The bell rings. Shi and I get up, as do the rest of the slaves. We aren't in a hurry, there's no reason for. Though, we can't delay either.
We leave the dormitory and head to another similar building, the dining hall. The slaves in charge get up early to prepare our only meal of the day. We save some tasteless biscuits and hard bread for later.
The slaves who're in the third stage are first. They receive the best food, or the least bad. Then, it's the second's turn, the first's and us.
There're no slaves in the fourth stage or above, except for some personal slaves who aren't with us. From the fourth stage onwards, they attract too much attention from the students, and the envy of some. This ends up being tragic. Especially, when some of those students can pay for the death of a slave in the fourth stage. I'm convinced that there're slaves who could reach the fourth stage, but they're too afraid to do so.
Those of us who have assigned tasks go to do them. The rest go to queue in front of the administrators. I'm lucky in that. My morning work is laborious, but not hellish.
—————
I've spent the morning copying symbols on expensive paper, slowly, taking great care not to make a single mistake. Then, Master Mu or some of his apprentices will apply layers of qi, until the copy of another low-level manual is complete. If something fails in the process, the manual piles up with those that have to be burned. It seems a waste to me. Some are partly usable even if they aren't complete. But Master Mu's word is absolute in the workshop. That of a slave is irrelevant.
We have to rest for five minutes every fifteen, which makes it the best job I have. They do it not out of consideration for us, but so that we're more rested and make fewer mistakes. It's the master's order. The apprentices do it too. Not resting is forbidden.
Although I have to be very focused, it's an entertaining job. Besides, we don't run the risk of sudden abuse. We're safe during these hours.
—————
After the manuals, I have to chop wood. It's my second favorite job. They don't usually bother people in the forest. It's a safe area if I carry the talismans they lend us.
They trip me and I fall. I saw it, and could have dodged it. However, it's wiser to fall into their trap. Otherwise, it would be worse later. The students laugh. I get up, apologize, and continue on my way. I carry the talisman that indicates that I'm working, so they let me go.
"He's one of Mu's slaves. Better to leave him alone. If he gets hurt, the elder will get angry with us," the shortest of them warns.
"Are you afraid, Li? You're a coward," other one provokes him.
It's starting to get worrying. They've been bothering me for days, and it's getting worse. It's as if it were some kind of challenge. To see who dares to go further. Though not enough for Master Mu to get angry.
"Of course not, Fen!" the first one defends himself. Although it's clear that he's afraid.
"Well, Fen talks a lot, but he doesn't do anything either. Weren't you going to sodomize him? A lot of talk, but in the end, nothing," a third provokes.
"I prefer a female."
"Sure, sure…" Li hits back.
"Tomorrow or the day after, I'll catch him! Let's see who's the coward! Will you do it too, or are you scared!?"
They don't care if I hear them, I'm just a slave. They go joking about their tests of courage, although some are worried. I wouldn't care if it weren't for the fact that I'm the one who has to suffer. I don't want to go through that again. Although, I can't do anything to avoid it, I'm just a slave, an object. Well, normally I couldn't.
This has been going on for a while now. So, I've had time to prepare something unthinkable for a slave. Anyway, what's the worst that can happen to me? Death? It'd be a liberation. In fact, we can't commit suicide even if we want to. We have a restriction that prevents us from doing so.
The plan is risky. I may not succeed in time, but it's worth a try. Besides, by planning it, I've felt alive for the first time in a long time.
—————
We can go faster chopping wood than they think. But we all hide it. In fact, right now I have wood hidden in a small cave. If someone finds out, I'll simply lose that work done. If someone sees me taking it, I'll simply say that I found it there. Although, it's better not to be discovered, just in case.
That way, I can rest when I need to. Or chop more when I'm more rested. Today, I feel nervous about the imminence of my plan, about its consequences. If it fails, if it doesn't arrive in time. So, I take a walk through the Treasure Caves to calm myself. It's what the students call them.
There're several legends of immortals who hid treasures there. Some infamous, others virtuous. New students often enter and get lost in the caves, and we have to go rescue them. Luckily, this year's fever has passed.
It's absurd to want to find something. Every corner has been searched hundreds of times. But the newbies are gullible. And the old ones want them to go through what they went through.
I know the tunnels pretty well. I've gone in several times to rescue those students. I like to walk through them. The silence calms me. I find the touch of the stone pleasant. Besides, the talisman creates enough glow to illuminate a few meters.
I stop to caress the cold stone. For a moment, I'm not a slave. I'm a visitor in this stone temple. Suddenly, an earthquake shakes me, I almost fall. It's strong. I curse having gone to the caves today. I could be trapped.
I quickly move through the tunnels to look for the exit. I pray that it isn't blocked. That there's not another tremor. When there's one, there're usually more. But when I turn a corner, I find a surprise. There's a new tunnel.
My first intention is to ignore it, and get out of here. It's dangerous to stay longer. But I follow my heart. It's absurd to do what I'm doing, but it's also exciting. Very rarely do we get to do something exciting, something that makes our lives not just a continuous monotony with no future.
I've reached the end. As expected, there's nothing there except stone. Well, it was a bit exciting. I turn around and start walking fast. I better get out quickly. Before there's another earthquake.
