Chapter 5: Ch. 5 Fighter Association
Walking the streets of Glory City, I make an attempt at observing my surroundings. The calls from street peddlers, trying to sell their wares. The laughter of playing children as they scurry around adults. The chatter of adults as they barter for goods or gossip amongst themselves. The continuously changing smells on the breeze.
These are real people merely trying to survive in a brutal and merciless world. Each one is experiencing their own story, like myself.
What sets me apart from them, is the Library of Heaven's Path and even that isn't game-changing until I've gathered enough knowledge. My canon knowledge is only slightly valuable unless I adhere to the script. It's too early to grasp what changes I've just caused for the Alchemy Association.
Honestly, I can't rightly say Hu Shuo is some villainous figure lusting for power. I don't doubt for a second that he arranged for us to be alone, or even him having me watched this exact moment. But he didn't attempt to pressure a powerless orphan and even implied I will gain unobstructed access to at least one member of the Elder Council. For all I know, his plot to replace Gu Yan is just due to Gu Yan's incompetence in managing the Alchemy Association.
Continuing these thoughts will just lead me down Alice's rabbit hole. I accept the story never really exposed any characters' thoughts or personalities. I accept that I will encounter more clever or intelligent people, but I will not accept dancing to another's tune.
Hu Shuo may have pulled me into his schemes, but why can't he be pulled into mine? The Alchemy Association is powerful, wealthy and draws a massive amount of attention. Hu Shuo may have just unintentionally given me a very large shadow to hide in. His consideration for my desire to remain unnoticed will even limit my exposure to other members of the Alchemy Association.
Power moves will be off the table for a while. With Hu Shuo's intelligence, he'll discover the goal of any ill-prepared plan I bring him. Subtle goals wrapped in subtle plans will help preserve my intentions.
His token means that I can summon him without exposing my name or possibly even my true face. If only I had some cloud mud or knew a technique to alter my face. I guess I'll have to do this old school. Time for some clothes shopping.
Ducking into a well-shadowed alley, I withdraw several thousand demon spirit coins before hiding the interspatial ring in my belt. Those things draw attention even to the wealthy. A poor commoner with one will only draw suspicion.
Stuffing the money in my pockets, I weave my way around the market area until I find a suitable clothing shop. A visible fist full of demon spirit coins should allow the shop-keeper to consider me as a paying customer and avoid an awkward debate on my ability to pay.
In short order, I'm able to walk out of the clothing shop with a dozen different outfits of various colors and styles. Conveniently remembering to pick up two identical sets similar to what I'm currently wearing to not draw attention at school. My new wardrobe provides me with different costumes to help disguise my identity in future outings.
Although I did purchase a stylish black traditional kimono with a dark grey undershirt. There's even a black leather outer vest with a wide studded belt to go over the kimono top. Not gonna lie, seeing my reflection in the full-length mirror made me feel like a Chinese martial arts villain. It might be a little too flashy, but it's full-on bad-ass.
Putting that guilty pleasure to the side, I sneak into another alley to store my new purchases into my interspatial ring. Afterward, I make my way to the area of the market selling food. A quick stroll around some food stalls and I'm reminded of a fish market. The amount and variety of meats available are not what I was expecting.
A quick chat with one of the meat vendors reveals the meat comes from the demon beast kill missions from the Fighter Association. Making a note to visit them in the future, I purchased several kilos of produce. At another stall, I buy several large jugs of non-alcoholic juice and a large water skin. Oddly enough, the most expensive item per kilo was the cheese. Seems bones and hide aren't the only useful things Fighters take-off of demon beasts. Most the meat in Glory City comes from the weak demon beasts that are hunted.
With my shopping complete, I make my way back to my dorm. Once safely back in my room, I store all my purchases in my interspatial ring. I then decided it's finally time to check out my new Heaven's Path of Initiate Body Cultivator!
Just like Heaven's Path of Human Meridians, the book is addicting. Unlike Heaven's Path of Human Meridians, something seems off. I can't place my finger on it. Taking time to not, read, but examine the context exposes several deficiencies. I guess that's to be expected from a beginner's technique.
What really strikes me as odd though, is the mention of clogged meridians. The body technique mentions several benefits, one of which is the partial or complete removal of obstructions in meridians. I've memorized nearly the entire book of Heaven's Path of Human Meridians, and not once is clogs mentioned. It covers everything you can imagine. Covering the purpose, function, location and even mutations of meridians. However, it mentions nothing about clogs or injuries or any cures for the previously mentioned ailments.
Thinking of Gu Lan in the Draconic Ruins Realm is a shining example of partial paralysis due to clogged meridians after she was poisoned. Heaven's Path of Human Meridians lacks any mentions of negative effects.
Heaven's Path is imperfect indeed!
This just may be why you have to eventually break away from the Library of Heaven's Path and trust in yourself. I still have plenty of need for the Library of Heaven's Path right now, but I will have to forge my own separate path to reach the pinnacle.
Thinking of clogged meridians has me wondering about two things. The first being if I have any clogged meridians, and the second being if it's possible to weaponize this. Using Hyuga Neji from Naruto as an example, it may be possible to recreate my own version of the Gentle Fist. I'll have to come back to that idea later.
