Book 7: Chapter 26: The Right Start

Book 7: Chapter 26: The Right Start

Dai Bao trudged toward Sen like a man marching toward his own execution. It was obvious from his expression the man knew that Sen wasn’t happy and that he blamed Dai Bao for some of that. Sen did him the courtesy of walking them away from the small collection of townspeople and erecting a wind barrier to keep their voices from carrying. Sen knew that he might have some unkind things to say to the man, but he didn’t particularly feel the need to shame Dai Bao publicly. It wasn’t as though Sen had provided any guidance about how things were or were not to be handled here. He could see now that had been a failure on his part. He simply hadn’t anticipated any of the men in town trying to bully a woman. After he put up the wind barrier, he gave Dai Bao a flat look.

“So, that seemed acceptable to you?”

“No,” said Dai Bao with a shake of his head. “But he was just saying what a lot of men think. It could have been what you think.”

“You see the company I keep. You really thought I’d object to women training here?”

“The pretty girl of yours is a cultivator. Not a mortal.”

Sen waited for more, and then he realized that there wasn’t any more coming. Sen forgot sometimes just how stark that divide really was, yet, hadn’t he had a conversation with Jing about how cultivators were just visitors? That cultivators walked in a different world. Everyone in the town was, as far as Sen knew, a mortal. On top of that, cultivators weren’t known to treat mortals all that well. Dai Bao was probably justified in thinking that Sen might well consider mortal women not worthy of training. Sen hadn’t shared his thoughts about almost anything other than wielding spears with the man. You can’t expect him to read your mind, thought Sen. It isn’t fair to be angry with him for not knowing expectations you never set. Sen frowned but nodded.

“I can see why that might seem like something that would make a difference,” said Sen. “This place is open to anyone who wants to learn how to protect their homes and families. Men, women, and even children, though hopefully things will never be so terrible that children need to take up spears in their own defense.”

“All right,” said Dai Bao.

The man still looked like he expected some calamity to fall on his head any second. Sen couldn’t help but think that the man had dealt with cultivators in some other part of his life. He’d learned to wield a spear somewhere. It had probably been in a mortal army, but kingdoms sometimes hired cultivators to fight with their armies. Judging from the man’s expectations of doom, his experiences with cultivators had been about as good as Sen’s own experiences. Sen needed to do something to alleviate the man’s fears.

“I’m not trying to start a sect here,” said Sen slowly. “I’ll help teach, but this place shouldn’t be about serving my ego or reputation. It needs a mortal face on it. I’d like that to be you.”

Dai Bao goggled at him. “What?”

“The people here respect you. You’ve had some experience with the spear. They’ll listen to you.”

“I’m too old and broken for that kind of responsibility,” said Dai Bao.

They were the kinds of words that Sen would have expected to hold a lot of bitterness, but all he heard in Dai Bao’s voice was a kind of sad resignation. He’d moved beyond whatever anger he felt.

“Well, I can’t help you with the age part. The broken part is a different matter.”

Sen explained to Dai Bao what he thought he could mend in the man’s body and that he’d try if the man would take on the daily responsibilities of the place. He had to give the grizzled man some credit. Dai Bao didn’t immediately accept the offer.

“You say that you can heal some of these old injuries. What does that mean?”

“You think you’ll still be here when they’re old enough to learn?”

Sen shrugged. “I might not be, but it doesn’t mean that this place won’t still be here. For all I know, you’ll be in charge of it. But only if things get off to the right start.”

“Me?” scoffed Li Hua. “In charge of this place?”

Sen gave her a level look. “Why not?”

“I—” she trailed off.

Sen inclined his head to her. “Excuse me. I need to make an announcement. It’s that whole getting things off on the right foot thing.”

Sen left Li Hua to her thoughts and walked over to where Dai Bao was drilling some younger men. The grizzled man called a halt to the drill and, at a signal from Sen, bellowed out an order.

“Everyone gather around!” roared Dai Bao.

Around fifteen people clumped around Sen. Most of them were young men, but there were a few older men and Li Hua. Sen gave them all his best stern face, and everyone straightened a little under his intense gaze.

“As you all saw earlier, there is some confusion about what this place is for. About who it is for. Let me clear up that confusion. This place is for anyone who wants to learn how to defend their homes and families. Anyone. Men. Women. Children. All are welcome here. The moment you decide that you know better who should or should not be here, expect to find that you are no longer welcome. If you have grudges, you leave them at the town wall. If you have blood feuds, you leave them at home.

“If you bring your grudges and feuds into this place, you make them my problems. I will solve those problems for everyone involved, immediately and permanently,” said Sen, and he watched more than one face pale. “When you come here, come with an open heart. Do just that much, and I will do what I can to teach you. I will not lie to you. Mastering any weapon is something that takes years. It takes effort. It takes practice. Now, you all know Dai Bao. He will be in charge when I’m not here. Do as he tells you, which will likely be that you need to practice more.”

“And I’ll be right,” growled Dai Bao.

That got a few laughs, which broke the tension. A moment later, Ai snuck between some of the people and rushed over to Sen. He picked her up, and she looked around nervously at all the unfamiliar faces.

“This is Liu Ai,” said Sen before he gave her an encouraging smile. “Do you want to say hello to everyone?”

Ai gave everyone a shy smile and whispered, “Hi.”

Then, she buried her face in Sen’s shoulder. He kissed the top of her head, which elicited a giggle from the girl. Dai Bao stepped up next to Sen and pointed at Ai.

“In case any of you were wondering, now you know who’s in charge.”