I stop at a crack I haven't seen before. It's normal, it was hard to see in the other direction. It was covered by a ledge. But in the opposite direction, I can see that there's something inside.
I take out a strange object. It looks like a house drawn by a child in the sand, but the material is polished and smooth. Maybe, it's a treasure. Or maybe it's worthless. Either way, I take it and get out of here.
There's been a collapse. There're voices on the other side.
"Fuck, it's blocked!"
"Hurry! Let's get the stones out! Maybe, the earthquake has exposed some treasure!"
They're stupid students who don't know they're risking their lives. They could be buried if there's another earthquake. Although, I've been a bit stupid too. Anyway, I've been lucky. Otherwise, I'd have met them. They'd have taken the strange piece from me. They might've even killed me to prevent me from telling.
I follow another path. There're a couple of half-blocked tunnels. I climb through the stones. I'm praying that there isn't another tremor right now. There isn't, and I can finally find a way out. I go out carefully, in case I run into someone. In fact, there're more people coming. Luckily, I can hide in the woods, and reach the cave where I have the timber. I breathe a sigh of relief. It was dangerous. My whole body is shaking.
I examine the object in the daylight. It looks like jade, although I'm not quite sure, I'm not an expert. It's dark red. I hide it at the back of the cave. There's also hidden the bag containing my plan.
I don't have much time to contemplate the only treasure I possess. It's already getting late. So, I tie the timber to the platform, and I then put it on my back. It's heavy, but I'm used to it.
—————
I finally make it to the dormitory, after a long day. There've been a few more earthquakes, and we've had to rescue several students. There've been only minor injuries. Too bad.
I've spent the entire afternoon in the caves, and thinking about that treasure. If it has no value, there's nothing to worry about. The problem is whether it has value, and how to find out.
If I take it to any elder to examine it, the best thing that can happen is that they'll simply claim it for the sect. The worst, that they'll decide that they want it for themselves, and that it's better not to have witnesses.
Trying to sell it is almost impossible for a slave. If I were to become one of those chosen to make purchases in the city, I'd be very lucky if I can sell it a hundred times below its real price, if it's worth anything. Dying isn't at all out of the question if the treasure has more value than a simple slave. They could simply pay for another slave to avoid trouble.
Even if I do get money, that money belongs to my owners, so there's little I can do with it. It'll be very difficult to move it without being discovered, and very dangerous for me. The best option would be to buy my freedom with it, but that's almost impossible. There should be someone I could trust to do it, and that someone doesn't exist.
The truth is that I can't think of anything better than leaving it in its hiding place, or burying it in a far away place. Maybe, when I reach the first stage, I can find out more. Some relics are activated with qi. However, it won't be of much use to me, even if it's a weapon. It's best to keep it hidden. I sigh.
Shi arrives shortly after. She's limping and gritting her teeth. She's had a bad day.
"Can you bring the ointment?" she asks me.
I get up and nod. It's not the first time.
When I return, she has taken off her clothes. She's lying face down. Several new wounds and reddened skin are visible. She must be very sensitive. I don't ask her what happened. She'll tell me if she wants.
"It's all that asshole Chen Duo's fault," she begins.
I know who she's talking about. He's a student who's in the sixth stage of the Genesis realm. He's handsome, and his family has money. He's quite arrogant.
"I'm cleaning a table when he approaches, lift my clothes and penetrate me. Just like that, without any preparation, and in a public place. On top of that, he complains that I'm not wet, and it's uncomfortable! What does he think I am!? A fountain!?"
She's angry. It's true that we're objects, but there's no reason to mistreat us for no reason. Sometimes, I wonder how she puts up with it. Just thinking about what might await me in the next few days gives me the shivers. I've discovered that I haven't completely overcome the trauma of my childhood. I thought I'd forgotten it. I've also seen the empty gaze of others who've suffered it several times. She's stronger than me.
"Even though he complains, he doesn't stop. They don't care if there's pain or if they hurt us, they just keep on putting it in to satisfy themselves. And then, the little princess comes. She gets angry with him, they argue, and in the end it's my fault. For seducing him! As if I had nothing better to do! Of course, she decides to punish me with whipping. Damn idiots!"
I finished applying the ointment while she lets off steam. It's all she can do.
"Thank you," she says to me somewhat embarrassed when I finish.
I guess she feels guilty for making me listen to her complaints. It's not that it bothers me. Other times, she listens to mine,
"You're welcome. Rest," I answer softly.
I know there's no sex today. And maybe for several days.
She doesn't move. Today, she can't sleep in any other position, and her clothes would bother her.
It takes me a little longer to fall asleep. I stop thinking about what I've found. For now, I don't see a solution. I focus on what I have to do tomorrow to complete the plan. Nothing can fail. I don't think I'll get a second chance. Everything has to be perfect.
I've already talked to the administrator to give me some assignments tomorrow. It's not unusual. We often do this when we want to be busy, so a student can forget about us. With a day's margin, they often get over their anger or whim. But I know that won't be the case this time. Also, the administrator knows that, when they do us a favor, we pay for it with another favor. The week that I'm the administrator, he can also ask me for preferential treatment.
I'm doing a little cultivation. If everything goes well, I might make progress sooner than expected. But it all depends on the next two days.