Abyssal Awakening

"Please take me as your disciple!" The boy shouted out as Alice stared at him blankly.

He was roughly a little shorter than she was and looked to be around his late teens. His attire was better than average with some defensive Sigil powers woven into the fabric. One look and it was clear that he wasn't an average kid. He had long brown hair tied into a low rat tail and a pair of golden eyes.

"Name?"

Hearing this, the boy's eyes sparkled, thinking Alice had accepted him.

"Yusheng! Jin Yusheng." He replied happily as Alice started to make her way back to the port.

"Where are you going Master?" He asked curiously.

"I'm going to see if there's anyone that recognises you so that they can take you home." Alice yawned.

She wasn't interested in taking a disciple or anything like that. It's too much hassle. Plus, she was in the middle of learning herself, she didn't have the qualifications to teach someone.

"Wait! Please Master don't be like that!" Jin cried out running ahead of her and stopping her from going towards the port.

"Look kid, I'm not looking for a disciple. And why me of all people? Wasn't there a group just now that you could've joined?" Alice folded her arms.

"Because you're strong!" He replied without a hint of falsehood.

Hearing this, Alice's smile twitched.

"You brat, so if someone stronger pops up you'll naturally follow them?"

If that was the case, accepting this brat as a disciple was just asking herself to be sabotaged!

"Erm… Maybe!"

". . ." Alice wanted to facepalm.

There's being honest and then there's this.

'Pft, the kid's pretty amusing. He's more concerned with your boobs than almost dying and honest when you ask him crap.' Alyss smirked.

'If you like him so much why don't you take him as your disciple then.' Alice rolled her eyes.

"If you say that, what makes you think I want to take you as my disciple?"

"Hmm… because I'm honest? People prefer it when others are honest do they not?" Jin tilted his head.

Alice couldn't exactly retort. It wasn't wrong but it wasn't entirely correct either. There was a fine balance between lies and truth that you had to mix together in order to keep others happy.

"Even so, I'm simply not looking for a disciple kid. I don't have anything to teach you." Alice sighed, scratching her hair.

She hadn't run into this kind of situation before and wasn't sure how to react. This was the first time someone came up to her with the intent to take her as a teacher.

If she were to just abandon him, she'd feel bad about it but at the same time, she didn't want a student/disciple.

"Then what about taking me as a follower? You're planning on travelling by foot right? I can handle the chores if you let me come along with you." Jin offered.

"What about your parents? Aren't they going to worry about you?"

However, Jin simply shook his head.

"They're dead." He replied without a hint of emotion.

Alice had to admit, his bluntness threw her off a little when paired with his unflinching gaze.

"So you're hoping to follow me and learn so that you can get revenge?"

"Hmm… If the opportunity arises I won't say no to it. But I just want to be able to defend myself if something like that happens again." He smiled while scratching his cheek.

'Don't you think he's got a few screws loose in his head? Not that we can say anything really.' Alyss asked as Alice couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Thinking about it for a moment, Alice opened her mouth.

"How familiar are you with the nation as a whole?"

Jin's eyes lit up as he sat up straight.

"I'm only really familiar with two regions but I can always learn."

"And the traditions?" Alice asked.

"I can always learn them if you wish to know about them."

'At least the kid is willing to learn if you let him follow you.' Alyss nodded her head in approval.

'Honestly, if we accept him it'll be better than when Allura picked us up. We basically didn't do anything for her and only made her lose money.' She followed up as Alice coughed awkwardly.

Unlike the kid, Alice was kind of just following Allura around and doing nothing. Meanwhile, this kid was willing to learn things just so that he could follow Alice.

Since he was being so earnest, Alice couldn't exactly say no.

Plus, she needed a guide in this place anyway. Having him sort that out would certainly make things easier.

"Alright. But you'll be responsible for all the chores while we're on the road. I only have one goal right now and that's to visit Fusha. On the way there, I want to challenge every sect or group like the one I just challenged now. You'll be responsible for pointing out which groups are in which area. Got that?" Alice summarized as Jin nodded his head with a wide smile.

