Chapter 4 Small Problems Part 2 An inkling inside a Follower

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-Next morning-

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Ren woke after a long sleep. His Followers had knocked on the door a few times but received no answer. The majority went back to cultivating and exploring the abode to get use to it. All but Two explored really. She spent her entire time cultivating diligently.

The house was just a place to stay. Ren valued cultivation and performance. She was not going to waste a single moment.

"She sure trains hard." Four said looking back. "But there will come a time to rest right?"

"Of course. Once we get strong that is." Zero said. "I won't waste my life away like her, however. I have things I want to do. And it seems like he will indulge us in a lot of things. If we listen. I want to talk with Master Ren later to figure things out more."

"Hmmm." Three and One remained silent but hummed at the same time.

"How is everyones room?" Four asked.

"I like it. So much room and it is just great." Zero said. Three and One just shrugged and said nothing else. The group walked around for a bit and stopped after about an hour.

They knew the general layout of the mansion and went back to the front. Ren was out and looked to be more.. vicious in a way. A dangerous aura was there subtly circulating the oultine of his body.

"Morning Master Ren." The Followers said togethor.

"Morning, gather eveeryone in an hour. I wish to observe the small changes in each of you." Ren said kindly. The dangerous aura retracting altogethor. A fan in his hand once more blocking most of the facial features. "The most improved will get something special."

They looked at each other then took off to try and do some quick advancements. Nothing major but if even the smallest Insight could give them the edge over each other. 

Not a single one thought the first place reward would be theirs. Two already obtained that, no doubt about it.

When it came around to them showing their brief training accomplishments, Ren was happy. A smile on on his face seeing young ones try so hard to get a better life. Which would fit in what he needs done in the future and the the present.

As this carried on, the disciples of the false soul provided by Uncle Ronaldo let observation. All but one kept an eye as instructed. 

'I still can not tell how strong he is. Must keep a closer eye without exposing myself.' The disciple thought quietly. The notion that Ren may have switched over to a Mental base cultivator was not lost on him. 'Keep my thoughts controlled and level, I won't get caught.'

The disciple hd nothing to worry about as the range of Ren's reach was completely pass the location he was in. The range covered to much and the disciples movements did not trigger any flags to cause a focus. 

But the grumbling others did. 

Later that evening, everyone was already hard at work. The news already spread about the death of Lan Rai. A watchful eye was on Ren once again.

The Elder's and the people already out to get Ren felt a bad premonition about future events. Plans they worked on to take over the Sect moving even faster.

Ren recovered from his cultivation well enough by now. Body slightly bigger and on its way to better improvements than the previous times. He wished he could you a past cultivation as the "Primary" again.

But that was against the rules. You could not have the same Primary in any of the fields again. What was learned could apply to each part of the body, soul, and mind , just couldn't let it surpass the new one.

Images of a Giant Frost Tiger getting pushed from his thoughts. Ren missed the time he awakened as a Beast in a previous life.

With a twist of the wrist, he was dressed in some cultivator robes pulled from his inventory. His breakthrough had awarded some stuff out of his old inventory to use. Nothing face but common clotihing and materials so far.

The dark blue vest and black pants were something he made during his second reincarnation. No matter what, Reap was told to always put some away for rewards to retrieve. The smooth texture of the Black Abyss Bat wings, made it possible to sleep in any type of terrain without a problem.

Reap System: This place is odd. Several locations match other realms we have been to. But a lot of time has passed however in those locations. You need to travel further out so I can add more samples to figure things out.

'Uh huh, in a few days. I need to get my second Primary at a higher rank before we go.' Ren stopped at the front doors and pulled out the fan to block his face a bit. 'Ah me and those promises made to others. They always make things fun.'

Reap System: Once it is over though, I bet your soul will grow in strength. That has to be what that lock entailed. I am going to send a few searches to the upper level of the library. This continent seems to have way to many different species and the different nationality aspects of several Earths are here as well.

"Hmm, morning." Ren said to his Followers stepping out. He gave them a small nod and let them continue what they were doing. His eyes turned specifically towards Two as she trained. 'Reminds me so much of that daughter of mine. But she is dead. Has been dead for a while now.'

A sad look could be seen in his eyes. The fate of each of his children always weighed on the mind a bit. Ever since finding out they had the choice of embracing the Reaper Clan rules or to not enter the process of Awakening.

