Path of the Berserker

Master Hei Dong surveyed the interior field of the tournament grounds from atop the highest seating platform in the arena. Even this late in the day, the sunlight still seemed a sufficient source of lighting, not requiring the addition of Qi stones or lanterns. That would do well to cut down on cost. And it was not a bad view from here either, he supposed. The seats could perhaps fetch the price they were seeking, but he didn’t particularly like the way the field itself was shaped. It was a large rectangle instead of an oval. The primitive Terrans had built this place long ago to play a sport they called ‘football’ which ironically did not involve using one’s feet at all apparently, or so some mortal had explained to him once.

Such idiocy, he thought. If Hei Dong were to have it his way, he would have demolished the entire structure and built a proper arena from the ground up. But time was limited now and the smaller yet more well-suited arena that they used for the local tournaments would not be large enough to house the crowds they anticipated. Throngs of cultivators from around the planet and perhaps even the core worlds would soon find their way here.

He just prayed that the space would be sufficient.

As if to tempt his fate, a small skiff appeared over the lip of the stadium awning and hovered swiftly towards him. Three people rode atop it, but only one was of any significance at all. His heartbeat sped as the craft hummed to a stop before him and a gangway lowered for the passengers to disembark.

Two mid-tier Core Realm cultivators stepped off first, the men dressed in simple black robes with jade trim. Just behind them came a woman of modest stature but of exquisite grace, elegance and beauty. Her silver eyes and hair matched her sparking robes and as she approached, Hei Dong fell to his knees to prostrate himself before her.

“Venerable sect elder,” he said. “This One is pleased that you have arrived.”

Lady Silver Tear gave only the slightest nod to acknowledge his greeting. “Arise nephew-in-law, there is no need to show such respect. We are not here on sect business now. You may address me plainly by my imperial office. We are here to discuss Dynasty matters, are we not?”

“Of course,” Hei Dong said, rising to his feet. He bowed again, bending deeply at the waist this time. “Apologies. This One welcomes you, Seventh Warden.”

“Thank you, Vice-Warden,” she said, addressing him by his imperial title as well. “Please, show me what you have prepared.”

Hei Dong went through the small speech he had rehearsed for hours, giving Lady Silver Tear an overview of how he envisioned the grand tournament would be laid out. From where the officials would be seated, to commoners and mortals and how each function of the event would be handled. “There will be teams of enforcers that I will train personally to assist with the event coordination. Each team will be overseen by an Imperial Guard. The common workers shall all be Silver Leaf Sect members of course.”

“Very well and the Qi stone projectors?” Silver Tear queried. “The Princess wishes to give an address from the capital to open the tournament.”

Hei Dong blanched. He had honestly given no thought to the devices at all. In the normal arena they were permanently affixed to the awnings, but here there were none. “Oh? Her majesty will be making an address?” he said, desperate to shift the focus of her question. “We are only hosting a preliminary round for the invitational event, are we not? I didn’t think the princess would go through the trouble.”

“Why do you think it is only via Qi projector?” she said as a look of irritation flashed across her face. “I’m certain she will visit the Eastern provinces in person.”

“No doubt,” Hei Dong said with an agreeable scoff, careful to show where his true allegiance lay. He then glanced at the skiff and had an idea. “At any rate, we shall be mounting the Qi projectors on skiffs. They will circle the arena slowly to give every spectator a good vantage.”

Silver Tear’s eyes lit up with a smile. “How very novel. I knew I could count on you to bring something special to this event, Vice-Warden.”

Hei Dong let only the smallest of smiles touch his lips but inwardly he grinned profusely. He was nothing if not clever. His ability to rise from a lowly outer disciple, to wooing and marrying one of Silver Tear’s great nieces to become not only an inner sect family member but now a Vice-Warden of the empire was a testament to that. But he had to work hard to keep his position. He was not gifted in martial talent like his wife, being a mere artisan and crafter, but his cunning and quick wit had seen him through many dangers and adversaries on his way to the top. Earning and maintaining Lady Silver Tear’s favor was now key to his protection and success.

“I aim to serve and please, Seventh Warden.”

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“What of the concessions and preparation areas?”

“Perhaps I can show you from the air?” Hei Dong suggested, gesturing to the skiff.