Carefully adhering to the process outlined in the physical body cultivation technique, I take my first real step to gaining strength. It would be nice if I could sit and meditate to improve my physical strength, but I'm going to have to do this the old fashion way.
After ten minutes, I find myself a heaving sweating mess on my dorm room floor. This isn't nearly as easy as I thought it would be. The combination of executing the forms properly, while following the breathing pattern, muscle tension rotation and mental imagery are far more difficult than I could have imagined.
After a twenty-minute break and some water, I make a second attempt at the body cultivator technique. Only lasting nine minutes the second time, I wisely decide to eat an early supper and call it a day. Soaking in a relaxing hot bath of alchemy ingredients and herbs, I read over the flaws of my medical bath. It will improve skin in nearly every way, but it will do little for physical attributes. I'll have to find the recipe Nie Li used in canon.
I finally crawl into bed for some much-needed rest. Today was a roller-coaster of ups and downs, but it was so worth it.
The chime of bells announces the start of a new day. Climbing out of bed is met with groans as I'm sore in places that shouldn't ever be sore. Every movement sends a piercing ache through my muscles.
It's safe to say the body cultivation technique is working. The soreness should be the result of microscopic damage to the muscle fibers. Progress is being made. Unfortunately, waiting for my body to recover before I attempt the body cultivation technique again will delay progress.
It might be wishful thinking, but maybe trying to circulate my soul force through my body will help speed recovery. No harm in trying.
Laying back down on the bed, I begin concentrating on moving my soul force within my body. Soul force fills like a thick fog. It's hard to estimate how much soul force I have, but it feels thin and airy. Shortly, my soul force is moving along the meridian pathways I've committed to memory. After grasping the method of moving my soul force, I slowly nudge it into large muscle groups. It's an awkward and faint feeling. Initially, I constantly lose control and allow the soul force to return to its natural state. Ever so gradually, my control increases and I'm able to move my soul force into my muscles. Allowing it to circulate several times before shifting it on to another muscle group.
Rising from bed a second time is much easier. There is still plenty of muscle soreness, but it's much more manageable. I'll attempt to repeat this throughout the day and hope that I've recovered enough to attempt another round of body cultivation tonight.
Rushing through my morning routine, I'm sitting in my classroom with several minutes to spare before class begins. I intend to focus on the institute's library until all the books have been absorbed.
As teacher Xia began the propaganda campaign, I would periodically focus on circulating my soul force through my muscles. With each attempt, the soreness is lessened a little bit more. Luckily teacher Xia doesn't really seem to worry if all the students are paying attention, self-included.
Looking around the classroom shows the class has a wide range of attention being given to teacher Xia. Some students are diligently taking notes and listening with their full attention. Some are splitting their time between paying attention and spacing out. There's even a few struggling to keep their eyes open. My table mate, Liu Yang seems to be continuing in his tradition of laying his head on the table. It doesn't look like he's sleeping, but he's not paying a lot of attention to class either.
Through it all, teacher Xia carries on with his lesson undisturbed. This actually serves me quite well. I can focus on more important things than worrying if I'll be called on to recite that latest line of propaganda.
The rest of the class is spent with me keeping half an ear open to teacher Xia's lesson and circulating my soul force. Moving my soul force throughout my body has gradually become easier with each attempt. By the time I'm making my way towards the institute's library, my soreness has been reduced to a minor inconvenience.
Taking a chance, I push myself to absorb more books than previously before taking a short break. My intent is to try to bring on a small migraine to test if circulating soul force through my head will ease the pain.
It's a bit of a gamble on the number to absorb, just over an hour and 4,000 books later, I feel a migraine creeping on. I immediately start circulating my soul force and directing it through my head. It causes a very odd and light feeling. After several minutes of continuously moving my soul force through my head, there's not even a trace of pain left.
There has definitely been some improvement. It took an extra twenty minutes, and nearly 900 additional books, to cause a migraine. There has been a massive improvement since the first time a debilitating migraine was brought on.
If I can maintain this rate of absorption, the institute's library will be finished in less than two weeks. It could be completed even faster if I spend my entire off day working on it.
Giving it some thought, I need to push through the boredom and finish the institute's library as fast as possible. There might even be several Heaven's Path books created from it. If not, there are plenty of places in and around Glory City to collect more books.
By the time the library is closing, my total count of works absorbed today is over 16,000. After tomorrow, the only books left in the library to absorb will be the untranslated works. There's something about the mystery of it all that has me excited to get to those books and tomes. Somewhat like searching for buried treasure or playing the lottery. My sense of adventure is telling me there's something ground-breaking hidden in there, just waiting to be discovered.
Getting back to the dormitory room, my body is only slightly sore. Deciding to take advantage of the time I have before canon kicks off, I push through a round of body cultivation. Reaching the 14-minute mark before collapsing is a nice surprise. I cycle soul force through my body several times before another round of body cultivation.
Calling it quits for the night, I drag myself to the communal bathroom and cleaning up. Laying in bed after a snack of meat and fruit, I decide on a daily routine for the next foreseeable future.
