A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 15

A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 15

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 2500

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Zi Long prepared a grand feast to see her father off.

The massive tent that she used to command her company was refurbished within an afternoon. Many of its sides were flared, and it was raised higher, open to permit more space and allow the cool desert night air to flow through. Lanterns were raised beneath the elevated tent, a stage was erected, and multitudes of tables were brought in. Upon those tables were food and drink aplenty, and all entertainers within the travelling place of exchange was hired at a premium to entertain guests.

Her competitors were invited, and many were stunned by the display of wealth and power. The more common folk of the caravan were influenced by her solely for the free food and drink that she offered for attendance. Those who craved power and influence were in every direction, mingling, and brushing shoulders with one another, beneath her gaze and as she observed all in her domain like an empress.

And, she was dressed like an empress, in splendid scarlet and gold robes with pure white furs lining the neck and sleeves. Bracelets of gold were upon her wrist, and the belt she wore to tie her robes together were inlaid with gems. None present could compare to her in terms of wealth, power, and even beauty.

And, that was as she desired, because none would pay attention to Zhang.

We were all seated in a faraway table from all the noise and commotion, yet we were being waited upon hand and foot by the servants Zi Long provided.

“You’d think they’d catch on sometime, but they never do. One good festival and all of a sudden they all forget to talk about Zhang.” Yuen had her hair tied up and pinned it to hold it together. She wore her usual, heavy coat with a hood, but beneath there was a blue silk dress that would’ve caught the eye of even the sternest of immortals. Zi Long had given it to her without a word, as though it was a spare piece of cloth. “Then again, usually, people with as much power as you tend to be more… overt, Zhang.”

Zhang, meanwhile, was clad in the same farmer's garb he always wore. A simple pair of linen trousers and matching shirt, both of which were a dull brown in color. He had simple wooden sandals on and the new hat provided to him by his daughter hung on his back, held by straps on his shoulders. If not for his pure white hair and red eyes, he would’ve looked like any other farmer setting out to toil in the fields.

Not a sorcerer of such potency that he could easily defeat a Dragon.

“What does overt mean?” Zhang tilted his head to the side, allowing much of his bangs to tilt to one side. His plate was covered in simple fare, while ours was far more lavish. He was consuming steaming rice, vegetables, and a roasted chicken with most of the seasoning kept to little more than salt and pepper and cumin. Meanwhile, we had a variety of small game lathered in herbs, fish both steamed and fried lathered in sauce, and rice that was tossed in a wok alongside a myriad of other ingredients. Only a suckling pig at the center of the table was missing to make the meal the envy of nobility. “Does it mean being noticed? Father always told me it's best to not be noticed, unless you want to be.”

If there was anything more terrifying than a man with Zhang’s abilities, it would a man with Zhang’s abilities that knew when to stay hidden and quiet, until nothing could be done to oppose him.

“Lady Zi Long has gone to great lengths to keep him from being noticed. I think it is for the best. Fame is not for everyone.” I gave my own opinion on the matter. Zi Long had known I’d refuse a silken dress, so she had prepared a new set of robes for me. They were of fine make, and I was sure that they could withstand the stress of combat. I felt content wearing them, though it was odd to feel them so fresh and new. Most of my clothes, even if they were the best the Beggars Sect could get, were usually always more worn. “Don’t fret over it, Zhang. It’s best to be as your father says, unnoticed unless you wish to be.”

“Bah, he should have loads of people looking after him and trying to get his favor.” Yuen stated and pointed her chopsticks at a nearby party. Thankfully, they didn’t notice the insulting behavior that she displayed. I didn’t wish for any altercations to occur during this celebration. “Look at the people who are getting attention. Not a inkling of power in them. Just money and their family history. Basically, nothing.”

“Not everyone subscribes to the same manner of thought that your people do, Yuen.” I reminded her with a shake of my head. Her response was a shrug of her shoulders, and a large bite from the leg of the suckling pig. She ate with little elegance, but I couldn’t fault her for it. I didn’t have much of a stomach for etiquette either, though I made sure to do my best to not be improper. “It depends on what Zhang wants. Zhang, do you believe that you should be the one being paid attention to and the one people try to influence?”

“Hm… nope! I like spending time with just the two of you!” He said those words with a wide and earnest smile. Yuen began to cough mid-swallow and put the leg of the suckling pig she’d ripped off down. A blush was on her face, as she regretted how she portrayed herself. I felt a blush on my own face. There was nothing for me to be ashamed of, I had acted properly this entire time, yet those words were enough to make my face run hot. “This is a lot better than being around strangers!”

I could only nod at those words, while Yuen did her best to regather what remained of her composure.

Then, a shadow fell upon our table.

It was Zi Long, but clad in her usual, less ostentatious robes and wearing a large set of glasses and with her hair in braids.

I looked back at where I thought Zi Long was, found her, and their called upon my senses to discern the truth.

The thing in Zi Long’s place was puppet that feigned life.

“Father could do better. That’s just a doll made of earth and painted over. If he wanted body double, he can make one with flesh and blood.” Zi Long declared, while taking a seat beside her father. She preened as he served her food. I had wondered why he had so much at his side at the table. His daughter wanted to be spoiled, and he obliged her without so much as a mote of questioning. “Thank you very much father. I do enjoy your cooking the most.”

