Chapter 26

Sendoff

 

-POV (former) bandit leader Go Long-

It's been two months since that *fucking* wonderful 9-tailed fox made me his *damned* thankful slave. Along with the rest of *my boys* his girls. And a week since he made me and my 3 *subordinates* sisters become *bitches* female wolf beastkin. I still don't understand how any of that was possible, but I guess that was the power of his *curse mark* Unique Ability.

I'm even taller now, even though I lost 11cm of height by switching gender. My new stance puts my 27 cm taller and my *ridiculous* fluffy wuffy ears atop my head add another 13. Adding up to a total gain of 29cm.

It took some practice getting used to walking again, with my legs bending *the wrong way* a new way. As well as the scope of my newly heightened senses. After we could walk correctly he had us 'spar a bit to better get used to our new forms'. Of course, it was always me against the other 3. There's still a whole Tier between us sisters.

Now he is about to send me, as well as my sisters, to sell all the rest at auction. Along with *my* his treasures. The Tier six flying sword we stole in that last raid being the best of them. He said it's useless to him, as well as the bounty selling it would bring.

At first I didn't think so, but when I saw him refine a batch of Azure Lotus pills I became convinced. Any pill refiner has no needs in life, for a lack of money. Nor a lack of loyal lackeys hoping for a handout.

No one dares offend a pill refiner, as they can send an army of cultivators after whoever is responsible just by offering any random bottle they have in a pocket. Even if there is a difference in Tiers, they will rise up in Levels more quickly than their peers and their pill skills can rise to match. Then the grudge can still be settled.

So when I saw the *hateful* revered master of mine prove himself a first-Tier pill refiner, of course I asked how old he is.

SEVENTEEN MONTHS!

*There's no way that's possible!* Of course he wouldn't lie!

Moreover he's a high Tier 1 Beast!

If master only took seventeen months to become a fully fledged pill refiner, then he's a prodigy among prodigies. A genius among geniuses.

But maybe I can believe that, after all he has nine tails.

NINE!

Usually foxes only gains a second tail when they reach Tier 1. But then only if they're Class 2.

And a third tail at Tier 2 for being Class 3 and so on.

But a TIER 1 fox with NINE TAILS!? He's GOT to be AT LEAST CLASS TEN! And probably much higher!

Maybe it won't be so bad as his slave.

Except for my new name. I *HATE* like what he picked out for "our family's" name. "Puta." He says that he remembers in another language, it means "Bitch", even though he admits he never really became fluent in that language. *HOW DARE HE?* It's kind of appropriate now that he changed us into female wolf beastkin, even kind of funny.

I asked him once what happened to the other bandits he didn't make into slaves. He said they all died a slow, agonizing death. Begging for a quick release that would not come. What did he do to them? 'You'll regret knowing.' I didn't ask again.

My reverie is over, as we've reached the edge of the forest. Now I am convinced as well that he doesn't need the flying sword for himself. Not only was using his flying skill as fast as a Tier 4 flying sword. That was while carrying all 46 of his slaves. Us four sisters plus the 42 others. As well as the *damned* noble Silver Tiger.

If it's like this at Tier 1, then by the time he could bind with it, he'd already be faster without!

It's time for him to give us our marching instructions.

*Fucking* Fantastic Fox) 'Before you go, all slaves listen carefully: (starts reading from a page)
Rule one, All rules can not be changed or cancelled after they are set, end of rule.
Rule two, This list of rules must be obeyed at all times and to the best of your ability, for life.
 If any rules conflict, the lower number takes priority, end of rule.
Rule three, Never betray or harm your Master, even vicariously.
 Your master is me and this can not be changed or cancelled under any circumstances, end of rule.
Rule four, Never harm your owner, even vicariously.
 Your owner is me, until you are sold to your new owner, end of rule.
Rule five, Always do your best at whatever you are doing, end of rule.
Rule six, Do not commit any type of crime, end of rule.
Rule seven, Obey your owner's instructions.
 If a new instruction conflicts with an old instruction, cancel the old one, end of rule.
Rule eight, Keep yourself in good health, end of rule.
Rule nine, Your owner can designate and also revoke anyone as your commander, end of rule.
Rule ten, Obey the instructions of your commander, end of rule.
Rule eleven, Raise your strength and skill to better serve your owner, end of rule.
Rule twelve, Be happy while you follow orders from your owner or commander, end of rule.
 That is all.'

F) 'Also to anyone who can write, you need to write out that full list of 12 rules a total of 43 times altogether. One for each of you to give your new owner, and one for the auctioneer to read out loud.'

F) 'And to the four Puta sisters, you need to have new personal names for yourselves. So you can't be connected with your past lives.'

*Terrible* Terrific Tiger) 'Is that all?'

F) 'Oh, right. You need to understand what I mean by 'don't betray me'. That doesn't just apply to harming me personally, that also means my friends and family who could be captured and put to torture as a threat against me. As well as any information that would allow others to do so without you being there. Such as our names, location or identifying traits. And one more thing, but this should be the last. Let me see what treasures you had, besides that useless sword.'

T) 'So you do remember.'

F) 'Well, I was kinda busy.'

*Bandit Go* Puta1) "We have 5 sets of Tier 1 armors, and 2 sets at Tier 2."

F) 'Do any of them fit you four?'

P1) "One of them fits me, the rest no."

F) 'Keep that one. Give any metal ones to Uncle. Sell the rest. Next?'

