"None of you will attempt to get in my way." a mature womanly voice said as she looked down at the magnificent sight of blood attribute ki and one so powerful at that.

"The boy is mine and mine alone! He belongs to my Ghost Whisper sect. The twins can be yours...he is mine!"

"Be at ease Fairy Feng none of our sects have the ability or desire to cultivate such a cursed attribute." A chorus of agreement followed as she looked down at her prize and a nearly sadistic smile crossed her face.

“Good I’m glad that we all have come to a common understanding then.” Satisfied with their responses she summoned her own Deacon to pull the young man out early and bring him to the Ghostly Whisper Sects quarters located in the arena immediately.

…

Ao Ruang stepped down from the platform without being asked, but he knew there was something off based on everyone's reactions. Only after he had moved down did people start discussing amongst themselves. It wasn’t the same as the uproar before, but it wasn’t bad either, it was curiosity mixed with wariness.

Do I run? Or should I stick through? Ao Ruang was conflicted as he didn't know if he would be rewarded or punished for his unusual Ki.

Backing away slowly as the assessment continued with the rest of the students, Ao Ruang slowly tried melting into the crowd of students until he reached the back edge where he turned around only to see a Deacon's robes. The robes bore a spectral hand gripping a wilted rose. Ao Ruang remembered seeing the symbol next to the Ghostly Whisper Sect.

"Ao Ruang. Come with me. Someone would like to speak with you." the Deacon said emotionlessly, his expression as unmoving as a statue.

‘There was no running for it now.’ Ao Ruang thought to himself as he nodded acknowledging the Deacon’s request.

“I-I was told to wait here by the Deacon in charge.” Ao Ruang said, trying to sound confident.

The Deacon didn’t react at all to his statement and merely moved out of the way gesturing him to follow him indoors away from the next area he was intended to go to.

“The leadership is already aware you won’t be participating in the bout. Don’t worry yourself with things to which you have no control.”

Ao Ruang could feel his heart race as he was led into the dimly lit passage that descended beneath the main arena.

...

Feng Lian laid promiscuously on a cushion her quarters were decorated with dim lights and the scent of incense filled the room that were created by her to cause men to put down their guard to her feminine charms. Feng Lian wore the sect silk robes that clung to her body just enough to reveal her delicate curves. On her face a veil only revealed her clear and intoxicating gaze. Men were quite easy to lure into traps in this scenario let alone a young boy who is just beginning to understand the opposite sex...she would ensnare him and bring him into the sect.

Something as trivial as bringing a young man into the sect wasn’t something that worried her, but establishing a connection with the young man early would allow her to exert her influence over him. The other Ghostly Whisper Sect elders would be kicking themselves this time over not attending this month's assessment.

Feng Lian knew there were rumors that she was the great grand-daughter of the founder of the sect, but those rumors were not her concern. Feng Lian's one desire was to raise the sect up to where they could leave this backwater city known as Firedawn. The other sect elders were only worried about attaining power in the city, but what use is being the top fish in a small pond?

This is why she prided herself on being able to spot and grow talents. This youth however was the first she was genuinely excited about in a long time.

"Elder Feng! We have arrived!" a monotone voice broke her chain of thoughts.

A subtle, yet confident smile was concealed behind her violet veil.

…

"Enter!" a mature woman's voice called them in Ao Ruang could already smell a strong intoxicating scent. While it was clearly heavy in the air he didn't feel much at all, only a more faint scent..something far more sweet.

Looking around the small chamber like some form of magnetic energy his eyes were drawn to a picturesque beauty who laid lazily on a cushion. While he was young he had begun to notice girls well over a year ago in a different light and his mother had given him a frank, but much needed talk about the going ons between men and women. Knowing this, Ao Ruang immediately was on edge.

"Please. Sit." she said almost as if she were purring.

*Thudum*

Ao Ruang's extra sensitive ears caught the sound of a distant drum.

"So tell me Ao Ruang. What a pleasant name. How does it feel to have passed the assessment?"

*Thudum*

"Err...I passed? I thought I left before the end?" Ao Ruang said, slightly puzzled.

"The assessment is merely a formality for the city lord to feel like he has some sort of control over the sects. What is important is that you have been chosen by my Ghostly Whisper sect." she hand waved the city lord as if he was a minor inconvenience.

Ao Ruang took a moment to register that this young woman who couldn't be older than twenty-five was a sect elder and that she had just formally offered for him to join the sect.

"I see it is a lot for you to process, but should you accept..."

*Thudum* *Thudum*

"Will be brought into the sect…

*Thudum*

"...as one of my own outer disciples."

The woman's scent and heart beat had begun to distract him more and more, his mouth filled with saliva and he could feel his fangs begin to sharpen as they protrude more and more.

Snapping out of his trance Ao Ruang rubbed his nose embarrassingly "I'm sorry Elder...I err got distracted..." the fangs receded slightly. It was still something he wasn’t quite used to while his teeth were not significantly different his canines were sharper and slightly longer than normal persons. He had realized when he was feeding on Yi Liling that they would grow just slightly longer when he wanted to feed.

A smile crept across Feng Lian's face as Ao Ruang fumbled with his words.

"I plan on accepting you as my personal outer disciple. What do you think?"

*Thudum* *Thudum* *Thudum*

"I--I accept!" Ao Ruang said as he squeezed his eye's shut to look away from the intoxicating scent and to attempt to block out more simulus before his eyes began to change even though his eyes were veiled it was only enough to obscure the color and not completely mask the change.

"Good! Come to the sect with this token and give it to the gatekeeper and Deacon Ru An here will come and retrieve you for me."

Ao Ruang grabbed the token and bowed. "Thank you Elder!"

*Thudum* *Thudum*

"No need for formalities, my young disciple call me Lady Feng." purred once more letting the words drift slowly into Ao Ruang’s ears.

With two more swift bows Ao Ruang fled from the room as quickly as he could. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could handle being in her presence without losing complete control over his faculties.

Ao Ruang stumbled through the maze-like city as he searched in vain for his inn. Yi Liling needed to be with him as soon as possible so he could feed or he wouldn't be able to get that scent from his mind and he might snap. The last thing he needed was to go blood crazed in public especially after the publicity he just had.

After several minutes he finally saw the inn and Yi Liling was hanging clothes on the window sill of the second story of the inn outside their room.

Ao Ruang's vision blurred and he rushed into the inn and up the stairway...Yi Liling wasn't going to find this feeding nearly as pleasant as others. Which Ao Ruang could never quite understand.

...

Feng Lian couldn't help but giggle softly as the young man retreated her incense seemed to work much better than normal he must have very little experience with the opposite sex.

Glancing over at Deacon Ru An who stood silently in the corner, his face slightly unpleasant.

"What is it Ru An? Is there something you aren't happy with?"

Grunting in acknowledgement, Ru An turned to Feng Lian "I don't like the way he looked at you...as if you were...prey. Even behind that veil I could feel the desire from him."

Feng Lian giggled slightly louder "He is a young man, they all look at beauties that way. You said that about the last several male disciples that I received."

"No...not like that." Ru An muttered to himself, deciding to drop the topic only nodding at her comment.