After completing another day of classes taught by teacher Xia, I make my way off of school grounds, in search of the Fighter Association.
It is located in the southern part of Central District, so it's a bit of a walk from the Holy Orchid Institute. Looking at the building, I'm a bit disappointed. While large and formidable, it lacks the artistic quality so common in a vast majority of the larger estates.
I make my way into a nearby alleyway. Pulling out a set of dark brown clothes and a cloak, I quickly switch outfits. Adding additional padding to the shoulders and chest area gives the appearance of an extra 10 kilos of mass. Boots with a raised heel give me several extra centimeters of height. I use a bit of homemade makeup to thicken my eyebrows and create the illusion of deep-set eyes. A bit of diluted ink round my face and small pieces of cloth stuffed in my cheeks finishes off the disguise.
Putting the cloak hood up, I use a handheld mirror to check out my new appearance. While not as efficient as I was hoping, it succeeds in making me look like a slightly dirty 17 year old that's spent a lot of time in the sun. Regardless, it'll get the job done.
I make my way out of the alley and into the entrance to the Fighter Association. The front lobby is surprisingly large with many doors and hallways leading deeper into the building. In the center of the room is a large reception desk with several people in blue uniforms working.
I approach a young man standing at the reception desk looking dreadfully bored. Stereotyping him as having a higher chance of not looking too closely at my disguise, instead of a grey-haired lady waiting patiently behind the polished counter.
It looks like the odds are in my favor because, after a brief introduction, the bored young man seems to lack any real interest in me. He was still dutiful in giving me an introduction to the Fighter Association and adequately answering the few questions I had.
Is seems the main use of the Fighter Association is to allow Aristocrat Families, Noble Families, and Major Families to recruit Fighters and post missions. While even the weakest titled Family still has several hundred Fighters, many still use the Fighter Association to boost their guard ranks or accomplish their purge missions.
Learning of purge missions offered me a possible explanation of how the Dark Guild was able to use demon beasts to attack Glory City. There appears to be a drawback to all the benefits enjoyed by a titled Family. Each titled Family will be assigned an area around Glory City, and ordered to hunt and patrol their area of responsibility. As needed proof of enforcing their task, the titled Family must bring in a certain amount of demon beast corpses each month. This is intended to establish a safe zone around Glory City and provide a secondary source of food for the citizens.
Many titled Families will post purge missions with the Fighter Association to fulfill their responsibilities without tying up their family members. This would typically allow the titled Family to use its own forces to explore ruins and other more profitable tasks.
The receptionist wouldn't disclose the identity of anyone that posts a mission with the Fighter Association. However, I'm willing to bet the Sacred Family is not one of their customers.
With the assumption that I was looking for work, the receptionist provided a detailed summary of common purge missions. It seems that the purge missions are assigned to groups of ten to twenty and take up to two weeks to fulfill. A bronze rank fighter can reasonably expect to make between 1,000 and 3,000 demon spirit coins per month.
After registering with the Fighter Association under a fake identity, I was given a tour of the grounds. Making our way to the training grounds gives me an opportunity to use the Library of Heaven's Path. Internally thinking, 'Flaws', as I watch the fighters going through unarmed and weapons forms gives me a book and each person. The information is extremely detailed, including basic information to very personal and intimate details.
This place is like a treasure chest for future golden pages!
The attendant explained that the Fighter Association is paid a fee for each Fighter a customer needs. Due to this, the individual Fighter doesn't need to pay a registration fee. Continuing the tour, I was shown all the amenities the association had to offer. There were several training areas, lounges, and even a medical wing. For a small fee, one could even receive training in a wide variety of fields from one of their instructors. But what really had my attention, was for a fee of 100 demon spirit coins per day, you could have full access to their library.
I gladly paid the fee and got straight to work absorbing everything available. There were books on medical treatments, survival, tracking, demon beasts, and a vast selection of combat styles. In short order, I finished absorbing all the Fighter Association had to offer. I wasn't able to create any Heaven's Path books, but I was able to eliminate many flaws.
Debating on what other use I can find for the Fighter Association, I was struck with a brilliant idea. Use the Fighters themselves!
Returning to the front of the building, I tracked down the previous receptionist and stated my offer. I was putting up 250,000 demon spirit coins for a mission. The mission would pay each fighter 2,000 demon spirit coins for a book, not available in the Fighter Association, on advance combat forms, survival, disguise, and personal fighting experiences. I also included a questionnaire to be filled out by each Fighter. The questions were all about the best way to avoid and counter ever possible unarmed attack I could think of. This should eliminate the remaining flaws in the Heaven's Path books on footwork and unarmed combat.
Even after the Fighter Association deducts their standard fee, that should still be over 100 additional books. While I'm not expecting anything groundbreaking, every little bit will undoubtedly help. The appeal of easy money should draw a fair amount of attention, plus having the Fighter Association review the books before payment will spare me the trouble.
I leave the Fighter Association after agreeing to return in four weeks to collect my books. A quick stop to remove my disguise, I return to the Holy Orchid Institute feeling excited. The excitement wears off once I realize I still have body cultivating to do. Well, time to get to work.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone