I have to consider this answer carefully. It’s probably best if I try for the amnesia route.

“I… don’t have any memories from before today. I remember waking up in an alleyway in this city, but that’s it. I know my name, but not really much else about this world.”

Lin looks at me curiously, “That actually would explain a lot, since you don’t even seem to know basic things. Jiejie, do you think?…”

Ai nods in agreement, the both of them coming to a conclusion. “You might have been the victim of a cultivator’s issue.”

Success. But what does that mean? Tilting my head in apparent confusion, she continues.

Ai’s subsequent explanation comes down to the fact that ‘righteous’ cultivators regularly wipe non-cultivator memories. It’s actually the general baseline practice of the “good” sects, when a non-cultivator sees something they shouldn’t have.

While it sometimes goes too far, like in ‘my’ case, it is typically the better deal for mortals.

You know. Since we don’t die.

The reason that good sects do this is to maintain a positive image from their pool of candidates and is apparently easy enough to do. Just wiping memories is the “courtesy” to their potential pool of candidates within cities and prevents demonic sects from getting too many “revenge” candidates.

Outside of major cities or with people who have no support, they usually are just killed. There is widespread practice of using people as cultivation furnaces, with both righteous and demonic sects taking part in different ways.

After explaining all of this, she seems to have convinced herself that this is a definite possibility. Though I can still feel her wariness of me through her narrowed eyes.

However, she glances briefly at Lin and gives a gigantic sigh. “Alright. So, what happens now?”

Her eyes look past me, to the alleyway.

“With Rong… dead, we will need to leave this area for a period. Him being here, allowed us to not have to worry about some other residents of the Ways.”

Catching my twisted expression, but probably misinterpreting it, she continues “By the way, we call these alleyways, the Ways, for obvious reasons. Moving on. He was a major deterrent and claimed this area as his territory.

Though he was an evil bastard, he still lived here for long enough and had enough sway that no one questioned him on this. We’ll have to hide his body, though it is likely already too late and has been seen.”

Focusing back on the two of us, “We must find somewhere else, a bit of a distance away. Luckily, there’s no shortage of areas.”

I attempt to interject “You know, I could always have you guys join me in an inn until we find a new spot.”

Lin shakes her head at me, “Remember, what I mentioned before. It really is just a waste of money to go into an inn, when you know the safe spots like we do. Unfortunately, there’s been a few shifts in territory recently, so it might be tough, though.”

Oh right, I forgot about that. It might be best if I stick with them… in case they need help.

“Would you mind if I stuck with you guys then? I may not be much help, but I can at least keep you healthy.”

Lin’s face immediately lights up, “Of course!”

Ai immediately crosses her arms, “I don’t know about… wait. Why did you agree so quickly, Lin?”

“Oh, um… Well. Right! I’m his bodyguard. Have to stay near him and all, you know.”

Clearly incredulous, Ai retorts “Oh really? Maybe it’s a bit believable now that you actually weigh something, but before you were basically a stick.”

“Well, I thought the same thing, but mainly he just wants me to teach him common sense. And why wouldn’t I? Look what he pays me every day!”

She thrusts out her hand, showing a Big Copper Coin. “And he’s already paid 20 days’ worth in advance.” Ai looks at me in a mixture of shock and pity.

“Who were you before this, to give out money like this? Never mind, don’t worry about that. I can understand why Lin would help you, if you are this naïve. There’s no way she could leave you alone now.”

With a sigh, she continues. “At least we won’t have to worry about food for a long while. That will allow us to stay low for much longer than I thought we could.”

Turning slightly away, “I guess you can come along, though you have to follow what we say. We can’t have you endanger us all because of your ignorance.”

Of course, I nod to that. “Even with that, though, I’m not sure we can find a place that would be safe enough to keep someone so clearly out of their element around.” She appears to be thinking deeply about this, as Lin and I remain silent.

Maybe I should let them know about my taming ability… It seems like the main issue here is safety. I might as well confide in them a bit, maybe they’ll be able to come up with some ideas to help.

“Well. There is something else I can do.”

Ai’s eyes seem to flash before focusing on me again, silent.

“I feel like all of this may have awakened another ability in me.” Lin has an enormous smile on her face and seems engrossed in my words.

“I believe I may have the ability to tame creatures.” Lin and Ai’s eyes light up. From what Lin’s told me, this is the type of thing cultivators can do.

“I wouldn’t get too excited though, I get the feeling it’s only for simple creatures.” Totally a lie, I don’t want to give everything away.

Seeing a cockroach in the corner, I point to it.

It feels almost intuitive, as I can immediately feel a connection to it. While simple, it feels as if micro-cosmically it’s improving its intelligence. Unlike the text of the ability, it doesn’t feel like it has made a contract. In fact, it seems like the ability is creating intelligence for it, in lieu of one.

A quick scan of the insect reveals the below.

Wood-Shredding Cockroach

Cockroach - Adult

Partially Contracted Insect: Maintenance Cost is 1 Mana/per 3 hundred thousand individuals (1 human biomass worth)

Maintenance allows for control over individuals/groups and removes need for sustenance or respiration. After initial contract, individuals are still allied to contractee.

Pre-Contract Intelligence Correction:

To prepare for conscious contracting, this insect is being brought up to sapience. When completed, automatically contracted and the terms will be in favor of the contractee.

Complete Obedience:

Huh, this is pretty great! It gives creatures without intelligence it, to allow eventual contraction. Not only that, but it is only 1 mana for 10 people worth of biomass!

Ugh… that’s a lot of bugs, though. I’m not really an insect person, in any sense of the word. However, in a world like this, I’ll take any advantage I can get. The bug scurries over and I mentally command it to do some silly tricks, clearly out of the norm.

Ai looks at it and then back at me “Okay, we can use this, but how does this help us with finding a new place?”

I can’t help but grin at her response, “This may only be one cockroach, but imagine if there were a million of them? Or if this was all flying insects or ants? Wouldn’t that make you feel safer, if they were to defend you or attack someone chasing you?”

Ai’s eyes light up in understanding.

She speaks aloud, “We could definitely ambush enemies or have a quick getaway with something like this.”

Coolly, she points to a hanging, dried, dead rat I didn’t notice earlier, “Could you have that cockroach climb into a creature’s mouth and get it stuck there?”

Ah. She’s a bit scary. She’s already come to a horrifying tactic after only hearing this once. Wait, Lin mentioned she’s well read, so she probably already has heard of something like this.

“Yeah, it can definitely do that. Though I may need quite a few of them to get through any frantic brushes.”

She thinks about it more.

“How about down there?”

She points to her butt.

My own butt clenches in response.

Okay, I am never going to piss this woman off.

“Ahem. I mean, they could try… butt things are pretty tight down there for most people.”

With a sigh, she moves on, “Well, okay then. I’ll see if I can come up with some more ways to use them.”

Please don’t.