Ren didn't have that choice so he found it quite odd. Something to talk with the Fates about if he remembers.

Reap System: Do not think on it to much. Remember her choice was made without regret. If the Fates allow, she will be reborn far away from the dangers of the Reaper Clan. 

"She does not know when to take a break." One said quietly. He looked to see Ren's response but was suprised that the fan kept his face hidden from every angle. One even moved his head around to peek under. He got nothing. On the collar of Ren's shirt, a small Ion Energy fluctuation passed. 'I can only see his eyes. There is something very off about that fan.'

'This girl has trained almost all night. The "brands" have supplement her well. The recovery features from them have helped refine her body even faster.' Ren thought with amusement. He was looking forward to what she would do in the future with her strength.

A few of the others had worked as well. The girl Three and the boy Four had pushed their minds to the limit.

"Haa!" Two shouted. 'Not good enough. To sloppy.' She had come across a fighting move that was in the technique Ren gave her. "Again!"

"Either way does not matter. You can do the Palm one first or the Fist one. Neither path is wrong." Ren advised her. Two clenched her fist angry. She wanted to succeed. The possible rewards pushing her furthur. 'Hmm, stubborn. But the good kind of stubborn. Do you know what I want to see perhaps?' Ren cocked his head to the side and paid closer attention. A smile played on his face as additional Ion Energy was moved under his watch towards her. 'Show me what you can do child.'

"I want them both!" Two said angrily. Her left hand struck in an upward palm thrust. The sound of thunder went out with it. With a quick thrust down, she felt the thunder fluctuate a little again. "I almost got it!" Turning on her toes, she moved her right fist towards the ground next. A white electricity went along with it. "Almost there!" She did a backflip launching into the air and sent both moves towards the ground. "Hah!"

*Crack!* A palm print smacked against the ground. *Poof!* A wave of dust flew out hitting everyone in the surroundings but Ren. He shook his head at the others. They could have blocked it with their Ion energy. Something to teach them later.

*Boom!* Two's fist went down afterward and made a crater to the side. *Crackle!* A light electrical wave went out afterward from the same location. *Bzzt!* The electrical wave then kicked up a notch and hit the others shocking them each.

"Yeowch!" Three yelled. Four just blinked and shook it off. He kept opening his mouth to get rid of the numbing sensation. Zero had jumped back 80 feet thinking he was safe.

"Ughh!" Zero groaned and felt his knees go weak. "I.. can't move.." The move Two had used was designed to keep the enemy nearby.

Getting away actually caused the worst outcome since the move attacked the muscles that just released tension. Those close would feel pain the others furthur out would have their Ion Sea slightly paused.

Ren looked at them then towards One who stared at Two. His gaze was odd for a boy so young. Ren could see a small glint in the boy's eyes from something else there. He left it alone to see what troubles it would bring later. That and it would help Two train more in the future.

The thought of pulling out a marker and decorating their faces was pushed away.

It was the young cultivators fault the Outer Sect Elders did not teach them the basics. Why they did not, was beside Ren. Even as Fresh Starters, the students were to recieve some base training methods. It was the policy of the Empire afterall. Something look into later.

A few Quest popped up immediately to figure those things out. A time limit of 3 months appeared. Ren told Reap to assign One and Zero to go and talk to several people of the Sect.

Reap System: Sending the "suggestion" through the "brand" now.

"Right.. I defintely need to teach you all how to protect yourselves with your Ion energy." Ren smiled behind his fan. Seeing the expressions were to funny though. "Hehehe, so amusing."

They reminded him of people getting tased. Walking forward, he caught Two who fell down from the sky. The Ion energy displacement could no longer keep her suspended.

"Hmm..." Ren ran his senses over her body and found nothing wrong. She was out of energy, which was to be expected after all of her training. "Hard work and doing the unlikely should be rewarded."

*Brrmmm!* His finger glowed as Ren made an inscription on her chest. His needle like fingernail containing potent Ion energy at the tip.

"Ow ow ow ow!" Two started to struggle from the inscription. "It hurts. Stop you big jerk!" Ren did not let her go and continued. "I have no energy to stop it! It burns!"

"Yup." Ren smiled. He reached into his inventory when he finished and grabbed a Bolt Elixer. He carried her inside and fed her the elixer slowly. The others following behind in intrest. They watched and caught that Ren was very affectionate as he watched Two push harder. The Elixer he gave her looked high quality as well. "Slowly, think only of both of those moves. Do not think of anything else."

