. Except in this life, it wasn¡¯t simply a matter of convenience. This barbarous ancient world still treated women like stable animals. Or at least they planned to treat Shen Ling like one. How could she possibly allow herself to be so helplessly bullied, when she¡¯d already promised herself that she would change?


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    A short time later, Shen Ling tugged on the bottom of her pant leg as she walked down the stairs into the inn¡¯s common room. As it turned out, no matter how much she fiddled, the right pant leg of her new outfit was clearly shorter than the left. Feeling a tingling on the top of her head, Shen Ling raised her eyes from the floor only to see a room full of bearded men in bright colourful robes staring back at her.


    The strange standoff lasted more than a minute before a familiar grumpy voice broke up the mutual entrancement. ¡°Shen Ling, don¡¯t bother our esteemed guests. Come over, come over. Humble apologies, Innkeeper Wu is nearly ready with your orders.¡±


    The very first time Shen Ling entered Wu Jia¡¯s tiny kitchen, the only thing that came to mind was, amazing. Since her arrival at Redwall Village, all Shen Ling had seen was red clay construction, red clay walls, red clay floors, even red clay toilets. The Blue Button Inn¡¯s kitchen was a dramatic mismatched shift from the surrounding ancient and crude to modern and glorious with not a speck of red. It was neat and organized, reminding Shen Ling of the factory where she used to work. The kitchen tools, while simple, gleamed of quality and meticulous care. Upon ocean blue tile walls were countless herbs, like a hanging garden growing from the banks of a river. The ceiling was open to the sky but for a few panes of emerald glass, while the floors were cast with moist river rock.


    The true gem of the kitchen was Wu Jia herself in the pure white silk gown of a shrine maiden. She moved through the small space like a funambulist, streaming her arms through the air, her hands glazed in blue qi, slicing indescribable meats and coaxing herbs from the walls like brushing calligraphy upon an enormous canvas.


    Shen Ling widened her eyes in awe at Shen Shudun, who only pressed his finger to his lips signaling to watch quietly. Before long the pair each had a rope of spittle hanging from the side of their mouths, which would occasionally slurp up incredible aromas, exacerbating the hunger in their growling stomachs.


    Two plates of thinly sliced meat emerged on a bed of foreign vegetation, glistening sublime au jus. ¡°You two, what¡¯s wrong with you? You¡¯re getting my floor wet.¡±


    ¡°Tough words from a lady who wears water on her shoes,¡± Shen Shudun carefully whispered into Shen Ling¡¯s ear.


    Gong! Sneak attack!


    A metal pot flew off the shelf behind Shen Shudun and bonked him on the head, before carefully replacing itself. ¡°You¡¯re mother is very beautiful when she¡¯s angry,¡± he whispered, desperate to dig himself out of the dog house. Who would have known that his heavenly tigress had such superb ears?


    The truth was Wu Jia hadn¡¯t heard a single word, but knew her husband well enough to know that whatever he said it was deserving of a beating.


    Wu Jia¡¯s kitchen was not your run of the mill food factory. In fact, every pot, pan and tool were actually low-spring ranked magic treasures. Although a single low-spring ranked magic treasure wasn¡¯t considered a majestic item, even in Redwall Village, it still had a high value to a regular person. Yet somehow, this petite kitchen in this tiny third level Blue Button Inn was filled with them. Clearly this was abnormal.


    ¡°I better deliver the goods,¡± said Shudun, making a hasty escape from the tiger¡¯s den after whisking three cloth bags off a table.


    The strange thing was that the two trays of succulent meat hadn¡¯t been taken. It was hard for Shen Ling to take her eyes off them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just look, eat.¡± Wu Jia locked both the doors leading into the kitchen, pulling out a pair of short stools from under a counter.


    ¡°One of these is for me?¡± Shen Ling asked, simply in awe of the food.


    ¡°Both of them, Ling¡¯er. You must eat everything on each of these plates.¡± Wu Jia made this privilege sound like an order. Either way, Shen Ling was more than happy to comply.


    Lifting the first piece of heaven with her chopsticks, Shen Ling gently lay the tender richness against her tongue, and was immediately overwhelmed by a completely new flavour that tasted like a perfect mixture of spicy garlic and plum. After devouring the first piece, Shen Ling was reaching for the second when she was hit by a wave of internal energy.


    +10 EXP


    Huh, what?


    ¡°Mother, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, I explained this to you last night. Unlike the lesser worlds and lower realms, it¡¯s impossible to cultivate the energies of heaven and earth in the Demonic Netherworld. Instead, we must consume the sin energy of beasts in order to cultivate elemental qi and gain strength.¡±


    Shen Ling vaguely remembered some of the extremely long outlandish conversation of the previous evening, but it was an entirely different prospect when faced with it in reality.


    ¡°Keep eating, before it gets cold.¡±


    +10 EXP, +10 EXP, +10 EXP  . . .


