17. Cultivating and Training (3)
Several days had passed since the assessment. The small Jiu family compound had settled into a quiet but focused rhythm of preparation. Every morning and evening the courtyard echoed with the sounds of training. The air carried the faint scent of sweat, herbal tea, and the crispness of autumn beginning to settle over Snow Wind City. Lanterns burned longer into the night as the family pushed themselves in the final stretch before departure.
Jiu Yin stood in the shaded corner of the courtyard, fists clenched as he finished another set of strikes. His body had grown noticeably stronger. Through relentless physical training during the day and careful Qi circulation at night, he had advanced to the fourth rank of Iron Warrior. It was steady progress. Not flashy, but reliable. Each punch carried more weight. Each movement felt more natural in this vessel. Yet he knew it was still only the beginning.
The dire bear essence had long been used up. What sustained him now was the Qi he had taken from the two men he had slain in the alleys. It was not as rich or potent as the demonic beast’s blood, but it was enough. It would last him several more days at least. The crimson thirst was still present, but it was manageable for now. A quiet pressure rather than an overwhelming need.
More importantly, he could sense that his new blood thrall would wake any moment. The connection was faint but unmistakable. A subtle thread of awareness tugged at the back of his mind. Yan Qing had been lying motionless in his room for the required time. In two more days the clan would escort the selected youths to the gathering point for the tournament. He needed her stable before then.
After the evening meal, when his mother and sister had retired for the night, Jiu Yin slipped into his quarters. The room was dimly lit by a single lantern. Yan Qing lay on his hard wooden bed, still and pale. Her long black hair fanned out across the pillow. Her chest rose and fell with the shallowest of breaths. She looked peaceful, but he knew the transformation was nearly complete.
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He sat down beside the bed and rolled up his sleeve. With a calm, practiced motion he extended one claw and made a small cut along his forearm. Dark crimson blood welled up immediately. He held a small vial beneath the cut and let several mouthfuls fill it. The blood was rich with his power. It would keep her sane when she woke. Without it, the thirst would drive her mad.
As the vial filled, Jiu Yin’s thoughts drifted. This was his first time creating a thrall. In his previous world he had never needed to. Now it felt necessary. A single loyal subordinate could be the beginning of something greater. He would have to be careful. If she woke unstable or drew too much attention, everything could unravel before the tournament even began.
He sealed the first vial and started filling a second. The cut on his arm healed quickly. Sanguinari blood was potent. He would need to feed her small amounts regularly until she gained better control. The process was unpleasant for the thrall at first. The hunger would be overwhelming. But with his blood she would stabilize. She would become useful. And most importantly, she would be bound to him.
Once he had three vials prepared, he set them carefully on the low table. He wiped the last traces of blood from his arm and looked down at Yan Qing’s still form. Her golden-yellow eyes were still closed. Her red lips were slightly parted. She would wake soon. When she did, he would have to explain the new reality of her existence.
Jiu Yin leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes for a moment. Two more days. The clan escort would take them to the gathering point where the kingdom’s three great sects would evaluate the selected youths. He needed to be ready. His power was still limited by the sun. His old magic remained elusive. But he was learning. The crimson nature of his Qi was beginning to respond better to his will.
He thought about his sister and mother sleeping in the next room. The protective urge from the host body had only grown stronger. He would keep them safe. And with Yan Qing as his first thrall, he would begin building the foundation he needed to rise in this world.
The night deepened. Somewhere outside an owl hooted. Inside the small room, Jiu Yin continued to cultivate, slowly bending this world’s system to his will.
Yan Qing lay motionless on the bed beside him. In two days she would wake.
And when she did, she would belong to him.