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A MOTHER’S SALVATION
Several days passed, and the Siama faction threw themselves into forging their new sanctuary. Under Ken’s directives, the village borders were pushed outward, stretching all the way to the rushing river that would serve as their natural moat. Working in unified harmony, the people erected sturdy wooden palisades along the perimeter. With the expanded territory, the villagers finally had the space to construct proper dwellings and cultivate the land, laying the agricultural foundation their faction needed to survive.
Word of this defiant new settlement, SI-A-MA, began to spread like wildfire across the realms, eventually reaching the ears of the high-ranking officials within the Sky Empire.
”Very well. Continue gathering intelligence,” Ken commanded, his voice an icy calm.
”As you command, Lord!” The mysterious, cloaked figure kneeling in Ken’s shadow bowed deeply before melting seamlessly into the void.
Shortly after, Elder Darma arrived at Ken’s quarters with a small entourage. “Lord, we have matters to report,” Darma announced from beyond the threshold.
”Come in, Uncle,” Ken replied courteously, gesturing for the older warrior to enter.
”Lord, two more groups of refugees from neighboring villages arrived today,” Darma reported, his expression serious but hopeful. “Furthermore, the Batara faction from the Sky Empire has requested asylum and wishes to join our ranks. They’ve been hunted relentlessly by the Fire Empire’s traitors, Lord.”
”The Batara faction? Who are they, Uncle?” Ken asked, his curiosity piqued.
”They are a small resistance group much like we used to be, Lord. They’ve been fighting back against the oppression within the Sky Empire’s borders, led by Chief Batara,” Darma explained.
”I see… That is not a problem, Uncle. Let them in,” Ken decided without hesitation.
”There is one more thing. Our scouts intercepted information that the Fire Empire is dispatching an extermination squad to settle the blood debt for the Red Axe commanders we killed last week, Lord,” Darma warned, a hint of tension in his voice.
”Do not worry. If they come, I will personally handle them, Uncle,” Ken said, his tone utterly devoid of fear. “Tell the others not to panic over empty threats. Have them focus entirely on developing the village. If the Fire Empire wishes to march to their deaths, let them come.”
”Understood, Lord. We will manage the internal affairs,” Darma bowed respectfully and hurried out to carry out his orders.
Later that afternoon, Ken took a quiet stroll through the bustling village, observing the fruits of their labor. Eventually, his steps led him to the local tavern. “Uncle, I’d like a meal,” Ken called out as he approached.
”Right away, Sir, right aw—” Uncle Tu turned around, wiping his hands on his apron, and nearly jumped out of his skin. “Oh, Lord! Forgive me, I didn’t realize it was you!” Tu hastily cleared the cleanest table.
”There’s no need for formalities, Uncle,” Ken chuckled softly, taking a seat and enjoying the warm, hearty meal Tu brought him.
Once he finished, Ken stood up. “Here, Uncle. Thank you for the meal,” he said, placing a few gold pieces on the wooden table.
”Ah! No, no, Lord! Please, there’s no need to pay! The gold you gave me yesterday is more than enough to cover today’s meal as well,” Tu insisted, desperately trying to push the gold coins back into Ken’s hands.
”It’s fine, Uncle. Keep the change and use it to expand your tavern,” Ken insisted gently.
Tu sighed, feeling deeply indebted by Ken’s constant generosity. “Ah, Lord! If you keep doing this, my conscience won’t give me a moment’s peace,” he grumbled good-naturedly.
”Don’t overthink it, Uncle.” Ken waved dismissively and strolled away.
As he wandered further into the village, a ragged sound caught his attention from behind a dilapidated hut. A frail, sickly woman lay on a straw mat, her breathing shallow and labored, while her young son hovered over her with frantic worry.
”Hold on, Mother. I’ll go into the woods and find you some medicine,” the young boy promised. He spun around and sprinted blindly toward the tree line, crashing headfirst into Ken.
”Oof! S-sorry… I’m so sorry, Sir! I didn’t mean to!” the boy stammered, rubbing his head, not realizing who he had just bumped into.
Ken’s gaze bypassed the boy, instantly diagnosing the mother’s critical state. “What’s the rush? What has you running so blindly?” Ken asked, stepping past the boy and walking toward the ailing woman.
”My mother is very sick, Sir. I was rushing to the forest to forage for herbs,” the boy answered, his frail body trembling.
Ken gently took the woman’s wrist, probing her meridians and pulse with his spiritual sense. “Foraging in the woods? Are you an apothecary?” Ken asked, glancing back at the boy while asking a few specific questions about her symptoms.
”N-no, Sir! My father just taught me which herbs to brew! She has an innate meridian defect, a congenital illness!” the boy explained, his voice shaking with panic. “C-can you watch over her for just a moment, Sir? I need to go!”