    Subsequently, an entire plate of meat disappeared, and Shen Ling showed no symptoms of overindulgence. It appeared that no matter how much of this sin beast meat she ate, she would never get full. Before Shen Ling had finished the last few pieces of the second plate, it happened. A tingling sensation spread across her skin as the building tide of energy finally ebbed like a tidal wave.


    Ding!


    It was like a bell had rung inside her skull.


    ¡°Mother, I think . . . I think I gained a level.¡±


    Although a cold block of ice on the outside, Wu Jia¡¯s flabbergasted self couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°only one?¡±

 C***5 Washing vs. Drying

    C***5 Washing vs. Drying


    _____________


    Shen Ling


    Beginner Level 2 [3%]


    Parameters


    Strength: 8(+5)


    Agility: 4(+1)


    Body:  8(+5)


    Speed: 4(+1)


    Intelligence: 5


    Spirit: 10


    Love: 2


    Hate: 0


    Karmic Verdict


    Absolute Zero


    Dao (Skills)


    ???


    _____________


    It was in that instant that Shen Ling realized she was divergent, and that something about her was amiss. In fact, Shen Ling had no tangible evidence of this premonition, beyond the concern she heard in her mother¡¯s tone. Yet, the chimerical truth rang with the clarity of musical notes, composed silently, only to sound loudly when given voice.


    In a heartbeat, a Netherworld ten-day (week) had past since Shen Ling consumed the sin beast meat and began her work beside her mother in the kitchen.


    Each and every day the Blue Button Inn would be packed full of customers from the time it first opened in the morning to when it barred its doors at night. Although Shen Ling¡¯s second floor bedroom was the smallest of the Inn¡¯s suites, she couldn¡¯t help but notice she was the Blue Button Inn¡¯s only guest and that all of the other rooms were vacant, which suited her temperament rather well. Even though Shen Ling was a girl with no horns, of necessity, she was also a boy with nearly invisible one tier horns. In this aspect, she greatly desired both privacy and a quiet reclusive life.


    ¡°Lingling! How can you be so bold!¡± Cai Min exclaimed, generating a chuckle from the patrons in the common room that could be heard from across the street. Those patrons had long ago become acquainted with Cai Min¡¯s outbursts. ¡°To force a pretty flower to wash the dishes and ruin her delicate hands, when clearly such a young untainted beauty, such as she, should be set the task of drying instead,¡± Cai Min finished, switching to her inside voice.


    Shen Ling¡¯s desire for a tranquil life was regularly disturbed by the walking talking tribulation known as Cai Min.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wash,¡± Shen Ling growled. Lowering her voice and furrowing her brow were both good practice for imitating a man. With Cai Min standing beside her, this training became completely natural, offering twice the results with half the effort.


    It was during this week of practice that Shen Ling gained her first dao skill.


    Dong!


    You have learned the Dao of Dishwashing: Beginner ? (One Star)


    What a useless skill!


    ¡°Mother . . .¡± What sort of reaction would Wu Jia have toward this event? Despite putting in tremendous effort in the kitchen, Shen Ling couldn¡¯t help but feel as if she were a disappointment to her parents. She had no horns to speak of, and her talent was so pitiful that it took more than twice the average EXP to gain a single level.


    ¡°Hmm, what is it Ling¡¯er? did you need something? more soap?¡±


    ¡°No it¡¯s nothing like that. It¡¯s just . . . I gained a skill,¡± she revealed, timidly.


    Cai Min suddenly yapped. ¡°What? How can Lingling get a skill when I¡¯ve been doing dishes for two years and have nothing to show for it!¡±


    ¡°Huh? Cai Min, for these last two years hasn¡¯t it been you drying, while you bullied my Shudun into washing. Also, you don¡¯t pay proper attention to details. If you want to grow you must first strengthen your spirit.¡±


    Cai Min turned pale in bewilderment. So unfair, her highest parameter was agility, her lowest spirit.


    Could it be that Dishwashing was a skill, but drying was not?!


    (Author note: 50% of the time, 75% of what I write is 100% fluff)


    Wu Jia was a natural teacher. A trait that was left mostly suppressed until her maternal instincts finally developed a focus.


    ¡°The two of you, listen carefully. In this world exists an infinite number of paths leading to an infinite number of endings and beginnings. To progress you need to move forward along your own path and form your own Dao. Only then can you be truly strong.¡±


    ¡°I thought levels made you strong,¡± replied Shen Ling offhandedly. Cai Min nodded in the affirmative as well.


    ¡°Levels? How does having a higher level make you stronger?¡± questioned Wu Jia.


    ¡°Umm . . . because our parameters would be higher,¡± answered Shen Ling.


    ¡°Cai Min, what do you think?¡± It was clear by the string of questions that Wu Jia was playing a game with them, but Cai Min would give Boss Wu face.


    ¡°Lingling is right. If our levels were higher then our parameters would be better.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re both too naive. Status is only a mirror of heaven and earth. Cultivation comes from the self, the body, the heart and the mind,¡± explained Wu Jia.