She smiled, again looking pleased. Once boarded, one of her men worked the controls at the rear of the craft and took them high above the arena. Hei Dong cycled his Qi to maintain his balance, ensuring his footing with one of the rudimentary stance techniques. For Silver Tear and her retainers, the act was perhaps subconscious, but for a low-tier Core Realm cultivator and artisan like himself, Hei Dong needed to focus to not get swept from the skiff like some Qi-less mortal.

The vantage from the skiff gave a true depiction of the vastness of the city they had claimed. It still amazed Hei Dong that mere mortals had even built it. Still, it reeked of their mediocrity and there was nothing splendid nor beautiful about it. Merely functional. Perhaps in a century or so it would more resemble their home world of Utara. But there would be much work needed to remold this crude world to resemble Utara’s elegance.

Hei Dong actually looked forward to the challenge.

He pointed to the blocks of small buildings surrounding the arena. “We shall clear those areas and make stables to house the major sects. Any dignitaries will have private quarters available to them, for an additional fee of course. The major culinary sects will also have their own area designated for food preparation. Meals for the concession stalls shall be delivered to the stadium and stables alike, all from the same area. It should cut down on our costs considerably.”

Silver Tear nodded, seemingly impressed. “Sounds very efficient.”

“I have also ensured that all pricing will be in local currency. The vendors will accept silver and copper only. That way the foreign guests will be forced to convert their spirit stones at the money lenders. I estimate we shall earn a good return by doing so.”

“Excellent,” she said.

“I also took the liberty of ordering 200,000 Taels of silver and 1 million Wen from the imperial bank to bolster the local currency supply. I expect to see much wealth in circulation once we fill this arena.”

“I hope so as well, Hei Dong.” She gave him a firm nod of approval before signaling for her men to return to the arena.

Inwardly, Hei Dong breathed a massive sigh of relief. He had pleased her. His position and safety had once again been secured. As they approached the platform they had left, he spotted one of his men waving to the skiff with both arms.

It was a young steward he had put in charge of erecting the commoners’ stables. When the man saw who was on the skiff with him, his eyes shot open widely and he immediately fell to his face in a kowtow.

“One million apologies, illustrious sect elder!” the man said with his face to the floor. “This One would never have been so bold as to have gestured in such a brash manner had I been skilled enough to detect your presence from afar. This One begs your forgiveness.”

As Hei Dong disembarked, he turned and was about to fall to his knees next to his subordinate to beg for forgiveness as well, but Silver Tear merely chuckled. “Arise, young one. You may thank your Master for your forgiveness today.” She then looked directly at Hei Dong. “His message seemed urgent. I hope it’s not a problem with the preparations.”

Hei Dong felt like pummeling the fool for his timing. Lady Silver Tear was just about to leave with a good report of the progress. He steeled himself for whatever the steward was about to say next. “What is it then? Why were you beckoning so?”

“Apologies again,” he said, rising to his feet. “It is your son, Master Hei Dong. He arrived below and asked to summon you urgently.”

“Oh?” Silver Tear said from behind him. “I hope it’s not something sect-related then.”

The steward shook his head. “I do not know, illustrious sect elder. He did not say.”

Hei Dong fumed inwardly, but he kept a nonchalant smile on his face. “I’m sure it’s just some childish matter, Seventh Warden. Hein is still but a lad, after all.”

“Ah yes, young Hein.” She smiled in a more familial way that put Hei Dong somewhat at ease. “That one always did have my niece’s temperament. How is she by the way?”

“Rhi is well, my lady,” Hei Dong said, addressing her more casually now as well, thankful for the shift in the conversation’s tone. “I will certainly give her your regards.”

“Please do. And your eldest? How is Fia? She must be old enough to take part in the senior matches by now.”

“You know her all too well.” Hei Dong smiled. “She is the image of her mother. She will be competing in the Gold Bracket this year.”

“I shall look forward to seeing her compete then. Hopefully she will slay many of her rivals. And some of our own,” she said with a grin. “In these times of peace, the tournaments are our only chance to openly decimate the other sects. Ensure she shows no mercy in the arena, Hei Dong.”

Hei Dong gave a bow. “She is her mother’s daughter. I needn’t say a thing.”

Silver Tear let out a sharp and callous laugh. “Very well. Do take good care of my niece now, Hei Dong. And her son. You know her temperament when it comes to the welfare of her precious baby boy.”

* * *

Hei Dong swelled with anger as he clambered down the steps of the arena to the vacant lot just outside. There waiting for him was his son and a dozen or so initiates, one of them lying prone in a wooden hand cart.

“Hein!” he called sharply.

