The past few weeks, Ken had been far too busy, cultivating with the four women. They hadn’t left their inn in so long, other than Yue and Emerald or Chandi, who would leave in order to sell off the various pills that Ken and Emerald made with their love.
It wasn’t long until the Town Lord finally sent a letter to Ken. The letter was an invitation. He smiled.
“Looks like we’ve got some work,” Ken said, glancing to the four women. His thighs and crotch were sore from dealing with Emerald, who was far too eager to play after working hard all day with him.
[Finally, I can get some sun…]
“Let’s go.” Yue took her place behind him, wheeling him out of the inn. Emerald, Chandi, and Nana each accompanied him as well.
There was an escort, a familiar face.
“Guard Han, it’s good to see you.”
“I greet you, Arrayist Ken. I have come to escort you to the dungeon.”
“With such a dependable escort, I can set my mind at ease.”
“Your words honour me,” Han replied, bowing slightly, and then leading Ken and his entourage towards the dungeon.
The Town Lord had also prepared a carriage, one which was quite fine, for the cripple and his companions. Guard Han also had a horse which he rode. There were a handful of Martial Warriors who were also riding horses around them, which was a nice gesture from the Town Lord.
[Who would be stupid enough to start trouble with the Town Lord’s family near his home?]
Ken thought about it for a while.
[I guess there are some crazy people out there.]
Their journey took several hours, and they finally reached the region of the dungeon, where many Martial Warriors were keeping guard, each led by a Martial Expert, and there was also a Martial Master from each of the main families.
The guards noticed the carriage of the Town Lord, and Guard Han revealed a token.
“Sir!” The warriors let Guard Han inside, allowing the cripple to enter in without any bother, without checking the carriage.
Who would dare to start a bother within this area which was surrounded by so many Martial Experts and Martial Masters?
Ken was helped out of the carriage and into his wheelchair. Yue took her place behind him once again, and the others surrounded him as she pushed him forward towards the large group.
Ahead of them was a large cave, one emanated a great force, though it was muted by the large array around it. The array was a large dome, which would have required countless Martial Masters to deal with it.
[Impressive.]
Ken could see the great power the array held. It would require countless Martial Masters to strike it all at once, otherwise it would use their ki to empower itself.
[[What a useless array.]]
Ken began to sweat, wondering just how powerful the goddess truly was.
[[Have you already cracked it?]]
"Arrayist Ken, it's good to see you." The Town Lord approached him, dismissing Guard Han. He smiled down at Ken, who greeted him with a respectful bow of his head.
"It's good to see you as well. I see you've all been busy." Ken looked at the Arrayists. There were four of them trying to crack the array. Each of them were quite aged, maybe in their fifties, with one in his late sixties.
"Ah, yes, well you see..." The Town Lord looked over to them, though his face told Ken what he needed to know.
"Don't worry. I'm just here to see the Arrayists at work." Ken smiled innocently with his eyes.
The Town Lord couldn't overtly ask at the moment, otherwise he may offend the Arrayists. However, if they didn't figure it out soon, the families would each miss their chance.
"Would you like a closer look?" The Town Lord asked diplomatically, hoping that Ken would accept.
"No, I'm quite happy here." He could see the cave and the rest of the array fine here, especially since the array wasn’t exactly where the other Arrayists thought.
The Town Lord could see the look in Ken’s eyes.
[Have you truly already cracked the array?]
“This array is far more powerful than any we’ve ever seen. It may even be the greatest array that is within this land,” the Arrayists eventually said.
“It’s too difficult to crack, not unless one has the Fundamentals.”
“Our land has long lost the Fundamentals in one of the great wars of old. Now, we can only pray that we didn’t miss a great fortune.”
Ken threw a quick look around, confirming the issue which plagued the Arrayists. They were only looking at the dome of the array, and not the bigger picture.
"I've heard that you have some ability with arrays," came a voice from the Bluewind family.