    Cai Min put her elbows on the table holding her freckled cheeks between her knuckles, bracing her chin with her palms. Shen Ling thought that Cai Min was taking this conversation way too seriously. ¡°You need to eat meat to get EXP. That¡¯s the only way,¡± she said as a matter of fact.


    A light dawned within Shen Ling¡¯s widening eyes. This was the difference between knowledge and understanding. According to the information, eating the special meat garnered EXP and levels and higher parameters, but if you supposed that status was only a record . . . After absorbing enough sin energy, the body and mind would grow stronger. Although the difference was subtle, Shen Ling knew it to be as distant as heaven and earth.


    If a group of people from Shen Ling¡¯s Earth wanted to strengthen themselves, they could choose to take a walk around the block, and indeed they would grow healthier. But if they understood how advanced medicine, athletics, diet, and rest, contributed to their strength, then they could create a spectacular training regimen fit for olympians. In an instant, the frogs would be given wings.


    In this way, Shen Ling gained a glimmer of enlightenment. She inferred that there must be methods to better absorb and cultivate sin energy. ¡°There¡¯s more to it than just eating,¡± she quietly provoked.


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    Wu Jia smiled, and the charisma of her beauty infected the not-quite-children with grins. ¡°From today onward, Ling¡¯er, I would like you to become my first and only disciple.¡±


    Shen Ling was stunned by the sudden declaration. At the same moment, Cai Min¡¯s face slowly spoiled from gladness to dejected, to fury that culminated into a burst of tears as she sped out the back door.


    ¡°Mother, couldn¡¯t you take Cai Min as a disciple too?¡± Shen Ling may get a bit annoyed with Cai Min, but the truth was, although odd, Cai Min was the closest thing she had to a friend.


    ¡°Cai Min is a spy, dear. For the Chi clan.¡± Wu Jia let the statement roll of her tongue as if she were speaking of the weather or some other unimportant piece of news.


    What?! ¡°That can¡¯t be. Why do you let her work here then?¡± And who were the Chi clan?


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you in on the big secret. Didn¡¯t you ever wonder why my Inn has no guests? Or why Shudun delivers most of the food I make, while those awful barbarians in the common room sip tea and eat snacks all day?¡±


    Perhaps it was a habit from her previous life. Shen Ling tended to dismiss the oddities in her surroundings, her subconscious opting to avoid conflicts.


    ¡°Let me tell you, Ling¡¯er. It is because your mother is not an innkeeper.¡± Wu Jia brought her face down beside Shen Ling¡¯s ear and whispered, as listening to the ocean through a seashell, ¡°I am a chef.¡±


    Was being a chef really such an amazing thing?


    . . .


    Three groups hold sway in the Redwall tribe. The Lao clan, of which Lao Bellruse and his son Lao Dong are both prominent members, is the largest clan in the village, has the most warriors and their headquarters resides in the highest fifth level of the ziggurat. Two other groups, the Chi clan and the Zhang Trade Office each have comparable military might, and of necessity together strike a balance of power with the more formidable Lao clan. The Chi clan controls the ziggurat¡¯s fourth level, only just below the Lao clan territory, while the Zhang Trade Office is based on the second level.


    Furthermore, these three groups divide responsibility over the day to day operations of Redwall village, and maintain the status quo of the tribe.


    The Lao clan functions similarly to an ancient Chinese martial sect, recruiting various talents as outer, inner, and core disciples. Their elders train them based upon their natural abilities or social status. Many of the inner and outer sect disciples pay for their apprenticeship by becoming indentured into the city watch, or to the unorthodox militia under the control of the Lao clan.


    The Chi clan is, on the other hand, a true martial family, dedicated to mastery of cultivation, and relying upon the wisdom and honour of their ancestors to guide them. The only method to become a member of the Chi clan is marriage, therefore their numbers are the fewest of the three powers. What they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality, opting to provide their elite members with an abundant supply of sin beast meat, and other precious cultivation and battle treasures.


    The last of the three powers is the Zhang Trade Office. The ZTO is a massive mercantile organization with offices stationed at a huge number of villages, towns and cities surrounding the Nine Hells Mountain. To understand the extent of their network, it is integral to realize the sheer size of the Netherworld continent is many hundreds of times the size of Shen Ling¡¯s Earth, with a population of countless trillions. Though it is also true that the tiny branch office of the ZTO in Redwall Village is of no consequence at all to such a robust organization, and is basically left to fend for itself, while their main responsibility to the tribe is overseeing the production and shipping of local goods.


    The sun beat down on the ziggurat¡¯s second level as a scruffy man carrying two large bags walked under a red clay archway, entering into a busy compound. The man ignored the stench of the triple trunked mammoth pen, and the hustle and bustle of the wagon trains being unloaded, as he diligently passed through this familiar territory.


    This man, of course, was Shen Shudun, delivering the latest packages of sinful delicacies to the Zhang Trade Office. Unlike his deliveries to the other two major powers of the Redwall tribe, Shudun actually enjoyed this final stop on his route, not because it meant the end of his duties for the day, but instead because it meant the real beginning.


