Retired Old Man #10

Much like Blood Axe or Rayleigh, her previous life was catching up to her yet again and she was left with a decision to make.

Would she allow them to live and put herself at risk for someone who had just went through something so traumatic and may hold grudges against her for not acting or arriving much sooner or should she simply end their suffering.

Some of these people may of heard or seen something and could become witnesses allowing the sect to become aware of her actions and she could not fully trust every single one of them.

Some already had high vitality from practicing the outer sects blood arts which she could sense so she knew that these people were not so innocent, even the brother and sister had quite a bit of vitality which suggests that they had begun to practice blood arts too at their parents instructions.

Children that had been brought up around violence would have a very hard time changing too so she was even less leaning towards sparing them.

She took a breathe and spoke. "We cannot afford to take any more risks and we did not bring enough people to be able to make sure that they will be escorted or taken towards a safe place… we cannot be sure that they will not try to run away or fight back upon being told to go some place. One person asking others for help will draw too much attention too.. our mission is to evaluate the captive alone and if they are suitable and trustworthy then we can make a decision about them.."

They did not collect any information on these people that had been recruited into the sect or had very little information about them so it was very difficult to predict their actions now that they had been spared.

Some wished to join the sect willingly so now that the option is no longer available, they may have a hard time accepting this new reality and act out of malice or spite towards those that had intervened in their recruitment process.

Others that had lost somebody may even feel great anger towards their saviours because if that group had acted sooner then they would not have had to go through with what they had experienced and lost those close to themselves.

Rashida looked towards the children with a look of conflict in her eyes and knelt down before Kil "I will take responsibility for a select few of them even if it is small, they will be my burden to bear and if they revolt or cause problems I will deal with them swiftly according to the rules."

Ki looked at her determined face and sighed. 'I knew it… She still has the same character as before.. She can easily battle and kill others now but there is still softness in her heart for those smaller and much weaker than herself. Even to the stage where she would risk herself for somebody like me once before.'

She turned and pointed to the boys and spoke coldly. "You wish to protect them but I will ask you this. Can you protect them and ensure that they will not one day try to put a knife in our backs? Take a good look around, not a single person here is truly innocent.. even the children have already got traces of blood qi forming within their body. Do you believe that they are worth your protection?"

Rashida lowered her head. "I will put them under my complete control so that they never get the chance to and I will take them under me and instruct them personally."

The children looked towards her wide eyed and the sister trembled as she spoke. "Mother's blood.. she left it for us.."

Ki looked down and saw the obsession within the girls eyes.

It was not the obsession that belonged to someone with greed towards a belonging but instead was one of someone who cherished something dearly like a keepsake from a loved one.

They had heard everything and understood some parts of it but what they remembered most during the scary atmosphere and experiences was their mothers final moments.

Their father and other relatives were somewhat distant and forced them to practice a strange method within a bath full of blood or what they understood earlier as a special medicine bath to help keep them healthy.

After a year longer using this method, they grew to have their suspicions about the thick and smelly liquid they were bathing in and absorbing into their small bodies but they could not come to terms with that reality that was in front of them.

After being presented into this situation and their parents earlier explanations about their future, their eyes had been opened to the hard truth that was difficult to accept but before they could come to terms with everything their mothers sacrificed herself for their future.

They never had the choice, they had only followed their parents wishes and now that their family had perished they could only fulfil their last wishes for them.

However now that that route had been cut off, the only attachment that they had was to the blood their mother left behind for them.

Upon looking into both of the children's eyes, Ki saw into their true nature and sighed. "You may take them but prepare some jars and vials to contain their family members blood within for the children. As for the rest… split it equally between yourselves."

Ki now saw why the two of them had carried the vials of blood on their necklace back then.

Many believed that it would be used when they were in a desperate situation and needed a way to gain more energy.

A typical way for a blood qi user was to consume or absorb the blood within reach to replenish their low energy but during large combat situations it may not be possible to always drain any enemies before being attacked by others.

The best way was to carry a flask or vial of blood to quickly replenish that low blood qi.

Ki and others always had the impression that the brother and sister kept the blood vial as insurance for such a time but after seeing them now, she had thought differently.

It was the last thing of their family that had been left behind for them.

Even if their family was a twisted one, their children still grew up with love and also loved their parents back.

She looked at the remaining people and spoke calmly. "For the others, if none of you wish to be responsible for them then kill them quickly."

The others did not seem willing to put their reputation on the line just for a couple of strangers who were just on the verge of joining the Blood Sect so they carried out her wishes.