There was a taste of flesh in the air.
If not for the high walls taller than the Great Wall of China and an array that only Chakra Bloom could jump out of, the warden would've been pissed.
But he was traveling outside, so we had a temporary reprieve.
The mines were silent andPeaceful.
All male guards cleared by Makena and my furnace a hungry freak that cleaned them up without leaving a trace.
Makena was seriously training, practicing the thirteen stances of the Lovers' Dance. I could see her through the bond we shared.
I had a feeling this silence was temporary.
A short day of work.
A brief pause before the storm.
At noon, a Chakra Bloom with two Level 10 Meridians arrived at the camp.
They walked to the center of the fighting pit the one I'd destroyed and unsealed a decree from Lord Chen Ping.
"By the imperial decree of Daoist Master Chen Ping of the Eastern Reaches To the ghost who haunts the mines and kills like a maniac."
The Chakra Bloom's voice echoed across the compound.
"You faced 2,000 Meridian hunters.
Went toe to toe against a Chakra Bloom at his peak power.
You've shown potential most immortals never showed at a young age with no cultivation.
Given the right attention and opportunity, you'd be unrivaled at your cultivation tier. You could go head-to-head with two tiers higher."
I held my breath. Other slaves crept out to hear the decree.
"Lord Chen Ping is offering you an olive branch.
Reveal yourself and come forward.
He will not punish you for killing his cousin.
He wants to make you his personal disciple the young master of the Ping family.
He grants you freedom.
Freedom for your entire race, Power,Resources,Money and Manuals.
Treasures to become immortal and soar above everyone else."
It was super tempting. I nearly gave in.
"In return, you lead the Ping family in the future. Become his right hand man.
His sword. Destroy all of Ping family's enemies."
Silence. I could tell most slaves wanted to lie and claim glory. But they knew better.
"You have three days to reveal yourself and become his personal disciple.
Refuse, and the Ping family might kill all slaves to ensure the real hero never lives on.
Or we find a hint of you and hunt you for all existence."
Makena spoke to me telepathically.
"I know it's tempting. But don't. This seems too good to be true."
I caught Zhao Kun staring at me like I was wild meat for the catching.
He was short, great at gathering information, with the type of face you forget meeting.
I ignored him and walked by as if I didn't know who he was.
A double agent playing two arch-enemies.
Makena was still dressed like a black widow, her sword in hand, looking puzzled thinking I was considering the offer.
"Before you ask, Makena no, I didn't take the deal, okay? I know he needs the perfect killing machine.
I'll only take it if I feel I can kill him with my own hands."
"That's great that you have that in mind.
Those two families are dark and twisted.
Ping wants to use you to wipe them out.
Then they'll find a way to kill you after."
"What do you want, Makena?"
"A future. And forever with you. Okay?"
She kissed me without warning.
"I have a surprise to show you."
"Really? What's that?"
I snapped my fingers, and we were in my pocket dimension.
"Come out immediately."
Makena's grip on her sword tightened on muscle memory.
"What the heck is that, little ghost?"
"That's Paige Ping the cousin of Chen Ping. Chakra Bloom Level 5.
I made him my puppet. At my command."
"And it's one of my nine classes."
"Nine classes?"
Her golden eyes widened.
"Damn. You're a cheat code."
She circled around the puppet, super curious, like a child given a new toy.
"Can you fully control him?"
I sent a command. Kneel. It obeyed. Stand. It stood. Use flames. It used flames.
"Who are you?"
"I am your puppet. At your command."
"You'll be called Bakaluo."
"You're becoming more dangerous and terrifying."
We got back to training for hours.
Then I realized something was off.
I saw a dark black aura of death.
"I'm okay, little ghost."
"You are not, Makena."
I touched her and ran a scan. Used my poison sense.
Then I realized there was a sweet, rotting poison inside us both.
Only a Chakra Bloom in plain sight could have done this.
Later that night, a jade pendant with a tracking spell was sent as a gift to Makena in a special box with the family crest.
In three days, Lord Chen Ping himself would come.
Sleeping beside Makena, I had a dream.
He was in premium black and gold. Ancient eyes full of wisdom.
"Join me, and I'll make you an immortal. You'll never be a slave.
Your lineage will have generational wealth and power."
Then the scene shifted.
I saw myself as his right-hand man powerful, free.
Then I saw Makena in a pool of golden blood.
"Every choice has a steep price," Chen Ping said. "What are you willing to lose?"
I woke up screaming.
Makena was at my side. She knew before I said anything why I was screaming.
"You're thinking of taking the deal?"
"No. Not at all. Why would you think that? Why are you still awake?"
"I'm planning. The killing has sped everything up. Before the new guards arrive, we need to wipe out the thirteen races.
Make things easier for the slaves left behind when we escape."
The 36,000 souls whispered about how she was becoming dangerous. More like me.
I was scared of the day Chen Ping returned in person.
The guard replacements were three to four days away while marching.
I had limited time. I had to act fast.