    After expediting the shipment, Shudun made straight for the ZTO training grounds, which amounted to little more than a large barren patch of red dirt surrounded by a short grey stick fence. Although technically he was a subordinate of the Zhang Trade Office, thanks to his role as consignment officer, he was more or less a satellite member, able to come and go as he pleased.


    That is why a number of young men in brown leathers gave him queer glances as he nonchalantly entered the practice grounds. It had been many years since Shen Shudun had bothered with this type of training, but with the loss of a leg, his confidence had been somewhat shaken. He needed to know how his brick was going to hold up in an actual combat scenario, and he didn¡¯t want to risk his life only to find out he was a little too slow, or slightly off balance. As an experienced hunter, he knew the thin margins of life and death, firsthand.


    He found an empty area in the far corner of the grounds, under a grey desolate maple tree. Like all the trees of the undying forest, it had no leaves, but still offered a modicum of shade. Shen Shudun began his mental preparation, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.


    ¡°Look what we have here, lads. The delivery boy thinks this is a place to take a nap.¡±


    Shudun opened one eye to glare at the group of young warriors who¡¯d come to make trouble.


    Hmm? My warm up is early. Good delivery service!

 C***6 Son of a . . . Hunter!

    C***6 Son of a . . . Hunter!


    A half dozen young men in the prime of their lives formed a semicircle around Shen Shudun. To most, such a scene would be considered menacing, but Shudun saw through the bravado. The young men wore the standard leather armours distributed by the ZTO, and gripped wooden practice weapons in their sweaty palms. In Shen Shudun¡¯s eyes, the toys in their hands were meant for children playing, not for warriors. To be a warrior was to risk life and death, everything less was just a game.


    To quickly and thoroughly analyze an opponent is one of a cultivator¡¯s most important dao skills. Truth be told, with the dao skill Scan: Autumn ???, Shen Shudun could count the stray whiskers on their chins with one eye closed.


    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you hear me, delivery boy? When Chang Chen addresses you, you should show the proper respect!¡±


    Shen Shudun shut his open eye, returning to the blankness, letting out a long breath. Emotion held a special place in combat. It had the capacity to bring perfect form to a higher level, otherwise unattainable without that primal connection. Currently, his heart was in disarray, while his form was untested, thus Shen Shudun could not allow himself the privilege of indulging in that emotional collusion. His training today had to return to the fundamentals, the backbone upon which all martial prowess is established.


    It¡¯s play time.


    Another whelp spoke up as well. ¡°Senior brother Chang, this spring chicken isn¡¯t giving you any face.¡±


    ¡°Face?¡± began Shudun as he smoothly stretched his body, ¡°Your type of face is rather familiar, perhaps I knew your mother.¡±


    ¡°What?! What did you say? I dare you to say that again!¡± screamed Chang Chen.


    ¡°Uh, does that mean the delivery boy is your daddy?¡± said one of the other young men.


    The group laughed at Chang Chen¡¯s expense, even Shudun broke his concentration to jeer.


    ¡°Shut up! Shut the hell up! Do you want to die? I¡¯ll kill anyone who laughs at me.¡± The group of young men were normally informal and intimate together, and such teasing amongst them was common as red dirt. Shocked when Chang Chen unleashed his fury upon them, the group quieted immediately. Although they were brothers in arms, Chang Chen was the strongest, and came from a good family background with powerful connections. None of them could afford to truly offend him.


    ¡°Ho ho ho,¡± antagonized Shen Shudun, in poor replication of a certain detestable slaughterer.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna die old man!¡± Chang Chen held a replica longsword thrust outward in one hand, threateningly.


    Huh? Since when am I old?


    A thick wooden stave manifested in Shudun¡¯s grasp. ¡°Less talk.¡± He shifted the wooden pole over his head, sending it into an accelerating helicopter spin in his quick hands.


    A portion of Chang Chen¡¯s bravery diminished upon seeing the crippled delivery man wielding a weapon. The spinning stave gave him pause, only because such a tactic was completely foolish, even the slightest tap should knock the weapon out his opponent¡¯s hands. Chang Chen had no intention of dealing a slight tap. He would crush the old man in a single blow for daring to be so audacious!


    The overhead strike was a straightforward sword move with the intention of splitting an enemy down the centre; a decisive execution.


    At least that was how it was meant to be executed.


    Instead as Chang Chen brought down his blade, it clashed with the revolving stave. Ostensibly, his blade hardly felt like it made contact with the stave at all and he pressed on downward with his attack.


    Thunk!


    Chang Chen tasted red dirt in his mouth and felt a numbing pain on the top of his head, directly between his pair of outward curving three tier horns. He didn¡¯t even see the counterattack . . . perhaps he had tripped? He stumbled back to his feet, sword in hand.


    ¡°You! What was that, some sort of trick?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? A taste of your own medicine.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit. You got lucky once. I¡¯d like to see you get lucky a second time!¡±


    Shen Shudun¡¯s opinion of this young warrior was only getting worse with each word. Although it may have been partially attributed to the bump on the head, youngsters these days were growing up too dumb. Perhaps he should go a bit easier on the idiot? At the least he would avoid headshots. This youngster couldn¡¯t afford to lose any more brains.


