12 First mission, part 1.

Today, I was standing before the immense carved gates of the sect, waiting patiently for the sun to rise and for them to be opened. Yesterday, I had decided it was time I started making money like a proper cultivator. That meant only one thing. Missions.

Any competent sect offers them, and apparently they were considered the most fundamental part of training. Nothing reinforces your training like the threat of death, after all. So the sect hosts a mission board inside the Cultivation Tower, letting normal people post requests, and allowing cultivators to go out and solve them. Thus, the cultivators grow, and the sect reinforces their standing with the public.

I had visited the tower yesterday, and picked up a pretty generic mission. Bandit elimination. Estimated numbers, thirty-five. Estimated strength, Body Refinement Realm Stage 2. Suitable for the average person at Stage 5 of the same realm. Even though I'm a stage below the recommendation, I chose it because I have trust in my Flesh of Violence Sutra. And even then, it's not like I'm going in unprepared. I hadn't really noticed, but Tat had changed a lot recently too. He was... well, to put it simply, he was now Stage 7. Apparently, he's been robbing the other cultivators blind these last few weeks. Every night, sneaking out and stealing pills, fighting their pets, and so much other stuff that I couldn't even believe the rumors.

And more importantly, he was copying me! He somehow managed to sublimate his dantians, and practice his own version of Flesh of Violence! Personally, I blame that Lilian from before. There is absolutely no way he figured that out on his own, and I don't think Lord Ori would bother with training my pet for me, and Lady Nemu already gave me a gift. So that only leaves the 'sister' I now have.

Honestly though, I wasn't too mad. He looked terrifying now, and it was awesome. Picture if you will, a squirrel the size of an Australian Shepard, that had muscles like a panther. Even his fur was different. Originally it was coarse, oak-colored and short. Now? His oaky color was now a metallic grey, with streaks of beautiful silver hidden within. It was smooth as silk, and when I leaned against him at night, it felt like a cloud with a heartbeat. God he's damn comfortable. And his aura? Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could pick a fight with him. My little Tat is now a real beast. Imagine what he'll become when his breaks through into his Destructive Beast realm?

Soon, the sun was up, and the gates were opening. I was stood beside Tat, reading my novice world guide. I gathered no small number of glances from the merchants, returning disciples, and simple tourists as they flooded into the sect lands. I saw quite the number of disciples returning from missions of their own, some in good moods, others returning in sour natures. There was even one who entered alone, carrying five strips of cloth, cut from fellow disciples' robes. My own mood soured at the thought. Death wasn't too uncommon in any world, but here... It could literally hide behind any corner, or in any heart.

When the tide of newcomers finally died down, I strolled my merry way through the gates, noticing a few other disciples also heading out too.

Outside of the sect, it was still just the same as I last saw it. Open fields, spread for miles past the thick walls of the sect. I followed the paved road, reading my map as I passed turn after turn. Eventually, I came to the place I needed to go. The crossroads for the sect road and the road to a place called Hoopo Village. According to my checking, it was a pretty small fishing village, with a rumored guardian in the lake. I smiled, and started off down this road, heading directly into the woods.

...

It's been three days of walking, just to reach Hoopo Village. I mean, I knew the sect was connected to some distant places, but damn. At least Tat was happy. He was constantly bolting between the trees, absorbing the life-force of countless leaves and insects as he passed them. Bastard is lucky he can't get fat. He's gotten a bit bigger, too. Labrador sized, maybe? Something told me he was done growing for now, though. Maybe a change in his demeanor?

Anyway, the village was now in sight, and... Jesus fucking Christ. There were heads, planted firmly to the ground on pikes. Not even adults... Almost every single head belonged to a kid, no older than fifteen. And... No girls.

I didn't feel disgusted... I felt rage. Pure, unfettered anger. I felt it physically radiate off of me, and Tat was just the same, sharing my feelings.

With the immense energy before their village, a small group gathered around the inside of the gates. I noticed, though, that most were avoiding looking. The faces were probably... No, they would definitely haunt them. Again, though, I saw no women. A dark pit started to form in my stomach.

"I am going to ask this a single time. Where are the scumbags who did this?!" I roared out my words, pointing my finger at the nearest head. The crowd shook in fright, before an older man spoke out.

"Due west, a- about three hundred meters! They have the rest of the village with them!"

The man was leaking tears as he spoke, and while I saw fear... I saw a bit of hope in his eyes. I think, he wanted to trust in me.

I turned to the west, violence oozing from every pore in my body, shaking the world around me as I began to walk.

Today, a whole bunch of people were going to die, and I felt nothing.