A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 10

A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 10

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 2500

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Ying sighed and pressed her fingers against her temple, while Yuen gave her a slight smile from across the table.

“All the things he has shown me… is him holding back?” Ying could barely recount any of the things that Zhang did now. All the fantastic and strange powers he had melded together. From how he willed the forest to kill bandits, to creating a sword of unparalleled might from nothing, everything simply fused together into a mass of unknowable things that she could barely comprehend. “He can do more!?”

Yuen laughed and took a sip of tea.

“From what I’ve learned and studied about what he has at his disposal, it would be strange if he didn’t. All he’s shown willingly are things that were common in ancient times of legend.” Yuen spoke with the bearing of an Archivist and Ying managed to muster the ability to nod in understanding. Faintly, she recalled the few lessons in history her Sect could offer her, and vaguely recalled that mysticism and arcane arts were more common in the past. “He holds back his true strengths, because those are what the books deemed secret. All other things are easily shared.”

“That makes… a frightening amount of sense. Zhang puts great stock in the written word. It’s fortunate that he has not been waylaid by stranger ideas.” Ying paled at the thought of Zhang finding the texts of forbidden arts, or stolen techniques of immortals, both of which could easily cause a great calamity if learned and spread. “I suppose that you have some idea for keeping such a thing from happening?”

Yuen laughed and cast her gaze around the garden where they were meeting.

“Besides desperately teaching Zhang how to think for himself, I’ve done my utmost to get every scroll of note out of his way. If you think that it would be terrifying if he learned some ancient, forbidden technique, think on his actions if he believed every word of a philosopher long dead.” Yuen shook her head, but shivered at her own words. “Zhang is too kind. He would wage a one-man war against any injustice in his presence. We are fortunate that he is not on the warpath and willing to stay firmly rooted in his ancestral lands… or, rather, we were.”

“Letting him live as a hermit would’ve only led to disaster. You said so yourself that he has no limits when he is alone, and that he is easily molded by foreign ideas. Here he is learning etiquette, the way the world works, and is building a structure that can keep him stable.” Ying defended her actions, but shook her head after a moment. A sigh left the long-haired swordswoman’s lips. Her eyes narrowed, but she kept her anger in check, even as Yuen raised an eyebrow at her assertions. “Yes, I understand that it’s causing a great deal of problems. But he is learning quickly and becoming capable. Soon, with some aid, he can handle more grievous matters with less chance of causing a disaster.”

“Hmph, and I thought that I thought highly of him. I’m surprised you that you think he can even make mistakes.” Yuen rolled her eyes and Ying levelled a glare at her. The short-haired Archivist covered in a large coat simply shrugged in return. “Perhaps, you’re right. Zhang could use more experience with others to protect himself. However, you must admit that this is more likely to cause problems. Problems he might not be able to handle.”

“I do admit that, and I am willing to take responsibility for them. He saved my life and I granted me power out of simple kindness. If I were to abscond and leave with his gifts, I would be no better than the people my Sect oppose.” Ying frowned at the mere thought of taking and giving nothing in return, as most Immortals and their stronger Aspirants did. Those with power had no hesitation when it came to abusing the power that they gained to lord over others. Ying swore to herself long ago that she would not be like them. “I have responsibilities to attend to, enemies to fight, and allies to defend, but beyond them all lies the man who I owe my life too. In fact, the Beggar Sect would be shamed, if the one who would inherit the mantle of Sect Leader did not repay their debts.”

At Ying’s fervent words, Yuen shook her head and sighed.

“Well, I suppose that I should be thankful that I have such a straightlaced ally. One that’s even willing to risk an entire city for the sake of her own honor and ideals.” Yuen blithely replied, before crossing her arms. She turned her gaze to the Fei’Yen compound, which still housed Zhang as he was tutored and grew accustomed to the traditions of nobility. “I have a few concerns, but I can see that you’ve done your utmost to clear the way, and help him walk that way yourself. The only question is… are you truly ready to help him confront the problems that he has at his disposal? After all… it’s only another week before the full moon.”