The inscription hurt in the beginning but now on Ren's guidance, it stimulate the blood inside of two. Which caused her Primary Manual to speed up in qulaity with her soul.

"Umu ok." Two started to wiggle as the Ion energy was to much to handle. Ren laid her down on some cushions and placed his hand on her forehead. He was guiding the energy slowly to help her on a deeper level. "Ah, I can understand them a little better."

The others watched trying to see what would happen next. Four stood smiling happily. Something about the way Ren was doing this intrest him a good deal. 

Reap System: Unusual readings from him.

"Yes, it is the help of Dual Cultivation. When someone of a "Higher Realm" or better "understanding" of a Manual that is used helps, they can help guide the Ion energy in the body, mind, and soul." Ren continued to smile. He watch Four interest peaked even furthur. 'Hmm his desire to help people is growing. It is good I did this and let him watch. Defintely will help in the "Guiding" department later.'

"Wait, then that means you know it as well?" Zero asked. Ren just smiled and said nothing. "Or is it just that you are at a higher Realm and "Glimpsed" at it?" But to the boy, the latter could not be the case. 'Ren is back at the Gathering Realm right? He could not possibly have risen to a Realm to help so in-depth.'

"If you have time to ask me such personal questions, then you have the time to tell me your personal background." Ren looked up at the boy over his shoulder. "So what do you think, eh Zero?"

"Umm, I am sorry Master." Zero bowed and left immediately. "I think I will go and see about sparring with some others in the Sect."

"Ehhh?" Four looked a little confused. "It is not that big a deal who he is though."

"Haa, it is taboo to ask things like that." One said sighing. "Only close friends and relatives talk about things like that. It has not even been a month and he asks such an important thing."

One gave Two a final look and left out after excusing himself. The others waited for a bit and did the same. Three smiled at Two happily for a little bit longer than was normal Four thought.

"Waaaah, so much energy!" Two said. She felt her body had been filled to the brim. The Ion energy then gathered in her chest where the inscription was. "Eh? Its gone now."

"Not gone. Sealed away." Ren moved away from her and observed her body again. Her apertures had expanded and would need time to recover. "Rest for the remainder of the day. If you need to practice, just visualize the techniques. As well as the type of swords you want."

"Umm, right." Two watched Ren walked towards the door. "Umm.. Master Ren.." Ren turned to look at the girl. Seeing the look in his eyes, she decided not to say anything else. "Nevermind."

"Very well. What is your Name and Family name?" Ren asked. Reap had brought the information acquired back to his mind. This piqued Ren's interest even furthur. 'Something odd happen when he was helping her soul understand things. Unfortantely, with his current strength he couldn't see exactly what. 'Maybe I am having Deja Vu?'

"I have no family name anymore.. they left me and fled. I was to be bait for monsters." Two said with hatred in her voice. "As for my name it was.. Zia. Now it is Two."

"I see. I always wanted a sibling like you." Ren gave her a smile. "This stays between us for now. Grow stronger... Zia Nubunie."

"Yes, Master!" Two said with a smile. Ren walked out and left her to do whatever she wanted. 'I was right. Work hard and become useful. I wont get discarded again!'

Images of her village in the North getting over run playing in her head. Her family members leaving her and other villagers behind as they went to go and get help from the Sect guards in the region.

"Grrr, I will make them pay for leaving me!" A small blast of Electric Ion energy zapped her. "Oww! Need to just rest." Two settled down and decided just to go to sleep.

Reap System: She is quite strong. Better than the first estimates suggested. I will keep digging to see what else I can figure out.

'True. I think we could afford to invest more in her foundation. She is able to maneuver around my orders and still improve herself. I wonder how far she will go?' Stopping in the kitchen, Ren made a little meal before retiring to his quarters. 'Gonna take a nap and cultivate a little more.' It was not long before Ren was out like a light.

Sandwhich halfway eaten.

Reap System: Hmmm, Ren suspects a few things already. Can not keep a lazy man down to long. I wonder what secrets are inside that 1st Elder's daughters. Was it right to save the souls? It has to be. they feel a little familiar somehow from the memories I have pieced togethor. I should have had Ren steal the bodies. It would have been a lot easier to dig around in their soul then.