The boy straightened with alarm before dropping to one knee in a bow. The initiates followed suit, falling to both knees and pressing their palms to the ground. Hei Dong looked at the initiate in the cart. The man was still breathing it seemed, but unconscious, blood dripping from a mouth full of shattered teeth.

“What is the meaning of this!” he demanded. “You interrupted a very important meeting with the sect elder just now.”

“Apologies, Father,” Hein said. “But I needed to show you this immediately.”

“Show me what?”

“How weak these initiates are. Their incompetence has shamed me. I demand to have better representation of our sect accompanying me while I’m in public.”

The boy was making no sense at all. “What is it you mean?”

“A filthy, native mortal did this!” he shouted, gesturing to the man in the cart. “How can we allow such weakness to stand within our ranks, much less deign to act as my protection?”

“A mortal?” Hei Dong looked at the wounded man again. “How did this even happen? Where were you? Not in those slums again, I hope! I told you already to stop wasting time there!”

The boy’s face turned red with anger and wounded pride, no doubt shamed at being bawled at in front of the initiates. Hein raised his eyes in a glare. “Father, a member of our clan was assaulted. Be it by a mortal or not, it demands a response. But as it is but a mortal, it is far below your station to address this. I will deal with it personally. All that I ask is for your support.”

For a sliver of a moment, Hei Dong saw his own cunning reflected back at him in those dark eyes. He had no idea what Hein was really up to and frankly he was far too busy to care. It was probably a squabble over some lowly native whore or something. Whatever it was he had no time for it. “What is it you want of me, Hein?”

“Allow me permission to punish these initiates for their failure by dismissing them all,” he said. “And then allow me to command but two of my sister’s disciples in their stead.”

The initiates couldn’t contain their gasps of shock, but they remained obediently on their knees. Hein was indeed his mother’s child, Hei Dong thought. Born into privilege and power. But Hei Dong had to work for his. It was only a few short decades ago that he had been the one on his hands and knees awaiting the words of a master who would soon decide his fate.

“Come with me,” he said.

He led Hein away from the men, far out of earshot. The boy looked furious, but he was getting far too old to be sulking like a child. It was time he had some instruction.

“Young Master Hein,” Hei Dong addressed him formally. “The initiates and outer disciples of this family were put under your charge. Their failure is a reflection of your own incompetence as a leader.”

Hein’s mouth fell open as if he’d been slapped in the face.

“You have clearly been too soft on them, or not been paying attention to them at all. You must learn wisdom if you are to command men and derive the best from them. You wished to dismiss them all just now, but you do not throw out an entire pot of rice for a few burnt grains. Heed me now. This is what you shall do.”

“Yes, Father,” Hein said, casting his eyes to the ground.

“When the wounded man awakes, punish him severely in front of the others for the embarrassment he has caused. And then dismiss him. But him only. Say to the others that you have decided to show mercy and will give them a second chance. This will bolster their fear of you and will cause them to work ten times harder for your approval. This will in turn improve their performance and themselves.”

A sly grin came to Hein’s face, seeing the logic. “You are very wise, Father. Thank you. But…what of my sister’s men? Surely you can make her spare at—”

“I will allow you only one,” Hei Dong said. “And you shall receive the very worst of her disciples.”

“The worst?” He looked indignant.

“Yes,” Hei Dong said. “Your sister will agree to this because it will also give her an opportunity to openly humiliate and punish the weakest of her disciples by demoting him to your charge. As with your group, it will cause her remaining disciples to fear her more and incentivize them to better themselves to avoid a similar punishment. She may even thank you for the opportunity.”

Hei Dong felt that familiar sense of satisfaction as his cunning turned a small problem into a significant means of strengthening the sect. It was maneuvering such as this, that allowed him to cripple, oust, and even assassinate rivals far more skilled with a blade than he. He had won Rhi’s affections and hand in marriage that way. He wondered if Hein would ever develop this same cunning, like his sister had, or if he would remain a mere simple-minded brute like his mother.

“Thank you, Father,” Hein said with a bow while grinning. “This will do for now.”

Hei Dong grimaced. The little brat was beyond spoiled.

“Get out of my sight,” Hei Dong said coldly, reinforcing that this was discipline and instruction he was administering, not pandering affection like Hein was used to receiving from his mother. “Never disturb me with this trivial native commoner nonsense again. I am far too busy for it. Interrupt me again and the punishment administered shall be your very own.”