    ¡°Me too,¡± announced a feminine voice from beyond the boundary fence in reply.


    ¡°Manager Ming.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Manager Ming.¡± The trainees bowed with cupped hands at the spectator. An important figure had suddenly appeared!


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Ming Hua asked.


    Chang Chen was eager to impress. Not only was this new arrival the leader of the Zhang Trade Office, but she was also a peerless buxom beauty with enormous horns. Her looks and status made her the most coveted single woman in the tribe, and the only woman who held a position of power within Redwall Village.


    ¡°Manager Ming, I was about to give this pot bellied delivery boy a lesson in basic combat principles. Please, watch closely as I demonstrate my Chang family¡¯s twin dragon sword style. Both in speed and power, it is the finest.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see . . .¡± Ming Hua peered at Shen Shudun, who was rubbing his stomach, sucking it in behind his ribs and releasing. He frowned when he caught her watching him. ¡°. . . then let us make this a bit more interesting. I will reward the winner . . . with a kiss!¡±


    The fire qi in Chang Chen¡¯s young blood was lit. A kiss from the manager was a priceless treasure that he would not miss!


    Contrarily, Shudun rested against his stave while glowering at the blonde haired blue eyed vixen. It didn¡¯t take an autumn rank and three stars in scan to see this trouble brewing.


    ¡°It¡¯s your unlucky day grey beard. Chang Chen will make you his training dummy.¡± He removed his leather cuirass exposing his muscular tanned body. Borrowing a second practice sword from a nearby trainee, Chang Chen proceeded to slash at the air with ruthless abandon, even going so far as to finish his masculine warm up display by rolling his stomach muscles in waves and bouncing his pectorals like jumping beans.


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    Eh? My beard is mostly red! Don¡¯t shamelessly talk in the third person! And I was young once too!


    This whelp was in dire need of a stern life lesson- and a shirt.


    Since a crowd was gathering, and seeing as Manager Ming was watching as well, Shen Shudun decided he might as well give these trainees some legitimate schooling.


    Two probing slashes swept toward Shen Shudun. It was clear that Chang Chen was more cautious during this second bout. He probed carefully with his main hand, while maintaining a vigilant defence with his second sword.


    Each slash was met with a step backward and to the side, by Shudun. From the spectators view, Chang was slowly chasing the delivery boy in concentric circles. What sort of fight was this?!


    ¡°Booo!¡± ¡°Fight already.¡±


    ¡°Get a room!¡± added Manager Ming with no shame at all.


    ¡°Err, ah. Lesson one,¡± stammered Shen Shudun, addressing the crowd. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time fighting like a sissy, swinging and missing all the time. You¡¯ll just get tired, and then killed.¡±


    ¡°@#@%!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose your temper either, unless you''re strong, then do what you want.¡± Somehow, judging by the mirth and snickering coming from the mob, Shudun didn¡¯t think his lesson was going too well.


    ¡°You want a @#$%ing lesson! I¡¯ll give you a @#$%ing lesson! [Double Dragon Flaming Swords]!¡±


    Was it really a good idea to tell your opponent your next sword move? Maybe that should have been lesson one.


    Two red lines of elemental qi climbed from the hilts of Chang Chen¡¯s longswords, slowly forming a complete circuit along the length of the blades, which burst into orange flames once the circuit closed.


    If it took a whole half a minute to control your fire qi, then you might as well have a conversation about it first, Shen Shudun supposed.


    ¡°Die!¡± Chang Chen¡¯s warcry sounded rather laboured. The punk probably used most of his qi in this one move.


    ¡°Lesson two, uhm, footwork is important.¡± Screw it. His lesson was getting almost as bad as this trainee¡¯s fighting. And if this continued, wouldn¡¯t it seem like he was the bully?


    The tip of Shudun¡¯s stave became a downward thrusting spear, slamming against Chang Chen¡¯s leading foot. The sound of breaking bones was reminiscent of cracking an egg.


    ¡°Disabling your opponent is the easiest way to win,¡± Shen Shudun concluded.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t won yet!¡± Two flaming wooden swords cut like scissors crashing against the upper half of the stave. But unlike his expectations, Chang Chen felt none of the accompanying resistance to his attack.


    Shudun stepped to the side, but the stave almost moved of its own accord, spinning on its axis and slamming its lower half against Chang Chen¡¯s groin.


    ¡°Ooo . . .¡± ¡°Ahh . . .¡± ¡°That had to hurt.¡±


    ¡°Using your opponent¡¯s force against them is a lot easier than using your own force. Oh, umm, that is err. Lesson three-ish.¡±


    Chang Chen dropped to the ground in distress, only to scream in agony as his bare chest pressed against his flaming swords. Normally, wooden practice swords were fairly harmless training tools, unless you were dumb enough to light them on fire and press them against your nipples.


    ¡°Oh damnit.¡± Shen Shudun kicked Chang Chen over onto his side, and quickly poured earth qi into the ground through his feet, pushing a mound of red dirt over top of Chang like a blanket to smother the flames.


    ¡°How ruthless.¡± ¡°Such dirty fighting!¡± ¡°He destroyed Chang Chen¡¯s manhood and buried him in the same fight.¡±


    Only one set of hands in the crowd was clapping. With a twinkle in her eye, Ming Hua announced, ¡°the winner is Shen Shudun!¡±


    ¡°What? That Shen Shudun.¡± ¡°The grumpy hunter?¡± ¡°The one hairy legged warrior.¡± ¡°The Innkeepers man slave!¡±


    ¡°But Shen Shudun is hunter class. What is he doing fighting with trainees? is he a sadist?¡±


    Shen Shudun¡¯s ears burned as his eyebrows spasmed.


    ¡°Come get your reward, a kiss from yours truly.¡± Ming Hua batted her eyes and offered up a view of her luscious curves.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡±


    If some members of the crowd had remained indifferent to Shen Shudun, that changed as soon as he passed up a chance to kiss the manager. In a single stroke, he enraged every red blooded man in the ZTO.


    This is why I hate people, Shen Shudun thought, as he strolled to a barrel and splashed water on his face.


    ¡°Shen Shudun. I would speak with you. In private.¡± Ming Hua swivelled, irately strutting towards the ZTO administration buildings. Even Shen Shudun couldn¡¯t help but glance at her skin tight black leather backside.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to look,¡± he told himself, reflexively guarding the back of his head. A private meeting with Ming Hua was not something Shen Shudun had the least bit of interest in, but since he and his wife were technically ZTO associates, he really didn¡¯t have much of a choice in the matter. Manager Ming was the boss.


    ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± asked Shen Shudun, after a servant closed the office door behind them.


    ¡°Can¡¯t it just be about us?¡± quipped Ming Hua, pressing herself up against the burly hunter.


    ¡°There is no us.¡±


    ¡°There could be.¡±


    ¡°. . .¡±


    ¡°Fine. I give in.¡± She took herself away from the danger zone and sat on the edge of her desk, plucking up an envelope and tossing it at Shudun.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    Ming Hua batted her eyes. ¡°Do you want me to read to you?¡±


    A grunt could be heard, followed by the tearing of paper.


    The grumpy mask of Shen Shudun¡¯s countenance grew confused as he read the paper within, before dropping into a cold rage. The content of the letter was short and simple, as the best delivered killing blows. He crumpled it into a ball and let it fall to the floor, before silently leaving the office like a rumbling thundercloud promising lightning.

 C***7 The Training Begins

    C***7 The Training Begins


    ¡°Is there no justice in this god forsaken heathens den?¡± Wu Jia pleaded at her husband.


    ¡°. . .¡±


    Of course there is justice, the justice of strength, dictated by the mighty and enforced with fear and fist.


    Shen Ling perched on the landing at the top of the boxstairs, eavesdropping on her parents argument in the common room below.


    Wu Jia¡¯s voice was cold and calculated as she asked without blinking, ¡°Should we run?¡±


    ¡°Run from what?¡± interrupted Shen Ling, who could no longer sit idle. She had been left in the dark about their family¡¯s circumstances, and she was tired of feeling powerless. To have a say in these family matters was only natural. She was an adult, whether or not she was trapped in a tiny body.


    Husband and wife gazed into eachother''s eyes in silent commune as their daughter joined them.


    Although surrounded by chairs, none were in a mood to sit.


    After mute agreement, Shen Shudun took the lead. ¡°The tribe has invited you to participate in the warrior trials.¡±


    ¡°Do I have to?¡± sputtered prematurely out of Shen Ling¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°The letter came from the Zhang Trade Office, but it was signed by the heads of the largest clans in the village,¡± Shudun explained. ¡°We can¡¯t ignore them.¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er is not a warrior. I took her as my disciple this morning. Surely, they will give me face in regard to my own child.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too important to the village, wife. The three big clans want a fair shot at recruiting Shen Ling. Obviously, they¡¯ve come to some sort of agreement behind the curtains. If it were any other child with low talent, they could withdraw without a care, but she is a special case, a valued commodity to every clan, your son.¡±


    ¡°What are the warrior trials? Will there be fighting?¡± Shen Ling had hardened her heart to the prospect of facing danger, but to actively search it out as a combatant, that seemed completely insane. Even more so because any opponent she faced could wield magic powers, or special abilities, or . . . a hundred ideas came to mind as she thought about a thousand different video games and movies from her past. ¡°Will I die?¡±


    ¡°Huh?!¡± both parents exclaimed.


