A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 9

A Peasant’s Guide To Sorcerery: 9

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 2500

…

Ying took a deep breath and did her utmost to clear her mind, but the moment she opened her eyes, all the calm she tried to muster faded in an instant.

Zhang was, naturally, standing and smiling right in front of her after mastering the basics of swordsmanship in a week.

A week.

“Did I do well, Ying?” Zhang asked her the question without any hint of pride. It was an honest question, despite his meteoric achievement that would’ve shamed so many others. The white-haired young man with an ever-present smile, clad in sweat-soaked robes, was nothing but earnest. “I hope that I did! You’ve helped me so much.”

Ying pushed aside her pride and frustration, at the sight of someone somehow becoming good enough to learn the Beggar Sect’s style of swordsmanship in a week, and plastered a smile on her face.

“Yes, Lord Zhang, you’ve done well. The basics of swordsmanship are yours now.” Ying doubted that she’d be able to say those words to anyone else, besides Zhang. Even if that someone had saved her life, and nursed her back to help, she’d have to walk away from witnessing the achievement and hearing those words. Only Zhang’s complete earnest nature and lack of malice allowed her to continue standing before him now. “It is a firm foundation from which you can learn any style of swordsmanship.”

Zhang nodded and listened to her every word with a smile.

“Oh, that’ll be useful! It’s always good to know more things.” Zhang nodded slowly, before gesturing at himself. In a moment the sweat and grime on his body were banished away and he looked completely refreshed. The simple blade he carried was sharpened at the same time. Ying almost stepped back as he went towards her and almost came a step too close. Was he going to ask her to give it to him— “Let’s go eat lunch!”

Relief and… frustration… filled Ying at those words as Zhang walked past her with a hum towards the terrace where Fa’Bai was preparing their lunch.

The Aspirant of the Beggar Sect frowned at herself at her frustration.

She couldn’t deny the fact that she felt drawn to Zhang, but her life and destiny was a dangerous one that she couldn’t bring anyone else into. Zhang was kind and strong, but the wars between Sects was filled with duplicity and cunning, showcasing wholeheartedly the terrible ends man would resort to, so they would achieve their goals. More than anything, she didn’t want to show such a world to Zhang.

He was better suited for a good, quiet life bereft of interesting times.

So, Ying cast aside her frustration and walked forward after discarding her personal feelings, despite the light ache in her heart.

Her time here was coming to end soon, but at least she will repay her debts.

…

The Fei’Yen clan became half-decent hosts, and accommodated lifting Zhang up from a simple household. With his new wealth, prestige, and acknowledgement, Zhang was easily considered minor nobility and an asset to the city. However, that wealth and power were constrained to a single generation, especially if he was wed to someone without the correct pedigree.

Thus, Ying instructed Fa’Bai to find someone that could guide Zhang further.

It was difficult to get a marriage into a wealthy or ruling family of any city-state, however, it was also true that many families fell out of their positions due to the conflicts that naturally arose. Clans clashed against one another, alliances fell apart, and people fell out of favor and wealth with ease. From the remnants of those families were survivors who held the keys to the upper rungs of society, and they were perfect for heading families that stayed stable and prosperous, but away from the machinations of the upper families.

Some would call them dregs and the defeated, but Ying thought of them as those humble enough to accept loss and keep their lives in the face of great danger.

So, she had to wonder how Fa’Bai managed to find the young woman before her as a suitable bride for Zhang.

“You are an… archivist?”

“Yep! I’ve been around for a few years and I’ve made my bed in the city just fine!” Yuen spoke casually and was strangely adorned with a thick coat, pants, and boots in the middle of spring. It was not sweltering, but the clothes were more befitting a mountain village than in a valley. “I’ve got some land of my own, and I heard that someone managed to climb the ranks like I did, so I wanted to see if they’re willing to work with me!”

Ying idly took note of the prim, young woman’s words.

There was something about her that seemed off, especially with her smile that seemed a bit too wide.

But the Beggar Sect’s heir disregarded that for the moment.

Work with me.

Climb the ranks.

Land of my own.