"Some experience, yes," Ken replied, glad that the topic had been brought up. Finally, he could milk them for all they were worth.
"Then I suppose you can do it?" It was the Young Master of the Bluewind family from the Town Lord’s party.
"The question isn't whether or not I can do it, but whether you can afford it." Ken reached up with his thumb against his pointer finger in the universal sign of money.
"If you're able to assist in the matter, it's only right we should reward you." The Young Master smirked.
"Then what is offered?" Ken asked, wondering how much he could milk out from them.
"A set of places with the major families.” The Bluewind Young Master offered, watching as Ken dug his own grave. If he could do it, then they could accidentally deal with the person who joined them.
"I'd like five places, for myself and my companions. My own place, not with the major families.” Ken’s eyes were sharp, and he understood the intentions of the Bluewind Young Master.
"I find that acceptable," the Town Lord said, looking to the other major families.
It was more than acceptable, because it meant that he could potentially get nothing. They were the major families of the town, so how could he, an outsider who was crippled, possibly match them?
There was one Elder who looked at him. He was a man who looked like a wild beast more than a man, with bulging muscles, and sharp eyes. “You’re Arrayist Ken, the hobbyist Alchemist?”
“The very same,” Ken said. “I apologise for not greeting you.” Ken raised his hands respectfully.
The man’s eyes judged Ken. “I agree with the Town Lord.”
The Town Lord sighed slightly. Patriarch Wildwind was someone who often fought with him for the sake of fighting, but it was good to see him accept for the good of the families.
The other families each agreed, and though the Young Master didn’t get what he wanted exactly, he still smiled.
[What do you have planned now, Young Master?]
Ken could see the wild smile on the Young Master’s face.
"However, if you fail, then you should be punished for wasting our time, shouldn’t you?" The Young Master smiled innocently. “After all, who would dare claim they could deal with an array which our Arrayists are unable to crack?”
The other Arrayists looked at Ken, not entirely sure of his skill. They had heard of his abilities, the products he had sold through the commerce pavilion, which they had assessed to be quite good.
"Very well. I'd be happy to take a proportionate punishment for the crime.” Ken bowed his head. “Of course, I'd love to see how the other Arrayists will be punished first, since they too have obviously wasted your time. Since they had much more time than me, then I hope that my punishment will be less than theirs’, since I wasted much less time.”
The Bluewind family glanced at the Arrayists, who were glancing at the family with raised eyebrows. Whatever the Young Master was plotting, he’d better let it go.
"Enough! Can you unlock this array or not?" The Young Master growled at the cripple.
"Of course I can.” Ken chuckled. “Nana, pick up that rock and place it over there." He pointed to a place on the ground, nowhere in particular.
Nana walked over to the rock and lifted it up. She hadn’t expected to be able to lift it up, but remembered she was now a Martial Apprentice. She carried it to where he asked and then placed it down carefully, thinking that it was important that she should do it gently.
Ken motioned a hand to Yue, who pushed him towards where the rock originally was. He then pointed to a stick, which Yue brought to him, and he started to etch something against the dirt.
"There," Ken said, tossing the stick aside. The lines he drew were like the waves of the sea.
"What did you do?" The Town Lord looked at the lines.
"I simple fixed the array. It was broken for one reason or another, and so the solution of the array was to move it back into place." They hadn't noticed that the real array was the environment. “The rock was in the wrong place, and was covering the water element mark with its own.”
"Preposterous!” The oldest Arrayist said pompously. “How could some little fool understand such a complicated thing as that?" Seeing how easily Ken dealt with the array, the Arrayist was fuming with rage.
It was then that the earth around them began to shudder and shake, making them all brace themselves for balance, though those who were Martial Warriors and above had a much easier time.
"What's happening?"
"The very earth is moving!"
"What did you do?" The Arrayists shouted.
"He must have sabotaged the array!" The Young Master of the Bluewind family growled. "Subdue him at once!"
Several Martial Experts charged forward all at once, leaping into action with their weapons bared towards him.