"Leave it to me! Errr… master?"

"Just call me Alice."

It wasn't like she was taking him as a disciple. Right now, he is simply a travel companion. Find your next read at empire

"So how much do you know about the sects or whatever they're called?" Alice asked.

Thinking about it for a moment, Jin shook his head.

"Not much. But if you give me a day, I can get some information from Jejin Port."

"Not even an hour and you're already wanting to delay my travels by a day? Bold one aren't you?" Alice folded her arms with a smirk.

"I can gather information in the next town over if that's what you want instead." Jin offered.

"Forget it, it's not like I'm in a rush. Find me an Inn with some good alcohol. We'll stay the night while you gather information." Alice waved her hand dismissively as Jin nodded and ran back to Jejin Port with Alice following behind him.

###

Looking at the destruction caused, a tall woman couldn't help but frown.

She wore an sleeveless emerald eastern dress with golden cloud patterns embroidered into the material, a pair of sleeves with the same design and a pair of shoes. Red tassels decorated parts of her outfit as it was common for eastern designs.

The woman had long black hair and a pair of crimson eyes.

"Uncle… I'm sorry, I should've arrived earlier. What happened?" She kneeled down in front of the old man that Alyss fought.

He was currently sitting on a chair with a pale face and a vial of blood next to him.

"An intruder… She was here for a fight. Nothing else." The old man squeezed out with difficulty before drinking the vial to regain some colour.

"She didn't steal or kill. If she wanted a fight, I don't know why she didn't take the proper path." He rested his forehead on his fingers as the woman frowned.

"There's been some signs of movement from the south. Do you think she's part of the Cult?"

"I'm not sure. But that killing intent of hers… Her hands are far from clean." The old man shook his head.

Hearing this, the woman seemed almost convinced of her own theories before standing up.

"Qiu Qiu, leave it be. No one died, there's no reason to keep pursuing this." The old man grabbed his niece's wrist, understanding her nature and what she was planning to do.

"It's fine uncle, I'm just making sure she's not part of the Cult. If she isn't, I won't do anything. But if she is, for the sake of public safety, I cannot let her be. You know what's my responsibility." She smiled as the old man sighed.

"Be careful. There wasn't much I can find out about her fighting style or power. But one thing is clear, she is a genius. One exchange was all she needed to emulate my martial arts. If you're not careful, she might steal your fighting style as well." The old man warned.

Nodding her head, Qiu Qiu began to make her way down the mountain with a slight frown on her face.

Recently, the heretics in the south have been making bolder and bolder moves across the borders. Some even began trading with places overseas and smuggling illegal weapons over.

With this kind of threat looming over their heads, she couldn't allow even the smallest detail to be missed. If there was a chance that this woman was part of the Cult, she'll cut it down before it could fester into an infection!

In her hand, she held a piece of the halberd that Alyss had shattered and thrown into the signboard.

Closing her eyes, she brought out an talisman and muttered a quick incantation.

*Jingle~

The sound of bells ringing could be heard as spectral foxes appeared next to her feet.

"Track her down." Qiu Qiu ordered.

Immediately, the foxes turned into whisps of smoke that rushed towards the Port.

###

Jin's efficiency was far greater than what Alice had expected. In less than half an hour, he had already found the best Inn for locals with the best drinks. It wasn't the kind of bar that was focused on tricking tourists, like the one that Alice was planning on visiting but a reliable place for locals.

Not only that, but the room was rather cheap and had a beautiful garden to match.

There was an open building located in the middle of an artificial lake filled with lotus plans and other greenery that shimmered under the moonlight. Sitting on some stone benches with local wine in her hands, Alice had a content smile on her face.

"It's a wonderful evening with fine wine and scenery to match. So why have you come to interrupt my relaxation with such thick killing intent?" Alice asked, turning her gaze at the intruder standing on the wall.

There was only one thing on Qiu Qiu's mind after seeing Alice.

'She's part of the Cult!'