P1) I pull 4 bundles from my space ring and tossed them his way. "One 'Omni Sage Region Token'."

F+T) ' 'Explain.' '

P1) "The 'Omni Sage Region' is a hidden realm. Some old masters can't find a worthy student within their lifetimes. So they sometimes create a realm that acts like some sort of test, with their immense wealth as well as advanced techniques as prizes. The 'Omni Sage Region' opens once every 15 years, and anyone under 50 years of age with a token is granted entrance. The next time it opens is in about 3 years."

F) 'So how strong are these 40+ year old cultivators who usually go in?"

P1) (He understood that part before I could tell him) "There are usually around 2-3 hundred core disciples of various sects, mostly in the top range of Tier 2. As well as another few dozen direct disciples, all in Tier 3."

F) 'Then that's mine. I'll decide later when to use it. Next?'

P1) "7 Tier 2 weapons. Including my bow, 3 swords, a scimitar, a mace and a matched set of daggers. Then 20-odd Tier 1 weapons of varying types."

F) 'Keep the bow and pick one more. Your sisters get a Tier 2 weapon as well. If there are any ranged weapons in the Tier 1 pile, they can pick a second. The rest will be used by the slaves to fend off beasts and bastards. Then sell their weapons at auction as well. Next?'

P1) "A matured Grade 4 Fire Lotus. This has a chance to raise one's fire affinity. Along with some seeds."

F) 'Mine! Next?'

P1) (of course it's yours, *you selfish pig* my worthy Lord) "An immature Grade 3 Golden Bell Flower. This one can raise metal affinity. No seeds yet."

F) 'Uncle's. Next?'

P1) "Last is the money. There are 2,670 taels (50 grams) of silver, 126 taels of gold and 4 taels of purple gold. Then 39 Grade 1 Qi Stones."

F) 'What are their relative values?'

P1) (What *a country bumpkin!* an avid learner) "One tael of silver would be enough for a day's supply of basic food for all us slaves, or a week's supply of good food for one. Gold is worth 40 times as much as silver. And purple gold 25 times as much as gold. Then a single Grade 1 Qi Stone is worth 1000 taels of gold."

F) 'Describe the Qi Stone. Is Grade 1 the lowest it goes? And what use is it for it to be so expensive?'

P1) "It holds an abundance of Qi, which can be used for cultivating. This is much faster and easier than trying to gather Qi from the environment. A single stone holds as much as would normally be obtained in about 10 weeks of normal cultivation. Yes, Grade 1 is the lowest it goes, with each higher Grade being worth 100 times as much. Grade 2 holds 5 times as much Qi as grade 1, and Grade 3, 5 times again and so on, though with no more impurities."

F) 'And that's why it's expensive. 5 times as much because of Qi amount. Then another 20 times because of Qi purity. So filtering out impurities is . . rare?'

P1) "No one can simply filter out impurities."

F) 'Right. That's what we want them to think.'

P1) ? ? . !!!! "Y- YOU MEAN. . "

F) 'Okay, just this once. And tell no-one. If word gets out, the whole continent would plunge into war just to capture me . . 42 slaves and 4 sisters. Ten at a time, with the 4 Putas first and also last, form a circle around me facing away and laying on your bellies. With all your limbs pointed at the center. Then fully open up your dantian, your meridians, your total cultivation. And your mouths.'

I'm not sure what our master has in mind, but we can not disobey. I lay as instructed with 9 others. Then a tingling sensation slowly creeps up through my feet. No, not anymore, through my paws. And up my legs, and tail, then past my belly. At that point, I notice an unpleasant feeling preceeding the tingling one. Past my chest, with my new boobs, up my neck and - !! *RETCH!!!* (koff koff) (GAG!)

I'm still in shock from that *VILE* experience when I stand aside as 10 more unlucky slaves go through the same experience.

After they finish and the third set is underway I realize 'That was my impurities he expelled from my body!' I try a quick circulation to see by how much my meridians and dantian have been cleared. At a quick estimate, over 60% of the less-pervasive impurities have been purged. And with a slightly more thorough examination, I would guess another 7-8% of what had buried itself deep into my bones. If he was to sell this service, I don't think we have enough to afford it! Even as vile and putrid as it is, people would line up around a city just for the *CHANCE* to bid at auction for it!!

Now it's my turn again. And I don't know whether I'm more glad, or afraid.

This time the tingling sensation is stronger, and the unpleasant feeling weaker. The unpleasant one is certainly that the portion of the body is currently full of impurities. But what is the tingling? After we're done, I ask master.

F) 'That's obviously your meridians waking up to pure Qi flow. Go ahead everyone, try a technique. Just don't hurt anyone.'

I try out my gale step movement technique . .

My speed has improved by about 30%, and my maneuverability by 40%. I'm also a bit closer to mastery. If every technique has improved by this much, just by a quick purge . . That skill of Master's is truly PRICELESS!

F) 'Since that's everything, it's time for you lot to go to auction. Slaves get the best price you can. Wolf sisters, bring back all their earnings. Preferrably without being tracked. Puta one, have you picked your name yet?

P1) "No, I haven't thought of anything yet."

F) 'So then you other three pick from Doko, or Nani, or Dare.¹Jap. for Who, What, Why. Also, it's pronounced 'da(h)-ray', not 'dare' And you, the strongest Puta, your name is now Kara.'²Jap. for Because