《My CEO Harem Cultivation System》 Quick And Dirty FAQ The Quick and Dirty FAQ 1. Will You Have R-18/Smut/Sex Scenes? Yes. This is the Author''s training to become a better author so leave tips and give me references for what you want! 2. When Will The Good Stuff Appear? There''s a new rule or heavily pressed rule that all newest books that will be contracted by Webnovel should hold back from releasing the R-18 stuff in early chapters, so buckle up first bucko, it''s time to test your patience xD ( I''ll Probably Specify When There''s R-18 in the Chapters though ) 3. Can You Be More Descriptive With The Looks? This book is mainly written in third-person limited perspective and so our CEO doesn''t wake up in the morning and stares at his reflection taking note of his chiseled jaws or sculpted and rippling abs. Also do you like reading about really descriptive furniture and surroundings? I skim them and you''re probably skimming too. Or you might like them. Which is cool too. There''s a hundred thousand webnovels available so I tend to go for the dialogue. I''m still trying to find a happy medium in my writing style though so tell me if it''s too sparse 4. We''re Actually Looking For The Description On The Girls And Not The CEO Oh, let me work on that but I''ll also perhaps just make the list of the character descriptions here for your convenience. Although, if you could use the theatre of your mind then it''d be great :D There''s a reason why people like the books more than movies, it''s how we envision the characters that are still much more satisfying. So I like to leave it up to Reader''s discretion. 5. Do You Have Any Other Questions? Leave Them In The Comments! Paragraph Comments or Wherever? Before He Became The CEO Respected and admired by the people all around them¡ªit was what the Li Family garnered from everyone in their society. Coming from humble beginnings, through the sheer hard work done by their ancestors in the past, the Li Family''s success and renown were widely spread across the city and even the country of itself. The old matriarch grabbed the little boy''s chin and smiled, "You should be grateful that you''re even alive, Li Yang. Stop running around and demolishing what your elders worked hard for, foolish brat." Shattered pieces of a vase lay strewn on the floor of the Li Mansion. The boy struggled to hold back his tears, a choke threatened to surge from his throat. "I-It wasn''t me." "Men don''t cry, Li Yang." The older woman narrowed her eyes at the boy, his words falling off to deaf ears. "And stop blaming other people for your mistakes and start cleaning it up. Your mother spoiled you too much, now look at you." Li Yang''s grandmother pulled her hand away and scrunched up her face. She finally spun around and strode away from the hallway, leaving the young boy alone. It only took a minute or two before the sound of padded footsteps came back in the hallway. A boy not much older than Li Yang appeared with a confused look on his face, "What are you standing there around for, Yang? A maid can clean that up, come on." "...Y-You bumped this, I tried to catch it." "Geez. That''s just stupid, you could have hurt yourself." His older brother rolled his eyes and stepped towards him. He tugged the smaller boy''s arm, "Let''s go. I''ll call the Butler to take care of it." Li Yang shook his head and knelt down, he eyed the large shattered pieces of the vase. "Can we fix this?" "What? You''re going to hurt yourself." "...we have glue right?" Li Yang carefully picked up one of the shards and held it up. The other boy slapped it out of his hand. "Don''t¡ªow!" Through sheer bad luck or misfortune, the vase shard embedded itself into his brother''s hand instead. He ended up getting scolded further that day. .. . Li Yang was told to stay in his room, but he was too curious for the reason as to why. It didn''t help that his brother didn''t drop by as he promised and he soon snuck out of his room. He ended up peeking out from one of the available doors to the large hall. He soon realized that there was a small gathering for older men and women that he couldn''t recognize, except he could tell that they were important people of note. A proud father introduced one of his children, "This is my son, Li Liang." "Good evening, Ms. Chen." The boy bowed his head. He was dressed up to the nines. "My, my he looks like his father! What about your other son?" His father''s face twitched for a moment before his features relaxed into a smile, "My wife insisted we keep him at that time, but ah, he''s too shy to attend functions like this one." The boy closed the door quickly and as quietly as he could¡ªhe noticed his grandmother too late. And she had glared at him from within the room, a silent notion for him to leave. And he did just that, not wanting to cause further troubles. .. . What was supposed to be a quiet dinner with the family turned cold and terse as the patriarch soon spoke up. "You''re taking a Business Degree." His father glanced past Li Yang and stared at his first son. There was no inflection in the man''s tone, he said it as if they were simply stating facts. His older brother glared at the older man, "You can''t insist me to take that." ¡­ Li Liang left on the same night to pursue what he wanted. And that was the beginning where his father and even grandmother started paying a lot more attention to him. The validation and acknowledgement that he had wanted had finally come. Even when that meant the pressure burdened on him weighed even harder now that his brother had gone out of the picture. He had a lot of catching up to do. .. . The brother that had been gone finally reappeared one day in the university, or perhaps he had always been there and he had tried to pretend that the young man didn''t exist. And it was easy before, both of them had stuck in each of their own little worlds. But it was hard to do it now. Not right when the man confronted him. "Will you help me run this company?" Li Liang held out his hand to him, determination set on his face. "I know that father insisted that you run our old family business, but this will be the future and I''m sure you know it as well¡ªthere will come a time where everything will be done on the internet. It''s already begun in the western countries, and even here. Heck, we''re already at this age." Li Yang frowned at them, "Then you''re already late. The forerunners would already benefit from this, and a recent company would have a hard time setting foot now." The man in front of him was no longer the prim and proper older brother, wearing nothing but a hoodie and sweats¡ªit was weird to see them like that. Would this have been him if their roles didn''t get reversed before? And yet as usual, exactly like the old times, his brother was oblivious. Even with the hardship he had gone through, their confidence in themself stayed the same. Li Liang cracked a grin at him, "I know what I want in mind and I won''t stop at it¡ªall I''m asking is for a little support." It was the same tone that the boy often used to drag him to trouble. But he wasn''t as naive as before, Li Yang crossed his arm over his chest. "...You want me to be the face." His brother shrugged and motioned to himself with a self-deprecating smile, "It sounds better on paper when it''s the beloved Li Yang who started it, but I''ll be the one covering the start-up I swear. I know they keep too many tabs on you." "Where did you even get the money?" Li Yang glared at the man. It was too suspicious, not a single cent had been given to them on the day that he had left. His older brother rolled his eyes and dug his hands into his pockets, "I got it through legitimate means¡ªmind you, don''t give me that look. Lighten up, you won''t get a girlfriend at all with the way you''re looking right now." He blinked and rubbed his face, "T-there''s someone¡ª" "With your knowledge in finances and my talent with the latest trends online and in the technology world." Li Liang motioned to himself with a smile, "It''s foolproof." "You can''t really say anything with a hundred percent certainty." "You know that I was only making an expression." His brother snorted. Li Yang rubbed his face, "...It doesn''t help us at all." "Geez, when this thing finally goes through and we celebrate our company''s first anniversary, do you know what I''m going to do?" The older brother gave him a smile. Li Yang frowned, "Don''t count the chicken before the eggs hatch." "We''ll throw a party and you are going to get drunk, let me correct myself¡ªwasted. Absolutely wasted." He grimaced, "I don''t like the sound of that." "Hah! It''ll help loosen up that stiffness of yours, Yang. I''ll even invite the prettiest women around when it succeeds. Who knows? You might even lose your v-card." "You can''t say something like that¡ª" "I''m your brother, I can guess that much." An offhand shrug was the only reply, until the man''s eye glinted. "The closest girl you got on your side is someone I''ve seen before¡ª" He frowned and narrowed his eyes, "No one. You didn''t see anything, Liang." "Alright, I''ll shut my mouth." Li Liang held his hand out once more to him, "So what do you say? We''ll you help me? I''ll assure you that you''ll actually start acting normal for once. Loosen up and smile, you''ve always been too stiff and I''ll help you on that, especially when you''re supposed to be the face." "This is why companies have Public Relations to handle this kind of thing." Li Yang muttered. "Then we''ll get that. You probably know some guy or girl who can handle that. So what do you say?" His older brother''s hand was extended to him. An offer. A chance for partnership. A gamble. A risk. It was going to give their father a heart attack and their grandmother a seizure once the word goes out. And this might have made their mother happy. "...I''m not accepting this because of the part of getting drunk or anything else you''ve said, I''m doing this because I trust you." Li Yang shook the other man''s hand. "Let''s do this." Who is the Best Girl? (Character Profile and Harem Expectations) Learn about the women in advance in this chapter. There might be spoiler-like information but surely you want to have all the information available, yes? Not every girl that he meets will be in the ''Harem Cultivation Mission'' as there is a criteria for it. Will there be one-night stands and flings? Yes. Most likely. Does that mean NOT every girl is going to ridiculously fall in love with him and wait on MC''s hand and foot, offering their life in servitude for this ridiculously handsome CEO and getting impregnated by him? Yes. If you want a power fantasy, you''ll be disappointed. Immensely. CHARACTERS: Name: Anna Song Title: The Heiress Age: 24 years old Hair Color: Brown Hair Style: Short bob Eye Color: Honey Brown Bust Size: C cup Height: 5''11" Profile: The only child of the Song Family, the young woman is beloved by many of the rich, famous and powerful for her status and beauty. And yet despite being surrounded by many admirers and friends, she feels as if everybody wishes to get something from her. Location: Socialite Gatherings, Some Business Functions Trivia: Her mother met her father while in an international business trip, she loves pistachio nuts and relaxing See Her On: Chapter One (Sneak Peek) Mission Title: Seduce The Rich Young Heiress Charm Points: 100,000 points Exclusively in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System Naughty Bits: To Be Made Name: Ying Yue He Title: The Secretary Age: 26 years old Hair Color: Black Hair Style: Shoulder-length Eye Color: Black Bust Size: B cup Height: 5''5" Profile: The one and only secretary of CEO Li Yang in the Olympian Corporation. Coming from a humble background and even living in a cheap apartment in the bustling city of Shanghai, she''s a tad sensitive and suspicious of any attention given to her. Location: Office in Olympian Corporation, shabby apartment of Madam Dongxia Trivia: She''s been working for about three years with him, enjoys romance and thriller, flustered with her boss See Her On: Chapter Two (First Appearance) Mission Title: Date the Secretary Charm Points: 10,000 points Exclusively in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System Naughty Bits: Name: Bo Lifen Title: The Tea Sommelier/ Emotional Mess (dubbed by Panda) Age: 28 years old Hair Color: Black Hair Style: Hair Bun Eye Color: Black Bust Size: C Height: 5''7" Profile: Current manager of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion Tea Shop, she operates both for regular humans and spiritual creatures in Shanghai. She comes from the Bo Family that has served tea to China for countless generations and she has studied a bit of cultivation and martial arts. Although she''s losing her touch. Location: Matriarch House of Bo Family, Heavenly Jade Pavilion Trivia: She secretly likes listening to Sun Aoyun, insecure about her age, See Her On: Chapter Fourteen (First Appearance) Is She Obtainable? Probably not. Available in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System, Races: Online (VR Smartphone App), Mr. Moon Rabbit, I''m Not Yours! Name: Luo Ju Di Title: Determined Mother Age: 29 Hair Color: Black Hair Style: side-ponytail Eye Color: Black Bust Size: B Height: 5''4" Profile: A woman who has raised her daughter all by herself, but she has begun to look for her child''s father. Location: Unknown Trivia: Other Information Not Yet Available See Her On: Chapter Twenty-Six (First Appearance) Is She Obtainable? Maybe. Exclusively in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System Name: Bai Minghua Title: Cute Idol Singer! Age: 23 years old Hair Color: Silver Hair Style: Ponytail Eye Color: Blue Bust Size: B Height: 5''3" Profile: Cherished and loved by all, she''s a wonderful idol beloved by many. Other Information Not Yet Available Location: Concerts, Fan Meetings Trivia: An idol singer well known throughout China, she''s doing her tour right now! See Her On: Chapter Twenty-Five (Mentioned) Is She Obtainable? We''ll see, but prepare your glow sticks! Exclusively in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System Name: Elizabeth Hawthorne Title: Bewitching Vampire Age: ??? Hair Color: Black Hair Style: Long and wavy Eye Color: Red Bust Size: B Height: 5''9" See Her On: Chapter Twenty-Two (Canon? Questionable) Profile: Information Not Yet Available Exclusively in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System Name: ??? Title: Fox Goddess Age: ??? Hair Color: White Hair Style: Falling down her back Eye Color: Blue Bust Size: D Height: 5''7" See Her On: Chapter Twenty-Two (Canon? Questionable) Profile: Information Not Yet Available Exclusively in: My CEO Harem Cultivation System END GAME INFORMATION: If you''ve seen the synopsis then you know that it has featured these following Missions for CEO Li Yang: [ Seduce The Rich Young Heiress ] Anna Song [ Conquer The White Lotus ] unknown [ Defeat the Fox Goddess ] unknown [ Make Top Actress See The Stars ] unknown [ Tame The Bewitching Vampire ] Elizabeth Hawthorne These will probably be the women that are surely going to be part of his harem, as for the others, it depends on fan favorite and author''s personal discretion. He does need a certain amount of girls to be stronger as it fuels his System with the Charm Point Currency. However, it is also likely that he''ll try to find another method to overcome the contract imposed on him by the Heavens. But of course you''re here for the harem so yeah, I''m trying to cater to that while not making a Gary Stu. Chapter 1: The CEO Who Cultivates [ 27,000 Charm Points have been invested into unlocking Qi Condensation Level 13! ] [ You Have Begun Foundation Establishment! ] Night. The perfect time for crime. And Anna Song, a rich young heiress, was the "star" of the show ¡ª if anyone could call being surrounded by a group of masked men that. Yang Li closed the notification screen and walked through the garden, the sound of dead leaves crunching underneath his shoes. The cold wind caressed his face, and he idly wondered what time it was now¡ªhe checked his watch and found that it was already past midnight. Instead of staying at his home, he was instead forced here. It had been a social gathering for the rich and the famous, but in the span of a few hours, everything had changed. It was a wonder why the woman had gone out of the party in the first place when the air was cold¡ªbut the predators had already come out to take advantage of this situation. And yet in a similar way, he was also targeting her. [ Main Quest: Seduce The Rich Young Heiress Anna Song ] [ Difficulty Level: Unknown ] [ Status: Ongoing ] [ Summary: Harem Cultivation is the method of gaining power through conquering beauties and adding them to your ''harem''. Your current target is ''Anna Song'' from the prestigious Song Family. ] [ Time Remaining: 15 Days ] [ Success: 100,000 Charm Points ] [ Failure: Collapse of Your Company ] The ''Failure'' portion made him grind his teeth, even as he approached the besieged young woman. Evidently, the men were so preoccupied that they didn''t even notice his presence. But that was fine. "What are you guys doing here?" He asked and watched a few of them recoil in surprise. A couple of the men gazed back at him and there was some wariness on their faces¡ªthey were caught right in the act. If he wasn''t here, he could only wonder how the situation might have developed further. However, the sheer numbers on their side made it such that his presence meant nothing to them. One of the masked men gave him a look and a shrug. "We were just talking to Miss Anna. There''s nothing wrong with it if you ask me, old man." He ignored the comment¡ªthe young man who spoke it right now looked like someone in his early 20s or even younger. It was a shame that they were bothering the lady. "And it''s really none of your business." Another one spoke up as well with a sneer, a statement followed up by murmurs of agreement. Somehow, despite the distance between him and the circle, the retch of alcohol was overpowering, as if he was right beside them. Some were probably under the influence of illegal substances right now. This was a pain. This shouldn''t have been his business, but his life had taken a turn for the unbelievable. His current circumstances dictated that he couldn''t ignore the scene before him. He instead raised a brow at them. "She doesn''t look comfortable to me." "Of course not! She''s just shy!" One of the men tried draping an arm across her shoulder. Anna Song quickly moved away with a look of disgust but she was still trapped in the circle of men. Yang Li hoped to resolve this situation without getting physical. If such an event like this were to get reported¡ªit would be quite bad for all of them. Indeed, the image of an online article with the title: ''CEO of Olympian Corp Gets Into A Fight'' was ingrained in the back of his mind. Such an event would make the investors would no doubt lose their trust in him. And so he continued, "It doesn''t look that way to me. How about you let her go and talk to her when you''re sober?" "We don''t need you lecturing us!" Another one of them shouted. "Just because you''re some CEO doesn''t mean you''re a hotshot here. Do you know who we are?" "No, and I don''t really care." He quipped and watched the expression on their faces turn hostile. That¡­ was something he probably shouldn''t have said. "That''s it! I''ll punch your face and teach you a lesson about respect." One of the bigger men swaggered over, the veins in his temple throbbing. "We warned you, old man. And now you''re going to pay the bloody price!" "If this enters the news¡­" "My father owns a media company, you should be more worried about yourself!" Another one of the men spoke up, but his ugly mug looked somewhat familiar this time. Yang Li cast around for a few seconds, trying to think of his name, but this wasn''t really a good time for that. It would have been nice if he had his bodyguard right now¡ªthere were actually ten young men now. But it was also too tedious to keep relying on them when he had actually started becoming a ''cultivator.'' With the pace of things, sooner or later, he would become stronger than his own hired guards. Yang Li loosened his tie and watched his opponent. The stench of alcohol was now in his face and it was terrible¡ªand the alcohol wasn''t even the good kind. "You can still turn back. Just let Miss Song go." His words only struck a nerve with the guy. "Not a chance!" The young man threw a fist at him and Yang Li dodged from it with ease. It wasn''t only because he was a cultivator but because their movements were too obvious¡ªa punch suddenly landed across Yang Li''s face as he drew back for a moment and saw another man join them. Unlike some of the movies and novels where a mob of fighters would fight the hero one at a time, this wasn''t that kind of scenario. They were at least good enough to capitalize that they had the number advantage. Yang Li felt one of his eyes twitch. And so the real fight began. Chapter 2: [ You Have Gained The Harem Cultivation System ] According to a Harvard Business Review Study, a CEO worked an average of 50 hours per week. 75% of all the meetings were planned in advance, while 25% were spontaneous. Most of their time was spent on face to face meetings. On average, they got 7 hours of sleep per day. Yang Li had finally caught a bit of reprieve as he sat in his office. The next few hours would be spent on paperwork, which was far better than working with a group, because as much as he wished to become more sociable¡­ it still drained him a lot. His life could have been called tedious. And yet he was actually grateful for this and so he continued to do his work, burying himself in it. He was working on the fifteenth document when the sounds of something crashing in his room made him look up, only to see a strange creature lying down on the floor. It looked like a panda, but no panda was small. He rubbed his eyes for a moment and half wondered if the stress was actually getting to him. But it was in that moment that the panda flew to his face and grinned, "Congratulations!" Yang Li stared at it for a second before looking back at his paperwork. The thought of scheduling a psych evaluation flashed through his mind. This one was quite a realistic hallucination. "Hey! Look at me! Why are you ignoring this magnificent creature?!" the voice continued to babble on. He wouldn''t give it attention and then it would go away¡ªthat was surely the plan. Or perhaps he needed a nap? He rubbed his face and let out a sigh. He would have to cut back on coffee as well. "That''s it! Mister Yang Li, if you don''t pay attention¡ªyour stocks are going to collapse!" He blinked and looked at the panda. As a product of his warped mind, Yang Li knew that he shouldn''t talk to it, and yet, he clicked his tongue. Perhaps this was his subconscious fears getting to him? "That is impossible. Nothing short of an economic collapse could trigger my stocks to plummet. Fluctuations may occur, but that''s normal." "You know what, if seeing me doesn''t convince you¡ªSystem will!" The panda raised a paw and smacked him across the face. The world spun, and with a dull ache, he realised that he was on the floor half a minute later. The sound of a door opening followed a moment later. His secretary rushed towards him in concern."Mister Li, are you okay? What happened¡ªare you alright, Mister Li?" He rubbed his forehead and nodded, "I''m fine, don''t worry. Just a little accident." He glanced at her and frowned. "Right, by chance, did you see a floating panda?" "Er¡­ you may have hit your head too hard, Mister Li." His secretary, Ying Yue He, gave him a sheepish smile. And that was in spite of the panda creature now laying on top of her head. Yang Li nodded and pulled himself up to his feet, "That appears to be the case, thank you for your concern. You can head back to your post." He fixed his chair and returned back to his seat. One of the things that he was somewhat worried about was gossip spreading¡ªit was too embarrassing if people learned that he had fallen off his chair. "Oh, are you sure we shouldn''t call for a medic?" Ying Yue He asked with a concerned look. She held her hands together and fiddled with her thumbs, "Or someone who knows first aid, I think Jenny knows some?" The CEO shook his head and at last flashed her a smile, "I''m fine, thank you for the concern." It always seemed to work whenever he requested things for a smile¡ªand it worked a lot faster when he did it on women. Men? Not so much. Once the sound of the door closed, he let his smile drop and eyed the panda floating in the air. He didn''t want to talk with it when others couldn''t see it. And if it wasn''t going to talk to him either¡ªwell, Yang Li was willing to adapt to the strangeness of this event. It didn''t hinder him at all¡ª [ If You Do Not Accept and Follow The System, Your Company Will Collapse ] A screen floated in front of him as well as he heard someone announce the words written on it. The voice was disembodied and flat which was a stark difference to Panda who had yelled at him awhile ago. And somehow this time, he felt a wave of energy pressuring around him as the panda continued to give him the silent treatment. Whether it had been from the voice or the panda, somehow it didn''t matter. This was¡­ he may have read something similar to this situation when he was younger. And yet it still didn''t make sense on why he was chosen or why this ''System'' had to be so cruel. Wouldn''t it have been better to stake his life on this instead? He wasn''t the only one affected if the company collapsed. He narrowed his gaze at the Panda, "If my company collapsed¡ªI can always rebuild it from scratch." There had been his concerns with the other stakeholders in his company but there was also another thing that weighed heavily in his mind. It made him realize that all his hard work throughout the decade would all be for nothing. "Hah! I''d like to see you try when the Heavens are against you!" The Panda jabbed a paw at him and laughed. It was so tiny and yet the laughter was so malicious and yet the pressure in his room grew heavier. It could have been a Panda Devil for all Yang Li could know. But he still couldn''t give up, he nodded, "That sounds like a challenge." "Listen here, CEO Li¡ªwhen the System says ''collapse'' it means burned into ashes. You''re never going to recover from that disastrous fall and you can''t expect yourself to be a Phoenix to rise from such ashes either. Your name, effort and years will all go down the drain and people like your Secretary will lose her job¡ªbut hey, maybe she''ll work in another company but you''ll be the only one who''d suffer until you die." Threats. Words that promised him of something dangerous if he didn''t agree¡­ he balled his hand into fist before nodding at last, "Fine, I will accept." A grin formed on the Panda''s face as the tension in the room quickly disappeared. A new screen soon appeared in front of him. [ Congratulations! You''ve Gained The Harem Cultivation System! ] Yang Li sighed and rubbed his forehead. What kind of nonsense was he hearing and reading right now? "I am familiar with the word Cultivation and System but what is this Harem included in it? The System doesn''t make any sense and I am a bit surprised that you have not ''transported'' me into another world." The Panda rested its fluffy face on a paw, "Let the System explain it to you." It was now a wonder on why the Panda was still here then but he asked for the meaning of Harem Cultivation. [ Each Girl You Add Into Your Harem Gives You Charisma Points To Become A Cultivator ] There were a lot of questions that spun in his mind but right now he would only ask one thing. "...And why do I need to become a Cultivator?" The ridiculousness of all of this still made him wonder if he was dreaming. [ To Entertain The Celestial Heavens Of Course! ] Chapter 3: The Arrival of His First Quest The CEO took it well. Yang Li was after all forced to adapt into the situation but it did not change who he was as an individual. He did not do things without putting all his efforts into it¡ªbut he would do it after business hours. Such a thing like this couldn''t delay the fact that he had to finish checking the papers left in his office. "W-Why are you still sitting around?!" The Panda pointed a paw at him in the face. "You''ve already got the First Quest already and there''s a deadline! I thought you didn''t want your Company to collapse!" He swatted the creature carefully away from his laptop screen and gave it a look, "I work well under pressure but I do not multitask." Yang Li explained until he paused and glanced at the door. Nobody visited his office until it was urgent but the chances of him being caught talking to himself was something he didn''t wish to experience. Thankfully the Panda had shut up and crossed its arms. It seemed to have mumbled something underneath its breath but Yang Li left it alone as it floated elsewhere in the office. The CEO hummed quietly to himself and continued on with his work for the next few hours in silence. It was almost as if he hadn''t actually made an agreement to accept the System, but every now and then, he glanced at the sofa and saw that the Panda was still there. He could only wonder why it still stayed here but there was no time for that. Yang Li sighed inwardly as he finalized the last portion of his work for the day, those that he couldn''t finish today were placed in a virtual memo in his laptop and had been arranged in their importance and urgency. Finally he also started on the last thing he needed to do before he left the office. The sound of his printer whirred softly in the background. Once it was done, the CEO switched off his laptop and stood up from his seat. He went over and picked up the documents that he printed. "Are you finally done?!" The Panda suddenly asked in an aghast tone. When he turned to look for it, he found that the miniature creature had been lying back on the armrest of the couch before it raised his head to look at him. "Thank the heavens that you''re finally done!" It sprang up to its feet and then floated towards him. "What do you have there?" Yang Li flipped the first piece of document towards the Panda: Step by Step Guide to Cultivation 101 ] Qi Condensation ] Foundation Establishment ] Core Formation ] Nascent Soul "I printed out information that I could get over the internet." Yang Li told the Panda, it snatched the paper from his hand. He lightly smiled, "It''s much better to do some research before I dive into this ''world of cultivation'' after all, do you not agree?" "T-This is¡­ you pesky humans with all of that technology." It was the Panda who grumbled but it looked like he was seeing a floating document in front of him. "You can''t trust everything you read on the internet!" He raised a brow at the comment and nodded, "That''s true, but I feel that this may be helpful to me in some way." Yang Li actually felt a bit pleased with this development, after all, he was learning new things. It made him feel a bit young. "I need to brush up on my understanding of this cultivation, albeit this is the first time I''ve encountered ''Harem Cultivation''... are you sure that this is not what they call a ''Dual Cultivation''?" The Panda returned the paper and gave him a narrowed look, "Of course it''s different! Geez, you humans think you''ve seen and read everything! All those papers you''ve printed are useless¡ªgo on and read the task again and actually start doing them!" Yang Li glanced at the papers he held onto and then paused as he recalled another important thing that was said about Systems. He didn''t need any verbal commands unlike with the Panda creature, which was actually a relief. It was time to test if that was true, directing his thoughts together, he formed a question. ''Is it possible to cultivate under normal methods?'' [ Cultivating Normally At Host''s Age Is Already Useless. Only The Path of Harem Cultivation Will Help the Host Soar Through the Heavens. ] Yang Li grimaced at the remark. He wasn''t actually that old¡­ but he wasn''t a newborn child either. He shifted through the papers he had and reached the part that he wanted. It took him a minute before he nodded, "Indeed, it says here that the perfect time to cultivate is around toddler age up to eight years old due to them having the Inborn Qi." "What?" The Panda gave him a look. Yang Li smiled lightly, "Isn''t it common sense to look for many sources of information? What the System has said is confirmed by this document. It''s safe to say that it''s somewhat accurate." "How dare you! How can you doubt the Infallible System?!" The Panda-like creature which was supposed to be black and white looked different. The creature was red in anger at this moment and looked like it was seconds away from exploding like a bomb. But thankfully, it didn''t seem to use its previous strength to ''pressure'' his surroundings. The creature''s words made him raise a brow, "I never explicitly said that, have I?" "Y-You¡ªhave your last laugh!" The Panda fumed in the air. "You''re just some know-it-all guy that the heavens want to crush! I''ll watch you fail your first task and go find some other person who''ll understand the blessing of the System!" "Doesn''t your words sound a bit contradictory right now?" Yang Li tilted his head, "If the heavens wanted to crush me then why did they give me a System in the first place?" "Argh, just go ahead and check your first quest already¡ªTime is ticking!" Chapter 4: Date The Secretary [ Main Quest: Date The Secretary! ] [ Difficulty Level: Easy ] [ Status: Ongoing ] [ Summary: Harem Cultivation is the method of gaining power through conquering beauties and adding them to your ''harem''. Your current target is ''Ying Yu He'' and as the title suggests, date your secretary!. ] [ Time Remaining: 29 Days and 16 hours remaining ] [ Success: 10,000 Charm Points ] [ Failure: Collapse of Your Company ] The words on the screen made Yang Li frown, "I do not want to do this quest. Isn''t there anything else?" The CEO was still in his office but somehow he was quickly forming the habit of speaking his thoughts aloud¡ªif only to get a more human-like reply from the Panda-like creature that was floating at his side. "W-What?! Are you insane!" The Panda reached out and clutched his face with his two paws. His eyes were gleaming red. "This is an extremely easy quest!" Yang Li pushed the creature away from his face and gave it a look. He clicked his tongue¡ªthis was not a human so it didn''t understand the conventions, "Under this company and other business settings, it is highly advised to not have any romantic relationships with your business associates and employees." "That''s just some lame rule!" The Panda placed a paw over their face. "And aren''t you supposed to be the CEO? You can make your own rules! I''m pretty sure that other folks like you take advantage of their position!" "There is some wisdom behind that convention and I for one would like to abide by it." "...You really make me want to hit you again." "I''d rather not experience that again." Yang Li rubbed the back of his head¡ªit still felt sore to him right now. He was eager to get home and finally rest but with the current situation, he still needed to gather as much information right now. "Besides, wouldn''t it be terrible if the source of entertainment was suddenly forced to stay in a hospital? It''s in your best interest to support me." The Panda growled at him, "And what makes you think that it''s actually good for me to support you?" "You''ve been urging me to take this quest for awhile now and you''re terribly hotheaded about it¡ªseems to me that you have a lot at stake in this situation as well." Yang Li shrugged. He could be wrong about this but it was something that he had surmised. Now it was up to this Panda creature whether it would confirm it or not. The Panda frowned at him, "Maybe you''re right, or maybe you''re wrong. It shouldn''t matter to you anyway¡ªwhat is at stake is what you care about, foolish human. If you don''t actually want to lose your beloved company then do the quest, there is no option for you to switch Quests at whim." "Alright, I''ll do it." The creature nodded solemnly for a second until its eyes bulged, "Wait what¡ªyou bastard changed your mind too quickly!" Yang Li gave it a small smile, "You''re right, I am doing this for the sake of my Company and all the time and effort I''ve poured into it. I think Miss Ying Yue He is still around, I''ll go meet her right now." The man stepped out of his office at last with his suitcase in hand. "Don''t tell me that you''ve actually wanted to date your secretary all this time?!" The Panda shouted and arrived beside him again. The creature jabbed him lightly in the cheek, "You''re a sly piece of shit, do you know that?" The CEO didn''t answer the creature this time as he found Ying Yue He. The woman seemed to have also finished her tasks for the day and it looked like she was ready to go as well. His secretary had her backpack on and was taking off her heels until she noticed his presence, "A-Ah, Mister Li!" He inclined his head, "Good evening, Miss He. Are you leaving already?" She gave him a sheepish smile, "Yes, but no worries! I''ve already sent your schedule for the next week to you already, Mister Li. Is there anything else I can do for you?" "It''s already past business hours, is it not?" Yang Li asked. Her brows furrowed together as she pursed her lips. Her gaze lowered to his watch but she nodded, "That is correct, sir. But if you have any other tasks that are important then¡ª" "I''d like you to join me for a date." Chapter 5: Date The CEO "I''d like you to join me for a date." Ying Yue He''s lips parted in surprise, "A-ahh¡­" She stared at the man in front of her. Her boss, CEO Yang Li was asking her for a date? Is that the reason why he had asked her if it was after business hours. The face of the man looked at her with a serious expression. "Y-You''re just joking aren''t you, Mister Li?" Her face grew hot as she awaited for a smile to break on his face and tell her that it was all a test. Someone like him had never showed any sign of interest so why now? "No. I''m completely serious." He once again confirmed it. Somehow it still felt like there was a missing element to his method of asking¡ªbut a situation like this only appeared and happened in movies, didn''t it? And for it to actually happen to her in real life now made her feel as if she was the star in some show. [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] A blue screen appeared near the edge of his vision. Whether it was actually its skill, the Panda grabbed the notification box and gave him a look. "What sorcery is this?" But that was something happening on the side, Yang Li awaited for his secretary''s response. If she declined now, then that was alright¡ªhe had more than enough days to ask her on a later date. But if there was anything he learned in negotiating and even introducing ideas to stockholders even more conservative than him, it was this: Introduce a wild and insane idea first and once they point out its ridiculousness, introduce the real suggestion one had in mind. "I-It''s a casual thing, right Mister Li?" Ying Yue He asked with a sheepish smile, she gingerly pushed back some of her hair. "It''s not like you''re going to take me to a fancy five star restaurant in one of the most expensive hotels in the city, or anything like that?" He quirked a brow, "I was thinking of coffee. But if you''d like to have dinner then¡ª" "Coffee is good! Casual and smooth." Ying Yue He laughed as her expression lightened up. The corner of her eyes crinkled up as she laughed¡ªand so it was a genuine one. It was almost impossible for any employee in this business setting to not have a thing for coffee. Or acquire a taste for it. And that was regardless of the fact that it was six in the evening now. The Panda moved in between them and raised the notification box at him, "You''re going to take her out for just coffee?! Haven''t you seen that she wanted you to take her to a fancy restaurant?" "Seems uncomfortable." Yang Li said. Ying Yue He blinked, "H-Huh? What seems uncomfortable, Mister Li?" "Taking you to a five star restaurant is something that would have made you uncomfortable, wouldn''t it, Miss He?" Yang Li ended up explaining his thoughts. He glanced down her pencil skirt and from her fair legs to the heels that she was still wearing. "It''s similar to wearing those heels when you''re eager to wear your sneakers." His secretary''s face flushed slightly, "A-Ah, it''s exactly like that, Mister Li!" Yang Li glanced idly at the Panda. The creature made the notification box disappear¡ªuntil another one popped up to replace it. [ You Have Gained 10 Charm Points ] "What the hell is this woman thinking? That was the worst analogy I''ve heard." Yang Li ignored the comment from the Panda and focused on his secretary, "I''ll wait for you to change your footwear then." If things would happen according to schedule¡ªhe could still get home by nine or ten in the evening. [ You Have Gained 10 Charm Points ] Ying Yue He couldn''t believe what was happening¡ªshe had always known that CEO Li was a quiet if not serious man, it was one of the reasons why he was successful. A steady man but right now he was considerate and observant of her needs. She didn''t want to keep him waiting though and be dubbed as slow. The secretary took off her heels and felt a bit naked as she twitched her toes and hoped the man didn''t stare too much. She took out her sneakers and changed into them. Once she packed her heels in her backpack, she looked up to the man and tried to keep her cool. Coffee. Just coffee. But this was the first time she''d ever heard of or seen their boss initiate and take out any of his employees, she cleared her throat, "I''m good to go, Mister Li." It was best for her to not be delusional about this or anything though. She needed to be realistic¡ªbut who seriously took out their secretary for a "date"?! . . . The two of them reached the parking lot underneath the building. Somehow once they reached there, it was the Panda who seemed to scout their surroundings, it raised a paw over its eyes. "So what''s your ride, mister hotshot CEO Li? I see some notable and even luxury brands, you''re not just some small-time CEO eh?" It was a little surprising that it was aware of that but Yang Li didn''t reply as he passed the other vehicles that the creature was pointing at and finally found his car and unlocked it. He couldn''t be asked to spend too much on a vehicle¡ªhe understood that many enjoyed being lavish and showing it off perhaps. But he simply saw the car as a mode of transportation. "Ah, you drive a sedan type of car." His secretary, Ying Yue He suddenly pointed out. He gave her a brief nod, "I do. What about you?" "O-oh, I ride the public transits." "I see, you''ll be joining me for this ride then." That was as much as he could carry the conversation¡ªhe probably should have done some more small talk, but he didn''t exactly like asking mundane questions. Instead he half-wondered if he should open the car door or not? And would that earn him some more "Charm Points" or would she take offense? "U-uh, do I sit in the back or the front, Mister Li?" She suddenly asked as she approached his car. Her hands grasped the straps of her backpack as she looked at it uncertainly. He wasn''t the only one who didn''t know what to do. Yang Li raised a brow and found it weird actually. And yet it was somewhat relieving to hear her ask something. "In front of course, if you sit in the back¡ªwouldn''t it make me seem like your driver?" [ You Have Lost 10 Charm Points ] Chapter 6: A Coffee Shop "Love" In the corner of a coffee shop, two people were sitting across each other. One could hear the sound of music playing quietly in the background. A slice of shortcake was placed in front of Miss Ying Yue He and it was paired with a cup of dark coffee. The aroma of the brewed coffee filled the air. There was a small smile that formed on her face as she pulled out her phone¡ªuntil she stopped and looked at him. Yang Li raised a brow at her, "Is something the matter?" He had ordered iced coffee with vanilla and a slice of carrot cake but he was waiting for her to take the first bite or sip of the food. In the end, it was him who invited her. She coughed and placed down her phone on the table, "Ah, it''s nothing to worry about, Mister Li. Thank you for inviting me for coffee." "You don''t have to call me that, just Yang is fine." He gave her a small nod and waited once again. "And no worries, I was the one who asked you out." His secretary made a small sound similar to a squeak as she picked up her fork, she managed to smile a little. "I''ve grown completely comfortable with calling you, Mister Li." "I see, if that''s what you wish, Miss He." He nodded and briefly glanced to his left. The Panda didn''t need to be here right now but the creature was resting against the glass window. The small round of ball fur had raised hell on him for losing charm points, it spoke up once more. "Damn awkward silences, fill it in!" [ You Have Lost 10 Charisma Points ] That was a shame but if one debited and credited it¡ªhe was still on the plus side of things. There were always some risks when forming new relationships so this much was fine for him. Although he could understand why it was a bit annoying to have all the notifications coming in and reporting every single detail. When he glanced back at Ying Yue He, she had finally stabbed some parts of her cake¡ªbut particularly, she ate the strawberry first. The moist fruit bitten off as she then happily chewed. He studied her for a moment, the expression of joy and relish as she took in the first bite of the juicy fruit. And he blinked as he realized that there was indeed something sensual in watching another person eat something like a strawberry although it was probably unintentional on her part. Yang Li sliced his carrot cake and finally ate as well, glad that this was something that made the silence in between them tolerable. Date. The. Secretary. The CEO drank some of his ice coffee while he thought of something to say. He wished he could talk about work but that wasn''t appropriate in this setting and so he considered it¡ªuntil he saw that the drink given to him had more ice. Once again another tactic to save resources. "Ice¡­" "Ah, what is it, Mister Li?" His secretary paused from her cake. Yang Li placed his drink down and smiled lightly, "Let''s do ice breakers." "O-Oh sure! That sounds like fun." "She''s being sarcastic for sure." The Panda muttered aloud. Yang Li ignored the creature and thought of a suitable question. "Hmm¡­ what do you like to do when you''re free on the weekend?" He didn''t want to use the System as any indicator but the reception was neutral and even positive to him based on her tone. "Ah, I relax and catch up on sleep." Ying Yue He answered with a sheepish smile. "What do you mean by relax?" "Um, I do fun things like watching Netflix or reading an ebook." "What kind of genres do you enjoy?" "Romance and Thrillers." "Why those in particular?" "Well I like them¡­ hah, Mister Li." She scratched her cheek and grinned, "Doesn''t this feel like an impromptu interview? Can I ask you a question too?" Yang Li realized that he did get into the ''interview-mode'' and nodded, "Ask away." "You''re pretty damn lucky she''s nice." The Panda walked towards the strawberry shortcake and stole a strawberry. The creature began to gorge on it and even if it wasn''t Ying Yue He was eating it¡ªit was a little amusing. "Mister Li, would you consider yourself a dog or a cat person?" His secretary asked with a small grin on her face. Yang Li rubbed his chin, "Neither." [ You Have Lost 5 Charisma Points ] His secretary''s tone dropped, "Oh? Are you not a fan of animals, Mister Li?" "Well, it''s not like that. I''m just not either of them¡ª" He hadn''t been actually allowed to have a pet when he was younger so he couldn''t be accurate if he chose one. But as his gaze flitted to the creature still eating the strawberry, he smiled. "You can think of me as a panda person instead." The Panda creature spat out the strawberry. "This isn''t even my real form!" [ You Have Gained 10 Charisma Points ] "Pandas are so cute! I didn''t know you like them, Mister Li." Her expression lightened up as she sliced and ate her cake. "Or do you like them just because they''re the national animal?" He shook his head, "It''s actually a recent thing for me." "Is that so? I know a great zoo and um¡ª" "Hmm? Do you want to go there together, Miss He?" He smiled a little. Whenever he wanted something, it seemed like it didn''t matter where they were¡ªshe was quick to suggest and offer solutions. [ You Have Gained 15 Charisma Points ] "I mean you love pandas!" Ying Yue He coughed and ignored the heat of her cheeks. "So I thought it might help you cultivate your love more for them but you don''t have to do it with me, Mister Li." Why had she even mentioned it? But he had asked her if she wanted to go with him together? Was this a second ''date''? "I think it''ll be more enjoyable if you were there." She had assumed that CEO Yang Li was a cool and aloof man¡ªbut how was it possible that his words were able to strike a chord with her? = = = The Panda leaned back again by the window and shook its head. Somehow the conversation was working? What world was it in now? It couldn''t believe it¡ªa sudden tap intruded the creature''s thoughts. Tap. Tap. "Mom! I want this cute teddy bear!" When the Panda glanced outside, there was a small girl pointing at it and trying to tug their mother to pay attention to it. "Something''s wrong with this world, I swear." Chapter 7: Something About A Man In A Suit "What do you think of the couple over there?" A bored server eyed the two people sitting together near the window and shrugged at the cashier. "Does it matter? And how can you even say that they''re a couple?" As much as he wanted to sit down and finally take a break, his shift was still ongoing. It sucked that he didn''t even have access to the Wi-Fi in this place. "Hmph, I can tell. Besides don''t you see? It looks like the guy had a fight with the girl and is trying to make it up to her." She scoffed at him and upturned her nose. "Taking a ''couple'' picture here?" It was already downtime in La R?ti and so his colleague had instead spent her time with people-watching. He couldn''t understand the need to bother with other people''s lives but he simply listened to her ramble on. "Oh, she''s lucky." His friend elbowed him, and motioned covertly to two people sitting across from each other. "The guy looks rich and he''s kinda handsome¡ªand oh, nevermind he looks colder than ice. But man do I love me a man in a suit. I wonder what the feel of the fabric feels across one''s skin?" He couldn''t understand her but with the way she was acting¡­ "Nobody would take you out in the first place¡ªow." He winced at the slap he received and rubbed his arm. He eyed his colleague with a frown, "What was that for?" She crossed her arms and huffed, "You earned that." "You didn''t have to hit me." "You were being mean¡ªbut look, the guy''s asking for the bill." She motioned for him to move ahead without even saying a word of apology. She turned to look at him, "I wonder if he''s generous. It''s a nice thing if a man is doting." He rolled his eyes and didn''t say anything else to argue¡ªthe conversation wouldn''t end if he did¡ªinstead he approached the table. = = = Although the conversation sometimes ebbed in and out¡ªthere were still awkward silences that an angry Panda filled in with rants, but there had been no more deduction on Yang Li''s part. And soon enough the date finally came to an end. Ying Yue He''s cup had finally been empty. He eyed it and though he was eager to get back to his own place, he asked her another a question, "Would you like another cup of coffee?" "Are you trying to give her a caffeine overdose?!" The Panda raised their fists at him. Ying Yue He''s eyes widened slightly at the offer but she shook her head. "E-Eh, I''m fine, Mister Li. I think two cups of dark coffee is enough." An article he read mentioned that people who were interested in another person had their pupils dilating¡­ but she probably had too much caffeine. She didn''t say anything else and so he nodded, "Alright." Yang Li asked for the bill. A young man soon arrived and handed it to him. The bill wasn''t too expensive and so Yang Li took out his wallet and pulled out the exact amount. Somehow he felt Ying Yue He''s eyes on him and so he looked up. He wasn''t sure what seemed to be the problem. She squeaked and waved a hand, "A-Ah, we can split the bill? Half-half?" He appreciated the offer but, "I was the one who asked you out for the date so I''ll cover this." He smiled. [ You Have Gained 5 Charm Points ] "¡ªyou can cover for me next time." He added at the end. Although Yang Li probably wasn''t going to recommend going back to this place. It was supposed to be an appropriate place for taking out someone on a date when he searched it up earlier but it failed his expectations. He didn''t like it that his ice coffee had more ice than the actual drink but he wasn''t going to complain about that aloud. He inwardly sighed but still gave a tip within industry standards. "Shall we go now?" "O-Oh of course!" Ying Yue He stood up from her chair and smiled. "Thank you again for the coffee, I really enjoyed it Mister Li." "Not a problem." Another silence erupted that was quickly filled in by a black and white creature. "So where are the two of you heading now? Your place or hers?" The Panda floated along and once again landed atop of his secretary''s head. Somehow the little devil preferred resting in a woman''s presence. Yang Li bit his tongue to avoid answering the question by mistake. Instead once the two of them were outside, he asked her. "Miss He, where do you live?" "Me? O-Oh um..." the expression on her face made it seem like she was hesitant. He raised a brow, "I can drive you home, it''s a bit late isn''t it?" "You don''t have to do that, Mister Li. I''m already grateful." She waved a hand at him and kept the smile on her face. "I enjoyed our date." She bowed to him once and then looked at him. Somehow it seemed that there was a tinge of red on her face. He smiled lightly and nodded, "Thank you as well for accepting." He could have said a lot more¡ªwishing that this occasion did not get revealed to others. The notion of it being known that he took out his secretary for a date held some consequences he didn''t want to experience but her presence was fine. Enjoyable even. He hadn''t exactly known that personally. Yang Li glanced once more at the woman. She was still dressed in her office attire, the dark pencil skirt and the white blouse that he''d always seen her wearing. It paired oddly with her sneakers. "You''re not going to take her home by yourself¡ªare you nuts?!" He frowned at the Panda''s words but realized something. The air was actually a bit cold and that was simply the clothing she was wearing? Should he insist¡­? She already said no. If that was the case, Yang Li took off his suit coat and held it out, "The temperature is a bit freezing so I''ll let you use this." Ying Yue He''s eyes widened as she looked at it. The stare was enough to make him reconsider if this was a faux pass¡ªbut she gingerly accepted it. "I''ll wash and return it to you tomorrow, Mister Li." He nodded. "Alright. I''ll see you off." "Ah, the bus stop is just over there, please don''t bother!" She waved at him again. Yang Li tilted his head¡­ he knew that he really should have waited for her to get home. But the public transportation was reliable so he bade her goodbye. He got into his car and rolled the window once more to look at her, "Are you really sure, Miss He?" "I''ll see you tomorrow, Mister Li!" She gave him a smile and a wave. His suit coat was still draped over her arm. He nodded, "You too." And then he drove away. Chapter 8: Evaluation Time! The night sky was filled with stars and constellations¡ªbut they were not as bright or even significant in the city that continued to light up the surroundings. It was on one of the main roads where it happened. There was a certain car that headed its way out of the city. CEO Yang Li was on his way home, and he had a certain someone with him on the front seat. They were seated snuggly on the chair, and they couldn''t be bothered with the safety notions of seat belts. It wasn''t Ying Yue He The Panda had a small frown on their face. They shot the man a look. "I thought you were smart, but you didn''t even take the chance to take her home." They couldn''t believe this guy wasted it! "Can you imagine how many more points you could have possibly accumulated? Or the chances to further the relationship? I can already see that you''re doomed for failure." "She didn''t want me to¡ªbesides, I''ve already accomplished the quest, haven''t I?" Yang Li''s gaze was steady on the road. The Panda made a sound. "What?" "I took her out on a date and thus accomplished the quest. Didn''t you see the notification?" "... What? That''s not possible!" The Panda protested as they floated above the seat and appeared in front of him. He eyed them and slowed down the car, "The quest was taking out my secretary on a date." "No, you were supposed to date her!" The Panda raised its fists and clutched its head. "How could you have not understood that?!" Yang Li summoned the screen for them to see. [ Main Quest: Date The Secretary! ] [ Difficulty Level: Easy ] [ Status: Completed! ] [ Summary: Harem Cultivation is the method of gaining power through conquering beauties and adding them to your ''harem''. Your current target is ''Ying Yu He'' and as the title suggests, date your secretary! ] [ Success: 10,000 Charm Points ] "W-why did the system¡ª" "Not state a duration? I noticed that it didn''t say anything about me needing to date her for a specific length of time? It wasn''t explicitly stated so even taking her out on a date once counts as me dating her. Isn''t that why you said that this quest was too easy?" Yang Li asked. After about five more minutes, he reached his destination. It was amusing to see the Panda in a sputtering and almost catatonic state. The man stepped out of the car, taking in his suitcase as he walked towards his home. "You''re definitely going to get punished for this!" The CEO rubbed his chin, "I don''t think so. I wouldn''t have received the Charm Points if I did something wrong, don''t you agree?" He unlocked the door and stepped into his home¡ªhe let out a sigh. He was home at last and he could finally get some rest¡­ before he woke up and did everything on repeat. With an addition of new tasks and roles though, Yang Li eyed the creature who looked upset. "Grr¡­" He still couldn''t understand why it was upset but there was no use thinking about it. He had other concerns. "As for the Charm Points, it''s a type of currency is it not? I''m eager to see what I can purchase with them and would like your assistance if possible." "I''m not some assistant of yours!" And it was at that moment that thunder clapped alongside the creature''s shout. The Panda proceeded to take shelter under his roof, "I swear, I wouldn''t be surprised if you were hit by the lightning tribulations from the heavens right now." Yang Li raised a brow and studied the heavy rain falling down. It was a freak storm. "She probably should have gotten home back now, wouldn''t she?" "Hah! Didn''t think you''d care when you got all your Charm Points." He rolled his eyes, "There is a thing called natural concern for one another¡ªand add to the fact that she is my secretary. It would be a lot harder to do my work if she wasn''t around." The Panda crossed their arms over their chest. "I can take this in two ways¡ªone you just uttered a lot of bullcrap. Or two you only think of your secretary as someone who''d inconvenience you if she got sick, now which is it?" .. . Ying Yue He watched her boss drive away and head back to who knows where¡­ "Probably some mansion outside the city, or a penthouse in the center of the city." She glanced down at the suit coat he had left her and ran her fingers over the rich and silky material. "Can I even actually wear this all by myself?" Her gaze darted around the streets. It wasn''t as if they had eaten at some rundown place but¡­ She didn''t want to catch too much attention and it looked expensive. Ying Yue He looked back up and saw the vehicle disappear in the distance. She pursed her lips together, "Why did he ask me out on a date?" It was weird. And yet this suit coat made her consider the possibility that he truly was interested in her. But he didn''t insist on taking her home. "I should have said yes the first time." The woman shook her head. She couldn''t blame him for giving mixed signals when she truly wasn''t as honest either. Still, she needed to get home as fast as she could. Her ride back home was a normal occasion for her, if not a long and uncomfortable one as always. She was slightly regretting the fact that she didn''t take the man''s offer of driving her home but the place she lived in wasn''t an appropriate location for them¡ªshe was too embarrassed to even say the address. Ying Yue He soon got off at her stop and then started back to her place on foot. It wasn''t as if the place was dangerous or something but¡­ A clap of thunder roused her from her thoughts as rain poured down from the skies. "C-Crap," Ying Yue He began to run towards her apartment while taking preventative measures from getting the suit coat wet. Perhaps he had given it to her for some protection but she wouldn''t use it for this. Once she reached the lobby of her old apartment, she sighed in relief and pushed the damp hair out of her face. "I still need to wash it though." Ying Yue He had kept the coat close to her chest. It was a good thing that her backpack was the waterproof kind. Still, the coast was clear wasn''t it? Maybe she had been overreacting it? "¡ªYing Yue He, what have you got there?" The young woman nearly jumped up in fright and spun to see the landlady. She mustered her most relaxed smile, "A-Ah, Madam Dongxia, nothing to see here. It''s actually really rainy outside, and I think I''ll head back to my unit now..." "Don''t think you can run away from my eyes¡ªI can see that it''s a man''s coat from miles away! Where''s the gentleman?" The older woman started to head for the door. She was a busybody as ever. It wasn''t always that her landlady was around the first floor¡ªbut Madam Dongxia could sniff a man from a mile away for reasons unknown to Ying Yue He. She didn''t want her boss getting hit on by this older woman. Or harangued if she thought that the gentleman was dating her. That was a lot more complications than she wanted to¡­ and she doubted that a man like him could maintain a long interest in her. It would weird out their working relationship. "Madam Dongxia, I went home on my own." She called out to them lest the woman went out the rain. "What?! He didn''t even take you home! The next time he comes here, I''ll give him an earful about what it takes to court a lady!" Chapter 9: Systems Status and Shop Section "I can take this in two ways¡ªone, you just uttered a lot of bullcrap. Or two, you only think of your secretary as someone who''d inconvenience you if she got sick, now which is it?" CEO Yang Li had many plausible answers to give to the Panda-like creature floating above him, but he simply smiled lightly. "You can believe whatever you want to believe." Before it could utter back a reply, the man''s footsteps padded down the hallway as he made his way to his bedroom. He hoped that the creature would at least give him some privacy as he heard the door shut. He changed into his home clothes and rubbed his face. Due to the events that occurred today that changed his life, Yang Li wanted to get some time to rest and fully assess his situation. He hadn''t been able to fully comprehend it earlier. He glanced towards the suitcase left on his desk table and unlocked it¡ªhe took out the documents he had printed out earlier. Yang Li didn''t want to explain to his secretary why he had them in the first place so he had hidden it. Now as he shifted through the papers, he did it to find other more substantial information regarding Systems and their other available features. The Panda creature was uncooperative, to say the least. "And prone to outbursts." Yang Li rubbed the back of his head. He wasn''t sure what had hurt more¡ªthe mere fact that a small creature had hit him or when he hit his head when his chair fell down. To him, it didn''t make sense to look for ideas and resources that only contained Cultivation. It was only through adequate research and experimentation that he''d be able to survive this ordeal he received. "All to entertain the Heavens? What is this¡­ some kind of reality tv show?" Yang Li shook his head until he found the specific lines in an old web novel he had read before. It was, of course, cross-checked with other System Novels, and he looked for the similarities in them. And one of them was this. ''Status'' It was there that a screen hovered in front of the protagonist, a blue screen similar to that of an old-style RPG game¡ªit contained every relevant information about them! [ Name: Yang Li ] [ Race: Human ] [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: None ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: None ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 1000 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak to Divine Grade Comprehension: None Stage: None [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] None [ Evaluation ] A regular mortal living in the earthly plane. Due to the current time and age that one is currently living in, one does not have a single trace of harmony to the path of Dao. Despite living in the nation where cultivation began¡ªyou have no roots, no affinity to a specific element, and the normal path of cultivation is unimaginable. The Host is an insignificant being if not for the System. He took it all in without complaint and focused on something else. "Hmmm¡­How many Charm Points do I have currently?" [ Current Charm Points: 75 Points ] [ Receive Quest Reward? ] "Yes." [ You Have Gained 10,000 Charm Points! ] [ You Have Accomplished The Quest Without Fully Adding The Target To One''s Harem, So The Number of Charm Points You Gained Is Decreased By 75% ] [ You Must Need To Add Target To Harem To Fully Embark on Harem Cultivation Path ] [ Deducting Charm Points¡­ ] [ Current Charm Points: 2575 Points ] "...I see." CEO Yang Li frowned at the decrease of points but decided to take it as it was. He had no complaints about it as it was much better for him if his secretary didn''t get involved with this. "Is this the punishment that creature has been speaking of?" Shaking his head for a moment as he placed down the documents. He summoned the next portion of the System. ''Shop'' [ You Have Accomplished The First Quest - Shop Function Is Now Unlocked ] [ Charm Shop Level 1 Is Available ] [ Charm Points Can Be Used As Currency ] Attraction Charm (Consumable) 100 CP Divine Energizer Drink (Consumable) 250 CP Dao of Attraction 500 CP Harem Cultivation Scripture 1000 CP Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - I 2500 CP Mystery Box 500 CP Roots Unlockment 5000 CP Bloodline Awakening 10000 CP Constitution Refinement 500 CP Cultivation Method Upgrade 200 CP Yang Li assessed the available items in the shop with much scrutiny and found that most of them were something he could buy¡ªbut he had to forgo another thing. But considering that some of the things like Roots, Constitution, and Bloodline were things that he currently didn''t have¡ªhe was left with a few things that might be useful. "I can buy the scripture with some charms, or I can immediately start the first stage of Harem Cultivation at once." "Or if you had the balls to do it¡ªget the mystery box." The Panda appeared out of thin air and gave him a smug look. The man furrowed his brows. "Ah, you were here the entire time?" "That''s not important, is it?" "I have my privacy." "Argh! So are you actually going to buy something or what?" The creature sneered at him. "Must suck knowing you initially had ten thousand at your disposal, but it went poof due to your negligence." "Indeed?" Yang Li nodded. "And there is no chance for me to go back and retake this Quest, is it?" "No more. You wasted your chance to add her to your harem¡ªeven if you try to do it now, it won''t recover you the points already lost. And you won''t even get any quests related to her anymore, so you can look back on your faults and do better on the next quest." The man turned to the screen and stifled a smile. If there were no chances of his secretary getting involved any longer¡­ that was enough to ease the trouble he had. "I see¡­ so what is this Attraction Charm?" It was much better to not appear too pleased about this for his sake. "Ask the System and not me! I don''t have to explain every single thing to you." "Mhmm." [ Attraction Charm ] One-time use of magical treasure. It is a charm provided by the LoveStellar Organization (LSO). When used on a specific Target, they will inexplicably feel drawn to you for a ten-minute duration. When used as an area of effect (AoE) charm, mortals within thirty feet of Host will flock to one''s position. [ Divine Energizer Drink ] Feel the power of a thousand suns! With LSO''s specialized drink¡ªthe individual who drinks this will feel a rush of energy flow throughout their entire body. Perfect for consecutive rounds with your Target! [ Dao of Attraction ] Written by an all-powerful Sage from a thousand years ago, this is a powerful scroll that unleashes the Sage''s secrets. Those will be imprinted on your mind and marked into your soul. Wealth. Power. Honor. Envy of Others. And more importantly, your Harem! [ Harem Cultivation Scripture ] The start of one''s path of Harem Cultivation! This Scripture will allow the seeker to understand and comprehend the basics and general knowledge regarding Harem Cultivation! [ Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation- I ] Embark on the start of Harem Cultivation At Once! Open your sense to the qi around the world. Get through the first stage at once for a price. [ Mystery Box ] Will you open Pandora''s Box and unleash all the evils in the world? Or will you open a gift from the Heavens? The Mystery Box may contain any of the multiple items from across the universe thanks to the Sponsorship that LSO receives from numerous individuals and groups. "Hmm¡­ anything from across the universe?" "Life doesn''t exist only on earth, you fool!" Chapter 10: The CEOs First Purchase The Panda raised a paw to its head and massaged their temple, they couldn''t believe that this was the person chosen by Heavens to entertain them¡ªthe Panda was more willing to look for another Host but they had insisted on this CEO Yang Li for some reason. Whatever the case, it was time for them to actually purchase something in the shop and even the creature was curious. "So what is it? Will you be buying the Scripture, the Mystery Box or something else?" It would definitely be much better if they chose the Mystery Box for the increase of attention. Chaos was always something enjoyed by everyone. At least those unaffected by the troubles it brought. "Hmm, it might be better to purchase it tomorrow." The man had the nerve to yawn and dismiss the screen. "It''s better to make decisions once you''re well-rested and not fatigued." ...The creature wasn''t sure if they still needed to be surprised at this point. They didn''t even bother to raise a fuss over it. "Whatever, do whatever you want." Somehow, a CEO that was supposed to be clueless about the path of cultivation was using their business sense to get by. He hated it but from the signals the Panda was receiving¡ªthe Heavens were thoroughly immersed in them. Particularly the female deities. Why were they not surprised? "But on the off-chance, this Divine Energizer Drink looks useful for late-night working." Yang Li rubbed his chin as he returned the documents to his suitcase. They were preparing for¡­ bed? It wasn''t even ten o''clock in the night yet! The Panda kept their expression blank. "You''re going to waste your Charm Points on that thing? Be my guest!" This development was still within the impressions that they''ve got on the CEO, the creature crossed their arms over their chest, "If you''ve got nothing to do, I''ll be on my way. Danggit, eight hours of doing nothing¡ªthis is why being a Cultivator is useful! You don''t have to waste time on eating or sleeping!" "I assumed that most Cultivators spent their time cultivating and meditating¡­ seems quite similar and as boring as sleeping if you asked me." The CEO stepped inside the bathroom. They were NOT following the guy there despite the demands. "Damn perverts." The Panda muttered to themselves¡ªand felt a chain of lightning strike them in the back. The creature crashed to the carpeted floor and groaned temporarily. They hated their work. . . . Yang Li woke up at precisely five-thirty in the morning¡ªright before his alarm rang. He shut his phone and looked around his room, it was still dim but he whispered to himself. "Store." The screen appeared in front of him and he rubbed his eyes, "So it wasn''t a state of psychosis." He looked at the available things to purchase and pondered about it. He wasn''t too risk-averse but it still made sense to choose something logical. "2575 available charm points." He repeated to himself as he gazed at the indicator and scratched his head. He already had a decision from last night but he was confident that it was the most appropriate option. "Purchase Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - I for me." Why would he bother reading the Harem Scripture now when he could get the feel of whatever this cultivation level was? [ Deducting 2500 CP from Host¡­ ] [ Purchased Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - I ] [ You Have Begun Your Path of Harem Cultivation! ] Yang Li didn''t feel anything different at first and he frowned. ''Status'' [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: None ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 1000 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak to Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (0/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (1/9) [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] None "It appeared but¡­ shouldn''t I be feeling something?" He looked around his room and found nothing particular that looked like ''qi'' to him to condense. "Hmm¡­ it seems my decision to buy the first stage immediately was wrong, I should have started with the Scripture. My comprehension is still zero." Yang Li chuckled at the thought. He truly was a fool regarding this situation. Still, he needed to get to work. Yang Li headed to his bathroom with his towel, stripped and then turned on the shower. The blast of cold water struck his skin as he began to bathe¡ªuntil he felt something particularly odd. He looked around the bathroom for one moment and turned off the shower. The sensation stopped. He turned on the shower and once his skin met the cold water, he felt a tingle. It wasn''t him feeling cold, he was used to cold showers in revitalizing himself, but something else. ''Is this qi¡­ shouldn''t qi be everywhere?'' He would have to ask the creature later but for now he bathed. It didn''t take him too long to get used to the sensation sliding down and enveloping his body, it was cool and the sensation was becoming¡ªbut he had a schedule to attend to. Yang Li turned off the shower and reached for his towel. Still, he acknowledged it. "It felt enjoyable." There was a tinge of marvel in his tone. He walked to his sink and reached for his toothbrush. The man began to brush and though he liked his toothpaste flavor, the sensation was quite different and more dull than when he had bathed. ''Is this a thing for every cultivator? Or is this the particular effect of the Harem Cultivation Method?'' Yang Li spat out and then rinsed his mouth. There was still a somewhat pleasant sensation before he finished brushing. The man looked at his expression and noticed his brows furrowed, "If this is the effect¡­ it is quite scary." Yang Li needed to brace himself. The man had already read about dual cultivation¡ªin addition, he had checked upon the Taoist Sexual Practices. The mingling of yin and yang, the jing in one''s body and their concepts were¡­ interesting. He could almost see how the idea of exchanging essences was truly a method they would have believed to promote longevity. "But it''s truly real now." He shook his head. He had a Harem Cultivation Method as proof that it probably existed. Yang Li soon finished his other preparations for the morning. He wore his clean and well-pressed suit and stepped out of the room¡ªhe saw the Panda in front of him with a pained expression on their face. He might as well inform them of their decision, "I''ve already started my path of ''harem'' cultivation." "I know." Their tone said it all. The CEO kept his expression blank but stared at them. "It would have been better if you didn''t tell me." "You''re a sicko." The Panda shuddered. Yang Li raised a brow, "Something like this is completely natural so I don''t understand what you mean. Although a further explanation would be appreciated, I believe." Chapter 11: An Offshoot Of His Day "Everything begins with raising your awareness to the world around you and sensing the vital energy that flows through it¡ªthat energy is known as qi for you." Yang Li raised a brow at the creature actually explaining it, and although what the Panda was saying was almost word for word similar to the documents that he printed, he listened to it patiently. He had ample time to get to work. He cleared his throat, "You know I purchased the first stage of qi condensation¡ªbut I don''t actually feel anything with this qi you''re speaking of. Although, I think I was feeling something while I was bathing." The Panda motioned to his house and scoffed, "The qi is too stale here, call it pathogenic even. I doubt you''ll actually absorb anything here or even sense it¡ªas for that bath water, you probably got water from a spring mountain or something." "I believe it comes from the Yangtze''s river reservoir if I remember correctly, do you want me to verify it?" "... Are you going to use your position for this?" The Panda rolled their eyes at him. He shook his head, "No, I just need to look it up on the internet." It was a little tiring that some of the people he encountered, including this creature, they always seemed to assume that he''d do certain things differently because of his position in his company. "Whatever, tap water, spring water or river water¡ªdespite the filtration you guys do, vital qi is still retained there and you were "feeling" it." The Panda shuddered. "Most Cultivators who absorb qi don''t actually feel anything that ''good'' they just freaking absorb it. I can''t imagine what face you''ll make when you start absorbing yin essences from your harem." His assumptions were right then, even if the stages were called the same, what one experienced was different due to one''s specific cultivation method. And his was ''harem cultivation'', Yang Li kept his face blank. "I would have understood if it was simply choosing one partner¡­ but why the need to have multiple partners? I don''t think I have enough ''yang'' in the first place." "Damn, you should ask the System and not me." The creature rubbed their face and floated away from him. They threw a look at him with a sardonic smile, "I mean, why don''t you try drinking a Divine Energizer Drink¡ªoh wait, you don''t have any charm points now do you? Boo hoo!" "Mhmm, I only have 75 charm points." Yang Li agreed. "You should have added that girl last night to your ''Harem'' but no¡ªdon''t come crying to me because you''re regretting it." He raised a brow at the creature''s choice of words. Regret? Why would he regret something he had decided to do? The man shrugged. "I didn''t even say that¡­ although what I can surmise from my interaction with Miss He is this: I''ll be able to gather charm points by impressing individuals?" "Gee, how brilliant." The Panda''s voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Okay, which way do you go¡ªthis or that way, do you have any plans to eat and waste my time?" The creature motioned to the split in the corridor. Yang Li glanced at his watch, he was already aware that the creature was hot headed but such a temper was dampening the atmosphere. Or was it his ability to sense ''qi'' again that bothered him with the creature''s presence? "Would your mood feel better if you eat bamboo shoots?" The creature''s head jerked to him and their eyes flashed red¡ª Yang Li stepped back involuntarily and realized that he could sense the qi from this creature, it made his skin crawl. It was early in the morning but he cold sweat dripped from his forehead, this creature gave him a degree of danger and chills. He had only noticed it now. But it made sense that a Panda who could knock him out had a certain degree of strength. He swallowed, "I presume that is a no?" "Where the heck will you even get bamboo from?" The Panda huffed at him and seemed to cool down. Or rather the dangerous vibes that they were giving out were now being controlled by the creature, "We''re not in some forest in a hidden mountain¡ªwe''re in the middle of this metropolis!" Their voice still held the annoyance but they had retracted the qi from earlier. "Northwest of the metropolis area, we''re actually in the outskirts of my province." Yang Li corrected him. "It takes me around two hours and a half to reach my office." "Don''t use human measurement with me¡ªthis thing is supposed to be a blink of an eye to me." The Panda crossed their arm over their chest. "But now I''m being forced to adjust to humans'' perception of time." He didn''t say anything about that and took note of the information. He wouldn''t point out how it goes against their earlier complaint of him sleeping for eight hours as a boring tedious thing, instead Yang Li said something else. "I have a couple of neighbors who have gardens in their homes, and I think one of them actually grows bamboo." "...of course the neighborhood you live in is practically a paradise huh? Is that a female who has the bamboo?" Yang Li nodded, "Yes." After a moment of consideration, he explained. "Grandma Lanfen enjoys gardening." "What''s with that look on your face?" The Panda snorted and flicked a paw at him. "The System won''t ask you to do harem cultivation with that granny¡ªtheir qi and yin essence is practically dried up by now." He frowned slightly at what they were implying, "I don''t think that you needed to say that to me." When one''s qi energy was at a low point, they were nearing the end of their life. "I''m just saying how it is. You humans drop dead like flies to me." The Panda moved across the hallway, "Are you going to feed me bamboo or what? I''ll make your life miserable if you don''t hurry up, fool." Chapter 12: Matchmaking Granny The neighborhood that Yang Li lived in was more rural than urban and he preferred it that way. His surroundings were clean and fresh, most of the people who lived here were seniors who liked this quiet and peaceful way of living. As he walked along the road to visit Grandma Lanfen, the man took in the air and breathed deeply. Now that he was outside of his home, the qi in the air was much more apparent. The CEO appreciated the atmosphere around him and he almost dreaded heading to his work. He was aware that the air in the city had an air quality index of 55, it was still good according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, but now that he was on the path of cultivation¡ªhow much more sensitive would he become? Somehow, now that he started this decision on becoming a cultivator, it had made him much more aware and vulnerable of the dangers that he hadn''t known before. He was still at a crucial level that could make or break him. ''I need to quickly move up the qi condensation stage and start the next part, and what was it called?'' [ The Stage After Qi Condensation Is Foundation Establishment ] [ Foundation Establishment Is The Period Where The Cultivator Prepares Their Body To Form A Core ] [ Often Referred As The Actual First Step In The Path To Cultivation ] Somehow, the System was easier to deal with than the Panda but it was actually quite weird and unnerving to see a blue screen flash and appear in front of his vision along with the somewhat disembodied voice he would hear. The creature who got upset and smacked him silly still felt more human than the System. "Ah, we''re here." He looked ahead at the traditional-style house in front of him. Not exactly in front of him as there was a great wall that covered the entire land owned by Granny Lanfen, and he approached the gate to ring her doorbell. Which happened to be a recent installation since the old woman was actually quite reluctant to adapt to modern conveniences. The Panda gave him an open-mouth expression, "This old lady''s place is freaking bigger than yours! Why is it that?" "Well, she has relatives that stay over. I live alone, why would I need a big place?" Yang Li answered as he awaited for someone to open the gates. He blinked for a moment and rubbed his face, he threw a look at the creature, "You can probably communicate with me even if I don''t speak, right?" The creature snorted and crossed their tiny arms, "Look insane for all I want¡ª" Before they could finish the sentence, the gates partially opened up to reveal a boy. It looked like a young boy to Yang Li, and this boy looked up to him with furrowed brows, "Excuse me, but who are you?" "I''m Yang Li." The boy scratched his cheek, "...er, who are you, Mister?" The Panda broke into heartfelt laughter for some reason and it made him realize his mistake. Yang Li inclined his head, "Good morning, I''m a neighbor of Granny Lanfen. I assume she must be your grandmother?" "Great grandmother to be exact." The boy corrected him. Yang Li felt a tad embarrassed but nodded, "I see, well¡­ would it be possible to meet with your great grandmother? I would like to ask if it was possible to get some bamboo?" He needed to be concise and straight to the point. The boy looked up at him from head to toe, almost scrutinizingly so. It felt like Yang Li wasn''t dealing with a ten-year old boy but another man his age from the way that the young lad inspected him and then nodded. "I''ll let her know, shall I invite you to our family''s drawing room while you wait, Mister Li?" "If I can intrude that much." "It is not a nuisance at all, please follow me." The young boy soon led him through the familiar home of his neighbor. The way that the young boy carried himself along the path from the open courtyard to the grandmother''s home had a certain amount of grace and balance to it that Yang Li had only seen from long-serving and professional butlers¡ªit was an interesting thing to note. The CEO was then left at the drawing room as the boy promised. Right before they left to presumably call for their great grandmother, the boy gave him one last question. "Would you like to opt for refreshments? Have you had breakfast already, Mister?" "I''m good, thank you." If the boy hadn''t mentioned that he was the great grandson of Granny Lanfen, Yang Li would have assumed that they must have been a butler-in-training or something else. He could respect something like that. It made him wonder more about his old neighbor. He wasn''t the type to pry into other people''s personal lives and he didn''t even have time for it, even if he wanted to. Soon enough the older woman arrived. Somehow, Grandma Lanfen practically bursted into the drawing room in comparison to the young boy that walked along quietly. The boy looked a bit distressed at their great grandmother moving so fast. Yang Li stood up from his chair to greet his elder, "Good morning to you¡ª" The older woman raised a hand to wave their greeting off and instead smiled, "Yang Li, it''s been quite awhile! You came at a great time, as you may already see¡ªyou''re not the only visitor I have. Little Lei, give the man a proper greeting." "U-uh, good morning again, Mister Li." Granny Lanfen threw a look at the boy and shook her head, "Lei''s a little too shy for a young boy, but at least he''s not too loud as his older brother. But ah, where was I¡ªtake your seat again, Yang Li. Lei go get your granny some hot breakfast for this man and I. We can''t meet guests without food." "Granny Lanfen, I''m afraid that I must decline." He tried to refuse her. "Nonsense! While you''re here, let this old woman treat you well¡ªit breaks my heart to see young men and women working too hard and not even taking care of their bodies." The old woman wiped an imaginary fake tear. "You came here for bamboo? Are you raising a panda or something?" "Well¡­" [ Panda: You''re not allowed to say anything you fool! ] The old woman waved a hand, "Whatever your reasons, let''s leave it at that. Some of my family came over and I have a great granddaughter around your age, I think the two of you can get along¡ªa good child that one.." Chapter 13: The Systems Chat Feature There was something that Yang Li was actually dreading with¡­ and that was being forced by the System to interact with women who could possibly damage the existing relationships that he already had. Yang Li had barely escaped with the First Quest of dating his secretary and if things were to continue¡ª "Please excuse me, Grandma Lanfen. I don''t have much time to stay here and meet your great granddaughter." "Nonsense! Just a quick chat, she''s also quite business-minded like you, mind you!" Grandma Lanfen gave him a carefree laugh. "It was almost troublesome to ask her to visit such an old woman like me just because she was busy taking over our family''s business." The old woman sighed and clutched her chest and sighed loudly, "Of course, young folks like you don''t have any time to spare for frail old me." Yang Li was aware of emotional manipulation. And this old granny was using it hands down¡ªbut even if he was aware of it, it didn''t mean that he could ignore it. It was similar to perhaps knowing that eating junk food was terrible for one''s body but one still indulged in it, and in this case, Yang Li couldn''t just turn a blind eye to an elder bemoaning their state of being old and uncared of. It was ingrained in him to respect his elders. The CEO glanced at his digital watch and looked up, "...I suppose I can stay for thirty minutes." "Wonderful!" Grandma Lanfen clapped her hands together and beamed. "That''s enough time to prepare for a wedding¡ªer, chitchat!" The Panda landed on Yang Li''s armrest and shook their head, "That''s quite a cunning old hag, could have made you accept the System far faster than me I bet." The smile on Grandma Lanfen''s face curled down a bit as she tsked and stood up from her chair, "My great grandson is taking too long, I think I''ll have to call Lifen myself. Stay right there, Yang Li and I''ll call that girl real quick." Before the man could say anything else, the old woman had already gotten up and scurried out the drawing room. "Yep, she seems persistent." The creature shook their head, "I have to tell you, if you didn''t have the System¡ªyou could have been duped by that old lady into marrying her grandchild." Yang Li''s expression stayed blank despite hearing the Panda''s words. He glanced around furtively at their surroundings and ensured that there were no CCTV cameras before speaking up, "You were able to communicate differently with me before with the System''s screen, I would like to talk through it." The Panda huffed at him but nodded, "Fine, I''ll manually unlock the ''Chat Feature'' for you now so you better be sure that you get me those bamboo shoots." "I''ll get it for you, we''re already here aren''t we?" Yang Li reassured them. In the back of his mind, he was amused to see that the creature was truly interested in the bamboo, and so his visitation wouldn''t be in vain. [ Congratulations! You Have Unlocked The Chat Feature For This System ] [ The Chat Feature Allows You To Converse With Specific Individuals Through Thoughts ] [ Please Input A Username: ______ ] Why would he even need some sort of username? The creature already knew who he was in the first place. He didn''t think too hard on this one. ''Yang Li'' [ ''Yang Li'' Has Entered The System''s Chat Feature! ] Panda: Fucking change your name right now Yang Li: Why? Panda: Do it before somebody else sees¡ª! [ User ''Yang Li'' Has Been Added To Universal Chat No. [REDACTED] ???: Kukuku, we have fresh blood¡ªI mean, fresh meat, ladies. Pomegranate: Why hello there! Panda: Damn it [ User ''Yang Li'' Has Been Kicked Out By ''Panda'' ] Yang Li blinked for a moment before realizing the situation, he opted to ''Change Username''. In the corner of his vision, he watched the little furball on his armrest begin to rage at him. [ You Cannot Change Your Username ] [ ''Panda'' Overrode The System And Changed Username To ''CEO'' ] Yang Li threw a look at the creature who simply crossed their arms at him. The creature shook their head, "Basic internet guidelines is to never reveal your real name¡ªhow the heck did you not even think of that? You''re an idiot." "I am aware of that, my apologies." The man scratched his cheek. He wouldn''t make any excuses, even though he didn''t think that the System would have such a feature¡ªhe should have planned ahead of this. It was actually a tad embarrassing now that he thought of it¡­ he wouldn''t touch the System for a bit until he fully got the hang of it. "Um, I have brought your breakfast and my grandmother''s¡­" A quiet voice suddenly spoke up. The CEO raised his head and noticed that the boy was laying down a tray of food in front of him¡ªand he hadn''t even noticed their arrival. He inclined his head, "Thank you." This young boy wouldn''t think too hard of him talking to himself, wouldn''t they? "You''re welcome, let me pour you some tea, Mister." Without waiting for any confirmation, little Lei picked up the teapot and began to pour him some tea. Another silence ensued and Yang Li wished to intercede on this moment. He wasn''t exactly great with kids but he had to try. He spoke up, "Young man, I think your grandmother will be back soon. I believe that she wants to introduce to me her great granddaughter, I assume she must be your cousin?" The boy froze and the cup he was filling in had quickly overflowed. The young boy caught himself and began to wipe the table and shook his head, "Ah, I don''t think so, Mister. I believe my great grandmother is referring to my elder sister." "Uh oh." The Panda floated in front of him and it seemed the creature had recovered from his outburst. He was instead stirring up this situation and jabbed a paw at the kid. "You upsetted the little brat too¡ªthat''s his sister you''re gonna be meeting. Let''s hope you don''t mess things up, sport or else you''re gonna be a goner." Before Yang Li could say anything else, he heard the steps come down from the hallway. "We''re finally here!" Chapter 14: A Beautiful and Deceptive Fragrance It was at this moment that Grandma Lanfen arrived with her great granddaughter. The older lady came bustling through the drawing room and reluctantly following along was a woman that seemed to be around his age. To Yang Li''s surprise, the woman wasn''t donning regular clothes but a traditional flowy dress. Grandma Lanfen then eyed the younger boy who was cleaning up the mess, but she looked up at Yang Li and grinned. The grin was mischievous. She turned to her great granddaughter and said, "Bo Lifen, I''d like you to meet my good neighbor, CEO Yang Li." Grandma Lanfen placed a hand on her ear, "What was that, Lifen? I''m a little hard of hearing, but ah yes, this is CEO Li. The CEO Li, hahaha. Take a seat now, dear." The older woman then coughed and looked at him, "Yang Li, this is my cherished great granddaughter, Bo Lifen. Thank you for meeting with her." "That old lady is playing deaf." The Panda shook their head and their voice was laced in disbelief and some amazement. "But hey, at least she''s building you up¡­ I guess?" The creature didn''t seem thoroughly convinced with the methods. "It''s not a problem, Granny Lanfen." Yang Li inclined his head at her before turning to the other lady and doing the same. "Good morning to you, Miss Bo Lifen. It is a pleasure to be of your acquaintance." Thirty minutes. He was going to stick around here for thirty minutes. "Likewise, Mister Li Yang." The woman nodded before she took a seat beside the older woman. Compared to her smaller brother, this Bo Lifen had a certain height that would have posed some men a little nervous if she wore heels. And yet there was another thing that caught his eye¡ªthe woman was specifically wearing a hanfu. And a sash was forming a tight fuller figure despite the long and loose-fitting sleeves. That was to say her bust was fully accentuated. Yang Li''s gaze now focused on the breakfast preparation that the young boy had brought¡ªand somehow the boy was nowhere to be found now. As if the boy had been there one moment and then they were gone the next. The man didn''t know what to feel about that. "Take a seat now, Yang Li and have breakfast with Lifen. I think I''ll be going now." Grandma Lanfen stood up as well and rubbed her back. "W-What?" Bo Lifen looked at her grandmother with a slight frown. "You''re going to leave me alone with a man I don''t know?" The woman seemed to have no qualms of saying it aloud while he was within earshot. Grandma Lanfen eyed the younger woman, "What nonsense are you speaking of¡ªforgive my granddaughter, I didn''t think she''d be so shy when she actually works as a Tea Sommelier." She finished the sentence however, while addressing Yang Li. Grandma Lanfen bumped her hips at the younger woman, "I''ll be at the garden to get bamboo, I''ll be back in thirty minutes, brat. See you in a bit, Yang Li." Twenty-five minutes. But Yang Li wasn''t going to correct the older lady out of respect. He was only dreading the additional time but he had been prepared for this. He still had provided himself enough time to get to his work even if Grandma Lanfen had extended their meeting hour. If necessary, he could work overtime. His company had a flexible work schedule. Soon enough the older woman left the drawing room and left him with her great grandchild. Another silence emerged in between them once Grandma Lanfen was out of earshot. The man inwardly sighed and met the woman''s gaze for a moment, she also seemed to be thinking of what to say. Her lips were pursed together as she averted her gaze from him. He considered something appropriate to say, and yet the most notable thing was her current attire. To the man, it seemed relevant and apt to compliment it. "I think you look quite traditional and graceful in that hanfu, Miss Bo." [ You Have Lost 30 Charm Points! ] [ You Have A Balance of 45 Charm Points ] Bo Lifen looked at him with a smile on her face, "Why thank you, Mister Li. I''m quite glad that you''ve noticed it." She had said it in a way that it truly seemed that she was pleased with his words. Her body language was nothing but agreeableness and was perfect down right to the core, even a single twitch on her face to reveal other feelings were not present at all. Even he would have been fooled. And yet the System was saying another thing completely. The woman held the smile on her face, portraying a delicateness akin to a flower. Deceptively so. "Shall we have breakfast now, Mister Li? I''m quite sure that my grandmother has bothered such a busy person like you. I would like to apologize in lieu of her." "That''s some wolf in sheep''s clothing if I have ever seen someone." The Panda remarked and plopped on the small dining table that was in between him and the woman. "Are they all a bunch of famed actors or something?" The creature was far too relaxed as they ambled forwards to the steamed buns. The breakfast that was meant for him and Grandma Lanfen''s grandchild. "She must actually be sick in seeing your face, heh. Finally a worthy competitor." Chapter 15: The Secretarys Morning Sunlight spilled in from the windows and curtains, casting its soft lights onto the bed. It provided a natural wake-up call for sleeping inhabitants¡­ if they hadn''t been sleeping under the covers. A blaring sound soon filled the entire room. It resembled a cross between a firetruck and a school bell. A person emerged from her blankets with bloodshot eyes, a drool was visible in the corner of her mouth as she wiped it and glared into the distance. Her phone was on the other side of the room. It was placed strategically to force herself to¡ª "Oh god, five more minutes." Ying Yue He turned back to her bed and covered her head with her pillows. She snuggled a dog plushie to her chest and tried to block out the noise from her alarm. She tried to sink back to the comforting darkness, along with her dreams of coffees and pandas. With much skill or rather a habit¡­ the woman fell asleep as the noise faded away. Until it rang back with vengeance. And compared to the earlier alarm? This time it sounded like a hyena laughing. Wait. Wasn''t that her fourth alarm? A groan escaped her lips as she reluctantly uncurled from her precious blankets and stretched a little, "What time is it now?" She rubbed the corner of her eyes and stepped off from her bed. She approached and grabbed her phone and turned off the alarm¡ªuntil she saw the actual time and cursed underneath her breath. It was half past seven in the morning and with how much traffic would be, Ying Yue He dropped her phone back on the table and raced to her closet for her towel and zipped into the bathroom. After a quick five-minute shower, she emerged and started changing her clothes. She slipped on her dark pencil skirt, buttoned her white blouse and pulled her still wet hair into a ponytail. Her backpack was always prepared (she never removed anything inside it) so she wore it. Snatched her heels and began to slip and strap it on right outside the door before she finally made her way out of her apartment¡ª "Oh, shit." Ying Yue He looked back at the door and pushed back inside the room. Her death showed itself to her. Five flights of stairs for her boss'' suit coat left on the rooftop to dry when the rain had stopped last night. She was already running late. The young woman forced herself up the stairs and tried not to fall off the narrow staircase with her black pumps. There were many times she almost slipped¡ªand would have broken her back if she did, but she continued on until she reached the top of the building. Ying Yue He clutched her chest and panted for a moment. Instead of finding enjoyment in the glorious sun, Ying Yue He wished she didn''t grow sweaty as she wiped her forehead self-consciously and wished that her breasts weren''t too sticky. She scrunched up and caught her breath. She wished she could have air-dried the suit coat in her room but it wouldn''t have dried even if she steadied her fan on it. And so the rooftop was where all the laundry was air-dried to save electricity. "Okay where is it¡ª" A white sheet shot towards her face. "Oh crap, sorry about that." A man apologized and pulled the sheet away from her face. There was a sheepish smile on his face as he tucked the white sheet in a laundry basket, "Was too windy¡ª" She moved past him and stomped towards the clothes lines, "Sorry, I''m rushing." Ying Yue He barely breathed. She paid no heed to the man and searched for her boss'' suit coat, if she was early to work then it was possible to¡­ "There you are!" She took the suit coat from the clothesline and hugged it to her chest, she breathed in the distinctive scent of perfume that didn''t seem to fade away even when she had washed it. "I was almost afraid that someone stole you here." She sighed it in relief and began to work herself down the staircase once more. She carried it in her arms with a relative amount of care. "I think I can still make it by ten minutes past eight?" Ying Yue He muttered to herself as she half-jogged down the stairs¡ªeven more careful not to trip and fall down. She wished she had been earlier so she could return the suit coat without anybody else seeing it? No it wasn''t that either. Although the man would probably appreciate it if no one had seen her do it. Ying Yue He''s heart dropped slightly but she shook her head, "I''m not expecting anything." Instead she had other reasons for wanting to be early. The secretary was aware that CEO Yang Li often skipped breakfast. He did it in lieu of coming to work early. He was more focused on getting most of his crucial tasks done before the other employees arrived while it was still bright and early. Mid-morning was the time for meetings. A quick brunch. Then he was back to work in the afternoon which may or may not contain meetings¡ªand then finally he responded to emails and other lighter concerns. That was to say¡­ "Can I make you coffee?" Ying Yue He asked herself aloud. "No, not that¡ªthat''s too¡­ How about, hey, Mister Li! Here''s a fresh brew of black coffee for the one last night? He did say I should repay him but..." "Uh¡­" She caught the stare of a much younger woman leaving her own apartment room. Ying Yue He felt her cheeks color and raised her gaze up and noticed that the apartment number was 503¡ªshe was still on the fifth floor?! "W-What¡­?" Ying Yue He realized she had stopped walking as she practiced her lines. Ying Yue He slapped a hand over her face, "For Pete''s sake, I hope I don''t get fired before I can even actually make him coffee." The secretary raced down towards the next flight of stairs. Chapter 16: A Little Surprise Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, the breakfast between Yang Li and Bo Lifen turned out to go smoothly. Unlike his coffee date with Ying Yue He¡ªthe woman across from him was someone he didn''t know at all, and so asking polite questions was enough for them to carry along their conversation. A miniature panda lay on the table already full from the dumplings. Yang Li ignored the creature and took a sip of his tea. "I did not know that Bo family was the one who owns the Heavenly Jade Pavilion in the Business District, I hear a lot of good reviews but I haven''t been there myself." A soft chuckle escaped her lips, "Ah, it seems you are the type to stay cooped up in your office all day, Mister Li?" Her tone was light and teasing as she picked up one of the buns in the basket. Even the way she ate her breakfast contained a sense of grace. Yang Li could see where her little brother took his demeanor from. "Perhaps. But I think I''m not the only one who''s the workaholic, your great grandmother shared some of her complaints earlier." He added to the conversation. Bo Lifen''s eyes widened before she averted her gaze, "Ah, well, I''m the one who takes care of the family business¡ªmy parents are already retired. And my two younger brothers are too young, well, one of them could have helped out around the business, but Bo Ling is too immature." Her gaze focused back on him, and it seemed that she was more on venting The woman caught herself and cleared her throat lightly, "Our family has been in the traditional tea making industry¡ªbut he''s too keen on milk tea as if there''s not one in every corner of the cities." So far, this was their more honest tone and it was somewhat a personal and family matter. What was the appropriate way for him to tackle this? Should he agree? No. He needed to be honest as well. Yang Li placed his teacup down. "That''s actually a quite good business, although, compared to the prestigiousness of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion¡ªa milk tea shop is oversaturated. But there''s always at least one customer willing to grab a drink. Or an iced coffee maybe?" He thought about it more. "If your brother is able to work through the weaknesses of current stores and play up his strengths, then it might be possible for it to work?" "Will you risk your position as a CEO for this perspective?" Bo Lifen bit into a bun and smiled at him. It was a little challenging. "My brother is actually looking for investors." He coughed lightly, "I still need a proper market research if I were to fully stand by my words now. But perhaps your brother has done his own research? If he has, I think I''m willing to look into it or have a friend look into it." Anything for better iced coffee. "Well, I''ll keep your word for it. I''m sure he''d have a blast knowing that a CEO actually thinks it might work." And perhaps, Grandma Lanfen was right. If Yang Li ignored the incident of losing Charisma Points, Bo Lifen had been nothing but polite and even accommodating. He could understand why the older woman was proud of her great grandchild. "Shall I pour you another cup of tea, Mister Li?" The woman once again had another smile on her face. He couldn''t help but wonder if that one was forced as well. But in a society like theirs, it was only normal to tolerate one another''s presence. He didn''t take it too much to heart and shook his head, "I''m fine, Miss Bo. We''re supposed to talk to each other but I can''t help but notice so far, that it feels like you''re in your Tea Sommelier mode." He added a light smile in the end. The woman''s lips pursed slightly. It was the only indicator of any deviation from her flowery and gentle demeanor. Until a smile finally curled on her lips, "Does it bother you, Mister Li? I must apologize, I''m used to dealing with clients more often than personal meetings." She said it without actually sounding sorry. He raised a brow and sipped his remaining tea, "Not really, I was worried that you''re the one forcing yourself in my presence. The service industry is quite amazing with holding back their emotions it seems." "...It can''t be helped when your clients can be assholes." She muttered. Yang Li coughed lightly, not exactly expecting her to say such a word from their earlier exchange during the course of breakfast. Chapter 17: A Sudden Burst In this time and age, it still couldn''t be helped that when a woman reached a certain age¡ªshe would start receiving some words from nosy and concerned relatives. Talkative aunts and worried grandmothers about ''You need to start thinking about getting married, Lifen.'' or ''There''s only so much time when a woman is fertile, dear''. "Then let''s freeze these ovaries." She rolled her eyes and snorted. The woman was currently lying down on her bed in nothing but her underwear and a tank top, and she had a book in front of her face as she tried to ignore the memory from just last week. It had earned her a disapproving look from her parents that time. And to which she was sentenced to visit her great-grandmother along with her younger brother for some time off. And Bo Lifen appreciated it. It wasn''t often that she got some break from her work and the location of her great-grandmother''s place meant that other relatives couldn''t pester her about blind dates or telling her that she needed to download this ''app'' and find someone to partner up with. It was as if¡ª The door to her room swung open. "Lifen, get up and get dressed. I''d like you to meet a neighbor of mine." A cheery voice called out to her. Her peace and silence were interrupted by none other than her great grandmother herself. And there was a light in those eyes that told her that she was up to no good. "...Granny Lanfen, I''m not feeling so good." If she could disappear into dust right now, she would. "You can''t make such excuses, besides, it''s probably because you''re not moving around either. Ah, kids, these days don''t even get the time to exercise¡ªwhat is wrong with the world." Granny Lanfen made a dramatic gesture of sniffing her nose. "But get dressed up in your hanfu, dear! It''s time to impress this very important person." "...you want me to serve them tea, are they a possibly important prospect or an old friend of yours?" Bo Lifen furrowed her brows. She placed the book down and scratched her bare stomach, it was always tedious wearing those clothes but it seemed like her grandmother was truly excited about this one. Could she just do this once for their sake? "Very, very important client¡ªyou''ll know it once you meet them. They work in the same district as you so if you get along well, maybe we''ll get a new flood of customers." The words ''get along'' made a shudder run down her spine. She sat up and eyed the older lady with a small frown, "This isn''t some way to set me up, is it? Please don''t tell me you''re helping the others too." "What no? I mean, why would I force my precious great-granddaughter to do what she doesn''t like?" Granny Lanfen''s face was dead serious and even slightly hurt, before the old woman turned around, "Get dressed now though, we''ve only got twenty minutes to work your magic." Suffice to say, her grandmother told her a lie. It was obvious from the moment that she had walked into the drawing-room and saw him lounging on the chair while her brother was wiping their table. It made her look at her brother in concern before she finally got a look at the man seated. It was easy to surmise that he was handsome. His dark hair was meticulously combed back and neatly arranged in a way that gave him a professional look. Within the lighting of their room, his dark eyes gave off a mysterious vibe. The kind of look that said he assessed everything with a calculative and even distant method. His choice of a classy suit and coat to even the tasteful shoes that he wore¡ªhe showed nothing but a sophisticated and well-dressed man. Someone refined like him probably had dubious tastes. Bo Lifen had already encountered a lot of men like him before. They all looked like a gentleman that could sweep you off their feet¡ªbut underneath that velvet veneer, they were no doubt thinking of all the ways that they could mess you up. Be it an arrogant prick. Someone who liked fooling around. Her family''s tea business had its own fair share of trouble with rich people who assumed that a ''tea shop'' filled with beauties was actually a place for them to get their wanton needs met. She was already sick of him. And yet when she sat down and finally talked with him, it turned out differently. He was polite and didn''t even spare much of a glance at her. But it was no doubt some kind of facade until she was more comfortable with him. She did her best to be accommodating regardless and instead waited for him to reveal his true colors. Whether it was one inappropriate word or even a look from him would confirm it. Bo Lifen soon realized something. Maybe it was because she was being a docile flower right now that the man across her was taking it slow. But no. If he thought that he could charm his way to her heart and then sweep her off to her feet¡ªit was a fat chance. It didn''t matter to her that he seemed to have fooled her great grandmother into thinking he was the perfect bachelor. It didn''t matter that he was politely talking to her now. Neither did it matter that they had even discussed her brother and offered help in their business venture. To men like him, the world was a business transaction, and their fees were always exorbitant. And then he finally called her out. "I''m fine, Miss Bo. We''re supposed to talk to each other but I can''t help but notice so far, that it feels like you''re in your Tea Sommelier mode." He added a light smile in the end. A smile finally curled on her lips, "Does it bother you, Mister Li? I must apologize, I''m used to dealing with clients more often than personal meetings." Did he want her to act sweeter, more sultry? How did he want her to accommodate him? He raised a brow and sipped his tea, "Not really, I was worried that you''re the one forcing yourself in my presence. The service industry is quite amazing with holding back their emotions it seems." They were good. Far too good in trying to appear as the kind and considerate man. That he was commiserating with her problems, but she wasn''t born yesterday. She only needed to push him to the edge, and his true nature would show. "... It can''t be helped when your clients can be assholes." She muttered. The CEO coughed lightly and stayed silent. He was stricken speechless. To her, it was a confirmation that she had hit a sore spot, and without her grandmother around, she could take it a step further. "It''s these types of men that think they can get away with everything that they want. It doesn''t matter where they are. Their money, power, or whatever they have makes them right. It''s sickening that I have to listen to them all day and keep up with appearances for business sake." "Do you not speak up for yourself?" Yang Li finally asked. His brows were furrowed together, and his gaze showed that her words were disconcerting. Her eye twitched, "Of course I do, when they''ve gone too far or if they''re doing it to one of my employees. It''s one of the reasons why I''m here, I had ''accidentally'' spilled their little brother with some tea." She gave him a smile at that. "It''s tiresome that there are people who think I''m like this because I''m just some woman nearing her thirties that needs to get her frustrations out." His troubled gaze was still on her, an expression that simply irked her more. How much longer was he going to act like that? "Oh? She doesn''t have a boyfriend yet, that''s why she''s so mad all the time. All I needed was a good fucking they said and they could take me there and then¡ªand that was while I was serving them their tea. Needless to say, I was shocked that time and the fresh brew fell over his lap. And yet you probably think the same don''t you, Mister Li?" She smiled and pulled herself to her feet. Yang Li shook his head, "No. Well, actually¡ª" She bent towards him and caged the man in his seat and silenced them then and there. Close enough to notice the specks of brown in his eyes and feel his hot breath fanning over her face. She could pick up on the distinctive scent of jasmine tea that she served along with a fresh peppermint scent. "What was that? Just spit it out, will you? I''m tired of that cold facade you''re pulling up when you can''t probably help but agree with the rest of them." "Do you honestly want to know what I think?" He stared back at her and gulped for a moment. "If you give me an honest answer¡ªI might actually reciprocate it." Chapter 18: Dont Stick Yourself In— He didn''t think that he would be put in a tough spot, and caged at this point. He could probably overpower her and push her off from him, but he didn''t think that it would make a way to leave a good impression¡ªand yet he didn''t want to get caught by Bo Lifen''s great-grandmother in this position. How much time did he have left before Granny Lanfen comes back? He glanced down to his watch¡ª And soon found her fingers grasping his chin, her dark eyes narrowing at him. "Too busy to even answer my question, Mister Li? Do you have an appointment with someone else, or is there someone else I''m competing with?" Yang Li''s thoughts flickered to his secretary¡ªshe promised to return his suit coat¡ªbut he sighed and jerked his chin away from her, "I know that you''ve experienced some horrible things with other men, but it doesn''t give you the right to harass me either. I have my rights too." She blinked. He sighed and pushed her shoulders lightly, "I don''t want to be the one saying this to you, and it''s no way to demean you and claim that this is hysteria. But I frankly think you need therapy." She didn''t actually budge and stayed rooted in her same spot¡ªshe was still caging him with her arms. Was she frozen in shock? "Well, damn, I wouldn''t stick myself with crazy either¡ªwell, actually, it''s kind of hot in my view." The Panda was currently seated away from them and at an angle that probably allowed the creature to admire the woman''s curves and ass sticking out their way. "If you kiss her right now, I bet it''d be the one met with resistance, but she''d quickly indulged you due to her massive range of emotions, and then you can have hot sex on the table¡ªat least until her grandmother walks back in." All of the things that the creature was spouting right now¡ªit didn''t actually help. It just distracted them from thinking clearly. He considered his words. Yang Li coughed lightly, "You don''t need a boyfriend, but you need a good person to talk to and vent your problems, Miss Lifen. I can see that you''re a headstrong woman." That was one way to put it lightly for him, but he continued. "You''re the one that your family relies on. They must be quite proud of you and I can imagine that the same goes with your employees, they look up to you, and it places a heavy weight on your chest." She wasn''t saying anything. And as he glanced down, it was there that he''d see that her knuckles were white as she gripped the armrest tightly. He looked up and met her eyes to check if she hadn''t actually passed out in shock. Her lips were pursed together tightly, and there was a look of restraint and defiance in her eyes, "We''ve only met for less than thirty minutes, and you think you can read me like a book now? CEO Li? Quite good with talking to your own employees, huh?" He stared at her expression, at the mix of rage mixed in with the fear. He shook his head and sighed, "I don''t even know the half of it." Her lips parted, and her eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded and glared at him, "That''s right¡ªyou don''t even know the half of it!" Bo Lifen raised her chin, but her shoulders shook slightly. She was a truly proud woman. It wasn''t actually far from what he had experienced before. The pressure that buckled them down, and from one leader to another, he understood the sheer weight. He carefully lifted his hand and reached for her shoulder. She stiffened at his touch but didn''t recoil as he thought she would. "If you don''t think you can handle this right now, then that''s fine¡ª" Her gaze fell to him at his words, and her voice held a tinge of incredulity. "It''s fine?" And he wasn''t sure, but there was a glistening in the corner of her eyes. He patted her shoulder, "I''m not a doctor or psychologist, so I can''t exactly help you. I don''t even need to know half of these things, and even if you tell me, I wouldn''t understand it as you said. But I would appreciate it if you don''t pour your misdirected anger at me." A shaky breath escaped her lips. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and tilted her head back up away from him. The anger that seemed to bubble around her faded away. Until she finally stood up and returned back to her seat. Her head was still gazing away from him as she brushed her face with her sleeves. A loud sigh escaped her lips, and she covered her face with a hand. Yang Li gave her a minute. The woman soon recomposed herself and cleared her throat. Bo Lifen ducked her head and picked up the teapot, and her fingers shook slightly but soon settled down. When she looked back up at him¡ªno, she was looking past his shoulders. "I''ll refill your cup, Mister Li." Was she alright now? He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded, "I could use a drink. Please don''t pour it on my lap, though." A flicker of emotions changed the look in her eyes as her nose wrinkled at his words. Yang Li was a bit worried that his words wouldn''t actually be taken well like Ying Yue He did, but the corner of her lips twitched. "Perish the thought. It''s not boiling hot enough." She poured him a cup of tea and picked it up and offered it to him, "And you are an important guest of my great-grandmother. I couldn''t ruin your relationship with her." "I see." He accepted the teacup tentatively. He would have told her that her outburst was an example of something that could ruin relationships¡ªbut Yang Li didn''t want to entertain the likelihood of tea spilling all over his face. It was troublesome. The prospect of changing his outfit even if his house was in the neighborhood was too time-consuming. He instead nodded at her and finally took a sip as a silence emerged between them. In a way, he didn''t come here for this kind of experience, and he still wished he could have avoided this... But c''est la vie. She was too proud to say her own apologies through words¡ªbut her actions were enough. At least Yang Li didn''t expect much. She had her own troubles, and so did he. He glanced at his watch and checked the time, and though he didn''t want to complain¡ªtime was ticking. He cleared his throat, "Do you think your great-grandmother needs help with the collecting of bamboo? I can help her if needed." Her eyes widened as she pulled herself to her feet, "You can stay where you are, and I''ll go look for her myself." "I don''t think you''d like to soil your hanfu in the dirt." She gave him a sideways glance and shook her head, "It''s not a problem, you can wash your clothes, but the traffic back to Shanghai is terrible¡ª" "Phew!" A loud sigh interrupted them as Grandma Lanfen finally walked in and wiped the sweat off her brows. She gave them a smile, "How did the date¡ªer, breakfast go? I''ve got your bamboo, Yang Li." She called out behind her, "Lei, hurry up, bring the pot in. I think your big brother¡ªMister Li is leaving." Chapter 19: Alls Well That Ends Well It was in the Bo Family''s Ancestral House that a young boy carried in a large pot, the object nearly touched the top of the doorway. Two tall green bamboo lay nestled together in its rich and dark soil. Lei carried it into their waiting room for their great-grandmother''s guest. Once Yang Li saw the young boy step into the room, it was there that he approached the boy and took it from their hands and relieved them from the burden. Right as he took it from the boy''s hands, his nose picked up a lovely scent and once again felt a sensation. Living plants contained qi¡­ it wasn''t a startling discovery but he nodded his head to the boy. "Thank you so much." It was from one man to another until he turned to his neighbor and thanked them as well. "It''s no problem, it''s quite good that you''ve grown interested in gardening. At least that''s what it appears to me." A proud smile formed on Granny Lanfen''s face. She may have slipped out the terms ''wedding plans'' and ''date'' out loud, unintentionally or intentionally, but she was still his neighbor, one of the ones who actually enjoyed taking care of plants. He wondered how they would feel that the plant was meant for food. "I think it works well as decoration, I honestly didn''t expect it to be this... long." Would it fit in his car? He would have to take it home. Yang Li wondered if the small panda creature would think it''s sufficient for them or he still needed to order them some¡­ assuming that the creature stayed for long. "They grow much taller in forests, young man." Granny Lanfen informed him, "But this one will still grow one to three feet per year." "That''s a lot." [ ???: And that''s what she said ] A weird notification popped up and Yang Li mentally dismissed it in lieu of his search of the Panda''s approval. Said creature was currently sprawled on the table and it gave them a look as they chugged the remnants of tea in his cup and wiped their face with a paw. The Panda floated and flew to the pot and shook their head."What the heck did you just say? Let''s get going now." Despite obviously consuming other food items¡ªthey looked a bit happy to see the tall grass. Yang Li turned to the older woman and inclined his head, "Thank you once again for having me over for breakfast." There was an expectant look on Granny Lanfen''s face. To the CEO, it appeared that the older woman was truly eager to hear if the breakfast had gone well. And the word ''well'' was quite subjective to anyone. He continued, "And meeting your great-granddaughter has been a remarkable experience." He didn''t exactly want to lie, but he bowed towards Bo Lifen and to her brother, "It was nice meeting you Miss Lifen, and you too, Lei." But in the end he still kind of did. "Likewise." Bo Lifen bowed at him in sync with her brother. She had at least managed to not say anything about their breakfast together. The much older woman, Lanfen clapped her hands and beamed, "I''m glad that the two of you got along, perhaps the two of you could meet next time and chat in that polluted city of yours." "Granny¡­" Bo Lifen sounded exasperated. "It''s true! I don''t know why you guys can tolerate the air there." The old woman shook her head and placed a hand over her chest, her flair of dramatics didn''t wane with their age. "I feel like my lungs would get clogged by thick dust. Anyhow, enough talk about me, Lifen go see our guest off." She gave a look at the young woman. A soft sigh escaped the woman''s lips but she nodded and stepped forward, "I''ll see you off to the gates then, Mister Li." She opened the door for him and inclined her head. The woman didn''t look or sound happy, but they were eager to get it over with. "Don''t be afraid to visit me more often, Yang Li." Granny Lanfen told him as she took her seat. The old woman rubbed her wrists as she said it, they were really the one who probably transferred the plant to its pot. "I''ll do my best." . . . As promised, Bo Lifen walked with him to the gates and opened it for him, allowing the man to carry the pot outside. She didn''t say a word and the atmosphere around them was still¡­ a bit tensed. But neither said anything else and to the both of them, this was surely a one-time meeting, there were no plans laid out to meet in the Bo Family''s tea shop or anything. But Yang Li wasn''t regretting this. He wanted to leave quickly and go to his office immediately, the drive back to it would take awhile so he needed to remove himself asap and leave the pot in his home. In a way, he was relieved that no System Notification came up¡ªand he wouldn''t wish to jinx it. But it would be rude of him to not say a word as he left, "Thank you for seeing me off, Miss Bo." "It''s not a problem, Mister Li." This time, her voice held no touch of inflection or any signs of hesitation. She said it simply and even with a small smile on her face. The woman had already recovered from this incident or had managed to truly act like it didn''t happen. Yang Li simply nodded, he couldn''t muster a smile like hers and began to walk away. He heard the gates close and he sighed in relief. The man immediately walked back to his home''s direction, lest anything else were to happen. But when he looked at the plant¡ªhe could already see that the Panda was nibbling on the top of it. Shamelessly even. It hadn''t even waited for him to carry it back to his home, but he was the only one who could see it. The creature spitted out the bamboo''s head for a moment and gave them a look, "What are you looking at me for? Keep walking, bub." Coughing slightly, Yang Li walked back and ignored the weird way that the creature was consuming the grass. He wanted to ask them a question about the System''s method of finding suitable women for his quests, because he truly had been a tad worried back then. But for now, he let the creature be as they returned back to his home. Once again, several notifications appeared before him. [ The Celestial Heavens Have Seen The Display ] [ One of the Observers ''Fire Dweller'' is pleased by your kindness ] [ You Have Been Sponsored With 1000 Charm Points ] Chapter 20: The CEO Who Has No Roots The click-clacking of a keyboard can be heard within the place just outside of the CEO''s own office. Ying Yue He was typing as fast as she could, the woman was in a frenzy. And yet she ended up deleting every single word that she wrote. The young woman ended up looking at the time on her desktop''s screen and sighed aloud, "And I thought I was going to be the late one." Yang Li was never the type to come in late or take leaves, he could have been said to be married to his work. "So why isn''t he here right now?" Her voice sounded more irritated than she thought it would be. She gazed around the room and resisted the urge to hit her head on the table¡ªmost of the other employees were on different offices and levels. She had no one to talk to¡­ and for a moment, she felt lonely. And it was pretty annoying that it had to be right now. She could have her bouts of loneliness after work, but not right now¡ªshe still had her own tasks to do. But she couldn''t do it. Her first thought was the traffic, but the man always left early to come here early so that wasn''t it. What if the man took a sudden leave? They would still have informed her at least. "...did he die?" Ying Yue He''s brows furrowed together as she reached for the suit coat draped on her chair''s back. Millions of thoughts were running through her mind, scenarios of accidents that came, an assassin coming and planting a bomb in his car¡ªshe slapped a hand over her face. "You need to quit watching those crime shows, they''re not helping." And yet she chewed on her lip, "Maybe he''s sick?" But was she even hired by the man to take care of them this much?No. She ought to be more concerned about finishing the documents so the man''s workload didn''t have to increase. Dragging back her gaze to the unflinching screen, the woman cracked her fingers before setting off to work. But it was at that moment that he arrived. Yang Li stepped through the corridor, and the man''s pace was fast but each step he did was deliberate and timed, almost a soldierly cadence to each step. His brows were slightly knotted together, perhaps the only indicator that he was bothered of his own arrival. However, just the sight of him was enough to make Ying Yue He push herself off the chair to greet him, "Good morning, Mister Li." "Ah, good morning to you too. Miss He." He nodded at her briefly as he reached for his office doorknob. The man was no doubt in a rush, but she managed a smile, "Mister Li, would you like some coffee?" Ying Yue He was positive that the man would be able to connect the dots between their previous coffee date before and her offer now. Yang Li glanced at her, "Oh, I''m fine. No thank you." The door shut closed right after¡ªbut it was akin to getting the door slammed right on her face. She should have really said, ''this one is for last night''... but she would still have ended up being rejected wouldn''t she? Ying Yue He sunk back to her seat and dragged herself back to her desktop. And she didn''t even get the chance to return the suit coat. Ying Yue He squeezed her face for a moment, squishing her cheeks and trying to lighten up her mood. "I can give it back later." And so, the secretary set back to work. .. . Yang Li arrived back into his office and nearly staggered down to his chair. He let out a cough and saw a black fume leave his mouth.And the man couldn''t even react as his chest burned, somehow it felt like his lungs were burning but despite that, he had managed to come here alone. The moment he had stepped out of his car in the parking lot, he was assailed by a nauseous and head-wrecking pain. But now that he was in his office, the terrible sensation was vanishing, if only by a bit. The man pulled himself together as he rubbed his forehead for a moment and wiped the corner of his mouth. Contrary to his expectations, the creature had decided to stay with the bamboo plant and so he could only ask the System. ''How terrible is the qi condition in the city?'' That was the only thing he could attribute for his condition right now¡ªhis environment. Somehow, Granny Lanfen''s remark of the air being polluted was applicable to him. [ The Six Evil Qi Is Always Present ] He frowned and wished he had a glass of water, he was too tired to open his briefcase for the documents or cross-check it with the internet. And so he continued, ''If it''s always around then why was¡­ wait, this is because of the Qi Condensation Stage isn''t it?'' It wasn''t his environment that had changed, but his body itself. [ Yes And No. ] Yang Li raised a brow, massaging the pressure points on his hands. ''Can you clarify.'' [ The ''Host'' Body Is Not Fit For Qi Condensation Stage ] His eyes narrowed for a moment, he wanted to ask why they offered it into the store¡ªbut a lot of things were available to purchase in the market, things that weren''t exactly beneficial for people in the first place. ''Should I have bought the Harem Cultivation Scripture first? If I had done that, would I not experience the backlash?'' [ The ''Host'' Would Still Experience The Invasion of The Evil Six Qi ] Yang Li blinked at the screen in front of him. Neither options prevented him from not experiencing this? How would he be able to conduct his work when simply standing outside the city was enough to make his body weaken? He coughed and watched a lesser amount of black smoke rise out of his body. ''What is the reason for this then?'' [ The ''Host'' Has No Spiritual Roots ] He checked his status screen to confirm that¡­and found that it was true. [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: None ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 1000 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak to Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (0/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (1/9) [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] None What was the importance of spiritual roots? He had managed to get into the first stage of qi condensation regardless of his lack of it. Yang Li turned on his laptop and set out to find answers, he still coughed and his lungs were in a terrible condition¡ªbut he worked past it. If anything, it was like a terrible case of asthma. Spiritual Roots - figuratively, the very foundation (roots) of one''s body and soul. Associated with a person''s innate talent and elemental affinities ( ImmortalMountain ) To step in Qi Condensation, you have to guide your body''s latent spiritual qi into your meridians and use the force of your qi to guide it open. Because of this, people without spirit roots cannot enter Qi Condensation via normal means since the spirit root is the source of the latent qi in your body. (Nine Star Hegemon Body Art Wikia) Yang Li stared at the pieces and bits of information that he found. They were possibly not truly word-for-word accurate, but if it was true¡­ "I shouldn''t have been able to cultivate into the first place then?" He shook his head. He frowned as he realized that he was talking aloud. In addition to not appearing like a muttering fool, he didn''t want to do it for the satisfaction of the ''viewers''. It was one of the reasons why the Panda didn''t want to come with him in the first place¡­ they had a minor disagreement about it. But that would have to be put on for later. If he wasn''t able to absorb and guide his latent spiritual qi¡­ then he was absorbing other qi. ''I''ve been absorbing the qi all around me because of my lack of roots?'' [ Yes ] Neither the Panda nor the System mentioned it to him, but the fault eventually still laid on him for not checking much either. ''What about other cultivators?'' [ All Cultivators Do Gather Qi Strands From Heaven and Earth. Lack Of Spiritual Root However Increases Dependency on External Qi ] "And the Roots Unlockment is worth 5000 charm points." Yang Li rubbed his face. He really should have been more careful the first time¡­ and even if he had still received the 2500 CP and not 10,000 CP, the man should have delayed himself from buying instead. [ You Have Gained 100 Charm Points ] The sudden notification made him stop for a moment. The number was incomparable to the ''sponsor'' he received from the Heavens earlier, but it was still a good amount. "This couldn''t be from Miss He at all." Chapter 21: I Have Questions [ The Celestial Heavens Have Seen The Display ] [ One of the Observers ''Fire Dweller'' is pleased by your kindness ] [ You Have Been Sponsored With 1000 Charm Points ] The Panda looked at the notifications and shook their head, "Fuck it. Why am I still even here if they''re showing up." The situation they were in right now, they were practically here just to watch and become an object of entertainment as well? They didn''t want to be some streamer! "What exactly is happening¡­" A furtive expression was on the man''s face. "...It''s not actually fun when you already know what''s happening, but you''re on what you first assume to be a ''reality TV show''." The creature eyed the human and awaited their reaction. The man usually had a good head on his shoulders, and so they could already see the man capitalizing on this. Truth be told, the Panda was begrudgingly impressed with them thinking loopholes¡ªbut they could only do it for so long. Yang Li stared at the notifications and dismissed them, "Is the heavens really that bored that they''d watch a boring mortal like me?" He continued on to his house, unlocking his door and placing the pot of bamboo at the doorstep. The creature didn''t reply. A statement like that was¡­ offensive in a way. Downright offensive to the viewers. But this was also the first time that they were venting and so the creature allowed it to be heard. The way that they took it well in the first place was troubling in a way; but they always said that humans were resourceful so this might have been the natural course of action. "I don''t remember signing up for this." Yang Li said again. The Panda clicked their tongue, if the man kept this up then he would go beyond the bounds. The creature has to make it steady and clear to them that they''ve made their choice. "You accepted the System and so this observation of Heavens goes along with it." The Observers might have been much lesser if the CEO didn''t insist on joining the chatroom as well, but they weren''t going to say that. "Let me repeat it. You get a System and it entails a lot of quests and missions you need to achieve whereas the observers from Celestial Heavens watching you¡ª" "It''s scummy." "W-What? Be careful of what you''re saying now, CEO." The Panda''s brows furrowed together. As far as their interaction went, this was the first time that the man actually expressed distaste. And they didn''t want to be hit by a tribulation lightning this early. It still hurt the creature even if they were a being of a higher caliber than the human¡ªso if they didn''t play their cards right, there was a much worse game play happening in the realm of King Yama right now. "I mean what I say, this is a horrible situation to be in. Your privacy and practically your willpower is taken away from you as you follow on these quests¡ªand for what? Divine Entertainment?" Yang Li''s voice dripped with irritation. One of his eyes twitched. "I appreciate the 1000 Charm Points, but if they truly value kindness, then this ''Fire Dweller'' would have been against this in the first place." [ ... ] [ ¡­. ] [ ... ] The creature eyed them, at the sudden lack of viewers as it took the chance to give them a tiny piece of advice, "They won''t stop beating a dead horse if it''ll still twitch and entertain them. But you don''t want to be a dead horse so I suggest you do what''s asked. You can try to tilt a bit to the left or to the right¡ªbut in the end, you''re still going to do the quest at the end." "I am aware of that." Yang Li crossed his arms, "And it''s also likely that all of the suggestions you''ve been giving me are supposed to create more entertainment for them, isn''t that true?" "...of course, and it''s supposed to entertain me as well." The creature scoffed. "Is that surprising?" "No. Not all." Yang Li glanced at his watch. "Well then, that''s enough questions for one day¡ªI''m heading back to the office. I''m already late." The conversation of theirs was cut abrupt as he headed to his car and got inside. From the way they just walked out, it was obvious that they didn''t truly take it well and yet the CEO was looking at the creature''s direction. The Panda''s eye twitched, "I''m staying with this¡­ this bamboo! You''re going to do nothing interesting at the office so I''ll stay here." Soon enough, Yang Li drove away. .. . There were certain thoughts and opinions that came along belatedly to individuals. Thoughts that they were unwilling to admit to themselves and continued to deny, because it was better off not to speak about it. Even the mere thought of breakfast with them was enough to send off an electrifying sensation through their veins. Her face burned with shame as she cleaned up the breakfast table. And so she continued to push it away. Somehow it seemed that she might have eaten more dumplings than she out to have eaten. Had she been stress-eating now? The man barely touched the food¡­ "I''ll sleep after this." Bo Lifen muttered to herself. The day was still early, but if she truly was on vacation¡ªthen she''d sleep all her cares away. Who needs a therapist? Certainly not her. This¡­ this kind of break from work was enough though. She sighed and picked up the tray. Maybe she did need to take a couple of leaves every month, but only to unwind. And this much was fine¡­? Was it truly alright? "What''s the matter, Bo Lifen? Did you get sick?" Granny Lanfen asked with raised brows. Although the smirk on the old woman''s lips told them that she was aware that the physical symptoms were the result of something else entirely. "I didn''t think that he was enough to make you take a break." Bo Lifen tried to ignore the invitation from her great-grandmother to share what happened during the ''breakfast'' with her guest¡ªbut the old woman was still insisting on telling what she thought of him. They probably won''t stop pestering her, so it was best to give an answer now. She cleared her throat lightly and looked out the window, "That Yang Li is¡­ he''s not that bad. But a break really is long overdue for me and it''s not because he said it, that I''m taking it so don''t misinterpret it, Granny." "I haven''t even said anything yet, Lifen." Chapter 22: One-Shot Future Is Here [ Skip If You Will/ An Author Note Included ] It was a cold winter day, and nothing was out of the ordinary¡ªuntil a shimmering and translucent portal rippled open on the 37th floor of Olympian Corporation. The secretary, Ying Yue He who was still typing on her keyboard then looked up to see a gorgeous woman. With silky long white hair and riveting blue eyes, the woman was no doubt at least goddess level in terms of beauty. The woman''s figure was accentuated in her ancient robes that somehow still hugged tightly on her body. She was at least a D cup. A great contrast to Ying Yue He''s modest own size¡­ but that didn''t matter as the woman looked around confusingly around the building and then stomped over towards her. "You there, mortal. Is this where this Li Yang is currently residing in¡­?" She looked around uncomfortably at their surroundings, "This¡­ weird temple? Made of stone?" Ying Yue He was tempted to correct her, or tell them that this was the wrong place and have them get lost, but she went straight to business. "Mister Li is unavailable at this moment¡ªwould you like to sit down and wait, Miss?" Did she need to get their name now and add it to the spreadsheet¡­? The woman''s blue eyes flickered red and narrowed down at her, "Do you not who I am?" She raised her head as an aura of fiery red casted itself around her. "What impudence. I am the¡ª" "He''s currently in a meeting with Elizabeth Hawthorne." Ying Yue He eyed the goddess, succubus, or whatever the woman actually was with a stern look. "Please take a seat ma''am or try storming in there yourself and disturb him yourself. I''ve already had a hard time with Anna Song and I don''t want an angry Vampire on my back." "W-What? What is a Vampire?" Her brows knitted together until she shook her head. Is he in danger¡ª" The woman raised a hand towards the door, a powerful rippling red wave bursted the doors open. Ying Yue He craned her neck slightly and saw what she actually didn''t want to see. A woman was draped over the man''s lap and with her back turned from them, but she knew what the woman looked like in a heartbeat. Long dark hair that curled slightly, flawless pale skin and with eyes and luscious that were red as roses, they were shamelessly feeding on the CEO. Elizabeth''s head turned slightly to the door and narrowed. There was an obvious red line dripping down the corner of her mouth, blood. "I am not particularly in the know of the reason for this, but I have stated that I do need privacy." Her cheeks were tinged red as she wiped the corner of her lips, "Can you close the door again?" Ying Yue He watched the newcomer''s jaw work for a moment as the scene unfolded before her became quite obvious. Girl.exe stopped working. Processing information¡­ Action protocol initiated. "Li Yang, you bastard!" The woman raised a fist towards the CEO. She was shaking in anger, there were whiskers growing on her cheek. "Have you forgotten who I am? Have you forgotten what we did¡ª" A soft sigh escaped Ying Yue He''s lips as she shook her head. She really had thought that she could get through her Friday peacefully. The secretary caught a quick look of pleading from the CEO as he listened to the goddess lash out her anger at him. The Vampire was still on his lap and didn''t want to get down at all. Ying Yue He stuck a tongue at him and turned back to her desktop. She didn''t want to get caught in between the storm. She really didn''t know why she was still sticking around him though. Was it her paycheck? Ying Yue He checked the email. It was from the LoveStellar Organization trying to get their products online? Secretary Ying Yue He rubbed the back of her neck for a moment and took a deep breath. The ''normal'' for Ying Yue He had really started changing and she might have freaked out at first, and yet this was 2020¡ªso she began to draft a response. When would the apocalypse actually start? ===================== AUTHOR IMPORTANT NOTE: This story is in the early chapters and I''ve been made aware that the plot''s progression is slow. Not to mention the weakness of having a particular MC be the way that he is [ Stiff, Boring, Cold, Simp etc. ] instead of the typical perverted guy or at least the one who''s actively seeking sex with women¡ªand I appreciate the constructive feedback. Seriously, I don''t know this market. I failed your expectations, whether you were looking for the smut or the badass MC that wins and it doesn''t work because the CEO is unrelatable? I REALLY want to make this work as this book is aiming for consumers and is in the process of getting contracted by Webnovel. [ I meant what I said in ''burning money'' author review but only if its written good for you lol ] I personally enjoy the weak to strong progression with lots of slice-of-life [ Races: Online promotion here heh ], but if necessary, and demanded (Let your opinions out)¡ªwe can all skip this introductory chapters, him trying to understand how Cultivation works, the other people in his life that''s not going to be in the harem, and head on the plot and "plot"? Did you guys want an OP CEO in the first place? Like right now, Absolutely right now? I need to work on the pacing so I want to ask if this kind of arc structure works: First Chapter - Meets/Save the (New) Girl Second Chapter - He Impresses Girl/ Defeats Bad Guys Third Chapter - The Seduction Fourth Chapter - The ''Snu Snu'' Fifth Chapter - He Increases His Power (More!) Sixth Chapter - Add Girl to Harem and move on to the cycle once more. Rinse. Repeat. Profit. Would it get old? Depends on you, but as a writer, we won''t stop beating this dead trope if it gets us money¡ªor personally enjoy writing it lol. Maybe both. So this leads to the final question: ] REWRITE (by how much?) ] CHANGE THE PROTAGONIST (Let''s kill Li Yang! Definitely have a replacement for him lol) ] CONTINUE FROM CHAPTER 1 (Seducing Rich Young Heiress) ] DO IT AT YOUR OWN PACE (Continue the previous chapter) ] I WANT AN OP SLICE OF LIFE COMEDY ( Tired Ying Yue He is the best) ] JUST AN OP BADASS CHARACTER (please explain) ] CAN WE HAVE NO HAREM? ( I don''t know why you''re here XD ) Chapter 23: Their Regrets [ Continuation from Chapter 21: ] It was a sudden declaration in the Bo Family''s Ancestral House. The matriarchal of the Bo Family said it right after Bo Lifen admitted that the CEO was not that bad. Granny Lanfen chuckled, "I haven''t even said anything yet, Lifen." But she suddenly frowned, "I detest that little panda though." Bo Lifen raised her head and looked at her great-grandmother. "What was that, Granny?" She wasn''t sure if she had heard the old woman speak correctly, but Bo Lifen already said too much. She picked up her tray and made her way to the door. "You''ve grown weaker at sensing, Lifen." "...What is there to sense?" She raised a brow. Her great-grandmother Lanfen let out a sigh and waved a hand, "Nevermind me. I''m just probably saying things because my Alzheimer''s is getting to me. Don''t you agree, Lifen?" The old woman paused and rubbed her wrists, "Will you make me one of your tea?" Bo Lifen grasped the tray tightly on her hand, ignoring the sensation in her chest. "...Did you want the Spiritual Jade Tea? Or would you like me to prepare Black-Ocean Pearl Tea?" "Black-Ocean Pearl Tea?" The old woman approached her and gave her a narrowed-eyed look, "When did you get the chance to gather pearls, the depths are¡ª" Bo Lifen hated it whenever her great-grandmother brought up her age and illnesses. If they haven''t¡­ she took a deep breath and said, "I have a friend who managed to get in contact with someone able to dive deep and retrieve it." "A friend? Is that the reason why you said Yang Li is just ''not bad'', who''s that friend of yours?" "I don''t appreciate the joke you''re saying, if you and everyone else could quit pairing me with every man that gets within five feet of me, I''ll appreciate it." She let out a loud sigh. "This black pearl is definitely pricey to get but it does wonder for the longevity, great-grandmother. So I''ll prepare it for you at once." Shaking her head and making her way to the kitchen, she placed the dishes at a sink. Her temper was getting the better of her again. With her great-grandmother, Bo Lanfen at hundred-twenty years old, she still acted like she was sixty. Bo Lifen reached for her bracelet hidden underneath her robe''s sleeves, flicked one of its beads, and took out the black pearls from the inter-spatial storage. She also took out the bottled hidden spring mountain water and started her preparations. She heard the footsteps of the older woman come in. "Ah, back in my time¡ªthey say these pearls were gathered and guarded jealously by mermaids." Granny Lanfen plopped down in one of the chairs. She stretched and cracked the bones on her shoulder. Bo Lifen couldn''t stop herself from snorting as she crushed the pearl with her thumb, "Granny, those are just stories you hear. Mermaids don''t exist." Gathering up the dust, she dropped it into the water boiling over their stove. She turned back to her great-grandmother and smiled slightly, "I guess your age really is getting to you." "...and yet we came from a family that served tea to cultivators and gods thousands of years ago, so don''t talk back to me, Lifen. I know what I''m talking about¡ªyour great-granduncle Yi got lost at sea, probably got snagged by one of them." Granny Lanfen scoffed. "What''s there to like about scales? I''d have ripped out vocal cords if I had managed to move past my half step¡ª" She sighed for a moment and turned back to her tea preparation. Like all old people, there was always one thing that they couldn''t stop talking about¡ªan old love that they''ve lost, money that was owed to them, bemoaning about their graves or ranting off to their kids, but it was different with her great-grandmother. Bo Lanfen had walked down the path of cultivation and hadn''t been able to continue it¡ªshe had done it for her family''s sake but that was the old woman''s regrets. .. . [ You Have Gained 100 Charm Points ] The sudden notification made Yang Li stop for a moment. The number was incomparable to the ''sponsor'' he received from the Heavens earlier, but it was still a good amount. "This couldn''t be from Miss He at all." The CEO at least knew when he had done something worth some Charm Points, but the situation was far from it. And so it only left one woman. "...Was I able to charm, Granny Lanfen?" He asked himself. He leaned back his chair and considered it as the only possible option¡ªher great-granddaughter didn''t seem like the person to change her thoughts. [ No. 100 Charm Points Gained From Individual ''Bo Lifen'' ] [ Total Charm Points: 1145 Charm Points ] Yang Li stared at it for a moment and then coughed, watching another black fume escape his lips before he finally sighed. "That''s 3,855 Charm Points left¡­" A thought offered itself to him, or something close enough to a real delusion. He could imagine it, the little devil Panda was pointing at the double-doors and yapping, ''Start Seducing Your Secretary For Charm Points'' It was one way for him to accumulate points and purchase the ''Roots Unlockment'' although with the way that previously gained points¡­ "10 Points per hour¡­ multiply that by three hours, seven days¡ªno, I won''t make enough, and I can''t stay holed here in my office." Yang Li paused. He could actually do something like that if the [ Six Evil Qi ] truly had disastrous effects for him. And yet, that was letting himself be dictated by his circumstances, and Yang Li wouldn''t stand for it. He summoned the Shop Function and checked out the available items. It was a little annoying that he was checking this feature now, but there might be something that could help with his situation. [ Charm Shop Level 1 Is Available ] [ Charm Points Can Be Used As Currency ] Attraction Charm (Consumable) 100 CP Divine Energizer Drink (Consumable) 250 CP Dao of Attraction 500 CP Harem Cultivation Scripture 1000 CP Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - II 3750 CP Mystery Box 500 CP Roots Unlockment 5000 CP Bloodline Awakening 10000 CP Constitution Refinement 500 CP Cultivation Method Upgrade 200 CP Only one of them had actually changed and that was because he previously bought the ''Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation'' this morning. Out of all the items available and with his limited Charm Points amounting to one thousand and one hundred forty-five points¡ªthere were only seven items that he could buy, only five of them that were useful and based on his judgment, three that could help his cultivation and perhaps one thing that might help his current situation. Perhaps the riskiest of them all was the ''Mystery Box'' and he was flat-out opposed to it. He would end up wasting points and could possibly end up with nothing. He could perhaps purchase the Harem Cultivation Scripture and start studying it in hopes of finding useful information¡ªbut it did not change the fact that his body didn''t have a spiritual root. The lack of it was his weakness. The ''Dao of Attraction'' paired with the ''Mystery Box'' could work¡­ if the ''Way of Attraction'' was a hundred percent or even ninety-nine percent effective, and so the ''Mystery Box'' would give him what he truly wanted. He sincerely doubted his chances with it. Needless to say, it wasn''t even fair to say that using the ''Mystery Box'' solely was the riskiest¡ªall of them were troublesome endeavors that he wished he could do without them. And so it left him with one thing that might possibly help him with his desire to solve the root problem of his situation. [ Attraction Charm ] One-time use of magical treasure. It is a charm provided by the LoveStellar Organization (LSO). When used on a specific Target, they will inexplicably feel drawn to you for a ten-minute duration. When used as an area of effect (AoE) charm, mortals within thirty feet of Host will flock to one''s position. "...A chance to rack up charm points for an investment of 100 Charm Points?" He rubbed his face. It was the exact same thing as seducing his secretary wasn''t it, except with a decent multiplier of some sort? Or if not her, then the other female employees in his company. The man tapped his finger on his table. Would he start using this ''Attraction Charm'' to alleviate his own suffering at the expense of others? He said it aloud, "Expense of others?" Yang Li remembered his date with Ying Hue He from last night, and it didn''t seem like she was placed in harm''s way because he asked her out. The tension had been there, and they were both awkward last night¡­ but, it wasn''t bad? "Business ethics." He muttered to himself and closed his eyes. Is ''charming'' someone actually a bad thing¡­ Most relationships happen because both parties desire something from one another, in the first place. He finally folded his hands together to contemplate it fully¡ªat least for ten minutes before he started on his tasks. A rap at his office door intruded him from it. Chapter 24: The CEO Said It Right In Her Face Ying Yue He checked her boss'' schedule to see if there had been any specific tasks or meetings that Li Yang needed to attend. The woman was actually trying to check which was the most appropriate time to return the man''s suit coat, especially when the man didn''t seem all too interested in coffee right now. She chewed on her bottom lip as she realized that thankfully, most of his morning schedule didn''t have any meetings¡ªwhat kind of horrible thing would have happened if the CEO failed to show up? In a couple of days, an Investor Board''s Meeting would occur and that was a crucial time. She had already placed it in his schedule as an important task and an urgent one¡ªbut there was something more urgent. There was something in his afternoon schedule. "A meeting with the Director of Wang Corporation?" She frowned for a moment and raised her brow. If her memory served her correctly, "That''s a subsidiary company¡­ why not talk directly with the mother company?" Ying Yue He was not an expert in networking with other companies, but she found it slightly offensive that they were making a subsidiary connect with them instead of the parent one. They should at least pay more respect. She took note of another thing and pouted, "The meeting isn''t here? All meetings are supposed to take place here...oh, they want to meet in that fancy tea shop." Ying Yue He had to admit that at least the subsidiary knew how to make a good impression. "Nuo did say booking an appointment there is extremely difficult. At least they''re giving us some face by having it there." She sighed in relief and smiled. "Mister Li probably already¡ª" A sudden thought went through her mind. "The reason why he didn''t'' want to have coffee is¡­ this?" Ying Yue He slapped a hand over her face and fought back the urge to laugh at herself. She was too butt-hurt about it, but now it made sense. Someone like him probably didn''t want to get those two drinks mixed or something, that kind of reasoning made sense for such a meticulous and even fastidious man like him. She looked at the schedule and pursed her lips, "Maybe I can remind him in person and return the suit coat at the same time?" That made sense. It was the perfect situation and it was a quick thing¡ªhe wouldn''t mind, would he? Ying Yue He pulled up to her feet and gingerly picked up the man''s suit coat. Her memory of him lending it to her made her cheeks flush for a bit. The man hadn''t brought her home but simply letting him borrow it showed his thoughtfulness and¡­ Ying Yue He needed to stop stalling herself from knocking at the man''s office. It was right behind her. She knocked on the door and waited for a moment before slightly opening the door. "Mister Li, I wanted to remind you about a meeting¡­" "A meeting?" He asked. Ying Yue He took it as the opportunity to step inside and inclined her head, "Yes, it''s a meeting with Director Wang Haoran, 3pm at the Heavenly Jade Pavilion." The man didn''t say anything yet and she took it as a chance to continue and step closer to the CEO at the table, "And uh, I wanted to return your suit coat¡­ from last night?" The secretary wanted to hit her against a wall¡ªher cheeks felt hot. She probably didn''t need to put emphasis on the last bit, but she still wanted to see how he would react to it. Did he take her out for coffee on a whim? Did he call it a date but didn''t want to bring it up anymore¡­? Ying Yue He had even checked tickets for an available zoo last night. She held herself back from mentioning that. She didn''t need to bring that up at all. Ying Yue He would keep it professional. Business-y. "Ah, thank you." Li Yang stood up from his seat and approached her. "I hope you''ve been able to go back to your home safe and sound¡ªit had rained last night." Even though it was him mentioning the weather, she couldn''t help but blush as the man got closer to retrieve his suit coat. "Ah, yes. I managed to get home on time." That was a complete lie, she had gotten drenched by the rain while keeping his suit coat completely dry but it was worth it. She handed it to him and the man didn''t exactly step back immediately. ...That was a good sign, wasn''t it? A sign of interest? Ying Yue He looked up slightly to see his face properly. And he did look concerned about it. The usually stone-cold expression had shifted and there was even a small sigh of relief. "I see, that''s good." He nodded, "If you had gotten wet, I would have much-preferred driving you back to your place than that." "O-Oh, it''s fine. I was able to get back without the rain¡ª" Ying Yue He sneezed and quickly covered her mouth and nose. Her boss didn''t say a thing, but her body betrayed her at this moment didn''t she? She cleared her throat and flashed a sheepish smile, "A-ah, but my immune system is still a bit weak. It''s really quite chilly, isn''t it Mister Li?" "Would you like to head to the clinic?" He asked. Ying Yue He appreciated his concern¡ªalthough it might have been a natural thing to say¡ªbut shook her head instead, "It''s just a little sniffle, Mister Li. Although, uh, I''ll probably get a surgical mask so I don''t spread the virus in the air." She probably didn''t need to say this to him, did she? "...If you''re going to get yourself one, Miss He. Would you get one for me as well?" Her boss took out his phone for a moment and seemed to have searched for something when he looked back at her. "I believe our office clinic might have an FDA approved surgical N95 respirator? It''s much safer. You can get one for yourself too than a face mask." "O-Of course, Mister Li. I''ll be right back." She flashed him a smile and started to walk out of his office. Ying Yue He''s smile was frozen on her face as she shut the door behind her. She always got that the man was meticulous and conscientious. It kind of fit since he was a CEO. But was he always that fussy and painstaking health-conscious? She had just sneezed once and now he wanted a respirator? It was like saying he wanted her out of the room immediately! Ying Yue He clutched her chest and frowned. She couldn''t have been that revolting and disgusting when she sneezed, right?! Chapter 25: Making The Connections Yang Li plopped back down on his chair and rubbed his face. He was glad that it somehow went well enough with his talk with Ying Yue He¡ªhe even found a temporary solution for the problem he was experiencing. The respirator should ought to do enough work. Hopefully. Not to mention the amount of charm points he gained? [ You Have Gained 5 Charisma Points ] [ Total Charisma Points: 1150 Charm Points ] It was minuscule compared to the one he earned during their date last night, but he was willing to grab it if it added to his total number of points. "Still, a meeting with Director Wang?" He wasn''t sure if exposing himself too much would be any good¡ªeven walking through the parking lot left him into a coughing mess, but there was no ifs. He was attending the meeting at 3pm. And he just had to prepare himself. If he had been any more suspicious of events, he would assume that having the meeting at Heavenly Jade Pavilion was a tad concerning, but it was all coincidence. Nothing more and nothing less. The meeting had already been made prior to this incident, and it just happened that he met up with the owner. At least he was meeting with a man and not a woman. He still hadn''t exactly discovered what were the prerequisites to receiving a mission¡ªbut that wasn''t his concern now. Yang Li sighed before pouring his attention back to work. . . . The hours went on and Ying Yue He had somewhat gotten over the incident last morning¡ªshe was wearing a surgical mask now, and she gave the man his respirator from earlier. Honestly, she wasn''t that upset over him as she was embarrassed that she sneezed right in front of him¡­ what if she''d made a weird face back then? She was thinking too hard about this, wasn''t she? "Ah, good afternoon, Miss?" A sudden voice caught her attention and made her look up in surprise. It was a young gentleman, a little younger than her but he was dressed to the nines. "Ah, yes, what can I do for you...Mister?" How did this guy get up here? She had been so immersed in her thoughts that she didn''t notice his presence? This was embarrassing. "Ah, I''m Wang Liquin." The young man flashed her a smile. "I''m the grandson of Director Wang, due to certain circumstances¡ªI''ll be his proxy for this meeting. I decided to come here and pick up CEO Li?" Though he seemed a little younger than her, she couldn''t help but notice that he was attractive. It was perhaps due to growing up from a good and wealthy family. At least that was what she always assumed. Ying Yue He pursed her lips, checked the time and then nodded, "I...I see." She motioned to one of the available couches, "Please have a seat, Mister Wang, I''ll inform CEO Li about this." They hadn''t opted to cancel the meeting instead? It must be some kind of emergency if the Director wasn''t able to come. Although the meeting was at 3pm and they came at 1pm. She would shake this off, it was once again another opportunity to talk to her boss after all. But it was a business matter. And so after a quick knock, she went inside the office once again and came across him busy. The man was currently immersed in his work. His suit coat was currently laid on the back of his chair as he worked on his laptop¡­ she almost didn''t want to disturb him. "Ah, Mister Li?" "Hmm?" He looked up for a moment. With the respirator on his face, all she could see was his eyes¡ªwhich were gorgeous, but she''d much prefer to see his entire face. But that was once again, another thing she was supposed to keep to herself. "Director Wang won''t make it today¡ª" "Ah, that''s good." Ying Yue He blinked at the man''s words, but didn''t question it. Even someone like them might dread attending meetings but she continued, "However, his grandson, Mister Wang Liquin shall be taking over at 3pm?" She didn''t want to be the bearer of bad news but this was also her job. "He''s actually right now here though." Would they be waiting for two hours until their scheduled time? It might have been fine to send an email regarding this instead of sending their grandson, actually. "O-oh, I see." Yang Li coughed. "Well, perhaps you can invite them in now. If they''d like, I can adjust my schedule and have a meeting right now." "I''ll let them know right away, Mister Li." "Thank you." = = = Wang Liquin didn''t want to be here at all, but he didn''t have much of a choice, did he? He had to skip his own schedule, but it didn''t matter as long as they didn''t push around his grandfather and their family''s company too much¡ªsomehow, the hold of the Liu Conglomerate was still terrible. It didn''t help at all that they were the subsidiary, he still couldn''t understand why they hadn''t been able to break free from them, but they were still here weren''t they? The young man was currently googling the CEO he was about to meet to double-check if there was anything he could use to make their meeting more pleasant. Any specific hobbies, mutual friends or things that they could start with. But¡­ there really wasn''t anything. No public or private social media account at all. Which was weird in this time and age, even Wang Liquin had an account¡ªa deactivated one, but he still made one. How old was this CEO even supposed to be? He sighed inwardly. He wasn''t really looking forward to meeting with them, but he would. He couldn''t tell what was on the mind of the Liu Conglomerate...wait, actually he had an idea. The bastard probably wanted to acquire this corporation too. But the Olympian Corporation was actually quite big in comparison to his family''s own. He didn''t bother searching for the exact numbers. Instead he switched to his Spotify app and plugged in his earbuds. The melodious voice of the singers calmed his nerves. There was nothing like blasting Bai Minghua and Sun Aoyun''s latest collab. There was going to be a live concert in this city for Bai Minghua soon if he could remember? Chapter 26: Old Ties The office of the Chief Executive Officer was a minimalist kind of room that held nothing of extreme extravagance. It contained everything that a man like him needed to accomplish his role, along with other furniture to relax in and a few decorations to liven up the place. It was more than enough to host one-on-one talks with clients, business partners and colleagues and thankfully, the representative of the Wang Corporation agreed to hold the meeting here instead of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion. Li Yang was aware that Granny Lanfen''s great-granddaughter was on a break, the chances of meeting her again was slim, but his hesitance wasn''t because of that. It was mostly because he wished to avoid going out and exposing himself towards his surroundings that he wished to stay under the safety of his office. It didn''t take too long for the grandson of Director Wang to come in, his secretary was prompt and quick to explain the situation. The CEO mentally prepared himself for this interaction from the moment they stepped in. Other tasks and duties were placed in the background as he exchanged a few words with the proxy. "Thank you for having me at a short notice." The young man bowed to him. Li Yang nodded, "It''s not a problem, it''s unfortunate that Director Wang is unable to come here, but it''s also good to meet a future business colleague." He assessed the young man quietly. This one was the old man''s grandson? They seemed like a good kid. He hoped that this conversation would take less than half an hour though. "Ah, yes." A polite smile formed on Wang Liquin''s face. "...I might be one of the possible people who''ll take over my grandfather if things go well. He might have asked me to come here as a sign that I should prepare to take up the reins, huh?" "Possibly," Li Yang nodded and motioned for the chair in front of his desk, "Please have a seat, Mister Wang. Would you like some refreshments?" The young man was much more talkative than he expected. "I''m fine¡­ maybe a cup of water? I''m feeling a bit parched." Once again, another smile formed on the guy''s face. Other than that, there was no other indicator of any other significant body language to reveal other emotions privy to what they were showing Li Yang. They managed to project a certain amount of confidence. However they''ve smiled enough times that Li Yang realized that perhaps smiling too much wouldn''t exactly be taken that well. At least when one kept doing it in front of him, "Alright, if you have any more requests, please let me know." The CEO clicked his call button available on his desk and asked for the man''s water, although¡ª "Would you like iced water or just lukewarm?" "...Uh, cold water is fine." "Alright." Once he was finished with the order, he glanced at the young man once again. The grandson of Wang Haoran didn''t have anything on him, no suitcase or even a folder for them to carry any documents. It was odd. "I believe you''ve come here to discuss a business agreement between our companies?" Normally he wouldn''t consider it, but the old personal ties between the Wang and Li Family was enough to bypass other rudiments. "Yes. I''ve sent the document to you over the email." Wang Liquin said and motioned to his laptop, "One of my suggestions for gra¡ªDirector was to go digital. It''s much easier to edit the document and to sign it virtually, it''ll lessen the paper expenditures while also helping the environment if properly implemented by a certain percentage." "Ah, I see." Li Yang turned back to his laptop, and checked his email. He found the document and gave it a brief read, "Then we''ll be looking over the contract for any amendments?" Wang Liquin nodded, "I can edit it for you, if you wish. If you''re not too used to it." It made him blink and glance at the man once again. Did they assume he was too old for this kind of online transactions? Li Yang shook his head, "It''s fine. I can manage." . . . Somehow, things managed to work out for the best. The man wasn''t too difficult to converse with and they also happened to be straight to the point¡ªLi Yang''s initial slightly unfavorable impression on the young man diminished as their conversation drew to an end. Although his initial desire of it finishing it under thirty minutes wasn''t accomplished, they were still able to thoroughly check the contract. And yet it was one of those moments where he wanted to get home soon. = = = The city was hustling and bustling as usual, numerous cars and buses passed through the roads in Lujiazui District, also known as the Financial District in Pudong. The roads were riddled with a certain measure of traffic despite the blazing afternoon. Several crowds of people were moving along despite the heat, both young and old as they went about their own agendas and itineraries. There were numerous skyscrapers, from the towering Shanghai World Financial Centre, Jin Mao Tower and even the Olympian Corp''s Headquarters. But all of them were mere backdrops to a certain woman and her little girl. "Mom, I want a teddy bear," A young girl frowned at her mother. She was no older than five, a cute child wearing her pants and shirt. She was carrying a small backpack and she was refusing to move from her spot until the woman listened to her demands. The mother did not know where that trait came from. Somehow, the woman''s child hadn''t stopped since last night about wanting a teddy bear¡ªand the little girl was very specific. She wanted it to be a talking and walking teddy bear that was black and white. Luo Ju Di inwardly sighed and patted her daughter''s head, "Chunhua, I think you''re talking about a panda? But let''s see what mama can do in a bit, okay?" She managed a smile. At least the young girl was having fun with their daydreaming. The woman clutched her little girl''s hand and looked around the area with a frown. It had been around six years ago when she last went to the city, hoping for a better life but¡ªshe shook her head. There was no time to reminisce or think about the past. What mattered to the woman now was finding her child''s father. And once she did¡­ Chapter 27: Threaded Fate [ Six Evil Qi Is Always Present ] The day reached its end and along with it was his responsibilities as the CEO of the company, the man fixed his respirator over his face and sighed inwardly. He had done his own snooping around the internet and came upon information about it in articles regarding TCM. "Wind. Cold. Heat. Damp. Dryness. Fire." He recited it to himself silently and then glanced at the blue screen. [ The Six Evil Qi: Wood. Water. Fire. Earth. Metal. ] "Those are just five¡­ and basically states the classical elements." What had it been called? A quick search showed him that it was referred to as the ''Wuxing Philosophy''. He wondered if there was a bug of some sort? But heat could have been just a mild form of fire. Regardless, now that his work was done, it was finally time for him to go back home. And yet there was still another thing bugging him. ''Do I not have any quests?'' [ Accomplishing The First Quest Before End Of Time Limit Has Given ''Host'' Interlude Before Next Quest ] It made him blink. He didn''t realize that it would equate to that. ''Huh, that''s actually¡­ nice. Essentially the lead time was shorter than what was expected and I got a break for the remainder of the hours meant for the first quest completion?'' [ ''Host'' Is Correct ] A short amount of reprieve was acceptable, but it also brought another thing to question, ''Did I not receive ''Bo Lifen'' as a Target because of this reprieve''? If the reason why he didn''t get the woman as a target was this, then he had dodged a bullet back then. He really wouldn''t have liked the idea of winning her over. That also hopefully meant that if he didn''t see her again, then no quest regarding her would appear. Although that was probably a pitiful wish. [ ''Host'' Is Partially Correct ] His brows furrowed, "Partially?" [ System Assesses All Females And Checks Their Suitability For The Harem. Assessment of Individual ''Bo Lifen''¡ª ] "Wait, there''s some specific criteria?" He had to cut this System from doing that. [ If There Was No Criteria, ''Host'' Would Have To Seduce Every Woman ] Alright. That made some sense to him, and at the same time it didn''t. It was impossible to seduce every woman on the planet obviously. Even the idea of seducing every female employee in his company was daunting. But he also still needed to know one thing. ''What''s the criteria?'' [ The ''Host''s'' Harem Must Only Contain Beauties, Abundant Levels of Qi For Cultivation, And¡ªInformation Not Yet Fully Accessible ] He rubbed his face, the man should have expected something like this, but it was still a tad annoying. Features and Information was still withheld from him? Perhaps that Panda might have been able to give them more? It seemed to hold at least a certain amount of knowledge and the creature sometimes let certain things slip. He''d have to ask it once he returned back home. And yet the creature''s revelation was stuck in his mind. Entertain the Heavens. The idea still made him sick. All of the nonsense he was going through was practically for naught but cheap entertainment. Would it have been better if he didn''t know? Shaking his head, the man once again checked his status on a whim¡ªhis own physical state was still horrible. [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: None ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 1000 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak to Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (0/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (1/9) [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] None The only thing that probably provided a hindrance from him enjoying his short amount of freedom was the lack of ''Roots''. The respirator was a band aid solution, he still needed to acquire the ''Roots Unlockment'' Item even without the next quest coming up. His own comprehension of the cultivation method was non-existent as well despite him acquiring the first level of qi condensation. There really was no time for him to relax, didn''t he? Li Yang picked up the suit coat that he lent to his secretary along with his suitcase and made his way out of the office. His secretary was still there, and as usual, she was changing from her pumps to her sneakers. Ying Yue He was still wearing the surgical mask over her face, until she looked up to see him, "Ah, good afternoon, Mister Li." He couldn''t even see her smile. But her voice did sound like she was happy along with the way her eyes crinkled up slightly. He inclined his head, "Will you be alright this time, Miss He?" She tilted his head slightly, "What do you mean?" "You''re going home with a mask¡ªisn''t that uncomfortable?" He motioned to her face. "Ah, but you''re wearing a respirator, Mister Li." From the way she said it, there was probably a small smirk on her face. She was amused. "Indeed, but I''ll also be driving my own car while you commute, and it might get too stuffy for you." The case of cognitive dissonance was at work right now, but he would go along with it without any question. He didn''t want to take advantage of the chance that he might get charm points, but he could also consider that this was only appropriate. He still believed that he should have at least done more last night, "I can take you to your home if you like." "A-Ah, you don''t have to do it, Mister Li." "I''d like to." [ 5 Charm Points ] "Oh," She paused before standing up. She grabbed her backpack and slung it across her shoulders, "Well, if you insist¡­ and if it won''t be troublesome?" She glanced around the place. She was nervous about this. He shook his head, "Not at all, I don''t mind, Miss He." [ 5 Charm Points ] Compared to last night, it truly was minimal gains now. But it wasn''t about the points, right? He was simply trying to be more decent. Although if anyone did see them, then it would also be controversial¡ªThe man didn''t need to overthink this too much, he only needed to do it. "Shall we go now?" = = = "You should bring him some tea." Bo Lanfen suddenly told her great-granddaughter, the older woman had stepped into the living room to see the two siblings spending some time together. Bo Lifen looked up from a board game with her brother, "What?" She furrowed her brows at the older woman, "What do I need to do that for?" "He''s come home after a long and tiring day of work, couldn''t he use some tea?" The old woman shrugged. "The Black-Ocean Pearl tea did wonders for my energy, hah, he could use some of that." "I''m not some wife welcoming her husband after he gets back home from work." Bo Lifen snorted. "I''ll take this as some joke, you can''t possibly expect me to give him that rare tea¡ª" "I''m completely serious. He needs it." "Then why don''t you let Lei do it." She looked at her younger brother. Lei glanced at their great-grandmother, "Mhmm. I can do it." Their grandmother rolled her eyes, "That''s all well and good but what''s wrong with you doing it then, Lifen? Are you avoiding him?" Bo Lifen pursed her lips, and balled her fists, "Fine! I''ll do it, but I''ll bring him regular tea." "Ai, ai¡ªI really can''t believe that you haven''t noticed." Granny Lanfen shook her head. "Notice what?" "Did you see it, Lei? You''ve been learning a bit in the Shou Temple Sect, haven''t you?" The older woman glanced at the younger boy and sighed. "Or am I the only one bothering? The lessons nowadays must have diminished if neither of you can''t tell. Anyway, just prepare the man some Black-Ocean Pearl tea, he wouldn''t notice a thing, won''t he, Lifen? The man''s not going to sprout wings when he drinks it, he''d only feel rejuvenated." = = = The Financial District was a place where many types of vehicles could be seen, from modest ones to even luxurious brands. But the iconic Bentley Mulsanne still made quite a striking entrance as the sleek sedan stopped outside of the Heavenly Jade Pavillion. A young gentleman stepped out of the vehicle and strode inside, no longer waiting for their assistant to open the door. The few young women assigned to greet their guests were quick to greet the familiar figure, having seen him countless times, this person was one of their most favored clients."Welcome back Sir Liu!" A small smile twitched on the man''s lips, "Is Miss Bo around?" "Oh, she''s currently on her vacation." One of the women explained. A sheepish smile crossed on her face as she explained it. "Ah, pity." He frowned slightly. He needed to discuss something with her, but he''d postpone it then. "Will you still be having some tea, Sir?" The other then asked. He shook his head, "Not quite, but I heard that a certain Director Wang and CEO Li was supposed to hold a private meeting today in one of your rooms?" The two young women exchanged some looks. "I was supposed to meet with them," He sighed and clasped his hands together. "But I''m afraid I must have missed it. I wasn''t quite sure of the appointed time?" He only needed to wait for a second. One of them answered in a heartbeat. "O-oh! But they didn''t come here today, Sir Liu¡ªah, that is, no one came for the room right?" One of them turned to the other girl for confirmation. "Did it get cancelled? I think a gentleman called Wang Liqu¡ª" The smarter one of them coughed slightly, "I''m not so sure if this information is to be freely shared, my apologies, Sir Liu." "That''s completely fine." Liu Guiren assured them with a smile. He already got the information that he needed. Chapter 28: Visiting an Immortal Chef? A humble sedan drove through the city of Shanghai and was currently guided by the GPS that a certain woman inputted for the driver. Li Yang offered to take the secretary home and though she initially declined, Ying Yue He accepted in the end. She glanced at the man driving silently and wondered what was on his mind, but made no effort to talk to him. At least not until they were close to her apartment''s street and then she''d ask him to turn on the opposite street. The woman had a plan on her mind. Well, a chance for her to repay the man if he wanted to¡ªbut it would still prevent him from actually seeing her apartment. She couldn''t be too cautious about it. Only a little bit more. Ying Yue He pulled down her surgical mask and finger-brushed back some of her hair behind an ear. She could do this! . . . [ To Entertain The Celestial Heavens! ] It was the purpose given to him and although it was something that made him less of a free man and more into some kind of bound entertainer¡ªif he was able to actually entertain them, there were benefits he could receive. He had received 1000 Charm Points for dealing with Bo Lifen. If possible, he might be able to rack up more points by staying with Ying Yue He. It still made him uncomfortable though. He needed to switch his mindset. If the Celestial Heavens wanted to be entertained¡ªthen they needed to pay for it. It was a business deal in a way and though he might have gotten the short end of the stick now, it didn''t mean that he''d always be the Party B in the contract. When the times improved, there was a possibility that he could dictate the terms. A chance for him to end the contract or rework it into his favor. The man would hold onto that chance or else he''d get stuck on the fact that he was in an unfavorable position. He was in an unfavorable position. ...and he needed to stop on focusing on that. For now, he would abide by the terms in the agreement, but once he sees a loophole¡ªhe''d capitalize on it again. He had already done it with some initial success, he glanced at Ying Yue He as proof. He had managed to not add her to the harem and that might have been just a fluke or something he tried to see if it was possible, but if it happened once then it could happen again. He didn''t need someone like her getting entangled into the mess that he found himself in. But then again, here he was, hoping to earn some points by being beside her. It was a horrible spot to be in but he''d push through it. He had to do it¡ª "Oh, um, Mister Li? Can you turn towards that street." Ying Yue He tapped his arm and gestured to the street the complete opposite of what she had inputted in. He blinked at the sudden gesture and raised a brow, "Did you get the address wrong?" He still listened to what she asked nonetheless. "No, uh¡­ there''s a home diner there, and I was hoping to grab a quick bite there." She gave him a sheepish smile. "I''m hungry, and I can walk back home easily after this¡­ would you like to join me? I''ll pay for it this time for the coffee last night." He carefully checked the surroundings of the street¡ªit wasn''t as polluted as the center of the city, so it might be fine. He glanced at her, "Alright, but you don''t have to pay for me." "I want to!" She pouted. He bit back a resigned sigh and smiled instead, "If you say so." [ You Gained 5 Charm Points ] On some occasions, he could guess when something he would do or say would allow him to gain more points¡ªbut this was one of the times that made him think a little for a second until it dawned on him. She wanted to be more independent and reliant on her own. Although that one time he tried to be a little more humorous, he instead received a deduction. That still confused him. "Great, we''re here." She pointed to one small house that looked like it was converted into a small restaurant for the neighborhood. She smiled at him, "You''ll love the food here, it''s nothing fancy but it''s good." "I''ll trust your tastes then." [ You Gained 5 Charm Points ] ...He needed to keep complimenting her, didn''t he? He could keep doing that, praising her for every little thing, but that was too much. If he did that too often, then its value would diminish over time. Somehow, pleasing Ying Yue He took more effort than his conversation with Bo Lifen¡ªhe earned 100 Points from the woman. It was given late, but he only spent less than an hour with them. Each person was truly different. Once he was parked, he braced himself to step out¡ªstill not exactly positive with the mask''s ability and the surroundings safety but he carefully went out and prepared himself for the worst. But instead of experiencing the same negative experience in the parking lot, a wave of energy enveloped him for one moment. It washed over him like waters, and extended past him but then waned¡ªand its source was obvious. [ Beneficial Qi Is High Within The Area ] The notification only confirmed what he could already sense. The energy was a little different from what he sensed during his shower in the water but essentially, it was the same. Qi. He heard the car door close behind him as Ying Yue He walked towards him, "Are you alright, Mister Li?" She stepped beside him, her hands holding the straps of her backpack tightly. She seemed to do that whenever she was nervous. He furrowed his brow and shook his head, "I''m fine¡­ shall we get going?" He glanced one more time at the small restaurant and narrowed his eyes at the sign: ''Mou''s Family Diner'' There was one suspicion in his mind and he had read about it before in his recent research. He kind of forgot the exact term, but he had read about the types of cultivators available. ''Is this a place for some kind of¡­ Immortal Chef? Cultivation Chef?'' He took one glance at Ying Yue He before she opened the door. She didn''t seem to know a thing, did she? Chapter 29: Qi Deviation The moment that Li Yang stepped into the diner, he experienced something he couldn''t explain. ''Pleasantly surprised'' was an understatement¡ªthe situation confused him and baffled him. There had been a time when he was much younger that he chanced upon web novels. And his expectations of an immortal chef were far from the one that he would soon encounter. His secretary, Ying Yue He was quick to find them a place in the somewhat cramped diner and he soon followed. In this small diner that had little room, he had to sit beside her this time. And it was there and then that he heard someone speak up, "Woah, Ying Yue, who''s this guy you''ve brought? He doesn''t look like the type who''d come here. Welcome to Mou''s Family Diner." "Um, he''s my boss. Mister Li." The woman beside him coughed slightly and motioned to him with an awkward smile. With a warm glow of red across her cheek and nose, it tinged her usually fair skin. She looked at him and then motioned to the man standing in front of them. The man had bright pink hair and green eyes, a look that didn''t match his idea of even a cook alone. The man gave him a wave and a grin, "The name''s Mou Gu, friends call me Gu and you can call me that¡ª" "Hey, stop making him uncomfortable." Ying Yue He spoke up with a pout. Mou Gu''s brows knitted together. "I was being friendly¡ªyou don''t have to be so jealous, Ying." He chuckled and gave each of them a menu, a laminated paper that contained all the possible meals to serve. He held it in his hands, but he was a tad too distracted. The CEO stared at the man far more than he ought to, and it was only for one reason only. Energy that he had initially thought came from the restaurant and the food that was being served came from this guy alone. Or at least the source arrived from him. Were they actively using their qi or was it that abundant that they did not need to restrain it? Li Yang didn''t quite know what the situation was. And he didn''t think that it associated with the System and the Celestial Heavens either¡ªhe still had his interlude time and there was one more thing. He didn''t think that ''Harem Cultivation'' meant men. At least he hoped not. Mou Gu tilted his head and gave him a grin, "You can take a picture if you like." "..." Li Yang kept his silence for a second before he shook his head. "There''s no need." Ying Yue He chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and sent a glare the cook''s way. She had planned for the chance to eat a simple meal together with her boss, but this two-swinging cook just had to come right here and make the man uncomfortable. He was ruining her chance! She pouted and waved a hand, "I think I''m ready to order now, Mou Gu." Mou Gu glanced away from her boss and turned to her. He had already taken out a notepad from behind him with a pen. "What will it be, Ying? Will you be having the regular?" Would she pig out now and look at her boss, or did she have to eat less than usual? The secretary gulped, "... yes." If the man didn''t happen to cook well, she wouldn''t have really considered this at all. She glanced back at Li Yang and tried to keep her tone lighter, "What about you, Mister Li?" Mou Gu rolled his eyes at her. But at least he kept his mouth shut and waited for the man to make his order. "I''ll have the Yellow Croaker Noodle Soup then." He handed the menu back to Mou Gu. Ying Yue He stared at her boss for a good minute. That was all he was going to eat?! "Well, I''ll be back in so or so." Mou Gu smiled and moved away from them. "Enjoy your date~" She fought back the warmth in her cheeks. She glanced at her boss. "Uh, sorry about that. He''s just enthusiastic¡­" Li Yang shook his head. "It''s fine, there''s nothing to worry about¡ªsomehow, this seems like a date to me." . . . The moment that Mou Gu stepped back into the kitchen and shut the door, the smile fell off from his face. His brows furrowed together as he tried to make meaning to what he had seen just now¡ª "He''s like a sponge, he''s absorbing everything¡­ is he even aware of it? If he was, then he should be refining, but he''s not. That''s not normal. He''s even got the pestilence qi from the city swirling around a bit." He prepared Ying Yue He''s order first, but he still couldn''t erase the incident from his mind. Qi Condensation Stage was the time when one absorbed the qi from the earth and refined it in their body, but as far as his spiritual sense could tell from seeing them, none of the refining was happening at all. "If he keeps this up, there''s only one path I''m seeing¡ªQi Deviation and that''s when shit really hits the fan." The man clicked their tongue as they checked on the braised pork, the crab and finally checked the croaker fish as well. He scratched the back of his head and fought back a chuckle, "Some big shot boss with the capacity to absorb qi far more than a normal person? Shen''s head is going to explode once he hears about this. Maybe I''ll keep this for myself..." He sighed and heated the fish noodle soup. There really was a need to intervene right now, though. If some other group could find the man, they might take advantage of his situation for being completely clueless about his state. Did he have anything with him right now though to help them? "Got no pills right now¡­ elixir?" He rubbed his face, "Getting Body Tempering Elixir might be too much for them even if I visit the apartment and check if Jing''s there. Anyhow, I can''t just offer it up and expect them to drink some weird thing." But even without calling his superiors, he knew what he needed to do. Chapter 30: A Strip Of Paper [ 5 Charm Points Gained ] "A-ah, I''ll consider this as a date then, Mister Li?" A small smile curled on his secretary''s face. He chuckled, "You did say that it was to make up for the coffee last night¡ªand if that was a date, then this one is a date as well." "Right." She scratched her cheek. There was something bittersweet about quantifying one''s interaction with another person¡ªbut Li Yang went along with it. In its own way, this was something that affirmed his capacity to make a good impression with other people and as much as he preferred to not be under the spotlight, he understood the value. It was the primary reason why the PR Executive existed in his opinion. Although now wasn''t the time to be thinking about work. Ying Yue He fidgeted beside him and it wasn''t that difficult to notice along with other things¡ªhe could pick up a faint scent of something sweet and cool at the same time. And perhaps it was appropriate to compliment that, or perhap it wasn''t? Somehow, his inability to enjoy or make light talk was still a slight deterrent for him from speaking up, instead he opted for something else. "It seems like you''re quite a regular here." "Oh, well, whenever this place is open¡ªI take the chance to eat here." Ying Yue He brushed some of her hair behind an ear. "The owner, or at least the current one who takes care of their family business¡ªMou Gu has another job besides owning this diner, so it opens somewhat infrequently." "That doesn''t really seem like a good way for a business to operate." Li Yang pointed out with a slight frown. Ying Yue He offered him a shrug for an answer, "Perhaps his other job pays