Ying tilted her head in confusion at those words.

“The full moon? Why does that have any significance?”

Ying regretted those words, because Yuen’s lips suddenly split in a smile that wouldn’t have looked out of place upon the most satisfied of felines.

“Oh, he hasn’t told you? How strange. I thought that two of you were the absolute closest.”

Ying felt a sudden rise in the heat within her chest, to the point where her hand was drawn to her waist, until she managed to catch herself and shake off the rage that she felt. Confusion filled her a moment later, because it was merely a tease by Yuen about her longer relation to Zhang. A faint blush colored the swordswoman’s ears when she took into account why she would feel so strongly so quickly, especially as Yuen’s grin widened immensely.

The Beggar Sect’s foremost Aspirant cleared her throat.

“…I would appreciate you sharing that knowledge with me. We are both working with Zhang and wish to help him.”

“Hm, it’s pretty personal, so I think that Zhang should tell you himself.” Yuen preened in her seat, obviously enjoying her newfound position. However, soon enough, Ying’s glare broke the short-haired Archivist’s defenses. A sigh left Yuen’s lips and she raised her hands in defeat. “Fine. I’ll ask him to tell you. We have need of someone of your skill, anyway.”

Ying nodded at those words.

She was completely ready to help Zhang in whatever capacity he required.

…

Ying stared at Zhang, while he simply continued to smile like he hadn’t broken her worldview in half.

Yuen snickered in the corner of the room that Zhang used to study, which only had a few cushions, a table, and many scrolls.

Ying barely paid the archivist and the room a moment of thought.

It took everything she had to repeat a fragment of Zhang’s words.

“You have a daughter.”

“Mhmm! She’s the best!” Zhang beamed and for a second Ying was tempted to just nod and let go of her confusion, but she continued on.

“Who is a dragon… hatched from an egg… that you found floating down a river.”

“The river right next to my house, yes! Lots of things flow down it. I asked the spirit of the river why that was the case, but she didn’t know either! Once, I found a whole wagon in there and I kept it!” Yuen nodded at Zhang’s enthusiastic replies, filing the terrifying truths she encountered for later, while focusing on the issue at hand. “Ying, you’re really great at paying attention. It’s hard for me sometimes!”

“You think too quickly, it’s a common problem for most Aspirants. That’s why you’re fine with books, but not with traditional learning.” Ying idly explained a fact and Zhang fervently nodded with glee at the information. It was a distracting sight, but she focused on what was important. The Dragon. “You love your daughter very much, and you said that she cares for you as well, so why must you fight her?”

“Because it’s important to make her the strongest Dragon ever!” Zhang proclaimed his intentions to shake the very heavens with a smile. “I can’t limit my daughter’s potential! I want her to be at her very best, so I’ll go through every single Strife. Even the ones people said are impossible, until my daughter can beat everything!”

Ying vaguely recalled in legend that the lineage of Emperors derived itself from a Dragon that could shatter a mountain with a swing of its tail.

It created a dynasty that lasted for millennia and only floundered when its blood ran thin after hundreds of generations.

“Can your daughter… shatter a mountain with her tail?” Ying asked, despite a part of her weakly saying she shouldn’t.

“Oh, she did that the first week to try and suppress me! Now she just uses them to hide from me and launch sneak attacks. Much more effective! She’s so smart!” Zhang gushed about his daughter without a semblance of ire, despite engaging her every full-moon in matches where he could die.

“…I see.” Ying took a moment to take a seat on one of the room’s few seating cushions. She considered the situation carefully, before taking a deep breath. “Zhang, how are you keeping these duels a secret?”

Ying chose to focus on the practical problems and left her qualms about the theoretical aside.

“Oh, that’s easy. I just fix up everything that we damage before anyone notices. Unless you’re paying really close attention, it’ll be really hard to find anything.” Zhang spoke of removing damage that would change the very lands itself as though as it was easy as sweeping with a broom. Ying idly considered that might be the case for someone of Zhang’s ability. The white-haired, ever-smiling sorcerer could truly consider the matter to be just as simple as tidying up. “In the scrolls, it said that its best to not leave behind any tracks, so I make sure no knows about my duels with my daughter.”