“So, you intend the work with Zhang to maintain your current lands. It will be a marriage of convenience?” Ying put the pieces together and frowned as she felt relief at that thought. She should’ve felt nothing. “You will bare heirs for him properly and your children together will be the heirs?”

“Well, if he wants to! I’m fine with us just having kids with people with love and picking the best one out to take all of it.” Yuen admitted and Ying nodded. Marriages were a means of political expedience. A marriage where both sides paid respects to one another and kept their romance private and apart of their social lives was considered decent enough. “I can’t say anything, though. I haven’t met the guy! Maybe, we’ll end up liking each other enough to do things the traditional way, hah!”

Ying’s eye twitched at those words, but after a steadying breath, she nodded.

The young woman had good standing as a government archivist, her own lands purchased with her own funds, and an open mind whose goal was aimed towards stability.

By all means, Yuen was a good candidate to present to Zhang, or at least an individual that could wait and be a good backup if things fell through.

Still, though, she felt like there was something off with the short-haired young woman before her.

“Hm, well then, let’s have the two of you meet.” Ying nodded after a moment’s thought. Fa’Bai had been teaching Zhang how to talk to others of high standing and dressed him better for the occasion. This was a good opportunity for him to meet others. Not only that, but he had a strange intuition when it came to others. Over the course of the last few weeks, he kept everyone on the Fei’yen estate at arm’s length, while staying close to her and Fa’Bai. “We can consider it a preliminary meeting, so both of our sides can decide one what to do in the future.”

“Sure, that sounds great.” Yuen nodded and rose, as did Ying. “Lead the way, Lady Ying!”

The heir to the Beggar’s Sect gave a deft nod at that and led the young woman into the garden and towards the garden pavilion.

Ying’s heart sank slightly as she found Fa’Bai protesting over Zhang cooking rice crackers for a snack.

The long-haired sword-user almost turned herself and her guest back only to find her guest not present.

“Zhang!” Yuen’s voice held a note of surprise and relief that caught Ying by surprise. The young woman was rushing towards Zhang with no small amount of haste. “Where have you been!?”

“Oh, hi, Yuen!” Zhang greeted the young woman with a wave of his free hand. The other fanning puffing rice crackers over a charcoal stove. In his silk robes, meant for formal marriage arrangements, he looked incredibly out of place. Like a young, male heir to a grand family cooking peasant’s fare, except he was a mystic of immense power and ability… that was cooking and eating peasant’s fare with gusto. “Would you like a rice cracker?”

“No! I’m here to ask why you haven’t come back!” Yuen reached Zhang and proceeded to huff and place her hands on her hips to lecture him. Ying found her steps suddenly increasing in speed, until she was but a few paces away. A frown crossed her face. What had she intended to do at the sight of their closeness? “You didn’t leave a note or anything about where you went, so I was worried!”

Zhang tilted his head in confusion at those words and Ying felt relief wash over her.

“But we didn’t have any plans?” Zhang asked curiously, while nibbling on a crisped rice cracker. He offered a fresh on to Ying without a hint of hesitation. She accepted it, while Fa’Bai looked at her aghast, only for the servant’s shoulders to slump. The situation was irrecoverable. “Did you need help with your… things, again?”

“No. That stuff is fine. But… look… what are you doing here with… with everything?” Yuen glanced her way and Ying stood straight and matched the young woman’s gaze. For a split second, she felt her sword hand itch, as the fact that the young woman was an Aspirant become obvious as well. “Why did you bring him here?”

Ying prepared herself to speak of her rescue and intentions, but the words that left her mouth were different.

Entirely different.

“That is up to Zhang to entrust you with. Not I.” Ying cut the matter off at the root and surprised herself at her own hostility. Her temper was higher than she expected against the young woman. “If he wishes to share the truth, then it will be from his own lips.”

Yuen’s lips curled into a frown, and they opened to say something, but Zhang spoke again.

“Oh, you can tell Ying about my magic, Yuen! I saved Ying and she’s been helping me with everything, it’s amazing!” Zhang gushed with a wide smile and Ying was taken aback by effusive praise. For some reason, Yuen was staring at her oddly, until she regained her composure. “We’ve been lots of things, so that I can get a wife, make sure that my farm is successful, and get more help from the city if I need it!”

