27 Building up defences and recruiting talents

The next day news arrived about the changes to the village which helped to ease the hearts of the villagers.

An age old problem was solved thanks to the hidden actions of Ki.

Ki sat at the table eating with her family and spoke. "So what kind of plans do you have to solve the wall problem grandmother?"

"Hmm… I have contacted some craftsmen and builders to build high wooden walls around the village and put large wooden gates at points where there are roads to enter the village. Any thoughts?" Agnes answered quickly, her decision was not final and still in the planning stages so she valued her granddaughters opinion.

Ki nodded to her grandmother's words. "It is a good solution to build higher fences or walls made of wood to keep out animals but I don't think it is the best solution for cases or invaders. We have secluded ourselves and only leave the village to do business. What happens when we are away and someone attacks or if we are attacked by those with weapons who could break through the wooden walls or fences. It will work for now but in the long run I would suggest building a thick stone wall, the wooden ones can be used as a temporary measure to create an outer wall while we slowly build a more secure wall."

"Wouldn't that be a little excessive?" Adam frowned.

"No not really. Nobody could tell when or what kind of accident occurs whether it's man made or by beasts. It would just happen if we miss the signs and then if we do not take measures to protect ourselves." Ki looked a little regretful as she spoke. "Maybe now it would seem excessive but after suffering a crisis wouldn't we all look back to this moment and think 'oh I wish I made a different decision, if I did then everything would be better'.

Elizabeth spoke in a scolding voice. "Ki! It's not that you are wrong but don't question the decisions of us adults too much. I know you have your own ideas now but please respect the thoughts of your parents."

"I'm sorry mom but I really do not wish to live my life filled with regrets." Ki spoke again in a pained voice. 'I have lived with enough regrets in my previous life, I do not wish to regret things I have done or the decisions I have made in this life.'

"No… she isn't wrong. In fact she has made a good point." Agnes spoke since she knew a lot more of the outside world. "The world is in a mess right now. There is the martial alliance maintaining order, there is the unorthodox alliance made up of sects with loose morales and ideology, murderers and thieves. Then there is the blood sect which is more chaotic and spread throughout the continent in secret because they spread their Qi method everywhere without restriction unlike other sects and then there is the devil sect who use banned methods which alter the body or increase their strength quickly at the cost of unimaginable pain or loss of lifespan. These four powers form a subtle balance within the central lands but once something happens or that balance is broken then there will be a power struggle and many will be caught up in the storm unknowingly. It would only take a couple of their men to wander onto our lands and slaughter our whole village if they had evil intentions."

Ki nodded to her grandmothers words. 'And that is what exactly happened… and will still happen. So we need to prepare.'

Elizabeth realised that she had spoken rashly. "Then I agree with building up stronger and taller walls."

Adam also added. "I agree with your words but don't you think that there would be the northern borders divine ice sect to help in case of a crisis?"

"No. They are too busy defending the borders from invaders and roaming beasts. They are not a part of the martial alliance, they do not have protection themselves because they are a secluded sect. They do not involve themselves much in worldly matters and according to rumours the sect has greatly weakened over the years after the loss of their sect leader. I believe they are raising a new leader but who knows if they have the time to, the world is chaotic and if you reveal a weakness you are open to attack.." Agnes lowered her head on palm. "A sect with years of accumulation of martial arts, Qi arts, treasures, medicines and wealth… tell me if you knew they could not defend it wouldn't you also be tempted to try take it from them? The martial alliance may not take action against them but they also would not help them as they aren't part of their group. The others however are a different story…"

Adam revealed a grim look. "I see…"

Ki nodded to her grandmothers words. 'That too happened… but it's not something I can prevent.

The end of the divine ice sect happened over a short period of time after the village was wiped out.

Ki believed that with enough time and preparation she could deal with the village problem but the destruction of the sect was something she did not have the strength to Intervene in. If she did then she would risk being targeted by those forces behind it.

Ki went to meet Miranda after her meal who was working on several account books.

Miranda looked up after noticing her young misses appearance. "Young miss, what brings you here?"

"I need you to make some investigations into a few people with talents and I also wish for you to find someone skilled in body art and tattoos that is discreet. If possible try to recruit them but if it's someone who isn't discreet then we have to make preparations to control or silence them." Ki sighed. 'The markings or the tattoos aren't extremely difficult to tattoo onto a persons body but I cannot risk the markings or the knowledge that I use mystic arts be spread to the outside world. I would do it myself but I cannot do the markings on my own back.'

She encountered the same problem in her previous life, after confirming her attendants loyalty she taught him the markings and how to apply them then allowed him to tattoo her back and arms.

All she needed was to complete her own mystical blood tattoos to compliment her Blood Buddha Qi Arts.

Normally two sets of mystical arts do not show up on one persons body because they would conflict with one another but Gu Worm mystical arts are more classified as a contract relationship in which the user doesn't really gain any enhancements.

The Gu Worm is able to do different tasks but does not actually provide the user with a skill they can use on their own but other mystical arts provide their own individual skills and enhancements to the users body so they do not conflict when placed on someone's body.

"I will leave this task to you so keep the tattoo artist matter a secret from the family but please look up various talented individuals who could be recruited to the family and recommend them to my grandmother or father. Further investigate their details if their past seems problematic and do not exclude someone based on your own prejudices."

Ki left the room and Miranda began to read through the list of candidates when her eyes paused on one of the people noted as a priority target. 'Why did the young miss write that persons name? Isn't he known for being a crazy pervert? Oh well I am sure the young miss wants to careful not to miss anybody that could be of use no matter the reputation… but the 'Mad Scholar' Isaac Dante?'

In Ki's previous life Isaac was a famous and capable person, born from low origins he entered a school within the capital to learn politics, military theory, business management and other subjects.

As a young genius he absorbed as much knowledge as he could and graduated from learning earlier than most.

Sadly he encountered a setback which earned him the name 'Mad Scholar' and a poor reputation, he later made a comeback rising up in position and establishing himself as the emperors right hand man or strategist.

He made many contributions aiding disasters and in the invasion of the eastern lands he greatly reducing the expected casualties.

Sadly like most people from his background he had a different mindset to his master the emperor so often had conflicting view on how to handle certain affairs so the emperor eventually grew tired of him resulting in his death due to not protecting him.

Isaac had many jealous of his talents and achievements.

Others wished to rise up to steal his position so once he lost his protection and support he was easily killed due to his lack of strength from martial arts.

Since such a talent was going to be used and then thrown away so easily then Ki did not mind recruiting him when he is at the worst point in his life.