“I do my best!” Zhang cheerfully accepted the praise, then she looked at us. For the first time, the normally composed young woman and rising Dragon seemed to be the little girl that she was supposed to be, as she was luxuriating on the fact that her father cooked her meal, while we ate luxuries prepared by chefs. It shouldn’t have affected me in the slightest, but I felt a flush on my cheeks as I quelled the sudden jealousy that arose within. Was I really jealous of a young woman being cooked a meal by her father, while I ate so luxuriously? That question lingered only for a moment in my mind before an answer came. I was. “Oh, if the two of you want to eat so more, there’s plenty for everyone!”

My plate was already full, as was Yuen’s, and when we both looked to one another we realized that we had to make a choice.

Look like gluttons and ask for more food, or allow this victory to Zi Long.

Though I wanted to eat Zhang’s cooking, and Yuen felt the same, the shame was too unbearable to overcome.

“Next time, Lord Zhang. I will be happy to partake, but I have plenty.” Zi Long’s contentment in her victory rose to greater heights with my words. She seemed as though she was luxuriating in a truly massive victory. More a cat that caught a true prize, rather than a Dragon. “I look forward to trying your cooking someday.”

“S-same here.” Yuen seemed as though she’d bitten the most sour of apples as she spoke, but she shook her head and turned back to her plate. She was slower as she returned to eating this time. “H-hey, what’ve you got planned after we go back to the city?”

I was glad to hear Yuen change the topic, even as Zi Long happily ate in the corner of my eye.

“Hm? I think I still need a few lessons in lots of things, but after that I need to go back to my farm. There’s loads of things to do. Oh, and I want to make the house a lot bigger with all the money I have now!” Zhang smiled as he spoke. Not a thought regarding our jealousy reaching him. If it did, he made no mention of it. Or, so I thought. From beneath the table, a small plate suddenly nudged me and I took note of just a small bite of food prepared for me, and noticed the same was given to Yuen. He noticed, which was shameful in the extreme, but I consumed the small, simple bite of chicken and rice contently. “I’m going to build a few houses and expand the farm, too. I want tenants! Father always said that the best farmers have tenants and they work beside them!”

“…Zhang, I doubt there’s anyone out there that can work on par with you when it comes to farming.” Yuen spoke, and I could only nod. Zhang farmed using his abilities. With a wave of his hand, fields were stripped of weeds, plowed, and seeds planted. Minutes later groves and fields of wheat would flourish, and summarily they would be harvested and flown to the back of a carriage. His abilities allowed him to create food in an instant. Even beef, pork, and chicken. As that thought occurred to me, I felt a deep warmth in my stomach from the singular bite of food he gave me, and had to pause. It was not dangerous, but there was immense amounts of energy there. More than enough to empower a middling member of a Sect to the status of elite. I would’ve had to rush to mediate to curtail the flow of power, if not for the improvements made to my physical form. “Are you… making your own tenants?”

Zhang’s eyes brightened at that.

“Oh, yes! There’s something in the scrolls that I always wanted to try and the preparations are complete! They’re called Divine Warriors!” The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. Stories, faint ones, returned to brilliant clarity to the forefront of my mind. The force that once held back immortals on the behest of the Emperor were called Divine Warriors. Through long-lost techniques and alchemy, talented children were given perfect bodies which could learn many arts, endure incredible damage, and stand on par with the greatest of immortals. When too many were lost due to conflicts with barbarians and calamities, the nation crumbled beneath the might of the immortals and the divine lineage ended. “I think a few hundred will do and they’ll be able to make whatever I make, according to the scrolls! And, they’ll be very good at fighting!”

The left my mouth before I could stop them.

“How good, Lord Zhang?”

Zhang tilted his head to the left at that question. His innocence was clear, but his intention were terrifying. I was saved from the brink of death and granted a body that I have yet to understood the limits of. He considered this blessing to be a mere courtesy. When he created food, the food that he created was created from vast and potent power, which could kill those who consumed it with preparation as their bodies would be broken apart by unmanageable power. Since he intended to create warriors and soldiers with power and ability that he considered immense, I could only wonder how mighty and strong these creatures are… and if they would shame even legends.

“Five of them should be able to beat Zi no problem without anyone getting hurt.” Zhang’s proclamation was simple, concise, and shook me to my core. The creatures he planned on creating would be on par with the true immortals of the greatest Sects. Individuals who have spent centuries training in solitude, gathering or creating powerful weapon, and imbibing elixirs of terrifying potency. He planned on creating hundreds of them. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be able to control them! They won’t hurt anyone, unless I tell them to!”

Those words shouldn’t have calmed me, but they did, and my nerves faded in an instant.

Instead, I felt relief.

With such a force at his back, then Zhang would surely be safe.

The idea sounded insane as I considered it. Zhang intended to create an army of immortals with terrifying and potent powers, yet all I could think was that it would guarantee his safety? I did not fear that it would cause calamities? That the balance of power would be unwound forevermore? That this era would come to an end and the times ahead would be fraught with moments beyond imagining?

I should’ve thought all those things.

I should’ve even considered raising up against Zhang and stopping his plans completely… yet the urge never came.

“You could do a lot of good with that sort of force, Zhang. Maybe, you should consider having these Divine Warriors as more than just farm helpers?”

“But, they’ll be really, really good at it! And, it would be mean to force them to fight after I made them! They should want to fight, right?” Zhang’s words soothed my conscience with every word he spoke. There was no humor in his voice, nor falsehood. He meant every word. He wanted these powerful creatures to be… tenders of his crops and defenders of his farm. Nothing more and nothing less. “Not only that, but the scrolls say that they can have kids! I can make my own wife instead of troubling anyone!”

And, in instant, the idea soured to me completely.