---
The morning after their dramatic rise, the Abandoned Sect—now properly named "F-Rank Independent Sect – Abandoned, But Functional"—stood before its still-smoking courtyard.
The newly recruited disciples, still in various stages of shock and disorientation, wandered around in a half-conscious haze. Pan-Pan was offering deep, profound lectures on "the Tao of bamboo," Mu Yao was trying to stop a nearby explosion from her new alchemical concoction, and Xu Liang... well, Xu Liang was being struck by lightning for the third time this morning.
Wei Yun stood on the nearest stone slab, his eyes scanning the wreckage. His mind was in overdrive.
"This place looks like it was cursed into existence... but that's fine. We're nothing if not cursed," Wei Yun muttered. "Time for some real upgrades."
> [System Message: Acknowledge your sect's unfortunate state of disrepair?]
[Option 1: "Yes. Let's build."]
[Option 2: "Can we have a nap first?"]
Wei Yun glanced at the still-smoking piles of broken stone.
"We'll go with option 1. No naps until we have a roof that doesn't collapse every time it rains."
Yu Shuang, who had just finished building an emergency shelter made from discarded crates, appeared with her usual cheer. "Master, I'm ready to assist! What's the first step?"
Wei Yun smiled wickedly. "We're going to build... an actual cultivation tower."
Pan-Pan's ears perked up. "Cultivation tower? I like the sound of that. But first, I need more tea. The bamboo's telling me to meditate on the meaning of life."
"We'll get tea later," Wei Yun said. "But we will need a tower, or this place is just a glorified dumpster."
> [Mission: Construct the Cultivation Tower of Madness]
[Requirements:
500 Spirit Stones (the finest gravel, pebbles, or sand)
10,000 units of Unstable Wood
2,000 units of Blazing Stone
1,000 Rank-5 Cursed Nails (these will not explode, probably)]
Wei Yun blinked at the list. "So... no easy solutions."
Crutchy, who had been uncharacteristically silent, coughed. "I've got a few ideas. Not good ideas, but ideas. First—steal supplies. Second—find someone who's already done this and borrow their plans. Third—hope the universe doesn't collapse on us before we finish."
"Borrow plans? You mean steal plans."
"Exactly."
---
The plan was simple, devious, and bound to cause more problems than it solved.
Wei Yun decided they would venture into the nearby city—Stonewind City, home to a bustling array of artisans, smugglers, and highly dangerous politicians with no sense of taste in fashion.
Upon arrival, Crutchy immediately began negotiating with the local underworld for the best discount on wood. Xu Liang, predictably, tripped on a pile of chicken feathers and caused an unfortunate series of events involving falling barrels of salt and a collapsing stand of spicy noodles.
Mu Yao, meanwhile, was giving an impromptu demonstration of her explosive brewing skills at the local tavern, earning a few dozen free drinks and the attention of some rather unsavory figures.
"...That could've been worse," Wei Yun muttered, eyeing the chaos.
Yu Shuang raised a finger. "Master, I have a proposal. Why not ask for the materials at a discounted price by... explaining our situation?"
"Discounted price?" Wei Yun snorted. "How about we just take them?"
"We could do that," Yu Shuang grinned mischievously. "But that sounds so much more fun."
Wei Yun thought for a moment, then smiled. "Fine. You handle the charm, I'll handle the getting us banned part."
---
Back at the tavern, after Yu Shuang charmed several local dignitaries into helping them with their supply issue (and mostly involving very little charming), they had finally secured the necessary materials to start construction on their Cultivation Tower.
But Wei Yun had a different idea in mind as he mulled over the materials.
"We need more than just supplies," he muttered. "We need an ally. Someone with influence. Someone powerful."
Crutchy, busy sipping a drink that smelled suspiciously like an alchemical failure, raised an eyebrow. "Are you thinking of courtship, Master?"
Wei Yun paused.
"I mean... Yes. But not in the romantic sense."
"Well, that makes one of us," Crutchy muttered, eyeing the dancers who were entirely too enthusiastic for a tavern that smelled like burnt hair and bad decisions.
Suddenly, a soft voice interrupted them.
"Looking for powerful allies, are you?"
The group turned. A woman—tall, elegant, and unreasonably well-dressed for a tavern—stood in the doorway. She had a mysterious air about her, though Wei Yun couldn't help but notice she was carrying an absurdly large satchel that had "NOT A TRAP" written on it in glittering letters.
"Excuse me," Wei Yun said cautiously. "Do I know you?"
"I don't think you do, but I know all about you, Wei Yun."
His eyes widened. "What do you know about me?"
Her lips curled into a smile. "Everything. And I'm offering you a deal."
Wei Yun narrowed his eyes. "I'm listening."
---
The woman sat at their table, casually sipping her drink (which, much to Wei Yun's surprise, didn't explode or implode), and continued her pitch.
"I'm a merchant of sorts. Let's just say I acquire things from places you might find... difficult. And in exchange for some of your sect's... growing influence, I'll provide you with everything you need for your Cultivation Tower."
Wei Yun leaned forward. "What's the catch?"
She smiled. "A few favors here and there. Some trivial missions. Nothing too difficult. All for the glory of your sect."
The entire table fell silent.
The deal was too good to pass up.
"We accept," Wei Yun said, shaking her hand.
She winked. "Good. I'll be in touch."
---
Back at the sect, construction began. Wood was chopped, stone was arranged, and spirits were crushed under the weight of unavoidable failures.
As Wei Yun surveyed the progress, his disciples were hard at work... mostly failing, but trying. Yu Shuang had set up a small construction workshop, Crutchy was busy trying to convince a few nearby trees to voluntarily sacrifice their branches (they weren't cooperating), and Mu Yao was stirring cauldrons in a way that everyone knew would soon cause the ground to shudder.
Yet despite the failures, the Sect had hope.
"Once this tower is finished," Wei Yun murmured, "we'll be unstoppable. We'll be the laughingstock of the multiverse."
> [Mission: Build the Cultivation Tower is in progress.]
[Faction Status: Abandoned, But Functional – All disciples receive a +10 bonus to Ignoring Basic Structural Integrity.]
[Warning: Disciples may accidentally blow up the sect. Please monitor.]
---
End of Chapter 2