    ¡°No you won¡¯t die.¡± Shudun rubbed his chin. ¡°Almost no one ever dies. Break a leg, maybe. Lose an arm-Oww! What was that for?¡± Shen Shudun nursed his scalp, where an awkward bald spot might develop. Shen Ling¡¯s usual pale face became outright ghostly. ¡°Oh right. Well Ling¡¯er, that sort of thing almost never happens unless there¡¯s a big difference in power between the children, or a grudge.¡±


    ¡°The main problem isn¡¯t suffering an injury. Simply by competing in the trials, it is ensured that you will join one of the three political powers.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re both part of the ZTO . . .¡±


    ¡°The Zhang Trade Office is not bad, although Ming Hao is a trollop. If it¡¯s them, then they are the best of the worst,¡± stated Wu Jia.


    ¡°So if I can join the ZTO, everything would go back to normal?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± answered Shudun, before getting slapped on the back of the head. ¡°Err! What was that for? I didn¡¯t say anything bad!¡±


    An image of Ming Hao¡¯s large chest passed through Wu Jia¡¯s thoughts. But she wasn¡¯t going to admit it. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. For drafting new warriors, the ZTO does not get first pick this year, nor second pick, but instead, last pick! If the Lao clan does not scoop Ling¡¯er up as its first choice, the Chi clan definitely will do so.¡± Wu Jia¡¯s iciness melted at the corners of her eyes. ¡°Running might be our only option.¡±


    ¡°There is a second option,¡± said Shudun with a spark of earthly fire behind his eyes. ¡°Winning!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Shen Ling.


    Shudun explained quickly. ¡°Ling¡¯er, the first, second and third place at the warrior trials are rewarded, and they are also able to choose the faction they wish to join.¡± Unexpectedly, his daughter¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t sparkle with excitement at this revelation.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t know how to fight. I-I¡¯m afraid!¡± she confessed.


    Shen Shudun looked dejected, but Wu Jia only nodded. ¡°Good,¡± she declared. ¡°The dao heart¡¯s greatest adversary is fear. To know it, to understand it, to fall in love with fear is a pathway to strength.¡±


    Fall in love with fear? Shen Ling swallowed the dry lump in her throat. Her mother was a terrifying woman!


    Even Shudun was somewhat upset. ¡°Ling¡¯er, since it is you who will have to face the trials. It must be you who decides. What shall it be? Fight, or run?¡±


    For two reasons, the choice between fighting or running wasn¡¯t a choice at all. First of all, Shen Ling had promised herself that next time when facing hardship she would stand her ground, no matter what. Secondly, if she couldn¡¯t place during the trials, if she failed again, couldn¡¯t they still choose to run away? Sometimes, she thought her new dad was just too dumb. Perhaps she should ask Wu Jia to hit him in the head a little less often. He really couldn¡¯t afford to lose any more brain cells.


    ¡°Mother, Father, you¡¯ve both been too kind to me. To be so filial, I¡¯ve never been this happy in my entire life.¡± A single glistening tear ran down Shen Ling¡¯s cheek. ¡°Although we have not long known each other, I am in your care.¡± The cute girl bowed low at her waist. ¡°It might be selfish,¡± she began to cry in earnest, tears wetting the floor. She pinched closed her weeping, and stared up at her parents with intense resolution, ¡°But I want to Fight!¡±


    Wu Jia wrapped the young girl up, hugging her close. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you.¡±


    Shen Shudun¡¯s apelike arms surrounded his women. ¡°Me too. Let us all work hard together.¡±


    . . .


    And so Shen Ling¡¯s training began in earnest.


    In the dark of night, as the moon fell from the sky, but before the sun had yet to peak above the horizon. A small boy, dressed in the common brown leather armour of a warrior, stood in front of a sudsy washbasin, thrusting his arms elbow deep in scolding hot waters. The bags under his eyes told the tale of fatigue, while his scowl showed the tenacity of a wet rag.


    What sort of training was this!?!?


    Wasn¡¯t this the same dishwashing Shen Ling had been doing for more than a full ten days already? No, because now she wore primitive over-masculine armour that was too wide in the shoulders and loose in the crotch. Since Cai Min had vanished, Shen Ling now had to do all the drying too! It was twice the work with twice the effort!


    The only succour was that occasionally Wu Jia would call her over from dish duty and have her taste a sample of the day¡¯s preparations.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    +1 EXP . . . +1 EXP


    _____________


    Shen Ling


    Beginner Level 2 [4%] (+1%)


    Parameters


    Strength: 8


    Agility: 4


    Body:  8


    Speed: 4


    Intelligence: 5


    Spirit: 10


    Love: 2


    Hate: 1 (+1)


    Karmic Verdict


    Absolute Zero


    Dao (Skills)


    Dishwashing: Beginner ?


    ???


    _____________


    These stats were too pathetic. ¡°Mother! Someone hates me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry much about love and hate. Those are out of your control.¡±


    It made a sort of practical sense, but what could Shen Ling have done to make someone hate her? Was it Cai Min? Although the girl was annoying, she was her only friend.


    Putting these grim thoughts aside, the rest of her morning was continuous washing and snacking. ¡°Is this really training?¡±


    ¡°En. Of course. This is your training as my culinary disciple.¡±


    ¡°Culinary disciple? I thought I was learning how to not die?¡± Shen Ling cheerlessly mumbled with her eyes to the river rock floor.