The past few weeks, Ken had been far too busy, cultivating with the four women. They hadn’t left their inn in so long, other than Yue and Emerald or Chandi, who would leave in order to sell off the various pills that Ken and Emerald made with their love.
It wasn’t long until the Town Lord finally sent a letter to Ken. The letter was an invitation. He smiled.
“Looks like we’ve got some work,” Ken said, glancing to the four women. His thighs and crotch were sore from dealing with Emerald, who was far too eager to play after working hard all day with him.
[Finally, I can get some sun…]
“Let’s go.” Yue took her place behind him, wheeling him out of the inn. Emerald, Chandi, and Nana each accompanied him as well.
There was an escort, a familiar face.
“Guard Han, it’s good to see you.”
“I greet you, Arrayist Ken. I have come to escort you to the dungeon.”
“With such a dependable escort, I can set my mind at ease.”
“Your words honour me,” Han replied, bowing slightly, and then leading Ken and his entourage towards the dungeon.
The Town Lord had also prepared a carriage, one which was quite fine, for the cripple and his companions. Guard Han also had a horse which he rode. There were a handful of Martial Warriors who were also riding horses around them, which was a nice gesture from the Town Lord.
[Who would be stupid enough to start trouble with the Town Lord’s family near his home?]
Ken thought about it for a while.
[I guess there are some crazy people out there.]
Their journey took several hours, and they finally reached the region of the dungeon, where many Martial Warriors were keeping guard, each led by a Martial Expert, and there was also a Martial Master from each of the main families.
The guards noticed the carriage of the Town Lord, and Guard Han revealed a token.
“Sir!” The warriors let Guard Han inside, allowing the cripple to enter in without any bother, without checking the carriage.
Who would dare to start a bother within this area which was surrounded by so many Martial Experts and Martial Masters?
Ken was helped out of the carriage and into his wheelchair. Yue took her place behind him once again, and the others surrounded him as she pushed him forward towards the large group.
Ahead of them was a large cave, one emanated a great force, though it was muted by the large array around it. The array was a large dome, which would have required countless Martial Masters to deal with it.
[Impressive.]
Ken could see the great power the array held. It would require countless Martial Masters to strike it all at once, otherwise it would use their ki to empower itself.
[[What a useless array.]]
Ken began to sweat, wondering just how powerful the goddess truly was.
[[Have you already cracked it?]]
"Arrayist Ken, it's good to see you." The Town Lord approached him, dismissing Guard Han. He smiled down at Ken, who greeted him with a respectful bow of his head.
"It's good to see you as well. I see you've all been busy." Ken looked at the Arrayists. There were four of them trying to crack the array. Each of them were quite aged, maybe in their fifties, with one in his late sixties.
"Ah, yes, well you see..." The Town Lord looked over to them, though his face told Ken what he needed to know.
"Don't worry. I'm just here to see the Arrayists at work." Ken smiled innocently with his eyes.
The Town Lord couldn't overtly ask at the moment, otherwise he may offend the Arrayists. However, if they didn't figure it out soon, the families would each miss their chance.
"Would you like a closer look?" The Town Lord asked diplomatically, hoping that Ken would accept.
"No, I'm quite happy here." He could see the cave and the rest of the array fine here, especially since the array wasn’t exactly where the other Arrayists thought.
The Town Lord could see the look in Ken’s eyes.
[Have you truly already cracked the array?]
“This array is far more powerful than any we’ve ever seen. It may even be the greatest array that is within this land,” the Arrayists eventually said.
“It’s too difficult to crack, not unless one has the Fundamentals.”
“Our land has long lost the Fundamentals in one of the great wars of old. Now, we can only pray that we didn’t miss a great fortune.”
Ken threw a quick look around, confirming the issue which plagued the Arrayists. They were only looking at the dome of the array, and not the bigger picture.
"I've heard that you have some ability with arrays," came a voice from the Bluewind family.