Yuen’s smile grew a bit strained, but Ying could feel her calming down and the urge to wield her sword faded.

“Ah, that’s great. Thank goodness.” The young woman fell onto her rear and sat on the ground next to Zhang and put an arm over his shoulder. The casual movement was accepted by Zhang and made Ying stare, as they slipped next to each other comfortably. Despite the lack of physical threat, the Beggar Sect swordswoman felt like she was being challenged. “Alright, then, I’ll be your wife and settle that problem.”

The declaration took Ying and Fa’Bai off guard, but before either could speak at the sudden declaration, Zhang did.

“Yuen, don’t be silly! You said that you didn’t want to get married! You don’t need to do something you don’t like, just because you want to help me! Especially when you have all those things you need to do!” Zhang’s words converted all the building animosity in Ying’s chest into pity in an instant, especially as Yuen slumped in an instant at those words. Had she just found a kindred spirit? “As your friend, I can’t let you do something like that, while you have something important to do!”

“Ha-hah, right… yeah… I did say all of that.” Yuen’s head tilted to the side and her eyes were dull. Ying had the distinct feeling that this conversation happened before. Perhaps many times. Zhang placed a lot of value in words… and at that moment her own decision and words of Zhang came to the forefront of her mind and staggered her. She had to hold onto one of the nearby pavilion’s posts to steady herself. “I need to accomplish all my dreams and aspirations first, h-huh?”

“Don’t worry, it sounds very difficult, but I’ll do my best to help you as your friend!” Zhang’s wide smile held no malice, but they struck like thunderbolts. “Just like Ying! I want you both to succeed and reach your dreams. I’ll cheer you on every step of the way and make sure you don’t stop!”

A gurgling sound left Yuen’s lips, like her soul escaping her body, and Ying commiserated with the young woman completely and utterly.

Ying had told him that her goal was the bring the Beggar Sect to prominence, to the point where all other Sects would have to control themselves long enough for the Empire to be reforged, and he’d said he’d help her all he could. She could only imagine that Yuen gained Zhang’s help for an equally monumental task, given the short-haired archivist’s adverse response.

They both cornered themselves by gaining Zhang’s unconditional, immutable, and single-minded support.

…

Yuen lay defeated on the floor of the pavilion after Fa’Bai intervened and shepherded Zhang away.

Ying decided to take a seat next to the young woman.

After a few moments of silence in the garden, with the faint scent of rice crackers in the air, the young woman spoke.

“I’m sure you noticed already, but I’m not normal. To keep things short, I’m strong, have problems, and told Zhang I need to focus on those problems. Nice to meet you.”

Ying allowed herself a chuckle.

“I have done the same. Nice to meet you as well.” Ying sighed and shook her head. After letting herself think on the matter, especially after reviewing her reactions the last few hours, she couldn’t deny it any longer. Her affection for Zhang was so high that it was seriously clouding her judgement. “I feel like if I continue on my path and keep him away, I’ll feel nothing but regret.”

It was Yuen’s turn to laugh and nod.

“Yep. Sounds about right… but keeping him away keeps him safe and keeps him from taking the legs off of a lot of people”

“Legs? He turned bandits to mulch.”

“He only takes legs off, if he wants to keep you alive. He puts them back on.”

“Ah.”

Ying idly considered those words.

She did fear Zhang’s inclusion into the greater world of Sects, Aspirants, and Immortals by asking for his aid.

But without his direct aid, which would reveal him, she would find little progress in her current goals.

She would essentially return to her previous life, struggle and receive assistance on her path towards that goal, but never more than that unless a miracle occurred.

Another miracle besides Zhang himself.

Ying closed her eyes for a moment, considered the uncertainty of the future and how unusual it was for her to be alive at this very moment, before standing.

This hesitation was unbecoming of her.

The path she envisioned was muddy and unknown, as Zhang’s presence threw everything into disarray, but the only other paths stripped her of a possibility that she wanted to have.

So, she decided at that moment that she would ask for Zhang’s full support and see things through as well as she could.