    ¡°Because you are my daughter disciple, are you thinking I would let you slack off?! In the morning you will learn from mother, and in the evening you will train with father.¡±


    Wa? ¡°What about the afternoon?¡±


    Wu Jia raised her eyebrows ever so slightly.


    Don¡¯t tell me I have to train then too! What happened to those peaceful innkeeper days with a family to love and a job to do? Wasn¡¯t this the infamous simple life that common people longed for?


    In the afternoon, a sweating brute smudged with red mud pushed his way into the Blue Button Inn¡¯s kitchen. His armour had gained a few more scratches, and a deep anger could be felt from his presence.


    Shen Ling felt an intimidating burst of fear from the man, as if to cross him would mean death.


    Wu Jia broke from her culinary dance, glaring icicles at the filthy barbarian. The pair faced off in a silent battle of killing intent.


    Shen Ling could not decide which was the more frightening. The plate in her hands slipped, smashing apart on the floor. For a brief moment, both of those domineering killing intents were directed at her. Her knees weakened near to collapse.


    Yet, something in the heavy atmosphere broke with the plate. The killing intent faded away.


    The brute waved his arm over the counter and a brown package appeared. ¡°Chow Gan was merciless. It¡¯s only a level two dire rat, but that miserable slaughterer only left us the pelt, tail and bones.¡±


    Although Wu Jia¡¯s face remained emotionless, Shen Ling thought she could hear the sound of grinding teeth. ¡°It will suffice. You did well husband, but if you enter my kitchen again with your muddy boots . . . Hmph!¡±


    Eh? Shen Shudun was cowed instantly! He was too upset after his morning hunt and subsequent visit to the slaughterer. He hadn¡¯t considered his actions at all. ¡°Wife forgive me. My heart was unsteady.¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, leave the mess. Come over here.¡± Shen Shudun¡¯s apology was completely ignored!


    Shen Ling had already fetched a hand broom and was quickly sweeping up her mistake. When her mother called her, she shuffled over into the heart of the kitchen without hesitation.


    Wu Jia plucked three herbs from her garden wall, laying them on the counter. ¡°Five leaf clover. Red spring grass. Tundra cactus needle. Only one of these ingredients was used in the dishes you tasted today. Tell me which one.¡±


    Huh?! A test. If she knew there was going to be a test, she would have paid more attention!


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± ordered Master Wu.


    Shen Ling carefully observed each ingredient, before tossing samples one after the other into her mouth. Each had a distinct flavour, but none of them reminded her of Mother¡¯s previous dishes. Without another taste, how could she possibly decide?


    ¡°Well, Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Umm . . . red spring grass,¡± she guessed.


    ¡°Hmm, why do you think so?¡±


    ¡°Because . . . I remembered the dishes were coloured red.¡±


    ¡°Very good, Ling¡¯er. You pass.¡±


    ¡°Wa? I am right, it really is spring grass?¡±


    ¡°I tricked you. All three ingredients were in the dishes you ate today, but at your level only two are identifiable, the red spring grass, and the tundra cactus needle. To understand the nature of your first lesson, you must have knowledge of ingredients, and know that food is more than only the taste. Red spring grass brightened the dishes with visual appeal, while the tiny white needles of the tundra cactus brought textural crunch. To identify the red spring grass by colour is already a pass. Now, go to your father.¡±


    Shen Ling breathed out a sigh of relief, walking toward the back exit.


    ¡°Oh, and Ling¡¯er.¡± Shen Ling paused. ¡°Good guess.¡±


    Caught! Shen Ling¡¯s speed hastened in retreat.


    . . .


    Shen Shudun lead her down the narrow street of the third level. It was the first time since her arrival that Shen Ling had been out. She was never naturally reclusive, but ever since her arrival, a knot of fear of this world had built up in her abdomen. A wariness that was difficult to overcome from inside an Inn, despite the rampant hospitality.


    Shen Shudun was extremely nervous, his head swivelling with paranoia. After a few minutes of walking they went down the ramp to the second level, which had to be far enough. He shuffled his son through the usual crowd of villagers, into a crevice between buildings. No one was following.


    ¡°Master Shen, what¡¯s wrong?¡± asked an already apprehensive Shen Ling.


    ¡°Master Shen!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°No, Ling¡¯er, you must call me your most capable Papa. No need to be so formal.¡± Shudun knelt down beside his short armoured daughter. She really did look like a boy. ¡°What happens next, you must definitely not tell your mother!¡±


    !?!?


    ¡°What kind of look is that! You must tell me all about your mother¡¯s training methods. But absolutely you must not tell your mother that you told me.¡±


    What was this? All of the anxiety and suspicion, like being in a spy novel . . . Was her life and death training being used as an excuse for some sort of marital showdown!


    ¡°He he he,¡± mumbled her evil smiling father, as he rubbed his hands together. ¡°Father¡¯s training will definitely surpass mother¡¯s. Our father and son dishwater bond is at a whole nother level.¡±


    Take my training seriously!