”Hey… Come back here. I will help you,” Ken commanded gently.
”Y-yes, Sir,” the boy replied nervously, stopping in his tracks. What is this senior going to do? I need to find medicine before it’s too late! the boy thought, his heart hammering against his ribs.
”Help me support her back,” Ken instructed.
As the boy held his mother up, Ken focused his spiritual energy. His fingers darted out, striking several key acupoints along her spine and chest. Simultaneously, he channeled a surge of pure, warm life essence directly into her blocked meridians.
”There. I’ve cleared her pathways and stabilized her blood flow,” Ken declared softly.
The boy’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. What did this senior just do? he thought, stunned. “Is… is my mother going to be okay, Sir?” he asked, desperately searching Ken’s face for confirmation.
”Yes… her life is no longer in immediate danger,” Ken assured him. “But her body is ravaged by a fever brought on by prolonged starvation.”
Ken reached into his spatial pouch and retrieved a glowing, aromatic pill. “Feed her this elixir.”
The boy stared at the pill, recognizing the dense spiritual energy radiating from it. “T-this… Isn’t this a high-grade spiritual elixir, Sir? It must cost a fortune… How could I ever pay you back?” he stammered, hesitant to accept such a priceless treasure.
Ken frowned, slightly annoyed by the boy’s stubborn humility. “Enough overthinking. I told you to feed it to her, not appraise it.”
”Y-yes, Sir! Thank you!” the boy gulped nervously. “Mother, swallow this,” he coaxed, carefully placing the pill into her mouth and helping her wash it down.
Ken reached into his spatial pouch once more. “Here. This is for you. You need to eat, too,” he said, handing the boy a large, vibrant spirit fruit and several gold coins.
”B-but, Sir—” the boy started.
”It’s a fruit, not a ‘but’. Eat it, then head over to the tavern on the corner to buy some real food,” Ken interrupted, pointing toward Uncle Tu’s establishment across the village. “You can’t gather herbs for your mother if you collapse from exhaustion.”
”Y-yes, Sir,” the boy mumbled. He looked at the massive fruit in his hands, then at Ken’s waist. Is this senior some kind of spatial magician? His pouch is so small, how did he pull out a fruit this big? he wondered in silent awe.
”To completely cure her innate illness, you will need a specific concoction of spirit herbs. I’ll teach you how to refine it later,” Ken promised calmly.
”Really, Sir?! Are you a grand physician?!” the boy asked, his eyes shining with newfound hope for his mother’s salvation.
”Not exactly. I just know a thing or two about the healing arts,” Ken deflected smoothly. “Now eat. Look at you, you’re practically vibrating from hunger.”
”Y-yes, Sir. Thank you so much for your grace,” the boy said, eagerly biting into the sweet, rejuvenating fruit.
”Are you new to the village?” Ken asked.
”Yes, Sir. I just arrived with the latest wave of refugees,” he replied, chewing gratefully.
”Why didn’t you settle in the designated refugee sector in the center of the village?” Ken asked, puzzled, as shelters had already been built for newcomers.
”I didn’t want my mother’s coughing to disturb the others. Honestly, I’m just grateful the heavens gave us a safe place to hide,” the boy explained softly. “Back in the Fire Empire, I was forced into hard labor, and the guards were going to execute my mother because her illness made her ‘useless’. I heard whispers on the road about a faction here that dared to defy the Fire Empire, so we risked everything to escape and followed the other refugees here.”
Ken felt a pang of sympathy for the harsh karma the boy had endured. “Rest easy now. You are in the right place,” Ken said, offering a reassuring nod.
”I am, Sir,” the boy smiled, finishing the last of the spirit fruit.
”Get some rest. If you need anything else, come find me,” Ken said, turning to leave.
”Yes, Sir! Thank you! Don’t worry, as soon as I’m strong enough to work, I will repay your kindness!” the boy called out, bowing his head deeply. “Oh, by the way, my name is Asikin, Sir! How do I find you?”
”You can just call me Ken,” his voice echoed back as his figure seemed to blur and vanish into the bustling crowd.
”Understood, Sir Ken. Thank you…” Asikin muttered. Then, he froze.
”Ken! …Wait! Could he be—” Asikin gasped, a sudden realization hitting him like a thunderbolt. I heard the refugees talking on the road… This entire faction is now ruled by Lord Ken! The supreme expert who effortlessly slaughtered the three Red Axe commanders!
”Were you… the Lord…?” Asikin whispered to the empty air, his eyes wide with awe. He looked back at his mother, whose breathing was now peaceful and steady. Mother, he thought, tears of relief pricking his eyes. It seems we’ve truly found our salvation.