"Some experience, yes," Ken replied, glad that the topic had been brought up. Finally, he could milk them for all they were worth.
"Then I suppose you can do it?" It was the Young Master of the Bluewind family from the Town Lord’s party.
"The question isn't whether or not I can do it, but whether you can afford it." Ken reached up with his thumb against his pointer finger in the universal sign of money.
"If you're able to assist in the matter, it's only right we should reward you." The Young Master smirked.
"Then what is offered?" Ken asked, wondering how much he could milk out from them.
"A set of places with the major families.” The Bluewind Young Master offered, watching as Ken dug his own grave. If he could do it, then they could accidentally deal with the person who joined them.
"I'd like five places, for myself and my companions. My own place, not with the major families.” Ken’s eyes were sharp, and he understood the intentions of the Bluewind Young Master.
"I find that acceptable," the Town Lord said, looking to the other major families.
It was more than acceptable, because it meant that he could potentially get nothing. They were the major families of the town, so how could he, an outsider who was crippled, possibly match them?
There was one Elder who looked at him. He was a man who looked like a wild beast more than a man, with bulging muscles, and sharp eyes. “You’re Arrayist Ken, the hobbyist Alchemist?”
“The very same,” Ken said. “I apologise for not greeting you.” Ken raised his hands respectfully.
The man’s eyes judged Ken. “I agree with the Town Lord.”
The Town Lord sighed slightly. Patriarch Wildwind was someone who often fought with him for the sake of fighting, but it was good to see him accept for the good of the families.
The other families each agreed, and though the Young Master didn’t get what he wanted exactly, he still smiled.
[What do you have planned now, Young Master?]
Ken could see the wild smile on the Young Master’s face.
"However, if you fail, then you should be punished for wasting our time, shouldn’t you?" The Young Master smiled innocently. “After all, who would dare claim they could deal with an array which our Arrayists are unable to crack?”
The other Arrayists looked at Ken, not entirely sure of his skill. They had heard of his abilities, the products he had sold through the commerce pavilion, which they had assessed to be quite good.
"Very well. I'd be happy to take a proportionate punishment for the crime.” Ken bowed his head. “Of course, I'd love to see how the other Arrayists will be punished first, since they too have obviously wasted your time. Since they had much more time than me, then I hope that my punishment will be less than theirs’, since I wasted much less time.”
The Bluewind family glanced at the Arrayists, who were glancing at the family with raised eyebrows. Whatever the Young Master was plotting, he’d better let it go.
"Enough! Can you unlock this array or not?" The Young Master growled at the cripple.
"Of course I can.” Ken chuckled. “Nana, pick up that rock and place it over there." He pointed to a place on the ground, nowhere in particular.
Nana walked over to the rock and lifted it up. She hadn’t expected to be able to lift it up, but remembered she was now a Martial Apprentice. She carried it to where he asked and then placed it down carefully, thinking that it was important that she should do it gently.
Ken motioned a hand to Yue, who pushed him towards where the rock originally was. He then pointed to a stick, which Yue brought to him, and he started to etch something against the dirt.
"There," Ken said, tossing the stick aside. The lines he drew were like the waves of the sea.
"What did you do?" The Town Lord looked at the lines.
"I simple fixed the array. It was broken for one reason or another, and so the solution of the array was to move it back into place." They hadn't noticed that the real array was the environment. “The rock was in the wrong place, and was covering the water element mark with its own.”
"Preposterous!” The oldest Arrayist said pompously. “How could some little fool understand such a complicated thing as that?" Seeing how easily Ken dealt with the array, the Arrayist was fuming with rage.
It was then that the earth around them began to shudder and shake, making them all brace themselves for balance, though those who were Martial Warriors and above had a much easier time.
"What's happening?"
"The very earth is moving!"
"What did you do?" The Arrayists shouted.
"He must have sabotaged the array!" The Young Master of the Bluewind family growled. "Subdue him at once!"
Several Martial Experts charged forward all at once, leaping into action with their weapons bared towards him.
