Chapter 44. How do you punish a masochist?

Yee Rhys pulled out a nameplate and checked his rating. It had gone up a dozen points.

The ranking position changed on three occasions. First, if a disciple reached a new wisp, he automatically got a place at the end of the corresponding "group". Since at the tournament the young man received a place among the disciples of the three wisps, his last break through did not affect his ranking in any way.

The second method is an official battle in the Arena. In this case, the winner can take the loser's place in the ranking. However, this is on the condition that the winner was originally lower in level, otherwise everything remains in its place. Yee Rhys was going to take advantage of this method after reaching two wisps. Unfortunately, he couldn't even make it home after the tournament. What a challenge that would be.

The third method was the easiest. When someone left the ranking, all those below them were automatically moved up one point. Most often this was due to moving into the Soaring Core Sphere and therefore leaving for the Inner Sect. Given the talent and number of disciples of the Outer Sect, there were about a hundred of these every month. So, a natural upward shift was normal. The third point also included disciples who had left the sect or had died. There were a few of those every month as well.

The young man sighed. The upward shift was clearly related to the last point, and so little progress meant that a number of disciples had reached the fourth wisp during the same period, thereby overtaking him and shifting downward.

Arena battles merely determined whether or not the fighters would swap places. If they were on the same wisp, it worked verbatim. In the event that a lower level holder won, both in cultivation and ranking, the loser merely slipped to the very bottom of their level group. Therefore, the rest of the ranking was not greatly affected by the battles.

Yee Rhys sadly stated that he was still at the end of the seventh thousand. The young man planned to try to get among the geniuses of the fifth wisps and reach the sixth thousand after reaching the third wisp.

At the end of each month the sect distributed resources among the disciples, and the amount depended directly on the place in the ranking at the time of withdrawal of the results. Traditionally, this procedure took place at noon on the twenty-seventh.

Because of this tradition, the twenty-sixth and the first half of the twenty-seventh were called the Day of Spectacles, as many disciples tried to break through the rankings and were constantly challenging each other to a duel. Because of this, the Arena was literally busy all day, and sometimes there was even a line forming.

The previous day of Spectacle Yee Rhys had missed as the newcomers had zero rating and could not take part in duels. For the same reason there were no rewards in the first month. New disciples were expected to take theirs during the tournament.

***

Yee Rhys' thoughts were interrupted by the Patriarch's gaze. With a waiting smile, the young man looked back.

- Whose are you? - A muffled tone came over the traditional question.

- I am yours. - Yee Rhys answered familiarly.

- Get up.

He stared blankly at the old man for a moment, then stood up.

The old man stared dumbly for a moment and then stood up. He looked the boy over as if he had never seen him before. Then he put his hand on Yee Rhys' chest. He felt a sort of spell stirring inside him to respond to the elder's call. Then it tightened rapidly into a single point, gathering all the wisps that had been scattered through his body. The resulting ball of wisp left his body and soaked into the Patriarch's hand.

Suddenly it was free and easy. It was as if some invisible fetters had fallen from his body. There was no longer the oppressive force that had accompanied Yee Rhys for the past few years.

- I have removed the suicide spell. - The elder confirmed the young man's suspicions. - Since you have reached the three wisps in due time. But be warned, it's never too late to get it back.

Mm-hmm. No need to remind me.

- I think that's enough for now. - The Patriarch continued his thought. - You can go back to the Outer Sect. See you after the hunt.

The portal opened.

Yee Rhys stepped inside.

***

Alone, the old man shook his head. As much as you feed the wolf he'll be staring towards the woods. He's just a boy. We should let him go back to the sandbox. Let him go back to the sandpit, let him try to make pies of sand and pick up spades. There's enough babysitters there, nothing serious will happen to him.

After a while patriarch took out a jade of communication and sent a message. He then opened a portal from which the Lady emerged after a couple of sighs.

- Dra Jae greets the Master.

- I have sent the boy back. - Without waiting, the old man announced.

- Then he's... - the beauty worried.

- He won't cause any trouble for another hour or two. - He shook his head in a negative way.

- Ha? - the Lady wondered, then checked the youngling's whereabouts and smiled involuntarily. - Yes, there is time.

- Do you know... - the Elder hesitated, but then he raised the question. - Do you know any way to punish the boy effectively?

- Punish? - The girl looked surprised. - You have a problem with punishment?

- Yes. - He admitted reluctantly. - I really don't know how to punish a masochist.

- I thought he was cured. - Lady muttered to herself. She thought to herself. Then hesitantly she continued. - There is... one method... but it's risky... it will work a few more times... then... I'm afraid... he might like it too.

- What method? - The old man frowned.

- Give him a woman. - Shrinking back, Dra Jae admitted.

The old man's eyes widened.

- How could you think of such a thing? - He finally let it out.

- Well, - the Lady hesitated, - you told me at the beginning to keep him alive and as healthy as possible, and ideally loyal. The first two points are no problem. But the third... I thought long and hard. While he was going mad, there was no point in trying to tie him down. The very fact that we didn't let him get killed was already a gift.

- The patriarch nodded.

- And when he regained consciousness... well, what can we give him? Strength he would get in the process of cultivation. Power? Money? They would come with strength. Besides, you have to give the boy something to stimulate him. I thought you wanted him to be a simple disciple.

The elder nodded again. That is easy. But the young man has simply not earned that honor yet.

- That leaves only the women. - Dra Jae shook her hands. - Well, then there are friends and other relatives. But it's quicker to give him a woman. I work on friends too, but it ain't done in a flash. This asshole cultivates all day long. It makes you stronger, no doubt about it. But loyalty... what does he need power for, who knows?

Here the Patriarch was in agreement. It was not uncommon for the best disciples to leave a sect after reaching the heights. That was why the elder initially wanted to make the young man a simple disciple. So that he would get used to the sect, get to know it from within. And that's why he arranged this farce with the baiting. And the repetitive questions were for the same reason.

Although the youngster had started late by conventional standards, the Patriarch was sure that his pedigree wouldn't affect the end result. In a hundred years he would catch up and overtake his peers. In addition, the boy had an unusual path of cultivation.

The boy was worth raising. But as his own man. That's why the elder put loyalty before ability. The boy has ability. And he has character.

It was character that was the stumbling block. On the one hand, it allowed the boy to reach his potential. On the other, the brash boy was like a wild stallion and a cunning fox all rolled into one. He skillfully concealed his goals and desires by playing an imposed role. But at a certain moment he could get up and start bucking, no matter what the consequences.

Now was the right moment to tame him. He was still young and malleable. He had lost his family and past ties. He had just undergone a merger that had greatly affected his mind. The youngster needed a new point of reference. And the Patriarch was not about to leave him with options.

Fortunately the boy proved to be clever. He acknowledged his master and didn't mind his training. Sometimes he kicked back, yes. But within reason. A reminder that he had his own opinions too. Now all that was needed was time to teach the boy what he needed. And at the same time, to drum into that lush little head what was required of him.