Ying nodded, tried to find another question to ask, but came up short.

Her shoulders slumped as she found herself having to face the full brunt of Zhang’s words.

Zhang found a Dragon’s egg floating down the river, provided the correct environment for it to hatch within his shack, and raised that Dragon. When the Dragon attacked him in her first period of strife, he defeated it, and searched for answers. After that, he began engaging a legendary creature that could be called the cornerstone of the greatest dynasty to ever exist in ritual combat. He did this every month and intended to keep doing it, until he managed to make his daughter the strongest being in existence, by completing every period of strife without dying.

It occurred to Ying that would make Zhang the strongest, because he would have to not perish in all of those duels, which was apparently an unheard feat.

Ying pondered all those thoughts for a long time… before shaking her head.

Sometimes, as her teacher taught her, it was simply easier to not think.

“I will help you. Just tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll do my utmost to provide you with assistance.” Ying’s hand trembled in fear and her heart raced at the thought of fighting against such a powerful foe. However, she was familiar with the fear and anticipation that came with battle. More than anything else, the sensations soothed her. She’d worried that all of Zhang’s gifts to her rid her of those emotions, but now they came to the forefront against a true threat, like they always did. She was still herself. “My sword is yours.”

“But I gave that to you, Ying! Why would you give it back?” Zhang spoke and gazed upon her with sad eyes, which made Ying sputter in surprise. The innocence and naivete of the sorcerer struck her with the force of a battering ram.

“I mean that I will use the sword that you gave me to aid you, Zhang.” Ying forced herself to speak, while ignoring the faint flush on her face. Her affection wasn’t derived from Zhang’s lack of social graces and understanding. She felt for him because of the obvious empathy in his voice and concern for doing something wrong. His words were earnest and derived from good intentions. It made his more violent feats all the more terrifying, but he truly did everything he could from the goodness of his heart. “In the next battle that you have with your daughter, I will be more than happy to help.”

Zhang’s smile widened at those words.

“Oh, that would be amazing! Your help would make things a lot easier!” Zhang stood up and gestured at the room. A faint shimmer suffused the walls and doors. Ying considered opening one, but her instincts screamed at her not to, which told her all she needed to know about the magic she just witnessed. Zhang bobbed his head at his work, before turning back to Ying. “Okay, please take your clothes off!”

Ying’s mind shorted for a second and she recalled that Yuen was present in the room, while Zhang beamed at her with a smile.

Swallowing thickly in apprehension, Ying managed to speak instead of assuming Zhang’s intentions.

And, assuming that Zhang’s intentions were the same as her own.

“W-why?”

“Oh, because I need to help you more, before we fight. I’ll make you the strongest that I can make you, so that you’ll be able to fight against my daughter for sure!” Zhang explained with absolute certainty and conviction, as well as a complete lack of perversion. His eyes traced over Ying and she felt as though he was looking past her skin into her muscle, nerves, and marrow. Perhaps, he was even looking at her soul. “These are special, and I can get rid of them if you ever want them removed, but they take a bit of time to do. But, don’t worry, I’ll make sure that the room won’t be cold.”

Ying idly nodded at the words, understanding that this was necessary for her to fight against Dragons, and her hands drifted to undress.

She almost managed to think of the matter clinically and without any emotion, until Yuen spoke.

“Don’t worry about keeping the room cold, Zhang. I’m sure that Ying’s plenty heated!”

“Oh? But its almost winter and I can tell that she’ll be cold! Is she using some sort of invisible technique to hold it off?”

“Mhmm, all women have a special furnace inside that can get very hot under special circumstances.”

“Really!”

“Yep.”

Ying shot a glare at Yuen at her words, as she felt like her whole body was burning, but she kept her back straight and ensured her composure wouldn’t fail.

Her vengeance upon the Archivist would come at a later date, thus she swore to herself.