better? I can see him doing this just to keep his parents pleased for taking care of this, although I haven''t actually talked with him that much, Mister Li." But that also begged for the question¡ª''What other job would someone like him do?'' And some answers came to mind: a bodyguard, a hitman or perhaps some kind of cultivator for hire? Living out two kinds of careers, a dual kind of lifestyle. The man could respect that to some extent, but perhaps he was also hoping that this guy would actually turn out to be some kind of Immortal or Cultivator Chef. It might mean that there might be some simple-looking meals that actually turned out to be special, a simple egg-rice dish might contain eggs from a Divine Phoenix, rice gathered from some Heavenly Rice¡­ Li Yang might have been more of a ''eat to live'' kind of person, but it didn''t stop him from appreciating good food if possible. And if they truly were some kind of Gourmet with how they prepared and served it¡ªthen based on the earlier prices stated on the menu, it might actually be worth it. Although that may have been wishful thinking on his part. Soon enough, the door to the kitchen opened and the man walked out with a tray of their food. An aromatic scent filled the CEO''s senses and he wondered if the Yellow Croaker Noodle Soup he had ordered would come from some special type of croaker variety¡ª But first he raised a brow slightly at all the food that was being placed in front of Ying Yue He. She had a big bowl of rice along with a platter of braised pork, crab soup, six pieces of dumplings and then even some fried dough sticks. Ying Yue He caught his look and flashed him a sheepish grin, "...We can share, Mister Li?" He picked up his chopsticks and shook his head, "There''s no need, Miss He. Please enjoy your meal." "This might be too much for me¡­?" A harried cough escaped from Mou Gu. The man might have muttered something underneath his breath that sounded like, "Not true." "If you don''t mind then." Li Yang said. A small smile curled on her lips, "Thank you. Let''s dig in." Li Yang took his first bite of the noodle soup and found the flavors burst in his mouth. The aroma of the broth along with the satisfying texture of the noodles urged him on to continue and it was actually good. If he had to compare the man''s cooking skills, it would be similar to the ones that he''d eaten from charity balls and event gatherings he had attended in the past. It was delicious but that was it. He didn''t feel a burst of qi when he ate it, no special notification screen appeared in front of him that told him that the food that he was eating was unique or had properties that were different from normal food. Li Yang was mildly disappointed, but it didn''t stop him from determining that there was something with the cook himself. However, there was something else that he noticed. "You have a smudge on your face, Miss He." He motioned to the corner of his lips. She glanced at him and copied him, "O-oh, thank you." [ You Have Gained 15 Charm Points ] There really were occasions when things spiked up randomly, didn''t it? . . . "Thank you for dropping by at the diner, I hope the two of you enjoyed the meal." Ying Yue He as she had insisted from earlier paid for the bill herself and nodded, "It was good, thanks Mou Gu." If there was anything that she learned today¡ªit didn''t seem like her boss had problems with her eating a lot. It was a little relieving to know. She had been hesitant but the man had no qualms about it. The secretary turned back to the CEO, "Mister Li shall we get going¡ª" "Sure. I''ll drive you home." "...Oh, you don''t have to. It''s walking distance." She waved a hand at him and kept a smile on her face. She''d really rather not have the man go there at all¡ªthe off chances of meeting Madam Dongxia still made her nervous. "Are you sure?" Li Yang knitted his brows. Although he didn''t struggle with taking another person''s answer as it was, she did kind of wish that he insisted a bit more¡ªbut that was just her being silly. "Yeah, it''s not a problem at all." "If you say so¡ª" Someone just had to interrupt them as the cook grabbed for her boss''s elbow. Mou Gu waved a small strip of paper in front of Li Yang''s face, "Please take this, I feel like the two of us can have a¡­ good relationship with one another." "Mou Gu," Ying Yue He clicked her tongue. Why was this guy seriously trying to ruin her¡­ her game? "A business relationship." Mou Gu winked at her, "If you guys have any events, I''m more than willing to cater." Li Yang stared at the man and reluctantly took the folded strip of paper. Even if they were giving him advances? The mere fact that they were able to manipulate the qi around them meant that this could be a person he could ask for some assistance¡ªwithout the need to approach the System. Another person to verify the research that he''d gotten. As for how they were going to discuss this however, he needed to find a way to do it. He opened the strip of paper and blinked: ''Once Miss Ying leaves, I''d like to discuss something with you. If you''re not aware of this¡ªI''ll explain this in simple terms. You''re on the path to cultivation. Everything that you may have considered unreal is possibly real. Don''t freak out.'' Chapter 31: The World of Cultivation There was a need to tread slowly on this matter and not scare the man out. Honestly, Mou Gu didn''t even know if the man would even stay or leave. Mister Li checked the strip of paper given to him before pocketing it. Their face was an epitome of a poker look. He watched the CEO and his secretary leave the diner. After a few bumbling words exchanged by Ying Yue He¡ªthe woman stepped closer to the man and tiptoed. But then she suddenly chickened out and bowed to her boss. He fought the urge to shake his head. Mou Gu wondered if he was seeing some kind of K-Drama reenactment right here and right now¡ªbut this wasn''t that. It was a lot more serious than just some romance on the side. The man''s life was at stake. He really did hope that the man would come back inside the diner, and yet Mou Gu could already imagine what was going to happen. Right after Ying Yue He walks away, the man will rush into his car and try to escape from the wacko cook they just met and Mou Gu would have to chase them down. It was a car chase scene that he''d have to do¡ªwhich would end with him stopping the car by sheer force or just blocking the road. ¡­ Maybe he had a bit of an overactive imagination, but the man grabbed for his car''s door. Mou Gu saw that Ying Yue He wasn''t around and rushed out of the diner¡ª And saw that the man was bent down slightly over their car seat before he pulled out something from within it. It was a briefcase. The man''s gaze met his, "Oh, I was about to return to the diner¡­ do you want to talk outside?" Possible reasons why the man was here came to mind. Maybe some stupid cultivator sold an incomplete cultivation method online, and this was some sort of guy that bought it or something? Mou Gu waved a hand, "Diner is good for now." They didn''t need to scare him off that much. "Alright." The man nodded. But the man''s face and demeanor were frozen like a block of ice. What was up with that? Wait. They reminded him of Shen in this manner. Must be a normal thing for CEOs or something. Mou Gu led them back to the diner. . . . "Have you felt sick in the past days? I''m sure that someone like you is familiar with the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine and even until today it''s still widely practiced¡ªalthough, ah, dubbed as pseudoscience by most Westerners. It has concepts¡ª" Li Yang unlocked his briefcase and pulled some of the documents out, "I always thought that cultivation came from ancient Daoism." He took out a pen from the suitcase and turned to the pink-haired man, "Will you repeat that?" Mou Gu blinked at him. "I was trying to be slow¡ªbut then you say that. Aiya," The man rubbed his face, "Seems like you have done some research¡­? Anyhow, when you came here, I noticed that you were like a sponge that absorbed qi fast. Every human is somewhat capable of that, qi is after all essential to all living creatures, but your absorption rate is much faster for some reason. So you must be practicing some kind of technique that allowed you to do this." As expected, the man knew his stuff and he''ll have to see how their knowledge compared with the System. He decided to be upfront about his situation, "I have no spiritual root." "...What?" Li Yang wasn''t quite sure of that reaction, but he affirmed it with a nod, "Yes. I lack¡ª" "Then you shouldn''t have been able to cultivate in the first place." The man ran his fingers through his hair, "What cultivation method are you using? You must have come across some kind of cultivation manual? Online by some weirdo? Did you find it in an antique shop or something¡­?" Li Yang stayed silent for a moment. What kind of face would the man make if he answered ''Harem Cultivation Method''¡ªwould they even take him seriously? But more than that. ''Is it even possible to tell them about it?'' [ Yes. Host Can Share This Knowledge But Practice Is Only Available For Host ] ''Can I share about the System''s existence?'' [ Yes. ] ''Are there any repercussions?'' [ No Active Side Effects To The Individual Who Hears It. Possibility To Be Seen As Insane However Is High ] ''Something like that would amuse the Heavens, wouldn''t it?'' [ Yes. ] Li Yang rubbed his face for a moment and then looked at the man across from him. "I''m not too sure either, but something strange happened one day, and I decided to do some research." He really didn''t like lying, and perhaps the man would see right through it. "Must be some freak accident then? What day were you born? Maybe it''s in your birth chart or you visited some old place that triggered your body¡ª" Mou Gu snapped his fingers, "It''s not rare for some people to visit an old tomb or some ancient place and unearth cultivation secrets honestly, especially if you resonate with the one who built it. But right, that''s going to pose a problem for you." "Is there no root unlocking kind of item available?" Li Yang hoped it wasn''t an exclusive item available in the System''s Shop. Mou Gu gave him a look, "I''m not sure what kind of research you''ve done, maybe there might have been something like that in the past¡ªan ancient magical treasure, but for the vast majority of people that have ''no roots'', the path of true cultivation is unavailable to them. If everybody could have been a cultivator, there''d be a lot more of us. You''re an odd case." What was Li Yang going to say to that? ''I started the path of cultivation through charming women and gaining points for it?'' It really was some kind of cheat, in a way. The man had hopes that there might be another solution, but was the System the only way? "We''ll try to look into some solution for it¡ªthat respirator may block some of the pestilence qi from your mouth and nose, but your skin still absorbs it." Mou Gu waved a hand. He pulled out a phone from his pocket. "But speaking of us, not you and me, us as in the people entrenched in this cultivation world¡ªI need you to come with me tonight if the others are still there." Li Yang raised a brow, "Others? Are you in some kind of sect? Temple?" The reason someone like the man in front of him was hiding between normal people still stayed shrouded in mystery. So far, the conversation revolved around him, but he at least needed to know more about the man in front of him. It wasn''t enough that they were friendly enough to be a cook. "There''s always going to be an organization¡ªand no, not a sect or a temple. Those old farts stay away from cities. I''m from the Shen Society." Chapter 32: Shen Society Mou Gu''s contact confirmed that the people in the Shen Society were still around, and so Li Yang agreed to meet up with them. The pink-haired man took the front seat. It seemed like particular people now often got the chance to stay in the shotgun. But the man gave him directions to their place¡ªand it was an obscure spot in the city, they crossed a couple of narrow streets and alleyways before they arrived. A reddish-brown building stood in front of them with other similar structures. "This is the place?" Li Yang glanced at the man unbuckling his seat-belt. There was a need to hide in the background perhaps, but the place was too simple on the outside. It actually looked like a run-down apartment to him. Was this the only building that they could afford? "Don''t judge the outside, it''s fully decked out inside." Mou Gu gave him a grin before he stepped out of his car. They were quick to pull out a key from their pocket as they stepped to the building and twirled the key around, waiting for him to catch up. And that only made Li Yang wonder about its security, using keys instead of something else¡ªbut the man turned out to be right once they let him in. Its interior design was different, and the outside had been nothing but a front. The place actually resembled something that one would see in a spy''s headquarters or a command center with its sleek and futuristic touch. It was incongruent to his idea of a place where cultivators met. This could have been the entrance to some underground lab or possibly a global surveillance area. A hacker would have loved to be here. Mou Gu had the nerve to give him a grin before the man moved towards the stairs¡ªstairs though? No elevators? Li Yang kept himself shut until they reached the designated floor and then entered into some kind of reception room. Now this one resembled something more office-like to him, complete with couches, a reception desk, several bookshelves, and then two imposing double doors similar to his own office. The room held three other people besides them. One of the men lounged on the couch, practically draped across it as if they were at home. But beside them was a sharp-looking sword haphazardly perched on the couch''s armrest. Another man was too busy in front of a computer and desk and finally¡ª "...Who have you brought here?" A young woman looked up from her book and gave them a look. She had been nearly invisible, despite sitting right across from the man with the sword. Her gaze immediately narrowed at him. And right before he could say anything else, Mou Gu spoke up. "This is Li Yang, and he''s¡ª" Recognition flooded from the woman''s face as she put her book down. "The CEO of Olympian Corp, a pleasure to meet you." She stood up to meet him and offered a hand, "I''m Shen An Na." The young woman looked around to be in her late teens to early twenties. With long brown hair and honey brown eyes, she scrutinized him with a careful look and nodded. Li Yang raised his brows but shook her hand, "Of the Tech Group?" What was someone like them doing in a place like this¡­ wait a second? "You are also the head of this Shen Society?" He had thought that Shen was referring to its meaning of ''god'' but that wasn''t the case it seems. "I run it with my older brother." The woman eyed the pink-haired man beside him with some slight reproach before her gaze returned to him. "Would you like to have a seat first?" "No thank you, I''m fine." Li Yang tried to grope for the man''s name and located it in his memory, "You and Shen Jie Li run this¡­ cultivator society?" Compared to his initial perception of qi surrounding Mou Gu, the other three in the room didn''t exactly showcase the same. If anything, this place was completely normal except for the futuristic design on the other floors. But that also made sense now that he knew who he was dealing with. Still, he was looking for someone to help him with his own situation, and he hoped that they could, or he might have wasted his time coming here. A soft sigh escaped her lips, "I''m afraid that there may be some misinformation. We hire cultivators and martial artists, but we have our own agendas other than being a cultivator society. Shen Society is the diplomatic embassy between spiritual creatures and humans. Our base is here in Shanghai, and other areas have their own rulings." The woman pursed her lips together, glancing away from him. "And you have involved yourself, Zhao get me a form." "Why can''t you ask the guy at the table¡ªhe''s got the papers with him." Shen An Na''s face twitched for a minute until she motioned to one of the available tables and seats near the books. Mou Gu handed him a paper with a pen, "Here you go." Did this guy just trick him or something? He really was hoping for assistance, but this is what he got instead? Li Yang, however, inadvertently looked down at the document, and it truly appeared to be indeed some kind of form, a registration form to be exact. Shen Embassy Fill out the registration form if you wish to visit or stay in the city for a certain duration. Name: Age: Race: POB: Occupation: Items (Pills, Cultivation Manuals, Treasures, etc.): Enemies: Allies: Please read the following rules and regulations on power regulations codes and alternative identity creation (Spirits Who Wish To Adopt Human Identity). It is to ensure that the relationship between humans and spirits remains amicable, please abide by them¡ªfailure to do so will be dealt with accordingly. "We have the rules and regulations on PDF form if you wish." Shen An Na informed him with a serious look. "It''s imperative that you read them, and we need you to register yourself, or else you''ll be considered a trespasser once you leave. It''s a fortunate thing that Mou Gu found you, we have strict policies on this." Chapter 33: A Semblance of Control Li Yang filled down the registrar form¡ªwho would be a fool to not do so? They promised to deliver a consequence if he didn''t do this. Even if his situation was a little different from them, they impressed him with the organization of this Shen Society. He''d have to give this five stars if he were to compare it to a restaurant or some other service industry. It didn''t even take long for them to give him an ID. Yes, an ID. The man thought he had already experienced everything possible, but this experience was an opening to an entirely different world. And in this unfamiliar world, he really knew next-to-nothing. He held the card in his hand and looked up at the woman¡ª "If you notice the symbol written at the corner of that card, that is an illusion-rendering seal, all normal humans that pick up this card will simply see it as a normal license." Shen An Na explained as she pointed it out. He nodded, "I can see it, thank you. As for my situation however¡ª" "Oh right, this guy has no spiritual root but still absorbs qi like its nothing." Mou Gu shrugged. Li Yang sighed inwardly at being cut off by the man, but went along with it. He glanced at the other expressions of the people in the room, and it was a mixture. "Did you mean that he''s going to die soon?" The young man asked as he looked up from his couch. How the man looked at him was perhaps similar to someone who had gone through a similar ordeal far too many times. That was to say, he didn''t like the look of that, but compared to the man still working on his desktop¡ªit was more sympathetic. Shen An Na was quick to glance at Mou Gu, "We can''t have an important man in the tech commerce industry to die! What are the potential solutions? Isn''t this solvable by some miracle pill of some sort¡ª" "You already said that it''s a miracle, it must be a miracle to get it." "Not helpful, Zhao." She said and rubbed her face. "When we could have used that Alchemist is the time that he''s gone." "I doubt that he specializes in this kind of thing." "We might still get a lead for a solution." Shen An Na turned her back away from him and addressed the other people in the room. They also seem stumped about this situation as he was, which wasn''t actually a good sign to him. The CEO glanced at his watch and took note that he was often heading back home at this hour. Li Yang wondered if only the System actually had an answer to his problem, but if that was the case¡ª "Are there any short-term solutions to negate the effects of too much qi absorption, then?" Surely they had something like that, at least? Mou Gu cracked his knuckles, "I can manually try to restrict your meridians to keep you from absorbing qi in the meantime¡ª" "I won''t trust that guy if I were you." The man on the couch shrugged. "I''d never let the guy lay a hand on me." Funnily, Li Yang would have to agree with it. Although he didn''t say that aloud. "I happen to give good massages." Mou Gu scoffed and ran his fingers through his hair, "All the people I''ve massaged say that I have a heavenly touch." Li Yang sighed aloud¡ªor rather, it was the woman that had sighed even before he did. The banter ongoing was akin to brainstorming done in meetings, but not as helpful as they should be. Shen An Na ignored the other two and approached the man on the desk, "Do you have a better idea, Dai Song Lan?" "The Black Market." The man in front of his desktop didn''t even look at his supposed superior. The man known as Zhao looked up and threw a look at them, "Wait, we are not going¡ª" "That was what I was afraid of." Shen An Na rubbed her face, she finally glanced back at him. "...I''m not as familiar with this situation as I wish to be, CEO Li, so I ask for your patience. Even to this day, I''m not completely immersed in the lingo spoken by these men." Her choice of words were rather odd. He would have expected someone of their position to be more prepared¡ªeven if his situation was a rare case. Li Yang stayed silent and waited for her to explain it further. The woman pursed her lips together and then finally crossed her arms, "I am not a cultivator nor did I come from a family of one, the Shen Family however acts as the link between spiritual creatures and humans, but never did so well in cultivation. Thus all of your problems with these roots... " "Spiritual roots." Mou Gu waved a hand at her. She frowned and waved a hand. "Regardless, of my lack of knowledge¡ªI do make it up with how I manage this Society along with my brother. It simply goes to show that one does not need to be a cultivator to be part of the Veil." "The Veil?" Li Yang raised a brow. Shen An Na''s lips curled into a small smile, "You haven''t seen it yet? I thought you were a cultivator¡ª" "He''s in the beginning stage, and very badly at that, I doubt his eyes are clear enough to see past through it." Mou Gu shrugged and motioned to Zhao, "Even this guy still has trouble with it." "That''s not true!" "I would appreciate an explanation¡­ although the option of seeking this Black Market for my problem? What of it?" Li Yang stirred back the conversation to what he came here for. He glanced at his watch and sighed inwardly, "As much as I would love to discuss this situation I am in now, I have other responsibilities I need to take care of." He was still insisting on his own schedule¡ªand though he perhaps needed more flexibility and to adjust himself accordingly. This schedule was one of the few things that he at least still had actual control over. He still wished to keep it that way. Chapter 34: The Solution To His Problem Shen An Na understood the need for control, order and the semblance of it at the least. She and even more so, her own older brother, concerned themselves about this¡ªand perhaps for a man that probably had his life structured accordingly. This was frightening. The people present in the office weren''t exactly helping with the situation either. She waved a hand and gave a look at the other men in the room; she needed to let this older man understand that they weren''t here to be his enemy. When she had glanced down at his ID earlier, she had almost choked on the ''Allies'' portion that he had placed in it. It only went to show how small the man''s world was to her. Name: Li Yang Age: 28 Race: Human POB: Beijing Occupation: CEO Items: None Enemies: None Allies: Li Liang, Olympian Corp. She knew little about his personal background¡ªalthough her brother insisted that she keep up with the people in the industry; she didn''t manage to completely do so. What was there to care about old men and their often slimy attitudes? However, she was able to surmise something from his answer and now it was up to her and hopefully the others to assist him now. "The Black Market is not the same thing as what you may expect¡ªor perhaps, it is better to say that yes, there are illegal things, but included among them are far older cultivation items that are sometimes unearthed and found in ancient places or had come from remaining long-time cultivators that recently came out from their seclusion." "When you say long-time cultivators, do you refer to people who are advanced over the normal life span?" Li Yang asked. "People that are over a thousand years old and such?" Shen An Na coughed and glanced at Hua Zhao. "They''re quite few now, at least that''s what we can surmise. It''s been quite awhile since we''ve met anyone come out from any cultivation cave¡ªperhaps the more powerful ones have already ascended in other realms." The martial artist said with a shrug. "Ones stuck here are big fish in a small pond that is to say." Although still flippant in a way, at least the man was answering now. But honestly, even then, the young man explaining it was enough to give her a headache. They really didn''t need to discuss other realms¡ªwhat if they scare the man away? "Are you saying that there is a current stagnation with the current cultivation experts in this time and age?" Li Yang asked again. The man raised one of his brows as he tucked his arms over his chest. Compared to what she had believed, the man took the information in stride. Shen An Na had to hear these stories to her when she was a kid to even consider it as true. And even then, she had thought her parents were telling her of folk tales. Two people answered at the same time. "Yes." "No." Shen An Na glanced at Mou Gu who raised his hands, "To my defense, I really do think we''ve stagnated as a whole. Technology and cultivation could have developed together." Hua Zhao clicked his tongue, "It''s a decision. Some people believe that aiming for cultivation and the immortality associated with it conflicts with the idea of samsara and nirvana." "Oh no, we are not having this debate again Zhao¡ª" "Then you can probably shut your mouth while I explain my point of view." Shen An Na rubbed her face and cut in. "Anyhow, in regards to the Black Market¡ªwe''ll do our best to find a solution for your qi problem. But do we have any temporary solution because I believe that CEO Li still needs to go somewhere, Song Lan¡ªany help?" "I still have an evil-qi dispelling talisman?" The man finally peeked out from behind the monitor and held it up. Shen An Na turned to the other two men, "Could that work?" "Oh yeah, that could have worked without needing to block all the qi entirely." Mou Gu scratched his cheek. "How effective is that one?" "Twenty-four hours." Hua Zhao frowned, "Give or take twenty-four hours, unless he encounters something that evil and that goes poof. Don''t we have special beads in the storage?" "We have qi-concealing beads¡ªhe needs to stop absorbing qi. Learn the difference." Mou Gu grunted, "Besides, don''t jinx about something evil coming up. You''ll be the one taking care of it. I''m supposed to be on leave if it weren''t for this handsome devil coming up¡ª" Shen An Na cleared her throat, walked forward to the desk and grabbed for the talisman, "Alright, enough is enough. Twenty-four hours is ample time for CEO Li to return here tomorrow." "Huh?" It was Hua Zhao who raised a brow. "Of course we need to see if any of the items will work effectively on Mister Li. But you better bring in some money." Mou Gu shrugged. "Black market and all." The CEO finally spoke up, his brows knotted together, "...is the money that I have applicable here or do you have another form of currency?" "Oh, that works fine." Shen An Na nodded and handed him the talisman. "If I must say, the beauty of this¡­ black market, is that they still accept the human form of currency." "How much for this talisman then?" "Well¡ª" "Consider that as a complimentary gift." Shen An Na insisted with a stern look at the other men. Her brother and her didn''t continue the embassy to take advantage of others. Even if the man in front of her right now was one of the wealthiest CEOs in their time, she had no need for them to pay for the talisman. Shen Society desired to assist all walks of life, and it couldn''t be bought with wealth at all. "Then you have my thanks." Li Yang nodded as he looked at the talisman, "How do I activate this though?" The man asked it with a sheepish smile, the first one that she''d seen since he came here¡ª [ You Have Gained 5 Charisma Points ] It wasn''t actually that much, but it was still a few more points for him. Chapter 35: Waiting For The CEO Bo Lifen was a lazy woman. Or rather she had chosen to ignore her great-grandmother''s request of preparing tea for Li Yang and opted to continue playing the board game with her brother instead. "Your turn, lil bro." She tossed the dice to the boy and snorted. It wasn''t as if the man would end up dying because he hadn''t had someone welcome him home. That was too ridiculous. "What''s so funny?" Bo Lifen pursed her lips and shook her head, "Nothing." She didn''t need to explain herself and neither did the younger boy bug her any further¡ª Thwack! She jerked and winced, a yelp escaping her throat at the impact of something hard on her ass. She looked back to see the older woman glaring at her. The woman had a slipper in her hand¡ªand had used it to smack her. "Did you even go visit our neighbor right now? Did you prepare the tea, Bo Lifen?" "He''s your neighbor, Granny Lanfen." Bo Lifen rubbed her sore butt and ignored the chuckle that escaped her brother''s lips. A twenty-nine year old woman getting slapped in the butt was enough to make the boy crack up. She clicked her tongue, "I don''t know why I have to do this." "Until you''re staying here, he''s your neighbor too." Her great-grandmother insisted with a firm voice. She wasn''t playing around this time, "I didn''t think that you''d disregard my request." Bo Lifen sighed inwardly and pulled herself up and looked at the clock, "It''s already ten in the evening, it''s already past tea-time. Can''t I do it tomorrow?" "Do it now." "Fine." She would end up heading to the kitchen and preparing the brew that even her great-grandmother had insisted upon. Black-Ocean Pearl Tea? No problem. She''d even serve him the three hundred-years old rice wine if it made their matriarch happy. All she needed to do was give him the tea anyway, it wasn''t like she was going to be invited into his residence. Bo Lifen pursed her lips¡ªshe didn''t want to be invited at all. The woman had already made herself an embarrassment in front of the man¡ªshe''d rather forget that she did something as outrageous as caging the man in his seat. She had even held his face in her hand. What had gone through her mind at that time? She refused to think about it any longer and finished her preparations¡ªonce she gave him the tea, that would be the end of it all. If her great-grandmother asked her to deliver more things for the man, she''d do it, but it would all be over soon. Bo Lifen doubted that they would cross paths after her stay here. She would make sure of it. Bo Lifen picked up the thermos that now contained the hot tea, she began to make her way out to the main door. The faster she finished, the faster she could go back here and continue on with what she was doing¡ª "Are you going out like that?" Granny Lanfen asked again. She looked down and realized that she was now merely clad in her shorts and a tank-top. Bo Lifen raised her head and frowned, "I can wear whatever I want. You can''t expect me to change just because I''m meeting him, I''m not changing for anyone, Granny Lanfen." If the man would ogle at her¡ªshe''d punch him in the face. ...Would he even actually look at her like that? .. . The Panda was playing with fire, not actual fire that burned and razed the decent sized home of the CEO to flames¡ªno, that is to say, it was dealing with the aftermath of being left alone on the premises of the man. The spectators in the Heavens were fully able to enjoy the show when the creature was around the vicinity of Li Yang. But since it did not go with the man, it was instead forced to nurse its charred fur with a small groan and glared above the ceiling. Through the lens of such a creature as itself were the Heavens able to see the events going around with man. One could call the Panda a transmitter in this way. It was the most convenient one that didn''t ask the ones above to exert any strenuous effort on their part to spectate and watch the pitiful and amusing lives of men. But now being punished¡ªthe creature wondered if it had made the right decision. Floating to the sofa, it plopped down with a heavy thump and groaned some more. The sun was already down and the man had not returned yet at all, was there an off chance that the CEO thought they could run away? Tick-tock. Tick-tock. One of the creature''s eyes twitched as they glanced at the wall clock in the living room. "I thought they were reliable, what time is it now? Shouldn''t he be back by this hour now?" The Panda creature could already surmise the man''s main characteristics from their small and limited interaction¡ªthe guy was stiff. He followed a schedule to a fault. Li Yang even decided to put his quest on hold to focus on his work. That much dedication and organization, it spoke to the creature that there was something wrong in the guy''s head. One way or another. But then again, most System Wielders often had a peculiar character that made them worthy to hold the System. The Panda looked at the pot of bamboo near the hallway and raised a paw¡ªlevitating it to the couch. It just happened that the CEO was a stick in the mud. The creature held one of the long bamboo and snapped it in half, gnawing it in its mouth. There was something strange with the bamboo, even for a normal living plant¡ªit had more qi, refined qi in it than usual. Whether it was mere coincidence or fate toying with the lives of men once more, the people that the CEO could work with seemed to be near him. Its ear twitched at the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway. "Finally!" The soft furry creature swallowed the thing in its mouth and floated up from the couch. They were going to hit that human with the bamboo for taking too long! Its future was at risk by being tied to them! It began to fly out towards the door and swung it open. "Hey you bastard¡ª" The Panda''s jaws dropped for a moment. The man''s back was slightly turned to him, but he currently held a finger underneath the woman''s chin. Chapter 36: His Arrival The events with Shen Society took so much of Li Yang''s time that it was actually later than usual when he had the chance to arrive back home. He had his newly registered license inside his wallet and he had an evil-qi dispelling talisman stuck underneath his suit coat. His life was¡­ He couldn''t exactly say that life was good. Forced to act as some entertainer for heaven''s whims, it wasn''t the life that he wanted. But it was also what he made of it that determined his perspective on his situation. And Li Yang had already made peace with his situation, step by step, he''d get complete control over his situation and dictate the terms to this agreement. But for now, he needed to comply while preparing for the future that he couldn''t exactly foresee. And the best way to do it besides complying with the System and the Celestial Heavens were finding allies. A business empire was not built and handled alone by a single man, it took multiple individuals that proved themselves to be an asset to the company¡ªhe needed to find them. Li Yang would like to think that the ones he met at the Shen Society would be one of the many that''d find and meet. However he was still unsure if they would be able to help him with his situation in regards to his lack of spiritual roots. The man checked his charm points now: [ Current Charm Points: 1195 Points ] He still needed a lot more if he wished to actually purchase the ''Roots Unlockment'' and so far, he still needed a lot more. He had earned about 50 Charm Points under his own doing today, and though it might have been good¡ªhe still needed to gather much more. When he gained ''100 Charm Points'' from Bo Lifen it might have been the biggest gain he had earned withstanding the one that came from the ''Fire Dweller''. Li Yang considered it for a moment, "It''s far easier than spending an evening with Ying Yue He. But¡­ on who''s the easier one to spend time with, that changes things." He sighed and continued to drive. Only a little bit more and then he could finally rest. There was also no assurance that if he spent time with Bo Lifen again, he would end up earning 100 Charm Points again. However, if opportunity allowed him to garner points again¡ªthen he would take it. .. . There was a tiny mistake that Bo Lifen figured out and soon had to remedy¡ªshe didn''t exactly know where the man lived. And though the place might have been something smaller, terribly smaller and with less traffic than Shanghai, she still didn''t have a clue where exactly had he lived. She didn''t want to return back to her great-grandmother''s place and ask for directions. She could probably figure this out for herself. Most of the houses had signs of life in them¡ªnot all of them were separated by large walls that her matriarch had insisted upon to make their ancestral home''s defense sturdy. And though she wasn''t a cultivator, her senses were pique up to a certain amount that she could pick up on minor details. The house over there had the laughter of children, one of the vehicles parked on the right had a ''baby on board'' sticker and she was positive that the CEO had no kid at all. It was a matter of elimination. Each of the houses were dissected and evaluated carefully before she moved on to the next one while she held the thermos in her hands.The wind was awfully chilly but she pushed through it, the cold didn''t bother her. But soon enough, she noticed a dark vehicle backing it up over a simple one-storey house and she put two and two together. Someone like them would live in a house like that. She ran towards him¡ªeager to get this thing over with. Whatever the reason for them coming home late didn''t matter to her, it was none of her business. But the thought of¡­ she slowed down and paused outside of the house''s lawn and tried not to grimace. Bo Lifen had not been running over to see the man like some infatuated highschool girl, she just wanted to get it over with. She had not done it at all. The thermos felt heavy in her hands as she awaited the man to come out of the car, the words that she had already prepared for herself to say was ingrained in the back of her mind. She only needed to shove the thermos in his hands and say goodnight, that was easy. And soon the vehicle''s car door swung open, the man stepped out of the vehicle, and he met her gaze with one look. He raised one brow at her, a look of confusion that simply melted everything away. Bo Lifen forgot the words that were caught at the tip of her tongue. He made his way towards her, exuding an aura that she hadn''t noticed at all before. Each step he made towards her was confident, self-assured and uncaring that her gaze was completely and solely on him. Until he finally arrived in front of her, and she tried to form the words in her mouth, "This is¡ª" She didn''t need to stammer! The man tilted his head at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Is that for me?" Why was she suddenly nervous around him? This was the man she caged her arms in before, she was supposed to be the one in control of this conversation¡ªshe looked back up at him. Pouring out all of her sarcasm in her next words, "Who else is around here?" A soft sigh escaped the man''s lips and he reached out towards her, resting his fingers underneath her chin. "I can''t help but notice you''re shaking¡ªare you cold? You came out all the way here to meet me with only those clothes on." Did he really say that? She couldn''t believe that those words came out of his mouth. Bo Lifen prepared herself for a retort¡ª Glaring bright lights illuminated over them. Chapter 37: The Reveal Li Yang arrived at his house¡ªbut there were two people blocking the driveway. He took note of the other car parked and sighed as he realized who had decided to come by his house without any warning. Lowering the window in the passenger, he glanced at Li Liang and¡­ Bo Lifen? His brows furrowed together. What was she doing here at an hour like this? But other than that, he also took note of the exact spot the two were in. Li Yang felt one of his eyes twitch, did the two of them have to do it in public? It was already in his private property, but his brother could have done it inside the house if he was that insistent. However, Li Yang couldn''t also ignore the memory of his encounter with the woman earlier. She probably wouldn''t like this. Would he turn a blind eye over that? There was also the fact that she might have kicked his brother in the balls and that was an event he didn''t wish to mediate. He sighed inwardly and turned off his car. He took the suit coat that his secretary returned to him and proceeded to step out of it to meet them. "Good evening," "Wha¡­?" Bo Lifen blinked. Her lips were parted slightly, her eyes widened as she tried to grasp the situation. "He wasn''t¡­?" Li Liang tilted his head and let go of the woman''s chin, the older man glanced at him. "Did you get a girlfriend while I was gone? I couldn''t help but tease her." He chuckled and waved a hand. "What''s up, Yang?" Li Yang glanced at the woman''s bare shoulders, she was wearing a tank top. It was a far cry from her clothing this morning, now almost everything was revealing. It struck a large contrast. Was she shaking? Regardless of her condition, he placed his suit coat over her shoulder and looked back at his brother. "I came here expecting to rest, but it seems you have dropped by, Liang." "Did you forget? We have a board meeting in three days¡ªof course, I''d be here." The man grinned slightly. "Are the two of you just going to ignore me?" Bo Lifen asked, she had her eyes narrowed at him. [ You Have Lost 5 Charisma Points ] ...Right. She was still around. Li Yang didn''t have any idea why she was here¡ªshe had a thermos in her hand, but he needed to clear up the confusion. "Miss Lifen, I''d like to introduce my brother, Li Liang. Li Liang¡ª" "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Lifen." His brother said and offered a hand. "The circumstances of our meeting is odd, but I hope you do not take it to heart that much." A frown curled on her lips, she ignored his hand. "Is it a common occurrence for you to portray yourself as your brother?" She sighed and shook her head, she turned back and looked at Li Yang. "I''m not staying any longer, Granny Lanfen told me to give you some tea so here it is." She pushed the thermos into his hand and also took off his cloak. She forced it into his hand and gave him a disgusted look, "I''m also not some cloak rack for you to hang your suit on." Did she take it that way? "You looked cold." Li Yang said. Bo Lifen glared at him, "I was shaking in anger, it''s not quite a nice feeling being deceived by someone on their very first meeting. You should have told me that you had a brother." Tell her that he had a brother? "It never crossed our conversation." Li Yang shrugged and clutched the thermos and suit coat in his hand. The two of them had mostly talked about business. He ignored the look on his brother''s face. She frowned, "I talked about my two brothers, you never mentioned him once." "I didn''t find it necessary," Li Yang sighed inwardly. Their conversation had turned to this already? Still, he glanced at the thermos in his hand. Her great-grandmother had thought of him. "It was our first meeting, Miss Lifen. I don''t necessarily remember any social condition where I have to tell you about my family because you told me about yours." He needed to end this quickly, "But please convey my gratitude to Granny Lanfen. And thank you as well for bringing the tea in her stead." Did the anger vanish because of his words? Not quite. But it did change the flow of conversation, Bo Lifen huffed but nodded. "I''ll tell her that, but there''s no need to thank me. She asked me to do this." Even if she was hot-headed, it didn''t mean that she wouldn''t take the opportunity to walk out. A loud sigh escaped her lips, she glanced at him and then her brother. "Our meeting is not the most presentable time, but I do hope that you can also overlook this¡­ Li Liang was it?" "The one and only." His brother motioned to himself and smiled. "I''ll overlook you mistaking me for my brother, so no worries." She pursed her lips, but then nodded. Bo Lifen took one more look at him and then went away. It probably didn''t matter, but even as she left him¡ªthe way that the moonlight fell, it somehow coincidentally fell on her. As if she was the spotlight of the night. Li Yang glanced back at his brother and frowned. "You could have at least sent me a message." "I wanted to surprise you." Li Liang waved his hand, and gave him a grin. "Surprise little fucker." Li Yang sighed and shook his head, "Crude as always. You remind me of someone else now." Speaking of which, where was¡ªa ball of white and black hurtled at him from the heavens and struck him in the belly. He winced and doubled over, but at least he didn''t keel over. "Woah, are you okay?" Li Liang asked. "Were you always that weak?" "You never told me you had a brother!" The creature shouted at him, its beady eyes were glaring at him as it raised a paw in its self-righteous fury. "What kind of bastard are you?" Chapter 38: Welcome to The Li Family There were two pairs of shoes at the welcome mat of the house, the lights were open and the sound of noodles packs opening. Li Yang was home. Yes, perhaps that was one way to describe his situation. He was seated at the dining table and watched his older brother mess around the kitchen''s stove. "I already ate." "Have you now?" Li Liang asked, he was fussed over his cooking, "I just got back from the airport and went here directly. Did you eat with a girlfriend or something while you were out?" One of Li Yang''s eyes twitched, "You really will not stop with that are you?" "Stop what?" "Girlfriend this and girlfriend that. I''m not like you, Liang¡ªI don''t have a girlfriend every week." He sighed and drummed his fingers on the table. What else did he need to do? He had left his suitcase back in his room and it contained most of the documents of his cultivation and system research, but that left him with one thing now. It didn''t change the fact that the creature was glowering at him from the table. Still, the situation had been resolved. At least he considered it to be resolved¡ªthe man had no interest in conversing with the panda and explaining the situation as he did with Bo Lifen. He had a brother, that was it. If there was anything surprising, it should have been the creature not realizing that or failing to gather information about him prior the giving of the System. But even that was irrelevant. He just wanted to rest. "Well, don''t look at me. I''m sure our father would love a grandson¡ªand I''m not the one giving that." Li Liang shrugged and continued with his food preparation. "I doubt he would want one from me, I''m already disowned. But you? You''re the heir, so you better have an heir too or who else is going to run the business empire when we''re gone?" "I didn''t think you cared about that." "We put our blood, sweat and tears into this¡ªdo you really think that I''d let it all go down the drain?" As a matter of fact, Li Yang sometimes believed that his brother would do just that. In the earlier years, the two of them had worked together, but now it felt like he was the only one running the company save for the brother''s occasional inputs. He really didn''t mind it, at least he was doing something that he was good at. But even so, the company might just be the last thing that he should worry about. His company was at stake, the Heavens and the panda told him that¡ªbut more than that, it had shackled him into this game. A game that he had to outplay and his brother did not have a singular clue at all, as with most things. [ Evil Qi Is Rising ] [ Evil Qi-Dispelling Talisman Working¡­ ] "Geez, take a chill pill." The Panda muttered and swatted a paw at him. A wave of energy struck at him, and for a moment¡ªhe thought he''d seen an orange arc as it did its paw swipe. His thoughts vanished, or rather the energy was enough to stop his train of thoughts. Still, now was the time that the creature was finally talking to him? Li Yang sighed and opened his mouth¡ªand bit back a reply. His brother''s back was turned against him, but even so, it would be weird to get caught mumbling to himself. CEO: How did the chat function operate again? Panda: You just did it. The eerie yet familiar blue screen appeared in front of him, and despite the fact that the Panda was just lying down on the table¡ªits face was blank as well. It was hard to decipher what actually went through the creature''s mind when it wanted to retain its composure. Now what did Li Yang even need to say to the Panda in the first place? He had survived just fine without it, and even had a quieter day in the office with the lack of its ramblings and complaints. But even so, he was still able to gain some progress¡ªeven if it had been coincidental. Did he even need to say it? Panda: Alright, what happened today? Can I get a summary CEO: Why? Panda: You already know why! CEO: I don''t. Panda: [ Sent an Emoji ] It was an emoji of frustration. The creature did actually look ruffled right now, its black and white fur was rising up like a cat''s¡­ Li Yang didn''t know it could do that. But he honestly didn''t understand why the creature would need a summary, could it read his thoughts and said that to spite him? He realized how much he didn''t know about the Panda that was inexplicably linked to his situation, one way or another. Panda: I gave you a day of freedom¡ªthe least you could do is let me know what you did CEO: And if I don''t tell you? Panda: ...whatever. You probably stayed in your office all day, nothing interesting CEO: Uh huh The creature wasn''t all knowing of the things that happened to him? Li Yang kept his face blank¡ªit wasn''t hard to do that. But then again, that should have been an obvious fact. No powerful entity would relegate itself to watch and observe the lives of men up close, and it simply confirmed the Panda''s position here. It was stuck in this position like him¡ª A bowl plonked over the table hard and it made the Panda jump out and disappear over the table. His older brother sat across him.One of his legs was above the chair, his sitting posture was hunched over despite his suit, and there was a mischievous look in his eyes, "Is the idea of an heir that scary to you? You''ve been silent for about five minutes now." Did he ask a valid question? Li Yang sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "I don''t have the time to raise a child." "Oh, for a moment I thought you had problems with sleeping with a woman." Li Liang began to eat, he was shoving the noodles into his mouth. "If that time still haunts you, it''s fine¡ªbecause surrogacy is also an option. We could look for a willing mother, someone pretty and smart so the child gets the best of genes, you know?" He finished slurping his noodles and sighed in relief. Until his expression cooled down and he gave Li Yang a look. "Besides, I''m sure you won''t fuck up like father did, give yourself some credit." Chapter 39: The Secretarys Midnight Fantasy Regrets. What-ifs. Ying Yue He stared at the ceiling above her head and hugged the pillow pressed against her chest. Her blankets were warm, toast and snug but sleep evaded her. "Haah¡­" She sighed softly and pressed a hand to her cheek. She tried to forget the scene that continued to replay itself needlessly in her mind for the past hour or so. It was a losing battle. She couldn''t stop thinking about him. What would have transpired if she had taken a leap of courage and kissed him then and there? Ying Yue He didn''t know, but her mind continued to fill in her on what might have developed. If she had taken that one step forward and didn''t hold back, it could have been the perfect moment. It really was the most opportune of times. He had been simply standing over there, insisting that he took her home. And though the expressions on his face tended not to shift that much, he was always an epitome of a poker face, there had been some insistence on his part back then. She should have taken a chance. Ying Yue He had already tiptoed on the spot and prepared herself for it. She looked up at his face and then chickened out, she should have kissed him¡ª And there was a likely chance that he might have reciprocated. -¡ª The night sky was a black canopy over them dotted with little bright lights of brilliance, the cold breeze blew across the street and tickled her nose with a frosty chill. Her gaze was on him alone and he had stood there right in front of her. Looking back at her, waiting for her to accept his offer to drive her home. "It''s not a bother for me to take you home." He had said it. His brows furrowed over¡ªnot exactly sure why she was not saying yes. If she had tiptoed up back then and kissed him¡ªhe might really have returned it. Shock coursed through his face, freezing the man for a moment, but he didn''t push her back. And then he did the complete opposite. His thumb brushed over her cheek and he pulled her in further to him, deepening the kiss. Soft, warm lips that assertively met hers, along with a hot and wet brush of his tongue. One shaky gasp and that was all the invitation he needed to invade her mouth, brushing past her teeth and then meeting her tongue with his and pulling it to his. He began to toy with her, sucking her tongue in his mouth as his other hand rested against her back. His fingers traced circles against the small press in her back, tugging dangerously low to her backside. The sensation fogged her mind and sparked her senses at the same time. She pulled back away from him after a minute, a heat scorching her face at the flushed feeling of her lips and the trail of saliva that came with it. "I¡­ you don''t have to take me home, Mister Li." She scratched her cheek. The heat was prickling her stomach when she looked at him. "But if you insist, would you like me to take you there?" He would blink for a moment. She was confusing, saying one thing and meaning the other¡ªbut this time, a chuckle would escape his lips and he''d give her a funny look but nod, "I''m not entirely sure what''s the difference between me driving you home and you taking me there is, but alright." And she knew it was a stupid idea¡ªbut she was drunk on the idea of it, and she would go for it. She''d grab his wrist and drag him there, the two of them could have taken his car, but her nerves sparked and sizzled at the idea and he went along with it. He perhaps had an idea¡­ Of course he knew what she meant, but he let her drag him along. Once or twice, she''d stop and look down at her hand and find that she had truly captured the man''s wrist in her hand, and she''d raise her head and see that she really had him with her. She wasn''t dreaming or had mistaken him for another man. She didn''t really know what to think, her palms were sweaty but she refused to let him go. He raised a brow, "What''s the matter, Miss He? I''m not going anywhere with you holding me like this." A pout crossed on her lips, "I know that." This was a stupid idea¡ªbut then she''d see the look on his face. A certain light in his eyes, a small smile tugged on his lips that showed a certain hint of resigned fondness there. He did like her, he truly did because he wouldn''t have agreed if he didn''t¡ªand so she tugged her to him, well tried to do it, and he''d end up walking to her at his own volition. And then she''d kiss him under the light of the street post. It was another kiss, twice now, interrupting their own journey, but the destination didn''t matter that much as it did the trip¡ªexcept for the heat that continued to course through her. She squeezed her thighs together, longing for more friction. She wished that the two of them were already at her home¡ªthey should have done it in his car, shouldn''t they? Was it too late¡­? He brushed his tongue over her lips, once again. Entangling her with one touch. She tried her hardest to pull away and cough. She didn''t want to be the one saying it but it had to be said. "I think we should hurry it up, Mister Li. We don''t have all night." "I actually think we can make room for that." -¡ª A red flush was apparent on the woman''s face, even as she stared at the ceiling above her. Her pillow already lay forsaken at the side as she had one hand on her chest, mindlessly squeezing one breast with a soft sigh. Her other hand trailed down her abdomen, and she was soon toying with the waistband of her shorts. Ying Yue He kicked off her blankets. She tugged the waistband down and ran her fingers over the soft fabric of her panties, moving past the damp spot in the middle. Her lights were already shut and only moonlight spilled in from her window, displaying her bare legs and white cotton underwear. Another soft sigh escaped her lips as she squeezed her breast harder. "I mean...I should have worn something more silky or lacy if I was going to do something, you know? Black? Red?" Her thoughts now¡­ well, it only made her cheeks heat more. Fantasizing too much about her boss was weird? Too much? "I popped in a mint after I ate too, but it would also be iffy to kiss him when we finished dinner and Mou Gu ogling at the window¡ªbesides he''s probably the fussy type that would want me to brush, floss and gargle before we even actually kiss." Not that there was anything bad with it at all¡ªsqueaky and fresh, she''d love that. And it was enough reason for her to not make a move. She coughed once and he wanted her to get a mask¡ªher made up scenario in her head would have never come true. But it didn''t mind that stopped her at all, did it? Her fingers slid down underneath the taut fabric, slithering against her skin as her toes curled. A small jolt came when her still-cold fingertips brushed with her clit. "I mean, those kinds of stuff you have to think along with endangering your professional relationship with him, idiot." Turned on and frustrated. Ying Yue He was going to have a long night¡ªnot too long after, a strong rain showered down from the heavens. Chapter 40: Assessment of Bo Lifens Tea The heavy rain poured down the heavens and drenched the man on the roof terrace of his house. Dark clouds ahead of him along with the endless night skies and he had been here for over an hour. Li Yang sighed inwardly as he sat on the ground and kept his eyes closed¡ªlistening and feeling the heavy droplets pounding on his back, drenching his entire suit and self. It was the complete opposite of what any sane man might have done. The Panda watching him from afar would have agreed¡ªsave not for it observing what was happening around the man. It reminded the creature of cultivators and warriors from distant lands that stayed under strong waterfalls to cleanse their souls and mind. Qi was everywhere. It might have differed in various states of it, some more beneficial and others more detrimental to one''s health, and the man before him now was taking advantage of the natural rain. The creature didn''t think that the man would do anything else except follow the System''s instructions to gain power, but it didn''t stop the man from trying to cultivate nonetheless. [ High Levels of Qi In One''s Surrounding ] [ Absorbing Water-Rain Qi... ] [ Attempting Distribution Through Meridian Channels... ] Concentration. Visualization. Li Yang had studied his documents in regards to the pathways of the qi and now he imagined himself manually distributing the qi he was thankfully absorbing throughout his entire body. He might have no access to the latent spiritual qi inside of him due to the lack of spiritual roots, but he could still absorb other types. ...and it was better to practice this for future purposes. There was also the fact that it was an enjoyable sensation and it might have been something similar to how a child experienced playing under the rain for the first time¡­ or more adult pleasures. He lost his concentration for a moment. He sighed and rubbed his face. There was nothing wrong with either type of pleasure seeking¡ªand yet he knew he had his own blocks in regards to it. He had never been always good with relaxing and trying to engage with things that might have distracted him from his work. If he failed his father and matriarch¡­ He stared out blankly for a moment. And then he came to his own conclusion, perhaps this was enough training. It was perhaps already an hour or so past midnight. He picked himself up from the floor and then sneezed, nearly toppling over at his own feet. It didn''t register to him before, but now that he stopped his meditation, the frost of the chilly wind and the unmerciful shower of the heavens made it unbearably cold. "Geez, you''re not at the stage where your body is invulnerable to external illness." The Panda called out to him. He looked back and saw the creature under the rain as well, but not a singular rain drop touched it. It was as if there was an invisible shield or perhaps an aura that prevented the rain from reaching the creature. "...thank you." He didn''t would observe him after his complaints about his brother, but that also wouldn''t have made any sense either. Li Yang then descended back into his house¡ªglad for the silence that it had despite his brother''s visit. Li Liang was in the guest room fast asleep and tired from the flight and the travel hours. The man had immediately decided to visit him¡­ Li Yang walked past the man''s door and arrived back into the kitchen. He flicked the lights open and saw the uncleaned pot, bowl and utensils at the sink. His eyes twitched. But that wasn''t what he was here for. "What are you doing here? Did you get hungry?" The Panda reappeared in front of him, looking much more alive than it ever was. Its gaze lingered around the room. Despite its small stature and perhaps unearthly nature, it was still a gluttonous thing. "I have forgotten to drink the tea that Bo Lifen gave to me, it might be helpful for my health." "You''re sopping the floor wet by the way." He blinked and realized the creature was right, a blip in his own senses. Li Yang was still very much human and was barely at the start of his cultivation path, this was probably natural. He then began to search for the thermos, half-wondering about the type of tea it would contain. "The tea she offered me before was a good brew." "Oh really?" The Panda snickered. "I bet it tasted like leaves." Li Yang rolled his eyes, and walked over to the countertop. The blue thermos stood there and awaited him. "They are made from leaves so that makes sense." "I doubt it''s very good tea." "I do not understand your desire to disagree with what I said." "Well, it''s because it''s mortal tea." The Panda hollered from behind him. "If you''ve ever been invited to the actual Heavenly Court and had tea there or any of the upper realms besides this world in fact, you would have tasted tea that is made from the purest of spring waters and even leaves from the Xiwangmu''s Peach Tree. You see Sun Wukong didn''t just eat the peaches out of spite, he took the leaves and other bits too while he tended them for the goddess. That crafty monkey, he got what he deserved." The CEO could almost imagine the smug look on the creature''s furry face as it said it. "¡ªBut back to those leaves. Now those things aren''t as good as the fruit, but you could achieve Insights into the path of cultivation and extend your lifespan by five hundred years." "Is that so?" Li Yang said and tried to seem more interested. It did sound like a useful thing to have and he had been hoping for cultivation food at Mou Gu''s diner but had gotten disappointed. But it was something out of his reach. Honestly, he also didn''t know what exactly could do with that much time¡ªperhaps grow his company to a worldwide business empire? "Garhgh! Is that all you''re going to say? It''s like I''m talking to a block of stone!" The creature shouted at his ear. "Heck, a stone statue might have more personality than you! I bet golems have more of a heart than you''ll ever have!" ...The man was glad that only he could see and hear this creature. It would have caused trouble in the neighborhood if its screaming were heard, and yet it did have a valid point. Or perhaps in between those harsh words were kernels of truth. This wasn''t the only time that he had heard those words spoken to him. Li Yang took one step back to retrieve a small cup for him to use and then reached for the thermos. He threw a look at the floating creature and sighed, "My apologies if it seems that way, but I am also tired." "...it''s not just tonight, idiot!" He took off the cap of the thermos and felt the heat escape its mouth. There was no obvious flowery fragrance that emitted from it compared to the Jasmine tea that Bo Lifen served him yesterday. And yet the tea was still hot and he poured it over his cup¡ªa black liquid pouring out. "You''re not listening..." The creature''s voice trailed off. "What the heck is that?" Li Yang stared at the immensely black tea in his cup, it was so dark that it reminded him of the night sky and yet it was also liquid that a calm midnight sea could have been a better description for it. There was no hint of any subtle fragrance of flowers or leaves at all. He scrunched up his nose, "There are various types of tea, green, white among others to fit one''s desired palate. This one seems to be black tea." And Li Yang hated black tea. Chapter 41: How Valuable Is A Mans Pride? [ You Have Consumed Black Ocean Pearl Tea ] [ A Powerful Wave Overcomes You¡ªYour Body Is Rejuvenated ] [ Toxins In Your Bloodstream Is Being Cleansed ] [ Keep Drinking! Consume 0.1 / 24 Pearls To Increase Your Lifespan by 3% ] [ Current Life Span: Average Human ] Li Yang placed the cup down on the counter, wiping the corner of his lip. "It doesn''t taste half bad¡­there''s a weird salty aftertaste however that wasn''t removed in the process of boiling it." "What the¡ª?" The Panda gawked. "Is that you''re all going to say?" He eyed the notification and coughed slightly, "There are a lot of implications between this tea and Bo Lifen. I plan to ask her tomorrow if I can or confront my neighbor." He had met Mou Gu and Shen Society by chance thanks to Ying Yue He¡­ but there was someone nearby like Grandmother Lanfen all along? It was such a huge coincidence. The old lady had been right under his nose. There was probably no danger associated if the Bo Family had been willing to give him this special tea. At least he''d like to think of it that way, he could be wrong. Still, did that mean that one can procure these kinds of tea in the Heavenly Jade Pavillion that Bo Lifen works in? "I mean you''re not wrong¡ª" The Panda slapped a paw over its face. "Most viewers like watching other people enjoy new drinks and meals but you''re offending whoever collected that and where it came from! That thing is probably guarded jealously by¡­ argh." It pointed its furry paw in front of him. "See for yourself." The creature placed the notification boxes right in his face. [ The Observer ''Scythe Wheat'' Chuckles At The Reaction ] [ You Have Received 10 Charm Points ] [ One of the Observers ''Trite'' Is Disappointed With The Display ] [ Observer ''Apache'' Mocks ''Trite'' ] He scratched the back of his neck, swiping down the notifications and turning back to the creature. "Perhaps if it was prepared better then I would have appreciated it more, although I am aware that black pearls are quite rare. Judging by the notification¡ªit''s not those black pearls that have a shade of other colors. Quite an expensive pearl boiled and made into tea, I am fortunate." The Panda blinked. [ Observer ''Trite'' Is Pleased ] [ You Have Received 100 Charm Points ] Li Yang managed a smile and inclined his head. "Thank you." "..." The creature shook its head in disbelief. It pointed to the doorway, "Alright, it''s time for you to sleep. Must be the rain getting to your head now, I knew it wasn''t a fucking good idea. Change your clothes¡ª" [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Wishes To See The Display ] [ Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Hopes That The Physique Is Fit For A Warrior ] The Panda took a deep inhale, "Thirsty¡ª" "Do I hear one million charm points?" Li Yang raised a brow and then rubbed his chin. He managed a slight smile on his lips, "Perhaps a billion charm points would be a better offer honestly. If one gives me a tip then I will consider it." [ Part of the Celestial Heavens Tremble For A Moment ] [ Some Are In Awe Of Your Shamelessness! ] [ Others Are Disgusted How Quickly The CEO Changes ] [ Computing Charm Points¡­ ] [ Deducting and Adding¡­ ] [ 1000 Charm Points Received ] Li Yang shook his head and threw a look at the Panda, "Stay out of my room this time. Good night." "...ah, whatever!" The Panda called after him. "I''m sure there''s nothing to see! Who wanted to see filthy flesh? Skin bag!" The choice of insults was weird but he ignored it. Instead of giving the creature any kind of answer, he proceeded to walk out of the kitchen and headed back to his room. He was aware that those words of his would mildly surprise them, it might have even angered them¡ªbut at least he earned some Charm Points. He bit back a chuckle. The viewers seemed to be stingy, however. It still wasn''t enough to have him purchase root unlockment, but since the opportunity had presented itself then he had taken it. If anything though, he was greatly disturbed with the lack of privacy. Even a reality show wouldn''t feature the people changing clothes or anything, right? Li Yang hadn''t exactly opened up television for the past year or so, he honestly couldn''t tell. But still, that was as much as he could lower himself¡ªhe wouldn''t bow his head down to whoever was watching. Gauging by the reactions, they were less willing to pay for it and that was fine for him. He had set a price and he could only hope that the Panda didn''t follow him around this time. Little by little he was beginning to grasp the entirety of the situation he was in, the features that occur, and how he could use them for his own benefit. Li Yang would rely on this for now. But tomorrow might also give him a chance. He stepped into his room and took a shower, compared to his earlier sensations during his first bath¡ªit lacked the same response as before. It was perhaps him already getting used to the level of qi in the water source then. The man then proceeded to pluck out the evil-qi dispelling talisman from his jacket and wrapped a towel around his waist. There was one thing that hadn''t exactly come to his mind, his hesitation made it hard for him to think that the System was truly made for him¡­ but he tried for a question. [ There Are No Viewers ] ''Is it possible to block viewers?'' [ Current Methods Involve Distancing Away From The ''Panda'' Transmitter ] [ Other Methods Are Still Unavailable ] "I see..." It was true that these ''Viewers'' had given him much more Charm Points than the two women he had interacted with ever did¡ªbut he still wished to have breathing room. He could pretend that nobody was looking, and yet it was hard to fool himself. It was great to have silence but surely the Panda creature could also turn itself invisible. The thing could prevent other people from seeing it, even as it interacted with actual objects in its vicinity. The very same thing could happen right now, but hopefully, those words of disgust thrown at him were enough to make the Panda choose not to spy on him. ...He honestly doubted the System as well. [ The System Is Integrated Into The Host ] "But it could be transferred." Li Yang replied to the disembodied voice, shaking his head. He was talking to something more akin to an artificial program, wasn''t he? It was even in the word ''System'' that seemed close to computer systems and interfaces. [ Possibility To Transfer Is Currently Unavailable ] [ Transfer Can Shatter Human Soul ] And yet the Panda had blabbered about it before didn''t it¡ªthat meant the creature was willing to shatter his ''soul'' to find another host? He understood that the creature had its own share of troubles, but perhaps he should have expected this much. "Finding a worthy and more grateful one." It was such an idea. Surely nobody would like to enslave oneself to a System right? Unless the rewards were truly worth it. Perhaps it would be. He would do his best to not get the shorter end of the stick. And so this was his burden to bear. The man stepped out of the bathroom and sighed. The sound of another door swung open, "Hey, will ya strip for 100,000 Charm Points¡ª" Chapter 42: The Deadpan Snarker The amount made Li Yang pause, even as he glanced at the Panda poking its head at the door, "One hundred thousand charm points, it is a huge offer," Instead of coming inside, it stuck there somewhat meekly and waited for his reply. An amusing thing for it to do. And yet he needed to make his choice. That amount could solve his current problems right now and even allow him to buy other things. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and shook his head. "What do you think you''re doing?" the Panda hissed at him. "This is an offer¡ª!" "That I must refuse," he smiled and motioned to the door, "Please shut the door once you leave. Thank you." A loud slam echoed inside of the house. He was thankful his brother was a heavy sleeper. The reaction of the Panda still made him sigh. The creature reminded him of a child too at times, but surely it was much older than that. He made a move to his closet and changed. Li Yang had to think of the long term. Right now the charm points were huge but if there was something called the ''late-stage'' in his situation then the number was too small. The shop item [ Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - II ] was more expensive than the first one. And there was no doubt that it would only increase as it went. He wouldn''t be surprised if in the future, things would cost at a million charm points. The man then sank to his bed, the soft and comfortable mattress welcomed him and his aching body. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of his eyelids this time around. And yet he needed to wake early, the man reached for his phone and set it to 4:30am. His desire to meet with Bo Lifen''s grandmother would have to be rescheduled in the evening because of meeting up with the Shen Society. Perhaps the thought of it would have struck a much younger him more stressed out and even panic that it was an additional thing besides the work on his plate¡ªbut Li Yang only closed his eyes. Weariness took a toll even on his mind. . . . It wasn''t even too long after he fell asleep that the sound of his phone blaring made the man come to his senses. Even if groggy, he reached out to his phone and shut it. He rubbed his face with his hand. Li Yang would meet up with the others at Shen Society before heading to the so-called Black Market. It was amusing that it actually had a location rather than just a site or something. He checked his charm points. [ Charm Points Total: 2265 ] Somewhat still far off from the requirements for ''Roots Unlockment''. And yet he managed to grasp what he could. Even the System''s Status screen confirmed that he was beginning to understand things: [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: None ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 1000 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak to Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (3/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (1/9) [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] None His comprehension was rising even without the ''Harem Cultivation Scripture''. It was most likely because whatever were the details on Harem Cultivation, in the end, it was still a cultivation method. The end result would always be the same¡ªa method to increase one''s power. If he could comprehend other methods, there was no doubt that there would be similarities between them. Li Yang assumed that there were similarities between Dual Cultivation and Harem Cultivation. [ There Are Differences ] He raised a brow at the notification. Based on his experience from meditating and cultivating last night under the rain, he did indeed have an easier time absorbing external qi into his body. He could even have it run through his meridians and garner beneficial effects. But transforming it into latent spiritual qi was still out of the question. And yet that was enough to raise his comprehension of Harem Cultivation according to the status screen. Li Yang paused as he fixed his tie¡ª "Could I purchase the Harem Cultivation Scripture?" [ Host Has More Than Enough Charm Points ] It had been a hypothetical question, he knew he could. But those charm points were initially meant to unlock his spiritual roots. It was more important than the scripture if he wished to truly be a cultivator and he failed to gain help from the Shen Society. ...but what if he should have taken the offer last night? A small pang of regret crossed him before he shook his head. What had been done was already done. The man picked up his suitcase and then went out of the door¡ªa black and white ball assailed his face. Li Yang steadied his footing but blinked at the softness of the fur in his face. Until the paw smacked him in the cheek. A small stinging sensation appeared on his cheek and yet this was something he quickly got used to. It tested his nerves, however. "What is it?" The Panda''s beady eyes glared at him, "I know you''re supposed to think of the future, must be something that all of you humans do¡ªbut if you can''t get over the first situation of lacking spiritual roots then you might just be good as dead." "Then I will be." "What did you say?" A glower came from the creature and Li Yang sighed and glanced around the house. There was no doubt that his brother was still exhausted. The man would wish to visit the company when the board meeting would occur in a couple of days. He raised a brow at the creature, "I was injecting some humor, some people do say that death is the end of all suffering. Was the joke too dark for you?" "You don''t sound like you''re joking at all, dumbass." A snicker came from his lips, "Then you must not be aware of deadpan snarkers. Regardless, I may have a solution to the problem." "What? Did you reach 5000 Charm Points?" "No. But there is a chance to get something to unlock my roots," Li Yang would not normally say it aloud, but he did enjoy the look on the creature''s face. Chapter 43: A Taste of Despair and Jinx The CEO got an earful from the small creature¡ªeven when the two of them got into his car to head back to Shanghai. Li Yang had essentially tuned those words out, instead focusing on the road ahead of him as they traveled between cities. With the sky still dim and still glimmering with stars, there was a certain amount of peace he managed to draw from it. He could say that there was a sleepy atmosphere to hours like this, buses and their drivers starting their routes. Not too long after, the Panda quieted down from the incessant screaming. But it still gave him a glare, "Why the heck are you trusting complete strangers¡ªyou''re more gullible than I think you are! Aren''t you supposed to be some snazzy business person, but now you''re meeting with these ''Shen Society'' to help you with your problem." Li Yang kept his eyes on the road. With their current pace, they could get to the city much quicker than usual without the usual flow of traffic. But the creature did warrant an answer, or Li Yang supposed it should get an answer or else he would get hit by it, "It''s a little difficult to explain it, the Shen Family is a known name in the entire country. Those who haven''t heard of those two young siblings losing their parents in an accident when they were kids but still taking care of themselves and the business¡ªit''s a respectable story. Even I wasn''t forced to grow up at ten years old..." "What, did you just tell me a pathetic excuse of a story?" the panda gawked and stabbed a paw in his face. "I didn''t ask for their sobbing backstory, how does that have anything to do with you trusting them? Besides, surely they have had relatives or something." "Relatives or perhaps an avaricious bunch of people who happened to share the same blood¡ªbut I suppose that''s entirely the same." The creature leaned back into its seat, once again not wearing its seat belt at all in lieu for moving around. "Geez, I don''t know what it is with you but you''re a bucket full of sunshine now. You think that their parents got murdered or something?" Li Yang frowned at those words, "It''s not something that''s meant to be discussed or hypothesized about. That''s quite rude." "And here I thought you were a block of wood¡ªhah, you got emotions!" the creature laughed, "Who knew?" "Very funny." "Well it''s a good thing that you finally let me in on this¡ªyou never said a word yesterday. At least I''ll get to see how this world of yours compares to those of others. What are the chances that they''ll have something that your System and the Heavens can provide you?" "I can only hope¡ªI''m more willing to pay for cash than these charm point currencies." The Panda bit back a chuckle, "Wow you actually sound rich for once." "It beats relying on the System," he admitted and almost expected a thunderbolt from the heavens to strike him¡ªbut none came. When he glanced at his right, even the Panda just stared at him with a blank expression. "You''re a pitiful thing, I almost feel bad for you." the panda huffed and waved a paw, "I won''t even elaborate how sad of an attempt that is. We''re in this for the bad, the good and the ugly. You should accept your fate already." Those words hit him¡ªbut he resumed driving and did not give the creature a reply. It had been a little foolish for him to say that aloud, but it also just irritated him as well. It was as if all of his attempts to maintain his own life were nothing more than just attempts. What indeed were the chances that he''d find an ancient item similar to what the System could provide? Despair hung thickly in the air for a moment and clouded his vision. [ Evil Qi Is Rising ] [ Evil Qi-Dispelling Talisman Is Working¡­ ] Li Yang drove on and dismissed the notifications at once. [ Evil Qi-Dispelling Talisman Is Eroding ] . . . Back in Shanghai, a young woman accompanied by her older brother''s men were with her at the headquarters of Shen Society. It was another day for them and two out of the Four Pillars so happened to be present unlike last night. Dai Song Lan was in front of the PC and doing whatever it was that he was doing, and Hua Zhao was on the couch fast asleep and snoring. Shen An Na rubbed the corner of her eyes and stifled back a yawn. She had a can of iced coffee in her hand and took a sip, the refreshing bolt of caffeine rushing to her veins. It was a little early than usual, even earlier than when she had to go to her university but the situation required her to be awake and face things with more finesse than usual. Without her older brother to manage things, she was the de facto leader. Even with bumbling idiots around. And yet she couldn''t help but feel a tad nervous¡ªmaybe it was the coffee¡ªas she awaited for CEO Li Yang to arrive. Maybe it was her woman''s intuition, or maybe it was just the same feeling that she had when she was a child in the back seat of their parent''s car before everything changed. Shen An Na had no special cultivation skills of her own, but the unease in her chest was enough to make her strode over to the sleeping man and shake his shoulders. "Zhao, Zhao." A grunt came from the slumbering man, his long dark ponytail hanging loosely over the edge of the sofa''s headrest. She narrowed her eyes at him and looked out at the door, "Oh, look who''s here? It''s Ning Bi¡ª" The man bolted up from the sofa with bloodshot eyes, or that was his natural eye color. "What gives? I was trying to get some shut eye and god knows I need it since we''re going to the black market." Hua Zhao scratched his cheek, "I don''t why I have to be the one who''s here instead of Mou Gu." "I want you to scout for the CEO," she said. He frowned even when pulled himself up to his feet, "Isn''t he supposed to come here? Didn''t you two have an agreement?" "I''m¡­ just a tad apprehensive." "Oh, great. Mou Gu might end up being right about me jinxing things¡ªbut if he''s not in Shanghai yet doesn''t that mean we''re out of our jurisdiction..." She narrowed her eyes at him and he raised his hands up, "Alright, I''m going!" Chapter 44: A Prowling Demon Beast The steady rolling hills and pastures predated the magnanimous buildings of the city in the distance. Nature and civilization stood side by side and watched over the lonely road. A road where a certain vehicle rode down the freeway with a speed beyond regulated ones. The driver only focused on getting to his destination. Yes, it was for that very reason that creatures that normal men could not see began to raise their heads up, detecting a qi that was foreign. A rich plume of deadly qi surrounded the vehicle and caught the spiritual creatures residing in their homes to stare up in surprise¡ªthe dense cloud of qi distracted, repelled but also attracted. Inhaling the evil qi only reddened the Kui''s beast eyes. The ox-like creature reared its horned head and bellowed loudly, its presence scattered the more peaceful ones in nature. Its glowing red eyes fixated on the car in the distance, and it pounding its hoof on the ground¡ªthe Kui beast raced down the slopes in its tremendous speed. Clouds of dust erupted around them as it launched itself towards the vehicle and prepared to stab it with its horns¡ª "Can you drive any faster or is that the best that you can do?!" the Panda clutched the backrest of the couch, its dark eyes stared at the creature that slammed its head against them. It could see the Kui Beast perfectly, the one-legged demon hunting after them. In order to devour Li Yang''s qi. The CEO grunted and stepped down on the accelerator, the vehicle speeding up even further crossing past the limits. He didn''t even bother with a reply, a slightly ticked off expression on his face that barely passed road rage. He had horrible facial expressions. But as the Panda leered at the demon chasing after them, the creature rushed even faster. A cloud of smoke expelled through its nostrils, the road it left behind was something akin to hell''s path. A red ominous sky with terse thick clouds with broken roads struck a contrast to the blue skies and the shining city that they were driving towards. Caught in two places. Now this was some entertainment¡ªif the man slowed down any minute then he would be a goner. And despite the gap between the human and spiritual world, the demon would break through it and launch them through the air and cause an accident. System or not, he would die at his current state and used as a stepping stone for the demon''s cultivation. All of this was happening right under the CEO''s nose. The Panda could perhaps reveal this information and yet the man''s cultivation levels were too low for him to actually see the creature and much less fight it. And this was the horrible part of being a new cultivator, attracting demons and qi-devouring beasts with no protection nor sensing it. And yet the Panda would not interrupt or come between the man and the demon. Save perhaps for its urging of the CEO to move even faster and grow the distance between the beast and them. Somehow the demon was too enraged to even cast much of an attack or it wasn''t too high-threat of a creature. It was residing near human lands but not in it. Now the Panda could demolish it with one flick of its finger¡ªpaw. But that much interruption was forbidden. Called as an observer. The Panda stared at the expression of the CEO''s face, he had such a blank one that it was hard to determine that he was annoyed. But the qi around him showed the truth. If anything, it was only a tad worried¡ªone demon was alright, but for others to arrive? The man could have placed a beacon on his car and attracted the same amount of demons as well. Large chunks of rocks soared through the crimson skies and landed against them, no, the stone broke off in the world''s barrier, but even then¡­ Honk! A loud beep sounded on the road. A delivery truck soon came from the opposite direction, sending a warning beep to Li Yang. And so it passed towards the ox demon, and thankfully did not reappear underneath the red skies. Only a faint outline of it appeared in the spiritual realm. The Panda blinked once, the demon disappearing and watched the truck go down the road. It would be safe, but as for them¡ªthe creature lunged and speared its horns into the space. Electricity sparked between them and made the Panda stab its paw at him, "Why are you slowing down?!" "We''re nearly there," he responded. "I''d rather not cause an accident in the city." The same monotone tone, the still slightly irked look on his face. And yet the man was controlling his temper and his thoughts. He wasn''t checking the notifications but the Panda could see it clearly. It had begun earlier, the spike and transformation of his regular qi but now it was finally waning. [ Evil-Qi Dispelling Talisman Lost Its Efficacy ] [ Evil Qi Shroud Is Present ] [ Sanity Is ¡­ ] [ ¡­ ] [ Levels of Evil Qi Is Lowering... ] "Ptooey!" the Panda made a face at him and rubbed its paw. Humans and their wild aberrations, it was annoying and contagious. In a plane like this, this was no doubt the default. But even with the man''s internal condition stabilizing, it did not change their circumstances at all¡ª Thud. A loud clang sounded above them. Li Yang blinked and raised his head, slowing down the car even further before throwing a look at the creature, "What did you do?" his eyes narrowed at him. "Nothing!" it said. "Bah! Why would I do anything to stop you?" Now the man could sense something or someone crashing on the roof? This was unbelievable! Unless¡­ the Panda checked the back and saw that the Kui Beast was crashing against them. It spared no effort in its assault. So what had¡ªit raised its head and peered past the roof of the car. A long haired young man was standing atop of the CEO''s car wielding a saber in hand. Li Yang stopped the car and parked by the side of the highway. Thoroughly unconvinced of the creature''s answer, uncaring and unbeknownst of the attacks happening in the other realm. The Panda bulged its eyes¡ªand then the sound of sundering erupted in its ears. Sounds of a blade flourished through the air that caught the CEO with a frown. Red splattered all over the car''s rear glass. Chapter 45: The Great Hero Of— The world that one lived in was far grander than what anybody could expect¡ªit changed the life of not only one man, but several more than his. A single stone tossed into the water would cast ripple after ripple, extending far beyond than what would expect. Was it truly only the fate of one man at stake? Bored gods with nothing to do. Humble men and women going through their daily machinations. Viewers across multiple realms. One man placed in the center of it all¡ªa heavy burden to bear upon his shoulders. Li Yang stared at the simulacrum on the seat right next to him. Shaped and fashioned into the shape of a panda but with powers far above him, the man still frowned. "What exactly have you done? I won''t be mad." It still acted more human than anything. The creature motioned wildly with its paws, its white furry face turning red for a moment. "I just told you I did nothing. It''s all because of you! Go check your notifications, dimwit¡ª" Someone''s head poked upside down on Li Yang''s windshield. Long dark hair fell down neatly through his ponytail, a hairstyle resembling those of ancient times. "Hey, got yourself in a sticky situation, didn''t you?" the young man said with a relaxed smile. Despite that friendly smile, he resembled someone who associated with gangs; he had a distinctive roguish look. The CEO still opted not to use his windshield wipers. He also bit back a comment of his own. Comparing the man to a monkey or spider was a little rude, and instead he opted for a more polite answer. "Thank you for your help." The reason how somebody pounded on his car''s rooftop now showed himself. "Well, things are safe, so can I hop in?" "..." "I could run back, but you have a ride?" It took a minute before the martial artist found himself in the shotgun of Li Yang''s car and so dismounted the panda who originally sat on it. The stranger leaned back on the seat with a sigh in relaxation, muttering about the comfort of the seat. While the young man initially had a saber in hand, it soon disappeared under an inter-spatial ring. Li Yang only nodded slightly, the man continuing on to drive to the city. "I did not exactly see anything¡­ except I felt as if there was a heavy presence. Forgive me, it''s a little hard to explain it." "No problem, you''re new, so I bet you don''t know the terms and whatnot. I still mess them up myself, as for the gratitude¡ªthank Shen later, she told me to look for you." The man''s arms were resting behind his neck. "Who would have known you''d use up the talisman''s efficacy and then attract demons? High stress?" Hua Zhao raised a brow and peered around. "I''m also detecting something strange, but my spiritual sensing skill is a bit whack." He glanced at the rearview mirror, the panda currently stuck on the child seat. He glanced covertly at the man. "Is that so?" Li Yang had felt as if there was something wrong, a looming presence that he thought was his dark emotions, an overcast that darkened his vision, but it was only now that he understood that something truly happened. He had tuned out the System''s notification by himself at that point, too. Ashamedly, he got caught up in his emotions and consumed by his rumination. He stifled a wince. Too blindsided. He didn''t think it would pull him¡ªbut when one''s freedom was at stake... It had messed with his mind. Somehow, it was no longer just about placing a dangerous hold over his company, but they leashed him for gods'' whims. It frankly wasn''t that great to think about it. He might as well be making excuses for himself right now, and that was also unforgivable. "¡ªterribly new in terms of cultivation. I''m not one myself, well you could say I''m a body cultivator. Martial artists train their body but I assume most people and including you are interested in being a ''proper'' cultivator with you wishing to develop your body''s spiritual roots to develop a core and whatnot." Compared to the man''s laid-back and even dismissive attitude last night, this Hua Zhao chattered and talked while reclined on the chair. Spouting things that both made sense and also made the CEO wish to consult his notes¡ªeven as they approached and arrived in the city of Shanghai at last. Li Yang listened to him with some attention, but paid more attention to the road. It wasn''t as if this exasperated him; he had indeed gotten stressed, but this younger man''s presence was a welcome change. Despite the early hours, there was already some traffic congesting the roads. Only this person filled in the silence. The Panda creature was even quiet, narrowing his eyes at the young man. Perhaps it could sense that the man was strong? Well, not strong enough if they couldn''t see the creature. As for him, it was probably because of the System and the creature being the one that granted him this. Li Yang temporarily checked the notifications that had gone through earlier. [ You Have Been Stricken With Influx of Evil-Qi ] [ The Exposure To Foreign Aura Extended Its Influences ] [ A Kui Beast Has Sensed Your Presence From Spiritual Realm! ] Realms. Earthly. Hellish. Spiritual. Celestial? Perhaps there were more, even more classifications, but that notification set off things in his mind. A realm so close to his own that if this martial artist hadn''t come¡ªhe would have gotten impaled and used as a stepping stone for a demon''s cultivation? What an end it might have been. Li Yang moved on to the next one, right as they parked outside of the building of the Shen''s Office. It was in the marketplace, an inconspicuous place that attracted not much attention¡ªbut not necessarily the people that were waiting for him. A young woman stood aside, somewhat dressed to the nines, her arms crossed over her chest. "Geez, Shen doesn''t look happy." Hua Zhao muttered and took off his seatbelt. Unbeknownst to him, a status screen hovered just beside him. [ Death Of Kui Beast - Lower Grade Demon ] [ Killer: Hua Zhao ] [ Information: Due to the transmitter''s foreign qi mixing with the evil qi from host''s unstable emotional state¡ªit had mixed into a cloud of qi that was highly repulsive to yang creatures but attracted yin creatures. ] [ Status: No Rewards To Be Given To Host ] There was nothing he could do about that, instead he focused on the man''s question. "Hmm, indeed. I''m afraid we''ve been late by two minutes," Li Yang grimaced as he checked the time. And yet there was something about the man''s name that somewhat made him look back at the status screen. [ Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Is Impressed With New Individual ] [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Takes Note Of New Individual''s Appearance¡ªObserver Wants To Throw Charm Points ] "Don''t let people steal your fucking spotlight!" the Panda groaned and raised a paw over its face. "Geez, it''s not like we give Systems to everyone, you know?" the creature hissed at him with beaded red eyes, "You''re losing your audience!" Li Yang temporarily ignored the cursing and instead removed himself from the car. If his assumption was right, then it would enable him to at least understand something. He walked after the smaller man and glanced down a bit, "Are you by any chance related to Hua Mulan?" The young man stopped in his tracks, freezing up like a solid block of ice. It was just in time for the creature to leave the vehicle and watch it unfold. Something popped up in the corner of its vision and of the CEO''s: [ You Have Gained 30 Charm Points ] Now what was this one for?! Don''t tell this creature that there were cross-dressers involved in this ploy?! Chapter 46: Heading to the Black Market A chuckle had emerged in the air, Shen An Na covered her mouth but hardly stifled her laughter and pointed at Hua Zhao. But she then met the CEO''s gaze and inclined her head, "That is quite perceptive of you¡ªnot a lot of people would assume that from first glance." "It was just some kind of random guess, no doubt." Hua Zhao ran his fingers through his hair, somewhat behest at the sudden laughter because of him. His face was colored red even as he approached the girl. "He''s a bit right¡ªbut I''m glad to have lightened up your mood, Miss Shen." Li Yang responded with a smile of his own. [ You Have Gained 10 Charm Points ] Li Yang blinked at the sudden amount again. Perhaps it was because the woman he was interacting with was younger than usual? It was a lot easier to gain, barring the one time that Bo Lifen had given him 100 points at one time. "Haha, why would I need to lighten up in the first place¡ªwhat did you tell him, Zhao?" the young woman sent a sharp look at her employee. "I''m glad that you''ve arrived safe and sound, CEO Li. Are you prepared to go to the black market?" It was something that shouldn''t have been said aloud, and yet she did it without even blinking. He turned back to her and nodded, "I am. Although this seems to be the first where you''ll have to visit a physical store instead of going online." He rubbed his chin. "Not that I have actually checked any black markets myself, but from what I have heard." "Dead gods, you can''t hold a proper conversation!" the Panda complained behind him. The man had nothing to say about that, except sigh inwardly. He might have ignored it, but the creature nitpicked a lot. Small chitchats had always been a bane of his, despite his task usually requiring him to talk with others¡­ and yet he could improve, regardless. Shen An Na only smiled and nodded at him, "Indeed you''re correct about that¡ªalthough, it''s more of our nickname for it. And it is an entire market of different sellers and suppliers, but we''ll be heading to the flagship store and hope they have something for your condition." "It deals with the illegal too, but let''s just get there to finish this thing already. The dude already used up the evil-qi dispelling talisman." Hua Zhao interrupted them. "Almost died back there if we weren''t being careful." Her eyes widened. She looked up to him with a worried look. "Are you alright, CEO Li?" A plump creature sat on said man''s shoulder and swatted his cheek with a paw, "The perks of being conventionally attractive, huh?" Li Yang ignored the comment of the Panda and glanced at the young woman, "I''m fine, thank you for the concern, Miss Shen. You''ve already done a lot." The need to get stronger and not burden other people only elevated, but the way to such strength was¡ª [ You Have Gained 10 Charm Points ] The woman coughed, "It''s really just my responsibility to look after people like yourself, please think nothing of it." His strength relied on fickle things, a matter of the heart of women thinking he was charming. He would do his best to accumulate points easier, but it would never cease to baffle him. And for whatever convoluted reason, the gods decided it was so. "Ahem." Whether it had been the Panda or Hua Zhao, it was a signal for them to get going. "Is this market close by?" he asked. "We actually still have to get there¡ªI''ll get my car, you can leave yours here, CEO Li." Shen An Na told him. She scratched her cheek, if a little sheepishly, "It''s a little farther away from here, it''s not in our territory." He raised a brow, "Is that so? I do not mind driving my car¡ªI am imposing on the two of you. Please let me show some gratitude and drive us there." "His car is actually comfy." "... if you insist." she bowed. . . . And so that was how the young woman took the shotgun seat beside him. Li Yang buckled his seatbelt and glanced over at her, "Seatbelt?" "Oh, pardon me." Shen An Na wore it with no problem. Albeit she gave him an embarrassed smile, "It''s a little restrictive." "Is that her way of saying she has a huge rack?" A scoff escaped from the creature before he would set off. The Panda''s attention shifted from him to the woman. It wasn''t necessarily a good thing, but Li Yang paid more attention to driving to the destination. Until the young man in the back spoke up. "Hey, do you have a kid? What''s this child seat for?" Hua Zhao hollered. Compared to Shen An Na who sat in front with decorum, the man was rather too relaxed. It was Li Yang''s way of thinking of him as sloppy. "He made a valid point!" the Panda was quick to side with the martial artist and gave him a look. "It''s snug, but questionable!" Li Yang shrugged. "When I purchased my car, the dealer offered to add it to the package at a fraction of its usual cost," he replied. "It didn''t make any sense to refuse it. He was a good salesman and there might come an occasion to use it." "Oh, will you be getting married soon? Have a girlfriend?" "Zhao, don''t ask questions like that!" "Hey, he''s probably at the age where he wants to settle down." Hua Zhao answered with a shrug of his own. Li Yang stayed silent for a second and parked his car first. "I haven''t given it much thought, but certain circumstances might make it an opportune time for that, if I were to meet someone. We are here?" He had only followed what Shen An Na had inputted. "Mhmm, we''re here." She looked out the window. And it was a street that retained its ancestral architecture compared to more modern locations elsewhere. The Yuyuan Old Street. Li Yang had never been here himself, and when all of them got down and passed through an ancient archway entrance¡­ He could almost understand why¡ªbesides his own busy schedule, the entire place was crowded. The old business street was brimming with people despite the early hour, and it was a small wonder how the so-called black market thrived. "They must blend in a lot." he said to himself. "Well, there''s that¡ªbut also this." Hua Zhao snapped his fingers. Li Yang stared at him and raised a brow. "What?" "Hold on a minute." the younger man pinched the bridge of his nose. "It''s a little difficult when I''m with others." Shen An Na averted her gaze, "I probably should have asked Mou Gu instead of you, even Song would have done it better." "And there we go¡ª" a loud snap echoed in his ears. A sound that resembled a thunderclap and purloined his attention for a second. And in that moment, the view in front of him changed¡ªor rather, the surrounding people disappeared. The enormous crowd of people were emptied in a street that resembled the Yuyuan Old Street, but in a different time. Dark skies were overcast above them and with no celestial body in sight. "Now let''s actually visit the black market for real." Chapter 47: Yuans Shop and the Systems Assessment "Welcome to Yuan''s¡ª" The shopkeeper''s voice trailed off when the three people entered the building. "Yuan''s Shop. What can I do for the three of you? If you have the cash, you can get a good deal in our stash." Now the CEO had expected more people to be around when they first came, but it was only them that had arrived in this establishment. But after passing through the streets and stepping in here¡ªit was good to see a human face. A smile was on the shopkeeper''s lips, "It''s not too often that I''d see the Shen Group head here, it must be an important task and I suppose it''s because of your client here?" the man eyed him with a knowing look. Li Yang stared back at the man at the counter of the shop. And true to the name, or at least to what he had fashioned in mind, the entire shop resembled something that might have been in an ancient or xianxia novel. He inclined his head, "You are correct." He glanced around the store for a moment. When all of them stepped in, a wind chime greeted them with its soft clinks and he was met with an exhibit fit for a young warrior or cultivator entering a shop. Possibly even enough for a master, if what his companions said was true. Its walls were deep maroon and outlined with yellow pillars, all around them were an assortment of items that hung on the shelves, from great swords to even marbled statues on dais. The counter had fresh materials on the glass display, strange feathers, precious stones and also talismans of every shape and size. A large tapestry hung behind the man with the name of the shop as promised, written in old characters. "It is in an interesting place, isn''t it?" He glanced back at the shopkeeper, "Indeed." It was best not to say anything further unless the two people with him explained it more. He wasn''t here to sightsee, but when he looked over his shoulder and found that the creature also seemed distracted with the things on sale, he understood that it was almost an inevitable thing. "So what is it that has brought all three of you to my humble shop?" the man looked at him. "I have my guesses, but it''s still best to tell me as specifically as one can." "We''re looking for an artifact, pill, or anything powerful to unlock one''s spiritual roots." Li Yang answered. This much was something that he needed to say¡ªif it were possible that they actually had anything. The smile on the shopkeeper''s face vanished for a moment and then reappeared. "Well, wow, now that is rare. Hard to procure, probably something that could be even called fictional¡ªand we''re in a shop meant for cultivators, apothecaries and the like. Is it an urgent thing?" "Unless you want the guy to keep absorbing qi like a sponge?" Hua Zhao spoke up. "And isn''t that fascinating?" The shopkeeper, probably ''Yuan,'' peered back at Li Yang and had spectacles on him. "Most cultivators that start out have terrible times trying to detect qi and yet here is a man with a weakened spiritual root that attracts it like nobody''s damn business." "I don''t think I have a spiritual root." Li Yang admitted. "Everybody has a spiritual root." the shopkeeper said. "Every living thing has a spiritual root¡ªheck, I think there are items that gain sentience if exposed to qi. Ever seen a living qi sword?" "No." "Hah, well you should. But anyway, let''s see if I have anything at the back of the room." the shopkeeper glanced behind him. "Let me repeat that this is probably something rare. Times are tough, and the age of cultivators have dwindled down. Not sure if we can actually call anyone in our era a proper one, but we''ll have to see if there''s actually something that can help this fella?" "Do your best to look, we''re prepared to compensate you." Shen An Na said. "As all things should be¡ªwe''re in a shop, folks! Nothing''s free here!" the shopkeeper shot back and then retreated into another door and left the three at the front of his shop. The person was completely at ease despite leaving things to them. Some kind of tight security was probably implemented. Li Yang turned back to the two, "Thank you for assistance, I''ll cover it if anything is found." "I''m sure there has to be something." Shen An Na tried for a smile. "But if there isn''t anything¡ªthen the next thing is looking for something that''ll help with you in managing your condition." "Not everyone''s cut out to be a cultivator." Hua Zhao added with a shrug. "Living a normal life isn''t so bad, you know?" And yet he wasn''t afforded that opportunity. "That is true." Li Yang glanced around and spotted the Panda trying some jewels inside of the glass display. How it got there was another question, but the creature only shot him back a look that didn''t give any concern. Only he was troubled as he remembered what the System had said. He didn''t have a spiritual root. [ Host Has No Spiritual Root ] The System confirmed it to him until now, so the shopkeeper was wrong unless¡­ he summoned his status screen and honed in on the last portion. [ Evaluation ] A regular mortal living in the earthly plane. Due to the current time and age that one is currently living in, one does not have a single trace of harmony to the path of Dao. Despite living in the nation where cultivation began¡ªyou have no roots, no affinity to a specific element, and the normal path of cultivation is unimaginable. The Host is an insignificant being, if not for the System. The wordings of the System had seemed normal to him at first, only accurate, but what if there was something wrong with it? The Panda has inferred that the System was infallible, but if he could find something¡­ ''Assess the Individual Hua Zhao?'' He had never tried it before, not particularly fond of the System compared to speaking with the Panda who gave more emotional, if not more genuine-sounding information, but something popped up. [ Evaluation ] Individual is an insignificant being in the earthly plane. The individual only pursued the initial cultivation path, but then forsaken it. Extremely weak. ''Assess the Panda'' [ ¡­ ] ''Asses the creature over there.'' Li Yang didn''t know its true name or identity, but if the System could give a general assessment then¡­ [ Evaluation ] Individual is an insignificant and cursed being re-delegated to an earthly plane. Li Yang came to a conclusion at once¡ªthe System spoke in a superlative manner. Or perhaps had seen everything on a scale that was far greater than what was meant for this world. The power curve installed in the System was far too grand for it to even take note of his mediocre spiritual root, perhaps? It brought both chagrin and hope. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: I noticed some authors use this portion after their writing instead of the designated bit. I have nothing special to say, I''m about to sleep lol. I noticed that I may have done too much worldbuilding x.x the information here is also available in my two other books, shared universe so it can be a little too much for others, but it''s a guilty pleasure, heh. [ 2/22/2021 ] Chapter 48: Money Cant Buy Everything... Or Can It? "Now I present to you the Root Blossoming Tea¡ªwe believe it to have been abundant two thousand years ago, a time when many ordinary mortals chased after the path of cultivation." the Shopkeeper said and placed two items on the counter. "We''ve gathered from our treasurer-hunter that they''ve unearthed from a long-ascended cultivator master''s cave that took in disciples. Of course, this shop has already tested its efficacy, and can verify that it acts as a potent energy source for one''s spiritual roots. " The first item was a white porcelain canister, decorated with blue clouds, and beside it was a scroll that looked slightly worn for tear. The shopkeeper unfurled the scroll and motioned to the script, "The parchment contains the dosage for mortals and cultivators. While powerful enough to open weak spiritual roots, it''s also effective in nourishing already opened spiritual roots." Li Yang assessed the tea canister with the System and found the man''s words to be accurate. And the System showed it despite its own Charm Point Shop having a similar item. He glanced at the man, "How much for it?" If it was effective, then he would purchase it. He still had to get to his office on time. "Let''s see, considering that you''re new to this society¡ªI''ve never seen you before. Although from your get-go, it''s easy to assume that you have some clout in the normal human world." the shopkeeper rubbed his chin. "One billion dollars¡ªUS Dollars would be enough." "Oi! That''s too expensive!" Hua Zhao spoke up behind him. Li Yang only frowned. The shopkeeper just threw that number in the air, but he didn''t think that its actual worth was that. Even the System recognized it, but similar to how the Shopkeeper remarked it as an available thing in the past¡ªthe System didn''t see it as anything miraculous. Except this might be the only available one they had in stock. "Are you sure that this is the only shop with this product?" The Shopkeeper raised a brow at the CEO, "I might be the only one willing to sell such a valuable object." "And yet there are probably several other shops that have this, even if there''s only one other store who has the same item as you¡ªif I were to pay a fraction of that cost they would surely still accept it." He said. Li Yang weighed in the cost of procuring this item versus purchasing the one in the System''s Shop. But he could still haggle here. "The money in your world isn''t as important as you might think for a cultivator. Much less for a shop that caters to cultivators and other related individuals." the shopkeeper said. "It''s a shame, because we might be the only shop who still accepts human currency. Others only accept jade slips and other valuable items for a cultivator." Shen An Na appeared beside the CEO and placed her hands on the counter, she leaned up to the man. "You do know that you''re not the one who''s supposed to price these things¡ªI want to talk to your boss. Surely that snake is still here." The shopkeeper''s gaze flickered momentarily to the young woman, a grin momentarily crossing his lips. "Are you sure that you don''t want to talk to a manager?" "What?" The shopkeeper waved a hand, "I assure you, it''s something that I''ve already discussed with our boss. What kind of boss would turn down a profit? Also, he''d be hurt to hear that you called him a snake." "What? Did you want us to call him a devil? With that price you''re saying, one''s better off making a deal with a devil." Hua Zhao grumbled. "And yet we haven''t exactly heard CEO Li complain, didn''t we?" "Didn''t I just recall you saying that you haven''t seen him before?" "Haven''t seen him in the flesh¡ªbut surely, you''re the one who hasn''t been in the know. It''s important to know prospective clients." the shopkeeper shrugged, he turned back to him. "You''re in the covers of those top billionaire magazines, along with your paternal family." Li Yang grimaced, remembering the photoshoot he had attended sometime ago, but nodded. "I did not expect you to read such things when you''ve claimed not to be interested in the ordinary man''s dealings." He felt more like an observer now than the one actually buying¡ªbut at least it gave him details regarding how these people have already interacted before. Despite all the inconsistencies in the shopkeeper''s words, the man only bowed. "There is a reason for us to still accept human currency, I''m not some ascetic monk and neither is my boss." He looked up and gave a friendly grin. "Then you know how questionable it will be if I were to withdraw that amount." "We''ll accept non-liquid assets as well. How about shares to your company? I mean we could do installments of payment too. Yuan''s shop offers wonderful payment options for our customers¡ªand all you need is to sign a contract." "You know what, we''re leaving¡ªwe''ll find some other shop for this tea." Shen An Na frowned. "I would have thought that he would be more willing to help, but greed has once again made you people like this." "He wouldn''t be the lord of this market if he did things out of charity. Besides, doesn''t this seem like an urgent matter? Let him stick with his qi condition too long and some damage might be irreversible to his meridians and body." "I have something that could match the value of this Root Blossoming Tea." Li Yang suddenly spoke up. After weighing things, this was a feasible solution to his problem. He smiled at Shen An Na, "Thank you for your concern, but I cannot waste my time to look for another shop when the product is right in front of me." "The value of the item that you have on hand¡ªI think it''s only fair that I would assess it." The shopkeeper''s face turned serious for a moment. "Although I''m not sure how you would procure an item of value." "It''s how I ended up in this situation in the first place." The Panda creature''s eyes bulged for a moment, finally paying attention from the Dragon Lantern that it was lounging in from. It noticed the confidence in the man''s tone and then the profound look in the man''s eyes. "Oi, are you going to¡ª" [ Thank You For Your Purchase! ] A notification ding erupted in the room, but only Li Yang and the Panda heard it. To the eyes of the three people besides them, something magically appeared in the man''s hands. It was faster than what any spatial ring could have brought out, and even then, there was no such thing on the CEO''s person. "Assess its worth, I''ll cover the rest with cash or credit. But I have reason to believe that this is a valuable item, possibly even worth more than the Root Blossoming Tea. Except, it can''t solve my problems, but it might prove useful for someone else." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Guess the product that he purchased from the System''s Shop? Also, to address some questions on Li Yang''s psyche. Let us turn to the all-human weakness called cognitive dissonance. Now what the heck is that? It''s the disconnect, where one''s values, beliefs, or ideas are in conflict with one''s actions and behaviors. It''s like me promising to sleep at 10pm in the evening but then I''m still awake at 3am scrolling through memes at 9gag or reddit. So despite him being a CEO, where in most Romance Stories, the man is the epitome of all things good and is possibly the perfect man for a ravishing Power Fantasy in Male Lead Stories. He''s susceptible to flaws and errors in judgement. There''s also the fact that it''s difficult to write a protagonist smarter than the author. How does one write a genius if you yourself aren''t a genius? I can''t make the other characters dumb just to make the MC shine. I won''t make the others weak, just to make him look strong. So if you do have any suggestions on the course of his actions, what''s a reasonable course of his thinking if you were in his shoes and had grown up as a "spare" for his family, leave a comment. It''ll be good feedback. Thank you! PS. But yes, I''m also outlining scenes where he does have sex. This story is a recipe for disaster lol x.x I still question why I wrote it, but it''s probably because I''m not a CEO with unlimited money and I wanted to win the uh, Amazon Gift Card prize last December. I''m semi-afraid that HB_Keze''s prediction in his review might be accurate, except for me writing 1500 Chapters pfft. (Also dang, now you understand why I try not to write Author''s Notes previously... they get absurdly long) Chapter 49: Would You Like To Have A Drink? "What is that?" The shopkeeper blinked and stared at the item in the CEO''s hands. It was a beautiful and pristine can, similar to what might one could obtain in a vending machine, there were even beads of dew glistening on the container. While the Root Blossoming Tea could have been found in ancient times, antique but powerful because of its ingredients carefully made by perhaps a powerful Alchemist from the past¡­ the can in the CEO''s hand was a representation of modernization. There was a certain appeal to it, cool and refreshing¡­ but what was that sensation that somehow invigorated one''s eyes even as they looked at it?! This was no simple drink in a can¡­ "I believe this is a drink that could provide a great source of energy." CEO Li Yang told the shopkeeper with a cool tone. The shopkeeper in question scratched his cheek, he tried to resist the tempting can of cool drink in the CEO''s hands. "Well, I''m sure that the energy it provides might be powerful¡­ but it is surely something recreatable with another sort of elixir and such. Do you not know of energy elixirs? If it''s something like that, then I must say that the value of this can you have is not worth very much." "Are you not curious?" The CEO asked. "Most of the elixirs and pills created by alchemists and pill makers are borne through heat and fire, but you can tell that the process of producing this is quite different. The drink''s efficacy can possibly be matched¡ªbut the chance to learn how to produce something like this? Investigate the contents? I can assure you that nobody else has ever seen a product like this in the entire country. I might say that something unique like this will draw in a good number of consumers." The shopkeeper was simply but a shopkeeper, but even he could understand what the CEO was implying. In the world of business, there were two key traits of a product or service that will determine if it were to become a success: Novelty and Use. Still, he didn''t think that he would be talked into purchasing something by a CEO! Heck, this wasn''t even just him selling it¡­ it was almost akin to a business pitch. A proposal! "The taste is actually very refreshing, and it will be something enjoyable for one''s palate." Li Yang continued to say with nothing but a simple smile on his face. Compared to his usual serious, if not sullen look¡­ there was actually a hint of enjoyment and a light in his eyes. It was the look of a man who actually enjoyed his career! "I''ve never actually tried energy elixirs or anything yet, but surely there is something of a good value in selling a cold drink that matches elixirs." "... are you even sure that it''s recreatable?" The shopkeeper had to pull himself together. He had to keep his wits and focus on the viability of such a drink, it might be appealing to look at and even now his throat felt parched as he looked at it, but it was not enough to hand over the Root Blossoming Tea for no reason. Li Yang raised a brow, "Are you not confident in the skills of your people? I''ve come to understand that this is the flagship store in all of the city and thus you and your boss must come into contact with trusted and powerful contacts to provide your wares. I do not discount that at all." In the Yuan''s Shop, managed by Yuan Gen, the shopkeeper felt his pride get attacked in this particular moment. And yet he needed to cool his head, he shouldn''t be overcome by his emotions¡ªthis was emotional manipulation often done by people trying to let you make an impulse decision. He placed a hand over his forehead, "Well, I think that I must confer this with¡­" Li Yang opened the can, a refreshing sound popped. It sounded like music to everyone''s ears inside the store. A dramatic gust of wind seemed to blow at the right moment and swept over his hair akin to a commercial, and he offered the can out to the shopkeeper with a cool look. "Would you like to take a sip?" The shopkeeper accepted the drink before he could even know what he was doing. And once he took a sip, the man''s eyes bulged open¡ª [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Wants Their Thirst To Be Quenched ] [ Observer ''Apache'' Is Gawking At The Scene ] [ Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Laughs ] [ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ] . . . This commercial is brought to you by LoveStellar Organization. Bringing Love Among the Stars! Today we present our product for all of the viewers watching this mortal''s challenge! [ Divine Energizer Drink ] Feel the power of a thousand suns! With LSO''s specialized drink¡ªthe individual who drinks this will feel a rush of energy flow throughout their entire body. Perfect for consecutive rounds with your Target! Comes in Zesty Lemonade Flavor To anyone who might have been viewing this scene with an unfiltered perspective, they would have come to notice that there was a creature, a Panda transmitting everything in the Premium 3D Version of the show, who also happened to be throwing murderous looks at the CEO. And if one were able to tune to the creature''s words at this very moment¡­ "Why the fuck are you giving the System''s items away you goddamn¡ª!" the creature couldn''t finish its words as it was struck by a sudden gust of wind that threw it off of the lantern that it was resting on. The very same wind that produced a soft brush of wind around the CEO at that particular time that he offered it to the poor shopkeeper. What soon came after the sponsored commercial was an invitation to all viewers to try Races: Online, it was another universal platform for the viewers to create an avatar and live a second life with multiple races. Chapter 50: He Will Not Wait Even while the Panda shouted expletives at him, Li Yang remained unconcerned and simply watched the expression on the shopkeeper''s face. He was aware of the risks that it brought to reveal such an item¡­ based on the System''s explanation, it was from an organization beyond the planet, probably something akin to an intergalactic federation, or at least a laboratory more advanced than what was present in current times, he had risked it. However, it was also the chance to create a perspective in the presence of all the people with him now. They probably had questions about how he had come into access of cultivation, but now their interest would be piqued even more. It was a gamble and an endeavor that could possibly endanger him, but if he wished to progress through his own methods instead of what the Heavens had carved out from him, it was time to do things differently. Based on the Charm Points that he had received from the Observers, they didn''t find it offensive at all¡­ only amusing. He would still opt in to the System''s benefits, grow stronger through it¡ªbut he wouldn''t simply bow his head and follow after the missions. He still had some leeway until another mission was imposed on him, and until then, he would do things his own way. Li Yang cleared his throat and looked at the shopkeeper, ignoring the looks from Shen An Na and Hua Zhao. "How does it taste?" Proud he might be of what his people had founded, his country said to have been the start of cultivation¡ªbut modernization was also something he respected. Without adapting to the ongoing trends, one might get stuck in the past and not see a new thing that could match or even overcome the troubles of the former ways. The Shopkeeper was caught in a daze for a couple of seconds until he snapped out of it, and blinked. He proceeded to clear his throat, "Well¡­ I have to say that it was¡­" "By the way, I''m not one to nitpick, but it seems that you have finished the entire can." Li Yang pointed out with an amused smile. If there was anything he could confer from the shopkeeper''s reaction, there was indeed a mind blowing effect to it, but it also happened to be safe to consume. He wasn''t so sure if a human body could actually handle the consumption of the drink or explode when the System mentioned about the energy of a thousand suns¡ªbut at least he could see that it was fine. The shopkeeper was still alive. It was almost morbid enough to think that the shopkeeper could explode when he drank it, but if that had been the case¡­ well, at least he would have obtained the Root Blossoming Tea. Li Yang sighed inwardly at the sudden thoughts, but refocused on the shopkeeper. "¡ªare you greedy enough to ask for payment?!" the shopkeeper asked. There was an incredulous look on his face. "Argh, where did you even get something like this? Heck, where did these two even find you? This thing is¡­ it''s not normal." Li Yang raised a brow, "I thought things were normal as well, but then I learned that cultivators actually exist. I can share that sentiment you are having, but it seems like the world is much vaster than one can imagine." Shen An Na only coughed, "I take it that the drink was¡­ refreshing, Yuan Gen." "Do you still have one of those drinks?" Hua Zhao asked. The man was a bit uninterested in the ongoing trade, only curious about the drink. "It''s not fair that you had been hiding something like this from¡­ me?" He had received a silent stomp on the foot from Shen An Na. These two people from the so-called Shen Society would reassess their position with him. He had only appeared to them initially to be someone who needed help and assistance, but this could be the start of them seeing him as a more valuable individual, barring his own wealth. "But he''s right you know, Yuan Gen." Shen An Na remarked. "You have to pay for drinking the entire can, I remembered that he only offered a sip." The usual calm young woman was slightly pouting. Even when she didn''t exactly say it, there was also a hint of desire in her eyes to taste the same thing as the shopkeeper. Li Yang sighed and glanced at his wristwatch, "Unfortunately, it seems that I have to get going now, I still have to head back to my office." He glanced at the shopkeeper. "It seems that we could not come to an agreement, thank you for your time. I would also like to thank the both of you, Miss Shen and Hua Zhao for your assistance today." He nodded briefly at the two. "I suppose I''ll try to take care of this matter all by myself." The CEO left the shop before any of them could even utter a word. "¡ªWait!" somebody shouted before he took out his car keys. He''d give them five minutes to make their pitch, maybe just three minutes? This wasn''t all an act for the CEO. He actually wished to get back to his office on time and with no delay. This was one thing, and his work was another separate thing. Li Yang would be handling both. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Which chapter did you like more? This chapter that has the Point of View of our protagonist (Third Person Limited), or the previous one that was in Third Person Omniscient Narrator View? Most novels nowadays focus on the former perspective, it allows the reader to get into the protagonist''s shoes. However, the latter allows one to peer into the mind''s of other characters. I did hear that head-hopping (shifting perspective) is troublesome, even painful to read, but sticking with Li Yang''s perspective might also seem to dull. I did enjoy writing last chapter, I even threw away a small nod to uh... ''Races: Online'' which so happens to be my first book prior to this. They''re set in the same universe, but with time gaps. Chapter 51: The Precursor To Something Bigger "Thank you for conducting business with Yuan''s Shop, it''ll be a pleasure to conduct more negotiations with you, Sir Li!" the shopkeeper shook the hand of the CEO with a relieved smile. The two of them still managed to strike an agreement even without his boss. Now what would happen afterwards was up in the air, but after tasting the drink that the CEO offered to him, Yuan Gen would not let the chance slip by him. He was positive that once he relayed this information, it would be taken well by him. It was also proof that there was something greater than just the Shen Society taking in a random CEO into their care, it was obvious that the man had some sort of backer or had come upon something special to have obtained a stash like this. Yuan Gen had stored the three cans in one of the freezing inter-spatial safe. There was a lot of work to be done. He watched the vehicle drive away with some sense of unease and relief at the same time. He was jittering. . . . Shen An Na already held the Root Blossoming Tea''s canister in her hands, and she was once again back in the shotgun of CEO Li''s car. It was a peculiar and even otherworldly feeling to stay in close proximity to the much older man than her. She had initially assumed that this man felt at loss, this situation was jarring¡­ it was practically turning everything that one knew upside down. But it seemed that he had managed to really gain back the situation for himself. "It seems that all you needed from us was directions, Mister Li Yang." She said with a small smile. At least he wasn''t a headache like other clients before him, speaking of which, she checked her phone and grimaced. Sun Aoyun was dropping by soon in this city for business, just great. But she once again gazed back at the older man. Perhaps it was a little crush. Her older brother would spit out fire if he ever came across her admitting such a thing aloud. But there was no denying that having an older, capable and especially handsome man was enough to even make a young woman like her feel enthralled. But Shen An Na needed to get her wits together, she was supposed to be betrothed to someone else. And this was just her appreciating a man''s looks. "The man still can''t fight or anything¡ªhe needs our help." Hua Zhao remarked from the back seat. The man was on his phone and temporarily looked up, "Unless you have another trick up your sleeve, CEO Li? By the way, I''m curious, is there a special code for your company''s online store?" "Zhao!" Shen An Na glared at the man. This guy was really embarrassing them! "Hmm, I''m not exactly sure about the latter in regards to discount codes, I''ll have my secretary look them over." Li Yang answered. His gaze was on the road ahead of them, "But I hope that while I am still in the process of trying to gather strength, I can rely on you and Shen Society? Would it be possible to hire one of your men as a bodyguard?" Shen An Na cleared her throat, "I''ll look it over with our other employees." "Thank you." "By the way, CEO Li¡­ are you heading immediately to your office?" Shen An Na asked. "We could brew your Root Blossoming Tea at the headquarters. You came here so early, I''m not sure if you had the chance to have breakfast." "I sure didn''t get to eat," Hua Zhao hollered. "Will you be treating us to breakfast, boss?" Shen An Na could only feel mildly annoyed at the freeloading martial artist. Li Yang gave his reply, an apologetic look on his face. "Unfortunately, I really do have to go. I thank you for your thoughts, however. You are most kind, Miss Shen." [ You Have Earned 20 Charm Points ] Li Yang would once again earn another set amount of points from Shen An Na, and when he compared her to Ying Yue He¡­ she really did give more than his secretary. Was it because Ying Yue He was older and was more used to his presence? It could be the reason why he couldn''t gather points that much. The CEO would take advantage of this fact as much as he could, but if he were to be honest¡­ he was also feeling somewhat weirded out by a younger woman being charmed by him. She looked around five or more years younger than him, and he was not interested. Li Yang could only hope that earning more charm points than usual didn''t exactly equate to growing feelings, but only them being charmed for a moment. Once the man dropped the two off at the Shen Society''s Headquarters, Li Yang would head to his own office. But if there was something that he took note of¡ªeven as he secured the Root Blossoming Tea canister, it was the lack of visibility of the Panda. "I think you''re actually around¡ªwhy are you hiding your presence?" he asked. "I can do whatever the hell I want, damn you!" the creature replied, reappearing above the dashboard. "I''m not supposed to interfere with your actions and only watch, but I''m not sure if you did something stupid or insane. Possibly both." "It was more cost-efficient, I suppose. And the other intangible benefits also presented itself as you can see." "Whatever, as long as you do something excitable¡ªthe heavens will watch and throw charm points at you." the creature grumbled. "But you actually seem to be in a good mood, you''ve been smiling a lot more today." Li Yang blinked as they went down the parking lot. "Is that so strange for you?" "Frankly, yes." The CEO let out a resigned sigh, "Well, I still managed to obtain a way for me to unlock my spiritual roots. With the System''s help, but if I had only waited for me to earn up to 5000 charm points then I would have taken much longer." "Just don''t get this success, get all to your head." These words were something that his father might have told him before along with his brother. It was enough to clear his head a little. Li Yang stepped out of his car, "I do take that into account, this is not winning a war but only a battle." "A skirmish, this wouldn''t have happened if you followed the System''s quest to the utmost degree!" Li Yang picked up the tea canister and nodded. This little conversation between him and the Panda was nothing but a small precursor to what would happen when he arrived at his office. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Did that last line give you apprehension or fill your heart with twists of trepidation? If yes, that means I did my job properly. Otherwise, I don''t know. I know that the ''Harem'' bit is still lacking so far, but I''m waiting for the perfect moment that''ll push Li Yang to the edge! Now would that involve alcohol and barks? It''s one or the other. I''m still frankly a little lost about the male''s sex drive, but I did read that fatigue, overwork, and other factors does weigh in whether a man has a low libido. It still depends on the individual for sure. Are you ever in the mood when you''re extremely tired and stressed? Let me know! Or maybe not... that''s probably too much information to share over the internet. But hey, maybe it''s a safe space? It''s 4:03am and I am on a chapter roll! Chapter 52: She Doesnt Want To Be A Nanny! When the CEO arrived at his office''s floor, he would be greeted by an unbelievable sight. "Panda!" a young child would come out of nowhere and run towards Li Yang. Or rather it had ran over to meet the Panda hovering and complaining beside him. Even the Panda stopped in mid-sentence. "What the actual fu¡­" "Fudge cookies?" the little girl tilted her head, and then her eyes widened. "You can talk!" But if the child was enough to put the man in surprise, there were two other people who had been waiting for him. One he could recognize easily, Ying Yue He was at her desk with an indeterminable expression on her face. She then gave him an awkward smile, the woman standing up, "Good morning, Mister Li. I apologize because Miss here¡ª" "Luo Ju Di." the other woman said. She had her long dark hair tied and resting over her left shoulder. Compared with Ying Yue He''s office attire, she wore more casual and modest clothes that didn''t fit in his office. And yet she would gaze back at the CEO with a small frown, and it was a disapproving one. "I''ve come here to talk with you." There was an authoritative tone that wouldn''t take no for an answer. "Mama, I found the panda again! It''s flying~!" the small girl glanced over her shoulder and looked back at her. Above it, the Panda was avoiding the child as it floated way above the girl''s jumping capacity. "That''s nice, sweetie." Luo Ju Di''s expression softened at her child''s ''overactive imagination'' before her attention returned back to Li Yang. She didn''t exactly frown, but she was serious when she said, "I would like to talk with you in private, it''s an important matter if you can''t already tell." Ying Yue He tried to speak up. She waved her hands at the woman to grab her attention and adopt a conciliatory tone. "Miss, I tried to tell you that you can''t do that. Mister Li is a very busy person, you can''t just demand¡ª" The mother would place a hand on her hips, "I''ve looked for him for over six years. I''m not going anywhere at all, Miss Secretary." Luo Ju Di glanced at Ying Yue He, narrowing her eyes slightly at her before she turned back to him. "Besides, it''s up for this man to decide whether he wants to go this through the hard way or the easy way. Make your choice." . . . Ying Yue He thought she would have a pleasant, if not, awkward morning. When she came home after her dinner with her boss¡ªher heart was soaring and racing. It was even enough to set her in the mood and fantasize about them being together. It was a guilty and even naughty pleasure. She couldn''t help but feel dirty when she came into the office. It would be unknown to the man that she was secretly having her wish fulfillment provided by just him treating her kinder than usual. A secretary and her boss? Scandalous. Sexy. Seductive? It was something that made romance novels and movies sell like hot cakes. And yet, she had forgotten about something else common in romance novels between a simple woman and a CEO. ''I''m secretly pregnant with your child movies!'' When she watched her boss and the woman walk into his office, it might have been easier to stick a pickaxe through her chest¡ªwhy was a woman coming out of nowhere to declare that she had a child with Mister Li?! The woman tried to be vague, but it was so obvious! Ying Yue He wanted to take out a handkerchief and bite it to hold back her emotions. This felt like an overdone and contrived novel plot! It was even worse than the secretary and her boss kind of scenario if somebody were to ask her. It implied many things¡­ well, just one. It meant that her boss had already slept with another woman in the past and impregnated her. She needed to pull herself together. Impregnated sounded like such a bad word. Accidentally did baby-making with someone? Ying Yue He took a deep breath to calm herself. She was glad that she hadn''t brewed the CEO a jug of coffee because she would have drunk it all by now and made her pulsing heart worse. Maybe this was just some woman trying to fool Mister Li and earn money? Did she fake a DNA test or something? And yet when the secretary looked at the child still talking with her imaginary friend ''Panda'' on the couch... it was enough to reduce her to tears. The child was adorable! What really were the chances that this was her Li Yang''s child? She had no right to feel betrayed or anything, the two of them weren''t even together at all. Not to mention that her boss also seemed surprised when he arrived and saw them. But was it the ''I have no idea who she is'' surprise or the ''did the ghost of Christmas past come to haunt me'' surprise? Ying Yue He really wanted to eavesdrop right now. But she also had to look over the child and make sure that she stays well-behaved. A sudden scenario came through Ying Yue He''s mind and the woman nearly collapsed even as she was already in her chair. This woman could already imagine her future¡­ as a nanny! ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Am I the only one enjoying Ying Yue He, the Secretary''s overactive imagination? You can see that I''ve incorporated some tropes from over the Female Lead section. It might not be up to your liking, but it''s my way of poking at the cliche and popularity of it. Is it hard to tolerate? Team Mother or Team Secretary? It''s officially 5:14am yay, and I haven''t slept a wink. I think the next chapters will go premium at 8am-12pm if I remembered my editor''s words. So if you''re curious on why there''s sudden updates, that''s why xD I warned this over the synopsis woot woot. Chapter 53: A Questionable Banquet Event There were two brothers, Li Yang and Li Liang of close relationship. Despite their family''s already prestigious background, the two of them had decided to start a business of their own. And after hardship, endless nights of working and proving themselves capable of running a company despite their age, the Olympian Corporations first anniversary was prepared in splendor. Li Liang was the one who got disowned by their father and their grandmother, the current matriarch of the family. Li Yang was the spare son who had found some use when his brother left, but in the end, still decided to help out his brother''s desire to start up a company together. It was easy enough to see who was more laidback between the two, over the sound of music and din of the crowd, Li Liang pushed the glass shot to his ''younger'' brother with a grin, "Drink up, lil bro¡ªtonight you''re going to get laid." Li Yang made a face and tried to remove his brother''s hold on him, "I told you, I''m not interested at all." "Drink a shot for goodluck? Loosen up!" Li Liang chuckled and then whispered into his ear, "I even invited a lot of gorgeous women over, there''s some older than us, mostly ones from the industry, but there''s also the ones from our university¡ªI bet you''re only interested in one though." A laugh erupted from him. "Well, you''re in luck, she''s here!" "Shut it." Li Yang shoved the man''s face away from him, but his gaze did go over the sea of people in the party. It was hard to determine if his brother was lying or messing around with him. He had originally planned this banquet to be a small, intimate and elegant gathering to celebrate the success of their company¡­ but things got out of hand. Li Liang snorted, "Geez, you''ll never see her if you keep standing around here¡ªshe''s probably with friends or something!" Li Yang sighed, "I don''t think this is a good idea¡­" His brother pushed the drink in his hand. "Exactly! You prove my hypothesis entirely. If you always keep thinking, you''ll never get some action. Chug a couple shots for courage, Yang. That''d ought to do it." Liang would never get off his case if he didn''t take a sip. And so Li Yang took his first shot, and then he did another. And another one. Both egged on by his brother and a somewhat conscious desire to actually muster up the courage to approach her¡ª . . . Needless to say, Li Yang stared at the woman in front of him. The memory of something that had occurred from what seemed to have been a lifetime ago came back to his mind. And yet his own memory was fractured. It was pins and needles, almost a numbing sensation as he opened his mouth to speak, "My apologies, but who are you again, Miss?" The expression on the woman''s face soured, but she also seemed uncomfortable. The woman grabbed her left arm with her right hand and glared at him, "I''m the mother of your daughter." His response was almost automatic. "I''m not entirely sure how that could happen." "Oh excuse me, it''s when your dick goes into¡ª" Li Yang waved a hand at her, "Not that." For once, an uncomfortable expression crossed his face. "Are you sure that it''s me¡­?" His grandmother had once warned him about gold-digging and social climbing women seeking to take advantage of his wealth and position, but there was something that also came to mind about this situation. "I''m sorry, has it been too long?" Compared to her uncomfortable body language, her words were straightforward. She gave him a bared smile, "Do we need to jog your memory a little?" How exactly was she going to do that? Would she jump on him like how Bo Lifen did? And yet he needed to focus. This wasn''t in his schedule or plans at all. "I mean, did you get the right person?" Li Yang sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have a brother and you probably got the wrong person. Did you mistake him for me?" "Do you think I can''t tell between the two of you!" Li Yang took another deep breath. Fractures and bits trying to piece itself back together in his mind. The CEO couldn''t recognize this woman at all, but even his memories were¡­ he narrowed his eyes at her, "It is a curious thing that you only came here after a certain amount of time, however. Isn''t that a little baffling? And I really cannot remember you, so if you could reintroduce yourself and explain to me why you think it was me?" "I¡­ I wanted to get an abortion at first." she said with a sorrowful look on her face. "It was a mistake. I didn''t want to be known as the girl who got knocked up at a party and especially because it happened to be you. I was pretty sure that your family would probably raise some kind hell on earth if they were to learn of this, and it would probably be some kind of trouble. So I ran away and decided I could handle things by myself, but in the end¡­ I still decided to have my child." Li Yang listened to the story carefully, but made no reaction. The woman finally averted her gaze, "Of course you wouldn''t remember me, and you''d probably think this is shady as hell. But I was one of the people that your brother had invited to the party, I was a junior and you were a sophomore?" The woman sighed. "My name is Luo Ju Di, surely you can check the university record and also have an attendance for the first anniversary? Do you want to do a DNA test or some sort?" "You could have still arrived at an earlier time than now. It''s just all very suspicious." "Did you not hear what I said? Your family is not exactly the happiest and family loving one in the neighborhood, or country if I were to be honest! Your family disowned your brother because he didn''t agree with them on what university course to choose¡­ did you honestly think any right woman in their mind would want to get involved in such a cutthroat and petty family?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Yay to inebriation! Or not. I have no idea if this is realistic, but it''s 6:40am and wee. I''ll probably look at these chapters later and edit them if they seem weird or don''t make any sense. Chapter 54: The Very Messed Up Situation Gets Resolved? For Real? "How do you know¡­ about that?" Li Yang asked. His tone went wary at all of the words that this woman was saying. If things might have been any different¡ªhe would have implied that a chance to get sued for defamation was already on its way if she dared speak any more. The Li House protected their reputation and things like this would have never been uncovered at all. And so that meant one thing. This was no ordinary stranger. Luo Ju Di scoffed at his reaction, "Your brother who else? How do you even think I actually got a chance to get close to you during the party? Well, it could have been any other girl, your brother did imply that you were out to get laid and mustering the courage and if there was one of us who wanted to help you. I thought it would be¡­ exciting to sleep with you." His brother. Of course, it was his brother yet again! Li Yang raised a hand to his face and massaged his temple. What were the chances? A lot. But he had already said that he wasn''t interested¡ªand yet the man would suggest to other women he was looking to sleep around. Did he say it to them prior to him drinking? When Liang said he ought to lose his v-card back then, he had no idea that the guy was that serious. And this was the result. Did his brother spike his drink or did he just have a terrible alcohol tolerance? Thankfully, the woman was only silent and didn''t say another further word as he tried to gather his wits. Liang knew that he was only interested in one girl¡ªbut the man surely didn''t equate sex with love, so that logic wouldn''t apply to him. And yet despite all of that, there was another thing that came to mind. Her. Did she by any chance hear about him trying to sleep around and was disgusted by it? She was supposed to be at the banquet. He had personally invited her to come and had hoped he would get to talk to her, but the event became too loud and crowded at that time. Li Yang inwardly sighed. Maybe it was for the best that she and him lost contact after that. Perhaps this was the reason why she didn''t want to meet with him afterward. Or maybe it was something else. Regardless, what would even a modern woman say to a suggestion of ''Would you like to be part of my harem¡ªYou''ll be my most loved one?'' In the past, women were regarded as the properties of their family or husband''s family, but things were different now. "Do not tell me that you''re one of those men that''ll pass out after hearing this." Luo Ju Di said. The mother finally spoke up with a small frown. "I understand that hearing about you having a child is enough to threaten your bachelor lifestyle¡ªor maybe it''s me that you have a problem about. But I want a good life for my child regardless of that. She has the right to experience a better life than what I could provide to her. Surely you wouldn''t be that harsh to a child?" Li Yang lowered his hand, "How close were you with my brother to have learned of this?" And though there was this slightly awkward feeling he had, he would ask this question. "Have you slept with my brother before? Are you really sure that it''s me and not him?" Luo Ju Di crossed her arms over her chest. "Would you really like to hear whether or not some ''woman'' happened to sleep with the two Li brothers on separate occasions?" The way that she referred to herself in this situation was sarcastically derogatory. "I guess if I was a man and you two were sisters, that''d be something to brag about." Her sense of humor and oddly mismatched with Li Yang''s preconceived notion of a mother. And yet her being this refreshingly if not too frank was good in this situation. He sighed and shrugged, "Everyone is free to sleep with whoever they want¡ªas long as it''s consensual and safe. And also of legal age. So whether or not you slept with him prior is¡­ well, I admit that it''s awkward to think about the two of us sleeping with the same woman. But my problem was the fact that I was not in the right state of my mind while I was drunk¡ªand you assumed that I was looking to sleep with anybody." Luo Ju Di coughed, "You''re a strange man, but no simple man would be a CEO. I''m not sure if you''re trying to rationalize this¡­ but at least you haven''t blown up in anger or had me thrown away when you saw me." Li Yang stared back at her, frowning. "I try not to do something like that. No situation would be resolved if you lash out in anger." "Well¡­ there''s a certain amount of anger necessary." She pursed her lips, "But I''m not here to be a therapist. I''m here to ask you to perform at least some fatherly duties." "I''m trying to still verify if I''m the father or my brother." Li Yang managed a terse laugh. This kind of situation was ridiculous, but it was up to him to make sense with it. "Well, it depends on how much you can remember¡ªhow large was the time gap between him and me? Did you sleep with anybody else after me? How did we not use a condom?" "I thought we already established that you''re the father." Luo Ju Di frowned. "And you wanted it raw back then. I thought it was fine based on my calculations that it wasn''t in my ovulation cycle¡­" Li Yang didn''t quite understand the last part. At all. Or maybe his own head was blocking it out. "My apologies, we could get a DNA test to see if she really is related to me or my brother." And then what came after that was the difficult part. "Do you really think¡­ no, you have a point to be suspicious. I''ll comply with your terms, but I assure you that it''s your child." He didn''t know what to think of that. Li Yang coughed, "If there is any chance that what you say is true, then my relationship with other women¡ª" "I''m not expecting you to marry me. If you''re sleeping with other women¡ªI don''t care at all. I''m not trying to include myself in the picture, I only want the best for Chunhua." That was fine and all for him, but he could only imagine if the System were to give him a mission and have her as the target. Regardless, for now all things were dealt with. A mother''s love for her child. Li Yang wasn''t sure if he could understand it completely, but he nodded. "Thank you for your words, I''ll see you and your daughter out and have proper accommodations arranged if you are lacking." Li Yang could only wonder if this had all been captured and seen by the Heavens. But more than that, he needed to have a good conversation with his brother. [ Levels of Evil Qi is Rising ] ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Got a comment from InkCloud saying that these notes are fun, thank you! I have a blog :P I got 4hrs of sleep and we''re back into the "how many chapters can I write before I go Premium" challenge. Thank you for all the recent comments and feedback about the direction of the story. They do affect the direction of the story, so yes comment away! Yes, the family is kind of an ass. Or downright questionable. This situation is pretty much messed up. I''m not sure if anyone reading here is an exhibitionist because MilkMan04 is right about gods watching and sponsoring... but there might be some leeway. And well, I''ll stop here and try to get some a chapter out or two. After today, do expect me to pass out and go into Recovery Mode. This Master Procrastinator Author is using up adrenaline! Chapter 55: Does He Even Know How To Act Properly? "Mama! You''re back!" the young girl perked up as the doors opened and Luo Ju Di stepped out along with the man she came to see. The child would turn her attention away from the Panda and the secretary, she ran up to her mother and hugged her leg. "Did you ask if I can have the Panda from this bastard CEO?" A certain Panda would be laughing its butt out, while initially surprised and even worried about the child¡ªit had taught the kid some words. "Chunhua, that''s not a very nice word to say." Luo Ju Di scolded the child lightly. "Where did you hear that word from?" "From the Panda!" "Is that so?" Luo Ju Di would raise a brow and then glance at the secretary. Was this woman teaching her child bad words because she was upset over the CEO? She didn''t know what to say about the taste of Li Yang in regards to other girls. Why was there such a petty woman taking it out on her clueless child? And yet this wasn''t her business. Ying Yue He had other thoughts that went in the complete direction. She fought back the urge to make a face¡ªwhat kind of mother would say words in the presence of their child? No child would grow up respecting an adult if that was how this woman spoke about her boss. But Ying Yue He didn''t have to get worked up over it at all. Only Li Yang would know the truth about the situation. He gave the Panda a look but only shook his head, he was already rather used to such words and it hardly made him bat an eye. "Chunhua, if you say hurtful words, you''d make him very sad. Now apologize to¡­ Mama''s friend." What else was she supposed to say? She had promised to look for her father, but if the man wasn''t willing to accept it, then this was an appropriate title. The little girl''s eyes widened and she looked up to Li Yang. Compared to her mama''s comforting presence and height, her mama''s friend was¡ª Li Yang watched the child cower behind her mother''s back and squeak, "O-Ogre! Troll! No, he''s a giant!" If there was anything that happened now, it would be the Panda once again bursting into laughter. It guffawed in the air and pointed a paw at Li Yang, "Hah! I didn''t teach that one¡ªthat''s all from her! Oh go¡ª" the creature''s laughter would quiet down as it realized that the child now looked at it. It coughed lightly and then choked at the sudden notification. [ Observer ''Fire Dweller'' Thinks That The Child Is Adorable ] [ Child Receives A Minor Blessing From Observer ] [ Observer ''Scythe Wheat'' Reminisces ] [ Child Receives A Minor Blessing From The Observer ] But it wasn''t only that made the creature choke on thin air, Li Yang would kneel down for a moment to arrive at the child''s eye level. He held out a hand, "I''m not a monster or anything like that, I''m Li Yang." The child would continue to huddle over her mother''s leg, and even buried her face in her mother''s thigh to avoid looking him in the eye. "That''s actually some nice cake." the Panda suddenly said. Li Yang fought back the urge to smack himself or the creature, but once again tried to converse with the child. "You did get the CEO part correct, as for the word that you learned from the Panda¡ªit''s not really a great word to use. Actually, you shouldn''t listen to the Panda at all, it''s like a tricky and nasty goblin underneath all its fur." "W-what?" the child raised her head and looked at him. There was a bewildered but interested look in her eyes, "A goblin? Really?" He chuckled and nodded, "Really." "So you can see it too!" "Mhmm." "Mama has never seen them before." the child complained with a pout, "But I think you''re cool for a friend of mama." "Chunhua, don''t forget to apologize." Luo Ju Di once again reminded her child. There was a streak of red across her face right now. She did expect courtesy from this man¡­ but to think that he would actually talk with her child right now and get along with her imagination? [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] "I''m sorry, but the Panda said to call you that." "Chunhua, that''s not a good excuse." "It''s alright, I forgive you." Li Yang assured the two of them. The girl would reach out and grab his hand with her own, "What''s your name again, big man?" Luo Ju Di was mortified to a certain extent while Ying Yue He could only wonder where this girl could hear someone using such words. The Panda would only crack up some more. The Heavens had varying responses. "You could call me Uncle or Mister if you like." "Uncle Yang?" the child tilted her head. "Mister Li?" "... Uncle does sound good." Li Yang admitted. Chunhua shook his hand and beamed, "Uncle Yang it is! Nice to meet you, thank you for letting me meet your Panda-Goblin pet!" "I''m not his¡ª!" the creature fumed. "I''m not even a¡ªargh." Instead of exploding, the Panda instead became sullen and crossed its arms over its chest. "Once this is all over, I swear. You''ll see." "Not a problem. We might see each other around more often, so you''ll get to see them too." The child let out a cheer, and though he could at least feel some easy-going if not indulgent feelings over the child¡ªhe was also planning out the next steps after this. It felt like he had some kind of migraine right now as well. A throbbing and pulsating sensation that bombarded his head. "We''ll be going now then, Li Yang." Luo Ju Di said and inclined her head. It was time for him to start drinking the Root Blossoming Tea. The qi density and type were increasing as he felt certain negative emotions, and thus it was time to resolve it. Li Yang finally stood up and raised a hand to his forehead, "Miss He¡ªplease take care of them as they leave. Make some accommodations as well. Thank you." "Very well, sir." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: One can only imagine how much distress our Secretary is feeling right now, and how this CEO practically hands over the matter into her hands. Now who''s the evil one haha, it''s the Author for sure xD Li Yang got his own personal matters, and he unfortunately forgot about how his secretary would feel... but he can actually talk with a kid? I mean, this chapter might either scare you or give you diabetes, or make you roll your eyes. Or you''re annoyed. I talked with another author who said that I can''t decide to which demographic I''m catering to, and I need to make smut. Yes, we''re sort of moving onto other matters next chapter, his cultivation and weak spiritual roots. Definitely gonna work in some more harem-like scenes or something though. Power! Chapter 56: The Weight Of The World On His Shoulders An unhappy secretary¡ªthat was what Ying Yue He was right now, but her feelings were invalid at this point. Or rather it had no kind of weight, or it didn''t matter, and though she didn''t exactly like the mother, she was ordered by her boss to do things and so she did them with nothing more than even a single complaint out of her lips. It was quite brash of the mother to think that she would teach that little girl some words¡ªshe had been nothing but kind. It was actually the child that somewhat unnerved her. No child would be so completely caught up in talking to an imaginary friend. And though it was wrong to make any conclusions, she could only imagine that the child was neglected. But Ying Yue He was not about to make any scene. Even when this Luo Ju Di glanced at her before they were taken by a chaperone to be driven to a hotel and this woman had said, "You don''t have anything to be so tensed up over, miss secretary." First off¡ªshe had a name! The second thing¡­ it was a stupid thing to remark to someone you just met. "I have nothing to get tensed over? Who was she to tell me such a thing. Argh, was it even that obvious that I was into¡ªMister Li!" Her eyes widened to see the man still outside of his office. "I was waiting for you, Miss He." he said. Calm thyself oh stupid heart of hers! Ying Yue He inclined her head, "I''ve accomplished your task for me, Mister Li. Is there anything else I can do for you?" "I was hoping you could make me this tea." Li Yang had a canister in his hand, and even then a scroll in his hand. "It''s an expensive one, and it needs to be prepared carefully. I trust your tea-preparing skills more than mine." Was he really serious? But then there was some ancient-old looking scroll, so it must be some kind of fancy tea. Ying Yue He sighed inwardly. What would this man be doing without her? She managed a reluctant smile and nodded, "Not a problem, Mister Li. You can provide me with the instructions and I''ll brew you a pot." "Thank you." This was all professional for Ying Yue He. . . . His headache was worsening. Was it because he had done away with the respirator now and the talisman had lost its efficacy? He had not bothered with either, but he didn''t think that he would feel this terrible. Or maybe it was just stress. He had sent a message to his brother, but there was no reply. He had to take care of this matter discreetly. This was another thing on his plate besides him running the company and facing the whims and fancies of the Heavens. He wasn''t sure which of them provided him the most headache. If he didn''t have Ying Yue He with him right now, he probably would have a lot more to juggle. He had entrusted her with the tea and for a moment, Li Yang rested his head on the surface of his table¡ªlaptop away along with the documents. ] Deal with his body''s incompatibility with external qi and lack of the ability to change it into his own spiritual qi ] Finalize everything for the board meeting ] Check on with the Wang Company? ] Take care of the matter with Luo Ju Di ] Continue with the path of cultivation ] Hire a bodyguard from Shen Society? Train in martial arts for his own self defense? ] Facilitate the other payment options with the Yuan Shop Those were the things he mustered at the top of his head. There might be others that were more urgent than others, but they all had a great deal of importance to him. He needed to tackle things one at a time, and actually consider which one was the more important¡ªthat being the tea, and then he''d segregate the rest of the afternoon with his work in the office. Afterwards, he''d contact Shen Society¡­ did they leave a business card? It was probably in the ID they gave him. Scheduling a DNA test, he forgot to hand over a sample¡ªneeded to provide a sample once that was done. Li Yang let out another sigh and pressed a hand to his forehead. If the woman was right, then it meant that there would be another burden on his shoulder. What did his brother say about him not fucking up like their father? Li Yang couldn''t and wouldn''t neglect a child, but did he even have time for it¡­ her? Building a harem once this ''free period''¡ªthe one he received due to him finishing the secretary quest¡ªwas over would no doubt be time consuming. Even more time consuming than usual while trying to guard his back from other cultivators in this country. And he had to make sure that the child grew up with a father? If he didn''t turn out to be the father, and it was his brother¡­ it would still give him a headache. Someone like Liang wouldn''t settle down at all. What if the woman knew that and insisted that he took over the fatherly duties? He was making conclusions now without concrete and factual evidence. This was bad. "Gee, where''s that smile from earlier?" the Panda remarked with a scoff. It was lying on the sofa and staring up at the ceiling. "Did the sky drop on you or something? You look like you''re carrying the burden of the world on your shoulders." "I''d appreciate it if you shut up for a moment." "M-Mister Li?" Ying Yue He stopped at the door with the pot of tea and a teacup prepared. She had a surprised look on her face. He sighed, "I wasn''t talking to you, Miss He." "... are you by any chance talking to a floating panda then, Mister Li?" she asked with a nervous smile. The secretary remembered his first question when the System had first arrived and the Panda had knocked him down with a punch. She was quick to make a connection. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Hello there, I may or may not make a buffer chapter before I turn Premium so I hope you can forgive me when that happens and you expect to see a chapter but don''t find it. Okay, let me try to see if I don''t pass out yet. I uh... need to write for my two other books, and I''ve already shamelessly advertised ''Races: Online (VR Smartphone App)'' before. Gah, making different genre books make it hard to convince people to check my other book. Chapter 57: A Recipe For Disaster "I''d appreciate it if you shut up for a moment." "M-Mister Li?" Ying Yue He stopped at the door with the pot of tea and a teacup prepared and placed in a tray. She had a surprised look on her face, a startled and even uneasy one. He sighed. A little too tired to be bothered to ask why she hadn''t knocked. "I wasn''t talking to you, Miss He." "... are you by any chance talking to a floating panda?" she asked with a nervous smile. "No, I was only talking to myself aloud, Miss He." Li Yang couldn''t exactly muster the same smile as he answered his secretary, but surely this was easy to resolve. The Panda was gone from his sight but was surely around and observing from whatever vantage point it had. He only needed to act calm and natural¡ªeven if all he wanted to do right now was hit his head against the table or a wall, he remained calm. A sheepish smile formed on her lips, she scratched her cheek. "I was only teasing you, Mister Li. Of course, you were only pretending." She brought up the tray and moved closer to him, her steps careful. The secretary placed the teapot and cup on his table, "When you fell off your chair about two days ago, you had simply asked me the same thing as her¡ªif I had seen a floating panda. It was a funny coincidence." "Indeed." He couldn''t even admonish her for making a ''joke'' like that. If this had been any other time, Li Yang would have commended her impeccable memory. It was details like this that either brought or destroyed business relations. If you remembered and treated your client with comfort and acknowledgement of who they were, it was enough to put one at ease. Instead the man picked up his teacup and took a sip, flavors mixed and melded in his tongue of a combination he couldn''t quite tell. Herbs, bitter ones, and even what felt like a metallic taste. And yet this was supposed to be good for him, and so he finished the entire cup until its very last drop. The heat didn''t bother him that much in this hour. [ You Have Consumed Root Blossoming Tea ] [ Host Has No Spiritual Roots¡ª ] [ Host Has The Most Pitiful of Roots ] [ The Pitiful Spiritual Root Of Host Begins To Feel The Effects ] [ Efficacy: Medium ] [ Body Compatibility: 60% ] [ Your Spiritual Root Is Strengthened ] [ A Small Portion Of Qi In One''s Surroundings Can Be Redirected Into Spiritual Root ] "Mister Li¡­ what if the two of you actually share the same favorite animal? The Panda." His secretary was still around. There was a thoughtful look on her face¡ªpossibly because of the incident from earlier. She was smart enough and could read the signs enough to at least gather what happened. But it wasn''t enough for her to not get any strange and wild ideas. He raised a brow at her, adopting a dismissive tone. "Perhaps we might share that fact, but it doesn''t actually mean anything don''t you agree, Miss He?" It only happened that they both could see the creature. Did that mean the child was in a similar spot as him with a System of her own or was her vision simply clear? It shouldn''t be his problem but¡ª "A-ah, you''re right." Ying Yue He managed a weak laugh, "My apologies Mister Li, I was only¡ª" "Not one word of what happened today will be spread, Miss He." He gave her a look. It wasn''t this often or actually something that happened where he would be like this, Ying Yue He was competent. But there were far too many things at stake to be ill at ease. If he couldn''t convince her then all he needed to do was subvert her attention elsewhere. "I expect your good work as always." "Of course, sir. I''ll discuss this with any other witnesses from the office." She said. "Nothing happened at all today." Ying Yue He inclined her head and gave him assurances that this was not going out at all¡ªbut he could only hope to minimize it as possible. He would have liked to rely on the idea that most people did not care about others actions¡ªand yet it was a different matter for him. People did pay attention. At least to know when they could take advantage of any misstep. And news of a child, whether it was actually his or not was a drama on its own. Once Miss He finally left and closed the door, it was there that he took another deep breath. The migraine still made his head throb painfully. Getting worked up about everything¡ªhe would pour himself another cup of Root Blossoming Tea and drink it. And once he was finished, the man would continue with the main tasks he had in his office. There was no time to worry about anything, he could only strategize and then move. No response from his brother was alright, perhaps the man was still asleep or neglectful of his phone. He''d handle it once he got home. But Li Yang already scheduled a doctor''s visit as privately as he could¡ªsomeone that wasn''t in the circles of their family or even close ones. It took far longer than he wanted, making calls and maintaining secrecy. The Panda would make no move for the rest of the day and left the man to himself, once again pouring out all of his energy and being into his work. This was not a distraction at all, only doing what was of necessity. It would take another reminder from his secretary to not forget about lunch, and though Li Yang wondered if he should purchase a Divine Energizer Drink available in the System''s Shop¡ªhe opted not to. He could get through the day without it. And it was actually two things: To save charm points and because something like this wasn''t too much at all. Even if there might be too much on his plate¡ªhe would deal with everything one at a time. If he couldn''t handle this much, then what about the future that he was already heading towards? A future that even he couldn''t make clear plans out. Thus would continue this man''s hard work, until the end of the day. If anyone were to ask¡ªthis was a recipe for disaster. ¡ª-¡ª-¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Next chapter is still in the making and I have an awful flu. (February 28, 2021 3:11pm) Chapter 58: Ones Darkest Hour (Bo Lifen) Bo Lifen didn''t have much plans tonight¡ªthis was supposed to be her vacation after all. Away from stress, work and the rest of her family who annoyed her. And yet in between her day, there would be things that left her rather embarrassed about what had happened last night. "Geez, Lifen." She had gotten too unnerved about things that she was upset that a stranger didn''t tell her that he had a brother! "Way to go." She rubbed her face and tried to erase the thought from her head. It wasn''t like she was going to see him again after that¡ªexcept, she actually had to go back right now. She would retrieve her great-grandmother''s thermos from the man, but prior to that¡­ she had finally finagled the truth from them just today and didn''t quite know what to think about it¡­ . . . Early morning, in the Bo Ancestral House Bo Lifen knelt in front of her great-grandmother and poured her tea, "I still do not understand why you would like to give away the very expensive and difficult to get pearls to him, Granny Lanfen." It was a surprise that her friend had gotten on them, and now it was given freely to someone else. "Just what is so special about Li Yang, anyway?" "He''s practicing cultivation." Granny Bo Lanfen said as she sipped her Black Ocean Pearl Tea. There was a relaxed look on her face. Whatever ailments she experienced were eased to some extent. "And he''s a filial young man. He once visited every person in this neighborhood and gave them presents during Christmas. And it''s common for a senior to help a junior who''s begun their path." Bo Lifen had looked up in confusion, "What?" "He gave me a sweater¡ª" "Not that, Granny Lanfen. You said he''s practicing cultivation¡ªdid you just reveal that information to him before we''ve arrived?" Bo Lifen blinked. She understood that her great-grandmother had wished she pursued cultivation instead of becoming the Clan Head, but to give away information to someone not involved at all was too much. Living vicariously through someone else was already questionable! "We''ve already got my brother studying, why would you involve him?" "You sound a little disrespectful child, but that is where you are wrong. His cultivation did not start with me and rather I''d had seen it from the moment he stepped in the other day." Their great-grandmother''s voice was calm, but it cut straight to her. "Bo Lifen¡ªI''m disappointed that you didn''t see it. Then again, you barely had time to cultivate yourself. How about you, Lei? You''re already at what level of Qi Gathering?" "Uh, I''m already at Fifth Stage Qi Refining, Great-Grandmother Bo Lanfen." "That means exactly the same thing, doesn''t it?" The matriarch rolled her eyes. "But ah, to be at that stage at your age¡ªit means that you''ll probably break through Foundation Establishment when you''re twelve. My great-grandson is a genius!" "It depends¡­" Her younger brother looked up, a slight hint of uncomfortableness in being the center of attention. "As for your question, his aura is strange for a normal person, but he also doesn''t seem like a normal cultivator because the way he absorbed the qi around him is done unskillfully. Rather haphazardly?" Their matriarch calmed down, giving him a shrug. "Good eye, there''s something wrong with his method. I for one can''t tell anything, but it''s mostly because it''s far too early to tell." She listened quietly, unsure of what to say. Even whether or not she should believe it. And it was obvious from her face. "We now have two people who are confirming it, Lifen. Catch up to speed. He had a spirit animal with him¡ªa rascal one. Could barely see it, but it was there." her great-grandmother sighed, "For all we know, that would have been his master." Bo Lifen didn''t think that she would have gotten so dull with sensing aura, but she noticed nothing strange about the man at all. Perhaps it was because she was worried about him being a no good lecher and had focused all of her attention in proving that he was. And yet instead of worrying about her skills, she was more worried about the last part of her great-grandmother''s words. Spirit creatures. Beast Spirits? She cleared her throat, "I don''t think that''s¡­" "Do you think I was imagining it?" She didn''t want to say it, but thankfully her brother spoke up. "Well, uh, there are not a lot of spirit animals¡ª" "They''re few in between, they''re rare because cultivating takes a lot of resources¡ªbut I really saw it. Small. It''s aura unlike that of any normal creature¡ªit''s why the man wanted bamboo shoots. I gave them the ones with a lot of natural qi." Grandma Lanfen shrugged, "I wouldn''t be surprised if there''s an ascended flower cultivator somewhere. All living things cultivate." Bo Lifen sighed, "And I''ve seen what I''ve seen¡ªit''s like the mermaids all over again." "Ask him yourself when he gets back. And also get my thermos too." . . . It was already around 8pm when she had dropped by to pick up the thermos. And she would come upon a strange sight, she''d see a man sitting down on his porch. He was alone and had his face in his hands. The surrounding air was tense, thick and heavy. It was as if the tension coiled around them like a snake and would unravel at a wrong move. And it was there that she realized that he whether or not he was actually a cultivator, the energy that surrounded him was dark. One''s aura often reflected their mood as well, especially so to untrained people who couldn''t control it. She chewed on her lip, reluctant for another incident like last night. Still unsure if she would get it wrong and this was another person entirely, "Li Yang?" Chapter 59: The Authors Soliloquy What is a perfect smut chapter? Is it one written indulgent for the male lead, something akin to wish-fulfillment which is the purpose and aim of most web novels? Something to please your eyes and get you to buy that next hit of paid coins so you can read? Or would it be something akin to real life and not the ones that you see in the big screen. Well, PC screen? Laptop screen? Your phone? 2D vs 3D is the question, folks! This author has no idea about the male perspective as is reading novels on Webnovel, and even others to grasp what is a male''s indulgent fantasy¡­ and then do the exact opposite! *blinks* Wait, did I say that? No. You did not see that. Of course, I''ll do my best to provide something great, but even this one''s talent in smut-making is comparable to a newborn baby trying to stand on its two feet. Not to say that I''m innocent, but it''s to say that writing in a male perspective and describing the warmth of a pussy similar to plunging into a comfortable kotatsu and a rainy day might not be your style. I''m not sure whether to describe the protagonist''s dick as a sword, something like Excalibur? Heh. Thrusting and Coiling Dragon. Maybe I''ll make another story with a more uh¡­ high libido protagonist. Yes, tell me if you wish to read the Holy Excalibur of the Brave Knight! Welcome back to this very special section of the author''s monologue! This is Part 3 of the 3 Portion Series meant to become the author''s diary which will be replaced once a better chapter has appeared. Thank you so much for visiting! It''s not really that different from the last one. "A talking Panda?!" somebody shouted. "It''s annoying and useless as heck!" Who would have thought about something like that? And it was there that this Author admitted her shameless inspiration. "When I was scrolling through the novels in the Webnovel section, the popular ones, I came across Number One Dungeon Supplier who had a Panda for a cover. And I was like¡­ let''s add a Panda!" "Just like that?! You had placed it in the story on a whim?" The author nodded at the personified person, "Yes I did. Initially, I had planned for the protagonist to only have a System without a mascot, but it''d probably be boring as heck without someone shamelessly giving personal perspective, so I added that in." "Your story is really confusing, you tied all the useless tropes together." "I did give a warning at the start of the chapter, it went like this: Cultivation. Harem. System. Long ago, many Authors have already combined all three elements to reach the pinnacle of success. But everything changed when the CEO was added. Only the Author who is crazy enough to wield the four elements successfully shall bring peace in the Webnovel Land. Chapter 60: Ones Darkest Hour (2) "Li Yang?" The man raised his head, stared unsurely at her, as if wondering if it was actually her before nodding his head in greeting. He didn''t exactly pull up to his feet and continued to stick with his spot on his house''s porch, "Miss Lifen¡ªwhat can I do for you?" He was still polite as ever. "What are you doing outside of your house?" Bo Lifen asked. She ignored his question and focused on the situation on hand. She looked down at the man seated down, and he didn''t even stand to greet her properly. Was he too exhausted to even do that? There were no indicators at all. He didn''t slouch, and there were no visible bags underneath his eyes. He didn''t even sigh, he only smiled briefly. "Getting some fresh air, I suppose." The CEO''s mannerism was the same, his words were short and direct. Even clipped. Perhaps he wanted to get rid of her now¡ªhis first question immediately wishing to solve whatever was her reason for visiting. She could focus on that and get mad immediately, and yet she wouldn''t. There was something about him in this moment that showed a hint of something else. That beneath the surface, something was brewing up despite his continued insistence to be proper. Well, it wasn''t as if she could know him after such a brief span of time¡ªbut she thought she could understand most of his facets after their encounter at her house. Or at least understand that everyone had their defenses up when they were weak. Bo Lifen raised a hand to her hair and ran her fingers through them. She should tell him to get her great-grandmother''s thermos and call it a day. That was what she was supposed to do. Non-interference. And yet this situation with him, it nagged at her. Similar to how a client would walk into her shop seeking tranquility, it was something that she couldn''t just ignore¡ªspiritual senses aside. Bo Lifen was used to dealing with both unruly customers and burnout ones. Whether it wasn''t visible, even if he tried to hide it away or didn''t even think he was tired, it showed. She experienced it and felt like the situation was the same with him; she sighed. "Do you have some space?" A little empathy hurt no one. Unless you were with someone who''d drain you. But she didn''t think he was that type. The man would move to the left and she plopped down beside him. Bo Lifen kept her knees close together, but the tiny space made it difficult to avoid brushing his shoulders. And yet he didn''t say a word. The man was still consumed with his thoughts or couldn''t care at all. ¡­ it irritated her slightly, but she cooled herself and let out a breath. "Are you alright? Did the Black Pearl Ocean Tea have no effect on your body?" Get things out quickly and focus on the situation on hand, she wouldn''t jump between conversations. He didn''t seem like the type to enjoy talks with meanings hidden beneath them. "It did¡ªbut I wasn''t aware that the tea was made from pearls." he said, his brows furrowing together. Whether or not his lack of awareness was true, Bo Lifen shook her head. "You look tired. But that drink was supposed to help with rejuvenating the body, so I''m curious if you actually drank it." The woman didn''t spare a glance at him and instead focused her vision up at a random streetlight. It was flickering badly despite the otherwise well-maintained street. She let out a sigh and finally eyed him. "My great-grandmother said you were a cultivator, is that true?" If Li Yang was shocked¡ªhe didn''t show it on his face, except for the tired smile on his face. He fiddled with his suit coat and took out a card. The man didn''t give it to her, but the woman recognized the shimmer in it. "It seems you''ve figured it out as well. I had no idea that you and your family would also be involved in such a thing like this." "You say that as if it sounds like a bad thing." "That wasn''t my intention." "Of course¡­ " A silence came in between them, almost as thick as the energy that had been present before she came along. The qi and aura around him was somewhat suffocating, but had only focused around him. It was still in the air. But now that there was somebody else with him¡ªLi Yang was subconsciously determined to keep things together. If one were to probe into his mind, it would be him trying to decide which action he should consider now that the jig was up. Whether or not it was actually good that she learned of it¡ªbut then, did they know of it once he had visited Granny Lanfen or had figured it out later? Was this something that would add up to all of his currently existing problems on hand? Li Yang could have wished that they''d said it at another time. That it was much better that she didn''t arrive at all and he could get some peace and quiet¡ªthe Panda had left to clean off ''filth'' it said. As if the child that it had interacted with was a nuisance, or perhaps it was simply being petty. Perhaps it would be easier to take into account once he''d manage with the other things¡ªand yet life gave whatever it wanted to him. Was it life or the heavens even? He couldn''t help but think that this was all premeditated. A good number of the people he knew personally had in proxy knew someone involved in this world''s secrets. And all of this was simply a way for entertainment. He shook his head and turned back to his visitor, Bo Lifen, who had decided to sit beside him. Li Yang wouldn''t have put much thought into it if not for the fact that she had talked with him, actually tried to talk with him this time instead of jumping into conclusions. Accuse him of being a pervert or get upset about him not telling about his brother. She sounded like she cared about his state. It was almost strange and unreal. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Setting up a mood is hard, and here I am listening to Howl''s Moving Castle Theme depressive and dark version *cough* welcome to Premium Chapters, buy my Privilege! Chapter 61: Youve Been Unhelpful Bo Lifen clicked her tongue impatiently and turned back to him, "Are you really not going to say anything? I''m not a mind-reader, but I can tell that there''s something weighing on your mind. If you keep this all to yourself¡ª" "Would you rather that I shout it out loud then?" Li Yang cocked a brow at her, a thin smile on his lips. It wasn''t exactly a happy one. The memory of her actions came back to his mind, it was of someone unleashing their emotions in ways questionable. Far too much than what was necessary. He asked, "Or perhaps I should do something out of decorum like you did? Push myself on someone else¡ª" "That one was overboard¡ªand I do owe you an apology for it." She glared at him, looking more upset than apologetic. But then she sighed and gave him a sincere look, a grimace crossing her features. "It''s why I''m here as well. Besides getting the thermos and confirming that you''re a cultivator, I also wanted to apologize for acting out of normal conduct. But I think it''s better that I do something like that than keeping it all to my chest." "..." "It didn''t come out right¡ªdid it?" "No." Li Yang shook his head. The idea that jumping and forcing himself on someone versus just holding it in was something he couldn''t get by. "You''ve suggested that I get therapy¡ªhave someone to talk and vent to. I''d say that you need the same." She frowned at him. "And yet here you are, sitting melancholically at your porch as if you''re in some kind of melodrama. Even when I''ve already sat down and asked you if you''re alright, you don''t say anything at all. It''s as if you can handle it all by yourself." And her words made him sigh. This really was something he had to burden himself alone. "I don''t think it''s something that I can tell you," he said. Cultivator family or not¡ªthe idea of Systems and the Heavens making him into some contracted entertainer would be met with disbelief. Even he himself wouldn''t want to admit it to himself, that all of this was for enjoyment at another individual''s suffering? "I know you''re a man and most keep it to themselves, but the truth of it is that it means you''re only human. One person." Bo Lifen pointed a finger at his chest, "It doesn''t matter if you''re one of the richest man, the most powerful one or anything¡ª" "It sounds so strange when it comes from you." He didn''t exactly mean to say it aloud, but he still did. It was hard to get past what she had initially shown herself to be, someone who put up a good front but was slightly, if not, rather out of it. And yet he needed to look past it, if he could. Her attitude was helping, but also not helping at the same time. Bo Lifen''s determination to help, she was trying too much. Bo Lifen paused and sighed, "It probably sounds hypocritical¡ªbut if that''s how it''s going to be then so be it. I''m not perfect or anything, I have flaws¡­ but that''s fine." "One should try to mitigate them." Li Yang frowned. Simply hearing them was enough to make him talk, and it reminded him of someone else. "By your standards, it might mean that a person with anger issues would shrug it off if they exploded in anger and simply say that it''s part of their character¡ªand one would simply suck it up." "... You can''t solve them all." "You should try." "Then I''d be the only one changing while others stick to their ways." Bo Lifen scoffed. A tad of bitterness returning to her voice. "It means that all of the men that still come to my shop will remain the way they are and I have to hold my temper down, act like a perfect doll you are?" "You can''t change other people." She pursed her lips at him, perhaps unamused that he ignored her words. "I thought you''d rather that people change. Haven''t you said something about dealing with flaws?" "It''s more about dealing with your own flaws than that of others." "You should look in a mirror then." Bo Lifen shrugged, "Seems like we''re getting somewhere but nowhere at all." One of his eyes twitched, weariness taking a toll for once. Whether it was intentional or not, she had begun to say too much. And most of them were unhelpful, or biased to what she was seeing. Li Yang pressed a hand to his forehead, "I''ve been trying to get somewhere with all that I''m doing¡ªcan''t I just want to sit down for once?" The expression on Bo Lifen''s face froze. He sighed, "I''d like to thank you for trying to converse with me to compensate with your guilt, but you''ve been rather..." Li Yang finally stopped himself at this point. He had already said far too many things than what he''d like. He began to get up, "I''ll go get the thermos¡ª" She grabbed his wrist in a vice-like grip, "I''m what?" "... it hasn''t exactly been helpful, but thank you." Her arrival only meant that he had other things to take care of, her presence a little bit both unexpected and unwanted. "You mean I''ve been unhelpful." This was why he''d wish that he would bite down his words more. Saying less was the pinnacle to a quieter life, and he had to ruin it himself. Li Yang shook his head and pulled his hand away from her, "That was me being rude, ignore it. I''ll return the thermos to you and I do appreciate you sitting down with me, Miss Lifen." "And what exactly comes to your mind when someone helps you?" she scoffed. Bo Lifen''s eyes narrowed once more at him, the return of her temper. "Do people even help you or do you do it all by yourself?" He had no right to point out her being upset¡ªand it might simply increase it. Instead he opted for a calm voice, "I have a secretary who does help me out with my work." "And yet I still find you outside of your house¡ª" "It doesn''t mean anything," Li Yang narrowed his eyes at her and then sighed. "I told you that I was trying to get some air¡ªcould you let it go?" He turned back to his house''s door and took out his key. Once he unlocked the door, he stepped inside and looked back at her. "Would you like to wait in the living room?" "... No." "I''ll be quick then." Chapter 62: Looking For Ways To Relax "Hey, have you ever considered another way to destress?" Bo Lifen asked right before the man could walk away. She watched the man''s broad shoulders pause, and she bit her lip down. Even she could appreciate the man''s physique, but that wasn''t what she was here for. "Sleep?" Bo Lifen fought the urge to slap a hand over her face, "Even you''re more of a workaholic than me¡ªI mean hobbies! Something to unwind your stress levels if you want to keep the burdens to yourself." She herself wouldn''t be here at her great-grandmother''s place if it weren''t for her other relatives. "I read from time to time." She pursed her lips, the excuse somewhat alright. "And what pray tell do you even then read, Mister CEO?" He shrugged, "Various topics. It depends on what I''m in the mood for." The man didn''t elaborate, but she had a feeling that his reading would comprise business topics and consider them as his enjoyment. That wasn''t what one was supposed to do¡ªdedicate every moment and hour of his life to work? Even she would get overwhelmed by that. How many years has he been doing this for nonstop? "Don''t you have physical ways to destress?" Bo Lifen raised a brow at him. "How do you keep yourself in shape if you drive to and from work every day? Surely you must be doing something like¡ª" "There are occasions where fellow executives and I visit a country golf club or some other sport they like to participate in." Li Yang shrugged once again, this time it seemed a little self-consciously. "But other than that, I try to eat well. I''ve consulted with my personal doctor, who told me nutrition trumps moderate exercise in maintaining my desired schedule. I cannot be expected to be at a gym seven days a week, but I assure I eat healthy and sleep well. It''s enough to ensure that I can handle my workload." "You sound like a machine." Bo Lifen said exasperated. He simply nodded, a twitch in the corner of his lips. "I think I''ve already been commented to be like that before." She wouldn''t stand for this kind of nonsense¡ªwho cared if she was overstepping? This man might overwork himself to death! There had to be something that he liked to do unknowingly besides pouring hours to work. Maybe an activity that he''d like to do with another person? "What about your brother?" His brows furrowed slightly, one of the few times for him to show distaste. "He''s not in the house as far as I''m aware." "No, not that." Bo Lifen frowned at him, "What does your brother do?" "He''s part of the board committee and one of the founders alongside me." That wasn''t what she was looking for, and yet that was what came to his mind¡ªif that didn''t tell anything about his life priorities, then she wasn''t sure what would. This man came home late and was still wearing his business suit as well. . "... Surely the two of you should have at least an activity that you do together?" Bo Lifen asked. His brother seemed to be a good candidate to be his closest friend, at least for someone to pretend to be his brother. "My youngest brother and I play board games when I have some time off from work, things like that. Isn''t that a common thing to do?" "He''s also a busy person¡ªif anything, he might be the type to get mild-to-moderate exercise elsewhere." She raised a brow, his vague words enough to incite some curiosity. "What does he do?" "He sleeps with a lot of women, at least as far as I know." Li Yang coughed. "It''s probably not enough to beat a treadmill in terms of calories burned per hour¡ª" "How you know that piece of information is quite¡ª" "I did tell you that I read a wide range of topics, health, business and even fiction." Li Yang said. He gave her a look, "Once again I give you my thanks for your concern, but this is far too much for someone you''ve barely met. Are you by any chance interested in Liang and were hoping to see him tonight?" "... I already told you that I was here for you." Bo Lifen frowned at him. "Do not tell me that¡ª" she stopped herself from saying anything further. Sibling rivalry at work? Inferiority and superiority complexes? She didn''t think that someone like him would be beset by something like this, and yet here they were. "You seem to be insistent on helping me, Miss Lifen." Li Yang managed a tired smile. "But I''m fine, please wait right here." And so the man headed to the kitchen and left her in the hallway. Bo Lifen balled her hands into a fist. The man was right¡ª"This isn''t supposed to be my problem." She needed to walk away and be done with it. If he didn''t want her help, then she should be¡ª ''It has been unhelpful'' Those were the words that he told her. He was "fine" because everything she was doing wasn''t helping him at all. Her eye twitched. Men and women often talked with her at the tea shop, she was supposed to be a good confidante. And yet the man was telling her that she was the exact opposite. If talking to him wasn''t actually doing anything, then¡ª The man''s footsteps sounded as he walked back to her, item in hand. He gave her a careful nod, "Here''s the thermos, Miss Lifen. You have my thanks for the tea, and I''m curious about from whom you''ve obtained these pearls from?" She pointed a finger at him, "If my words don''t matter at all¡ªI suppose sleeping with someone might be the only thing that will alleviate your stress, won''t it?" She chose to ignore his question for now and focus on proving a point. "You might not have time for anything else, but something like this over in ten minutes tops. Probably even shorter if you''re fast." "What?" He raised a brow at her. His expression was enough to make her falter and realize that this was a dumb thing to say. She should just get the thermos and go away now, pretend it never happened but Bo Lifen''s face reddened in both fury and shame. She had already said it though, and it did make sense. "You don''t have any sort of hobby at all to unwind. You read books for fun, and you seem to work for far too many times that at the end of the day you sit down at a porch outside of your house to relax. There are far too many people who might envy your life, and yet you''re down in the dumps. It''s ridiculous, isn''t it?" He held out the thermos to her, "I think you''re overstepping once again, Miss Lifen. My life is not for you to scrutinize." "I know what I''m talking about!" She refused to back down now and ignored the thermos in his hand. "I may be taking a vacation now and avoiding my relatives¡ªbut I know what it''s like to burn yourself out and bury yourself to work. And if you won''t do something about this, then you''re going to sink deeper into a hole and you''ll never get yourself out." "Miss Lifen, your suggestion to me is to sleep with someone to destress¡ªI don''t think that''s going to help at all in solving my problems." She frowned at him, "Well, I bet you''ve never tried it to confirm such a thing. Besides, I didn''t say it would solve your problems and make them go all away¡ªI''m saying that you should at least unwind. Do something, do anything that''ll take your mind off of your work and come back to it once you''ve renewed your energy." He raised a hand to his face and rubbed it, "And I suppose I have to hire someone for this?" Bo Lifen stared at him, "That''s the only option that went through your mind¡ªa prostitute?" She grimaced and shook her head, "You don''t even have time to get into a relationship, do you? Of course that''s what you''re going to think, it''s ridiculous to hear it come from you. I suppose it can''t be helped that you''d still be similar to those men who think they can go to my shop and spend exorbitant money to sleep with my employees and me." "Once again you act like you know me so well." "That''s because I''ve faced similar things to you." Bo Lifen crossed her arms over her chest. "Does it seem surprising that you''re not the only one dedicated to their work? That someone else works hard and you''re not the only one dealing with this?" Li Yang managed a sigh, "I feel like I have to point out that the very thing that you''ve suggested to me¡ªsleeping with someone to relax is almost the same as what you''ve encountered from those men in your shop. They tell you that you''ll ease up once you sleep with them, and now you tell me to do the same. Isn''t that a little ironic?" That was a different thing entirely! "I''m not saying you should try it with people who wouldn''t want to sleep with you or for you to spend money, I''m telling you to do it with someone who''s willing to do it with you. No, not just willing¡ªsomeone who wants to." Bo Lifen frowned at him. She stepped towards him and jabbed his shoulder. "And I''m suggesting it because I think it would help you, it''s got nothing to do with me. Don''t bring up the assholes that visit my shop." "Let me repeat. You think that if I had sex¡ªthings would go better for me and yet you don''t seem to consider it for yourself. You think those assholes are ridiculous for saying those words and think it''s demeaning and yet you suggest me to take an almost similar route. You yourself could find someone to date to verify this, but that doesn''t seem to be the case. It''s just strange for you to suggest this if you''d balk at it yourself." Bo Lifen''s eye twitched, "I tell you it''s different for me¡ªbut if you''re this insistent on trying to say it''s the same thing for you and me." She stared back at him and huffed. "Then go on and prove a point¡ªkiss me." Someone like him wouldn''t even bother at all¡ª Chapter 63: Its A Dangerous Game A crash sounded across the hallway, the clang of a metal at the same moment he grasped her cheek and pressed his lips against hers. The man kissed her then and there, her soft lips met his and the scent of her hair filled his senses. Soft, moist and warm lips¡ªa sensation that took control for a moment. His thumb grazed over her skin, chilly to the touch with the air from outside. And yet he didn''t stop, neither did she pull away¡ªshe had initially frozen for a moment, eyes widening and staring back at him. Until her fingers reached out tentatively and tugged at his hair. Her dark eyes finally shutting as a sound emerged from her lips, what might have been a small hum. But not one of them spoke a word. A parting of her lips, a brushing of his tongue over her lips and meeting hers. It was their actions that spoke for themselves. There was no need to explain themselves any further. He reached out for the small dip in her back and tugged her closer, their bodies pressing against one another. A tantalizing friction emerged between them. In one swift movement, he had her back against the wall. His knees ground against her crotch. Her fingers scraped against the edge of his scalp. Burning sensation invading between them. She bit down lightly on his tongue and he trailed his fingers across her back, eliciting a shiver from her spine and their kissing continued on. She tugged at the root of his hair, his fingers dug into her hips. Even the cost of this moment was paused at the sound of her voice, the soft sounds of breaths escaping their mouths. Initially meant to prove a point¡ªnow either one of them might have lost or won in this situation. Both enraptured in this sensation, at the light touches of his hand, at the sound of her voice and the feelings burning dangerously between them. And then Li Yang finally pulled away to catch his breath. A warm sensation burned below his stomach, a flame lit up. He would stare back at the flushed face of Bo Lifen, the initial words he was planning to say lost in the heat of the moment. Bo Lifen cleared her throat with a slight gulp and she averted her gaze¡ªonly to turn back and look at him. Her fingers finally easing up against brushing his nape, lowering slightly as she let out a sigh, and yet she wasn''t breaking the silence between them, as if the words would pierce through what seemed unreal. Their words did seem to have managed to portray that there was some use to this, and yet he didn''t want to define it. Li Yang glanced at the thermos that had dropped and rolled about slightly near them and picked it up. He would glance up at the undeterminable look on her face. She looked a bit lost and stared back at him¡ªdaring him to say something. To say what she might have wanted to hear? There was a slight electric touch to his lips, and he inclined his head, wiping the container with the edge of his suit. "My apologies, I dropped the thermos." Her emotions flared in the moment, a look of exasperation on her face with an edge to her voice. "That''s what you''re sorry about?" "Is there anything else I should apologize for?" he asked. "... argh, forget it." She snatched the thermos from his hand, and there was an unsteady movement in her legs as she turned away from him. "I didn''t think you would actually do it." He raised a brow, "You did say¡ª" "I know what I said." With her back now turned against him, Li Yang took note that unlike yesterday where she had worn a tank top and shorts, now she had opted for a shirt. If he could remember, her shirt had still hugged around her bosoms tightly when they had kissed, with her breasts pressing against his chest. He had made no move to it, even when his fingers passed through the hook of her bra. He tried to not pay attention, and yet it was hard to avoid the truth of the matter. "But I didn''t think someone like you would kiss me after all your words when we first met¡ªhah, you don''t even kiss that half bad. Isn''t that surprising?" It was much more pleasurable than he could recall and he heard a ding in the back of his mind¡ªLi Yang cleared his throat, "Miss Lifen, would you like me to walk you back to your residence?" He wouldn''t normally have done this, but it was an appropriate thing to do, even more so after what had happened. She glanced over her shoulder, a calmer look on her face if not for the soft hint of red across her nose. Her lips curled down, and she clutched the thermos, "That kiss didn''t mean anything, so you don''t have to offer anything like that. I can get home on my own." "Of course," He nodded. "I only said it out of courtesy, I apologize if it seems intruding." Her eyes narrowed at him, and she eyed him up and down with a scrutinizing look. "You know what, fine. It''s the least that you could do after all of this." Without waiting for another word, she spun around and headed out of his house. Li Yang raised a brow momentarily, curious of her absurd reasoning, but followed out. He wasn''t exactly so sure of the reason himself, but he had already promised to do it, and so he would. The two of them stepped out of his house and onto the pavement, and the flickering lights of a street light shone a path for them. And so the two of them walked without an exchange of words. Only the click-clack of footsteps echoed in the quiet road. They would pass through other houses and with no other passer-bys their way. Until the two of them came across a park, something Li Yang hadn''t exactly paid much attention to¡ªhe often drove past it when he went to work, but never visited himself¡ªand so the two of them walked it, until a sudden glare of light came behind them and once he glanced back, a vehicle appeared in his vision. Bo Lifen uttered a curse, "Not them." And before he could even ask a thing, she grabbed his hand and tugged him into the park and behind a tree. The woman glanced over his shoulders and that of the tree, Li Yang would hear the sound of a vehicle driving past them. Her sudden actions made him lift a brow, "Did you know who that was?" He was pinned against the tree this time around in a reversal of fate. Her lower arm rested against his torso and kept him securely in place. "Duh," She snapped at him, looking back at him with irritation. "That was my father''s car¡ªI don''t want him to catch me walking around with you and get the wrong idea." Li Yang raised a brow, "I think you could simply tell them otherwise." "My mother wouldn''t let me hear the end of it¡ªand then Granny Lanfen''s going to agree and say what a wonderful man you are." An exasperated sigh escaped the woman''s lips, "Oh that young man is a suitable partner for our little Lifen, he''s a respectful and diligent man. Have I mentioned that he''s a CEO? Not just any CEO too, he''s the¡ª" The CEO stifled a chuckle. "What''s so funny?" Bo Lifen glared at him, her arm digging in his chest. "Would you have rather wished to get introduced to my family?" "No, it''s not that." Li Yang smiled slightly, "To hear that Granny Lanfen speaks so well of me is a little gratifying¡ªshe has been far too kind for someone like me." He sighed briefly, "I should thank her in person for the tea and the bamboo. Actually, I would like to repay her for all of her help if there''s anything that she would like." . . . Bo Lifen stared at him in disbelief for a moment, his attention focusing elsewhere at this particular time? Didn''t he know this situation they were in right now? It was annoyingly¡­ it reminded her of someone else and she ground her teeth. She lowered her arm from his chest, the luxuriant suit coat brushing with her skin when she released him. How could he be both annoyingly single-mindedly focused on trivial things and still make out with her minutes ago without a hint of shame? Her mouth still felt the warmth of his lips on hers, the sinful and penetrative sensation that heated her loins when his knee ground against it earlier during their short-lived bout. It was difficult to erase it from her mind. The dangerous feeling at the touch of his fingers baring against her skin and tingling her spine. An invasive and dark passion curling up and twisting her mood¡ªbut was it really him to blame for this sensation? What if this was all her? Her heart pounded in her chest. Words stuck itself in her throat, and the warmth of his body close to her lit up a fire in her own. "Miss Lifen?" he prompted her again. Her eyes met his and the surrounding atmosphere heated once more. Whether or not it was him or her to blame¡ªeither way, it didn''t matter right now. She let out a breath and stared at him, "I''ll be borrowing your body for a moment. Stop me if you wish." -¡ª-¡ª Author Note: Dude, it took me hours to write this haha, I have no idea if it''s good. Praise me please. Inspired by ''It''s a Dangerous Game" a duet song from the gothic musical Jekyll & Hyde. Chapter 64: A Lovely Night * Her eyes met his and the surrounding atmosphere heated once more. Whether or not it was him or her to blame¡ªeither way, it didn''t matter right now. She let out a breath and stared at him, "I''ll be borrowing your body for a moment. Stop me if you wish." And he did the exact opposite, his fingers eagerly brushed her hair behind an ear, a soft gesture that ended as he rested his hand against the back of her head¡ªand then he dove right in wordlessly. He kissed her again, continuing their session from minutes ago. Once again another soft thud sounded as the thermos clanged and rolled onto the grass. She was once again caught in surprise but quickly returned the kiss, parting her lips to quickly move on from their gradual speed. Her tongue swiped across his lips experimentally before his tongue found hers. There was no gentleness this time, only a more feverish heat than the one exchanged before. The way his fingers held the back of her head controlled the pressure and intensity of their kiss, an action that only turned her on more. She was the one supposed to be doing all of this, even as her arms wrapped against his neck and she leaned in closer. Teeth grazing against their bottom lip, accompanied with a sucking of a tongue. Their kiss deepened into a lustful frenzy. His left hand snaked against her upper thigh, squeezing the tender flesh tightly before his fingers lowered and toyed with the edges of her shorts. Diving in and soon brushing with her inner thigh in a motion that made her suck in a breath. A prickly heat scorched her insides. Her stomach pressed against his hips, something stiffly poked her below. Right in time to the moment that his fingers parted the fabric of her underwear and delved into a moist sensation within her. A wanton heat. She bucked forward and pressed her hips against his groin, trembling slightly out of need and desperation. Being touched by someone else than her own was wondrously strange, sinuous and also agonizingly slow. Li Yang reclined back slightly against the tree to gaze at her, parting away to check on her glossy lips and half-lidded eyes. He asked a question, "Does the idea of someone watching excite you?" Bo Lifen''s face could have flushed even more at this very hour, thankful that the terrible streetlights and the shadows of a tree hid her face and she stopped herself from burying her neck against his collar or headbutting him right here and now¡ªshe was already wet. "What do you think?" She hissed at him slightly. "We''re in a residential park and you were the one who started this." "I don''t think your body is exactly complaining now is it?" She pouted at him and then shook her head. As if coming into a conclusion to his sudden pause. "I suppose you expect some treatment as well?" Before Li Yang could say a word, she would already lower herself down his body and got on her knees¡ªher fingers caressing the bulge through his trousers. She wet her lips even as he understood her intentions and unbuckled his belt. It didn''t take a moment until his erection revealed itself, standing proudly and in need of attention. Bo Lifen cleared her throat, a look of hesitation crossing her face in this moment until his hand once again caressed the back of her head, his fingers trailing and curling through her hair. "You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to." He said it kindly, but there was a little hoarseness and sultry to his voice. He wanted it as well. Bo Lifen chewed on her lips, gazing at the thick cock swollen in front of her. She wrapped her fingers around the base, giving it an experimental squeeze and then leaned forward¡ªa soft hiss escaped his lips at the sensation of her mouth engulfing him. She received a pleasurable and rewarding rake of his fingers on her scalp, a silent beckon for her to continue her ministrations. His length began to become coated with her saliva as it brushed against the entrance to her throat, a small choke momentarily escaping her. It was rather too sexy. The man wasn''t content to simply let her do all of the movements¡ªshe was slightly moving back and forth, tonguing the underside of his cock¡ªbut the urge to thrust his hips burned and sparked his blood. He held back. He might have expected her to be quite used to this¡ªthe woman confidently asking for his body, and yet her moves were still clumsy. As if she was relatively new to this as he relatively was, but the sensations of pleasure were a great indicator of what to do next. He gave a small thrust of his hips, heard a small gag and looked down to see the corner of her eyes brim with some tears¡ªand yet she didn''t pull back at all. There was a challenging if not brave look in her eyes. It egged the man on to continue with his movements, his hips pressed down her face and then succeeded with quick thrusts into her throat as her hands seized his hips and clung on. The pressure in his belly builded up as their raw, unhinged actions continued and he ran his fingers through her scalp¡ª Her legs squeezed together, left unattended but continuing on with the ministrations. With her eyes staring back at him, blinking slightly at the loss of air brought him to the edge as he released the pent-up pressure in his length, his viscous liquid pouring down her throat as he released his hold on her hair and she finally moved back and tumbled slightly on the grass. Bo Lifen hacked temporarily and wiped the corner of her lips, making a sound that crossed a gag and a cough. "... Are you okay?" Li Yang reached for a handkerchief in his pocket and offered it to her. There was a relaxed and eased sensation that rolled through his body, even as he watched Bo Lifen''s legs bared out in the grass with the moonlight shining down on her. Her gaze focused on him and she made a slightly ticked off face. "Could have warned me." And then she frowned at him, "Are you done? Do you feel satisfied?" "I think so." "I guess that''s one of us¡­" Her gaze lingered around them. Around them were a nice set of slides, monkey bars, teeter-totters and swing set available for the residences inside of the subdivision. It was a rather good one meant for children. Li Yang cleared his throat, and raised a hand. "We can still go for one more¡­?" This wasn''t in his plans, but it had been a welcome distraction. "Did you touch my hair with that hand?" Bo Lifen eyed it with some aghast and trepidation. "Yes?" "And you touched my¡ªargh." She tugged her shorts lower down her leg and shook her head. "I think I already spent too much time with you that it''d start getting suspicious. Where''s the thermos? Did it roll away?" She got on her knees and looked around. "Go look at the bushes or something." His lips curled up slightly as the man buttoned his trousers. And then he would end up searching for the thermos as well, at least after he admired her body crawling through the grass¡ªand the woman muttering some curses underneath her breath. "I can feel your gaze on me, idiot." she said without even looking behind her shoulder. "I wouldn''t have known that you were an ass over boob man." He blinked and shook his head, "I don''t actually have a preference¡ª" "Whatever," She finally pulled up to her feet and had the thermos in hand. "I''m done with you¡ªthank you for letting me borrow your body." Bo Lifen said it with a more calm look on her face in comparison to earlier. He raised a brow, "You didn''t even finish." "... that doesn''t matter to you." She crossed her arms over her chest and stared upwards, avoiding his gaze. "What a waste of a night." Li Yang would follow suit and looked up, the starry night above them with a full moon. "It is a lovely one, I agree." "Hah, perhaps someone else might have appreciated it¡ªanother guy and girl on a date." A snicker escaped her lips, until Bo Lifen gazed back at him and a sardonic smile formed on her face. "I hope nothing goes through your mind¡ªcall it a little experimentation. Might as well check if those bastards actually had a point in telling me that I''d loosen up if I did the nasty with someone else." He raised a brow. "Well, we didn''t exactly¡ª" "Close enough," She stretched her arms, her top rising slightly against her stomach. "It wasn''t bad¡ªbut hey, I''m still me and you''re still you. Nothing''s changed. It would have been a pain if we got some of your stuff on your suit coat. It looks like an expensive fabric?" "Wool." he said. She snickered, "Ah, my point exactly why I don''t like snobby rich folks." "You also seem to come from a well-off family." Li Yang pointed back. "It''s not much of a valid criticism." "You''d match better with someone who enjoys wearing heels and running their fingers across that luxurious coat." Bo Lifen gave him a smile. "Really a shame that you could have gone out on a date with a high-class girl if you weren''t so deadbeat and focused on your work." "Same to you, Miss Lifen." "Haah," She let out a content sigh and eyed him. "I better get going then, Mister CEO. See you around." The two of them parted ways, with Li Yang heading back to his own home. The CEO checking on the notifications¡ªan end to a lovely night. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: I did say something about ''bark'' in a previous note, nearly doing it in a park underneath the shadows of a tree. We might have gone on for more, but I''m still getting the hang of this, heh. Li Yang should have asked, "Are you an exhibitionist?" eh? eh? Okay, I''ll see you guys tomorrow. Chapter 65: Results of the Evening [ You Have Gained 500 Charm Points ] [ 75% Successful Encounter ] [ Yin Qi Gathered 1 / 3 ] [ Yang Essence Provided 1 / 3 ] There were both familiar and new notifications that appeared in Li Yang''s vision on his way home and though he was familiar with the terms, qi being intangible and essence as something more physical, it was still strange to see it written on a screen. In the end, even the System would end up quantifying what had happened between him and Bo Lifen. But it had proven what he had tried to ignore while such things were happening and had muted the notifications. Gods were watching like some old man in a red suit checking if kids were ''naughty'' or ''nice''. Or perhaps there was a better way to term it, but he opted not to and only took note of their assessment. [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Is Amused ] [ You Have Received 100 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Watches Slightly Envious ] [ You Have Received 10 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''Fire Dweller'' Was Interested ] [ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ] He sighed and glanced into thin air and spoke quietly, "You were there the entire time?" A distortion in the air appeared and revealed the small fluffy creature. It floated beside him and gave a nonchalant shrug, "Doubt you''d do anything knowing that you have viewers¡ªdidn''t expect you were an exhibitionist." "I''m not," he said. "You could have done it in the comforts of a house and a bed¡ªand yet you do it behind a tree. If that''s not an exhibition then I don''t know what is." the Panda rolled its eyes and motioned vaguely at the CEO. "But hey, nice dick." "Thank you." Li Yang didn''t miss a beat in the reply. "Gah¡ªthat nonchalance is killing me." the Panda groaned, and shook its head. "Guess it did help your mood eh?" "I guess I can understand why my brother enjoys this." Li Yang arrived back at his house and took note of the absence of his Liang''s car, the man was still out. He entered his abode and glanced at the wall where Bo Lifen rested earlier. He stepped past the hallway and onto the kitchen table where he had left his suitcase and the canister of the Blossoming Spirit Tea. "Well, that''s probably already a lot to admit for you." the Panda muttered to itself. "I guess you''re going to make another drink eh?" "Is there any strange side effect if I were to consume multiple types of drinks with varying ingredients?" Li Yang wondered. The Black Ocean Pearl Tea''s effects were worth drinking in his opinion¡ªregardless of cultivation, the drink seemed capable of increasing longevity. Except there was a need to drink vast quantities. He would have to ask Bo Lifen how she obtained them. The creature snorted behind him, "As expected for a greedy man like you to want to drink everything you can get your hands on¡ªthere''s probably some benefits and drawbacks to mixing, but you should focus on actually getting your spiritual roots to open, useless sponge." "Your choices in nicknames are strange." He would point out as he prepared another batch of hot tea for himself. Li Yang glanced at his watch and sighed inwardly¡ªthe short romp hadn''t exactly been in his schedule but it wasn''t something he would complain about. "I''m just pointing out what I can see." the Panda jabbed its paw in the air. "Unlocking Qi Condensation and not having the capacity to refine and absorb it for your spiritual roots, what a waste. Heck, it made you susceptible to danger." "Indeed." The man was really not the best in small conversation and a silence would emerge as he prepared his tea, leaving both of them in silent contemplation of their circumstances. [ You Have Consumed Root Blossoming Tea ] [ Efficacy: Medium ] [ Body Compatibility: 60% ] [ Your Spiritual Root Is Strengthened ] [ Your Spiritual Root Is Strengthened x2 ] [ Your Spiritual Root Is Strengthened x3 ] "This had cost me around 1000 charm points, the sample and then three additional cans of the Divine Energizer Drink." Li Yang placed the fifth teacup down on his dining table and weighed the costs. In front of him was the Panda chewing and grinding one of the bamboo stalks. "I suppose it is better than waiting until I reached 5000 charm points." "Che!" the creature spat at him, "You''re supposed to be buying items for you to consume and strengthen yourself¡ªnot to trade with other people." Li Yang raised his brows, "Surely other people with Systems would take a similar route if they found another alternative source." He could at least surmise that there would be other people with Systems as well if there was a rampant source of system novels in the market. Or perhaps the gods had made a System due to man''s desire? "Hah, I guess¡ªbut not everyone''s going to do it." the Panda narrowed its beady eyes at him. "You should feel lucky that everything''s based on entertainment otherwise those who refuse to heed the System and Originator will face bigger and severe punishments." The CEO took in the information with some silence, the information was new but not entirely useful. If anything, it only made him realize something. "... You say that losing the company is a mild form of threat?" "Some people lose their families over this¡ªand yet, your life is just going to end up upside down if you had refused it. There are System Holders that die and have a countdown¡­ while you get a vacation leave for half-assing the Date the Secretary Quest?" the Panda made a face. "You''re one lucky bastard! Anybody else would be doing quests and collecting girls with no tomorrow. I bet your brother would have aced this System." "Then you could have given it to him, right?" "Well that''s¡­" the Panda stared at the CEO with a frown. "Obviously it''d be a waste! Who the heck changes the main star of the show after a couple of episodes? I thought you''re supposed to be a businessman." Chapter 66: Did You Receive The Memo? "It might boost reception." the CEO shrugged. "He might have been the perfect fit if you possibly hadn''t mistaken him for me, right?" Li Yang hadn''t exactly confirmed it yet with the System, and he might have been wrong, but the reaction of both Bo Lifen and the Panda had made him consider it. Not that it mattered much now. "... You''d be dead by now if we were to change." the Panda clicked its tongue. "Maybe if you piss me off, I''ll do just that." A light smile curled on his face, "I suppose that now seems like a proper threat." Did the creature truly have such authority on him like that? He didn''t think so, but it was better to be on the safe side. "Of course, it was!" the creature growled at him and raised a paw. "Have you forgotten when I first punched you? Don''t get cocky, Mister CEO. Between the two of us, I could crush you to a pulp!" The man coughed lightly and nodded, "Yes, I remember that¡ªit''s been quite awhile since I''ve got hit. I shall be retiring now so I''d appreciate it if you do not follow me." "Eh? But we''ve already seen it¡ªwhat''s there to be shy about?" He picked up the mug from off the dining table and washed it. He didn''t bother giving a reply and simply checked the clock in the kitchen. Somehow despite the late hour, his brother wasn''t anywhere to be found. Did his text already scare the man away? He didn''t think that he said anything that would tip him off. While he might consider his bout in gaining charm points a great success¡ªthere were other things he had to consider like Luo Ju Di and the child, running his company and trying to gather his strength. And Li Yang didn''t exactly have much time on his hands now, even with the spare time offered to him without any mission. [ Date The Secretary - Interlude ] [ Difficulty Level: Easy ] [ Status: Completed ] [ Interlude Time: 26 days and 18 hours remaining ] Such a thing like this would be gone in a flash. The man headed back to his room and prepared for the night. Unlike before, there were no more occasions of the Panda barging in to ask him to strip for a hundred thousand charm points¡ªand if that was an opportunity missed, he had placed something else more valuable than it. He would do things his way. . . . Another new day came for the man and his first hour would be spent on meditation. He did not go to the rooftop this time but had only opened the windows to allow fresh air to come inside his room, and so while sitting in a lotus position, began to cultivate. [ Moderate Qi Levels ] [ Absorbing Qi in Surroundings ] [ Distributing Through Meridian Channels ] 1 cycle. 2 cycles. 3 cycles. 4 cycles. 5 cycles. [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation - Stage One (???/???)] Li Yang rubbed his eyes tiredly and checked his watch¡ªhe had spent fifty minutes in a meditative state to gather and refine the qi available, but the System did not show him his progress at all. It was rather unhelpful, but it did mean that he could still do something about growing stronger¡­ if slower than simply purchasing the next stage. The man checked his Status Screen. [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: Low-Level Roots ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 990 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak-Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (10/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (1/9) [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] None His stage in cultivation didn''t change but his comprehension continued to grow¡ªand that was without purchasing the available scripture. Li Yang didn''t have much time to check and purchase it now as the man reached for his phone and started on the next tasks, related to his work rather than cultivation. And yet there was a sense of some satisfaction at the portion about his Spiritual Root, or Roots in this case. Initially claimed to have no roots at all, not even one, Li Yang would turn out to have much more than one. "Not that having more than one root is a good thing either." A sheaf of papers were laid across his bed, the documents had underlines and highlights of things that Li Yang considered to be vital to remember and one of them being the most common way of cultivation. "And with no indicator of what attribute my roots are¡­" It wasn''t like he could pursue being a cultivator who uses a Heavenly Burning Cultivation Method if he were to discover he had fire roots¡ªthe man probably could do it, but cultivating two methods would be time consuming. And he had no other cultivation method on hand. "I might be able to obtain something from the Black Market or Shen Society¡­" Li Yang finished the bank transaction of sending a good sum to the bank account of the Yuan''s Store¡ªwhich incidentally had official papers to receive money. The shopkeeper had spoken interest in receiving shares of stock in his company, but acquiesced to cash. Once he was finished with that, the man then prepared to actually head to his office. The CEO would leave his house at approximately 6:30am with the Panda creature in tow. A soft yawn escaped the creature as it scratched its cheek, "Seems like you''re energetic this time around¡ªdid you have breakfast? Or was it because of last night?" "I have a lot to do, I can''t waste much time." he said and stepped into his car, revving the engine to leave his house. With no brother yet in sight, he couldn''t help but wonder where the man headed to, but Liang could handle himself. "What''s on your agenda today then?" the Panda frowned. "Will you try talking with your secretary or handle the thing with that brat and her mother? Both?" The CEO glanced at it, before his vehicle eased into the road. "Do I have to give you a memo?" "I was just asking!" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Balancing all four elements (CEO, Cultivation, Harem, System) is a bit tough, we might get some mini time-skips too and whatnot. Thanks for reading today''s chapters! Chapter 67: Let Me Give You A Mission There were a couple of things that happened yesterday that rendered Ying Yue He speechless and nearly in a daze. The foremost was Luo Ju Di and her child, when Ying Yue He''s heart was soaring¡ªit ended up dropping and sinking when the two had arrived. She was even the one who had to make on-the-spot arrangements for them, and while she was trying to make peace with the idea... Her boss brought the tea. It should have been simple enough¡ªmake the man some tea. It was what any secretary would do for their boss, and yet she was also curious. The canister that the CEO handed to her looked traditional and something that might have been available in the past. Heating water and mixing in some powdered tea was simple enough, and yet she had seen nothing like this. "He wouldn''t buy that expensive tea now, would he?" she asked herself with a dubious look. "Or he wouldn''t buy anything strange either." Throughout the years that she worked with him, she could tell that he was mostly practical save for the occasional splurges. His suits were topnotch quality¡ªshe had confirmed it with her own hands. Ying Yue He''s cheeks turned red but only grew stronger. Why did she think that she would have a chance? Was it his fault for asking her out to a date? "Or is it mine for getting the wrong idea?" Ying Yue He placed the teapot on a tray and picked up a teacup. The man didn''t give her the scroll, but only insisted that she prepare it on her own. He had only glanced at the scroll once and told her to make a teapot with six teaspoons at a heat of around 100¡ãC before heading back to his office. The secretary poured a small amount of the fragrant tea into another spare cup, a dark red hue filled the teacup and she would take a sip. A powerful scent would overcome her senses¡ª The scroll that came along with the tea had instructions on preparations, not as specific as the instructions that Li Yang gave his secretary, as there was no form of measurement of temperature before. Instead, it only contained how many times one should drink it to take advantage of the benefits of it, so the heat probably didn''t matter as much as simply in taking it. Root Blossoming Tea Dosage for Mortals - drink two-three cups every eight hours - drink with an empty stomach Dosage for Cultivators - Cultivators in the lower realms, stages of Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment can take this at a similar rate as mortals '' - Cultivators in higher realms, stages of Core Formation and higher must intake at least twenty pots to benefit to a similar extent as that of mortals Li Yang considered himself a mortal¡ªwell, he was in Qi Condensation at the initial phase, and so there wasn''t much trouble. He would drink and benefit, strengthen his roots. He had brought the canister as well for an afternoon drink and he would simply do that. "Meditation and cultivation at night." he said to himself. Or possibly to the observer floating beside him. The man would stop once he moved away from the parking lot and headed to his office, his suitcase, laptop bag and tea with him. "Good morning, Mister Li," Ying Yue He greeted him with a smile. The woman had stood up from her seat and bowed slightly, and when she looked up, there was a certain glow to her features. Compared to the mess of yesterday, things were more or less settled now in the office. It made sense that his secretary would be at more ease today that he thought of it; he had little chance to thank her properly. "Ah, good morning, Miss He. Thank you for your help yesterday," She blinked at him, "I only did what you have asked of me. You have nothing to thank for, sir." Ying Yue He didn''t mention anything, and even the look on her face was one that showed some surprise and confusion. It was truly as if things were normal and nothing of note had happened¡­ He didn''t think that she would act this way¡ªbut the woman could still surprise him. The Panda reappeared over his shoulder and pushed his face, "She''s giving you the cold shoulder if you ask me." He didn''t know her that much outside of their interactions, and yet he would disagree with the creature''s assessment. His secretary wouldn''t be someone who''d suddenly turn like that. Li Yang cleared his throat, "Very well, please keep up your hard work, Miss He. Is there anything urgent that I need to know right now? Has something come up while I was gone?" The board meeting was coming up, the reason his brother was here in the first place. "Nothing of note, sir, and as for your current schedule¡ªI''ve already emailed the other day regarding it. Would you like me to resend it?" He shook his head and instead presented her with the tea canister. "No need. I''d like you to brew me another pot of tea around 2pm? I leave this in your care." "Will do, Mister Li." And so that would be most of their interaction in the morning. There was no influx of charm points but no deductions either¡ªand so Li Yang dismissed the ideas of the Panda as something that they''ve concluded incorrectly. Even if the creature would make jabs at him in his office, it was easy enough to tune it out or ask for it to kindly shut up. "¡ªah, this is so boring!" the Panda groaned. Its furry head was at the end of the sofa''s armrest, and it nearly tipped and leaned back enough that it might have fallen off if it weren''t able to balance correctly. Li Yang looked up from his documents and raised a brow. "Do you not have other people to watch over to?" "What?" "Instead of allocating simply one creature like you to someone with a System like me¡ªwouldn''t it be better to rotate around many people with similar situations to capture more interesting things?" Li Yang shrugged. "I doubt that discussing KPIs would be of much interest to you or that of the spectators." "What the heck is a KPI?" "Key Performance Indicators¡ªI''m rechecking the slides and documents that will be distributed to the board during the meeting." he said. A momentary smile flicked on his face, "There''s been a certain increase in revenue again, which is a relief despite some certain lapses in the economy''s growth as of late.." "...and this is the face that the Heavens want to watch." the Panda pressed a paw to its face, "You sound like some kind of nerd? Geek? You''re all so happy that I want to puke." Li Yang shook his head. "You''re free to go if you wish and come back around later?" "I bet when I go away that''s the time where exciting things happen." the Panda grumbled. "I was gone for a day and then you got involved with cultivators from this city! Heck, what else did you do during that day?" "That was also the time I ate dinner with Miss He? The cook was a cultivator who saw my condition and confirmed that it was qi deviation." Li Yang shrugged. He could remember some interest of the ''Observers'' on one of the hires in Shen Society and idly wondered if he could use it for his own benefit. He could at least surmise that most of the Observers were probably close to females more than anything else. And yet that wasn''t in his plans, and neither was talking with the creature right now. But its complaints were enough to disturb him when it got especially whiny. "Hmm¡­" he rubbed his chin for a moment. "What if I give you a mission?" "What the heck did you just say?" the Panda stood up on its feet and jabbed a paw at him. "The System provides you missions, and I''m here as an observer¡ªyou can''t just order me around!" "If you''re bored and there''s nothing to see here," Li Yang shrugged. "Perhaps you could do some recon for me?" "What do you even want me to check on?" "I can''t be everywhere at once, but it''s vital to learn of other events happening in the background¡ªfor example, I do not know the whereabouts of my brother, what the shopkeeper at the black market has done to the objects I traded him with and even what the Shen Society are doing?" "Like I said¡ªI''m not some slave for you to boss around!" He stared back at the creature. "You''d be a spy crossing through enemy territory?" "You''re making it sound cooler than it''s supposed to be." "It would be much more helpful to me than you disturbing me from work." Li Yang''s gaze returned to his documents, "I think that would benefit me more than you doing social commentary of every little interaction that were to happen between me and of other people¡ªspeaking of which, I appreciated you pretending to excuse yourself to give me and Miss Lifen time together." "I wasn''t lying at all! I had to rid myself of all that kid''s weird psychic energy and then when I came back¡ªyou were already in a make-out session with that chick. Heck, I thought you weren''t interested, but it seems like I was wrong. Same goes for that woman." Li Yang raised a brow, "Did you say psychic?" "You just had to ignore everything else I said, didn''t you?" Chapter 68: The Pride of a Panda It shouldn''t turn out this way¡ªthe ''Panda'' had its pride and honor. But the creature also turned out bored right now, and the idea of going out was tempting. Similar to last time when it stayed back at the home of Li Yang, it wanted to have freedom and to just lay back to eat bamboo. It was actually a pretty crunchy snack now that it tasted it. But yes, it couldn''t leave so easily, and when it did so, it risked some things. But everything good in life came with a price. The Panda crossed its arm and pointed a paw down at the man. It floated above the man to maintain their higher standing, "You only get to choose one thing from me and I''ll be back after your work¡ªso you better actually have something for me to observe when I get back!" It couldn''t care less about this man''s activities, but the others did and it was the victim here. The CEO in front of the creature frowned and rubbed his chin. He was possibly contemplating on what to ask as a favor. "Will you check on Luo Ju Di and the child¡­ Chunhua?" "Huh." The creature blinked and frowned at him. What about crossing enemy territory and all of that fanciful thing that he just said? Its look was enough to elicit a response from the mortal. "I would like to see if there is any sort of indicator that the woman was being honest¡ªI still need to wait for Liang to come around to collect his sample too¡­" There seemed to be some uncomfortable look on the man''s face. Was the man worried about the testing or his brother? Well, it didn''t bother the creature and so the Panda waved a paw at him, "You got me here willing to look at anyone you damn want and yet all you want me to do is check on that woman, geez. Seems like a waste of my time." "So you will not do it?" A grown man was not allowed to have puppy dog eyes, and yet the slight look of disappointment made the creature click its tongue. "I am. I was just saying that I could have done something else like the shop or the Shen Society, heck, I could even look for your brother." The Panda grumbled and then turned around. It didn''t want the man to get any ideas. "I''m going." Screw appearances. If the situation was turned around, the man would lap at it like a dog if he was any wiser. "Do you not need the address of the hotel where they''re staying at?" Li Yang asked. The Panda scoffed and glanced back. "Psh. I can track something like this easy peasy¡ªyou underestimate the things that I can do." Li Yang gazed back at it with a thoughtful expression and nodded, "Thank you." Somehow this man had gone from uncaring, sarcastic to miserable and then tolerable. Well, men were said to have multiple faces. What mattered was taking advantage of the things that the creature could get, and so it gave one last sneer. "Hmp, this is a favor. You''ll pay for this in the future¡ªyou''ll see!" Li Yang watched the creature shot out towards the window with no trouble and reappeared on the other side. It was there and then that it zipped through the air and then disappeared out of sight. He sighed in relief. This would give him some free time¡ªand he could almost think that the young girl would be ecstatic enough to see the Panda suddenly. The girl had proven itself capable enough in distracting the Panda as well, and he hoped that it would occur this time around as well. A sudden ding sounded in the room, and it was a bit different from usual with a more festive tone to it. He checked the notification and came across a new one once again: [ Achievement Unlocked ] [ You Are The Boss - I ] Subdue a Being that is immensely more powerful than you [ You Have Received 5000 Charm Points ] Li Yang blinked and stared at the sizeable amount for a moment and then focused on what this notification was classified for, and it was for one''s ''Achievements''... All it took was one prompt for the System to divulge into its interpretation. [ Achievements ] In addition to the Main Quests and Side Quests, there are certain Achievements that Host can achieve by fulfilling certain criteria. Host will earn Charm Points and other benefits. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, unsure of whether he should be glad or feel otherwise. He didn''t get much of a chance to fully understand all the features of the System, and now he just finished one. The amount of Charm Points was half to that of the first Main Quest and bigger than all the ones he received from interacting with women. It was even larger than what he earned from the Observers tipping him. Li Yang tapped his finger on his desk for a moment in silent contemplation. If the Achievements were able to give him more points than talking¡­ wouldn''t it be just better to do them? The man would check the Achievements page. And it did have one¡ªwhich thankfully meant that the System didn''t hide it. However, a certain portion was faded out in gray, shaded that he couldn''t read them except for the front page, and there were at least fifty pages or more that he could scroll down from. "Why is there¡­?" Li Yang narrowed his eyes at the sheer amount of them. And yet it made sense that there would be a lot of them. "The maximum lifespan of an ordinary human is up to one-hundred twenty years of age, but if I were to succeed and break through cultivation, gain a core and even then ascend past such a stage then I would live long." Cultivation was a path to immortality. Many distinguished men of old had searched for a way to achieve immortality, be it with his own people''s cultivators, those of other nations that once traveled the world in search of the fountain of youth, trying to create the philosopher''s stone. They all desired it. Li Yang could only think of a lifetime of servitude. Sisyphus. Condemned to roll a heavy rock up a hill in Tartarus to only have it roll back down at the last minute for eternity. Suffering. Torture. Unending pain. He took a deep breath for a moment and shook his head¡ªhe understood the need to think long term and strategize. Li Yang glanced at the documents provided to him by all the people at the heads of each department: finance, legal, marketing and others¡­ he was still the one they approached and expected to tackle the vision of their company. But when he tried to think long term in this Heavens'' Entertainment in the off chance that he would still be tied to them by then¡ªit was nightmarish. However, he had no plans for getting tied down like that. Far from it. The man already decided to find a way out of this mess, but for now, Li Yang searched for a new Achievement to unlock. Chapter 69: Little Girl and the Panda + Achievement Unlocks? Luo Chunhua was a very ordinary girl. She also happened to be very lonely, but that all changed when she started making friends¡ªfriends that her mother couldn''t see. Unfortunately, none of them could come with her, and so she was both happy and sad. Happy why? She was with her mother, and right now the two of them were at a very wonderful place, because the bed was big and soft and people came up to their place and delivered yummy yummy food. Her mother wiped her cheek with a napkin, "You''re a very messy eater when you''re already so big." She leaned away from the napkin and shook her head, "Nu-uh." It was fun to eat and though it was a little sticky, she was satisfied. This was life! Her mother''s cooking, which her mother often prepared before she would leave for work, was delicious, but¡­ she secretly thought that the cooking here was better. Chunhua wouldn''t say it aloud. Her mother sighed, resigned and shook her head. But then she gave her a smile, a smile that her mother did when she tried to convince her to do something. "Chunhua, your mama''s going to go out this afternoon alright? I''ll leave the television open so you can watch cartoons, okay? Make sure not to open the door for anybody, I''ll be back before supper." Her eyes widened, she asked. "Can''t I come with you?" "I''m going to visit my old workplace, Chunhua¡ªit''s not a place for little girls like you." "But you just said I''m a big kid already!" "Chunhua, you''re not that big enough, okay?" her mother said. And yet the look on her mother''s face was unhappy, it was as if she was eating something yucky. "Can we visit the office then to see Panda, Uncle Yang and pretty lady? Maybe I can stay there?" "These people are very busy people, we just can''t come there whenever we like." Her mother said, a frown on her face. "But¡­" "No." There were no arguments to be had when her mother gave her a firm look and so Chunhua was left to stay at the ''hotel'' until her mother came back. The sound of the television played in the background. Chunhua was lying down on the bed and curled up in a small ball. It was so freezing with the air conditioning, but she didn''t move and refused to do so. "Oi, what''s someone blessed by Hestia doing there and shivering like a wet dog? Shouldn''t you have some minor blessing?" Chunhua looked up in alarm and then saw the Panda floating near the ceiling. "It''s you again!" "Yeah, where''s your mother?" the Panda was direct to point. "She went to her old workplace." "..." "Did you come here to play with me?" She asked and smiled at the Panda-Goblin. Chunhua sat crossed legged now and tilted her head at the floating creature that was far too high for her to reach. "I''m assuming you have no idea what or where your mother is, huh?" "... my mama works with bad men." "Huh? What did you say, kid?" Chunhua frowned and looked down at the bed sheets, "When my mother comes home¡ªmy friends, they''re just like you, tell me that bad men are with her. And when I checked out the window, they were right!" "Are you sure it''s bad men, not creepy or scary?" The Panda scratched its cheek. "That''s kind of vague and I don''t want to jump into conclusions. Is your mother secretly a hitman?" "Huh?" "Yeah, terrible question. Well, only one way to find out¡ª" Chunhua''s eyes widened, and she waved a hand, "W-Who''s Hestia?" She didn''t want to be left alone. Most of her friends enjoyed sticking around her, but the Panda wanted to look for her mother. The Panda-Goblin snorted and flicked a paw, "Eh, a virgin goddess." "What''s a virgin?" Out of nowhere, a fire burst on the ear of the Panda and a yelp escaped its lips. It moved like a mad dog across the air, shaking its head. "Hot hot!" Until it smacked its ear and now had slightly charred fur, "It''s true." Chunhua blinked, she asked. "Are you okay?" "I''m perfectly fine." The Panda said and proceeded to huff. "Anyway, she''s in charge of hearths, so who knows? Maybe you''re fireproof." "I am?" "I don''t know, kid, I''m leaving." The Panda made its way to the door. "Take me with you!" The Panda looked at her up and down, and Chunhua was positive that the Panda would turn her down, but then it shrugged. "Ah, why the hell not?" It then turned away from Chunhua and adopted a more lively voice, "Now wouldn''t this be a show, folks!" "Who are you talking to?" "Folks you can''t see." Chunhua puffed her cheeks, "You''re being silly!" "The nerve of this kid!" The Panda shook its head and made its way to the door, "Try and follow along if you can keep up with me." "Hey, that''s not fair!" Chunhua smacked once against the door before she opened the doorknob and followed along its friend. .. . Li Yang stared at the total number of Charm Points he currently had, and it was 9015 in total. This was by far the largest amount he had, but it wasn''t enough to purchase the most expensive item in the shop. Although he had no plan to buy that¡ªBloodline Awakening? It might be useful in the future, but not now. For now, he wanted to purchase Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - II that was at a price of 3750 Charm Points. And yet there was something lightly bugging him as he glanced at the rest of the available items in the shop. [ Charm Shop Level 1 ] Attraction Charm (Consumable) 100 CP Divine Energizer Drink (Consumable) 250 CP Dao of Attraction 500 CP Harem Cultivation Scripture 1000 CP Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - II 3750 CP Mystery Box 500 CP Roots Unlockment 5000 CP Bloodline Awakening 10000 CP Constitution Refinement 500 CP Cultivation Method Upgrade 200 CP The Harem Cultivation Scripture was something he could afford, but wouldn''t he be able to purchase Qi Condensation and raise it to stage three? There had to be a reason why it was there¡ªalbeit the Dao of Attraction looked kind of suspicious to him. Either way, Li Yang would get stuck here if he didn''t make any decisions now. [ Deducting 1000 CP from Host¡­ ] [ You Have Purchased Harem Cultivation Scripture ] The start of one''s path of Harem Cultivation! This Scripture will allow the seeker to understand and comprehend the basics and general knowledge regarding Harem Cultivation! "And then¡­" [ You Have Begun To Understand And Grasp The Concepts of Harem Cultivation ¡ª There Is A 20% Reduction In Purchases for Instant Cultivation Increase In Shop ] A sigh escaped Li Yang''s lips. He should have bought it from the start, and yet there was no turning back time. He might have saved 500 Charm Points if he had done so earlier, "Purchase next stage of Qi Condensation." [ Deducting 3000 CP From Host¡­ ] [ Congratulations! Host Is Now At Qi Condensation Second Stage ] [ Remaining Charm Points: 5015 ] He could purchase the next stage again for 4000 Charm Points, but there was something he had seen on the Achievement page that he could do. It was something he could afford¡ªthe Mystery Box. Chapter 70: Mysteries of Life and Gift Boxes [ Deducting 500 CP From Host¡­ ] [ You Have Purchased 1x Mystery Box! ] Will you open Pandora''s Box and unleash all the evils in the world? Or will you open a gift from the Heavens? The Mystery Box may contain any of the multiple items from across the universe thanks to the Sponsorship that LSO receives from numerous individuals and groups. [ Would You Like To Open The Mystery Box Now? ] Li Yang glanced at his watch and considered his chances of starting off an Apocalypse? He understood what could happen if he got a box that was similar to Pandora''s and yet with a Mystery Box where the System''s Shop description claimed it contained items from across the Universe.¡ªthe chances were sure to be small. He gave a silent ''Yes'' confirming it. The image of a gift box materialized in his vision. It had a hue of green and was even tied with a peach ribbon, but began to unwrap itself quickly. [ Congratulations! You Have Received 3x sets of Goblin Nail Clippings! ] "..." Li Yang stared at the individually sealed zip-lock plastic bag containing the items he won floating in the air and sighed inwardly. The urge to say it was trash was on his lips, and yet it might have some other use? It was better than thinking he had bad luck. Albeit that depended primarily on one''s perspective. Other than that, he awaited for the next ding and the notification coming up in front of him. [ Achievement Unlocked! ] [ What''s Inside? The Heavens Decide! - I ] You have opened 1x Mystery Box [ You Have Received 500 Charm Points ] "I managed to break-even with it¡­" Li Yang said to himself with a whisper and considered the next portion of this particular Achievement. He checked the Achievement Page and saw that ''What''s Inside? The Heavens Decide - II'' was achievable by opening three boxes. The man had decided to take a break from his work. He considered his options of returning to work now to triple-check the documents for the board meeting or opening more boxes¡­ The CEO glanced at his laptop to check for any urgent emails addressed to him, but there was none so far. And so his mind drifted back to Mystery Boxes. The Charm Points he''d earn by purchasing Mystery Boxes would probably just break-even with his Achievements, and the chances of him getting his hands on something useful was still possible. At least more useful than toenail clippings. Something sounded¡ªbut this time, it wasn''t from the System and was instead an email from the Wang Corporation? It was an odd chance. But regardless of it, he came to check it and raised a brow. It wasn''t from the Director but his grandson, the young man he had met recently. Was there a sudden matter? "No." Good afternoon CEO Li Yang: This is Wang Liquin from the Wang Corporation¡ªfirst and foremost, you have our heartfelt gratitude for the considerable acceptance of an agreement between the two of our businesses. I wish to forgo with the formalities and simply extend a small token of our appreciation, although this one is mostly from me. I believe my grandfather will also send his own regards. It was a little difficult to consider what might be an appropriate gift, but I hope that you or someone else you know may find use for them. Attached to this email are two virtual VIP tickets to the upcoming concert of Bai Minghua and Sun Aoyun. Respectfully, Wang Liquin "Odd," The CEO said it to himself with a furrowed brow look. He did receive gifts and complimentary items from his fellow associates in the profession and even from interested parties that wished to get some favor, but this was one of the first times that he received something like this instead of a premium membership to a country club or even something like a pen engraved with the company''s name. He didn''t have time for concerts or anything. Li Yang would jot down his own message and half-wondered if he should reciprocate and send something in return. He understood that in this arrangement; it was him who had the higher capacity, but he also knew from experience that the Wang family was respectable and reliable. Their sudden financial troubles for the past five years were what had tarnished and placed them in this terrible spot¡­ but he saw this as their start of recovery. Li Yang wondered if this was just him having a soft spot, but once he emailed¡ªhe focused back on the task he originally had on hand. He would gain a new Achievement and hope for something useful to arrive in his hands. [ Deducting 1000 CP From Host¡­ ] [ You Have Purchased 2x Mystery Box! ] [ Would You Like To Open The Mystery Boxes Now? ] The sound of someone knocking interrupted him before he could confirm things¡ªbut he understood who it was supposed to be. "Miss He? Please come in." She normally would have cracked the door and would peek in, but now she opened the door and stepped inside with the tray containing the Root Blossoming Tea. "Good afternoon, sir. I''ve brought your tea." "Thank you, Miss He." She would place it in one of the spare tables in his office and bowed slightly, "Have a good afternoon. Do you have anything else that you need, sir?" Li Yang realized that perhaps the Panda was right about the secretary giving him the cold shoulder? ¡­ It should have been obvious now that he paid more attention to it. And yet he was so used to separating his personal life from his business life that he didn''t think that his secretary could act like this? Ying Yue He looked back at him, "If there''s nothing, I''ll be returning to my station." Not that it wasn''t bad¡ªshe was maintaining a professional, if not a little cold distance from him. The CEO knew that he should just let it go, that it might be better that she stayed away, especially with the sudden mess brought on from years ago. But he cleared his throat, "There''s one thing, Miss He." She paused at the door and looked over her shoulder, "Yes, sir?" "Do you know who Bai Minghua and Sun Aoyun are?" The secretary blinked at him, "They''re both vocal artists, Mister Li. Do you need information on them or their contacts? Is this for a business event or something like that, sir?" He shook his head, "I received two VIP tickets from the grandson of the Director to their upcoming concert. Are you interested, Miss He?" "H-huh¡­ with whom, sir?" Li Yang raised a brow, a bit surprised himself. She didn''t automatically assume that it was him, so perhaps she was interested in going out with someone else. "Do you have anyone particular in mind? A friend or a co-worker here, Miss He?" Ying Yue He scratched her cheek, "No, not really, sir. I don''t have much time to socialize, the other employees are on other floors... and I don''t have many friends or relatives around in this city." Li Yang realized that this was the first time he had heard her speak about this, and he wasn''t exactly sure what to say now. Most of his interactions with other people were on relaxed and lighthearted terms, especially with his fellow associates. But now that he recalled their conversation at the cafe, she only spoke of watching shows or reading books. She made no mention of doing anything else during her weekends. Li Yang remembered something and gave a light comment, "If I recall, you seem to be on good terms with the cook at the diner near your apartment?" "H-huh, oh Mou Gu?" "Yes, him." He nodded. The CEO understood he was the worst person to ask or give suggestions about relaxing, and yet she also seemed at a loss. Had he given her too many tasks that she couldn''t do anything but sleep on the weekends? Ying Yue He managed a weak laugh, the first since they saw each other this morning and shook her head. "I don''t think he''s¡­" She paused and pursed her lips and then brushed some of her hair behind an ear. "You know what, maybe you have a point, Mister Li? Perhaps he''d be interested in this. He dyes his hair pink and wears contact lenses, so this might just be his style." Li Yang thought that was a far leap in making conclusions about one''s tastes in music, but if that was what made her find courage to ask someone else. He nodded, "There''s no harm in asking." [ You Have Lost 20 Charm Points ] Her smile tightened slightly, and she nodded, "Yes, I''ll do just that." The man furrowed his brows¡ªit was rather disturbing that she''d say one thing, but then not exactly be pleased over it. And yet he stood up and got his tea, "Thank you, Miss He. I''ll email you the tickets." "Are you really sure, Mister Li?" He looked back up and took a sip of his tea, and ignored the ding that sounded over the background. He lifted a brow and asked, "About giving you the tickets, I have no¡ª" "But they meant the tickets for you to use, Mister Li. I don''t think that the grandson of the Wang Company would be happy to hear that you simply gave it all away¡ªsurely, what if there comes a time soon that you meet with him and then he asks you about the concert?" She made a somewhat good point, but even then¡­ he shrugged. "I suppose I could say that I missed it." "You should go, Mister Li!" Ying Yue He insisted with a frown on her face. "And would you accompany me?" Ying Yue He pursed her lips, "... don''t you have some other person to bring, Mister Li?" "Who?" Her cheeks burned, "Miss Luo Ju Di?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Did you know that any kind of self-grooming gesture around the face¡ªlike tucking her hair behind one ear, or playing with her earring¡ªindicates that she''s primping herself to make a good impression, according to body language research. (Men''s Health) And yes, the Miss Secretary just tried to make him jealous, which kind of backfired and now we''re here. I''m sure some of you are only interested in the Mystery Boxes though, or others on unwrapping the Secretary like a gift. Or both. Also, this is my blog, InkCloud if you''re still with us xD Got too embarrassed to share since it''s not that active. https://cheldv.wordpress.com/ Chapter 71: She Didnt Want To Be A Stepmother! & Double the Trouble ( Three POVs ) Ying Yue He knew that this wasn''t her business and yet the words came out of her mouth, her cheeks burning. "Miss Luo Ju Di?" The man in front of her had asked everything to be kept private and had even come out of the office yesterday and interacted with the child like he was a father! She could look past their date as something that happened on a whim, and perhaps he was unaware of having a child before¡­ but this was? Did he really have interest in her? She tried to make him jealous with Mou Gu but it didn''t work and that was probably her own fault. Why couldn''t she just be honest and ask him directly instead of indirectly asking him by suggesting the other woman? He raised a brow, looking befuddled. "It never crossed my mind to ask her¡ªI wanted to ask you, Miss He. However, I''m not really someone who enjoys these kinds of events, but you made a good point about actually attending it." Ying Yue He averted her gaze and pursed her lips together. She had paid more attention to the first sentence than the last one. The secretary crossed her arms over her chest. This was probably the reason why she wasn''t direct¡­ she wanted him to take charge and announce that it was she that he was more interested in and not someone who had literally just arrived yesterday. The woman bit on her inner cheek, and finally looked back at him. He may actually just be one of the epitome bachelors in the entire country, or possibly in the world! So it was a little embarrassing that she was acting a bit childishly. These were new times after all, so what if the man was a divorced one with three children? If you were interested in someone then something like this wasn''t a troublesome thing! Maybe her boss wasn''t just used to romance being the workaholic that he is, but she could work with it and whatever actually happened. ¡­ except for one thing. She had already confirmed that he preferred her more than Luo Ju Di, but if she wasn''t going to be a nanny¡ªdid that mean she would have to become the wicked stepmother to that child?! Even if she didn''t intentionally mean it, any kind of child would wish for a complete family and being a stepmom would surely be weird! "Miss He?" "Huh," She blinked and looked up back to her boss. She wasn''t Mrs. Li yet or anything¡ªshe got to get her wits together, girl! "A-ah, yes, Mister Li?" The man took a sip of his tea and then asked again, "Would it be alright with you if you were the one I took to the concert?" ¡­ ah, it was that tea again. She was the one who brought it for him, but when she tried it, the taste was really weird, but it did wonders for her skin. But she looked back at her boss and smiled, "Definitely¡ªI mean, my schedule is clear and I''m looking forward to it. Is the concert during the weekend, boss?" "Yes, a day after the board meeting." She was almost tempted to say that they should go watch Pandas before it but¡­ Ying Yue He managed a sheepish smile, "Mister Li, do you remember what you told me before during our date?" "Was it something about the iced coffee?" "Oh, no." She scratched her cheek. Was she the only one who remembered it? "You mentioned your recent love for pandas and I actually took some time to check on available schedules for you to visit a zoo." He also mentioned that it was more enjoyable if she were there¡ª . . . "Ah, I remember. Will we schedule it on the same day then?" Li Yang asked. [ You Have Gained 30 Charm Points ] His secretary looked up with a blushing face and nodded, "I''ll make sure to get it in order, Mister Li." "Thank you, I''m looking forward to it." he said. The CEO would watch her leave with something akin to a leap to her feet, no doubt overjoyed at the thought. His Charm Points notification was a good indicator. Neither of them have made any confirmation as to what to call this weekend activity they would be having though¡­ perhaps it didn''t matter. And yet once the door closed, Li Yang wondered what exactly he did this time. He had made a decision to not involve her in his life, but he just invited her to go out with him this weekend. He didn''t feel quite as sorry as he thought it would be, but even then¡­ the man sipped his tea to calm his mind. [ Root Blossoming Tea Is Nourishing Your Spiritual Roots ] [ Efficacy Is Medium ] [ Drink More To Strengthen Roots ] In the sudden change of his life to someone that became a System Holder, something like this was normalcy. A sense of calm in the storm, and he didn''t want to find fault in it¡ªand returned back to his seat. There was no news yet about his brother, no reply since he came back home yesterday and returned with Liang not around. Perhaps he should worry about it and should have asked the Panda to look for the man instead of checking on Luo Ju Di and her child? Either way, if he sent his DNA and it didn''t match with his during the actual testing in the appropriate percent for him to be a father and only related by a certain amount then he could infer that it was his brother. This. That. And then another thing. Li Yang thought he had his schedule down pat but he had already begun to find some entertainment for some of the activities that he had to do. The CEO poured himself another drink of the tea, and he took another sip. Drinking tea was the easiest of his activities. He no longer felt sick when he came out of his car with no evil-qi dispelling talisman. The meditation he did to cultivate qi properly into his meridians before work was also non-intrusive, if only had him waking up earlier than usual. Both were something he could add into his schedule as activities to improve his personal health. However, for this other thing¡­ it was almost addictive. The man drummed his fingers on the table and then tried to return back to work. His gaze was already on the emails that were already sifted through. But the urge to open the Mystery Boxes returned back with vengeance. Li Yang sighed¡ªhe was someone who did his best to not have compulsive hobbies. [ Would You Like To Open The Mystery Boxes Now? ] And yet he was becoming a tad more willing for a brief taste of hedonism. The least he could do while being under a contract that held him as an entertainer was to take advantage of the benefits it afforded him. .. . In the streets of the bustling city, a small child ran amidst the foot and car traffic and earned a little trouble due to her size. Luo Chunhua would get pushed around and even knocked over by people busier than her but she had her eyes on the prize¡ªthe Panda. The creature floated above them all and was separate from the troubles of the daily lives of men and women. The Panda only trying to locate the child''s mother¡­ because while it was easy to pick out the humans who had something special about them: be it psychic powers, being a cultivator who didn''t shroud their presence or regular people with very strong life forces that practically became a beacon, other people tended to blend in the background. Might as well be ants. The Panda could only wonder if the mother would be a ''Target'' once the free duration of the CEO was over. It glanced over through the crowd and grumbled underneath its breath. Wherever they were, it was better to dig some dirt about them if it could find some. It suddenly blinked and glanced to over 300 meters away from its current position, the traces of the psychic energy of the child also happened to rub off on her mother. It moved faster to its destination. And subsequently left the child alone in the street, possibly because it thought that the child could keep up with it. Surely it could fly and use something like telekinesis right? The Panda would arrive in front of a very respectable establishment. A two-story boutique that resembled something that might have been a combination of a modern take on a historical french palace, complete with elegant letters soft gray atop its large see-through window and entrance. The Panda crossed its furry paws and saw that the kid''s mother was inside and was talking with both young and mature women and even some men, and yet they all had something in common¡ªthey were all drop dead gorgeous or at least more attractive than usual. "Huh¡­ what is this?" It didn''t exactly meet with the description of the child saying that his mother was working with bad men. Until it frowned, "So when do the bad men arrive to hire them? Oi kid, did you just lie to me or is this a fancy escort place¡­?" The Panda blinked and rubbed its eyes, "Where''d that kid go?" Luo Chunhua was lost. She was like any ordinary child and with the Panda not giving it any kind of direction¡­ she started to look wildly around and tried not to cry. Until two people stopped in front of her and gave her a smile. "Are you lost, kid?" Chapter 72: The CEO Gets A Compulsary Side Quest? [ Would You Like To Open The Mystery Boxes Now? ] "Yes. Open one of the Mystery Boxes." A miniature blue box appeared in front of him and opened itself to present the item. [ You Have Gained LSO Water-breathing Chewing Gum x3 ] Produced in LoveStellar Organization''s labs, one stick of gum allows you to visit and stay in underwater planets, oceans and other bodies of water for 24 hours. No need to produce gills, fins or anything to assimilate to the environment. This is the perfect intergalactic diplomatic chewable item that saves both your time and breath! Comes in berry delicious and cherry pop flavors. Each packet sold separately. Li Yang held the small packets in his hand and raised a brow. The packaging was similar and clean, like the Divine Energizer Drink he had purchased in the shop. But this was once again another thing he wouldn''t be able to use. He couldn''t exactly find a purpose for this unless he went scuba-diving. And even then, when would that occur? The CEO moved on to the last and final Mystery Box he would open today. He thought about buying the Sage''s Dao of Attraction in the Shop but didn''t feel like it would be that effective. Either way, it would just increase his expense when it could have been used for something else. His cultivation. [ Would You Like To Open Mystery Box? ] "Yes." The gift box that soon appeared in his vision was bigger than usual and hovered in the air with a grey box wrapped in green vines¡ªit unwrapped itself quickly until it finally showed itself to him. [ You Have Received Prehistoric Saber-tooth Dagger x1 ] A dagger made from the vicious and sharp tooth of the Sabertooth, it is a dangerous melee weapon. Mammoths and Beastkin beware! Quality: Moderate Rarity: Common A primitive looking dagger was now perched on his table, the blade obviously coming from the said creature and with a carefully made hilt. It came along with a sheath for him to use, but Li Yang only picked up the blade and found that while it was heavy, it wasn''t that heavy and wouldn''t quickly wear him out. The notification soon came after. [ Achievement Unlocked! ] [ What''s Inside? The Heavens Decide! - II ] You have opened 3x Mystery Box [ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ] "Hmmm¡­" He gave the space in front of him an experimental slash of the blade. There was a certain feral look to it that made it look more fierce, but he wasn''t sure of how it would fare against an opponent. It was a modern time so it might have been more comfortable or normal with a gun as a more secure weapon, but what were the chances that he''d mess it up and shoot himself? ¡­ although that wasn''t exactly useful either. The Panda spoke about him being weak and still penetrable by a bullet, so it meant that those in higher realms than him could take a bullet. What about nuclear? How did a full-time cultivator compared to it? It was another thing that made him question¡ª His phone vibrated, and he stashed the dagger in his desk''s drawer before he picked his phone up. On the screen was an unknown number¡­ he frowned but answered it. "Hello?" ''My daughter is missing!'' was the sound that came from the other end of the line. ''I need your help, Yang. I can''t find her all by myself¡ªwhat if she got abducted or kidnapped?'' Li Yang blinked and then realized who it was, and her voice was bordering on close to hysteria. He ignored the sudden pound of his heart and focused on the situation at hand, "Miss Luo Ju Di, how did it happen?" ''One of the hotel staff attendants came across our room with the door completely unlocked and left ajar and¡­ Chunhua''s gone!'' "You left her alone at the hotel? Where are you now?" he asked. His thoughts turned back to the Panda he sent. Was it because of the creature''s arrival? ''She''s always been such a good girl and doesn''t mind when I leave her¡ª'' So it was the Panda. Li Yang''s grip tightened slightly on his phone, and he took a deep breath. There was no time to point fingers at anyone. "I''ll look for her, but have someone check any of the surveillance around the hotel. She shouldn''t have gone that far." ''What if someone¡ª'' "I''ll find her, please calm down and do what you can for now." Li Yang hung up and rubbed his face. But the System was already showing him a display screen before he could even attempt to contact the Panda through the message feature. [ You Have Received A Side Quest! ] Side Quests are generated by the System or sponsored by Observers from the Heavens [ Side Quest: Seeking the Lost Child ] The Heavens see the missing child in the bustling streets of Shanghai. Because of the mistake of one, many have suffered¡ªsearch for the child and reunite with her mother. [ Time Remaining: 58 minutes and 30 seconds ] [ Success: 5000 Charm Points ] [ Failure: Scandal With Your Company ] There wasn''t even an option to say no to a ''side-quest'' but Li Yang already gave his word to the mother. Whether or not it was actually his problem, the Heavens decided it was so. But what weighed on him was the time limit¡ªthe man made his way out of his office and approached his secretary. "Miss He, I have an urgent question." She looked up to him in alarm, "What is it, Mister Li?" "Where''s the address to Luo Ju Di''s current accommodations?" He would head there and¡ª [ You Have Lost 5 Charisma Points ] "A-Ah, I''ll give you the address, sir," Ying Yue He was quick to jot it down on a sticky notepad and then stuck it to his hand. Never exactly sounding upset, but her movements were brash. "Please have a pleasant trip." She didn''t understand it. Li Yang gave her a look, "If there''s any chance that the child from yesterday gets here¡ªlet me know. She''s missing and I''m going out to find her. Please cancel any schedule I have within the next two hours." And then he was gone. The CEO got into his car and stuck the address on the dashboard, glancing at Ying Yue He''s scribbled penmanship and drove. Perhaps it might have been better to bring her along, but if the child somehow stumbled back into the company, she would be there. He trusted her. What he couldn''t get behind was the Panda''s actions. It seemed like if things weren''t interesting around him, the creature would set up their own scenarios to get the Heavens paying attention to them. He didn''t like the fact that a child was getting involved, but there was nothing he could do now except find her. The faster he did¡ªthe better things would be. Li Yang didn''t know what came to the mother''s mind of leaving a child alone either¡­ well, he could almost understand it. His own father was gone for most of his childhood because of business, but he didn''t think something like this could happen right now. "Couldn''t she have gotten a nanny?" he asked himself, a little annoyed. He sent a message to the Panda. CEO: Where''s the child? Panda: ! The exclamation mark provided no context at all, and he asked again. Not exactly liking the response and half-wondering if that was an intentional answer to make things harder for him. Li Yang would drive through the streets and look around for the sight of the girl on the off chance that she got far, but other than that¡ªhe drove towards the hotel. It was better for him to search her on foot sooner or later. He had little time. .. . Two people stopped in front of Luo Chunhua and gave her a smile. "Are you lost, kid?" "Where''s your mommy?" The young girl was often brave, but the look from the two much older men in front of her didn''t bode well for her¡ªas if there was something covering them in sickly purple and green. Her legs didn''t move that well and her gaze darted around the crowd, most of the individuals bustling past them without a hint of regard. Until she felt a familiar presence and spotted a tall figure in the distance. Chunhua''s eyes widened, and she ran into the man''s direction, bumping and pushing past other people, "Uncle Yang! Uncle Yang!" Of course, he would be close by if his pet Panda-Goblin was around. Her body jerked forward, and she shouted, "Uncle Yang¡ª" Right before her knees could meet the cold pavement, someone grabbed her arm, and she looked up to see¡­ Uncle Yang? Chunhua''s eyes squinted at the man. The surrounding air was close to Uncle Yang, and even his face, but it wasn''t him. "Look who you caught, Liang." There was a mature and beautiful woman standing beside him and with an overpowering color of pink and red enshrouding her compared to the man''s own muted gray. "Must be another case of a mistaken identity, I assume?" This man managed a small laugh and shook his head, and he let go of her arm and gave her a kind look. "I''m not exactly sure, my brother is named Yang, but if he''s an uncle to this child then who am I?" Chunhua''s lips quivered, "Y-You''re not Uncle Yang?" She could see that she was mistaken, but if he wasn''t him and the Panda was gone and she didn''t know where she was¡ª "I''m afraid not." he said, but then the man knelt in front of her and scratched the back of his head. "But where''s your mother or father? You should be more careful and not just run after a person because you thought he was someone else." Chapter 73: Playing With Lightning (Panda + CEO POV) The skies were frequently a bright blue in the city, except perhaps for those existing and inhabiting past the world''s Veil¡ªeither way, both skies turned gray suddenly. A freak storm then began to pour down from the heavens. Its primary objective having been fulfilled already minutes ago, in the empty streets of Shanghai, laid a charred Panda. Struck with four hundred twenty heavenly tribulation lightnings wasn''t a good feeling. Any of the spiritual creatures that lived and traveled in the streets of Shanghai made sure to avoid what looked like to be a dead Panda. There was one small spiritual being that pointed at it but was pulled along by its senior and telling it to dismiss the creature. When the heavens had locked itself from mortal men and creatures, there wasn''t much activity that occurred on earth¡ªbut this directly resulted from Heaven''s Wrath. A paw raised towards the downcast skies, and if it could give a middle finger, it would have flicked it right at the heavens¡ªbut it couldn''t and instead the Panda clutched its head and grumbled curses in its language. Before it summoned the message screen and at the exclamation point it sent while it was getting fried by the heavens. Panda: ! CEO: If you do not wish to help, then it''s fine. I''ll look for her myself, but you messed up what was supposed to be a surveillance task Somehow the man believed he was all mature, cold and serious¡ªbut the reply sounded a bit grouchy. The Panda rolled its eyes and rolled some more¡­ it smacked its own head and then formed a reply. Panda: ...er, I''ll send you to the coordinates of myself. I''m looking for that kid too How would it have really known that the kid would be left behind? It wasn''t that disastrous of an event anyway, but the Heavens enjoyed picking on the poor Panda¡ªit was starting to get used to being referred to a Panda. "Argh, I''m better than this." It floated off to find the kid. .. . When the Panda had replied, Li Yang had just gotten himself out of the car, opened his umbrella and was about to enter the hotel¡­ but then a new screen also appeared in front of him. It was a map of the entire city, but there were also dots. Glowing dots. A Black-White Dot was moving in a certain direction. At the same time, on the exact place where he was standing, a Grey Dot and at the location of his company was a Brown Dot. Indicators of position, Li Yang maneuvered towards the spot where the Black-White Dot was heading towards¡ª The tumultuous rain fell around him, his umbrella the only protection against the howling winds, which was an odd thing. The CEO had checked the weather forecast, and it was supposed to be sunny. People were rushing around him, others seeking shelters from the sudden rain, and those who were prepared brought out their umbrellas. Vehicles also moved in the street, others might have sprayed the people on the pavements if it weren''t because the traffic was congested. The street that he was in was familiar, albeit he hadn''t been here a lot before¡ªbut it was the place where the cafe he and Ying Yue He had visited. Li Yang moved on the sidewalk, looking left and right for the girl. He wasn''t used to speaking out loudly unless he was in a boardroom, but the man called out her name. "Chunhua!" People navigated around him, and he checked on the time limit. [ Time Remaining: 15 minutes and 22 seconds ] He gritted his teeth and looked around, "Chunhua!" Whether it was the foul weather, the timer or the darkening skies, all of them contributed to his growing concern about her whereabouts. He didn''t know if something terrible might happen, but he wanted to think that nothing would. The position of the Panda began to meet with his¡ªand he looked around with more impetuous vigor. He trusted that the Panda could at least find the child better than him, so it meant that they were almost close. He looked around again for the familiar sight of a small child¡­ and then saw a face he had been looking for since yesterday. Li Liang was in the exact cafe where he once had been. Sitting across from him was a woman that looked like she was in her early forties on her phone¡ªshe was at least a decade older than both of them. The much older woman had her pale hair up in a bun, and she looked like a foreigner. But that wasn''t what mattered as he focused on the scene in the glass pane. Seated beside his brother was a small child¡­ it was Chunhua. The girl had a red and stuffy nose but was currently eating cookies and then drinking milkshakes. Perhaps either of the adults that she was with had decided that sweets were the answer to her silence. The CEO stepped inside of the coffee shop and moved past the employee that waited on the door. He had arrived prior to the Panda, but he walked right to the child and the other two. "Chunhua." he said. He focused on the child first and the quest given to him. The small child turned back to him and then got out of her chair and leapt towards him, smushing her frosted face into his pants. "Uncle Yang, you''re here!" Li Yang brushed his hand over her head and sighed softly¡ªuntil his eyes met his brother and his companion. He would have said something by now to greet them and yet he was waiting for the Side Quest to get accomplished¡­ [ Time Remaining: 13 minutes and 10 seconds ] It was still running? Why was it¡ª "Uh, so she really was serious when she meant that I looked like her Uncle Yang," a weak laugh escaped from his brother and then turned back to the woman. "I don''t think that you''ve gotten the chance to meet my younger brother, Yang." [ Side Quest: Seeking the Lost Child ] The Heavens see the missing child in the bustling streets of Shanghai. Because of the mistake of one, many have suffered¡ªsearch for the child and reunite with her mother. He had to get Chunhua back to her mom. Of course, the Quest was specific on this part. Li Yang bowed his head slightly at the woman that his brother was with before he excused himself. "Please excuse me, I need to call Chunhua''s mother." "Hey, Yang¡ª" He looked back at his brother and grunted. "Save your excuses for later, Liang." He could only hope that the mother wasn''t that too far off. The phone rang and then was answered, he sighed. "Miss Luo Ju Di, I found Chunhua¡ªwhere are you now? I''ll go to you." ''No, I''ll head to where you are, tell me the address and I''ll get a taxi or¡ª'' "We''re at La Roti, can you get here in under ten minutes?" he asked. "If not, I''ll go to where you are myself." His brows furrowed together as he watched the timer continue to go down. He doubted it with the amount of traffic they were at now. It was a rush hour but if she could, then he might wait¡­ ''I''m not so sure¡ªbut at least she''s with you now, right?'' There was a sound of relief in her voice. "Miss Luo Ju Di, I don''t have a lot of time on my hands¡ª" ''I''ll be there in less than half an hour¡ªsurely that wouldn''t be too much of a trouble for you? I know where that is. I''m just getting a taxi.'' He rubbed his face with a spare hand. What was it with women not telling him their addresses? His secretary didn''t want to be brought home and now it was Miss Luo Ju Di? It was a jump in logic, but he was somewhat annoyed. The Failure portion of the Quest loomed over him. "Wait, did he say¡­?" "I believe I know where she is," The woman that sat across his brother spoke up and addressed him. "If that''s the same Luo Ju Di that your brother here knows, then she must be at Hirire right now, it''ll take longer if she gets a ride, but maybe you can run there right now and get there in ten minutes." Li Yang glanced at her. The establishment she spoke of was unfamiliar, and he wasn''t sure if he should listen to her. "I believe I have not caught your name, Madam?" "Gabrielle Sauveterre, a pleasure to be of your acquaintance." She gave him an elegant smile, but then motioned for him to move, "I believe you need to leave right now? Take Liang along, he knows a good shortcut." His brother threw a look at the woman, eyes widening. "Wait, what about you¡ª" "I''m fine." She shushed his brother with those words and with one look."You know where Luo Ju Di is, go help your sibling out." Liang got up and then gave a small bow, "I''ll be back, Mistress." The CEO gave his brother a look, answers to his whereabouts now making sense, but then he picked Chunhua and held her in his arms. "We''ll be finding your mother now, alright?" "Okay!" And so all three of them headed out of the cafe, the timer looming over his head as Liang moved ahead of him. The man navigated around the streets with an ease for someone who had once lived in it had. [ Time Remaining: 11 minutes and 3 seconds ] His brother glanced back at him and cleared his throat, "Hey, Yang, I can explain¡ª" He sighed, "Move faster." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: I suppose before anyone comments about the CEO brother''s (Liang''s) relationship to the older woman (Gabrielle), let me just say "Yes, yes she is." One of the reasons why his brother was out of the country too. It''ll make sense in the next chapter for sure in case you miss the subtext xD But some things are quite obvious lol Chapter 74: Shanghai after the Rain (CEO + Luo Ju Di POV) There was supposed to be rain, but similar to how it came out of nowhere and erupted in a flash¡ªnow it almost gone, there were only light drizzles remaining. Regardless of the case, the CEO''s suit jacket had been taken off, it now covered the head of the kid in his arms. Li Yang followed after the man running in front of him through the crowd. Thud. Thud. His footsteps pounded through the pavement, the wet puddles splashed across his wool suit and leather shoes. But his eyes were on his brother alone, focused on not losing him through the crowd, until something appeared from the right and barrelled in front of him, "You found the kid." "Panda!" Chunhua shouted and pointed at the creature floating above them. There was a look of joy that spread across her face. "Not now," Li Yang watched the timer in front of him and pushed himself forward. The girl in his arms raised a brow. "Huh?" "I was talking to the Panda," Li Yang told her. Eyeing the man in the distance and the diminishing crowd as they left the avenue, he noticed that his brother was losing speed and catching his breath. And yet the timer continued to run, regardless of physical states. [ Time Remaining: 5 minutes and 48 seconds ] Soon enough, he finally caught on to his brother, who had stopped at a streetlight. The man had temporarily wheezed and clutched his chest, panting slightly¡­ He was out of exercise. The CEO paused in front of his brother and sighed, "Liang¡ªjust give me the directions, you''re too slow." He was the one carrying the girl in his arms, but it was his brother who lost his breath? "When did you ever become so athletic?" the brother asked. He panted and wiped some sweat from his forehead. The two of them had been running for at least five minutes and without any sort of stop¡ªhe deserved to at least catch his breath. "Liang." The CEO didn''t have any time for these kinds of questions. The man groaned and held a hand over his knee, "You turn at the next street, and take a left and then you''ll pass the street. You''ll obviously see the sign¡ª" The CEO left the man then and there, with only Chunhua glancing back over his shoulder and waving at the man. "Bye bye¡ª" And then Li Yang was once again back into running, and despite the slippery terrain, he maintained his footing and kept his speed. The instructions given by his sibling kept in his mind, even while the Panda hovered above him and tried to talk to him. "Oi, how did you¡ª" Next street. Thump. Thump. He went left and avoided a dog walker passing through the streets. Some teenagers huddled over together into a group and even moved right past a young woman and a man together. He finally stopped in front of the street and saw the exact building right across from him with the word ''Hirire'' as the woman said, even Luo Ju Di with an umbrella over her head as she tried to hail over a taxi. Right before he could take a step forward, the pedestrian lights turned to a stop. Sixty seconds. He had to wait that much time? "Mama!" Chunhua shouted, but amidst the traffic that passed through them¡ªit couldn''t be heard. The woman''s attention was focused on getting a cab to head back to the cafe, and a car was approaching¡ªit stopped right in front of her. And they began to converse with one another. "Just ran across the street, idiot!" the Panda waved its paws at him. He couldn''t lose her right now and fail the mission, but the traffic was congested and trying to run into the street now was a cause for accidents. Li Yang knew better than anything to disobey traffic rules... but was it the end? [ Time Remaining: 2 minutes and 3 seconds ] He couldn''t accept it when he was so close to accomplishing the quest. There was still another way. . . . Luo Ju Di was about to step into the car. The driver already looked annoyed that she was slow to move, but then her phone rang, and she picked it up again. This time a little annoyed that the CEO, nobody else would have called her at this time, would call again. Was he that impatient and busy? "Hello?" she said. ''Look in front of you.'' came his voice, low and smooth. The woman raised her head and her gaze settled on the two people right across the street. It was Chunhua and the CEO. The man was carrying her little girl in his arms and with his suit jacket covering her child. His hair was tousled by the wind and his white shirt was slightly drenched by the rain. She blinked. "Are you going to get in or not?" the driver snapped. Luo Ju Di shook her head and bowed. An apologetic expression crossed her face. "N-no... my daughter and... him, he''s right there across the street. They''re waiting for me." She didn''t think that she''d see someone like him go out of his way to bring her daughter back to her. Now it didn''t even currently matter that he could see the establishment that she used to work in right behind her. Luo Ju Di could only feel relief and something warm in her chest. It was an inexplicable feeling. The pedestrian light turned green, and she stepped forward towards them¡ªhe met her halfway through. He didn''t even wait for her to cross the street. "Mama!" Chunhua shouted out to her, her arms moving away from the CEO''s neck and outstretching to her. Luo Ju Di accepted her child and held her back into her arms, squeezing her tight. She''d have to reprimand her daughter later, but for now, she was relieved and satisfied. She cleared her throat, "Thank you, Mister Li. You shouldn''t have done this." "I had to," he said. And he meant every word of it. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Ah yes, the mother now thinks highly of Li Yang unbeknownst of his actual reasons. *cough* Hope it wasn''t too bad to read, but I wanted to show how the women thinks of him or changes their perspective. Chapter 75: When All Of Their Eyes Are On You (Luo Ju Di + CEO POV) "I had to." There was a serious look on his face as he said it, and it was as if he truly felt compelled to do so. Luo Ju Di didn''t know what to say any longer and simply inclined her head, "Thank you. You truly went out of your way for me and my child, I truly believe that you''re the father." "Huh?" Chunhua raised a head. Luo Ju Di blinked and rubbed her child''s head, wishing she hadn''t said it aloud in Chunhua''s presence. "I said that your Uncle Yang is like a perfect father, carrying you all the way here when you''re so heavy, Chunhua." "Did you just call me fat, mama?" "There''s nothing wrong with it¡ªexcept you''re getting too heavy for me to carry." Luo Ju Di teased and then looked back at the man who she was with. He was staring off into thin air? Did he not know how to act in this moment? Was he uncomfortable? She chewed on her bottom lip, took a step closer and then grabbed for his hand. Making the man stop and look back at her¡ªshe felt her face grew hot. "We have to get off the middle of the street, Mister Li." Luo Ju Di glanced behind her, specifically the people inside of the establishment. She noticed a couple of her former co-workers plastered near the tall windows. "... It appears that you are right, and those are the people that you work with?" They weren''t even bothering to hide that they were gawking at her and the CEO right in front of her. She sighed and nodded her head, "I formerly worked with before I left Shanghai after university, and well... uh, would you like to dry off there?" She tugged him forward to the store before he could even say a thing. It was two birds in one stone: Introduce the man to those jealous women and also make sure that he didn''t get any wrong ideas at the place where she worked. . . . [ Congratulations! You Have Completed the Side Quest: Seeking the Lost Child ] The Heavens are proud of what you have accomplished! [ You Have Gained 5000 Charm Points ] That was the reward that he gained, but not too long after, when he met Luo Ju Di in the street came another notification. It came right after she thanked him for going all the way here as she said in her words. [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] Li Yang might not have done it if it weren''t for the fact that it was a mission. He told her that he had to do it¡ªbut it only made her more grateful. And then came another set of points. [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] The Panda made a strangled sound and then shook its head, "You''re on a roll, eh?" It looked both smug and also exasperated for some reason. On top of that¡­ it looked like it charred its fur? He couldn''t exactly make a verbal reply¡ªbut then found something soft and warm envelop his hand. Luo Ju Di looked him in the eye, a flushed look on her face as she told him that the two of them needed to get off in the middle of the street. [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] It was strange to get a lot of points, but even more so to get so much attention... not only from the woman in front of him. But even those people at the place she worked with. And yet when she offered him to dry up at the place, he ended up agreeing. There were some things that felt wrong to him, the fact that she attributed his actions in such a positive light, but even he would get taken aback by her holding his hands. It was a gentle and caring touch. ... His brother was bound to catch up, wouldn''t he? Li Yang glanced behind him and the streets that he had passed to. His brother should get here and by that time, he''d be able to get the DNA samples from him too and let him know of the situation. It wasn''t only for his peace of mind after all. It was for the sake of both the woman and her child. It was a terrible thing to not experience a parent''s love. The moment he stepped into the establishment came a certain luxurious feel to it, it came from the classical white walls with golden and silver-like finishing, from the lush drapes that had been pushed aside to open the windows and the upholstered furniture around the entrance room. "Who''s this, Ju Di?" One of the women asked, giving him a sideway glance and a flirtatious smile. "Is he the reason why you left the city?" [ You Have Gained 5 Charm Points ] Even while some whispered or just looked in his direction¡ªthe notifications kept popping up. These women weren''t afraid to gawk at him, and it almost felt like he had walked in on some place where he shouldn''t have been. [ You Have Gained 10 Charm Points ] [ You Have Gained 15 Charm Points ] [ You Have Gained 5 Charm Points ] "Dang, you might have to come here every day if you ever wanted to rack up some quick Charm Points," the Panda snickered. "... Well, at least until they get tired of looking at you. Women do get bored easily, you know?" Li Yang only sighed inwardly and glanced towards Luo Ju Di. She walked up to the counter, Chunhua in her arms as she tapped the table to grab attention, "Give me a clean dress suit, please." She talked to the only man at the counter. "Mamma Mia¡­" the man said underneath his breath, before he straightened up and then pointed at him. "He''s not a client though, or is he going to take one of the girls out? Maybe one of the boys? And oh, is that your daughter, Ju Di? She''s cute." "Hi!" Chunhua greeted the man. "You only noticed my little girl now?" Luo Ju Di asked in disbelief. "Just get me the shirt, Giovanni." The Panda snickered and glanced back at the CEO, "I wouldn''t be surprised when all of their eyes are on you." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Ah yes, I do the hand-holding. Very intimate. Very much warmth. And uh... I threw a terrible JoJo and Mamma Mia reference yes. Sue me. Chapter 76: The Employee Of The Month The CEO took off his drenched shirt, hanging it temporarily on a clothes'' rack. He reached for the clean and dry one that Luo Ju Di had given him and buttoned up his dress shirt, fixing his sleeves and collar before glancing at the conveniently placed standing mirrors in front of him. There was one in front and two at the sides that gave him a full view of how he looked¡ªit seemed to be an essential party in the staff''s routine here. [ The ''Observer'' Seafoam Gives A Thumbs Up ] [ The ''Observer'' Owl Brain Takes A Liking To The Physique ] [ Other Observers Also Give Their Approval ] [ You Have Gained 250 Charm Points ] "Were you really that toned?" the Panda suddenly appeared in front of the mirror. The creature was fluffing up its fur, or picking out charred ones from itself. "No six packs, but no beer belly either." Li Yang gave it a look, "You do have the habit of popping up anywhere you want to, huh?" "Hey, are you shy?" the Panda snorted. "No." "I thought so." "But it''s still odd now that you think about it." Li Yang tried not to think about it. And yet he had done so during his time with Bo Lifen. The Panda rubbed its face, "Ahem, in other countries and religions¡ªthey tend to have an omnipotent, omniscient being watching over them at all times and these humans still go around fucking one another. If they can do it, why can''t you? Your case is not so different, albeit now you''re really aware that the Heavens do watch." "Thank you," the CEO said with a sigh, taking one last look at the mirror. Perhaps it was easier to forget about it when you were actually entranced in doing something, speaking of which, he remembered something. "You had something to say while we were on the run... what was it?" "You''ve actually begun to use qi properly." Li Yang raised a brow at the sudden praise, which now seemed uncommon than anything. "I am trying to meditate and all the things that cultivators do¡ª" "A normal human, especially someone who spends a good amount of their time sitting down in the office, doesn''t just develop stamina and energy to run nonstop, so it means that the qi flowing around your meridians are actually doing its job. Should have known that everybody involved in this scheme is some sort of freak." the Panda grumbled. "Wouldn''t be much of an entertainment show if things are normal." The freak didn''t fit well with what he had in mind¡ªbut he was someone who got a Harem Cultivation System, so it wasn''t his part to argue. Except for one thing, or one person rather. "Miss Ying Yue He doesn''t really deserve to be called like that." "I bet the System hasn''t told you yet, as it restricts the information for you not doing the Main Quest properly¡ªbut there are criteria for why it chooses some women and not just others. It''s not randomized." the Panda said. "And Miss He fit the criteria?" "Yeah, she did. The System just didn''t pick her just because she''s your secretary and easy to get, there''s¡ªsome things. I won''t say too much." the Panda grumbled. "Anyway, aren''t you supposed to be going out now? Shoo!" The CEO narrowed his eyes at the creature, but eventually did go out... neither Luo Ju Di or Chunhua had come back to check on him. Which was fine, but if Luo Ju Di was immensely grateful and charmed with him¡ªhe almost expected more? When he opened the door, however, was something that he didn''t expect. His brother was lounging on the sofa with the women, champagne in his hand and already conversing easily with the women. And though he didn''t think it was appropriate to compare himself with his brother, both of them specializing in different things completely, there was a hint of doubt¡ª "Did you know that your brother used to be the consecutive Employee of the Month here?" Luo Ju Di approached him with a drink in hand. Li Yang stared at her. Luo Ju Di flushed and took a sip of the drink, "It''s non-alcoholic, and peach flavored. Even Chunhua is drinking it... well, Giovanni gave her an apple juice carton." She offered her glass to him. If one were to look behind her, while the women were indeed gathered around his brother and conversed with him¡ªthe man at the counter was talking with Chunhua animatedly. The CEO shook his head and then accepted the drink from her, taking a small sip. He glanced slightly down. She was a little shorter than Ying Yue He. "Thank you, but what did you say about my brother?" Luo Ju Di rubbed her arm and leaned against the wall next to him. She adopted a more quiet voice in comparison to the others. Crossing her arms over her chest, she eyed him from the corner of her vision. "Hirire is a company that offers dating services to lonely and busy young people¡ªa lot of the parents and grandparents tend to nag their children to get married. So Hirire is one of the available services that allows you to rent a person to show to your parents, or even go on dates. The two of us worked here before we saved enough for university." Li Yang blinked. His brother had been disowned by his father near the end of high school, so when the two of them had met again¡ªit had been suspicious back that Liang could afford university and also invest in a start-up. However, Li Yang had attributed it to his brother''s intelligence, skills and perseverance. The woman stared at him, "It''s not escort service, mind you, although there are some cases where it gets offered. But it usually depends on whether the client and the recipient agree to it and¡­ most who come here don''t usually come for that. But there is a lot of stigmata around this line of work." This was putting charisma skills and good genetics to work, and the CEO wasn''t sure whether he was put off by it or respected it. Chapter 77: The Second Calling Of A CEO Regardless of whatever his brother had done or not, Li Yang paid much less heed to it. It was finally time for him to go. This might have been the opportune time to confront his brother¡ªbut with all the surrounding people, Li Yang decided not to. It would only make a scene. Instead, the CEO finished his drink and thanked Miss Luo Ju Di. "I will be going now." She blinked and received the glass, "Ah, we''ve already bothered you for far too long. Thank you for finding Chunhua¡ª" "You''re welcome." He managed a smile and nodded. It was better to accept her thanks, regardless of everything. The Panda that floated above them was undisturbed by Chunhua, but it looked like it could have yawned throughout this entire interaction between him and the woman in front of him. [ You Have Gained 10 Charm Points ] Luo Ju Di somehow looked flustered and then motioned for him to follow, and they arrived by the counter where Chunhua and the male receptionist were. "Chunhua, your Uncle Yang is about to leave and head back to his office¡ªwill you say thank you to him?" "Aw, you''re leaving already?" the little girl looked at him with a small frown on her face. "Does it mean that the Panda is going away again?" Right before Luo Ju Di can say anything, someone else spoke up and took advantage of the moment. The male receptionist cleared his throat and looked at him. "Will he thank me for that dress shirt, though? Or will I put that in your tab, Ju Di?" "I can pay for it." He said, already reaching for his wallet. "Or you can send the bill to Olympian Corp, and I''ll have it sent through the proper channels." "Cannot believe that Liang is related to this man¡ªthey''re so different from one another." The man chuckled. "What did you say?" said man suddenly hollered from the couch, champagne in hand. "I''m a good person!" "Nobody said you weren''t," Giovanni rolled his eyes. He returned his gaze back to Li Yang, "Cash, please, sir, and I''ll give you a receipt." Once he was done, there wasn''t anything holding him back now from leaving¡ªand so he did. It was time for him to return to the office and the Panda floating alongside him. .. . While the CEO was gone and out of the company, Ying Yue He stepped inside of his office to spruce up a bit to make sure he could come back to a clean office. She did it now and then, and though the man was usually organized... there was still some mess. Well, at least the teapot and cup she had brought him. "Did he finish everything?" The secretary checked the tray he left at his table. The cup still had some contents in it, but it had already grown cold. Not to mention that it was left out sitting in the open without a cover¡ª Ying Yue He picked the teacup and took a sip, drinking it all down because obviously she still couldn''t let it go to waste. She might have been able to reheat it, but that probably wouldn''t be good when you remixed it with the teapot, right? ¡­ there really was something about the tea that she couldn''t explain, but it felt amazing to drink. Or maybe she was just a food enthusiast. That was probably it¡ªshe was looking forward to eating after work, but for now she picked up the tray and made her way out of the office. She checked the teapot and realized that there was still some tea...but if her boss really wanted to drink tea, she could make him a new batch, right? Ying Yue He carried the tray to the floor''s kitchen and sighed. She was normally in self-control and disciplined enough¡ªshe had managed to hold her job here quite well. But now, she couldn''t resist pouring herself another cup and drinking it. Something warm filled her stomach, which was weird since she was pretty sure that the tea was cold. The secretary should probably make a new brew though, just in case her boss came back. She pursed her lips as she reached out for the canister of tea that her boss gave her. She added in the measurements that the CEO told her before¡ªbut also added three extra heapfuls. "I guess I won''t be able to make him a pot of coffee then, but tea is healthier." Ying Yue He saw an article before that said that it was always nice to add in another spoonful or two for extra flavor. And so she did. .. . While Li Yang had initially driven as fast as he could and then ran around looking for Chunhua¡ªhe had taken a more slow pace when he headed back to his office. And it even earned a look from the Panda, the moment that he stepped into his car and buckled his seatbelt. "Why didn''t you just run? Aren''t you supposed to be some super busy CEO?" the Panda asked and plopped down the front seat. The CEO had already accepted that this creature asked a lot of questions, so he answered. "I told Ying Yue He to clear the schedule for about two hours, and either way¡ªwe''re already prepared for the board meeting. All that''s left is for me to read it over one last time and then send it to the board members coming along. We''re practically prepared." "What¡­ how did that happen? All I saw was you reading papers. You didn''t seem to be making them, so how''d''you prepare them?" the Panda frowned. "And isn''t a meeting supposed to be people talking with one another, can you handle that?" Li Yang raised a brow, his eyes on the road. "Were you that worried about me?" he asked. "I was mocking you." The man sighed inwardly but explained it in simpler terms, "As the CEO, I make sure that everything in the company is executed properly¡ªmaking plans, visions and missions. I keep track of how the company is faring and I gather information through my fellow executives, consultants and department heads." "..." the Panda stared up at him. And Li Yang could feel it even without him glancing down, and so he tried to say it in words that might be easier for the creature to understand. "You understand Sects, right?" "Of course, what do you take me for?" "A Panda, but I digress. You can think of a company as a very powerful sect. The Sect Master is the one who oversees everything and often takes a background role and only appears during important ceremonies, whereas the Sect Elders are the ones who tend after the Disciples." "Basically, you just wanted to call yourself a Sect Master, huh?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Fun Fact for the day, the Olympian Corp was inspired from Amazon. But now that I think about it, the protagonist CEO here acts more similarly to Zuckerberg. Or maybe that''s just me. I really just am a fan of Daisuke Kambe. And for a not-so-happy fun fact, Li Yang was born during the period where the one-child-policy was still rolling out. Adds some extra layers to how he grew up sort of neglected, ignore this if you will if you''re just in here for the harem and wanted a blank template MC. x.x Chapter 78: The Things Hidden Beneath The Surface (CEO) When the Panda spoke about the ''targets'' given by his System as having certain criteria that made them suitable for him¡­ he became curious of what those were¡ªand if the System wasn''t willing to provide them all, then it was up to him to figure it out on his own. Or to at least understand what his secretary had that made her the First Quest. The moment he arrived back into his office, he came across her with the tray in her hands and what appeared to be freshly brewed tea. "Why¡­ uh, hello there, Mister Li?" Her lips twitched in that moment and her face was slightly pale, "I made you a new batch of tea, boss. Is that alright?" There were guidelines in the scroll that specified drinking every eight hours¡­ for a mortal. So it wasn''t that bad when he was a cultivator already? Li Yang nodded and instead focused on something else. ''Assess Individual Ying Yue He'' [ Evaluation ] Individual is an insignificant being in the earthly plane, however there is some merit to their constitution if one were to pursue the path of Body Cultivation or Martial Arts. Individual seem to have reawakened a suppressed bloodline that had thinned throughout the millennia. Considered suitable as part of the ''Harem'' for the Host''s [ ¡­ Further Information Gathered ] [ Name: Ying Yue He ] [ Age: 26 years old ] [ Cultivation: None ] [ Body Cultivation: Flesh Training - Body Transformation ] [ Constitution: Gourmet Body (36%) ] [ Bloodline: Epicurean Bloodline (awakened) - Concentration (15.99%) ] [ Roots: Wood (11.2%) / Earth (14.8%) / Water (12.3%) ] [ Sect: Olympian Corp ] [ Cultivation Methods ] None [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] Innate Ascension (rare) Members of the Epicurean Bloodline can ascend through body cultivation, also known as martial arts, even without much training due to high receptiveness to their intake Spiritual Sense (common) (false) (weak) Most cultivators use beyond their five senses to navigate through life. Individual has a degraded version due to lack of any cultivation method both spiritual or physical [ Fate ] Current: Background Individual The individual has taken the path of least resistance and is living a mundane life Future: ??? [ Notes ] Freed from the System''s Missions by the Host due to intervention Epicurean Bloodline and Gourmet Constitution allows the Individual to Highly Benefit from Resources Epicurean Bloodline was said to have vanished or thinned due to the huge amount of resources needed and wanted by members to ascend Li Yang stared at her for a moment, uncomprehending and then glanced at the Panda who also looked surprised. Didn''t this creature know of this? "Mister Li?" Ying Yue He prompted him again with a nervous smile on her face. "Shall I leave this at your office, boss?" He gave her a nod. "Thank you." Li Yang had noticed her skin looking particularly fair and smooth, and he assumed it was something she applied to her face¡­ but it was another matter entirely. The man stepped into his office after the secretary. Ying Yue He left the tray, teapot and cup before giving him some alone time and it was that moment that the CEO poured himself some tea and drank it down. "Dang, someone looks thirsty." The Panda chortled and descended down the table. "Are you now sorry that you let that fish go away?" Li Yang cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, "Surprised rather. It does not seem that she is aware of it at all based on our conversation¡­" "Yeah, she reawakened it somehow." It took him a second to connect things, and he looked down at his teacup and the contents inside of it, "She drank the Spiritual Root Blossoming tea as well." "Woah, did she drink from the same cup to go blushy blushy and say something like ''Kya¡ªan indirect kiss with the CEO'' or something?" The Panda gestured around with a high pitch voice and made a face. "Ick, it physically hurt me to do that." "And yet you still did it," Li Yang shook his head and turned to the screen before summoning the Charm Shop. "Although it reminds me of something." Charm Shop - Level I Attraction Charm 100 cp Divine Energizer Drink 250 cp Dao of Attraction 500 cp Harem Cultivation - Qi Condensation III 4000 cp Mystery Box - 500 cp Bloodline Awakening - 10000 cp Constitution Refinement: 500 cp Cultivation Method Upgrade: 200 cp [ Total Charm Points: 10,465 points available ] The CEO stared at the price of Bloodline Awakening and sighed, he rested a hand on his cheek. "It''s quite expensive to awaken a bloodline when my secretary simply drank tea." "She probably had some kind of¡­ heaven-defying luck." The Panda''s choice of words made him look up, it looked like it swallowed some kind of huge pill while saying it but that held significance. Li Yang wasn''t sure if he shared the same kind of luck, but if luck did not work for him¡ªperseverance might. "Will you try to awaken a bloodline?" The Panda asked. "You got enough points for it~" "That is if I have any bloodline to awaken¡ªwhat are the chances that I have a bloodline useful to cultivation? And how much concentration do I even need for it to be useful?" Li Yang tapped his fingers at the table and looked at the Charm Shop''s screen. "It''s similar to the Constitution refinement¡ªI have none to refine, so I can''t buy it." He wasn''t that much of a risk-taker either. All of the Charm Points he accumulated would be gone in a flash, and he couldn''t risk it simply because he had seen someone who had what he didn''t have. "You never tried buying that Dao of Attraction either, what''s up with that?" Li Yang sighed, "I believe it is much more useful to focus on ascending my cultivation¡ªthat Dao of Attraction may simply just attract trouble." "Didn''t you read the information?" Dao of Attraction Written by an all-powerful Sage from a thousand years ago, this is a powerful scroll that unleashes the Sage''s secrets. Those will be imprinted on your mind and marked into your soul. Wealth. Power. Envy of Others. And more importantly, your Harem. "It sounds too similar to a scam¡ªif that Sage actually obtained such a thing, then why did he decide to write it down? Was it intentionally for others? He didn''t need to write it down if he had decided to keep it for himself. If everyone were to have their hands on it, then would everybody be actually able to obtain what they wanted? Or would there be a conflict of interest?" "That''s a limited way of thinking." "Not everyone can become powerful, rich beings and those that are in a good position will less likely share it¡ªafraid that their position will be threatened." Li Yang sighed. "If everybody can be and will become rich¡ªthen nobody will be." Attracting too many women would also be tiresome for him. He could barely keep up with one woman''s personality¡­ what were to occur if his entire ''harem'' gathered together when he wasn''t ready? It would be too premature. "Alright, yada yada. That''s through, so you''re going to buy what you need and leave the Secretary alone as you originally planned?" "That was what I had in mind." It was the reason why ''Date the Secretary'' Quest only lasted for less than twenty-four hours. His own understanding of it and his intention to only date her for one night made it work. The creature scoffed, and motioned at him. "You know somehow things around you still stir up their trouble¡ªlike that mother with her psychic kid. Your secretary ain''t gonna be able to truly be separate and then there''s her cultivation to think about!" "The one who stirs up trouble here is you and the System, but I digress." Li Yang leaned back on his chair and looked out the windows. "It''s better that she doesn''t get involved¡ªI''ll take back the tea canister to prevent her from drinking it any longer." "You think that''s going to cut it?" "Yes." "Geez, you''re making decisions for her when she doesn''t even have a clue on what''s going on with her body." The Panda clicked its tongue, and it floated upside down the air and twisted its gaze at him. "Makes you kinda similar to that Mother or Bo Lifen who thinks they know what''s right without considering other people''s opinion." It might have hit a point, almost a direct attack. But it was a hard bias to combat with, thinking that you knew better than anyone was a difficult thing to erase. He sighed and the man stared back at the creature, "You want me to tell her?" He still held on to the idea that he could consult with executives, business and legal partners¡ªbut the decision still ended up with him. "Huh, me?" The Panda blew a raspberry, "I''m doing commentary here, so don''t mind me. In the end, it''s either you do it or somebody else will notice and tell it. Imagine how she''d feel when her beloved boss noticed it but didn''t say a thing? She''d feel betrayed." Li Yang eyed the creature, "You also act like you understand a woman''s heart and psyche." The Panda''s fur blasted into red and it jabbed a paw at him. "You¡ª" [ Observer ''Dat Peach'' is Pleased At The Irritation of the ''Panda'' ] [ You Have Been Sponsored With 1696 Charm Points ] Li Yang pursed his lips, "It seems that the others also take delight into your suffering, does it not?" He remembered the Evaluation given by the System of the Panda in front of him. An insignificant and cursed being. But the System never called it weak. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Peach is the alias of the Moderator from Races Online *cough* that''s the only revelation you''re getting. Well, there was Hestia too. But maybe other Observers true natures will be revealed down the line. Chapter 79: What Else Could He Do? There were things that the CEO could take advantage of and others that he willfully paid with no interest to¡ªone of them was the creature in front of him. The ''Panda'' that was re-delegated to observe his plight. Would such a creature be willing to work against the Heavens if it was given an opportunity to do so? It seemed to be a Being that held a grudge with the other Observers. And even the Observers gave him points in exchange for an irritated Panda. "It seems that the others also take delight into your suffering, does it not?" "So what?" The creature huffed at him. It speared through the notification with its paw and reduced the notification to shards before it finally disappeared. The Panda eyed him with a forlorn look, "It doesn''t matter at all, mind your own business." He raised a brow, "I think it matters." But then he shrugged and changed the topic, never letting them dwell on this matter, and instead shifted it to something that could please the creature. "I''ll take your advice into consideration about Miss Ying Yue He''s current situation." The Panda narrowed its eyes at him. Perhaps catching on to what he said or only becoming defensive. "Well, it wasn''t advice per se¡ªit was commentary. Anyhow, you''re starting to get involved in this cultivation thing by a lot, aren''t you?" It floated past him and returned to his table, landing on it with a definite thump. "You''ve begun to accept your fate now, haven''t you?" Li Yang wouldn''t say that, but he only nodded. There was no need for him to disagree. He instead glanced at the teapot on his table and then turned back to his laptop. He began to type. His schedule was present on his home screen by a sticky note, and thankfully this late afternoon held no meetings with anybody of note. Those were usually in the late morning or early afternoon. Either way, he began to edit and announced his idea to not only the Panda, but the Observers by proxy. "I won''t tell her right away though. I''d like to do it at a more proper time, and there will be a need to inform the Shen Society as well." The CEO had once considered visiting a psychiatrist when the Panda first appeared¡­ how would Ying Yue He react if she were to learn of the situation on hand? He had no plans to tell her about the System, but even explaining the validity of cultivation, the people involved in it and her own state would cause some shock. "Oh right, that human-spirit diplomacy organization¡­ Huh, if I remember you said you were going to get a bodyguard there?" the Panda raised a brow. "Sounds similar to what Young Masters do, getting themselves lackeys to do all the dirty work for them until they get their thin faces slapped by the person that came from another world." The CEO turned on his printer and allowed the edited document to be printed. He glanced at the Panda, and it almost felt like he was explaining himself to an inquisitive board member. Except for the last bit, now he wasn''t sure if the creature was speaking about a web fiction or actually meant someone it knew personally. He gave his response, "At least until I''ll learn how to defend and fight on my own, then there is a need for some assistance. It''s better to think of them as an instructor, someone who I can possibly entrust my training to. You might already know that the Charm Shop offers no such thing as a legendary battle guide that can allow me to learn how to fight in a specific martial arts style upon purchase, isn''t that correct?" "You''re talking about Skill Books, aren''t you? Well, that sucks because that''d be too easy for you and boring to watch." The Panda shrugged, "But who knows? Maybe if you level up the Charm Shop then there might be items that''ll be of use to you¡ªbut you don''t have any Main Quest, do you?" "I''m still in the interlude time from the first main quest, I still have twenty-five days¡­ less if I were to exclude my work hours and other things that take my time." This was his opportunity to get stronger before anything else was to occur. He was lucky enough that his initial quest was with someone close to him and he had no competition, but others might be too different. The qualities that seemed to be a prerequisite to become a ''Harem'' member was cultivation affinity to some large degree. That made some sense since his cultivation method was ''Harem Cultivation''? Honestly, that didn''t make much sense to him. But what were the chances that the System or the Heavens decide to give him a dangerous ''Target'' for the fun of it? "Consider it both a blessing and curse that you have some time on your hands before the next one." the Panda sighed and waved a paw, "There''s really not that much you can do, I suppose there''ll be Side Quests now and then to keep the Observers'' attention." "Is there really nothing I can do?" The CEO opened his drawer and retrieved the Prehistoric Saber-tooth Dagger. "Wait, where¡­ where the heck did you get that thing?!" "I opened a Mystery Box to get it." "You did that while I was gone?!" "Yes, I opened three boxes to be precise, and it showed me the Achievements Page. If I don''t have any Main Missions now, or even Side Quests¡ªI do have options." [ Some of the Observers Are Upset ] [ The ''Observer'' Seafoam Is Complaining ] [ The ''Observer'' One Who Slaughters Blames the Panda ] [ The ''Observer'' Owl Brain Is Lenient ] He then opened the Achievements Page and finally found what he wanted. There was a weapon badge on the page and contained the following goal: [ Monster Hunter - I ] [ Achievement Locked ] Defeat 1x Monster in your immediate surroundings "Do you even know how to swing that thing?" the Panda rolled its eyes. "Besides, you couldn''t even see the spiritual demon beast last time¡­ wait, you''re basically going to have a ''Bodyguard'' lead you to monster hunting spots and you''ll be the one who''ll land the finishing blow, aren''t you?" The CEO stood up and placed the Saber-tooth Dagger, the LSO''s Water Breathing Chewing Gum, and even the ziplock of the Goblin nails in his suitcase. He then procured the printed document from the printer and nodded, "If I can afford my safety, then why would I risk it?" "You get stronger with actual danger?" "But the risk of dying is also on your shoulders, and I wouldn''t risk that." Li Yang returned to his seat and then offered the schedule to the creature. The Panda snatched the paper and checked it. Work Week Schedule Monday to Friday 5:00 am- 5:30 am Preparations for Work 5:30 am- 6:30 am Meditation 6:30 am- 8:00 am Driving to Shanghai 8:00 am- 12:00 pm Work Hours 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch Break 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Work Hours 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Overtime 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Cultivation Work 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm Return Home 10:30 pm - 11:00 pm Preparations for Rest 11:00 pm - 5:00am Sleep "..." A silence emerged in the office, the creature possibly once again becoming confused with the sheet of paper in its hand. The man took it as an opportunity to send a Message with the Chat feature. CEO: Is this private communication secure? Panda: Wtf are you asking that for? CEO: Well? Panda: There are some limitations to the ability of the Observers to observe¡ªthis is behind the scenes, unless we were in the Universal Server. Which I had to kick you out from before. That thing is supposed to cost extra for the Observers'' side. Li Yang cleared his throat and summoned the Charm Shop Screen. [ Charm Shop Level 1] [ Charm Points Can Be Used As Currency ] [ Total Charm Points: 12,161cp points available ] Attraction Charm (Consumable) 100 CP Divine Energizer Drink (Consumable) 250 CP Dao of Attraction 500 CP Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - III 4000 CP Mystery Box 500 CP Bloodline Awakening 10000 CP Constitution Refinement 500 CP Cultivation Method Upgrade 200 CP He didn''t think that he''d actually reach more than ten thousand points, but it was a good accomplishment. He then glanced back at the creature, "Regardless, you are right that I still can''t see the ''monsters''. I believe that is the Spiritual Sense that has been described in Miss He''s status screen, wasn''t it?" "Yeah, most cultivators get it after reaching a certain level in their cultivation¡ª" "That means I''m buying the next upgrades of Qi Condensation." he said. "You''re not going to give it a try with the Awakening of the Bloodline?" "No. It''s not a guaranteed win¡ªI''d take a look at it if it were something that can generate a bloodline on command, but awakening it means that my own ancestors needed to be cultivators in the past. I highly doubt that." "Tch. So boring." "Perhaps if I come across more Charm Points, but for now, I''m purchasing the next levels." the CEO then made his purchases. [ Deducting 4000 CP from Host... ] [ You Have Purchased Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - III ] [ You Have Reached Three Stages Of Qi Condensation ] [ You Have Unlocked the Spiritual Sense (common) version ] [ The Next Stage Has A Bottleneck Due To Late Cultivation ] [ There Is 50% Chance Failure With Next Purchase ] "Hmm¡­" "Well? Will you buy it or not, Mister I''ll-buy-the-next-level guy." Chapter 80: What Were The Chances of It Breaking Through? [ Total Charm Points: 8,161 points available ] [ Would You Like To Purchase Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - IV for 6000 Charm Points? ] [ 50% Chance of Breakthrough ] Those were the remaining points he had left on hand, and if he were to buy the next stage of Qi Condensation that was at the fourth stage¡­ there was a chance that he''d fail. The CEO dismissed the screen and glanced at the Panda. "It''s too risky, besides it''s a bottleneck. That means I simply have to overcome that troublesome thing." "...danggit, somebody else would have risked it and relied on some divine luck to intervene for them." The CEO returned to his laptop and searched up for something, "If the divine wanted to have a show to entertain themselves¡ªsurely they wouldn''t give it to me for no reason at all. When there''s conflict, there is a chance for things to become entertaining. And if you were to ask me, it''s still better to not rely on things I cannot control. There''s a good chance that I''ll be able to overcome it on my own¡­ and here we go. Have a look." Written on one random blog site was an explanation of what was described to be a bottleneck. ''It is the situation when cultivators figuratively hit a wall in their training and it suddenly becomes incredibly difficult to proceed. When they reach a bottleneck, cultivators may require new Insights, the aid of medicinal pills, or even harsher training in order to make a breakthrough and successfully bypass the bottleneck.'' Immortal Mountain "Is that supposed to be some Daoist Name?" the Panda scoffed. "No, that''s the blog site name." the CEO took note of the three things that would help him to breakthrough a bottleneck. If his current chances were at fifty percent, then there was a good chance that he''d be able to overcome it through doing any or all of the three. He already had training in mind¡ªso that was the first. "... You trust what you find on the internet more than what you can get from the System?" the Panda shook its head and closed the laptop screen. "You''re wasting your time with all of these gadgets when you have the powerful System installed in you." The CEO packed up his laptop into another bag and stood up. "It''s a good way to still double-check the information I can get from the System, and besides, I can still ask for some verification from the Shen Society when I go there to pick up my Bodyguard." "Shouldn''t it be the other way around?" the Panda said. "Sounds like you''re overpaying some folks. Guess that''s what you get for overplaying your card." Li Yang thought otherwise and said. "A lot of the people from the Shen Group were preoccupied already with their own tasks, I think they assigned me with someone coming from Chongming Island, and so they''re a little geographically confused with the city." "... and this is why the System is superior¡ªyou probably have a world map installed there!" "I do?" the CEO raised a brow and then snapped his fingers. He recalled the incident just an hour earlier at the city itself. That incident had already been checked off and cleared from his mind, but now he recovered it. "It did allow me to toggle a map to locate you, and it''s also capable of finding monsters around the city then? That is handy." "Using the word monster is quite derogatory." Li Yang wondered if the creature felt attacked by that term and shook his head. "The System''s Achievement Page says otherwise, but it seems to be an umbrella term." the CEO made a move towards his door, and the creature followed along. "Whatever," it said. When it simply followed him along with little complaints, it was actually nice to have around. Li Yang reached for the doorknob. "Either way, we''ll just see how things turn out¡ªI''ve already hired the bodyguard so it would be a shame to have them sent back when they already came all the way from Chongming." "Who knows? Maybe they just rode on some flying sword to get here." "Perhaps?" the CEO nodded. "But based on conversation with the people I''ve already met, it seems that the Cultivators are facing a recession. Even the Spiritual Blossoming Tea we got was expensive and so it means that if the resources are expensive, then artifacts like a flying sword would be uncommon or extremely rare." "And yet you''re here with a System, life''s pretty unfair, isn''t it?" "But to be fair, at least the others aren''t forced to do things against their whims¡ªbut I digress. Let''s go." Li Yang stepped out of his office, quickly noticing that Ying Yue He was still in front of her desk and working hard. The CEO checked his watch and realized it was still just 5pm¡­ his secretary tended to stick around for the same hours as he did. He cleared his throat, "Miss He." She glanced back at him and blinked, "Ah, Mister Li¡­ you''re leaving now?" "Yes. Will you still be staying until 6pm?" It never crossed his mind before to wonder about her always pulling overtime like him. Instead, he had been appreciative that there was someone willing to put in extra hours and was productive during these times. "Has something urgent come up?" Ying Yue He shook her head, "No, boss. It''s just a little surprising¡­ I think we''re all clear for the board meeting tomorrow morning, Mister Li. I''ve finished coordinating with the security for the visitors and the proper hosting for tomorrow." She began to shut down her own computer and smiled sheepishly, "I guess getting some extra rest for tomorrow, boss?" Small talk. But it wasn''t that bad, at least it was still related to work and it had come from her. He managed a smile and shook his head, "I still have to go over the details with my brother later, he''s come home." "Ah, Sir Liang is back?" Ying Yue He blinked and smiled. She pushed back from her chair and fished out her sneakers from her backpack. The secretary took off her pumps and changed her footwear. "He hasn''t dropped by at all with the office. Had he come back from his trip in Toulouse, he usually drops by the departments and brings souvenirs. I suppose he''s still worn out after hurrying back here, hasn''t he, Mister Li?" The CEO was vaguely aware of that happening¡ªdespite his brother taking a backseat in managing the company, he still enjoyed dropping by and promoting goodwill and morale with most of the employees. It was a segregation of duties between the two of them in some way. He cleared his throat, "Miss He, I''d also like to retrieve the tea canister I gave you this morning. I''m bringing it home." "Huh?" Ying Yue He stood up and then looked at him, her hands clutching the strap of her backpack. "Mister Li, wouldn''t it be more convenient for you to have it here? I think it''s a little troublesome on your part that you have to keep bringing it up¡ª" She would have normally gotten him what he wanted by down, but this time there was some reluctance. It seemed like she really had gotten a liking for the tea that he got, even while she was still unaware. "It''s fine, Miss He. I do not mind." Ying Yue He then nodded at last. His secretary then moved past him and made her way to the door, "I''ll get it from the kitchen then, sir." "Woah, first time I saw her brush over you like you were nothing¡­" "Boss?" Ying Yue He looked back at him. "Yes, Miss He?" She rubbed her eyes and squinted at him, "I thought you said something, but ah¡­ the tea, right the tea." Ying Yue He finally went towards the kitchen. "I''ll be right back, Mister Li!" "...didn''t the System just call her Spiritual Senses as a degraded version?" the Panda rubbed its paw. "She was looking straight right at me, but was afraid to call it out." Li Yang rolled his eyes, less focused on the realization of the creature than his secretary. "It''s the same way that the System has called me a person with no spiritual roots. It''s measurement seems to be on a grand scale that''s not actually that helpful in actually determining one''s strength here." "Right, I forgot that the System''s measurement is on a Universal Scale." "..." The CEO was the one who rubbed his face this time and chose not to respond. This was once again another piece of information that he failed to get ahold of when the System first presented itself. "Is there anything else that I need to know?" The Panda crossed its chubby arms across its chest, "What am I? I''m not your stinkin'' assistant¡ª" A crash erupted from across the room. Li Yang blinked and made a move towards the kitchen, "Miss He?" He soon came across the sight of the tea canister''s broken pieces and his pale-faced secretary. The Root Blossoming Tea''s red powder was littered across the floor, and Ying Yue He met his eyes with her own frightened ones. She trembled, "Mister Li, I can explain¡ª" "What the actual fuck," the Panda appeared and stepped on the tea dusted kitchen floor, "1000 Charm Points went down the drain for this tea. What are you going to do about it now, CEO?" Li Yang took a deep breath and then looked at her, "What exactly happened here, Miss He?" "I bet she was snorting the tea powder and then dropped the canister. Disgusting." Chapter 81: Not Knowing Her Own Strength (Secretary + CEO) Once again some words flitted through her ears, something that sounded like whispers and a squeak. Ying Yue He could only make out a few words like ''snorting'' but focused on answering the question her boss asked. Would he believe her though, or think she was making up some sort of excuse? Ying Yue He said and looked at her boss with a nervous stare. "I¡­ I didn''t know my own strength, and I accidentally cracked it," She gulped down a trickle of her saliva that formed in her mouth as she awaited the verdict. When it didn''t come at once, she stared at her hands. Ying Yue He blinked, her hands had remained unharmed, "I know this doesn''t make any sense. Maybe I''m just having a terrible dream?" She looked back at her boss to see if he acted like the one in her dreams. CEO Li Yang only looked back at her and let out a long sigh. There was a faint outline of something hovering over his shoulder. "Maybe it''s just stress getting to me," Ying Yue He placed her palm over her face, "I''m really sorry, boss. Can I pay for it... or get it deducted from my salary?" She had no idea how much that thing was actually worth, for all she knew it was actually the Da Hong Pao. Ying Yue He bit her lip, "It''s not the Big Red Robe tea is it, Mister Li?" Her boss was really silent... was he mulling over what to do with her?! What if she had to pay for this with her body¡ªno, it wasn''t going around in that kind of direction! And yet she once heard from a documentary channel that Da Hong Pao, a black tea that became red after brewing, which fitted exactly with the tea that she had been serving him¡ªit cost at least $600,000 per pound. Would she be having a life debt and forced to work until the day she died?! Mister Li''s figure crossed past the mess on the floor and he stood right in front of her, "You''re not injured are you? Were you hurt in any way?" Ying Yue He bit her lip and shook her head, "No, but I really squeezed and broke it by accident¡ª" He took her hand, "It seems that I have to take you to Shen Society earlier than I wanted." "H-Huh?" the woman blinked and then found herself being motioned away from the kitchen. "Wait, Mister Li I have to clean it up¡ª" "There''s no time for that. I''ll explain it along the way." "But the tea..." "Save it for another day, Miss He." And she soon found herself once again with her boss in the front seat of his car. Both of his hands were on the steering wheel, but somehow it felt like his hand still touched hers. Ying Yue He still had no idea where exactly this ''Shen Society'' was supposed to be, but somehow, it didn''t seem like anything terrible was going to happen. [ You Have Gained 5 Charm Points ] It was an odd thing to gain points right now. But he didn''t pay much mind to it now and only focused on the road. Li Yang had promised to tell it to her along the way, but somehow he decided to retract his decision and tell it to her when the two of them were actually there¡ªhe wasn''t sure how she would react. Would she break down into hysterics or faint? What if she jumped out of his car and thought he was insane? He''d rather not have her getting injured. CEO: If she jumped out of the car now, will she be able to survive? Panda: Did you really just ask me that¡­? Well, she''s already transformed her skin and flesh¡ªthere''s some durability. Kinda sucks if you wanted to give her a hickey CEO: Thank you He dismissed the chat screen and focused on parking outside of the Shen building. They already knew he was coming for his bodyguard. However, he wasn''t sure how they would take it when they''ll learn about Ying Yue He''s state¡ªwould he still have time to aim for an Achievement to be Unlocked when he also had to worry about his secretary? "Woah, the interior is really different from the exterior." Ying Yue He gawked for a bit at the facility-like room that the two of them entered. She gave him a look, "What is this place, Mister Li¡­ is Shen Society some kind of exclusive organization that you and other like-minded people visit?" "You could say that it''s like that." he said and headed up the stairs. "It''s also where I obtained the tea that you dropped, so perhaps there is a chance that we can once again get another one." Ying Yue He scratched her cheek, "Ah, is that so, Mister Li? It''s¡­ it''s a little embarrassing now that you''ve said it. But if I can help and even tell the story of how you ended up needing the tea again¡ªI''ll attest to my clumsiness." There was something about his secretary that made her completely trust him¡­ or at least trust him enough and was compliant to go with him without even asking much questions. It may have been out of guilt for dropping the tea canister¡ªbut if she still stayed this way, even after what was going to happen once they talked with the people in Shen Society, he would probably treasure it. It would be something that would put him at ease. Li Yang knocked on the fourth floor door¡ªand watched it open up quickly. "Welcome to Shen Society¡ªah, there''s two of you. Taiga has only been expecting one." A young woman with bright orange hair stared up at him and Ying Yue He. "...the other one is the CEO, right? Wait is that¡­" Mou Gu appeared behind the girl and glanced at Ying Yue He with a gawking face. His green eyes stared at her and then returned to Li Yang, "What did you do to her?!" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: The first infusion of Da Hong Pao can be a red color but further makings of the tea will give it an amber or even light yellow color. And it''s an actual tea *drools* something I wouldn''t be able to afford ever lol. Legend: One day the empress fell sick. No traditional Chinese medicine was able to relieve her of this pain and cure her. When a student remembered how the tea once saved his life in the Wuyi mountains he told the emperor the story and offered him the tea leaves. After drinking the tea, the empress slowly recovered from the sickness. The emperor was pleased and offered an heirloom: A big red robe to the tea trees in the Wuyi mountain temple as a tribute. The trees were covered and protected with the robe and henceforth were called Da Hong Pao. Chapter 82: Youre A Cultivator, Miss He When Shen An Na and Hua Zhao arrived at the Shen Society''s building to see if the CEO Li Yang had dropped by to pick up his new bodyguard, they came across a sight. The two of them weren''t expecting to see an argument unfold in the office. Or a rather one-sided one. "You''re too pretty¡ªand it''s unnatural!" Mou Gu gestured wildly at Ying Yue He. "Your skin is like way too clear and your pores are too small, heck it''s like I''m staring at a mirror now. This is not natural I tell you." Ying Yue He narrowed her eyes at him, "I should be thanking you, but that also sounds like an insult in some way. Or you''re trying to say that you have flawless skin even while you cook using a grill with all the smoke clogging your face." "Seriously, you bought some kind of expensive tea at Yuan''s Shop and then gave it to her?" Li Yang shook his head, "No." The CEO glanced at his secretary, who took the chance to glance down at the floor. He didn''t exactly know if Ying Yue He was now actually aware of what was happening¡ªthe truth of the matter about the cultivators and everything, because the man in front of them also hadn''t explicitly said it. Instead, the man was dropping hints about how this was ''unnatural''. The CEO was keeping one ear and listening to the conversation, but he was also eyeing the young woman sitting beside Mou Gu. She looked bored and was tapping her fingers on the desk, not even actually paying attention, until she looked up and met his gaze. "Ah, does Mister need something from Taiga?" She was talking to herself in third person. But it wasn''t as if that was the strangest thing about her¡ªpeculiar, but her looks were also something. He already thought that the pink-haired cook beside her was an oddity, but there was a vibrant and glowing aura to her. "No, not yet. But you are the one that has been assigned to me?" He didn''t exactly want to give any kind of strange idea to his secretary just sitting beside him. Taiga gave him a smile, and there was a distinctive sharpness to her fangs. "Uh¡­ we''re back?" Somebody finally said. "Oh my, An Na and Zhao are back!" Taiga leapt up to her feet and with a speed that might have been in a blink of an eye¡ªthe girl threw herself into Shen An Na''s arms. "I was bored while you were gone¡ªis that really the man I''m supposed to work with? He looks boring." "Pfft, seems like your charms don''t always work, Mister CEO." The Panda said after deciding to reveal itself in his vision once again. It now usually took the chance to appear only to give some gripes or say something with some derision. Li Yang looked back to see the two who had arrived, and he gave a short nod in greeting, "Good evening and pardon the intrusion, something came up and I had to bring my secretary here." "Yikes," Hua Zhao scratched the back of his head, "It''s like the bunny incident all over again." Shen An Na waved a hand at him and then smiled at Ying Yue He, "Please make yourselves comfortable here¡­ it''s a little discomforting to hear about it at first, but the truth will set you free, Miss." If anyone were to hear of it right now without a clue on what she was alluding to, then it would cause problems¡­ if Li Yang had to be honest, even with context¡ªit still sounded weird. Almost suspicious. But the woman looked sincere. "Ah¡­ I''m not exactly sure what uh, ideas you guys converse here¡­ but I''m here to get more of the tea that my boss brought?" the Secretary finally said. "Huh?" Shen An Na blinked. "Wait, she drank the tea¡­ now that you mention it, there''s a certain glow to her skin." Hua Zhao nodded at Mou Gu. "What stage is she in now?" "Skin Refining, it always does wonders¡ªnot fairy-like yet, but still, I''d say she''s on par with some models and those with regular skin treatments. Not to mention very thick too." "Hey, my face is not thick! But as for the others¡­ can you stop messing around and just tell me what exactly you''re talking about, Mou Gu?" Ying Hue He clasped her face, "I''m not doing anything special with my skin, but I do admit that I¡­ I did drink some of my boss'' tea before." "Wait, same cup?" "No!" The CEO blinked at the aghast refusal, her red face and remembered the Panda''s words about an ''indirect kiss''... he really didn''t see it that way. Although it was slightly amusing to see her red-faced and flustered. "I wouldn''t have minded if you did." "Woah, that line is smooth." "Shut it, Mou Gu!" His secretary glanced at Li Yang''s way and dipped her head, "I''d really like to purchase one now if possible. This is some kind of health networking company, right?" "Uhhh¡­" "Some new master class?" Li Yang sighed and shook his head, while the laughter of the Panda finally emerged in the background. This is what they got for not telling it to her straight¡ªshe came up with something in the realm of possibility, but it was still far-fetched. The CEO turned to her and looked his secretary in the eye, "Miss He." "What is it, boss?" She had an awkward smile on her face. "You''re now a cultivator." "... Eh?" He cleared his throat and motioned to her face, "The reason why Mou Gu keeps complimenting your skin, is because you''ve drunk a spiritual tea that made it that way." She wasn''t passed out or in hysteria, but he couldn''t exactly call this a successful conversation. "That''s a really strange way to say that I have better skin now." She coughed, "I mean I am having less sleep nowadays, but you''re all messing with me, right?" "No." A small laugh escaped her throat, "Ah, Mister Li¡­ you never really minced words, do you?" She didn''t pass out at this moment, but she didn''t look completely put together or lucid either. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Yes, "You''re a Wizard, Harry" kind of incident. I may have been the only one who wanted to force it out of this chapter and the CEO''s lips *cough* so sometimes, you''ll read something that''ll make you cringe and I''ll be like ''For the memes!'' I''m both sorry and not-so-sorry. Phew, writing is a little mind draining so infusing humor is nice... at least for me. xD See ya guys tomorrow Chapter 83: The Future Harem Army—?! "What''s so difficult to understand?" Taiga spoke up. She had a hand on her hip and leaned down, nearly nose to nose with the secretary, "You''re able to cultivate¡ªthat''s good. Now it''s time to train." Ying Yue He managed a shaky laugh and created some distance between the two of them, "Train? I don''t think I have time for that and I don''t believe..." "Your boss brought you here for a reason." Shen An Na said. The only one sitting at a respectable distance from them, "And the others assessed the same." "If Taiga scratches your face and you do not bleed¡ªmaybe it''ll prove that you''ve become a cultivator. What do you think, Miss?" Li Yang found himself pushed to the corner¡ªShen An Na and Taiga both talking with his secretary. Well, if he were to be honest about things, he was thankful that somebody else would explain the situation to his secretary. But it also impeded his original schedule. Something flew from the corner of his vision, and the CEO caught the canned soda from his hands¡ªand the thumbs up from Hua Zhao. "Nice catch," The martial artist was bent over a mini-fridge they had in this office until he stood up. He glanced covertly towards the girls, "It always takes a bit of convincing to someone not used to this. You understand that it''s always surprising, right?" "As if you''d know that, Zhao." Mou Gu rolled his eyes, "You were born in a warrior clan, so it''s natural for you." "Doesn''t mean I wouldn''t know." Li Yang checked his watch and stepped towards the two, "Excuse me, but is there a chance that either of you are patrolling tonight around the city or some sort? Correct me if I''m wrong about my assumptions of your line of work." "Well¡­ wait, I didn''t pay attention before since it''s rude to intrude using one''s senses¡ªbut your Qi Refining has become much better, huh?" Mou Gu raised a brow, "You raised¡­ at least two stages. Or you''re on a half-step to another stage." "Yes, that appears to be the case," he agreed. He forgot that there was some sort of etiquette between using spiritual senses¡­ although he hadn''t actually tested it yet. This was his intended time to work on cultivation. "I still have to gain actual combat experience if I were to put this cultivation into any actual work. So if any of you two will be going out¡ªI''d like to join you, or at least observe from the background." "Going out¡­" Hua Zhao scratched his head and popped open his can of soda. He took a sip and let out a sigh, "It''s usually the other folks who do that¡ªother people that you haven''t met, by the way. They''re the ones to ensure the safety of the city from any pesky but vicious grunts, while we go out when it''s actually dangerous." Li Yang remembered the System''s evaluation on this guy and he raised his brow, "I suppose that there''s a hierarchy then, like any organization." "Did we already mention the Four Pillars?" Hua Zhao asked. "That''s basically us." "Tch, how arrogant to call themselves like that." The Panda muttered beside him. "Pillars of what? Shen Society is basically asking for some tribulation." Li Yang ignored it and asked, "Akin to the roles that Sect Elders do I garner?" "Maybe¡­ but it''s still different¡ª" "You can think about it as Classes." Mou Gu cut in and shrugged, the man leaning against a wall. "I mean, that''s how my friend puts it¡ªthere are different types of cultivators and even specializations. I do my best to focus on the sensory aspects of cultivation, but it''s mostly to detect one''s qi and aura and locate them." "Four Pillars are based on the Four Fundamental and Traditional Weapons: Sword, Saber, Staff and Spear." With a flick of a wrist, a single-edged curved blade appeared in Hua Zhao''s hand. Mou Gu slapped the back of the martial artist''s head, "Little Zhao, you can''t just pull that out and freak our guests¡ªYing Yue He''s still trying to grasp what''s happening." Hua Zhao grunted and put his saber away, "Although it helps that we''ve indeed got our own talents that distinguish us from one another. Now that you''ve asked, we forgot to get you a weapon when we went to the market, did we?" There were certain stakes associated with revealing that he actually had one¡ªbut if he kept hesitating and chose not to do so, it would just be more difficult for him. "I actually have a weapon with me, but it''s different from those four that it seems I''ll have to look for another instructor." the CEO walked over to a table and opened his suitcase, he took out the Saber-Tooth Dagger and presented it to them. "Oh a dagger, huh?" Mou Gu raised a brow. "That actually looks cool." Li Yang was no weapons expert, but it was easy to come to a conclusion. "This weapon isn''t exactly suitable, is it when it comes to facing the creatures that you deal with?" Even the saber and sword provided some decent distance, unlike a dagger. "It''s a lot more close ranged than any of our weapons, that I admit." Mou Gu affirmed. "But if you know how to fight unarmed, then there are some things that can be transferred still in terms of knife combat." "Taiga is a good fit¡ªshe fights barehanded. Clawed rather." Hua Zhao said and motioned to the young woman staring down at his secretary. "She''s an adopted tiger spirit from Shou Temple Sect. Actually, a lot older than either of us three and talented, so you''re in good hands if you wanted a bodyguard¡­ asking for some training from her will be a tad difficult though." Li Yang glanced at the woman and finally understood why there was a certain vibrant aura around her that even his secretary didn''t have. "But she will be with me almost constantly once her work starts. So I''ll have the chance to negotiate for lessons, if ever." "I meant¡ªshe''s going to be kicking your ass for a while." Mou Gu chuckled and motioned to him. "It''s easy to ask her, but training is the actual pain. I hope your body is ready for that, Mister CEO. I don''t want to seem rude, but fighting is harder than just absorbing the qi around us." "Then it means that I''ll have to bear with it, regardless then." "Pfft¡­ that attitude, I like it." Hua Zhao chuckled and finished his soda. He tossed it into the trash, "Sounds a little masochistic, but that means you won''t quit half-way when things get tough, right?" Li Yang raised a brow, "Of course not. I don''t quit things¡­ unless there truly is no hope for a situation, but that''s the reason why one needs to measure their situation first before diving into something one doesn''t know." "But if I have to be honest, I think you''re probably wasting some money by hiring Taiga¡ªI don''t think you have enemies out for your head, right?" Hua Zhao asked and then grinned. "You probably have more money than even our boss, but tossing money out right the window sounds a tad too much. Unless you somehow forgot to tell us about any sort of enemies that''s hounding you, right?" "... some instincts, huh?" the Panda whistled. "What''s your response to that?" The CEO''s lips twitched, "I can assure you that there''s no enemy actively hounding on me right now, but one can never know what''ll happen in the future, will they? It''s better to pay for security, even when you believe that you won''t get robbed." "Not to mention you happened to involve Miss Yue He into this little situation of yours¡ªso it''s not only yourself that you have to worry about." Mou Gu reminded him with a small smile that didn''t quite reach his eyes. "I say that it''s a good decision for him, Zhao. Don''t try to make this guy avoid it at all, besides I''m sure it''d be a sight to see. CEO turned cultivator is definitely something you''d put in your resume, eh?" Words said so casually, yet he only focused on the implication. "I have no intention of putting her in any harm''s way," Li Yang replied. "I''ll do my best to protect and keep watch over her." He had already thought about it before, but saying it filled him with more conviction. "That''s the least that you can do for her, after all, Mister CEO." "Indeed," Li Yang sighed and rubbed his face. He glanced at his secretary. Ying Yue He looked less spooked now, and he returned his gaze back to Mou Gu, "The best thing I can do for my secretary right now is to ensure that she''s able to defend herself¡ªespecially when she has the potential to do so." Mou Gu fell silent and then muttered, "... You''re not planning on using her or anything, do you? It''s true that there''s a significant improvement to her physique thanks in part to her somehow getting stronger with just a tiny portion of the tea that you bought¡ªbut will you use her as some pawn to fight in the future? It doesn''t seem far-fetched since you brought her here to learn about cultivation instead of letting this remain hidden from her." [ The Observer ''Trite'' Wants To Eat Popcorn ] [ The Observer ''One Who Slaughters'' Is Ready For A Bloodbath ] "Woah, he''s saying that you''re gonna hide behind the back of your future harem army. What do you say to that?!" ¡­ It would be a lie to say that thought never crossed the CEO''s mind. There had to be a reason why Ying Yue He fitted the criteria of being his target¡ªand he assumed one of those being natural talent in cultivation and the other was appearance. So it did make sense, if a time ever came that he was placed in a difficult spot and say Ying Yue He was a strong body cultivator at that time¡­ "Of course it depends entirely on her decision." he shrugged. It also depended on whether he''d invest resources in her growth in the first place. It made sense that he would expect some return if he were to ever help her become stronger, and yet it could also end up as a loss. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Do you think it''s terrible when a protagonist has other people doing the majority of fighting for him? There are evil protagonists who have minions and lackeys, heroic ones who can fight with allies and the power of friendship on their side and those who are lone people who say "I work alone". Where do you think does the CEO fall in line more? Will he play on a proverbial chessboard and use his army waifu pieces to take over the world, or will he be the one doing the fighting? Both? Share your thoughts! Chapter 84: Taiga Doesnt Like Bamboo [ The Observer ''Owl Brain'' Thinks It Can Be Resolved Through Conversation ] [ The Observer ''The Moon Overlooks The Mountains'' Appreciates The Reply ] [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] "Entirely on her decision, huh?" The cultivator stared at the CEO in front of him and eventually nodded, "That makes sense¡ªalright. I''m relieved, phew." Mou Gu wiped sweat off his forehead and offered Li Yang a grin. "I was half-afraid of you using her as a human cauldron¡ªow." Hua Zhao elbowed the man in the gut, and it threw the man back towards a wall. The three women looked up from their conversation, while Mou Gu croaked out what may have been an ''I''m fine''. The martial artist shook his head and glanced at Li Yang. "Don''t mind him, he''s paranoid like that. And, if you don''t know what exactly he means by cauldron... it''s better off that you don''t. It''s not a recommended practice." "I''ve encountered that term already." he said. Although he wouldn''t explain that it had mostly come from research on the internet¡­ he had yet to confirm it with the System, but he had a feeling that it was the same exact thing. It was using another human being as a living cauldron for one''s own cultivation. A despicable thing. "Then I suppose you already know why it''s a terrible idea¡ªand very risky." Hua Zhao frowned and then gave him a look, "But I think you''re going to be fine. You got me the discount coupon for your business the other day too, so I think you''re cool." Li Yang didn''t realize that the man would be cheap enough to be bought off by a $1000 discount coupon, but he only nodded. "I have no inclination for that. However, if the time allows it, then I could also learn from under you. I once heard that learning the saber only takes ten days compared to other forms of weapons." "Well, make sure to call me Senior." Hua Zhao rubbed his nose, sniffing slightly. "Mind you, it takes ten days because saber is what a lot of people learn, but if you don''t know how to use it¡ªit''s like taming a wild tiger. Brutish and fast movements." The CEO wasn''t sure if he would like to master such a fight style, but he had no need to be picky at all. "It is true that you''re more adept than me with a sword, so if that''s what it takes, then I''ll call you my senior." "Well... I''m sort of younger than you so it''s kinda weird, but eh." Hua Zhao said, but then nodded. "If you do have some time and I happen to be here¡ªI can give you a hand. It might seem like it''d be easier to use a wooden staff though, but that''s Mou Gu''s style. I mean yeah you have that neat dagger in your hands, but it''s dangerous to swing that around and hurt yourself by accident." Li Yang stared at the saber-tooth dagger and sighed inwardly, "It seems that I''ll have to use this on a later time, or rely on Miss Taiga. I don''t have a lot of time to spare for this training while working¡ªat most, I can only train four hours." He was no person whisked off into another world, he still had his duties to think about. And one of them was looking at him now. "Mister Li?" Ying Yue He called. There was a sheepish look on her face, and she stood up from the sofa. "If I can have a moment of your time, boss." Li Yang excused himself and then approached her, "What is it, Miss He?" What would she choose for herself? He wouldn''t mind if she chose to back out, but she would now be an additional burden on his shoulders if that happened. "Miss Taiga and Shen An Na already explained it to me, and I think that the only way I can repay you after shattering the valuable tea canister and the tea in it is by working for it¡ªbut I''m not sure if I fulfill the criteria for it." Ying Yue He said. The woman chewed slightly on her lip and gripped her backpack straps tightly. "That is this cultivation thing might take a while for me to learn and I hope that you can wait until then." The CEO glanced at her and then nodded, "Then the two of us shall accompany one another after work hours¡ªyou can consider this as an additional seminar or training along with being a secretary." A determined look crossed over her face. Something that he hadn''t exactly expected, and so he cleared his throat. "I hope that Miss Shen has already stressed what are the dangerous aspects of this role though, because I do not wish for you to step into this blindly. Cultivation is a hard path to take on." A scoff came from the Panda that suddenly appeared in front of him and it poked his nose with its paw, "Says the person who uses Charm Points, but yeah¡ªit is hard. Just sounds ridiculous when you''re the one saying it, Third Stage Qi Gatherer." Li Yang scrunched up his nose. "I¡­ I''m aware, but I''ll do it to repay you, Mister Li." She gave him a smile, "And this cultivation thing is almost close to like tai chi or qi gong really if you look at it, meditation and the energy around you? I think I can do those things." "I have faith in you, Miss He." Albeit based on the evaluation of the System¡ªit would work for her far better to consume excellent resources to take advantage of her Innate Ascension Skill that paired with her bloodline and constitution. Speaking of which¡­ he could buy the ''Constitution Refinement'' for her if it was possible. He managed to give the Divine Energizer Drink to someone else, so perhaps that was also possible. That is if she were to agree? Or did he even need to tell her about it? Li Yang had no explanation as to why he figured out her bloodline and constitution save for the System¡­ so it was probably something he had to keep hidden. "Ick, all of this lovey-dovey aura is making Taiga sick¡ªare we done now?" Came an interruption from the young woman now standing in between him and the secretary. "So Miss here trains and I guess you''ll train too?" She gave Li Yang a look, "You smell like freshly cut bamboo and Taiga''s not sure if she likes it or not." "Is that so?" Li Yang raised a brow and glanced down at her. ''Assess Individual Taiga'' [ System Evaluation ] Individual is a being that ascended into the lower spiritual domain connected to the earthly plane most commonly referred to by individuals in this part of the world as ''The Veil''. Originally a magical beast from the earthly plane, but due to extreme hunting down for its resources¡ªit eventually absorbed the spiritual core of its progenitor and the ability to obtain a human form. "What''s with that look?" A low growl emanated from the young-looking woman. "Do you think that your height is intimidating? Taiga is not scared of you¡ªZhao is a good example that small is terrible." "Oi, stop that." Hua Zhao tried to intervene, red-faced. "You''re supposed to be guarding him and not fighting with them." "Fighting?" Taiga tilted her head, "Do you think this is fighting already?" Shen An Na sighed and rubbed her face, "Taiga¡­" The woman didn''t exactly have tiger-like ears, but one could almost see a faint outline of it drooping. "Taiga is only pointing out that this man is giving strange looks, it''s creepy. Like enshrouding of spiritual senses¡­ but he''s not using it. I don''t like it at all." "She can feel the System''s evaluation and take note of bamboo scent, huh?" the Panda raised a brow. "I haven''t touched that thing for a while now." Li Yang shook his head and glanced at the woman, " I have no interest in that¡ªrather I wish to see you fight something else if possible." His words were enough to stir something from the air and gained looks from the people with them. "I wish to assess how far your capabilities really are, a demonstration if you will." A chance for him to see some kind of opponent too, if possible. "So you want Taiga to fight you?" "No. I want to see you fight what usually troubles the city, to see if I am truly paying for what you are worth." He said with a light smile. "Based on my estimation, you are almost comparable or equal to other individuals who shell out at least a half million dollars for their security, at least I hope that is the case." The CEO had little expenses contrary to what one might expect from this¡ªthis couldn''t exactly be deducted from the company''s own security budget. He had to make do with his own finances. He didn''t mention that the payment was based on an hourly rate. Taiga blinked. "Only half a million? That''s not a lot, is it? Taiga is worth topnotch¡ªanything these boys can do, I can do better." She frowned and looked around, "Do you have another dark dragon spirit lying around in some unsuspecting human host body, Zhao?" "No." Hua Zhao flatly said. "At the most¡­ you can fight a Jiang Shi or Shades right now." He sighed and threw a look at Li Yang, "Ack, someone really wants to go out and get some action, don''t they?" "You have understood my intentions well enough." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Based on a Business Insider Article last 2020, the most expensive costs for private security goes to Mark Zuckerberg at $23 million dollars, including his family. Elon Musk expenses? Unknown. Wasn''t able to fit some action, but I''ll make sure to fit it in tomorrow. Periods are a hell of their own x.x and yes, I am subjecting you to this info. Does it affect quality? Maybe. Chapter 85: The Shadows In Ones World When Li Yang and the others reached the rooftop of Shen Society''s building, it gave them the view of the Market District of Shanghai, all of the sprawling structures and interloping sections that met with one another. The night was young, and so he and the others were overlooking the sight of numerous vehicles and people traversing the roads. Mou Gu planted his staff into the roof with a thump. The bustling streets of Shanghai disappeared before his eyes¡ªand were replaced with the bleak emptiness of the road. Now the same buildings are still present and even lit up with the artificial lights that it held, but the overcast skies were a deep entrenching black and without even a glimmer of a star in sight. It was slightly disturbing when he had visited the black market, but somehow the denseness of a certain thing made him uneasy. He didn''t say a word though and focused on possible enemies until he heard a voice. "Ah... what is this?" Ying Yue He wavered beside him. She stuck closer to him than anyone else and was close enough that her fingers brushed with the edge of his suit coat. "Where is everyone?" The CEO would have agreed that the streets were empty, but there was something. It hadn''t caught his eyes at first, the wisps of smoke that gathered and converged throughout the paths. Some were gray, others dark like the night and yet there were also shades of white mixed in it and there was a certain presence in them. While originally appearing as clouds of blackened fog or dust¡ª Li Yang glanced at his hands and noticed the ephemeral glow surrounding his body. It was much realer and vivid. A certain saturation that only increased as he clenched his fist, "Qi. Those things below us are wrought by stray qi, is it not?" "Ah, you could tell?" Mou Gu said. There was a mild hint of surprise in his voice. "The world has different kinds of qi, and even then there are those who combine together and create strange things... especially in cities like this." Taiga spoke now, sounding less high-pitched and somewhat serious for once. "The Shou Temple Sect watches its land and ensures such things do not occur, but in a sprawling city like this? Nearly impossible. Negative emotions and the stray evil qi gather and form into what one might call as a shade?" She looked at Hua Zhao and others who gave a nod of confirmation. Encouraged, she continued on with the cadence of both youth and age. Of someone who had lived long, but still shortly after all this time. "Each spark or flood of emotion might not seem much, like how one can jump in happiness or feel the spur of rage, but you can see now that it collects over time. However, Taiga and the others have to deal with it¡ªlike now." Li Yang blinked, "Now?" In that moment, she sped off the rooftop and then threw herself across the four-story building without even a hint of danger. An aura of orange enshrouded her, and with a spin in the air¡ªshe struck what seemed like smoke, but was actually solid. The shades. Lingering and smaller shadowy creatures dispersed when she arrived. Taiga''s heel struck against an amalgamation of shadows and viscous liquid that stabbed towards her like a needle. But the sooner it did that was when she ripped through tendril that sought to ensnare her and cut it off from the body. The tendril then scattered that particular strand into bits and pieces of smoke that dispersed into the air. The world was silent, eerily quiet, but a certain shout emanated from whatever mouth it had and it pierced his soul, it made his body involuntarily shudder. The CEO quickly came to assess it and gritted his teeth. He covered his ears for a moment. [ Evil Qi - Despair Form ] An amalgamation wrought from the negative emotions and qi surfacing from the city into spiritual form. A dark blob-like creature with tangibility resembling thick slime that reforms itself quickly¡ªit is an ever present form in large cities that feed and prey on emotions. It continually grows stronger and affects the physical and mortal world when it reaches a certain size. One tendril down. But the main body remained and several tendrils whiplashed across the road, far larger than any kind of tree or bus. It shattered through the buildings and tore them down. One enormous tendril flew in a flash towards the rooftop¡ªuntil a golden barrier formed around them and took the blow. The barrier shook, but it did not shatter. "We wouldn''t have gone out if it would endanger the client, but see for yourself how Miss Taiga does." Shen An Na spoke to him from the left, peering slightly through the building. The monstrous creature dwarfed the size of Taiga so much that it was almost difficult to spot her, and yet she moved fast throughout the attacks of the creature and traded blows with it. Where her arms and fists struck¡ªa tendril was torn or chucked off from the main body. Her aura stayed prevalent all throughout and didn''t flicker once. In the darkness of the night, save for the gaudy neon lights and remaining streetlights that glowed even here, the tigress spirit fought alone. What was surely a weight that could topple buildings and tear them off from foundations became struck down by her. The woman never so much as missing a footing or a single beat in the exchange between monster and creature like a dance. Li Yang frowned slightly, gaining his bearings once more, "This thing is... regenerating." "Of course it does, a cultivator''s work is never done." Mou Gu said. "And that of other protectors." Hua Zhao added. But Li Yang''s eyes returned to the woman¡ªand watched her disappear in a blink of an eye. Was she gone¡ªno, a large gaping hole tore through the main body and Taiga reappeared on the other side, clutching something dark and circular in her hands. She crushed it with one blow, and the amalgamation scattered into dust. "She broke the creature''s core." he said and narrowed his eyes. At least that was what the System told him and soon received murmurs of agreement. His eyes still lingered on the dust that flew through the air like dark pollen, and it filled him with some trepidation. "And yet the creature remains, doesn''t it?" "...those things cannot be completely rid of, unless you take away the negative qi that emanate from all of us." Shen An Na said and gave him a tired smile, "But that''s quite a pipe dream, and so the best that we do is to render it unable to affect our world and manifest there. Taiga is strong enough to have her physical form be with us despite her nature, but other creatures need more qi or strength to do so." And so was the reason for the separate but connected world they were in. But was it really separate? Li Yang would have normally focused and pondered on the question, but his gaze focused on Taiga bursting through lesser shadows in the roads. It was a good demonstration¡ªnothing that actually contained blood. He glanced back at his secretary, "Are you alright, Miss He?" She was pale but managed a smile, "Hah, I''m fine, boss. But ah¡­ this is what I''ll be doing?" "If you wish it," he said, but then he offered her a hand. "But I will not take it to heart if you desire to back out now. It is dangerous." The memory of the Panda''s words repeated itself in his mind. If his secretary wished it¡ªthen she could leave. Not only from this particular involvement, but even from him. Miss Ying Yue He could work elsewhere if she deemed it necessary. He wouldn''t begrudge it. A certain part of him wished that she would leave and not involve herself in this mess that would surely encompass his life¡ªand the other wished for her to stay. He said neither and kept his silence, unwilling to give in to such thoughts¡­ but she took his hand. A certain flushness in her face, "I already said that I''m going to repay you, Mister Li. I''m not the only one that shocked, right?" He chuckled, "I''m not sure if I look like it, but this has also shaken me." Her cheeks puffed for a moment. She was looking at him this time. Not looking away. "It''s hard to read your expression¡ªbut there''s this and then Miss Luo Ju Di, right, boss?" A certain look flickered in her eyes, but settled. "That''s too much for one man to handle, so you can rely on me to help you out, Mister Li." He blinked and thanked her. "... I''m surely deserving of a raise, yes?" Ying Yue He said. There was a small grin playing on her lips and a certain shine in her eyes. His lips quirked, and he nodded. He rubbed his chin. "That makes sense, actually. I''ll look into it and talk it over with the Human Resources department..." "Wha¡ªI wasn''t serious, but ah¡­" Ying Yue He scratched her cheek. Her cheeks were still warm, and she averted her gaze, "How can I turn that down?" She was honest like that. "Ugh, can the two of you get a room?" Mou Gu chimed into the conversation that somehow made everything fade in the background. His voice at least made the CEO realize that it wasn''t only the two of them together. Which was the same moment that Taiga reappeared back in the building, and landed back on the rooftop with a leap and waved a hand in greeting, "Taiga is back, what did you think, Mister Bossman? Didn''t Taiga do well and impressively?" Chapter 86: Some Things Not Meant To Be Raised The CEO looked at the tigress spirit and offered a nod and a light smile, "Yes, you did well. It is an impressive feat to behold, Miss Taiga." The least he could do was offer a compliment. Any kind of person knew that at least, especially when it was for a person under one''s employ, but there was also the consideration that this was a spirit with sharp claws. [ You Have Gained 5 Charisma Points! ] Taiga''s face brightened up, and she beamed, "Does it mean that you''ll be paying Taiga $1,000,000 a year?" Li Yang blinked, and the other people around him had their own mixed expressions. Hua Zhao coughed, Mou Gu chuckled, Shen An Na looked like she was about to hang her head in shame whilst Ying Yue He just looked begrudgingly impressed at the exuberant shamelessness. "Unfortunately not." he said. [ You Have Lost 5 Charisma Points ] "You stinky cheap man!" Taiga huffed and motioned to him, "You wear a nice suit but can''t pay Taiga well!" "Pfft¡­" Mou Gu wiped a tear, stifling his laughter. Hua Zhao looked just shocked enough to even muster any sort of expression. Shen An Na stepped towards him and spoke underneath her breath, a sheepish smile on her face. "She''s a little¡­" "Taiga promised to renovate the temple, hmph." The spirit said and crossed her arms over her chest. Despite her stature, she had a considerable size that showed her feminine nature¡ªbut she was busy complaining underneath her breath. "And we''re going to buy upgrades like television and¡­ whatever you guys have here." "Doesn''t really seem like a sect¡ª" the Panda suddenly floated above the air at the exact moment that Taiga dove in the spot it last was. Taiga sniffed the air and her eyes were narrowed into slits, "Something weird popped up, cursed? And now it''s gone." She swatted a hand over the spot where the Panda was and the CEO could have sworn that something was torn from such an action. "Crap, right, spiritual domain and all this¡ªnearly forgot about that." the Panda brushed a paw over its ear and shook its head. "Easy enough to still conceal my presence regardless whether it be this spirit or a higher cultivator. Pitiful fools." Li Yang only kept a blank face and wondered about the child who clearly saw the Panda. Whatever it used to detect the creature was truly of a different method than what the people around here used. "Nothing can''t enter this barrier formation, Taiga." Hua Zhao said with a frown. And yet he glanced around and perhaps tried to ascertain whatever it was that the tigress had seen. Mou Gu raised a brow and motioned at the woman. "Unless there are traces from what you fought?" "Taiga did it well, hmp! Unrespectful pink brat." She made a face at him. "How about you try facing off one of those things all by yourself?" "I could." "Then do it." "I don''t really have to prove anything though." Mou Gu smiled, "It''s much better to keep one''s strength under wraps, isn''t it?" Taiga stomped her foot, crumbling the cement underneath her foot. "Argh, I hate city folks." A small spat occurred between the two of them that was soon mitigated by Shen An Na¡ªby mere authority, and also because she was well-liked enough by both parties to let the trouble die down. It also didn''t take too long for them to brush off whatever it was that disturbed the tigress, if only because it was only Taiga who sensed it and his secretary didn''t say a thing. Li Yang was only relieved, knowing there would be more trouble than good if the Panda would be discovered. Soon enough, he would thank the Shen Society and depart from the building. Despite not being able to unlock an achievement tonight¡ªLi Yang would consider it a useful night. That was in regarding to the settling out of Ying Yue He''s situation and so he would call it a day after that and he would get her home. The situation was still somewhat precarious, and she needed to return to the Shen Society as she had zero knowledge whatsoever on cultivation. But that was for another day to tackle. This time around, he actually managed to get his secretary to her apartment. He had insisted on it. Albeit there was a certain individual that was also present in the back seat of their car. Taiga didn''t have anything on her except the clothes on her back, but she probably had a spatial storage and while Ying Yue He was silent if not having what seemed like a contemplative look. She was probably stuck on what happened tonight; it was that startling. Li Yang simply cleared his thoughts¡ªthere would be much more activities for another day. He still had to think of what to do to bring ''Taiga'' back to his apartment without alerting his brother, and he knew or at least hoped that the man would be back this time. It was the end of the day, or rather his schedule for cultivation. There were other necessities he still had to do when he arrived home, but for now he got out of his car and opened the door for his secretary. He would see her off the porch steps and bid her a goodnight. And right before he could leave¡ªshe gave him a kiss on the cheek. It was a soft brushing of her lips on his face that it might have just been a graze, and yet when he looked back, there was an embarrassed expression on her face. "Miss He?" Ying Yue He was red as a tomato. She waved a hand at him and continued to act flustered, "A-ah, it''s just a thank you for today, Mister Li¡­" Ying Yue He then gazed back on the ground until she looked up back at him with a determined look on her face. "You have a lot on your mind, haven''t you, boss? With all the things that happened today, and I even added to your burdens. Sorry about that." Li Yang gazed at her and felt a sense of guilt slightly ebb in him. It was an odd sensation. But he nodded, "Yes, that''s true¡ªI do have a lot of things that I need to worry about. But you don''t have to concern yourself too much or feel guilty for it. It is only right that I be responsible for what happened to you, I should have forbidden you from drinking the tea." "I shouldn''t have drunk it, Mister Li. You didn''t even have to say a thing." She hung her head slightly in shame. "It was cold and I just¡­ didn''t want to have it wasted." He raised a brow, but only nodded. "I understand." The CEO really didn''t, but it seemed to torture her that much. He then cleared his throat, "I must leave now, Miss He. Please do not forget about visiting the Shen Society tomorrow for further instructions now that you''re a cultivator in training." "Yes, boss!" She gave him a smile. He gave one last nod and then made his way back to the car until he stopped halfway and looked back. "Miss He¡ª" The door already swung to a close, and she had already left¡­ the CEO shook his head and then stepped back into the car. "Woah," that was all Taiga said. There was just plain amazement or curiosity¡ªshe didn''t even bother hiding that she was peeking through the window all throughout the conversation. Perhaps someone else might have gotten embarrassed over such a thing, but he personally didn''t care that she had seen them. But Li Yang only wished that he could have said more in regards to his secretary''s words and what lay underneath them. It was true that she felt guilty for ruining the tea, but she also seemed to have felt anxious over the kiss on the cheek. She didn''t mention it beyond explaining that it was a ''thank you'' kiss. Li Yang sighed and drove back home. He would have to take her word for it¡ªit was better to put trust in what she said than to contemplate on it any further, didn''t it? She had brushed it aside for a reason, and he wouldn''t push it any further. But this didn''t exactly change their plans for the weekend, does it? Li Yang had wanted to ask her about it, but she already left right before he could ask. The board meeting tomorrow, finally submitting the full DNA samples once he got his brother''s tonight and then the concert the day after. He considered them important things¡­ but somehow, it still felt like his attention was very divided. Which one truly deserved the most of his attention for? "Hey, bossman? Do you have food back at home?" Taiga poked her head out in between the space of the shotgun and driver''s seat. Large round eyes fixated on him. She had settled on a nickname at him, and Shen An Na couldn''t even ask her to switch. The CEO glanced momentarily at her and then returned to the road, "Are you not supposed to be some spirit, Miss Taiga?" "Yeah, but Taiga also has a physical body too¡ªfeed me." She waved an arm at him and showed off her slender arm. He hadn''t paid much notice before since he was entirely focused on Ying Yue He''s situation, but the spirit was wearing what looked like a cross between a kung-fu students uniform and a tang suit, the sleeves just ending a little over her shoulders. It looked comfortable over all. "Ooh, you''re looking at Taiga now¡ªvery pretty, yes." She gave him a grin, "But these fangs are not simply for show, I once bit off a man''s nose off." "... that puts my mind at ease. You can fight with more than just your fists." Li Yang shook his head and continued on back home. "Of course! That''s why Taiga deserves a ''raise'' too." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Ah yes, Ying Yue He feeling like she shouldn''t add her own feelings to her boss'' burden is a realistic thing, if you ask me. Sometimes you hold back your feelings to not make it bother another person or ruin the current relationship. Don''t just say that I''m prolonging the torture xD but also yes Chapter 87: The Things He Cannot Control Warning: The CEO''s brother might test your temper once again. If you want to skip, I guess you can. Once he returned home, Li Yang would take note that there were lights inside of the place and revealed the presence of his brother. He glanced back at the somewhat sullen Bodyguard and asked, "Are you able to sneak past when I enter the door or are you capable of turning invisible?" "Yes, to the first one¡­ not so much on the second one?" Taiga tilted her head. "Can one use qi to even turn invisible? I''m not so sure." It was the moment that the Panda reappeared out of thin air and jabbed a paw at it, "Obviously, dum dum. She''s a good-for-nothing meat shield, but also a decent fuck, maybe." Li Yang hadn''t exactly asked for such information¡ªand neither did he understand how the creature assessed it. He simply glanced at the tigress spirit and waited for her to give a solution. "Taiga can traverse via the Veil too to bypass all of this though," Taiga said. "Like what most cultivators and people do to keep things secret. Very sneaky, eh?" He understood through experience that whatever happened in the realm that mirrored earth didn''t exactly follow through back to earth, and so he nodded along. "Alright, I''ll leave it up to you." Li Yang stepped out of the car, and gave her one final look. "In addition, your first task tonight is to keep surveillance. You don''t have to step inside of my room or anything but keep watch of the house." He somewhat hated the fact that he felt compelled to say it. Taiga only gave him a cheeky grin, "Yes, Bossman. That isn''t included in the list of tasks assigned to Taiga after all." "Of course." Perhaps it might have been appropriate to have given her to Ying Yue He as a bodyguard to watch over his secretary, but Shen An Na assured him that his secretary was in a well-protected zone in the city. Hua Zhao agreed along with Mou Gu, both speaking about how that particular apartment was in a good zone. The CEO hadn''t actually checked why. All he saw back then was a slightly old apartment. He sighed and glanced at his watch. It was a little past 9:30pm, and he had gotten home earlier by about an hour¡ªhe then stepped inside his home and soon heard a thud come from the living room. His face twitched. And there might have been reason to get nervous about such a thing if he was still living alone¡­ but he wasn''t alone. He even had a bodyguard. The CEO stepped into the living room and didn''t exactly come upon a debauchery. His brother was resting against the floor whereas his ''friend''¡ªthe woman from the coffee shop was lounging on the sofa. There was a blanket thrown around her body, albeit her toes were poking out. She was wearing soft white stockings and wriggled her toes. She gave him a smile and a wave, "Ah, Liang''s brother¡­ Yang. Sounds so similar, I take it that you found Luo Ju Di, yes?" He stared at her and then remembered her name, "Yes, thank you¡­ Madam Sauveterre." She and his brother were obviously an item. His brother had never exactly brought a person back before. He didn''t have a clue that Liang was into mature and older women. "Gabrielle is fine, even Gabi actually." Her red lips curled into a smile, and her eyes sparked. "And if I may be too forward, Mistress also sounds nice." Liang pulled up from the floor and rested his head on the back of the sofa, "Aren''t I supposed to be the only one that should be calling you that?" There was only a hint of a whine in his brother''s voice¡­ which contrasted greatly with his playboy image in the CEO''s mind. He cleared his throat and said, "... I would leave the two of you be, Madam Gabrielle, but I have to talk with my brother." He wasn''t exactly sure how she would react if she heard that his brother might possibly be a father. He would have to talk to Liang outside¡ª "Ah, the DNA testing, yes." Gabrielle eyed the man resting his head against her blanketed legs and shook her head. "What an interesting situation is it not? Which of the two of you could be a father?" His brother choked a bit on thin air. Albeit he didn''t even seem surprised either, just embarrassed? The CEO only stared at the woman and his brother with an uncertain look, "... The two of you are aware then." "Luo Ju Di told me right after you left," Liang admitted. He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about all the mess that you got dragged into¡ªcan''t imagine either of us being a father. Imagine that, huh? Didn''t think that party would have gotten us to this." There was some sincerity to his voice, but it was hard to take it seriously when he had another woman with him. "Well, that is the fruit of the folly days of youth, but who knows¡­ you might be a good father, Liang?" Gabrielle glanced at him and then tugged his hair. "At least if you stopped flirting with every woman you meet when you''re free." "I also meet with prospective clients¡ª! Do tug it a bit harder though, it feels nice." Liang said and closed his eyes. He hummed, "If I''m a¡­ father, does that make you a stepmother though?" "Hah, I think that girl might take me for an evil one¡­ but at worst, I''ll just be the fairy godmother again, won''t I?" Her fingers twirled slightly in his hair. The CEO stared at the two and felt a hint of annoyance sweep through him, "Then I''ll take it that you''ll give a sample then, Liang?" He had been worried about his brother being reluctant or even antagonistic of this situation, and here he was, the exact opposite. Completely open to the idea. "Yes, I''m actually willing to take the fall for this even if I''m not the father¡ªit''s easy enough to have me declared as a father since you''re the one who knows the lab, right?" Liang opened an eye and looked at him. "Something like this would tarnish your reputation, Yang." The idea of Chunhua being this man''s daughter struck him as a little more disappointing than anything. His brother spoke of the incident between him and Luo Ju Di so easily as well. It vexed him. "Do you even know what you''re saying right now?" His brother straightened up and gave him a look, "What are you upset over for? Either way, we''re probably both related to the girl, so what difference would it make if you or I were the father or uncle?" A part of him wanted to agree with that assessment¡ªthat regardless of whoever it was that was the true father, he himself wouldn''t mind and simply fulfill the responsibilities. Even if he was the uncle¡ªthe CEO was positive he could do a better job than the man right in front of him now. And yet, if he could avoid the responsibilities¡­ wouldn''t it be better to do so? The memory of Chunhua with Liang and Gabrielle replayed in his mind, and it was a picture of what probably looked like a happy family. This battled with his own perception of his brother''s lack of care. Perhaps it was just his own dislike of his brother''s method of things. He sighed. But before Li Yang could muster a reply¡ªhis brother received a smack on the head. Gabrielle gave a look at his brother and grunted, "Obviously it''s going to matter who''s the father. There''s still some difference in treatment between a child and a nephew or niece." "There is even variation of treatment even between one''s own children if I were to be honest." The CEO found himself saying. It earned a look from his brother and a shrug from the woman they were with. "An only child here so can''t tell." His brother scratched the back of his head. "Alright, alright¡ªI guess I was mistaken about that. But the Li Family''s numerous generations have been quite good with neglecting children, so it isn''t really much of a problem." The room only filled with silence. "That was a joke¡ªI wasn''t serious!" Liang protested and sighed. "But yes, DNA test, I got it, Yang. You can go ahead and rest now, you''ve been standing there and haven''t even changed your clothes at all." "So I won''t disturb the two of you." "Exactly. I knew you could read my mind!" The CEO gave off a resigned look, but then recalled something. "The board meeting''s tomorrow so I expect you to be there and on your best behavior. Do read the document that I''ve sent you." "Ah, I can''t catch a break, can I?" Liang ran his fingers through his hair. He mustered a grin. "All instructions are loud and clear, though Mister CEO. Don''t worry about a thing, you can count on me. I''ll be supporting you tomorrow so you can be at ease." The CEO wished he could say that he could, but instead he stiffly nodded and then made his way out of the living room to head to his bedroom. Until he remembered another thing that slipped his mind¡ªhe couldn''t just leave his bodyguard to stay out all by herself, could she? He should at least open a window so she could slip inside. Perhaps someone of her stature didn''t need to be indoors throughout an entire night or possibly had no use for sleep, but he would feel guilty if he didn''t provide an option for her to head inside if she wished to do so. Taiga had even asked about snacks. Li Yang headed to the kitchen to prepare her something to eat. Or at least find something for her to have like an apple¡­ it was always far easier to focus on something outside of him than dealing with things he couldn''t control. "Would she prefer to eat meat?" "Your meat, you mean?" the Panda asked. It popped out of nowhere and sat on his head, only peeking upside down like some spider Panda or a bat. He gave it an unamused look, "No." Chapter 88: The Tiger and Tea Sommelier (Taiga POV) Note: Taiga and Bo Lifen interaction chapter. I guess you can skip this if you only like CEO POVs When Taiga stepped out of the car and onto the porch, she zipped toward the trees and then rested against the highest branch. She could sense if a dangerous entity would come along, her senses were sharp, but this might just be an easy paying job. It was true that outside of Shanghai, the jurisdiction of Shen Society was no longer present¡ªbut in suburban places like this, it was a lot more peaceful. There were stray shadows of negative qi that rolled along the streets, but it wasn''t enough to achieve a harmful form and actively cause mayhem. She leapt up and still crushed it, though. Her fiery aura pierced through the shadows and reduced it to ashes that soon disintegrated in front of her. She blew the rest away and smiled contently. Taiga could get antsy when she wasn''t able to move around a lot, so this was an excellent exercise. Taiga soon returned to the tree, almost like a cat that her weaker relatives sometimes were. She hummed to herself, "Better to clean up the mess before it becomes bigger. Something, something, now blow the trigger." And so would begin her stay on top of the tree and her duty of guarding the house. She kept an eye on it. Like most cultivators who had reached a certain level in their cultivation, and with her nature of a spirit¡ªthe need for meals, hydration and even sleep was greatly diminished. Absorbing qi, the energy of the heavens and earth were a wonderful substance. She still liked to eat though because she wanted to. Some cultivators might have believed and think qi was palatable, and somehow, one''s cultivation method did have some effect as to how qi absorbed into the body¡­ but nothing was as indulgent as food and other things. "Hah¡­" She clutched her face, dangling her legs in the air. "I won''t get past another stage if I keep doing this." She then rested her back against the bark of the tree. A pout formed on her lips. "Going against heaven''s will is hard when they innately make it easy to get caught up in a lot of good things. What an unfair life. They shouldn''t be putting up a sign of ''don''t eat this'' because it''d make someone even more likely to eat the fruit." Her mind wandered to the legendary peaches of Mother West. Well, it didn''t matter that much¡ªfor now, Taiga would keep watch and worry about existential purposes some other time. It didn''t take too long when a certain visitor would come along, and it was a woman. The woman had a thermos in her hand and to Taiga she seemed familiar and there was a certain aura about her¡­although she wasn''t exactly a cultivator. Taiga jumped in front and blocked her path, "No one allowed to visit Bossman." Well, the man didn''t say that¡ªbut he didn''t discuss it either, so she took matters into her own hands. The woman immediately took on a swordsman''s stance¡ªthen probably realized she didn''t have a weapon except for the thermos and shifted to a martial artist''s stance, but narrowed her eyes at Taiga. "Who are you? And by Bossman¡­ do you mean, Li Yang?" "Taiga is Taiga." She smiled and took note that nobody else was around to launch an assault whilst distracting her with this grunt. "Who are you?" The woman looked at her up and down, "You''re from the Shou Temple Sect¡ªwhat are you doing here?" "Taiga asked a question first." "I don''t have to respond to it if I don''t want to." She pointed out to Taiga with a calm voice. Her eyes flickered behind the spirit''s shoulder and stepped to the right, "I am your ''boss man''s'' acquaintance, that is all that you need to know. If you won''t let me through, then bring him here." The Tigress Spirit pouted and matched the other''s movements, "Well, if you don''t answer¡ªI guess I''ll just have to eliminate you. But even if you tell me your name, I''ll still probably do it." She eyed the third-rate woman in front of her and fought the urge to scoff. While it was true that this woman was taller and even had a commendable figure, she wasn''t actually a cultivator and just someone in peak human condition. There were many people like her who trained and achieved an optimum state, but never actually delving into cultivation. Everybody had their own direction and path to what was a good life. However, Taiga still judged someone based on their strength and feats. Or ability to pay her like in the case of the CEO. The woman raised her chin and eyed her, "I am Bo Lifen, from the Bo Family¡ªso step aside before I report you to your Sect''s Elders. Allowing a loose cannon like you here and doing this¡­ it seems to me that you are claiming to be guarding over a man? It is questionable when most of your kind are supposed to be in your territory. It''s much more likely that you''d do harm than good." Taiga had the urge to slap the woman and send her possibly hundred feet into one of the other buildings in this area, but she promised Shen An Na and others not to be destructive. Whatever the case, she really didn''t like the term ''cannon''. It didn''t seem like a kind thing to say and she was far from being ''loose'' at all! And yet she recognized the family, or rather the clan name. Bo Clan was the Tea Clan that served the country, cultivators and spirits for the last thousand of years, with some rumors even spiraling that they have served gods in the past. This was a clan that even predated her own existence. It was also a clan that had close ties with the feared Hua warrior clan. The spirit snapped her fingers and grinned, "I know Bo Lei¡ªis he a relative of yours? He''s a nice kid studying at the sect." The problem with being a lone spirit like her was when facing influential people. If one attacked a member of a clan, then the entire relatives would get involved and she had already had enough experience with Young Mistresses and their servants. Not to mention that this woman was already threatening her with the connections she had to her adoptive sect''s elders. It was a low blow for Taiga. "He''s my younger brother." "A far cry from you then." She giggled and surely earned more ire from the woman¡ªwell, it didn''t matter to Taiga. She could respect this woman''s younger brother and even thought he was cute, but not this woman. Taiga was someone who couldn''t care less for a woman who hid behind the clan''s influence instead of using their personal strength. The expression on Bo Lifen''s face was unamused. Taiga pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. "So what do you need to meet, Bossman for? Is it because of the thermos that you have in your hand, Tea Temptress?" There was a faint and delicious fragrance emanating from the thermos. She sniffed lightly. "What did you call me?" One of Bo Lifen''s eye twitched. She eyed Taiga up and down, perhaps trying to emphasize their height difference. "I have heard better names from a child trying to mock me. Was that supposed to be funny?" "No?" Taiga shrugged. "But what if you have some kind of poison in that thermos of yours? Maybe a love potion? Some kind of addictive drug lacing that tea? Taiga here has to check it first before you can even think of stepping closer to Bossman and giving that to him." She held her hand out, "Open the bottle and let Taiga drink it first, just a tiny sip, then Taiga will let you through." Bo Lifen let out a snort and placed the thermos behind her. "You can do away with the third-person reference to yourself, it doesn''t make you sound cute or young at all. Has anyone ever told you that? Act your age, old hag. You''re older than my great-grandmother." Taiga blinked. A smile broke out on her face and she tilted her head, "If you know that much¡ªthen why won''t you act a little more respectful? You''re being a little bitch right now." "You earn respect first before you get it." "Why you¡ª" Taiga growled but held herself back. She huffed and looked up at the woman. "I have no desire to attack someone who''s weaker than me. That''s just a pity." Bo Lifen raised a brow. "Choosing to attack someone because you can''t give a good rebuttal is a sign that you can''t use your¡­ nevermind. I''m not doing this with you." "Use my what?" Taiga frowned. "Finish your sentence." Bo Lifen took a deep breath and then took off the cap of her thermos. She took a sip and gulped it down, staring right into her eyes. "It''s safe and has none of the nonsense effects that you are speaking of. I guess it''s not really a surprise that someone like you would read children''s books and imagining love potions and whatnot." Taiga fumed and stabbed a finger close to Bo Lifen''s chest, "They have pictures and films! You just don''t know how to appreciate it because you were born in this age and with all the pre-existing gadgets available. I lived my first fifty years without being able to speak or even read!" "Now I almost feel bad for arguing with someone with the mentality of a child." "What''s so wrong with being a kid?" Taiga narrowed her eyes. "At least I''m not boring and stiff like you." Chapter 89: The Second Time Around— Li Yang was on the finishing steps of his food preparation. He didn''t have much opportunity to cook at home and refused to have hired help, but he knew how to manage himself. The ingredients he used were those he knew that were good. He had ordered them online too, and it was delivered to his office. It was the personal perks he ensured of owning an e-commerce business. Now the fragrant and melted cheese oozed slightly through the thin crust of the pan-seared bread dolloped with a generous amount of butter. He arranged it carefully on a clean white plate and then went to the fridge for a fresh cold glass of milk. Li Yang wasn''t a streamer, albeit one could argue that he was one now, but he at least knew a vast majority of the people also enjoyed food streams. The Panda suddenly appeared in front of him. It was a fur of excitement and waved its paws wildly in the air, and it had a gleaming look in its eyes. "Drop everything you''re doing now¡ªwe got a cat fight going on and you gotta see it!" "What?" Li Yang wasn''t sure if he had heard it correctly. "Outside your house¡ªI saw it while I ignored you doing "cooking" here." Wouldn''t most of the viewers enjoy him doing something? He raised a brow. "What''s so wrong with cooking?" "First of all, a grilled cheese sandwich? Second¡ªget out before that Bo Lifen''s pretty face gets scarred, will you? And yes, I''m biased now, shoo." The Panda darted towards him and struck his head with its behind and urged him to move. Li Yang didn''t wait for another second and ran out of his house to come upon the sight of the two women nearly in each other''s faces. Now it wasn''t like they were going to tear each other''s throats down, but it wasn''t friendly either. The two of them pulled away the moment he arrived. He frowned slightly and greeted them. "Good evening." "Li Yang." "Bossman!" Contrary to the Panda''s words and possible expectations, Taiga hadn''t permanently scarred the woman for life. And neither did Bo Lifen look so upset¡­ well, the two seemed a tad upset. But it was nothing as physically dangerous as the Panda claimed. Albeit he had more reason to believe that the two women were able to handle their temper better than to believe a creature''s attempt to rack up interest, didn''t he? "What the¡­ did they resolve it while I was gone? She called her a bitch and then something about respect!" The Panda motioned vaguely in the air and was gawking. "I swear that a fight should have broken out instead of them resolving their differences through a conversation like normal and sane adults do¡ªwhich neither are!" The CEO ignored the spout and glanced at his bodyguard. "It''s a little late, but I prepared a sandwich and a glass of milk for you, Taiga. If you can enter the house without getting seen, it''s in the kitchen and you can help yourself." [ You Have Gained 100 Charm Points ] "You''re the best, Bossman!" Taiga was out in a flash¡ªlike a bolt of lightning that headed out to his house without an ounce of worry on the repercussions of the speed. Li Yang could only wonder if feeding the girl would get him a good stream of points on a regular basis? But he moved on to the next matter on hand, that was Bo Lifen. He glanced at the woman and took note of her appearance. Similar to last night, she only wore a shirt and shorts on. The memory was enough to make his lips twitch, but then he focused on her face instead of staring at her, "I''m not sure what you are here for, Miss Lifen?" "... Granny Lanfen told me to bring you tea again. That''s all." She jerked the thermos forward into his hands. Li Yang accepted it, "Ah, thank you¡ªI still haven''t thought of what to get to her as gratitude for looking after me. This kind of tea is no doubt expensive, isn''t it?" A tea that could potentially lengthen one''s lifespan was a precious thing. "You mentioned that it was made from pearls?" "I got the pearls from a friend of mine, he was able to procure it and gave it to me at a good price." Bo Lifen had a tad uncomfortable look on her face. He nodded, "I see, perhaps you can introduce me to him?" "Why?" Bo Lifen placed a hand on her hip, "Do you not like it when a woman has guy friends? We''re not together or anything for you to¡ª" Li Yang waved a hand at her, "No. I''m not thinking about that, I''m aware that what happened between us is a one-time thing. You can be friends with whoever you like. I am interested in purchasing these pearls from your friend though." Her face suddenly burned. Even with the flickering light of the streetlamp, he caught her face growing at a red shade. In order to make her not feel that embarrassed, he chose to pretend not to see it. The woman was almost always high-strung when they met. Li Yang wanted to ask if she had seen a therapist¡ªbut that would aggravate things further. "You know I... I can keep brewing them for you." Bo Lifen crossed her arms over her chest. She didn''t meet his eyes. "That''s what I do best, tea brewing." Li Yang appreciated the offer and wanted to take it, but he also knew of her circumstances. "That would be too much for you, especially when I understand that you''re simply here to rest. I do not wish to impose on you or make you promise something that''s difficult to compete." There was something he also had in mind, something he had an inkling about, but he made no mention of it. She raised her head and met his gaze, "You could get it from the Heavenly Jade Pavilion, it''s not too far off from the company you work at. I can actually just have one of my people to deliver it to you." Now that was a good offer. He doubted an incident like Ying Yue He''s tea mishap could happen again, but then again, his secretary would also enjoy Black Pearl Tea too, wouldn''t she? He smiled but shook his head, "I do not wish to occupy too much of your time by having you do that." "Well¡ªyou''ll still be paying me, right? You''ll pay for the convenience of having it delivered for immediate consumption versus preparing it yourself." Li Yang blinked but nodded, "Of course, I suppose this is simply you not connecting me to your supplier, is it not?" Similar to her, he had almost forgotten that there were other things at stake besides simply their relationship with one another. Bo Lifen''s lips curled lightly, "Well, you''re not the only one who is business minded, Mister CEO. If I see a demand¡ªwho wouldn''t cater to it?" "Even if I''m only buying for a personal supply?" "Well, I did say you can get it from me." She pursed her lips at him. "And wouldn''t that be a good offer for a busy man like you?" "You drive a hard bargain, Miss Lifen." He chuckled. "I am also interested in buying a good number of pearls for your great grandmother too. But more than that, I am also interested in meeting your supplier." Her eyes narrowed at him, "So you are going to sell the pearls, aren''t you?" "I think having good connections is valuable in this world." He didn''t exactly answer the question, but it wasn''t what he had in mind when she mentioned about a pearl supplier. "Not a lot of things you can do alone." "... that''s almost strange hearing it from you." "Is it?" He raised a brow. "Well, I suppose it makes sense in your position to delegate tasks because that''s what I do too¡­ but I assumed you''d be someone who says something like ''I work alone'' or other variants." Li Yang tilted his head. "I can also understand that. But I''m not exactly Bruce Wayne." "Huh¡­?" Bo Lifen''s eyes widened. A snort then escaped her lips, and she pressed a hand to her mouth. "Did you really just say that aloud and with a straight face?" The sight of the woman breaking into a giggle was enough to make him lose his composure for a moment. "Did I say anything wrong?" She waved an arm at him and stifled a laugh, "No¡ªit''s just cute. Didn''t think you''d say that." Li Yang felt a small wave of embarrassment course through him. He lifted a hand to his face and sighed. "I don''t exactly see how this is cute for you, I think it''s quite natural to be aware of that animated series and the comics." "I guess?" Her laughter quieted down, and she had a more rosy glow on her face. "I just didn''t think that you would know about it, but I guess even you were a boy once." "Mhmm, I think we all experienced childhood before." He said with a light smile. It was a silly remark. Li Yang didn''t think she would have such a side like this to her either¡­ but then she had a brother too, didn''t she? Brothers, in fact. "Do you know about this through your brothers?" "Yes. But I''ve watched it even before them¡­ though ah, I think I should get going now. It''s a little late now, isn''t it?" The two of them had indeed talked far more than what was necessary for a quick conversation. Li Yang held the thermos in his hand and nodded, "Thank you for delivering this, Miss Lifen. Do you want me to walk you home?" She blinked for a second and fumed slightly, "Weren''t you the one who said it was a one-time¡ªyou''re just being hopelessly considerate again now, aren''t you?" Li Yang finally understood what he accidentally implied and scratched his cheek, "Frankly, yes. It didn''t cross my mind at all, my apologies if it sounded like that." Bo Lifen stared at him for a good minute, before she finally said. "... What if I tell you that I wouldn''t exactly mind going for this more than once?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Batman reference! Oh, and yes, Bo Lifen is coming on to our CEO again. Chapter 90: Training A House Cat? (Bo Lifen + CEO) "... What if I tell you that I wouldn''t exactly mind going for this more than once?" Bo Lifen averted her gaze from his and wished that she didn''t have said it herself. Her teeth grazed slightly on her lip as she awaited him to refuse her. It was a vulnerable moment she hoped wouldn''t backfire even if he said no. "I don''t mind it either." She looked back at him in surprise, working her jaw for a moment. "You just agreed to it instantly¡­ I''m not sure if I expected this or not." What exactly went through his mind right now? The man in front of her somehow had a wicked poker face when he wanted to. She glared at him. "It seems like almost all men are the same, aren''t they? You refused me first, but now you''re also interested." Her remarks didn''t elicit any reaction or visible change to his face. Maybe he wasn''t just thinking so you couldn''t read his expression? She honestly didn''t know what it was with him that made her consider him attractive, and now she was unsure if she was happy or just confused. Even when she was the one who asked in the first place¡­ A small chuckle escaped from him, "Well, perhaps it as you said¡ªmost men wouldn''t be able to refuse a chance to be with a woman like you. At least it''s mutual between the two of us. Do you not agree, Miss Lifen?" There was truth in the fact that he said ''most'' and she assumed that he would be one of the few that would ignore it¡­ and yet she also wanted this? Her ears burned hotly, and she rubbed her face, "I''m going home now, goodnight." She needed to put her wits together first before she handled this situation with him. Before he could make a remark about getting her home or anything like that¡ªshe ran away. Perhaps this was a win for him tonight, but tomorrow would definitely be different! She threw one last look in his direction and shouted, "I''ll contact you tomorrow about the pearl supplier¡ªor something." [ Achievement Unlocked! ] [ Make Her Head Spin - I ] Interact with a woman and make her extremely confused and flustered around you that she''s not sure where up and down is or have mind-blowing sex that she can''t think straight after the deed is done! [ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ] Li Yang watched Bo Lifen disappear into the distance, heading for a beeline towards her great-grandmother''s house. He didn''t think that this would happen, but it was a fortunate event. He rubbed his chin, "I don''t even remember reading this achievement when I checked the page." "...Are you proud that you''re able to make a woman like her become so confused that she had to run away?" The Panda hovered above his shoulder. "Because if you are¡ªI''m both disgusted and impressed. Would have assumed that you''d get this with Ying Yue He and not her." He scratched the back of his head and headed back to his house. "It wasn''t my intention to confuse her, I simply said yes to her offer. It would be a great chance to collect Yin Qi again and perhaps finish the requirements given by the System." What would he get when he collected the necessary amount? The CEO expected some reward for doing so. "Don''t give me that bull crap excuse again¡ªshe was hot for you, isn''t that right? Even when she''s not a target by the System." the Panda rolled its eyes. It crossed its grubby arms. "You didn''t want to strip for the heavens, but you made out with her yesterday. Go figures you''d do something like that to annoy the heavens, but damn folks are¡­ argh." It was too frustrated to even say a word or had decided that it was far too much for him to hear. Either way, it was an opportunity for him to gather clues about the world that was far above him. Information he would store away for the future. "I think it''s a little different from what you''re trying to imply." Li Yang stepped into the house and was glad he couldn''t smell any weird pungent of sex right now¡ªa telltale sign if his brother and the older woman were doing it in the living room. He instead walked towards the kitchen and finally said."The difference between the two is desire as you said, one is forced and the other simply came to be. At least, I think I would not suffer myself in such a situation that''s close to selling my body." "You humans are always so confusing." "I suppose it is difficult for a Panda to comprehend," he said and didn''t meet its eyes. He bit back a smile and waited for the inevitable. The creature fumed, "For the last time, will you get it through your thick headed skull that I''m not a Panda? You are so infuriating when you want to be¡ªwoah, nice peach. It''s plump." The two of them would come across a certain sight in the kitchen, the fridge was open and a good portion of its contents were raided. Taiga was bent over and perusing the fridge, her butt sticking out. "If that''s not a sign, I don''t know what is? Eh?" The Panda glanced at Li Yang. "What do you think? I say you slap it and get it down in the kitchen." Li Yang wondered if it really was a devil incarnated into a plush and unharmful Panda form. Either way¡ªits temptation tactics were by far a jostle for him to do something interesting. Give the Celestial Heavens a show for them to enjoy with no concern for his own perception. Perhaps to give in to baser needs. He would do none of that. Especially to a person he had barely met. "... Miss Taiga, did you not like the sandwich and milk?" He cleared his throat and glanced around the kitchen and finally saw the empty plate and glass at the dishwasher. The CEO soon watched her pull back and reveal a white frosted face. She had a lot of whipped cream on her cheeks. "Someone definitely tastes sweet, huh?" the Panda waved a paw and motioned to her. "Taiga found a cake in there! It was delicious." She licked her hand and gave him a toothy smile. "Thanks for the sandwich though, it was slightly burnt, but it was still good." "You can''t even make a proper grilled sandwich?!" The Panda pointed a paw at him and laughed. Before its face turned serious and accusing. "And why did you not tell me that you had cake in here?" It occurred to the CEO that he had over one mouth to feed¡ªfor people that didn''t even need to eat to live. He could only rub his forehead for a moment until he said, "I can''t even quite remember having a cake in the fridge. Please do not make a mess in the bathroom in any case if your stomach hurts." He then went for his shelves and took out a box of tissue. He offered it to her. "You can have this or wash your face in the sink." Taiga huffed and accepted the tissue. She began wiping her cheeks. "You''re no fun at all." "I''ve already heard that far more often than you think." He placed the box on the table and then glanced at her, "However, the scenario is still the same¡­ I did not expect you to look for more food. You could have asked." "Taiga is unpredictable then." "Yes, but also rude," He said. "I don''t think anybody else would have done this in another person''s home. You could have waited at least, or if you weren''t able to stop yourself¡­ at least eat with a plate and fork." Li Yang had interacted with a lot of demanding people in the past, but this one would also be notable. "Can''t exactly ask the Bossman when you were busy flirting with that woman¡ªwhat tea did she bring you, though?" Taiga looked at the thermos in his hand. Somehow unaffected by the scolding as she leaned closer to him and peered into his eyes. "Can Taiga have some? I can smell the wondrous effects." "You can''t return her to Shen Society tonight, can you?" the Panda rolled its eyes. "It''s like letting an untrained cat into the house¡ªit thinks that it''s a god. I wouldn''t want her around unless you can rein her in and train her? That''s a kink, right? Discipline her now, ''Bossman''!" The two of them didn''t exactly share the same ideals, but for now, the creature had a point. Li Yang gave his bodyguard a look and then rested his hand on her head, "Stay still for a moment, will you?" He could almost imagine doing this to a child, but not to a spirit that was undoubtedly older than him. ¡­ Taiga stopped, and he imagined that if one could have seen her true form that might have held the feline ears¡ªit would have gone to a smoosh or flattened against her head. She gave him a pout but stayed in one place and actually quieted down. It was far easier than he thought it would be. The CEO expected her to try to bite his hand or call this demeaning, but she paused and it gave him enough of a moment to think and consider what to do. She wasn''t a target and just his bodyguard¡ªand though he was usually nonchalant and laid back about things, the way she ransacked his kitchen was still a no-no. He had been kind to his secretary. Li Yang didn''t think it would do well to be the same to her. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: "Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods." ¨D Christopher Hitchens, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbelieve Chapter 91: She Didnt Like Contracts At All! (Taiga + CEO) There was something strange when he placed his hand on her head¡ªthe mere act of his warm hand brushing over her hair was warm and comfortable. But there was also a hint of control in it that made her almost automatically stop. Well, that wasn''t true. If anyone else were to attempt a similar kind of thing, their hand would be cut down in a moment. This was a submissive position for her to be in, and yet she knew that this man in front of her wouldn''t do anything dangerous. Taiga knew that she might have gone a little far too much than she was supposed to. But wasn''t this man supposed to be someone who was throwing around and galvanizing their wealth? His house was so small and there wasn''t anything so fancy. He also seemed quite nice that she thought he wouldn''t mind¡­ but when she gazed at the serious look on his face. It truly meant that he was upset, and she had overstepped her boundaries. "Taiga is sorry." she said and kept her gaze down. She couldn''t even meet him in the eye at this instance¡ªnot a lot of people tried to hold or bar her down from doing what she wanted. If somebody wanted to make her do something, then they either needed to overpower her with their aura or brute strength. Or give her enough of a reward for not do any of those things. "... do you promise not to do it again?" he asked. The tigress spirit knew her urges were mayhem for far too many times. She had the urge to cause trouble to use up her extra energy, but she looked up and managed a sheepish smile. "Taiga will ask for permission next time?" "Good enough..." he sighed. The man, Li Yang, was no harsh boss¡ªand yet his hand didn''t exactly leave her head. "Is what I want to say, but I do understand we can personally form our own type of contract to further ensure that you won''t do it anymore, along with other conditions I suppose. What do you say?" Her eyes widened¡ªhe wanted a real contract. A life-bound or blood contract? "A-ah¡­ doesn''t this seem too much, Bossman? Taiga will follow your every word, promise!" Taiga had already seen it happen before between a human cultivator and spiritual beasts, the human providing its aura and qi levels for a beast to feed on, but the beast had to serve its master for life. "No. I find it completely necessary and I believe that even Miss Shen An Na would agree to it." She didn''t want anything like that¡ª! Taiga had only decided to let herself be adopted into the Shou Temple Sect because of the resources they could give her, but she had no interest in being held and shackled down by no man. Especially someone who was weaker than her! "Everything is a lie¡ªjust because you can contract a higher-stage spiritual beast doesn''t assure you that you''ll be able to breakthrough or achieve higher stages than your innate talent!" Well, the man could attempt to eat her, but she didn''t want to be harvested! [ You Have Lost 100 Charm Points ] There was some sort of misunderstanding playing out, and it was apparent from the flustered and overly agonized tigress spirit in his clutches. She was leaning out of him very carefully but made no move to wriggle out of his grasps and yet she spoke of a contract like it was the thing that could take her life. He understood that there were some learning barriers between them. Did she even know how to read and write? Much less understand what a contract was? Those things swirled in his mind, but there was a much more primal fear ebbing around her and he could feel it in the qi of the surrounding air. He sighed and looked at her, finally letting go of his grip on her head, and instead he offered a hand. "I hired you to be a bodyguard through an employment contract with the Shen Society, but I wish to form another written contract between the two of us to have you teach me how to fight. I have no interest in causing you any form of distress, Miss Taiga." "Written contract? Like blood?" She took one step backward. Her mind didn''t even register his request at all. "Taiga doesn''t like spilling her own blood at all! Taiga doesn''t like this at all!" The CEO understood more and more that this was truly some great miscommunication between them. A blood contract? Sealed in blood? Li Yang''s mind was not in any of that sort even he could understand that she was implying, or rather trying to disprove the idea of contracting spiritual creatures like her for power. He could understand her fear to a certain extent¡ªhe was bound to a System without any sort of agreement prior to the Panda smacking his face with its paw. And it was supposed to be a ''congratulatory'' thing back then to be chosen amongst the billions of this earth. The CEO did not exactly feel grateful. Even as Li Yang glanced around the room, the Panda once again invisible and nearly out of sight and mind, he still felt something akin to a string tugging him along to make a move and carry on with the show. He tried for a smile, but couldn''t even do it. He wanted to be honest and gave the tigress spirit a look. "No, we don''t have to do anything of that sort. I''d like to place my trust in you and for you to put your trust in myself." "Trust? Trust me? Trust you?" Taiga didn''t exactly stop squirming, a great contrast to the exuberant spirit that had talked to Miss Ying Yue He into accepting the world of cultivation and her part in it. This time, she had a hesitant look on her face. "You want Taiga to have complete faith in you?" "You''re free to scrutinize me, of course, but I have no intention of doing anything that would actively put you in a bad spot." Li Yang said. He was under no illusion that he might have to use her to defend himself, but if he could avoid fights and not make himself a target, then he would do it. Had he made himself a big target for associating with the Shen Society or playing his cards far too early than he could as a third stage Qi Condensation Harem Cultivator? Li Yang could feel himself internally grimacing and twitching at such a title. What kind of cultivation method did you use? Oh, he was someone who acquired power through cultivation beauties. It was almost enough to cause him physical pain. He''d like to think that creating a presence was enough of a deterrent, along with hiring a powerful spirit cultivator to his side¡ªno matter how fickle she was. "Ahem." Taiga waved a hand in front of his face, once again another pout on her face. The initial scare he had caused from mentioning the contract was gone with the wind and instead replaced by a curious but also doubtful look on her face. "There''s a lot of monsters and cultivators that Taiga can defeat, Taiga has also lived long enough to put her tail down and run away from a fight." "Is that so?" he asked. It was relieving to know that she could at least retreat if the chances were slim. But what would she fight? Certainly not gods, right? Li Yang had a feeling that his thoughts weren''t actively being read¡ªonly his actions. His thoughts weren''t enough to elicit some form of balk reaction from the System. Or the power of the Heavens could only extend so much. "Yes. And Taiga can teach, Bossman¡­ but no complaining when your entire body hurts all over." She walked over to him and pressed her fingers on his chest. Something close to a sharp throb focused on his skin, her claws digging in slightly. "Taiga cannot treat or heal you, so you must find a cultivation person focused on healing or an alchemist with good ingredients for it." "There are people whose cultivation is focused on healing other people?" he asked. "Isn''t cultivation to be something that one pursues for one to gain immortality and power? I can understand how alchemy ties in to that, but not cultivating to heal others¡ªunless he gets other people to pay for it." Taiga wagged a finger, "Yes, there are different kinds of cultivators, albeit Taiga thinks that some preferred to be known as saints or priests? The world is really big and there are a lot of troubles so there would be people learning how to heal others, especially when something powerful comes along and different organizations work together." "...something powerful comes along?" he raised a brow. Powerful enough to make disparate groups work together? "Like an evil dragon? Zhao had to deal with it before¡ªbut ah yes, some use alchemy, but others learn how to channel their qi to heal other living beings." The tigress spirit shrugged. "It''s difficult for Taiga because Taiga is used to tearing people to shreds with her qi. Different practices, you see? Find a priest or saint!" In a way, she almost said it like she was giving him her own quest. But Li Yang nodded. Those were good people to recruit, and he would pay no heed to their gender¡ªas long as they were useful and could do the job. He would hire them. Perhaps it was far better that it was males that he hired¡­Someone strong enough to vanquish a dragon? That was close to gods, right? Unless the Heavens who watched also enjoyed those kinds of things. It was another thing he hoped to avoid in the future. There was no room for it. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Have you read Omniscient Reader before? There were some trouble about readers afraid that it was BL because two characters were being shipped by a Constellation. Ah, good times I say. But ah yes, I assume most people who read this are in for the straight harem :D Unless you''re into yuri too. Let me know xD Chapter 92: The Way of the Stick The night was bitter, harsh and cold¡ªstrong winds blew across the rooftop and formed an intense atmosphere. The two of them were separated from the world but together, and each one eyeing the other carefully. This was no time for games or frost cake smearing. The two of them would have none of that. It was a tense atmosphere. Li Yang was on his first session of learning how to wield a blade¡ªor rather a stick. Despite Taiga promising that she wouldn''t take it easy on him, that he needed to find some sort of healer to treat his injuries, she removed the saber-tooth dagger from his hand and promptly gave him a stick from a tree. "It''d be stupid if Bossman hurts himself with his own blade. Use the almighty stick!" She grinned and had proceeded to chop down a tree branch with her claw and gave it to him. He held it in his hand, despite feeling a bit odd about the weapon. It was light, and he swung it easily. The destructive capabilities were no doubt dull. Except if he were to stab in an eye or so? The Panda''s raucous laughter could be heard throughout the air and it was crisp, clear and utterly loud. Li Yang ignored it in lieu of getting the hang of wielding the stick. "Heh¡­ try to attack now. Taiga will only defend herself." Taiga gave him a ''come hither,'' gesture. She soon gave him a more controlled grin, stretching her arms. "Taiga will try to be easy and grasp your skills, Bossman. Or lack thereof." The CEO glanced at her once and quickly jabbed the stick without a word. He struck at her chest¡ªTaiga swatted it down in one strike. She was fast enough to not use her claws for this attack, and so the stick held despite the strike. She yawned and gave him a look. Waiting for him to attack once more. He did it again. And she blocked him. Several times. Over and over again. The tigress spirit tilted her head and took a step back. "Are you attacking Taiga randomly? That doesn''t mean Taiga is saying that it''s bad, but you understand that Taiga has greater speed¡­ well, greater everything than you. You can try to move around instead of staying in one place, Bossman. A fight isn''t stationary." "I''ll just take off my coat, then." Li Yang didn''t exactly sweat, but he should have done this the first time. His hand gripped the stick tightly in his hand. It dug slightly into his flesh. The temperature was frigid, but he first shrugged off his suit coat and hung it over one clothesline¡ªand then he ducked. A fist above where he should have been. Taiga gave him a look, "Did you really have to do that, Bossman? Or are you upset about losing?" She gave him a grin. "Bossman isn''t so used to the situation isn''t he? Don''t worry, Taiga will train you!" He nearly dropped the weapon in his hand. "I didn''t exactly want my suit to be messy or accidentally ripped. And are you changing your tactics?" He sighed and raised his other hand¡ªand soon met her fist. It could have been a tap or light impact, and yet he crushed under the strength at once. His arm went numb. He staggered to one knee. Taiga''s face didn''t change as she looked at him and his arm. It was convulsing and he couldn''t feel it, but he stood up and ignored the whirring in his head. The din of a bell in his ears. At some ding of notifications in the back of his mind and gave her a blank look. "I suppose striking an enemy whilst their back is turned is alright?" "Definitely." She grinned. "Some combats are to the death¡ªno time for anything else." She lunged at him and he stepped aside. And was soon forced to dodge her attacks. She probably wasn''t at full speed, playing along with him in this dance of challenges. He swerved to the left, avoided her slash and felt his foot sprain, the woman then pouncing overhead of him and landing behind. He spun around and struck her with the stick¡ªthe weapon pointing at her chest. A little bit close on her left breast, approximately to the heart. "Ah, did you make Taiga get excited and lose her guard?" she asked. Li Yang frowned, "You attacked me out of nowhere despite saying you wouldn''t." "And you believed Taiga''s words completely." "... indeed, a foolish thing." This was still a pretend fight to him, or a practice, and yet his left arm went limp. He couldn''t feel it and only held his right arm up with the stick pointed at her chest. The woman paused and stared at him. Was it another attempt to lower his guard? Li Yang narrowed his eyes. "You''re giving me a handicap." "Even if you hit Taiga, it''s not life threatening. A weak thing to do unless you want to capture the enemy alive." Taiga said. Besides, this is not a serious fight. If it were¡ªBossman would have been decapitated already. Why would you waste energy by lengthening a fight when you can deal it in one decisive blow? Cripple and end them." Killing someone was what she meant. Li Yang hadn''t thought about it at all¡ªand the idea of a Harem Cultivation Method or Technique didn''t overlap much to him with death matches. Unless he were to have missions with stealing or winning a maiden from a Young Master. But even then¡­ he concentrated on the situation. Li Yang stabbed the stick upwards, and she jumped back in retaliation. A look of confusion on her face. "Did you want to hit Taiga''s face?" He didn''t bother answering and stepped in for another strike¡ªher claws struck against the wood and she clicked her tongue at him. The woman swerved between self-control and going all out. The CEO drew back before she could snap the wood and eyed their surroundings. The dagger was at the corner of the rooftop. Her gaze followed his, and a grin formed on her face, "Did you want to pierce Taiga with that? You won''t get it from Taiga, but you can try." She blocked his path. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Ah, a stick is a great weapon you know? Anybody seen ''I Reincarnated As A Stick'' by TrueDawn? Chapter 93: The Way of the Stick (2) (Taiga) She outmatched him in every way. Speed. Strength. Dexterity. Cultivation. The CEO''s gaze flickered to the right for one moment, and she read it instantly. "Did you want to pierce Taiga with that? You won''t get it from Taiga, but you can try." The tigress spirit knew that this training session was escalating to an actual fight, but she didn''t care about it at all. She would not give it to him. Taiga was no kind teacher. This man could only use his head to help him survive, and soon she watched him promptly dart towards the left, clutching the stick in his hands. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His agility would fail him. If the man wanted the dagger, then his speed would fail him. One of the few options he had¡ª He headed right at her in a frontal attack. A brave man. Or a foolish one. A scar on the face would be an excellent lesson to have him reconsider from attacking with no consideration to their differences. She smirked and swept her claws at the man. Claws struck wood. And wood prevailed¡ªa stick that didn''t break with her claws. Taiga blinked once and then attacked again, left and right. The stick blocked each slash and didn''t break at all underneath her force. Li Yang jabbed it at her torso and she felt a heavy weight to it. Thwack. She recoiled back once and held a hand over her stomach. A dull ache formed in her torso. Not enough to give her any grievous injuries, but it had actually hurt. She narrowed her eyes at him, but then realized what was happening. "Ah¡­ are you serious? Taiga wasn''t expecting it, great job." She gave him a small grin. "Smart one, are you?" He swung at her, and this time she was prepared. Dodging him was easy enough. Her eyes finally focused on the stick in his hand and the thin layer of qi coating it. It was done well enough that only a few might have noticed it in a first glance¡ªa very subtle layer of qi reinforcing the stick could make it pack quite a punch. It wasn''t exactly using sword qi or other weapon qi¡­ but it was good for a new cultivator without any prior training. And she could read his current stage and understand how he was going. He was still learning how to gather and condense qi into his body, but managed to alter its flow to a weapon? There was a certain finesse to it. Taiga was impressed, she wouldn''t deny that. However, it didn''t equate to fighting experience¡ªshe moved to his left and disarmed him. The stick fell to the ground, and she held his wrist in an uncomfortable spot. "Element of surprise, a good one. But you must understand that our differences in cultivation are far too apart for such things to defeat me." "Do let go¡ªI still have to work tomorrow, a broken wrist is unwanted." He grimaced. Taiga blinked and immediately let go of him. She watched him rub his wrist, and it made Taiga scratch the back of her head, retracting the claws she had. "Haha, sorry about that, Bossman. You made Taiga go a little crazy, like a cat finding a mouse." "A mouse, you say?" he raised a brow at her. Taiga tilted her head. "A rich mouse." Would that make him feel better? Li Yang rolled his eyes, but didn''t look too upset. "Indeed. Thank you for the brief fight, I believe I''ve learned a bit." Why was he selling himself short? "A bit? You started using qi techniques!" Taiga protested and picked up the stick. She concentrated her qi into the material and the tip burned. "Qi is used for one''s spiritual and physical cultivation, but one can also qi for many purposes. You used it to reinforce this stick and Taiga doubts anybody told you of that. And even if someone did¡­ this kind of thing is hard to do." "Is that so?" "Yes!" Taiga nodded and stepped closer to him. "Now kneel a bit, Bossman." He gave her a look. She pouted, "...Please? This is Taiga, your teacher! You should listen to Taiga if you want to learn." He followed her instructions and bent slightly, Taiga placed her hand on top of his head and patted him. "Great job, Bossman! Taiga approves of tonight, let''s fight¡ªer, train more tomorrow? Taiga understands that lower-staged cultivators are still not exempted from food, sleep and other basic needs." "Indeed." He gave her a pointed look. She puffed her cheeks, "Well¡­ food is fantastic. Taiga likes it. At the Shou Temple Sect all the people there always eat root crops and leafy vegetables to accumulate good karma or something." "I see, there is benefit to it then." The tigress spirit shrugged, "Taiga knows from personal experience that even animals can become cultivators and gain power¡ªbut Taiga wouldn''t turn down a roasted pig, you know? Actually, a seventh-staged boar spiritual beast is quite a delicacy!" She salivated at the thought. "Maybe next time we can try hunting for one? There''s not a lot left, because we''re few and far in between, but wonderful food and the benefits to your qi and meridians are great!" Li Yang gave her a look, but then nodded. "I''d like to do that. I''d actually want to try to finish off a creature with my own hands. It''d be an enjoyable experience for sure." Taiga grinned at him, "Great! Somebody who understands the urge to hunt!" He didn''t reply to that statement, but instead picked up his dagger. "Miss Taiga, imbuing one''s qi into different objects doesn''t affect its durability? I have a notion that foreign qi are often invasive and destructive." She scratched her ear. Not exactly that familiar with qi techniques. "Well¡­ there is a chance that you can break something, but like Taiga said, it takes a certain finesse to it. And you did it well enough with the stick, so superb job! Do you want more head pats from, Taiga?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Head pats are great, you know? :D Truth be told, I don''t know a lot about cultivation and might conjure some stuff on my own. What''s your take on sword qi and sword techniques? Chapter 94: Meetings and Appointments (CEO + Secretary) "¡ªYou can see that our projected sales and growth from the previous year was exceeded by our actual one by a twenty percent increase. If you have any other questions, I''ll be answering them right now." Li Yang stood in front of the shareholders. His expression was calm. Even as he eyed the largest shareholder, his brother and by connection, the Li family. His brother cleared his throat and asked. "Would you go over the expenditures once again? I can''t understand why we ended up raising our expenses by ten percent higher than previous quarters. How exactly did you account for this, CEO? I get that our sales and growth increased, but there''s not much change to our net income, is there?" Li Yang eyed his brother, and the other board of directors studied the CEO''s expression. There was no such thing as blood relatives or anything of that sort when it came to business. Any good businessman would say that it''s an irrelevant matter. The CEO addressed the matter. ¡ª "Phew, glad that''s finally over, don''t you agree, Yang?" Liang rubbed the back of his neck and sat down in the CEO''s office. He lounged against one of the couches and sighed, "Heard Mister Song''s CPA muttering underneath his breath and complaining, had to deal with that ya know?" "Indeed." Li Yang studied the minutes of the meeting. "Do you have nowhere else to head to, Liang? I have other matters to attend to, and I expect the same for you." "So cold." His gaze flickered on the older man. "Well?" "I guess I can leave if you''re so insistent. I still have to provide my samples to the DNA test clinic today, ugh. Then I have to take our Gabi at some boutique for some lingerie." the man stood up and stretched. "By the way, I noticed that your secretary is looking extremely glowing. You don''t happen to be dating her, are you?" "Is it any of your business?" "It''s an HR matter¡ªmost would say that you''d be taking advantage of her, but she''s been head over heels with you since I met her. Anyhow, I''d keep it a secret if it''s true." He shrugged. "Although, I noticed that there''s someone else with her. Is she a new employee of yours? I''d like to think that Miss Ying Yue He is quite capable of assisting you." He raised a brow, "What if I did?" "Woah. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, geez." His brother finally stood up and raised a hand, "I''ll be going. But remember to take a break or something¡ªworking nonstop is making you look older than me." Li Yang didn''t bother giving him a reply until the man got himself out of his office. Once that was finished, he resumed with checking the documents. "So you and your brother have this thing going on in the boardroom?" the Panda floated above him. The CEO sighed and gazed at the creature, "What of it interests you?" "Dang, your brother was right¡ªtake a chill pill." The Panda raised its paws, "Wait, you can''t buy it since you haven''t completed any main quests yet. You shot yourself in the foot, didn''t you?" "I have time to prepare." Li Yang summoned the shop screen and motioned to one of the items. "And that''s what I need before I take any other quests, I can''t foresee who I''ll be forced to woo, can I?" [ Would You Like To Purchase Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - IV for 6000 Charm Points? ] [ 75% Chance of Breakthrough ] "What the actual¡­" Li Yang folded his hands together, "There''s no need to risk gambling on the points I earned when I can increase my own chances." "But how did you¡­ wait¡ªIt was last night? But you just trained for one night." "It''s not simply the fact that Miss Taiga overwhelmed me in combat, but the technique I discovered is probably categorized under an Insight." He pulled up his status screen. [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (3/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: Low-Level Roots ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: 995 ] [ Sect: None ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak-Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (17/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (3/9) [ Martial Arts Methods ] None [ Skills ] Qi Infusion Technique (Uncommon) The art of imbuing one''s qi into living and non-living objects instead of gathering them for your body and spirit''s cultivation. A certain fine control is needed to ensure that the amount of qi is just appropriate, otherwise negative effects will occur. "Ah, right you gained a new Skill, and that''s supposed to be a good feat for someone your level. Discovering techniques on your own and gaining insights to your Dao, in this case, the path of Harem? Eh?" The Panda rubbed its ears. "I guess your comprehension went up too, huh?" "Yes, albeit I still don''t actually understand it that much." He admitted and dismissed the screen. "I suppose Qi Infusion is useful, but even then, something not used that often unless one has managed to amass great levels of qi into their body." "Yeah¡­" the Panda agreed. The creature fell silent for a moment and watched the CEO return to his work. It would have mentioned that there was some backlog in notifications from the fight last night, but understood that the man had his eccentricities in keeping up with his work schedule. Albeit, the man was both lightening up in terms of his attitude and also becoming sharp at the same time, at least in how he interacted with others. "Also, Panda¡­?" The creature looked at him and scowled, "How many times have I told you¡ª" "What exactly is your name? I don''t think I ever asked for it before¡­ I think it''s something I should know unless it''s disallowed to know your name?" The creature crossed its arms uncomfortably. ¡ª "Ah¡ªthis is so boring. This is what you mortal humans do all day?" Taiga reclined on her chair. Ying Yue He paused and looked at the woman, spirit¡­ or whatever she was. "Yes¡­ but are you saying that you''re not mortal?" Taiga had cleaned up and worn an actual outfit for the work office, which was strange enough, but she was also around to ''guard'' over her boss. Taiga puffed her cheeks, "Well, no¡ªyes, but Taiga has a greater life span and will figure out how to extend it soon enough." "I see¡­" Ying Yue He glanced at the time on her computer and stood up. She was supposed to prepare¡ª The woman sat back down and realized the tea incident. She had nearly forgotten about it, and it made her sigh. There weren''t a lot of reasons to visit her boss in his office, and she was stuck with Taiga. Not that the other woman was anything unpleasant¡­ Until she received a call and answered it. "Hello, good afternoon this is¡ªyes, this is the direct call to the office of the CEO of the Olympian Corp¡­" She paused and blinked. The other person on the end was prompt, polite and a tad authoritative. "Transfer the call to CEO Li? Have you made an appointment, not a lot¡ªah, Heavenly Jade Pavilion? About a supplier? I see¡­ Please hold on for a moment, Miss." Ying Yue He transferred the call after confirming some details. And the woman sighed after that. "What''s the matter?" Taiga asked. "I suppose it makes sense that Mister Li wouldn''t wait for me to be able to pay him for the tea, he''d order a new batch at once." The secretary sighed, but then blinked. "But wait, Mister Li''s tea is supposed to be for cultivation, so it means that Heavenly Jade Pavillion¡ª" Taiga wrinkled her nose, "Ah, the Tea Temptress'' place? It''s a tea shop that serves regular mortals, cultivators and spirits. If you enter the Veiled Space, you can meet with the latter two with no troubles. Expensive actually. Taiga hasn''t been there herself¡ªyou can just chew tea leaves if you want benefits. Hmph." Ying Yue He blinked, "Did you say Tea Temptress? Is that supposed to be some Cultivator name or title?" "Oh, does Miss Secretary here don''t know?" Taiga grinned at her. "Do you wanna know?" She didn''t like the sound of it, and yet¡­ this wasn''t her business. Ying Yue He shook her head and frowned. "The person called for a business matter, and I don''t think it''s very nice for you to say something about a person if you''re not that familiar with them." Her thoughts went to Luo Ju Di, but otherwise, the secretary was firm on her beliefs. Taiga stuck out a tongue, "You''re no fun, like Bossman." The secretary pursed her lips, not exactly liking the nickname Taiga dubbed her boss. She refrained from saying anything else, though, and instead kept her thoughts to better and happier things. Her gaze went to the calendar and the cute Panda sticker on one of the dates. Tomorrow was the concert that she and her boss were attending to¡ªMister Li wouldn''t cancel it, right? She knew that cultivation was now a thing, but he promised her and the man kept his word. The two of them were even supposed to go to the zoo to look at Pandas¡­ Ying Yue He''s smile faltered. Had she forgotten about all the trouble that she caused her boss? She chewed on her lip. It was alright to be a little selfish with liking someone, right? Ying Yue He didn''t know. Her gaze flickered to Taiga. Her boss'' bodyguard. Would this Taiga come and tag along with their date tomorrow? The answer seemed like a resounding yes, and it would suck¡ªhow was she supposed to be comfortable when she knew that there was another person with them and listening to every word she said? ¡ª-¡ª- Note: Adjusted my writing style and pacing by more scene jumps after a review of needing to stop ''telling'' and focus on ''showing''. Trying to be more concise. This is better? Chapter 95: All The Plans He Made "Well, my name is¡ª" The office''s telephone rung at the same moment, and the creature stopped speaking and waved a paw at him. "Answer that first." Li Yang stared at it doubtfully, but soon picked up the phone. A familiar and calm voice immediately greeted him, and it was Bo Lifen''s. "My apologies for missing your visit, I had woken up a bit later than usual and rushed¡­ I see. Thank you. I''ll see you after work then, goodbye." "What was that call for?" the Panda hovered in front of him. "Miss Lifen called and offered to bring me to the black pearl supplier," he said and tapped his finger absentmindedly on his desk. "I suppose my overtime in the office will really have to be gradually lessened." "Well, it''s about time!" the Panda said. "Is your entire life really focused on just your work? Live a little, will ya?" "You''re starting to sound like Liang." "He acts like a bastard, but he has fun?" the Panda shrugged. "I feel like you have the short end of the stick. What does he do? Go around the world and meet beauties¡ªheck, you don''t need a System for this kind of stuff." "He has other responsibilities too, mostly as a proxy to meetings around the world, so it''s not only him chasing skirts... but I admit that I do take over a lot more than him. I don''t trust him to do a proper job and I haven''t exactly seen or considered a successor to take over my position," he admitted. Even just the thought of it presented him with another option. He could actually find someone else in the company to replace him, he could give it up to Liang even¡­ That would be a too easy way out of his current problems. He didn''t like the idea of the heavens forcing him out of his routine¡ªand so he continued with the rest of his work. The man corresponded with his company''s executives about the board meeting, assessing and interacting with other potential clients. Until he received a knock on the door. It was Ying Yue He. "Ah, I brought you your lunch, Mister Li." she said with a sheepish smile. The CEO blinked and glanced at his phone. "Thank you¡­ can I ask you to transfer it to another container? I failed to mention that I have a personal errand." "Oh, will do, boss." "Make sure that you and Miss Taiga will have lunch together." "You''re not bringing her along, boss?" "No need." [ You Have Gained 5 Charm Points ] "O-oh! Well, I''ll pack your lunch, boss!" Ying Yue He left to fulfill his request. "Eh, where are you going? I thought it was after work with Bo Lifen?" the Panda asked. Li Yang glanced at him, "The DNA testing center, I''ve yet to give my sample." "Huh, right." The CEO would eventually do just that and leave the office, with Taiga begging him to come along¡ªbut he declined her request. Li Yang didn''t like the idea of bringing her along and possibly causing more trouble or doing something strange. The spirit asking questions would also just bother him and he already had one following after him. When he returned to his office, he took the opportunity to ask the creature once again. "You neglected to mention your name earlier, I assume that it''s disallowed?" "If you really want to stop calling me Panda¡ªand for good reasons you should," The creature''s eyes sparked red, "In your human language and native tongue, you can call me Bao." Li Yang blinked at the name and the somewhat butchered pronunciation. He couldn''t tell what exact form the creature was referring to. "Bao¡­ treasure, rare, honor, praise or bud," He didn''t think it would be that and yet he only nodded. "However, I am curious about what you said, Bao. The way you mentioned human language and native tongue¡ª" "There''s a universal language and I transmit it¡ªyour mind and that of the child can comprehend it. It takes a while to get used to it, you should pop open a dictionary sometime. There''s a ton of languages from different planets and realms, so I wonder when interstellar craft becomes available." Li Yang considered his words and parked his car. "I know a man currently researching into it¡ªI suppose I could allocate some into his company." "Or you find a willing non-earth visitor to bring you a new one and then¡­ argh, I shouldn''t be telling this to you." The Panda, Bao, grumbled underneath its breath. "It''s not too hard to pick apart minor details," the CEO headed back to his office. "LSO for example¡ª" [ Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Demands The End Of Commercial! ] The notification appeared, and Li Yang paused. He had almost forgotten that he had some backlog of notifications from last night, and so proceeded to check them briefly¡ªand collected an addition of 246 Charm Points. He wondered why they were sometimes stingy and otherwise gallant. If he could figure out the right buttons¡­ [ Total Current Charm Points: 9467 ] He sighed slightly at the amount¡ªestimating the costs for finishing the entire Qi Condensation Stage would no doubt cost more than what the Heavens offered for him to strip before. The idea of it still made him balk¡­ but now he was usually resigned to whatever it was they decided to give him. If there was anything he had been eyeing more than Main Quests or Side Quests¡ªboth of which seemed to be locked and inaccessible to him¡ªthe Achievements Page was where he had the chance to accumulate points that did not necessarily force him to woo women. Some were related to strength, asserting one''s dominance, and then there was something more entrepreneurial. "Welcome back, boss." "Bossman!" Ying Yue He greeted him by standing up and bowing slightly, whereas Taiga barely lifted herself from the couch. He nodded. "Thank you, Miss He. Has anything happened while I was out?" "Nothing demanding your immediate attention, boss." "Thank you." he said. "I''ll be leaving at 5pm today and I would like to urge you to do the same. How was your visit to Shen Society?" "Ah, I received a cultivation method from them after testing my roots affinity. It seems like there are two paths of cultivation, body and spirit?" Ying Yue He scratched her cheek. "Since it seemed like I was capable of cultivating my body without any need for method, they gave me one for spiritual cultivation instead? I don''t get it that much, but I am studying the manual." "Taiga would have shared her cultivation method¡ªbut she''s mixed roots and primarily earth, water and wood. Now Taiga''s method wouldn''t have worked for her. And I have near pure roots." she said and puffed her chest. "I see that''s good." He checked his secretary''s status screen. [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Blossoming Vine Scripture (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak Comprehension: Beginner ( 3/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (0/9) The CEO compared his cultivation method to hers. [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak-Divine Grade Comprehension: Beginner (17/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (3/9) Compared to hers that were classified by the System as ''extremely weak'' with no reason, his own method in particular could ascend to ''divine grade'' in terms of power¡­ possibly because of the System itself. He didn''t quite know how to feel about it and asked, "How good is her cultivation method?" "We had to get one from the market to find a compatible cultivation method, your secretary could have gone with something like Earth Splitting Manual or Azure Water Method¡­ but Blossoming Vine Scripture takes a little of all three elements." "Thank you for the explanation, Miss Taiga." he glanced at his secretary. "Will you be visiting them after work?" Ying Yue He blinked. "A-ah¡­ I suppose I could. Better to have someone help me step by step in understanding the manual and getting the hang of it." "You don''t have to force yourself to attend today if you''re still in a state of shock," he said, taking note of her perplexed tone. "I would join you, but I need to meet up with a supplier of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion. I''ll be there next time." "Tomorrow?" Taiga asked. "That''s a weekend, maybe Taiga can do a combined training session with you and Miss He." He glanced at his watch and shook his head, "Thank you for the offer, but Miss He and I already have plans set for tomorrow. Speaking of which, have you prepared the tickets? I only managed to check on it now." [ You Have Gained 250 Charm Points ] "¡ªah, there''s definitely not a problem, Mister Li. I''ll bring them tomorrow, shall we meet tomorrow at the zoo?" Ying Yue He perked up immediately. This was probably the largest amount of points he earned from her. "I''ll pick you up at your apartment at seven, if that''s alright with you?" He hoped it wasn''t too early, but he had plans to have lunch with her and perhaps a walk in the afternoon? Or something else. Did his secretary also like visiting boutiques? His brother was taking his ''Mistress'' out, and he didn''t exactly have much of a comparison besides that. Either way, they still had to attend the concert that Director Wang''s grandson gave them as well. In some way, he felt obliged that he needed to treat her after everything that happened for the past week. "Thank you, it''s a good time since the zoo opens at seven-thirty in the morning¡ªhopefully not a lot of people will be there since it''s early." "You two are going to the zoo?" Taiga said at last. "It''s a facility where animals are housed within enclosures¡­" Li Yang explained. When he picked his bodyguard based on certain attributes, he didn''t expect it would be a tigress spirit. What were her ideas on something like this? He planned for her to follow in secret. His secretary spoke up, "Boss, I don''t think she''d be exactly comfortable going there?" "Let Taiga speak up before you make a conclusion like that." Chapter 96: Who You Know Warning: This chapter contains the author''s personal enjoyment involving three-books references. It will not inhibit the agenda of protagonist or reading at all, but it depends on your perspective lol. The culmination of the conversation ended quickly¡ªhe thought he would get a deduction of points, but Ying Yue He only nodded when Taiga mentioned she would indeed be a tad uncomfortable seeing them caged even while they were well-accounted for. In her words, ''Taiga would either set them free or eat them. It''s one or the other, Bossman.'' that settled the idea of not bringing her to the zoo. Either way, Li Yang had other places to be. As promised, he left the office and found himself outside of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion. He stepped out of his car and approached the traditional-looking building. Two young women immediately greeted the CEO. They wore long-sleeved robes that Bo Lifen herself once wore when she served him tea. "Good afternoon sir, will you be dining with us today?" One woman greeted him with a bow and a smile. The other doing the same. "Shall we get you a private room or would you like to stay in the great hall, sir?" [ You Have Gained 25 Charm Points ] He shook his head. "No, I''m here to pick up, Miss Lifen." "Elder Sister¡ª" the woman blinked and then turned to the other one with a surprised look. She turned back to him with an embarrassed look, "Ah, would you like me to bring you to her office, sir?" "May we confirm your name and identity first, sir?" the second one asked. "¡ªthere''s no need to bring him to my office, Suyin." Bo Lifen stepped outside of the entrance and tossed them a look and then glanced at him. "Shall we get going? It''s not actually that far. You can follow after me and my ride." She had a leather jacket on and her helmet tucked in her arm. "Someone likes unrestrictive clothes, huh?" Bao the Panda¡­ the creature appeared out of thin air. "She''s really got those nice legs working out for her, eh?" [ Some ''Observers'' Agree With The Sentiment ] [ The ''Observer'' Seafoam Disagrees ] [ A Debate On The Fairest Of The Universe Spurs On The Moment ] "Ah, I wasn''t aware that you drove a motorcycle," he said. She rolled her eyes and managed a snort, "It''s not like we''ve only met each other for a couple days now, have we?" She then ended it with a smile. Her tongue was still razor sharp. "Fair point." He returned her smile with one of his own. The woman momentarily introduced her ride called ''Frag'' and he would take note of its old but known model. She seemed particularly proud of it, and he didn''t question any of it and let her be¡ªuntil they reached their destination and he blinked at the somewhat old building standing in front of him. "Why does this place seem awfully familiar..." the Panda muttered to him. "This is my secretary''s apartment, and she shares it with Bo Lifen''s supplier," he said and got out of the car. The likelihood of it happening seemed strange, but the chances of Mou Gu''s diner just being on the next street also made it like this was a community full of people involved in the world of cultivation. Ying Yue He was the latest addition. People connected with one another. That was normal. He glanced at Miss Lifen, who took off her helmet and shook her head. She fixed her ponytail. "I know it looks a little rundown, but the supplier is the real deal. You''ve had the tea I brewed for twice now and it does wonders for one''s health." "Unless the supplier is an undine from the oceans, I ain''t believing anything." the creature clapped its paws together. "What do you think we''ll meet up there? Some octopus tentacled mind freak?" Li Yang narrowed his eyes at the creature but chose not to say anything else. "Perhaps to see is to believe, Miss Lifen. After you." He didn''t want to imagine that what would greet him would be something like that¡ªhe would simply consider it as another one of the creature''s over exaggeration. And indeed, when they reached the third floor of the apartment and Bo Lifen knocked on the door, it opened to reveal a normal young man. "Hey, hey¡ªoh, Lifen, you''re here and you brought someone. Pleasant surprise." Bo Lifen clicked her tongue. "Didn''t I message you?" "Have you?" the man scratched the back of his head. There was nothing for the CEO to worry about this situation. ''Assess Individual¡ª'' [ Evaluation ] Individual is a being in the earthly realm. Known as ROEHSC001. Other information made unavailable. Consult Moderator ''Peach'' for further access also identified as ''Dat Peach'' from interaction. Li Yang stared at the screen until Bo Lifen cleared her throat, "This is CEO Li Yang¡ªand Li Yang, this is Han Jing, my pearl supplier." "Wait, a sec¡ªthis is the multi¡­ I''m honored to meet you!" Han Jing offered a hand out, "If Lifen told me that someone important was coming, then I would have cleaned up a little." Bo Lifen sighed, "I did message you." He quirked a brow, but shook the younger man''s hand. ¡ª "Out of curiosity, do you collect the pearls yourself?" he asked. The man was alone in his apartment and claimed that both his ''sister'' and ''mother'' was out. "No, I know a really great diver." Han Jing said. "Like you would think that she breathes underwater with how well she gets them." "I see, that is interesting." He had to admit that what the System showed him was enough to make him wary, and the words of the creature even more hesitant to believe what he was seeing in front of him right now. But he had already affirmed that this was a human and nothing strange. If it wasn''t this person in front of him, then it was the one he knew. Either way, whoever this man was¡ªat least for now, as long as he wasn''t dangerous, he wouldn''t dig into it. There was wisdom in letting some stones remain unturned. "I''d like to purchase a bulk order of the black pearls." "O-oh, bulk? I think I have to consult with my pearl collector about that since it''s a rare material. I could set you up to purchase my current stock though, Lifen bought ten pieces of pearls. You could boil it with water and¡ª" "I need a higher concentration," he said. "And I''d also like to give enough pearls to Grandma Lanfen to fit a jewelry box as a thank you. If you could give me an initial of a hundred pieces, then I''ll purchase anything else you''re selling right now." Bo Lifen seated in between them gave him a look, "Do you know how many pieces could fill a¡ª" "You didn''t even ask how much one pearl is, CEO Li." "Money is not an object," he said. "I wish I could say that," Han Jing sighed wistfully. "I''ll check my inventory, I don''t think I have a hundred pieces¡­ maybe fifty? It''ll take a while to get to that number." "That''s fine, I''ll have the rest collected on a later date." "Okay then, sir." the man stood up and prepared the order. Bo Lifen gave him a concerned look, "You don''t have to give us that much when we can also buy our own supply. It''s simply a waste for you to buy that much, you can use a pearl for already a big batch of tea when you pulverize the pearl." Li Yang stayed silent for a moment and then said it, "Twenty four." "Twenty four?" "If one pearl is already helpful then more would be better, don''t you think? Take twenty-five pieces and I''ll get the other half. Don''t hesitate on using it¡ªit''s for your matriarch. I would like to see her happy for a long time and I expect you do as well." He hoped she would listen to him. [ Black Pearl Tea ] Consume 24 pieces to increase lifespan by 3% Consumption: 0.2 / 24 Current Lifespan: Average Human "Alright, I''ll repay you next time," she sighed. "Perhaps you can come to my shop and I''ll serve you Da Hong Pao or other teas available to compensate. I don''t like owing people for their generosity because this is too much for the bamboo qi." "You don''t owe me anything." She pursed her lips, "You better remember yourself saying that." "If I could interrupt this little banter between the two of you, here are the pearls." Han Jing presented a small treasure chest and opened the lid to present it filled with black pearls. He assessed the item. [ Evaluation ] A small treasure chest containing fifty-five pieces of black ocean pearls of highest purity. Cultivated and found in the trenches and depths of the ocean, most likely of Undine Origins. He wrinkled a brow, "Thank you for the extra pieces, I''d still like to pay for them though." "How did you count that¡ªdang, superb estimation skills? Did you measure the box and then the size of the pearl, then computed it with a glance?" Bo Lifen stifled a snort, "Don''t try to scare away the man, Han Jing." "It was a guess." He stood up and accepted the box from him and then gave it to Bo Lifen. "I''ll send the payment through your bank account details if you give them to me. Or perhaps through another method?" "I got a QR Code here, feels kinda funny since it''s your company''s payment platform." Han Jing pulled out his phone, typed something and then showed it to him. "Quick response, eh?" "..." Li Yang took out his phone and transferred the amount. "Yeah that was a terrible joke." Bo Lifen had a hand on her face, shaking her head. "It''s fine, I appreciate doing business with you." he nodded and watched the screen hover behind the man''s shoulder. It showed the accomplishment of his prime aim. [ Achievement Unlocked! ] [ Who You Know - I ] Meet a total of three influential individuals. [ You Have Received 3000 Charm Points ] He almost expected a little more. Chapter 97: The Two Form An Agreement? "Better keep watch Bo Lifen, make sure that Madam Dongxia doesn''t see him¡ªor he''d get eaten alive." Han Jing grinned at them and waved. The CEO quirked a brow, "Is she dangerous?" "No, she''s the cat-lady landlady," he coughed. "Not that she''s bad and all, but your time might get consumed." "I see." "Don''t say nonsense or make him worry¡ªwe''ll get going now. Li Yang, let''s go." Bo Lifen and the CEO would soon return outside of the apartment without necessarily meeting anybody else. Li Yang glanced at the doors and almost assumed that he''d see his secretary arrive or leave one of the units, but she didn''t. Perhaps he was only curious about why exactly his secretary had been so hesitant before. Did she think that he''d judge her based on her accommodation? Once they were outside, Li Yang held the treasure chest while Bo Lifen strapped on her helmet and fixed her jacket. He soon realized something. "I think we should have asked for another treasure chest," he said. How could they split it up if they didn''t have any other container? It had slipped his mind. "No need." Bo Lifen twisted a ring on her finger and stored the pearls in her interspatial ring. "You keep the box, thank you for buying great-grandmother some pearls. I''m sure she''ll appreciate it greatly. Even if you tell me that I don''t owe you anything, this is still too much." He inclined his head. "It''s not a worry¡ª" Li Yang felt her fingers grip his chin, she kissed his cheek and pulled away. "I''m not sure if you''re trying to be impressive or the value of money means so little to you. But thank you either way." There was a red flush in her face, but she still said what was on her mind. "There are things far more important than it," he said and then asked. "Are you returning to Granny Lanfen simply on your motorcycle? It''s a two-hour drive or so. It''s far more comfortable to be in a car, so I''d¡ª" She raised her chin and said, "I''m fine¡ªyou can''t exactly lure me to the backseat of your car with simply those words." Her words made him chuckle, and he waved a hand. "I was about to offer to deliver it to Granny Lanfen myself instead of you¡ªbut you''re the one who prepares the tea. And I suppose it is far better that you give it than me. She might refuse it if I were to give it myself." "So it never really crossed your mind?" she pursed her lips at him. "... I mean, doing it with someone inside of your car?" Bo Lifen looked at him doubtfully. "And the idea of it is not appealing to you at all?" He rested a hand underneath his chin and considered the thought. "It''s actually a lot more uncomfortable than say a tree. So no, not really." Bo Lifen rubbed her face. "Okay that makes sense, cramped spaces." She only looked mildly embarrassed. He cleared his throat, "Then I leave the pearls to you and I''ll go on ahead then, Miss Lifen." As much as he might have wanted to stay and talk¡ªhe still needed to pick up Taiga. She was still his bodyguard, and it didn''t exactly make much sense to leave her behind in the first place, but he wanted to avoid complications. But now Li Yang didn''t exactly know if his secretary went with the spirit either out of the office or she went home all by herself for a break. Did Taiga know how to get to Shen Society? He checked his phone for any messages and found one from his secretary. ''Mister Li¡ªI''m at Shen Society with Taiga.'' He would pick the two of them up. Li Yang threw one last look at Bo Lifen, "I''ll see you sometime again if I experience some trouble brewing the pearl tea." "I could do it for you, you know?" She revved up her motor and threw him a look. It took her a near minute before she mustered up her words and said, "I may have left too soon last night¡ªbut I meant what I said." Li Yang raised a brow. "Which in particular are you referring to, Miss Lifen?" She gave him a ''Are You Actually Serious?'' look before she said it, "I wouldn''t have minded if we did it again¡­ or went all the way. It''s helping with my nerves by just a tad¡ªand you didn''t dislike it either, right?" Li Yang shook his head. "No." He glanced at the windows of his car and took note of the darkness of the sky. It was actually a little past six in the evening now. "And if you actually liked the idea of doing it in the backseat..." "We''re not highschool or college students doing it there!" She turned her head away from him. "Let''s¡­ let''s talk about this sometime. See you." Bo Lifen left him again, but at a faster speed this time. "Man, nearly one kilometer in under a minute¡ªhah, at least she didn''t leave at a speed of light, eh?" Bao chuckled and appeared in front of the CEO. The creature wagged a paw, "Who thought you''d actually suggest doing it in your car¡ªthat''s my boy! I mean, that''s more like it!" "Miss Lifen was the one who thought I was trying to get her into my car, but I suppose it doesn''t actually matter. I wouldn''t have minded it either way." Li Yang stepped inside his car and placed the treasure chest in the shotgun seat. "It''s frankly refreshing she asked me directly, I guess we can set a schedule or something for it. I''ll be able to collect her yin qi and such¡ªaccomplish another achievement whilst enjoying myself? Two birds in one stone." "You don''t have to give me winded excuses¡ªthe two of you wanted to fuck. That''s it." Bao opened the lid of the treasure chest and grabbed one of the pearls. It gave the pearl a lick before shoving it in its mouth and soon swallowed the pearl and burped, "Speaking of which, are you really interested in drinking these ocean pearls? It''s kinda a waste since cultivators'' lifespans tend to lengthen as one becomes stronger." "It''s not really for me," he eyed the creature. "And it''s not for you either." The panda-like creature shrugged unapologetically, "Then who is for?" "Miss He." Chapter 98: The VIP Observer + System Patch "Oh right, her Innate Ascension Skill thingy. Smart," Bao stretched and yawned. "But it still seems like a waste. She''s not in your harem or anything." "I don''t think I have to focus all of my time and attention into this ''harem'' I''ll be having¡ªif I wish to help Miss He, even if she''s not part of the harem, then I''ll do it." Li Yang sighed and drove. "Either way, Miss He promised to help repay me¡­ consider this as an investment. I''ll reap the benefits in the future." "Sure sure, keep looking at this however you like it. You''ll still end up doing what the Heavens want either way¡ªbut there''s a reason your cultivation method is harem cultivation. You''ll progress way slower if you don''t actually get people in your harem. Get yourself a girlfriend or a fuck buddy? Alright, it''s your life. But if she ain''t in your harem¡ªshe''s not that useful cultivation wise." The CEO stayed silent and drove on. "... Untapped potentials, you know?" Bao grumbled and then crossed its arms. "There are benefits when you add¡­ I''ll shut up. Don''t think that I''ll fill in the silence just because you''re like that¡ªyou can''t mind game me to say stuff. I''m a lot smarter than you think I am, I ain''t any fool. If there''s a fool here, it''s you." "Mhmm." "... you were actually trying to, weren''t you?" Bao accused him. Li Yang kept his eyes on the road. "I need to concentrate while driving, so I will appreciate your silence." "Oh, whatever." It soon fell silent and Li Yang considered the situation. He already noticed it before, but the situation of this creature, of ''Bao'' seemed to be in a similar spot as him. He picked up the conversation and said, "By the way, I understand that a number of the Observers tend to take pleasure in not only watching me but also seeing you in a terrible spot." "The Heavens can be downright sadistic when they''re bored, what''s new with that?" the creature jabbed a paw in the air. "I want sacrifices in my name, get me that piece of land and I''ll claim it as my own and kill those who don''t worship me yadayada." He let the creature rant for a minute before he spoke, "I''ve been trying to remember their names, but who exactly is ''dat Peach''? The System says that they''re a Moderator, but that''s all I gathered. I do understand that they are all usernames¡ª" "Then give them privacy and don''t bother about me!" Bao shouted. "I''d say something mean, but I''m not particularly happy to get hit by seventy-seven lightning tribulations again." "My apologies to hear about that." Li Yang wanted to say that it had already bickered and ranted, but chose not to push it. "You better be." Even while the creature had given him a nickname to refer itself as and continued to talk with him¡ªit didn''t mean that it was willing to work with him at all. Perhaps it was an impossible endeavor in the first place. The CEO would finally stop outside of the Shen Society''s building. He briefly glanced at the creature, "If I cannot ask about them, then what was your opinion on that pearl supplier¡ªthe System says the pearls are from undine origins, but the man is not." "I guess I was wrong¡ªbut either he got a special diver, or we got an undine working for him." the creature waved a paw. "Which is weird since most of them hate humans, anyway. Not enough room to look at the fish in the sea when you get garbage mixed up in them, eh? You can get them mixed up, probably." "I see¡­" Li Yang kept his thought to himself for now and stepped out of the car. It was time to pick both Taiga and his secretary up. The idea of using the LSO Water Breathing Chewing Gum would have to be postponed or halted entirely unless there was a friendly undine. Bao rolled out of the shotgun and lazily floated above the air. "Forgot your pearls, you gonna brew them at the office?" "I''m not exactly sure, but perhaps it could work," If he were to let his secretary drink the tea now, he had a feeling that she would tremendously benefit. "They do have a small kitchen there." "They might want to get a taste then, are you willing to share?" He considered it and didn''t think that was so terrible, but before he could give an answer¡ªa ding sounded in his ear and a screen appeared in front of them. [ Observer ''Dat Peach'' Nearly Forgot To Give Bonus ] [ ''Dat Peach'' Likes Being Recognized ] [ You Have Received 696 Charm Points ] [ You Have Received ''Unofficial System Patch'' ] Bao''s eyes widened and then gritted its teeth, "This bit¡ª" "A System Patch?" Li Yang frowned at the sudden appearance. It was his first time receiving something besides Charm Points, but it was clearly something he shouldn''t open based on its words. Unofficial sounded like a terrible idea and the idea that the System needed to be patched in the first place also slightly contradicted with most claiming it was infallible. ¡­ and yet when he was introduced to the man from earlier, that person seemed to be able to live a relatively normal and peaceful life. Was that person not forced to take Quests like him? Such an idea made him hesitate. "What exactly does it fix?" "Ignore it¡ªwe have a lot of Observers, there are those who are silent. Then there are some who may love you, but there are also others who would enjoy seeing you suffer," Bao said. It made sense that not everyone observing favored him. He couldn''t imagine someone ''loving'' him but forcing him to do something against his will¡­ still, this ''patch'' was different. "Then I suppose whoever this Peach is, they can explain whatever they have gifted me?" "Direct communication?" Bao scoffed. "That costs extra¡ª" [ ''Dat Peach'' Is Now A VIP Observer ] [ You Have Gained Your First VIP Observer ] [ You Have Received 10,000 Charm Points ] Li Yang raised a brow. "You didn''t mention this." "I''m not even supposed to be speaking in the first place, bastard!" Chapter 99: Messages from Above + Secretarys Natural Gifts [ You Have Received A Direct Message From ''Dat Peach'' ] [ All Messages Are Encrypted From Other Observers and Transmitter ] The CEO stared at the screen and blinked. Would Bao really not see it? He turned to the creature and asked, "Then why do you speak then?" "Well, that''s¡­ I can give live commentary, you know? You''re so boring that I have to interact with you for you to stop being so deadass boring. Even the gods of death are more alive than you are!" The creature grumbled but said nothing about the screen. "I see." He checked the message. Dat Peach: Yes, yes, I''m dat Peach! Or that is what I want to say. Either way, welcome to the whims of the universe. I should have recruited you to RO if I knew that you were going to hate it this much¡ªfor now, this patch is a trifle gift. CEO: trifle gift? Dat Peach: RO is different from LSO, me interacting too much can get me ultra banned. But you''re interesting enough, so you get a gift and generous contributions from me more than those stingy Observers. While it wasn''t necessarily true, as some had given him 1000 Charm Points, she was the first VIP Observer and had spent more. However, it was all very suspicious. CEO: Are you sure that I can trust you? Dat Peach: Trust me enough to tell me your plans of universal dominion? I dunno man, sounds kinda risky. I''m still on the edge and I''m leagues powerful than you CEO: I haven''t said anything like that Li Yang frowned. Was his intentions that obvious? Dat Peach: Let''s see, a young CEO in control of his life and future outcome suddenly receives a System that tries to chart the course of his life for all eternity¡ªonly someone lost in life or extremely into harems and power would take relish in it. You hate it. You know it. We know it. Now you''re just a ticking time bomb waiting to happen¡ªdo you go to the heavenly realm and exact your revenge? Some ARE waiting for that. Kinkly. CEO: ¡­ Is that so? Li Yang received a headbutt on his shoulder and glanced at Bao. The Panda-like creature gave him a sharp look. "Did my words actually hurt your feelings? Ignore it and do what you have to do." "Hmmm?" "What are you standing around here for, you have a schedule!" Li Yang temporarily dismissed the direct messaging and headed to the Shen Society building. He kept the words of the Moderator in the back of his mind and wondered if he should trust this Peach. Li Yang wanted to believe that someone open and frank with him was to be trusted¡ªbut even someone like that would have their own agendas for being scrupulously honest. [ Would You Like To Open ''Unofficial System Patch''? ] The CEO let the notification drop as he knocked on the fourth floor and saw someone open the door. It was one of the other employees of Shen An Na and her brother. It was the same guy who offered a suggestion to use the ''qi-dispelling talisman'' albeit he couldn''t recall this man''s name. He asked, "Do you know where Miss Taiga and Ying Yue He are?" "..." the guy pointed upwards. Li Yang nodded. "Alright. Thank you." "Mhmm." He went to the rooftop and ignored the Panda who was making remarks about the other guy. "And I thought I''d never see you talk more than another person¡ªweird folks, I tell you. Was he supposed to be mute, or is this an effect of being a cultivator?" "You don''t have to mock someone for being reserved with their speech," Li Yang said. He glanced briefly over his shoulder at the creature. "It can be quite draining for some and anxiety inducing for others." "Sure, yadayada. You did actually well for someone like you." The creature shrugged unapologetically. "I mean, you''re probably never going to be charismatic like others¡ªbut you weren''t so bad during the board meeting and all that. I guess you''re expecting me to not judge you as harshly, huh? Too bad I still will." He thought back to the meeting and shrugged back. His eyes on the door that led to the rooftop. "The boardroom meeting place is a stage and you sometimes have to present yourself." "Wut¡­?" The creature looked like it was close to tears of laughter. He sighed. "Nevermind." Li Yang reached out for the door and opened it, and saw that there was nothing on the other side. At least at initial glance¡ªit was an empty rooftop devoid of anything or anyone. Which was fair when the night sky above him made it uncomfortable to be at the rooftop in this hour. The CEO however felt a stirring in the air or rather the monumental presence of qi. He stared in front of the empty place until he felt a burning sensation across his face and he dodged to the left. The veil of the world disappeared and shifted to its true scenario. A smoke and charred building appeared at the place where he had been standing, and he saw the presence of three people on the rooftop. Taiga gave him a laugh and waved, "Your spiritual senses are improving, Bossman! You got here by yourself." He glanced at the burnt cement and then back at her. "Or else I would have been burnt to a crisp and at your own doing. It seems a little contradictory to the idea of hiring you as a bodyguard." "Yeah, that was risky, Taiga." Mou Gu shook his head and clicked his tongue. "You would have to pay for his healing or medical expenses¡ªand he''s the one paying you in the first place." Taiga crossed her arms over her chest. "It is only through death-defying experiences that one can improve." "We could still have a controlled environment, while the effects may be slower. It is no doubt the safer path to becoming stronger," Li Yang said. He shook his head and then saw his secretary with a look of relief on her face. That was in spite of her face looking like she had crossed a land full of soot. "Miss He, I did not expect you to be here frankly. You have a little something on your face." "Little something?" Mou Gu chuckle. "Girl, you could have sunk your face into a charcoal pit of dust and you would have looked the same." The CEO held the small treasure chest in one hand and then took a handkerchief from his pocket. He stepped towards her and offered the fabric¡ªshe thanked him. He nodded and then glanced at Mou Gu. "I recall that you are a chef. Are you capable of brewing these pearls for me?" "Pearls?" He opened the box and showed it. "I obtained black ocean pearls from a certain supplier. What I learned from Miss Lifen was that I had to crush one and mix it in a large batch, but perhaps you can create a thicker and purer consistency for me?" Taiga wrinkled her nose. "Tea Temptress." Li Yang raised a brow at those words, but glanced back at the pink-haired man. "Would that be alright for you? I could pay you to prepare it for me. Or give you three pearls as payment." He could have probably gotten it for free with Bo Lifen but she needed to visit her grandmother and this was his best option. The CEO still hadn''t exactly tried how far his physical capabilities had increased, but this was more convenient for him. "Ah, the life of the rich and famous truly are unimaginable even for us cultivators," Mou Gu sighed and snatched a pearl from the chest. "I''ll do it. Let me just keep this one as a remembrance. I guess we''ll call it a day in our training today?" Ying Yue He gave the man a look. "I don''t exactly see how it is a ''we'' when you spent the hour or so cheering from the sidelines." "Hey, I gave you some tips!" The CEO couldn''t help but feel like his own training was lacking, however he had focused on something else today. Perhaps unlike his secretary and everyone else here, he had his own cheat that allowed him to worry less about training and instead focus on achieving the Main Quests. [ Total Current Charm Points: 23438 ] He still had enough time to do what he wanted and perhaps finish up things that needed to be looked after too. His situation with Luo Ju Di and the child she brought into his life, lessening his workload and also taking care of his secretary? Speaking of which, he glanced at his secretary''s status and opened the Charm Shop. [ Name: Ying Yue He ] [ Age: 26 years old ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Body Cultivation: Flesh Training - Body Transformation ] [ Constitution: Gourmet Body (36%) ] [ Bloodline: Epicurean Bloodline (awakened) - Concentration (15.99%) ] [ Roots: Wood (11.2%) / Earth (14.8%) / Water (12.3%) ] [ Sect: Olympian Corp ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Blossoming Vine Scripture (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak Comprehension: Beginner ( 10/32) Stage: Qi Condensation (1/9) Ying Yue He only took around a day or so to begin the first stage of cultivation? He had to purchase the Qi Condensation - I in actually starting his cultivation, but she achieved it even without that. Was it the Spiritual Blossoming Tea that had really helped? Or perhaps it was her special constitution and bloodline. He focused on one thing in the note section: [ Notes ] Epicurean Bloodline and Gourmet Constitution allows the Individual to Highly Benefit from Resources It was both the Spiritual Root Blossoming Tea and of her own constitution and bloodline. But there was something in the System''s Charm Shop that could help her further and it would simply cost him 500 Charm Points. ''Can I purchase Constitution Refinement for Miss Ying Yue He?'' ¡ª-¡ª- Note: I''m adding new privilege tiers on April 1 and 2! So you won''t be able to purchase for awhile :) Chapter 100: She Wouldnt Let Him Down! [ Yes. Host Can Purchase For Individual Ying Yue He ] [ However, There Is A 25% Increase To Product Price ] [ Would You Like To Purchase Constitution Refinement For 625 Charm Points? ] The CEO stared at the increase of price and had to ask the System for the reasoning behind it. ''Is it because I''m not purchasing for myself?'' [ All Outside Individuals Will Lead To An Additional Increase Of Product Price ] ''Outside¡­ then I assume people in my so-called Harem will not have this price increase?'' [ Harem Members Cost The Same For The Host ] Li Yang inwardly sighed, but almost expected this kind of thing to occur. There had to be benefits to adding an individual to his Harem, and this was one of them. In the long-run it would be a waste to keep purchasing for people outside of his harem. "Mister Li?" Ying Yue He glanced at him. "We''re going back to their office now?" [ Deducting 625 CP From Host¡­. ] [ You Have Purchased Constitution Refinement For Individual: Ying Yue He! ] He gave a nod. "I''ll be right down." ¡ª Ying Yue He wrinkled her nose as she lifted the cup of the Black Ocean Pearl¡­. Paste? The woman gave a look at Mou Gu and asked, "Are you trying to make me sick? This looks like some kind of sludge." "Woah, woah¡ªyour boss asked for a greater purity and consistency, there''s what you got. I didn''t tell you to drink it. I mean¡­ you''re better off using it as some kind of salve." Li Yang stared at the contents in his own cup. It was indeed grotesque to look at, and if one used their imagination, something might have crawled inside of it, or the entirety of it could have been alive. However, the man knew better than that. "But there''s no harm in drinking it, I assume? How many pearls did you use for this?" "Well, there were only twenty-eight pearls in the treasure chest, I used fourteen of them to make this batch. Yes, she can¡­ drink it?" Those were a lot of pearls. "I see." [ The Observer ''Trite'' Is Pleased ] [ The Observer ''Owl Brain'' Questions The Effectiveness ] [ The Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Would Consider It ] Bao finally appeared on the table and peered at the small bowl filled with the rest of the black sludge. "Down the money, goes the drain¡ªer, money goes down the drain." Ying Yue He chewed on her lip and stared at the sludge uneasily. All of these pearls were meant for her, so if she chose not to drink it... the CEO might really just have wasted money, and so he cleared his throat. "I heard the benefits are greater when they''re drunk, Miss He." "A-ah, okay¡­ boss?" "Yuck, yuck." Taiga rested on a couch and was upside down. "Smells salty and icky, Taiga wouldn''t eat that. Barf." There was a clear visible hesitation in Ying Yue He''s face that the CEO didn''t exactly consider when he purchased the pearls. He thought she''d be happy to drink this when he bought it. And yet he wasn''t leading by example, was he? He downed his cup in one go and then stifled his own expression¡ªTaiga''s assessment was right. He could feel the salty taste stuck in his throat. Bo Lifen choosing to make it a tea now made a lot more sense, but he noted the immediate increase in his status intake. [ Ocean Black Pearl Intake ] Consume 24 pieces to increase lifespan by 3% Consumption: 2.2 / 24 Current Lifespan: Average Human "How¡­ how is it Mister Li?" The CEO managed a weak smile. "It tastes¡­ it''s actually consumable." "Pfft¡­ look at his face. You can read the expression so clearly!" Taiga burst into laughter and fell off the couch. Mou Gu made a sound of protest along the lines of ''Pearl Purity'' while Ying Yue He stared at him and then lifted her cup. She opened her lips and poured the entire contents down her mouth, not even one drizzle leaving the corner of her mouth, and then she held a hand over her face. Ying Yue He barely stopped herself from retching it out and was quickly handed a glassful of water by the silent guy in the room. "Saved her from choking to death¡ªeh, Song?" Mou Gu laughed. "Are you okay Ying Yue He?" "Ah¡­ I''m fine. The taste was just overpowering." She gave her own weak laugh and placed the cup down on the table. Taiga frowned and waved a hand. "Eh, what an over exaggeration. Almost wasted the drink." The CEO stared at his secretary''s expression and felt an ebb of guilt wash through him. And yet he still checked her status screen to see if there was any worth through the trouble he put her through. [ Name: Ying Yue He ] [ Age: 26 years old ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation First Stage (1/9) ] [ Body Cultivation: Flesh Training - Body Transformation ] [ Constitution: Gourmet Body (46%) ] [ Bloodline: Epicurean Bloodline (awakened) - Concentration (15.99%) ] There was an increase to the Constitution percentage because of the ''Constitution Refinement'' but the Body Cultivation didn''t exactly show any changes and neither did the qi condensation stage. He wondered if he got it wrong, but his understanding was that consumption of resources improved the body cultivation of those with the Epicurean Bloodline. Perhaps he was expecting too much from just one cup and she needed to drink more to experience benefits? "Mister Li?" his secretary asked. The CEO glanced at the rest in the small bowl and picked it up. The salty scent engulfed his nose and yet he still asked, "Miss He¡­ do you think you can drink it all down by yourself? If you do not mind it, that is." "Oh¡­" "You don''t have to, if you do not wish to." Li Yang considered it would still be healthy and helpful for him to consume it. Perhaps Bo Lifen can salvage this disaster and make it into a tea? He had wanted to speed up the process by having his secretary consume them in a short amount of time, but if she couldn''t even swallow it down easily¡­ She walked over to him and held out both of her hands. A look of determination crossed over her face and she gazed up at him. "I''ll drink it all and won''t let anything spill or go to waste, boss. You can count on me, Mister Li, so please give it to me." Chapter 101: She Was Waiting For Him The aftermath of the evening turned out well after it¡ªYing Yue He indeed drank all the black sludge because he asked her to. He saw no immediate change in her status, but decided to check tomorrow. The CEO then brought her back to her apartment and then he would take Taiga back to his own house. It was a little over eight when he returned. He immediately deployed Taiga to watch over his house, and she had a small bag of food that she requested from a drive-thru. The tigress spirit had insisted on eating a burger, extra-large fries, and then a liter of soda topped with ice cream. Li Yang complied with it¡ªand decided that it was better that he didn''t cook for her. She looked a lot happier sitting atop a tree and slurping down her soda than when he prepared her a sandwich and milk. He would perhaps consider it a productive day. And so he prepared himself to enter his house and see his brother and his partner¡ªbut didn''t expect to hear laughter in the kitchen. "Ah, is that Yang? Come over here, we have a guest!" his brother called for him. The CEO would have preferred to head to his room, but still stepped into the kitchen. His brother perfectly knew that he wouldn''t be rude when a guest was at stake, and he soon blinked and stared at the presence of Bo Lifen. She was inside of his house and had dropped by? The woman was sitting across Gabrielle Sauveterre, whilst his brother was busy in front of the stove. "Miss Lifen?" "A-ah¡­ I dropped by." She held up a thick envelope. "Do you remember our conversation when we met at my great-grandmother''s house?" He could have said that he remembered it vividly, when she had trapped him in her arms and confronted him, but he just shook his head. "Which portion of our talk in particular?" "I mentioned my brother and how he was into the idea of opening a milk tea cafe and you told me that you could have someone look over it?" Bo Lifen sheepishly smiled. "He actually prepared some documents and is eager for the great and amazing CEO to look into it." "And I invited her to dinner," Liang glanced over his shoulder and gave him a rambunctious grin. "I mean, the two of you could discuss it over and we could all have a warm meal. I''m cooking pasta right now and Gabi brought a choice wine when we were shopping so you can consider it a splendid night of fine dining." "If you can avoid overcooking the noodles." Gabrielle motioned to the stove. His brother immediately turned off the stove and fussed over his cooking. The CEO would take a seat beside Bo Lifen and glance at the envelope in her hands. "I can give an initial look-over and I''ll pass it to one of my colleagues." "That sounds good to me." She passed it over. ¡ª Perhaps he would never admit it aloud because it might incite some jeers or a couple of laughs, but having dinner with other people tonight was actually a pleasant experience. Especially for him who was used to eating alone. Li Yang glanced at Bo Lifen drinking her wine, and he also sipped his¡ªdoing it in moderation. Albeit he wasn''t exactly thinking about it badly. There was something warm and cozy about this dinner, unlike what he and his brother experienced when they were younger. But all good things also had their end. "Thank you for the meal¡ªI better get going back to Shanghai." Bo Lifen rubbed the back of her neck and picked up her helmet. His brother raised a brow. "Huh, did you come all the way here for Yang?" "Liang." "What?" "I had to visit Granny Lanfen too, and since my brother heard that I would¡ªhe made me bring the envelope. He''s actually hoping that his business plan could wow Li Yang a lot, that he''d become an investor." Bo Lifen explained and strapped on her helmet. "No pressure, though." "But do you not think that it''s a little too late?" Gabrielle asked. "No, I''m fine with going home late." "It''s a little dangerous when it''s late at night and you''re on a motorcycle." "You''re being a worrywart, Gabi." Liang said, but shrugged. He glanced at Bo Lifen, "But maybe Yang can drive you home if you want?" The CEO raised a brow. "If it''s late and Miss Lifen is having trouble, then perhaps she can stay with Granny Lanfen tonight?" Those words earned some looks from both Gabrielle and Liang. It was as if he had said something wrong when he simply offered a solution. At the end of the room, Bao had a paw in its face. "Geez. Opportunities." "I think she sleeps early, I don''t want to bother her at this time." Bo Lifen said with a sheepish smile. "Either way, I''ll get going now. Thank you once again for the dinner!" Li Yang would be the one to see her out as both his brother and Gabrielle would clear the dishes on the table. The two of them stepped out of the house and soon realized that it was raining. Heavily. "What the¡ªthe weather does have a bad time, doesn''t it?" Bo Lifen groaned and slapped a hand over her face. "I didn''t see anything coming up when I checked the weather forecast today." "It did rain yesterday or so¡­?" Li Yang offered and glanced in their general direction. Curious if Bao had anything to do with it and remembered the creature spoke about not liking lightning tribulations. When there was lightning, there was rain¡ª "Bossman!" A shadow appeared from the darkness and nearly tackled Li Yang¡ªbut Bo Lifen quickly shoved an arm in front of him. Taiga stopped outside of the small roof at the front door and glared at her. And then inched under to Li Yang''s side¡­ despite the fact that she was soaking wet. Li Yang nearly forgot about her and asked, "Are you alright, Miss Taiga?" "What do you think?" She frowned at him. "Tigers are supposed to enjoy the waters though." Bo Lifen shrugged. "You want Taiga to say that''s hilarious?" Chapter 102: A Late Night Invitation (1) These were the situations where it was best to separate bickering people. The CEO glanced at Taiga. "Head inside into my room and dry up, Miss Taiga¡ªit''s the third room on the hallway to the right. I have some spare towels. I''m not sure if you can get sick, but I''d like to ensure that you don''t." "Okaaaay? Thanks, Bossman." Taiga threw one look at Bo Lifen, stuck her tongue out and then disappeared back into the house. Li Yang caught the door before she could slam it and hoped, or rather expected, that the tigress kept it down. The complications of being found out were on his mind¡ªbut if he knew any better. His brother and the woman could have already been busy in the kitchen. "Are you actually fine with that sopping wet cat to be around in your room¡ªit''s your fault if she messes anything up." Bo Lifen shook her head and sighed. "Don''t say I didn''t warn you." Li Yang shrugged. "It''s nothing bad to have her in it, there are no documents and such that can get ruined in it. And I at least expect her to be professional about it." "You''re either the most dense man I''ve ever met¡ªand that''s something since I know Han Jing. Or you really rigidly keep your headspace in whatever it is you want. Not everyone is going to stay in the lines that you''ve drawn inside your head." "I wish they did so I could at least not be disappointed when they don''t do it." Li Yang stared out at the pouring heavens. "However, life tends to catch us in surprise, doesn''t it? Would you like to stay tonight, Miss Lifen?" "No." "Your great-grandmother''s?" "I told you she was asleep by now." "Then do you expect me to let you drive out in the rain?" She pursed her lips and then hung her head slightly. "I¡­ I can''t stay here and give your brother and his wife something weird to think about. If I could bother you to drive me home tonight?" "Then won''t your parents see that you came home with a man?" Li Yang asked. "I thought you didn''t have a problem with that." "I don''t¡ªbut what about what they think? I thought you were concerned about people''s perspectives." "Haah¡­ at least when they see you or your car, they''d stop nagging me and think I was with someone." He wasn''t actually that surprised to hear about Bo Lifen''s problem and using him as a solution didn''t bother him¡ªdespite it being a little deceitful. The CEO would start the slow and careful drive back to the city. The silence in between them wasn''t terrible, if anything, it was a comfortable one as the rain continued to pour down and created a sense of rhythm. And then she tried to fill in it. "Miss Gabrielle told me about Hirire earlier, before you arrived and recommended it to me." "Huh?" "I''m not sure if she was simply trying to talk with me¡ªor my situation is a lot more obvious. It''s a dating service, well¡­ It''s more like renting a girlfriend or boyfriend for hire. These people can also actually meet your parents, and they''d have a script and all that. You can discuss it over and it''s quite a professional group she says." "Oh, have you considered availing of it?" "Of course not¡ªI don''t mean to judge those who do. When you''re desperate and have no other options, go ahead. It''s difficult getting into a relationship at this time and age when everyone''s busy with work and life." She glanced at him. "But just by having you around gets me the same effects at a fraction of the cost. Virtually zero now that I think about it." "Ah, so you''re being resourceful." He chuckled. "Some might say you''re being stingy." "Very funny," she said. "There''s also the fact that I think you''ve been forgetting about." "Which is¡­?" "Are you trying to act dumb or forgetful?" "You''re being vague. I don''t like guessing." "I mean, we already have our own¡ªarrangements, I guess." There was a touch of heat in her voice. "And that''s certainly a step higher than whatever they could offer, I guess." The CEO took the opportunity to stop his car at the side of the road. He cleared his throat and finally glanced at her. "We haven''t exactly finished discussing the details, though?" Her gaze flickered around the car''s windows before she looked back at him. "Then do you want to finalize it over now?" "Do you want to discuss it in the back?" "I can''t believe you actually said that, my god¡ª" He pressed a finger to her lips and opted for a smile. "Best not to invoke any names, wouldn''t want anyone to watch do you?" She gave him a confused look before she rolled her eyes. She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand down and said, "Oh my jolly goodness, I can''t imagine that I''m doing it in the car." There was a touch of sarcasm in it that made him chuckle, but he asked. "So you don''t want to?" The two of them could still turn back and head back to the road. "We don''t necessarily have to do anything." "What about you? Are you in the mood or are you already sleepy?" She asked back. "Do you think that your third leg is asleep?" The eu?phe?mism made him blink, but then he chuckled. "I think it''s easy enough to liven it up if the situation calls for it. Although that is if you really have no problems with here? Comfort is a thing." She pursed her lip and began to crawl her way to the back seat. She looked over her shoulder and gave him a look. "Now''s a better time than any other. We don''t have any other better ones to look forward to¡ª" "If you say so." He followed after her. "... this is actually a little cramped now that I think about it." "I told you." "Let''s just get on with it." Chapter 103: A Late Night Invitation (2)** In the pale moonlight of the night and in a deserted, lonely road, two people were going at it inside of a car. It was difficult to see when the windows were a dark and heavy shade of tint. But for a certain observer, it was easy to catch the sight of them. The two of them were exchanging kisses and touches, with Bo Lifen pinned underneath him and the man tasting the slightly sweet flavors of the wine in her mouth. Pleased sounds erupted from her lips, and she tugged on the strands of his hair. Her legs were wrapped around his hips and beckoned him to grind his body on hers, the delicious friction heating up the mood. His fingers had already snaked around one of her breasts and he squeezed it deliberately. It was a notable and soft mound that elicited further encouragement from the woman to continue on with his ministrations. The two of them parted for air and the man stared down at the glossy and rosy lips she chewed on and her half-lidded eyes. The slightly drunkening stare that heated his loins as she whispered, "Will you take off your top?" "Will you do the same, Lifen?" She gave him a half-meant glare even in this moment, but complied with his request. Bo Lifen had already peeled off her jacket earlier and proceeded to take off her shirt, revealing her fair skin and toned body to him. It also revealed the sight of a black bra with red frills teasing around the top of her chest. "Well?" He appreciated the sight for a moment and said, "It looks good on you." Her face flushed, and she lowered her head, the woman tugging on the edge of his shirt. "Just shut up and remove your¡ªyou know what? I''ll do it myself." She moved and barely hovered above him. Her knees were stuck in between his legs as her hands moved fast. She unbuttoned each one of them and quickly pulled it over his head. The woman looked down at him and ran her hands over his torso, a soft and pleased hum escaping from her. "You don''t look so bad yourself, Mister CEO." He quickly reached behind her back and he unclasped the hook on her bra, watching it drop from her chest. It elicited a soft whine from her and she buried her face in the crevice of his neck, her hot and flush breathing presently warming up his own. "How the heck can you unclasp it that fast?" "Seems kind of intuitive, really?" he said and ran his fingers from her bare back to the shorts that still hung around her waist. He could feel the tight band of her panties and he half-wondered if they matched with her top. Before he could tug it down and reveal her underwear, she looked back up at him and then moved for the buckle of his pants and tugged out his erection. She gave him a smirk and grasped the base of his cock. "I suppose this thing is quite as honest as you are. It''s quite hard¡ª" "Will you try to make me cum and then call it a night?" he tilted his head at her. Her lips twisted slightly, and then she averted her gaze. "That''s an option, but I suppose it''s better that it''s you. Gotta get it through some time, why not now?" The woman rose up slightly on her knees and slowly wriggled out of her shorts, revealing black panties that matched with her bra. But then she hesitated and gave him a look. "I mean, you don''t have any condom on you, do you? I don''t think you''re the type to carry one around your wallet and neither do I." "No¡­ but I can pull out?" She scrunched up her face at him. "Tsk tsk, now I don''t want to sound like I''m chickening¡ª" A soft gasp escaped her throat. Li Yang had reached for her crotch, stroking and taking note of the slightly drenched and darkened spot. "I suppose the body is a lot more honest indeed." A sultry scent invaded his nose, and he looked up to her slightly dazed and tranced expression. "Well?" It was a little difficult to turn back now. "Do you need to keep asking for invitations?" She chewed on her lip, trying hard to not to quiver at the touch on her neglected groin. "I''ll ride you and you warn me." Before the man could say another word¡ªshe adjusted the edge of her panties to the side and then sunk slowly down his cock. Li Yang grunted and dug his fingers through her hips¡ª She squeaked and then stopped before he could find himself fully thrust inside her. "That is to say¡ªdon''t pull me down or anything. I¡­ I haven''t, well..." Li Yang stared at her tensed expression. "Oh." "Don''t oh me, give me a second." Bo Lifen chewed on her lip, her arms wrapping around his neck. She breathed and sank down another fraction, an uneasy gasp escaping her throat. "It shouldn''t hurt¡ª" She took in a sharp intake of air as he completely buried himself in her. Li Yang traced his fingers on her back and arching his hips up in an experimental thrust. The delectable heat left him a tad breathless as he pressed his lips against the soft flush of her skin. "Did it hurt too much?" "I¡­ I''m okay." Bo Lifen''s lips were parted slightly open, still taking in the sensation of his cock inside of her. It took her about a minute before she grabbed his shoulder and began to grind her hips downwards. She then moved quicker, picking up the pace by moving up and down, and soon began to bounce on his cock. Her breast moved through the motions and her hair flowed down through her shoulders. The woman''s eyes were shut close in concentration, chewing on her lips and biting back her moans as the sensations rolled over between the two of them. And the two of them began to set up a rhythm. He dipped his head closer to her chest and caught a nipple in his mouth, and he began twisting and teasing it in his mouth. A soft breathy pant escaped her lips, and the scent of sweat and musk filled the car. Wetness seemed to coat her thighs as she continued with the thrusting and fire pooled in his abdomen. He pumped his cock inside of her and soon met her movement with his own quick and punishing strikes¡ª Bo Lifen squeezed his shoulder and moaned. Right now her legs were trembling as she convulsed above him and neared the edge. "Stop, stop." She pulled out and his cock revealed itself coated in her juices and she cleared her throat. The woman had a hand on her chest and she took a greedy gulp of air and then gave him a sheepish look. "I''ll finish you off." Li Yang gave her a look. Not exactly liking the abrupt end to their session, but she was vehement and moved her head closer to the tip of his cock. She flicked out her tongue and then pumped her hand around him. "It feels like you''re close, but you''re not giving me a heads-up, so let''s stick with this. It''s probably the same¡­?" "Not really," he sighed. "But I would have warned you if I were close." He didn''t think he would be complaining, especially when he really had forgotten about it and she still managed to have the wits between the two of them¡­ but he wouldn''t admit it aloud. It almost made sense on how he ended up going all the way with Luo Ju Di back then. The vague memory of it slipped through his mind¡ª Bo Lifen snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Don''t get your head lost somewhere just because I stopped." She still managed to give off a cute pout in spite of the situation. "I mean the point of sex isn''t simply just to orgasm, you know?" He chuckled and bowed his head. "Of course, but please finish me off, Miss Lifen." "Well, aren''t you demanding?" She snickered, but bent her head down to fulfill his request. Despite it all, she took his head into her mouth and brought him to the edge. When he finished, the man was greeted with the sight of her swallowing down and wiping some excess that escaped through the corner of her lips. She looked back at him and smirked, "Do you want to kiss me now?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Is it weird to kiss a woman who just swallowed your cum? Answers people xP Chapter 104: Welcome Home Li Yang took Bo Lifen to her home¡ªand, well, they didn''t exactly share a kiss goodnight or goodbye. Instead, when she had gotten down from the car and headed to one of the houses in the good neighborhood in Shanghai, she treated him like a colleague and bid him a safe drive. He didn''t exactly have any troubles with that. If anything, one can almost say that he was in a post-nut clarity¡ªhis head was clear and he felt like he could take on the world. Perhaps that was an over exaggeration, but there was a rather pleased and relaxed sensation to the man even as he drove home. Bao appeared in the front seat of his car and let out a snicker. Its paws were crossed over its small chest. "Looks like someone scored a home run¡­ or base forth something? Whatever." "Indeed." He didn''t bother correcting the creature. "Did you bother checking the notifications you''ve received?" "No, I''ll check them tomorrow," he said. Li Yang kept his eyes on the road and focused on it, in particular, he appreciated the clear roads he was travelling in. Perhaps he didn''t actually want to ruin his mood by seeing whatever was on the notifications¡ªalbeit, it was a terrible urge to fight back. But he had already tackled and managed to trump over the urge of checking his emails when he was at home around three years ago. So checking the notifications provided by the System was also something he wanted to avoid unless it was life-threatening and urgent. "Is there anything that I need to know besides some of the observers probably enjoying the show?" he asked. "Give the heavens a little credit¡ªa quick romp like that is nothing. Some can last years doing that, Li Yang." The CEO scrunched up his face. "That''s terribly long." "That''s in your perspective and also because your limp cock won''t last that long." Bao scoffed and waved a paw at him. Li Yang glanced at it for a second. "You complimented it before." "... Yeah? So what?" The Panda rolled its eyes. "It''s not only the length or girth, but the technique! Any decent harem system host should at least know that if they want to pleasure the people in their chambers." "I didn''t expect to hear that from you." "What did you want me to say¡ªoh, yes, go collect some human women cauldron to add in your harem? Those lifeless and fish-eyed women variants used by some demonic cultivators? I don''t know if the current Observers here are actually into that thing." "... but there are those who do?" "Damnit, haven''t you heard one of those humans here say something like ''All the world''s a stage? And all the men and women merely players?'' that''s actually supposed to mean something when the guy said it. But I guess we can''t expect humans to all get it." the Panda flicked a paw in his face. "We''re in showbiz, pal!" "... I didn''t expect you to explain it again, but thank you." Li Yang hadn''t actually seen the words of the poet, playwright and actor in that way and those who interpreted it in the past also had their own meanings to those words. ¡ª When Li Yang stepped inside of his house, no one would be there to greet him. He checked the living room to see a movie running with both his brother and partner asleep in each other''s arms. The man would shake his head slightly but didn''t disturb them and instead turned off the television. He would then head to his room¡ªand he would see glowing eyes in the darkness. The man turned on the lights and was greeted with the sight of a fluffy-looking Taiga. She was wearing¡­ one of his white buttoned dress shirts and resting on his bed comfortably. Her pale white legs were splayed out and bared to him, while her head was resting on her arm. "Welcome home, Bossman!" "... Ah, yes. Thank you, Miss Taiga." "Is that all you''re going to say? Taiga has been waiting for you all night!" She frowned at him and pouted. He remembered that he didn''t exactly give her orders to return to the tree after she had dried herself. And so¡­ this somehow made some sense? He rubbed the back of his neck and felt some exhaustion actually seep into his body at this hour that he didn''t even want to bother with his bodyguard''s advances. "Were you waiting for me to come home so I can sleep with you, Miss Taiga?" A perfectly vague question that could be interpreted in two ways. The tigress spirit averted her gaze. For the first time, an uncomfortable look crossed on her face. "Well¡­ most of the sects in the past that Taiga wanted to work with before used to want services so Taiga could get resources. Taiga thinks it''s the same for Bossman?" Her words were enough to make the drowsiness disappear from the CEO and he looked at her. "What did you say, Miss Taiga? I only expect you to protect me and do not expect any kind of servicing whatsoever." His jaw tightened slightly. "Is this happening during your employment with Shen Society or¡­?" It really didn''t matter. Li Yang rubbed his face and tried to think. He didn''t like the idea of this, regardless. The CEO could already imagine it¡ªa defenseless spirit was forced to make deals with old and powerful sects so she could survive and continue her cultivation? It was a scummy deal. "Don''t worry about it, Bossman!" Taiga immediately rose up from his bed and padded down towards him and gave him a bright smile. "Most of the sects that Taiga had to work with before have already vanished or collapsed. Sometimes, Taiga even destroyed them herself once she stole and exhausted their resources!" Had that really solved the problem? Exterminating sects and the people in them? Did it teach the other sects and showed a good example to not do? Li Yang stared down at the smaller tigress spirit looking up at him and trying to make him feel better. It was ridiculous that she was the one doing it when he should be the one doing it¡ªperhaps he could question Taiga''s mindset before on why she had agreed to it in the first place? But he could only suppose that a proud tigress spirit like her would only do it during desperation. And yet that was only him trying to give a narrative to her tale. "Taiga guesses that Bossman thinks it''s¡­ disgusting, isn''t it?" Chapter 105: Date The Secretary (2) Note: Title Based On Previous Date Back In Chapter 4 Before Li Yang could say a word last night¡ªthe tigress spirit disappeared in a blink of an eye. He could have done something like chase after her or track her down, but the man decided to give her some space. He doubted she would believe in his words, and that was the end to his night. When morning finally came up, which was actually at four-thirty in the morning for him, he set out to prepare for the day. It was his date with Ying Yue He. Perhaps he shouldn''t have driven Bo Lifen home and perhaps had her stay at his house¡ªthat would have at least mitigated the incident with Taiga. He normally didn''t regret his decisions, but he wondered about it now. "A very dark morning to you." Bao appeared in front of him. Li Yang rubbed the corner of his eyes. "Yes, the sun is not out yet." "I mean, some Observers didn''t exactly like how you handled the situation last night, but whatever." the Panda floated about and shrugged. "Then again, most don''t care about the life of mortals beyond entertainment, so it isn''t too bad. Just around a three thousand charm points or so lost, but that shtick with Bo Lifen racked you up good points too." "Thank you for informing me." He stretched one moment and then finally summoned the status screen. Li Yang would briefly go over them and the reactions¡­ to the incident last night and indeed saw it was mixed like some raving fire. [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Thinks That It''s About Time! ] [ You Have Received 2000 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''Owl Brain'' Turns Away ] [ You Have Received 250 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''Apache'' Takes Note Of The Change ] [ You Have Received 1500 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Calls ''Owl Brain'' A Virgin ] [ Observer ''Dat Peach'' Watches With Popcorn ] [ You Have Received 1250 Charm Points ] And then much later. [ Observer ''The One Who Slaughters'' Wishes To Slaughter Sects ] [ Observer ''Fire Dweller'' Dims Slightly ] [ You Have Lost 500 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''Scythe Wheat'' Is Upset ] [ You Have Lost 1500 Charm Points ] [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Is Tad Frustrated ] [ Observer ''Dat Peach'' Eats And Enjoys The Discomfort] [ You Have Received 2000 Charm Points ] "How do some people call it¡­ battles and wars of shipping?" "...I would like to say that I understood it, but I need to prepare." Li Yang frowned slightly and glanced at the other stream of messages. Some of the reactions in the Heavens were shown, and it gave some hint to the personalities of those from Celestial Heavens. In particular, it seemed like ''Dat Peach'' was terribly rich enough to throw around points and still give it to him despite him still not touching the Unofficial System Patch that they had given to him. The CEO recalled Bao''s words and sighed inwardly. He would have to consider about this situation another time. Li Yang wished he didn''t notice¡ªbut their names began to become part of his daily routine. And though the messages were a mixture of praises and disappointment in him or the end of the night regarding his encounter with Taiga¡­ The Charm Points he received were another story. Even if there had been some loss of points, the gains he received were still larger in the end. [ You Have Gained 2500 Charm Points ] [ 90% Successful Encounter ] [ Yin Qi Gathered 3/3 ] [ Yang Essence Provided 3/3 ] [ Achievement Unlocked! ] [ Almost There¡ª! - I ] Sleep with a woman and go with them all the way, but finish outside [ You Have Received Yin-Yang Qi Cultivation Pill ] [ Total Current Charm Points: 30,313 ] He was beginning to get into the rhythm of acquiring points despite the lack of main quests. It wasn''t exactly skipping, as he knew that once his timer ends, he would be getting a new target, but he was able to achieve his goals. And perhaps that was what he would take ahold on to more than the harem. ¡ª The world was bright, colorful and wonderful to Ying Yue He. She could have used another adjective but decided not to opt into it and instead prepared for her date with her¡­ boss! The woman could have squealed like any highschool girl that received a prom invitation from her crush. A crush who also happened to be the most popular, handsomest and richest boy in the entire school. She hummed despite it being six in the morning and her favorite music played on her phone on full volume¡ª Until she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it, Madam Dongxia stood in front of her with an eye mask over her forehead. "Will you keep the noise a little down?" "Ah good morning, Madam Dongxia¡ªI''ll do just that," Ying Yue He grinned at her. "You can sleep in for the rest because I''ll be gone by seven, Madam." The older woman gave her a look. "You''re glowing." "Thank you!" The older lady shook her head and waved. "Keep the noise down, you''re not the only one in this apartment, okay?" Madam Dongxia returned to her room. Ying Yue He touched her face and then let out a whimsical sigh. "Today''s going to be the day¡ª" She cleared her throat and stepped to her closet. The secretary assessed her clothes. Most were the tried and tested black pencil skirts matched with different colored blouses. "I need it to be both cute and functional¡ªfit for the zoo and then the concert. Something that says, ''Look at me being effortlessly charming'' and other things along those lines." ¡ª "I''d rate your outfit a six¡ªyou''re going on a casual date." Bao had a paw in his face. "Who wears a jacket in the morning?" "You could have told me before we left." "I''m not your assistant. I bet your brother and his woman would have stopped you from walking out of the house." "But they were asleep," Li Yang said. "Either way, I think you''re exaggerating as usual." The man parked his car outside of the apartment and glanced at his watch. Fifteen minutes before the scheduled time. He would wait patiently and yawned. [ Low Qi Levels ] [ Absorbing Qi in Immediate Surroundings ] 1 cycle. 2 cycles. 3¡ª There was a rap on the window. Li Yang opened his eyes and saw Ying Yue He outside already. She wasn''t supposed to be out of the apartment, and yet here she was. The man rolled down the window and smiled at her. "Good morning, Miss He. Will you get inside now?" "Of course!" She stepped inside and took the shotgun seat beside him. The woman had her backpack on that matched her cargo shorts and a loose black shirt that showed off both her arms and legs. It was really casual, in direct contrast to his own clothes. But more than that, he had never really seen her wear anything like it, even during team building events at the company. "Ah¡­ are my clothes weird?" She sheepishly smiled. "If it''s not appropriate, I can change." "No, it''s just my first time seeing you in those clothes, they look good on you." "You too, Mister Li! I''ve never seen you in anything but a two piece or three-piece suit." The two of them would soon be on their way for their date. Chapter 106: Date the Secretary (3) The cool morning breeze blew across the encompassing area of the zoo. The sun''s soft rays fell from the skies and decorated their surroundings with a healthy amount of light. Truth be told, Li Yang did not have much endearment for animals and neither did the zoo exactly provide him much entertainment. Perhaps he never got the appeal of watching something when he could be doing another thing entirely. However, both him and Ying Yue He strolled along the different spots in the zoo from the sleepy male lion yawning at its space to the beautiful peacock gathered around in a flock, their bright plumage catching the eyes of the many visitors. "Only males get those bright and colorful feathers, you know?" Ying Yue He said. To her credit, she would at least speak one animal fact without even blinking an eye. The woman explained the difference between crocodiles and alligators and then even spoke of the hypothetical results of tigers vs lions. "Most lions fight together and tigers tend to be more solitary cats so in that case, you can expect the tiger to get defeated in the end. But there''s this incident at a circus where a group of tigers and lions fought one another¡ªboth did have survivors. And there was a male tiger that protected a female lion?" The CEO raised a brow but only half-smiled. "Did you look up all of these before our trip or were you always this knowledgeable?" His remark made her blush. "Perhaps? I mean I knew we were going here so I checked them out," Ying Yue He said. "I do hope you weren''t checking them during work hours, Miss He." "¡ªno!" She protested with a red face. She waved her hands at him and shook her head vehemently. "I would never, well I¡ª" "I was only joking," he chuckled. "Please don''t get all worked up¡ªI almost feel bad. There''s no harm amusing yourself when it''s not so busy at the office." Her lips twisted together and she soon pouted. "You know¡­ it''s a little hard to tell when you''re joking, Mister Li." "Really?" "Yes, really." Shs shook her head and then looked up at him. "Are you by any chance hungry, Mister Li? Did you eat breakfast on your way here?" "No, but are you hungry now, Miss He?" Li Yang glanced around the zoo and focused on one of the bulletin maps scattered across the area. "I think there''s a restaurant and a store around here? Some animal themed¡ª" "Let''s take a seat over that bench." She would practically drag him there and forced him to sit down. It was there that she zipped open her backpack and took out some containers, she opened one revealed apple slices and offered it to him. "Would you like to eat something light? I also packed some sandwiches¡ªthe restaurants here are a bit too pricey." "Hmmm, I didn''t know that." "Those panda shaped creme brulee are just one way to get a hefty price tag on them, but if you''d like to eat there¡ªit''s also fine." "We can think about it later, thank you for packing up some snacks for us to eat." Before Li Yang could pick up an apple slice, she fussed him with some hand sanitizer. The CEO soon chewed the apple with some relish, the fresh flavor of the fruit coming into his mouth. It also had a slightly sour taste¡­ "I squeezed some lemon juice in them, Mister Li," Ying Yue He said, perhaps taking note of the expression on his face. "It''s to prevent them from browning or oxidizing due to air exposure¡­ is it too sour?" "No, it''s fine," he reassured her. "I''m honestly surprised you had time to prepare this." "Ah, well if you''re not that affluent I guess it becomes a little natural to try and find ways to save, Mister Li." Ying Yue He opened another container that had sandwiches. She offered him and he took one. "It''s easier to save when you know you brought food and worked a bit on preparing them¡ªit only took me ten to fifteen minutes tops." "I see, that is convenient." "Do you not do a lot of cooking, Mister Li?" she asked. "Although ah, it makes sense if you don''t¡ª" "I do cook from time to time. It is a necessary skill¡­ however I''m not that good at it." Li Yang admitted and thought back on the incident with Taiga. She had enjoyed more of the fast food than his own food preparation. Not that one could call a grilled sandwich as fine dining or exemplary cooking. "It''s not like we could master everything since we have¡ª" Ying Yue He paused and then leaned towards him. She whispered underneath her breath. "Mister Li, if you become immortal, you''d have all the time in the world to learn how to cook. Would that mean that the company is going to run for so long?" Li Yang didn''t try to think of the situation in his hands to that extent¡ªbut somehow his secretary was considering it already. "If that happens, I suppose I expect you to be around, Miss He." What kind of life would he be living if everyone he knew were already dead? That was a sobering thought. And yet that was the reality when one became an immortal cultivator was it not? He hadn''t thought that far. [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] Li Yang leaned back against the bench and bit into another apple. "However, the way to such a thing is a tremendously tortuous path. Are you willing to go down along that path¡ª" "If it''s with you¡ªI mean, I''m doing this to repay you, Mister Li. If it''s a necessary thing then I will." Ying Yue He gave him a firm nod and then bit into her sandwich. "I mean most desire immortality anyway, fear of death and all of that. Have you seen all of the vampire movies and novels recently, Mister Li? One bite and then boom. Immortality." "You don''t have to do this just to repay me for the tea. I do feel like I have to remind you constantly of that, Miss He. It''s a big decision. There are perks to cultivation but tribulations as well." "It''d be a pretty lonely road if you go all by yourself." "¡ªguess someone doesn''t know that you''ll be accompanied by a harem." Bao said appearing out of nowhere and landing in her lap. It took a slice from one of the containers and swallowed it in one go, greedily. "Lonely my ass." This creature both had impeccable and horrible timing, or perhaps it was just great at ruining the mood. "I appreciate the concern, Miss He. But the same goes to you." He accepted the bottled water from her and took a sip. "Albeit it does seem like a far too serious conversation at this hour¡ªwould you like to go see the pandas now?" [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] She smiled and then leaned back. "I actually don''t mind just sitting here with you, Mister Li." "Are you sure? I do have some things planned out as well." The CEO stood up and offered a hand. "We have other places to be after this zoo, Miss He." She looked up to him in surprise. "Huh¡­ more? Not just the concert?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: A lot less sexual, but hopefully wholesome xD Different people, different stages Chapter 107: Date The Secretary (4) Note: More Secretary + CEO interaction. Panda wanted to skip this chapter due to diabetes? What the CEO had in store blew Ying Yue He''s mind¡ªshe really didn''t care about the setting or where he chose to spend time with her, what mattered to the woman was that he was actually spending time with her. But not this. "Does it feel comfortable, Madam?" the lady attendant looked at her with both a slightly envious and also in awe gaze. "Ah yes... but I''m not sure I want this one." There was no such thing as price tags or discounted purchases. Her boss had brought her to one of the most luxurious brands in the entire city and Ying Yue He swore that he had pulled out a black credit card. The secretary knew that he was a frugal person who cared to the last cent of digits represented in their financial statement. Her boss had often talked with the Chief Financial Officer in their company. However, after the zoo¡ªhe brought her here so she could pick out articles of apparels that she wanted or liked. Amidst that, other attendants were also picking out clothes for her. What exactly had gotten into her boss'' mind? Was he raised to show affection through lavish and extravagant gifts? Or his parents had neglected him and had instead only showed with him gifts and that was the only thing he knew? The man could actually be considerate and sensitive to her needs when he was attentive, but other times she couldn''t help but feel a disconnect. Ying Yue He didn''t actually try to pry into her boss'' private life, but she had heard snippets from other people who worked with her boss'' brother. It was easy to declare that Li Yang was the honourable son and his brother Liang was the black sheep in the family. Now it wasn''t like she hated the Cinderella-feeling right now, but it just so happened that her boss was focused on something else entirely. He had a phone in his hand and was talking with someone else at this kind of time. Maybe she was misinterpreting this¡ªbut everything was supposed to be crystal clear! Who took out their secretary for a date? This happened before the cultivation incident so it mustn''t be because he was trying to make her agree into becoming one of his right-hand man, didn''t he? What exactly had made him so busy that he had to be on the phone right now? Ying Yue He wished that he spent less time on his phone and more on herself, rich and luxuriant clothes were one thing, but actually talking with him was a lot more important to her. "I just need to grab his attention!" "Hmm did you say something Miss?" The bored attendant looked up at her and was about to place back the item back onto the shelf. Ying Yue He stopped her. "I need that and I need you and the others to work with me. I have a plan!" .. . "¡ªThank you." the CEO hung up, but the man held his phone and stared at the creature floating in the air. "What''s the matter?" "Was that call so important? This day is pretty boring, I''m just glad that we left the zoo¡ªlooking at all those Pandas made me feel weird because you kept calling me as one." "... I had to make some calls and favors to eat in a private room with Miss He for lunch." "Huh, when you go all out you do go out eh?" the creature crossed its arms. "It seems like you''re blowing a lot of cash today. Never expected that you''d be this wasteful." "But isn''t this what most women want? At least based on how you made it out before." Li Yang did think that anybody would appreciate a gift. He mostly had Ying Yue He decide and select gifts when he was meeting with other executives and other key players in the industry that it was just natural to treat her. A scoff escaped its lips. "Are you starting to listen to me more than think for yourself?" "I suppose this is an experimentation¡ªand I''ve seen it done in popular romance films and shows. There must be a good reason for it if it''s being featured frequently." "... I would have liked to argue with you, but are you telling me that you watch all of the cheesy things that you humans watch?" "You also seem well versed in it if you can complain about it." "Obviously I had to know¡ªeh, you''re not going to pry information from me. Better luck next time, bastard." the creature had a paw in its face. "Can''t really understand what''s so entertaining about this stuff. Could we just skip all of this and get with the missions? Stupid timer." "Mister Li!" Ying Yue He called out, her voice rang out in the entire establishment. When the CEO looked back, he ignored the views and whispers of other clients and attendants in the store and simply nodded. "What is it, Miss He¡ª" She stood a couple feet away from him in her tiny black dress, her hair falling gently over her shoulders like cascading waves. There was a sheepish smile playing on her lips that had a touch of gloss pink. She wore a strap-on stilettos. She was in a completely different get up and the aura around her was magnificent. And then she motioned for him to come over, "I can''t actually take a step with these, please come over here." He chuckled, stepped over towards her and offered her a hand. "If that''s the case then why did you wear them?" "I... I just wanted to try it, I guess. It might be good for a red carpet occasion? Or maybe some kind of company anniversary event?" "Hmm, I''m not so sure if that short of a dress would do¡ªmost wear gowns on events like that." Li Yang had already attended on some invitations-only events with his brother before, some of them was when the company became one of those who sponsored galas and social gatherings. He didn''t frankly enjoy all the noise and glitter. "Oh..." He was quick to reassure her. "But it is a surprise to see you right now, and I mean that in a good way." "Would it be a good thing to see a woman like this everyday then? Someone who looks gorgeous everyday and in makeup and such?" "It doesn''t exactly fit the dress code of our company, Miss He." The statement earned him a pout from the woman and a roll of an eye from Bao. "I think you''re fine just as you are. But will you like to buy that?" "This seems a little too much honestly¡ªone minute we were looking at slobbering monkeys then we''re here." She gave him a sheepish laugh. "I guess you managed to surprise me, Mister Li. But why the need to go here?" "The restaurant where we''ll be having lunch has a black tie dress code. It was something I decided on a whim so I apologize for failing to inform you in advance." She waved a hand. "You don''t have to apologize for anything, Mister Li¡ªthank you for taking me out. It''s a huge leap from the coffee date and then this¡­?" "It''s a nice change of pace, don''t you think?" Chapter 108: The Beautiful and Charming Idol Has Arrived (1) Beautiful blue hair cascaded down across her bare shoulders, bouncing off her pearl-like skin and showing off dazzling aquamarine eyes. Her star-idol outfit hugged her curvaceous figure, and the makeup that accentuated her already glamorous features was what drew people''s eyes to her. She retained a look that was both innocent and yet highly alluring. Perfectly plump and rose pink lips were bitten on for a moment, and soon the young woman winked and the crowd went wild. Despite Bai Minghua''s forehead shining with sweat, and her body riddled with exhaustion after performing so long, the singer continued on the stage and the people in the concert''s front cheered along with her. Neon glowing light sticks waved through the dome, accompanied by wild screams. Yes¡ªeven the people who were in the front¡ªthe people who had the VIP tickets paid with exorbitant amounts were actually wild and cheering. Perhaps that should have been obvious. Mostly male fans who adored their shining idol were seated in front, and some even had their bare chests revealed with the name and even image of the woman tattooed. "I love you, Minghua!" "Marry me!" "Step on me, please!" Those voices were lost in the sea of people gathered today, but even then, almost everyone here was either in love with the idol in front of them or the other singer that had performed earlier. Seated amongst the VIP seats were Li Yang and Ying Yue He, and really, the both of them were sitting down even while the others were giving standing ovations. "Thank you so much for coming to see me today!" Bai Minghua gushed in front of her fans and wiped the sweat off her forehead. Some of it even flicked off stage, and Li Yang could have sworn that some were attempting to collect it in their towels. However, the singer was untainted and kept her gaze on everyone with a smile. "This next song will be with my brilliant friend Sun Aoyun, please cheer us on, guys! Let''s go!" But even though some of the wild and obscene scenes of some of the fans were enough to make him question the sanity of these people, he could understand it to some extent? Even Li Yang couldn''t help but admire the dedication that the idol was pouring out through the entire stage and somehow, even the music wasn''t exactly what he was used to listening¡­ when she was performing it, it actually worked. "Mister Li, what do you think? I''m looking forward to the duet." Ying Yue He had to lean down extremely close to him to whisper¡ªor at least shout in his ear over the racket. And it truly was a sizable crowd. He couldn''t imagine that it was so completely packed that other people had to watch outside in an enormous display. "It''s interesting, I can see why many people attend these concerts. Have you listened to them before?" He didn''t want to say that he was out of the loop with trends, but it really was his first time hearing about them. Which was actually strange when he considered the possible market in front of him? A great number of both men and women were present. "Mostly Sun Aoyun, but Bai Minghua is great too. It''s like I''m listening to an angel." Ying Yue He glanced up at the much younger woman. A grin formed on her face and she looked back at him. "This was a really good decision. Thank you for inviting me here, Mister Li." Before he could even say a word, the male singer arrived on stage and gave a wave. The two of them greeted each other and there even seemed to be some kind of chemistry between them, but then looked back at the stage and greeted everyone¡ªand this time it earned both of the crowd''s men and women their loudest screams. Both sides tried to drown each other with cheers, throwing their favorites in the air, until the disharmony dispersed and the crowd sang along with both performers. ¡­ Even Li Yang could almost feel himself getting roused to his feet. He barely stopped himself, even when the lyrics became more familiar to him. Instead, he focused on Ying Yue He who had already thrown her hands into the air and was having fun amongst the crowd like the carefree person she had always been. He couldn''t help but smile and wondered if he should actually loosen up and join in¡ªget a little loose and perhaps focus on the performers on stage. The dazzling, shimmering and colorful lights, the harmonic music blasting through super-sized audio systems and just the mere presence of the idol and singer could make one forget about themselves, their worries and insecurities. Their only focus was on the song and the performers. Li Yang stood up and glanced at the sea of people. Somehow it felt like he even recognized some faces. And yet the outstanding thing was that nobody had a phone in their hands trying to record or even get a picture, instead they were all focused on stage, some were singing along and cheering like Ying Yue He but there were even those just standing up in complete awe. It was an outstanding feat. And then their eyes met, Bai Minghua outstretched a hand to him and sang. It almost felt like she really was directing her entire attention to him and the entire noise around him faded and disappeared. Her warm and kind gaze was on him. "With you¡ªI can smile again! I''ll find the strength to carry on, Thunderclouds can fly away I''ll meet you here again!" Li Yang''s heart could have skipped a beat. It was a strange thing, and it was like he was back in university again¡ªthe memory of a young woman came back to his mind. Until Bao appeared out of thin air and had its paws in its ears. "What the actual fuck are you guys listening to? It''s grating on my nerves and the others too." Somehow the presence of the creature was enough to kick him out of his reverie. And for Li Yang to notice that there had been several dings in the back of his mind and comments from the Observers. Even when he thought he was self-aware, the music had captivated him in its own way. [ Observer ''One Who Slaughters'' Dislikes The Music ] [ Observer ''Apache'' Wonders About The Sudden Change In Music Industry ] [ Observer ''Sea Foam'' Can''t Help But Roll Their Eyes At Petty Tricks ] [ Observer ''Trite'' Has No Comment But Questions The World ] [ Observer ''Turtle Turquoise'' Stares Down At The Monkey And Then Goes Off In A Rampage ] [ Observer ''Dat Peach'' Is Extremely Amused At People''s Antics ] His gaze immediately focused on the Observer mentioning ''petty tricks'' and he held a hand over his face. The image of someone he didn''t want to remember actually sprung up in his mind with just one look from the idol, and everyone around him was enraptured by the music. He could feel the warmth of her smile¡ª The Panda gave him another slap in the face, and he was reeled back for a moment and nearly crashed if he hadn''t stopped himself. The throbbing and searing pain once again cleared his mind. He could have stumbled into other people, but there was hardly a reaction from them. The performers were messing with their minds. [ You Have Gained A Mental Skill ] Chapter 109: The Beautiful and Charming Idol Has Arrived (2) The sudden appearance of the notification left him confused a little¡ªbut it was what he needed right now. [ You Have Gained ''Mental Fortitude'' Skill ] This skill allows the user to take control of their senses and combat against thought influence, mind control, memory manipulation, mind-breaking and other mental and psychic attacks if used properly. This is a Skill harnessed from the Innate Will or Intelligence of the user-host. The crowd around him now seemed wild and reckless like he would have thought the first time he came here. And yet how exactly was he going to stop this? Did he need to stop this? The idea of influencing a crowd was already present in marketing. This was basically inserting a certain need into the masses and influencing their emotions to produce decisions that would benefit an individual, group or organization. But this one was through supernatural influences. "I don''t think you should do anything¡ªbacklash and all, chief." Bao gave him a look. "Cultivator or not, you''re going to get thrashed by the crowd. Especially because I don''t think you''d want to hurt other people." Li Yang sighed, but nodded. He already knew that even without the creature speaking up, reputation-wise this would be terrible and he wouldn''t hurt the civilians who clearly didn''t know what they were doing. At least he wasn''t going to be fooled and toyed around anymore and that was the important thing to him. Someone forcing you to think certain things and enforce their will to you was something that he despised. It was far too easy to look at the world in a view of black and white, that people influencing others were instantly wrong and manipulative, that everyone should be free to do as they wish, but even then¡ª "Mister Li!" Ying Yue He tapped his shoulder and smiled at him. There was a certain flush to her face after all the cheering and jumping, but there was no look of change on her face. She seemed normal and it was as if everything was innocuous. "Thank you to everyone who came here~!" Bai Minghua bowed politely and with a pleasant smile on her face. "I hope to see you guys at our next concert¡ªI''ll be waiting alright~?" Her words elicited cries of yes from some of the people in the crowd, but Ying Yue He only looked thoughtful and motioned to ID hanging around their necks. "Since we''re part of those who have VIP tickets, we''re actually granted access to the ''private meeting'' that she and Sun Aoyun will be granting." The CEO looked at her. "Do you wish to go there?" In his mind, the words ''It seemed like a waste of time'' already voiced out in his head with some slight annoyance¡­ and yet he had decided to devote his entire day to Ying Yue He. If she wanted to gush over some¡ªwould the performers repeat what they did in private? "I do, it would be great to get signatures¡ªdid you know that you can sell them for a great price online? Some bidding can even happen." "I doubt the amount is really that great." Li Yang rolled his eyes for the moment but then saw the expression on his secretary''s face. She pursed her lips and sheepishly smiled. "I acknowledge that the money will probably not make you bat an eye, but I do want to take advantage of the entire experience, boss." He couldn''t help but wonder if this was a common thing with women gushing over celebrities, performers and stars. Li Yang knew that he couldn''t and wouldn''t do something outrageous like dying his hair blonde and wearing contact lenses, much less wear skinny jeans and dance around the stage like some sort of monkey¡ªbut he didn''t want to contradict his decision to make the woman happy today. Li Yang finally nodded. "Alright." He would take the opportunity to investigate and perhaps understand what exactly it was that both performers were doing. Was it through some kind of qi technique of sort? His spiritual sense was still developing but he didn''t feel any influx of qi in the air or anything like that. Rather, his mind remembered someone he cared about when the idol had sung and directly looked into his eyes. Eye-skill? Was it in their voice? He would find out. . . . In the backstage entrance to the employee''s only area and where both performers were probably waiting for their fans¡­ he found himself in a sea of people that wasn''t as large as that of the entire coliseum, but it was a sizable crowd that probably still reached at least more than a couple of hundred. Did that mean that he and the others wouldn''t be able to meet with the individuals one by one? Now that wasn''t surprising, but at least somewhat relieving. He found it doubtful that something dangerous could occur with having so many people to confer and greet with. He tried to think of putting himself in the performers'' shoes¡ªthey had influence, fame, wealth and a certain amount of power. If they had a desire to truly dominate over people and enforce their wills on them, conquer and rule then they would have formed a cult rather than become an idol or singer. But this was simply him hypothesizing over the situation. Celebrities, idols and performers had a great power to influence even without using something like religion, business or propaganda. While nothing extreme like commanding people to obey rules instigated by the head and such¡­ they were good at making people idolize them. It could be similar or different to other leaders in different industries. The CEO shook his head and simply looked around. He then saw familiar faces amongst the crowd. The first one he saw was Bo Lifen with a group of women. And Li Yang was pretty sure that she made eye contact with him, but decided to not greet him and instead talked animatedly with her group of friends. She was the last one he''d assume to be in this kind of concert, but people were surprising. Chapter 110: The Beautiful And Charming Idol Has Arrived (3) "Ah, my apologies, but the only one available to be seen right now is Sun Aoyun¡ªBai Minghua has overworked herself tonight and needs some rest." A man explained to the crowd. "I hope this isn''t too disappointing, but it can''t be helped when she exerted her all to give you guys a good show." About a fourth of the people left, mostly men, leaving gifts in store for their precious idol and cheering on "Get well soon, Idol Minghua!" loudly. "Haha, I''m sure that she''d be thrilled and touched to hear about your wishes." the man then turned to the majority of people left, who coincidentally were women. "We''ll be going in groups of twenty so as to not strain Sun Aoyun as well, please form groups." It wasn''t so often that Li Yang would go against a direct order made by someone who clearly was in charge. But could he put the blame on the System or Heavens for generating a Side Quest for him? "I''ll be going to the bathroom." "Huh¡ª" "Go on and have fun." Before the woman could offer any sort of protest, the CEO had already left and was already checking out the contents of his quest. [ Side Quest: Find Out Her True Nature ] Now that you have discovered the happenings inside of the concert that involve influencing the minds of the concert-goers and freed from such influence, it is up to you to find out what exactly the pure Idol Bai Minghua is hiding underneath her facade. [ Time Remaining: 14 minutes and 15 seconds ] [ Success: 5000 Charm Points ] [ Failure: 10000 Charm Points] It really was forcing him to find out more information about the woman, and that was in spite of the obvious desire of the woman to be left alone. If the CEO were discovered to be snooping around the backstage of this place in search of the woman¡ªthis was probably considered as some form of harassment. Li Yang would have no excuse. He couldn''t exactly say, "I''m sorry¡ªI was looking for the bathroom and had stumbled upon here." and expect to be released with no trouble. The risk of discovery wasn''t mentioned, but paired with the amount of Charm Points he would lose¡­ it was a great motivator in finding the woman. All he needed to do was use ''Assess Individual'' on her and it would be the end of this, so it didn''t even mean that he needed to be seen by the woman at all either. The man took a couple of minutes, searching and hoping that he wouldn''t get caught, but then he would come across a private room that was slightly ajar. The Idol''s name was conveniently written on a star signboard. The CEO''s steps slowed, and he fell silent, even more silent than his usual self. Beads of sweat formed across his forehead. His heartbeat pulsed for a moment. The weight and consequences of actually being found out were what made him become nervous. Even when he tried to be logical about irrational fears and having perhaps the ability to use his name, money and own connections to clear such things out¡­ this was still a forbidden thing. But all of those doubts ended when he heard her voice. "Oh god, did I see those people in the front stage? Disgusting pigs, all of them. Their voices were grating on my ears when they tried to sing along¡ªI wish they all just shut up so I could concentrate on performing. Really glad I could request the manager to say that I was too sick to even entertain them¡­ touching them? I would never. I''d rather jump in a freezing ocean." A certain melodic laugh escaped from the room. The idol continued talking with what he assumed to be a friend of hers. Li Yang''s face was impassive. He had only appreciated her sheer persona on stage, the sweetness that she conjured and the talent and warmth she portrayed herself on the stage. But now that he heard all of this¡­? The CEO knew he would never go back to such a thing¡­ [ One Trait Discovered! ] [ White Lotus Nature Discovered ] Someone who is pure in appearance, like the beautiful flower floating on top of water, hiding the plant''s messy roots stuck in marshy mud. [ Discovered Nature 1 / 2 ] The CEO really had to get a good glimpse of her, didn''t he? He took one step closer to the door ajar about to take a peek and then saw long blue hair cascading down with an aquamarine eye staring back at him akin to those in horror movies¡ªLi Yang took a step back and then stumbled down the floor. Somehow the strength of his limbs gave away when the door swung open and a laugh escaped from the idol. "Oh my, I didn''t expect someone to be so dedicated to seeing me. You know something like this could get you severely punished since this can be considered as sneaking and snooping around. Others may even say that you''re a no-good stalker." A sweet smile crossed her face, and she held a hand to her face. "But ah¡­ I''ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I think I remember seeing you in the front stage, may I help you up?" She offered a hand to him. "I''m fine," he said, pulling himself to his feet and immediately putting his System to work. ''Assess Individual Bai Minghua'' didn''t work and so he had to stick with ''Assess Individual'' to get answers. He lowered his head to avoid meeting her eyes, but he kept his face and voice calm. "My apologies for encroaching in your private time, Miss Bai Minghua. I had gotten lost trying to find the bathroom." "Bathroom?" He nodded and then looked up. "Yes." Now would have been a perfect time for Bao to arrive and make a mean remark about his pathetic excuse, mock him or anything to keep himself looking at this situation from a distant perspective. But he couldn''t rely on such things. The young woman only giggled at him. Was she not suspicious of him? Or was she laughing at his excuse? "I have a bathroom here inside of my room, would you like to use it¡­ I haven''t exactly caught your name though?" She tilted her head at him and smiled. "I would really like to get to know one of my many fans, if you don''t mind?" The surrounding air tensed and at the timbre of her voice¡ªhe felt a wave of compulsion to give away the details of not only his name but any other significant details. Her voice was like velvet honey sinking and enrapturing his senses. And yet, like a wave, the compulsion ebbed away from him and he was soon free from such influences. His Mental Fortitude Skill actually worked. However, Li Yang hesitated for a second too longer and the woman grabbed his hand. She gave him a coy grin and her eyes sparkled. "You''re a shy one, aren''t you? Please don''t hesitate at all and come inside of my room¡ªI''m a person like you after all. I won''t do anything weird like biting you, you know?" Her hands were soft like jewels, but her grip was far too strong than any normal woman. She pulled him into her room and the door shut off behind them. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Would you like to be trapped with a beautiful woman? I''m also trying to adjust the title chapter style lol. Chapter 111: The Beautiful And Charming Idol Has Arrived (4) What were the chances that the CEO would be trapped in the room of a beautiful woman? Some might have considered this a dream come true, and yet for the man who could feel his intuition picking up something dangerous¡ªthis was not the place to be. "My bathroom is right over there." Bai Minghua gestured to another door with a bright smile. "Please feel free to use it, dear fan. There''s no need to be embarrassed, okay?" The woman was keeping up with the facade of being a wholesome and innocent woman, despite already using her strength to pull him into her room. He smiled and nodded. "Ah, thank you, Miss Bai Minghua." Li Yang wished that Taiga was here. Especially when the notification appeared in his vision. [ Assessment of Individual Complete ] [ Evaluation ] Individual is an insignificant being in the earthly plane, originally living in the underwater portion of the plane. Most commonly known by humans as ''mermaids'' and are classified under the Undine sub-race. Even by Individual''s own people, the Individual is notable. The Individual is powerful enough to stay away from water, maintain their natural strength and keep the ocean''s gifts to their people. Considered suitable as part of the ''Harem'' for the Host. [ One Trait Discovered! ] [ Mermaid Nature Discovered ] [ Discovered Nature 2 / 2 ] [ Congratulations! You Have Completed the Side Quest: Find Out Her True Nature ] Due to Accomplishment of System-Generated Side Quest. You Have Been Given Preview and Access To The Next Main Quest. [ You Have Gained 5000 Charm Points ] "Well? It''s terrible to hold it in, dear fan." She had both of her hands covering her face shyly, the idol swaying in place. "Are you just going to keep staring at me? I''m getting embarrassed here." "My apologies, it''s hard not to stare when you''re in front of your idol." "You''re quite a smooth talker, aren''t you?" She giggled. [ You Have Lost 100 Charm Points ] "Not as much as you." he smiled. "Eh?! That''s not true. Just go in the bathroom now will you? Let''s talk after that." [ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ] Li Yang would take the opportunity to step inside of the bathroom, and he quickly locked the door behind him. If he could still feel the strength of the woman despite ascending to Qi Condensation Stage Three¡­ then it meant that her strength could be on par with some cultivators. And yet what had struck more was the System announcing that she was a suitable part of his harem and was given a chance to look at the Main Quest once more? He quickly opened up to check. [ Main Quest: Conquering the ''White Lotus'' Bai Minghua ] [ Difficulty Level: Easy (Bai Minghua) Difficult (True Nature) ] [ Status: Can Now Be Unlocked ] [ Summary: Harem Cultivation is the method of gaining power through conquering beauties and adding them to your ''harem''. Your current target is ''Bai Minghua'' , the top-idol with the extremely rotten nature inside. She is currently kind to you, but what will happen if you reveal her true self? ] [ Time Remaining: 30 Days ] [ Success: 50,000 Charm Points ] [ Failure: Collapse of Your Company ] [ Would You Like To End The ''Interlude'' And Start The Main Quest? ] [ Main Quest Will Automatically Start At End Of ''Interlude ] "Not yet." He still needed to gather strength to be on par with much stronger individuals and groups in order to protect himself, and even then¡ªhe had to gather more details about who he was up against. The CEO checked the other available information gathered for him. [ Human Name: Bai Minghua ] [ Other Name: Narissa ] [ Human Age: 23 years old ] [ Actual Age: 230 years old ] [ Cultivation: None ] [ Constitution: Undine (100%) ] [ Bloodline: Mermaid Bloodline (awakened) - Concentration (100%) ] [ Roots: Water (100%) ] The purity of her constitution, bloodline and roots were immense. It was on another entirely new level when he compared it to Ying Yue He. Li Yang could now understand why the System, Heavens, or whoever was in charge of choosing Harem Members had chosen her? But then again, wasn''t every Undine who came from the oceans would have the same information? He could faintly recall that Taiga had boasted of having pure fire roots¡ªwhich meant she could have been the perfect counter to this individual. And it was for this reason that he wished she was here, then at least he could be at ease. The man could use his Mental Skill to protect himself from the Mermaid''s influence, but he still wasn''t sure if he was good in terms of actual combat. Another question came in his mind, if Taiga didn''t fulfill the criteria of becoming part of the harem according to the System''s Evaluation¡­ it meant that there were other characteristics in play than having a capacity to become a strong cultivator. The CEO checked the skills section. [ Skills ] Undine Nature (uncommon) The number of Undines are quite diminished when compared to the Humans inhabiting the earthly plane. However, their capacity to breathe and dwell underwater is one of their inborn traits. Supernatural strength is often available for those who dwell in the darkest trenches of the oceans with tremendous pressure. Voice of the Siren (special) Not everyone who inhabits the oceans can draw upon the voice that has brought destruction to countless ships, sailors and men lost in the waters. Her unique and mesmerizing voice can cause hallucinations, both visual and auditory. When one falls for this Siren''s bewitching voice, a memory of the most desired thing will appear in one''s mind. Fish Out of Water (rare) Most dwellers of the depths prefer to stay in the darkest and coldest waters, to even think of going to the surface when the moon and dark sky are not out can render and kill the weakest of their kind. Staying too long from a natural water source is extremely dangerous. [ Fate ] Current: Cherished and Beloved Idol Through the use of her voice and exceptional beauty, she has gained the hearts of the land folks and is living her life in richness, fame and splendor. Li Yang sighed, flushed the toilet, and washed his hands. Did he really want to involve himself with this kind of woman? The remaining days left from accomplishing ''Date the Secretary'' Main Quest was still running and giving him time, but at the end of that period¡ªhe''d be facing this woman yet again. There was no escaping this incident. Would it be better that he just accepted the Main Quest and got it over as fast as he could? It was up to the CEO to keep her close and actually stay in touch with this ''young'' idol in order to have a speedier process when he started the Quest. It took little time to form an idea on what to say and offer to Bai Minghua to keep in touch with her. Li Yang would step out of the bathroom. He would come across her in front of her dresser, she was currently combing her hair. The reflection in the mirror was of Bai Minghua smiling. "Ah, are you done already? Thank goodness. Since you managed to come here by yourself by accident¡ªhow about the two of us talk for a bit, dear fan? Don''t tell anybody else, okay? I don''t want to hurt their feelings by showing preferential treatment." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Yes, you should have listened to Granny Bo Lanfen''s words about mermaids :[ Is it finally time to start the Main Quest? If you were in the CEO''s shoes, what would be your course of action and game plan? What do you think the CEO will do? Thanks for reading! Chapter 112: The World Is Your Oyster (1) Warning: Slight depiction of mutilation and mentions of suicide. "There is no need to worry about that, rather I would like to introduce myself. I failed to do so earlier, Miss Bai." The plan was supposed to be simple, introduce himself as the CEO of Olympian Corp, offer a position and then keep in contact with her. And she laughed, the mirth present in her eyes. "Right, you''ve been stunned when I saw you peeking at the door. What''s your name again?" Her reaction was suspicious, and yet he spoke, "I''m Li Yang¡ª" The wind was sharp and unforgiving, like a thin blade that went flying through his cheek¡ªthe comb crashed on the wall behind him, and the impact was enough to create a crater through solid concrete. Blood dripped on the floor along with a weird stump. Warmth gushed through his head and his vision darkened immediately¡ªIt should have hurt and he probably screamed. But that was to say, if he could actually hear his voice, but no sound escaped his throat. And the woman seated in front of her dresser turned around and addressed him with a bright smile. "How much did you manage to hear while sneaking around? But is that something I should really worry about when I could remove your other ear as well, Mister Li Yang?" His hand reached to where his ear once was, and he pressed a hand to it¡ªan attempt to compress and stop the blood flow. She pressed a finger in between her lips and sighed. "I usually don''t have assassinations done on me, you know? Forgive me for stopping your voice, when mental attacks don''t work¡ªone needs to work on something else. Besides, it gets a little grating on my sensitive ears when men cry. It''s obvious when my voice hasn''t worked on you. Ahhh¡­ it''s going to get a little troublesome cleaning up your corpse, maybe I can flush you down the toilet." To say that she was a little nuts was a kind thing to say. Her expression shifted to a more sadistic one. A gleeful expression formed on her face. "But ah, I suppose I''ll let you have a word in before I finish you off, small fry. If you give me an address, I''ll at least ship your body to your employer since I''m feeling kind tonight." The System wanted him to ''Conquer'' this White Lotus? Reattaching limbs was one thing, and yet there wasn''t any time for that. The idea of fighting her at this stage was a terrible one. His bodyguard wasn''t around, and so it only meant that he had one trump card. The idea of alluring her to the idea of more wealth and fame might only make her laugh at him when she was already at a pinnacle of success. He said, "I''ll get my card." Her eyes narrowed at him, but she didn''t argue with it. "Don''t try to pull anything funny." Instead, the CEO took out his wallet and picked up his ID card. He offered it to her to which she frowned upon, but the Mermaid stood up and walked over to him. She snatched the card from him and looked at it. Her fingernail scratched the surface and elicited a small bolt of lightning. She hissed and sucked her finger. "So this card says¡­ Shen Society registered and CEO of Olympian Corp? I have heard of that and you''re not affiliated to the Supernatural Hunter''s Guild?" He took note of the information, but shook his head. "No. I have no intentions of exposing whatever you are, however¡ªI was curious about your abilities. I only happened to be here by chance." It would have been easier to deal with her in just the ''idol'' persona she was presenting herself, but of course this would have had to happen. She groaned and slammed the card on the table. "Well, anybody would hate unwanted visits, you should have come here with an official representative instead of sneaking around like a shady man. Pick that ear up and¡­" the woman reached for the water bottle she had at her dresser. "I''ll try to get you healed up, but it''s not my specialty alright." It was a strange thing. White Lotuses. A rotten interior. While she seemed initially defensive and out for murder, the CEO found himself resting his head on her lap. The cool sensation of water in his ear that was slowly getting healed. "I hate this¡ªhealing with water for those not of my kind is more difficult. Be glad that you have that ID with you and I happen to know someone from there." Li Yang had his eyes closed in a somewhat relaxed position. He didn''t even bother giving her a reply. "You''re quite an indulgent man with your head resting on my lap, and I know you''re not asleep¡­ but I''ll forgive this incident since I cut off your ear. Plus is usually soothing to hear my voice after all." She hummed and continued healing him. There had been a moment when the mermaid told him she''d be cleaning up his corpse that he thought of this: ''If I die, then whatever punishment to be inflicted on the corporation and the people involved with me ends¡ªperhaps this is better.'' The thought wasn''t actually dark or grim to him. If he wanted to consider it in a logical and realistic manner, then his own death might end things. And he doubted that any kind of intervention would occur¡­and more than that, he didn''t want to go out that way. Or perhaps he really wanted to¡ªbut he was only holding on to the thought of future payback. A time of retribution¡­ even while that might have been what the Heavens wanted in the first place. "Alright, thank Neptune''s beard that it''s healed. Get off my lap." Li Yang lifted his head and touched his ear. He gave the fleshy flab a small tug and was glad to find it firmly healed. He glanced at the woman in front of him, "Thank you." "We''re even." She corrected him with a wave of her fingers. "Not quite." Chapter 113: The World Is Your Oyster (2) "What do you mean?" She looked at him in confusion and gestured at him. "You''re already a CEO, so there''s nothing that you''d probably desire¡ªunless you''re a heinous and debauched one. And if you are, then it''s a star''s luck that you''ll need. I''m not interested in any sex scandals so you can leave." He wasn''t sure if she was that confident in her beauty that she assumed he wanted to sleep with her, but regardless of those thoughts, he shook his head. "What is it you desire from actively being part of the human world?" "Desires?" "Yes. I would like to know what it is that you want." She sighed and crossed her arms. "In order to get something from me, I presume? There''s always a trade between humans that you''re as terrible as a witch or a demon." The comparison made him smile slightly, but he nodded. "I do have something that I want from you, there is no doubt about it. However, I am not the type to simply enforce my will upon others nor will I give you a bad deal," he said. "Thus it''s also necessary that I know what you want if we are to come to some agreement, and to not waste any more time between us." The Mermaid tilted her head and ran her fingers through her lustrous hair. "I was bored with the life that I have in my world and decided that I could try my luck on here and voila, I''m a star and an idol. What else could I even ask for? I have men dropping at my feet and even women too." "Is there anything else that you would like?" She eyed him with a frown. "What more do I need to explain to you? Explain to me why you''re involved in this dangerous lifestyle when you''re already a wealthy man that can probably retire for the next hundreds of years?" "Because I have no choice." "Ehhh?" She gave him a look and then laughed. "Lack of choice? Did a fortune-telling woman from some unknown temple or sect tell you that? An oracle? I didn''t know that you''re the type to believe¡ª" "I have a curse." The Mermaid''s expression turned serious. "... A curse? Are you afflicted by some malady or a malevolent entity? Chased down by gods? Did you test fate and destiny and are now under some binding oath that requires you to offer the blood of virgins?" He didn''t think it would work, but she seemed to take it with a kernel of truth. Not to mention it was the easiest way to express it, and so he continued on with it. "It is along those lines." He didn''t want to explain or tell this Mermaid that the ''gods'' she may be imagining were bored enough to watch and observe the lives of men. "The curse requires me to ensnare beautiful and powerful women and add them to my harem." "... is this your way of flirting?" She raised a brow at him. "I''ll give you props for saying something unique and extremely foreign." Maybe this was a bad idea¡ªshe wasn''t taking him seriously. Li Yang rubbed his face. "I''m afflicted with the ability to only get stronger if I involve myself with women along your stature, Miss Bai. I am not sure if you are familiar with different methods of cultivation, but because you''ve landed here in my country, then I''d like to think that you do." "Your nation and people''s practices have this sort of thing as well?" "What do you mean by ''as well''?" The Mermaid sighed and rested a hand underneath her cheek. "My kind are blessed with superior longevity, beauty, strength and other qualities that your people will envy from. However, there is a significant difference between that from my people who are men and those who are women, and that is in terms of the ability to use energy and magic." Li Yang stayed silent in a prompt for more explanation. "It is only through union between a man and woman that those men of our kind have the capacity to use magic. Thus it is common that a King of the Seas will have multiple beauties and wives to ensure his power and that is also why some ''legends'' speak of Poseidon having fifty Nereids¡­ and now you tell me your situation is the same?" She held a hand over her chest. "I left my world to have my freedom and now I suppose you are here to beg me to consider you?" Thus her true motivations were revealed to the CEO, who took it in with an internal sigh. "I do not beg, but I will simply let the benefits of working with me be presented to you." "Working in a harem?" She wrinkled her nose. "You expect me to manage other women and get along with them? I am not meant to be part of a group." "Well, I suppose there''s not much work to do¡ªyou''ll be the first one to be part of it." Li Yang offered a hand. "You can still look at it as an opportunity to expand. Idols tend to be a short-lived career, and even then, if you are able to retain your appearance¡ªit will still be questionable." "I have it covered¡­" She averted her gaze. "I only need to disappear for a couple of decades, then I shall return to another debut. Then I can continue with the lifestyle that I want to live." "Will you return to your people while you wait for that?" Li Yang raised a brow. "And I understand that you have your voice to rely on, a certain talent for singing, but trends do change. The idea of idols may be prevalent now, but what of the years to come?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "I do not take it kindly that you are trying to frighten me with such a thing." "I didn''t mean to scare you, but only inform you of what can happen. Us humans are constantly developing and changing, thus what might bring us joy now might be simply thought upon as foolish in the next." Li Yang explained. "I am not sure if this is your first time in this land¡ªbut having an ally can be a useful thing for you." She placed a hand on her hip. "You think I cannot handle these troubles? I''m much older than you think, old man." Her attempt to make him uneasy fell to deaf ears. "I''m simply offering a much lighter burden on you with the opportunities for further growth¡ªmy situation prevents me from getting stronger without the help of certain women like you, but I can also offer a chance for you to become even more powerful." Li Yang offered a hand out to her. "More powerful?" He glanced at her get-up, the way she held herself up and nodded. "And I can throw in perhaps a brand ambassador deal to you if you wish with reasonable proceeds. This is all open to negotiations as well, so if you have anything on mind. Tell me, because I want you." "What the¡ªhow can you tell that to a woman you barely met and with such a straight face?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Wee, a bit tired today. But I hope the chapter still is a good read xD Faster pace, faster pace is what I tell myself to maintain an exciting story and because I tend to write slice-of-life *sweat* Chapter 114: The World Is Your Oyster (3) "It is to save time, Miss Bai. I would not like to dawdle with you about this and turn it into a small game of back and forth¡ªit''s better that we are forthright in this conversation and come to an agreement." "Or not." "Or not¡ªbut I probably won''t stop until you eventually give in." Missions were missions. He could not escape them even if he wanted to not take them. "Then you''ll only be harassing me until I agree with you." the Mermaid scoffed. "Well, I will not simply take your word for it. Show me something that will let me find proof in how you''ll make me even more powerful than I already am." The CEO stared at her¡ªshe had no cultivation. He wondered if she could do it, but based on his assessment, it was possible. However, he had no cultivation method to offer her or anything at all. Li Yang silently berated himself for the lack of proof¡­ until one an idea appeared in his mind. "Please watch this small demonstration then¡ª" [ Deducting 100 CP from the Host¡­ ] An item appeared in his hand, a small object made out of stone, and it was in the shape of a¡­ heart? Li Yang raised his head and already saw the woman taking steps towards him. She was moving in spite of the look of chagrin. "What the¡ª" Her face was flushed as she looked at him. "Destroy that! I know better than anyone that objects made to attract are a pathetic thing!" "Then are you mocking your own voice that attracts countless people to become your audience? This is less showy, but the effects are close." His words earned a glare from the Mermaid. "I have done nothing wrong, do not accuse me when you cannot fathom what has been present since my birth." Sometimes he would still say things that could offend people, he couldn''t help himself. But now he inclined his head. "Indeed, I do not, thus it is natural that I see your ability as a dangerous thing when no other person could do a similar thing." A small infusion of flattery could get him somewhere since he was dealing with this particular kind of person. "Then stop that natural stone thing at once¡ªit''s making my heart beat for no reason at all." The CEO would do just that and crumble the stone into ashes¡ªsomehow, either the charm was fragile or his strength had already improved. Putting that aside, he gave the woman a look, "I have the ability to procure certain objects that are of a rare find. Some of them can be entirely useless at first appearance but will have no doubt some use, others are good weapons not found in our current time and age and I have also procured items that could allow me to live and breathe underwater for around a week or so." He was speaking about the items he found in the Mystery Boxes he opened up. Li Yang wished he had brought them, but there was no doubt that it was enough to make the woman think twice about his offer. "I don''t care about paltry objects. You already said that my voice can do a better job than that charm which is terribly roundabout about attracting people to you¡ªit''s too obvious unless you are blind. I have no need for weapons either or objects that can allow you to breathe underwater, and neither do I desire to bring anyone there. Who cares if you can breathe if you have no capacity to deal with the threats of the deep?" The CEO cleared his throat, once again taking another route. "And it is also possible that if you were to step into a cultivation path, I will be able to upgrade the cultivation method that you procure. At this point of time, due to your nature, you have a strong bloodline and pure water roots that can make humans green with envy¡ªput to good use, you''ll be a great cultivator." "And what if I have no interest in becoming one?" She cocked a brow at him. What was it that this Mermaid desired? Financial wealth did not make her falter. Objects or gifts were taken with nothing less but a small look. Even power held no sway to her. Perhaps he was tackling this the wrong way already? The CEO cleared his throat, "Then I offer you companionship in the future." "... do you think that I am a lonely person?" Those words somehow managed to make her take a pause. He thought it was the chance of having a strong ally that made her falter, but it was just the thought of having a companion then? The CEO shook his head. "I would like to think not¡ªbut people in your industry are riddled with always busy people who cannot have much time for themselves and even garner real loved ones¡ªI am aware that your fans love you, but do they truly know you? This kind of situation will become even more severe once the time for your disappearance occurs." "And you think that you alone can satisfy my need for companionship?" She rested her hand underneath her chin. "Someone who''s so straightforward and wishes to not waste one another''s time by jumping into an agreement already? Get a little more personality before you offer me companionship, Li Yang. I''d rather hang out with Sun Aoyun and kraken egg''s knows that he''s a complete monkey." The CEO wrinkled his nose. "Then you want me to dye my hair and then go around singing songs and prancing around the stage?" "Well, no¡ªdon''t take infusion of personality as copying someone else. All I see that you''re doing is giving little smirks and smiles." The CEO blinked slightly and opened his mouth¡ªbut the woman continued on undeterred. She waved a hand at him and sighed. "It might work with some women and others might adore that oh-so-dependable nature that you have especially paired with the fact that you''re a CEO of one of the top businesses across the world¡­ but that''s not really exciting for me. Fifty years after this, will I see you still wearing that business suit and running a corporation?" "No, of course not." Chapter 115: The World Is Your Oyster (4) Even though Li Yang didn''t want to imagine his future as there were too many variables that he had to take into account, he understood that even his time as a CEO would come to an end. Unless there was a change in the way humanity lived, then he would have to go off to hiding like her and fake his death, possibly. If he were to experience the same path that other cultivators did in the novels he read¡ªhe might even have to leave this world behind and head into another one. Those were things and issues that he wished to consider once he was actually there. Right now, he hadn''t even had one member in his harem¡ªso immortality and the troubles associated with it were placed on his future to-do-list. His gaze focused back on the Mermaid, who had a hand over her hip. She was almost treating this like an interview, possibly an interrogation? "What else do you do besides working and going around asking women to be part of your harem?" Bai Minghua asked. Li Yang thought he heard a sound of laughter emanate from somewhere in this room. A reminder that despite his ''private'' conversation with the woman in front of him¡ªthere was a number of Observers that were taking in this scene with their own perspectives and judgement. He asked back, "What else do you do besides being an idol, Miss Bai?" "Hey¡ªI asked a question first." She frowned at him, but then flipped her hair. "Besides being an Idol and performing on stage, I am also personally managing my social media accounts and post pictures. I even sometimes interact with your people who are so desperate in actually just looking at their direction. I was supposed to have a fan meeting but got tired tonight. But why, I can actually suck it up and do it for those fans of mine." "That still sounds work related." "Hmph, well, I also swim and spend a lot of my time relaxing in my jacuzzi. Why, I could have triumphed in your so-called swimming Olympics competition if I wanted to, but I''ve decided to leave those events to your people and simply enjoy the waters." "And that''s also related to your nature and need for water?" "So what? That''s how I have decided to live my life¡ª" The Mermaid trailed off and then narrowed her eyes at him. "Of course you''ll make a point to say, ''do not question my choice of lifestyle as I won''t question yours.'' I should have seen this one coming, but I do hate this kind of lectures." The CEO cleared his throat, "While my personality and lifestyle does seem boring to you, your own life can seem tiring and simply a mechanism for chasing short-lived success for others and not a good way of spending your life. Some people do enjoy simpler lives. However, I am also willing to change my attitude and welcome some healthy changes to my current lifestyle if that would make you reconsider your position in my harem." "Even the way you said it makes it boring," she said and slapped a hand over her face. Li Yang sighed. "My apologies then? Would you like me to copy you and sound energetic despite not actually being genuinely happy¡ª" "Hold it right there, kelp face. People in the customer service industry also have to keep a smile on their face when dealing with people, so don''t make it sound like a terrible thing." She pointed a finger in his face. "Your¡­ terms of referring to things sound somewhat cute. Is that a natural way of speaking with your people?" Her face reddened once more. "Do not change the subject, but that was an insult, so do not take it as cute. What a terrible attention and fickle attention span, I do not understand how you managed to become a CEO¡ª" "Because I had to become one¡­ well, I still agreed to it." The memory of Li Yang asking him to be the face of the company was fresh in his mind. He had accepted it back then, because a respected son was better on paper than one disowned. "However, it is a joint effort, if I am to be honest." "You know what, I''m done talking with you. This has taken far much more time than I imagined, and I still need to do a mud mask for my face." She gestured for him to leave. "I am sure that you can possibly find some other woman to help you out with this curse of yours¡ªconsider the woman you brought with you in the concert. Wasn''t she pretty and had good skin?" "I''ve already missed the chance for her." "... your explanations are confusing. Is this a time-bound event or something? You have to kiss a girl in three days or you then disintegrate into bubbles?" His brow raised at her example, but he nodded. "More or less around those kinds of punishments¡ªand it has to be you this time. I do not think that I''ll be able to survive the next set of consequences if I do not add you to my harem." "... What kind of messed up situation is that?" She rubbed her face. "Either way, do not think of me as some kind of soft-hearted woman who''d agree to it simply because you''d die. Your life has no weight to mine, so farewell in advance." He sighed. "I will not bother you¡ªall I need is you saying yes, and then you can pretend we never had this conversation." She pursed her lips at him. "Are you sure? You just want me to appear as some harem member ''in paper'' and then you''ll leave me alone after that?" The CEO shrugged, but nodded. "You do not seem interested in anything that I am trying to offer you, Miss Bai. Thus, even if it does seem a little pathetic, I would still like you to consider it. I didn''t realize how difficult it is to form an agreement with women at times." She sniffed and raised her chin. "Well, it is simply because you are talking with me and I have everything accounted for¡ªbut I suppose if I were to accept your bargain, then I''ll accept and whatever it is that you have intended to give me. It is not fair that I simply accept to be part of your harem without receiving anything." "I agree with that." "Well?" "I''ll give it to you when we can converse at a better time and place?" Her forehead creased. "You came here empty-handed?" "That was why I asked you what you wanted first so I could deliver it at a later date." She sighed and waved a hand at him. "Alright, alright¡ªimpress me with a gift tomorrow and I''ll accept. Meet me here tomorrow." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: I''m not really sure how to go about this, but ever since I wrote this story, I''ve come to understand that this story has made people upset over how the MC was ''cucked'' in regards to his brother and the confusion with Luo Ju Di. It has left the author rather quite anxious instead of excited over comments and reviews, thus my lack of response of late. I won''t drop this because I''m writing full-time and this is contracted, but I''m just disheartened that''s all. ^^; So thank you to those who stuck with the story regardless of the slow and terrible start. See you guys tomorrow. Chapter 116: Dangers of the Night (1) [ Total Charm Points: 35263 ] This was all that Li Yang had for himself to use¡ªand truth be told, he wasn''t exactly sure what to give a Mermaid. At least someone who was supposed to be in his harem. He hadn''t expected for things to get revealed so quickly that he didn''t even get the chance to¡­ make her fall in love with him? Or at least learn of what she desired more and to give it to her. However, this wasn''t so bad. Except for the lack of a ''gift'', the CEO had a feeling that she was possibly going to agree if he gave her a good one. It sounded a bit materialistic, but that was all she simply asked for instead of demanding his attention or anything like that. A burst of chuckles erupted beside him and Bao appeared over his shoulder, "Well, at least she didn''t eat your heart out, eh?" "What?" the CEO raised a brow. He tilted his head at the creature. "I don''t have a heart to give, Bao." The Panda''s face became slack, "I know you''re trying to be funny¡ªbut I actually meant devouring for real. Geez, do you think everything''s a metaphor?" The CEO shrugged in response. "Are you not freaking out? I just said she consumes hearts¡ª" "And there are legends that speak of other creatures that devour livers and vampires who suck blood. I do not think she''d do it though if she''s living with humans, either way, I do not think one can impose human morality." The CEO frowned slightly and considered his chances of getting a perfect present via the Mystery Box and immediately disregarded it. "What do you think would be a suitable gift¡ª" "I ain''t helping you." Li Yang sighed inwardly, but thought about other options. The Mermaid seemed to be aware of the Shen Society, so there was that option of them knowing what her kind enjoyed, and yet there was another person he could approach for this in proxy. It so happened that he could reach out to at least one of them. .. . Ying Yue He nearly had a panic attack when she realized that her boss wasn''t returning after his excuse of ''going to the bathroom''. Her pulsed race, and she craned her neck back now and then that she didn''t even garner much enjoyment when she finally saw the celebrity. "Woah, there''s a lot of you¡ªwhat''s your name, Miss? Want to take a picture?" She didn''t pay attention to any of that. Instead, the secretary moved to the back of the crowd to avoid trouble and attention. Ying Yue He was stuck in her own train of thoughts. "Had he decided to leave me here?" she asked. There was a trace of worry in her tone, but she shook her head. Her boss wasn''t like that. Perhaps he didn''t want to see the singer Sun Aoyun and thought it was a waste of time, but he wasn''t petty to just up and abandon her. Ying Yue He could grasp her boss'' personality, and even though the two of them were involved in cultivation¡ªshe didn''t know how he stumbled upon it¡ªhe was still the same dependable Mister Li Yang she knew. If anything, this situation had simply brought the two of them together! So where was he now¡ª? She didn''t think she had super senses, but amidst the crowd, she finally saw him. Her boss was approaching another woman¡ª! A group of women, even! .. . "Do you think he''d sign my arm, Lifen?" Her co-worker, Daiyu, pulled down her sleeve to reveal her arm. "I have my marker in my purse." Bo Lifen raised a brow and then smirked, "Are you planning to get it tattooed?" "What if I am?" "Hey, that''s a little too much," Suyin said. "I''m just going to get this shirt signed and then I''ll auction it¡ª" "Woah, I''ll buy it." "You guys¡­" Bo Lifen had bought tickets for her employees as a reward for working hard. And so she was actually looking forward to meeting Sun Aoyun¡ªuntil somebody cleared his throat. Bo Lifen glanced automatically, and she wished she didn''t. It was Li Yang. The woman wanted to avoid the man after what had happened in his car and pretend like it never happened¡ªat least until she finally got over it and be able to look at him straight in the face. But somehow he also happened to be here? Was he some kind of stalker? She didn''t want to say that he was, especially because she did see that he came with someone else. So what was he doing here? "Miss Lifen?" "Huh?" Suyin glanced over him. "Woah, it''s the one that visited the tea shop." "Yes, that was me." He inclined his head and greeted the women before looking back at her. Bo Lifen rubbed the back of her neck, "Is there anything that you need from me?" "I wanted to get the contact number of your friend Han Jing? I have some queries," he said. His answer made her look up at him in surprise, before she dug her hand into her pocket and yanked out her phone. If the man wasn''t going to make any indications about what had happened, then that was fine with her. She practically shoved her phone in his face, "Here you go." "Ah, yes, thank you." He took a picture with his phone and then smiled. He nodded briefly, "Thank you for the time, Miss Lifen and my apologies for bothering you and your friends at this hour. I''ll leave you be." The CEO didn''t take any second longer to turn around and leave her and the others be. "Now who was that?" Daiyu asked with a smirk. "He visited our shop?" "To visit Elder Sister Bo Lifen." "It''s because we have our business with one another," She grunted and looked away. "Anyhow, we better squeeze into the crowd if you guys really want to get autographs." "Woah, she changed the subject." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Due to popular demand, and I was stupid for not considering it at first, I edited the earlier chapters. Let the market reign supreme xD Will upload next chapter after this. Chapter 117: Dangers of the Night (2) If what the creature said before was true, then another person who was in contact with a Mermaid was someone called Han Jing. Further assessment of the System showed that they were in part related to the Observer ''Dat Peach'' and thus it made sense to further investigate on that¡ª But it would have to be for tomorrow. Li Yang returned to Ying Yue He''s side and greeted her, "Miss He, have I made you wait for too long?" She pursed her lips at him and then looked away. "No, just half an hour or so, Mister Li." "I see," It was easy enough to tell that she was in a state of distress¡ªand so he inclined his head. "My apologies for taking that much time. Would you like to have a late-night dinner with me after this?" Her gaze turned to him and she said, "Let''s go now." "Huh, but didn''t you want to see¡ª" Ying Yue He grabbed his arm and dragged him along. Or rather, he allowed himself to be pulled by her. She didn''t waste any time, and it was in record''s time that they were out of the colosseum and soon found themselves at a convenience store. It was incomparable to the five-star restaurant, but it was where she demanded to be at. The two of them were in a store nearby to a university, with hot food straight from the ready-to-eat section. Li Yang had a meat bun in his hand and chewed, whilst Ying Yue He devoured a vast variety of items she had taken from the aisles. "I didn''t know you were this hungry." She wiped the corner of her mouth and said, "The portions in the restaurant were too small." "Was it?" Li Yang raised a brow. It was adequate for him¡ªbut her constitution was really different. The CEO cleared his throat, "I thought you were stress eating, Miss He." "I am¡ªbut also because I''m hungry." With a mouthful of food, the woman was more open to speak what was on her mind. "I got worried thinking that you decided to leave me at the concert." "Did you really think I''d do that?" "No¡­ but then I saw you talking with a group of women, Mister Li." A sheepish smile crossed on her lips. "It makes no sense for me to get upset over it¡ª" "I did say that today was supposed to be our date, so your feelings are warranted." Li Yang finished his food. "I do not want to make it sound like I am making any excuses, but it was because I had something important to talk with Miss Lifen¡ªshe''s the manager of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion." Her shoulders dropped a bit. "Oh, so it was her¡­" "Hmm?" "I''ve talked with her over the phone when she was looking for you, and I guess Taiga called her a Tea Temptress." She scratched her cheek. "That wasn''t very kind of Taiga to say, and I told her that. She doesn''t seem able to grasp that it''s possible to have a purely business relationship between a man and a woman¡­ ah, I''m sorry for rambling about this, Mister Li." He glanced at her. "No¡ªit''s fine. I do like to hear about what you have to say about this matter. I don''t think that I''ve been able to do that lately with the sudden changes that happened." "Well, you''re always a busy man, Mister Li. This uh¡­" She glanced over her shoulder over the sleepy clerk and said. "This thing with all the stuff just made you even busier." She was wary of even dropping a single clue. He chuckled. "It does make me consider finding a replacement soon¡­" He did not want to admit it, but his talks with Bai Minghua made him accept that it was a natural thing that needed to happen after some time. "Miss He, I''m not really the most fun person to be around with, am I?" "What?" She blinked and waved a hand. "Did I make you feel that way, boss? Not at all! We did all lot of fun stuff together today¡ª" "Doing fun things and being someone fun is different." "Well, I don''t think you need to be fun, you can be just the way you are and I''ll accept¡ªI mean, people will accept you. There might be some who you won''t get along with, but it doesn''t mean that there''s anything inherently wrong with you, Mister Li." Ying Yue He took a sip of her hot chocolate. "Not everyone will be the life of the party, and I think it''s a reason why I tend to just stay at my apartment during weekends¡­" "Ah, so you do agree with the assessment¡ª" He caught the cup in his hands, not exactly wincing as hot drops splattered on his hands. She smiled weakly and thanked him. She held the cup more carefully and took a delicate sip. "Well, I still think that you''re great to be around with, Mister Li¡­ and we sort of match in this way." "Match?" Her face tinged red. "Like¡­ we work together because we''re compatible? That kind of thing." "Well, I did choose you to be my secretary, so it''s a necessary thing between the two of us when we work. However, it''s also pleasant that even outside of the work setting, you''re still kind and considerate as always. I''m rest assured when I''m with you." [ You Have Gained 100 Charm Points ] "Don''t give me too much credit, Mister Li. You''re amazing on your own!" She placed her empty cup down and balled her fist. "The things I do help of course, but you''re still capable of doing things with the time you have in your hands¡ªI''ve never seen such a focused man like yourself and the accomplishments of the company can be said to be thanks to your direction." "And this is where I''d say that I''m only able to do as much, thanks to you." She pouted. "You keep deflecting the compliment." "As do you." "Well, let''s just agree that we both think of each other as great," Ying Yue He said at last. Her gaze focused outside of the convenience''s store window. "And¡­ a couple of ghosts just leapt across the building?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Thanks for reading! Chapter 118: Dangers of the Night (3) It was difficult to notice at first, especially when one was used to the bright and dazzling lights of the city''s billboard and enormous television screens¡ªbut his secretary was right. Several figures leapt across from one building to another, and for a moment, he thought that one of them looked back at him. A golden eye twinkling in the darkness. ''Assess Group'' The System could even do it at a distance. [... Assessing Group of Individual ] [ Target Identified! ] [ Shadow Hunters ] One of this plane''s ''world organizations''. They are notable for working in the shadows, most identifiable with all of them being cloaked individuals that hunt criminal and renegade supernatural creatures that are on the run. "Those aren''t ghosts." Li Yang quickly stood up and glanced at Ying Yue He. He asked urgently, "Can I ask you to go home by yourself, Miss He? I''ll make it up to you next time." His secretary blinked, and then her voice sharpened. "What''s the matter, Mister Li?" There was no time to explain things¡ª"I need to contact Miss Bai, please get yourself home, Miss He. Take care of yourself." The CEO left her some money and stepped out of the convenience store. If his hunch was correct, then it meant this group was going after the Mermaid. While she had acknowledged the Shen Society and claimed she knew someone, the Mermaid herself never showed her ID like he did. Thus it meant that she was unregistered, and these people were hunting her down. He had to warn... and save her? The CEO got into his car and took out his phone. He needed to find her fast? No, he needed to warn her at least and then meet up with her to take her away? Li Yang''s reservations had to be put on hold for now. If she was captured, then it might mean that he''d never see her again. Or could he purchase her freedom once she got captured? It would be much easier to have her accept him if he were to make her feel like she was indebted to him, rather than giving her a gift that she might not even like. These options made itself present to her¡ª The car door swung open. "Were you really just going to leave me out of this, boss? I''m coming with you." Ying Yue He took the front seat and buckled her seatbelt. "Please tell me that you seriously didn''t think that I''d be able to go home and not worry about you, Mister Li?" "Miss He¡­" "If we''re going to find Miss Bai, you better drive now." .. . Bai Minghua''s accommodations were at one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, and it was a natural thing as she would stay here for a couple of days to perform. Only the best were given to her and so her bed was the most comfortable, indulgent one she ever rested on and yet she couldn''t sleep. The Mermaid was restless. She stared up at the ceiling and thought about the coral ceilings she once stayed underneath, back in the oceans. His question about her returning to her original home made her grit her teeth as she tried to erase the memory away. "What a weirdo." It wasn''t often that she would get discovered by someone else. The woman had done her best to make a new identity, and she made sure that she only used her skills during concerts. So what exactly was his problem? "Did his curse make him lose a couple of screws in his head?" He spoke of an affliction which sounded incredibly crazy. She would have told it to her friend Aerwyna and yet it wasn''t so often that her friend could go above water. Her friend to whom she would rant on about the people in this land. It was a pity she couldn''t get on land like she did. Narissa tried to close her eyes and fall asleep, but her phone suddenly rang and she went to pick it up. It was an unknown caller. Her manager had already told her to not bother with them, and yet she answered it. She had an inkling that she knew who it was... and she was right. "What do you want? Can''t you respect a woman''s alone time... hunter? No, I don''t need to meet up with you. You''re a creep¡ª" She still gave her address in the end to shut up the man''s complaints. "Deliver my dinner or I''ll have your restaurant canceled." It was because there was a shadow outside of her window, despite the fact that she was on the 56th floor of the hotel. The Mermaid ended the call and pretended to yawn, falling back to her pillows and closing her eyes. She had no reasons to fear anyone right now, it might be true that she had troubles finding the perfect continent decades ago, and she had to beg, barter and steal in the past... but it didn''t mean she should be imprisoned now. Shadow Hunters? She had nothing to do with them¡ªthe fractals of glass showered down on her like the rain. .. . It was at the same exact hotel that Chunhua was found hiding in her blankets and trembling like a deer. Luo Ju Di didn''t know what had come over her daughter as she tried to brush her hair and get her to sleep again. "What''s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" It wasn''t so often that she had the chance to be there for her daughter when she was incredibly busy trying to make a living, and yet it always made her heart pang when her child was beset by something she felt she couldn''t even help with. A small hiccup escaped her daughter''s throat, her head finally peeking out from the blankets. "There''s a monster here, and it''s scary. It''s looking for something." "Naughty children?" Luo Ju Di asked, trying to lighten things up. She was also trying to ascertain what had exactly caused such distress to her child, and the closest that she could remember was when Chunhua had cried about Li Yang being some kind of monster. "What does it look like?" "No!" Chunhua wailed, and then she fell silent. "I think¡­ it''s gone now. And I couldn''t see it, I¡­ can hear its thoughts, but now it''s gone. But it went plonk, plonk, plonk like it was heavy." Those words should have made any parent worry. Was her child seeing and hearing things? Luo Ju Di didn''t want to think that was the case. Her child was too young to experience hallucinations. She brushed her hair again and kissed her head. "Does that mean you can sleep now?" "... I don''t know." "Chunhua, your mother is here¡ªI won''t let anybody hurt you." "Even if it''s a monster?" "Yes, I won''t let them hurt you or touch you at all." She gave her child a squeeze and rested against the bed''s headboard. "And I won''t let anybody take you away from me. Do you understand, Chunhua?" "Why would someone take me away?" she yawned. Luo Ju Di didn''t think that Li Yang would do something like that, and yet she could be wrong. Before she could finally give an answer, the mother would note her child''s soft snoring. She sighed in relief. Chapter 119: Dangers of the Night (4) This was a symphony of the night, where many agendas connected with one after another. Be it orchestrated or not. "I trusted that bitch¡ª!" Narissa the Mermaid couldn''t even finish her thought as her body went limp and lost strength. The grotesque beast''s sharp claws held onto her leg and injected a pure toxin into her bloodstream, making her unconscious. The beast then leapt out of the building, unbidden and uncaring of the inherent dangers of dropping from perilous heights. It¡ªno, he was already at the peak of its existence. Instead of experiencing a terrible pain, the creature''s fall caused a crater to form on the streets of the open city. It caused a destruction seen and visible by many ordinary citizens. When the dust cloud cleared, it was seen¡ª "Standard procedure, let out those shadows, people!" A voice ordered from numerous earpieces. Lotte Jensen sighed in relief once the darkness seeped across the entire street and the entire sky like inky shadows. It would blind the people from seeing the reality of trouble. Normally, she wouldn''t have gone this far as she understood it wasn''t their jurisdiction, but the group had to do what they had to do. They had come all the way to track down a merfolk that mutated and transformed itself into its current state now¡ªa car''s light pierced through the darkness. The vehicle barreled into the beast. The Shadow Hunter''s jaw dropped, and she yelled at her fellow hunters. This was a sensitive and crucial mission! Nobody should be risking the other mermaid from getting hurt¡ª Both the CEO and the secretary leapt out of the car at the last minute, and somehow, the aquatic beast stopped the car with one fin and tossed it into the air, attacking some invisible foe. One could see that Narissa was unconscious over its shoulder, and it was only wise to judge their foe and the situation. [ Assessment Complete ] [ Tyrannical Merfolk (Mutated) ] A subclass of the Undine that has been corrupted by the depths, gaining superior strength and durability over its normal species. May develop skills. Li Yang caught sight of Ying Yue He''s hesitant face and knew he had to move. A plan was already set in motion prior, and all it took was actually doing it. The CEO''s speed caught the creature off guard. The man threw a sudden kick out of nowhere, but his attack simply bounced off its plate-like scales. Even with his improved strength from becoming a stage three qi condensation cultivator, somehow it could not cause apparent physical damage. The creature howled at him and attacked, throwing the man across the streets. Except the man held his ground, digging his heels into the cement, and held its arm in place. He threw one look at Ying Yue He, expecting the woman to move and get the idol off from the shoulder of the beast, but she was frozen in place. The creature screamed in his face, a sonic-like blast that made the man wince and feel something pop in his ears, until he was launched back into the nearest building. His back struck against the wall, pain wracked throughout his entire body. When he lifted his head, he could see the creature escaping. It was a long overdue choice. Multiple sounds of notifications sprung across his mind, and he felt the effects of more qi gathering around his body and being absorbed. All the carefully kept Charm Points went down the drain. [ Deducting 60¡ª] [ Deducting 750¡ª ] [ Deducting 9000¡ª ] [ Deducting 12000 CP From Host¡ª ] [ Purchased Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation¡ª ] [ Purchased Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation VII! ] Energy coursed through his body, the pain cleared from his body and he sprung to his feet, launching towards the creature. The rest of his charm points were thrown into the air for any possibility of a weapon that could help him out of this mess. [ Deducting 500 CP From Host... ] [ You Have Purchased 1x Mystery Box! ] [ You Have Received LSO Starglitter-Pen! ] He had terrible luck. But it didn''t matter to the CEO who used it to stab the aquatic beast right in the eye, his former speed already surpassed by his current one, and bursts of light emanated from the ballpoint pen that resembled a laser more than actual glitter. Before the creature could swipe at him with its claws, the CEO jumped and snatched the unconscious woman from its shoulder. He landed several feet away, holding the woman in his arm, and tried not to lose his footing. The qi in the surrounding air around him was unstable, his body processing it all and condensing it. A mixture of both negative and positive qi and all of them were being assimilated into his body to perform feats greater than that of an average human¡ªhe dove to the right and avoided the concentrated sound blast. His pen was still stuck in the creature''s eye, an ichor of green liquid dripping across its face. Even if he couldn''t defeat it, the chances of escaping were possible. Until a wide and malicious grin formed in its maws, it threw out the pen and its bleeding eye regenerated back. Spikes gathered up in its body, a deadly aura constricting around itself and once again it attacked with its blast, not at him this time. The blast was heading straight to Ying Yue He and the CEO tried to move to block it, his secretary still frozen in place, but he was wrong. The attack wasn''t meant for her. The incredibly concentrated blast struck through the darkness permeating them. It pierced towards the hotel and caused multiple windows to explode, the entire building shaking in the moment, and it began to fall. Destruction was imminent. And even for a cultivator like himself, the man could do absolutely nothing to stop it at his current state unless he could stop an entire building from collapsing. Ying Yue He snapped out of her shock and petrification and ran. Her fight-flight-freeze instincts finally adapted to reality. He had accomplished his goal to save the Mermaid at this cost. "Collateral damage is unavoidable." Bao finally appeared, as if reading his mind. ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Both actions in bed and out of it are a tad difficult for me. Don''t believe Li Yang''s luck, he managed to overcome the bottleneck in this scene! Trying to balance cultivators and supernatural creature physique and power scale is a bit difficult too xD Well, that''s all for today, thanks for reading! Chapter 120: The Aftermath: Gaining An Official Member (1) The Shadow Hunters immediately moved once the merfolk''s attack had pierced through the shadows and right at the building. While the windows shattering and exploding couldn''t be prevented, the group still tried their best to reshape their shadow technique into a more physical substance and stop it from collapsing. Its organization''s priorities were straight. Even while the Tyrannical Merfolk escaped with hubris during the incident, they would do their best to save and evacuate the people. Nobody could even pay attention to the two people that had charged out of nowhere to attack the merfolk¡ªthere was already a lot on their plate. "Commander?" "We don''t have time, I assume that the mermaid''s their friend. We''ll talk with them another time." . . . Amidst the destruction and the movements of the group beyond the shadows of the night came the realizations of certain people. If there was something that Ying Yue He had discovered tonight, it was a side of her boss she had never seen before. The man still calculated his decisions and made plans, even when the situation changed. He was unafraid to make risks. Originally meant to have a discussion with the Shadow Hunters she thought were ghosts¡ªit turned to a plan to save Bai Minghua when they saw that some beast had captured her. Her boss was capable of moving despite the new set of circumstances thrown to him, while she on the other hand had frozen when she saw the creature without the safety of the car. He had not been afraid to face grotesque creatures, nor had he been afraid to attack said creatures¡ª "Pick up the pen, Miss He." His tone was flat, tired and rather strained. She immediately picked up the pen, avoiding the disgusting liquid that dribbled around it. There was a sense of self-disappointment that racked through her, even as she tried to wipe the blood on her shorts and give it to him. There were a lot of things that she didn''t understand and couldn''t even comprehend until now¡ªshe wished that she had actually gone home. She could have been resting on her bed and not be a hindrance to the man. .. . Guilt coursed through the CEO regardless of the creature''s words, and though some sense of relief followed when he saw the Shadow Hunters trying to mitigate the damage caused, he still felt responsible for the catastrophe. And yet it was better that they leave and recuperate. He was curious of what these people were and how their style of combat differed from cultivators, but it was the weight of the Mermaid in his arms and the shaken look on his secretary''s face that made him decide to call it a night. Even while the creature was still on the loose? Would it come back for the idol? Li Yang accepted the pen and stored it in his pocket. While not capable of changing into a sword, its durability might have been better than one. "Miss He shall we try to find a place to stay tonight?" It was better to keep them all together¡­ at least he didn''t find it safe to be separated from one another. "Where boss?" "Somewhere close enough." The CEO could already imagine the aftermath in the morning, but for now, it was better that they rested. And so the three of them checked in another hotel nearby and made an excuse about the other hotel¡ªwhile hesitant at first to make accommodations, they would find themselves at an executive suite. His secretary, whether through exhaustion or weariness, immediately fell on the bed. Whereas Li Yang brought the Mermaid to the bathroom, specifically into the bathtub to assess her condition. [ Assessment Complete ] [ Unconscious (toxin) ] The Individual has fallen asleep due to the toxin injected into her body, there are some concentrations left in her leg that can be sucked out ¡­ he would have to do it by himself. The CEO tried to find a first aid kit but realized it was foolish to waste any time. He carefully raised her leg, taking note of the firm, smooth and soft skin until he found some punctures across her flesh. It was so miniature that he almost didn''t notice it. But Li Yang began to suck. A soft whimper reached his ears, bordering close to a pained moan. The CEO stopped and spat a vile liquid through the sink and then continued undeterred by everything else. It was a strange situation. Her moans made it even weirder, and yet the circumstances called for it, especially because he had taken responsibility for her safety¡ª Her other leg suddenly wrapped around his neck in a vice-like grip. "What¡­ what the hell do you think you''re doing?!" Her voice was slightly hysterical, her grip on his neck tightening even more in a painful choke-hold. He coughed for one moment. The sensation of his windpipes getting crushed was unpleasant. He wasn''t into any of this. The man lowered her left leg and motioned for the right leg constricting him. And she reluctantly loosened them just enough for him to speak and explain himself. "You were poisoned by the other merfolk¡ªhow are you feeling?" She blinked at him, never exactly letting go of him despite their uncomfortable position of him pinned under her leg. "Wait, you were the one who killed him?" The CEO barely managed to shake his head. "I only saved you, but the creature still got away and escaped." "I see¡­" "Did you know it...him?" The CEO asked. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you have the right to ask me questions?" "I did save you from him, but it''s also important to understand the motivations. However, I won''t force you." "... I think that was one of my people, and he was trying to bring me back home¡ªbut I didn''t think he would end up in that kind of shape." She squeezed her eyes shut. "My location was supposed to be unknown except for my best friend''s, but that bitch betrayed me." "Hypothetically, what if she had to give your location away? I don''t think that creature looked like someone in the right mental state." She crossed her arms over her chest. "You don''t know what you''re talking about¡­ but I suppose I owe you some gratitude for saving me." Her expression changed, and she raised a brow at him. "And I believe there''s only one thing I can do for you, isn''t that right¡­ CEO?" He was tempted to say no, but he nodded. She growled at him. "I hate debts of gratitude, but fine." "If you do not mind, can you also unwrap your leg around my neck¡ªthis is a situation I do not wish to be stumbled upon." She half-glared at him. "Any other man would have died in pure joy at feeling my legs making contact with them, and even more so to be in such close distance to me." "It''s an uncomfortable position." She let him go and stretched. The Mermaid ran her fingers through her leg and turned on the showers. She began to work on healing her skin idly. "So what does it entail to be officially part of your harem? Do we need to consummate, make a blood pact with one another and drink each other''s blood? How is it done with your situation? I don''t do marriages." Chapter 121: The Aftermath: Gaining An Official Member (2) What did she need to do in order to be part of his harem? It was easy to lie and take advantage of the situation, but that wasn''t the type of man that Li Yang was. He shook his head, even while the Mermaid began to get drenched by the water pouring in the bathtub and had stripped off her blouse. An obvious lack of lingerie became prevalent in his sight. The sides of her fair and plump breasts were now in the open, only her flowing hair covering the rest from being exposed to him. She had looked at him with a mixture of contempt, but also pride, expecting an answer and determined to fulfill her words. He had instead focused on the screen in front of him. "You''re in luck¡ªI just needed your consent." At least he had no desire to ''conquer'' her in a way that might have sent her screaming in his ear. The CEO currently lacked the urge and desire. Even while she tempted him, his thoughts were still on the incident earlier. If he lacked the capacity to protect others¡­ it only made sense that he should grow stronger. And the fastest way to such a thing was acquiring women into his harem. Could he really just turn a blind eye after the incident and accept that he couldn''t help everyone? The idea that this System was a blessing in disguise was a tough pill to swallow, and yet it was apparent that in some way, it would help. He could help, and so he gazed back at the woman in front of him. There was a crestfallen look on her face and it was something she tried to hide. She turned her head away from him, "If that''s the case, then you can leave me alone now. I''ve already accepted that I''ll be part of your harem." He raised a brow. "Will you be fine on your own?" "Hmph, of course I will. Actually, you look more exhausted than me." She narrowed her eyes at him. "How beat up are you from that encounter with one of my kind?" "I got tossed into a building," he admitted. She motioned to him to come forward, acting as if her bathtub was a grand throne, and frowned. "Have you ever considered checking on yourself now? Or are you confident in your physical abilities? You''re a full human, aren''t you in comparison the bumbling monkey?" "I''m a cultivator and it means that I gather the life energy around the world, known as qi, to strengthen myself." Li Yang rubbed his shoulders and winced. "Albeit, I am at a beginner stage." She huffed at him. "I did not ask for a winded explanation about your people''s practices¡ªcome here and let me check your back." The CEO was forced, well; he had taken off his jacket and top when she asked him with vehemence. He couldn''t even get a straight answer when the woman sucked in a breath. He asked, "Is it injured that much for you to react that way?" His body had hurt when he had been flung, his muscles still ached, but it didn''t seem like his spine had been crushed, or his ribs had dislocated themselves. [ You Have Gained 100 Charm Points ] "I''ll touch¡ªahem, heal your back. There are some minor bloody bruises, but other than that¡­ just sit down over here, and I''ll help you out." "You mean squat uncomfortably close to the bathtub?" he asked. "Are you a man or what? Don''t complain and do what I say, I''m trying to help you. I need to be close to a water source to heal you." She snapped at him. Li Yang followed her instructions, but pointed out. "Your friend didn''t seem to need that." "Well, maybe he was soaking it up from the air. Don''t ask me questions." Even while her words were sharp, it differed from her movements. Her hands were cool and relieving as she ran it across his back, and she had even massaged the tight knots out of his shoulder. And this was something that the man did not raise up a fuss against until her breath tickled over his ear. "All done." Her hands and arms had already moved past his shoulders and instead were splayed across his chest. She was leaning against him, her breasts pressing deliciously against his back. There was something primal filling the room that bordered beyond enchantments of her alluring voice. Li Yang gulped slightly. Gone was the contemptuous woman and instead a siren was touching him and enjoying the pleasures of the flesh. Her mood had shifted, her hands snaking around his body and toying with the belt of his pants. "Hmm¡­ you were right, I can see that''s an uncomfortable spot. Would you like to join me in the bath?" "What?" "Your clothes are already soaked even all the way here..." She hummed, her fingers finally grasping at the center of his pants. "So why not take them all off and join me? I can wash your back and knead the weariness out of¡­ your muscles." It took him a minute to realize that the water in the bathtub had already started to overflow. Her sinuous and hot touches had made him relax far too much in the last fifteen minutes, and yet the offer was more tempting now than it had been earlier. The man glanced over his shoulder and stared at the woman looking back at him. There was a certain flushness to her face that reached and lingered down to her neck and finally her bare chest, her lustrous hair promising a lascivious sight once he pushed her hair back behind an ear. When he followed his line-of-sight downwards, he caught the sight of her curvy figure until he could see her legs squeezed together frustratedly from within the bathtub. It revealed the sight of her shorts she had forgotten to take off, despite throwing off her blouse from earlier. She tilted her head at him, aware but unbothered by his glances. "What do you say? This is a one-time offer since I''m turned on¡ª" A knock interrupted her from the other side. There came a sleepy voice from his secretary, "I need to pe¡ªer, use the bathroom." ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Ah, yes, the classic interruption of Ying Yue He. Of course, it could probably still go all the way, I''m sure that the door is locked yes? Did it even matter? XD Is bathtub sex actually any fun though, it seems slippery? Chapter 122: A Splash In The Bathroom (1) ** The Mermaid raised a brow at the sudden interruption, but didn''t stop caressing her hands over his chest. "Right, I nearly forgot about the woman you brought during the concert¡ªand yet you say that I''m the only member of your harem. That means she''s disposable, is she not?" Li Yang''s gaze hardened at her. "Be careful with your words." Her choice of words might have incited a flick in the man''s switch, but she didn''t care. It was better this way for her. Before the man could reply to the woman at the door, she raised her voice. "This place is currently preoccupied, woman. You can say that I''m healing this man from his grievous injuries so best be on your way and do not disturb us." There was no reply from the other side, but she was satisfied that her voice could make it seem like the truth. She could even make the woman pee right outside of the door if she had wanted to. Her fingers unbuckled his belt and swiftly tore it off, appreciating that the thick fabric of his pants couldn''t hide the tent struggling against it. She toyed with his zipper. "I think it''s time we release all of that pent up energy, shall we?" His fingers swept across her hair and slowly tugged her attention up to his eyes. His body was completely honest and yet he was restraining himself, bridling back his desires in lieu of pretending to be calm and in control of such animalistic urges. "I would take it kindly if you stop using your ability on my secretary and refrain from calling her disposable." She stuck out her tongue, too busy imagining the length of his cock to pay much attention to his words. She hadn''t been able to touch herself for over three full moons due to her busy schedule, and instead she tugged at his pants, before looking up and giving him a smile. "But it means that we can continue with this, can we? You have no qualms about fornicating with me." There was a small wobble in his throat before he nodded. "Yes. However, I want you to get naked before me, if you will. And I think this environment of ours can lead to accidents." He felt the urge to put a word in. Both the floor and the bathtub were now wet with water¡ª She smirked at him and stood up in the bathtub, showing off her balance despite the slippery surface. It was there and then that she motioned to her soaked shorts, the dark and drenched fabric tracing the outline of her pussy. "If you want me stripped down, then do it yourself. I''m not giving you a show." If there was anything that spurred him on, it was his cock still restrained in his trousers, but more than that¡ªit was the urge to see a pussy up close. His finger roamed down through the valley of her breasts, trailing down past her stomach, until it reached her soggy shorts, perhaps the only piece of fabric that prevented him from feasting his eyes on her entire body. A soft hitch of her breath filled his ear. He dragged the fabric down slowly and felt the heat of her bare skin brushing against his finger despite the beads of water glistening along it. And it was where the scent of arousal reached his nose as she instinctively leaned to his touch, her eyes were shut and perhaps she was concentrating on his light stroke. "No panties?" "Restrictive." "Do you not wear them during concerts, then?" He asked, stopping just above the part where he would actually touch her slit, coming to know that she was completely bare and clean. He might have wondered how exactly a Mermaid gained such a body, but somehow all that mattered to him was that it worked like the real thing. A touch of frustration reached her throat. Her hands reached out and grabbed his head, tugging his face closer to her crotch. One of her eyes snapped open, and she looked down at him, "Of course, I wear them during those times, I would not want those pigs to enjoy themselves nor cause a scandal. But will you stop teasing me around and lick me?" "... lick you?" "Now I can understand why you''re not in a relationship with anyone¡ªdon''t be shy and just do it. It''s not really that bad if you haven''t done it before." She was a bit kinder, if not only needier as she tugged his head forward and directly into her crotch. There was a slight tremble in her legs, as if she might buckle down, only making her grip his hair tighter. His nose brushed against the top of her clit, and the man sunk into the surprisingly clean but distinctive scent of her slit as he flicked out his tongue and encountered a sopping wetness that was completely different from water. There were some similarities, but the viscousness was on another level and had its own taste. Whatever the case, he began to lick and soon proceeded to eat her out. One of his hands reached for her ass to give it a tight and deliberate squeeze. His finger brushing in between her butt cheeks, reaching and pressing close to the small and tight hole. It made her twitch and would earn a breathy moan from her, as she bucked slightly in a silent request for more contact and in effect gave more access. His tongue deftly stuck inside her and proceeded to thrust in and out, his left thumb promptly rubbing her clit. There were new sensations he hadn''t experienced before. And then he felt it. Her body already at a feverish heat began to burn up even further. Her movements became erratic, her breathing turned heavier and even more lustful. Her fingers twisted around his hair, slightly digging into his scalp as she ground her crotch into his face, demanding and urging him for more. And then she came. It shouldn''t have been a surprise, but when something squirted into his mouth¡ªhe coughed slightly and shook off her grasp on him. It might have just sprayed into his throat and caught him off guard. But there was a content look on her face when he looked up, as if her terrible mood had melted away in the throes and waves of her orgasm. She sighed and squeezed her breast. "Not bad for a first timer, I suppose." "A warning would have been nice." It hadn''t actually tasted awful, but a heads-up still mattered to him. She simply smirked at him. "Do you know what would be better?" "Hmm?" "Actually returning the favor for you." She gestured to his crotch. "That cock of yours trying to get out of your pants looks painful. Should I help you out?" He raised a brow. "I think that was a given." She shook her head in mock disappointment. "Ah yes, always a necessity." The surrounding water hadn''t exactly stopped pouring out, but with a wave of her hand it pooled above their heads. She stepped out of the bathtub and dragged his pants and boxers down, pulling out his erection. She gave him a tight squeeze and stepped towards the shower room. She pressed her hands against the wall and looked over her shoulder. "Shall we get it done over here? A little spooning is something I don''t mind." Chapter 123: A Splash In The Bathroom (2) ** If there was any truth to be spoken of, they were doing it more like dogs in heat than anything as cute as ''spooning'' one another. While it was true that her back was pressed against his chest and it was close to spooning, they were doing it without any restraint that it would have been near impossible to hide whatever it was they were doing inside of the bathroom. And yet all unprecedented thoughts like that were already cast aside. Heat, pleasure and fervor consumed the two of them. He twisted her nipples in between his fingers and had already slammed his cock into her a couple of times that he had to hold her up by her hips. She had already let out several moans and writhed beneath him. There was a delicious sensation to pounding her that was a lot more satisfying than doing it slowly. It should have been obvious, but her being so slick made it an easy transition. The man had thrusted in slowly at first, but now had buried himself balls deep into her before slipping out nearly all the way and then thrusting back inside. Something that made her eyes roll back for a moment and a pant escape her lips. "Did I¡­ really tease you this much¡ª" Questions were made for naught as he took the opportunity to kiss her, his pace slowing down for a more sensual and yet gentle moment. Their tongues meeting and toying with one another. The Mermaid who was no stranger to pleasure enjoyed all of these actions, albeit the kiss was a sudden surprise. She didn''t mind being treated like a fuck toy, riding in the pleasure of him using her as he pleased and desired, but the almost sweet gesture of a kiss was a little too much. She pulled back for a moment, a trail of saliva dripping down the corner of her lips. "Oi, don''t kiss me." "Anywhere?" The mere fact he tried to clarify her statement and somewhat have enough headspace for it was a little annoying and also because she hadn''t thought that far. "Not just on the lips, I guess. And try not to overdo it. What are you, some kind of sex doll or non-stop vibrator?" He shrugged, momentarily wiping the sweat off his brow. "You did say that this was a one-time offer, it''s best to take advantage of it fully." "... and you took it seriously?" She wasn''t sure if he was messing with her by acting this way and was trying to play it out as a perfect gentleman. Appearances were appearances. And yet she cleared her throat. "Do it a little slower because I already came once, I''m a bit over-sensitized." "Alright, I''ll do it faster when you beg then." "Beg?" A scoff escaped her lips. "I would¡ª" He nuzzled her neck and pressed a breathy kiss on her throat, giving her breast a firm squeeze. He had been close, but pacing himself also made sense, and somehow the sound of her voice made him clear his head a little. Her request, albeit a little disappointing, was something he followed. It wasn''t as pleasurable as simply seeking his own climax, and yet each movement and slight fumble was a liberating education. She was wrapped around him snugly, and yet it was easy to thrust back and forth. It was the right amount of slickness and tightness. Every minute sensation sent its own wave of pleasure through his cock, and yet he did it slowly. Tried to clear his head and put his motions to a crawl until he heard a small whine. "Why did you stop?" The woman said and then spoke something in a language he didn''t quite catch, but seemed like a curse. Her slit rubbed against his dick, deliberately and wantonly slicking it with her juices. "Is it because you don''t have a condom?" The man blinked and realized that was true, and yet he shook his head. "I''m trying to clear my head and¡­ how long have we been here?" The CEO glanced at his watch, which thankfully had been waterproof. It was a little late and he might have felt bad that he held back his secretary from going into the bathroom, except there were luckily two¡ª She grabbed his entire length and shoved it inside of her, a tidal wave of pleasure rocking into his body that he almost missed her expression. She was giving him a stink eye. "Do that after you shove your load in me." His hands grabbed her hips, "What?" She stuck her tongue at him. "I''m safe. Thank goodness because I''m the only one thinking about it, haven''t I?" She began to move on her own, bucking her hips back and forth in fast but short strides, bouncing slightly on his dick. The two of them began to catch and move in each other''s rhythms and pace, increasing the tempo until he finally felt the throes of his ejaculation burst out of him into a mind-numbing stream, spurting into her pussy. His hand rubbed at her thighs until he pulled out. The Mermaid threw him an impish look and smiled, "Want to cool off?" Without waiting for an answer, the accumulated water above them dropped like a storm and he swore he heard a laugh once it was all done. The entire bathroom looked like it had a fight with the emergency sprinklers, hose and all the water from the shower-head. She deliberately opened the shower and allowed more water to fall over them, humming now playing on her lips. "Quite refreshing." "I suppose you could have at least left our clothes dry?" Li Yang eyed the pieces of wet clothing strewn across the floor and proceeded to wring them out. The Mermaid had already found some shower gel for her to use, rubbing and producing suds over her body. "Too shy to go out buck naked?" "Perhaps." Or a need for decency. Albeit now, it seemed like a bit of a stretch. She clicked her tongue at him. The water however quickly drained out of his clothes and now appeared completely dry. He raised a brow and half-wondered aloud. "You might have done well in the laundry industry besides being an idol." The man dodged a water whip in the face and a slightly annoyed Mermaid. "You could have said a lot of things or chosen to shut your mouth, but is that what you really had to say?" She harrumphed and continued her shower. "I''m not some washing and drying machine!" It would be no use explaining that it was a legitimate suggestion. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Phew, finally done! I hope this part was fun and there''s some improvement in my smut-skill xD Although, what this Author is aiming for is novelty of scenes. Thanks for reading! Drop me a Power Stone if you enjoyed! Even if you didn''t, please do lol. Chapter 124: Evaluation Time! (2) When Li Yang finally woke up much later, it would be because of the sound of the television. He might have panicked if he hadn''t been keenly aware that it was the weekend. A Sunday, to be exact. The CEO stepped out of the third room in the executive suite and saw his secretary Ying Yue He on the couch. She had been about to yawn but stifled it and quickly greeted him instead. "Good morning, Mister Li. Did you sleep well?" She asked. "The hotel attendant had already arrived earlier with their breakfast accommodations, but it''s also possible to go to the buffet hall if you wish to do so." "What kind of boss wakes up later than his employee?" Bao, the creature, was on the couch and had an entire piece of a waffle in its paws, munching and even dipping it into a chocolate dip. "But also a rough night, huh? I can swear that one of you guys was squealing like a whale and I''m not sure which one of you was it." It was too distracted to even give him a proper mocking. Regardless of that slight distraction, Li Yang''s attention was on Ying Yue He. The man had no clue of whether his secretary had any clue, or had pretended she was oblivious, and so he nodded. "I have slept well. What about you, Miss He?" "I''m good. Have you recovered from your injuries, Mister Li?" She had bought the excuse then? Li Yang wasn''t sure if it was good or not that she did, but he went along with it. "It wasn''t too grievous." "Ah, that''s a relief then." Ying Yue He scratched her cheek. "My apologies for forcing myself to come with you last night, I think I only ended up as a burden. You had been more than capable of handling it." "No, I should have insisted on taking you home." "Would you like to take a seat first, Mister Li? Can I get you coffee? Eggs? A souffle?" Ying Yue He stood up from the couch. "I was planning on visiting the buffet once you or Miss Bai Minghua had woken up." "There''s no need¡­ or perhaps just a cup of coffee?" He finally said once he noticed her expression fall slightly. "Take your breakfast first though, I''ll be fine." The two of them didn''t engage in much more small talk, his secretary leaving him be. Perhaps it was because things were awkward? Or possibly just hungry. Li Yang plopped down the couch and muttered to himself. "It really would have been better to keep my personal and work life separated." "What personal life?" the creature asked after swallowing the waffle and then reaching for another piece left on the coffee table. "You''re downright workaholic as far as I can see." Li Yang rested his head against the couch and shut his eyes. He took advantage of the creature''s presence and said, "It''s not like I can simply go out of my way to tell her I slept with someone in the bathroom. All of that has nothing to do with her, and could even be too much unnecessary information and yet¡­" "You feel guilty that you were fucking someone else? Are you two even together? Sounds like you''re getting worked up for nothing." "I have been dishonest." Or the Mermaid had been for giving an excuse. Not that he hadn''t enjoyed any of the incident from last night, but like recovering from the high or a state of drunkenness, he was now experiencing a hangover in exchange. "Oh, now I get why you want to keep your so-called ''work'' and ''personal'' life separated." Bao said sarcastically. "Nevermind it then." Li Yang finally paid attention to the screen in front of them. One could already take note that the news was tackling the incident at the hotel which had been linked to faulty and weak foundations of the hotel and a minor earthquake that had triggered it. The CEO couldn''t help but wonder if there were people involved in this that had hidden the truth or if it was truly hard to find a cause. A five-star hotel would experience a heavy blow to their business because of it¡ªand it didn''t even take into account the possible accidents that occurred that time. But the CEO''s thoughts would temporarily be swept away once Bai Minghua stepped out from her own room, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "I feel parched." She walked right past him and headed towards the bathroom. The creature let out a whistle and elbowed the CEO. "That''s 60,000 points walking, huh? Finally, did your job this time. Should have known you were into women like her, a bit more spicy than your secretary." "You don''t even know what you''re talking about." he sighed and finally checked his notifications. [ Main Quest: Conquer the ''White Lotus'' Bai Minghua ] [ Difficulty Level: Difficult ] [ Status: Completed! ] [ Summary: Harem Cultivation is the method of gaining power through conquering beauties and adding them to your ''harem''. Your current target is the ''White Lotus Mermaid'' or ''Two-Face Idol'' and conquer them! ] [ Success: 50,000 Charm Points ] Besides accomplishing the Main Quest, he had also received a number of additional Charm Points for varying reasons: A Reward for Attaining a 100% Successful Encounter [ You Have Received 3000 Charm Points ] Obtaining an Official Member and Adding Her to the Harem [ You Have Received 2500 Charm Points ] Special Bonus for Sleeping with said ''Harem Member'' [ You Have Received 1500 Charm Points ] Then there were even tips from the Heavens who somehow found enjoyment in whatever had actually transpired from last night even as mere spectators. [ The Observer ''Trite'' Is Actually Pleased ] [ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ] [ The Observer ''Dat Peach'' Takes Some Enjoyment ] [ You Have Received 750 Charm Points ] [ The Observer ''Sea Foam'' Gives A Little Credit ] [ You Have Received 250 Charm Points ] [ The Observer ''Owl Brain'' Isn''t Actually That Impressed ] [ You Have Received 100 Charm Points ] [ The Observer ''One Who Slaughters'' Preferred a Bloodbath ] There were other notifications that the CEO ignored and instead put aside for a future time. Li Yang wondered about their identities, not just the usernames, and yet he had no time for that. At least, not right now. But it was easy to see that he had gained about 10,000 Charm Points with his encounter with the Mermaid, and it truly was more compared to sleeping with Bo Lifen. For a man like him, it wasn''t hard to truly just look at the numbers and decide which one was better in the long-run. If he could focus his energies and time, it might be more fruitful to just sleep with a Harem Member. And yet there was another odd thing. He had already finished his Main Quest, but he couldn''t check the next one¡ª CEO: Where are the details for the next quest? Panda: An eager one already. What a change! CEO: I''m trying to prepare. If I had been unlucky, it wouldn''t have only been my ear that would have gotten cut by the Mermaid. Panda: You''ll get it when you get into close proximity. CEO: Is there a chance that I won''t encounter them? Li Yang doubted it was possible, and the creature''s answer confirmed it. The creature snorted and picked up another waffle. "It''s like you don''t even understand the power of the Heavens, there''s perfect timing for everything. You can''t run away from this or lock yourself in your room to avoid encountering women, idiot. It''d be more likely they''ll wander up in your house if that happens." His house¡ª Taiga. He had left his bodyguard all day at his house and without even a single message to warn her that he wouldn''t go home. Li Yang had prepared food for her and left it in his room, and he hoped that it wasn''t something that his brother would stumble upon, but other than that¡­ he hadn''t done that much, had he? She didn''t even actually show up yesterday morning when he left for his date with Ying Yue He. Li Yang didn''t think she''d do anything like run away, her responsibilities and duties were assigned to her and she spoke about wanting to support the Shou Temple Sect. "What''s with that look on your face? Are you distraught or is that your resting face?" Bai Minghua stepped out of the bathroom at last in a bathrobe, tying up her blue hair into a lazy bun. Before the man could even give a reply, she already had a hand out to him. "But other than that, I need you to give me your phone so I can contact my manager to pick me up." He wordlessly took out his phone and offered it to her, belatedly glad that he hadn''t brought it with him when he placed her in the bathtub last night. The woman stepped towards him and glanced at the television. "Had there been any news on my disappearance from the hotel or had it been covered up properly?" "None, I think." It was the same time that an advertisement popped up about an impromptu interview with Sun Aoyun''s volunteerism of rescuing during the exact incident. "Hmph¡­" She frowned at the screen and then glanced at the phone. "Maybe social media then¡ªhey, you forgot to unlock your phone. I need your fingerprint." If there was anything in cultivation and harem novels he had read before that they sometimes failed to portray fully at times¡ªit was the individual needs of each woman that would become part of the harem. "Can''t wait for your next official member to arrive, huh?" Bao spoke up again with a lazy grin, floating in the air at last and even stretching. "Let''s hope it''s not too much like this one, but then again, something like this isn''t too much for a CEO, yeah?" "I''ll probably need some clothes, I just can''t go out like this¡­ and wait, your brother texted you about some DNA Test?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Only one update, but somewhat longer chapter today because I''m sick x.x Thank you for reading! Chapter 125: The Fruits Of Ones Labor (1) Li Yang knew that it was coming, and yet it was finally here. He had a feeling that it was him, but he still couldn''t be a hundred percent sure. There was no way he could simply trust a person''s word and so he asked, "What did he say, Miss Bai?" "I told you¡ª" "Did he share the results?" "He told you to come pick it up since the results were sent to your house? How backwards, they could have emailed." The Mermaid said and tossed the phone to him. "I suppose you''ll have to take care of this matter then, but don''t forget to drop me off at the concert place. I have some of my luggage in my personal room there, so it will have to do." "Alright." There wasn''t a lot that he could say or do now, he was destined to come home anyway to at least check on Taiga. It was two birds in one stone, but that meant he was going to drop off the Mermaid and Ying Yue He as well if she wanted to get back to her apartment. It wasn''t too troublesome for him, no matter what the creature said. And yet it truly was time-consuming when, at any other point in time, the CEO could have been home on a Sunday all by himself. "Let''s go now then." ¡ª- It wasn''t only Li Yang who had kept some information hidden away from Ying Yue He¡ªshe had also neglected to remind him of something. The only reason why she had been focused on the news earlier was when the startling realization that the exact same hotel that Luo Ju Di and Chunhua had been staying at¡­ it was the one that had been attacked by the monster from last night. Her plate was filled to the brim with an assortment of three differently cooked eggs, strips of bacon, mashed potatoes and other stuff, but she hadn''t touched it. If anything, it was almost like she was glaring at her food like some kind of child. Ying Yue He was distracted with her thoughts. Did she forget about it last night? It barely had come to her, only focused on the events occurring¡­ "But they''re alright, right? Nothing should have happened to them." The image of a child dropping from the building came to her mind, and yet it was unrealistic. Surely it should be when she could tell that the monster had only come for the idol. It didn''t actively attack anybody else? "Miss He." A voice suddenly called out, and she realized that her boss and the idol had come to the buffet hall. Her eyes widened, and she greeted him. "Mister Li, my apologies for taking too long, I''ll get you your coffee now¡ª" "No need, I need to return to my house. However, I''d like to take you back to your apartment if you wish?" Ying Yue He could see the impatient look on Bai Minghua''s face, a stark contrast to the idol performing last night¡­ and even if she hesitated now, the woman shook her head. "I can get back on my own, Mister Li." She could already imagine herself sitting with the idol in the back seat, and an unpleasant sensation chilled her spines. "Are you sure, Miss He?" he asked with a look of concern in his eyes. Perhaps his thoughts were still on the event last night of the monster escaping them. She managed a smile and nodded. "I''m taking advantage of the free breakfast, Mister Li. Please don''t worry about me!" "You can still stay here if you like then. We''ll be going, Miss He so please take care of yourself." Her boss was generous enough to let her stay at an Executive Suite all by herself, something bigger than three of her own room at Madam Dongxia''s apartment combined. And so she was left on her own, alone with her thoughts and the man unaware of what had happened last night. He relied on her to take care of Luo Ju Di and the child''s accommodations and didn''t even worry that much, because it was she who covered it for him. ¡ª- While Li Yang was driving, the CEO had decided to call Luo Ju Di and inform her of the arrival of the results. And yet she wasn''t answering her phone. And so he would leave it until he arrived home. He gazed outside of his house and didn''t see Taiga either. But once he stepped inside and reached the living room, he would see his brother and his partner huddled over some documents. "Are those the results?" Other concerns were placed aside for this moment. "Woah, you could have at least told us you were here¡ªare you some kind of ghost?" Liang looked up and held a hand over his chest. "I didn''t hear your steps at all." "Don''t joke around and give him the paper." Gabrielle elbowed the younger man and had a knowing smile on her face. It was almost a telltale sign of what were the results. And yet, even as he grabbed for the piece of paper and would check the results¡­ his heart might have stopped at this moment. Electricity ran through his veins when his gaze focused on the words underlined and marked¡ª [ Congratulations! You Have Previously Spread Your Seed Into The World ] [ Sowing and Reaping - I ] Bestow your seeds and bear some progeny to spread good genes and power into the world. Due to the official results, the Host''s past exploits have been rewarded! [ You Have Received 10000 Charm Points ] Even the System somehow managed to give him a bonus for the results. Li Yang clutched the paper in his hands, still staring at the contents. So this was it. He was a father now. Had been one already for about six years if he counted the age of Chunhua, but now it was finally on the table. "I guess you''re not just an Uncle Yang now. Have you contacted Luo Ju Di?" Li Yang looked at his brother and nodded. "I''ve tried to, but she hasn''t picked up my calls. I''ll call her again or leave a message to inform her." "So how does it feel to be a father¡ªyou look kinda pale?" "... A bit shocked, but it is what it is," he said. But he wasn''t so sure about it either. It wasn''t easy to put it into words. But if he had to say it¡­ there came a late sensation, a click in his mind that informed him that things have changed. Another sense of responsibility thrust into him. His life was never going to be the same after this, and some things would have to change. Possibly not as life-changing as getting thrown into a game of live entertainment for the heavens, but this was around the same level to him. Perhaps even more on a personal level. Because in some way, he had contributed to making another life, and now he had to watch over and finally participate in even more growth for his daughter. And yet it was also a bit late to be feeling this much, to be thinking about it this much¡­ but was it, really? Author''s Note: Thank you for reading! It''s a little hard for me to emulate the idea and feeling of grasping the knowledge that someone now has a child, but hopefully it manages to hit a landing to some extent. Chapter 126: Catnaps with Taiga (Taiga POV) Note: It''s a Taiga chapter with heartwarming scenes. Fluffy. Character Development Chapter. Optional? If there was to be an omen of truth in the delirious thoughts of a secretary, enough needed to be said. Some things just happened and it couldn''t be changed or avoided. There was both good and bad in the world, and sometimes, things sucked. Pretty badly. Taiga could have been a good example of it¡ªcould have complained about it all and then some, but the Tigress Spirit hadn''t questioned it and only accepted things as they were. She had been eating a tuna sandwich when the CEO stepped back into his bedroom for a breath of air. "Oh." She blinked and stared at the man¡­ that somehow almost smelled like fish to her. She wrinkled her nose but raised a hand. "You''re back, Bossman." A look of surprise crossed his face. "Miss Taiga, you''re here." "Where else would Taiga be?" She raised a brow. "You didn''t bring Taiga along for your date with your secretary and then stayed a night away. It can''t be helped that Taiga is here unless you wanted her to go away." She had spent most part of her day yesterday going around the area of the neighborhood, trying to clear her head and sniff out potential threats. The man gazed at her with a serious look. "Have you only seen the sandwich now? I left it here yesterday morning." "It''s still good and something mundane like a one-day-old sandwich can not poison Taiga''s body." She chomped it down in one bite and then wiped her hands. "Are you going to spend your day with Taiga now? Or at least bring her along this time to wherever you will go?" Instead of answering, the man just stepped over to his bed and then laid down. "In a minute or ten, I''ll be leaving, once I get the coordinates for Luo Ju Di''s current accommodations from Ying Yue He¡­ I think I have to meet my daughter formally." "Daughter?!" Taiga''s eyes widened. "Taiga didn''t know that!" "I did not know of it either until much recently, so you haven''t missed much." The man''s eyes were now closed, as if trying to take a quick nap before he went about his days again. It was like the man still hadn''t been able to use qi fully¡ªthe tigress narrowed her eyes and quickly noticed the stronger amount of qi gathered in his body and meridians. It was almost like he had leaped like a fish into several stages in just one night! "What happened last night?" she asked. "I slept with someone¡ª" the CEO halted and then opened an eye. "I suppose that is not what you were looking for, though." Taiga scrunched up her nose. "You rejected Taiga''s offer, but then went around with someone else. Taiga should be hurt, but unless you have cultivated through absorbing your partner''s qi, Taiga is asking about your cultivation progress¡ªthe meridians in your body are now flowing with more vital energies at superior rates than when we had last met. Did you go through a process of breakthrough? Or did you go through some heavenly enlightenment?" "I broke through the bottleneck I had last night, which I believe was only possible through your valuable input when we sparred. I wouldn''t have gained a new technique without you, and for that, you have my gratitude." Taiga could somehow tell that the man had somewhat changed by a tiny bit. Not that she had known him a lot to give an accurate gauge of his attitude, but was it because he became a little more talkative? Regardless, she dismissed his words. "If the Bossman wanted to, he could actually be a smooth-talker, huh? At least when your guard is down, Taiga observes¡ªit seems like it''s best to talk with you when you''re tired." "Is that so?" "Mhmm." "I think it applies for everyone, Miss Taiga." In doing so, he once again closed his eyes. She gave a shrug and then watched the man still lying down on the bed. He wasn''t moving and was far too relaxed in his position¡ªa wicked grin crossed her lips and then she performed a belly flop atop his stomach. Which earned her a loud grunt from the CEO, taken aback and possibly hurt to some extent. He raised his head slightly, only to see her sprawled horizontally on him. "Miss Taiga?" "Before you actually say a thing¡ªTaiga isn''t that heavy." She stuck a tongue at him. One didn''t even need to be a cultivator to detect it in the air. Perhaps minute traces of negative qi could help, but it was easy enough to notice that the man was tired. Possibly taken aback by everything happening around him and for someone like Taiga, all she could do, and all she wanted to do was stretch and lay back down. "Is it not uncomfortable for you to rest like this?" He had no complaints about her being this close then? She chuckled and stretched. "Not at all, Bossman. Taiga thinks this is fine, she''s getting paid by the hour she''s with you, right? It''s nothing too troublesome and Taiga doesn''t have to jump through hoops or anything that grand." "Indeed, you don''t." The man might have cracked a smile for a second, although Taiga wondered if she had been mistaken until he took a deep breath. "We''ll have to leave in ten minutes, if I fall asleep, wake me up." "If? Take a catnap, it seems like the Bossman had been busy pounding all night, eh?" He didn''t give a reply immediately, but then said, "I don''t have to answer that." Taiga only stifled her laughter and nodded. "Yes, Bossman doesn''t have to answer to Taiga, but if you have questions for Taiga, then she would probably answer it." A silence would come after her words, possibly the CEO mulling over a question for her, preparing and thinking of a way to address her¡ªbut then she heard a slight snore. Which made a pout cross on her lips, but then she gently eased up from above him to give him a moment of recuperation. She looked at his slumbering face and then petted his hair. Ten minutes didn''t really seem enough. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Some of you may already have Best Girls in your mind, especially with the (hopefully) awesome sex and banter scenes, but there are times where there is fluff and fluff must it be. I hope you didn''t skip xD Regardless, thanks for reading! Chapter 127: Hospitals and Charm Shops (1) When Li Yang finally woke up, it would be because of the weight that shifted on top of him. The sight of Taiga''s head stuck in the crook of his neck and the tigress spirit''s soft breathing made him watch and listen for a minute, before he pulled out his arm and checked his watch¡ª It was beyond ten minutes. He had slept for more than an hour. The CEO blinked and tried to move, but for a spirit her height, she was a lot heavier than she looked. Li Yang eventually took out his phone from his pocket and would find numerous messages and missed calls. One of them was from Ying Yue He who gave the address of the hotel and the rest were from Luo Ju Di''s number, and it was from a child. Uncle Yang¡ªplease visit mama :( we''re in a hospital 5 Missed Calls Where are you, Uncle? Hello. Is this a friend of the mother and a possible guardian? Miss Luo Ju Di is currently in a state of coma, but her conditions are stabilizing. Perhaps she will wake up in a couple of days. However, we need someone to watch over her daughter. He might have already been jostled out of bed by the first message from Chunhua, an urgency filling his chest¡ªbut the several other messages and missed calls were enough to make him realize he needed to get up fast. ¡ª- Rudely awakening her wasn''t what Taiga wanted, but the look on Li Yang''s face was enough to make her lose her temper and instead made her alarmed. "Is something wrong, Bossman¡ª" No words were spared. It didn''t take too long for them to rush to his car and then head back to a city, at a speed that was faster than she had ever been in and it might have even gone past the speed limit. But then it started making sense when the scent of death, sanitization, filled her nose and then eyes. The two of them would wind up in a hospital room. Taiga hesitated and stayed outside for a moment. She didn''t like the uncomfortable feeling, and even just seeing a woman on the bed lying down, still alive, but unconscious was unpleasant. She had seen death, but the situation was different. ¡ª- It was odd to explain that he wasn''t Luo Ju Di''s husband when he stepped inside. A nurse happened to be around, but it was also the exact moment when Chunhua had rushed and hugged his leg. His daughter. Sounds of sniffles reached his ear, and he was sure that his pants were stained with some snot when he picked the child up into his arms and addressed the nurse. It didn''t take too long for the nurse to leave them be and promising to return if she was needed or had any other concerns. "Uncle Yang, last night¡ª" Chunhua hiccuped. "The pretty nurse told me there was an earthquake, but it''s not it. There was this monster and a scream¡ª" He slowly placed his hand on top of her head, "I know." "Where were you?" She sniffed and looked at him with puffy red eyes. "How did you know? Did you see and hear it too?" The CEO closed his eyes and felt a certain amount of guilt to rack inside of him. If he had known that such an accident would occur, then he shouldn''t have allowed the Tyrannical Merfolk to make the attack. He should have gone for the throat and finished him off back then. And yet there was something odd in her question. "Hear it?" he asked and then said. "I saw it, but I couldn''t answer a thing it said." The little girl nodded her head gravely. "It was talking so loudly and scarily, looking for its Mermaid friend. But you were there, Uncle Yang?" "I saved the Mermaid," he said. But those words were somewhat hollow when he looked at the woman in the hospital bed. Were there many other cases like her? He hadn''t paid much attention to it last night when he knew he couldn''t do a thing. But if he had known? He would have tried. However, at that time, Bao''s words of unavoidable and collateral damage somehow rang true. Callous as it may have been to turn away, when paired with the group of Shadow Hunters present last night, the responsibility of saving shifted¡ª Chunhua''s eyes sparkled. "Mermaid? Like a Prince Charming, Uncle Yang?" Somehow the mention of a finned friend was enough to make the little girl''s emotion perk up, even with the condition of her mother. Perhaps it was just the child''s ability to live in the moment and concentrate on that, and to Li Yang it was much better than his own case of endlessly ruminating. She didn''t seem to have a problem, even with him awkwardly holding his hand over her head. Bao appeared and pointed at him. "You''re clutching it like she''s some kind bowling ball¡ª" "Panda!" "I forgot about this." the creature slapped a paw over its face. "What''s up kid?" Even Bao seemed comfortable around Chunhua, and possibly vice versa. It was enough to make him smile a bit until he stood up for a moment and stepped out of the room. "Miss Taiga¡ªdo you still feel uncomfortable? If you could step in for a moment, I''d like to introduce you to Chunhua." Taiga backed off the wall and looked at him. "Oh, she''s your daugh¡ª" One look was all it took to make the tigress spirit temporarily shut up. But it wouldn''t take long for the spirit to step into the room and then be gazed upon by Chunhua with widened eyes and her jaw dropping. "Kitty!" "Taiga is not a cat!" The protest would turn out to be futile, especially when Chunhua eagerly met up and talked with the Tigress Spirit, who at the end relented with the nickname. Taiga didn''t even need to be told much, she was more than ready to talk with a child. "The two seem to be on a similar wavelength." Bao pointed out with a snort. Li Yang approached the sleeping woman and beheld her condition for a moment. The nurse had said her condition was fine and she would get better¡­ but he still couldn''t find himself at ease. Could he do nothing at this point in time? If the Mermaid had been here, would her healing waters actually do something? He wasn''t sure. Maybe patience was all he needed. The CEO glanced over his shoulder at the young child talking animatedly with Taiga and knew that it might turn out fine¡ªa young child like her didn''t need to stay at the hospital and wait for her mother to wake up. Or she''d put her foot down and demand to stay where she is right now, and he wouldn''t actually find it in him to force her to come along. So it wasn''t only his guilt, but in his own self-interest, that Luo Ju Di woke up? Was there a way, though? He hadn''t exactly fully checked a notification from earlier, busy with the requests of Bai Minghua, but here it was. [ Congratulations! You Have Accomplished The Second Main Quest - Shop Function Has Upgraded ] [ Charm Shop Level 2 Is Now Available ] Maybe, just maybe, there was something for Luo Ju Di''s condition. Chapter 128: Hospitals and Charm Shops (2) There were things that he failed to consider, or had hoped that in spite of the idea of the ''System'' being meant for him and possibly his Harem Members to use, there would be something for him to use in order to help a person he cared about¡ªbut there was none. Attraction Charm (Consumable) 150 CP Divine Energizer Drink (Consumable) 300 CP Dao of Attraction 750 CP Harem Member Gift Set 5000 CP Harem Cultivation Qi Condensation - VIII 15000 CP Mystery Box 500 CP Roots Unlockment 5000 CP Bloodline Awakening 10000 CP Constitution Refinement 500 CP Cultivation Method Upgrade 200 CP Spiritual Cultivation Method 2500 CP Martial Arts/Body Cultivation Method 3000 CP [ Current Charm Points: 70463 ] If anything, some of the items even increased in charm points cost now that the Charm Shop increased in level. The CEO narrowed his eyes at the screen, before making a decision¡ª [ Deducting 5000 CP¡­ ] [ You Have Bought ''Harem Member Gift Set''! ] [ Items Will Temporarily Be Stored In The System Until Further Instructions ] [ Host Can Choose To Take Out Item One By One ] [ Would You Like To Check Contents? ] It was an obvious ''Yes'' from him. 1x LSO Beauty and Facial Set 1x Picture-Perfect Perfume 1x Water of Rejuvenation (Vial) 1x Giant Pearl Storage 1x Tiny Pink Salmon (pet/consumable) 3x LoveLove Charm Talisman 3x Intergalactic Royal Jelly (consumable) 10x Rainbow Pearls Essence 25x Merfolk Dark Seaweed The CEO stared at the contents with a mild hint of surprise and confusion, and then noticed Bao hovering above him and giving him a look. "What did you expect? It was meant for your Harem Member and you got yourself a Mermaid¡ªit''s meant for you to give it to her. But why the heck did they even include a fish? That''s weird, even for me, but other than that everything else is concerned about beauty and appearances, huh?" He paid half-attention to it talking, because Li Yang''s attention was focused on one item alone. [ Water of Rejuvenation ] (Rare) A vial filled with the purest and cleanest waters across the Earthly Plane and is said to have come from a spring still untouched by foreign manipulations from its first burst. A life-giving water that can rejuvenate an individual from various states of impurity, poison and other afflictions which can cleanse the entire body and vital energies surrounding said body. Can be consumed. Out of everything else included in the ''Harem Member Gift Set'', this might have been the only thing that Li Yang could see as valuable. Everything else was indeed probably what Bai Minghua herself had wanted, but this item seemed to have come out because she got injured by the Tyrannical Merfolk from before. Perhaps the other items were out of nostalgia for a home she couldn''t return to. Li Yang already made a mental note not to show the fish to Taiga, but he refocused back to the vial containing the Water of Rejuvenation and his hand hovered above the screen. "Woah, woah, don''t tell me that you''re going to¡ª" Bao covered its mouth with a paw. Chunhua was looking over at them with a curious look. Taiga none the wiser as she tapped the child''s head for them to continue their game on the ground¡­ Taiga had pebbles with her? Li Yang glanced back at Luo Ju Di, the woman sleeping in her bed peacefully and at a ''stabilized'' state. He then looked back at the screen which showed him an important object that would surely make her rouse up from her condition¡­ and he hesitated. He wanted her to wake up, but it economically made little sense for him to use something high-grade and rare just for her to wake up. And so he didn''t. Thus he had to take his daughter with him, or at least convince her to do so. Li Yang knelt in front of the child and offered his hand, "Chunhua, while your mother is still resting here in the hospital, I think it''d be best for you to stay with me until she wakes up." The little girl''s expression wavered, looking away from Taiga to him. An obvious look of trepidation crossed her face, even though the child knew him. "Do you have anybody else that your mother considers as your guardian? We can contact them if you''d like." Perhaps there were grandparents somewhere else that could take care of Chunhua, especially if she didn''t want to go with him¡ªbut the child shook her head and chose not to say a word. What kind of life have they been living if it was just the two of them? A sudden mumble sounded and then Taiga looked at him. "Chunhua says she wants to stay here until her mother wakes up." Li Yang didn''t know if he should be relieved that the child was talking to Taiga, but he accepted it. "I don''t think a girl your age should be left alone." "But who''ll take care of Mama?" It was a good question raised¡ªwhich at least spoke of the child''s kindness and care. However, his immediate concern was her and not necessarily Luo Ju Di. "The nurses and doctors here are capable of taking her, Chunhua." The little girl wasn''t exactly convinced, and so he had to summon both a nurse and a doctor to assure the child. That indeed, it was a firm yes that they would be taking good care of her mother and would inform Mister Li the very moment that her mother woke up. It took about half an hour more of convincing, the girl''s sheer reluctance to leave and an impatient-looking Panda that had them actually out of the hospital after she kissed her mother goodbye. Li Yang himself couldn''t say from experience that something like that happened to him, but the man would accept all the events with no complaints. And soon they were on their way back home, and it was how he spent his morning¡ª A sound of grumbling erupted from the backseat of the car. "Taiga and Chunhua are hungry, Bossman!" It was almost like he had more than one kid at this rate. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: In the CEO''s shoes, I don''t think anybody would have used up the Water of Rejuvenation for Luo Ju Di, would they? It almost sounds callous when I say it now, but preparing for the Rainy Days seems like the standard choice, right? o.o Thanks for reading! Chapter 129: Fatherly Duties and System Mishaps (1) The Main Quests provided by the System were fair in their own way, giving the Hosts ample time to finish them. It was simple logic. If the Individual thought he had a glimmer of hope in accomplishing such a quest¡ªthen the pleasure derived from watching said person''s expectation be dashed away, followed by the expression despair and then to be decapitated when the timer runs out was thrilling! The Panda¡ªBao understood it perfectly. Had even seen it happen a couple times, which was why it was annoying to see the CEO finishing his Main Quests in less than twenty-four hours! The man was once again rewarded by an ''Interlude'' period of the remaining days and hours meant for accomplishing the Main Quest. This wasn''t going the way it was supposed to go! However, it was new and incited some interest for the Observers, and so it continued on. This strange situation in its hands was playing out. "Hey there again, kid, how are you doing?" the CEO''s brother greeted Chunhua with a smile. Li Yang watched the young girl give a small wave while holding onto a toy she got from the fast-food chain that Taiga had insisted on earlier. The CEO gave his brother a look and took off his shoes. "Feel free to call him Uncle Liang, I suppose. Chunhua will stay here until her mother recovers." "Wait, what? What happened to¡ª" "We''ll discuss it later," he said. "But if I could bother you and Madam Gabrielle to pick out some clothes for Chunhua? She doesn''t have any luggage on her." He could have bothered Ying Yue He for it, but it was a Sunday. He had already trespassed on her life by a good amount. "Sure, sure¡ªyou''ll be taking a nap?" "Something like that." Chunhua gave him a look, "You''ll be going again, Uncle Yang?" Her words made his brother look at him questioningly, but he shook his head. "No, but..." How would he exactly relate to a child? He had more faith that his brother''s girlfriend could pick out clothes for the girl... "Alright, I need you to help me out with something later. But get along with your Uncle Liang until then, Chunhua?" "You need Chunhua''s help?" Her eyes sparkled at this time. "Okay then, Uncle Yang! I''ll see you later." ¡ª- Chunhua''s mother was at the hospital, Taiga was once again hanging around the trees as a scout, he dropped off Bai Minghua at her concert place and Ying Yue He was at the hotel or went home. Li Yang finally sat down in his private office at home and glanced at the screen in front of him containing all the items from the Harem Member Gift Set. But right before he could call Bai Minghua, she beat him to it. "Hello¡ª" The sound of her rattled voice was what struck him first and then her going on about the curse, and everything about the harem¡­ Li Yang cleared his throat. "Miss H¡ªBai Minghua, please calm down and repeat everything that happened to you." Some accusations were thrown into the air¡ª "I told you about my situation¡­ but, no, I failed to think that something like that would happen. Albeit, it''s in relation to what I told you about a chance to become stronger. Are you familiar with the idea of video games? What about comics¡­? I''m sure you''ve at least read something close to that, haven''t you?" Li Yang eyed the visible distortion in the air, which disappeared in a flash. The creature, Bao, appeared in front of him with a smug little furry face, and then ignored it. Instead, he focused on the voice of the other person on the other end. "I think you''ll be able to perform with no hindrances. Isn''t it natural for performers and celebrities to experience some unexpected situations but carry on with it for their fans?" Her voice came from the other end, and he sighed. "Well, the contract at least¡ªI suppose you understand how valuable it is to do what you''ve promised. I don''t think it''s that troublesome, you can probably close it if you think about it, Miss Bai." The sound of the Mermaid discovering and making exclamations as she interacted with the ''screen'' in front of her, which wasn''t blue, but was actually purple for her, came from the other end of the call. Another muffle sounded and he nodded. "And yes¡­ you do have a gift set meant for you." Somehow, she was also aware of it through the System informing her, but the Inventory was with him. He was expected to present it to her like any gift to a ''harem member'' but this was the reason why he wanted to call in the first place. He cleared his throat and asked, "Is there anything significant with a small pink salmon for your people?" There was none. Until she somewhat recalled something, briefly. Salmons was not necessarily linked to Merfolks but held some significance with¡ª "Ah, with the Celtics?" The CEO frowned and could have sworn he the first Mermaid storyteller was of Danish descent and so related to Nordics by some chance. Even the possibility of one of the merfolk societies being held there¡­ but Celtics? Li Yang took out his laptop and began to search for any useful information about the salmon. He placed the phone on loudspeaker mode at last before he asked. "Well, do you wish to do anything with it?" "What would I even do with salmon?" Bai Minghua huffed from the other end. "You said it''s tiny? It''s not even good enough to eat if that''s the case, and I don''t care about what you''ll do with it. Isn''t there anything else that would have more use for me?" "There is an LSO Beauty and Facial Set, a type of perfume called Picture-Perfect¡­ one Giant Pearl Storage, which I assume is something your people use. There is some talisman, royal jelly to eat¡ª" "If it weren''t for this screen hovering in my face, I wouldn''t believe a word you just said." "Naturally." "Ah¡­ it''d be too bothersome to pick them up, I still have a concert in a couple of hours. Hold them for me, I suppose." Chapter 130: Fatherly Duties and System Mishaps (2) Plonk. The tiny pink salmon dropped from out of thin air and dove into the small glass bowl in Chunhua''s hands. Water splashed slightly out of the bowl and even got into the little girl''s face, but her lips were curled into a huge grin, before she looked up to him. "It''s a fish!" Li Yang nodded. "Mhmm." "Look at the fishy go!" Chunhua peered into the bowl and smiled happily. The CEO had needed much "help" to have her hold the bowl, and so she was now proudly the owner of a salmon. "I''ll be entrusting it to you, Chunhua. Can you take care of it for me?" "I will! Where''s the food?" A long dark seaweed appeared in his hands. It was actually a bit dry to the touch instead of moist like he imagined it to be, but he offered it to her after she placed the bowl on the table. Salmon naturally ate smaller creatures, like insects, even small amphibians if given a chance¡ªbut Li Yang wasn''t one to dismiss it as a simple salmon even when the System insisted that it was. Chunhua tore off a small piece and threw it into the bowl and watched the fish gobble it up. The tiny pink salmon spun inside of the glass to the child''s amusement. "Really?" Bao appeared and looked at them. "You''re just giving it to her as¡­" The small child looked up to the creature and asked, "As what?" Whatever inclination the creature held to berate the CEO for his decisions, it stopped itself and paused, somehow even less willing to divulge its nature to the child. "I''d like to think that she''s more than capable of watching over it, and I don''t have time to take care of it myself." Li Yang shrugged. "I suppose you wouldn''t propose that I give this to Taiga and watch the fish be gone in less than a minute, do you?" "... To think that a child is more responsible." the creature smacked itself with a paw. The CEO stifled a chuckle before it eyed the fish swimming. "What are the chances of this fish growing to a size far larger than normal? Perhaps it would become a mount?" In the presence of a child and a creature that was in the form of a panda, it was far easier to give into fanciful musings. "Really?" Chunhua''s eyes could have twinkled like stars. "If I keep feeding Pinkie, she''s going to grow as big as a whale?!" "I hope not." the CEO replied and rubbed his chin. "Albeit, it''s probably impossible for ''Pinkie'' to grow that much in the tiny bowl." "Yes, she''s going to need a bigger bowl." His daughter agreed with a nod before turning back to address the fish. "Pinkie, you need to eat a lot to grow and then next time, we''ll go to the ocean and meet Mermaids!" Bao was giving Li Yang a look, to which he ignored. There was something in watching a child be happy and carefree that he couldn''t help but simply watch with a hint of relief¡ªthis was probably what it meant to have a good childhood. No need for tears or anything like that. ¡ª- When Chunhua left his home office to show off the fish to Uncle Liang and Aunt Gabi, Li Yang would finally be left to his thoughts and he simply glanced at the screen in front of him. "A well with flow unfailing¡­ Connla''s Well, where nine hazels of Crimall the sage are to be found. Hazels being the symbol of great wisdom would fall into these waters and feed the salmon swimming there, only to be found by Fionn mac Cumhaill who captured a fish. During his preparation, he licked some oil from said salmon and found great wisdom." Li Yang glanced at his shoulder and asked. "What do you think of this?" "Well, I think¡ªwhy are all of these stuff found on the internet?" the Panda massaged its furry face with its paws before giving him a look. "Don''t tell me that you believe all of this, do you?" "I''m talking to you, I think I have found a lot more reason to believe what seems unreasonable." "So what? Are you going to wait for the salmon to grow up and then you''d cook it?" Li Yang glanced at the screen and rubbed his face. "I''ve given it to Chunhua, so I don''t think it''s an easy option to do. However, it is fascinating to understand and connect some of the information. We could say this Vial of Rejuvenation I have to have come from a spring, but what are the chances it also came from this fabled Connla''s Well?" "You''re not going to get anything out from me." "Which means there is something to be gleaned from this." Li Yang watched Bao''s face twitch and turned back to the screen. "I am considering feeding the salmon besides the merfolk''s seaweed, a variety of other things, perhaps a pearl and some of the royal jelly?" "These things are meant for the Mermaid, idiot. Where the heck do you not understand the ''Harem Member Gift Set'' written on the Charm Shop comes from?" "I don''t think she''d mind." Bao narrowed its eyes at him. "Do what you want." It soon faded out from his sight and ''disappeared'' but there was no doubt that it was monitoring him as usual. Li Yang sighed and leaned back against his chair, once again feeling a moment of relief at perhaps being alone with his thoughts. Except there was another thing that still weighed on his mind. He had previously let it drop, focused on the situation he had around him¡­ but now he had some time to collect his thoughts and assess the item he had received from his VIP Observer: Unofficial System Patch A patch meant to improve things, but it was unofficial. Close to a cheat? "Someone from¡­" He paused and stopped himself from saying it aloud. There weren''t a lot of things he could gather from the notifications that sometimes came, but it was a Being who was ''leagues stronger than him'' in the words of ''Dat Peach'' and she was someone who called him a ticking time bomb. She deemed him enough as a threat and even joked about trusting her enough to tell his plans of ''universal domination''¡ªshe was a rogue element in this situation. It was easy enough to sweep this under a proverbial rug and never accept it. The risks were dealing with an element he could not account for. And yet he knew that what she gave him could possibly make some tides into his own goals. Would this patch allow him to control the System more? Would it just unlock features currently blocked from him? What did she want from all of this? Mere entertainment? In her own words, ''Dat Peach'' could get banned for interacting too much with him, and she still risked it to give him this. How would she possibly gain from someone like him? Li Yang would never take it as merely a ''gift'' for being interesting¡ªthere was something to be gained from this exchange. He just needed to know what it would entail. If this would be worth the risk. ¡­ And he only had one possible contact if he truly wished to gather more information. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Our world has interesting myths and lores! Now to see whether we''ll actually cook the salmon or not xP Anyhow, thank you for reading today''s chapters! Chapter 131: Right Back On Schedule (CEO + Taiga) "Where are you going, Uncle Yang?" Chunhua grasped the edge of his coat and looked up at him. She was sleepily rubbing her eyes with her other hand and yawning. Although it was barely six in the morning, somehow she woke up and caught him before he left. Li Yang bit back a chuckle at her sleepy expression, before he cleared his throat. "I have work, Chunhua. I''ll be going to the office today, well¡­ for the next few days." He couldn''t exactly just throw his schedule into the air because she arrived into his life, and he didn''t even do it when the System arrived. He hoped she didn''t find it too troublesome. "Oh¡­" She tugged his coat again. "But you''ll be back right?" He ruffled her head. "I''ll be back at six tonight, so have a good day today, Chunhua and listen to your uncle." He paused for a moment and said. "Well¡­ not everything he says. If he says anything weird or strange, don''t pay attention to him." Memories of their childhood days came to his mind and he found good reason for Chunhua to act mischievous if she wanted to. His brother being a headache of his own in the past despite being the older one. "You mean Uncle Liang and Aunt Gabrielle?" "Mhmm." He nodded. After she had slept last night in a guest room, a discussion happened between them to clarify the situation. They would share the responsibilities of taking care of his daughter, between his brother and his partner, and at least for that, Li Yang was grateful for the man''s presence. "Chunhua, I''ll entrust you to feed Pinkie alright?" He took out another strip of seaweed and a pearl from the System''s inventory and handed it to her. "If she can eat the pearl, then all the better." "Did you do that like magic?" Her eyes widened. He really shouldn''t have been doing this in front of her, but he nodded. "You can say that¡ªkeep it a secret though, alright?" Chunhua nodded seriously. "I will, Uncle Yang!" "That''s good. Thank you." "Uhh¡­ Uncle Yang?" "What is it?" He glanced back at her, somewhat glad he had enough time to spare for this moment. She looked up at him. "Can I visit my Mama even if I''m staying here?" "Yes, of course. I think your Uncle Liang and Aunt Gabrielle will be happy to take you there when you wish." "Okay. Please have a good day too, Uncle Yang." "Thank you." He waved at her before he left. His aim and goals didn''t change at all, but how he would accomplish such desires were in part affected by the fact he had a daughter. Things weren''t so simple. But he placed such thoughts aside as he stepped out of his house and was greeted by a figure jumping off a tree. The Tigress Spirit tilted her head at him and smiled. "Taiga will come with you today, Bossman?" "Yes. Thank you." ¡ª- "Good¡­ Good morning, Mister Li!" "Yes, good morning as well, Miss He. Is there anything immediate to report?" "None, so far." "Then I''ll leave the rest to you. Miss Taiga, please stay with Miss He." "Right, Bossman!" He greeted his secretary briefly, albeit Ying Yue He looked distracted when she greeted him. The woman ducking her head and not exactly meeting his eyes when she reported to him. Somewhat avoidant, even¡ªbut he stepped into his office and left Taiga with her. Li Yang sat down and pulled his drawer, clearing his table of his laptop and other papers to put everything he had in his arsenal in front of him. The LSO water-breathing bubblegum A bag of goblin toenail clippings His saber-tooth dagger And finally, the LSO Starglitter pen Yin-Yang Qi Pill Those were the things he owned through accomplishing special tasks given by the System, but mostly by opening the Mystery Boxes he had purchased. Not that much if he were to weigh them based on usefulness. He would consider the two as non-essential items unless he needed to go underwater or use the nail clippings for some other purpose that he couldn''t fathom. He picked up the dagger and allowed his qi to flow out from his meridians, into his body and finally coating the weapon in a thin layer of his energy to strengthen it. It was a Skill he had gained along with the Mental Fortitude Skill from undergoing and breaking through the influence of a Siren''s voice. Li Yang was in the seventh stage of being a Qi Condensation Cultivator. He only needed to go through two more stages before he began Foundation Establishment and actually began using the spiritual qi he observed in order to form a golden or nascent core in the future¡­ "Is this enough?" He was twenty-eight years old, and he had a feeling that it was not impressive. He had already gone past the perfect age for the start of cultivation¡ªbut Li Yang accomplished this all in less than a month, which was surely faster and even at an outstanding speed than most could dream of. The CEO could not be satisfied with just this¡ªand so he was waiting. Li Yang glanced at his watch and waited for that person to arrive. ¡ª- "Haaah, I guess Bossman doesn''t want to be distracted." Taiga glanced at the closed doors to the office of Li Yang. She was currently sprawled on the couch once again, before she eyed Ying Yue He. "Do you have anything for Taiga to eat?" Ying Yue He looked up. "The kitchen is on the third door on this floor, Miss Taiga. You''d easily find something there if you wish." "How about you get Taiga some food?" "No." Taiga frowned at the woman and huffed. "Is that how you''ll treat your teacher in the arts of cultivation? Have you been practicing even?" Ying Yue He was focused on the screen before she glanced back at the tigress spirit. "I''m busy with work, Miss Taiga. I think you can do it by yourself¡ªor do you want to keep complaining and cause a fuss? There''s time for cultivation and there''s time for working. It just happens your work is lying around and doing nothing." "Doing nothing?" Taiga sat up from the couch. "You think Taiga is doing nothing when Taiga showed off her cultivation prowess? Taiga thinks that you''re in a foul mood." "... you should have been there." "Been what there?" Taiga raised a brow. Ying Yue He''s gaze swerved back to the screen of her monitor. She inhaled and then said, "Maybe nothing bad would have happened if you were present yesterday." "Yesterday..." Taiga raised a brow. "Why? Did something bad happen while the two of you were doing it¡ªwas he bad? Did you want to do it with Taiga too?" Ying Yue He threw a sharp look at her. "I don''t know where you got the idea¡ª" "Well, you two went out for a date last Saturday, and he returned home on a Sunday morning. It''s basic math, even Taiga knows it." A smile formed on Ying Yue He''s lips. "I wouldn''t have minded if that was what happened, but¡­ it''s nothing like that." Her expression faltered, and she clenched her fist. She took a deep breath and straightened up. "We encountered some trouble after the concert and¡­ I was just useless." "It can''t be helped." The secretary hung her head and eventually rested her forehead on the table. "You''re not helping at all, Taiga. It might have seemed like I couldn''t do a thing and it was out of my grasp¡­ but I let him down. And then there was Luo Ju Di and her child¡ª" "Bossman''s daughter?" She raised her head. "What?" "His kid." Taiga shrugged, before she barely managed a weak smile. "Taiga met her and Bossman brought her home since the mother was in the hospital..." "He didn''t tell me¡­" "Oh, is that what you''re sad about?" Taiga asked before she leaned back against the couch. "You couldn''t even look him in the eye, though. Not that Taiga thinks he''d tell you, even if you greeted him all cheerfully. Taiga found out about it by accident." Ying Yue He''s expression dampened. "Yes, he probably wouldn''t, unless I needed to prepare documents for her or something along those lines." She glanced at the closed doors to the CEO''s office with a silent look.. "Who knows?" Taiga shrugged. Not exactly bothered about the situation as the secretary was clearly being right now. Instead she grinned and waved her hand to capture her attention. "Are you feeling better enough to get Taiga some food and practice cultivation again?" She groaned and stood up. Her gaze hardened and focused on the tigress. "Fine, fine¡ªI''m only doing this because I know you can take care of him. At least, I hope you can." She chewed on her lip and said, "Don''t leave his side next time¡­ even if I want you to. Please make sure of it." "Taiga hopes you remember that~" She stuck her tongue at the secretary. Right before Ying Yue He could leave the office, someone cleared their throat and spoke up by the doors. "Uhh hey, CEO Li Yang sent me a text to come over here¡ªcan I ask someone to tell him, I''m here?" ¡ªboth Taiga and Ying Yue He rushed for the door. Ying Yue He smiled at Taiga and held onto the doorknob. "I got this." "No, get my food." She grinned back at her. "This is a simple task for Taiga." "I''m the secretary, sit down Taiga and let me do my job." "Then properly greet the visitor." Ying Yue He whispered back. "Shouldn''t you inspect them first?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Hello! I got to rest my wrist *cough* symptoms of carpal tunnel and repetitive strain injury are acting up. Hospital bills are a little bit out of my price range, so I''ll return to one-daily updates. Thank you for the patience! Chapter 132: The Motivation of Another Party (1) Note: Two Novel Protagonists'' interaction. Two chapters deal with ''Dat Peach'' motivations. The one who ended up opening the door was Li Yang himself. "Thank you for agreeing to come here upon my immediate request, Han Jing." the CEO shook the younger man''s hand. The other man''s grip wasn''t light or slack, but neither was it a strong one either. Instead the man sheepishly smiled. "Well, embarrassing it may be to admit it, but I don''t have a lot of things to do so I was able to come here. But ahem¡­ what can I do for you sir Li? CEO Li?" "Please take a seat first. What refreshments do you wish for?" "Anything really. Anything is good for me, sir." Li Yang had the young man arrive in nothing but a white shirt and khaki shorts. His appearance was someone who had rolled out of his bed¡ªand the idea that this man was a friend of Bo Lifen''s contradicted greatly with his supposition of the woman''s personality. Not that it was easy to get a read when people had numerous sides. He still remembered seeing Bo Lifen at the concert and the thought of it made his lips quirk. The CEO soon cleared his throat and said, "Unfortunately, I don''t think I''ll be able to serve you the Black Ocean Pearls I''ve bought from you before." "Oh, I didn''t know you drink them¡ªI think Lifen brews them, but the process seems difficult." "Not so much, traditional medicine and ayurveda practices consuming these by making them into a powder. Pearls are also used in making toothpaste and other products, don''t you agree? For a moment though." Li Yang paused and switched to his intercom. "Miss He, please bring us some refreshments. Thank you." Once he was finished, he glanced back at the younger man. What were the possible repercussions by speaking directly? He could see nothing wrong by being forthright and it was what he was used to, but so far the man made no allusions to anything else beyond being a simple and clueless man. It was difficult to gauge and Li Yang didn''t want to trust a person simply because he was affiliated with Bo Lifen. "Do you know the reason why I''ve called you here, Mister Han?" he asked. Han Jing''s expression flickered and then he scratched his cheek. "I mean, this isn''t a job interview I guess. I do have a copy of my CV and resume just in case, but it''s probably something else, sir. Do you have any complaints with the pearls or anything like that? Not sure if I can do refunds." "What made you think that?" "Just a guess." Li Yang sighed inwardly, and finally asked. "I''ve called you here in order to gather information about Peach, otherwise known as ''Dat Peach'' if it strikes you more familiarly." "Never heard of that name in my entire life." Han Jing didn''t miss a beat. One of Li Yang''s eyes twitched. "Wouldn''t you have at least assumed it was a fruit first if you had to go with a state of being ignorant?" "You saying ''about Peach'' means it''s a person called Peach. Unless you''re talking about a nice butt, although it''s called cake nowadays." Han Jing rubbed his chin. "Sir Li." The man added the honorific in an afterthought. Li Yang shook his head. "I suppose you have no incentive for speaking of the truth then. How much will it be to gather the information from you?" "Woah, woah¡ªthere''s no need for any of that, sir Li." Han Jing waved a hand, standing up and motioning to the CEO. "I mean¡­ you''re a cultivator, right? Bo Lifen introduced us last time. I thought it was weird at first, since most cultivators start early unless something strange happens. But I guess it made sense that something like this would happen especially when you''re a new one. You''re a Player too, right?" Li Yang raised a brow. "Player?" "Huh, so you''re not¡ªthen again, it wouldn''t make sense if we shared the same server. Something else then." "I''m only here to ask if your Moderator is someone who I can trust. Anything else is irrelevant to me right now," Li Yang said. He didn''t continue explaining anything else, if the notifications ringing in the back of his head was any indicator that this conversation was enough to cause attraction. Even more than that was the lack of presence of Bao despite the man knowing it was around. The Panda failed to show itself during his first meeting with this man as well. Han Jing shrugged. "I guess she''s nice?" He stared at the man. "Nice doesn''t cut it." "... I mean, I''m not sure what I can do for you. The Moderator is supposed to be an unbiased individual that takes care of matters in our server, but obviously that''s not the case." Han Jing eyed him back, finally showing some thought and reservation. "Since you''re not a Player but there''s involvement between the two of you. She hasn''t mentioned anything though." Li Yang wouldn''t dare say he was an object in the Heavens and Higher Beings entertainment. The idea of it was preposterous and so he asked, "Is there anything that she desires?" "She does her job and then some. Perhaps she''s someone looking forward to a vacation. I mean, that''s all I can think of. She doesn''t speak much even if we''ve known each other for nearly two years now." Two years? No, more than that¡­ a vacation? Did it have anything to do with the System Patch? "What exactly constitutes you as being a Player?" In the CEO''s mind, he could already see the information he would get from the other person might just reveal that it was not different from his own position and simply a change in titles. Han Jing scratched his head. "You can say I have an avatar in another world and what happens to my avatar, affects my state now. Almost vice versa since my status there was affected by my condition here." Li Yang stayed silent and waited, only taking note of the explanation. It was easier to get more information by making the other individual uncomfortable. Chapter 133: The Motivation of Another Party (2) If there was anything the CEO might have been able to naturally accomplish on his own feat, without a need of the System''s assistance: It was the ability to make someone feel uncomfortable and make them experience a certain degree of unease with his presence alone. Perhaps it was his esteemed position, the accomplishment of being a CEO at his still young age¡ªand a very successful one at that. Any other person would already begin to treat him differently by simply his personal achievements alone. Or it was his naturally distinguished presence wrought from the Li family''s careful and good breeding from the past generations. Blessed with a disarming smile that could make women reconsider their positions in life and perhaps something that made other men look at him with envy. But in reality, it was none of that. Some people were already assured of their positions in life, regardless of their standing and could not be affected by those things. Only the stone-faced expression of Li Yang, something that made him look like someone carved from a great block of ice made the other person fess up completely and reveal his cards. "... Alright, it took me a while to get this and I haven''t really shared this with anyone else, but Inventory." Han Jing reached out into thin air and pulled out a black pearl. "It''s almost like a spatial ring or spatial chest, but less bulky. You can easily pretend that you pulled something out of your pocket and it''s really useful if you know what to store beforehand." Li Yang raised a brow. "This took you a while to get this feature?" "Wait, don''t tell me you didn''t have to work to unlock Inventory¡ªalright, the bias is clearly showing! What else did she give you?" the man rubbed his face, clearly becoming more at ease despite his inhibition earlier. "I had to deal with Soul Synchronization and all of that and it hurt like hell." "She''s not the one handling me." "Right." Han Jing blinked. "Not a Player but with access to features similar to mine¡­ but you''re not controlling any avatar in some other world too." "No." "Neat¡ªit''s kind of confusing living double lives." Han Jing weakly laughed. "You tend to forget to take care of the other one. I guess being new to this means you have more upgrades? Or whoever is in charge has their own way of doing things." Their situation had differences then, vast enough differences to him¡­ but one of them was¡ª "Do you have required Missions?" he asked. "Mine is an open world to some extent. I mean, I guess there''s a huge quest to accomplish, but I''m not actively pursuing it." And so that was what gave this other man a chance to live a normal life unlike him beset by missions and deadlines. Was it fitting because he worked in an office that had similar requirements and the other man frankly looked like someone who really did live with his parents? Li Yang inwardly sighed, but nodded. He half-wondered if using the Unofficial System Patch would allow him the same leisure to have no active missions, but he doubted it would be the case. "Are you okay?" Han Jing asked. "I''m fine. Thank you for the information." Would Li Yang risk it? The prospect of another world was rather too much, but then again, would it make sense for this being to interfere this much when she knew the consequences? If this Peach wished for¡ª She once talked about universal domination. This Peach enjoyed needling Bao, the Panda-like creature. Someone required to transmit the information and view to the Heavens. She desired a vacation according to Han Jing. And this Peach was keeping watch on him, someone she dubbed as a ''ticking time bomb'' essentially, but still provided Charm Points and gifts. The door swung open and Ying Yue He stepped in with a tray of refreshment and light snacks. "Please excuse me." She was quick to leave it and excused herself from the office in less than a minute rather than lingering. Li Yang watched her leave, his brows furrowing¡ª "Weird. She wanted to get in so fast earlier." "What was that?" Li Yang glanced at the man who mumbled something underneath his breath. He had caught what the man said, but couldn''t exactly imagine what he meant. "Oh, I just noticed that she and the tigress spirit from earlier were pretty much eager to open the door for me¡ªand it''s obviously not because I arrived or anything, they wanted to see you and were fighting over the door." Han Jing picked up a glass and took a sip. "Kind of silly now that I think of it, but then she zoomed out fast. Couldn''t even thank her." "I see." "Yeah¡­" A silence would ensue, until the CEO decided to speak up. Li Yang assumed Ying Yue He was just distraught after what happened the other night, and was dealing with it on her own. Or even regretful she had gotten involved in danger. "If she had anything she wished to tell me or otherwise, she could just approach me instead of simply avoiding me. It''s a bit confusing now that you mentioned that incident earlier." "Some girls are like that. They''ll tell you that they''re fine, but you can tell they''re clearly upset even when they insist otherwise." "It doesn''t make any sense." Li Yang sighed internally. He had assumed that Bo Lifen was the difficult one to interact with, but in a twist of fate, somehow his interaction with his secretary was the one that became more estranged. Han Jing shrugged. "Not a lot of things do?" "They really don''t." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I''m not sure how harem stories deal with the MC talking to other dudes. I''ve only seen MC dealing with Young Masters, lackeys and their plucky (fat) best friend or cousin and mentors. But beyond that, with both of these dudes just being protagonists in their own book¡ªat heart, both still have trouble with dealing with women. Some women at least xD What do you do when someone is clearly avoiding you? Will you just let it be or confront them? Does it even matter in the long-run? Chapter 134: Preparations and Ones Will (Mixed) "So¡­ goblin toenail clippings. Very interesting and uh¡­ nice?" Han Jing stared at the ziplock bag and back at the serious and blank face of the man in front of him. He wasn''t even going to ask how the CEO got his hands on this stuff¡ªit was hard to tell from his expression, and maybe it was best that he didn''t. "I have no use for it, but perhaps you do for a man of your standing." the man shrugged. Smooth and relaxed even when he had placed the ziplock of the toenails on his desk, barely batting an eye as he said, "Perhaps you would like to trade for it, Mister Han? I am looking for something useful to my own endeavors." Right. It wasn''t difficult for perhaps the CEO to guess that Han Jing got around with a lot of different folks, different races to be exact. The man scratched his head and managed a grin. "Alright, to hell with it¡ªI''m taking this. What do you want, Sir Li? I usually have ingredients, but maybe I have something in my inventory for you." "Anything that would help me in my pursuit to be stronger," Li Yang said. "However, recovery items and other valuables are also fine and possibly around my item''s worth. I''ll also cover the cost if your item is more expensive." Their life was different from one another, but at the end of the day, both of them didn''t seem like they would become enemies¡­ and it was actually better to have allies. "Hrmm¡­ Healing Potions? Though cultivators have their own equivalents." Han Jing needed to at least impress the other man, even at a loss to his own stock. And by virtue of helping out another person. Li Yang cleared his throat. "It''s probably not worth much¡ªthese toenail clippings, but I want to be rid of it." "Nah, nah¡ªsome uh, Witches I know brew them into some concoction." "... I believe it would taste nasty." "Yeah. I won''t recommend it¡ªbut it works like some special chicken soup. It''s basically plus-plus recovery for reasons beyond me. Just witch stuff, I guess." Han Jing eyed something in his Inventory and pulled out the knife. "I have, uh, a good quality knife from a Blacksmith? Not sure if it''s in your choice of weapon?" The CEO pulled out a prehistoric saber-tooth dagger. "Is that better than this one? Or would it be possible to commission another weapon from your Blacksmith? I''m looking for something with a little more reach than a dagger." Han Jing''s jaw dropped for a moment before he coughed. "While I''d question where it came from¡­ but I actually have this weapon." He pulled out a sword in its sheath and soon revealed its dark blade. "It''s nothing compared to a lightsaber, but obsidian is three times sharper than diamond and it''s cutting edge five hundred times sharper than the sharpest steel blade so if you get my gist..." "I think there''s a reason why we''re not using obsidian except for surgery operations." the CEO assessed the blade with a careful look. "It might be prevalent around the world, but one needs to admit it isn''t as hard as diamond and can be quite fragile than steel¡­ but I suppose this is where qi comes into play?" Even without him mentioning it, the CEO easily found a solution for the blade. "Precisely. I won''t recommend this if you''re just attacking someone, but if you envelop your qi then its durability will increase and only the strength of the blade will be retained." "Goblin toenail clippings won''t cut it then." "... Not really." "State your price then and let''s be done with this then." And so it was done. ¡ª- The life of a person could be said to be close to a rhythm¡ªa certain cycle occurring from day to day, week to week, month to month, with little to no change. Studies have already spoken of a treadmill. To be exact, a hedonic treadmill that said a man''s disposition tended to be the same throughout his lifetime no matter the circumstance. And one''s circumstances did change. Something like starting a family would happen, moving to a new location and vicinity and getting promoted in one''s job will lead to certain fluctuations in a man''s schedule¡­ but the end would still lead to a new cycle and rhythm. And then it would be the same again. "It was great doing business with you, Sir Li." "Likewise." "If you ever need anything else, something that Shen Society can''t procur or available in the Black Market¡ªyou can check it out with me! I''ll give you a good deal." Li Yang stifled a chuckle. "Of course." Business and trade occurred in various forms and even if his circumstances changed, some things like this really didn''t. Someone once said that death and taxes were the only sure thing in the world. Death was now avoidable for a cultivator, but exchanging of goods was eternal. ¡­ Unless perhaps he became a manufacturer of everything, but for now, Li Yang was satisfied. [ Achievement Unlocked! ] [ The Trader! - I ] Due to the nature of the Individual Host as someone in the business sector. Any trades done between individuals and acquisition of materials, ingredients and other variety is something of note. Exchanged 5/5 items [ You Have Received 1000 Charm Points ] Change would always happen but humans had a good tendency to adapt to their situations that it becomes an endless cycle of something new and it becoming old. Even the CEO who might have protested at the sudden turn of events in his life was now getting used to it. Problems he encountered due to the System were merely challenges he had to face by himself. Some might look upon a cycle as a thing to look in fear, an epitome of stagnation and boredom¡ªrepetition could make a man go mad. However, for the CEO it was stability he sought for. Li Yang and Han Jing parted ways not too long after. The latter would leave the office, and Li Yang would be left alone to his devices. Did he confront or talk to his secretary after knowing of the incident of her eagerness to open the door despite avoiding him? Not really. He had some faith in his secretary''s own choices and would rather wait for her to approach him at a good time. Li Yang''s attention was divided, and perhaps he might have confronted her if it was inevitable that they needed to talk about, but so far, it was probably something she wanted to keep to herself. More than that, he wasn''t actually alone. Instead, Bao reappeared out of thin air and beleaguered him with questions and ceaseless confrontations. "What is this supposed to be¡ªsome crossover? There''s no reason for you to contact them beyond acquiring pearls. And even those pearls are useless for someone who''s cultivating for immortality!" Bao harangued him viciously. And that was in spite of the numerous notifications spouting about from Heavens actually intrigued by the conversation. "You should focus on your missions and quests more than anything else!" "I am." Sometimes, Li Yang would question the gender of this creature for being too hot headed. It was easy to fall into the assumption that Bao was a female when it would nag at him this much. "Then quit trying to find out about Observers, they''re not your concern!" Bao huffed. "Neither is it really yours either, Bao," Li Yang said. He had a hand propped up under his chin as he watched the creature fly around in circles. "I''m free to do whatever is in my whims and means, and if that means doing some inquiry and purchasing of equipment I deem valuable, then it is something I''ll continue doing. You haven''t shown any disagreement with the sword, did you? I believe I got it at a bargain." "Argh!" Bao glared at him. "Well, don''t think of doing anything stupid¡ªsome might like it, but others would certainly not. I''m included in the latter." A notification had come from some ''Observers'' even congratulating him on acquiring a sword, and Bao could not say a thing. In reality, the visit of the other man, the Player, wasn''t the problem for the Panda¡ªit was about Peach. [ The Observer ''Dat Peach'' Is Enjoying Their Popularity ] [ You Have Received 696 Charm Points ] And the more that the creature contradicted and argued against a position, it became more natural and apt to become curious and intrigued. What was the worst thing that could happen if the System got patched? It was only his life at risk, and beyond that¡­ not much else. Everybody else would be alright. Li Yang''s gaze lingered at the ''Unofficial System Patch'' that the System itself was offering to install itself. Wouldn''t a System give him warnings and a red flag if such a thing was problematic for itself? There was nothing amongst those lines. The CEO resumed his attention back to his laptop and ignored the creature. Bao would disappear, knowing fully well its words would fall to deaf ears. And so Li Yang would continue typing and working out a legal document. Which would later turn out to be one of his will and testament. This was for future purposes if it ever became necessary¡­ it was always good to be ready. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Phew, chapter uploaded! Some perspectives help in showing more of how other people see Li Yang, and hopefully it adds to the story. It also helps me in writing it to create a better atmosphere since Li Yang is a little bit on the dry side in terms of POV lol. I''m nervous that it''s a little slow, but this is to set things up for tomorrow! Author needs to show their hand unfortunately. Gotta improve some more x.x Thanks for reading! Chapter 135: A Conversation Long Overdue (CEO) The day was already over. The CEO had gone about his schedule like he always used to, except for a few key differences. He did not work overtime. Somehow those days of working past the clock had disappeared even before he realized what had happened. This time he would go home as he promised his daughter at precisely six in the evening. But before he would leave, he ended up exchanging a few words with his secretary before he and Taiga returned home. A conversation that was long overdue. "Mister Li!" The CEO signaled for Taiga to go out, which the Tigress Spirit reluctantly did and called out that she would wait at the ground floor''s parking lot. "What is it, Miss He?" he asked, somewhat surprised, but glad for the woman approaching him faster than he thought she would be. "I¡­" A look of hesitation crossed on her face, before some resolve settled on her face and she looked at him with a hint of seriousness as she lifted her chin and met his eyes. "Next time, Mister Li¡ªI''ll be able to do better and actually stand at your side like you wanted me to do¡­ I''m sorry for failing you that time. I''ll do my best to not make it happen again." He blinked at the sudden words, the man caught a bit off guard at her words but then he smiled. "Miss He, I already told you to take your time. I think I''m the one who''s expected so much from you during the incident with the monster back then. It was a rush¡­ but I will be looking forward to that promised time then." Those were his words before he left her, leaving the woman stunned and frozen in place. Until she called out again. "Mister Li, one more thing!" He glanced over his shoulder to see the woman standing up. Her fists were clenched together. Her face was red at this moment as she took a deep breath and then said it. "I¡­ I like you a lot, boss." Before he could say another thing, she averted her gaze and rushed out the next words. "I''m pretty sure you might have fired a lot of your past secretaries for stuff like this, but I just wanted to tell you, that''s all." She shyly looked at him. "And I want to support you, even outside of work, so I''ll do my best to be someone you can continue depending on. Not just in a business setting¡­ if that''s okay with you?" He might have blinked earlier, taken aback, but now he listened to it. The CEO couldn''t just pretend he hadn''t noticed this at all. Even if he wanted to. "Thank you, Ying Yue He. You''re free to do you as you wish, naturally." Li Yang cleared his throat. His mind remembered their dates and the endings to both, and even the years they were together in this very office. His own actions didn''t align with what he wanted sometimes. "But I hope that you''ll assess your situation first and think about this. Emotions are a fickle thing¡ª" "I''m not expecting anything!" She cut him off, before sighing and rubbing the back of her neck. There was a tired expression on her face, even as she looked him in the eye. "I just wanted to tell you. And I believe I don''t even need your permission for this, Mister Li." "No... not really." "It''s settled then." Ying Yue He let out a sigh in a mix of relief and accomplishment. She smiled at him. "I''ll let you go on from here, Mister Li¡­ I know Chunhua is waiting for you, and I don''t want Taiga to throw a fit for hogging you for too long. I wanted to say it and get it off my chest and now that I have¡­ I''m good." The two of them both knew this wasn''t the case. At least he felt like it wasn''t true at all and if this was her way of getting over her feelings about him then¡ª "Thank you for listening to me, boss." He studied her expression, the red-faced but brave face of his secretary before nodding slowly. This was what he wanted in the beginning, didn''t he? His secretary to have a life of her own, separated from his. But now there was an uneasy feeling inside of him. He should say more, or do something. Anything at all. Step forward and grab her shoulders. Kiss her then and there might have been appropriate, if not too much. The surrounding atmosphere around them might have allowed for it. There was something senseless in the air. And yet, the situation between them¡­ Li Yang sighed and rubbed his face. He glanced back at his secretary and cleared his throat. "Miss He¡ªI''m not someone who can dedicate his all to one woman alone." "Huh¡ª" she looked at him unsurely. Before she managed a weak grin. "What are you trying to say, Mister Li? Are you some kind of womanizer?" "By virtue of action, yes." Li Yang nodded and fought the urge to smile at the ridiculousness of this all. "I''m the kind of man who will and is sleeping with different women of varying natures." Something caught in her throat, and she coughed in embarrassment. "Well, it makes sense that a man of your standing¡­ can engage in such things. I am not some moral arbiter, Mister Li, so I''m not sure why you''re telling me¡ª" "If you don''t mind it, then I''d like to return your feelings." "E-eh?" She gazed at him. "I believe I can take care of you. You already know my accomplishments and capabilities¡ªI am a busy man, and my attention is divided. I already have a child thanks to a one-night stand brought on my own foolishness and that of my brother¡­ and I will still be engaging in such practices for the benefit of it." "Benefit¡­?" "If you are not familiar with such practices¡ªI don''t believe you are, it''s only been recently since you were introduced to cultivation, but the path I am following is related to acquiring women of note and certain talent to be part of my harem." he looked at her. "I don''t want you to be part of it, because it already feels like I''m using you if I were to do that¡­ but I am still a selfish man. Now that you admitted your feelings, I can''t simply go and pretend like I didn''t hear it¡ª" She began to laugh. A touch of incredulity filled the sound of her laugh. But she stopped herself and looked at him, clarifying something. "I''m not laughing at you, Mister Li¡ªbut, ah¡­when you''re somewhat nervous and unsure of yourself, you tend to have a habit of over speaking, don''t you, boss?" Li Yang blinked and realized she was correct. "I suppose." He made no effort to explain himself now. "And now you''re back to normal." Ying Yue He''s lips quirked slightly into a smile. "That''s the Mister Li I know. But both sides of you are fine with me, boss." "Two sides, then. What about the third?" "The third¡­? Ah, you mean the player-side?" Ying Yue He tilted her head at him. "I always thought that your brother was the player¡­ but does this run in the Li Family?" "No. My father was loyal to my mother¡ª" She waved at him. "You already explained that it''s in relation to your¡­ cultivation path?" "Unfortunately." "You make it sound like a bad thing when it really isn''t." "Then I suppose something like this is normal to you¡­?" Ying Yue He coughed. "I''m familiar with our nation''s history of Emperors and their Harem of Concubines. It''s uh¡­ a little interesting to me, but according to the Rites of Zhou, a system was proposed for the Emperor to only have one Empress. But he was allowed to have two Consorts, three Wives, nine Imperial Concubines, twenty-seven Hereditary Consorts and eighty-one Imperial Wives." Li Yang stared at her. "I wasn''t aware of that. Did you study history as a minor?" "I''ve seen my fair share of telenovelas where someone rises from being the concubine to become the empress. It''s fascinating and tells of the rich history of our people." She coughed. "You made no mention of that before." "Not really¡­" she sheepishly smiled. "It''s a bit embarrassing to share this side of myself." "Well, in my case, I''d like the chance to learn about your different side, Miss He," he said. "It''s not fair that our understanding of one another is only one-sided between the two of us." "If it fits your busy schedule, boss. Maybe I''ll try to look into delegating some other tasks¡ªbut, ah, first off your daughter! Don''t forget about her, Mister Li." "I won''t, but I''ll entrust my schedule to you as usual." "As always, boss." The two stared at each other for a moment. Not exactly sure what to do now that they''ve finally done it. Li Yang was satisfied and at ease, but he didn''t feel like it was appropriate to approach her and share an intimate action so suddenly when they''ve just reached a moment of clarity between them. It might be too soon. "You two idiots should just get it over with now." Bao couldn''t take it any longer and nagged him, appearing in the thin air. "Kiss her if you will." Ying Yue He beat him to it and stepped over to him, kissing his cheek. "Uh¡ªhave a good drive, Mister Li?" Li Yang raised a brow. "Do you not want me to take you home?" "Huh?!" The Panda flipped in the air. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Self-note, fast-paced. Get this done. Long overdue stuff. Ying Yue He squad where you at? Do we actually have a secretary squad? No? Oh well. I hope this interaction between these idiots was fine xD Some have the sexy, some have this stuff. Second-hand embarrassment right here. Chapter 136: An Offer On The Way Back Home Did she not want him to take her home? Words like that were enough to cause a shortcircuit in the mind of Ying Yue He.exe even when the Confession protocol had gone successfully¡ª Her imagination ran wild, the synapses in her brain electrified until she realized that it was definitely not an invitation to sleep with her. There were other people inside of Li Yang''s house. But even she was still wrong in her assumptions. "I want to make sure that you get home safe, Miss He," he said. His offer to Ying Yue He wasn''t necessarily bringing her to his own home, contrary to the expectations of the creature and hers, but in bringing her to her own home. Back to her apartment to be exact. Li Yang wanted to offer her a safe ride and found no reason for her to stay in his office when he was already going himself. Ying Yue He gave him a sheepish smile. "Can you drop me off at the Shen Society''s office instead? I''m a bit inspired by Taiga to grow stronger so I''ll try to head there and train a bit." The CEO blinked, but then nodded. Her resolve was there and who was he to stop her? But Li Yang found himself curious. "Who exactly is training you there when Miss Taiga is with me?" It was much better that his secretary consumed high-quality materials, but spiritual qi cultivation was different and so instruction was needed. "Mou Gu when he''s free." She shrugged. "Whoever is available actually." Li Yang only remembered two other people who could train her. "You mean Hua Zhao and the quiet guy?" "Yeah, Song. Hua Zhao not so much, since he''s a martial artist and still in university. And Mou Gu''s got his own work cut out for him." she explained. Where exactly had been these people during the Tyrannical Merfolk incident? He would have to find out about it at a later time, but he finally brought his secretary there and she gave him a warm wave before she proceeded to go inside of the building. Taiga gave him a look from the backseat of his car. "Can I go in front now that''s she gone, Bossman?" Li Yang blinked. "Well¡ª" "No questions asked. I''m fitting there." She would end up moving over to the shotgun seat and gave him a smile. "Now it''s Taiga''s turn to be here." "You sat there when we were on the way to the office this morning." "Doesn''t matter." She relaxed in her seat and glanced at him. "Can Taiga rest her head in your lap?" "I''m driving¡ª" She still scooted over to the side and managed to rest her body in the somewhat uncomfortable compartment area and lay her head on his shoulder. Taiga was being unnecessarily clingy with him, but she was still playing it off as being sleepy. Which she was probably. If the cute yawn she gave was any indication. And her half-lidded eyelids were a give away to her thoughts. Perhaps she really just enjoyed the close contact with him and Li Yang tried not to be distracted, lest the two of them end in an accident. "Try not to get a hard-on, Bossman." "Why would I get one?" he idly asked. His concentration was fully on the road and getting home on time. "Because Taiga is resting on your lap and men get boners at weird times. It would poke Taiga in the head when she''s supposed to be resting." "Did you do a lot today to get this tired and warrant the opportunity to rest on your employer?" "You don''t want Taiga resting her head on your lap?" "You are slightly heavy." "Not funny!" She pouted at him. "You''re not doing yourself any favors by treating Taiga this way." "Will you be quitting? I only meant to tease." "Taiga didn''t know you were capable of that." "Really?" "Really." It was going to be a long ride home indeed. The CEO shifted slightly in his seat and took a deep breath. Sometimes the anatomy of the human body really did work in strange moments and had a peculiar timing. The Tigress Spirit yawned. "Taiga thinks something is poking her head, Bossman." "Ignore it." he grunted. Her eyes bleared open and she stared up at his face. "Eeeh? Taiga could have offered a blowjob!" She proceeded to give him a toothy grin, her canine fangs showing off. Li Yang took note of the sharp teeth, before looking back on the road. "While I''m driving? It''ll go down on its own." "Bossman is no fun." "I''d rather not risk it," Li Yang said. "This is heavily tinted right?" she asked. Not exactly understanding his reluctance. "I''m driving." "Then pull over to the side!" He hadn''t expected someone who snuggled so closely to him was this demanding, but one activity did often lead to another. Li Yang just didn''t expect he would be dealing with this so soon. Somehow, the incident in his room seemed to have been forgotten entirely by Taiga, or she was offering this as a way to get things back to normal. "Are you always this horny, Miss Taiga?" he asked. "No? But I can smell some stuff in this car so look who''s talking, Bossman." "..." "You can''t lie to the nose!" She grinned proudly. Li Yang didn''t pull over at all, instead he tried to make conversation with her. "I think dogs are supposed to be the ones with greater acumen to scent, not felines." "Cultivation can be used to enhance the senses and mine are always turned on." "As you are now?" The question was enough to render her speechless for a moment. Perhaps she thought he wouldn''t rise to such a bait or make a remark like it. He chuckled and continued on with his driving. "If you really are interested, then let''s schedule it some other time. We have to get home for now, Miss Taiga." "... are you serious, Bossman?" "I am. But for now, I hope you can wait." Chapter 137: Requests and Promises! Now it wasn''t like the two of them went for it the moment he arrived home¡ªfar from it. The CEO did say wait. Similar to most functioning and well-adjusted adults, Li Yang found himself getting welcomed by his daughter and the smell of something cooking in the kitchen. This would have to take priority first before anything else that might have occured. "Uncle Yang, you''re back!" Chunhua ran up to him, not exactly jumping into his arms, but a warm welcome that had been non-existent in his pre-System days. "Welcome back home!" "Thank you." Even in the past times that his brother visited and dwelled in his house, it was still incomparable to right now. Light, sound and life filled the place to such an extent it wasn''t fair to compare it to before. "Uncle Yang, where''s big sis Taiga?" Li Yang blinked. Of course she knew that the Tigress Spirit was around, but he didn''t expect her to look for the spirit. "She''s outside and working. Let''s not disturb her for now. How is your fish?" "Pinkie ate the pearl in one huge gulp!" Chunhua copied the fish''s o-shape mouth and then motioned animatedly. "And then its scales started glowing like rainbows!" "I see, that''s great." He needed to check if it was still normal or it was an evolution. A monster evolution type of fish? He would figure it out later. Chunhua shyly said. "Maybe we need a bigger fish bowl, Uncle Yang?" "Perhaps an aquarium, or I can have a fish pond created outside of the house¡­" And explicitly warn Taiga to protect it at all costs. "Will Pinkie have other fish friends?" "Hmm, we can see if Pinkie likes to have friends. Maybe once it, er, she is bigger." Even if the child didn''t know who he truly was, she was more than happy to give suggestions. Li Yang himself would have thought back thrice before speaking back to an adult in a situation like this if he had been a child. This outspoken and happy go lucky nature of hers was something he wished to continue. "Dinner''s ready!" his brother called out from the kitchen. Chunhua grabbed and tugged his hand. And thus the family would have dinner together. Li Yang brought out some for Taiga. The thought that this was a bit close to feeding an outside pet came to Li Yang''s mind, but he didn''t say it aloud. Taiga would be ready and prepared for any seconds he could have given her. And though she may have insinuated something right after eating¡ª "Taiga is still hungry. Will you feed her something else?" She was looking at him like some piece of meat to be consumed. He shook his head. "I still have to wash your plate and I can''t stay out for too long without arousing suspicion." "Can''t Taiga sneak into your room?" Li Yang stared at her. "Are you in your heat or mating season?" Somehow it felt like there were still aspects of her that were very primal and attuned to her instincts. She once called him boring and smelled like bamboo but now she wanted to jump on him. "No?" She tilted her head at him. "But you promised! We can lock the door so Chunhua can''t get in." She even gave him a solution in the event he brought up his daughter. It wasn''t like he didn''t want it. The time and tension from back in the car might have ended and faded now, but it wasn''t hard to get back in the mood. Especially when she was incessantly begging him for it. Despite being of feline ancestry¡ªshe was giving him a doe-eyed look now. Her hair swayed slightly in the night''s chill wind and she was giving him a pout. Her lips accentuated by such a motion. Taiga stepped closer to him and hugged his arm, deliberately brushing the side of her breast on him. The warm and soft swell of her chest readily pressed on him. "Don''t you want to relax after work, Bossman? This is free of charge too!" It might as well have been included in how much it cost to have her as a bodyguard, but he chose not to say a word. She already had a certain amount of confidence in trying to seduce him. Or perhaps she still felt like it was included in her job repertoire. He hoped it wasn''t the case. "I have other things I need to do, so we have to be quick." he said at last. It didn''t seem like she''d stop bothering him if things didn''t go her way tonight. "If you''re quick, we have no problems!" She grinned at him. "And sound-proof." Li Yang added. He had no idea what kind of person Taiga was in bed, whether or not she was the type to squirm quietly or let out her voice so it was best to be prepared. Taiga stifled a laugh and waved a hand. "The Veil is a quick solution. Nobody will see and hear a thing." "I think Chunhua can see it right past it." "Oh. She''s good." The Tigress Spirit looked thoughtful at the mention of it and even impressed. It was as if his daughter''s skills were off a different set than a cultivator''s and couldn''t be detected. "Do you wish to back out then?" he asked. "No." She gave him a childish pout. "Stuff like this is natural, Bossman! No harm in letting kids know what it''s like." The idea of getting caught by his own daughter made him balk slightly. And yet with some awe, he said. "You have no hint of shame." "Nothing''s shameful!" She gave him a cat-like grin and then waved. "Race you to the room then, Bossman! I''ll take charge of the bathroom too to smell extra fresh and nice!" In this instance, she might turn out to be the only one he''d take to bed. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: This was definitely not planned. But if the story demands it to happen, it shall. Kit-kat, have a plot break to get another "plot" tomorrow xD It only took us about less than twenty chapters to resume to smut. I wonder if this is the magic number or less is more? Chapter 138: Just Like Animals ** The bedroom was dark, not completely pitch black when he stepped inside. He was greeted by the soft dim lights and a certain ambiance around him¡­ he took off his suit coat and hung it across his chair and had to ask. "Are you here, Miss Taiga?" It should have been impossible, but a sound of rustling emanated inside his room and something flickered to his right. Li Yang''s senses worked and he reached out and grabbed ahold of Taiga''s arm, stil soft and smooth¡ªand saw the look of surprise on her face. She was still wearing a fluffy and white bath towel. It hugged around her body snuggly and she gave him a sheepish grin. "Rawr?" "Yes, ''rawr''¡ªit feels like you''re stalking some sort of prey. I believe it''s quite the opposite right now though." He kept his hold on her arm, the dim lights only giving him certain glimpses on her bare skin. Beads of water still clung to her pale arm and ran down¡ª "Well, it''s roleplay! Some strange and new traveler visits the jungle unbeknownst to him, a predator is already watching him from the rainforest''s trees." She whispered at him, completely at ease with his grip on her. Possibly unbothered at all. There was a twinkle in her eye as she said, "He thinks he''ll make an amazing discovery. Maybe find and unearth some treasure in a long lost temple¡ª "Or possibly dive into the available flora and fauna in this unexplored and uncharted lands?" Her face heated up, but she nodded. "Maybe he''s off to find some sweet and succulent fruit? Something extremely juicy and fresh, heaven to the tongues." "Perhaps, if the monkeys quit throwing rocks at him then he''d finally pluck something from the ancient tree." Her eyes widened. "Monkeys? Don''t you mean this travel adventurer¡ª" "Doctor scientist?" "Men are like shaved baboons." He quirked a brow and chuckled. "Alright, what happened next¡­? Did he throw himself to the strong torrents of the river to escape these baboons?" "He drowns but then finds some underwater cave! He flings himself into this small cave that''s luckily filled with pockets of air and sees skeletons, but more importantly the treasure!" "Does that mean he escaped the predator?" "Huh," She grinned at him and grabbed his wrist. "Who said that?" With superhuman strength, she flung him to his bed. He landed with a loud thud, the air rushing out of his lungs, but before he could take note if his bed broke at the sheer force of her toss and sit up¡ªshe pushed him back down the pillows. Taiga was straddling above him and holding him down with her small hand splayed on his chest. Her lithe body was all over him. Her hair was wet and damp, her shoulders still moist and the soft scent of his own body wash ingrained his senses as she draped herself over him. "The man was easy enough to capture don''t you think?" she purred into his ears. Her hands ran up and down his dress shirt, practically pawing through his abs before she licked her lips. "Any last words before you''re eaten?" "Is it not cold?" he asked. "What do you¡ª" His finger hooked over her towel and quickly snagged it off her body. The sight of her soft but perky breasts appeared in front of him, and the man quickly took advantage of it. With one hand wrapping around her waist, he eased her down to him and reached for one of her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth, and tugged it slightly with his teeth to the surprise and squeak that came out of her lips. "A-ah¡­" she flushed even harder. He might have said something else to add to their tale, but instead he reached out with his free hand and clutched her bare mound. The man quickly began to stroke her pussy. Taking note of a certain dampness which wasn''t from the shower. Her knees trembled and bucked slightly and she rested her face in his hair, feeding her breast into his face while her fingers dug slightly into his shoulder. "Right there please, rub it. God that feels good." The man began to knead through her pussy''s lips, brushing his thumb over her clit and taking note of the quickly moistening and dampening situation in his hand. Her hips rocked with him, riding and moving in tune with his fingers in obvious frustration. Until he finally sank one of them inside of her, and he felt her still in that moment. She might have opened her mouth, but no sound escaped her throat. Instead her current grab around his head tightened and she bucked her hips, jerking slightly for more friction. He could feel her pulsing and twitching around him and soon she would demand. "Harder, more¡ª" It was easy enough to give into her request, the rest of his fingers dipping inside of her as he tried to concentrate on both thrusting his fingers and suckling her nipple. His tongue licked and rolled it around his mouth, taking note of the pants and sudden sharp intakes of air when his fingers hit against a spot. "Like that, please. Please. Fuck!" Gone were all the thoughts of roleplaying as the tigress spirit succumbed to pleasure. She was practically writhing in place even with just his fingers, and the intensity of her movements became more erratic. She began to hump herself on his fingers, riding until she reached the edge and he felt her spasm slightly in place. Her tongue lolled out for a moment and a hot stream gushed out of her, dousing his fingers in liquid and she gently eased out of him with a soft plop. "Are you satisfied?" he asked. There was almost a dreamy like look on her face, the aftermath of an orgasm glowing through her. But it didn''t take too long for her to recover. She glanced down at him and ran her fingertips through the bulge in his pants and simply grinned. "Of course not, Taiga wants this bigger thing inside of her to feel complete. Taiga knows a bit of dual cultivation so you better lick down all my stuff on your fingers¡ªit''s good for you. Trust this cultivator''s words." "On my fingers or hand? It''s dripped down far more than you can imagine." Li Yang studied the clear liquid brimming with qi, yin essence and proceeded to lick his hand off, taking in the somewhat strange but palatable taste of her essence. She would hastily undo his belt and began to tug down his pants and boxers. "Taiga can''t wait anymore and needs to ride you for her second wave." "Ride?" "Has nobody ridden Bossman yet?" she inquired with a careful look on his face. "Well, it doesn''t matter, Taiga will show off her riding skills." "You''d more often say that when riding a horse." Li Yang pointed out, sighing in relief once his dick was freed from the constriction of his pants. She grinned at him and mustered strength in her legs, hovering above him and rubbed the head of his cock over her slit. "A horse is biiig, I guess." She hummed in pleasure, teasing him slightly and possibly easing herself on him. His hand rested on the side of her hip. He wrinkled his nose as he pinched and drew circles on her skin, enjoying the skin contact between them. "Gross." "Well, it''s not like I''m the one fucking a tiger right now." "A tigress spirit." he corrected. He grabbed her butt and pulled her down as he said it. "Same thing, Bossman¡ªdon''t you dare." Shlick. No words came out of her mouth, but she threw him a half-lustful, half fervent glare mixed in with some annoyance, until he thrusted himself in and gained a groan of pleasure. "It went in easily. You were this sopping wet weren''t you? Slipped right in." He grunted and looked her in the eye. "What were you so worried about?" Her eyes were now fluttered shut, a soft moan escaped her lips. "It''s because you made me this wet earlier." And she was. The spirit was impossibly wet, tight and hot at the same time. A certain minutiae of a feeling he couldn''t explain at all. Taiga grabbed his shoulder and raised herself up, leaving his dick into the open air and then raggedly plunged herself right back into him. She sank into his cock. He sucked in a breath. If she had been any less skillful, it might have turned out badly¡ªbut the fact that she got it right in one try made it all the more enticing. His hand snaked to her breast and he gave it an appreciative squeeze as she bounced on his cock. Only the shaky breaths and moans sounded in the air. The frantic beating too, rising in their chests. In the darkness of the room, there was the allure sight of the spirit''s skin sheening with sweat and the concentrated huffs she let out. The woman was concentrating on him as she asked. "Does it feel good?" He thrust back in response. "Faster if you will." She grinned back at him amidst the haze and fever of pleasure. "Taiga''s legs can''t take it, even though she could kick through buildings. Will you pound her hard enough to make her scream?" "Enough to make you hold them back down." The idea of her screaming made his blood spark and burn, and he tempered it down with some reason. Raising a hand to her face and gently brushing back some of her hair. She let out a deep breath and then eased out of him. Taiga lay back down and sank into his bed. She opened her legs invitingly and said, "Fuck me like an animal." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Google Docs was being a bit of a mess. I thought I lost the file, thank the Heavens I managed to retrieve it haha T^T But yeah, just an fyi. Want this continued to part 2 or back to plot? Give power stones! Chapter 139: Just Like Animals (2) ** and Man against the Heavens There was no need for any further invitation. With the sight of a woman displaying and offering herself up to him, bare twitching lips out in the open air, sopping wet for him to fuck her senseless¡ªonly a madman would have backed out now. He grabbed a hold of her face, lingering for just a moment to the vulnerable but lustful gaze on her face before he plunged right back inside of her. A second wind coming right back for this particular moment. No special drinks needed. "Yes, right there." She panted and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her eyes were squeezed shut, perhaps entirely focused on the pleasure. "I really needed this. Start moving, please. Thank you." She really had no need to say it. He began to do her hard. No holds barred, as she asked for it¡ªlike any animal might have done. Deliberately not saying a word, he paid no mind to her and fucked her. Sex was good. It was just fucking terrific and divine, and he pounded right into her. He was doing it hard and she could barely stifle back the sounds escaping her lips. The blissful and ecstatic feeling washed over him as he pumped faster and harder inside of her. Something white seared in his vision. The delicious sensation of her twitching insides made it a quickly addictive experience. She was unbelievably hot. Her voice cooed and moaned right in his ear, and all his inhibitions melted away. The two of them shared a kiss, her mouth melting into his as they tongued one another. The moist feeling of her soft tongue brushing against his was unique as he soon sucked on it. Each novel sensation sent sparks all over him. Her legs were wrapped around his lower back, raggedly waiting and riding through his paced thrust and motions. She was breathing heavily, practically panting and humping her hips back into him, desperate for more contact¡ªuntil she caught her breath when he hit a rough spot inside of her. "Good, good." Incoherent mumbling from her lips whispered into his mouth even as they kissed. "Hit it again, please." She was so vocal about her wants and needs. "Here?" "Yes!" She grew even wetter this time, soaking and coating him in her juices. At the same time, he could feel a pulsing and twitching sensation envelop his cock like a warm glove. Or something even richer than it. The smooth and silky feeling accompanied by the burning hotness seared his body. Pleasure riding through his entire length. He had to cave in soon. He sucked in a breath and caressed her face. He panted for a moment. There would be no hesitations this time. "I''m finishing off inside¡ª" "Yes! Inside, inside of me¡ª" With a quick bucking of her hips, a jerky movement sent him to the edge of oblivion. He would end up shooting his entire load inside of her, a delicious and unwinding stream of cum inside of her. He took his time pulling out and then lying down beside her, Taiga moving slightly to the side to give him some space. He could hear her soft pants and saw the silent rising and lowering of her chest as she breathed. Sweat sheened on the sides of her face and shoulders, she couldn''t even say a word. Instead, her hands were folded together. "Are you tired?" he asked. Somehow it felt like he did all the work. She was completely on the receiving end, but it didn''t matter to him as much as the outcome of it. Outcome. He was beginning to make terrible word puns, Li Yang rested his arm against his eyes and took in a deep breath. He was tempted to purchase a can of the Divine Energizer Drink because it really felt like something went out of him this time¡ª "Taiga is trying to use the yang essence you gave her for her cultivation. Most of the time, Taiga had to give up her yin, but now she finally has some yang elements¡ªvery thick and rich too." Li Yang opened one of his eyes to stare at her. "What?" "Did you just sleep with Taiga because you wanted to?" She grinned at him. "Don''t waste the energies Taiga gave you and use it to enrich and balance your qi!" He frowned slightly. "I see¡­ is it instinctive?" "Not rocket science! You''ll get it fast if you already know how to gather and control qi." she nodded. "Qi is a vital life energy and with your sperm brimming with life, Taiga gets a really huge dosage which is great for balancing the elements of qi. Mine is usually fire type, thanks to my roots so Taiga needs to cultivate well." Li Yang didn''t expect her to know and actually be able to practice it. He was aware of it, but hadn''t discovered much into the act and even the process¡ªfully aware that simply purchasing the next cultivation was within his reach. He even got a Yin-Yang Qi Pill from completing a mission earlier. "Taiga was about to joke that you would get tiger cubs, but you''re pretty distracted." She poked him in the cheek with a finger. "This cultivation technique renders all of your hard earned yang essence and jing into nothingness. All the floaty, swimmy and mobile friends of yours all go poof so Taiga can ascend with her cultivation. So good for the both of us." "Is that so? Then that''s good for you, Taiga." It was a bit relieving to hear about it. If he ever got someone pregnant again¡ªwell, he doubted the chances that any of the women he recently slept with would go about her day without grabbing emergency contraceptives. He needed to start thinking about it more. Even if he got bonus points in impregnating women, it didn''t mean he would suddenly go around the city and fucking every woman for Charm Points. Maybe someone else would have. It was an option, especially if he was confident in his genes and the impressiveness of his future children. But he shut his eyes for a moment and wrapped an arm around his bodyguard''s waist. He let out a tired sigh and pulled her closer to him. "Wake me up in five minutes, I still have stuff to do." . . . In time, he would wake up to the sound of snores. Li Yang glanced down at the sleeping Tigress Spirit, taking note of the sounds emanating from her and stifled a chuckle. He petted her hair and then covered her naked body with a blanket¡ªshe failed to wake him up, but his own internal body clock woke him up. Perhaps he shouldn''t have expected much, but he still got up from the bed. Things were going great for the CEO, and perhaps someone content to live in this kind of situation would be more than satisfied. He already had so much more than other people living their lives trying to make ends meet. There was the thrill and excitement of obtaining missions and the complexity of meeting new women and trying to get them into one''s harem¡ªeach one a unique experience. He didn''t even need to simply consider those counted by the System. Even those not considered by it were wonderful and had their own beauty and charm that made him respect them. With Taiga being one of the recent women he met due to the certain changes in his lifestyle. Now she hadn''t been able to do much of protecting him, but her constant companionship was also appreciated. Their recent activity, being the most intimate. He stretched and then padded over to his bathroom to shower. Life was good and perhaps he could give up all the chasing and just accept the situation as it was? Lull himself to the sex and pleasure, and nothing else? Well, he didn''t exactly look at it that way. Maybe it wasn''t as overboard as that kind of thinking. Perhaps it was what the Heavens had originally wanted¡ªfor a man of his busy nature and inability to do anything beyond his work to accept the good in life and savor them more. A chance to change his life for the better. It would have been a beautiful deception he could tell himself. And yet he was the type of person who others would say liked ''to make things harder for himself'' and insist on doing things that didn''t need to be pushed. He didn''t see it like that and refused to do so. Freedom that slipped out from his hands was irreplaceable, and it wasn''t up to anybody else to interfere with his life and decide which way he should go. Heavens be damned. The CEO would get dressed, prepare himself and go about his house before heading to the rooftop. It was the middle of the night and already late enough that his brother and girlfriend were asleep. Chunhua was also sleeping soundly, the pink salmon in her room left with the rest of the seaweed. The man had prepared for this moment. From the documents left to his office to the items he had with him, he had finally decided to do it. [ Would You Like To Open ''Unofficial System Patch''? ] All of his items were on his person, from the newly acquired obsidian sword he bought from the Player and even the healing potions as well. His pen was in his pocket along with the pack of chewing gum. If there was ever an event that the System Patch would open a rift to another dimension and set the world to an apocalyptical setting¡ªhe would be one of the first responders. It was an unlikely scenario, but the System was still unpredictable to him. Moreso the Unofficial Patch but this was a risk that he would be taking. His remaining charm points were undistributed but saved for any necessary purchases. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. If this had been a game, this would be the time before a Save Point. He was preparing himself for the next step. Nobody could stop him. Bao finally appeared in thin air, a bit later than he expected it to be. "What the heck are you standing around there for¡ª" "Yes." it was the answer he had already chosen. Brightness seared his vision. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: So uhh¡­ I did both of the plots! The "plot" with Taiga and the plot of the story, which is still a thing. Although this time it''s essentially just the CEO giving a middle finger to his situation and an ''F-you to the gods'' xD What can humans do in the face of the gods and fate? Whether you see it as a stupid stunt or something else meaningful is entirely up to your interpretation, regardless, thank you for sticking all the way here! Chapter 140: Of Temples, Turtles and Ladies in White The forest was dark and silent. If one had been barefoot, the patch of undergrowth would have tickled one''s feet and allowed one the interesting sensation of grass. The cool wind brushed through branches, leaves and other vegetation. A man in leather oxfords and a crisp dark suit walked through the forest, already out of place. If one added along the sight of an obsidian sword then it further contrasted his current appearance, but he did not care. He had other more things to concern himself about. First of all, he was in another world. Second of all, was the lack of Bao or the System responding to him. Third and most important of them was the need to find civilization. Hopefully that of a good and well-meaning one and not of a group of natives seeking to murder him. Perhaps he should have known something like this might have happened¡ªbut Li Yang still cut through the rabbit that escaped out of its burrow with precision. The beheaded creature now lay there, limp and bloody. He could not let appearances deceive him. Then he addressed the blood in his sword¡ªwith a quick infusion of energy around the blade, the blood cleanly fell into the ground as if it was repelled by the foreign substance. The man could still tap into the qi around him, and even more so in this place than back on earth. There was a sheer tremendous difference here¡ªwhen he looked up into the sky, it was more vast than he could ever believe it would be. Clouds so distant were still as enormous as ships. "Interesting." He said it without any hint of sarcasm at all. There was just something about this place that told him that this wasn''t any location on earth. Everything here was more vibrant than he could imagine. However he did not know what he was up against here. Li Yang''s skills with qi were still in a learning stage, he could only gather it and use his heightened senses when a shroud of qi surrounded him. But what if it was easily detected? He retracted it back. It was beginning to be easy to retrieve and use it at a second''s delay, so he could still use it in case he came across something that required additional power. When he neared the edge of the forest, he would come across and pick up the sound of giggling and mischievous laughter. The man steeled himself, his grip tightened around his weapon before he took in a deep breath and then silently peeked. There was a small temple in front of him, and of varying women all dressed in clean and white robes. Some were giggling around each other as they worked. They had water buckets, basket of crops harvested. Others looked like they were performing some kind of ritualistic dance, their bodies gently swaying through the wind with no music. All of them were women. It shouldn''t have been important, but not one of them was a man. He gazed at each one of them and ascertained the fact, before he dove back behind a tree to avoid any chances of being seen. Maybe there was nothing to be worried about a community of women all living together, however, he was unsure if he would be welcome here or sacrificed. Li Yang would take a careful step back and take an opposite direction. He would try to find a place where it seemed more normal, like a town or village. It would be far much safer than something unnatural¡ªshouts and rumbles came in from the distance. It was the sound of fighting? Against better verdict to stay out of trouble, and out of curiosity, he would head into the direction to inspect it. Perhaps it was much safer to deal with this than what he left behind. On top of that, it was just in his new direction, another path into the forest where he sought to find any other available exits¡ªuntil he saw the sight in between the spaces of trees. It was the appearance of several people gathered together against the foe of a gigantic turtle and vine-like plant monster. He stayed rooted in place, avoiding another step to keep his distance. Several tendrils of vines swept across this particular clearing in the forest, latching and tossing these people into the distance. Fallen trees were only one of the many evidence of the superiority of the creature. There were others who had swords like him that tried to cut through the thick tendrils of the creature. It was useless. Their swords, axes and other weapons could barely slice. Any of those attempted to get closer to the shell of the monster had their heads snapped off in one bite. Headless bodies littered the ground. Shouts of what seemed to be of the fallen people''s name and even more ferocity erupted in both sides. It was up to any person''s guess as to how they decided to fight against this¡­ but he already chose to intervene. A shroud of qi enveloped all around him and his sword before he entered the battlegrounds. Shouts came across him, in a language he couldn''t comprehend, but he dashed to the monster. "Out of my way!" The people remaining at the forefront were good. These groups were avoiding the stabbing tendrils of the creature, but their weapons hacking against it was only half-working. Their efficiency was terrible, but they could still distract. He couldn''t have any of them keep being sacrificial lambs though. He dodged to the right and then to the left. He weaved through the attacks and simply hissed as one tendril scathed his shoulder. The turtle''s enormous shell was right ahead and the creature''s head had poked right back inside of its home. Li Yang couldn''t be fooled as he ran forwards, qi sword cutting through several but smaller vines trying to distract him, attacking and even trying to grab his foot¡ªthe nasty mouth-beak popped into open air. The man forced himself to jump into the air, twisting slightly and dove back in to plunge his sword back into its head. His obsidian blade pierced through its thick bony head, but only by several inches. A deafening shriek sounded across the entire forest grounds. However, he already had a layer of qi even in his ears. The creature tried to shake him off to no avail. He dug the blade deeper down, trying to hit its brain to stop all the screaming but it was no good. Its skull was too thick and protective. And so he stopped, taking a deep breath. His blade''s reach was limited and so it was no use to attempt to stab it further. Li Yang only twisted the sword and closed his eyes¡ªawaiting for the opportune moment. Quietness could hardly be provided in this loud environment, the shouts of the people were apparent in the air, but the winds and slight tremor behind that rushed was enough of a message. Li Yang dove out at the last second atop the creature''s head, scarcely avoiding the multiple tendrils that stabbed through its own head. An ill attempt to get rid of him. He rolled into the dust ground, but quickly found someone grabbing his arm and pulling him up. Compared to the women at the temple, he would come across a dirt-streaked face and piercing blue eyes of a woman who yelled at him in a language incomprehensible to him. However, his lack of response didn''t matter to her as she began to drag him away to safety. In the corner of his vision, several other people launched themselves against the creature behind them to finish the creature off. At the moment they reached the line of trees about ten feet away from the creature, a wave of energy exploded around them. The woman beside him stumbled, and he caught her arm before she fell. Li Yang looked back in time to feel the thrum of energy that coursed through him and the bright green lights overtaking his sight. Once it cleared away in a second, he saw the cheering people triumphing over the shell and breaking it. A huge emerald-colored jewel was inside of it that had the shape of a pearl. It was almost similar to the one that Taiga once caught from the Shades back in his city, except its composition was no doubt different. Li Yang muttered underneath his breath, "Beast core?" "Souti Kent Zu core Fren Sekel?" the woman said. She gave him a long discriminating look and continued. "Yuiopl tyu Zu, Tepf? Deft Zu?" It was obvious that a language barrier was in between them. But if she wasn''t stabbing him now and neither did her companions, then it meant there was some hope for communication. "A moment please, Miss." "Souti?" her eyes narrowed at him. Li Yang sheathed back his sword and raised both of his hands¡ªhoping that this fiftieth time he tried to get the ''System'' to reactivate itself would work. Surely, the one who gave him this Unofficial Patch System did not mean to delete his System out of nowhere. He was far from dead as much as he could check. But the lack of Bao and everything else meant he was brought somewhere far from the current reach of those from Heavens. Which meant there were only some particular domains they had dominion over and this was one of those possibly far flung and remote? He cleared his throat. She could already tell that he couldn''t understand her, didn''t she? Neither did she understand him. So they were both in the same boat. He looked around their surroundings and tried to assess his surroundings via the System. Still nothing. It was shameful to admit he was still depending on it. For now he looked back at her and tried for his smile. Maybe he could just use sign language or draw if there was paper here? Wait, he had brought his phone, but it would be too risky to take it out now. His smile prompted her to point a weapon in his face. Li Yang grimaced. "Souti?" He was just copying her¡­ but that was all it took. In front of his sight, the familiar looking screen hovered in front of him. [ Congratulations! You Have Spoken Your First Word Of ''Tel'' Language ] [ A Child Can Speak More Eloquently Than You ] [ Increase Your Vocabulary And Gain The ''Basic Tel Language Proficiency'' Skill ] Chapter 141: Of the World and Sleeping Goddess "Yang! Come over here!" The CEO approached the woman standing underneath the trees; the huntress was holding a map in her hands. "What can I do for you, Miss Setsuko?" "Setsuko is fine, you don''t have to be so formal." She eyed him. "It still feels appropriate to call you as such, after all, you are the one who has been instructing me all this time." A week had already passed by in the blink of an eye, and now he had already gotten past the shaky start of not knowing the language in this world. It took some time for him to acquire a language proficiency similar to that of the adult, but the Kin Hunters had welcomed him into the group with hardly any opposition. Setsuko twisted her lips at him before she pointed to the map. "Let''s just move on then. We''re looking into hunting around the Green Jade Lake to see if we could deal with the water-spitting spotted frog. Giant size. Once again, it''s around a bronze to silver threat, possibly a gold threat if there''s more than one. Do you know how to swim?" "I can." Li Yang paused and then said. "I can also hold my breath long enough if we need to get something underneath the lake." She chuckled at him, her blue eyes twinkling at him. "You read my mind, but also that''s convenient. What are you, part-fish? You don''t happen to have any scales hiding in your new robes, are you?" "No." "Anyway. We''re out to harvest their eggs and tadpoles, we can get a good price for it once we get back to Nakazato." she explained and brushed a strand of hair behind an ear. "The others will act as a distraction for the mother frog and lure them away in time to gain these items." "Understood. I won''t be the only one harvesting these eggs, right?" "No, once again you''re with me." she smirked at him. "We can''t let our recruit get swallowed by a Koi Dragonfish. I''m not a fan of water, but I can swim as well, unlike those other louts." "I''ll rely on you, then, to watch my back," he said. Li Yang rested against a tree and once again looked around. They were in a different forest this time after they had taken a ride through a giant caterpillar beast rider. The others were now going around the forest to scavenge for anything useful for the upcoming attack. However, his thoughts were not focused on the absurdity of giant caterpillars or his other companions'' whereabouts. ''Charm Shop.'' [ Unable To Be Accessed At This Time ] He sighed inwardly. The features available in this world were a little harder. It was as if his own System was adjusting to the sudden change of circumstances. This was something he might have already worried about if it weren''t for the people he stumbled upon who were capable enough to deal with a number of threats. He took out a small pamphlet from his pocket and flipped open the pages. Setsuko was kind enough to get him a manual about the work and creatures they were dealing with. So far, this world was set at a certain technology rate behind that of Earth''s. There were no computers, electricity or anything, and both gigantic creatures and regular-sized ones proliferated it. There were beast cores to be collected and sold to the cities. But the strangest thing about this place was the role of men and women. Most of the men here were working as hunters and other menial jobs. It was the women that seemed to be at the precipice of their society; the ones buying their materials they endangered their life for. But nobody paid any mind to it and seemed to accept it as it was. Li Yang had already tried asking before about the women he saw, but he was shushed down by the entire group to never mention them again. He was told he was lucky for stumbling into them and not the Mashiro Temple. "Setsuko¡­ since it''s just the two of us here¡ªwould you finally mind telling me what exactly is the problem if I had stepped into the Mashiro Temple?" She frowned at him. "Do you really not know? What kind of nation were you born into that you can be so unaware of the happenings here?" He shook his head. "I don''t. I would appreciate it if you treated me like someone completely new to this situation." he shrugged. "A child if you will it." The CEO would have to admit that in spite of the lack of functions of the System, he was a bit relaxed about the lack of Observers. Li Yang had never noticed it before, but it was as if a heavy sensation was lifted from his shoulders. Now he could understand to some extent why people who travelled to other worlds were sometimes idiotic. There was a liberating and uplifting sensation of being elsewhere. He didn''t even have to conform to his previous identity if he wished. "Mashiro Temple is filled with the most powerful bloodlines¡ªif you had stepped in there, they would have decimated you on the spot as nothing but scorched dirt." Li Yang blinked. Bloodlines once again? "What exactly can they do with their powerful bloodlines? And how come I never came across a man of higher status than that of a hunter?" She rubbed her temples. "Telriah is a world blessed by the slumbering goddess Aurora after she had defeated and banished her brother Aseroth and thus all women are blessed by her to have more natural ability. A vast majority are blessed to be able to absorb the gifts of the world. Especially the living energy of Ao existing all around us. Thus women are at the peak of society while men are expected to do the grunt work for them." "... are you not a woman?" Setsuko''s face flushed. She rolled up the map and hit him in the shoulder. "Of course I am! I can easily prove it if you wish to¡ªidiot." "You know that''s not what I meant." he swatted the map away. "However, I am curious about your position in life if you are capable¡ª" "I can''t harness the energy of the world." She admitted. "There are some women like me, and we''re considered the Forgotten Ones. The goddess has not been able to bless us due to her eternal rest. Albeit, some have said that if we are able to get some help from powerful women, they can unlock the dormant energy inside of us. Not that any powerful woman would do that¡ªit''s competition." Li Yang wondered if that was the reason why he was free here¡ªa goddess asleep. "I see¡­ thank you for the explanation. What if there is any chance that a man can harness the energy in this world?" She stared at him agog. "What?" "Do I really need to repeat it, Miss Setsuko?" "No¡ªbut that''s just impossible. In the records of our history, no man has ever become capable of using the energy of the world. We''re only left to train ourselves to be faster, stronger and maybe acquire powerful weapons, but never to use the energy for ourselves." This was a cheat then. Li Yang hadn''t been suspected, and neither did anyone in the Kin Group could notice that he had the capacity to use the energy here. In his assessment, it was just qi¡­ perhaps just a variation of the name. He offered a hand out to her. "Can I hold your hand for a moment, Miss Setsuko. I wish to try something." She narrowed her hand at him, but accepted it. "If you try anything weird, I''ll break your wrist." "Noted." It was a natural sensation to gather the energy around him like it was qi flowing around and inside of him. Now similar to how he infused his qi to a sword, he would use it to reach out to her¡ª Setsuko flung her hand away from him with a sudden jolt. It was as if she had been shocked. "You¡ª" "Did you feel it?" She looked at him with an uneasy expression. "Yes¡­ was that Ao?" Her gaze darted across the entire forest. He nodded. "I think if you allow me to touch your hand, I''ll try my best to probe and tap into the dormant energy inside of you¡ªthat is, if you wish it. I believe the sensation may be intrusive and even invasive." Similar to letting his qi run through his meridians and into his sea of qi, he needed to find her core and infuse it with energy in order to make it run. Her face heated up. "Are you serious? Why does the process sound so ..." "I''m unfamiliar with it myself, but I feel like it''s the most sure way to make it work if you have spoken correctly," Li Yang said. "You spoke of how you have dormant energy, thus opening it requires activating if my assessment is correct." If it didn''t work, he still had his Yin-Yang Qi Pill to share¡­ albeit, it wasn''t that profitable of a choice. Unless he started working as someone who unlocked energy¡ªand it did sound like something he could profit from. This was what he could do until he managed to find a way home. And he did think about it, albeit the lack of a conducive method made him place the thought aside to a future, important task. Right now, he would deal with things on hand. It was a chance for him to get stronger here. Make allies. Hopefully, the Patch Update would actually start being helpful soon enough. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Welcome to the World of Telriah! I hope the sudden change is not too jarring, a tiny bit uncomfortable possibly as the CEO is thrown into a new situation. But it''s a little difficult for a person to change if you don''t get him out of their comfort zone, right? So here we are. And here I am, a harem author o.o Still trying to think of ways to insert smut regularly. Thank you for reading! Chapter 142: Bonding and Awakening (Setsuko + CEO) Setsuko knew the man in front of her was unlike anyone she had ever met. There were several signs which pointed out this fact: It was from the lack of being able to speak their language when the two of them encountered each other in Mashiro''s Sacred Forest. It was obvious in his name and from his appearance. One had to include that both his original attire and weapon were made from high grade materials she hadn''t seen from anywhere. Now he showed the capacity to tap into a power only meant for women and bestow them to her? However, could she really entrust herself to him? Was it really possible that he could tap into her dormant energy and give her power? Yang spoke of how this process would be intrusive and even invasive. The sensation of the Ao around him pouring into her when he held her hand was sudden, shocking and even overpowering¡­ but it hadn''t exactly been unpleasant. At least it wasn''t like the time when she got swallowed by a swamp slime. What was she thinking though? It was barely a week! There were some rumors of other women approaching women of more powerful bloodlines¡ªand having been awakened by these powerful women required the receiver to devote themselves to their awakener''s desires. Maybe it was different because she would be receiving energy from a man who did not know of this practice. Setsuko ran her fingers through her ragged dark hair and squeezed her eyes shut. Now wasn''t the time to get entranced by promises like this. Setsuko was satisfied with this life of hers, and compared to the majority of women¡­ This lack of power made her different. The Kin Hunters did not treat her any differently, simply acting like she was one of their own. Wasn''t that better than those arrogant women who thought they could overpower men and make them bend to their wills? Her blue eyes opened and she grunted at him. "We''ll do our mission first and I''ll think about this, Yang. The others are soon to return as well, so it''s better we focus okay?" He nodded. "Of course." This man was someone who spoke less, and did more. She liked him for being easy to deal with and even if it had taken some time¡ªhe was becoming more battle-honed. Was it really the benefit of being able to manipulate Ao though? Her group would soon undertake the mission. . . . The results spoke for themselves¡ªwhile Setsuko had to resurface up the Green Jade Lake for air, the man dove down into the waters without any hesitation, deeper and deeper. The frog''s eggs were located deeper than she thought it would be. She instead focused on keeping the threats of enormous fish from heading into the man''s direction. Her hand gripped on her giant fish hook. This time she would be the bait to draw these creatures away from Yang and ensure his safety. But then it was suddenly over. "You guys make such a good team," their team leader, Jin, said. The man was raising a mug of beer to them along with the rest of the group. It took them around two hours to finish the mission, another hour to return to the city and then settle into this pub and inn. Setsuko held the mug filled with alcohol in her hand. She drank it all down in one go and slammed it on their long table, getting some looks from other clients inside of the pub. It almost felt undeserved when she considered how it was easy for the man beside her to become powerful. She had never been jealous of women from powerful bloodlines and organizations, content with the struggles and hardship she faced¡­ but now that a man showed how easy it was to accomplish missions if he had power. Setsuko grabbed the collar of Yang''s still drenched robes. The man had been talking to Geno when she held him up. "I''ve already made my decision¡ªI accept your offer. Let''s go to my room for some privacy." Sounds of surprise and laughter among the group sounded. "Wait, did Setsuko make a move on Yang even though he just arrived?" "It''s the other way around," he said. The man stood up and looked at her with an unreadable expression. "Shall we go now?" Whistles sounded in the pub. The fellow hunters in this group of theirs mostly considered themselves as one huge extended family. It was also common for them to adopt members, so she understood that this was just teasing for them. She bit on her lip, temporarily averting her gaze from the bare chest exposed from his robes and nodded. "This way, Yang." Power was something she desired, what everyone desired. She could no longer pretend it wasn''t when she had the opportunity to do so. . . . Setsuko''s gaze was intense as she looked at him. The two of them were standing in her room, and if it weren''t for the fact that he knew what ''offer'' she accepted, he might have been inclined to think this would be somewhat else. "So¡­" he cleared his throat. "Would you like to get comfortable first?" "What?" "Your clothes are still wet. I would actually like to get changed if it weren''t for the others dragging us for the dinner celebration." Li Yang shrugged. The lives of the men around here were simple, they hunted, sold materials and then ate and drank their fill before sleeping. He didn''t mind it, but it was a little distracting to have both of them still drenched from the dip in the lake. She pursed her lips at him and then offered her hand. "Let''s get over this fast before the others think we''re doing something strange." He chuckled, but nodded. Even while the two of them were in an inn, the amount of energy in the air was still astounding. He would gather it around him, transforming the world''s energy into his own before he sent it to her and searched for her core. He closed his eyes and concentrated in visualizing and finding her sleeping core with his spiritual senses. The act of enshrouding one''s qi and aura around someone else was already offensive¡ªit was used to dominate over the inferior cultivator and it boasted of one''s greater quality and quantity of qi. It also happened that two cultivators could communicate by having their qi meet in one place and forming a mental link, allowing each other to read one another''s qi¡ªit was something that required a measure of trust. However, this time, his intentions were different. It wasn''t only the extremities of her body and aura where his qi flowed and probed her. His energy traversed past the outermost and superficial layers and ventured deeper to the well inside of her. Similar to meridians coursing with qi and transmitting it across his entire body, he did the same for her. His energy poured through specific ley lines across her body. There was only a minutiae of difference between his own meridians. The meridians flowing through his body were comparable to blood vessels, but for her, it was like water breaking forth through an empty dam, his energy cascaded through these overwhelming and vast lines as he searched and explored for the dormant core within her. He filled her up. Akin to a dry and barren desert, a rejuvenating flood crashed and surged out to fill the void. Until he himself could feel like he was providing her too much, despite the abundance of Ao, the energy in his body was starting to get but her body greedily accepted the energy like a dehydrated man finding water and gulping it down. If he couldn''t find her core and awaken it, she might eventually just keep draining his own energy¡ªit was time for him to probe faster. Where was it? The sea of qi, dantian or lower energy fields was usually around the stomach area. ¡­ there! He focused and sent a concentrated amount of energy into the core, channeling it to open up to him. Li Yang''s mind was sharp and clear, possibly because of his cultivation¡ªmemories of stories and his research swept in his mind helping him in this moment. Setsuko''s hand tightened around him. It was the crushing kind, and she squirmed slightly¡ªbut he kept pouring the Ao energy in the center spot of her body''s core, waiting for it to blossom and open up. He cracked through the core and an outstanding wave of energy rippled out from Setsuko''s core. The entire establishment shook. Multiple power waves of energy sent a wave similar to what could probably be a nuclear. The air around them vibrated and thrummed as the energy from her body nearly threw Li Yang back against the walls. While he had originally sent his energy to hers, she overpowered his and distributed it at a faster and stronger rate. Li Yang opened his eyes in time to see Setsuko''s black hair turning white, her face a flushed red as if she had swallowed a scorching red ball of sun. When she opened her eyes, they were now the shade of flames and behind her were several white tails. Setsuko''s transformation quickly broke and she collapsed into his arms. He didn''t expect it to happen like this. And yet his System gave him a notification which popped in result of their activity. [ Congratulations! You Have Mastered Ao Energy Bending ] [ Congratulations! You Have Unlocked First Energy Bond ] [ Individual Setsuko Can Now Be Accessed Through Interface ] [ Temporary Conversion Of Charm Points Ongoing... ] [ ¡­ System Patch Updates Nearly Complete ] Her released energy was so pure and concentrated that it sent powerful waves across the entire continent¡ªalerting several individuals from the safety of their mansions, temples and other lofty locations. It even awoke the sleeping and dreaming. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Is this kind of pace too fast or just fine? I''m someone who likes to take it slow, slice-of-life is what I like best, but Webnovels need fast progression. There are questions about what''s happening in CEO''s normal world, and you''ll see the answers through the story :3 Very valid points made! Thank you for reading today! Chapter 143: Invitations, Warpers and Trespassers When his energy first struck through her core it was akin to getting stabbed by a knife in the gut, it was overpowering and brutal, the sensation close to getting engulfed by a slime, but then it shifted to fire. The warmth of fire during the frigid winter days and then it was like the basking warmth of the sun. A sustaining energy filling her before she accessed her and even then, it was still different¡ªSetsuko''s mind fuzzy and only focused on the beautiful warmth of his power tracing across through her body until everything became dark. The event changed the lives of the two for good. And in effect, almost everyone who had taken note of the change. Mashiro Temple Priestesses infiltrated the current inn that Li Yang and Setsuko were staying at as if about to abduct Setsuko and take her away by sheer force. They had overturned the Kin Hunters by their powers, if only to present a scroll of invitation for the newly awakened person located in her quarters. Except the Priestesses met a man instead of Setsuko. A woman with soft pink hair looked at him with a frown, albeit it did not mar her beautiful features at all. She held a scroll in her hand and gazed at him with red eyes. "This is¡­ we are looking for a woman who has Awakened her powers. Step aside or face the consequences." "Yes, the person you''re looking for is here, but she''s asleep." Li Yang stepped aside from the door to let them see Setsuko in her bed. She had been sound asleep since she fainted. Still, there was something remarkable about this woman. Was having red eyes a sign of being awakened? He asked. "But who are you people?" "This man¡ª!" Two young women dressed in the same robes spoke at the same time. One could see that they were twins who had green hair and yellow eyes. Both looked at him affronted. "Sister Mitsuko, should we finish this man off for speaking such impudence?" Mitsuko narrowed her eyes at him. There was something about him so familiar¡­ wait! She schooled her features into a calm look, but she recognized the traces of Ao hovering around his body. It wasn''t the same as the waves that sent the High Priestess into a flurry to locate the woman who had Awakened without any notice, but it was the same one that she recognized from their Sacred Forest over a week ago. The reason why the other Priestesses beat the group of Hunters below this inn already made sense¡ªthey were intruders who dared to hunt in the lands of the Mashiro Temple''s protected forest. Evidence had been found, and it was by chance that they were in the inn. But now this man held the traces of Ao she noticed last time. It was supposed to be impossible. Could it be possible that he was the one who awakened the woman sleeping in the bed? If that was the case¡­ Mitsuko needed to concentrate. The High Priestess was more concerned about the sleeping woman. She cleared her throat. "Your friend''s awakening has caused a wave of Ao to blast across their immediate surroundings. Now you might not have noticed it save for the destruction caused by this event, but the Mashiro Temple is willing to accept her and help her secure her powers." "I see. And if she refuses?" he asked. He gave no clue or sign that he could notice the Ao. One of the twins scoffed. "What kind of woman would refuse¡ª" "Calm down, Rei." Mitsuko sighed and rubbed her forehead. She looked at him carefully and said, "Mashiro Temple is more than capable of taking care of her. It is imperative that she joins for the safety of her loved ones and friends." "I understand, but I am not the one making the decision," he said. "Albeit I am a little worried in the event that she chooses to stay with her group and this Temple might force her hand." "We don''t do such things like that." Rei finally got a word in before Mitsuko. She harrumphed at him. "It''s unpleasant to assume otherwise, but it''s obvious that men cannot understand such things." He inwardly sighed but opened his hand. "I can accept the scroll now in order to give it to her when she wakes up¡­ and I will not bother arguing with those who have no intention to change their mind." It was better to be brusque with some people. "Thank you for the concern for Setsuko''s condition, I will inform her of this visit." Li Yang accepted the invitation in her stead and he quickly shut the door behind them. The sound of a shout echoed behind him, but then the group of women would also leave in a hurry. In this world, it seemed like the people worked fast. Li Yang glanced at the scroll and then back to his bonded partner. The System didn''t refer to Setsuko as part of his Harem. What had caused this situation? The world he had landed in was similar in some ways with how a life energy governed this place, but different enough to warrant changes to his System? Or was it the Patch? He finally had enough time to check, which was good since the System finally allowed him to access a greater interface screen. [ Welcome to the Patched System ] The Moderator and VIP Observer ''Peach'' has installed a patch to the Harem System. A great deal of feature restrictions were originally placed on Host to ensure obedience to the Heavens and keep the Host from fully using the System to one''s advantage, but now the Host has been granted new features. Personal Status Main Quests Achievement Quests Companion Interface New Zone Warper (Used 1 out of 1 Times) Points Shop He frowned at the grayed out words in the ''New Zone Warper'' but accessed it for further explanations. It was already obvious that this was what had happened. [ New Zone Warper ] In order to ensure the Host''s capacity to get stronger, the Host can gain access to different worlds in different planes according to the Host''s current strength levels. You Have Used The New Zone Warp Once. System Currently Gathering Energy For Next Jump "Then I''m stuck here until then¡­ but how much energy does this System even need before I can go home?" he asked himself with a frown. And it was where it would show some ineptitudeness by only focusing on a singular word. [ Would You Like To Set Telriah As Home World? ] Yes/No The CEO narrowed his eyes at the screen. "No. Set it to Earth¡­ previous World, rather. The one I was before I headed here." He needed to be sure that he didn''t end up in another world called similarly to it. T The new patch update seemed to have changed some of the functions, no longer as intuitive as it used to be. However it seemed to have shifted it entirely from a harem-focused System? Well there was still another thing that seemed reminiscent of it. [ Companion Interface ] No man is an island! Sometimes the power of friendship and bonds can help the Host move mountains rather than being alone. The System helps create this power through the chance to make your companions stronger, or have them empower you. Choose Companions wisely. Host: Li Yang aka CEO Companionship Type: Harem-based Individuals: Narissa ( Harem Member) Setsuko (Energy Bonding - Awakened ) Right before he could check the other screens, Setsuko woke up. Her blue eyes looked at him sleepily, and she yawned. "What was that all about?" "Hmm? Have you rested well?" he asked. "Do you remember what happened?" She nodded her head, albeit her cheeks were tinged red. "You awakened the dormant core lying inside of me¡­ though I don''t feel all that different." "Is that so? We''ll figure it out for later." Li Yang picked up the scroll and offered it to her. "You have an invitation from the Mashiro Temple, they have kindly dropped by earlier." Setsuko opened it and read, "A sudden awakening that swept through the lands¡­ it is only fair for different women to join together and strengthen their bonds. Huh. Training in their Temple, amazing. Wait¡­ this sudden awakening was me?" "Yes, it was you. It seems you cannot remember much." Li Yang furrowed his brows together. The Mashiro Temple''s strategy was akin to hiring competent people to prevent them from getting hired by anybody else and shaking the current power structure. Understandable, possibly. Monopolizing was something he was something that happened in some business sectors, after all. "I don''t want to go there¡­" Setsuko sighed. "And yet they''re offering something to help the Kin Hunters, allowing them permission to enter the Sacred Forest." "The Sacred Forest is where I met you guys, right?" She coughed. "It''s usually illegal entry there, a conservatory of creatures if you will. But that mission we got there was extremely paid well, and it wasn''t like they would miss the Twisted Vine Turtle. They probably have eggs of that creature." "... so we trespassed there." Li Yang stared at her for a moment. He wasn''t sure if he wanted to grimace or rub his forehead. It shouldn''t bother him too much, but it still did. Regardless of the Mashiro Temple Priestesses attitudes, the thought of doing something illegal still made him a bit miffed. He was still someone reserved by nature and liked following rules when possible. "What?" she tilted her head at him. "You''re that troubled with the thoughts of coming there, but you had no sense of shame by being so¡ª" She turned her head away from him. "Forget it." "What seems to be the problem?" "You awakening me just felt really intimate. I can''t explain it beyond a feeling like¡­ it''s probably similar to sex!" Setsuko looked at him, her face was red. "But with Ao, so it''s weirder. Don''t tell me that I''m the only one who felt it while your Ao was seeping inside of me?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Probably not the best chapter since a migraine hit me, but hopefully it delivered the plot points fine. All of the energy bonding stuff is strange and even I can''t explain the awakening part much, but yes, there were sexual connotations during the bonding process xD Thanks for reading! Chapter 144: Partnerships and Contracts When Li Yang saw the embarrassed expression on Setsuko''s face, he couldn''t help but think it was amusing. He cleared his throat and said, "Apologies, I warned you that it would be invasive and intrusive... however I had no idea that it would feel enjoyable for you." Setsuko''s face reddened. "It didn''t start out that way¡ªbut ah, now that I experienced it myself, it''s starting to make sense. Why the one who awakens another woman tends to have some kind of superior control over the other." "Hm?" Setsuko hung her head. "Great, I probably shouldn''t have said it, but fine. I already told you that women of superior bloodlines don''t awaken another woman often." "It''s better to monopolize power after all," he agreed. She gave him a weirded out look, but nodded. "There would always be those who can buy their way in. There were some rumors going about in taverns that the Princess of Kaeli Kingdom was awakened by the High Priestess of Mashiro Temple¡ªthus their great influence. But why would a Princess support the High Priestess of a temple much smaller than their kingdom? Surely it means that there''s something else making them loyal, right?" Li Yang half-wondered if it was best to tell her about the Energy Bond that happened between them. He almost expected that a screen would pop up and inform her of this event, but she hadn''t reacted like the Mermaid back then. It was once again another proof of the Patch Updates. He asked. "Then you mean to say that the process of Awakening triggers some sort of bond between the two, with one having a more superior control over the other?" "Bond seems like a kind word¡ªI''m talking about maybe something strange like a dominion contract placed during the process of awakening." Setsuko frowned and gripped her arm tightly. "Have you done anything like that to me?" "I wasn''t aware of anything like that happening," he said. But it didn''t exactly mean nothing similar to that occured... and it had been something Li Yang was worried about even back on Earth. What would being part of the Harem entail for the members? Setsuko scratched the back of her head. "Yeah, I know you don''t have a clue and that is strange..." "I''m not kept up with the information about all of these, I had no use for it until now." Her gaze narrowed at him. "Someone who doesn''t know Ao, doesn''t know anything about the organizations here or anything¡ªand yet with the ability to manipulate Ao like powerful women. What are you, Yang? Some kind of son of a powerful woman kept hidden in a tower who escaped? Are you originally from the Mashiro Temple Sect and this is some sort of ploy¡ª" "None of that." "Then who are you?" It was difficult to argue with someone who spoke so little and calmly even during a confrontation. She looked at him in surprise, but frowned in the end. He sighed inwardly¡ªit should have been obvious that some things could not be hidden. Li Yang chose to smile and incline his head. "I''m glad that you finally figured it out, I am someone not of this world." Setsuko''s jaw dropped for a moment. Silence filled her room. The idea of being enthusiastic like the Panda before when it congratulated him on their first meeting came to his mind¡ªbut he couldn''t muster that kind of cheerfulness, beyond him smiling now. He cleared his throat and motioned to himself. "I have come here by accident... but my situation now isn''t as important as yours. You are someone who has awakened great power due to my assistance, and I hope that you will put it to good use." "Are you telling me that this is supposed to be some reward?" she eyed him doubtfully. This was why he preferred to be honest and upfront. Li Yang shrugged as an answer. "You considered my offer to awaken your dormant energy core and I did it. It would make no sense for you to acquire this power and not do anything and neither did I do this entirely for free." "Oh, so you''re telling me that you want to get paid too?" Setsuko placed a hand on her hip. "I thought you were different from the women at Mashiro''s but it seems like you also have your own agendas do you not?" "I have a desire to return to my place, but I also wish to get stronger while I am here... and one method is by acquiring powerful allies. Or do you disagree with this notion?" "So you chose me?" "Yes." "I met you at Mashiro Temple''s Sacred Forest, why didn''t you just head over there if you wanted to become stronger?" He raised a brow. "It''s for the same reason as to why you do not want to head there." "Because they''ll probably enforce some kind of contract to maintain their power and all of that..." Setsuko lowered her head and fiddled with her hands. "Hunters like me and other people are forced to deal with life-threatening missions to provide what powerful, influential and rich people like them desire... and going there means that I''ll help maintain this ongoing cycle." "Albeit they did offer to help Kin Hunters if you go there." "We''re supposed to be discussing why it isn''t a good idea to go there¡ªso why are you offering points of consolation?" "I''m just stating facts¡ªthey want to keep you, because you''re useful and to some extent, they still consider you as someone who has their best interests at hand as a fellow woman." Li Yang rubbed his chin. "If it was me, I am not sure if the idea of a man being able to use Ao would be pleasant to hear." "And that''s why you chose me¡ªbecause I''m the safe option?" "I decided to help you, because I like you." "What?" she looked at him with widened eyes. "Are you trying to confess or something?" Li Yang tilted his head. His secretary''s own confession back then had messed up his own choice of words, didn''t it? But it was true, he just had to explain why he liked her and hopefully clarify the situation. The situation between them was too complicated. "You were kind enough to help out a stranger and ensure my safety. You did your best to talk with me even when I could barely communicate and also made it a point to talk the rest of the group into accepting me as a member of the Kin Hunters¡ªsomeone else might have just attacked and looted me for what I have on my person." It wasn''t like he couldn''t fight back and escape if that happened, but he was glad nothing like that occured. "... I see, so you like me for those reasons. I get it." Setsuko rubbed the back of her neck and sighed aloud. "The way you started it made me think of something else, but I guess by that definition, I like you too." "For what reason?" She pursed her lips and waved a hand at him. "If you want to get complimented, don''t expect it from me... I just thought you were brave back then. That''s all." Li Yang wanted to admit that it was a calculated risk. Something that he did choose to do in order to gain their trust and it had worked accordingly, but he chose not to say anything else. He hadn''t exactly been completely honest about his intentions, as it would be too much to explain about the System. But what he did instead was rephrasing it to what he deemed would get him the most help from her. It was a necessary decision. Setsuko let out another loud sigh and then looked at him. "I suppose the two of us will need to head to Mashiro Temple then?" "Us?" "You said you wanted to be stronger and that''s the closest place where we can learn about using Ao. Or did you expect me to head there and then go out to meet you in the forest to train you?" she asked. "Women in Mashiro Temple Sect stay there permanently." "I do not necessarily think of that as a solution, if these women figure out my ability¡ª" "I''ll tell them you''re my concubine and I won''t go anywhere without you." Li Yang raised a brow. "A concubine?" "Male consort? Someone I keep around for my entertainment?" Setsuko shrugged and then gave him a smirk. "The other option for males who cannot become Hunters, and other jobs can become Male Entertainers, you know? It''s a cushy and well-paying job especially if you find yourself in the arms of powerful women." "The women here are really the ones in charge, aren''t they?" She gave him a teasing grin. "Well, don''t worry about it¡ªI won''t make you do anything weird." He chuckled. "I wouldn''t do it either way, I''d like us to treat each other as equals." "Like how we are now then." "I suppose, albeit I''ve been following your orders since I arrived here," he said. Almost each day had been spent following her along for their daily missions and she knew it. "So it still doesn''t seem like an equal footing between the two of us." Setsuko rolled her eyes. "Obviously, someone has to make decisions during last week. You can''t expect some newbie to start calling all the shots, even if you are powerful. But I guess we have a plan now. We''ll head to the Temple and I''ll bring you around as my consort." "Do we need to fill in some kind of paperwork for this?" Li Yang asked. Setsuko blinked and then stared at him. "You want it on paper?" "Legal documentation is important if we want to pull this off." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Yes, you''re questioning the Author''s choice of worldbuilding now. But hey, the CEO is getting ''marriage papers''... well, close enough xD Let''s consider this a win. Or you''re face-palming and wanting this section to end soon? Let me know! I''ll see you guys tomorrow, thank you for reading. Chapter 145: Arriving at Mashiro Temple "Did you hear the news? A man is staying in this very temple!" "That''s atrocious¡ª" "Amazing!" It was an absurd request. Most of the women who stayed in Mashiro Temple were all chaste women who dedicated their lives to follow the arts of Ao Mastery and serving the Slumbering Goddess in their own way. A good number of them had been raised in this very temple from the moment they had been born. And various women from different nations had been staying here. "What makes you say such a thing, Lelia?" A woman with dark hair glanced at a blonde hair girl. Most of them had lived their lives content and at peace, so the idea of a man finally arriving was strange to most. Lelia beamed at her, "I''ve never met a man before¡ª" "They''re ugly flesh bags." Another woman commented while cleaning the temple. She was wiping old ancient jars and urns. Others were placing freshly harvested flowers and leaves into beautiful garlands around the temple''s pillars and entrance. Even though not everyone was happy with the news of a man coming, it was still expected that they would clean and decorate their place in order to usher in their new arriving sister. It was the High Priestess words, and all women of the temple followed her rules. "Don''t listen to her¡ª" "Scum. When I went to the city, some even dared to look me in the eye." One twin passed by, the louder one, Rei flicked out her fan and covered her face. Her golden eyes gleaming behind the fan. "I couldn''t help but stab him in the eye to make sure he learned his lesson." "You did that?" Leila''s mouth hung open. "I had to spare his life according to the orders of the High Priestess." Rei explained with mild disgust. "I do not understand why some women have male consorts when I find no reason to find solace in their presence." It wasn''t as if this notion was shared by every woman in the temple, but most stayed silent lest they stir up discontent with the more powerful woman. But such an atmosphere would end when Mitsuko started walking down the main hallway, garbed in more colorful robes. "They are coming today, I shall meet with them at the gates." ¡ª- The forest trees provided Li Yang and Setsuko enough shade and cool air while they walked underneath them to head to the temple. The woman ahead of him was carrying a small bag slung across her shoulders, still wearing the hunter outfit she had when the two of them had met. He himself was garbed in robes he had bought. His own clothing packed in his own bag while Li Yang kept his sword sheathed at his side. There was a certain gait that Setsuko was taking¡ªit was the nervous one, rushed and hurried. She was taking fast and long strides. "Miss Setsuko¡ª" "That''s Lady Setsuko to you." She threw him a look, but it was more frantic than anything. Despite her holding the scroll containing their relationship as ''Lady and Consort'', her heart pounded so hard that she was almost afraid he would hear it. "Lady Setsuko, don''t leave me behind." He reached out and held the sleeve of her top. "If you keep looking like that, it would make it seem like I am the source of your agony." She averted her gaze and looked forward. "Carry my bag then." "Huh?" With no delays, she handed it over to him, and then she punched the air. Somehow, it was something he expected a boxer to do before a match, but seeing her do it right now¡­ it was perhaps to abate her nervous energy. Li Yang watched her silently. Before the two of them had left the Kin Hunters, she showed herself as a poised woman ready to handle the circumstance in front of them. Setsuko even made a promise to return as a powerful ally to her friends, albeit most of them cheered her and him on to reach new peaks in life. "Take me as a consort too¡­" Li Yang muttered underneath his breath and remembered another man telling it to her before they had left. It had almost been pitiful until the man only laughed it out with the others and waved them off. Setsuko stopped her fluid jabs to give him a look. "That was Tadao." "I see," Li Yang said. He hadn''t exactly gotten the chance to learn every member''s names before he shrugged and stepped forward. "Are you done, Lady Setsuko? We shouldn''t keep the temple waiting." Setsuko hooked her arm over his. "Wait just a second, Yang." "What is it?" Li Yang raised a brow at her. It seemed like she had recovered from her anxiety and it made him glad, but they were going to be late for the entrance meeting if they delayed. It would not look good on paper if they were. She frowned at him. "At least act a little more jealous." "Hmm¡­ why?" Setsuko gave him a shrug, although she chewed on her bottom lip for a second. "I don''t know, I think most consorts are supposed to be like that¡ªclinging to their Lady and saying, ''I''m your favorite consort, right Lady Setsuko? Let me rub your feet right now.'' or something along those lines. Your attitude doesn''t really fit with the idea of being a consort." He tilted his head. "It''s a strange notion, I think only a man insecure of his position will do something like that. I have no reason to be at odds with him when I''m quite aware that you chose me for this role." Setsuko stared at the somewhat befuddled expression of the man in front of her. "I¡­ well, I guess you''re right. But most women like it when men are fighting over them, especially those of their consorts." "Let us consider it while we head to the temple, Lady Setsuko," Li Yang said and walked with her, one of her hands resting on his arm. "I believe the reason most people, of either sexes prefer to see that spectacle is because they think it is entertaining?" "Er¡­ I always assumed it was because it affirmed their attractiveness." "I suppose that''s also another thing¡ªbut then it once again reflects that it isn''t the men fighting for you are what you care about. Instead, you only wish to be pleased with yourself," he said. Setsuko pursed her lips. "Aren''t you so intelligent to figure that out¡­ do you want a head pat, Yang?" "That''s a little patron¡ª" he paused once her hand gently patted him. She had already stood up on her tiptoes just to do this act. One might have expected a smirk on her face, but she had a careful look on her face as she placed her hand on his head. "You''re pretty great for figuring it out. This Lady is pleased with her consort very much." Unbeknownst to him, but somewhat blatant to Setsuko¡ªshe was giving excuses to touch him. And she was trying so hard not to make it obvious, even as she felt her cheeks inflame with heat. Somehow it was very relieving to be at his side and just be close to his presence, but even better to touch him no matter how briefly. However, it would be a terrible thing to admit. Were these the effects of getting awakened by him? Setsuko thought that the other women awakened were forced to follow their Awakener through some dominion contract enforced upon them whilst awakening¡­ but as far as she knew, the man did no such thing. He had no idea either. Setsuko blushed at the closeness the two of them were in. She even sneaked a peak at the man''s chest, and she idly wondered if he was doing the same¡­ except she wasn''t actually wearing attractive clothes that made her figure obvious, did it? When the woman stopped, Li Yang himself had blushed. It wasn''t exactly unpleasant, maybe just too much coddling¡ªbut, not really unpleasant. He cleared his throat and said, "I do not think such a notion deserved praise. We are merely contemplating on it together, but shall we keep going?" "Ah, yes. Let''s go, we can''t keep the Priestesses waiting for us." In rare instances between silent and curt answers, sometimes he would end up talking more. Ying Yue He had already pointed out the fact that he did this when he was embarrassed, and perhaps he was. But so was she¡ªthe woman had a flushed color on her face, and even around her neck. He didn''t think that she would become so red like that¡­unless¡ªno, it was strange to consider it. But he had already seen it at various times, when he had slept with Taiga. She flushed as heavily as Setsuko. He hadn''t been so sure when it was with Bo Lifen since it was darker and Bai Minghua or Narissa was done in water so it could have prevented much reddening of the skin. Physiological responses. It was nothing to be embarrassed about, but he and Setsuko haven''t even gotten remotely sexual¡­ except for when he awakened her. She had told him it was extremely intimate for her. Was that the cause for her sudden change in attitude around him? Her initial treatment of him was relaxed even though a tad authoritative, but now she was embarrassed around him. Even a tad affectionate? The head pat was surprising until now. "What are you thinking about now?" Setsuko asked. "Hmm, nothing. I''m glad that we''ve arrived, Lady Setsuko." Li Yang looked up to see the original three women who had met him at the inn. Mitsuko clasped her hands together, her long sleeve robes hiding them as she bowed with the twins. "Welcome to Mashiro Temple, a paradise and sanctuary on land¡ªwe are glad that you have made it here, Setsuko Hirayama." Chapter 146: Meeting The High Priestess A voluptuous woman sat inside the most private chamber of the Mashiro Temple and let out a cloud of smoke from her lips. In between her fingers was a long black hookah. Her breasts hugged tightly in her robes that it looked like they were about to spill out from them, and it was easy to notice that she had an imposing presence. In front of her was a canister filled with the contents of what she was smoking. "The two of you have finally arrived here. Welcome to Mashiro Temple, I am the High Priestess Rhelea," she greeted them with a voice that dripped like liquid honey. "Setsuko and her consort¡­? What is your name, young man?" "It''s Li Yang, High Priestess." The High Priestess''s eyes widened for a second, before it settled back into a cool and relaxed one. Even a sleepy one as she resumed to smoke and blew another cloud of smoke into the room. "I can see that Setsuko here has excellent tastes in men." Li Yang thankfully had his expression schooled down to a blank one, his eyes eventually averting away from the so-called High Priestess and back on the ground. He wasn''t sure if he should respond and instead stayed silent. Similar to how he imagined cultivators to be, this High Priestess kept an appearance of someone youthful but with the curvaceousness befitting a much older and mature kind of woman. Almost similar to the girlfriend of his brother. The scent of something fragrant like incense filled the entire area they were in, and it made him think back on how he and Setsuko arrived here. It wasn''t often that the women accepted into the temple were brought forth to the High Priestess¡ªthat idea was grilled into him and Setsuko by the women before they were ushered in here. Mitsuko and the twins had accompanied them here and had been throwing glares at them and prompt reminders to be nothing but reverent to the High Priestess. Whatever the case, it was up to Setsuko to help them in this situation. She was the one who had to do most of the responding. "Ah, thank you, High Priestess Rhelea. It is an honor for me and my consort to be here right now in your presence." Setsuko was also bent on one knee, hopefully smiling and not gritting her teeth as she said it. "I am grateful that you listened to my humble request of bringing him here." There was a pleasant tone to her voice right now. "It cannot be helped. You are after all someone who has come here later than most women here. Thus it is expected that you already have engaged in the foibles of the flesh and romance." the High Priestess said before letting out another trail of smoke. "Which is nothing wrong, albeit most of the women here have yet experienced anything like it in pursuit of understanding the mysteries of Ao and serving the goddess." He tried his best not to cough. While initially fragrant, it was a little too overpowering on his nose¡ªsomething dinged in the back of his mind. A notification was quickly summoned in front of him. [ Mental Fortitude Active ] [ Mental Skill Has Blocked The Effects of ''Soothing Vapors of Wild Roses'' ] Li Yang glanced at Setsuko and hoped she was alright, however it was a little difficult to tell. Either way, he already chose to dislike the older woman for using such methods¡­ Was it similar to the effect of Bai Minghua''s voice? He hoped it wasn''t as strong as it. The High Priestess continued to speak. "I hope that Mitsuko, Rei and Kei are able to usher you in properly and they''ll lead you to your quarters, but first¡­ may I inquire and confirm some things with you?" "What is it, High Priestess?" Setsuko asked. The older woman''s red lips curved into a languid grin. "Why, it''s quite simple, really. How did you awaken your powers, dear Setsuko? It''s impossible and unimaginable for someone who has a dormant core to awaken it suddenly and with such aptitude like yours that made the entire continent feel the throes of your Ao''s waves. Did you stumble upon something or headed somewhere to acquire it?" This woman was not hesitating to ask Setsuko question''s at all, didn''t she? In the corner of his vision, Li Yang''s gaze flickered to the three other women currently in the chambers of the High Priestess, and they all looked like they were in some sort of trance. He ground his teeth and threw a look at Setsuko¡ªshe shouldn''t say anything. What was this bond between them if she couldn''t even get herself out of this mental manipulation? There were certain feelings tormenting Setsuko. First was the alluring scent of the High Priestess''s pink-like vapors, it was distracting and wonderfully fragrant to the nose. She couldn''t help but wonder how beautiful it was to watch the High Priestess put the hookah through her lips and then blow out some smoke. And she had never been attracted to women before as far as she was concerned. But there was a certain alluring state to the woman that made her a little embarrassed. Even while she was here, a certain dampness began to form in the spot in between her pants and paired with the vapors, it was like she was in a certain cloud and far above her own thoughts. Everything was fine and beautiful. Answers and replies were only polite, which was only obvious since she was talking to the High Priestess. Now she wanted to know how she awakened her core¡ª A sharp bolt of energy sequestered itself from her gut. It shocked Setsuko to the core, and it almost felt like the wondrous energy was leaving, but it gave her enough mental space to consider the High Priestess'' question and respond accordingly as she deemed fit. "The reason for my awakening?" Setsuko laughed, but quickly quieted down. "I think it is because I was always exposed to the energy cores of giant beasts that my team always used to hunt. My dormant core possibly responded to it and awakened." The High Priestess'' lips curled down, but nodded. "I have heard that your old group, these Kin Hunters, have been able to trespass into Mashiro''s Sacred Forest and kill one of our precious Sage Vine Tortoise¡ªand it is only this once that I shall show mercy for this incident. Otherwise, I would have the old group eliminated¡­ but it seems to have brought on a fortunate incident which is your awakening." "Yes," Setsuko agreed. "Very well then, can you show a demonstration of such Ao energy manipulation?" the High Priestess sat up in her seat and put down the pipe. "Right now, I cannot sense anything from you, Setsuko." "Oh¡­" Setsuko froze and grimaced. "I actually have a confession." "What is it?" "After the one incident that sent your people into looking for me, I''m still having difficulty actually controlling Ao and much less performing something inadequate in the eyes of the High Priestess." It truly was best that Setsuko didn''t do anything, in Li Yang''s opinion. Maybe she had also considered that, or truly lacked the ability to do so? The man thought about it for a moment and recalled that when it happened, Setsuko''s hair grew white and her blue eyes turned into blood red along with a nine pair of tails. The answer was already apparent to him¡ªit was as Setsuko said. All women here came from powerful bloodlines and he didn''t even need the System to figure out what bloodline she had come from. Nine-tailed fox? Kitsune? Gumiho? Huli Jing? Those were all different names from different countries, but the idea was the same. And Setsuko was the embodiment of one. "Is that so? It''s simple enough, Setsuko. Gather the energy from your core and let it burst it out into your hand¡ªconcentrate and do it like I do." the High Priestess held out her hand and a red orb of energy formed and whirred like a small tornado. "Depending on the output and how you infuse your essence into the Ao, it can take into many particular forms. Mine for example is the blazing red infusion of roses and thorns." Surprisingly, the High Priestess was more than happy to present her ability with Ao. "Ah, it is impressive, is it not, Li Yang?" the High Priestess asked him with an alluring smile. "This is what people blessed by the goddess can obtain. This is the ability to manipulate the elements of the world to their whims and by virtue, those who are unable to do so." "Yes, High Priestess Rhelea," he said and bit back himself from asking a question. This High Priestess used the word ''people'' instead of ''women''... and he couldn''t help but think it was an unintentional mistake. A slip of the tongue. She was supposed to say women blessed by the goddess. Unless she only considered women as people and men as beasts of labor? Either option didn''t put him at ease. The first one meant that the officials and people in charge were actively hiding the fact that men could also use Ao, while the second showcased the High Priestess'' perception on someone like him. Not even a person. What kind of world was this one? Li Yang only stifled his expression and glanced at Setsuko. The High Priestess wanted a demonstration of her skill to understand the extent of her abilities under the guise of curiosity. "I''ll do it," Setsuko said. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: It''s the end of the month for those in GMT+8 like me, and once again I''m looking into adding an additional tier into the privilege to make enough money to live because I''m no CEO lol. So, I ask for your patience. However, for those who can wait even longer and want an amazing bargain¡­ maybe you''ll be tempted by the Panda Promotion Tier coming up! I''ll see you guys around, thanks for reading! Chapter 147: Mashiro Temple (1) Setsuko''s fingertips were long and willowy, graceful as soft branches on a tree and whence came the first spark of energy¡ªbrilliant red at first and then shifted to pure celestial white until it finally vanished from sight. The High Priestess Rhelea stifled herself from letting out a sigh of relief. The other woman''s control was still truly horrendous. "Your energy is vibrant, possibly¡­ even greater than mine, but your control is lacking. Thus staying here in Mashiro Temple is advised lest you mismanage the energy inside of you and cause an explosion. That is all I will tell you so far. As for the rest, it will be up to your fellow sisters. Please introduce yourselves." The first one was Mitsuko. She stood upright and firmly. Her gaze flickered to the man before settling on Setsuko, and she said, "I am Mitsuko Hashimaya, a pleasure to be of your acquaintance." "Rei Kitagawa," came the curt reply from the first twin. Her gaze focused on the newcomer. The second twin inclined her head and bowed slightly. "Kei Kitagawa." High Priestess Rhelea pursed her lips in some hint of satisfaction. However, there truly was a strange thing to notice amongst her Priestesses¡­ It was the first time that Mitsuko showed interest in another person beyond that of necessity. Her gaze flickered back on the man kneeling and she brought the hookah back to her lips. Rhelea took in a deep inhale from the long pipe¡ªit would definitely be interesting. Something she had to keep an eye on. . . . It was to his relief that the meeting with the High Priestess ended. At least the effects of the mind-altering substances she was smoking and blowing through their faces had completely vanished. Li Yang eyed his now-concert, Setsuko. He wasn''t using his qi to enhance his senses, but there did seem to be a certain change in her body language. But questions about it would have to come later. The first of such introductions to the daily life of a Priestess was heading to the assigned chambers meant for Setsuko to use¡ªand by inclusion, Li Yang''s place. At least, if his guesses were correct. All five of them had been walking for a bit of time, and he even concluded that this temple of theirs was bigger on the inside than outside. Some kind of dimensional adjustment made to accommodate more people. It spoke about the skill and wealth of the temple to afford such a thing. He looked around idly. A great number of women in white robes were in this hallway. Some were hiding behind their doors and peeking, and there were others who were unafraid to approach them. Out of them was the bravest one who talked with him. "Hello there, welcome to the temple. Can I see your dick?" A blonde maiden asked him with her big innocent blue eyes. Li Yang stared at her for a moment. "What?" A couple of guffaws erupted in the hallway, while some other women were hanging their heads in dismay. There was an obvious disparity in the knowledge of men if this woman in front of him had no clue of what she was talking about. Setsuko was quick to grab his arm and tugged him closer to her. The CEO would feel the warmth of her bosom while she sent the other woman a smile and quickly said, "Sorry, he''s not for sharing." "Huh, I was only curious?" the newcomer blinked at her, until another female walked over and whispered into her ears. After the rapid explanation, her cheeks grew hot. "Oh, I''m so sorry." The woman quickly fled into one of the rooms. In front of them, Rei rubbed her forehead and glanced at the other women with mild annoyance. "Who told Leila about that?" None would respond and avoided her gaze. "Rei, let it be¡ªat least she has now learned something," Mitsuko said. The pink-haired lady was already walking on ahead into another hallway. Rei clicked her tongue and followed right after her. "This way please," Kei motioned for him and Setsuko to follow until they reached a hallway without any other women lounging about. "Your quarters are based on inner talent, skill, and also esteem within the temple¡ªbut High Priestess Rhelea told us to put you here and your consort." Li Yang quirked a brow. Last time he met the twins, both acted synchronous to one another, but this time there were some differences. "Ah, thank you¡­ Kei, right?" Setsuko asked. "Yes." This one was the quieter and cooler twin. Ahead of them, Mitsuko and Rei were already waiting by a door. "This will be your quarters and of your consort." "Huh?" Setsuko blinked. Li Yang was right. He could only hope that the accommodations were fine, and it was a good room¡­ he personally preferred a separate bed, but he didn''t expect anything like it. Rei looked at Setsuko and rolled her eyes. "You have a male consort, of course he has to stay with you. We would not want to see this man wander about the temple without permission. Make sure he does not bother any other women here and disturb them." Li Yang raised a brow. "I think you could at least tell it to me than her. I still have my ears, unless you truly detest talking to men like me?" Behind Rei, Mitsuko studied him. While Kei only grimaced beside her twin sister as Rei huffed at him. "You should know your place and don''t speak to me unless I talk to you and give permission." This was the troublesome thing about this world¡ªbut fine, Li Yang assented to it and looked elsewhere. He instead placed his hand on the door and stepped inside. It was a little childish to do this, but he wouldn''t even give her an answer now. His act only left Rei speechless. On the other hand, Setsuko bit back a grin and looked at him enter the room. Different reactions to one action indeed. As for Li Yang, he would only look in satisfaction at the sight of the bedroom. Last week had been rough with most of their time spent in staying at different places like trees, rocky terrains and other spots. Sometimes they rested at inns, but this was a comfortable and cozy place. He eyed the bed for a moment. The man was interested in trying it out. Chapter 148: Mashiro Temple (2) When Setsuko walked into her room, she came across the sight of the man lying down on the bed¡­ and dozing off. "Seriously, we just arrived here." The woman grumbled underneath her breath and placed her things on the table besides his own items. She glanced over her shoulder to check if he was truly asleep and not creeping behind her. And he truly was out and even snoring? She walked to one of the available closets and would find many white robes already folded and prepared for her to wear. It was unfamiliar to her who was used to wearing dark clothes that were more functionable than robes. Her cheeks heated for a moment as she remembered grabbing the man out of nowhere¡ªand hoped she hadn''t exactly smelled. While she rarely cared about it, one''s life was more valuable when running away and trying not to get attacked by monsters versus avoiding piles of dirt and mud¡­ she was a little self-conscious. All the women here were all clean and tidy, pristine looking like princesses. She scratched her head and then decided to take a bath, glad for once at the availability of hot water flowing through bamboo pipes into her very own bathroom. Once she stepped inside of the bathroom, she slipped out of her shirt and then removed her binders, freeing her chest from the terrible tightness that plagued her. It had been something she always did. Big breasts tended to get in the way when one was running, and it did terrible things on her back too. Setsuko glanced at the mirror and took note of her body. It wasn''t often she had the chance to look at herself. It wasn''t like she looked bad at all, but hints of dirt still clung to her skin and her hair was a bit of a tangled mess. "It''s¡­ natural though." Setsuko muttered to herself and then eyed her reflection. She gave one of her breasts a squeeze and then stopped. It kind of hurt. Setsuko found the bath stone located below the bamboo pole''s opening and gave it a press. Water began to pour down from its mouth and all over her arm¡ªshe quickly adjusted the temperature by twisting the stone to the right. Soon enough she took a bath and made sure to scrub all over her body. There were items on a shelf for her to use, a sweet infusion in a spherical shape which she used. She washed her hair carefully, relishing the hot water flowing down and streaming across her body. The sore muscles on her back and shoulder were assuaged, and she ran her fingers through her body and even played with the fuzz below her belly button. Once she was finished, she found a towel to dry her hair and stared at herself in the mirror again. "Should I¡­" It was just a thought that crossed her thoughts, before she found her undergarments and opted not to use her binders and finally fitted herself in the white robes worn by almost every woman she encountered in the temple. ¡ª- Somebody plopped down on his bed and awoke Li Yang from his sleep, and he was given the sight of Setsuko with a towel up her hair and her wearing robes. He took note of the soft and fresh dewy skin on the back of her neck¡ª "You''re awake now, aren''t you?" Li Yang blinked at the sudden words. But he rubbed the corner of his eyes and nodded, "Yes, I am." There was little motivation in him to pretend to be asleep now. "Did I wake you up by sitting here?" she asked. "We only have one bed, and it''s more comfortable here than the chairs, so I sat here." He yawned and matched her position, sitting beside her and then noticing that she chose not to wear her bra. It was a little distracting, but he turned to look back at the walls like her and said, "I don''t mind it. It wasn''t an unpleasant waking at all." "Then what would have been a pleasant one?" "Would you really like to know?" "... Are you some kind of pervert?" She eyed him with a noncommittal glance. He quirked a brow. "I never mentioned anything alluding to that, but there are pleasant ways to get woken up if I dare say understand what you are thinking about. Especially if what I''m thinking is what you are thinking about." "I wasn''t thinking¡ª" she stopped and waved a hand. "Maybe I was¡­ not that we were both thinking of the same thing?" "Really?" "Really." This little banter made him chuckle before he glanced at her. "What did the other Priestesses say once I stepped inside here?" "They didn''t say anything about you." She told him with a frown. "I wasn''t asking about that¡ªwhat about the lessons and training I mean? Or do we have a free day to spend together and get comfortable in our surroundings?" he asked. "Oh, that¡­ well, we''re free to join them for lunch in the dining hall. I expect a lot of women there though, probably a crowded space," she said. Setsuko''s brows furrowed together as she said this and shrugged. "And then after that is one of the afternoon classes amongst the more powerful teachers." "I see... and while that is happening, I''m expected to stay here." She gave him a look. "You can stay with me during lunch." "Not much of a consolation," Li Yang admitted with a sigh, the thought of simply being in a room and without any responsibilities or activities to pursue sounded wearisome, and yet¡­ "At least I''ll be able to laze around here for the first time and do nothing." Setsuko wrinkled her nose at him. "You sound like someone so overworked. Was hunting creatures really that much troublesome to you?" "No. I found it educational even." Li Yang knew his enhanced speed and reflexes were wrought from using the qi or Ao available here, but he was able to gain more battle experience here, which was what he needed right from the start. Setsuko grinned at him. "Glad to know that¡­ and this time, the both of us will learn all about this Ao and the effects of it." She folded her hands together as she said it. "Effects?" She fell silent for a moment, took a deep breath and said, "I don''t know, maybe what are the effects when a person is awakened by someone else? That kind of thing." "But not everyone is awakened or experiences this as most women have this ability from birth." "Right¡­ so I guess it''s rare¡ªand you''re telling me that it''s probably not discussed much, huh?" Setsuko leaned down and covered her face in her hands. "Thanks." Li Yang frowned slightly. "What seems to be the problem?" "I''m horny." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: You''ll probably read this a bit late. Thank you for reading and the patience! It''s a little slow and focuses a bit more on the relationship between Yang and Setsuko. As well as Setsuko''s self-reflection and yes, bodily hair¡­ it''s usually a nay, as far as I know. But ah, a little fuzz hurt nobody. Or do you have any experiences contradicting it? xD Chapter 149: Testing Out The Mattress ** She was horny. Those words caught the man off guard, but it was obvious now that he thought about it. She had looked distracted before they arrived here. And then Setsuko took a bath and approached him in bed quietly, where she might have kicked his side lightly with her foot to wake him up before if they were still with the Kin Hunters. Setsuko''s hair was up in a towel, and her relaxed posture and simple appearance simply added to the attractiveness scale for him. Her bosom was free from restrictions, round and barely kept in her robes. This was the first time he had seen breasts that large¡­ probably an account of being from a world different from his own. Li Yang cleared his throat. "You''re horny?" "Yes," Setsuko said. Her face was scorching red like the sun at this hour, and no amount of washing down her body did anything to assuage this relentless fact. Her body craved him. The High Priestess from earlier was attractive and made her heart pound, made her release liquids she didn''t think could dampen and soak her pants¡ªbut it was him who she needed and wanted. Setsuko turned to him at last and blushed. "I want you." Li Yang reached a hand out and clasped her cheek. She immediately leaned into his hand, closing her eyes and relishing his touch. Almost desperate. This responsiveness was immense and triggered something within him. His finger trailed down to her chin, and she moved closer to him. Li Yang kissed her then and there, his lips meeting her plump ones. It quickly descended to a tongue-kiss, her lips eagerly parting open to let him gain access into her mouth. Setsuko''s arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him closer to her. The pleasure ricocheting from just the kiss was enough to send her mind reeling. A rekindled wetness formed in between her legs despite the bath, to which she earnestly tried to rub down on her own. Squeezing and rubbing her legs together. Until he carefully placed her body on the soft mattress and then hovered above her. His knees were sinking on either side of her hips as he resumed their kiss, while his hand seized her breast from above her robes and gave it a rough squeeze. "In, in¡ª" those words already left her lips without a care, even as they kissed. She wanted his hands directly on her body. It felt so much better that way. The man listened to her request and slipped his hand into her robes, quickly pulling the sleeves aside until she lay bare and naked in front of him. He gained access to her perfectly shaped mounds and grabbed at both of them. His thumbs rubbed at her nipples, tweaking them as he squeezed. His act elicited a pleased moan from her, and she swiped her tongue across his lips again for another kiss. Fervently greedy and desirous of him, her own emotions and desire brought his body to respond as well. He was already raging a hard on to which he released from the confinements of his undergarments and robes. His cock sprang up readily, and he then rubbed its head across the valley of her breasts. His fingers squeezed and pressed her two nipples together, squeezing her breasts to form into a nice cave for him to nestle into. His eyes met hers. A trail of saliva was glistening on her lips. Unadulterated pleasure evident on her face as she watched him do his business. Her breasts were soft and still silky smooth after the bath and his cock slipped right into her mounds, the sensation strange but also pleasurable. The tip of his head was quickly sucked on by her lips. Setsuko had adjusted her head to gain access to his cock. She flicked out her tongue and coaxed a bead of pre-cum out from his slit and into her lips. A groan escaped his lips. He bucked his hips forward to gain more access into her lips and wet mouth. The delicious sensation of his length covered by her breasts and with the head eagerly sucked and played on by her tongue was rewarding. He could almost see himself coming into her mouth, shooting a stream of ejaculation down her throat, and he quickened his pace for it. Both the idea and act egged him on. The man pumped his cock along her breasts and her lips for his climax. Pounding inside of her would no doubt feel better, but for now he rode through the sensation of her mouth on his cock until he began to cum¡ªand Setsuko eagerly drank it down. Satisfied, Li Yang slowly began to pull his cock out of her lips, but she refused to let him go. Already she played with his cock in her mouth, letting it free from her breasts and instead reaching out a hand to grip it tightly. He hissed for a moment. The sensitivity from just ejaculating made it raw. But then her hand pumped his dick, slicking it enough that her movements were pleasurable and at a pace that allowed his cock to rise up once again. Incited by her sexy movements. And then she released his cock, a soft pop sounding as she eased back and stared at his cock glistening with her saliva. She looked up at him and said, "Give it to me, please." He needed no other words than that as he wiped her lips and then slowly trailed down her body until his cock nestled in her pussy''s lips. He came across the sight of her natural fuzz and ran his fingers through it, locating her nub with his thumb and giving it a rub. She bucked her hips into him and gave him a pleading and frustrated look. Her face, neck and breasts were a beautiful red hue. "Don''t tease me anymore, do me hard. Split me open now, Yang." With his lips on her name, he complied and thrusted it inside of her. Setsuko opened her mouth, but no sound escaped her throat. This was her first time. Chapter 150: The Aftermath of Such Events ** There was no time to think back on biology as Li Yang''s cock sank into her wet, tight and hot core. She had eagerly accepted him inside of her. Pleasure pulsated along his entire length at the intensity of her twitching around him. It was something one couldn''t tire of. He pounded and drove his entire dick into her, relishing the sudden scream elicited from her lips. He snatched it away with a fervent kiss and made out with her, hands gripping tightly on her hips as he continued on, pistoning inside. There was no turnabout to this act. Heavy breathing and pants escaped her, while her chest heaved up and down. Her breasts falling and rising slightly as she did so¡ªshe was accommodating to his size, his entire length that throbbed inside of her and made her feel whole. She hadn''t thought that it would fill her up this much, and she looked at him feverishly. Lips parted open as her blue eyes gazed on him wantonly. Her tongue felt weak, electricity coursed through her spine and just seeing him made her head go crazy. This was amazing. Was it because it was him? She bucked her hips and met his pace with one of her own, driving it to the deepest part of her. She groaned and then shakily took in a breath. In addition to the already light-searing fucking he was doing to her, she could feel her core releasing an energy. Or was she just orgasming right now? She couldn''t even tell anymore, she just concentrated on the delicious pleasure coursing through her as she rode on through it. Setsuko chased after her own pleasure. It was the only one thing on her mind. This was probably akin to dual cultivation. An act of sharing one''s and meeting another''s energy as they slept with one another¡ªan intermingling that occurred during the throes of the most intimate act. Amidst the feverish haze of the pleasure, ecstasy and titillating gratification, he would also concentrate on the wave of energy spilling around them. He absorbed and took it into him, half concentrating on it as he withdrew from inside of her and then ramped up on fucking her. When he did one thing, he went all out. The man focused his entire energies into achieving his goal; the man pounded into her¡ªand after some time; he began to reach the end. She was arching and meeting his thrusts, panting and driving him to the edge. Everything cut into a white noise, searing their visions. . . . . . When Ellwyn had told Leila about what it meant to see a man''s cock¡ªshe had fled into her room and buried her face into the pillows to scream out her embarrassment. Why had Ixora told her to ask the man? Once she had finally gotten out of her embarrassment and as lunch became closer, she had sneaked into the higher chambers to apologize to both the consort and preferably the Lady who actually had the man for herself. What she didn''t expect to hear was them doing something inside of their room when she was about to knock. She placed her ear on the door and soon heard the sinful breathing and moans amongst the sound of someone pounding. A red-faced Leila continued on listening. Her curiosity quickly deepening as she tried to imagine what was happening on the other side of the room. Despite her lack of experience, it wasn''t hard to imagine the two of them wrestling in their bed. Her cheeks flushed heavily, and she placed a hand on her mouth, realizing she was deeply breathing in some air. The noisy and sloppy sounds made her feel weird. Something in her abdomen flared up with a flustering heat and a sensation scattered across her body, like an itch demanding to be scratched. This was wrong¡ªshe was eavesdropping on them. What if she got caught? She was here to apologize, wasn''t she? That was the reason why she was here, and she needed to do it. But would she actually get the chance to see his dick if she mustered up the courage to open the door? ¡ªthat was definitely wrong! She needed to get out of here right this instant, and yet her feet stayed planted in place. What would happen if she got caught listening in on them? ¡­ Would she get punished and rebuked? The sound of slamming and slapping teased her ears. A stick had already slapped once her own hands, and it was when she had failed to gather Ao properly that time and got hit by a disapproving Rei. It had stung. But why was the thought of it now sent her body into a flight of tingles and sparks? If she got caught now, even if it wasn''t these newcomers them¡ª "What do you think you''re doing here, Leila?" Lightning seared across her spine as she quickly spun to see Rei just in the room next to the one she had been eavesdropping on. Her face was still probably red as she waved her hands and said, "I wanted to apologize for my uncouth behavior earlier." "And you decided to do that by trespassing into the quarters far above your level." Rei''s lips curled into an amused smile. Golden eyes stared down at her, somewhat resigned, but also knowingly. Leila squeaked and bowed in front of her. "Please don''t report me to Mitsuko and others¡ªI really just wanted to apologize privately." Rei sighed. "I know, I know. But it''s still disallowed for you to step in here, no matter the good intentions. If Kei was around, you would have been immediately reprimanded." "I know¡­" "We will be having lunch, so come with me to the dining hall. Leave these two idiots be to their engagement." Rei would walk down the hallway, forcing her to follow. And yet Leila had a thought on her head. If Rei was aware of what was happening in the room right next to hers¡­ why hadn''t she done anything to stop it? Was she also intrigued like she was? That thought alone made her more curious about the situation happening. More than that, she still wanted to apologize to the both of them. Especially because of the lingering thought that still stayed on her mind. Whether it had been a prank or not, Ixora telling her to approach the man had made her too curious. "I really want to see it." "What did you say, Leila?" "Oh, nothing important, Rei!" . . . Li Yang pulled out from inside of Setsuko and wiped the sheen on her forehead. And he proceeded to stand up¡ªuntil she reached out and grabbed his hand. "Where do you think you''re going, Yang?" Despite them just finishing, her strength was obvious along with the afterglow on her face. "I''ll be taking a shower like you did, unless you want me to go out smelling and looking like this?" She pursed her lips and eyed him before she let go. "I guess it won''t be fun resting myself against a sweaty bare chest." "Precisely." Li Yang rubbed the back of his neck and turned to the bathroom. Using a bathroom in a new world was no doubt intuitive enough. But before he stepped inside, he gave her a look. "Are you alright now?" "Huh?" "Are you no longer horny?" he asked. Her face heated at his words, and she hugged a pillow to her chest. "I guess¡­ but just for now. Will you help me out some more in dealing with this situation of mine?" "Of course." "Thank you¡­ although this is your fault." She huffed at him, raising the pillow as if to throw at him, but eventually let it drop. "So maybe I should take back my gratitude." Li Yang raised a brow. "Well... it only becomes more natural that I help you deal with it if I was in the wrong. Don''t worry about it, I''ll take responsibility." Somehow, his words were enough to make her blush even harder. Setsuko knew it was a stupid thing to get flustered over for. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Smut quota fulfilled xD Wait 20 chapters again for the next one¡ªkidding! Well, I certainly did not have this planned out, nor do I know when it comes out. It all depends on waiting for the perfect timing. The pace and plot is a bit slowed because of this particular plot¡­ but hopefully it was a rewarding one! Chapter 151: The Only Man In The Temple (1) Everyone''s eyes were on him. Well, not everyone-everyone¡ªbut a good majority of the women in the temple were sneaking some discreet looks at Li Yang. Lunchtime was in session, and here was the newcomer who had sat all by herself and with her consort. Women were more inclined to attribute thoughts and suppositions for such events as this. "Why isn''t she talking to anyone?" "Did you notice the chambers that she received even though she only arrived today?" "I thought no one could have a partner." Quiet conversation happened all around them, and it was something both Li Yang and Setsuko ignored, even if they were close enough to hear of it. The man quietly picked up a slice of seared meat with chopsticks and then put it into his mouth. The soft taste of something similar to chicken melted into his mouth, but held a richer flavor. He soon ate some rice and enjoyed the meal set out for him. While some stares of women were too much, he had already gotten used to the idea of being the center of attention. It happened in certain event functions he had already attended before, and he only wished they approached him if any of them had something to say. But it was plain curiosity piqued. "Open your mouth, Yang," Setsuko held up some food to him. Her blue eyes bore on his face, focused entirely on him and none other of the women. He raised a brow, but did so and was personally fed by his bonded partner. "What''s this for?" Li Yang did not peg her to be the woman who enjoyed public displays like it, but it wasn''t for him to complain about. He had no troubles with such things unless someone were to scold them for it. If anything else, this was a little too indulging. Setsuko averted her gaze and put some food into her mouth. "Do you not like it?" she asked a little cross. Didn''t men enjoy it when a woman was soft and kind to them? Most of the people in the Kin Hunters didn''t exactly enjoy the fact that most women were in charge and preferred to not deal with them if possible. "It''s surprising, but not undesirable." "Good." Setsuko Hirayama smiled briefly and continued to feed him now and then. She made it clear that she could not care even one bit on the opinions of all these virgins around her¡ªwhich wasn''t a bad thing to be, but if they had troubles with her, then it was better they approached her. She didn''t like how some of them gawked and eyed Li Yang either. But finally, some women walked over to them. And it was the same group that Li Yang and Setsuko met in the hallway before theirs, a young blonde woman and other Priestesses. "Good afternoon, could we join you at this table?" Li Yang glanced briefly at Setsuko and wondered how she would take it¡ªand saw her reluctant nod. The same woman who asked to see his dick immediately plopped down beside him, while the other women all took different seats on the table. They numbered four in total. "Welcome to Mashiro Temple, I''m Ellwyn, and the two of you have already met Leila." A dark-haired woman introduced herself with a calm smile and motioned to the blonde lady beside him. Leila immediately bowed her head with a squeak. Li Yang raised a brow, a bit surprised at her embarrassment until now before he looked back at Ellwyn. "And this is Mareena and Tomura." She introduced the other two women sitting on the other sides and then said, "We wanted to come here to both apologize and get to know our latest Priestess in training." Setsuko tilted her head. "I''m not really sure if I see myself as one." Her answer elicited some shared glances from the other women, to which even Li Yang understood wasn''t a good one. He cleared his throat and decided it might be alright to speak if it were this group of women who approached them. "When Lady Setsuko received the letter, it was simply to assist her in her current condition." "Oh, we didn''t know that." Ellwyn said thoughtfully. Setsuko nodded. "And from what I understand, all women in Mashiro''s Temple take a vow of celibacy, do they not?" She glanced briefly at this Leila and reminded her of this. "Huh?" A couple of giggles erupted from the group of women. Before the woman with short hair, who had been pointed out to be Tomura spoke up, "There are those who take the Ceremony of Chastity, but it''s not actually a requirement. Mashiro Temple is a sanctuary for all women." "Although most end taking part in the vow since most of us have stayed here since we were children and do not have any plans of leaving the temple to find ourselves a man." Mareena added. Leila finally spoke up with a blushing face. "There are some Priestesses who end up traveling and wandering about from village to village in order to spread the word of our Goddess, and it''s mostly them who sometimes experience spending a night with another man." "You didn''t have to explain that, Leila." Ellwyn shook her head slightly. But for Li Yang, it was actually interesting for him to learn and made him curious. However, he had no plans to ask how to find the difference between those who made the vow and those who didn''t. Some questions like it would arouse suspicion among them. And so he would leave it like that. The conversation between the Priestesses and Setsuko would be brief¡ªsomehow, it seemed like it needed some time before she warmed up to the other girls. Regardless, the Priestesses were more than happy to inquire and eat before lunch finally ended. "Are you sure that you''ll be fine, Yang?" Setsuko asked. "I''d feel more at ease if I walk you back." He raised a brow. "All I need to do is stay in the room and wait for you. I doubt that any woman here would mistake me as an intruder when everyone knows I''m staying with you." "We really should hurry now." Mareena added. "The teachers don''t take it kindly to those who are late." Tomura agreed. "He''ll be fine as he said." "He wouldn''t be punished if he was caught alone¡ªall he needs to do is explain that he''s staying in your quarters. We really should get going now." Ellwyn was the one unafraid to push Setsuko forward towards the training area. She grabbed the woman by the shoulders and started dragging her to the door with no second thoughts. Tomura and Mareena rushed along with her, whereas Leila waited a bit more until they were out of earshot. Right before he could head away, she spoke up to his surprise. "A-ah, have a good day, Yang." "Oh, to you as well¡­ Miss Leila?" Her eyes widened before she beamed at him. "I''ll see you around. Have a good day." She spun around and dashed away from him, not even realizing she greeted him twice. It was oddly cute, but Li Yang headed back to the living quarters. Which wasn''t a problem for him? He would get to see Setsuko again later, and it was a good time for him to pay full attention to discovering all the new stuff about the System. His thoughts once again drifted however to the Zone Warper, and what kind of energy did it need to work again? And even then, if it worked again¡ªwould it only be usable for him or one person only? Perhaps if he gained massive energy, it could sustain transport for over one person? Was it too early to consider something like that? Setsuko had only found her place recently, and he never mentioned taking her along¡­ but would their bond break if that happened? Several questions sprang up in his mind. Each one of them required a concrete answer, even if he hadn''t thought about them considering the recent events. He needed to get stronger here, so how many Charm Points did he have? They were just called Points this time, weren''t they? He would finally get a quick log of all activities that helped him gain points: ] Successful Encounter (Tigress Spirit) 3000 Charm Points ] World Warper Achievement 5000 Power Points ] Energy Bond (Demihuman - Fox ) 5000 Power Points ] Successful Encounter (Demihuman - Fox) 3000 Charm Points ] Second Companion (Demihuman - Fox ) 2500 Power Points ] Popularity, Charm and Intrigue Factor 1000 Charm Points [ Conversion from Charm to Power Points Complete! ] [ Current Total Points: 81,659 ] Li Yang found himself relieved to see that certain events really brought in some points¡ªeven if Taiga hadn''t been from his harem, he still earned with her as he did with Bo Lifen back then. Li Yang however simply raised his brows at the ''energy bond'' points earned because it seemed impressive at first. However, he had earned 50,000 Charm Points with Bai Minghua during his time with her. It was probably a non-Main Quest then, but it still showed that somebody could still end up tied to him regardless if they were chosen by the System? The man decided to check on the Points Shop and see if there was anything useful he could buy¡ª When Li Yang opened the door to his room, he would come across the sight of another woman on his bed. Mitsuko stared up at him, her fingers were clasped together. "I have been waiting for you." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I bet you didn''t expect her¡ªwell, you might have guessed it. But he now has two women who dropped by his room, the first one being Leila and now Mitsuko. Thank you for reading the chapter today~ I hope you enjoyed this little cliffhanger *cough* Another book on Webnovel, Hyde WorldWalker Reborn inspired World Warper Achievement! What''s your favorite Harem book? Do you only read Harem? Taking a survey xD Chapter 152: The Only Man In The Temple (2) A beautiful woman waiting for a man in his room, in his very own bed often led one to jump into a certain conclusion¡ªshe wanted to sleep with him. But this only reminded him of the movies where a husband or child would go home at dawn and end up with his wife or mother waiting for him. This was the ambiance that Mitsuko Hashimaya provided. "Have I kept you waiting for too long?" he asked. Li Yang only raised a brow at the Priestess, exhibiting an air of only mild curiosity. Mitsuko blinked, but then frowned. "Not too long¡ªbut you must understand that I am not here for silly questions. Who are you?" "I''m Li Yang." Her lips twitched in frustration. "Please do not think that you can get away with living here with nobody confronting you for your sins. For your very nature is an anomaly in this world that we live in." Li Yang blinked. Had she caught on fast to the idea that he was from another world? Not necessarily. But¡­ "I do not understand what you are referring to. What sins have I committed?" "You killed one of unblemished snow rabbits living in the sacred forest and have trespassed into our grounds¡ªbut more than that, you fooled me into thinking that someone in the temple had disobeyed our laws against harming the holy creatures when it was you all along." He wanted to contradict it¡­ but the memory of killing a rabbit did pop back in his mind. "How did you decide that it was me?" "Your aura," Mitsuko said. Her gaze hardened on him even as she motioned and gestured, a beautiful rose-quartz like energy streamed around her. "The Ao around you¡­ while it does emanate across all living creatures, only women are supposed to harness it. But you¡ªat the inn, you were the one who had awakened her powers, didn''t you? It matched the same traces of Ao left when you killed the rabbit and left." The people around here were truly fast, or maybe he had failed to clean up his tracks as cleanly as he could. Li Yang''s sword was strapped in the side of his robe, and the itch to procure it in his hands was present¡ªbut it was only if it descended into a fight. "What do you plan to do then, Priestess?" he asked. Mitsuko stood up from his bed, regally lifting her head to eye him. "What to do with you? Someone who is not meant to actually exist in this world? An unforgivable anomaly?" If it was a fight to the death¡­ Li Yang couldn''t help but think of what would happen to Setsuko. Would they consider her impure and tainted because it was him who awakened her and not some other woman? He ground his teeth for a moment, "Whatever it is¡ªleave Setsuko out of this." She tilted her head at him and smiled. "Oh, you want me to simply ignore her? Really. Unbelievable that someone in your position has time to make demands with me. You are in a bad spot, Li Yang. If I were to report this to my superiors, death can only be a hair breadth away from you. I do not think that you are also capable of defeating me." His fingers twitched over the hilt of his weapon. She did not seem to be bluffing¡ªif she was one of the trusted people of the High Priestess, then it did speak of her ability even if he had hardly seen it himself. What were his options? "Throw that sword down now." Mitsuko''s tone contained authority. Or rather, the air around him suddenly made a heavy-like pressure that held him down. It was like an invisible hand pressing him down into the very spot he was rooted in and save for him summoning a shroud of qi to cover him¡ªhe might have fallen head first into the ground or to his knees. It was powerful, surely, but not the same as when he faced Setsuko''s energy blasts. Mitsuko had no idea of how well-learned this man was and if anything, she would assume it into someone not adept like her¡­ but the sudden intensity of her Ao hammering the man down¡ªit couldn''t do anything to him. He was still standing despite her aura. A thin layer of Ao enshrouded his body in a density and finesse that was worthy to be acknowledged. He could do it better than a good number of people in the temple¡ªbut she wasn''t just anybody here. "Stand down if you want to be spared," she said. "A man who can only use Ao to enhance his physical abilities is of a lower class than mine." Mitsuko could easily win this if that was all he could do. Child''s play. Out of the seven Ao Energy types, hers was of the unique variant and she had trained for so long under the temple to be outclassed by someone she barely met. She had worked too hard for this situation to be used against her. Li Yang could feel the Ao around him becoming denser and heavier, almost visible to one''s naked eye¡ªbut she probably didn''t keep the Ao in the same intensity at where she was standing. A sudden spike of his own qi blasted around him to break through the nearest hold of her Ao and he dashed forward. She had concentrated all the Ao at his specific position, but now the man broke through her aura and pulled out his sword, he quickly held it against her neck. There was no time to be a gentleman. It was only fair to attack those who attacked him first. Mitsuko looked at him in mild surprise¡ªher concentration was needed then to make him submit. It was mildly peeving to the Priestess. "Do you think that you can simply aim a sword at me and think it''s enough to make me bend to your will?" It was a trick question. Chapter 153: The Only Man In The Temple (3) Before Li Yang could even muster a reply, she attacked him. A sudden and huge blast of Ao from the left sent the man''s back to hit against a wall. The sword finally dropped out of his hands and into the bedroom''s floor. She would no longer mess around with him. It didn''t matter if he could form Ao around him to enhance his body and his sense, she''d hold him in place with simply the amount of her energy alone¡ªnot to mention it was of a different composition than his, something she had worked hard on to discover. It was foolish of him to think he had a chance. Mitsuko eyed him. "Isn''t that better? Stay still for a moment." Setsuko''s energy back then had been unleashed like a wave that sent itself across the entire world, but the Priestess had focused the Ao around them into holding him in place. It was concentrated and that kept him back, no matter how much he tugged energy within him to fight back. Her mastery over Ao, qi, or whatever this energy was more complete than him¡ªshe overpowered and controlled it more naturally than he did. All he could do was be held in place, weaponless save for himself. In his mind''s eyes, he was already pulling up the Points Shop for anything he could purchase to get him out of this entrapment. Did he need to rise up and increase his stages in Qi Condensation, it seemed to be the case. Through sheer will alone wasn''t enough to combat someone of more experience and knowledge, his best chance was cutting through it¡ª The once few options of the Charm Shop had transformed into a much organized, but comprehensive Points Shop. ] Harem-based Items ] Personal Cultivation ] Mystery and Gift Boxes ] Special Limited Items ] Unique Skills and Masteries [ Current Total Points: 81,659 ] "What''s so interesting about the wall?" Mitsuko eyed him with some wariness. If she were in his position, he should have been grovelling already and asking for mercy. He should have stood down at a moment''s notice when she''d given him the chance. Li Yang''s gaze flickered momentarily to her. "Am I supposed to look a woman in the eye? I think it''d only cause further trouble if I did." All words spoken to buy him some time in trying to grasp what he should do. Simply increasing his Qi Condensation wouldn''t cut it, this woman was using some kind of technique. "... You may try to sound quick-witted, but such things like that do not amuse me at all. Now explain your situation and if you try to be sarcastic, you''ll regret it." Li Yang cleared his throat. "Which one in particular?" Mitsuko''s patience wore a little thinly with this man. It was like her words were simply bouncing off of his skull and not being given much second thought. It was clear that he was in a worse position than before, but he still talked as if he was unrestrained. She sighed and decided that perhaps he was just an idiot. Her gaze settled on him and she asked again, "How did you obtain your ability to use Ao? Do not try lying because I can tell." It was a fine skill to use one''s Ao to sense shifts and sudden changes in the man''s aura if he lied or not. "The Heavens blessed me." His words held a ring of truth. Was he delusional or had the Goddess truly blessed a man to receive the skills she provided to women like her? It wasn''t easy to accept, but where else would he gain the ability to do so? If this ability had been allowed by the goddess and he was the first she encountered¡ª Who was she to go against what the Goddess allowed? He wasn''t an abomination then. Not a successful attempt of evil factions to gain power through detestable means. However, their priorities might still not align with one another. "Do you have any ill-intentions with the Mashiro Temple and its individuals?" she asked. "No." "Then why are you here?" "Because Lady Setsuko¡ª" "No, give me the real reason." "I want to obtain power to protect those I wish to care for," he said. And he truly did, but for now he hoped it was enough to distract her. The Unique Skills Tab was opened. If there was anything more specific to help him out of this confinement, then it would be this¡ªnumerous numbers of pages flickered across from him. It was like he had only been looking at a catalogue before, but now he had access to an archive. [ Search Through Index ] [ Filter By: Alphabetical, Categories, Prices, Levels ] A - Attack Absolute Energy Slash Absolute Dominion Aura Ace Piloting Skills Adulterated Necrotic Hand Aeon Energy Principle Mastery Aegis of the War Afterworld Temporary Dissolution Technique Affliction of Terror Agility Mastery Page 1 out of ???? There was no time to even bother filtering right now, if things were to turn ugly. While he had hope that his words made her reconsider her decisions, he didn''t like leaving up to chance at all. [ You Have Bought¡ª ] Li Yang''s entire body turned translucent like a fading spectre of life and the shackles of a physical body dispersed at this very moment. He was gone. Mitsuko''s eyes widened at the sudden disappearance of the man¡ªuntil she felt a deathly chill run through her body. It was death, imminent death that struck her core into a gnawing sensation of the world which was to come, no, of oblivion and darkness. And then she felt the tip of something prodding her back. Immensely sharp that dug through her skin and into her backbone. The sight of even the obsidian sword had already vanished away earlier. It was now in the man''s hands. "While I admit that your technique is impressive, your mastery of Ao immense and your own internal reservoir something unattainable for others¡ªit means nothing if you cannot even hold me down, Priestess Mitsuko. Your attacks are a bit meaningless in this situation." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Chapters complete, thanks for reading! I''m supposed to say something witty, but I''m lost and off to write for my other books *cough* Hope it was a good read and still seems reasonable xD Chapter 154: The Only Man In The Temple (4) This was impossible¡ªMitsuko couldn''t fathom what exactly had happened. One moment he had been in front of her and pinned to the wall because of her Ao holding and keeping him in place. But then he bypassed it and ended up behind her? Was this some kind of Ao technique? She gritted her teeth, and quickly spun around and delivered a kick at his arm. Li Yang nearly staggered back for a moment, but held onto his sword. He swung his sword at her and she dodged. She wasn''t quitting at all just because of a Skill and bluffing didn''t work. "Your sword won''t cut me," Mitsuko said. And yet both of them had already seen it earlier and saw it happen again when her arm met the blade¡ªit cut through the layer of Ao that coated and reinforced her skin. The entire cut stung and she felt something sap out of her, weakening the energy inside of her. The Priestess quickly stepped back and then blasted him back with another wave of Ao. He was sent back into the wall and crashed into the table. He quickly stood up and lunged forward. Before she held another hand up, but no blast of energy came out from her palm. Instead, she was busy looking at him¡ªno, at the weapon in his hand. "What is that?" Mitsuko tried to pour in Ao to heal her skin, but it wasn''t working. Ao wasn''t working on the blade''s cuts? It wasn''t a terribly deep cut, but the fact that it wasn''t healing made the Priestess panic. Blood only dripped from her arm like a fountain and she looked up at him. "Stay away from me!" Li Yang frowned and then momentarily glanced at the obsidian blade. This was from another world. Clearly not from earth and neither did it belong here¡­ but its effects were staggering. An unhealing cut? Han Jing had never told him it was like that, or else the guy might have charged him more. Maybe this was his win, but he already knew that accosting the woman would lead to a pyrrhic victory. Even more so at the frightened expression on her face. Something tugged inside of him, as he reached out into the thin air and pulled out a healing potion. "Do you trust me?" Her eyes stared at him, a moment of control came to her. "Are you crazy? Of course not¡ª" "If I give you this, then stop attacking me." The Priestess''s eyes stared up at the strange bottle in his hand. It wasn''t similar to any vials she had encountered available in the Apothecaries available in the continent, the shape was non-standard and foreign. But more than that, the liquid glowed in a color that was realer than she had ever seen before in a bask of green. She frowned at him. Her blood was dripping onto the floor, even as she tore through her robes and wrapped the fabric around it. Somehow, it was bleeding and drenching the white fabric into red despite all the pressure applied to it. "How do you know I''ll keep my word? I can easily get it from you through an attack." He knew it because she had a look of terror across her face. She already couldn''t explain him and his ability to control Ao, but how much more these things? The injury she had on her person was telling enough that more cuts would lead to more grievous ones. Li Yang hadn''t expected himself. But this was already something out of this world, and it brought on strange effects on the individuals here? Would it do the same to him? All he knew was that it worked even better than the swords available here, but not many experimented into healing a beast they have already slain to notice the status effect of ''no healing'' for it to become obvious. However, she expected an answer from him and so he spoke. Their gazes met. "Because I have expectations that a woman of your standing could at least keep her word," he said. "And also because it''d be inconvenient if my entire room turned into a wasteland with all of the attacks. But if you want to continue, then tell me, even if I have offered a better option for the two of us." One of his hands held the sword, the other one held the potion. The Priestess weakly laughed. "You''re not giving much of an option." Would it be enough to run? He wouldn''t chase her down or else he''d be left to face the entire temple. But even she was worried about her own injury to think beyond more than this. He stepped towards her and took out the lid, hiding the unsureness in his action¡ªbefore he allowed a drop of the liquid to drop on her arm. "Are you serious?! You''re giving me just a drop¡ª" The sensation of something healing inside of her was incredible. She tore the fabric off her arm to see the cut close down to a thin line, until it finally disappeared and her skin became blemish free again. No scars or anything. What was this? She knew this wasn''t simply something available in Apothecaries. Some very expensive and pure beast core condensed into a liquid? Maybe it would have worked¡ªbut even the beast cores were made of Ao. So this was different. "It worked," he said. His suspicions were correct, the potion and sword might have been normal in another world, but here it was foreign and out of place. Thus things became unbalanced¡ªlike his own presence here. Mitsuko stared up at him. "You mean you weren''t certain?" "Not really, but I would have figured out something else." Li Yang had the entire Points Shop to peruse if the healing potion hadn''t worked. It could have been expensive, but not as much as gaining an enemy. "Unbelievable." The Priestess breathed. She thought he looked responsible and acted like it, but there were streaks and a touch of madness there¡­ she gritted her teeth and looked at him. "An unexplainable individual with all of these things with you." Some people really worked out the details fast and were intelligent enough to know they were of importance. But this time, Li Yang only shrugged. "I was fortunate to have them." "And you''re lucky that Priestesses do keep their oaths and vows." She narrowed her eyes at him. "But I will attack and hand you over to the High Priestess myself if you plan to do anything that goes against the temple." "That sounds fair." Mitsuko didn''t know what she had gotten herself into. But a grim expression finally schooled her features as she nodded at him. "You''re strong." "Thank you?" "You told me that you were here to get stronger, but it seems you already are." This was a nice outlook, it would have made her wary. But he only cleared his throat, "I''m still here to learn about how to master using Ao. My techniques are impressive, but it''s better to master the basics." Or he could purchase Ao Principle Mastery, which he felt might have been available. But this was a better option. She pursed her lips at him. "If I can assist you in this matter, would you allow me to study you?" Li Yang shrugged. "Setsuko has already got it covered¡­ especially because I do not know what this study entails." He did have options. "She is learning it--and I can already see that you''re already at a level higher than her current understanding. Unless she was able to master all the concepts and practices today and teach it to you, I am a better teacher." Mitsuko was offended at the suggestion of the man that Setsuko could teach him. Allowing a student to teach another person? It would be children playing with sticks on the mud. She had spoken the truth. But Li Yang still denied it in order to get a better deal. "I trust her more than you. Like I''ve already said--I am not sure if allowing you to study me is something that I want. It''s not necessarily a good idea." "I wish to learn how Ao flows around your body and if this is something that other men could obtain. Women could awaken other women, which is a little taxing for our High Priestess but could do it for other women? Men?" "Not really comfortable doing it for the latter." he said. "There are some¡­ strange effects to awakening another person." Mitsuko raised a brow. "What? The High Priestess has never spoken anything about that. It is taxing on the awakener and the reason why High Priestess Rhelea often needs to rest and entrusts responsibilities to more accomplished Priestesses like me." "I see." The High Priestess was keeping the information away from them then, and this woman was naturally blessed with Ao when she was born so had no point of reference. Would it be good to incite suspicion on their leader? He didn''t think it was the best choice. At least for now. But perhaps he could allow the woman to trust him more. The more allies, the better it was for him. Li Yang cleared his throat, "I''ll consider you if you allow me more privilege to leave this room whenever I please." "You''re pushing it, aren''t you?" "I am, but you''re not exactly disagreeing with me." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Hello there! Thank you for reading today''s chapter, uploaded a bit late. I was looking at Fiverr today and at artists and was thinking about commissioning artwork. While it''s a tad expensive for me, I''ve been able to get a cover for my other book due to Patreon support. I''m thinking of Bo Lifen because somebody loves her, and you know who you are xD However, it''s really just me wondering if any else of you would like to pitch in and give a suggestion? Or you''ll just wait for me to get more money, and I''ll choose who to commission. I''ll post the artist''s sample in the comment section. Chapter 155: Naming His Price (1) Setsuko returned to her room, she was looking forward to resting. Simply sitting still and not moving, focusing her attention to the instructor on Ao was a terrible experience when one was used to always being on the move, but she listened¡ªif only to have something to explain to Yang when she arrived in her room. "Ah, Lady Setsuko¡ª" A shorter and more feminine woman chased her down and stopped her in her tracks. For the entire life of her, she couldn''t remember who this person was. She tried to stifle the scrunched face she was making and looked at the golden-haired younger woman. "What can I do for you?" Leila hesitated, noticing the woman''s temper. "Oh, I wanted to apologize for my uncouth¡ª" "You''ve already said it, haven''t you?" Setsuko held a hand over her hip. "You don''t have to keep repeating it to me. It''s nothing, I get it. Not all of us have seen a man''s length before." Well, she had certainly a fair share when Kin Hunters sometimes took a dip in waterfalls and other bodies of water to relax. ¡­ Yang had been impressive. Leila flushed red. She had left her other friends for this, but with such a straightforward woman, her resolve was shaking. But then she didn''t even need to say anything. Setsuko was fast enough to notice the look on her face and clicked her tongue. "You''re asking permission to see him. Is that it?" Some women had the habit of exchanging men for the heck of it. A change of pace and such¡ªwhich was obviously not a practice, but she was the Lady and Yang on papers as her consort. The woman nodded. "... Ah, if that''s alright? I understand that it''s a bit shameful¡ª" "You''re only going to look at it, right?" Setsuko eyed her. Leila nodded urgently. "Yes." It wasn''t as if she was someone who could freely give permission and consent on Yang''s part, but a certain tug in her belly made her frown. If this cute young woman asked permission¡ª then he''d easily whip his dick out, right? The thought of it made her stomach scorch. An uncomfortable thought, but she could also imagine this girl''s mouth dropping and gawking¡ªwhich wasn''t exactly a terrible reaction if she thought of it. One could almost say that she was proud enough to have people looking at him and then at her envy. "Fine, follow me¡­ but if he''s not feeling it. You scam away back to your friends, alright?" Compared to Leila, who had grown in the temple all her life and was delicate as a flower, Setsuko had her rough edges that almost made her seem masculine. She never actually had any troubles with that before, except now. ¡ª- Perhaps it was luck or fate, maybe just keen awareness that made Mitsuko leave before the other two women arrived. While she had noticed that Leila, a lower-ranked Priestess was coming in their hallway, she wouldn''t allow herself to be caught dead with the man. It was a terrible look. "Fine, I''ll look into giving you more privileges of moving around¡ªat least so the two of us can train in private." Those were her words before she stepped out and then disappeared back to wherever her room was. Li Yang scratched the back of his head, but only smiled briefly. A successful agreement, although the cost of acquiring the access around the temple cost him some Points. Regardless, the Skill was worth it to him. It could even surpass the energy of the world¡ªsurely, it could even evade physical attacks. Useful. Then the door swung open, and he raised his head to see Setsuko¡­ and the lady from earlier. It hadn''t exactly been hard to remember her; she was a memorable person for asking such a bold question¡ªbut first he greeted them. "Good afternoon, Lady Setsuko, Priestess Leila." It was proper to always remember the names of people one met. "Hello there Yang¡­ I''ve, uh, brought Leila with me right now." Setsuko wasn''t sure how to bring it up. Or rather she didn''t want to bring it up, and luckily the Priestess beside her also seemed to have much more trouble in speaking up. "You weren''t lonely while I was gone, right?" He inclined his head. "I was alright, because I knew you''d be coming back." Such words were expected from him. He didn''t exactly like feigning interest, his brother easily cultivated it, while he liked to get straight to the point and it was appreciated by some¡ªcontracts and agreements could be completed in less than a couple of days because he was willing to dictate his terms. But for this situation, he spoke the truth while still trying to maintain his appearance as a doting consort? "Really? Well, that''s good I guess¡­" Setsuko looked around the room, finding a strangeness to the air around them, before she glanced back at Leila. She wanted the young woman to ask and not her. At least to test out how strong of a resolve she had. "I learned a lot today, haven''t I, Leila?" "Ah, yes. That''s true." Leila nodded quickly. "She''s a complete natural." He smiled slightly. "That is to be expected from Lady Setsuko, she''s a capable woman¡ªer, Lady. Some who I deeply admire and it is the reason why we are, I''m immensely proud." Li Yang had already known how to show appreciation, although he was laying flattery a bit heavily now¡­ but he had no idea if this other woman was coerced into coming here or something else. He gave a look at Setsuko, but it wasn''t easy to know what she was thinking. Although there was a strange flicker inside of him, as if his Ao matched or understood the emotions tormenting the woman he had awakened. Some irritation, a bit of frustration and once again another tad of sexual desire. What a strange combination, but then again, who was he to judge? A taut silence drew around them in this moment, before he finally decided to break it and asked. "Is there anything I can do for the two of you?" "Well, I came here to pick you up for dinner," Setsuko said. "I think Leila here has something to say though." The memory of her first words to him flared back in his mind and also left the young woman''s lips once again. "Can I please see your¡­ youknowwhat?" Leila''s words squeaked at the end. Li Yang raised a brow and threw a look at Setsuko. Why? Did she know? It appeared to be the case since she looked begrudgingly impressed and turned to him. "She''s never seen a man before¡ªwell, at least his private parts. Are you willing to show it to her since she asked so nicely?" A similar event, of at least a Panda asking the same thing, flashed in his mind. While he had been offended before and wanted to show his annoyance at the offer of the Heavens throwing him points to flash his body, this was¡­ a little different? It was still an odd request. Leila was a woman he had barely met and showing his entire body to her under a day was disconcerting, and also seemed improper. A Priestess was someone pure in his mind¡ªbut then again, it was this innocence of hers that made her naturally curious about his body. His lips were pressed into a thin line that Leila was afraid she''d never actually get a chance to see it, she probably should have taken a bit more time to get to know them but she had been bold enough to request before now that she wanted to get it done as fast too. "Do you have anything to offer me?" he asked. The idea of using his body to gain something beneficial was now a little amusing. He honestly wondered how he lightened up this much, but it was probably because it was his own choice. He was more considerate of the situation now. Priestess Leila licked her lips nervously. Something to offer? But it only made sense that they wouldn''t simply agree to it by mere request. Why had she been so stupid to not think this through? She thought it would be alright because Setsuko left the decision to her consort, but any other woman might have also demanded something in exchange. She averted her gaze. "I¡­ I''m not exactly sure what to offer you. I have some scrolls of previous Ao lessons to give to Lady Setsuko?" Was that enough? Her request wasn''t that hard, right? Leila only needed to see it once, and she''d be satisfied. "That seems to be something obtainable from an archive of scrolls, or a library." he pointed out. Li Yang had a feeling it would be easier to access them thanks to Mitsuko, so he couldn''t accept that. "Do you have anything in mind, Lady Setsuko?" Leila turned to the other woman in hopes of an answer. Setsuko naturally had things on her mind that she could consider now, but since it was up to Yang¡ªtheir¡­ relationship now was defined on paper and in practice but never exactly in words. She would be slightly jealous, but it was still up to him. Li Yang thought of something he read on his System and came to a conclusion. "Beast cores." "Pardon?" "Ao is all around us, a life energy that fills this world, but Mashiro Temple also acquires cores, which I assume are concentrated in Ao energy. I''d like one." It was probably too much, since Kin Hunters risked their lives to get them from dangerous beasts, but that was his price. It was up to her to decide. "I''ll let you touch it if you can get me more than one," he added with a shrug. Chapter 156: Naming His Price (2) (Mixed POV) The young Priestess who had grown up all her entire life stared at the man shell-shocked. Was he really asking for something like beast cores? Those were precious things that as a low-ranked Priestess herself could not obtain easily. Cores were often used as resources, something to help increase the attunement one had to a certain type of Ao element. What he was asking for just to see him¡­ Leila bit on her lip, "Can I make my decision later and come back again when I''m ready?" "Of course." Li Yang nodded. It was a bit of a pity that she didn''t have anything right now¡ªthe man was curious if he could use cores to help recharge his System faster. He probably had the option of asking Setsuko for help, but she was still in the learning process. The two of them watched her bow her head, apologize and then quickly head out of their room and run back to her designated hallway before she could get caught. Thump. Thump. Her footsteps thudded louded across the quiet hallway they were in. Setsuko pursed her lips. "Was that your way of turning her down? You gave her an impossible task. It''s a little bit cruel for you to let her think she had a chance." "If she wants to, then she will find a way to obtain it¡­ if not, then it is a pity. I did want to try using one myself and see if it would be helpful to me," Li Yang said. "Oh." Setsuko frowned and thought he was uninterested¡ªbut some part of him was still considering it then. "Why is it so important for you to get beast cores? Is it really just to practice with them? You have more grasp on Ao than people in my class, and I bet you''re doing better than the one teaching us." It was a compliment, but Li Yang knew how much he needed to gain even stronger. He was at the seventh stage of Qi Condensation, and then there was Foundation Establishment, Core Formation and so on, and so forth. This was always a never-ending goal to reach for the top. And his ultimate desire was to reach the Heavens for himself. "Yang?" Setsuko asked again. Quieter, and a bit more petulant. This time, she felt something strange at the pit of her belly. It was like a fire that burned within her¡ªbut it wasn''t hot. Instead, it felt like it was condensed, reduced to such a miniature size but it never meant that the fire wasn''t there. Something so hot that it became cold, shaped into something else and instead conduit into another form. It was a strange sensation that befuddled her, but it matched the serious expression on Yang''s face. She was not privy to his thoughts, the two of them weren''t at that stage yet¡­ but she could at least feel a certain extent of his emotions, couldn''t she? A surreal experience she was living, until the man himself spoke up. "I need to gather a certain amount of energy to find a way back home," he said. This was the truth and she must have already known it for a while. It was an easy conclusion to reach¡ªhe wasn''t from this world, so it was only right he came back home. His daughter, Miss He, Taiga and everyone else must have been waiting for him. At least he thought that was the case, he had no idea of what was happening there. It was almost impossible to think that the universe and time on earth would stop moving because he was somewhere else. The world didn''t revolve around him, even as the Heavens watched. But there was also a chance that time moved differently here? That would be a hopeful thing to imagine if the world was faster here, and he returned without missing a minute of anything. Li Yang wondered about it briefly, choosing to neglect and avoid the myths of men returning from distant lands and crumbling to dust once they returned to earth. "Hey, aren''t you hungry?" Setsuko grabbed his sleeve and tugged him forward. She had a frown on her face and clicked her tongue. "Let''s have dinner now. I know you just stayed here in the room all day, but training and using Ao is quite draining for me. Let''s go eat." "Ah, my apologies for being caught up in my thoughts," he said. He probably needed to tell her about Mitsuko too¡ª "Yeah, but it''s always hard to read if you''re thinking or just have that blank look on your face¡ªfor now, let''s eat." Setsuko dragged him to the dining area of Mashiro Temple. She had heard his words alright, but she didn''t want to think about it now. Didn''t want to think about it at all. . . . Naturally, Setsuko wasn''t the only one who had the man in her thoughts. Ellwynn, Tomura and Mareena caught Leila as she left the hallway and the first one grabbed her ear. "What did you think you were doing there and leaving us earlier?" "You know, just because Setsuko was placed there doesn''t mean that it would always be the case." Mareena looked into the hallway as they ushered the younger woman, almost like a little sister, away from the hallways and into their shared quarters. "Have you seen the look on Rei''s face? She looked like she would eat the woman''s heart out, that was supposed to be her old room!" "She didn''t seem that mad when I saw her," Leila protested. "Besides, I wasn''t there because¡­ well, actually..." She didn''t want to admit that she went to the room to see Setsuko''s consort''s dick. It was an embarrassing thing to admit. "Did the Lady drag you over to her room?" Tomura asked. Her brows were raised. "I know some of the higher-ranked Priestesses do like adopting a younger sister to help them around in their rooms, but it''s a little too early for that. And she isn''t even supposed to know that." A hierarchy was present in the temple, as all organizations did. But it didn''t matter much to Leila, instead, she was just a little sad about her situation. She rubbed her arm and squeezed it a bit tightly. "Well you know, dear Sisters¡ª" "Spit it out." "She wanted beast cores." Leila blurted out. "She was interested in getting some and would give me a favor if I could get them from her." This wasn''t exactly a lie because who else would the beast cores be for, right? Although Li Yang had a cold and even sullen beauty to him¡ªit was obvious that he wanted to give the best for his Lady by asking for something useful for her. Even if it meant that he could have asked for anything else. This was something that made her look at the man beyond just his body, but also a reflection of his character. "Beast cores, who did she think you are?" "Only those higher-ranked than us get the chance to obtain beast cores through passing their own tests, maybe you could give her plant ones?" Ellwyn frowned. "I mean, at least those are easier to obtain¡ªless Ao, but it is still concentrated enough." "Do you guys have any idea how much one is in the market?" Tomura rubbed her chin. Leila''s heart dropped slightly. Even though she said that she would think about it, here she was, already thinking of ways to obtain a beast core. Why did she have to be this way? Was this a test of the Goddess? The ancient scriptures had talked about how men were vile creatures who betrayed women¡ªsimilar to the story of how the Goddess'' was betrayed by her brother, but ever since the Goddess had slept, customs began to become slightly easier. "Let''s just head to dinner now," Mareena decided. Leila sighed. "I¡­ I''m not really hungry for it. Please have a good dinner to the three of you." The other Priestesses gave her a sympathetic look, but then nodded. "We''ll bring you some later if you''re up for it." They knew that Leila was a bit of a people-pleaser at heart, and it wasn''t exactly something they could help with. She crossed her arms and racked her head for ideas. Who else could she even ask for a beast core? She had no way to obtain one for herself, unless¡­ she asked Rei, herself. If she begged the higher-ranked Priestess, would she give in? Maybe if she offered to do a lot more chores, worked even harder and offered foot rubs or massages to the Priestess, she''d be more willing to give in even one core? She didn''t know her chances of luck, but if it worked--she''d be elated. However, it meant that she also couldn''t exactly tell the truth about wanting the beast core. Rei would no doubt feel betrayed if she ever figured out that Leila gave it to Setsuko. An excuse had to be made. It didn''t take her much time to find the Lady when she left her quarters and then asked, "Priestess Rei, could I ask you a favor?" "What is it this time?" Rei eyed the younger girl dourly. "... I wanted to advance my studies, and I was wondering if I could do anything to obtain a beast core from you?" Leila winced, but she had already said it. Learning about the other sex was still... studying, right? ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Lies. Lies and more lies. Not sure if it''s still accurate today, since the research was done back in 2002, but here''s the headline: ''UMass Amherst Researcher Finds Most People Lie in Everyday Conversation''... a bit of a white lie, I guess? Either way, thanks for reading today''s chapter. Chapter 157: Different Colors and Natures Dinner passed on by quickly, and unsurprisingly, the Priestesses staying in Mashiro Temple were early sleepers. There might have been candles, lanterns and even Ao-related light sources, but most of them preferred to work in the early morning at dawn than to sleep late. Some other time, Li Yang could have appreciated such discipline. Right now, he lay awake in their bed. Setsuko was close to him, not necessarily snuggling like Taiga might have done. Instead, she might have been staring up at the ceiling like him. Only the sound of soft breathing escaped the room. If he looked idly, he could see the rising and lowering of her chest. The two of them didn''t break the silence between them, whereas they might have a need for it. It was simply the first day, but somehow, it was already awkward? He couldn''t find the right word for it. "So¡­ Priestess Mitsuko will be the one teaching you and giving privilege for you to move around the temple with no need of concern," Setsuko said. This was no question, only a statement. But her voice held a hint of despondency. "Yes," he said. "It might be more useful for the both of us if I learned from one of the better and higher ranked women in the temple and gain more freedom here. It will also allow you to learn at your own pace and not worry about me." "I know." There might have only been one afternoon, but Setsuko had already learned well enough. As much as she wanted to say that she could do the teaching, she understood his desire to grow stronger. Setsuko could only hold him back. "She''s pretty close to Red Rank, if her sash is any indicator." Li Yang thought back to the incident last afternoon¡ªand recalled that Mitsuko didn''t completely have white robes. He had paid little attention to it, clothing was simply clothing, but now it made sense. One''s outfit denoted rank and prestige. More than that, he asked. "So you have learned the power system here. How does it function?" "The what?" Setsuko''s brows furrowed, but then nodded. "Ao here is life energy, but according to the innate type of Ao within you, then your natural talents will shine accordingly." "...is red the ability to use one''s energy as some sort of barrier or anything then? Or is it related to the mind?" He asked. He thought about Rhelea. The skill of the High Priestess had messed with the Priestesses around here. "The most common type of Ao is plant energy¡ªcommonly denoted by green Ao. Red is more suited for raw power manifestation, the highest one. I think the mental type of Ao is under Violet and Indigo. Needless to say, it''s similar to the rainbow." "ROYGBIV?" Li Yang offered the acronym. She only looked at him, confused, before moving on. "Green is the middle, most common¡ªrelated to plants. Yellow, Orange and Red are raw and often physical and visible manifestations of Ao, while Blue, Violet and Indigo are more akin to subtle and mental skills." "I see¡­ but it does not mean that if your Ao has a tendency for red¡ªit cannot use blue or violet?" he asked. "Mhmm, just a lot more effort since one''s Ao often takes on a certain characteristic based on your innate nature, and then you''re trying to fight that. It takes mastery and skill to be able to use one against your nature and the farther apart one''s color are, the harder it would be." "She truly is the High Priestess then." Li Yang said to himself. "Huh?" "It''s simply a hypothesis¡ªtry not to think about it. But yours falls under red, right?" He could have sworn he saw something white, but she hadn''t discussed it at all. Other than that, there was something he was curious about. "How does one determine it? Ao is often invisible to the eye as far as I am concerned." "There is a simple crystal test, but I presume it is also obvious when one produces Ao like the High Priestess asked me earlier." Setsuko explained. The CEO thought about it and thanked her. "Perhaps I''ll be able to test myself at another time." He assumed that Ao and Qi were one and the same, but there were some slight differences to it¡­ at least if he were to believe this color system. It wasn''t necessarily spiritual roots either. At least he didn''t think that having water roots meant one had blue Ao or anything like that. Was there any chance that different types of cultivators could also have their own inherent proficiency to a certain type of qi use? He thought back to his secretary. Ying Yue He''s bloodline had the great capacity to increase one''s body cultivation. "Plausible." "Are you not going to sleep yet or have you made plans with Mitsuko already?" Li Yang''s gaze pierced through the darkness as he met the blue eyes of Setsuko. The woman was facing towards him now, only separated by a small space. If he or she wanted to¡ªthe other could reach out and close the distance between them. "No, not right now. Am I making you uncomfortable by sharing this bed?" He personally preferred having an entire bed to himself out of habit, but the presence of someone else wasn''t unpleasant. "We''ve already done a lot more than just lying down here¡ªI don''t think I have much trouble just doing this with you¡­ sharing a bed and one''s warmth. " Setsuko chewed on her bottom lip. Even simply a look from him, even if she was only inches away from him, felt like an impassable cliff to pass through. Her body ached at the unbearable distance. His presence was reassuring, but somehow her body yearned and craved for more like an insatiable beast. "How about earlier, then?" he asked. "Earlier...?" He cleared his throat. "It had not exactly slid in easily...was it painful?" "No¡ªI''m fine. Just sore on the inside, but it wasn''t anything bad." Setsuko assured him. If anything, it might have been their bond that enhanced the pleasure that riveted across her body and sent her mind into searing brightness. She didn''t miss the chance to say this. "I could go for another one anytime soon." "Really?" "I could go for one right now if you''re up for it." . . . . . When morning came and the birds chirped in the early morning¡ªSetsuko slumped out of their room with nothing more but sheer will alone. The cold morning bath failed to invigorate and remove the sleepiness from her eyes. It was a great contrast to Li Yang, who only looked refreshed. She might have cursed him, but then again¡ªit was she who had offered last night. The room next door opened to show the clearly annoyed neighboring Priestess. Rei sent the two of them a terrible look, while she held a small treasure box to her chest. Unlike the still sleepy and worn out Setsuko, this Priestess kept a pristine look and walked ahead of them. This was the chance where Setsuko half-glared at him. "Why do you look fine?" "I can manage with a few hours of sleep?" He was the one who wanted to be surprised at her current condition. "Lucky bastard." Setsuko grumbled and then rested her hand on his shoulder. She used him to hold herself up, somehow, while it was fine earlier¡­ she now had wobbly knees. Doing it once or twice might have been alright, manageable. But¡ª "Good morning, Priestess Setsuko and her Consort Yang." Mitsuko trailed down from behind them. Her white robes swishing as she strode down the hallways. Her steps were soundless, but she held up an emblem in her hand. A gold emblem inscribed and engraved, red tassels decorating it. "I will provide this to your Consort so he can move around where he pleases in appropriate areas... " "Thank you," Setsuko said. A smile was plastered on her face, but it couldn''t be said to be a happy one. Whether or not the higher ranked Priestess noticed, one could only imagine as her gaze focused on Li Yang alone. She handed him the emblem. "I know a good place where you can practice using your sword. If possible¡­ I would like to experience it once again, that sharp blade being used against me." "Are you sure? It is dangerous." he raised a brow. While he might have wished to study its effects once again, using his blade against the Priestess seemed wrong. Even if he could simply dump a healing potion on her and call it fair. Mitsuko''s lips flickered into a smile. "I may have panicked at first¡ªbut I can take it. You do not have to worry about me and simply heed my orders. This is the least you can do for the favor I bestowed on you." Setsuko threw a look at the both of them. "When the two of you are speaking swords¡­" "His magnificent weapon, no doubt." Mitsuko raised a brow at her. "What else could I be referring to? Do not tell me that you haven''t seen it yet." The Priestess glanced at Li Yang. "Has she not seen it yet or know of its dangerous edge?" "She has seen my sword and also when I''ve used it before." Li Yang explained. Setsuko rubbed her face, "Excuse my rudeness and all of that, but I don''t know about you two¡ªhowever, I need to eat. Trade your weapon conversation at a later time." She seized his arm and tried to drag him forward. "Come and escort me, Yang. I want you to feed me this time." A little demanding, somewhat assertive and who did her best to get what she wanted. He didn''t exactly mind it that much, it was something he could respect. Before either of them left the hallway, Mitsuko fell in with them. The higher-ranked Priestess smiled. "Let me join you two, I could use breakfast myself." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Phew, hadn''t been able to upload yesterday due to a power outage in my city. Not to mention getting a bit worn out lol, will probably need to check in with a chiropractor soon. Thank you for the patience! Chapter 158: Through Time, Space and Reason and Chance Across the vast infinite universe of space and time, within the multitude of galaxies sharing a sight unimaginable and unfathomable to the human mind¡ªa small creature of black and white traveled through the cosmos, flickering between various states of form and existence. First a small animal trapped in its form and then changing to their natural ethereal form, like a shooting star across the black canvas, until it reverted back to its containment form. Crossing the magnitude of a distance required immense power, and thus it was relented to take back its unrestricted form even for short moments of time. Or how else would one survive? One''s own voice could not be heard through such the immeasurable void. Not many could actually survive and even thrive in that inhospitable space, no oxygen, unimaginable freezing temperature and then heat greater than thousands of supernovas¡­ but if anybody else had been watching and listening then they would hear something akin to a complaint: "Twin Galaxies Eax and Xea are out of the list, next stop is the Alpha Canis Galaxy and I''ll cross out all the inhabitable planets. Argh fucking where is that dimwitted¡ªmakes me want to kill that bitch." the one known as ''Bao'' or ''Panda'' said as they journeyed across the stars and void to find the human who had teleported elsewhere beyond their designated world. This creature, animal, er person¡ªit never stopped complaining and raising hell on the time it was spending searching for this man. Even travelling at the speed of light did not do them any sort of good. "Why did he have to accept that Update Patch! That idiot, think he could run away to another world and escape the eyes of the Observers? Bah." It continued to nitpick and grumble to itself, lonely and alone it might have been. Somewhere else in an uncertain point in the vast, perhaps in what might have been deemed as the headquarters of those working for the ones Above the Heavens, a certain Moderator Peach whistled innocently in her seat, gaze focused on her duties, until she sneezed. No one else in this place would have reacted and asked, ''Are you alright?'' and neither would have anyone said, ''Bless you''. All of the¡­ Individuals in this place stared at the screen in front of them. Only the Moderator known as Peach actually had any sort of fun and actually took advantage of the struggle. And amongst these deities and individuals partaking in the sights of the universe, some of them could even be an up and coming major player. Someone like a CEO searching for his freedom, one might suppose. ¡ª- Leila received five precious Beast Cores from Rei. Setsuko had to share a table with Mitsuko for breakfast. Rumors continued to spiral across the Mashiro Temple Sect. A certain Priestess struggled to accept the changes happening. The one caught in an endless dream began to wake up from her slumber. Li Yang held out his dark blade in front of the Priestess who inspected it with a careful look on her face. While she didn''t cut herself this time, she tried to find if it contained some variety of Ao that provided the obsidian sword with a decisive cut. She held out a small tortoise in front of him, resting in the palm of her hands and said, "Try not to kill it, but slice its shell open and see if this Vine Tortoise can regenerate itself." The man looked at it and frowned slightly. "You want me to hurt this¡­ small thing?" It sounded cruel, even for him, but then again¡­ this was what she had wanted? To test the limits of his blade on something that existed in this world and see how it reacted to foreign objects. "It can regenerate and heal itself with its Ao natural propensity for growth," Mitsuko said plainly. "But do not tell me that this bothers you when you were previously a Kin Hunter. This is your job, except the size of the creature scaled to something that can fit my hand." "I''m uninterested in displaying violence to something that does not warrant it, and while I did work¡ªthis just seems like senseless destruction, if only to study the effects of my blade." She clicked her tongue at him. "Then you''ll prefer to use that sword on me?" "I believe you have more strength to endure it." A compliment managed to make her purse her lips. Sometimes it was too easy to understand how a person''s mind worked and make them relent to something. Small requests turned to larger ones, and a compliment¡ªit was more of an expectation on the woman''s strength made it more likely for her to do it. Mitsuko placed the tortoise down the grass and then pulled back her robes, revealing soft and supple skin like a baby''s¡­ and it might have been a baby''s skin. One drop from the healing potion made flesh heal and grow new skin cells, so yes. The man lifted his blade and swung it at her¡ªjust enough to draw blood. Mitsuko held a green beast core in her hand, small and miniature, but it still did nothing to close the cut. She glared at it now. Unlike before, she was ready and prepared for this cut and while it didn''t cut to her flesh¡­ the blade was extremely sharp to draw blood. The sight of crimson falling into the grass of green made her silent and thoughtful. "I want this weapon for myself." Li Yang raised a brow. "Then you must try to take it away from me¡ªwhich is something I won''t allow." She wasn''t necessarily an ally, or at least this was based on mutual benefits and not a natural desire for each other to be in a good position. "However, I can very much leave you until you die by blood loss." She pursed her lips, and then shook her head. "Well, I won''t take it. Now for what you call as your potion¡ªif you''re willing to give me the recipe and the herbs from which you''ve made it from, then numerous Apothecaries will appreciate it." Li Yang frowned. Undeterred, the Priestess continued. "Multiple people will do so¡­ this is something similar to expensive healing items. But if you can use it for me, even sparingly, then it means that it''s not too difficult to produce. And I''m sure that the Apothecaries will give you a supply of your potion." He didn''t take her as someone who could be naive enough to think this way, but then she was still someone who grew up in a temple. Perhaps, beneath all of the fighting and power struggle, the desire to help those weaker than oneself was still ingrained in her. But he wasn''t sure if he could simply be like her. "Or I could sell a sample for a certain price and percentage of profits if the one who is in charge can turn a profit," he said. There were always enough ways to earn good money and it was by acquiring a useful but novel item or service. The same had already gone for the Divine Energizer Drink. This time around, he wished to earn more for any possible trades to be made here. While he was willing to help out his secretary, bodyguard, child and other people he had close connections with¡ªit didn''t mean that he was doing everything out of goodwill and a kindheart. He had other things on the line. ¡ª- There was only so much that a Priestess even like Mitsuko herself could provide him. She did not wish to give away Beast Cores to a man who could cultivate and use Ao¡­ he was already dangerous enough at his current state. Yes, she might have been teaching him now¡ªbut it was only to progress his advancements because she was the only one who could do this. While numerous others could do the same for Setsuko, tracking how fast her strength improved and preparing counteractions for such. And so it meant that Li Yang met with a certain young woman at the end of the day to obtain what he wanted. Setsuko as his ally and bonded partner. Mitsuko to grow in knowledge and information. Leila to get what he wanted from her. After a long morning and afternoon of training with Mitsuko, he met up with Setsuko in the privacy of their bedroom. She might have been exhausted after her lessons, but she perked up at the sight of him. "How was your day, Yang?" Setsuko looked at him from head to toe. "It was good. Informative," Li Yang answered as he plopped down into the bed to relax. "She mostly had me working on using Ao not only for physical enhancement but influencing the environment around me." He didn''t tell her that most who could cultivate qi focused on refining it in their body first, rather than using the energy available primarily for attacks. The man decided it would be too difficult to integrate the two practices for her if she had no prior understanding of Ao. Especially when her thoughts lingered elsewhere. While she could discreetly take note of the sweat that sheened on his body, Setsuko could not smell of anything close to Mitsuko sleeping with him. Which was a relief for her, no matter how much she told herself that it wouldn''t have been that bad. "I see¡­ shall we head for dinner now?" she asked. A sheepish smile was on her face. Surely no man would be capable of going for another woman if they were already doing it enough times for even her to get sore and worn out. Li Yang stood up and nodded. "Sounds good." But right before the two of them could leave the room, somebody was already waiting for them. Heedless of the danger, she had already moved into the hallway once again to meet up with him. He didn''t expect her to move this fast, but the blonde maiden stopped them from leaving. "Good evening, Miss Leila?" He raised a brow, but the item in her hand was already enough of a sign. "I¡­ I have something to give to your Consort, Lady Setsuko. I have what you want, Yang." She held up a small treasure chest in her hand with an embarrassed smile on her face. "Didn''t you say that you will be thinking about it?" Setsuko asked. She thought she had already made the woman run away in fear, or Yang did with his absurd offer¡­ but this Priestess still came running back here, items in tow. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: People were curious about the Heavens knowledge on Yang''s whereabouts, so here we are. Intergalactic space travel and all of that xD Even the ''Heavens'' have their own jurisdiction here, courtesy of the Author''s own vast Universe(s) to hold all their stories. Thank you for reading! Chapter 159: Blow Them All Away * It was a dick. What was so special about it? Setsuko had already seen her fair share due to traveling and living with Kin Hunters¡ªand while Li Yang''s might have been impressive¡ªshe didn''t stare at it like it was a gift bestowed by the goddess. Which was to say, she wasn''t kneeling in front of Li Yang and had her face up close to his dick like Leila did. The Priestess knelt down to inspect his length at a short distance between them with a mix of surprise and awe. Somehow, it wasn''t as if he was embarrassed about it after bringing it out several times already, but to have someone gawk at it was still enough to make him feel odd. What exactly had run through his mind when he accepted the offer to whip it out for beast cores? Profit and loss. Needless to say, he cleared his throat. His cock involuntarily twitched slightly to the shocked expression on the Priestess'' face. "Are you satisfied, Priestess Leila?" "Ah¡ªsorry for staring too much." her face reddened. "You paid for it, so you''re free to do as you like," he said. "You''re also free to touch it if you wish to." This was what he had promised her back then, and the opened treasure chest on his table was an indicator that she did bring more than one. "Really?" Somehow his response made something ding quietly in the background. It was as if a certain notification wasn''t being brought forth to his attention¡ªbut for now; he nodded at her. "As promised. I''m a man of my word." The Priestess hesitated, unsure and unknowledgeable about this kind of setup. But finally, Leila gathered up the courage to reach out with her forefinger and touched the head of his cock. It was a small brush, barely touching the tip, but it sent a certain electricity to fill her loins. New situations brought on an excitement. And this was especially more thrilling because she knew that she wasn''t supposed to be doing this. Forbidden. Disallowed. Naughty¡­ Sinful? Leila had received the beast cores for her to practice and master Ao more, and yet she was offering up to the man in front of her. It was definitely strange¡ª "Will that be all?" he asked. It was a fluttering and slightly teasing sensation when it was just the head of his cock being touched. Needless to say, despite the time he had already spent with Setsuko during the dawn¡­ he still felt ready for anything that might have occurred. "I can do it more?" Leila looked up at him and then at Setsuko, as if asking for permission. "You can grab it with your entire hand and pump it for me," he said. "Or take it into your mouth." "Take it into my mouth¡­?" the Priestess'' lips fell apart slightly. He nodded. Not exactly pained, but a situation like this had increased the sexual tension in the room. His gaze flickered to Setsuko, and he wondered¡ªno, he just said it. "Help Priestess Leila, if you will." It was as if a long-repressed libido was finally free to act according to his whims and desires. He had no longer the need to concentrate on studying, working, or simply being the golden child of the Li Family¡ªand that was something that unshackled him from the crevices of his own mind. Or maybe this was just a change to his own body? Influenced by the System? He didn''t need to deny it anymore, but fully acknowledging this still took him a bit of time. Perhaps far more time than his counterparts ever did. Setsuko had been waiting for these words of his. She had grown impatient of watching the young woman hesitating around his cock like a virgin¡ªeven worse than a virgin. The girl in front of her could have probably been a lamb. She strutted forward and then dropped to her knees beside the much-younger woman. "You should do it like this," her hand wrapped around the girth of his cock and enjoyed the pleasure that rolled over her body. Setsuko''s face heated, not out of shyness or anything close to embarrassment, but at the sheer relish of her hand encircling his length. A good portion of his head still poked out temptingly in front of her. Forgetting about the need for instruction, Setsuko dove right in for his cock and engulfed it inside of her mouth. She immediately felt the back of her throat prodded by the head of his dick and she choked¡ªshe herself hadn''t exactly been well-versed in experience¡ªbut then she took it in with sheer determination. With the soft and half-lidded gaze of Leila kneeling beside her, Setsuko accepted him into her mouth to the utmost of her ability. Even as tears sprang up in the corner of her eyes. He breathed sharply, taken aback by such movements, but quickly tangled his fingers in her hair. It wouldn''t be fair to think of it right now, but his memory flickered back to his first blow job with Bo Lifen''s. While she had been good at using her tongue, Setsuko took him in fully as his length pulsed around her throat. ¡­ And then Leila herself joined in. She had not been invited to do it, but Li Yang had told her to do as she pleased and so she lowered herself, squeezing herself closer to his leg and battling some room from Setsuko¡ªto lick and massage his balls with her lithe fingers. No instructions were needed. She figured it out by herself that some part of him was getting neglected, and thus the two women were already focusing on pleasuring him. Or perhaps that was only one-sided. Dinner was already long forgotten as they helped themselves to satiate their own horniness and self-gratification. He himself didn''t pay much attention¡ªhead focused on the pleasure, but a silent competition was already happening. Either way, both of their actions brought him to the edge, and he spurted his cum into Setsuko''s mouth, much to the woman''s relish and satisfaction. She leaned back and didn''t exactly speak as she kept his ejaculation in her mouth. Leila looked up, confused at the other woman''s content expression, before she took advantage of Setsuko moving out of the way and she then sucked him off. The taste of something salty, but otherwise, not unpleasant liquid met her tongue, and she gently coaxed out more from his cock to understand what she was missing on. It was an interesting flavor, really fascinating and new to her¡ªbut Setsuko looked close to passing out and reeling back in pleasure. The sight of the woman greedily gulping it down and caressing her throat as she drank it was both strange, but nonetheless, made her blood spark and hum. Li Yang poked the young woman''s forehead, "I don''t think there''s much to get now even if you keep sucking¡ªbut thank you." Her mouth had stopped sucking while she stared at Setsuko, but otherwise, it was almost relaxing. The blonde-haired Priestess pulled back gently and looked up to him, her lips darkened and wet with her saliva and probably Setsuko''s as well. "Well¡­ I''m the one who asked for this, so thank you. Even though I''m not exactly sure what I''ve learned." Her cheeks reddened as she said it. "Then do you wish to have another time spent on doing this to understand this fully?" he asked. "... Can I?" Leila''s expression perked up. Her thoughts on this activity were strange, but neither unpleasant. If anything, the dampness she felt in her robes was a signal that she needed to remove herself from this room and change her robes. "Of course, you''ve paid well for a chance to do this," he said. "I''ll make it your beast core''s fair worth. Until you''re fully satisfied, I suppose." This Priestess had an air of innocence around her, not exactly like Taiga''s playful nature, but it was still enough to make him relent to the idea. It would always be a win-win if one looked at it from his viewpoint. Leila pulled up to her feet and beamed at him. "Thank you! I''m looking forward to understanding more of the sacred practices between a man and a woman. This has been very enlightening for me." The way she put it made him raise his brows, her perception of it was strange but oddly not against his new habits and chosen activities. He cleared his throat, "I do hope that you remember to keep this occurrence a private affair, however, Priestess Leila." "Of course! It would be strange for you to cater to all the women in the temple." Leila giggled. "I don''t think you could possibly do this for all of them, right?" While possibly solvable with purchasing a good number of Divine Energizer Drinks¡ªLi Yang still shook his head. "I still have other activities that I have to do so I can''t spend a couple of months fulfilling every woman''s sexual appetite here." "Huh, what other activities?" Leila asked. Li Yang blinked and silently cursed himself at the slip of his tongue. Setsuko and Mitsuko both knew of the reasons why he was here¡ªto learn how to use Ao, and Setsuko knew he needed to return home. But this Priestess knew nothing, except only coming here to satisfy her thirst for knowledge. It was easy however to make an excuse on the spot. He straightened up and fixed his robes and explained. "I was a member of Kin Hunters like Lady Setsuko here. I still wish to train myself with the art of sword techniques even while I stay here at the temple. I must not allow myself to become dull." "Oh, right!" Leila remembered seeing a sheathed weapon when he first arrived here. She looked up to him and smiled. "I''d be interested in seeing you train and master sword techniques, Yang. Please invite me sometime, I''d like to watch you." "... I''ll place that in mind, then." "So¡­ are you not going for dinner, Priestess Leila?" "Oh, I feel full. Thank you very much for the concern." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Not much of a "plot" but I guess it''s more of a relaxing session with two women with Li Yang. As for the idea of paying attention to the balls¡­ I actually have no idea if some people are into that. I mean testicles have nerve endings so yes. Eh, just a contemplation. You don''t have to answer that, lol. Also, special thanks to jenny_Davis for the gifts! I have never seen you comment, so I can''t say much besides my appreciation. Thank you for the rest as well! Have a great day/night/afternoon! Chapter 160: Core Absorption and a Game of Hide and Seek [ Absorb the Medium Fire Beast Core Into Your Body? ] [ If Unable To Absorb, It Will Be Detrimental To Your Soul ] [ Warning: Host Is Only At Stage Seventh Qi Condensation ] He held the small beast core in his hand. It was the shade of translucent red, something spiralled within it. And it was the very flames that the System spoke of. Setsuko and Leila had left already for dinner, while he stayed here and familiarize himself with the treasures that he acquired. "If¡­ Miss Taiga had been here, then perhaps she might have been able to absorb this?" he asked himself. The man was only accompanied by himself, and there was no creature to even react or detract from his statement. This wasn''t exactly bothersome. But it was still much more comforting to speak with another individual than the System. Even while it provided an answer to his question. [ Information Gathered From Individual Taiga ] [ Spiritual Roots: Fire (100%) ] [ Effectiveness: 25% ] [ Reason: Different fires will negate one another and too much fire into an individual''s soul can be highly detrimental. Condition: Burning Soul will be implemented if allowed. ] "Huh." He muttered to himself and then decided that it was Miss Bai Minghua or Narissa who might have suited this then. But neither of them were around¡­ this was meant for him. "Absorb the fire beast core as an energy source for the World Warper?" This was what he had initially come here for. [ Denied. System only accepts Individual''s Innate Energy to fire the World Warper ] He rolled his eyes. "Then the choice is the same, I have to absorb it." But how would his own roots absorb something like this? A warning was present because he was a Seventh Stage Qi Condensation Cultivator, but it failed to account that he had also begun to learn Energy Bending. [ Spiritual Roots: Null Roots ] [ Note: The Host''s Roots Have No Affinity To Any Specific Element ] [ Noteb: Null Roots Negates All Elements To A High Extent ] [ Notec: Awakening Bloodline Can Change Current Element of Roots ] Li Yang didn''t need to look beyond the first line to understand his situation. Similar to his own lacklustre nature, his own roots contained no affinity? Perhaps it was some sort of joke. Regardless, it was all he needed to ascertain before he decided on his next step. The man closed his hand and eyes, concentrating on attuning himself with the core and absorbing its energy. Within this small jewel came a pulse from within it, beating and throbbing like a heart. He encountered the visage of something thundering and towering above his own self. A vision that quickly passed when similar to a spider''s thread, the energy weaved and spun around his hand as he absorbed it into himself and took it for his own. Not necessarily divine, but something primal flared within him. If anyone had been around to encounter it, light spilled out from his eyes. The successful ding played in the back of his mind, faint as if it was repressed¡ªbut after he summoned the screen, it became clear to him. [ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Medium Fire Beast Core Into Your Body ] [ Purity: 85% Venomous Flame-Shooting Spider] [ Condition: Incineration of the Physical Body (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] [ Condition: Embers of Soul Flame (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] It was a bittersweet moment, but he had rejected both equally and there was nothing he could do about it. Perhaps he should change his bloodline¡ªbut this kind of effect was the most desirable for him. Good or bad, nothing would touch him. For now, he looked at the next pieces of beast cores in the treasure chest. He had consumed the red beast core first, and the four other pieces were orange, yellow, and two pieces of green beast cores. Should he absorb them all right now? One after another¡ªanother screen appeared in front of him before he could grab for another one. [ Cultivate Absorbed Energy Into Innate Energy? ] Li Yang''s brows furrowed together. He thought it was automatic, but it didn''t seem to be the case¡ªwell, he could still sense the looming sensation that loomed over him and begged for release or use. Negation or not, unused energy could not stay idle. The man sat on his bed and started his meditation. It was finally time to integrate the energy for himself and not simply allow it to stay as a foreign substance that clamored inside of him. He did this for an hour or so, that he even noticed Setsuko''s return and clambered to their bed, lying on her stomach and not disturbing him. Once he was done, he glanced briefly over the sleeping figure. She had grown tired of waiting for him and slept awkwardly behind him. Shaking his head, the man made it a point to shift and move her position in sleep¡ª But her blue eyes blinked open at first contact. As if his touch was enough to rouse her from the state of sleep. Setsuko herself seemed to have forgotten to breathe at their close distance. No words were spoken immediately until she cleared her throat and asked. "Will you be leaving tonight?" "For just an hour or two." he nodded. "I''ll be back right after." Mitsuko and he already made arrangements to meet at the Sacred Forest for the privacy of training away from the eyes of their fellow Priestess. While the two of them had already met and trained in the morning and afternoon, even experimenting with his sword¡ªLi Yang needed special instructions to catch up more properly to advance Ao lessons from her. . . . "Did nobody see you?" Mitsuko''s red eyes glowed like a cat''s when she stepped out of the cover of trees. The Priestess had done away with her own white robes, instead only wearing tight shorts and a sleeveless blouse. Li Yang shook his head. "No." It was too easy to slip away with his purchased Skill, while Afterworld Temporary Dissolution Technique was a mouthful, it made moving around without anybody''s attraction simple. The Priestess inclined her head lightly, "Very well then, let''s return to our lessons¡­wait, there is a change in your aura. How did you come across a beast core?" "I gained them." She pursed her lips at him. "Fine, demonstrate to me the ability to use Ao to communicate with your surroundings. This will be a game of seeking¡ªI will hide myself in the forest and hide my presence, use Ao to find me before sunrise to avoid getting caught." "Before sunrise?" he asked. Mitsuko gave him a smile. "This forest is larger than what it appears to you and understand that is already a hint for you. Now close your eyes and count to ten¡ªI''ll be gone by then." "Ten seconds doesn''t seem fair enough for you to hide." "If you have the time to concern yourself about my hiding abilities, then learn how to use Ao not only yourself and your sword. While I admit that attuning the Ao to your weapon is an incredible amount of fine control¡ªif your range does not extend, then you''ll always be forced to stand in the forefront of battlefields." "And there is something wrong with it?" he asked. The answer was obvious, but he allowed her to explain it. Naturally, Mitsuko nodded. She raised her left arm and a sudden wave of Ao blasted from her palm and slammed into a distant tree. A palm mark was left into the tree trunk, clean and without any splinters on the wood, as if she had pressed her hand into wet clay. This time, Mitsuko''s lips pursed slightly. "I do not need to approach anyone to crush them." "And so range is better than melee." His words caught her off-guard, but then she nodded along. It would be humiliating to admit she was unfamiliar with it. "It''s more controlled and efficient to take an enemy out from a distance." Mitsuko informed him. He agreed with her from this perspective. Once he mastered using his innate energy, qi or whatever it actually was¡ªhe''d like to develop his own techniques that allowed him superior range. But first, he cleared his throat and looked at her. "You seem to be familiar with the idea of assassination. Is it amongst the duties of higher-ranked Priestesses?" "I¡­" Mitsuko''s expression was controlled. "It is something necessary¡­ but I would not like someone who trespasses into our forest to lecture me on what is appropriate or not. You should be thankful that I am spending my time with you instead of focusing my time on my personal training." He frowned slightly, but nodded. "Very well then, I''ll count to ten." This piece of information only meant he needed to be more careful¡ªif he or Setsuko gave them enough reason to warrant death, then they would descend on the two of them. While the man could find a way out for himself, he still needed to take care of Setsuko. The stakes here were higher than he expected it to be, but as promised, he closed his eyes and started this ''little'' game of hide and seek. When the man opened his eyes, she was already gone. Her movements were fast then. The man stepped inside of the forest and then suddenly felt the trees surrounding him stretch up higher than possible¡ªand only the sound of numerous critters echoed in his ears. Mashiro''s Sacred Forest existed and extended far beyond what it originally appeared to be. This was dimension manipulation. ¡ª- Author''s Note: Space magic. Man, I''d love to fit in a lot of things in small rooms¡­ and no, that wasn''t originally a lewd joke. But *ahem* It''s similar to writing a chapter and fitting in all the necessary scenes. Each word in a Webnovel needs to pack more punch than in traditional novels, huh? Chapter 161: The Twisted Forest In the depths of the night and the forest''s twisting and curving passages, the man ran across these walkways and concentrated on using his inner energy. This was the training that she intended for him for tonight, a game of hide and seek within a forest far beyond what one''s eyes could see. He needed to find the Priestess. The life energy stored within his spiritual root seeped out of his body and extended past him like a thin cloak that enveloped his surroundings. If he could compare it to anything, it would be like an invisible fog or mist which reached a distance greater than what he usually did. This was actually easy enough to do, if not slightly dependent on him having a great amount of qi to perform this feat¡ªbut then came the next step to it. It was intuitive, he got the answer immediately when Mitsuko told him to use Ao to find her. But actually concentrating on his qi in the air and reading the minute changes happening was mentally taxing. It was if he had developed a sixth or seventh sense. An unnatural occurrence that threw his brain into the loop with new flashes of information beyond his normal senses. Too many for him to consider them all. The man soon slowed down from running to concentrate. He shut his eyes and mentally traced his qi in the air as they filtered and passed through numerous objects in his immediate surroundings. It was as if he could now take note of the air around him, the wind passing by and finally there¡ªabout ten feet above him, several squirrel-like creatures were resting and unperturbed in their sleep. Hidden in the hollowed rough bark of trees, slumbering. Beyond the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste in the air and the sense of touch was the capacity to notice anything that came in contact with his qi. And with this, he didn''t even need to face an enemy to know where they were and instead could locate them with ease. This was what the lesson Mitsuko wanted him to learn. It was similar to possibly far-seeing beyond what he was capable of, or to be more accurate, the haze of qi now acted similarly to infrared vision. Something greater possibly? He focused once again on his surroundings and was granted access to the minutiae rustling of tree leaves, and even the smallest hint of a caterpillar''s cocoon underneath it. And then, it traced and processed beyond that and moved on to the deep lines and grooves within the trunk, the leylines of Ao that allowed and resonated with his own¡ªhe shook his head and held a hand across his temple, squeezing it and gritting his teeth. He ignored the searing pain that took over this moment. Simply beyond detecting energy given by living beings, it was as if he started to look deeper into it. Once he was assuaged by the migraines, he resumed with the sensing technique. The man focused on the qi that seeped out of his body, and then extended it further past the current range and then suddenly felt a tug within him, a sharp pain in his gut¡ªas if he had stretched himself too thinly. His eyes snapped open in annoyance. He clicked his tongue and clenched his fist. He needed a far larger range that would envelop the entire forest if he wished to find Mitsuko without wasting any time. No, it was the only possible way to find her. If he attempted to search for her by running around¡ªeven with the heightened physical capabilities of using his qi¡ªit was too big for him to find her exact location and expect to return at dawn back in time to meet with Setsuko. But before he could retry again and gather the available Ao in his surroundings, he would come across a concentrated spot. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before. It was a visible distortion in the air and once he allowed the remainder of his qi to meet it, it reacted to the energy he gave. It now resembled something akin to a ripple of their surroundings. His skin crawled for a moment, but his qi could not detect what lay across¡ªno, he couldn''t tell what lay within it. But he felt that he understood what it was. Within the forest already extended through spatial or dimension techniques, more pocket dimensions lay within the forest. The man reached for the hilt of his sword, bringing the weapon out as he stepped inside¡ª Li Yang was sucked into the Mashiro Forest''s portal. ¡ª- Half an hour later, the man emerged out of the portal. His sword dripped with entrails of something, green ichor. There was a large gash across his shoulder''s robes torn at the first attack, but the wound already healed due to him consuming the healing potion. He sighed inwardly. "Well, she wasn''t in there¡­ but it would have been too easy if she was close to my current whereabouts. All in all there had been some use for it." Li Yang had really gotten to talking aloud, but there was no answer. Except for what appeared in his vision. The man eyed the glittering screen in front of him. The number of points he earned from tackling all those insectoid beasts was sufficient enough to garner ''Power Points'' this time. It was an impressive amount, but he actually expended an entire bottle of healing potion and used his unique skills several times to survive it. [ You Have Accomplished A New Achievement! ] [ Rampage of a Beast - I ] Defeat a great number of enemies in a consecutive frenzy. 50/50 defeated [ You Have Earned 25,000 Power Points ] [ Next Stage At 250 enemies defeated ] This was great and all, and it was enough to face his current dilemma. The man''s ability to tap into his internal qi reservoir in order to locate her could only do so much¡ªbut now, the man finally bought upgrades once more in the shop. Specifically at the Personal Cultivation area. [ Deducting 15,000 Power¡ª ] [ Deducting 20,000 Power Po¡ª] [ Congratulations! You Have Purchased Qi Condensation Stage¡ª ] [ You Have Achieved Qi Condensation Stage Nine! ] He absorbed the available energy around him and felt the ao gather to him faster than before and he even converted it into his own at a better speed. Although reaching a higher stage made things more efficient for him in terms of gathering and sensing qi¡ªIt didn''t change the fact that he had already extinguished a great deal of energy earlier. Simply cultivating to gather qi right now when there was a possibility of more pocket dimensions for him to launch himself into and gain more points¡ªit would be safe, but too slow. Right now it was obvious that pocket dimensions were an easy ticket. However, he needed to locate them and Mitsuko. Once he made this decision, he''d find a solution. He returned to the shop once again and assessed the screen. Points Shop ] Harem-based Items ] Personal Cultivation ] Mystery and Gift Boxes ] Special Limited Items ] Unique Skills and Masteries [ Current Total Points: 51,659 ] He had used twenty-thousand points the last time for the Afterworld Temporary Dissolution Technique. But this time, instead of the Unique Skills and Masteries nor the Personal Cultivation¡ªinstead he chose the Special Limited Items. If one needed a temporary but immediate boost to actually take care of everything, anybody could have assumed that this was the proper place to look for it. And so he did find something that immediately captured his eye. AAA Boots A+ Sellar Boosting Pack Absolute Deflection Shield Acid Demonic Pill Adeptus Four Weapon Artifact of the god Azeroth [ Continue List¡­ Page 1 out ??? ] There was a problem of having too many options that might have led others to check each one out to find the perfect fit, but for now¡ªLi Yang only had his eyes on one thing. A+ Stellar Boosting Pack Gain the Chance for the A+ Moment of Your Dreams. Temporarily Increases All Personal Status Points of the Host by 50% increase for a ten minute duration. Will temporarily grant an A+ rank to a randomized status within defense, agility, strength, vitality, wisdom, intelligence and magical energy/cultivation energy. Replenishes health and energy to the max. 10,000 Power Points It was no doubt expensive, but he wouldn''t back out from the experience and the chance to earn more points. All it took was one confirmation, and without waiting for another second¡ªthe man achieved the maximum strength of a Ninth Stage Qi Condensation Cultivator and then even beyond it as he hovered close to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Li Yang concentrated on his sensing technique¡ªand watched it extend beyond his current limits. He quickly came across numerous more pocket dimensions within almost half of the entire forest. The man then moved for that spot. An unsuspecting squirrel woke up to the rattling outside of its hole, and then encountered the flash of movement that ran past it. The incredible speed blew off a great number of leaves from the tree. Chapter 162: Avatars, Bounds and Contracts Mitsuko sat in a lotus position inside one of the available minor portals in Mashiro Temple''s Sacred Forest. All around her surroundings, it resembled something akin to a clear and vivid ocean, unperturbed and untouched as she meditated. This was one of the tranquil spots hidden away from the rest of the world. It had once been filled with numerous dangerous water creatures lingering beneath its still surface, but when one''s heart was at peace¡ªthere would be nothing to attack. While the Priestess herself agreed to train and teach him in the ways of bending and moving the life energy of Ao, she also wished for him to actually work hard on it. It wasn''t everyday that one could encounter a rare and talented genius. The High Priestess might have been initially worried at the appearance of Setsuko''s raw connection to the world¡ªthe learning curve would stunt the woman in ways that prevented them from overtaking her. Power was useless without practice and perfection. ¡ªa person invaded her private ground, the man''s footsteps plunged into the water¡ªbut then Li Yang was walking on the surface of the water without any hindrances. The man quickly acclimated to the new environment as he had done with the ones he had travelled through earlier. By far, this one was the most peaceful he could see and experience. He soon briefly wondered about creatures that could do the same as him. The only one that crossed his mind was an insect, and then a lizard that could run through water. Little thoughts that amused him, until he finally caught the attention of the Priestess who had ordered him to find her. "Priestess Mitsuko I''m here," he said. His voice broke through the silence of the dome around them. Her red eyes opened in shock as she stared at the man who easily walked on water. Around him was an aura that rent through the heart and soul of the genius Priestess Mitsuko Hashimaya. It took her at least three tries to get it right, and if she had to be honest¡ªit hadn''t even been very long since she had arrived here. How did he get here so fast? When she, Rei and Lei had been tasked to find the High Priestess before, it had taken all three of them splitting up to find the location of Rhelea before dawn. Unprompted, but as if reading her mind, Li Yang inclined his head to her. "I''ve learned how to read my surroundings with my spiritual senses¡ªno, Ao senses rather." He needed to quit referring it to similarly named cultivation terms, but it was a force of habit. "Still¡­" Mitsuko stared at him dumbfounded. Li Yang glanced around them and smiled briefly, "This place is peaceful unlike those that I have visited. All of them had monsters." Mitsuko raised her gaze and met his eyes, more seriously this time. She awarded his answer with a nod. "Yes, this place is the only spot safe from¡­ wait, surely you do not mean that you have checked and defeated them all, have you?" "I checked everywhere," he said. While he may have not actually defeated everything in his way¡ªdue to him running out of time, he still managed to search at almost every spot until he found her. This amount of time was the only one acceptable to him. He wouldn''t waste another minute if there was a way to make things easier for him. Mitsuko looked at him from head to toe, her gaze lingered far too longer at the gashes on his robes. One was across his shoulder and showed off his chest, and another one was a slash on his abdomen that distracted her from the main thing she was supposed to notice. There were no wounds. But surely multiple enemies had attacked and caught him off guard! Could his ability to disappear and reappear behind her made it easy? No, even that kind of skill or ability shouldn''t have been possible to use at all times. There were Ao not categorized among the primary colors, rare and often thought of as simply myths and legends¡ªand she categorized his skill as either Black or White Ao. Still, that meant this man was beyond normal. The Priestess hesitated and stared at him. "Are you really, Li Yang?" she asked him quietly. Mitsuko wasn''t sure if this was some sort of hallucination or maybe something¡­ someone else? Surely, she must have gotten bored and started imagining this man as stronger than he ought to be? "Who else would I be?" He chuckled. Li Yang felt the remainder of the A+ Stellar Boost Pack wearing off. Only two minutes remained until the counter cooled off and he''d be forced to return to his normal state. But other than that, he was satisfied. He had managed to grasp more than simply body enhancement with qi and it was due to her insistence for him to use Ao to find her. However, the two''s thoughts were not aligned. The Priestess still tried to grasp the situation. She had fought with him earlier and his current strength now was greater than at that time. Had he really been holding back when they first fought in his bedroom? Mitsuko frowned and stood up and moved towards him. Each of her footsteps barely touched and skidded through the water''s surface. She knew she should keep her distance from this person, but her steps still brought her closer. "There is something odd. What if you are some transcendental being or avatar of the long-forsaken and banished Aseroth?" Li Yang raised a brow at the sudden conclusion. "Then you must think that I''m some god?" "A banished god returning to seek vengeance." Mitsuko raised her hand and she glared at him. Ao swirled and formed around her hand with a notorious glow of red. "Someone trying to influence and change the world to his own whims and desires¡ªso you''ve approached unawakened women and tried to use their power for your own." Li Yang tensed and kept his gaze on her. "That''s ridiculous. If that had been the case, I wouldn''t have allowed Setsuko and I to enter this temple¡ªthe reality of things are far more disappointing than your assumptions." Mitsuko''s eyes narrowed at him. "Then explain your sudden change in power¡ªsurely, if you were this powerful then there is no need for training or any of this nonsense. You''re not here to learn, but to sabotage the temple, aren''t you? It''s far easier to destroy something by doing it from the inside." Perhaps it was just the moment. Or something else that made him think of it as something indiscriminate, but Li Yang snorted at her words and shook his head. "I have no interest here, I am more interested in returning back to my home." "What?" Mitsuko stared at him, baffled at his words. "Home?" "You''re smart enough to know that simply battling this out would be useless." Li Yang''s timer was ticking down, closer and closer to his end and it was only by sheer hesitation that this woman did not attack him immediately. "We''ve already made an agreement to help one another, let us simply stick to that." "No." Li Yang clicked his tongue. If neither of them would reach an agreement, then it might turn to a fight to a death. He could escape with his skill, but then she''d simply chase him down and knew that the temple was where he''d go. "If you have no intention to harm the temple¡ªthen allow yourself to undergo a contract in order to assure one another that our agreement will not go astray. It doesn''t matter if you are a god or someone else entirely, contracts hold." "There is a contract that will reassure you this much?" He raised his brows, it seemed familiar. However, if mere words cannot form a contract here, then it meant that something else made it binding and gave the Priestess assurance. "Some might call it a dominion-subjugation contract, or a blood contract." He had heard it before, from Setsuko herself. It was a hypothesis on why the ones awakened by the High Priestess was loyal to Mashiro Temple, he just didn''t expect that the Priestess in front of him now wanted it. Li Yang already had a contract¡ªat least, a contract from the Heavens. That was already more than enough for him. He didn''t need another one. "You heard me." She eyed him. "But I assume you do not know what this type of contract is¡ªit will be a simple one made in blood. The terms will be dictated between us to ensure there are no betrayals. We will ingest one another''s blood, and there will be a punishment if either of us retracts from the contract. If you agree with me, then we can be both at peace." "How sure are you that I''d simply bow my head and agree with you?" He frowned. "Didn''t you say that you wish for a conversation rather than a battle?" Mitsuko said. Her tone was flat, but there was still a wariness within her. The man could escape, but understood that by virtue of numbers, the Mashiro Temple was greater than him. He could also choose to kill her¡ªbut he also wished to avoid it. Or was wary of her. She didn''t know, but she was willing to push through regardless. Li Yang crossed his arms. "First tell me your condition." "You will not betray and attack the Mashiro Temple and neither will you ask your awakened one, Setsuko to do it for you. You cannot use any form of intermediary to do so, say hire the Kin Hunters to cause an attack or something similar." It was actually a good one. However, the need to make an even more beneficial one lingered in his mind. "The conditions you give me should also be the same for you. No harm shall come to either me or Setsuko when it is something you are aware of and it should be something that you will stop at all costs." he said. He thought about the High Priestess Rhelea at this moment and smiled at Mitsuko. "Do you think you can do that? If neither of us are capable of fulfilling it, does it mean we both die?" If she''d agree to something like this, then it was perfect, he had no plans to attack the temple and she''d unwillingly act as a shield if there ever came a time for the High Priestess to make a move¡ªand if it was a no, then she''d back out. The two of them could forget all about this. Either one was fine for him. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Contracts! Law and order, er, wish I had the time to play Genshin Impact. "A contract to end all contracts," seems pretty cool. Anyhow, it''s just me tying in to Li Yang being someone under a heaven-bound contract. Not that he''s a Zhongli. Anyhow, I''m under a contract to write, heh. You''re under no obligation whatsoever~ Thank you for reading! Chapter 163: Sealed In Blood Within the Mashiro Temple''s Sacred Forest, a CEO and Priestess stared at one another for a moment. Both of them were not privy to each other''s thoughts, but both thought and considered one another''s future actions, depending on the state of the contract. "Do you think you can do that?" he asked. "If neither of us are capable of fulfilling it, does it mean we both die?" Mitsuko smiled. "Do you fear death?" "No, but it would inconvenience me," Li Yang said. The Priestess blinked and then stifled a chuckle. "You make it seem like you could rebirth yourself into another vessel or something close to it. My initial suspicions are only growing with how you state things." He shook his head. "And I assure you that is not the case, at least as far as I''m aware of." He could already imagine that something similar to an underworld would appear before him if he died and he might be given a task that might include defeating the King Yama or seducing a goddess trapped there or who happened to be the embodiment of death. At least that was how he considered things would go if the contract that kept him in place still ran. Mitsuko stepped closer to him and offered her hand. "Use your sword and make it quick." Li Yang frowned. "You intend to continue on with the blood contract?" "If you truly are not here to attack Mashiro Temple and the Priestesses who live here, then it is within good faith that I''ll do what I can to protect you and Setsuko to the best of my ability." Mitsuko stared at him with a calm face. "That is what a proper Priestess should do." "I see, very well then." He removed the rest of the blood from his sword and then cut her lightly. Red trailed and ebbed down from her palm, and Li Yang proceeded to do the same. He ignored the familiar desire to shield himself with qi and allowed the blade to touch his flesh. Despite the rather honourable way the Priestess interacted with him, the method of their contract still made him wary. Even more so when the Priestess allowed her blood to drop into the still waters below them and transformed the translucent sea into a crimson ocean. Had she planned all of this from the start? He came here unexpected surely, so¡ª "Likewise share yours, Yang." There had been no need for it, as a droplet of his blood already fell into the waters. The deep crimson color glimmered for a moment and then returned to its dark shade of blood. This was no longer simply water, but the very blood that was shared between them. And then she spoke¡ªchanted in ancient language far beyond his current comprehension. "Mmogni?w, bwuihi nawe. Het kmon i?yembbin." Strange words flitted through his ears, but each one of them contained power and depth far beyond his own understanding. The words rang in his ear like a certain song, hymn, spell¡ªand the blood beneath their feet churned and trembled. Mitsuko''s eyes spilled red light as she cupped the waters below them and raised it up. No, not water. He had to correct himself again; it was far too thick and viscous now to be mere water. This was the blood contract. With a silent look from Mitsuko, Li Yang did the same. He understood the context they were in right now, but only drank when the Priestess took the first sip. A moment wary. His tongue met a liquid fire that coursed through his body, not unlike, and possibly the same as, what he did to Setsuko before. Except this time, it was a mixture of their blood. And yet there was no pleasure, only the solemnity of a certain rite that streamed into him and herself. This was not simply mere dominion, but an agreement, and yet¡ª The flash of a screen in front of him made him stifle a smile at the sheer absurdity of it all. While he had expected the System to do something, inform him of his decision and the blood contract that was taking place, it reacted out of its own will. [ System Has Detected a Blood Contract¡ª ] [ Ingestion Was Done With Free Will¡ª ] [ System Proceeds With Different Protocol¡ª ] [ Protocol #1143 Is Now In Procedure¡ª ] [ Overpowering Ancient Rites and Rituals... ] There were no apparent changes in the face of the Priestess Mitsuko. Possibly, there was no external or internal sign that showed when a contract was being negated? Rather, nothing similar to it has happened at all. "Phew, it''s done." Mitsuko looked up at him¡ªand her face this time had changed. Around the side of her temple was a strange red tattoo on her face, glowing unbeknownst to her that quickly faded away in time. Li Yang didn''t say a thing. She gave him a careful look and pressed a finger in his chest. "You''ll probably feel a strange and somewhat painful thump in your heart when the contract''s binding enforces its power on you. Do it once or too many times, then your heart will stop beating. Thank you for the contract, I''m at ease." [ Congratulations! The Blood Contract''s Negative Conditions on The Host Has Been Lifted ] [ Priestess Mitsuko Is Currently Under A Blood-Binding Contract For Your Safety ] [ Special Reward: You Have Received Blood Seals 3x to Enforce Your Will ] "I see¡­" he nodded and kept his face blank. Thought about it for a second, and then smiled. "Thank you for the explanation, Priestess Mitsuko. I appreciate it." Admitting that the so-called Binding only took effect in her body and not his was definitely a one-way ticket to enraging the woman¡ªbut once again, he doubted that she''d be able to attack him without her going against the contract. She nodded at him and then motioned to the portal, letting her finger drop from his chest as she pointed at the exit. "Very well then, it''s time for us to go. We can''t have anybody be suspicious of us for being alone together." "And yet, despite it, you still chose to train me," Li Yang said once they stepped out. The real Mashiro Temple was still dark, looming and large¡ªbut it wasn''t anything as encompassing as he stared at her face. He could still faintly visualize the tattoo on her face. It had exactly been three intricate spirals that ran across the side of her forehead. "I''ve already told you¡ªas long as you do not harm the temple, then I will be at ease." she eyed him. "Whether you be a god or not, a contract is still a contract. It''s binding¡ªother than that, it''s better to have an unlikely ally than an unknown enemy. Even if your existence cannot be explained, at least you''ll be working in favor of what I deem to be correct." "It''s truly a situation where it''s us versus them situation then," Li Yang murmured. "Are there any organizations and individuals I should be wary about?" "The Damask Insurgencies." "Revolting against the current system then," Li Yang said thoughtfully. It wasn''t hard to put two and two together since the Priestess initially assumed he and Setsuko were aligned there. He had no encounters with them, so he couldn''t say whether one of them was correct¡­ or at least, a better suit to his current plans. "You cannot hire them or even incite them to attack us." "I understand." "And you will know it¡ªyour body will tell you." Mitsuko could have run across the forest to return to the temple, but she walked. Li Yang was unsure if he liked the idea of such contracts as this one¡ªit surely reassured both parties that they would uphold a certain agreement, but only because their life was at stake. Even the Priestess was now at ease with him for that reason. One''s actual desires no longer had any value in a contract like this one¡­ The contract upheld it. Even one''s morals were no longer needed to be just or upright if one can only ensure that the most important agreements were made in blood. It was a fascinating idea that disturbed him. He could only hope that this was mostly done in a legal and acceptable manner. And yet surely there was a loophole to this. If he had found one for himself, others must have also done it. "Priestess Mitsuko, in order to initiate a blood contract¡ªone only needs the blood of the two individuals, am I correct?" "Yes. One''s will and power can be found in the blood as well. Thus, after a spoken agreement¡ªone needs to consume the mixture of blood to bind them. It can also be done in parchment, burned and mixed with the drink." "I see." Li Yang nodded. "What would happen if you forced someone to ingest your blood and made a contract? No, not a contract¡ªwhat if you impose your will on them? Would that work?" The Priestess stopped in her tracks and threw him a bewildered look. "What did you say?" "The ability to enforce one''s will on an individual by having them consume their blood unknowingly. Has there been no instances of anything similar to it?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author Note: Spooky. Blood contracts, blood magic, blood rituals. I swear I didn''t get bit by the Vampire craze lol. Although, I admit that Noblesse is definitely an inspiration :D I probably should have better blood-related things in store for the future Vampiress (if you''ve read the auxiliary chapter) but for now, blood contract-ritual! The MC can definitely ignore the contract if he wanted to. Thanks for reading! Chapter 164: Message From A Traveler Panda: You stinkin'' CEO are you here?! The message hypothetically could have reached across the entire world and even the entire galaxy in the wildly vast space. Humans already had enough technology to communicate across the world and even distant satellites¡ªif celestial, divine and other upper realm beings couldn''t do the same, then it would have been a shame to their divinehood. But just because they could¡ªdidn''t mean there wasn''t energy spent and consumed to do so. Something couldn''t have been borne out of nothing. Well, the ones at the beginning of it all might have argued otherwise, but finally¡ªfinally! The message received its intended recipient. And that meant that the man was somewhere close within this galaxy and domain. The only problem was¡ªthe creature ended up meeting a block. A minor hindrance to following the trail as it was met with something else from the void. Something¡ªno¡ªSomeone had yawned and opened their eyes in the vast realm of the stars and halted the creature from the direction they were following. "You¡ªwhat Celestial Age are we in now? Have we finally crossed into the next cycle of life and death?" "Argh, are you not up to the news?!" Bao growled at¡­ her? Whoever this being was. Dolden eyes stared down at the cursed creature. "I have woken up from my slumber, so you Traveler must inform me of changes within the realms." . . . Ding! Li Yang had been blindfolded when he heard the message, and he quickly pulled up the cloth to the behest of the Priestess training him. While the message might have been heard by his ears or even implanted into his very brain¡ªreading was still a comfort and a pleasure. At least, he was still prone to believe what could have been put into words. Panda: You stinkin'' CEO are you here?! The man almost heard the somewhat annoyed and upset tone of the creature in the message as if it was a voice message. His lips twitched for a moment, but he let the notification drop. "Why did you stop?" Priestess Mitsuko stared at him a bit perplexed. Li Yang smiled and inclined his head. "Apologies, something came up." The Priestess gaze flickered momentarily to his robes and then back up at his face with a frown. "If you need to rest then tell me." "Would you like some water, Mister Yang?" Priestess Leila called out to him. He smiled at her, "Thank you." During the mornings, Setsuko had to attend classes and catch up on lessons in using Ao with proficiency. She worked hard at it, never letting it drop as if her life depended on it. But some other of the Priestesses were allowed to relax and not really attend the lessons¡ªas if it were optional. Everyone was free to do it at their own pace. Almost everything was voluntary. The blonde Priestess sat at the wooden porch just outside of the temple that met the clearing to the forest. Leila had a fan in her face and was enjoying the chance to see the man use his sword and practice as promised. But at the word of the man, she sprang up to her feet¡ªpoured a glass of water from the pitcher that she already had prepared and readily gave it to him. "I would like one too, Leila." Mitsuko eyed the lower-ranked Priestess. "Oh, I''m sorry! Please let me get one now." Leila rushed back to the porch and offered the Priestess some water, embarrassed at her mistakes. She should have offered them both¡ªif it had been anyone else, then she might have offended them. Priestess Mitsuko sipped the cool water and sighed inwardly. She did not have problems with the girl that Priestess Rei was fond of, but did think that this young woman could have spent her time elsewhere than ogling at the bonded partner of Setsuko. Although Mitsuko was the only one who knew that. Truth be told, except for the mere fact that he was living in the company of women and they all had the ability to manipulate the energy of the world¡­ life was quite simple here. It was far too easy to let the days pass by him and acclimate to this lifestyle. Out of the five beast cores he had received, he was down to his last two. The man thanked the Priestess and drank down the water, still mulling with his thoughts. But it did seem like his peaceful and unrestricted days were coming to an end if the Panda¡ªBao, rather, had found a way to contact him. Perhaps the creature had always been searching for him for the past weeks he had been gone, but only reached this place recently. The urge to consume the two beast cores and see if the World Warper glowed and was fit to use was apparent¡ªhe did not yearn to have any missions imposed on him. But his world and home were on earth and he couldn''t simply abandon it, could he? "Are you alright, Yang?" Mitsuko asked. He stared at the Priestess and at the sword in his hands¡ªhe had learned how to fight blind by only using Ao and his hearing. The art of the training was being capable of attacking without even using any of one''s five senses, which was intense. The man''s back was still sore from getting launched thirty trees back into the forest. It was a sheer surprise he hadn''t broken anything like bones or injured himself at all. Or if there had been any, any bruises, wounds in his abdomen or all over his body, he didn''t care about it. It was only minor and he refrained from using healing potions¡ªwell, he had actually depleted it all during the test in Mashiro Temple''s Sacred Forest. But he had already grown by a looming part due to it. And yet¡ª "I''m still not strong enough," he said. In a Universal Scale of things, that was the truth. His own System even failed to notice his spiritual roots before because of how ''lacking'' and ''pith'' it had been to a System presumably made from the Heavens. "But you''re already amazing! I don''t know how you''re able to block Sister Mitsuko''s attacks with your eyes closed!" Leila said and gestured at him aghast. Why couldn''t he see that he was wonderful? Chapter 165: Not Enough The man smiled and shook his head at the praise. "I still have a lot to learn, especially when I have to fight against enemies stronger than myself." "Fight?" Priestess Leila blinked, she tilted her head. Her large blue eyes stared up at him. "Is there any reason for you to fight? You can live your life here in peace at the temple with Miss Setsuko and the rest of us. You''re safe here with us!" Li Yang couldn''t agree with that assessment at all. And yet the young woman did not know that he had to fight something greater than even their High Priestess. His current strength was still not enough. While the man had saved himself 5000 Charm Points by no longer needing the Roots Unlockment at the Points Shop--his so-called ''low roots'' as dubbed by the System was functioning to his needs as a cultivator. It didn''t mean that he was up to fight gods. For the past few days, he had continued to purchase the Qi Condensation Stages. It was in order to increase the speed and efficiency he gathered the energy from the world and transformed it into his own, but even while he nearly reached the peak of that¡­ several stages waited for him. Still very much human¡ªmortal, in his perspective, only surpassing the strength and capabilities of a normal human on earth. Here in this world of Telriah¡ªthe people seemed to actually be stronger than those from his world. Which made sense. Their world was rich and dense in energy, that even when the women claimed that it was only they who received the blessings of the world¡ªit was actually a bit inaccurate. The System Patch really did transfer him to a place where he could develop his strength. If by any chance he secured more beast cores and warped again¡­ wouldn''t it be better to test his limits again at a more stronger world? "Ahem," Priestess Mitsuko cleared her throat. She looked at the younger Priestess. "I think you''re only saying that because you''re still at that rank. Please learn on your own instead of telling Rei that you''re visiting me for private lessons. Where are the beast cores she gave you? Have you actually used them or did you fail to absorb them properly?" Leila''s face turned red. Caught once again red-handed in her half-truths. She told Priestess Rei she was visiting Mitsuko to observe and learn from private lessons¡ªexcept she wasn''t the student. "Ahhh¡­ I''m so sorry, I think I may have failed and wasted them." Her gaze momentarily flickered to Li Yang''s, the actual recipient of the beast cores. It was their dirty little secret. She actually thought it was worth it¡­ once she visited him again. The CEO only kept his natural expression and looked her in the eye. He didn''t say a word, but it was enough to make her even redder. Unaware, or at least ignorant of how the Priestess'' mind slipped into a naughtier time. Leila looked away abashed and continued with her apologies to the higher-ranked Priestess. "I''ll study real hard, I promise!" "Then get out of here," Mitsuko eyed Leila. Li Yang watched the younger Priestess run away¡ªunbeknownst that she was internally swearing to visit him at nightfall for another lesson. Priestess Leila did not know he was using Ao, or rather was too inattentive or still unlearned enough to recognize or trace the Ao in the air which belonged to him. In the young woman''s mind¡ªhe was a Swords Master, or an amazing Sword Combatant That was another lesson he had learned from the time he had been here. Mitsuko sighed and allowed her Ao to flow out more steadily, creating a larger aura around her that tinged in pink. "I''ve chased her out, you can now use your Ao more liberally." He didn''t know her element, or rather, nature of the Ao¡ªbut it held a certain regalness that impressed him. Both controlled and yet ready to be unleashed at a moment''s notice. Li Yang glanced one last time at the empty porch and enshrouded himself in qi. Ao from an individual was recognizable. If one could read it properly¡ªthen one was capable of learning the minutiae of their opponent. When an opponent''s Ao shrouded their entire body and flared wildly, he learned it was most often someone who had a warm or hot Ao. That was where Mitsuko was placed. People whose energy were difficult to contain and were often used to attack and lash out. She had used it several times already for him to understand that she at least categorized more to this aspect. Those in the opposite spectrum of Ao nature, functioned differently. "Wear your blindfold again," she told him evenly. He raised a brow¡ªbut then did it wordlessly. The energy all around him dispersed all around him as a cloak. Fortunately, his energy was already difficult to read for those who weren''t as talented, or just observant as Mitsuko¡ªhis own spiritual roots prevented him from getting any specific nature, but it also meant his energy was rather at its base form. A strong wave of Ao hurtled into his direction like a large wave. It overpowered and consumed the cloak of Ao he had made¡ªand then he cut it down with his sword¡ªsharp and steady. The energy dispersed at his sides. But then she attacked him again¡ªseveral more blasts of concentrated Ao akin to several blows of fist. By sheer amount of Ao, he didn''t even need his own Ao to know where it was and dodge it. Instead he avoided it and tried to go around her¡ªentering into the forest. He narrowly avoided the trees behind him. The plants Ao was almost invisible at this rate, paling to the Priestess that threw hers around like fire. Mitsuko chased after him. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I''ll keep you as my dirty little secret¡ªer, ahem. Welcome back to the chapter haha. End rather. Sorry, my desire to sing is slipping lol. And so is the worldbuilding frenzy inside of me. This is the ''Cultivation'' aspect of the My CEO''s Harem Cultivation System. I probably need to include smut soon, heh. But hey, I think I''ve planned this Arc, anime style! Beginning Arc: Chapter 2 - 139. Telriah Arc: Currently ¡­ 190? (Do I shorten or lengthen?) Chapter 166: A Moment of Weakness The wind rushed in his ears as the man ran blindfolded across the entire forest, ducking and dodging through numerous branches and sometimes cutting them down with his sword. Priestess Mitsuko was right behind him, possibly allowing him to tire out before she struck him with a pummeling amount of energy. Once again, akin to a bulldozer, no¡ªa train, rather a cruise ship was sent out to him. It was an incredibly large amount of Ao that swept out in all-consuming rage. Her energy blasted through the forest, uprooting and throwing off trees as it headed towards the man. The CEO jumped. Mitsuko''s lips parted momentarily, as the man flipped into the air to dodge her attack¡ªLi Yang landed right behind her, the tip of his sword poked at her back. Or at least, would have, if the Priestess didn''t spin and kick directly at his wrist to disarm¡ªthe sword flew past him and into several trees away from them. He was now weaponless, much to the satisfaction of the Priestess. Until she looked back nearly a second late and barely grabbed the fists of the man. "Wait¡ª" He pulled back his fists, dodged back another wave of energy at point-black range by diving downward. He tackled the back of her leg, hooking back her knee and grappled her to the ground. She lost her footing. Mitsuko fell back, but the two of them wrestled into the ground. He had pinned her legs to prevent her from fighting back effectively. Even while she tried to blast him off by sheer Ao pressure alone. The fight wasn''t over for Li Yang until he finally heard her surrender. He needed to be good enough to actually at least defeat her fair and square without any weapons or using his most obvious skills. The Priestess threw a palm at his chest and trashed beneath him. He felt the powerful flow of Ao throb at him, but he managed to block it save for the layer of qi he had put up. It was as if his entire being was shaken by the pressure. Didn''t she realize that for a person of a weaker stature¡ªshe might have already killed someone else? This was a good test for his survival. And so he continued with the struggle of pinning her down and moving away from her punches. At least until she finally gave up and surrendered and then he could rest. However, it might have failed¡ªor she didn''t care that she kept enhancing her punches with Ao. It was the reason he could dodge, he read and predicted her movements by Ao. Mitsuko stared up and glared at him, despite knowing he couldn''t see it. He was on top of her and trying to grab for her wrist. The man hovering above her didn''t know how to stop¡ªshe didn''t understand it as she tried to get up, and throw the man off of her, but his legs held her down securely. He still battled her, attempting to pin her into the grass even as she tried to kick him off. She didn''t like this kind of fighting at all, without weapons and bare fisted on the ground! It was a disgraceful act she didn''t want to get involved with. "You have no honor¡ªI don''t fight this way." Until he finally reached out beyond her fists, accepted a punch in the face and grabbed the back of her robes. He held it down tight and pressed himself to her, much to the surprise of the Priestess, until he grabbed the other side of her robes with his free hand. He crossed his arms tightly, placing a heavy pressure on her throat and held her down¡ª A choking technique he once saw. "Stop!" Perhaps that was the best surrender she could muster, and so he quickly let go. Mitsuko touched her throat, even if it had been quick, it still placed a significant amount of strain on her throat. She didn''t understand the technique he had done to secure her down by her clothes and then proceed to choke her. "Take that damn blindfold off!" Without waiting for another second, Mitsuko did it herself and ripped it from him. "Is this a win for me?" he half-said, half-asked. She stared up at him¡ªand half-wondered how he managed to do it. Was this because he couldn''t even control his strength while blind, exerted more out of a need to protect himself? Did it increase the tension and coil that ran through his body? Mitsuko gritted her teeth at his words. Was winning what he only cared about? "Fine, you win. Or else you would have choked me¡­ no, you would have stopped due to the blood seal. So I guess I could have still managed¡ªno, it''s because we''re in a spar. Argh." Perhaps she should have specified some more case scenarios in their contract, but it couldn''t be changed anymore. Instead, she looked up at him aghast and upset. The man looked back down at her solemnly. "It wasn''t too painful for someone like, right, Priestess?" Being blind was truly disorienting. The Priestess averted her gaze and glanced at the rich soil and undergrowth she was lying on. This test she made for him, no, just the fact that one''s vision was taken away from a person might have made said act out in ways far beyond than usual. It was an attempt for anyone to survive and without care about anybody else. Especially without the ability to see the displeasure in her face. She knew that he was usually accommodating, kind and generous enough that Priestess Leila hovered around him like some fruit fly and he had been able to make Setsuko trust him enough to awaken her powers. But during the fight, those things had been thrown out as if there was something forcing him to move and act far more tense and springy. He acted like a viper that had been found in its nest¡ªhe naturally lashed out. Now that their fight was over, things were different. Mitsuko''s heart still rammed loudly in her chest for all it''s worth. The Ao in her body had been extended¡ªshe had actually used far too much Ao in her first attack. She didn''t hold herself back when he ran into the forest. Could that be the reason for his actions? She herself didn''t know if he might have been able to dodge it save for him jumping backwards. He surprised her. Mitsuko thought he was a little bit like her, but perhaps that was far from the case. She took in a deep breath and looked up at his face. She managed to land a good punch across his face and it seemed like his Ao flickered because a bruise formed around his jaw. Did he notice it? Right now, he only looked at her a bit worried and guilty. He probably should have accepted the loss, but then he wouldn''t have been able to truly test how far his own skills had gone on by now. Skills¡­ which were still a cheat in some way due to him purchasing something from the Charm Points Shop for a chance to win at this spar. [ Body Muscle Memory Enhancement ] [ Close Combat Knowledge ] [ Grappling Techniques ] He managed to purchase information that filled his mind, improved his ability to master lessons and taught him about the technique¡ªand while he couldn''t recall and do it all at whim. Practice still necessary, somehow, he could still think about it and understand his way around how close-combat range worked and for him to strategize his movements. What the man didn''t account for, amidst all of this battle and the aching jaw he had from Mitsuko''s punch¡ªwas for her to reach out and cup his face. It was a gentle motion, possibly expected from a Priestess who truly cared about the people residing in the temple. But not for him to receive. That was until she kneed him in the abdomen. Li Yang grunted and then narrowed his eyes at her. "I thought you didn''t like fighting dirty." It hadn''t hurt that much because she had emptied out the levels of Ao in her body and he still had his own layer of qi. Which meant it had hurt more for her, than him. She didn''t say a word or express a look of pain . "It seems we''re both even now then," The Priestess moved out from beneath him, fixed her robes and straightened up. She rubbed her face tiredly, pushing back her pink locks and then walked away from him. "Let us call it a day, Yang. I have been exhausted, but you did well." Li Yang watched her walk slowly away from him and asked. "Do you need some help then, Priestess Mitsuko? You look¡­ unwell." "I am in a better condition than you are. I am the teacher here¡ªand class is already dismissed." Mitsuko mustered up her strength and continued walking away from him. For better or worse, she was the one who had expended all of her energy and was on the verge of collapsing. And yet, if there was a moment of weakness that Mitsuko acknowledged more than the near-empty Ao circulating in her body was when she touched his face. She didn''t need to open up her heart or get involved with him unlike the two other women that already hovered around him. The Priestess needed to get away from him right now. This was only how far she was going to keep their relationship with¡ª Li Yang grabbed her in time before she collapsed on the ground. The fainted Priestess, no, the two of them had pushed themselves too far today. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: "Women are hard to fathom" vs "Women are easy to understand"... nowadays, most protagonists are seen on the former spectrum more than the latter. Japanese harem protagonists fall in the former usually. Latter are the Chinese-style harem protagonists who have women drop on their knees at his wondrous skills and understanding of women physique? I wonder if Mitsuko appears annoying, but ah, similar to Bo Lifen, some women are a little difficult xD Different women, different personalities. Do you wish to chuck out the difficult women? Maybe they''re painful to read. Thanks for reading! Chapter 167: Thoughts Underneath the Azure Sky For a man who''s only significant woman in his early childhood years was his old grandmother that favored his older brother more¡ªLi Yang''s experience with women was far and few in between. He never had to trouble himself with it before, though. What mattered back then had been his education and being a respected member of the Li Family, and so he had gotten away with a major part of his life by being polite and respectful. He did interact with women as he grew up, but they had mostly been in a professional and even distant manner. There was no love to be had or even to be lost. It usually meant he dealt with them in university student council gatherings, class and group projects, but never more than that. Well¡­ if there had been one¡ªhe tried not to think about it. The man instead concentrated on the woman asleep in his arms. He should have gone back to the temple, but the idea of carrying Priestess Mitsuko there and getting interrogated on how she passed out was something he was willing to avoid. Instead, he decided to stay here until she woke up. The man leaned back against a tree that hadn''t been uprooted earlier in the fight. He had plopped down into the grass and relaxed. Mitsuko''s head rested gently on his shoulder, and she softly and quietly breathed as she did. She was not a restless sleeper. Li Yang stared up at the magnificent blue sky ahead of him. It was so vast and rich in color that perhaps if someone had to compare the earth''s own sky; it paled ever so much. This was his current life. Moments like this one¡ªwhere he didn''t have to think and worry about the corporation, the family and the stress of always being active for a good part of his life gave him the terrible opportunity of being alone with his thoughts. Of thinking back and considering his actions. He knocked his head back against the wood and shut his eyes. While he still hated the fact that his own choice in the matter of obtaining a System was done without his will and consent¡­ he wouldn''t have even gotten a moment to breathe without it. This peaceful moment now and even with a woman resting on him as they sat underneath the shade of a tree¡ªit was only possible through it. The man slowly drifted off into his own sleep. Everything was calm. It was as if there was nothing wrong in the world. Priestess Mitsuko''s eyes fluttered open. Her mind was clear and her thoughts were clarified. She felt good and at ease, warm, but then realized the sensation of someone''s arms protectively wrapped around her waist. She raised her head slowly and found the man dozing off in a sleep. His dark hair shaded his eyes at that moment. Instead of reeling back and quickly untangling herself from this position, she¡­ she took advantage of this moment. Her entire body was nestled against the man''s own and she could feel his warmth and hear the sounds of his steady heartbeat. This was a far too intimate moment for someone like her. She wasn''t supposed to be the one experiencing this with him¡ªa romantic nap together underneath a tree? It should be Setsuko. Or if the man had wanted to, then even Leila could have been a candidate for this current position and yet she took it all for herself. And she couldn''t even help but feel fortunate in this hour. "Why?" she asked herself quietly¡ªand then held her breath. The man did not wake up yet, and it seemed like he was in a deeper sleep. His breathing was long and steady. If there was anything tarnishing his visage now, it was the bruise forming on his jaw and cheek. She had caused that. Mitsuko raised her hand and stretched out once again to cup his cheek. She rested her fingers gently on his jaw and took note of the way his jaw differed from hers¡ªlittle differences and nuances that made a man and woman different. She didn''t want to say that she liked it. But she did. Mitsuko lifted her body slightly, careful as to not wake him, until her face hovered close to his. Why was he not awake? Did she want him to be awake at this hour? Her heart thundered inside of her chest. Why would she want him awake right now when she did it¡ªthis was only to fulfill her lingering curiosity. Why were others so beholden by this man? She did not understand it, even as she leaned in for a kiss¡ª Li Yang caught her hand on his face, thinking it was some kind of mosquito he had to kill except when he opened his eyes, the Priestess Mitsuko''s lips were on him. He could have pulled back, questioning why¡ªand yet in moments like this one, his body moved on his own and reacted to her touches and action. He reached out and tangled back some of her pink hair in his fingers. This kiss was lingering, feathery and almost had a dream-like quality to it. Perhaps it was just the inexperience of the woman who kissed him as his hand lingered down behind her neck, and his hand finally crossed her jawline. Some kisses didn''t need to escalate into anything further. And yet he pulled back to trace his thumb below on her rosy lips. Mitsuko''s face was red¡ªcaught in the act¡ªbut she didn''t pull away or recoil from his touch. It was a good sign. He kissed her once again, this time flickering his tongue out to ease her own inhibitions¡ªshe seemed to need a lot more time before she opened up to him. Finally, he stopped to breathe and give her time. The two of them had kissed. Priestess Mitsuko turned away from him and didn''t exactly look him in the eye¡ªhow was she going to explain what she did? She eyed him from the corner of her eyes, and the man only eyed her back silently. Well, the man only seemed happy enough to receive her first kiss¡­ not that one could tell if he was happy based on just the expression on his face. However, since he kissed her back, then, it meant that he enjoyed it. So that was that. Nothing more to it? She thought he was going to do something more¡ªbut then he had stopped. She didn''t know if she should have been this frustrated over it. Possibly nitpicked and annoyed, but not exactly wondering for what happened next. Why was he so difficult to read? "So¡­" "So what?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Spit it out if you have something to tell me." He shrugged. "As much as it is pleasant to have you in my arms¡ªmy legs feel numb. But you can stay on my lap if you inch back a little." She realized that she really was still in his lap and made a quick move to stand up and dust her robe. "You should have said so. I have no desires to remain in your arms...and well¡ª" "Well?" The Priestess turned around and checked her robes behind her back. She sighed and shook her head. "Great, now it seems like I rolled around with you in the dirt for a great part of the day." "We did," he said, as his lips twitched in what appeared to be amusement. "Although it''s less rolling than wrestling in the grass." He didn''t even need to say more for her mind to flicker to other, less innocent thoughts. When he had grabbed the back of her robes and tried to choke her¡ªshe thought it was the way men did it in bed. But that had been simply his way of trying to make her forfeit the battle. ¡ªShe wasn''t disappointed about it. Not at all! Mitsuko stifled a scowl and stomped her foot. "I cannot go back to the temple wearing these robes." This long day had made her worn out from keeping her posture and dignified aura¡ªand it was just the two of them here. She didn''t feel the need to hold herself back. "Why not?" he asked. "Because they''ve got mud and dirt!" The Priestess huffed and shook her head. It was if he didn''t understand the significance of these robes. They were the way of showing her purity and dedication to the temple. But what could she expect from someone like him? "You can now leave me be, I''ll be going." "Where else can a Priestess go?" "There''s a river in the forest, more of a spring if I were to be honest." Mitsuko rubbed the back of her neck. "I will wash my clothes there, remove the dirt and then dry my robes." Li Yang raised a brow. "I can also head to the temple and get you a fresh change of clothes." "And have you come inside the premises of my room and sanctuary?" Mitsuko stared at him. "No sane Priestess would allow a man bonded with another woman to enter their chambers. It is a ridiculous notion. But now that it is settled¡ªI will be heading to the river. Have a nice day." Priestess Mitsuko moved away from him, taking the quickest path to find the spring. But then soon realized he followed after her. "What do you want?" "I''m retrieving my sword¡ªyou threw it away when we were sparring." So he wasn''t making any excuses to follow her around. "Oh." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: If I had to pick one word¡­ it''s "soft" for this chapter. Maybe agonizingly soft¡­ a bit different from Ying Yue He''s own daydreams in her bed. The spacing is a bit¡­ different. About *two* spaces when the limited perspective shifts from Li Yang to Mitsuko. And also a much slower pace. I wonder if this kind of thing is fine, or if it feels like a waste of time xD We also got some background *slightly* at Li Yang''s life. Thank you for reading! Chapter 168: The Way of Winning A Persons Heart "Oh," Mitsuko said and briefly glanced over at him. She looked at him from head to toe and then wrinkled her nose. "Well, you yourself look like you could get a bath. You have all of that unpleasant sweat running all over your body." He quirked a brow. "Is that an invitation for me to join you in the spring?" The man decided to be straight to the point. He didn''t want to play around with her, or rather, he didn''t want to blur the lines between her training him to be adept with using Ao and what they did. "You¡­ you can interpret however you want." Mitsuko walked ahead of him and never looked back. Her white robes were truly stained and covered with dirt in their spar earlier. "It is not up to me to decide whatever runs through your filthy mind." He quirked a brow and wordlessly followed after her¡ªif only to get his sword that had landed several feet away amongst the trees. The man stopped and picked up his sword, and saw that Mitsuko looked at him once. Possibly curious about what he had done, but then hurried away with a huff¡ªand that was pretty much just about it. Li Yang rolled his eyes and stood up. He sheathed his sword and looked back at the path for the temple. The two of them shared a kiss and while it was overall pleasant, he was unsure if he should pursue her. At least, when he compared his current relationship with Setsuko and the probability of going home all by himself. It was only a matter of time. He could feel it. And yet there was another thing. He looked at the destruction all around him¡ªthe uprooted trees cast away by Mitsuko''s Ao Wave Blast, the struggles and sparring on the grass¡­ would it be really alright for him to head back and let the Priestess handle the aftermath of her actions? If she didn''t worry about it then it was fine. Training was done and he could head back to the temple and absorb the rest of the Beast Cores he had gotten. The man returned to the temple all by himself. While he might have been able to procure the Beast Cores from the young Priestess Leila in exchange for allowing her to satisfy her curiosity about the male anatomy¡ªhe was under no illusion or delusion that if he offered it to anyone else, perhaps someone like Mitsuko¡ªhe''d receive the same treatment. Or maybe he would? If anything, this might have been heaven on earth if a man was in a good position like he was. The sight of various maidens of varying beauties were in the distance, somehow it did not seem like they were perturbed by Mitsuko''s displays of power or were too focused in their work. "Ah, it''s Setsuko''s Consort¡ªhello!" A couple of the Priestess working outside of the temple saw him. Some pulled up to their feet and gave him a wave, others only looked on from a distance and continued with their activities. A vast majority of them were actually tending to some plot of land, growing fruits, grains and root crops. It seemed like a great number of the Priestesses truly did have a tendency for green Ao. "Good afternoon, Priestesses. Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked with a smile. There was still good to be done by creating a solid and respectable reputation. So far, after interacting and helping them for a couple of times, he was well-liked enough. "Do you need help in watering your crops?" One of the Priestesses was quick to scold him. "No, we can''t expect you to work¡ªit''s our job!" "Besides, it''s pretty easy and relaxing actually." The Priestess he recognized to be one of Leila''s friend gave him a smile. It was a woman he couldn''t quite remember the same. She turned to one of the vines and concentrated in stimulating her Ao on them. A bright juicy plump tomato suddenly grew up from a vine stalk. "Would you like to try one of my freshly grown tomatoes?" Her friend elbowed her and said, "Tomato." "It''s pronounced as tomato." "Why would someone eat a raw tomato?" Another Priestess laughed and then turned to him. Unlike the other Priestesses who seemed kind and delicate, this one was actually of a different temperament. She had an alluring aura that spoke of her confidence and she leaned in towards him and batted her eyelashes. "I grew some grapes in my vineyard, if you''d like to visit them right now behind the garden." "Oh, I bet they''ll be sour, Ixora." "Please don''t talk about your tomatoes, Mareena." "Hey, let''s not squabble right now. It''s embarrassing to do it in front of him." "Speak for yourself, Tomura." Not everyone of them were exactly working extremely hard to develop their abilities in manipulating Ao. He cleared his throat and inclined his head, "I think I have to go on ahead and wash up, Priestesses. If you''ll excuse me." "Oh, we''ll see you at supper then, Li Yang!" "I better get these fruits and vegetables to the kitchen then and let Sister Ellwyn do her cooking soon. Do you have anything you wish to eat tonight, Li Yang?" The CEO paused for a moment, after looking at the freshly grown and plump tomatoes¡ªhe could go for some tomato risotto and maybe wine if the grapes in the vineyard had been prepared a long time ago. However, he wasn''t so sure if the women knew it here or had immediate access to the necessary ingredients for the complete dish? He looked at the women for a moment and rubbed his chin. "Would it be alright if I can try something in the kitchen?" A vast majority of the Priestess''s eyes widened. "You''re going to cook for us?" "Well, if it tastes alright." He shrugged, not exactly the best cook, he then eyed the crop field behind them. "But I''ll be in need of what you''ve grown, the freshest vegetables and fruits." "Not a problem!" "Sounds good to me," "Pluck as many as you need, we don''t mind~" He raised a brow, but then his lips twitched. "Very well then, I''ll take everything." ¡ª- Setsuko Hirayama never thought she''d live to see the day where she''d become like the Priestesses that she once disregarded and treated with derision. She had planned to rise up in the group of Kin Hunters and live her life actively enough in her early years. Once she had finally saved enough money, then she''d retire at a good age and then enjoy the rest of her life. And that had been with or without a man, it was completely optional. That was pretty much it. But as her attention drifted away from Priestess Rei''s lectures, she clutched her chest and thought about the warmth in her stomach and then inside of her heart. It was like she was given a new chance at life because of a man that arrived from another world. While the part about him leaving was something she avoided like the plague¡ª There was only contentment in her chest. She raised her hand and allowed the flicker of Ao to gather around it, and while she could feel it flowing around her hand, it was invisible to most of the people''s eyes. Blue Ao. It was strange since she had sworn that the High Priestess said it was red¡ªbut then she had only watched and did her best to replicate what High Priestess Rhelea had done. Setsuko glanced out at the window and at the setting sun, eager for the end of the day so she could find Yang once everything was over. "¡ªfor those who wish to rise up in ranks, or for those who want to maintain them." Priestess Lei''s voice held an edge that seemed directed at her, even while the Priestess walked around the small room. "It is best that you participate in the upcoming test for Priestesses here in the temple. While Mashiro Temple is open for all women with the ability to use Ao, it is not enough for them to be simply leeches and not contributing at all." Setsuko wasn''t imagining it. Setsuko thought it was her twin sister Rei that was the terrible one to be with, but instead, it was the quiet but extremely strict Lei. The Priestess Rei was actually quite kind to Leila¡­ that girl, who¡ªshe had shared Yang with for a night? While things happened, she didn''t seem to mind it much as she was caught in the moment. But now, she was just wondering if that had been a good idea. Her blood boiled slightly at the moment, but unlike that girl, she held a much more intimate and close-knitted bond with Li Yang. Setsuko didn''t need to feel insecure about it at all, didn''t she? But what about Mitsuko? Surely she didn''t have to worry about a woman who''s attention was solely on keeping the Mashiro Temple''s progress and growth, right? "Alright, we''ll be dismissed for today." Finally! Setsuko bolted up to her feet before anyone could. She met the gaze of the green-haired Priestess and only smiled. The woman never had any troubles by going against another person¡­ or at least didn''t care. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: "The way to a man''s heart is through his stomach?" It also works for girls too! Cooking is definitely a skill valued by both men and women. Perhaps there is a chance to live on take-out food, which may have also risen due to the events last year¡­ but, getting a home cooked meal is nice too! The plucking fruit joke may have been terrible, lol. Watch out soon for a new cover! People on Patreon have already seen it though, as thanks for helping me afford them. Thank you for reading! Chapter 169: Dinnertime Deliberation The CEO may have cheated slightly. Entirely even. He was willing to admit that much as he looked at the woman who took it in her mouth and flushed a deep shade of red. "Mhmph, It''s delicious!" Leila looked up and met his gaze with a bright and warm one. The flavors bursted in her tongue and she gave him a grin. "You''re really amazing, I envy Sister Setsuko for having you as a consort." He shrugged, "I really hadn''t done much." The man did not lie about that. Li Yang had found something useful in the Point Shop in the Harem Member section of the Shop. There was a quick and life-saving Item or rather an Item Bundle called [ Delightful Dinner Date ] which he had purchased and somehow worked with all of the ingredients he gathered and prepared those for a meal. Anything that might have related to improving his relationship with women were there, and thankfully it included something that allowed him to create a dish with multiple servings. It wasn''t too expensive, but it managed to at least make a decent amount of food for the Priestesses that joined him for dinner. The scent of mouth-watering food that wafted in the dining hall had made a great number of the women around to swallow the lurch in their throat. One wiped the drool from their cheek and the other gulped. Somehow, their rice bowl dishes seemed kind of pale and bland when compared to the colorful plating of the meal that the only man in the temple prepared. And yet, naturally, not everyone could crowd over to his table and beg for even scraps. The ones present were mostly Leila and her friends who sat with him along with others who seemed to be food enthusiasts and asked to join them for just a taste. This probably had been the first time that they tasted a unique dish akin to this one. Telriah seemed to be a world that was still predominantly focused on Eastern Asian like cuisines, or perhaps it was just the location he landed himself in. But finally, like a tug in his own stomach¡ªthe man looked right up at the door and saw a familiar face. Even while he had not actively used his senses to search for her, somehow their bond made it easy. Her gaze immediately met his. Blue eyes bore on his face and then flickered around the women he was with. She was probably surprised at the jump of numbers. "Miss Setsuko¡ªyou''re finally here. Please have a seat." Li Yang naturally saved a seat for her. While Leila may have wanted to sit beside him, the others were more willing to concede to the fact that Setsuko was his Lady. If anything, it felt like the Priestess Leila had brought more Beast Cores.He was probably wrong, surely the Priestess who sponsored Leila wouldn''t give more of the precious items without any solid progress¡ªbut he was the one who consumed them. "What seems to be happening here?" Setsuko eyed the women, but quickly plopped beside him. There was no place she''d rather be right now than at his side. She grabbed his arm and leaned on him. The woman sighed heavily and muttered a bit childishly, "I did not know how you suddenly became so popular." The CEO raised a brow at the sudden closeness she provided in front of everyone, but was quick to correct her. "It''s not me, but the food. I cooked something today." He motioned at the hefty serving of the risotto he had been craving for earlier along with other dinner dishes made by the System. "Right¡­ this?" Setsuko stared at one dish in particular made with a hefty amount of green leafy vegetables. While it didn''t smell good for her nose, it was him who had made it¡­ "I did not know you could cook." The man had never once offered to do it back when they were in the Kin Hunters. Probably because they didn''t have time for proper meals¡ªmaybe she was just thinking about this too hard. There was nothing special about him cooking and having numerous women with him as a result. Has she ever told him that she preferred meat? Not necessarily his meat, but she''d take that too. "¡ªI''m not confident in my skills, I only do decently in this aspect," Li Yang explained. He wanted to say that the most recent cooking he had done was a grilled cheese sandwich, but it was not the time and place for this kind of conversation. "But I saved some for you, if you''d like to have some?" The way her nose wrinkled did not escape his attention. Neither did the feeling that something flickered in his loins or hers¡ªand with a thoughtful look, she quickly grabbed for a bowl and quickly ate. "Thank you for the meal." She mostly scarfed it down. Unlike the rest who relished the new flavors, she mostly shoved the food into her mouth and swallowed. Possibly unlike the women in the temple, she was used to eating in a hurry to even appreciate the meal. Someone who ate to live, not necessarily living for food. "Can I have some extra serving?" One of the Priestesses asked. "Sure, is there anyone else who''d like some?" he asked. "Would it be alright if we gave some to the High Priestess?" Another asked with a bright smile." She''s sure to enjoy this!" He pursed his lips, but nodded once. "You''re free to do as you wish." There wasn''t going to be any mistakes by allowing a High Priestess to sample his dish. What could one actually do with food? Once a few of the women¡ªwho actually were primarily servants of the High Priestess¡ªleft, the table cleared up and allowed them to be at ease. Li Yang finally dug into his own bowl now that he had finished ensuring that everyone at their table had something to eat. The Priestesses around their table conversed amongst themselves, their table finally filled with sound and life for once beyond that of Li Yang or Setsuko eating. If the people around them had any thoughts as for the couple in front of them, it was something close to this: ''Oh my, the two are such an elegant couple eating in silence¡ª'' ''Consort Yang is truly a magnificent person, I think Lady Setsuko is doing amazing in her studies as well. A naturally gifted couple. I want to see his sword!'' ''I wish I had a Consort who''d cook me delicious food everyday.'' But then there were others who were predisposed to other sentiments. Some experienced a small wave of envy at the sudden woman who had walked into the temple and achieved a high position by virtue of¡ªby virtue of talent? Even someone who was gifted started at the bottom of the ranks, but Setsuko was placed up in the ranks without any question. Jealousy and envy permeated in some of their hearts. Especially more when they had realized that she had brought a man to the temple and obviously kept him to herself. He was the subject of both curiosity and desire. And then Mitsuko arrived and stepped into the dining hall. She did not wear a sopping robe fresh from the spring, but instead wore a clean and seemingly new outfit. Her long pink hair rested gently across her shoulders and looked as if she had never even broken out into a single sweat while they had fought in the afternoon. The Priestess looked around idly and located herself at a table¡ªnot at Li Yang''s but with some other higher-ranked Priestesses. She was quick to greet them respectfully and smile, taking a seat. Both of them did nothing but share a quick look, before they returned to one another''s businesses. While there were originally plans to be taught during the night, Li Yang didn''t think any of that sort would happen based on recent events. Did he regret his actions? There was a small twinge of regret and also embarrassment that panged within him, but other than that¡ªtheir experience was pleasantly quick and fleeting. It was for this moment that he somehow understood his brother''s desires to enjoy varying women. Or was this something natural for all men? He didn''t know¡ªbut he almost wanted to choke up blood at his silent admission to the fact. He never really wanted to be like him or their father. Neither had he interest in being similar to their forefathers before them. He had a child, yes. He had a System that demanded him to collect women and make them members of his harem¡ªat least with how things so far had gone. But¡­ the man refused to give it any more useless thoughts. The man looked up to find that Setsuko was engaging in light conversation with the other Priestesses. It relieved him to see something like that occur after the amount of time they''d been here. He wasn''t sure if he was always going to be beside her, and he cared enough about the woman that he wished she expanded more to just focusing on her lessons and spending the nights with him. Somehow it felt like she had regressed a little by staying here at the temple. This was the kind of improvement he was hoping for, if worse things became the worst. Later this evening, he''d finalize and finish the absorption of the rest of the Beast Cores¡ªif it worked, he''d probably attempt using the World Warper again. Most likely straight back to Earth this time. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: New cover is finally up and I settled with Setsuko as the cover girl to signify this arc! It was made by Sadi_Eve on Fiverr and hopefully it looks good. Nine-tails would make the cover stuffy, so we settled with one. Thanks for reading! (Add''tl Note made on May 31, 2021: Due to a sudden health weakness of this Author, June 2021 would be where I''ll be taking a month''s break to recuperate. ;-; I''ll see you guys around if I can. Thank you for understanding.) Chapter 170: A Twins Dismay A certain High Priestess sampled his cooking and was delighted. Mitsuko and him shared a private and fleeting moment. The young Priestess Leila was enamored with him. Setsuko Hirayama and him shared a bond that connected their emotions and senses. By all accounts, the man was accomplished and distinguished in the Mashiro Temple and had already become a favorite amongst the various Priestesses residing in the temple. However, if there was anyone... anytwo? That might have grown to despise him in the short span he had stayed¡ªlet''s start with Priestess Rei. First and foremost, the bedroom where the man had spent a great deal in doing perverted actions with Setsuko just happened to be Priestess Rei''s former chambers. Yes, she wasn''t exactly removed from the Inner Court of the Mashiro Temple. Nor was she taken out from The Higher Echelon of the Temple. One of the few chosen Priestesses that focused on helping the High Priestess in managing and taking care of the lesser Priestesses. And second of all, and what she deemed to be the most horrendous of acts¡ªbesides desecrating Rei''s former bed, was the fact that the man enticed the young Leila to those things. She did not want to judge the lady pulled by the temptations of a man, but once she had stepped inside of the room to confirm her doubts. Rei was disappointed to see the treasure chest she had given the younger Priestess for her own help, and she had given it away to the man. Setsuko rather. It wasn''t like that woman needed anymore Beast Cores. And it was through this sheer indignance and betrayal that Rei stared back at the man that walked into his room. Li Yang was alone. He understood Setsuko''s callous nature with other women, she was competitive and had a no-nonsense way in her life. It was the very same woman who had pulled him out of danger when he first arrived in this world¡ªand so he was glad that she actually stayed back with the other Priestesses to converse and chitchat. He might have enjoyed the presence of a woman, but he also liked having time alone to ponder, assess his situation and take the next steps in finding a way back home and growing stronger. What he didn''t expect was to see an intruder in their room. He recognized her instantly. The beautiful shade of green hair and eyes were close to a beautiful sheen of crystals. It was an unnatural color befitting those from another world or of another race. He thought back on Narissa briefly, otherwise known as Bai Minghua, the blue-haired Mermaid with beautiful locks and then cleared his throat. "Good evening, Priestess Rei." Rei blinked and narrowed her eyes at the man. He might have been able to recognize her and did not mistake her as her twin, but that was irrelevant. Instead she huffed and held the treasure chest in her hand. "Do you know what this is?" "Something that belongs to me?" he said. A scowl erupted on Rei''s face, "Priestess Leila may have given it to you¡ªbut these Beast Cores are useless for your Lady Setsuko. I did not expect that someone like you is whoring himself for these Beast Cores in order to give them to your Lady." Her assumption that it was for Setsuko was automatic. It was something almost natural and obvious to any Priestess. And yet the CEO sighed and rubbed his forehead at the comment. "I suppose you are correct." "Huh?" Rei blinked at him. The opponent was always startled when one started agreeing with them. It was a common diversion to put them at a state of ease or unease, depending on their type of person. What Li Yang understood was that people prefer being called right. The person who heard this became a little more willing to hear out his side of the argument. "Although, whoring seems a bit unpleasant to say¡ªbut yes, I am engaging in a transactional trade with Miss Leila in exchange for those Beast Cores. I presume that she had gotten those Beast Cores from you." Priestess Rei fumed and stared at him up and down. She frowned. "Your body is for trade? Is that how you are phrasing this so-called transaction? I did not expect you to be this..." His lips twitched temporarily. She was right, he did agree with that perspective of hers and yet he still defended his case with a bit of mirth. "If that is how you wish to put it, then fine. But I presume from your looks on me, that you''re willing to agree that this body of mine is worth the price? Or did you think I overcharged Priestess Leila?" The Priestess stared askance at him. And then she resisted the urge to throw the treasure chest at him. "You''re extremely bold and confident about your good looks aren''t you? Such arrogance. I do not understand how you and Setsuko get along, wait, like Consort and Lady¡ªthe two of you are caught up in your own little worlds." It was not a hidden fact that many other Priestesses felt inferior, and also resentful for the sudden appearance of Setsuko. But that had to be an argument for another day. "And so you did not disagree with the sentiment then." Li Yang tilted his head and gave a light smile. "The price is fair. I am sure that it is not too difficult for you to procure Beast Cores than it is to get a chance to get your hands on a fine specimen such as myself." Rei Kitagawa nearly choked at his words. Was he serious? Did someone like him truly say it with a straight-face and only nothing but a small hint of an amused smile on his face? This shamelessness of his was incredible. Now it made more sense on why someone inexperienced, young and naive like Leila could get intrigued by such a shameless and frustratingly sensual man. It was a little difficult to say it with a straight face and not to slap a hand over his face at the sheer ridiculousness of his words. But if he pretended this was a presentation to the board of directors, or even just investors to have them back a project of his¡ªthen he did it with a slight touch of humor. The Priestess Rei''s head was lowered down, that she didn''t meet his eyes. He was almost worried that he may have spoken a bit too far¡ªuntil she raised her head and glared at him. "Very well then." Li Yang raised a brow. "What?" Priestess Rei rubbed her face. "I can''t believe that I''m saying this... but if Priestess Leila continues to come here in order to meet up with you, and wants to learn more about you... males. Then humor her desires. I will compensate you for it." He blinked. "What?" "You want Beast Cores for Setsuko isn''t that right? While she may have gotten here by sheer virtue of potential, it is not enough for her to simply train and train¡ªespecially when the other Priestesses are giving her a hard time. That is why you want to procure Beast Cores to speed up the progress of her growth." He remained silent, a twinge of annoyance formed around him. Setsuko didn''t say a word to him about this and only chose to find comfort in his arms. Perhaps it was true that the women liked him, but the same couldn''t be said for Setsuko who was seen as a rival and a competitor for attention, prestige and resources. Rei Kitagawa sighed. "It is better that Leila understands what it is like to be around men from a safe person like you than it is with any other men. Some of the Priestesses have grown up here and remain unknowledgeable of the world outside of this sanctuary... I am concerned that if Leila were to go out, already the intrigued person that she is, she might seek out things like this." Li Yang raised a brow. "So you have a soft spot for Leila." Rei Kitagawa''s face heated up, whether it was through anger at being called out, embarrassment or something else¡ªshe shrugged furiously and adamantly at being called out. "As a higher-ranked Priestess, it is only fair that I look after younger ones like her that need to be taken care of more." Rei sighed and walked forwards. "Everyone of us can commit errors in our youth and learn from harsh experiences, I do not wish to shelter her from that. It is impossible to grow without possibly facing turmoil." Li Yang smiled briefly. "If you can learn from the mistakes of others without committing it yourself, then it is a much better situation. There is less grief in that, experience is the most bitter of teachers." She shoved the treasure chest into his hands and stared up at his face. Annoyed at the sheer attractiveness he held, and it being elavated because he was not as idiotic as she assumed him to be. "I agree, so if I can at least ensure that it will not be a drastic and disastrous thing for her to associate with you, then I am willing to endure it for the sake of letting her grow." "I will take good care of her." Rei did not like how their conversation had gone, it seemed like she was the one losing in this talk. "You must, or I will tell my sister to give Setsuko an even harder time." Li Yang frowned. "It does not need to go to that, but you already know that there are consequences for each act you take. We''ve already acknowledged that experience is a terrible teacher, so avoid that. Please speak more carefully, Priestess." Rei narrowed her eyes at him. But then she turned around, and walked away. "Then it''s also in your best interest to quit being so loud when you and your Lady do it in bed¡ªit''s grating to my ears and possibly those nearby." "I did not expect that you were one to listen in." "I''m in the room right next to yours so what else can you expect?!" She shouted at him red-faced, before finally leaving the man alone. She stomped back to her room angrily, but finally making a decision as to what to do with the situation with Leila and the man. The man in question stared at the treasure chest in his hands, now a bit emptier as he absorbed Beast Cores from before¡ªbut it would be filled again. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I actually had this planned and was looking for the perfect time to insert, but yes, Rei Kitagawa. Unexpected? Expected? Who knows. It''s a little hard juggling them all and giving enough screen time. Thanks for reading! Chapter 171: A Selfish Setsuko "The Mashiro Temple Sect live in harmony and unity, and while each of the women here have their own robes, essential items and even room to stay in for their privacy¡ªmost of the utilities and items available here are for everyone," Mareena said. Tomura added, quick to reassure her. "But the good performing Priestesses are also awarded for their exemplary deeds and extra effort¡ªbeast cores, special scrolls and such." "Although higher ranked Priestesses also tend to share or give them to younger Priestesses that need assistance," Leila said with a smile, it had a touch of guilt in it. "They are good people, although it''s natural to get intimidated with them." In the dining hall and at the end of it¡ªmore powerful Priestesses like Mitsuko, Kei and others were eating in silence. It was as if they had their own little world, separated from the rest of the Priestesses only donning white robes. Setsuko crossed her arms and eyed the other women at the table. "What do you mean by that¡­ sharing is caring? Whatever I have is expected to be given to someone else. Doesn''t seem like a reward if you put it that way." "It''s not that bad¡ª" Ellwyn smiled at the younger woman. Unlike the other Priestesses here with them, she understood the reluctance of Setsuko. "People here tend to ask permission before they borrow things belonging to you." "The word here seems to be ''tend'', Priestess Ellwyn." Setsuko Hirayama pointed out. Li Yang had left earlier, but before she could stand up¡ªshe felt a throb in her heart, a sensation that told her that the man wanted to be left alone. It was why she was here¡­ but at least she could see that both Leila and Mitsuko were in the dining hall like her. The situation of the man wanting to have some alone time for himself was quite common and so she let it be. She needed to get her head focused on her goals. Setsuko Hirayama needed to get stronger, not only just because he wanted it¡ªbut because she couldn''t tolerate herself for being this weak and content with it before. She was naive enough to think that being a normal hunter and retiring was satisfying. Leila''s friends shared a silent look with one another. Setsuko''s attitude was a little too blunt for them, and it was a wonder on how Leila managed to get on her good side. Although, it actually didn''t feel like that. It was obvious to everyone that Leila was infatuated with Setsuko''s consort. Setsuko didn''t seem willing to share him with anyone else. Which was fair, what was hers was hers¡ªbut it was like torturing a hungry dog with a big slab of meat and telling it to stay in place. Unbeknownst to them, Setsuko didn''t see the man as her property at all. If she had a choice¡ªshe''d probably want him all for herself, but their relationship wasn''t like that. Her gaze flickered to Leila. This younger and beautiful Priestess who got away with all of her requests because she had doting older Priestesses. Setsuko sighed and pushed back her plate. "Please forgive me for my words¡ªI''m rather exhausted after all the training today. I''ll have to head back to my room now." The three other Priestesses eyed Priestess Leila who looked at Setsuko with a longing look, not for her, but to tag along. While it had actually been some days since she got invited to Setsuko and Yang''s quarters¡­ she still didn''t like having her around one bit. Setsuko bowed and pretended not to see her. "Have a good evening, I''ll see you guys tomorrow. Thank you for a short introduction on how things worked here." Without waiting for another word, Setsuko left the dining hall and headed back to the living quarters. She fumed to herself in annoyance. Why couldn''t she just ask Li Yang how he saw her? A friend? Lover? Her heart faltered at the imagined scenario that she envisioned. It was the sight of the man looking down at her with a surprised look. What if he told her that he simply thought of her as someone he slept with and had no other concerns for her beyond that? A temporary and passing flame for him to pay attention to. Setsuko stomped through the hallways and pushed the thought away. It was for that reason alone that she didn''t dare openly oppose Leila or complain about Mitsuko. She did not know her own standing¡ª Priestess Rei''s door slammed shut at the same time she arrived in the hallway. Her thoughts immediately jumped to Li Yang and a bitter feeling welled in her stomach, but she still walked forward and opened the door to her room. She came across the man in his bed, currently in a lotus position. Her gaze was sharp enough to notice the outline of an aura surrounding him. He had two different kinds of Beast Cores: One was a deep blue hue rested on his right knee and the other was a yellow one on the left. All three of them simultaneously glowed and flowed around him. Setsuko placed a hand to her mouth, her stomach turned to nervousness¡ªtwo all at once? They were of differing elements and natures¡ªthe Beast Cores may have initially glowed and trailed their own bright lights, but at the center of the aura that surrounded him, all of the three colors turned null. Each wildly various element that might cause a terrible reaction with one another, and especially for an insufficient body ended up negated by him all thanks to his current spiritual roots. Null spiritual roots. [ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Medium Spiritual Beast Core Into Your Body ] [ Purity: 75% Blue Striped Koi Demon Fish ] [ Condition: Meridian Deluged (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] [ Condition: Water of Spheres (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] The terrible and beneficial conditions were both ignored completely. [ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Medium Lightning Beast Core Into Your Body ] [ Purity: 80% Yellow Lightning Raging Baboon ] [ Condition: Electrocution of Physical Body (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] [ Condition: Vigor of the Primate (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] Both of the cores that rested on his knees became dull in color, before finally dispersing into dust. [ Cultivate Absorbed Energy Into Innate Energy? ] Yes. Once it was done, then the next step. [ Welcome to the Patched System ] Personal Status Main Quests Achievement Quests Companion Interface New Zone Warper Points Shop Finally¡ª [ New Zone Warper ] Access different worlds in different planes according to the Host''s current strength levels. You Have Used The New Zone Warper Once. System Currently Gathering Energy For Next Jump (5% Charged) A loud sigh escaped the man''s lips at the number¡ªa total of five high medium beast cores dense with Ao and reabsorbed by him only amounted to this much? It was a little disappointing. He opened his eyes and found himself meeting the gaze of Setsuko. He hadn''t noticed that she was even there. "Miss Setsuko?" "You''ve already used up all of the Beast Cores that Priestess Leila gave you, huh?" The woman walked over to him and plopped on the bed. She was comfortable being in his presence, but having him closer was even better. She didn''t want to imagine what would happen if they separated¡­ "Indeed." "Was it enough?" she asked. "No." "Oh." Someone who had been capable of awakening her power naturally needed more to be satisfied. Setsuko bit her lip, but nodded. "There seems to be a test or a contest coming up for Priestesses undergoing training¡ªI''m joining it, and once I do, I''ll give the Beast Cores to you." Li Yang raised a brow. "What about you? You also need it for your own use." "I don''t need it." Setsuko smiled at him, and took the courage to inch closer to him. While she was capable of acting like a clingy Lady to him in public, when they were in private¡ªshe was afraid of touching him. A little hesitant, she clung to her pride as his previous superior in the Kin Hunters. "You really are strong," he said and eyed her. Powerful bloodlines. Setsuko had the blood of a demi-human fox. Bai Minghua was a pure-blooded Mermaid. And even Ying Yue He had an ancient bloodline of Epicurean. He could try to unlock his¡ªbut what were the chances that he had something special like them? If the Li family had any sort of special bloodline then it didn''t make sense that they''d forget about it. His family was too calculative to even actually ignore if they were in any chance possessing something that made them powerful. Setsuko Hirayama shook her head and motioned to herself. "I won''t be anywhere near this powerful if it weren''t for you¡ªit''s all thanks to you, Yang." It was only because he used his knowledge and experimented, but he shrugged. "I''ve only managed to tap into it and awaken the dormant energy¡ªother than that, the rest of your ability is up to you." There was something about Setsuko that threw him off, if only lightly. Maybe it was because she was grateful to him now that made their relationship dynamics different than what it had been at the start. It wasn''t necessarily unpleasant, to have a person indebted to him was fine. It only meant he had a lot to collect in terms of Beast Cores. Setsuko threw her back against the mattress and sighed loudly. "But it really is tiring to be here¡­ I''m just glad that you''re learning with Priestess Mitsuko?" He glanced down at her, but nodded. "I am." "I could have helped you by myself, you know?" She muttered underneath her breath. Li Yang wasn''t sure how he was supposed to react to that¡­ she actually intended him to hear it. But if anything, Setsuko might just end up disappointed once he told her that it was necessary that it was Mitsuko. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Thank you for reading today''s chapter. It''s a little slow and some of you may truly be thinking that Li Yang is idiotic for deciding not to upgrade his roots xD But yes, he''s not a risk-taker here. Maybe he''ll do it if there''s a guaranteed chance to unlock a powerful bloodline. If you have any suggestions! Wink wink. Although uh, a little heads up for June, my four-month guaranteed payment with Webnovel is about to end so you know the drill, guys. I''m still keeping the Panda Promo though :) Chapter 172: Moving Forward (1) "Here''s the thing Goddess¡ª" "Aurora." "Goddess Aurora¡ªI''m not sure for how long you were sleeping, but things have changed in terms of universal-wide entertainment. Humans think they''re the ones who thought of the entertainment industry? They''re dead wrong. They''re usually boring nowadays though, just staring at their little devices¡ªbut then again, the same could be said for Heavens." If Bao had anything to say, it hated being the intermediary between all of this. Its eternity would have been so much easier if it had only kept its mouth shut. A spectral version of a large pair of eyes stared at the trapped form of Bao. While the Goddess currently showed no embodiment of a full-face, no brows were needed to show her confusion. "Humans?" Bao scratched its ears and sighed. "Eh, what do you call the lowest life form in your world?" While differences in languages was easily mitigated by communicating in the universal language, there were still words unknown for each other. "Telriahns." Bao glanced at the world separated by what seemed to be a couple more light years away from them and groaned. It was easy to size the entire planet''s enormous size and also take note of other conditions it had. "Your people are stuck in a current technological period that''s similar to Earth back in its medieval history." "This¡­ technology you speak of? My people do not need it, they have been blessed with Ao." the Goddess stated with a touch of dismissiveness in her tone. "But why do you wish to visit my world?" "Some case of a bitc¡ªof a Moderator of the Creators tossing my ordained human to another point in the universe which turns out to be yours. I''m just here to pick them up and return them to earth." "What?" That didn''t sound so good. While their conversation was only a stream of consciousness, telepathy in a way, one could take note of the annoyance in the Goddess. Bao grimaced¡ªthis was going to be one of those divinities that liked to call their creation something important to them and kept a possessive handling on the world, didn''t it? "Well, it was all a mistake¡ª" "Someone not from my world has trespassed in it and mingled with them?!" "Yes¡ªwell, No. I mean yeah, but it wasn''t his fault¡ª" "IT''S A HE?" If they were talking on the planet, then maybe lightning and thunder would have crackled up the dark skies, but because they were in space, there wasn''t much of a shift except for how Aurora''s mental thoughts were forced into the creature. Bao hated these diplomatic times¡ªcould it overpower the goddess now and send them back to a temporary sleep again? It had to remove its own bindings, but the other ones in the Heavens would get its ass if it failed to bring back that damn CEO. Just when Bao thought that the man was actually starting to get decent! ¡ª- Whatever the reason was for Li Yang to wake up alone in his bed¡ªhe didn''t question it. Maybe he got too exhausted yesterday after his spar with Mitsuko, and more than that, he was trying to conserve his innate energy and prepare it for his own World Warper usage. He tried not to be too liberal with his own qi use for that purpose. There hadn''t been any other follow-up messages from Bao, so he thought it was still safe. Ask for more Beast Cores from Priestess Rei, train with Mitsuko, be nice to Leila and ensure that his bonded partner, Setsuko was doing alright. He had it all easy planned out and proceeded to do so¡ª Except when he went out of the room, a twin was waiting outside for him. It wasn''t Rei, but Kei Kitagawa. It was a little difficult to distinguish between the two of them, but their aura held a distinct difference. Rei tended more to warmer, hotter ao while Kei had the colder one. Li Yang raised his brow. "Is there something I can do for you, Priestess?" "No. But Priestess Mitsuko is unavailable today, so you are free to do as you wish." "I see." So she had decided to avoid him. Li Yang had the feeling if he used the blood-seals he received from before during their blood contract, then he could force the Priestess to come even when it wasn''t her wish¡ªbut he decided to let it go. Kei nodded and then proceeded to leave. Her attitude was different from her sibling. Once the man assured himself that the woman had left, he went up to Rei''s room and knocked. Nobody answered right away, and he wondered if Rei was the teacher of the day¡­ but then the door opened up. A very disheveled Rei looked up at him and yawned, a complete contrast from the restrained, but still proud Priestess. "What do you want?" This time, she wore a pair of robes that seemed to be thinner and looser than the regular ones that Priestesses donned. He gazed up and met her eyes and said, "Beast cores." "Can''t even say good morning, can you?" she said with a shake of her head¡ªeven though she herself had immediately focused on what he had wanted and dropped all niceties. Priestess Rei gave him a look. "But Leila didn''t drop by yesterday, didn''t she?" "I can seek her out myself if necessary." Even if he wouldn''t leave immediately, the idea of always being ready to leave at a moment''s notice was good. It was for this reason that he always kept most of his items with him whenever he was on the run. Priestess Rei scratched her hair in slight frustration. "You''re really making your Lady consume a great amount of Beast Cores just so she could win the upcoming test, huh?" "Perhaps. Although I don''t see how it helps much." "You''re increasing the natural capacity of a Priestess'' body in terms of storing Ao. There is also the occasion that you gain a specific type of blessing from the original owner of the beast." Rei said and then coughed. "Some call that cheating, but why don''t you ask Mitsuko for it?" "I cannot ask her." Rei scrunched up her nose. "Aren''t the two of you close? I always hear from Leila that she''s training with Priestess Mitsuko, but that''s just her watching as you train with Mitsuko." "Not in the way that you''re looking at me for." Li Yang crossed his arms. "I didn''t say anything." She leaned up against her door frame and smirked. "It seems like you''re quick to jump to conclusions." Or didn''t need to hear anything at all to figure out how their relationship dynamics went. Li Yang said, "The expression on your face is all I need." Rei rubbed her face and then sighed. "At the rate we''re going, I''ll probably just end up asking some from my sister or Mitsuko herself. It''s not easy to collect Beast Cores you know?" "Yes, I''m aware of that as I was a Hunter before." "Greedy bastard." Rei muttered underneath her breath. "I can still probably ask someone else for these Beast Cores, if you wish to withhold them." "Do you know any other higher-ranking Priestesses who can give away extras?" "I can possibly ask the High Priestess herself." Rei looked at him. "You won''t actually do that, right?" "Who knows?" "Argh, don''t you dare mention whatever''s happening to Leila." She glared at him before she stomped inside of the room. "And don''t follow me inside." Li Yang held the door open instead. "It never crossed my mind at all." She threw him a sharp look and then bent over underneath her bed. The Priestess Rei probably realized she shouldn''t have said that and instead struggled to bring out a larger treasure box. "I''ll give you three and you can go on your own merryway." "Is there any chance that it''s possible to get one hundred pieces¡ª" "One hundred pieces of Beast Cores¡ªdo you think I have that many?!" "Not from you, someone else." "What are you trying to pull off?" Priestess Rei asked. "Are you trying to make Setsuko a goddess or something?" "Is that all the number you need?" "Of course not¡ªbesides, I''m only exaggerating. The thought of divinity has never crossed anyone''s mind here except for those egotistical enough for that. While the Sleeping Goddess slumbers, it does not mean that she has forsaken but it is simply because her work is complete." "Even when other women do not have the ability to use Ao?" "Other Priestesses can do it in lieu of the Goddess. You can''t expect her to take note of every mortal life in our world." Priestess Rei opened the treasure chest. "Would you like something like the last time? Do you know what kind of Ao your Lady has a preference for?" "Anything is fine¡ªif you have non-medium sized cores, the better." "Non-medium? I already gave you the largest ones I have¡ªwell, I gave them to Leila, but you know what I mean." "The Beast Cores are obtained from the creatures that you take care of in Mashiro''s Sacred Forest, am I correct?" "Yes¡­?" Li Yang sighed inwardly. "Are there any other spots that have far more difficult and dangerous beasts to conquer?" "Priestesses are not allowed to leave without any permission." "That''s fine." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Plot. Smut plot. Plot. Smut plot. Have to focus on the narrative plot while also getting some rest. A friend scared me today by mentioning the need for surgery if Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is aggravated. Thanks for reading today''s chapter! Chapter 173: Moving Forward (2) A male consort was not allowed to move around without permission from his lady. There were a lot of restrictions placed on men, making their conditions in life second to the women that it made sense that groups like Damask Insurgencies existed. Life was unfair, but it couldn''t be helped sometimes. Even for a consort that a woman depended on for pleasure, there were too many limitations imposed upon them. It was even more difficult because he was in the Mashiro Temple, a place run primarily by Priestesses. However, Li Yang''s case was different. "Priestesses are not allowed to leave without any permission." "That''s fine." "Wait, you''ll be the one leaving?!" Rei stared at him, bothered. "You''re going to die if you ever thought of going there all by yourself." His lips twitched slightly. "I did not think that you would care." Priestess Rei glowered at him. "No, you can leave. I have the perfect place for you to head to if you want to challenge large beasts and not return here at all." "That''s fine, as long as I get the directions and naturally the Beast Cores." The man collected the available Beast Cores that Rei could give him and then moved out once he had been given a map. He was not tied down to anyone in particular and could move with ease. With the special tassel provided by Mitsuko some time ago, no Priestess stopped him as he left the temple. "I should have done this already," he muttered underneath his breath. Today was different because Priestess Mitsuko refused to see him now. However, it meant that he had the free rein to capture gigantic beasts and afford himself of better Beast Cores. Before, he might have had difficulty in finishing a Gigantic Vine Turtle all by himself when he first came here, but he had grown far stronger by defeating fifty beasts in the Mashiro Forest. It was now up to him to see if he''d obtain another Achievement Reward. [ Rampage of a Beast - II ] Go on a killing spree and defeat two-hundred and fifty enemies. (0/250) While he may have drained his Healing Potions to the last drop before in his encounter with Mitsuko during the hide-and-seek training in Mashiro Temple''s Sacred Forest¡ªhe was stronger now. Even the System acknowledged the improvement he had gone through since he first acquired it. [ Name: Li Yang ] [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation Tenth Stage (10/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: Null Roots (Special) ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: ?#1! ] [ Fame: Mashiro Temple 560 ] [ Sect: Mashiro Temple Sect (Temporary) ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak - Divine Grade Comprehension: Intermediate (10/42) Stage: Qi Condensation (10/9) There was the possibility that he could ascend into the next stage of cultivation¡ªFoundation Establishment¡ªbut he delayed it in lieu of mastering and gathering more energy. While most cultivators could ascend once they reached the ninth stage, if one was capable, then delaying it would be more beneficial for him. The man deliberately ignored his current ''Fame'' in his own company for now, even though it might have allowed him to tell that his disappearance was affecting his reputation to some extent. His current situation did not allow him the chance to mitigate anything that might have occurred while he was gone. His gaze scrolled down more of the things available in his Personal Status Screen. [ Martial Arts Methods ] Kin Hunters Survival Fighting - I Mashiro Temple''s Combat Style - III Setsuko might have trained him before while the two of them were both Kin Hunters, and yet the time was too brief for him to fully grasp all the essentials. Instead, he had mostly made it up by taking advantage of Skills one could purchase in the Points Shop. [ Skills ] Afterworld Temporary Dissolution (Rare) Ao Energy Bending - (Common) Body Muscle Memory Enhancement (Common) Close Combat Knowledge (Uncommon) Grappling Techniques (Common) Mental Fortitude (Common) Qi Infusion Technique (Uncommon) He should have bought more, but his Power Points were mostly accounted for¡­ or rather saved for emergencies. Li Yang had a lot of things to micromanage and among them was gathering enough to finally use the ''World Warper''. There was a fine line between conserving the Innate Energy he had gathered and using said energy to speed up how things worked. Confident that he''d be able to recover the amount he''d lost, the man moved like a dragonfly and darted amongst the trees of the Mashiro Forest and eyed the mountain he had not ventured to before. Frostborne Mountain Peaks. A mountain range that toppled even the likes of Mountain Everest¡ªits very peak was hidden in the clouds. The distance between it and the Mashiro''s Forest was actually something that a regular human might take a day and even a day and half to travel to, but he reached it in four hours. The sweat on his body cooled down immediately as he settled at the foot of one of its mountains. His blade rested against his back as he stared up, and even with qi-enhanced vision could truly not pierce the thick condensation that dominated the top. His ears picked up on the sound of large avian screeching past heights. Li Yang wordlessly moved away from the boulder it dropped from its claws. The boulder crushed the ground he had been standing on. Even without stepping a foot up in the mountain, the large snow-feathered bird already attempted to deal with him by cracking his skull open. "Hah¡­" his breath came out frosty. If the man had the ability to tame such a creature or communicate through the use of more subtler Ao types, then¡ªwell, a wild creature like it would have been difficult to cooperate with. The gigantic Frost Eagle swooped down on him. His obsidian blade only moved once¡ª [ You Have Killed 1x Beast ] [ Obtained 1x Small Beast Core ] [ Obtained 1x Feather of Frost ] "Small." He looked at his screen and at the items he obtained for once. The screen quickly dispersed and the man took his first steps to hike up the mountains. He wondered how many Beast Cores he''d collect before he''d actually need to return back to the temple. Chapter 174: Moving Foward (3) It was around lunch time when the whereabouts of Li Yang was questioned. Setsuko had woken up extra early to train hard and ensure she won the competition in order to present the man with Beast Cores and make him feel satisfied. And yet when she returned to her room to have lunch with him, the man was nowhere to be found. Setsuko Hirayama quickly searched for him, and it was like an empty void that stemmed in her chest. It was intolerable and it maximized when it was revealed that the man had left. Some of the Priestesses admitted to seeing him leave early in the morning and it crushed her. Setsuko didn''t know what to think. Were they sure that he left the temple? Did he return to the Kin Hunters and decided that he was done with her? Was there someone else that he preferred? Had he grown tired of her? She could hardly eat. The other Priestess stirred away from her during that time in the lunch hall and even Priestess Mitsuko could not answer Setsuko''s question. Instead she had glared at the lady and said, "Why are you looking for him by asking me? I have not seen him at all." "What?" Setsuko stared at the pink-haired girl. Mitsuko was terribly irritated. "If you want to keep the man to yourself then at least know where his whereabouts are or keep a tight leash on him. It is not up to me to act like his caretaker." Priestess Mitsuko had actually been nervous if Setsuko was going to confront her about kissing Li Yang, and she was relieved that it was about the man going missing. And yet the question was still left unanswered. Unbeknownst to them that it was not their doing that the man was gone, and certainly, it wasn''t Leila''s fault either¡ªthe young Priestess had no answer and even bursted to tears at Setsuko''s harsh interrogation. Elsewhere, the one who actually knew of the man''s whereabouts was found. Priestess Rei''s suggestion was actually insane. Already, she had been summoned by the High Priestess and reprimanded thoroughly with a viciousness unlike any other. "Why did you let the man go?!" Rhelea''s voice thundered. There was no flowery nature in her tone as she stared at one of the Kitagawa twins with fury. "I...I''ll retrieve him immediately." Excuses did not work with the High Priestess. Priestess Rei did not think that Li Yang would actually go¡ªeven if the man moved fast, he''d only reach the mountain by sundown. Unless he managed to get himself a ride in the city¡ªwhich was naturally the obvious path he took. The High Priestess fumed in her seat. "No. You''re not fit enough to do that. Call your sister or Mitsuko to retrieve him instead. Have them go together with other seniors in the temple." "High Priestess Rhelea¡ª" "I am not done speaking." The High Priestess''s gaze darkened at her, splashes of red spilling out of her eyes. Priestess Rei flinched. It only took a moment, but the High Priestess frowned. "But fine, what is it?" "Why do we have to retrieve him? If the man dies, then Lady Setsuko has no other family but us. We can always say that it was his decision to leave her." The High Priestess stared down at the younger Priestess. This one did not notice how powerful Setsuko was growing, content in her simple life. "A woman who bears a grudge does not let it go easily." ¡ª- There were a multitude of creatures that lived in the mountain range. He encountered monsters made from an amalgamation of snow and rocks, Ice Golems that were perfectly camouflaged in the backdrop that he almost missed them¡ªsave for the mysterious Beast Cores that hummed within them. There were creatures that resembled white mountain lions that fought in packs, easily ignoring the frigid blizzard that they were in. But perhaps the loftiest of all creatures that had intelligence resembling those of a human was something that people back on earth might have had nightmares about. It had many names, abominable creatures, ape-like monsters of snow¡ªit was a Yeti. Blue eyes glowed with frost of blue surpassing it, it had an aura and could even use Ao. At a height that toppled even the Ice Golems he had fought earlier and with the wit and intelligence surpassing that of animals, it attacked and defended the cave that Li Yang had stumbled upon with ferocity. The snowball that flew at him might have been akin to a gigantic wrecking ball. Li Yang flew out of the cave and struck against pillars of stone stacked against one another. He thought it had been only by chance, but it was the signal that someone was living in the cave. Despite his layer of qi coating him that kept him invulnerable and impervious to the freezing winds and surroundings, his body suddenly felt the chill which reached even his bones. The harsh temperature would quickly make a man die with his blood frozen up if he had no capacity to protect himself. Li Yang knew how to deal with creatures as tough as this one. The man moved past the snowballs¡ªand his Afterworld Temporary Dissolution provided the trick. The multiple snowballs passed through him unharmed, Li Yang ventured forward and drew an arc. His sword sliced through the Abominable Yeti''s abdomen like nothing but meat. He arrived behind the creature, felt the consumption of energy sucked out of himself, and then looked back to see a fist punch through his face. Li Yang flew like a rag doll past several feet and reached one of the edges of the mountain. The perilous heights and precipitous drop told him that even with qi or not¡ªit was still deadly. The Yeti moved towards him, a hand on its abdomen with only blue-like light shimmering through his cut. It was a regenerating creature! Li Yang gritted his teeth. He should have finished him off properly and yet he raised his sword at the creature. The ground beneath him was unstable, or rather, the Yeti''s sheer weight would crumple the foundations of this cliff. His entire body ached as Li Yang stayed in position, eyeing the creature as it took languid steps toward him. It presumably believed that direct punch in his face had blown his brains¡ªor at least stunned him enough to not make another move. Well, it was half-right. His entire body ached and there was a chill that continued to seep into his body. While he initially assumed it was fear, it turned out to be something else entirely. The Yeti''s fist delivered an attack that turned its enemies to frozen statues, and only Li Yang''s own innate energy prevented his blood from freezing at once. Instead, thin but compact sheets of ice began to crawl down from his face and spread around him like a frost plague. Already, his vision began to blur as ice invaded and his nose was blocked in this instant. He needed to get up. And yet the chill rapidly seized his legs and arms. The Yeti''s steps thundered like lightning, and the ground rumbled beneath its feet as it rushed right at him. Chapter 175: Moving Forward (4) The mountain''s cliffs rumbled and tore away as the Yeti rushed in anger at its enemy frozen to ice, unbeknownst of the frost and rocky foundations giving out¡ª Li Yang''s qi shot out of his body, ice fractals dispersed into the air as he rushed to the safer end. The propulsion of innate energy pushed him forward like a jet. His sword lashed out as he left his position, and the blade cut and extended at a range far greater than his own. Sword qi. This time, the creature dropped to its knees as the slash struck behind them. But it was far from finished, the attack still failed to pierce the creature''s strength. The ground instead fully cracked open like a crater and separated the two of them. A moment of understanding dawned on its face. The Yeti fell into the plunging ravine of death and ice, a feral howl emanated from it as it dropped to its death. Its screams pierced and caused more ice to fall, until one could no longer hear it. Li Yang grabbed his head and sighed. Shaking off the remainder of ice that clung to his skin, there was only one thing in his mind between the pounding in his chest and the adrenaline that emerged through his blood. "I wonder what kind of Beast Core it would have¡ªa pity." However, the System still registered its death as one of the man''s own. Li Yang eyed the screen with a bit of wariness. [ Rampage of the Beast - II ] Go on a killing spree and defeat two-hundred and fifty enemies. Host had killed sixty-eight enemies (68/250) Unlike earth, this place seemed like the perfect place to fulfill conditions and achievements placed by the System in order to train him. But he was far from even getting half of the number required. And yet, he was barely far from reaching the top of the mountain. The wisps of the blizzard clung more thicker above him. He had been here for who knew how many hours? While it was difficult to see the sun, and it felt like his surroundings were growing darker, the man knew it was far from over. His lips felt cold and he rubbed his face once more. The current robes he wore didn''t protect him from the winds, and while he used a thin layer of qi to protect himself as a blanket might do, he still found himself slowing down during fights and readjusting his footing for slippery terrains. He only managed to defeat the creature by chance. But as he scaled up, they started to become smarter, didn''t they? It was a necessary thing if they wished to survive the cold. His environment was harsh and unfriendly to those not living in it. He scowled momentarily and looked above him. Perhaps it was best that he returned down to acquire more equipment fit for the cause? He had already collected around fifty plus Beast Cores. This was more than enough to consider his visit here a success and well-worth it. A vast majority of them were bigger than the ones he''d obtained in the forest or from Priestess Rei. It was decided. There was always next time¡ª The System''s screen shimmered in front of him and showcased several items and skills fit for his current troubles. It didn''t communicate with him as much as it did before and no longer assessed him as weak and based it on a universal scale¡ªbut its ways of providing him what he needed was almost sinisterly intuitive. While he knew that he no longer had the gaze of the Heavens on him. He wondered about the Moderator briefly as he scanned and quickly scrolled through numerous items. He checked their capabilities and prices. [ Points Shop ] Arctic Clothes Blossoming Spring Seeds Catcher of Fire Deer Fur . . . Robes of Heat Sunshine Staff Trees of Telriah Yukata of Warmth Zen Mode (temporary) If this wasn''t enough of a nudge to a certain direction then the Side Quest that generated itself was the one that finished it off. [ Specially Generated Side Quest ] [ Ascension to the Peak ] What was at the top of the mountain? Treasures unimaginable. Enemies of extreme vengeance. Power source enough to light a miniature moon. Ascend to the peak and discover them all. [ Reward: ??? ] Li Yang ground his teeth at the second to the last line. Power source? Was it possible to use that instead of absorbing many Beast Cores? What could actually be in the mountains for him to use as a power source? Several questions scoured his mind, and yet there was a certain tug of certainty that befell him. It was always safer to have an emergency exit than to leave things to fate. The Panda Bao was arriving and whilst he may have oddly missed the constant yappering of the creature, it did not mean he was willing to return as an entertainment piece of the gods. ¡ª- "Wait! I''m coming with you guys!" Setsuko Hirayama caught up easily with Mitsuko and the other Priestesses. All of them used Ao to move faster across the territory of the forest and reach their destination. There were about twenty of them in number that were assigned to the task of finding Li Yang. And while Setsuko was told to stay in place, to wait for his arrival and be reassured that they would do everything to find them¡ªshe chased after the group much to the annoyance of the others. It meant that she was faster at them if they had had about thirty minutes of a head start. But it was mostly because they were conserving energy for them once they arrived at the mountains. Mitsuko narrowed her eyes at the stubborn woman. "It''s too dangerous!" "I don''t care," Setsuko said and stared at the much higher ranked Priestess. "What are the chances that you''ll find him amongst the mountain? You need me to be there. I can sense him." Mitsuko rolled her eyes. "You didn''t notice him leaving before, did you?" "I¡­ I was concentrating on studying, but now that I''m free to do things. It''s like there''s a certain thread between us two¡ªhe''s too far away now, but I can only tug myself forward to find him. Setsuko Hirayama said and finally glowered at the women, her Ao spilling out like a wave. What she didn''t have in practice, she made it up by quality and sheer quantity of Ao. High Priestess Rhelea had forbidden Setsuko to join and the other Priestesses shared a look between one another. Were they going to capture Setsuko and have about two of them bring her back to the Mashiro Temple? Maybe four? There was a touch of wariness in them. If Setsuko evaded the others in the temple, then how difficult would it be for them to subdue her without harming a touch of her head. "Fine," Mitsuko said. It was an unspoken promise. The two of them were going to find him and bring him back to the temple. There was no doubt and hesitation at all. Whether it was out of a desire to keep him at her side, or whether to assure his safety and talk some sense into him about the dangers of it all¡­ both women had made their choice. ¡ª- Li Yang was a man who liked to conserve things. He wasn''t that great of a risk-taker, and when he did make some decisions that were somewhat questionable¡ªit was because of a certain sense, determination that made the risks feel as if it were worth it. The seed in his hand was extremely tiny, warm and truly felt like spring. He dug out some of the snow and then placed it in frozen and arid ground. It was silly to do this and it felt stupid. A small twig with a leaf first sprouted and then continued to grow, growing thicker and twisting around as it soared and then pierced through the mists of ice and the blizzard. There was no sunshine, warmth or even water for it to grow. But he had read the further instructions and made his decision. [ Blossoming Spring Speeds ] Specially cultivated seeds to conquer and produce the greatest of gardens for its user. The essence and nature of spring emerges from each seed, especially nourished to grow despite whatever environment. It comes in three powerful spring variants. Flowers. Vines. Trees. While he was no boy searching for a giant, and had no desire to meet one, he chose the third option. The tree was the fastest way for him to ascend¡ªthe man scaled up the branches and trunk, avoiding the several rockier terrains he might have needed to go up to reach the top faster. And so it became good, until several winged creatures attacked him. The eagle from earlier was large, but these ones were small and darted past him quicker. He one handedly slashed them with his sword and felled a couple of them down. The rest quickly flew away in fear. Li Yang''s clothing helped stave away the cold, while the tree itself was also very warm already. Higher and higher he ascended. The Achievement Quest of Rampage of the Beast - II was temporarily on hold. Instead, he''d reach the top. Unaware of what actually awaited him at the top. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: This chapter is rather oof. While I had big plans, my health took a sudden turn for the worst and here we are. I may have slightly overestimated the innate strength I have, and while I''ll do my best to reach the end of May, I might end up taking a break to recover. People who happen to read Races: Online are familiar with it. Thank you for reading! Chapter 176: At The Mountains Summit Higher and higher it grew¡ªuntil one couldn''t see where the tree''s leaves ended and where it met the sky. When the Priestesses from Mashiro Temple arrived at the same level from whence the tree sprouted, it had already been more than a day¡ªfar more time than what they had been afraid of. "Are we sure that this man is still actually alive?" One of the Priestesses asked Mitsuko with a forlorn look on her face. "Who knows if he had died and was buried in the sno¡ª" "He is alive." Setsuko glared at this Priestess. She motioned to the unnatural tree that blossomed in the most freezing of blizzards and said, "He must have gone up there¡ª" "This journey has used up far more resources than we were prepared to use." The Lady crossed her arms. "Then go back now if you wish to leave all by yourself." "I''m not going down alone," the Priestess shared a look with several other women in their group. At least more than a half were willing to call off this search and sudden expedition, even with the fastest of giant beasts to get to here¡ªthere was no way that the man ascended all by himself and survived. Already, a fourth of the women with them tended and nursed to injuries. Mitsuko herself was silent and encumbered with her thoughts. It was plausible that the man might have gone up a little, and if the others were to believe the rumors that the man was a master Swordsman, then they''d believe he''d vanquish some beasts or knew how to escape and evade those beyond his current skills. What was difficult for them to believe was that Li Yang had gone through several levels of the frozen mountains all by himself and was still alive. This was just a wild chase for someone who must have either been long gone or had returned to the Mashiro Temple when they were looking for him. Only Setsuko and Mitsuko truly knew what the man was capable of. And even though both knew that the man was stronger than what everybody else deemed¡ªstaying all by himself was still a death wish. If anything, Mitsuko wished to confirm it herself. And yet someone else spoke up. "We are now allowed to leave you be, Setsuko. If we''re leaving then we cannot let you find the man all by yourself." Setsuko placed a hand on her chest and laughed. Her hair flew wildly across the wind as she declared. "That''s perfect, because I''m going up there!" And so that sheer attitude turned the situation around. Setsuko found herself surrounded by the rest of the Priestesses who wanted to bring her down¡ªeach of them pointed their weapons at her. Mitsuko stared at her for one moment, a silent look that aggravated both of them. She already knew her place, where she stood¡ªno, even without the prompting of blood, the Priestess knocked back the closest Priestess beside her with a quick overpowering energy blast. "MItsuko!" the others cried out, betrayed. Priestess Mitsuko only smiled and shook her head. "Forgive me, but I have a blood contract I need to fulfill¡ªSetsuko, get up there and find our man. I''ll follow along." If there was any time for a fight to break out between women, now really wasn''t the time¡ªSetsuko was startled at the switch in alliances, but then rushed up the tree. . . . A power source that could light up a miniature moon was an inaccurate statement. What lay before him was a garden of ice and crystals, and in the center of it all was a frozen bier. In the harshest of winters and as the night skies finally revealed itself in the top, was the presence of a woman submerged in a crystal-clear ice coffin. The man stared at the woman and then at everything else at the peak. There didn''t seem to be anything that was worth the trouble of getting all up here by himself. He had slew down Winged Wyverns that attacked with frosted breath attacks, charged past even more twisted amalgamations of ice¡ªa spiked Snowflake Monster that shot spines of ice at him, but then he was only given a view of a woman asleep in the ice. Perhaps it was because his [ Mental Fortitude ] Skill was at an all-time high. The spellbinding allure and mystical sight of ancient enchantments that preserved the woman in her frozen bier did nothing to affect a man. A man who some women considered had a heart of stone. It was a fleeting memory that only came to him now. He temporarily pushed it away and focused on the present. "So is it the woman herself that is the power source, or is it her surroundings?" Li Yang asked himself. He didn''t want to approach the body at all, and yet here he was with nothing else to retrieve or stand for¡ª [ Ascension to the Peak ] What was at the top of the mountain? Treasures unimaginable. Enemies of extreme vengeance. Power source enough to light a miniature moon. Ascend to the peak and discover them all. [ Reward: ??? ] The CEO stared at the System''s screen and wondered if it was buggy. He didn''t want to say anything, and yet he still voiced his frustrations. "The only valuable thing I''m seeing is a woman frozen in a casket. I''m not touching that in a thousand years to unlock anything¡ª" But then everything suddenly clicked. Maybe it was from the way that the System worded it that made him confused at the start. But if he had already attributed that the power source was the woman in the coffin¡ªthen it wasn''t too strange that she was both the treasure and the enemy as well. As for his reward¡ª A scream echoed. "Yang!" a voice reached his ears despite the blizzard. It was so soft that he might have not almost heard it, save for the bond that partnered the two of them together. Li Yang stared once back at the coffin and then turned his back on it as he ran off to find her. Setsuko''s throat was raw and her fingers dug heavily into the mountain, it cracked and split her fingernails. And yet on the other hand, she was grasping and keeping a hold of the Priestess Mitsuko from falling down. It was as if the wind had chased her out, and Setsuko saved the woman from the precipice of death¡ªand yet she had overestimated her strength. Sestuko nearly got dragged down with Mitsuko and only clung to the edge of the mountain. "Can you quit shouting and conserve your strength¡ªit''s impossible for him to find us," Mitsuko said harshly. The fight with the Priestesses earlier had already drained her energy, and if she attempted for another quick blast then it might just end up making Setsuko lose her grip. "Nonono¡ªhe''ll find us," Setsuko said. And yet when had it happened that she started depending wholly on him? Somehow, Mitsuko''s words pierced through some recesses of her mind. Hadn''t the man once told her that he liked her because she was capable? It wouldn''t do her any good to be a hindrance and to keep being this weak. The reason why she had allowed herself to be awoken by the man was to gain power¡ªand she needed to tap back into that. At first there were barely any noticeable changes that Mitsuko paid attention to. The Priestess was actually looking for any spots where she could fall and not plunge to her death¡ªand yet the air around her vibrated with a powerful blast of Ao that nearly knocked her unconscious. It took a couple of seconds for her to blink back and then notice something soft brushing her face. The Priestess looked up and saw several soft white tails that gathered together and then parted to give the appearance of someone she didn''t recognize at first. "I''m throwing you," Setsuko said. Her now-red eyes bore down on Mitsuko''s face. "What?" "One, two¡ª" "Wait!" Mitsuko felt the change in direction and the sudden quick movements in Setsuko''s throw and she soon crashed against the compact snow. It wasn''t as soft as one might imagine it to be, but Mitsuko promptly shoved herself up to her feet. When she arrived at the edge of the mountain, she promptly stuck her hand out to Setsuko who had already begun to scale up the mountain all by herself. There was an absurd amount of energy that flew and radiated through the girl that now it made sense as to why the High Priestess had been so worried about her. Mitsuko wordlessly helped the other woman up. While the two of them didn''t exactly harbor the most friendliest emotions with one another¡ªand Setsuko have yet to question Mitsuko for calling Yang ''our man'' as if the two of them had shared him, the demi-human fox looked up at once and felt the presence emerge through the blinding fog and mists. "Yang!" "Setsuko, you''re alright." Li Yang stared at the changed form of Setsuko and then his gaze flickered back to the other woman accompanying her. "Priestess Mitsuko." Mitsuko only met his gaze once and then looked away. "I''ve only helped her find you in accordance with the blood contract." Even though she had done it before the compulsion struck her at all. The two of them were here and managed to chase him down despite the circumstances. He cleared his throat, a bit unsure of what to say. He didn''t want to say something stupid like time slipped him by¡ªit was his decision to scour up to the top, uninhibited by it all. And yet he didn''t even need to say another word. One moment, Setsuko was a couple feet away, but like an arctic fox, she bounced and ran towards him. The two of them landed in the snow as she laughed and hugged him in relief. Her tails provided an extra layer of warmth as she squeezed him. "Thank the Goddess Aurora you''re safe!" He rested a hand on top of her head and then relaxed back on the snow. He shook his head and sighed, "I thought you were in danger." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: It''s official! I''m in need of a serious break and will go on hiatus in June ;-; Thank you to Maian and Draverius who responded to the last chapter! It''s the last Win-Win (promotional event) before the new version comes out, so I''ll finish this May! I''ll try posting in the auxiliary chapters the summary of each arc/related chapters if that also helps keep track, as well as the Personal Status page of the MC. Thank you for reading! Chapter 177: Quick Descent Ethereal forms, ephemeral bodies. Universal concepts which transcended time and space. Such things were easy to say and yet so very difficult to comprehend. It was definitely far easier to imagine a man and a woman lying together in the snow, a relieved look on both of their faces than to contemplate about a creature taking the visual form of a panda and of a reawakened goddess in the vast space. And so it happened that Setsuko''s sudden energy let out another wave that echoed across the entire continent. Somehow, this time, it didn''t throw the man and the Priestess away, for it was more subtle. Undetectable save for those with keener senses. It wasn''t even fair to call her a human at this point, demi-human, demi-fox¡­ demi-god? This Setsuko barely batted an eye. Unaware of everything happening around her, except for the fact that she was in the arms of a man she desired. It was for this very fact that her chest thumped slightly at his words and actions. "I thought you were in danger," Li Yang said with a sigh. His hand rested gently on her head as he relaxed in the snow. Perhaps if another man had attempted to do something like it, she wouldn''t have reacted the same way. Setsuko would have flung their hand away and then challenged them to a spar until the other guy had cried¡ªand she had gotten away in Kin Hunters from accepting nasty new recruits through that method. Setsuko brushed her hair back and snorted. "I''m fine, it was easy¡ªwe were just calling out to find you." "We nearly lost our lives back there." Mitsuko said flatly. If anyone had been so focused on the serene image of a couple lying together in snow, then they would have altogether forgotten that Priestess Mitsuko was still standing there and taking in the entirety of it like a distant observer. Li Yang quickly sat up, gave a look at Setsuko questioningly¡ªrealized that her measurement of inherent danger was different¡ªand then back at Mitsuko. "My apologies, I did not expect anyone to find me so quickly. Or rather, I did plan to return as soon as I could." The pink-haired Priestess was not impressed. "What in the ninth temporal realms had come through your mind to come all the way up here? I doubt anybody has come here before¡ªespecially unprepared! Did you have a death wish?" "No, I was¡­ collecting beast cores." He really didn''t do well with lying, it was always a distasteful thing. Mitsuko placed a hand on her hip. "I don''t see any of them on you." "I have it in my special storage," Li Yang said. He knew from the look on Mitsuko''s face that he might end up needing to explain the entirety of his situation to her, but it was also easy to make her erase it from her memory through the use of a Blood Seal. He still had found no use for it, after all. "Well, you better have a good excuse." Mitsuko eyed him. "I had to deal with several other Priestesses all by myself and knock them out in order to continue this search¡ªI allowed Setsuko to stay with us despite the fact that I know that High Priestess Rhelea might be tearing her hair out from the stress that Setsuko is gone. Albeit, she''s probably trying to calm herself with tea." "I did not know that you were that capable in defeating your fellow Priestesses or understood the High Priestess that much." Li Yang stood up and helped Setsuko in the snow. He didn''t sound very apologetic, but he inclined his head. "Thank you for your help." Gratitude always sounded better than apology. Or it was far too easy to say than acknowledging the error in his ways. Priestess Mitsuko crossed her arms. "Can you say that you are satisfied now? Please don''t tell me that you''re not yet done with looking for beast cores¡ªthere are too many unexplainable things happening in this mountain. A tree had grown out of nowhere, and its variety was unexplainable¡­ but I doubt someone like you had anything to do with it, have you?" It was a question. Li Yang wondered if this was included in their blood contract¡ªanswering her questions¡ªbut only shook his head. "Perhaps it is simply spring arriving at last in this mountain. I find it very odd that this place is frozen in ice whereas everywhere else is not." Priestess Mitsuko fumed. She herself had never been here, so she didn''t know. But she turned away and recounted something she once heard from the High Priestess, "There were certain traditions that in every fifty years, the designated High Priestess ought to ascend this mountain and offer tribute to the Sleeping Goddess." "I see," Li Yang thought back to the frozen bier and was glad that he didn''t touch it. He had no desire of digging himself into any further trouble by involving a Goddess into his own repertoire of things to take care of. The man squeezed Setsuko''s hand. "Let us go then." "What?" Mitsuko asked. She blinked and stared at him, befuddled at his sudden change in stance. "You want to leave now?" Setsuko huddled only closer to him, but nodded. "If you feel a bit exhausted, it''s also fine to rest here for a while, Yang. Descending a mountain is also quite terrible, you might end up getting dragged into a fall." "No, let''s leave now. I''m alright." Li Yang assured them that they were about to leave now. He couldn''t sit still at the idea of the lady in the bier suddenly arising from her eternal slumber and going out of her way to give him a life of pain and suffering. There was an unlucky nature that Li Yang had to acknowledge. If he had been chosen as the Heavens entertainment before, then what were the chances that this sleeping Goddess had her own ideas if she discovered him here? Without any further ado, they descended the snowy peak. The people here were intelligent and keen-eyed in their own way, and Priestess Mitsuko quickly connected the thoughts even prior to this. While her assumption that Li Yang was a reincarnation of the god was a bit of a wild guess, nobody else could say that she was wrong, either. Records of the brother of Aurora were mostly torn and what was available was the great war that had burst forth and then the banishment. A god promising¡ªNo. Swearing of his return. However, records also spoke of nine temporal realms beyond that of their own¡­ so, difficult it might be to admit that Goddess Aurora did not hold the complete reign over the entire universe¡­ She had to acknowledge that Li Yang was a man not part of this world. Well, it wasn''t like Mitsuko herself didn''t harbor any secrets herself. "Wake up. We have to leave now if you don''t want to die from frostbite." She roused the other Priestesses lying collapsed in the snow and made them stand on their feet, and even though they might have hated her for doing such an act that trivialized their strength and position, nobody else could say a word. Mitsuko was the favored one of the High Priestess. "Prin¡ªPriestess Mitsuko." Another of the Priestesses rubbed her eyes, forced out of her unconsciousness, and stared up at the pink-haired lady, glancing down at her with a regal look. "Do you need any help in awakening the others?" Li Yang asked. "No, you''ll give them a heart attack if you wake them." Mitsuko eyed him and then ordered the Priestess to wake the others. She cleared her throat and looked at the nine tails swaying behind Setsuko. "Same goes for you." Setsuko agreed with Mitsuko for different reasons, but she nodded. She looked at him and patted his arm. "You can focus on resting and recovering. It must have been difficult getting here all by yourself." "It was difficult, but I didn''t attract too much attention," Li Yang said. "That''s a relief to hear." And while the System''s counting meter told him he had encountered about a hundred enemies now, it seemed like they had encountered far too many. Did it happen because the creatures were naturally predispositioned to attack groups of women? Li Yang assessed the full number of women in the snow and frowned at the number of injuries inflicted on them. This wasn''t all from Mitsuko, for sure. That a larger group was attacked more than him made him feel guilty. Even until now, he disliked the idea that he inflicted an additional burden on people who might have done well without his appearance at all. Mitsuko briefly glanced at the couple before she addressed the rest of the crowd. She clapped her hands. "Alright, everyone''s awake and there are no more grievous injuries¡ªwe should get going now." "Already? Haven''t we just got here?" "Don''t complain." Setsuko shot one of the Priestesses a look. "Didn''t you say earlier that you wanted to leave the mountain? Shouldn''t you be happier now?" Her newly changed appearance attracted attention, but most of them didn''t say a word about it. A couple grumbles and complaints broke out, but much to Li Yang''s assurance, they were all shepherded down from the mountain. Not a single one of them dared to look back, each one focused on not getting blown by the rapid winds howling across the mountains. . . . . Tremendous energies blown once across the entire continent and roused sleeping individuals awake. Now more subtle energies but coming from the same source dispersed once again, serving as a catalyst. A sleeping beauty tore their fist through solid ice. The crystal bier scattered around the precipitous slope. "Fuckin¡ª" Well, it didn''t wake in the most pleasant of circumstances. Chapter 178: —And It All Crashed Down The night had come. Dark overcast skies looked upon them all. Even the moons had hidden themselves behind the clouds. It was too late, this was going to be their death¡ªthe man landed at the foot of the mountain and only looked back once. There was nothing that chased them down from the summit and somehow they were back on the safer lands. "Is something the matter?" Setsuko asked him. "Are you cold?" The demi-fox girl had already learned how to control her transformation properly and had reverted to her human form. Li Yang shook his head. "No, nothing in particular. Maybe I was just overthinking." He had made sure not to touch or come anywhere near that place so surely it meant that he didn''t trigger it himself. " Are you sure we can''t have a camp, Mitsuko?" The Priestess glanced at Li Yang and Setsuko being lovey-dovey and shook her head. "No, we''ve already been delayed for far too much. The High Priestess will be displeased if we stay here any longer." The man may have hurried them down the mountain, but if the two had the chance to be like that¡ªthen she didn''t get why he was nervous earlier. Or at least she hoped he hadn''t done anything stupid while he was at the mountain and tried to get them away from it. Regardless, Mitsuko didn''t want to stay another night with those two in her open view. "I''m sure that everyone else can still run for the entire night. I didn''t beat any of you that hard¡ª" The earth trembled and shook. Priestess Mitsuko immediately swerved back to the mountain and expected an avalanche¡ª The man immediately glanced up, but only came upon the sight of another magnificent looking caterpillar. Although grotesque might have suited it better. It looked intimidating with its dark red and black stripes, it had numerous tendril hairs that stuck out menacingly around it. One of the Priestess wiped her sweat and happily patted the insect. "Well, we''ve finally gotten ourselves a ride now¡ªthis thing is a bit slow, but it can keep moving all night. I''m too tired to run anymore." "Are you sure that you can control that thing?" "Yeah." "Ugh, it''s the Hirari Devil Caterpillar." Setsuko grumbled underneath her breath. She grabbed his robe''s sleeve and said, "Easy to tame with one''s Ao, but not the most comfortable ride¡ªtry not to get stung when we ride it, alright?" "How come?" Li Yang asked. He looked back at it and hoped that all of them could fit there. "Is it poisonous?" The idea that it was summoned to serve them as a carriage didn''t make much sense if that was the case. "No, it''s just very hairy and stings a little when you ride it, but I guess there''s not much of an option." "That''s fine with me, let''s go." He beckoned her to come with him. "The faster we get back, then the faster that the both of us can rest." It was easy for them to hitch a ride and he ensured that neither he or she got stung by the spines. "Yeah, I can''t wait to get in bed with you¡ª" Setsuko paused at her words and studied his expression. She quickly pouted and lightly knocked her fist against his shoulder. "I really just mean the bed! I''m tired after looking for you." "I never questioned it." Li Yang raised a brow and smiled briefly. It was difficult to relax for him, when all he wanted to do was look back and check that everything was truly safe. Setsuko shook her head. "Your expression says otherwise." Behind them, a couple of the others were coaxing Mitsuko to get on. The Priestess came up last to join them and she scrambled up carefully down the creature. "Be a bit careful Mitsuko¡ª" She still slipped. Li Yang reached out and grabbed the Priestess'' hand before she fell back, the woman luckily tried to find a spot close to both him and Setsuko. She then situated herself behind the two of them and sighed. "Thank you, I''ve never ridden in such a thing like this before." "Neither have I," he said. "That''s not quite true, while it wasn''t exactly the same variety¡ªwe also have ridden on other giant beast insects like this one while we were hunting before." Setsuko reminded him. "How long till we get back to the temple though?" "Do you really think that you''ll be able to get inside of the temple without being reprimanded at all?" The Priestess managing the caterpillar looked back at Setsuko. "Your consort might also get in trouble for sneaking out¡ª" "That''s enough, Ulva. You should let the rest of us some peace and quiet, the High Priestess will decide the appropriate punishment for the two when we get there," Mitsuko said. She clicked her tongue. "There is no use in contemplating otherwise." "O-oh, of course, Mitsuko. I''ll stay silent, please have a good rest. I''ll take care of our ride all the way back." the insect-controller nodded and turned back to managing the insect''s direction. Li Yang glanced at the Priestess but before he could say a word¡ªshe beat him to it. "I am worn out from dealing with this issue today, please don''t speak anymore." Mitsuko narrowed her gaze at him. "I was supposed to take a break from you, and yet I keep getting myself¡ªnevermind it." She refused to say another word again and stared at the trees that they passed by. Behind them, some of the Priestesses were leaning against one another and resting. Whereas, Mitsuko herself stood up straight and firmly in her position and stood unwavering. He wanted to say that it didn''t seem restful, offer the same, but heeded her request for silence. It didn''t even take another second for Setsuko to snuggle up to him once she sensed his sigh and reluctance to relax. Somehow, it felt like they were closer than before but a terrible wedge was still lodged in between them. This was a frustrating thing for Setsuko to realize and she wanted to blame Mitsuko for it. But then she remembered how the Priestess helped her find Li Yang, and so, she would let the woman off just this time. ¡ª- Slap. The thwack echoed inside the temple''s quiet halls. The entirety of the women gathered in the hallways did not know how to react and it even felt like they weren''t supposed to be seeing this. Mareena, Tomura and others who were close to Leila didn''t dare approach right now. Some of them tried to get away and return to their chambers lest they get involved, but the rest were rooted in spot. "Why did you do that, Priestess Rei?" Leila''s eyes brimmed with tears. She clenched her fists together and tried to look at the other woman. A bubble of emotions sprang up within her. "Is it because of me? Is it because I didn''t use the Beast Cores like you wanted me to? That I lied to you about studying with Mitsuko?" This was ridiculous. The sting on Priestess Rei''s face didn''t hurt quite as much as the sight of her junior looking at her betrayed because of the man. She had already dealt with the rebuke of the High Priestess Rhelea earlier, but now Leila was upset because she gave Yang a map when he himself had asked for it? What a strange thing to be in right now. It wasn''t as if she truly hated the man or anything like it. She had even asked him to take care of Leila for her and ensure that she was properly educated. So why was it backfiring on her right now? "Why won''t you speak up¡ª" "I gave it to him, yes." Priestess Rei admitted. She raised her head and stared at the ceiling and tried to keep her composure. The woman squeezed her eyes shut. "I did not expect¡­" Her voice trailed off and she couldn''t quite say a thing. Why had she even done this in the first place? Leila had no trouble speaking her mind. She spoke far too easily with her and probably the rest of the Priestesses. "But you shouldn''t have done that! Did you want to get rid of him? You did¡ªdidn''t you? Because Lady Setsuko and him got your room and¡ª" "Shut up," A voice finally said. It wasn''t Rei''s but her sister''s instead. Her twin looked at Priestess Leila without the same amount of concern that Rei had for the younger woman. "If you have time to throw accusations at a senior Priestess then surely you have enough time to get out of my sight." Kei Kitagawa''s voice dripped with venom. Leila stared up at her in fear, then looked at Rei¡ªthose words spilled out of her mouth far too easily, didn''t it? She never realized how careless such words might be. And yet, she bowed and held her hands together. "Thank you for your instruction, I''ll be leaving now¡ª" "Scram." Kei Kitagawa had no patience for that brat. Instead she grabbed Rei''s shoulders and carried her away from the rest of the Priestesses and into her room. She didn''t say a thing. The silence weighed heavily between them. Between the two of them, it was Rei who spoke far more. Her sister had the kinder heart between them, and much softer too. Kei didn''t consider herself the same even though people were prone to assume otherwise. "It''s that couple''s fault, isn''t it?" Rei didn''t quite register her sister''s word, still caught up in her own world, but then looked at Kei. "What did you say?" "¡ªstarted falling apart." Chapter 179: Time Stops For No One + Letters To My CEO #1 One night turned into an entire day. That one day then numbered into days and soon stretched into weeks. How long had he actually been gone? What of the people he had left behind? Were they alright? Had time stopped when he went away and he''d return at the very same time he left? The man had no answers for any of these. To contemplate them was a fruitless endeavor that rendered him deeply troubled. He knew what to do¡ªit was systematic in a way. Get stronger here. Find a way back home. Get rid of the contract that bound him to the Heavens. Plain and simple. But being entangled in the events of Telriah in a scope of things that reached far more than just a simple temple''s affairs... it made things a lot more complicated. What else could he do? He was still here in this world. Conscious and visceral of what was happening around him. The soft breathing of Setsuko reached his ears. The woman who lay in his lap was peaceful throughout this ride back to Mashiro Temple, unconcerned of what awaited them when they returned. He idly brushed back a lock of her hair behind an ear, simply taking the sight in without any question. It struck a stark contrast against the second person closest to the two of them. "I''m tired¡­ so I''ll lean against you. This is the least that you could do for me as a favor for earlier," Mitsuko said. He looked over his shoulder, blinked at the sight of the slightly furious and challenging expression on Mitsuko''s face¡ªit was cute, and somewhat reminded him of some¡ªand yet he shouldn''t be thinking of things like that, should he? There was no need to dwell on similarities and comparisons. The man quickly nodded. "Be my guest." "Good." Mitsuko''s back was now pressed against his and the Priestess remained silent after her request. She never said another word, but even though their gazes were in opposite directions¡ªit felt like the both of them had their gazes on the night sky. The two of them were both awake, and except for the one named Ulva who managed the Caterpillar Beast, the rest had fallen asleep after straining themselves in this ordeal. "Is there any particular reason why you needed so much Beast Cores?" Mitsuko asked. Her voice was quiet, but sharp. More importantly, the two of them had quickly been enveloped by a shroud of her Ao. Li Yang glanced at the concentration of energy that now functioned close to a silent circle or an enclosure that kept everything out¡­ She respected his privacy enough to keep this conversation between the two of them. Or decided that this might be important information. Regardless, similar to how he once told it to Setsuko before¡­ he deemed it fine to tell Mitsuko. If anything, this was the least he could do for her after binding her in a blood contract where only the terms afflicted her and not him. He had always told himself that there was the good of having a certain advantage over her¡ªand yet he''d simply be like the gods that once bound him. "I need enough power to actually return home." If there was anything that Mitsuko might have felt or reflected on her face at his words, it was impossible to see from his position. Instead, it was only her voice that said anything. Hardly said anything at all with her composed self. "Home¡­ these people are waiting for you? You must have been gone for a very long time." "I''m not exactly sure. I''d like to think that they are waiting." Mitsuko snickered at him. "Do you think that their lives would simply stop since you disappeared?" He chuckled mirthlessly. "You''re right." It was impossible to be certain of anything right now. And yet if there was anything that could be confirmed by the man¡­ it was this idea. Time stopped for no one. ¡ª-¡ª-¡ª- A Letter To My CEO #1 Hi Boss, It''s Ying Yue He, your secretary¡­ and well, I''m not exactly sure why I''m writing this. Maybe just to vent my feelings to you¡ªno, you don''t have to do anything about it, it''s fine. It''s not like you can actually give me a reply right now. I mean, you''re always busy, and I get it. There are times when you want to catch a break, and that''s natural. Take all the time you need. The past years that I''ve been working with you have been one of the best experiences in my life. It always wows people when I tell them that I work at Olympian Corporations. And I''m not exactly sure what had happened, but in case you ever need me? I''ll be here for you. Please don''t hesitate and give me a call. Sincerely, Ying Yue He (If this were a handwritten letter, then perhaps you might have noticed that there''s been multiple erasures and rewritten parts, but since this is a digital copy sent to your email, it''s crisp and clean.) The Secretary shut down her computer at last and then took in a shaky breath. She thought she could still wait for him here and keep up with the changes¡­ and yet it was difficult when he wasn''t around. "Are you sure that I can''t ask you to stay here any longer, Miss He?" Ying Yue He looked up at the man who held a great resemblance to his brother and simply smiled. Li Liang leant against the doorframe with his arms crossed together. Unlike Yang, the man had a more friendly smile on his face¡ªif not, simply nervousness. "You''re the one who''s been at his side for so long, it''ll be very difficult to keep things running smoothly if it''s not only the CEO but his secretary that had to take a sudden leave. What if I offered you a higher compensation package? Would that make you reconsider?" She knew the Li brothers'' relationship was a bit tense. Perhaps it was better that she stayed in the office and ensured that the corporation ran smoothly even while her boss was gone¡­ But she couldn''t do it. "I apologize, I have something else that I need to do, Sir Liang. Maybe when¡ª" She faltered and quickly bowed her head. Ying Yue He grabbed her backpack, strapped them on and proceeded out of the office. Her knees were wobbly, but she managed to walk out on her own without saying anything to the man. Between the two of them, Ying Yue He knew more than her boss'' own brother. Suddenly leaving in the middle of the night? Li Liang might have assumed that it had got to be something about not liking the responsibilities of being a father or other excuses that may have been used by Liang himself¡ªand yet that couldn''t be it, right? The two were definitely not alike. That was something she was definitely sure about. And yet a sudden thought clamored in her mind. She was definitely not the mother, but if Chunhua was the child of her boss¡­ then it meant that Liang was the one who was taking care of her. Was that going well? She wanted to ask the man''s brother. But that meant two things, she needed to walk inside of the office again¡ªwhich wouldn''t look good. She''d look silly and awkward right after strutting out with such posture and confidence. The second thing was this... she knew that it wasn''t her place. "Why the long face?" Ying Yue He swiftly turned and met the gaze of a familiar person. "Haah¡ª!?" Taiga clamped the secretary''s mouth with a hand. "Taiga knows she was being sneaky, but why are you still standing around?" "How long have you been there?" Ying Yue He narrowed her eyes at the Tigress Spirit. She dragged the spirit to the same office kitchen where she once dropped the tea canister¡ªsomething that felt like it had happened ages ago¡ªbut quickly glanced at the Tigress once again. "Have you been stalking me?" Taiga grinned and bared her teeth. "Taiga has only been prowling about lately¡ªbut Taiga didn''t know that you were leaving like Bossman." "I''m not leaving." "But you said¡ª" "This job maybe¡­ and I suppose it appears like I''m leaving this life behind me, huh?" A bitter smile crossed on Ying Yue He''s lips. It quickly vanished away as the Tigress Spirit looked at her with a sullen expression. "You''re not abandoning Bossman are you?" Taiga asked. "There''s no one to abandon! If anything it was¡ª" Ying Yue He clenched her fist and looked away. She struggled and fought down the sudden flare inside of her chest and the bitter taste she swallowed down. "I''ve been here far longer than you have Taiga. If there''s anyone in his life that he had always depended on, it''s me. Even if he had never said anything, somehow, I always kind of knew that I was the one who he could trust and talk to. His family has always been¡­ they were never on good terms no matter how much they appeared on paper. And yet you really think I''d be the one who''d just walk out of his life after everything?" Taiga had frozen over and stood unsurely in front of her. For once, she was at a loss for words and looked like she had been skinned and flayed alive. Ying Yue He had never exactly disliked Taiga or anything. The one who got on her nerves was¡­ Luo Ju Di. And she really didn''t know how to feel about Bai Minghua and then Bo Lifen. Ying Yue He shook her head again. It didn''t matter. Had she really needed to explain herself to this Tigress Spirit who didn''t say anything either after the man had gone? Ying Yue He walked past Taiga without missing another beat. "I have my own plans, so please don''t stick your nose up in my business. Goodbye." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Look forward to more segments of Letters To My CEO from the perspective of other women in Li Yang''s life, both great and small. I''ll probably try combining them with the MC''s own endeavors in Telriah... which is hopefully isn''t too jarring? Chapter 180: Suggestions from the High Priestess + Letters To My CEO #2-3 There was no immediate repercussion when Li Yang and the others returned to the temple. Surely, they had come back when it was late and the High Priestess was not cruel enough to let her people be summoned when most of them had been exhausted in the journey. Instead, it came in the morning. Li Yang and Setsuko were both summoned to meet the High Priestess. The two of them arrived in the same great hall where the woman sat and resided. She was flanked by two servants, and even Mitsuko was around. The Priestess did not meet his eyes at all. "What do you have to say for yourself?" the High Priestess Rhelea eyed the man. "Nothing, High Priestess," he said. "I have no excuse." If they brought him here, regardless of the explanation he may have given, a punishment was still in order. It didn''t matter if there was a legitimate excuse, it would not be a good example if the other women in the temple learned that he got away without any consequences. The older woman frowned, she rested a hand underneath her chin. "I am aware that the two of you have only recently become a Lady and Consort. Your inclusion to the Kin Hunters had only happened recently so I am not sure why you are not familiar with how things run here. But it seems because you are not from here?" Li Yang glanced at Mitsuko. Had she been the one to tell the High Priestess that? "Yes¡­ I''ve only journeyed here recently." he said the truth. How much did Mitsuko divulge from their conversation last night? Had he been blinded by their time together and considered her trustworthy? The fact that Priestess Mitsuko avoided his gaze clearly showed she was hesitant about something. But before the High Priestess Rhelea could say another word, Setsuko spoke up in lieu of him. She also had something to say. And it was strange that it was Li Yang the woman was talking to instead of her. "High Priestess, forgive us. But our short time together means that there are circumstances that Yang and I are still trying to deal with are still being rectified as the both of us deepen our relationship¡­ I was worried about him leaving, but there is also a good reason for it. He was acquiring Beast Cores." Lies of omission. Setsuko managed to do it well, and she confidently stared at the High Priestess. It was her own way of protecting the man that she had bonded with. Especially when a flicker of surprise sprang up within her. The longer they''ve been together, it seemed like it was far easier for her to get in touch with his emotions, no matter how miniscule. "You had no need for any of those Setsuko. The Mashiro Temple has plenty of them and you could have said a word and we would give some to you." High Priestess Rhelea smiled at the woman. "Well, you never mentioned that, High Priestess." Setsuko wouldn''t budge. Rhelea then let out a heavy sigh of disappointment. "I had assumed that this consort of yours had left without permission. All of this could have been avoided if the man left a note, but in most cases he should have sought your permission beforehand. Many of the Priestesses were jeopardized by his actions." Setsuko blinked. She glanced at Li Yang and realized that had been the case, no letters were left at all when it might have been done to reassure her¡ªeven if he really should have told her beforehand. The man noticed Setsuko wavering at the High Priestess'' word. It was as if the older woman planted seeds of doubt in Setsuko''s mind. Li Yang only grimaced. It was true that he forgot about leaving a note, he had expected that Rei would inform Setsuko about his departure, but that didn''t seem to be the case. The rest of the women in the temple didn''t even bat an eye as he left yesterday. Or didn''t exactly notice it? He was unsure. A small frown tugged on Setsuko''s lips. "Are you saying that it would be alright for him to leave, High Priestess Rhelea? And that you would have not sent any Priestesses to retrieve him if that had been the case?" "The map that Rei had given this man was a dangerous place¡ª" There was a slight shake in Setsuko''s voice. "I remember that when I first accepted the letter, it was for me to find a safe place. Included amongst that was a place where Yang is included." "No, dear. What I mean by that¡ªif he had informed you, then you would have stopped him in the first place," the High Priestess said. "It is a miracle that he is alive and it has only been possible through Mitsuko and the others arriving on time to save him." "Save him?" Setsuko asked. "Yes," the High Priestess said. "You''ve been there haven''t you, Setsuko? Or had Mitsuko forced you to stay at the bottom of the mountain?" Rhelea''s red lips pursed and she glanced briefly over at Mitsuko. Priestess Mitsuko didn''t seem to have noticed it at all. Or pretended not to. And this was where the lines blurred. Li Yang and Setsuko knew that was a false statement. He glanced at Setsuko and stopped her from reacting beyond what she already said. Things were better this way. Even if he had no original intention to lie. After all, it was Mitsuko herself who seemed to have reported to the High Priestess last night. Embellishing a report wasn''t strange, some people did it to receive more credit. However, Li Yang didn''t think that was the case with Mitsuko. He needed to talk with her after this. "I''ll let you off with a warning just this once, but be careful next time." the High Priestess decided at last. She glanced at Li Yang and assessed him from head to foot. "I understand that you''re supposed to be a Swordsman, but there will come a time where your sword cannot be swung in a particular environment. In the harshest of winters, your sword can and will turn brittle. That weapon can be snapped at any time." Li Yang smiled briefly at that. "Thank you, I''ll keep your words in mind, High Priestess." "Very well, I expect that you''ll behave this time around and stay in your room for a couple of days. Think of it as a chance to recover rather than a punishment in any way¡ªyou worry your Lady." Rhelea motioned to Setsuko and smiled. "It''s better if you comfort her than playing sword fights with Priestess Mitsuko." There was a veiled threat that lingered beneath those kind words of the High Priestess. He saw right through it. ¡ª-¡ª-¡ª- A Letter To My CEO #2 To Li Yang: It has come to my awareness that you have been away for some time and¡­ your absence has been felt. My great-grandmother has been worried about you not visiting her. And though it vexes me that you left without much of a word¡­ surely there are reasons for this situation and I hope that everything remains well. Yours Truly, Bo Lifen The piece of parchment written down in ink was crumpled and thrown in the trash. "Why am I even doing something like this? I have no idea where he is at all. A text might have worked better, but that''s on the basis that he''d reply." Journaling her emotions and creating a letter for the person she wished to talk with did not sit too well for her at all. It only made her blood boil even further because she knew there would be no response. She was looking for answers and not to console herself. The Tea Sommelier sat in her office alone and stared at a teacup that had grown far too cold. She eyed it with distaste and quickly drank it down. She wasn''t the first to hear the news, far from it. The woman actually had two sources of information, one was the one revealed to the public and the other was from Shen Society. Unfortunately, even they had no answers as to his whereabouts. But even then, the idea that the man would do such a thing gave a bitter feeling in her mouth. She shouldn''t be bothered this much at all. ¡ª-¡ª-¡ª- A Letter To My CEO #3 Bossman! It''s boring for Taiga to do something like this, but I saw your secretary do it¡ªso why not Taiga as well, yeah? I don''t know what happened to you¡­ maybe it was because of Taiga? No, right? Can''t be Taiga''s fault that you suddenly ran away like a mouse. I finally figured out how much you were paying Taiga. She''ll collect this now and it''ll hurt your wallet bad because I haven''t done my job properly. Come back soon Taiga The bodyguard sat awkwardly inside of the Shen Society''s building. Perhaps she should have stayed back at the house and never left it, there was still that kid she needed to look after if the Bossman was gone. And yet the sinking feeling in her stomach never quite actually ebbed away. She laughed with the rest of the cultivators, made jokes and even contemplated heading back to the Shou Temple Sect. Her conversation with Ying Yue He made her stomach churn uneasily. It happened while she was asleep. This was her fault wasn''t it? ¡ª-¡ª- A Voice Call To My CEO #1 "Did you know how hard it was to get ahold of your private number? No. Well, both of us know that we''re busy. I''m supposed to be even busier than you are with all the concerts happening, but I didn''t expect that you''d suddenly take a vacation. At least that''s how the news has depicted it. Are you trying to cure your curse? The least you can do is give me an answer since you included me¡­ so give me a call or something." ¡ª Caller, Bai Minghua / Narissa Narissa sank into her hot tub and frowned. Her long blue hair streamed and floated among the water as she let out a heavy sigh. She submerged to clear her thoughts out. And yet she couldn''t help but keep wondering. After ten seconds, the Mermaid quickly resurfaced back and slapped a hand over her face. "I haven''t seen that screen in awhile now. Surely that might help me find out where he is, right? Come out now." ¡ª-¡ª- A Hastily Drawn Sketch for the Uncle CEO It was a picture of a giant pink fish swimming happily in the air. There was a picture of a child, the man himself in question and finally the child''s own mother. Although it couldn''t be said that it was an accurate picture now. Broken crayons lay on the man''s home office table, forgotten. The young child had quickly scampered off the room at the urgency of the voices . ¡ª-¡ª- The Evil Author''s Note: Hello! This is to inform you about my June 2021 Break. Certainly that''s more tragic than anything. And yet health constraints require me to take an absolute break. Of course, I''ll try to sneak in and write, but better expect a month with no chapters :[ Please don''t kill me, I already feel like I have one foot in the grave. Expect one more update tomorrow. Thank you. Chapter 181: A Priestess Secret (Mitsuko) Mitsuko was a Princess. The only ones who knew this information was the High Priestess herself and the senior Priestesses¡ªa number of them were her attendants. And it was for that very reason that Mitsuko had several advantages in her stay here, and was even held possessively by the High Priestess. The Kingdom of Kaeli was a distant one from Nakazato''s lands, but it was a rich one. And so the words of the High Priestess made perfect sense to Mitsuko herself. "Very well, I expect that you''ll behave this time around and stay in your room for a couple of days. Think of it as a chance to recover rather than a punishment in any way¡ªyou worry your Lady." Rhelea motioned to Setsuko and smiled. "It''s better if you comfort her than playing sword fights with Priestess Mitsuko." But even if the High Priestess said that, it didn''t mean that Mitsuko herself agreed with it. "Yes, I''ll do just as you say." Li Yang nodded. Mitsuko blinked. If a record scratch was present then it would have stopped. Somehow, logic and reason didn''t work together in her mind right now. The man agreed to the conditions set to him? Did he think that it was easy to cast her away like this? Had he thought that he already knew more than enough to not train with her? Or did the man think that she was an untrustworthy woman? Her fingernails dug into her palm but she refused to meet his gaze. Mitsuko didn''t wish to betray the man and yet she couldn''t get away by reporting nothing to the High Priestess. The woman had made her come to this very place last night and demanded for answers. The High Priestess had clutched her face back then and asked with a honeyed smile. "What happened during your search for him? What of the woman that I allowed to escape the temple and chase after you and your group? Did her bloodline burst during the event?" Mitsuko squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe it was just the compulsion of the blood contract that allowed her to fight the effects of the High Priestess'' own power. Somehow like a rag doll grabbed by both arms, the compulsion to say an answer and also keep the man protected tugged at her back then. She had spoken a mixture of truths and lies. Mitsuko revealed that Li Yang himself was not a resident of this country¡ªsomething she and the others had gotten during their attack on the Jin Hunters¡­ She neglected to mention Setsuko''s transformation. The number of tails that had appeared when they were nearly about to fall and the strange sights in the mountain. Otherwise, the High Priestess would have done something drastic. The High Priestess Rhelea enjoyed collecting powerful young women and taking them underneath her wing. It wouldn''t do well if she realized that Setsuko was capable of tapping into her bloodline. "¡ªI''ll dismiss the two of you now." The High Priestess said, but then pursed her lips. "But, I just remembered. Setsuko I have heard that you''ve been doing well in your studies according to Kei." Setsuko half-bowed, her expression controlled. "Thank you, I have been working hard." "Because of the beast cores, am I right?" Rhelea tapped the corner of her lips. "A-ah, yes." "You know that they''re not that necessary for someone like you. The innate Ao that''s present in your body is unimaginable to many." A sultry smile crossed on Rhelea''s lips. "It is something to be envied for already, but I suppose you might be experiencing some case of wanting to keep absorbing beast cores?" "... perhaps?" Setsuko scratched the back of her head. Mitsuko''s nerves sparked at that moment. That was the wrong answer and yet she couldn''t even say a word¡ª! The High Priestess finally said it. "Maybe there is an Ao-related condition that''s afflicting your body." "I''m fine! I''m fine, High Priestess," Setsuko said. She had now finally realized where the conversation was going. "There is nothing for you to worry about at all." "As the High Priestess it is up to me to check on it. We do not wish to see your Ao''s core experience an atrophy or degradation. Perhaps later once your studies are finished, I''ll ask for you to come here in the evening. I will see you by then." "High Priestess¡ªshe hasn''t actually consumed them at all. That was a lie," Li Yang said. The High Priestess'' gaze narrowed at him. "Oh, how come?" He glanced at Setsuko and had an unreadable expression on his face. Mitsuko thought she understood what was about to happen¡ª Li Yang straightened up and addressed her. "The reason for it is because the two of us wish to redistribute it among the Kin Hunters. As you may already know, High Priestess, the living conditions and the rate of death is high among Hunters and it is for that reason that we wish to give them a better life." "And you wish to help them with the resources of the Mashiro Temple Sect?" "Yes." Rhelea glanced down at him and shook her head. Her lips curled into a brazen smile. "These resources are meant for the Priestesses living here. There is not much to go around when your men already know how difficult it is to acquire even a single one." "That is why we''ve been trying to acquire them through legitimate means," Li Yang said. "Legitimate?" The High Priestess asked. "You''ve only been taking them from the other Priestesses here." The man did not waver at the woman''s words. "I do not think Rei and the others from whom we have gotten them disagreed with what we bartered with them. Transactions like those have no problems if you give something of equal value. And when that was not enough, I ventured outside of the Sacred Forest for the sake of acquiring more." "That''s¡ª" "The original matter was your concern about Lady Setsuko''s conditions, is it not, High Priestess?" Li Yang smiled briefly. "Thus this conversation can be ended now that I''ve told you the truth. Setsuko has not absorbed or consumed the Beast Cores." "Yes, but how will you prove that your testimony is true?" Rhelea rested her fingers underneath her chin. "Unless I were to see the undistributed Beast Cores myself, I do not think one can trust your words." "Then I will give them once I have arranged them properly," Li Yang said. "If it will appease your already troubled heart at the lack of Beast Cores, I''ll even return some of them back to their previous owners." "You''ll do that?" the High Priestess frowned. "I thought you and Setsuko here were concerned about your former group. But now you choose to return some of them?" Mitsuko could already feel the tenseness in the air. It was one thing to speak with the High Priestess in a friendly manner, but to talk her down was another thing. Li Yang''s offer was like a slap in the face, even though it was about what the High Priestess had said. He continued. "Yes, after all¡ªthat is your second concern, right? Your concern for the Priestesses that have given up their Beast Cores because of our trade. I understand that the state of lacking has made it necessary to hoard them." The High Priestess smiled at him, albeit it was twitching. "Ah, well¡ªI''ll just see the Beast Cores and check on them. You did say that a transaction has already occurred between you and the other Priestesses. I''ll let them deal with the consequences of giving theirs up." "If that is what you''ve decided, High Priestess," Li Yang said. "We''ll collect them immediately for the inspection." "Go." That was all the High Priestess said before both Setsuko and Li Yang departed the great hall. Mitsuko finally watched the man leave with a sense of some begrudged respect. She had almost thought that the Beast Cores that he acquired would be given up to save Setsuko. The fact that he had been willing to risk it to protect Setsuko was one thing. To make an exit from this hall without losing a single Beast Core was another thing entirely. . . . When the two of them returned to their room, a Priestess was waiting for them at their door. The green haired woman quickly bowed down in front of him. Li Yang stared down at Priestess Rei. She looked at him with an awkward smile. "My apologies for bringing you to trouble. That was not my intention at all. You know that, Yang." Setsuko narrowed her eyes at the Priestess, but Li Yang shrugged. "I was the one who asked for the map and a place with better Beast Cores. Whether or not you believe that I''ll be going there is not relevant to me." "Still¡­ It''s not right that you''ve gotten in trouble because of me." Rei motioned to herself. "I''d like to make it up to you if I can." Li Yang thought it was odd that the Priestess was suddenly apologetic. Then again, most of the women in the temple seemed to adhere to a strict moral code they honored, so he cleared his throat. "Do not beat yourself over this. I have not been renounced or exiled, I am only expected to stay in my quarters and not meet with the Priestess Mitsuko." "This is for my sake, Yang. I do not wish to burden myself with the idea that I have done wrong to you," Rei said. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Tell me, have you managed to collect a good number of beast cores while you were in the mountains?" However, another thing Li Yang had figured out was the loyalty of the women to the High Priestess. Even Mitsuko had told the High Priestess about their conversation from last night. While there were some inconsistencies, it still meant that it was difficult to fully rely on anyone here except for himself. He didn''t think he should trust her. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: This is it guys! Phew, the last update before my break. Thank you for the support. On another more book note, the revelation of Mitsuko being a Princess was slightly hinted at in Chapter 144. Well, it''s more of a miniature Chekhov''s gun than a hint. But yeah, I''ll see you guys around! Chapter 182: Token Gestures and Words "This is for my sake, Yang. I do not wish to burden myself with the idea that I have done wrong to you," Rei said. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Tell me, have you managed to collect a good number of beast cores while you were in the mountains?" "I don''t think I owe you any answers in regards to that," Li Yang said. Rei and Setsuko blinked at his response. "... Hah, it''s been quite some time since you''ve been here, but you''re the same as ever." Rei stifled a laugh and shook her head. "You''re still as rude as the day I first met you." Setsuko glared at Rei. "Well, he''s right. He doesn''t owe you anything, and you''re the one prying." "For the love of all things godly and good, it was a harmless question!" "Regardless, I won''t say anything." Li Yang said. "So it''s either you went there and got a single core, or have too many to mention." Rei stared him up from head to toe. She took in the sight of him garbed in robes and with no single appearance of any bags. "Although there''s none on your person right now." Neither of them had seen a singular beast core in Li Yang''s hands, and Setsuko even found him on the Frostborne Mountain Peaks. While he told the High Priestess Rhelea that he and Setsuko gathered beast cores to help the Kin Hunters, nobody from the group even saw one beast core from him. Li Yang shrugged. "I''ll leave those assumptions with you, but I''ll be heading inside now. Let''s go, Setsuko." Setsuko''s expression flickered. "Oh, about that..." As much as she wanted to go inside their room now and relax after their talk with the High Priestess, she needed to prepare for the competition. While it seemed insignificant after all that happened, she still promised to take part. "I think Setsuko here needs to attend her classes." Rei pointed out with a shrug of her own. She gave Setsuko a smile. "You can leave now." "For someone who''s trying to apologize, it doesn''t seem like you''re very sorry." Setsuko told Priestess Rei. "But, fine¡­ let me just say goodbye." Without waiting for another second''s delay, she reached up and seized Li Yang''s face and promptly landed a kiss on his lips. After a couple of moments, Setsuko pulled away and scurried away. Her cheeks were tinged a bright red while she ran off to head to her classes and left Li Yang. Priestess Rei rolled her eyes and muttered, "Show off." The kiss caught him off guard, but it wasn''t unpleasant. Quite the opposite, actually. He could still feel the lingering taste of her lips on his. It made him smile slightly as he watched Setsuko disappear into the hallway. It was enough to ease his nerves a bit from the tense situation with the High Priestess earlier. Li Yang stepped inside of his room and promptly looked back once at the green-haired Priestess. "I have to get going, but I accept your apologies. I still need to prepare the beast cores for High Priestess Rhelea''s inspection, so I''ll see you around." "I meant what I said!" Priestess Rei reached out and grabbed ahold of his sleeve. "I want to make it up to you." "That''s unnecessary. I already got what I wanted, thank you." Once he tugged his robe''s sleeve away from Rei''s grip on him, Li Yang shut the door. When the door was shut, the look on his face seemed to shift. It was like a switch had been flipped. Li Yang''s expression turned blank and his eyes narrowed as he headed over to the table with his few belongings on top. Li Yang''s business suit and shoes were carefully folded and a stark reminder of what he left behind. No matter how pleasant some things were here: Being free from the Heavens constantly parading him with Missions and his newfound connection with Setsuko... he still needed to get back. Already, Li Yang knew the Panda was out searching for him, so maybe it was better to beat the creature back on earth. Even if he were to return, at least it would be on his own terms. Just that slight difference made it easier to walk back to hell when it was out of his own volition. Li Yang opened up his Inventory and took the beast cores out, stacking each of them up based on their appropriate size. Their current element affinity mattered little¡ªwhich was all frost¡ªbecause he just needed the energy of Ao condensed in each of them. [ Inventory ] [ Beast Core Small x 48 ] [ Beast Core Medium x26 ] [ Beast Core Large x 13 ] [ Beast Core Titan x 7 ] "This isn''t enough for the World Warper¡­ but it''s too much to show either during the inspection. Maybe just five cores are enough? I doubt they expect me to bring that much?" Li Yang said to himself. Even though Li Yang didn''t want to admit it, he should have taken out some beast cores last night for the Priestesses to see. At least it wouldn''t make people question where he carried said beast cores... but surely if Mashiro Temple''s Sacred Forest had pocket dimensions, then a bag of holding wasn''t strange? Excuses were to be made. It was better that the Priestesses consider him weak, and he still considered himself as weak. He hadn''t even been able to complete the System''s Achievement task while he was in the mountains. The screen in front of him was a grim reminder. [ Rampage of a Beast - II ] Go on a killing spree and defeat two-hundred fifty enemies. Host has killed ninety-four enemies. (94/250) Maybe ninety-four was a good number, and he collected other items from the creatures and monsters he killed... but it still wasn''t good enough. Li Yang sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He counted off ten beast cores, all small ones, enough for him to carry in his hands. The rest were left inside of his Inventory for later absorption. He returned to the grand hall of the High Priestess for the inspection. A tiny gesture to assuage their fears. But it was nothing but a token at most. Chapter 183: Time Was Almost Up Once again, Li Yang returned to the halls of the High Priestess and found himself trapped in a conversation. Save for Priestess Mitsuko being around in the hall as a bystander, it was actually getting nauseous from being in the same room as the High Priestess. This time around, a green sickly haze erupted from the sinuous fingers of the High Priestess as she spewed out something from her hookah. She sucked in deeply before letting out a trail of green rings from her mouth. Whether or not it was intentional, the High Priestess Rhelea shifted from using mind-altering smoke and fumes to just a subtle fragrance that gave him a headache. His sharp senses were now being turned against him. And he couldn''t even use Ao in her presence to avoid detection. He only scrunched up his nose. It was as if she was spurring him to use his skills but that was if she ever had a whiff of his true abilities. Only Mitsuko herself knew that, but¡­ that was where their blood contract appeared. So perhaps this was only the High Priestess''s choice? Li Yang could only hope that much. "How far up did you ascend?" Rhelea asked him with a smile. Her gaze lingered to the ten beast cores in front of her, and she quickly noted down their quality with her aura. Compared to the Mashiro Temple''s own cultivated beasts that grew beast cores, those from the Frostborne Mountains were more pure in quality. Either it meant that their quality increased suddenly from the last time she visited¡­ or this man went up far higher than any normal person could. Someone from another country? If Rhelea were to believe Mitsuko, then she was a fool. Prophecies foretold of his return and the goddess herself descending to grace them after a millennium. Whether the time was off by a couple of centuries, High Priestess Rhelea would never let the consideration that she was in front of Aseroth''s incarnation. "Not too high. I didn''t want my blood to freeze," Li Yang said. Rhelea raised her brow. "Is that so?" It seemed like the man in front of her did not know how the Ao''s purity told much about the truth of the matter. Or he was simply lying through his teeth. "Mhmm." He nodded. Li Yang''s blank face was unreadable. It was always a little annoying to the much older woman when men like him had little to say or respond. Maybe it was him who got on her nerves. Perhaps if Li Yang had been any uglier or scarred, Rhelea would relish throwing the Beast Cores at his face. But his good looks also saved him from such treatment. "Well, you have worked hard in obtaining them and unscathed too." The High Priestess leaned forward and interlaced her fingers together. Both men and even women who came in her presence fell prey to her tantalizing skills, but there was a lack of response in him. "It was because of my skills¡­ Priestess Mitsuko has also been a good spar partner," Li Yang said. His gaze shifted away from the High Priestess''s exposed bosom to Mitsuko''s face. She was staring right past him, as if he didn''t exist at all. Maybe it was just the smoke that altered her senses. But he still wanted to give where credit was due. Even if she couldn''t hear him. High Priestess Rhelea batted her eyelids. "You speak too highly of Mitsuko. If I were mistaken, then I would have believed she was your Lady and not Setsuko. I will pretend that I never heard your words just this once, but you need to show your loyalty properly." "I am," Li Yang said. "And that''s by spending time with another woman?" "I don''t think there''s anybody else who I can spend time with?" Li Yang lifted a brow. "Everyone here is a woman. It can''t be helped. I am doing my best to support Lady Setsuko''s desire to control her unlocked ability while also staying useful and sharp." High Priestess Rhelea''s lips twitched. "Yes, nobody else but you is the man here. Quite lucky. I''m quite sure that a great number of the ladies here are only looking for the opportunity to quench their curiosity with you. You must stay strong and uphold your vows." There was no compulsion forcing him to speak up, and yet he wanted to say that he wasn''t affected by any of that? His jaw tightened for a moment as he thought about his time here. While the idea of monogamy might have made his actions with both Leila and Mitsuko questionable, Li Yang couldn''t measure himself in these lenses anymore. Right or wrong. He was both someone trapped in this harem''s game and yet still actively pursuing it for his own benefit. Li Yang stopped his train of thoughts and looked back at the High Priestess. Whether it was intentional or not, she had forgotten all about the beast cores and simply focused on engaging with him. Goading or curiosity, none of that mattered to him. "...If you''d like to purchase the Beast Cores I brought, it would also be appreciated," He said at last. Although his nose now adapted to the obnoxious and overbearing fragrance, Li Yang wanted to leave now. He needed to absorb the Beast Cores and power up the World Warper. Setsuko was aware of the situation right from the start, Li Yang spoke it with her when he first unlocked her core. Pairing that with the recent message from the Panda and the casket in ice in Frostborne Mountain Peaks. His time here was almost up. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Welcome back! It seems like all of the Privilege Chapters suddenly got freed so here we are again lol. Tier 1¡­ and I need to fill it up again because yes money helps me stay alive xD But if you bought this Privilege right now on July 1¡­ you must have unlocked this chapter for 1 coin. Enjoy the Evil Panda Promo while it lasts! Chapter 184: A Princess Concern and Wish Li Yang already knew that the circumstances in this world were different from earth. One of them was the mere fact that the High Priestess sat on a throne and platform that elevated herself from him and anyone in the hall. Was this really what it meant to be a High Priestess? She acted like a god in this world. Two majestic pillars stood on either side of her as she looked down on him. "Buy the Beast Cores from you?" the High Priestess'' lips curled into a smile as if he was telling a silly joke or speaking to someone who was lesser than human. "Yes." Li Yang raised a brow. He sometimes forgot how matriarchy dictated this world too much. High Priestess Rhelea rested a hand underneath her chin and looked at him. "After everything that happened of late, you still want to sell the Mashiro Temple something? It''s as if you cannot even remember how much we''ve been good to you for the duration of your stay here." He blinked and stifled a snicker. A little while ago, this woman acted offended about being offered Beast Cores and now she was trying to get the five Beast Cores he presented her? It was a little amusing how fast the High Priestess'' tune changed in the event of seeing something she wanted for herself. Li Yang eventually nodded. "While it is true that my stay here has been provided upon... there is the fact that I could also bring up how Mashiro Temple and the High Priestess herself was the one that requested Setsuko to come here¡ª" High Priestess Rhelea''s gaze narrowed at him. "And that is for her own sake¡ª" "And so I will just leave this Beast Cores to you for the benefit of the temple." Li Yang finished. There was the chance to feel good if he were to win this verbal argument, and yet he couldn''t be bothered to do so when other things took much more precedence. Some circumstances and situations had more at stake than this small occasion. And maybe she shared the same thoughts. While displeasure was in the face of the High Priestess, she eventually relented. "You are now dismissed then." Li Yang soon returned back to his quarters. Those Beast Cores in his Inventory weren''t going to absorb themselves. ¡ª- Mitsuko stared at the back of Li Yang before the doors finally shut as he left. Somehow she felt a certain hollowness in her chest as she stared at the five medium Beast Cores that lay in front of the High Priestess. Each one of them glowed with a frost vibrancy that made even the air in this hallway feel chilly. A combination of ice and wind elements stored in a single Beast Core was an outstanding feat. Most Beast Cores were only attuned to one element, and yet the man gave a dual-element core without even batting an eye. "It seems like this Consort and Swordsman of Setsuko is much more skilled than he lets on," the High Priestess said. "Y-yes, High Priestess." Mitsuko kept her head down. "Skills in sword fighting and this so-called Kin Hunter group¡­ hm, I want these people eliminated. The less people that they have connections to from the outside, the better for us." the High Priestess decided. Priestess Mitsuko raised her head in alarm. "I¡­ I don''t think that''s a good choice, High Priestess." "And why is that, Your Highness?" High Priestess Rhelea asked. The older woman used honorifics, but there was no respect to her title as much of it being more of a pet name. She turned to one of the other ladies. "Get me those Beast Cores and carry them to the treasure chambers." One of the other Priestesses in the hall stepped forward and brought the Beast Cores out. "...it might make both Setsuko and Li Yang more inclined to seek themselves out of the temple. There is nothing wrong with keeping the status quo as it is and doling out small punishments that keeps them in check here." "Is that your suggestion, Princess?" "Yes, High Priestess. But of course the decision is always yours," Mitsuko said. "Hmph, maybe I''ll listen to your counsel just this one time." the High Priestess smiled at her. "After all, it is quite rare for you to speak up, Mitsuko." "It would be an honor, High Priestess." "Then we will see about that, maybe once you uncover more about this man''s identity. What nation holds a regular man that can withstand the cold in Frostborne Mountain Peaks and fall down avians of ice and wind?" "Yes, High Priestess." Why did things turn out to be a situation like this one? Mitsuko was familiar with the predatory look on the High Priestess'' face. Akin to a snake finding a rat to latch her fangs on¡­ that was what it felt like to Mitsuko right now. This was something Li Yang could have avoided if he chose to stay silent. The Princess of Kaeli Kingdom wanted to think that the man did the right thing by giving something to appease the High Priestess¡­ and yet Mitsuko''s mind only focused on what he told her. Li Yang needed to get back to his home and she had a feeling that these Beast Cores were related to it. Perhaps if she stayed silent then there would be none of this. And yet similar to her blood contract with the man, she also had one with the High Priestess. Mitsuko had no choice but to report things that were of ''importance'' to the High Priestess and she spoke about how Li Yang did not come from this nation rather than give up information about Setsuko''s complete transformation. Did he hate her now? It was hard to tell from his expression, but his words earlier about his sword ability getting better with her help was enough to make her feel a bit touched. But he only said it to avoid arousing suspicion, didn''t he? Or was it really for her sake? Mitsuko did not want to color her assessment of the situation by a thought like that. However, even just considering the fact that maybe he did this to not endanger anyone else made her a little emotional. A tiny bit frustrated. How was Li Yang going to escape from this place if he kept making himself a valuable individual to keep? Now it wasn''t just Setsuko that the High Priestess held interest in, but partly in him as well. ...If he was going to take Setsuko with him, then there would be a heavy price to pay. . . . And if he still continued on with his plan to leave and succeeded¡­ What would happen to Mitsuko after that? It was an unnecessary thought for her to have. Did she expect herself to be brought along by Li Yang simply because they kissed? It wasn''t as if the two of them were that close simply because he spent most of his time by training with her in this temple. But what if he were to actually invite her? She allowed herself to savor the thought even just once before it was dashed away. Priestess Mitsuko couldn''t leave this place even if she were to assist the man in leaving Mashiro Temple with Setsuko. Mitsuko chewed on her bottom lip. If anything, what mattered was not getting caught. Chapter 185: The Future Cant Wait There were multiple schemes and machinations behind Li Yang''s back. It was as if the entire world pinned a dartboard on him and it was up for anyone''s grabs to strike him. Whether it couldn''t be helped or might have been prevented, both divine and human¡ªTelhrian actually¡ªschemes were focused on him and it was already in motion. And yet the man didn''t care about any of that. If he was aware of such plots, then he would only sigh and make preparations for them. But for now, there were already a lot of things that Li Yang needed to focus on. While he was aware that he did not come any closer to the ice casket back in the mountains last night¡­ Li Yang did not feel good about seeing it at all. There were simply some situations that spelled out trouble and danger even without his intervention. And realizing how Mitsuko didn''t mention Setsuko''s transformation increased his wariness. "Yang!" a young woman''s voice cried out. He turned back and met the gaze of Priestess Leila. Whether it was a little strange or not, somehow it was as if Leila recognized him by his footsteps. She ran up to him from out of her room, with the young woman only wearing sparse and flimsy night robes. It was as if she hadn''t left her room since last night. Priestess Leila even had an unruly expression on her face. "You''re not going to be kicked out or punished, right, Yang?" She was direct to the point as always. "No," Li Yang said. Did the Priestesses here really think that he would get expelled or something more torturous for leaving the temple on his own? Now it made sense why the others earlier cowered when he passed them. Only a select few disregarded the social hierarchy and politics because of him. Priestess Leila lowered her head and sighed in relief. "That''s good, I was afraid that Elder Sister Rei''s decision to give you the map would cause you to be chased out of the temple." "I see¡­ well you can see that I''m fine as I can be. If there''s any punishment, it''s staying in my room and keeping to myself," Li Yang said. Not that was actually a punishment for him. "O-oh, well¡­" Leila''s gaze flickered up back to him. "If you''d like some company¡­" Li Yang placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "Thank you for the offer, but it''s better that you focus on the responsibilities as a Priestess. You haven''t attended your morning lessons at all, have you?" "I¡­ I didn''t want to see Elder Sister Kei." There was a bothered expression on Leila''s face. "She scares me, it''s like¡­ she''d probably be mean to me after last night." Li Yang sighed inwardly, but nodded. "Well, that''s your choice. I''ll leave you now, excuse me." He moved past the blonde Priestess, entered the Inner Court Hallway of Mashiro Temple and then stepped back into his room. Such things were placed behind him as he focused on his prime objectives. Perhaps he would have been a lot more sympathetic and grateful to Leila, except he was running on borrowed time. Thankfully, Li Yang only gave up a small portion of his Beast Cores for a token gift to the Mashiro Temple. It was true that they did accept him and Setsuko here, and Li Yang disliked having debts of gratitude. Now it was time to finally begin. [ Inventory ] [ Beast Core Small x 43 ] [ Beast Core Medium x26 ] [ Beast Core Large x 13 ] [ Beast Core Titan x 7 ] He couldn''t take a break and there was no time for any more mistakes. Li Yang no longer wished to be caught like a deer freezing from a car''s headlights. If the Heavens¡ªand the world he currently was in¡ªall wanted a piece of him, then they were welcome to try. The CEO also had his own plans. Li Yang didn''t regret his choice of accepting the Patch Updates where he was given the chance to take control back by a dubious person who had similar goals as him. He was away from the direct gaze of the Heavens and had also grown stronger. The status screen in front of him was a good reminder of how far he had come. [ Name: Li Yang ] [ Gender: Male ] [ Age: 28 ] [ Cultivation: Qi Condensation Tenth Stage (10/9) ] [ Constitution: None ] [ Bloodline: None ] [ Roots: Null Roots (Special) ] [ Fame: Olympian Corp: ?#1! ] [ Fame: Mashiro Temple: 460 ] [ Fame: Kaeli Kingdom: 89 ] [ Sect: Mashiro Temple Sect (Temporary) ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Harem Cultivation (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak - Divine Grade Comprehension: Intermediate (22/42) Stage: Qi Condensation (10/9) [ Would The Host Like To Move To Foundation Building? ] And yet there was so much more to reach. While he avoided direct battles from individuals stronger than him, he was focused on building up better conduits for the energy of the world to flow in. "No." He once again dismissed the prompt and focused on the Inventory. [ Absorb All Eighty Nine Various Beast Core Into Your Body? ] [ If Unable To Absorb, It Will Be Calamitous To Your Soul ] [ Warning: Host Is Only At Tenth Stage of Qi Condensation ] The man took a seat and started absorbing the Ao Energy from all of the available Beast Core as he recounted the lessons that both Setsuko and even Mitsuko once discussed with him. If someone else besides Li Yang were to attempt absorbing too much¡ªno, just being in the mere presence of too many Beast Cores¡ªit was enough to affect the aura of a Priestess and bring it to uncontrollable levels and damage them. It was there that having Null Roots helped him a lot. [ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Medium Ice Beast Core Into Your Body ] [ Purity: 90% Blue Core Ice Golem ] [ Condition: Critical Sub-Zero Rate of the Host''s Body (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] [ Condition: Sturdiness of Blue Ice Golem (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] [ Congratulations! You Have Absorbed The Titan Ice Beast Core Into Your Body ] [ Purity: 99% Ice Frost Wyvern ] [ Condition: Mutation of the Ao Energy Core (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Negative Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] [ Condition: Ray of Frostbreath (Negated) ] [ Individual''s Roots Has Rejected The Positive Effect Of Absorbing High-Purity Stone ] Countless other similar notifications then streamlined past him. Chapter 186: System Error, Glitches and Panda Bugs It happened during the absorption of the Beast Cores¡ªmaybe he had overestimated himself and thought it would work fine. Li Yang might have also blamed the System or the Patch Update, or even a certain Peach when a glaring nonsensical error flashed in his vision. // System Running Program // run-time error #include[harem.c] void main() { int c = 89, abs = n/a; // wrong logic // cores is absorbed by n/a, // so this program abnormally terminates abs = c / n/a; printf("resut = %", abs); } [ Null Roots Processing Error ] [ System Adjusting To Host''s Turbulent Conditions ] [ Searching for a Solution¡­ ] [ Calculating Solution Rejection Possibility ] [ Possibility of rejection is at 0.005% ] [ Loss of State & Consciousness In 5¡­ 4... 3¡­ 2¡ª ] Li Yang blinked once and then lost consciousness for a second¡ªbut quickly recovered from the System''s overload and frowned. That was until he realized that the light filtering through the window was now already fading away. And what felt like less than a second to him was actually more than what he expected. He groaned for once and finally summoned the status screen for the results. [ Congratulations You Have Absorbed All Eighty Nine Beast Cores! ] [ Host Was Temporarily Placed In Unconscious State During Absorption ] [ Spiritual Roots Condition Discovery Advancements ] [ System Transformed Ao Energy to Innate Energy for World Warper ] Li Yang rubbed his forehead and sighed. If he had attempted to absorb that many Beast Cores around other individuals then it would have become a liability. Regardless, at least things turned out good if he truly had absorbed all of the Beast Cores. He then checked the amount of energy he needed and hoped it was enough. [ New Zone Warper ] Access different worlds in different planes according to the Host''s current strength levels. You Have Used The New Zone Warper Once. System Currently Gathering Energy For Next Jump (94.5% Charged) "Great, just a little more." Li Yang muttered to himself. It made him regret that he gave away the five Beast Cores earlier even when they were all small ones¡ªbut it seemed like he only needed a couple of more. It then reminded him of Setsuko''s promise. There was a tournament or rather a small competition she spoke of amongst those in the Inner Court of Mashiro Temple''s Priestesses. While Li Yang initially wanted to let her keep it for herself¡ªeven though it might have been overkill considering her bloodline¡ªit was now a necessity unless he were to try and return to the Frostborne Mountain Peaks. "I could just attempt to get one of those grown in the Sacred Forest''s beasts¡­ it wouldn''t matter much once I''m gone anyway," Li Yang said. But even saying those words made him feel displeased at himself. It was a logical decision that benefited him the most without any concern for those around him¡ªand he made those, but sometimes, or perhaps more often than not¡­ he also made irrational choices. And he was thinking about Setsuko. The actuality of him leaving this world was now becoming a reality, and yet did he ever consider what might happen to Setsuko? He''d have to leave her behind. As far as he could tell, the Patched System only took him away and not Taiga when he first accepted it at the rooftop that night. Thus it was more natural to accept the idea that this World Warper was for only one person to use¡­ He sighed and summoned the main screen of his System. [ Welcome to the Patched System ] Personal Status Main Quests Achievement Quests Companion Interface New Zone Warper Points Shop And then he moved on to one of the interfaces. [ Companion Interface ] No man is an island! Sometimes the power of friendship and bonds can help the Host move mountains rather than being alone. The System helps create this power through the chance to make your companions stronger, or have them empower you. Choose Companions wisely. The way that the System phrased it was not lost upon him, but he shifted his attention to the small list of people in his harem. Host: Li Yang aka CEO Companionship Type: Harem-based Individuals: Narissa (Harem Member) (3 Important Unread Notifications!) Setsuko (Energy Bonding - Awakened) Before he could look at Setsuko¡ªthe glaring red color shaped seashell similar to alert notifications on apps made him stare at Narissa''s name. Though the Mermaid introduced herself as Bai Minghua, a twenty-three year old idol in their world¡­ her true Name was provided upon by the System. And she found a way to contact him? Li Yang quickly checked it first. A blurry image of a blue-haired woman alone in her jacuzzi first came up and was quickly followed by two text messages¡ª Narissa: What the hell¡ªit had a camera? [ Narissa Has Consumed Maximum Energy Points To Contact You ] The CEO blinked for a moment before shaking his head and stifling an amused chuckle. While the fact that an Official Harem Member seemed to have gained access to a System like him¡ªthe specifics of which he did not know¡ªit was a sudden breath of fresh air¡­ or bubble? To see a message back from earth. But it didn''t actually change his situation much did it? The sound of a door swinging open quickly made him look up in surprise. "Setsuko?" It wasn''t her who welcomed herself in the room. . . . Approximately Sixteen to Nineteen Hours Prior Tremendous energies blown once across the entire continent and roused sleeping individuals awake. Now more subtle energies coming from the same source (Setsuko) dispersed once again, serving as a catalyst. A sleeping beauty tore her fist through solid ice. The crystal bier scattered around the precipitous slope, a rain of hail and fractal that poured down on creatures of the peak. The woman''s mere presence cast an unmagnanimous aura that pervaded around the entire peak of the mountain. And yet instead of a Goddess that loved her world and was overjoyed at her return. She sounded unhappy. "Fuckin¡ª" Well, it didn''t wake in the most pleasant of circumstances. The Individual grabbed at her face once, but then started grabbing at her lustrous hair. "Bitch!" While Bao hadn''t managed to kick Aurora into another millennium of sleep, the two of them both grabbed the vessel for power and were now sharing it. ¡ª- Author''s Note: Whoosh. New Tier. July 2, 2021. Thank you for reading today''s chapter! Strange situations. Vague notes. Chapter 187: The Kitagawa Twins * Li Yang looked away from the screen and was presented with the sight of the Kitagawa twins. He frowned slightly. "I would have at least expected a knock before the two of you can walk in here." "Why?" Kei arched one of her brows as her pink lips pursed into an amused twitch. "Are we going to walk in on you doing something nasty?" "Kei!" Rei quickly tossed a look at her sister. Compared to her calmer twin, Rei''s face held a bright red tinge at the mere mention of the idea. While it was normal for Kei to be refreshingly blunt at times, it didn''t mean that she could say something like this to Li Yang. "I was asking, you know?" Kei rolled her eyes and then glanced at Li Yang up and down. The CEO sighed inwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "There''s something called privacy even amongst the people living in Mashiro Temple, or was I mistaken about it?" "We were knocking earlier but you never answered so we let ourselves in," Kei said. "Oh." Li Yang frowned. "I still don''t think that warrants¡ª" "None of that matters now that we''re here." Kei shrugged. Rei glowered at him. "We thought something happened to you! You could have said something if you didn''t want visitors at all instead of letting us worry about you." "That was because I was asleep earlier," Li Yang said. "You missed lunch too." Rei clicked her tongue. "At first we assumed that maybe you just wanted to avoid attention¡­ but that wasn''t still right, you know? You can''t keep yourself holed in here." "Even when the High Priestess herself ordered it?" Li Yang asked her. It was a little challenging to ask such a question when the woman was the highest authority in this temple and it showed in Rei''s face perfectly. "So you stayed in here because you were listening to the High Priestess'' words?" Rei sighed and glanced at Kei. "Even Setsuko hasn''t been able to check on you because she''s been cooped in an arena, right sis?" Kei smiled thinly. "Yes, she and the other Priestesses vying for the Inner Court are all preoccupied for how long until they can last in the forest. The last five survivors become the one who are accepted in." "What? Survivors?" Li Yang wondered where Setsuko was, but he never expected for them to tell him where she was currently located. All he knew was that Setsuko was supposed to undergo a competition and Li Yang was expected to stay here like some dog and wait for her to come back. Kei raised a brow. "Did you not know that their lives are on the line for admission?" Rei quickly waved a hand to dismiss her sister''s words. "The ones who become injured are quickly taken out of the arena and are treated¡ªbut it truly is dangerous to compete if you are caught unprepared." "I see¡­ she never told me anything." Li Yang rubbed his forehead. Setsuko only told her about the prizes and never the inherent dangers and risks involved in joining the competition. Maybe it was because she was confident in her abilities. "I hope she doesn''t take it too far." "Take it too far?" Kei blinked and turned to him stunned. "Her? You''re more worried about her doing too much than her getting hurt during the test?" Li Yang remembered the test in the forest that Mitsuko forced him to undertake. If the arena was located in the Sacred Forest''s extended dimensions then he believed that Setsuko would be alright. More than alright. What mattered was restraining her powers and not catching too much attention from the superior Priestesses in the temple. Speaking of which, Li Yang looked up at the twins and furrowed his brows. "What do you guys want from me anyway?" "Took you long enough to ask that question." Kei snorted and stepped forward to him. "I am sure that you are aware of what happened last night during your little excursion, right?" Li Yang glanced at Rei''s face and remembered her apology earlier. While she promised him that she wanted to make it up to him¡ªthe CEO''s instincts were rather tense and tight about this meeting. Kei Kitagawa grabbed his shoulder and slowly pushed him down. Or at least attempted to do so. Her gaze was sharp and even critical, but her breathing was slightly heavy and damp. "You''ve got my sister reprimanded by the High Priestess, even hated by her own precious junior and that''s all your fault you know?" "That wasn''t my intention¡ª" Li Yang began, but then found the Priestess shoving him down further into the bed. The mattress beneath them sank more as it acclimated itself to her weight on him. In a couple of seconds, Kei Kitagawa had her legs on either side of him. She pinned him down and smiled coolly at him. "Does that really change anything though? Whether you wanted it or not¡ªit still happened and I am unhappy about it. You can''t simply talk down to my sister like this." Li Yang sighed and glanced up at her face. He was letting her hover above him, but if she were to attempt on doing anything else then he might be forced to throw her off and he wasn''t going to be sorry about it at all. Kei''s green hair fell over her face and framed it in a strange light. Her golden eyes were glowing and squinted in frustration, but she was still in an otherwise seductive position. Now wasn''t really a good time for him to enjoy the otherwise sensuous act she was pulling on him. More than that¡ªwhy wasn''t her twin doing anything at all? Li Yang glanced over her shoulders and found Rei frozen in place. Somehow she was in the position to act to help him or her sister, but she was instead hesitating about what she was supposed to do. "My sister wanted to apologize and make it up to you¡ªbut you still refused her? Do you think you can get away from this by simply being a consort of Setsuko and having an alluring body?" Chapter 188: The Kitagawa Twins ** Women were strange creatures. Li Yang wished he could understand what ran in this woman''s mind right now? How did Kei Kitagawa think that anything she was doing right now was intimidating to him? A part of him even wanted to thank her for the compliment. ''Alluring body'' spoke volumes about how she viewed him merely by his appearances. But even then¡ªbeing on top of him was clearly not doing the very thing that Kei thought would happen. Li Yang wasn''t intimidated at all, and perhaps any other men on earth might have grown a hard on from their intimate position. So why would she even do this? Li Yang attempted to factor in the situation of Telhriah and came to a quick conclusion on why Kei Kitawa might have assumed that he''d end up wriggling and squirming in fear or petrified by the fact that she had the upper ground. He could imagine most men in this world would tremble by being beneath a woman who used Ao. It meant that a man could eventually be crushed if he displeased one, akin to a black widow devouring its mate¡ªbut it couldn''t be the same for himself. Li Yang was much stronger than he let on, however, if he could get away without lifting a finger then it was the better path. He cleared his throat, "No, I don''t think merely being consorted with Setsuko allowed me a free pass from being an insensitive jerk¡ªbut I did accept her apology so all of this is unnecessary." Kei Kitagawa stared at him and then lowered her hand. She ran her fingertips across the outline of his cock on his robes before she clicked her tongue. "I don''t think your friend here thinks this is unnecessary at all, Yang. If anything, it''s probably begging for a little action." Li Yang hummed slightly at the brushing touch, before offering her an unapologetic grin. "It''s a natural process of one''s physiology. If you get off me, it''ll go down on its own¡ªno teasing necessary." While the idea of fucking her right now made his dick twitch even right now... he wasn''t sure if this was a good idea. This really wasn''t a great idea. His body may have warmed up much more to Priestess Kei''s soft and curvaceous form and how she was readily in hand''s reach from getting pulled down into his lap¡­ or directly welcoming her ass into his dick¡ªLi Yang was still only an alarm away from acting out and going into a fight or flight mode. Mostly leaning to the fight mode if anything were to happen. For whatever reason beyond him, he was tense and perhaps that just aggravated his cock into releasing pent-up pressure. It was a mixture of not knowing what to expect and yet wanting stimulation, anything at all to calm himself down. Kei Kitagawa brushed back some of her hair and glanced over her shoulder. "When you told me that you wanted to make it up with this man, I can''t help but think something like this is enough of a payment to make it even." Rei Kitagawa turned her head away from them and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, if that''s what this perverted man wants to earn his forgiveness, then I''ll do it." Kei smiled and turned back her gaze on him. She leaned down closer until their noses brushed together. Her hot breath was damp on his lips as she said, "I don''t think you have any qualms about this, do you?" "Actually I do¡ª" "This is your once in a lifetime chance to fuck me and my sister without any repercussions. Surely you won''t be dumb enough to turn this down do you?" Kei Kitagawa gave him a look and an amused smile. "Are you worried about your beloved Lady? I''m quite sure that she wouldn''t mind sharing you¡ªor maybe we can even keep this under wraps if that gets your urges rolling. The forbidden is always the most fun, right?" Li Yang didn''t think he could argue with that idea, the more illicit something was, the more it tempted a person until their will power broke and finally gave away. This applied to both sex, liquor and drugs¡­ and probably more things than just that. It was terribly easy to get wound up in such things if one restricted themselves too much and ended up binging on everything to overcompensate. This already happened in his youth once, and he thought it was all over now. Li Yang was rationalizing it all in his mind, blabbering all of the facts and data he once read and heard¡ªbut the way that her glossy lips just hovered a fraction above his made it hard to concentrate at all. This was something that this vile woman planned all along, wasn''t it? It wasn''t fair for him to be doing this when Setsuko was out in the forest and doing her best¡ª A small whoosh and rustle soon sounded and Li Yang felt the mattress sink again as it supported the third person in the bed. In the corner of his vision, he was given the sight of Rei''s creamy pale skin and round breasts. "Finally decided to join us, sis?" Kei commented with an amused tone. "Your nipples are protruding already. Did it get hard from watching us, dearest sister?" "It''s cold¡ªthat''s why!" Rei answered back and pouted. She looked around the room and shivered slightly, rubbing her hands together. "It is as if there''s truly an enormous amount of cold Ao energy still flowing around the room and giving me goosebumps." "Then it''s best that you warm up." Kei eventually leaned back and freed him from the intimacy of being so close to her face as she stretched. Kei immediately dragged her sister forward and held one of her boobs up to his face. "Come on, suck it as an apology. You''re not going to let her freeze to death, will you?" Li Yang hated listening to orders, and yet when he glanced up to check on Rei''s face, it was blooming bright red¡­ he eventually relented and suckled the nipple into his mouth. A sharp intake of Rei''s breath filled his ears as an encouraging response. In the meantime, Kei lowered herself down to free up his erection from his robes before she greedily took his cock into her mouth. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: July 3, 2021 and I still need a couple more chapters before this is released for Privilege. But on the other hand, when I wrote the word ''illicit''... I was thinking of Illicit Relationship written by Shooting Star here on Webnovel. Have you read it? I don''t have any idea, but if it''s at more than 800 chapters then it must be good. Trivia: As for the illicit act that Li Yang was referring to, it refers to the first company anniversary of the Olympian Corp. While Li Yang knew that his brother was usually no-good and kept promising him about ladies, he still chugged down the shots offered to him back then when he could have refused it. Was it entirely his fault? It''s hard to tell, but there''s more context. Chapter 189: The Kitagawa Twins *** The hot-white and throbbing pleasure of getting his dick engulfed in her warm mouth was immense. While it wasn''t a second pussy to him, the sensations it offered was still worth getting hard and excited about even while he sucked and teased her sister''s nipples. But while he was enjoying all of the sudden attention and was getting worked up into ejaculating to release his seed¡ªhe wanted to offer some sexual relief to both of them at the same time. Whether that also turned him on even further was another thing entirely. He gently reached one of his hands out in an attempt to pull the twin over and reach her head. It was a little difficult to reach while he was sucking Rei''s nipple so he temporarily popped the nipple out of his mouth and blew some air over it once. Then finally he looked back at Kei and cleared his throat to get her attention. "If you can face your butt in this direction¡ª" Golden eyes stared up at him immensely, questioningly as she sucked and treated his dick like a lollipop. While he expected her to get up, she did none of it. Instead, Kei kept sucking on his dick as she readjusted herself and gave him a complete sight of her behind. Li Yang thought that Kei said something around the words "Loud and clear." before she promptly returned to grabbing his manhood by the base and then pumped it with her hand. After slicking it with her saliva, the way that she started pumping it was surprisingly firm. Kei didn''t hesitate from treating it with a good amount of pressure¡ªpleasure started tingling down his spine and at his balls. Rei on the other hand frowned slightly, one of her nipples was already wet and damp... but the man decided to pay attention to her sister. Like most men, Li Yang grabbed the end of Kei''s silky white robes and promptly lifted it up as it revealed her smooth thighs and then finally what he was looking for. He was given the sight of a white fabric that resembled a loincloth more than modern panties and yet that only invigorated his senses further. The appearance of the pussy covered up and ready to access was still hot. With one hand, he seized the fabric and dragged it down to reveal moist lips that were ready for the taking. He stuck a finger into her cunt and Kei froze up as a response. Startled and a little shocked, it didn''t take awhile before she started moving and bucking her hips for more intense stimulation. Rei lost her patience and worked up the courage to grab the man''s face. Her fingers brushed over his cheek, relishing the smoothness and warmth, before she pouted slightly. While it was hard to look him in the eye and not get embarrassed, she still needed to say it. "I know she''s the one who initiated it and all, but don''t leave me unattended." Rei swallowed for a moment. "I''m the one trying to make it up to you¡ªshe''s just a bonus. So touch me, and then fuck me." Those words said so sincerely and still with an averted gaze was enough to switch a flick inside of him. "Mmph!" Kei answered back incomprehensibly. The sound of her saliva dripping from her mouth in his cock only made it worse. He took in a deep breath to get out of the deep haze of sex and then nodded at Rei. "Apologies¡­ I''ll do better." Li Yang said and in doing so, reached out to her breasts and gave it a firm and tight squeeze. On his other hand, he pumped his finger¡ªnow slipping in two more¡ªin Kei''s pussy. He started kneading Rei''s breast and now kept both of his hands preoccupied in the act of pleasuring the two of them. After roughing up Rei''s breasts with his grabbing, he then proceeded with pinching her nipples for an extra jolt of shock in her body. The little twitch and convulsion of Rei at his touch erupted and lit a flame in his already twitching cock as Kei continued on with her stimulations. The way Kei bobbed her head up and down and pressed his cock at the back of her throat was amazing. Soon enough a soft hitch of breath left Rei''s lips, before she hungrily pressed her lips onto his and started a kiss that wavered between hesitation and neediness. A small hum of pleasure left him as he returned it and he ensured to make her comfortable all throughout it before deepening it. While initially skeptical of Leila''s fascination with the man, Rei found herself beginning to enjoy the way he massaged her breasts and how he evoked a dampness in between her legs. In hindsight, maybe Rei should have joined Leila when the woman was learning all about the male body. Heavy pants and moans started slipping out from her mouth as this engagement between them continued on. And the thought that she was doing this even in the presence of her sister was tantalizing and mind-fucking all on its own. Rei needed him to stick his thick cock inside of her soon, even while she was mentally preparing herself for it. Although, as far as anyone was concerned, Rei seemed more than ready for it. It didn''t help that even just his skin brushing and rubbing against hers was amazingly agonizing and kept her eager for more than just his skin on hers. She wanted him inside of her. Li Yang''s hand lingered below her breast and ran down to her stomach, prickling her skin and making her tense instead of simply giving her the same treatment as her sister and giving her the stimulation she desperately needed. While that was all happening, the two of them were still sharing a lasvicious kiss until his tongue flicked against her soft lips and even biting on it with his teeth. No longer wanting it to be delayed, Rei parted her lips and allowed him to slip past them. She wanted him to finally invade and violate her mouth with his tongue. A certain neediness was beginning to trump over reason and the made-up excuses she had of making it up to him. He wanted this as much as she did, didn''t he? Her gaze flickered to him pushing his fingers back and forth into her sister''s pussy while Kei continued on with pleasuring his dick. It did a number on her earlier hesitation. Rei reached out and grabbed at his hair, tugging at them and urged him on deeper into her mouth and never wanting to push back as they continued further down the lines of debauchery. "A bit more stimulation please¡ªdon''t tease me, just shove it in." Kei whispered and quivered on top of him as she also asked for more attention. This time, Li Yang was giving more of his attention to her sister. While he was still pushing and sticking his fingers in, three of them and while it filled her up, Kei was now yearning for more. Li Yang used his thumb and rubbed at her clit in response. Kei clenched around his fingers and swallowed hard, some of her saliva and his precum trickling down her throat. She shook her ass and temporarily popped her mouth away from his cock and simply pumped it for a while to get it even hotter and ready for their fucking. Kei started moving back and forth to get the sensation of his fingers diving in and out, her muscles clenching and twitching all around him. A soft ''Ah'' left her lips, and she started rubbing her breasts and nipples on his body for more lascivious stimulation and deemed it acceptable. Once she started seeing that Li Yang was about to play with her sister''s cunt, she promptly pulled back her own pussy and stifled a moan as his fingers slid out. They were now sticky and moist with her arousal and she loved that. Without waiting for another moment, she moved back and hovered her pussy above his cock. She didn''t make him ejaculate right away just for this moment. The glistening tip of his cock now twitched greedily and prodded at her cunt''s lips and she cleared her throat to catch the two''s attention. It took a bit of time to gather it, especially since she left the two of them to their devices. But Kei wanted to see something and she wasn''t going to do without it. "Rei, start licking his fingers will you? Taste them for me." A breathy moan escaped Rei''s lips, she was bucking slightly against Li Yang''s other hand as she asked. "W-What?" Kei gave her sister a seductive smile. While she wasn''t sure if it was the fact that seeing her sister do such things made it hot¡ªor the fact that Rei looked so much like her that made her grow even wetter, she just wanted it this way. "Do the honors for me, Yang? Lick it first." Li Yang stared at his own fingers, the moist viscosity was clear as he brought it to his mouth and licked it. The taste was strange, but not unappealing and once Rei saw that, she pulled his hand away from his mouth and sucked his fingers and coated it with a mixture of Kei''s juices and her saliva. Kei sank herself into his cock right after. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Threesomes are a little tricky and hard, at least you have to divide the attention between two girls and what might work for one won''t do for the other. So there you have it folks. I did my best and hopefully it turned out fine! There''s still another chapter of smut and I considered making it a point to include the much requested Kitagawa Twins for the action. Chapter 190: The Kitagawa Twins + Worlds Balance Hot, unbelievably tight and ready and yet contradictingly wet on the inside, Kei bounced on his cock in reckless abandon. Her hips moved up and down with superb control at this spur of a moment. It was a difficult situation to be caught up in, lost in the heat and lust that spurred them on to fucking without a hint of reflection at all. If there was any at all, it was all in the sexual pursuit of finding more things to get horny about. The sight of exposed and bare flesh accompanied with lewd sounds that revved and engaged in one''s lustful appetite. It was a feast for one''s senses that was oh-so available. Rei was sucking sloppily and noisily on his fingertips, her tongue caressing the pads of them with complete and utter relish. She held one hand over her crotch and was rubbing herself even while her eyes were clamped shut. It was a sight he''d see for days in the back of his mind. Rei couldn''t help but be sopping wet awaiting her turn, wanting his dick inside of her. Along with the sensation of being sucked in two different places at the same time¡ªhis dick and fingers¡ªthis was such a turn on. It was something that kept him going on even while he was on the cusp of ejaculating his stream of cum into recesses of Kei''s cunt. To have two women wantonly throwing themselves at him at the same time was a turn on as he thrusted back at Kei and made her back arch. Kei let out a strangled pant and started bucking her hips in sync. He hit a tighter spot and started ramming into it at the utter behest of Kei that made her tongue loll out and out of it for a brief second. Kei''s eyes were wide open compared to her sister and she quickly reached out to pull Li Yang''s fingers away from Rei. A bit of drool trickled down from the side of Rei''s mouth, and Kei cupped her sister''s face and pulled her in for a kiss. The taste of her own pussy mixing in with the saliva of both him and Rei was a much-needed turn on that kept her bouncing on his cock. Even when Kei was eventually losing the stamina for this much fucking, she continued on raggedly for the sensation of his cock ramming her in. When Kei was slowing down, Li Yang took over for her and sat up slightly to switch things up. While the two sisters were now busy making out with one another, he led Kei to kneel down on the mattress as he positioned him over from behind. Sweat sheened around her ass, slick and wet¡ªhe gave it a loud slap before he grabbed her hips and thrusted in back to her cunt. Something between a yelp and a groan escaped Kei''s lips. It was something that made Rei reach the edge and achieve one of her first climaxes. Her knees buckled together as she stood over her sister getting fucked. Without waiting for anything else, Rei lowered her twin''s head to her pussy and didn''t even need to say anything as Kei''s wet tongue brushed against her lips and then sank into her cunt. "Fuckfuckfuck¡ªAurora strike me down." Incoherent babbling continued on from Rei as her sister continued tongue-fucking her and she made eye contact with Li Yang. The sight of him thrusting his cock back and forth into her sister''s pussy made her incredibly wet. "Fuck me harder than her, please." . . . There were strange occurrences here and there in the world of Telriah, like a drop of water that caused waves and ripples of changes around them. None of it could be turned back at all. It started with the Kin Hunters, where their inevitable death from the Twisted Vined Turtle was put to a stop by a CEO''s arrival in their world at a tampering of fate. Maybe it was in the enigmatic group of Damask Insurgencies proclaiming it as the appointed time to strike as the hour of man finally beset the Telriah. It was a sign they have been waiting for: the rebirth of Aseroth¡ªtheir activities surging up at unbelievable rates. It may have lay in with the Forgotten Ones. Setsuko Hirayama who should have lived out her entire life as an ordinary Hunter until her end was awakened and the purity of her bloodline shed away all of her previous thoughts and ties to the world. And yet perhaps the epicenter of all of these changes was around the location of Nakazato, Mashiro Temple. Perhaps it was the fact that two Inner Court people, twin Priestesses, were currently engaged in the act of coitus with a strange man not from this world. Vows were thrown into the wind, a new god declared in the shape and form of Li Yang''s cock. It was in the act of treachery within the arena that Setsuko was currently trapped. Somehow, this wasn''t what the High Priestess Rhelea herself had wanted¡ªbut women could be vengeful people, torn with envy and misdirected rage. Setsuko found herself attacked by not only the creatures of the forest but even by her fellow Priestesses. There was also the lone Kaeli Princess stuck in her inevitable position. Not only struck and held by one chain, but two of them. Perhaps three. One or two was a contract made in blood, something that allowed a ruinous Princess to actually contain the powers of her people and also protect Mashiro Temple¡­ and the last one was closer to a chain in her heart. Harboring affections never yet to be realized. It was perhaps a curse stronger than the one the High Priestess Rhelea held over Priestess Mitsuko. ¡­ Although maybe it was in the corpse of the abominable creature that Yang encountered only hours ago. Falling over the precipice and being stabbed by an ice stalagmite. Its dull fish-eyed eyes were now staring up into the heavens and dark skies as a goddess flew over the mountains without a hint of concern at the perilous drop that awaited her. The vessel of Aurora might have been snuck in first and possessed by Bao, but its connection was still deeply rooted in the goddess herself. And even though their goals were different from one another: One seeking death, and the other searching for the troublemaker¡ªit all led back to one man alone. It was the single and perpetual person amidst all of the different and wildly fluctuating circumstances. The balance of the world tipped over by Li Yang alone. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I didn''t expect smut to last this long when you''re surely also waiting for the normal plot to kick in right? So there you have it guys, gals and non-binary pals have them both! My favorite line in this chapter is about worshiping cocks xD Was that funny? No¡ªwell, this is July 5, 2021. I''m not actually sure if anyone is going to buy this tier today ;-; I need to write 10 more chapters for the last Tier before normal uploads resume. That''s 5-6 more days because WN decided to release the other chapters from Privilege. Chapter 191: Worlds Balance (2) The actual gods were bored. Or if the Moderator of the Creators, Peach wanted to be ultra-specific¡ªthe gods in sector 69 of the Universe were bored without their latest plaything that came in the name of Li Yang. They called him a CEO and rooted for him, but in hindsight, he was more of something along their amusement than anything else. There was no love lost between the gods and man. If anything, the gods desire for him to succumb to their ploys were working out quite well. Whoever chose him as the recipient of the Harem Cultivation System actually didn''t do a terrible job. The amusement of seeing someone do the very thing they''ve sworn to hate and deny was a sadistic pleasure craved by the so-called god bored in their divinity and power. Such was the trouble even with the most steadfast monk or priest, the pleasure and carnal nature of flesh often won out in the end. That was the dual-nature of humanity between the throes of love and lust. Destruction and Creation. It wasn''t as if there was anything inherently wrong with one or the other¡ªbut to Peach, it still all came to a balance on a scale. Lean more to one side and you''ll eventually find yourself swinging in the opposite direction. While it was a surprise that Li Yang accepted the gift of the Updated System Patch that she made¡­ the development wasn''t actually so bad. The Ragnar?k Plan seemed plausible now that there were many individuals available to come together and gather for a spectacular event. "Pft, that Bao is now sharing the god vessel with Aurora¡ªhow''s that going to turn out?" Peach asked as she stared at the screen in front of her. And yet things were starting to pick up now as far as anyone was concerned. From one end of the universe to the other, the energy consumption used by Bao to search for the man was enormous¡ªbut a still crystal clear screen version came up in the LoveStellar Organization''s channel to showcase it for the viewers. Peach organized all of the related documents and parties in order. She shuffled the parchments and then leaned back against her chair and sighed. The ending was well-nigh and the outcome seemed to be drawing closer as Bao and Aurora reached the temple. The World of Telriah was supposedly governed by the ascended god-like entity Aurora Her brother, Aseroth was thrown out but promised to return once his powers The World of Telriah, created by the two was at a stagnating state Arrival of Outsider Li Yang prompted sudden changes in the World Forbidden White Fox Bloodline - Setsuko Unlocked Princess of Kaeli Kingdom with Precious Artifact available "I might as well ask for some bids." ¡ª- The High Priestess Rhelea stayed in the grand hall now alone, multiple incense burning all around her. Each one of them lit up and released a heavenly scent that pervaded the room as she prayed for the world and the sleeping goddess, she prayed for every woman in the world and especially those in the temple¡ªbut each one of them flickered out. Rhelea''s eyes widened. The incense that burned for an entire millennium suddenly ended then and there without even a hint of anything at all. Mashiro Temple descended into the darkness. As to what or who came to cast the entire temple into the inky black void was to anyone''s guesses. The first answer came towards one of the Priestesses stationed around the forest perimeter. Tomura and Mareena were both tasked to be the watch women for the entire duration of the contest. However, it was difficult to stay awake and pass the hours without even any hint of a conversation. The two of them kept talking. "Hah, I wonder how Ellwyn is doing at the arena right now with all those monsters?" Tomura frowned slightly. The woman leant lazily against the wall as she looked up at the incredibly dark skies. "She should have taken the Inner Court Priestess examination a long time ago if you asked me." "Well, you know how the politics goes in the Inner Court¡ªthey''re bullies and Ellywn doesn''t fit that," Mareena said and diverted Tomura''s attention back to her. "Plus, she''s always looking out for us too." Tomura tilted her head. "Like how she coddled Leila?" "Hey!" Mareena frowned. "I mean¡­ Leila did slap Priestess Rei and that was sort of uncalled for, but I guess¡­ she really was just hurt and shocked? Giving a map to the Frostborne Mountain Peaks is a death sentence." "Yeah, but that was too much. You know how Priestess Rei dotes on Leila too but then she suddenly acts out like that? Priestess Kei showed us how you got to respect higher-ranked Priestesses." "Eh, I honestly don''t care at all. This favoritism isn''t really helping us at all." Tomura wasn''t looking forward to talking about it anymore. Mareena rubbed her neck. "Well, we''re nice to Setsuko so maybe once she gets into the Inner Court, we''d be granted at least a little leeway." Tomuraa kicked at a random stone and watched it flick away to a couple of meters ahead of them and shrugged. "Speaking of Setsuko. You know the monsters I''m referring to aren''t exactly the forest creatures either¡ªI think Ixora is incredibly nasty during the tests. If she passes, there''ll be more reasons for her to look down on the rest of us. I doubt Setsuko will care since she has a man." "I mean, Ixora herself is probably going to be busy sucking up to the Inner Court Priestesses and the High Priestess when that happens¡ª" Mareena stopped in her tracks. "When that happens, what?" Tomura looked up to her friend annoyed. Multiple arrows stuck out in her friend''s chest. A dark and deep color stained Mareena''s white robes as the woman stood frozen in place. A silent and hoarse word barely came out from her mouth, spittle spewing out. The woman tipped and fell over in a silent thud into the grass. "Hah¡­" Tomura stared at her friend shell-shocked. Maybe this was some sort of joke? The stench of blood filled her nostrils with a sickening odor. Shakily, she seized the miniature beast core-cut jewel from her robes and quickly held it up to her mouth and gasped to the stone. "There''s intruders!" No response came from the other end of the communication device. Wildly looking around the entire forest for any sign of more attackers, Tomura''s heart paced frantically in her chest. The complete darkness in the sky earlier should have bothered her earlier and yet she was distracted. Several other projectiles flew from within the forest and lit up the trees into flames. Tomura covered her mouth with her sleeves to avoid the fumes. She used enough Ao to cover her entire body as a layer of protection, Tomura hurtled forward to the temple''s entrance just within sight. Within a few steps away from the porch, a terrible slash sounded. A head rolled over a couple of inches away from the first wooden staircase of Mashiro Temple. The Damask Insurgent cleanly flicked the blood away from his sword and put it away. He glanced back behind him and shook his head. "Front entrance breached." Chapter 192: Schemes and Plots ** Li Yang had no idea how long exactly it had been since the three of them were caught in this mess of people tangled together in bed. Similar to a endless string of sex, Priestess Kei was caught in between the two of them and with him fucking her senseless. Priestess Rei was looking at him with a panting and wanton gaze in her eyes. "Fuckfuckfuck¡ªAurora strike me down." Incoherent babbling continued on from Rei as her sister continued tongue-fucking her and she made eye contact with Li Yang. The sight of him thrusting his cock back and forth into her sister''s pussy made her incredibly wet. "Fuck me harder than her, please." Just the way she begged him for it paired with the look on her face, it made him reach his climax and for Kei''s walls to tighten around him¡ªas if milking his cum out of his dick¡ªand so he did. With a grunt, he spurted his seed into the womb of Kei without any hint of reserve or pause, pistoning it inside of her before he pulled out and let the woman''s knees buckle down. Priestess Kei was focused on lapping her sister to orgasm, but once he started ejaculating inside of her¡ªshe gave Rei''s nub one last lick before her head fell down into the mattress. Her blithe body was now limp and exhausted, and the CEO maneuvered away from her to drag Kei''s sister towards him. Already lustful and close to her own orgasm, Rei quickly threw herself into his direction and raked her fingers through his hair and scalp. She wanted to feel every inch of him, and that much was the same for him. A hungry kiss was quickly snatched from his lips, brushing against each other at first before his cock rubbed against her belly. Priestess Rei then wrapped her arms around his neck and shifted slightly. The hot feeling that crossed her stomach was a heavenly sensation that drenched her insides even further. The tip of his cock''s head was swollen and still moist with both his ejaculation and her sister''s fluids. "Hah¡­" She panted softly, breaking away for a breath of air and to stare at how he moved. Sloppily, his dick slid down from her bare stomach down towards her pelvis, crossing her pubic region and finally positioned itself against the entrance of her dripping folds. No words were exchanged in this fervent and heated hour. Both of them were vaguely aware of what happened next right after this. Things were never going to be the same between the two of them, but whether it was fully realized now was another question entirely. Rei bit down on her bottom lip, awaiting for the moment¡ªand then he finally buried his cock inside of her. The sensation of it was thunder and lightning, as if a variety of fireworks passed her ears and a tingle ran through her entire body from the soles of her feet upwards to her spine. Li Yang heard explosions. It was faint, and he could have almost mistaken it for just his own reverie in the sex. Maybe it was just him because neither Rei or Kei said anything that said otherwise. Shaking his head for a moment, he rested back against his mattress as Rei now bounced above him. Priestess Kei said something unintelligible underneath her breath. Muttering something about the noisiness of the ongoing tests. Li Yang paused for a moment, feeling a tingle in his own spine before Rei kissed him again and they returned to fucking. It was as if they were caught in a world of their own. And they might as well have been. . . . Priestess Kei''s head was buried in the pillow. Her insides were twitching as a stream of cum dripped out of her hole much to her satisfaction. But that wasn''t it either. Despite being caught in a sex-crazed moment, she was waiting for the time that Setsuko arrived back in the room. The sex was good. Heavenly and breathtaking even. But separating Li Yang and Setsuko was even a better revenge. It was something that Kei had planned from the start. There were several layers to it actually, as she regained more of her consciousness and considered the preparations she made. Kei first left a warding talisman outside of this room, unbeknownst to the other two participants currently engaged in their heated sex. This talisman was something that kept the noise from coming inside the room. Thus it gave the opportunity for Setsuko to come here and catch Li Yang in the act of sleeping with not only one, but two women. But it wasn''t only that either. Priestess Kei had promised Ixora''s acceptance into the inner court if she were able to rile up the other Priestesses into attacking Setsuko. Kei was aware that the High Priestess Rhelea was wary of Setsuko''s skills, and she believed it. Seeing how relaxed Setsuko was and it aggravated her to no end that there were some people who were born with such talent. However, it all worked in her favor now. If Setsuko were to fight back against the other Priestesses and injure them¡ªthat was an inescapable offense. There were too many witnesses against her, and records were easy to destroy or turn around. Priestess Kei continued to rest down for a moment. After the man was finished with her sister, it would be her turn again after that. Perhaps Setsuko could take her time with the test while she and her twin could keep the man company all night long. It was the best revenge. ¡ª- Thus it happened that there were too many agendas and plans that were revolving and happening in one glorious night. High Priestess Rhelea gasped as darkness descended into Mashiro Temple and she rose to her feet to call for her guards. Princess Mitsuko was staring at a mirror, preparing herself for what she wasn''t exactly sure of. Currently dressed in night clothes, it was nothing but a simple white band across her torso that covered her breasts and paired with white shorts. Mitsuko''s pink hair was still falling down below to her waist as she looked at her reflection and tried not to laugh as she brushed her fingers on the adorned chain necklace. A bright and glowing red jewel swirling with numerous lights reflected back and forth within it. The hopes of her nation lay rest in her bosom. But the sounds of the Priestesses crying aloud hardened her expression. She seized a thin cloak over her and made her way out of the door of her private chambers. The people here needed her and she''d make sure to do her best. The Damask Insurgents were catching a vast majority of younger Priestesses in surprise or were now engaged in deadly combat. Strength was inevitably conquered by mere plan and execution. It was almost amusing to say that alll of these events were all linked to one man currently fucking his brains out. There was magic in the air. In less than a couple of minutes, the outline of a goddess hovered above the air. Beautiful white hair streamlined down her naked body still glistening and gleaming from the ice. It was from the very same freezing temperature that kept her body pristine and clear all throughout the passage of time. Now she had awakened. Possibly earlier than her appointed time, but there was no use crying over spilled waters or milk. The Goddess Aurora was here and it was time for judgement and retribution. Aurora''s gaze fell on the black and thick ink-like barrier that covered the entire lands of Mashiro Temple. Beneath her was a multitude of insects, scrambling for their mundane and pathetic lives. She frowned and asked. "Is this the place where this intruder resides?" Akin to a puppet show, the beautiful lady''s expression shifted from annoyance to just impatience. Her pupils even changed size and color, changing from the ethereal whiteness to a darkness that plunged closer to an abyss. Bao clicked its tongue, or maybe her tongue now that she was sharing a vessel with the goddess. "From what I recall, yes. I have no idea whatever that ink thing is¡ªwhat''s with your world?" "That is not my creation¡ªI''ll blast that down and make it explode." "You''re just going to strike it down?" Bao asked. "That place¡ªit doesn''t look like it, but your superior goddess vision should show that this is a sacred place. I see people in white and that''s supposed to say something¡ª" "Desecrated with the presence of vile men." Aurora interrupted without any hint of concern. "Men?" "There''s too much littering now. I''ll exterminate them." Aurora smiled and raised a hand¡ªbut it then inadvertently went down. "¡ªArgh, this is my vessel so stop resisting!" "You should think twice before hitting anyone¡ª" A large arrow struck into the air and hit against the goddess'' body, but it simply bounced off. "You know what, forget what I said. Kill that motherfucker below us." "I can''t believe we''ve finally agreed." Aurora clicked her tongue in disgust. The Goddess looked down at one of the men archers located in the trees who had chosen death. Did he assume he was hidden in the veil that her brother created? Darkness was the opposite of Light, but it did not hide anything from her. Without waiting for another second, she pointed at him. Unadulterated white lightning streaks blasted from above and electrocuted the man until there were no longer any remainders from his existence. "Alright, let''s tear this place into shreds." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Scheming bitches. Or maybe I shouldn''t have used that word. But not every lady that Li Yang encounters is an innocent white lotus and there we have it. Maybe it doesn''t matter at all as long as the sex is great? Do you agree or disagree? But oh right, there''s stuff happening in the background during sexy hours. Chapter 193: Worlds Balance (3) There was something wrong that bothered Li Yang right now. It might have been the sex, but it was actually good¡ªregardless of who he was doing it with right now. The sensation of pounding his dick into a pussy wasn''t something that got old easily especially when it was a recent thing he got enmeshed in. Perhaps if he were to differentiate between making love and fucking, then there''d be some difference? Although the former might have just been tenderly fucking his partner. But that wasn''t it. With one final exhale, the man pulled out and eyed the Priestess Rei''s creamed pussy. Li Yang looked around his surroundings with a frown. It was too quiet. There was supposed to be at least some noise, even minute background sounds but there wasn''t anything like it at all. "What''s the matter?" Priestess Kei asked. Her golden eyes stared at him with a lascivious light as she bit her bottom lip. She gazed at Rei who was currently resting against the mattress and completely sexed up. "If my sister is resting now, I can go for another turn with you. Or have you completely emptied your balls already?" Those words made him click his tongue and eye her naked body. The idea and even reality of having a woman available to sleep with with just one beck of a call could have been something like a man''s dream. He wasn''t completely tired actually, and with a little more stimulation¡ªmight get up and ready to go again. And he could even just buy a Divine Energizer Drink for this. While he may have shut down some notifications from appearing constantly¡ªlike Mass Charm Points Notification, or other stuff like that¡­ it didn''t mean that he wasn''t getting them. Li Yang could easily purchase them now to refill himself. And yet he didn''t. He instead glanced at Priestess Rei and asked. "Didn''t you tell me that the rooms were too close together here and the walls were thin?" Priestess Rei stared at the ceiling and wondered where she was for a moment. "Ugh, yeah¡ªI always keep hearing you and Setsuko. It''s one of the reasons why I was always pissed. Get yourself a room, but still it''s not enough when I can hear everything." "Well, I can''t hear anything right now. Surely someone else must be in this Inner Court''s hallway by now, right?" Li Yang said. He frowned and started to go down the bed, but was stopped by Kei reaching out and grabbing his wrist. Kei trailed her fingers across his arm and gave him a seductive smile. "Almost all of the Inner Court Priestesses are in the arena in the forest, they''re spectating the events. You don''t have to worry about it." "Then I should be there," Li Yang said and tugged his hand away. The man reached for his clothes and started dressing. "The sex has been fun and all¡ªbut the least I can do is watch Setsuko after all that she''s done for me." "... Do you really think she''s going to be happy once she learns about this?" Priestess Kei motioned between them. While the woman kept the smile on her face, a certain glint flashed in her eyes as she said it. Priestess Rei blinked and then stared aghast at her sister. "Kei!" Li Yang scrunched up his face. "... I think what matters is being there for her when she needs me." The arrangement of their relationship as Consort and Lady was nothing more than mere fabrication, but he did care about Setsuko. In a normal monogamous relationship then this was tantamount to cheating, but that wasn''t what he was in. As far as the Heavens and his System was concerned, he was in a polyamorous relationship and it was supposed to be centered around him. He hated how he needed to wrap his mind around this situation¡ªbut he''d cross the bridge with Setsuko once he actually got there. A part of him knew that she''d understand, as if he could tell how she''d react because of their energy bond. Li Yang then shifted his gaze back to the table where his obsidian sword lay there with his business suit and he took the latter up first. Whether it was just an odd sensation within him, as if something was prickling the back of his head¡ªhe felt the urge to wear his normal clothes again. And yet he couldn''t go out looking like that. Li Yang wore the robes he bought with Setsuko and then picked up his sword. The weapon felt light and ready in his hand and he made his way to the door. "I''ll be leaving now." "Haven''t you mentioned that the High Priestess wants you to stay in your room?" Priestess Kei pursed her lips. "Where do you think you''re going with that sword?" "Please just tell me if you''re going to try and stop me¡ªit''ll save us time." Li Yang glanced at her briefly. Priestess Kei raised her finger at him. "Why you disrespectful¡ª" Priestess Rei quickly reached out and held her twin sister''s hand down. As much as she hated where this conversation was going and she was aware of how things were not in the right place now¡ªshe gave the man a look. "Get out of here before my sister does anything more rash." Li Yang''s expression wavered slightly, but then he nodded. "Thank you, Rei. I owe you one." He stepped out of the room and quickly saw and heard the sounds of fighting within and outside the temple''s halls. The scent of fire and smoke engulfed his nose. "What the¡­?" His gaze flickered to a small object hanging above his door and he quickly tore it down and crushed it underneath his foot. As he did that¡ªan intruder stepped into the halls of the Inner Court. It was a masked man holding a katana drenched in blood. The guy himself was not safe from injuries, but the man''s eyes widened as he pointed his weapon at Li Yang. "Y-You there¡ªare you a slave of one of the women here?" Chapter 194: Worlds Balance (4) Li Yang shifted his gaze to the man and eyed the blood dripping on the blade. He didn''t say anything at first and beheld the wariness of the guy. Perhaps he just beheld the guy''s idiocy. Li Yang was holding a weapon and even though he was supposedly a ''consort''¡ªhis appearance should have said otherwise. Or maybe he was thinking too far¡ª Ding! Li Yang quickly enshrouded himself in Ao and gripped his sword tighter. That was until he saw the screen in front of him. It was once again flashing a strange quest for him to choose. [ System-Generated Temporary Mission! ] [ Type: Non-Harem, Power-related Task ] [ Switching Allegiances ] The world of Telriah is ruled by women and only small but organized groups like the Damask Insurgents are fighting to regain men''s footing in this world. The Goddess Aurora exiled her brother Aseroth from the world they created together and shunned the males in this world. Damask Insurgents have risen up and caught the Mashiro Temple unprepared. There are currently 18 Priestesses dead and 6 Damask Insurgents dead. You Are Currently Associated With The [ Sect: Mashiro Temple ] Engaged In Defense Against The Intruders. The System Has Assessed Current Success Rate In Favor of Damask Insurgents at 75% Success. Would You Like To Switch Allegiances? [ Yes - I Wish To Betray The Mashiro Temple. Gain Targets To Kill For Bonus Power Points. Greatly Decrease Fame in Mashiro Temple ] [ No - I Would Like To Help Mashiro Temple. Gain Temporary Defense Bonus And Mission To Save Specific Individuals. Increases Fame in Mashiro Temple ] You Have 30 Seconds To Decide! 30¡­ 29¡­ 28... Li Yang gritted his teeth. It was in his best interest to stay allied with the Mashiro Temple¡ªhe was more tied with them and yet with how the System assessed things? They were quickly losing for some reason. Were they really just caught off guard? Why were they losing all of a sudden? What edge did Damask Insurgents have? What kind of situation was this? He didn''t have any time to mull¡ª His senses picked something up. The rooftop above them split open and Li Yang quickly dodged from the debris whereas the other man wasn''t so lucky himself and was caught in the avalanche. The Damask Insurgent died then and there. As Li Yang gazed up, he found a woman flying in the air. Even while he had only seen her from afar, he quickly recognized them as the woman in the casket of ice. The same person he avoided back in the Frostborne Mountain Peaks last night. All around her was a black veil that covered the entire surroundings. But this woman¡ªwho Li Yang instantly recognized as the Goddess Aurora in a heartbeat¡ªlooked more annoyed at it than anything. More than that, there was something about her that made him think of Setsuko at that very hour. Perhaps it was just the same white hair that flowed down¡ªbut the resemblance was unmistakable. And yet he couldn''t stare at her for too long. It was too late already. Aurora had already seen him the first time either. The white celestial glow in her eyes now tinted red as she pointed a finger at him. "YOU FREAKIN'' BASTARD!" There was no time to even notice that the Goddess'' choice of words suddenly resembled Bao''s. Li Yang immediately flew backwards and avoided the ray of light that incinerated the very spot he had been. His gaze immediately shifted towards him and Setsuko''s rooms, the two Priestesses were there¡ªand yet he didn''t even need to worry about them. The Goddess Aurora''s attention was solely reserved for him alone. Just as another ray of light tore through the temple''s ceiling came the System''s own disruption. Ding! [ You Have Not Chosen An Answer For Switching Allegiance Temporary Mission ] [ System Taking In Current New Parameters... ] [ Survive The Telriah Goddess of the Light ] Amidst the struggle and conflict between Mashiro Temple and Damask Insurgents has come an unexpected party tonight. The Goddess of Telriah has returned and is infuriated and aggravated by your presence. The Host''s Current Power Levels Are Insufficient For Head-On Combat. It Is In Host''s Best Interest To Find A Way To Survive The Wrath Of A Goddess. [ System Is Generating Possible Solutions¡­ ] Unconcerned of Li Yang''s current situation against life and death, the System flashed a new screen at him that stated the obvious. He didn''t need a reminder of how he needed to avoid the fight. Li Yang started mentally dismissing them away as he barely dodged the ray of light grazing at his shoulder. An incredible heat tore through his robes as he gnashed his teeth¡ªbut then suddenly felt it nullify as his Ao enshroudment did its job. While he was surprised, Li Yang didn''t wait for another taste of the Goddess'' ray to see what exactly saved him from the light and he turned away to run. Li Yang didn''t quite catch the look of shock that tore through the Goddess'' expression that made Bao regain control of the vessel for a couple of seconds. Now Bao the Panda was conflicted between leaving the vessel and enjoying the body of the Goddess, or separating to catch the man and also hit him for getting involved with a world calamity level. Regardless of those thoughts unknown to him, Li Yang started running to avoid the Goddess'' anger. He didn''t quite like his odds, and this made him wish that the World Warper was actually charged to the fullest. Even before the System could offer up possible solutions¡ªLi Yang beat it to the one he already had in mind a long time ago. Li Yang needed to find as many Beast Cores as possible to fulfill the energy bar of the World Warper to escape. If it was Li Yang''s presence alone that tormented the Goddess¡­ then the chances of the deity leaving and turning away from the Mashiro Temple itself once he was gone was possible, right? He absolutely had no idea at all. And yet that was the best plan that he could come up with right now. Li Yang couldn''t expect anyone in Mashiro Temple or even the Damask Insurgents to work with him together to face a Goddess. That was a death wish. Chapter 195: In The Darkness of The Night (1) It was a subtle change at first when the Damask Insurgent used an ancient artifact that cast Mashiro Temple into the darkness. The world that the women knew didn''t shift quickly as Tomura had still been able to use her Ao moment''s before she died. But the longer the darkness seeped and permeated into the lands of Mashiro Temple, it became harder to cultivate Ao or even use it. Similar to a sponge, or perhaps it was the nature of darkness itself that soaked and absorbed everything available in the air. The vast majority of the younger and unlearned Priestess were rendered helpless. They started going down by the numbers, falling prey to the intruders that hid themselves in the darkness and with a cut of their blade ended the women''s lives without any hint of remorse or hesitation. This was their justice. And it was bathed in blood. Princess Mitsuko noticed it the fastest as she tried to use the Ao in the air but found it quickly fading and dying away without her control. She dodged the Damask Insurgent''s blade that glinted past her with an unnatural silver-glow and then swept him off his feet. The Ao in her immediate surroundings had waned, but the one stored in her body and energy core¡ªand most importantly, the very artifact that hung in her neck allowed her to create a sheet of pink Ao that sliced through the man''s entire body. His blood desecrated the floors of Mashiro Temple and yet she went back inside one of the rooms. Mitsuko turned to the younger women she encountered and grabbed one of their shoulders. "We don''t know where everyone is, the vast majority of the Inner Court and Elder Priestesses are in the forest, but going there is a death wish. I can''t protect all of you¡­ so you must protect yourselves." "Elder Sister Mitsuko¡ª" The sound of something tearing up and exploding suddenly filled their ears. It was as if the entire rooftop of the Mashiro Temple was blasted apart by an immeasurable power. Mitsuko couldn''t tell whether it was an artifact brought by the Damask Insurgents or something different. The younger women in front of her were now shaking in fear and Mitsuko was quick to force a smile. It was up to her to reassure all of them. "I know you guys can do it. Barricade the room and don''t let anyone in¡ªwhen worst comes to worst, summon all the Ao available in your core just a little before the last drop and use it to kill the intruder in a heartbeat." "Didn''t you hear what sounded outside?" "That''s nothing compared to what I can do. I''m not one of the High Priestess Rhelea''s advisers for nothing." "But it''s still¡ª" "Dangerous I know, but it can''t be helped. So does the time if someone finds out where you guys are. If it comes to that point then fight with honor. I have to find the others or at least stop the one who''s in charge of everything." If nobody was going to stop them, then it was up to her to do that. At this very moment, Mitsuko''s thoughts suddenly shifted back to Li Yang. She had no idea where the man was or what he was doing. Mitsuko wasn''t exactly worried about him that much. She was aware of what Li Yang was capable of and if Setsuko had caught a whiff of the man being endangered then they''d surely find each other amidst the fight. Mitsuko''s lips twitched together at a sudden thought. This was the perfect opportunity for the two lovers to escape the Mashiro Temple without any hindrances at all. Well, Mitsuko herself couldn''t make that happen tonight with everybody else''s lives at stake. The best she could do right now was wish for it to happen. Her fingers touched the necklace and artifact around her neck. While she wanted to give this prized object to him¡ªit was a crazy thing she knew that was tantamount to giving up almost everything for him. In a way, it was also a chance for her to not be bound in this life of hers. A Princess prized by the High Priestess. Bound by the help that Mitsuko received to use Ao. But now she needed as much Ao this royal treasure contained to save everyone here. It was the worst of timing. Throwing one last look at the young women in the room, Mitsuko finally tensed up and stepped out of the room. Her gaze shifted all around the empty hallway as she kicked the corpse of the man away from her. Mitsuko left the Inner Court Hall half an hour ago already and the sound came from that direction. A part of her heart trembled and told her that she wasn''t supposed to go in that path at all unless she wished to immediately encounter a quick death. Suffice to say, she went in a different direction that led to the forest. Another part of her felt a tug that led back to the High Priestess Chambers and she ground her teeth. Mitsuko was aware of the metaphysical chains that bound her¡ªand yet wasn''t she also bound by blood to Li Yang? One of its prerequisites was protecting them if she were able right? Finding all of the Inner Court Priestesses and more importantly Setsuko was one of the key plans she had in mind to stop the Damask Insurgents. Even if the Mashiro Temple itself was ambushed and was taken by surprise¡­ the elites in their temple should be alive and protecting the rest of the people. That was what Mitsuko herself was relying on. She wouldn''t be able to do this alone and all by herself. Right as Mitsuko emerged from one of the side doors of the temple to enter the Sacred Forest¡ªit was at the exact same time that a certain man did the same from the other end of the building. Li Yang and Mitsuko shared a look with one another. Chapter 196: In The Darkness of The Night (2) At any other given moment in time, this might have been the shared glance with one another that made normal individuals realize that there was something for the two of them. A certain chemistry that sparked and electrified their hearts or souls no matter the current distance between them. Time and distance held no boundaries. Maybe it was the meeting of the minds. An innate understanding that you comprehended right now was unimaginable before. Seized in that moment of eternity where you realized that in the dark and ever-growing space of the universe¡ªthe chances the two of you meet was nothing but extraordinary. It was where you finally savor this moment and the depths of it were fathomed at full. A rush in their hearts fueled by adrenaline and everything else in between. Sparking and erupting unknown feelings and sensations that weren''t exactly there before, but now it captured you more than anything else. It was those dumb moments where you might have believed in fate, destiny and even love? And yet when there was a literal goddess hovering in between them, such brief moments weren''t spared the chance to actually grow or be nurtured. It didn''t last when you''ve got the Goddess Aurora throwing light rays from the night sky. Oh, Goddess Aurora might have been the one who tore through her wretched brother''s old things¡ªbut once she saw Li Yang''s face, the Goddess'' attention now shifted away from the pithy Damask Insurgents to the man who held an uncanny resemblance to her brother. Maybe it was him¡ªor maybe it wasn''t. A Goddess didn''t care and just did whatever she liked. Until Bao finally took the reins of the vessel and redirected the light ray towards the veil that covered the lands of Mashiro Temple itself. Somewhere in a span of a thousands of miles away, a certain artifact that produced Aseroth''s old darkness started malfunctioning. The reproduced thing wasn''t as great as the actual thing that sometimes¡ªonly sometimes¡ªnullified Aurora''s light. Li Yang and Mitsuko both entered the Sacred Forest and lost sight of one another. It was almost uncanny now that Li Yang realized how the dimension grew and warped in the forest. He couldn''t hear anything beyond the forest now and when he looked behind him, it was almost as if the Goddess and the temple itself were already long gone. The same way that the darkness that probably stemmed from the Damask Insurgents covered and grew over the lands of Mashiro Temple, this place was expanded and grew larger with an Ao energy that vibrated closer to much darker colors. Li Yang didn''t have any time to lose. He started running and navigating through the forest. He sliced through the numerous branches of trees and roots to keep himself from slowing down at all. Li Yang''s initial plans was to seize on Beast Cores and then use them to escape, but it had been too difficult to try and head back to the High Priestess Rhelea''s Grand Hall to find the treasury. The Goddess Aurora was ready to snipe him from above and it was only a matter of time before she could land the lucky shot on him. He grunted and kept looking ahead of him. If he paid more attention or perhaps talked with Setsuko more, or asked her then perhaps he would have known where the exact location of the arena was. The man didn''t have all morning like the last time. Li Yang now depended on the next spot he knew that had the highest chance of containing Beast Cores and it was where Setsuko was located. The test arena surely had Beast Cores if they were going to award them to the ones who survived the Inner Court Priestess test¡ªand he only needed a little bit more to use the World Warper. Perhaps if he got the chance to see Setsuko one last time, then that was all the better. He really didn''t think that he could take her, but the man would surely find a way back here once he returned to earth. A certain part of him wanted to see Mitsuko as well, but with a literal Goddess targeting him¡­ that wasn''t actually the best idea he''d ever have now. Li Yang moved faster. But then immediately started forming and pooling a large amount of Ao in his hands. Li Yang shut his eyes and allowed the Ao to disperse and expel all around him. It was a stupid thing to forget amidst the sudden calamity that occurred within the Mashiro Temple. He was relying on Ao or qi to increase his body''s capability. However, he could also still use it to navigate and find the location of the arena. The first wave of Ao that spread across him started reacting and taking note of different sources of Ao from the plants and herbs, stray creatures that lived here and it was a little distracting but manageable. Li Yang learned how to tune out the other lesser sources of Ao with ease during his time with Mitsuko and what mattered was finding the one¡ªthere! It was still deeper in the forest, but he found another source of Ao that was more bigger and powerful than the rest of the places where his spiritual senses and Ao scattered. Li Yang headed in that direction. The closer he got there, a sensation formed within and around his stomach. While the two of them were separated by a great distance, the thread and energy bond that connected Li Yang and Setsuko didn''t seem to work quite well. Or rather he was not that focused on using it over such distances. But as he started reaching closer and closer. Something started to coil and churn within him. It didn''t tell him that Setsuko was physically hurt, there was no semblance of pain that coursed between the two of them. What he could tell so far however was that Setsuko was currently facing something off. Li Yang assumed it was the test, but still hurried in that direction. . . . . . "Are you running for your life or taking a leisurely jog in the park, bastard?!" A voice suddenly sounded in his ears. Li Yang quickly swiped his sword and watched the blade phase through the body of a familiar Panda. Bao now floated right in front of him all of a sudden and he didn''t know how the actual fuck it happened. "It was easy to find you once I separated from the bitch¡ªI''m the one who''s in charge of finding you after all. Whether I like it or not, you''re on my radar almost twenty-four seven¡ªhey, why are you running away again?" The CEO didn''t wait for the Panda to finish his monologue once he picked up the sound of women in the arena. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Today is July 8, 2021 and this is the fourth Privilege tier for this book that helps me to continue writing this story amidst, uh free passes and free reading. It allows me to earn at least 28% of the paid coins worth that you use to purchase this book. We still have one final tier to upload before normal updates resume, so thank you for the patience! Or maybe the lack of it if you''ve bought today xD Hello there future readers. Chapter 197: In The Darkness Of The Night (3) Liar. Bastard. Bitch. No-good cheater. Accusations like those were thrown easily in the air. It wasn''t difficult to hear such words from countless people¡ªboth men and women said it easily when they were hurt by someone they loved. Promises of exclusivity and being a person''s one and only. It was a funny thing that the people in the world of Telriah didn''t understand that well. It wasn''t rare to find a man falling out of favor from a high-ranking woman and replaced by younger men who could provide the satisfaction that such women needed. And yet things were a different matter for Setsuko Hirayama. Her dark hair whirled across the wind. Her body stood still, as if frozen in time even when countless knives flew at her from different directions. It all came from multiple other Priestesses and though she made it look flawless, Setsuko gritted her teeth. Three knives still landed on her shoulder, torso and then lower leg. They were a little shallow, but the puncture of such knives even when she used Ao energy to shield herself was still an attack that landed. In the darkness of the Sacred Forest of Mashiro Temple''s lands, her blue eyes stared down at her competitors. Almost the remainder in the competition were turning their backs on her. Hurling words supposed to make her rage. Words that were supposed to cut deeper than a knife. "Is it true that Yang slept with Leila?" One of the women asked. Setsuko didn''t warrant them a reply and only kept her eyes open for any attacks that might come in from behind her. While she knew the answer to that question and in retrospect, it made her feel a little strange¡­ she didn''t want them to know that. Another made a reply for Setsuko and glanced at the first speaker. "From what I''ve heard and seen¡ªhe''s always with Priestess Mitsuko. He only comes back to Setsuko and his room to sleep at night." "Well, who''d want to be with a woman who''s always so busy. It''s natural that he''d still try to garner affection from elsewhere. I feel so bad for him. How is it that the two of them are even together?" "It doesn''t make any sense at all." Another woman chirped. These Priestesses were unbelievable. If Setsuko were with the Kin Hunters and other groups, then there wouldn''t even have been time for them to taunt her like this. Most people would just go in for the kill and consider it over. Already acting like they had the upper hand just because Setsuko was outnumbered. While those statements still kind of hurt¡­ that she wasn''t enough for Li Yang. She chose to chase those thoughts away and focused on the other women and rain down on their parade once she found an opening in their formation. And yet her patience was already running thinly. It was only a matter of time until she couldn''t hold herself back any longer. "You know Setsuko, I don''t really know what to tell you. I want to pity you, and yet at the same time I can''t help but feel this is the comeuppance that you deserve." Ixora started with a simple shrug and a smirk on her lips. "This man of yours? I''ve seen him practically ogling at me¡ªit seems like he''s unsatisfied with you." Setsuko stared at Ixora agog for a moment. Out of all the comments hurled at her¡ªit just had to be this one that made her feel the most insecure about her relationship. And yet Setsuko only rubbed her face. "The man has eyes¡ªof course he''s going to look. But whether it''s to stare at your body and your oversized chest, I doubt he''ll tolerate and stand for your stinkin personality, bitch! Your face doesn''t match your attitude." "Why you¡ª" Ixora glanced at the rest of the Priestesses with her. "Are you guys just going to stand around there? She''s all by herself. Go get her while I prepare an attack to finish her off." Ixora promised them an opportunity to finally gang up and beat this arrogant woman for a lesson so they needed to do their jobs properly. Initially hesitant and reserved when alone and all by themselves¡ªa crowd started gaining more bravado when an act was done with several other people. In a way, the responsibility of being a kind person fell away when the rest of the people you were with did the same thing. Priestess Kei may have chosen properly in using Ixora as an inciter of the other Priestesses'' feelings. It may have didn''t looked much, but Priestess Ixora had a way with getting underneath people''s skins. There was a certain talent involved in it. The rest of the Priestesses dove towards Setsuko at the same time. Others even hit and got blocked by one another as they rushed in for the kill stupidly. In Setsuko''s mind, there was a reason why mobs don''t attack all at once, things got chaotic real bad. Honestly, how many of these people were actually going to land an attack on her¡ª Even with a dozen trees behind her, Setsuko only used it as an opportunity to weave in and out from them and landed more than half of them as she moved quickly on her feet. A large root bursted from beneath the grown and ensnared her ankle. Priestess Ixora now stood above one of the tree branches and looked down at her with complete and utter disdain. "I really don''t understand why the rest of the Priestesses are so scared of you¡ªto me, you''re just a cold aloof bitch who doesn''t know how to read the atmosphere at all." Setsuko was quickly slammed back and forth on the earth. Each part of her body took the blow without even a chance to cushion herself. It knocked her unconscious once, but it didn''t stop at all. The warmth and searing heat of blood trickled down on her head. Right before the thirtieth slam¡ªSetsuko''s eyes bleared open. Her pupils shifted from blue to red. Ao flowed through her hands, her fingernails elongating and she cut the thick root away. The woman landed on her feet and glared up at Ixora. Setsuko Hirayama''s form flickered underneath the moonlight. Chapter 198: In The Darkness of The Night (4) How did the Inner Court Test for Priestesses work? Li Yang absolutely had no clue but when the man arrived in a grand clearing of the forest that was never there before¡ªhe encountered a select number of women all gathered together and talking with one another. Li Yang''s main priority was looking for enough of a number of Beast Cores to power up his World Warper, with meeting and seeing Setsuko as second-most important. What lay in front of him was something else. There was no display of the Beast Cores that were supposed to be awarded to the participants that conquered the test. Instead, he saw an even bigger portal hole which was unlike that he had ever seen in the past during his time with Mitsuko in this very forest. Rather, what was present were numerous lounging and resting areas for the women who didn''t even look quite interested at the results of the exam¡ªexcept for perhaps who left the portal and survived the gruesome test. This was an event only for those in the higher echelon in the Mashiro Temple. Those who were lower-ranked Priestesses were supposed to stay in the premises of the temple itself and never actually see the events of the test at all. The younger ones stayed and slept early, while the older Priestesses who didn''t hold the same ounce of talent as the Inner Court were tasked to guard and do other mundane tasks. It may have been one of the reasons why the Damask Insurgents quickly laid the Mashiro Temple to waste if the women who could actually do something were now simply lounging about. A certain repulse coursed through Li Yang at the very moment. His arrival also warranted the same treatment. Compared to the humbler and simpler Priestesses that were around Priestess Leila''s circles¡ªthese women all thought of anyone weaker than them as below them. It was truly a dog-eat-dog world. "Hey¡ªwhat is this consort doing here?" One of the women lazily asked as she plucked some grapes from a bowl nearby her. It was fair to say that High Priestess Rhelea and a certain number of higher-ranked Priestesses truly enjoyed their privilege to the fullest. Nothing was inherently bad with it, in a way, they might have deserved this after working so hard to reach the top¡ªbut the Damask Insurgents and an awakened Goddess happened to be having their way outside of the comforts of this place. With the latter probably already trying to find a way here. One of the women got up and started motioning dismissively at him. "Shoo. Your Lady isn''t done yet¡ªhasn''t she told you to wait in her room or has she not learned how to discipline you?" "If anything¡ªMitsuko should have at least taught this man some manners if she taught him how to use the sword." Another of them remarked. It made one of the younger Priestesses giggle. "How to use the sword? Is this Mitsuko we''re talking about. Also, what sword are we talking about girls¡ª" A Priestess raised a hand and then directed a look at him. A lascivious and perverted look appeared on her face and she gave him a come hither signal. "Since you came all the way here, why don''t you give us a show? Disrobe yourself and show your sword right now¡ªwe''d like to see how your sword works." In the back of Li Yang''s mind came the question if the goddesses in the Heavens who ''watched'' and ''sponsored'' him with Charm Points all acted like these women in front of him right now. He hoped that those in the upper realms of the universe acted with much more dignity than them. Even Bao who was floating behind didn''t even say anything else. But whether that was out of shock or something else, it was hard to tell. Without saying another word, Li Yang stepped around the woman and started working his way towards the portal. There was a certain tug and knot in his stomach that told him that Setsuko was there. Something flared within him. Li Yang didn''t have much time. But as far as his vision gave him the sight of the viewing grounds of the arena¡ªthere wasn''t anything there that was worth his time and energy. No Beast Cores for him to use and just some people who thought he could be for their cheap entertainment. His disdain for individuals like this in general only grew deeper. With Bao now floating on his shoulder, who was to say that the Heavens weren''t once again rejoicing at his return as their toy thing? Perhaps the path that awaited him was truly that of destruction. "Oi." The ignored Priestess grabbed him by the shoulder and squeezed it hard. If she exerted a little more effort then she might be able to dislocate or even destroy his bones right now if she wasn''t careful. She gave him a mocking and sing-song voice. "You don''t happen to be deaf are you now? You''ve heard what the Priestess of Purple Shadows said, didn''t you? If you have any concern with how your pathetic life is going to be then you better do as she says. We wouldn''t want you to get hurt, would you?" Li Yang glanced at her. "I have a literal Goddess chasing after me. It''s in your best interest to let me go if you don''t want to get hurt. By her or by me is up to anyone''s guess." The woman blinked and stared at him. The Priestess didn''t take him seriously and turned to her friends. "Is this man some kind of idiot? Did you hear what he said¡ª" Li Yang slapped the woman''s hand away and then dove to the next portal. While he held no idea or clue on how Aurora would react to her worshippers all being gathered in one place¡ªLi Yang wasn''t going to stick around to find out about it. It was that time that a sudden large ray of light blasted from the side and decimated a ceremonial pillar containing the oath of Priestesses. The sudden wave of energy and force caused multiple rock debris to fly and scatter in the air. A certain number of them were impaled to death. Chapter 199: Domains of Darkness (1) Whoever actually made the multi-layered dimensions in this world clearly knew what they were doing. Li Yang literally entered a new world that was cut off from the forest dimension and when he looked back¡ªthe portal immediately shut down and was gone in a blink of an eye. Whether that was enough to hold off a Goddess was another thing though. "This fucking world is confusing as hell!" Bao the Panda said. Li Yang glanced up at it and raised his brow. "Finally giving commentary again?" "Well that''s¡ª" Once again, Li Yang already shot off from his position and deeper into this area and left the creature mid-sentence as he accustomed himself to his new surroundings. The first layer of the portal dimension in the Sacred Forest simply expanded the forest and made it into a twilight zone. In this place, not even the beams from a moon pierced the nightmare version of the forest. How this one was supposed to be a testing place for Priestesses to enter the Inner Court was a question he might have pondered at another time. Right now, Li Yang concentrated on the sensation that tugged with him. While he never actually got the chance to properly learn how to use the energy bond between him and Setsuko as the two of them focused on learning different things¡ªthis time he felt it. The rush of blood that drummed in his ears, mini palpitations that made it a little harder to breathe as he cut through trees and found them also trying to cut him back¡­ Setsuko''s distinctive emotions and even current physical state was now mixing in with his. For a moment, he thought he saw a familiar Priestess'' face and then hands clawing at him, screaming obscenities before he blinked and found himself in the same path he was running on. Instantly, his feet and even movements seemed to tread on the same exact place where Setsuko might have run in. In a way, it was almost engulfing for him to be caught in the throes of another person''s emotions, sensations and thoughts. The intimacy involved in this particular bond was unlike anything else he experienced before. Li Yang took a deep breath and focused on fending off strange creatures that tried to latch on him. Shadows and unexplainable shapes similar to the veil that covered the Mashiro Temple seemed to be present here and even thicker. The man avoided those and kept everything away with a swing of his sword and coupled with an incredible amount of Ao that flowed through him now. Sometimes he caught a particular creature looking at him from the bushes and trees, it never dared approach him before it was then spooked away. In his mind''s eye, it was the very same rabbit that he had killed when he first arrived in this world. It was a peculiar thing since Li Yang was very much sure that he killed it. Perhaps it was just his mind playing tricks on him. All of this might have been very well an illusion¡ª A bloodcurdling scream echoed within the nightmare forest. It temporarily chased the darkness away as Li Yang focused on getting there¡ªfocusing on the position of the voice and then finally found himself arriving at a scene that made his blood run cold. It should have been obvious in hindsight that something like this would make a person used to the modern life blanch slightly. Oh yes, similar to how people can mindlessly kill insects and other lower lifeforms without even blinking and considering the deaths¡ªthe same might be held in this world to those of their fellow men and women. Death was a part of life. The two were intertwined and one was never truly separate from the other. Li Yang was aware of it but the way that blood spilled on the forest''s floor came from the same women he might have seen in his day-to-day life for the past weeks he had been here was still mind-numbing. Almost mind-fucking. And then the thought passed him by when a certain white-haired woman threw herself into his arms. "Yang! You''re here. I didn''t think you''d come, but here you are." Setsuko wasn''t sobbing, there were no tears that touched his robes or chest¡ªbut it was just the longing of a woman after everything that happened within the forest. He held no clue as to what happened. For once, even the energy bond between them detailed nothing to him and only the sensation of deep longing and yearning coursed between the very line that connected him and Setsuko together. Li Yang absolutely had no time to discriminate and shifted his gaze away from the sight within the forest. He didn''t want to associate the carnality and grotesque sight with Setsuko, but there was certainly a reason for this. Setsuko probably had no choice. It was the same as what might have happened with Taiga and her encounter with the sects and temples in the past. The ones that she burned down to make them pay for what they did to her. He shook off his wariness, the still very modern thinking that he was used to and held Setsuko closer. His entire worldview needed to change and adapt to the standard of the world or else he''d fall behind. And yet he was still running away. Li Yang winced but then looked at Setsuko''s face, the hint of red in her eyes was quickly fading back to the same blue eyes that he encountered when they first met. "We don''t have much time at all. I need to get going or die here¡ªhave you encountered Beast Cores here?" This was the very thing that Setsuko was afraid he''d tell her. Setsuko shook her head. "No, I haven''t encountered a single one. Maybe there''s some elusive beast here with Beast Cores, but I was ambushed and didn''t have much of a chance to look." "I see¡­" Li Yang looked behind him and wondered if the Goddess was nearly upon them and reaching out to kill him. He didn''t want to involve Setsuko any further if it meant that she might get hurt along with him. "Let''s go together please." This was Setsuko''s plea. Chapter 200: Domains of Darkness (2) "I don''t think that''s a good idea at all," Li Yang said. Setsuko glared at him. "You always tell me things lately and yet right now you aren''t saying anything at all. What''s wrong with you...?" The woman''s voice eventually trailed off as she started to connect the pieces. "Why are you here in the first place? Didn''t the High Priestess¡ª" "Tell me to stay in the room? There''s not much of a room anymore," Li Yang said. He might have said it with a slight sense of humor, but as he looked at Setsuko covered in mud, dirt and what might have been blood¡­ the reality of things just weighed heavier in his mind. "What did you say?" Setsuko''s eyes widened. Did he really just think he could get away by not being completely upfront with Setsuko? He grabbed her hand and started pulling her away from their spot. The two of them travelled deeper into the forest. "I need a way out of here if you know a path out. Search for the fastest way out." Setsuko stared at him and chewed on her lip. "Huh? I''m sorry but¡ª" Ding! The System made itself useful for once. [ System Assessing Current Whereabouts¡ª ] [ Searching Current Universal Database¡­ ] [ Cross-Checking Ancient World Lore ] [ Location Found! ] [ Aseroth''s Domain ] A remnant of the world that the God of Darkness Aseroth created in Telriah. Twisted and perilous for those unused to the terrain and those on the current way of Light, it can be a tumultuous path to ascension for those aligned and attuned with the elements. [ Detecting Levels of Compatibility¡ª He just wanted the map! "We''re going this way." Li Yang didn''t wait any further and urged Setsuko to follow him. He took her down a path that neither of them had exactly seen before but now opened up to his eyes. It was almost ridiculous that he didn''t see this path that was clearly cut out for them. While the shadows, dense foliage and other lurking creatures once converged around him and possibly all of the ones that entered this place¡­ it was now starting to part and shrink away and showing a path. Did the world around him sense the CEO''s intention to leave and simply warped according to his whims? Li Yang didn''t think about it like that. Instead, he decided it was all thanks to the minimap in front of him. This map hovered in the corner of his vision and contained numerous sectors and even other portals available in this current domain. Li Yang didn''t bother much with the name or anything else but instead directed his attention to the path that the System set out for him. It was a path back to the Mashiro Temple which was now probably in ruins. Li Yang could only hope that the treasury was easy to find now that this Map was up. The two of them started making their way to the exit. . . . . . There was a certain thing that always seemed to have afflicted the man¡ªmisfortune and calamity upon him. It was something that Bao the "Panda" witnessed so far in all of the interactions that it did see. Even while Bao may have been gone for about a long period of time as brought upon by traveling the entire universe to find him¡­ the people that the CEO got involved with were really always particular. Bao desired to laugh at it, and yet its perspective may have not meant anything to anyone at all. If there was a certain kinship it may have felt towards the blasted CEO, it was the very same misfortune that fell on them. Staying invisible and undetected this time, it did its best to hide its presence from Setsuko. Bao normally tried to hide from the world and play its role as transmitter to the fullest and when there were occasions of people being able to see it¡ªlike Bo Lifen''s great-grandmother or Li Yang''s own daughter¡ªas long as they were incapable of directly harming it¡­ well, Bao was willing to let it slide. This person that stuck to Li Yang''s side however made Bao extremely cautious. The faint outline of numerous tails that swung behind her back as she ran along with Li Yang made Bao actually feel sweat drip down the fur of its current body. And you were talking to a being that actually had the balls to steal a goddess'' vessel in an attempt to smack down the CEO¡ªthe bastard who gave Bao the opportunity to waste its own powers to find him! So although the CEO might have lived a "boring" life according to him, that was in peace. Bao clearly thought otherwise. And Bao didn''t even need to pull up an Akashic Record or another Compendium of all universal events that spun and wove according to this particular individual. The mere fact that Li Yang landed himself in a place like this and got involved with a woman that might have been on the cusp to ascending deity ranks far too quickly¡­ Li Yang was all the person he needed to blame. There was just something about him that drew catastrophe his way and Bao didn''t even need to look back and hear the shrieking of Goddess Aurora. The Goddess pounded and started making her way to the place where she became smaller and weaker in hopes to find this CEO''s face and preferably crush it on the ground. And then a third individual started arriving from out of nowhere too. ¡ªOr also managed to snuck into this nightmare realm by sheer virtue of knowledge. Bao stared at a certain pink-haired woman and actually deemed her normal this time. Compared to all of the individuals encountered, she was quickly deemed sane and had no particular ties to the fate of the world. "Hah, this one is actually a decent person for once. Emphasis on decent and person at the same time." [ ???: Who''s this pinkette? ] [ The One Who Slaughters: Goddess Fights! ] [ Sea Foam: My, my someone has certainly been busy¡ª ] Chapter 201: Domains of Darkness (3) Three individuals gathered in one spot. A fourth one just about to arrive... Less than a minute to sweep in. Others were left to pry. The Heavens and the dark forest surrounding them were nothing more but a backdrop to the scenario now playing in front of Li Yang, mere observers to the pinnacle of what was about to come. He planned to make his way to the exit and the portal now stood in front of them, an array of darker colors imbuing it with a strange energy. But it was at this very portal that Mitsuko used to meet up with them. "Mitsuko¡ªwhat are you doing here?" Setsuko asked. She was taken aback by the appearance of the woman, but understood that it was all due to one person. Setsuko didn''t quite like to admit it, but it always made her feel uneasy. A ridiculous notion when she was the one who had a tangible and physical bond with Li Yang. Li Yang''s brows furrowed at Mitsuko. "I thought you would have escaped by now. There''s nothing left for this place." He didn''t have any clue on how much destruction the Damask Insurgents caused for Mashiro Temple¡­ but there was always a point where the cost of saving something exceeded more than the thing''s worth. He didn''t want to judge it from such a cold business perspective, but Mashiro Temple could really burn to the ground and be replaced by something far more ideal in his mind. "Perhaps." Mitsuko agreed with him. "What are the two of you talking about?" Setsuko narrowed her eyes. Li Yang evaded answering her earlier, but the situation was clearly weaving itself to be something more than she could have ever bargained for. "Damask Insurgents are destroying the temple and burning it to the ground¡ªand they may have summoned the wrong deity," Mitsuko said. "Wrong deity?!" Setsuko''s gaze quickly flickered around their surroundings. "Is Aseroth now here with us?" Mitsuko frowned slightly and thought about their situation hard and this was the hypothesis she created. "No, but it is the Goddess Aurora in a corrupted state. Probably because they were trying to awaken Aseroth but made a mistake." Li Yang kept his expression cold and blank. Mitsuko''s gaze first lingered on the sight of the tarnished fox pre-deity, before she turned back to look at Li Yang. While she could spend the next moments explaining, it wasn''t worth it at all. "There''s not enough time anymore, so I want to give you this so you can return home." "Go home?" Setsuko''s voice wavered slightly. Her gaze went down to her and Li Yang''s intertwined hands. She may have begged him to take her along, but he still did it, didn''t he? Setsuko didn''t want to think that it was just a one-sided relationship with only her pining for the man. This mention of departure was something she heard a long time ago, but to finally hear that it was happening at this very instant bewildered the poor woman to shock. Even more so that Setsuko had to hear this from Mitsuko and not Li Yang himself. Was he going to tell her this at the last minute? Did she really mean anything to him at all? What was she supposed to be? Simply someone he used when he first arrived to navigate around this unfamiliar world? For a moment, the words of the Priestesses earlier came back to haunt her. But Setsuko did remember how he told her that he admired her. Unfortunately man''s mind was truly elsewhere. And it was of the woman in front of them right now. Li Yang told Mitsuko about his desire to go home¡ªbut did she really come back just to tell him this? Unless Mitsuko carried any spare Beast Cores right now then they were all still doomed. And it was something he was deliberately ignoring in lieu of finding answers. It was there that Mitsuko pulled back her cloak and let it slip down from her shoulders. It revealed a gleaming piece of jewelry hanging around her neck. Mitsuko gave him a dry smile. "Go with Setsuko and find a place for the two of you. I have no idea how this will help you, but take it." Li Yang stared at the most condensed form of Ao energy gathered in a singular core. As to what creature it may have come from, a dragon''s heart, a phoenix''s egg or something else entirely¡ªthere was no clue about it. He didn''t hesitate and approached the woman, plucking the jewel from her and capturing it within his fingertips. Power and energy radiated and thrummed as an undercurrent that told him of its power. "What is this bitch saying? Only one of you¡ª" Bao quickly shut up. Setsuko''s gaze flickered to the last spot where Bao previously had been and then she quickly frowned, until her expression finally went cold. This woman wasn''t like Ying Yue He, Bo Lifen or even Taiga who had the closest encounter with Bao. At least in terms of all the women who romantically or sexually involved themselves with Li Yang. Instead she was on another level. But there wasn''t even any time for that. Li Yang''s attention was on the screen in front of him. [ New Zone Warper ] Access different worlds in different planes according to the Host''s current strength levels. You Have Used The New Zone Warper Once. System Currently Gathering Energy For Next Jump (94.5% Charged) [ You Are Currently Holding The Artifact Of The Falling Kaeli Kingdom ] The small gem in his hand radiated with enough power to fully charge the World Warper¡ªit was at that exact time that Goddess Aurora arrived. The entire forest shook and in the midst of it all were the howls and shrieks. It came from a multitude of creatures that lived within the nestled boughs and shadows. A Goddess of Light descended into this world of darkness. Everything burned at the sight of her. She was headed straight towards them. Chapter 202: Domains of Darkness (4) "You!" "YOU!" "¡ªYOUYOUYOU!" It was just one word. There was nothing special to it if it were spoken by anybody else. And yet it was Aurora of Telriah. The Goddess of Light and the World. Her voice dripped with such a reviled tone, in utter disgust and revulsion that you could feel it palpably in the air. You could hear it clearly in your ears and see it in your eyes. The manifestation of everything that was and the very same being that will also be. A goddess supposed to be an embodiment of light now turned to an overwhelming and bright glare that burned everything in her path. Shadows faded away from her. Darkness disappeared once she came. Horrors and nightmares from unfathomable realms recoiled from her touch and presence alone. Their very nature not able to stay and possess their corporeal forms, they disintegrated into the night. Mitsuko and Setsuko were the first to shield their eyes¡ªa temporary blindness that swathed their visions and grabbed it from them. Mere creations could never deem it within them to look upon their creator. And yet this man boldly looked at her without even flinching away. Aurora could see it: swirling and covering him in a black cloak-like fog. It was almost unseeable to any mortal''s eyes, even a Priestess wouldn''t be able to see it if they were trained to the highest of their ability. A layer of darkness that bathed him and absorbed everything in his path. At that very hour, it almost seemed like the past where everything was equal and in balance. Darkness and Light. An unstoppable force together with an immovable object¡ªperhaps it was a silly thing that a Goddess like her could lose her cool. A Goddess of Light now clouded over by rage and emotions that were supposed to be far beneath her. She didn''t hold herself back as it actually burned within her. [ You Are Currently Holding The Artifact Of The Falling Kaeli Kingdom ] Li Yang grasped the jewel in his hand and quickly looked at both Mitsuko and Setsuko. The two of them were frozen in place. He picked up his sword with his other hand and struck at the Goddess diving towards them first¡ªa ray of sword qi that lashed at her from afar. The appearance of it was akin to a singular line that hit the Goddess directly. But it didn''t do anything and only seemed to phase through the Goddess. However, that didn''t matter. "Get away, both of you!" Li Yang told the two women. It was at that moment that the same dark energy that swirled around Li Yang increased in its influence and expansion. Perhaps unseen by anyone else except for the very goddesses and observers from above. This covered both Setsuko and Mitsuko in a shawl of black. Waves of pink Ao suddenly blasted at the Goddess, quick and rushing and vibrant with life and energy¡ªquickly unfurling and dispersing into threads. Another flurry of white balls of Ao that resembled light itself attacked and launched itself at the Goddess. Despite being at a purer and even higher spectrum of light, this Ao also faded way, or rather was reabsorbed by Aurora. "DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD STOP ME?" The Goddess boomed at them and stopped several feet away from them. She didn''t dare step closer to the darkness but stood from afar to attack and hurl light rays at them. Mitsuko looked at her hands in astonishment. While she may have been blinded earlier, with how the Goddess moved, it was easy to pinpoint her direction but even that failed now. This was her last attack after the extinguishment of the veil earlier. A potent form of energy she stored in the chances that she lost the artifact of her nation. But it was nothing in front of a Goddess. Setsuko''s powers that the High Priestess Rhelea feared was this bright white light. It was the purest Ao possible¡ªit may have been the very same Ao that the Goddess Aurora actually used at the beginning of their time. But all it did was restore the Goddess'' hidden wounds. Mitsuko stared back at Li Yang and then shoved at him. "Go away now and I''ll hold her off." It was a stupid thing to say and from the looks on his expression, the man thought the very same thing. Maybe Li Yang thought he was stupid too. The stone was in his hands and the System promised him a full-charge and world warp. Even if he were to attempt to buy everything with all the Power Points he had right now would amount to nothing. Bao was preoccupied with streaming, but the chat screen only visible to the two of them appeared in his vision. Panda: Absorb the stone and fucking get away¡ªI can''t do it myself or the Heavens will riot! And yet Bao didn''t even mention something that may have changed how the battle might have been perceived. The Goddess Aurora naturally could control the Ao that stemmed from the people in Telriah as they were nothing but inferior creations. However the single strike of the sword manifested from that man''s¡ªthat despicable man''s sword cut far deeper than the surface. It wasn''t a cut that ended her life, it was used to defend himself and the women with him, but its effect was unlike anything of this world. If it weren''t for that white-haired fox woman that attacked her, then it would have been hard to repair the wound that destroyed her very light essence. This was one of the reasons why she wanted to get rid of him. Blast him off from the world. And yet he had already infected the women in this world, cursed them with his own energy that tainted them far beyond than which Aurora already liked. She needed and wanted to get rid of them as well. Right before any of them could do anything else¡ª Li Yang''s left hand was now empty. Setsuko gulped down the stone. Chapter 203: The End Of It All (1) "Setsuko!" Li Yang gawked as the energy source of the World Warper disappeared. It was gone in the blink of an eye and his chances of leaving the World of Telriah went along with it. Although that wasn''t exactly true as long as they managed to survive this incident now with the goddess. That was perhaps the biggest if in this situation. "Is¡­ Is she supposed to eat the stone?" Mitsuko stammered for a moment. Thousands of years of rich culture and history of Kaeli Kingdom went down the drain and into Setsuko''s throat. "No." Regardless, Li Yang reached out to Setsuko in concern. The woman recoiled away from him and buckled over to her knees. She grabbed at her stomach and tried not to regurgitate the stone that was now inside of her. Her body tried to expel the additional power to no avail. "Do you dare ignore me at this hour?" The Goddess Aurora glared at the trio. Light spilled from her eyes like beams as she gathered up power in her palm. Multiple beams of light whirred and flew into the air like birds. It shot at them from different ranges. They were currently indisposed with only Li Yang being the one armed properly. The man stepped forward and sliced into the air with his sword. Invisible to the naked eyes, his sword qi flew out and struck them down before they reached him and the two women. Except that some of the birds flew past them¡ªmultiple dark trees imploded and shot shards of wood at them. It was an intentionally missed shot. Mitsuko dodged without any problems. Heading towards the right, she side-stepped against the razor-sharp cuts of wood and other elements of the entire forest. Setsuko on the other hand was still preoccupied. Li Yang reached out and grabbed her by the waist and rushed away from the trajectory of the rain of shadows. He felt something dig into his back, the Ao layer he had weakened, but he kept moving and ignored the searing heat that burned. The two of them ended up on the other side of the forest, separated from Mitsuko by several feet. He shook Setsuko and looked down at her with unease. She was currently prone and he soon realized that she was catatonic. "Setsuko¡ª" "Throw her to me!" Mitsuko shouted. "My attacks can''t do anything, but yours¡ª" "I''m okay now." Setsuko raised her head. The usual red or even blue shade in her eyes was now of a duller color. It was something more akin to Li Yang''s own eye color¡ªdark and spiralling like the abyss. It had always been something that drew her to him. Setsuko however held a hint of whiteness in the center of it. The man''s sturdy grip hung about her waist, but for now, Li Yang let her go with a concerned look on his face and felt their energy bond unravel for a moment. Static was ringing in his ears. Sometimes he couldn''t hear anything at all, but right now it was as if the world around him greyed over. Why did Setsuko do this? The power of the stone coursed within her and acted as a catalyst for her Ao core to well up in power. Maybe it was because she was aware of what would happen once Li Yang used up the stone and selfishly wanted him to stay here with her¡ªeven with a goddess seeking for his death. But that wasn''t just it either. Perhaps it may have been a part of it, but now Setsuko raised her finger up towards the Goddess and blasted her with another ray of Ao. The Goddess Aurora took the blow without even faltering and shook her head. The pink-haired Priestess may have been weaker, but unlike this woman, at least she had a head and knew how to read this atmosphere. This one however¡ªthis wench that had her energy core opened by a man seemed to have lost function in their head. The Goddess Aurora focused on another wave of Ao to blast the entire three of them away until they finally wished that the domain around them stopped. "This is pathetic. You can''t hurt me at all, woman. You are¡ª" Aurora felt something wrack in her throat and she coughed up blood. The Goddess blinked down in her vessel and stared at the blood in her fingers. It was a rare thing to see¡ªshe almost forgot what it felt, smelled and even looked like. Her body was supposed to be perfect, untouchable and cut apart from time. But this woman managed to strike her after only encountering once. "Bitch," Setsuko said and simply grinned at her. Li Yang stared at Setsuko who managed to get back on her feet. She pointed at the Goddess again to strike her down once more. Li Yang immediately felt the churning in his stomach as he felt Setsuko''s unstable aura. It didn''t exactly hurt him, but something went down his spine. "Setsuko, that''s enough. We can go¡ª" "I can do this!" Setsuko shouted. This time the energy bursted way faster than she expected and Setsuko recoiled backwards. She found herself landing back against hard debris, another layer of Aseroth''s domain that couldn''t be explained at all. The portal behind them was flickering in response to the several bouts of energy. Setsuko''s own attack was giving her injuries as well. She felt the power of her own Ao coursing within her body and the infusement of the Kaeli Kingdom''s artifact. It burned within her blood and boiled every second of it. But Setsuko''s attack only worked because of the link between her and Li Yang. It wasn''t obvious to anybody else except for Bao and probably the Heavens, but the Goddess'' rambling about how tainted Setsuko was because her powers were unlocked by Li Yang held some truth in it. Mixing in two clearly opposite energy and forming a bond over it¡ª The woman didn''t even bother standing up, as if the pain never registered in her body. She only pointed at the Goddess. Setsuko shot a ray of light, a mocking appearance of what Aurora gave earlier, the same brilliant white plume only mixed in with a dark center within it. The Goddess Aurora heard the explosion behind her and raged. She may have dodged it, but she wasn''t liking how things were turning out right now. It was unfair. So unfair. Nobody should have power like this! Aurora was the Goddess here! The Goddess Aurora''s white hair fell across and covered her face, only a singular eye appearing from it. She was going to kill everyone here. That Princess, the Fox and most importantly the guy that was with them. Especially him, him¡ªhim! How Li Yang appeared in her mind''s eye was of a clearly different person entirely. Possibly sharing just some similar features, but it was of someone in another age and with dark hair much longer than this current one. That didn''t matter at all when he was going to wind up dead. Chapter 204: The End of It All (2) [ Telriah Arc End ] "Setsuko, that''s enough. We can go¡ª" "I can do this!" Setsuko shouted and attacked. Even though the energy of Ao that flowed out of her was immense, she ended up getting caught in a backlash with her own attack and flew backwards into another area of Aseroth''s domain. Then she attacked again. Li Yang couldn''t stand this any further. A certain part of him saw and even felt how much Setsuko was pushing herself to attack the Goddess without even a hint of restraint. It was as if Setsuko was prepared for either her or the Goddess to fall and die at this very instant. It was only a matter of outlasting the Goddess. Or whoever actually survived tonight. "Damn it¡ª" Li Yang clutched his sword and immediately summoned his points shop screen. That old A-Booster Pack or whatever it was that he bought before¡ªhe needed it right now. Boost his levels to the maximum and try to get a clean hit or at least escape with both Setsuko and Mitsuko in tow if that was possible at all. Now would have been a good time to escape even by himself, it was impossible to get everyone out. It was a logical choice that betrayed any sense of morals all in the hopes of self preservation. Cowardice. It was a stupid thought, but he couldn''t just let Setsuko go out and kill herself off trying to protect him. He didn''t want to abandon anyone. If he would run away now when there was a literal god in front of him then he''d continue to run in the future. "I''m not going anywhere at all." And it was there that his Temporary Mission earlier finally changed to something new. Or it rather finally picked up his will and gave him a different set of parameters to accomplish. [ Survive The Telriah Goddess of the Light ] [ In Progress ] [ Certain Conditions Met! ] [ God Slaying Quest Activated! ] Your Bonded Member, Setsuko Hirayama, is currently locked in a battle with the Goddess Aurora. Take this opportunity to land a strike at her and sever the preconceived old bond that the Goddess has with the Host. [ Researching Current Environment To Find Best Attack ] [ Taking Into Consideration Host''s Current Skill Set... ] [ Compatibility With Certain Skills Are Near 100% Match... ] [ Borrowed God-Slaying Skill: The End Is Nigh Activated ] [ Domain Has Boosted Your Attack Power By 200% ] Mitsuko was caught in the corner of the forest and feeling useless. She couldn''t attack anyone at all even when she promised and told Li Yang that he and Setsuko should leave. If she could even manage to use Ao now even when she was utterly drained then it meant that she''d only power up the Goddess. A certain unbelievable thought ran in her mind of escaping together and leaving Setsuko and Aurora to fight together in this realm¡ªperhaps find a way to collapse it down. She bit her lip and looked at Li Yang for one moment and realized that he wasn''t going anywhere. The atmosphere around the dimension within the nightmare replica of the Sacred Forest turned even darker at this moment. Something cold seeped within her heart as if the entirety of her body''s heat left her in that moment. "Wait what the fuck¡ª" Bao shouted at the sudden power-up. There was a screen shimmering right in front of Li Yang and while it should have been visible to it and the viewers from the Heavens.... Nothing was appearing in its eyes. The only thing that happened was the sudden change in the atmosphere around Li Yang and the manifestation of a primordial clock spiralling behind him. Something akin to an old book that opened up and a page was ripped from it. Maybe Bao just imagined it but in a blink of an eye both the man and the clock were gone. Bao''s gaze shifted back to Aurora and immediately found the man there. His speed¡ªno, his teleportation was impeccable. He practically disappeared from sight. ¡ª- And so she was and had been. Caught in between two times¡ªa being who couldn''t move on from a time that already passed. Goddess Aurora struck and attacked without any hint of remorse or caution¡ª "Die. Die. Die¡ª" Aurora''s attacks were wild and came in a flurry of blows. Each one struck with a magnitude of force that rattled the already collapsing domain of her brother. It was one of the only reminders she had of him and she was tearing it down on her own. The Goddess'' attacks were fast, hurtled like the lights that they were but in the end were thrown so carelessly that it wasn''t a fair fight. Or perhaps it was because Aurora never actually had the chance to fight at all. In the very beginning, she was already a god and never had to fight anything¡ªnever had to work for it at all. Her skills were almighty, magnificent but in her hands they were terrible. No matter how powerful they were, if the Goddess Aurora couldn''t even hold back her rage then she''d eventually just wear herself out. But compared to a god and a human¡­ These people would grow weaker than her. That fox girl, despite having nine-tails and swallowing down another stone that had been around the beginning of Telriah was still much weaker and she''d rid of her¡ª Slash. The sensation of a blade stabbing within her was empty, dull and it may have only been her imagination that she felt it at all with her vessel. It cut cleanly as if someone had thrown a pebble into clear waters. The Goddess Aurora was supposed to be immune and invulnerable to the pain¡ªinvincible! So why was there something leaking out of her eyes? Finally, the figure of a man appeared in front of her from out of nowhere. Perhaps he had been there all along now that the Dissolution Skill of his finally wore off and he was now visible to her. There he was¡ª Goddess Aurora reached out and clutched her brother''s face. Her fingers dug slightly in his cheeks and he was a little weaker than when she remembered. And yet without even blinking an eye at her, no hint of recognition visible at all¡ªLi Yang dug his blade deeper into the Goddess'' center without any hesitation. If he risked his neck this far, then it was inevitable that he needed to actually go all out and see through the end of this. He stabbed right at the energy core that he expected the Goddess also had. If the people here were created in the same image as their gods, then possibly it was right here. The obsidian sword that Bo Lifen''s friend gave him was said to be the sharpest material ever, and it held up to his words¡ªits incompatibility with the world''s energy was now proving itself useful. Li Yang absolutely had no idea where everyone else was, all he knew was that he landed a strike. The attack that landed on Goddess Aurora was the same as before¡­ and it was the strangest thing to feel nostalgic over when this attack was meant to put an end to her existence. "Hahh¡­ have I mistaken you for someone else?" Aurora clutched his face closer. The two of them were now trapped in this position and she didn''t quite mind it as she stared at his dark eyes and hoped to see anything, anything at all. To be awoken when she had put herself to sleep and be kept away from the entirety of the universe and her world then to see him again. It almost felt like a repeat of everything. Changing and adapting was a difficult thing for the gods. But it wasn''t all that bad as Aurora thought it would be as she stared at Li Yang''s face and then found nothing at all. "Maybe you are, maybe you''re nothing but a fading remembrance of what Aseroth once was. Regardless, my mind is made up now." Similar to what she had done in the past, Goddess Aurora mustered up the remaining energy within her that lay uncorrupted by the darkness from both his and the fox girl''s attack. It was a little difficult now that she thought of it. While the attack was weaker than what she remembered, the Goddess herself wasn''t the same as before. Her gaze temporarily shifted to Setsuko and smiled briefly. Her own creations were also starting to become so much greater than she and her own brother fathomed before. Decidedly, the Goddess buried herself into the man''s blade until their noses touched. "I don''t want to see your face ever again." She kissed him goodbye. Li Yang''s eyes bulged open at the sudden affection thrown into his direction. But before he knew it, the man was forced to squint his eyes shut at the overwhelming illumination. The world around the two of them finally faded into a searing bright light. It was akin to what Li Yang witnessed before and yet he wasn''t so sure if this was simply a way to the afterlife. A kiss of death bestowed by a Goddess. Before he could finally discover it for himself, there was the cusp of finding something loosen and stretching within him. A cord that was yet to break. "Yang¡ª!" Setsuko chased after the figure that disappeared into the lights. She reached out her fingers into the remaining glitters in the air as she fell on her knees. The world around her darkened completely without a light. "I''ll find you, Yang¡ªI''ll find you again, I swear it." She placed a hand on her chest as her shoulders shook. "Even if it''s the last thing I''ll ever do, I''ll chase you down to the end of it all. I will find you." ¡ª- Author''s Note: Welcome to the end of the World of Telriah arc! Have you read the Tower of God? I''m sure you have. At least the first chapter, yeah? Spoilers to that. But I really like the simple motivation of the 25th Bam at first in chasing the person he considered the light of his life. It''s got nothing to with her name. That certain desperation and determination to do anything for someone while staving off the fear. Finding the courage to do something because all other options are dark if you don''t pursue it? Amazing. PS. This chapter was written thanks to some help with the people in my discord. Thanks guys! Chapter 205: His Return (1) And so it happened¡ªbefore Li Yang figured out what had happened, his entire self arrived into another place without any trouble at all. While he expected himself to be disintegrated or turned into dust¡­ the opposite had actually happened. The Goddess may have told him that she never wished to see his face, but instead of actually killing him off¡­ he was still alive. The ache of the Goddess grabbing his face like he was nothing more but a piece of toy still lingered in his cheeks and jaw. But he really was fine. Unless he died. Li Yang studied his hands and didn''t find it having an ethereal or ephemeral sensation at all. He flexed his fingers in front of him and felt the way that his wrist relaxed now that the sword he used was even gone after using it to stab the Goddess. "Unbelievable." He really hadn''t been dreaming at all as he looked up and surveyed his surroundings. The air around him was crisp and chilly and right now he was once again in a forest. Li Yang looked up and stared into the night-time sky and exhaled a little. "Seems like a perfect time to do some moon or stargazing," He said to himself and then shook his head once more. Now wasn''t the time to reminisce or wonder who exactly enjoyed this kind of activity when he was clearly in an environment that wasn''t of his own. He needed to get things into order. As far as Li Yang was concerned, this wasn''t the world that the Goddess Aurora lived in because simply changing his location from Mashiro Temple to just another part of their world was counterintuitive. He concentrated on sensing the energy around him and found that it was less vibrant than what he experienced in Telriah. While it was possible for him to use the energy into the air and convert it into qi¡­ There was still a need to exert some effort. So Li Yang was finally back on earth or a place that felt like it. This was no energy-densed world for him to needlessly waste his energy on and it was best to preserve it. But to figure out his exact location however¡ª Li Yang only needed to ask. "System. Location." [ Welcome Back To Your Destined Homeworld, Earth. ] [ You Are Currently in One of The Forests in Japan ] The man''s expression shadowed over for a moment as gloom got a hold of him. This wasn''t necessarily that far to where he needed to be. It would be fine as long as he could get a way back to the city and even a flight back to Shanghai. But out of all the places? "Why did it have to be here?" he asked. He recontextualized his situation once again and checked everything on his person for anything useful. He had his Inventory, naturally. But unless he could trade in the Frost Feathers and other materials he gained while fighting monsters, there wasn''t anything that substantial. Li Yang''s eyes widened as he saw something glittering in his inventory¡ª How could he have forgotten about that? It would have been idiotic if the CEO didn''t realize this any sooner. Even though he was starting to get caught up in how the world changed around him which seemed to fit a certain narrative that the Heavens liked¡ªit didn''t mean he could forget about what he still had. Li Yang still lived in the modern age. [ Smartphone XYZ ] One of the latest brand models of smartphones available in recent years. This is a great communication device used to connect with the entire world at the touch of one''s fingers. Depending on other criteria and interaction, the Host may encounter other Individuals who can help upgrade one''s phone to suit the universal standard. Certain Individuals have used theirs to achieve power-ups, gather hidden information and other uses. He didn''t quite pay attention but simply pulled out his phone and opened it up. The familiar white glow of his phone shone on his face as a mixture of relief crossed on his face. While he was never attached to his phone, it was still an important part of his everyday life¡ªthe battery died immediately without any reason. Before it even reached the home screen, it turned off. He frowned slightly. "Did its battery really die while I stored it here?" Whether that was just bad luck or something else, Li Yang chose to focus on finding solutions. He needed to find a charger¡­ but could he really just borrow one out of nowhere? He was sure that the people were kind, right? That was until Li Yang thought of something. It made the man grimace. Did he even want to just call or contact his family on the phone and honestly expect to receive an answer? What if they changed numbers? No, it wasn''t that kind of problem that made him hesitate. The idea of simply calling them and telling them that he was in another country and expecting a ticket to return home¡ªwell, it was just going to be a little hard to talk with people here. He didn''t quite pick up much Japanese and who was going to trust a complete stranger anyway? That was what Li Yang concluded for himself. And so the man started pacing in the woods all by himself and muttered to himself. As far as he could tell, it was just him and the System again so he was once again left to fend for himself. Since he returned back wearing the same clothes as he did in Telriah, people would find him odd and turn him away. He had left his business attire in lieu of something that fitted the people in Mashiro Temple. A portal suddenly rippled in front of him. A vortex of dark blue and purple was torn into the very fabrics of space and Li Yang immediately tensed. The sword he stuck into the Goddess was gone and he was currently weaponless. A furry creature cannonballed its way out of the hole and started cursing. Once again, Bao jabbed a furry faw into his face without any hint of remorse or even travel sickness. "What the fucking hell! Didn''t I tell you to consume the stone and then get the hell out before you died back there? Thank the heavens that she didn''t actually kill you and set you back here. Wherever this place is?" Since Bao didn''t get caught up in the Goddess'' area of effect, or rather she had only chosen to banish Li Yang¡­ it had to rush back to earth again. It was depleting its energy far way more than it looked compared to the man who got a one-way ticket back to earth. Li Yang sighed and rubbed his face. Who exactly did he hope to see chase after him from one of the portals? Setsuko or even Mitsuko? He didn''t take it that they were capable of interstellar travel and neither could Ying Yue He and the others from his immediate circle realize that he ended up here. Why did he even think of that? He was used to being alone¡ªno, that was a bit of a lie now. The thought of it made him shake his head. "I may have been fantasizing for a welcome a bit far more than I realized I was actually hoping for. This isn''t my country and I''m currently garbed in clothes from Telriah¡­ I need to find a way back to society immediately. Map please." [ The System Has Generated A Map To The Nearest Town ] Li Yang frowned slightly at the screen and eventually shook his head. While he may have dreamed a little about immediately meeting the people he cared about, it only meant that he needed to find a way back to his home immediately. "I need the exact spot in Tokyo¡­no, how far away am I from Shanghai?" [ Host Is Currently 810km From Shanghai ] [ Host Is Currently 1227km From Tokyo ] Bao tilted its head at the CEO. It was used to being able to discern Li Yang''s intentions and recognized that the man was already looking for a way back home. Once the man put his head into one thing, the CEO could actually get single-track minded. If Bao were to pair it with the fact that Li Yang was fastidious and liked to adhere to the rules and contained a certain moral compass¡ªthis was what came across its mind. "Hey¡­ what are you trying to do? Aren''t you going to go to Tokyo, attend some anime cosplaying convention and attempt to earn money to buy a plane ticket back to your country?" Li Yang stared at the creature flatly. "Why the fuck would I do something like that?" He didn''t like cursing at all, but that was just idiotic even for Bao. The Panda waved its paws and groaned. "The robes, the look¡ªusing your good looks to find a way back home? The two countries are separated by waters, a literal part of the ocean. Were you supposed to start running on water in an attempt to reach your city?" "I could probably sneak into a ferry ship to do that. I wouldn''t waste needless energy in an attempt to run on water to make it interesting for you guys and neither am I going to attempt to gain money by something ridiculous like that." "Right." The two of them suddenly heard rustling in the bushes. He tensed up and got into position¡ªwhat were the odds that something nasty was lurking in the forest? Chapter 206: His Return (2) A fox leapt out of the bushes, its fur was frayed and then immediately raised up in fear once it saw the two of them. It scurried away from both Li Yang and the floating Panda. It wasn''t fair for the creature to even notice them in the first place as both the CEO and the creature were good at hiding their presence, the fox continued on and left them. Thump. "Twas just a fox." Bao said with a scrunching up of its nose. It had been nothing then. The CEO didn''t ease up on his defenses, but rather kept his guard up just in case. His gaze lingered on the fox until it was completely out of sight. As far as he was concerned, Li Yang already encountered his fair share of foxes and another one with a fox bloodline was going to be too much. Not that Bao and the others from the Heavens would be able to appreciate it that much since they weren''t there. But it was something that Li Yang kept in his mind. The World Warper was nearly charged to a hundred percent so, even if not right now, then in the future he could¡ª There was a scream. "What the fuck was that? There are people in the forest?" The Panda said. "Are you sure that they''re people¡ª" Li Yang didn''t finish his question and simply headed into the direction of the sounds. He couldn''t fathom himself being late, whether it was a person in need of saving or someone he needed to kill¡­ he was going to be there. The man was acquainted once again with a woman''s voice and though the idea of legends of supernatural creatures and other monsters lingered in the back of his head, Li Yang still arrived at the scene just in time. There were two people in the forest like him, except they were dressed in tourist and mountain-hiking apparel. Or at least it would have been two people in the forest¡ªexcept for the part where one of them was hanging around at the edge of a cliff. Li Yang didn''t realize that they were at a higher elevation. But there wasn''t time to think about it at all. A tall brunette woman was grabbing hold of a man and trying to heave him up. Li Yang immediately moved towards them¡ªnearly surprised the woman that she almost accidentally let go of the man¡ªbut helped her pull him up to safety. As he got closer and finally assisted them, he realized that the two people seemed to be in their early fifties. It was an odd situation to find himself immediately meeting people in a place like this, but he supposed that this was a place for people to visit. It meant that they weren''t too far off from society. Or rather, they might have been far away from the cities, but not necessarily civilization. It could be a sleepy town, or even a quiet village. For now, Li Yang allowed the two of them first a moment to recuperate from the situation and gave his distance. Li Yang did it while ignoring the Panda that was floating around his shoulder and complaining underneath its breath. "Must be great to finally be a hero, huh?" Bao said with a touch of scorn. Li Yang simply ignored the creature and shifted his gaze on staring beyond the cliff. It was almost as if he had stumbled upon a place where everything was still living in the past without any signs of city lights. Not too different from Telriah in a sense. He really started to appreciate nature more. Instead of smoke, Li Yang thought he caught a whiff of the ocean''s scent¡­ which meant this area was near the coastal region. The idea as to why he didn''t consider running on water¡ªalthough possible¡ªwas the fact of whatever lurked beneath the water. ...which made his thoughts finally think of a certain individual. Li Yang might have felt guilty if he were to suddenly ring up his family out of nowhere, but Bai Minghua or Narissa was¡­ The couple behind him interrupted the man from finishing his thoughts. "Chuanli!" The woman hugged her husband in relief. The man returned the woman''s affection and did his best to soothe her. Once he was sure that his wife was alright, his gaze landed on Li Yang. "What''s your name, son? Are you some kind of forester in this place?" Their assumption would do him a good favor, but Li Yang shook his head. "No, I was just in the area." Li Yang''s grasp of the language in this country wasn''t that great, but at least he managed to learn it before during his university days. Song Chuanli gazed at him and frowned deeply. "You remind me of someone..." "Nothing ever good comes out of that statement." Bao remarked and flicked its paw at Li Yang. And at this moment, Li Yang might have agreed with it, except this might be a chance for him to get caught up with the news? "I was told that I look like my brother." "Ah, Li Chao Yun!" Li Yang immediately blinked and said. "My father¡ª" "Wait¡ªyou''re not the son who ran away did you? That''d be too much of a coincidence, but this is a nice play to rest in." Song Chuanli started speaking in his own language before he cleared his throat and motioned to the woman he was with. "This is my wife, Angeline Song. Thank you for helping her save my life¡ªwe''re out in a little vacation here in this nice country as you know, but things started¡ª" "He told me that he could catch something in this forest." Angeline clicked her tongue. "If you haven''t been around then this would have been our last anniversary and our daughter would have to grow up fatherless." "Haha, you say that as if our daughter is four." "Well, you can''t expect her to take over the family business yet. Can you?" "That''s true." The man rubbed his chin, but finally looked at Li Yang up and down. "Ahem. Did you go off the grid or something? I guess it is really stressful for a young man who didn''t take a break at all for the last decade, but now that you''ve been gone for¡ª" His wife held a hand over his mouth and gave Li Yang an apologetic grin. "Forgive my husband, he speaks too much. But are you really Li Yang?" Although he did his best to remember people''s names and faces, perhaps it wasn''t fair for him to expect the same. Or rather¡­ their suspicions of meeting a guy in the forest was enough to make them wary. It was surprising that they hadn''t exactly run away even if he helped save their life. "Yes¡­ Yes I am." Li Yang had kept his wallet in his Inventory and eventually reached behind him as if to recover it and then showed it to them. "Oh, it really is you!" Song Chuanli''s eyes widened. "Hah, I knew I could remember someone by their face. For how long have you been here?" "Not too long¡­" He couldn''t exactly just go and say that he illegally arrived here through some private jet or anything like that. Li Yang didn''t want to get into some legal trouble by presenting his identity to any authorities. If anything, that would just probably make whatever Embassy he approached suspicious of how he got here. Whether they picked up his hesitation to speak, or something else entirely. The couple smiled at him. "Would you like to stay with us for a bit? We''ve rented a very nice cabin to stay in," Angeline Song said. "That is¡­ if you don''t have any other place to stay?" "Uh, if I could impose on the generosity of the Songs, it would be a favor." Li Yang said. If the two''s identities were true as much as his¡ªthen he stumbled upon the eccentric but wealthy Song Family. "What happened to your plan of finding a ferry to sneak on?" Bao asked. "Have you gotten into what these young kids call cosplay nowadays?" Song Chuanli asked him. "My daughter does it as well¡­ although I think she calls it roleplay." . . . . . Approximately 810km away from Nagasaki. [ The CEO Is Now Online ] [ Distance Between The Two Of You Is Now Within System''s Parameters ] [ Energy To Contact Is At Full Refill ] [ Would You Like To Send A Message? ] Dismissed. Bai Minghua quickly dodged the screen, continued on with her performance and kept herself from laughing aloud. After all this time, why now? It had been so much time¡ªshe concentrated on getting the lyrics out of her mouth. The picture perfect and crafted smile was there. The cheers of the people who supported her in this concert and claimed to love her role were present and shouting their hearts out. And yet now that the screen finally came up again and she saw how the messages were... Seen. But never heard. Or never actually replied to. It was a ridiculous notion that made it difficult to concentrate. Why had it been her who was ignored? Wasn''t it him who wanted her at first and not the other way around? When Narissa sent the accidental picture of herself in the jacuzzi and the voice-to-text message by accident before¡ªshe was hoping that it came to him in an instant. She had no idea where he was and the screen kept saying that the distance was greater than it was used to. But since it never actually came around, or rather, he never responded¡­ she moved on. For the man to suddenly come back into radar now and do a great deal of distracting her? This was infuriating. Bai Minghua thought she''d finally moved past it. She even called him the King of Ghosts. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Did you get why Li Yang''s the King of Ghosts? Since¡­ he practically did ghosting? That wasn''t funny, okay. Phew. Anyway, thanks for the comment Lord_Pendragon on a little reminder on the option of contacting our harem member. I may have focused on uh, a certain direction and thought I exhausted all options. I may have been getting excited with the upcoming arc. From now on, I''ll try to keep a better track of all the people related to Li Yang and their respective activities. xD Chapter 207: His Arrival + Her Return It''s hard to narrow down people into a box and categorize them neatly. People are bound to do things that might surprise you¡ªand yet for peace of mind, it''s easier to arrange them into little boxes and labels. Oh, he''s the quiet and loner one. She''s super bubbly and has that air of innocence around her. And what about her? Why, she''s quite mature and has that womanly grace and charm. If a person happened to not fit into the category that several people prescribe themselves unto, then it was sometimes where one was bound to encounter trouble. Be it social rejection, becoming an outcast or simply standing out too much from the crowd. And yet each one of them has their own breaking point, or an event where something that seems out of character occurs. As the group is not privy to the individual''s thoughts and emotions, they may needlessly make trouble. Perhaps it was terribly easy to get caught up in the life of the rich and famous. We tend to scrutinize them underneath a microscopic lens¡ª Li Yang was going home. The sky was a gorgeous bright blue and clear from any sort of clouds to detract from it. A small airport was currently experiencing a temporary suspension of their flights due to an emergency inspection. Although that was more or less a ruse. "Thank you so much for putting in a word." Li Yang thanked the Song couple with a small bow. His robes from Telriah were now discarded for clothes that suited his old fashion sense and even received an entire suitcase filled with other new outfits. Li Yang was currently about to board a privately flagged plane to bring him back to the city. And though he thought that what the Song Family asked from the small airport was a bit too much¡ªeven if it was only for three hours¡ªhe only thanked them for not asking too many questions. "Such nonsense, this is the least that we could do after you saved my husband''s life." Angeline Song smiled at him. "It might take some time before we actually return back to Shanghai, but if we''re around the area¡ªwe''d love to have dinner with you." Song Chunlai shook his hand firmly. Angeline Song sighed wistfully. "Maybe you could meet our daughter next time and that might get her interested in the business industry." Li Yang raised a brow, but simply nodded. "If that is how I''d repay my indebtedness to the Song Family then I have no problems at all." Both Song Chunlai and his wife suddenly laughed at Li Yang''s words. "Ah, my apologies¡ªwe don''t mean to dismiss your very generous offer, Li Yang." Song Chunlai cleared his throat. "But, ah¡­ what is there to say about my dear daughter¡ª?" "I wouldn''t be surprised if my daughter is currently passed out at someone else''s house party." Angeline chuckled. "She''s still a little immature, which is quite a contrary to you. There''s not much recent news besides your disappearance, but you''ve started the Olympian Corp at such a young age didn''t you?" "It was a small start-up that my brother and I ventured into during our university years," Li Yang explained. "Indeed. Hah, I hope our daughter has grown up like you. Both you and your brother seem to be very responsible people," Song Chunlai said. Li Yang blinked once, before he simply stifled a chuckle. "Thank you for the compliment, but it''s also great to know that she grew up in what seems to be a lovely family." Possibly spoiled¡ªif Li Yang were to say anything else from what the parents said. But he thanked the family and then finally boarded the plane for his trip. It was easy to think that something like this would have gone unnoticeable from the eyes of people. And yet it wasn''t that often that a private plane was boarded and kept to one person alone, so in such a way, the news flew faster than the plane. The specifics or from whence it started could have been traced from anywhere. What only mattered now was that it was heard. Even though all that Li Yang did was board the plane and take a short nap throughout the entire trip. After what felt like nearly a year since the man was gone, news of a very private businessman started to sweep in. Questions as to where or how he ended up Japan was easily thrown underneath the rug when wealth and power was underneath its fingertips. It wasn''t exactly distasteful for everyone¡ªif one had the influence, then it was natural to use it. And so the spotlight naturally veered into his direction. But it wasn''t fair to say that all of the changes occurred to simply the man put underneath the microscopic lenses of the world. . . . . . The news was probably buzzing on too much¡ªhe wasn''t a celebrity or even a rather influential man in terms of media. If anything, he may have been enough to get onto the financial side of the news industry, but mainstream news somehow managed to get a hold of it. One''s wealth, family and his long absence, even if not entirely felt, was enough to warrant Li Yang on the news: Former CEO Li Yang Returns To Shanghai After Break In Japan Stocks on Olympian Corps May Soon Pick Up Once Again? Other Financial News Prodigal Son Set To Return To Country After Suddenly Quitting "Hah¡­ the media couldn''t make anything more cringy than it already is. Prodigal son? Geez," A woman said and shook her head. This person was currently located in a small bubble-tea shop and was slurping a quick and sugary taste of wintermelon tea. More importantly, she was staring at the wide television screen. Perhaps unaware of the eyes of some people. If one were to stroll around the business district of Shanghai, then a view of a woman wearing dark shorts and a white shirt that accentuated her rather nice figure would be what would have been noticeable to any passerby. Her long dark hair was currently pulled into a ponytail as she idly paid attention to the screen. The short image of a handsome man appeared in her vision which was soon cut back to the reporters giving their summary of the sudden events. "Well he has been gone for who knows how long¡ªbut they really should have given it a more sympathetic light," A younger man in front of the shop''s counter said. "I mean, he probably quit because he got stressed out or something right?" "He seemed like the type of man who could handle more than that." She pursed her lips and then finally crushed the container of the milk tea in her hand. The woman stood up and threw it into the nearest trash bin. "Hey¡ªhow did you like the blend?" the young man eagerly asked. Bo Lifen raised a brow at her brother and shrugged. She picked up her sling bag and swung it across her shoulders. "It''s fine, I guess milk tea does have its own appeal. But I still like hot tea better." "Sure you do," Bo Ling rolled his eyes. The young man started unpacking small boxes and arranging them since the shop was still low on customers. "But can you be any more specific? You got like 25% sugar, right¡ª" "It''s still too sweet." "Hey, everybody else said it was just fine¡ª" "Then why did you still ask me?" Bo Lifen rolled her eyes. "How about you ask Bo Lei?" "The brat''s obviously going to agree with you! You know how much he sucks up to his older sister." Bo Ling sighed but then redirected his gaze back to the screen. "But do you remember what you told me before? That you submitted my business plan to that guy on the news?" Bo Lifen crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him dourly. "Li Yang¡­ what about him?" "Well, it''s not like I ever heard anything¡ªbut he did say that it was a good idea, yeah?" "I suppose he did," Bo Lifen said and rubbed the back of her neck. An uncomfortable expression formed on her face and she tried to ease up on their conversation. "You were the one who insisted I bring that envelope to him in the first place." "Well, you also happened to visit great-grandma too, right? So it was just in the area." Bo Lifen bit on her lip. "I guess." It all started just because the man was in the same area as their Bo Family''s matriarch. When did things start spiraling back then? Somehow, the memory of the two of them having dinner at his house with his brother and that man''s girlfriend flitted into her mind. It was one of those situations where you couldn''t help but think as if you were already part of the family. At least if she didn''t count on her great-grandmother''s insistence on bringing the man some of hot tea too. Honestly, why did she have to act as if he was already her great grandchild or something? Bo Lifen''s cheeks heated up slightly. She went right down into the memory lane now. What happened right after that said dinner was the sudden downpour of the rain and the fact that she insisted that he drive her home. Her motorcycle was a no-go back then. That was a crazy night, wasn''t it? Although the two of them first kissed at his home to her own behest, and involved that thermos she brought him, the first time that they did it and went all the way was in his¡ª "Oi, old hag. What are you thinking about?" Bo Ling asked. Bo Lifen scowled at him. "And still you wonder why Lei is my favorite brother, you ungrateful brat. What were you trying to say?" "I mean since he just came back from Japan¡ªhow about you invite him to this milktea shop? He''s going to be impressed that I actually made it thanks to his encouragement. While he didn''t actually give back any concrete feedback, his words helped form what this milk tea shop is today." Bo Lifen gave him a flat look. "You just want to take a selfie with the guy and get more publicity, don''t you?" "... It''s also a chance for the two of you to reconnect?" "And who said I was interested in that?" "You would have turned off the TV if you weren''t?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Phew. First proper woman reveal after Li Yang''s return? I mean, Bai Minghua the Idol Mermaid was brief and short, precise maybe. But let''s just say that I enjoyed Bo Lifen and her bro''s antics. I wouldn''t dare brag, and yet I am lol, but she''s one of the greatly fleshed out characters? Maybe I''m just biased. Thanks for reading today''s chapter! Chapter 208: Their Arrival (Mixed POV) These were the things that happened at the sudden announcement of the man''s arrival. Somewhere in a grand mansion, an old lady looked at the screen with displeasure and looked for her son to air her grievances of this shameful sight. "Call for my son, Chao Yun right now." The old woman pointed at her butler and expected immediate service. It was rare for her to pay attention to things now that everything was established in their family, but some things really couldn''t be helped. The matriarch of the Li Family stared at the screen. "He was better off not returning at all." ¡ª- Currently in a building at the financial district, specifically the Olympian Corp''s headquarters based in Shanghai was someone who didn''t actually watch the television. That was until the older brother received a sudden call from his new-secretary and sudden reports coming in from different agencies looking for an official statement. It was there that the news came on. "Crap, when did Yang ever like making a scene like this one?" Liang rubbed his forehead. Perhaps it wasn''t entirely the man''s fault. The older man muttered underneath his breath. "I bet it was that Angeline¡ªGabrielle always said that the woman loved making news. It''s only recently that her social media company started picking up¡ªshe''s obviously the perpetrator¡­ but the Li genes certainly made it into an eye-grabbing one." There was the fact that news only focused on only the most outrageous, attention demanding, significant events¡ªbut he chose to ignore it. As much as Liang may have wanted to grin and think that his younger brother only got a hang of commanding attention now¡­ he still thought of who exactly Yang left behind when he disappeared. The man''s girlfriend, Gabrielle, now acted like a surrogate mother to Chunhua. But even if the young child didn''t exactly know who Yang was even up until today¡ª The now former CEO''s older brother decided to take care of matters that he could actually handle and left the situation he knew would occur at a later time. ¡ª- Still at a hospital, or rather a better medical facility was a young child. Perhaps a slightly older child was the apt term. Said child looked up from reading her mother a storybook aloud. It was as if she felt a sudden chill in her body and she looked at her own mother and possibly saw something that wasn''t there before. The mother who appeared like she was asleep like a princess. Even the story of the sleeping beauty held no comparison. But why would a monster come¡ª ¡ª- Downtown of the financial district, around the market area, was another viewer. In a building disguised on the outside but held great secrets of the things that lurked in the city¡ªa long haired ponytailed man suddenly sat up and pointed at the screen. He nearly dropped the soda in his hand. Which was amazing because it cost so much after its recent development. But that didn''t matter. Nobody else seemed to be around, or perhaps it was a guy that mixed well in the background. And yet Hua Zhao started calling out to Dai Song Lan. "Oi, you should give the two of them a call. Isn''t this what the two of them have been waiting for?" The presence of not only one, but two women were demanded upon. Perhaps it wasn''t so necessary for one of them. ¡ª- Surprisingly or not, the Bodyguard who did get paid for quite a lump sum really had installed the latest amenities in the temple of her choice. Cultivators, young and old, could see the handsome man''s appearance on the 80" movie theatre television that a certain Tigress spirit bought. Speaking of which, the popcorn bowl quickly dropped into the floor with a large clang. Popcorn spilled all over the wooden floor in a temple that may have not been too far off from what Mashiro Temple looked like if a CEO was granted the chance to visit. "B-Bossman?" Taiga gawked at the screen as if she had seen some sort of ghost. "Hey, are you going to eat that?" One of the disciples asked. Taiga quickly looked at the mess on the floor and shook her head. "No, Taiga needs the fastest ride back to the mainland. Taiga will find a ship to get back to the port and then she''ll probably need a map and a ride to get back to the city..." "Huh?" "Taiga will probably see you guys again if she gets kicked out!" Taiga grinned at them brightly despite the uncertainty in her heart. The memory of his disappearance was something she failed to stop. It had been up to her to take care of him and yet Taiga felt she failed and sucked at her job. That was how Taiga ended up returning to Shou Temple Sect because she didn''t have anything else to do. Taiga was even at a current loss after she actually got paid in proxy by the Shen Society for her services to Li Yang¡­ Not to mention when Taiga thought about how awkward things came between her and Ying Yue He before they parted ways. All she wanted to do was bury her head in sand. But the news changed everything. Taiga chose to let the fire burn within her happily as she escaped out the window and leapt to the ground floor. Whether the man wanted to see her or not, Taiga was set on coming back. "...Taiga could have just taken a bus, you know?" ¡ª- The tea sommelier left the milk tea shop with nothing more than a huff. She liked to think that she had mellowed out now that she was about to turn thirty in a couple of months, but it seemed like there was still a certain fierceness to her steps. Bo Lifen strutted down the streets with nothing but her next stop in mind. She obviously had other places to go to besides visiting her brother, work, visiting her great-grandmother and then coming home¡ª Ding! The woman quickly pulled out her phone and found herself somewhat disappointed that it was just from a social networking app of hers. Bo Lifen still found herself scrolling temporarily by almost instinct and hating every moment of it. "Geez, quit posting pictures of couple stuff, damnit." Her fingers paused on an advertisement. "Or that stupid dating app. Damn companies trying to get me to date, quit stealing my information!" And yet this was all just silly blabber. Bo Lifen nearly hit herself with said phone because she was expecting some kind of answer from him¡ªdespite the months that slipped by¡ªbut then proceeded to shake her head. Bo Lifen made it a point to enjoy her weekend. This woman actually learned a thing or two about taking a break. And although Bo Lifen may actually end up trying to make the man visit her brother''s shop¡ªit was on a purely business standpoint. ¡ª- Somewhere else, a dearly beloved idol finally managed to catch a break and quickly shut down the television screen. A certain grumble sounded in her lips as she stared at the visage of a handsome man coming down the plane. He looked a little bit stunned from the onset of people, but more than that, it seemed like Li Yang was trying to swat the stupid Panda floating across his shoulder. The Mermaid could see the creature clearly and even heard the comments it was making. The urge to roll her eyes at the sight of a man being bothered by such a creature was slightly amusing to her. And yet despite Bai Minghua''s concert last night, somehow, Li Yang actually received more screen time than Bai Minghua. "Well, who would have thought of that?" A snicker escaped her lips. The Mermaid relaxed in her water sofa bed, but then she stared back at a floating screen with bemusement. "I''m sure the reason as to why he didn''t contact me is because he knows I was busy¡ªI¡­ I wouldn''t drop the concert on the fly just to see him, would I? I mean I could have arranged something¡­ but, only because I''m pitying him and I feel bad for him." Bai Minghua slapped her face. Even she wouldn''t believe such nonsense that came from her lips. "Feeling bad for a guy who''s supposedly cursed with this weird floating screen¡ªI mean, it''s a nuisance." Bai Minghua tried to forget the embarrassing moment when she started panicking and calling him about said screen when it first appeared. It was something that she thankfully managed to adapt to easily, but she really lost her cool. The Mermaid who was all alone found herself talking, almost as if she was vlogging and just talking with one of her followers online. Bai Minghua stretched and yawned. She lazily leaned back against her bed and scratched her leg absentmindedly. "This floating thing is a nuisance, and the fact that I''m in his harem so he can live is weird. But when he also happens to be one of the richest guys, handsome and¡­ it''s only fair in terms of karma that not everything is going well in his life, you know? Unless he were a saint of some sort." Bai Minghua buried her head into her bed and groaned. It didn''t seem fair that when a person was sometimes absent in your life, one either did two things: Moving on or clinging to the past. . . . . . The sound of heavy water fell and struck down like thunder. In a remote place unknown to many was a natural waterfall. The waters rushed and met the river at an alarming and speedy rate enough to possibly knock out a normal man alive from the sheer water pressure of it all. If a company were to find it, then perhaps a hydro-power plant could have been established then and there. Something like this could have made a difference in terms of the renewable energy management. But instead, it was currently preoccupied by someone. This was used exclusively for her own solo training. The woman was drenched from head to toe with a concentration of energy that might have stunned cultivators. The loose white cloth currently wrapped around her breasts were soaked and nearly looked like it was about to come off. Her brown shorts were incredibly wet as well as the woman stood up and stepped away from the smooth stone she was cultivating in. Short and slightly chopped off dark hair came above shoulder-length. Her neck and shoulders were damp and wet¡ªshe practically looked like she might have stepped out of the shower. Her skin glistened with beads of water. And yet there was a certain glow and certainty in her eyes. "Phew." What exactly was on the next step on becoming the most reliable cultivator for Ying Yue He this time? Only becoming a reliable secretary wasn''t enough anymore. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I may have saved the best for last by showing off Ying Yue He''s activities while Li Yang was gone? I am once again biased in this assessment. Now I''m a bit conflicted on who I like more¡­ but thankfully this is a harem. *cue dancing noises* Anyway, hm, the start did show some family drama¡­ but man, the gang''s all getting back together! (I swear, only I get my own references) Thanks for reading the chapter! Chapter 209: First Destination (1) Did Li Yang expect anyone to greet him at the airport? No. Of course, not. Certainly he didn''t expect anybody when he arrived out of nowhere. There was no need for him to have any expectations at all, and if there were any at all¡­ it was to be prepared for the worst outcome. While Li Yang had been aboard the plane, he only spent a good chunk of his time rearranging his Inventory and getting more things into a coherent and cohesive system. He kept the monster beast part inventory for a future selling purpose and everything else into order. So once he reached the destination, Li Yang found himself in a surprise. Instead of a quiet and empty area, what greeted him after the nap was a certain paparazzi, the CEO found himself more tired¡ªeven after said nap to face on with the world. He stepped down from the plane and was greeted by the camera''s lights. "News travels fast eh, I think one of those chicks¡­ the stewardess took a photo of you while you were asleep and gushed about it. Probably posted it online and gave herself a pretty nice deal¡ªyour face did the magic." Bao remarked as it floated on the man''s shoulder. While it may have been something that could be sued over for getting in the way of his privacy, the effects of a person''s actions already lay in front of him. Li Yang descended down the flight of stairs and found a limousine already waiting for him. As to who arranged it¡ªthe Song Family with the highest possibility, and his own family being the least likely to do it¡­ the arrangement turned out from the airline company itself. The company knew what they were doing in order to gain favor. "CEO Li¡ªer, Mister Li, this way please." One of the woman attendants motioned to him as she opened the door. "A-ah, thank you." Li Yang only faltered a moment at the honorific, before he realized that it wasn''t Ying Yue He and stepped inside of the luxury automobile. It was a terribly childish imagination to think that she''d suddenly be there just because he thought of it. Once he was seated in the comforts of the ride, Li Yang assessed the situation both for himself and the other related parties. The airline company didn''t do too bad. The accommodations were adequate and he considered this the best option for him to reach his destination. When compared to running and exerting his energy and using up qi to travel fast¡­ there were still the perks of traveling on a proper ride. He didn''t need to draw attention. At least, not draw even more attention than what was necessary. "Thank you so much for choosing to ride at our airline, it''s been an honor to be your designated driver today." The voice of a driver sounded from the audio system of the vehicle, but the window separating the passenger area was dropped down for a moment. It revealed a polite gentleman inquiring about his current itinerary. Li Yang decided to return the gesture and smiled lightly. "I''ll be in your care for the duration of this drive then. What''s your name?" It was still appropriate to answer than simply being silent to the driver. Although the reasons as to what made Li Yang smile may have lay in more with how Bao currently floated in and about the vehicle and pointed about how high-class the vehicle was compared to Li Yang''s "old dump" of a car. The sheer ridiculousness of it all was just sometimes unbelievable. "Ah, I''m Cheung Rong, sir." Li Yang nodded politely at the driver. "Very well then, I''ll be in your care, Cheung." The driver quickly went on with his rehearsed lines. "Mister Li Yang, where do we drop you off today? In accordance with the recent circumstances of your arrival, Guang Airlines has taken it into their hands to drive you safely to your destination." The man paused and smiled. "Shall we take you to the Olympian Corporation, sir? it will be an estimated one hour drive due to the current traffic." "No, please head to the following coordinates instead." Li Yang pulled out his phone, opened the GPS and presented it to the driver. Without any hindrances, they were off to head to his new destination. Perhaps the old Li Yang would have immediately gone there. While he hadn''t checked the exact date today and could at least confirm that his face was still recognizable with the masses, he didn''t know how much time passed. Anything could have happened to his company. He really needed to be there and check if it was still standing. The woman from earlier didn''t even call him a CEO anymore¡ªso did it mean that the company collapsed? It was a gnawing feeling. Li Yang didn''t inquire of it from the Song family, or failed to get a proper answer, since they were insistent on simply enjoying the evening. Once again, another testimony to their unique endeavors. He''d like to think that he changed and there wasn''t a twisting feeling in his gut as he didn''t choose the company. In a way, he was still the same man from whom the heavens had to use his company and not his life as a threat. What was his own life when compared to others at stake? He had spent a good chunk of his life, attention and energy into the company and to watch it crumble and collapse might as well have been doing the same to him. At least the Heavens knew where to attack him at his weak points, and he still didn''t have a solid defense against that kind of threat held against him. It was one of the reasons why he didn''t want to involve Ying Yue He and others into this complicated and twisted situation. But with all of that in his mind. With the fate of not only his, but even other people at stake all because of Heaven''s boredom and desire for entertainment¡ªthere was still something that he prioritized firsthand. Chapter 210: First Destination (2) It was in good faith that the Guang Airlines would share to the media where Li Yang''s first destination was that led the paparazzi to not immediately follow after the vehicle. There was also the fact that these people were actually afraid of what might occur if they were to upset one of the members of the Li Family that led them to only speculate of his decisions. So the driver was shocked when they actually arrived at a literal dump. Even if the CEO wanted to keep the eyes of the people away from him--this was still a terrible decision that might affect his reputation, or even his safety if matters were to turn to the worse. "Are you alright, sir? Is this where you''d really like to be dropped off?" The driver looked at the sharply dressed CEO in shock. The man couldn''t even hide the fact that he thought that Li Yang was missing a few screws. Li Yang had options to go to, not necessarily the company alone. So why here? The man in question only nodded at the driver. "Yes, I''ll be fine here. Do not worry about me and drive safely back to the airlines. The traffic is starting to congest again." "But¡­ I am afraid that you might get mugged, sir." The limousine was currently parked in one of the inconspicuous and dark alleyways of the city. Though eye-catching it might have been to some people on the road, it didn''t matter to the driver. The scary part was that they exactly parked in an alleyway filled with unsavory and low-life people that could put the man at risk. The limousine was even starting to gain attention from a couple of what appeared to be gangsters and delinquents loitering out in the streets of Shanghai. "You don''t have to worry about that at all." Li Yang assured the driver to leave. These people closeby were eyeing the vehicle with such interest and the driver was afraid that they''d start attacking the limousine simply because it looked good. Or¡­ they started taking pictures of it with them included in the photo. Of course, there was the man too. But whatever these punks did to the limousine, the airline company would have the driver''s head if anything were to happen. And thus, although the driver hesitated, he then agreed to leave if the man kept insisting that he wanted to be the target of a robbery in broad daylight. If there was anything that the driver thought was to be learned, it was to stop questioning extremely wealthy and zany people. The rich people''s lives were in their hands, and it didn''t do the driver any good to worry about a man who probably earned in a day what the driver earned in a year. The driver raised his cap politely. "Please have a good day, Mister Li. Thank you for flying with our company''s airlines." While he was worried about Li Yang¡ªthe driver could easily say that he was just doing his job and listened to the man''s orders. The driver didn''t need to do anything else and soon left much to the disappointment of the people still bumming in the streets. Once the driver was gone, Li Yang started stepping out of the area. This literal alleyway wasn''t Li Yang''s actual destination at all and any ordinary man could have guessed that this was simply to hide the true location away from the eyes of those who were interested in knowing where he was going. At least from those who were on earth. The ones in the Heavens were already back and commenting about his location. Some of the Observers had even started communicating directly, possibly choosing to do so after Peach bought the VIP Observer role. Or maybe it had to do with the Goddess Aurora actually making direct contact with Li Yang that made them pay up. Regardless, the Observers in the Heavens wanted to ensure and prove that they were actively looking down at him and watching his every move. Li Yang already leaving before was something they heavily disliked and antagonized Bao over for. [ Three Observers Have Now Become ''VIP Observers'' ] [ You Have Gained 15,000 Charm Points ] The One Who Slaughters: Hah! Did you come here to murder those nobodies out from existence? A first blood at his return is a nice celebration of his return Sea Foam: Just get out of here and head to your destination. I''m reminded by the dirt in humanity Owl Brain: Humans are technically dirt. The direct communication from the Heavens was something that appeared akin to a streaming platform''s chat box. This form of communication was something that Li Yang chose to ignore. People who were directly making contact with him on earth were the ones who actually mattered more in the long run. The Heavens already tied him up in a contract and only the ones on earth could offer him peace or provide further headache. "Oi! What kind of bigshot chooses to get dropped off at this dump?!" One of the gangsters shouted. He took out his cigarette and crushed it beneath his foot. "Are you here to find a prostitute or a quick bang?" It earned a couple of sniggers and guffaws from the man''s companions. Li Yang ignored the man and simply walked forward towards the streets. "What a loser. Do you think you''re better than us? Just keep walking, will ya¡ª" The gangster quickly swallowed his words. Any jeering remark died down from his throat. Li Yang only glanced at the man as he turned back to the streets, but the gangster felt something else. In the man''s perception and with how his body stilled instantly in a freeze-flight situation, it was as if he saw a menacing and powerful leak of dark energy that trailed out from the CEO''s shadow and even glowed out from his eyes. His own body couldn''t even flee and was frozen in shock. And then Li Yang was gone. He didn''t waste any time. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: If you''ve seen Solo Leveling or Omniscient Reader webtoon (and who hasn''t?) One of the favorite things I like depicted is the cool aura or shadow that envelops the protagonist along with the glow of light in his eyes. So hopefully, in spite of my writing skills, you guys were able to picture a similar thing. Thank you for reading! Chapter 211: First Destination (3) Li Yang arrived at the entrance of the hospital without any further trouble. And yet when he arrived at the same hospital to inquire of Luo Ju Di and her condition¡ªthe man found himself to be stricken with a sickening sort of relief and conflict over his first emotion. "She''s still here?" Li Yang asked. "Yes, Mister Li. Although she has transferred from her current room to her own personal treatment room that can handle the long-term duration of her stay." The woman at the hospital counter''s gaze was currently glued to her screen. "Shall you drop by here for a visit?" "I will," he said. Did it mean that not too long had passed by if Luo Ju Di was still here? A part of Li Yang naturally wanted to hear from the nurse at the counter to say that Luo Ju Di was gone. Safe and well from the incident that caused her to get a coma before, which in a way was also part of his doing, and that his visit here was unnecessary. He always thought about how cold it was for him to not do it¡ªeven though he was only trying to be more reliant on current medical advancements. He didn''t use the precious item from the Harem Member Gift Set meant for Bai Minghua. It was still sitting in his Inventory until today and neither did he use it even for himself. [ Water of Rejuvenation ] (Rare) A vial filled with the purest and cleanest waters across the Earthly Plane and is said to have come from a spring still untouched by foreign manipulations from its first burst. A life-giving water that can rejuvenate an individual from various states of impurity, poison and other afflictions which can cleanse the entire body and vital energies surrounding said body. Can be consumed. Whatever the case, if Luo Ju Di was still here then it meant that time didn''t flow as fast¡ª No. He couldn''t hold on to the false belief that time here never stopped flowing since he was gone. His conversation with Mitsuko before about how time didn''t stop just because of him was something that made sense. That it was not absurd that he''d find nobody waiting for him. Although he still had been hoping that the opposite would have been the case. "Please fill up here¡ª" "Done," he said. Li Yang registered his name as a visitor and immediately accepted that the date in front of him was almost exactly a year since he was gone. Even if he stayed a couple weeks and maybe even a month or two at Mashiro Temple, the time that passed here seemed to be much more. Was it because of traveling distances? The World Warper didn''t seem to work as instantaneously as it felt. Heading from one part of the universe to another surely took time and perhaps even if he felt it was slow¡ªthis was already extremely fast. How long did it take man-made space crafts to reach planets like Jupiter to even the ones at the edge of their solar system? It took years, but for Li Yang to reach back to earth from whatever galaxy the world of Telriah was located in a matter of simply a year was already great speed. Godspeed? Li Yang didn''t think that was the case. He hoped that wasn''t the case or else he would¡­ The man sighed inwardly. Li Yang was already trying to weigh whether a loss of another year by visiting Telriah again would be something he was willing to shoulder. ¡ª- Her uncle Liang was busy with work, and so was aunt Gabrielle with her own business affairs. Although the two of them had been extremely worried about Chunhua, the now-slightly-older child reassured them of her mature self. "I''m fine," she said. The girl picked up the storybook and fixed the chair that she fell from. Although the shock was sudden and the pain in her knees was great. Chunhua was capable of staying at a place all by herself¡ªLuo Ju Di had no choice but to work, she couldn''t afford a babysitter and neither did Chunhua do all too well at daycare centers. Other children always found her too odd to hang around with. These other kids didn''t see who Chunhua was talking to and neither did they believe her. Accusations of being an attention whore, immature, and other hurtful remarks were often thrown out at the child and it made Chunhua prefer to stay home alone and wait for her mother. ¡­ And she could wait for her even now? Chunhua stared at her mother''s body in the hospital bed and fought against the welling up in her eyes that were threatening to fall. She wasn''t alone right now. Chunhua was with her mother¡ªeven though, even though¡­ The door clicked open silently. A familiar man''s presence reacquainted itself with Chunhua''s senses. Once she met up with a person and they stayed in her mind because they were good or scary to her, she tended to remember them. Chunhua''s body whirled immediately towards Li Yang and she looked up at him without finding any words to speak. "Chun...Chunhua?" He broke through the silence first. Even the man looked shocked to see her. And yet all Chunhua did was run up to the man and started pounding her fists on him even when all he had been was a big meanie. Hot tears rolled down on her cheeks. "You told Chunhua¡ªto feed Pinkie! Why are you only here now?!" "The reason for that¡ª" "You were gone for a long time," Chunhua said with a hiccup. It seemed like even the man was at a loss for words. Some of Chunhua''s snot got on the man''s pants and she thought that it was only fair. Fair that he got all the mucky and yucky snot that came out of her nose as Chunhua clung to him and cried. Was she crying because of him? He really had been gone for too long. Whatever excuse that uncle Liang gave her in response to uncle Yang leaving was nothing more but a big stinky fat lie. She could tell that much and it sucked. Was Chunhua crying because of how heavy each day weighed on her shoulders? There might have been too many reasons for it. Every moment of the day when Chunhua saw them, they''d ask her if she was okay. They took her to their home and made sure that Chunhua had a nice bed and room, toys and every little thing that a kid could want. If she kept saying no¡ªthat would have been ungrateful of her. Chunhua didn''t want them to worry like her mom did for her. Chunhua did her best to be a big girl. She really tried her best to be a good child and not distract the adults. She didn''t want to burden them at all when they were doing their best to take care of her. But her uncle Yang was someone who promised to take care of her and also gave her a responsibility to take care of Pinkie for him. He thought she was capable and already grown up. But then he was suddenly gone and she never saw him after the night that he gave her the seaweed and pearls to feed Pinkie. Now he was back and Chunhua felt like the little girl that she always had been. Li Yang suddenly picked her up and started patting her back. Chapter 212: First Destination (4) Suffice to say, Li Yang might have been the wrong person to ask to comfort a child. But he did it. Nobody else was there except for him¡ªBao didn''t seem like it wanted to interfere¡ªand he really did want to see Chunhua. Inside the private hospital room, the CEO finally reunited with his daughter. He just didn''t expect that meeting her would be like this. It made him feel like a terrible man to see her cry when he thought that she wouldn''t at all. Even more so, once he heard the words that came out from her lips. "Why are you only here now?" the child sobbed in his arms. Chunhua''s small body wracked and shook along with the unsteady cries and hiccups that overtook her. The tremble every now and then only worsened as she tried stifling them. "I''m sorry." He patted her back and hoped it would soothe her. Chunhua looked back at him with red swollen eyes. "Sorry isn''t enough¡ªwhy?" It almost felt like he was talking with an adult. Chunhua was mature in a way to be demanding enough for a proper answer and he did his best to say it. Convey how apologetic he was. This might have been the first of many apologies yet to come if the other people in his life would come at him like this. "...I thought it was necessary that I get away from here." Li Yang cleared his throat. "There were circumstances that I had to face and it''s difficult to do them here." Li Yang really didn''t think he was needed, but that was a selfish thing for him to think of. That he wasn''t going to hurt other people by going away¡ªit was a foolish thing to believe in. This was the reason for his hesitation to contact them and to return here, but now that the first of them was his own child¡­ it just made his stomach twist. A gut-wrenching situation. It was even more uncomfortable than the times he got kicked by Mitsuko in the stomach or even encountered the monsters in the mountain. It hurt a lot more than when Taiga punched him during their spars, more vicious than when the Merfolk blasted him¡ª "You big dummy!" Chunhua hit him again with her fists. "Ow." It actually did kinda hurt, or maybe he was just imagining it because it was his child. Or possibly just because it was a kid that was doing all of the lecturing and trying to communicate their pain to him. The adults in his own past childhood didn''t quite manage to read it for him¡ªdid the exact opposite¡ªbut for Chunhua, he''d try. Any sensible person would do it. Maybe Chunhua actually cared or didn''t care less for his reasons for being gone. The thing that stuck to her before was that he left her and that was the wrong thing. What only mattered to the child now was that he was here and she didn''t have to suffer through the pain alone. She may have wanted to be with someone to soothe her tears and tell her that it was okay to cry and be immature. It was alright to feel pain and for another person to know it. Nobody needed to hold back their tears when they were sad, mad or upset. They weren''t a burdensome person just because they cried and did something that they felt was wrong. There was no need to blame themselves or anything like that at all. It was fine. They were fine. Everything was okay. And that little bit of empathy that she longed and wanted for¡ªhe''d do his best to give it to her. He eventually became silent and simply pulled her close. Whether he could say something to comfort her or just make things worse, he didn''t quite know. He hoped that his presence¡­ that of an adult was enough to make her feel reassured again. Being an adult sometimes didn''t make it feel comforting at all. In a way, Li Yang still felt like a child who only grew up but was still one deep inside. There really wasn''t anything special whether he was twenty, thirty or even when he''d reach fifty. The same sense of uncertainty in life and what it offered to him always remained. It would only probably lengthen as his own life extended and perhaps the only thing that could prevent such a thing was when the entire world was in one''s own hands. To be able to grasp one''s own destiny and control it and rid himself of any risks in life. A monumental power that controlled everything. That was the only way to rid himself of that feeling. Li Yang''s gaze drifted towards Luo Ju Di who was still in bed and he wondered if she woke up now¡­ would this woman also try to hit him? While she did have a mouth that was a bit foul-mouthed and uncouth, she was still someone who could also hold a conversation¡­ Luo Ju Di would probably punch him for making their child cry. It was still strange to think that and disconcerting to see her in bed until now. If Chunhua spent a great deal of her time with her mother, wouldn''t she have already tried to wake up for her child''s sake? The burden expected from a mother may have been a little bit larger than what might have been expected from him. But for now, as Chunhua''s tears settled down and her breathing relaxed, Li Yang placed the child in one of the other beds of the room and took a seat. He leaned back against the chair and rested his head against the wall. How did things go? As a businessman, it was always good to assess himself and try to measure how things went. Whether his actions resulted in a profit or loss to his company. Even little things tended to add up to the table and changed the balance to a negative or positive. Bao finally appeared in the air now that Chunhua was asleep and gave him a look. It looked terribly unimpressed, but at the same time, the creature was resigned to Li Yang''s own antics. "This is really what you do on the first day of your arrival back here? Shouldn''t you be more worried about your tasks?" Li Yang simply stared at the creature floating in the air and then summoned a screen. [ Main Quest: Seduce The Rich Young Heiress Anna Song ] [ Difficulty Level: Unknown ] [ Status: Ongoing ] [ Summary: Harem Cultivation is the method of gaining power through conquering beauties and adding them to your ''harem''. Your current target is ''Anna Song'' from the prestigious Song Family. ] [ Time Remaining: 29 days and 11 hours left ] [ Success: 100,000 Charm Points ] [ Failure: Collapse of Your Company ] "... I have more than enough time to finish this," he said. "That shameless confidence!" Bao groaned and placed its paws into its face. "Do you really think you can just spend a day to succeed with the missions given by the system? A person doesn''t fall in love with you in a day at all and seduction takes time too." Li Yang cleared his throat. "I do not wish to brag, but if you consider my track record for the past two quests. Both of them took me less than forty-eight hours for Ying Yue He and Bai Minghua." Bao glared at him. "You''ve been passing through unconventional methods!" Neither of them needed to raise the fact that Ying Yue He had been in easy mode and the CEO got away by word play. Bai Minghua or Narissa''s situation was the Mermaid agreeing because Li Yang gave some explanation to the Mermaid and she was indebted to him. Well, neither of them actually had any answers whatsoever for the exact reason Narissa said yes. But that was the conclusion that Bao drew upon. Li Yang stifled a chuckle. "It''s a little relieving to see that you''re still the same as ever, Bao. I did tell you that I do not wish to use up working hours for accomplishing tasks like this one. Or rather, I prefer not to multi-task and deal with each situation as they arrive. I know how to manage my time." "Who even said that you still had a job?" Bao gave him a flat look. "Well¡­" The Panda raised a paw at him. "You''ve been gone from here for a year and you still think you''re still some hot-shot CEO? Right now, you seem to be like a Young Master from ancient times, Li family this and that. Did you think seducing the heiress was easy just because you''re chummy with her father?" Li Yang''s conversation with the Song Family in Nagasaki really did revolve around family ties, but he focused on explaining the situation. "The System still referred to it as my company. Whether I am a CEO or not, I own a major portion of the stocks which represent my own share in said company." "You humans make all of this ownership thing too complicated." Bao grumbled. "Whatever, as long as you''re finished with this task¡ª" "I still have other tasks to do. I actually made a to-do list." "Oh? Let me guess. Are you going to do your ex-secretary now?" "... That''s a terrible joke, Bao." "Shut up!" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Puns are actually great, you know? The pace for these two chapters are a little slow and didn''t tackle a grand harem related matter. Neither did it showcase any intellectual or physical battles to show off the prowess of the CEO or anything at all¡­ but hopefully, it was still an important chapter. Scenes like meeting with Chunhua and Luo Ju Di are harder to depict and convey, as well as Li Yang''s motivations, and yet are a necessary component to this story. Thank you for reading! Chapter 213: The Mix of Water and Flames (1) When things quieted down inside the hospital room with only the soft snores of Chunhua that lay dreaming and with the transmitter from the Heavens finally silenced¡­ Li Yang worked up the courage to approach the sleeping woman. He didn''t do it right away when he arrived. Maybe they were excuses. Perhaps they weren''t. But above all things, Li Yang wanted to make sure that Chunhua was fine and healthy. He was never really a father, and Li Yang didn''t think that there was an innate sense of connection that one had when they automatically became a father¡ªbut when he saw Chunhua, she was the only thing that mattered at that moment. It was a conscious decision on his part. Li Yang didn''t want to think of himself as robotic, but whenever emotions sprang up high¡­ his first instinct was always to keep his own emotions in control. No good would come out if both people were both controlled and relying solely on emotions. Now he finally paid more attention to Luo Ju Di¡­ A certain part of him couldn''t help but want to connect it to Aurora in the ice coffin. That was a silly comparison. He only thought about it because he saw both of them in bed. But perhaps¡­ this was just Li Yang''s own hesitation and reluctance from imagining the woman waking up and what was supposed to happen after that. Would Luo Ju Di wake up and then punch him into oblivion? What exactly was a woman capable of when she was mad? The two of them didn''t connect that much, but Li Yang knew that Luo Ju Di was a fierce woman. She wasn''t afraid of claiming what she thought was right for her daughter, and he couldn''t even recall if she ever apologized for not revealing that she was pregnant. Luo Ju Di decided that the Li family was too vicious for her child and never let him know. Until last year, that was. He rubbed his forehead at the thought. Li Yang still needed to accept the time jump that happened and he needed to quit seeing Aurora in Luo Ju Di simply because the latter was currently comatose. She wasn''t capable of hurting him at all and neither could she probably stand right away either. The woman in front of him was an ordinary person and nothing more. And yet, while he first thought that the costs of reviving her weren''t worth it¡­ Luo Ju Di didn''t deserve to be simply caught in a position like this and not be able to live her life. While Li Yang decided against it before due to his own selfishness and being convinced that she''d recover on her own, this time, he opened his Inventory. His gaze flickered past multiple beast items that needed to be sold at a later date. Li Yang ignored the beauty set available as well. He only needed one thing. Among all of the numerous items in his Inventory, the most important item was this healing item. All of the healing potions he bought from Han Jing was used up and this was what he had left. The small vial hovered in the space in front of him and contained a beautiful ethereal glow. [ Water of Rejuvenation ] (Rare) A vial filled with the purest and cleanest waters across the Earthly Plane and is said to have come from a spring still untouched by foreign manipulations from its first burst. A life-giving water that can rejuvenate an individual from various states of impurity, poison and other afflictions which can cleanse the entire body and vital energies surrounding said body. Can be consumed. He reached out for it and grasped it within his hand. The vial was practically weightless that it almost felt like he was holding nothing when everything depended on this. "Out of everything else in the first harem member''s gift set, this one¡­ I have to borrow it." Li Yang was quite a terrible man in a way. He recognized that this item he received was supposedly a thing meant for Narissa the Mermaid because everything else in the gift set seemed to contain Undine-related and beauty-related items. He respected Narissa''s ownership of this immediately, especially of this vial, because it was valuable and she may have some need for it. But now he was going to use it on Luo Ju Di. Li Yang wanted Chunhua to wake up and see her mother also awake by that time. It would be the most pleasant surprise. And if he could do anything for his child¡­ after being gone for such a long time, then this was the least he could. Li Yang took another step forward towards the woman in comatose. Being in this condition for far too long wasn''t good¡ªand if he knew that this would be the case, he really would have given the vial earlier. Now, he opened the item''s cap and looked at the woman''s lips. Despite being stuck in this condition and cooped up in this private room for such a long time, there was still a hint of warm glow to her. Even her lips surprisingly seemed moist and full of color. It triggered something within him. Li Yang''s own memory of her from that night¡ªthe night he slept with her¡ªwas a vague grainy image that paired itself with a headache. It had been really a long time since that happened, but perhaps, it was only now that Li Yang acknowledged it. He shook his head and thought about how to administer the water of rejuvenation to Luo Ju Di. Consuming this vial would be the most efficient way to use it. A part of him thought about feeding it to her. Maybe raising her head gently to feed the contents of the vial to her¡­ but Li Yang stared at the IV fluids currently attached to the patient. That was the safest way to administer liquids to her, but he wasn''t a medical professional at all. It was no doubt wrong to interfere. But there was no way that he could ask a nurse to do it for him when the item he had was questionable¡ªor too precious. It was a terrible thing to be too squeamish right now when he had faced countless monster hordes in Frostborne Mountains and even Mashiro''s Sacred Forest. But Li Yang eventually replaced the IV bag and simply held on to the infusion line. He poured the solution of the vial down a little and carefully as he watched the liquid flow into Luo Ju Di''s body. He waited for her to suddenly rejuvenate much as the item promised. For Luo Ju Di''s skin to rush with an even healthier color or even glow with a healing light that indicated her awakening and freedom from the disease or whatever condition afflicted her. But none of that happened. Did he need to use up everything? Li Yang started pouring the entirety of the vial¡ªwhen Chunhua woke up. The young girl sat up startled, but then quickly saw him. "Stop! STOP!" His eyes widened at the kid shouting and he halted immediately¡ªbut Bao finally decided to intervene. The creature reappeared from thin air, raised its paws to Chunhua''s mouth and stopped the child from shouting. But Chunhua only bit the creature''s fur and then looked up to Li Yang with a terrible and pale expression on her face. "Mama''s gone¡ªshe''s gone." "What?" Li Yang said. The next couple of minutes resumed with Li Yang reattaching the IV bag back to the infusion line and ensuring that everything was clean. The half empty vial of the water of rejuvenation was stored back in his Inventory. Around Chunhua''s presence, he found no reason to hide anything at all. But it seemed like the child herself had secrets of her own. Chunhua''s head was bowed down as she sat on her separate bed. Every now and then, she looked up to her mother still resting in the bed, but eventually resumed fiddling with her thumbs and fingers. "What happened?" Li Yang asked. Chunhua flinched at his voice, but then looked up to him with a conflicted expression on her face. Without saying a word, the young girl raised her hand up to him¡ªas a small glow of a flame bursted out of her hands. The fire burned brightly in Chunhua''s hands but did no apparent harm to the child. There were no signs of any smoke or any hint of pain in her face or movements, but Li Yang felt the warmth that enveloped the entire room. It was a fire that lit up something within him. The mere sight of it was able to flicker something inside Li Yang, something he didn''t know was possible. A soothing warmth covered him as if a loving and maternal figure covered his shoulders with a blanket¡ªa crackling fire, the scent of wood and barbecue¡­ [ The Mental Effects of Hearth Fire Is Negated ] [ Positive Emotions Are Nulled ] Warmth quickly died within Li Yang and everything around him returned back to their normal temperature. "What the actual fu¡ª" Bao stopped itself from saying anything else. It was concerned about not saying any curses in front of the child. And yet the answers to how this happened came along. Both Bao and Li Yang remembered the very first meeting that occurred over a year ago. When Luo Ju Di met up with him for the very first time, two Observers gave their blessings to Chunhua. Thus Chunhua''s sudden fire made even the Heavens react in their own way. Both the normal Observers and the VIP Observers made their presence known. [ Observer ''Fire Dweller'' Is Simply Silent ] [ Observer ''Scythe Wheat'' Looks Away ] [ Observer ''Pomegranate'' Blinks ] [ Sea Foam: A minor blessing indeed ] [ Owl Brain: It must have been the child''s own talent¡­ ] [ The One Who Slaughters: This is why one must refrain from doling out blessings ] Chapter 214: The Mix of Water and Flames (2) "What happened?" The memory of what occurred chilled Chunhua''s blood and it made her mute for a moment. Unsure of how she was going to tell it to her Uncle Yang. Her little heart pounded for a moment. Sweat started forming in her hands. If she said a word, would Uncle Yang be alright? Didn''t he seem much stronger than he used to be before? Even Chunhua noticed the subtle changes in how the man conducted himself. But a certain fear gripped her heart at the imagination of losing both her mother and someone who just arrived back in Chunhua''s life. She didn''t want anybody else to be gone. ¡ª- All of these fears that made Chunhua tremble were strange. She was a young child who had been used to seeing supernatural things from such a long time ago. Whether it was ghosts that died and haven''t fully accepted their deaths and roamed the earth to supernatural creatures unseen to most people who performed deeds both good and bad¡ªthe young child had seen them for so long that it was only recently where she realized that other people didn''t see the same things as her. Luo Ju Di wasn''t able to give much attention to her due to working long hours and always chased the notion that there was absolutely nothing going on with her child. Whether it had been the daycare center teachers politely telling her about how Chunhua talked to herself alone far more than other kids, or how wailing children complained about Chunhua''s dead friend¡ªher mother didn''t bat an eye at all of those words. She thought that maybe the other people just didn''t like Chunhua and were saying nonsense as a result. At most, Luo Ju Di thought Chunhua to be nothing but an extremely creative and imaginative child. Albeit someone who chose to talk about silly little ghost stories and other things that Chunhua may have picked up by watching television. But her mother was wrong. Spirits, aura and other psychic elements were something that Chunhua could interact with and something she did ever so often. Even the aura of Li Yang when they first met, the dark shroud of aura was something that Chunhua noticed when she met the man. Right now, the darkness seemed to have lifted away. Or Chunhua decided to be something that Uncle Yang could control. When she first met this man, it was something that scared the child at first because it was unlike that of any other people Chunhua encountered. An old spirit from the shambly rented apartment that Chunhua used to stay in with her mother discussed something about different strength levels of souls. It wasn''t apparent to the naked eye but it could determine how one would fare in the supernatural realm. Whether you were dirt poor or a billionaire¡ªa strong soul could have belonged to anyone. Most that Chunhua met could have paled in comparison. Some souls were simply flickering candles that were only waiting for the time until they were put out and taken into what came after next. Other souls strangely held on to certain affinity to different elements. Traces from what the old spirit told her to be from another life. Chunhua absorbed all the information as much as she could, but she wasn''t sure if she remembered them all. Those with tiny amounts of water in their souls might have once been part of the Water realm, but returned to the Earth realm¡ªand other Souls burned brightly that they called forth one''s attention. And compared to all those varieties, her Uncle Yang didn''t seem to even flicker at all. He was just there¡ªcertainly not dead, and very much alive. But not just shimmering or even trying to light a fire at all. His presence was something that made the quote an edgy kid in the daycare said about ''staring into the abyss'' almost real. It scared Chunhua, however, somewhere down the line... it became something quite familiar to her. Plus he proved himself to be quite nice despite the lack of any apparent light that Chunhua was devastated when Li Yang suddenly disappeared. Now that he returned and was asking about her mother... ¡ª- Chunhua gathered the fire into her hands and revealed it to him and the Panda. This was the best way that she could show it to the both of them. A fire that manifested during the nights when the cold was at its most unbearable. "What the actual fu¡ª" Bao stopped in its tracks. Chunhua stared up at the flying panda. Even though Bao itself seemed to also have a strange and punitive-inflicted aura, the ''Panda'' still seemed shocked by what Chunhua did. But now with the flames in her hand, a tearful story finally came out from the child''s lips. Despite everything in Chunhua''s life, no matter how much older people and even spirits thought of her as a mature kid who helped take on the burden that her mother carried¡­ She was still a child at heart. When she closed her eyes¡ªsomething even scarier than Li Yang''s own aura appeared in the child''s mind. It was easy to think that the man was scary and resembled a darkness incarnate sometimes¡­ but that was because nobody had ever seen actual darkness before. The ''monster'' she had seen before Li Yang arrived was one of the many things that she saw throughout the past months. Each one of them was even darker and colder than anything that her uncle Yang could muster. "Death¡­ is death," Chunhua finally said with a shaky tone. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she expected something to happen to her¡ªterribly frightened of what those creatures might do for her, finally telling that she saw them to another person, but nothing happened like that. Nothing at all happened to Chunhua right now. Was it because she was with her Uncle Yang and Panda Goblin that the creatures couldn''t come after her? Or was it because they were already long gone and had taken what they wanted? The smile that formed on Chunhua''s face quickly fell off. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Soul Cultivation. Soul Strengthening. The whole enchiladas, guys. Worldbuilding as much as I could and I may have uh... went over the top by explaining that here, but it''s also been discussed in Chapter 107 of Races: Online (VR Smartphone App) Aha! I finally made a segue again. For the simplest reference though: Early-Stage Soul (Humans) These are the mortal souls of the weakest beings in existence and Humans naturally fall into that category in the Universe. However, some Humans are able to rise through the Low-Tier of Early-Stage and manifest abilities. Some are born with a Middle-Tier or Upper-Tier Soul that already has a predisposition for supernatural abilities, insights and other powers not available to a great portion of the Human Race. Mid-Stage Soul Late-Stage Soul (Divine Beings) Peak-Stage Soul Li Chunhua/Luo Chunhua is an Early Stage, Middle-Tier Mortal Soul. Cool, huh? I really want to make a future story with both protagonists together, something like what PancakesWitch is doing in Epic of Summoner: Supreme Summoner System in the Apocalypse? (Man that''s such a long title lol) But first, I got to finish this book and this might be turning out to be longer than I expected. Thanks for reading the chapter! Chapter 215: The Mix of Water and Flames (3) Words like death spoken from a child''s lips were startling, but Li Yang remained silent. The young child got down from her own bed and walked up to her mother''s still lying down and resting. She placed the fire currently in her hands towards Luo Ju Di''s body and instead of burning, the body only absorbed it. Chunhua pointed her fingers at the medical screen next to her mother''s bed. "Watch," she said. Li Yang saw the numbers on the electronic vital sign monitor change numbers slightly. The numbers didn''t go down, but rather increased temporarily before it then resumed to a normal pace. Only at a healthier vital state than what it used to be. Right after that, Chunhua walked back to him with a slightly pale expression on her face. Although Li Yang thought he understood what happened, the next works from the child gave enough interpretation for it. "Sometimes¡­ messengers of death visit, that''s what they call themselves and¡­ they wanted to take mama away. But I told them that she was fine. My mama would wake up¡ª" "But will she?" Bao asked. "Hey you little brat. You''ve been tampering with the natural cycle of life and death by¡ª" Li Yang swatted a hand at the Panda before he grabbed his daughter''s shoulder. The water of rejuvenation was capable of healing the body and freeing it from all sorts of afflictions, poisons and other maladies. However when it came to the supernatural and spiritual side of things, it became useless as actual water. Li Yang really should have checked on Luo Ju Di and used the System to inspect her... but he had been sure that there was nothing wrong at all. And that was how mistaken he had been. He needed to stop thinking about it though. "Where is your mother now?" Li Yang asked. The past few months for Chunhua had been nothing but staying within the hospital and convincing both her Uncle Liang and Aunt Gabrielle that everything was fine. Her mother''s body was in perfect condition and it was only a matter of when she''d wake up. Chunhua''s eyes welled up with tears. Somehow, a child like her was able to use a goddess'' minor blessing to convince other visitors from the realms of death that her mother would wake up soon. Luo Ju Di was in good shape and her soul only needed to wake up on her own. "There¡­ someone took her away earlier." Chunhua''s voice broke. "It was different from the other visitors before and turned into a beast before it stole mama away." The tears that Chunhua shed early as she pounded her fists on Li Yang''s chest was nothing more but the girl lashing out in pain. When Li Yang arrived in the hospital room, he had already been far too late. Li Yang raised a hand to his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wanted to exhale loudly as he looked at his daughter so close to tears once again, but it wasn''t fair for the child to see him distressed as well. Li Yang didn''t want to say anything at all. But Luo Ju Di¡ªor her body in the bed¡ªwas probably in a state similar to Goddess Aurora back in Telriah. Her soul, spirit or whatever gave people life was snatched away. But compared to a Goddess who only chose to ''sleep'' as Setsuko explained it to him before. This was where it differed for Luo Ju Di who was now probably being taken to a place where Li Yang absolutely had no idea. He did not think of the afterlife before and considered the very life in front of him to be his own. "I¡­ I don''t think the beast who took mama away promised to take her to heaven." Chunhua sniffed. "But that''s where mama is supposed to go, right?" [ The Observers From Heavens Laughs In Amusement ] Even Bao looked a bit shocked at the child''s words and raised a paw to its face to prevent any reaction from slipping its furry body. [ You Have Accomplished A New Achievement ] [ Heavenly Laughter - I ] Whether through a pitiful act, silly and hilarious actions, stupid choices¡­ the Heavens are now filled with laughter. You have shown and provided great divine comedy. [ You Have Received 10,000 Points ] [ You Have Received the Dao of Laughter ] [ You Have Received LSO''s Clown Mask ] Li Yang''s face was blank at everything that happened. The notifications appeared in front of him and so did the items. It took a bit of patience and deep breathing to stop himself¡ªhe reached out and grabbed Chunhua closer to him and hugged her tightly. He wasn''t sure if that was a comforting squeeze, but Chunhua returned the gesture. But he took the chance to raise a finger at Bao. A dull stare was affixed on the creature''s eyes and what Li Yang hoped to be the direct feed to the Heavens viewers. It wasn''t too often that he got pissed at people, gods and even the heavens itself. The man knew he hated the Heavens for the contract enforced upon him to be an entertainment. While he used the System and ensured that he got stronger for the future, he still hated every moment of it but kept his head low. It was better to not attract too much attention and simply let them laugh now, while it was in the capacity of the Heavens to do so. But laughing at his daughter''s words was another thing entirely. Bao just gawked at him, transfixed on the only sign of direct aggression. Possibly the crudest thing¡ª But then Li Yang lowered his middle finger down and then cleared his throat, looking back at his daughter with a calmer expression. "Chunhua, do you think it''s possible for me to chase after that creature and bring your mother back?" Chunhua looked up to the man''s face and stared up at him unsurely. "Bring¡­ mama back?" Even though Chunhua experienced a lot of things by meeting a lot of supernatural and undead creatures, this was the first time that someone else besides her mother offered to do something for her. Most of those existing in the supernatural realm were only searching for comfort and companionship to fill the loneliness in their voids. Or they were nothing more than fragments of what they had been. This really was the first time that someone showed interest in helping Chunhua. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Welcome to another worldbuilding portion brought to you by the ''Ghost Tamer'' a currently discontinued work of mine set in the same universe as My CEO''s Harem Cultivation System and Races: Online (VR Smartphone App). There are different types of Spirits. Underworld, Earth, Celestial Spirits are used to determine their location and do not describe their good-evil alignment. For example, Japanese describe it as eight million kami, which is just a way to say infinite. Earth Spirits are broken down into many categories and are the ones that Chunhua encounters. Some come from deceased living beings that are unable to leave the current plane, to naturally earth-born spiritual creatures that coexist with humans. (Or attempts to wipe them all out) Deceased Living Beings are dealt with by Exorcists Earth-Born Spiritual Creatures are Nymphs and other nature-related spiritual beings. Their morality varies and may help a human or decide to toy with them. Some have ascended into other realms. Spirit/Qi/Energy Accumulated Monsters are formed and sometimes gain sentience by the accumulation of specific elements in the environment (Example: Chapter 85 - Shadows In One''s World) Thanks for reading! Chapter 216: The Mix of Water and Flames (4) The circumstances surrounding Luo Ju Di''s death were natural in its way. The woman was dead now, had died¡ªand should have been long dead. And yet someone suddenly challenged the very notion of it. "Bring¡­ mama back?" Chunhua asked unsurely. Even a young child like her knew the finality of death. There was no turning it back¡ª "Yes." Li Yang nodded at her. "It¡­ hasn''t been that long. So maybe if I knew where the creature was heading to and can meet up with it¡ªI can retrieve your mama and bring her back to you." "You''ll do that for me, Uncle Yang?" Bao was already giving the CEO aghast and wild gestures behind Chunhua, but Li Yang wasn''t having any of it. He squeezed the young girl''s shoulder reassuringly and did his best to smile. "I''ll do my best to return her here with you, Chunhua. It''s not fair for a young kid to grow up without their loving mother at her side." Chunhua tilted her head at him. "Not fair? Mama told me that life isn''t fair." Li Yang pressed his lips together grimly, but then nodded. "Well¡­ nobody really knows what life is going to throw at us. It could give us sunshine and joy, but at the same time, it could also bring us rain and stormy days. That much is true." He stared at his daughter. "What your mother said about life is certainly true¡­ and yet when you think about it, we can''t say what is fair or not. The world doesn''t owe us anything at all." "Huh?" "What if you worked hard at school, Chunhua? You wanted to get the highest grades in class to make your mother proud so you studied well for the exams and did your best. Do you think that you''ll get it?" Chunhua looked at him with uncertainty. "No?" Li Yang knew that his words were starting to not make any sense at all to the child. He didn''t even know if what he said was making sense to him either. But a certain part of him wanted to say it. Perhaps he needed to say this to remind himself of it. "You might get it, Chunhua¡­ but there''s also the chance that you won''t. Other kids may be studying as hard as you and they won out in the end, one of them might have a certain advantage by donating a large sum to the school''s foundation or it could be sheer talent and genius¡ªand you''d think that''s unfair." "And it is unfair, Uncle Yang." Chunhua frowned. Her mother told her that was cheating¡­ at least the one about buying out the highest grade. But the girl couldn''t say anything about those studying either. "The world doesn''t owe us anything at all¡ªwe need to work harder than others, find every loophole possible and use everything to our advantage. But sometimes that isn''t enough at all and we still fail." Chunhua stared at Li Yang and saw the very same aura that she did when they first met. It clung to him tightly. A darkness hanging over him that prevented any light to seep into him, but at the same time, it meant that he wasn''t blinded? Honestly, the child didn''t know what to think but she tried to focus on his words. Tried to listen hard and understand what he was trying to convey. "Uncle Yang, are you telling me that you''ll look for mama but you''re not sure if you can bring her back?" "I''ll use everything in my disposal to bring her back, Chunhua. That''s the only thing I can promise you¡­" He knew he was going to regret his words for saying this. Instead of making difficult promises like this one, he needed to do the opposite. Li Yang should have been scolding Chunhua for trying to prevent the natural order of things. Death was death indeed. And yet he said this instead. Li Yang wondered if it was power getting to his head¡ªwas the System allowing him to be arrogant to make such bold claims as this one? Was Bao''s words earlier true and he was shamelessly confident now? Chunhua looked at the man promising to make things better, and she reached out to the man''s sleeve. "Thank you, Uncle Yang." What else could a child say at this moment? Li Yang only smiled back at her and wordlessly nodded. If the Heavens were laughing earlier at the naivety of the child, those watching and listening suddenly stopped cold at Li Yang''s statements. ¡ª- [ ??? ] "What did he say? Did I hear correctly when he said that he''s going to retrieve the soul of that woman?" Accomplishing the System''s main quests ordained by the Heavens to seek for Harem Members was fine and alright. Everything was in the realm of possibility if it happened to be focused in that area. "Holy cows! If you''re still deaf at this point, then I don''t know when you''ll start getting the necessary senses to have common sense. He really said it. You''re not deaf at all." "What a lunatic." "He already tried to escape us once¡ªand it didn''t do him any good, did it?" The Observers from Heavens even allowed Li Yang''s sudden disappearance to be something that wasn''t his fault and blamed Peach for it. The identity and authority of Peach as the Moderator of the Creators managed to trump LoveStellar Organization''s Harem program. But this was another thing entirely. "Well, it''s not too often that we visit that sector of the universe so it was a nice change of pace. Can you actually believe that goddess? She has no sense of pride at all." "You clearly haven''t been paying attention at all, dear sister. I have my own theory as to how that happened." "Everybody already knows that the CEO looked like her brother. Still that doesn''t mean anything at all. I assume if you tossed another scrawny NEET so-called protagonist into that world¡ªAurora would have reacted the same." The Observers from Heavens were willing to laugh and even poke fun at the Goddess Aurora. A fellow deity that spent a good portion of the universe''s existence to simply spend her time in a state of sleeping after she banished her brother. Seeing as to how the Goddess Aurora was caught up in the strings of the past and chased relentlessly after Li Yang because he resembled Aseroth, her brother, and did not even care one bit about her creations and all the collateral damage that occured¡ªit was terribly amusing. The Observers might have been the epitome of schadenfreude. When one was at the pinnacle of existence, boredom became a constant thing. Thus the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that from witnessing the troubles, failures and other toils of weaker beings was something they relished in. Such programs like the LSO catered to it. But now Li Yang said he''d bring Luo Ju Di back and this time, the Heavens mood changed. Oh, it already happened before¡­ this desire to bring someone back from the death? Maybe there were countless individuals around the universe that dared to the same at this very moment. It was an endeavor that many seek to accomplish. However, not everyone in the Heavens liked it at all. It was something that confronted the systems already existing in the universe. Individuals, both people and gods, could be benevolent and humor someone simply because they assumed that they were above it at all. But when something challenged them. The Heavens were pretty vicious. Chapter 217: You Are Courting Death (1) Chunhua herself didn''t have any idea as to where the ''messenger of death'' took her mother at all when it left. She tried to chase after the Being but it disappeared from her sight and she had instead fallen to her knees at that time. The young girl didn''t even know if it was actually possible to retrieve her mother back, and it seemed like the man didn''t know either. But she still placed her faith in her Uncle Yang who gave her that promise. He was going to figure it out on his own. "I''ll go for now, Chunhua." Li Yang made his way to the door. Chunhua ran up to him and grabbed at his sleeve. "This time¡­ you''ll come back again, right?" "Of course, I''ll be back." "Okay, I''ll see you, Uncle Yang!" Chunhua smiled at him. "I''ll¡­ I''ll tell Uncle Liang and Aunt Gabi that you came back and visited me when I see them later. I''m sure they''ll be happy to know that you were here." Li Yang paused at those words, but decided to say nothing. "Thank you." Whatever his brother was going to make out of it¡­ then it was up to him. He was going to prioritize Luo Ju Di and his daughter now. It was about time that he did it. ¡ª- Even when Chunhua didn''t know where her mother was exactly, that didn''t mean that he didn''t have his own way to find out information about his destination. A System was literally in his fingertips, and compared to the earlier version¡ªit was patch updated to have everything else in addition to the harem-related functions. Did it present him with more options and was the price worth the cost? Li Yang hadn''t heard anything from DatPeach in awhile, but surely, something was bound to happen in the future. For now, he summoned the System and went right ahead to business. [ Welcome back to Earth, Host! ] "I need to find someone who recently died and has been taken away by some sort of creature," Li Yang said. "Possibly a grim reaper of sorts. Or an entity that collects recently deceased souls." [ The Host Currently Lacks The Ability And Information To Access The Afterlife Train ] The man blinked at the information available on the screen, before only frowning slightly. "Access a train? Then there''s a ticket for it. Summon shop." Li Yang stared at the System''s shop portion and quickly filtered in the results. He soon gazed at numerous items available and was counting on seeing something that allowed him to find Luo Ju Di or access the station. Perhaps there was something that might make it possible to find her directly? Whether it was the System detecting the general direction of his train of thoughts, or simply similar to how companies were able to purchase one''s personal information online¡ªseveral products displayed themselves in front of the CEO and were begging to be purchased. It could have been the filter too, but it wasn''t what he was quite looking for. [ Shop ] [ Categories: Seeking Items, Finding Individuals ] [ Arrow: Enemy-Bound ] Would you like to conquer and defeat your foes from afar? Or are you a person with a terrible aim that seeks to fulfill your thirst for vengeance as you hail death arrows from the high ground? Then step no further! This item will solve all of your problems. A specially crafted arrow imbued with the intention of seeking out your enemy and hitting them at their weakest points. Not everyone is a Hou Yi who can hit nine suns, so get a little help and destroy your enemies today! [ Cupid''s Laser Gun of Love ] Bows and arrows are so yesterday. It''s time to keep up with the times and use the latest technology available. This weapon is a versatile way to make your target find themselves incredibly attracted to you or make your enemy fall in love with a tree. There are various modes in this laser gun: obsessive attraction, first blossoming of love¡ªthe choice is yours! Hit your mark with the Cupid''s laser gun today! [ Red String of Fate ] Are you looking for your next possible match? Gain Access to the God of Love and Marriage: Yue Xia Lao Ren''s special red string of fate that can help locate potential couples. If you''d like, you could potentially tie yourself to another individual. "I need to find something that shows any sort of connection that I have to Luo Ju Di herself." Li Yang sighed and went for the next tab, until the creature supposed to be transmitting to the Heavens decided to voice out its concerns. The Panda raised its paws angrily at him. "I thought you were supposed to be rational¡ª" "Will you be complaining or are you going to give me answers, Bao?" Li Yang stared at the floating creature. "It doesn''t seem like going to the afterlife is so hard if this is how it now functions." "Grr¡­ There are multiple stations! Depending on the soul''s current assessment and affiliation¡ªthat Luo Ju Di can end up anywhere¡ª" "I can probably secure a ticket even if I''m not dead yet, right? Similar to paying a fare to Charon¡ª" Bao raised a paw at him and quickly shushed him. "Don''t go around dropping names! Names have power you incompetent¡ª" Li Yang swatted the creature away and sighed. "A certain creature seems to have taken away Luo Ju Di and I have to secure a ticket and find the station where she''s supposed to be dropped off. That seems simple enough, doesn''t it?" "Well, you''re not dead yet." Bao thrust a paw at him. "Unless you want to be dead, I can do you a favor and send you to the underworld myself." Li Yang stared at the menacing creature without blinking one bit. Excuses like those weren''t something he wished to hear when numerous tales that might have held truth were available. They were bound to be available. "People can still purchase things as long as they can pay the price for it¡ª" "What if the payment is your life and soul? Geez." Li Yang shifted his gaze away from the creature. "There''s always bound to be an alternative¡ªah, this one might help." [ Necromancer''s Circle of Death ] A must have for all death-seekers! It''s difficult to create an aura of death and stench to fully maximize spellcasting when one''s immediate area is filled with the aura of life and holy power. Immediately cast and build a ''Circle of Death'' that creates an environment perfect for raising undead or contacting dead souls. Warning: Different entities both from the undead and anti-necromantic forces may pick up this circle. Depending on the power of the circle, it can also capture death-related individual''s attention. Bao stared at the screen and slapped a paw over its face. "Surely you understand that dealing with such a thing like this and also attempting to revive a person meant to be dead is going against the natural order of things, right?" Li Yang stared at the creature who brought him the System in the first place and he crossed his arms. "What seems to be the problem? This is bound to be exciting for the Heavens, won''t it? Am I not supposed to be their entertainment?" "I loathe the fact that I''ll be saying this¡ªbut you''ll be courting death!" ¡ª- Author''s Note: I was expecting this arc about Luo Ju Di to happen later down the line. Like maybe after Anna Song''s arc and yet here we are xD I finally feel accomplished to use the "YOU''RE COURTING DEATH!" line and makes this feel like a legit Chinese cultivation novel lol. Thanks for reading today''s chapters! Chapter 218: You Are Courting Death (2) The Transmitter ordained from the Heavens stared at the Object of Heaven''s entertainment and stared at him seriously. Every little inch of the creature''s being was crawling with a sense of clear unease in their expression. For both of their sakes, Bao needed to say this. Even though it may have wanted for the CEO to just suffer through it all if it had a damn choice, but similar to Li Yang, the two of them were akin to brethren in this fucking situation. "I don''t want to say this¡ªbut you''ll be courting death if you do this." Li Yang wanted to say that the Panda was right¡ªhe was aware that when he told Chunhua that he''d be saving her mother from the hands of death¡ªit might as well have been a death wish of his own. Nobody in their right mind would have done this. Li Yang still believed that he was capable of logical reasoning and understood the weight of this matter. The pros and cons, the risks involved in his decision seemed to naturally outweigh the rewards. And yet like a man who still threw himself to the flames, he only shook his head. Li Yang assessed the System''s screen in front of him. The various items displayed themselves, but he only had one eye for a singular item and that was the Necromancer''s Circle of Death. "If I don''t do this, then who will?" Li Yang asked. "Nobody has to do anything¡ª" "It''s my fault that she died." Li Yang stared at the screen, ignoring the creature as he focused on the amount of points needed to acquire the Necromancer''s Death Circle. It was worth 30,000 points, but it was a trivial price compared to the chance of saving somebody else''s life. What were these points compared to life? Why did he only even think of it now? Had he been this callous before? He tried to make sense of it all. "I have this System with me and if I choose not to do a thing¡ªwhat''s the use of it?" Li Yang shut his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Even with the slimmest chance that I have, that''s already enough motivation for me to do it. I need to do something to make everything alright, again. It''s my responsibility to correct what''s wrong." Bao stared at the CEO and wondered where this sense of accountability came from. In the creature''s opinion, the woman was dead and was better off that way. So the Panda decided that he was an idiot. Bao raised a paw at him and scoffed. "I guess saving the mother''s life is better than raising the kid on your own, eh?" Li Yang didn''t bother giving the creature a reply. "How many points have I earned?" Bao blinked. "Wait did you get points even while you were away¡ª" "I did, and I have them with me right now," Li Yang said. Bao ground its teeth. The CEO only rubbed his chin and did the creature a favor by explaining his own conclusion. "The parameters to gain these points now seem a bit different from the previous Charm Points, albeit, I think that romance and sex-related tasks still earn me points. The patch update called it Power Points, but in the end, they''re just points used to purchase commodities for me." The System provided him with a small computed list of activities that he''d done back at Telriah that warranted him points and the ones that he received until now. Even the ones from the Heavens laughing at his child''s innocence. While he didn''t bother checking them before as he made the decision to only rely on points when necessary, the number of points still made him blink. Li Yang didn''t imagine that he''d accumulate that much throughout his entire time in Telriah and even his return here. [ Total Current Points: 131,159 ] And yet even with all of these Points available, Li Yang still found himself to be still at the bottom of the food chain. As the System might have said it¡ªhe would have been nothing in terms of combat if it weren''t for its assistance. Now once again, Li Yang took the opportunity to look at it and a certain part of him still found the System amusing even right now. Intentional or not, it truly functioned like an online store available in the market. [ Confirm Purchase of Necromancer Death Circle? (30,000 Points) ] "Yes," he said. The ''suggestions'' were quick to appear in his vision. It was an attempt to make him think that he needed to purchase these items along with the one he planned to buy and they were all nice pitches. Excellent in a way. [ It Is Recommended to Purchase The Following Items, Masteries and Skills ] [ Aroma of Death (10,000 Points) ] The Dead howls and rages against the living souls that walk the earth. Cloud yourself in the aroma of death to appease the undead from rising and striking against you. [ Necromancy Knowledge - I (5,000 Points) ] When dealing with the dead spirits that run afoul the earth, it is necessary to equip and arm yourself against their influence and understand the workings. [ Wooden Mage Staff (2,500 Points) ] A staff made from good magical lumber suited for spell-casting and a perfect equipment for Mages of various specialities. Good for beginners on the path of mage-hood. "This System clearly wants to milk me dry from all of my points, does it not?" Li Yang muttered to himself. In the long-run, they were bound to be something that would prove him useful when he compared them to his current skill set. Li Yang might end up specializing in dealing with the undead if things were to continue this way. Or even becoming a Mage? Li Yang shook his head and said, "Find me a better weapon for a swordsman-mage variant. Preferably something that turns invisible, or can''t be seen by regular people at least." The obsidian sword he bought before was already gone since his encounter with the Goddess Aurora so Li Yang needed it. [ Yao Slayer (5,000 Points) ] A weapon built with the natural sharpness attributes to conquer and defeat yao (monster/demon) and can be imbued with the User''s natural qi or energy to change the element of the sword. Well, he didn''t quite need to use magic anyhow. Or rather, it would be a waste to spend too many points in purchasing so many skills that were too focused on a specific class of enemy. If there was anything that he might need to obtain that was meant for a specific entity, then it was the borrowed Skill that he used back in Telriah. [ Skills ] Afterworld Temporary Dissolution (Rare) Ao Energy Bending - (Common) Body Muscle Memory Enhancement (Common) Close Combat Knowledge (Uncommon) God-Slaying Skill: The End Is Nigh (12% Mastery) Grappling Techniques (Common) Mental Fortitude (Common) Qi Infusion Technique (Uncommon) Swordplay Qi (Uncommon) [ Newly Obtained Skills ] God-Slaying Skill: The End Is Nigh A powerful ability created by the God Aseroth during his battle with the Goddess Aurora. The Host Has Managed To Achieve A 12% Foundation Of The Skill Mastery Possible For now, Li Yang focused on his first priority. [ Would You Like To Purchase The Necromancer''s Death Circle? ] [ Deducting 30,000 Points From¡ª ] [ Deducting 10,000 Points From The¡ª ] [ Deducting 5,000 Points From The Host¡ª ] Preparations were complete. Chapter 219: You Are Courting Death (3) The weather forecast for today was supposed to be sunny with not a hint of clouds in the beautiful azure sky. And yet with one purchase of an item, the entire city of Shanghai was covered by a thick and grim heap of nimbus clouds that suddenly overtook the entire sky. People who were outside felt a sudden chill about them as they rushed to their destinations. Seeking and possibly searching for anything that might chase away the apparent and distinct sensation that hung in the atmosphere. It was a sickening feeling that led to the unrest within the city. Bo Lifen cursed underneath her breath as she finally arrived at the premises of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion and wiped the cold sweat away from her forehead. It had been quite awhile since something around this level happened in the area of Shanghai. Death filled the air. Numerous flock of birds squawked and flew away from the general direction of Li Yang and the hospital. Unbeknownst to him, the CEO may have chosen the best possible place to summon the Necromancer''s Circle of Death. At a medical facility, no matter how white the walls were¡ªa certain darkness and aura of death still brooded in its surroundings. Countless patients, before and even in the future, sickness and malady plagued and festered the area. It was a conducive place, after all. Beneath his footing on the rooftop, the trails and wisps of what may have been humans rose up and appeared before Li Yang. A poltergeist rushed at him, howling and screaming¡ªand it met the blade of his sword. His own spiritual senses from being a cultivator was all that he needed to see the malicious ghost aura and qi that surrounded and rose around him. While they were all substantial in creating the Circle of Death, all those who still attempted to harm him soon met a quick death. Or another death. Dying twice possibly in that moment as the spirits, poltergeist and other unliving entities converged around him. They were unable to help themselves, as if something that were embedded in the centers of their beings were magnetized and called back forth to the circle of it all. Where death began and was also the chance for a new life in death. Somewhere in the hospital, a nurse about to cover a dead patient suddenly screamed at the sudden light that convulsed in one of their dying patient''s eyes¡ªas if this person was being filled by an unnatural strength that called for it to come. Chunhua in her mother''s room found nothing like that, her own mother''s body just lying as if untouched by it all, but the little girl still covered her ears and tried to block out the sounds of numerous elements all coming together. She had no idea where it had come from, or why it was happening at all, but she remained in place. The child fully aware that all of this was something she''d have to carry the burden of it all by herself. The environment was plain horrific. And yet this was what Li Yang needed to do. He was in the center of it all. A strange runic eerie green sundial-like marking ran through the rooftop and created strange channels of magic. Dark and unnatural energy ran through them similar to how one''s energy flowed through the natural ley lines that existed in one''s own body. It was a mimicry of life. An attempt of mocking and copying what real living was meant to be. The two of them were always opposites¡­ Or perhaps Death had always been just the other side of it all. Regardless of it all, Li Yang was only there and waiting for the arrival of death-related entities to arrive¡ªsomebody, something that could lead him to the very same place where Luo Ju Di were to be. He needed to find her. Li Yang was prepared to do anything to find her. And so the Heavens watched from above, not as all-seeing as they might have been, or choosing not to exert that much effort at all as they viewed through the lenses of a transmitter. [ DatPeach: This is certainly what I''ve been waiting for! ] [ The One Who Slaughters: To seek and attempt to reach the Duat¡­ I wonder if it is fit for such a man as he is ] [ The Observer ''Apache'' Wonders At The Changes Of It All ] [ The Observer ''Pomegranate'' Is Silently Spectating ] [ The Observer ''Sea Foam'' Frowns At It All ] . . . . . Chongming Island to Shanghai was approximately 90km away and took about nearly two hours if one were to travel via car. If there was anyone crazy to have attempted to do it by foot, then it was approximately eight hours away. There was also a lovely ferry to ride on and that was what most people were inclined to take as they traveled across the east estuary of the Yangtze River. To those who could afford an airplane ticket, then it was only three minutes away by flight. Taiga couldn''t exactly fly¡ªthe ages of cultivators on flying swords with their qi was something that had already long past them. If she were to ever have been alive to meet someone who was, then it may have been when she was nothing but a cub. When the earth was young and the modern conveniences still hadn''t fully sequestered the world for the individuals like her. But that didn''t matter to her. To someone like Taiga, she could have been one of the people who did well in adjusting to their new environment. She placed the earpiece in her ear and spoke to the one at headquarters of Shen Society. It was a little silly that her arrival seemed to match the sudden need for a higher-leveled cultivator amongst them. "Yes, Taiga is confirming the big evil death cloud about three kilometers away. Taiga thinks she can do it on her own, but you can still send back up if you want. But whoever this person is will get a taste of Taiga''s burning fists¡ªokay, bye bye." While Taiga was here to find Li Yang, it seemed like she still needed to do some cleaning up of bad guys! Well, a little bit of a gig never hurt Taiga''s pockets and she needed to stop sulking after so much time. The tigress spirit leapt from the next building onto the other as she made her way to the death cloud. Whoever that person was, they were surely going to be bound for a surprise! Seriously, whoever was that uncool person was to start collecting the dead in Shanghai was absolutely none the wiser. They wouldn''t know what hit them! ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: DEATH! ¡ªAhem, let''s stop it right there. I''m not sure if we''re going to head to Sung Jin-Woo, Death Monarch and all that. It''s possible that Li Yang''s skill set may head into that direction. But NOT advisable, you know? It''s really hard to make anything new under the sun so tweaking and making notable changes are advisable to make the story fresh and different. Make sure to react violently if I were to head that direction xD Thanks for reading! Chapter 220: You Are Courting Death (4) Interfering with the natural laws of the world was always bound to be a mistake. Attempting to gather souls even when they were simply wandering in the plane of the earth as ghosts for one''s own power was plain evil to some and greedy, malicious that put unresting souls to even more grief¡ª And yet, if there was anything that concerned it to a Grim Reaper¡­ then it was simply because they had a schedule they had to keep and gathering souls were their duties and responsibilities. The cycle needed to run smoothly and without any interruption. Similar to a clock, there was a necessity to keep moving and each second was precious even in the span of forever. There was a schedule, an ongoing momentum that always happened unbeknownst to the majority of the human''s pithy existence. Thus, those who were given the task to undertake the duties of a Grim Reaper were expected to work without ceasing. There was the responsibility of keeping the balance between life and death, and even if they were the ones who took away souls, it was a necessity to bring new life. Emotions like rage, anger, disillusionment at a Necromancer''s moralities of choosing to grasp the remnants of a soul''s life held nothing to them. Grim Reapers did not blink, they did not question their orders and kept everything running smoothly. And so she arrived. Donning a dark cloak akin to death, with hair paler than bones and lips just a touch cold to freezing¡ªthe woman arrived at the ledge of the hospital''s building and gave the gentleman in front of her a plain and fake smile. The Necromancer''s Circle of Death was thick and clouded the entire city within its wraps and aura of undeath and decay. Already, many souls and dark spirits were already caught and confined in the circular runes hallow green glowing in the ground. And soon they would be freed and taken to the afterlife. But for now, it was time for a reprimand. Even if it would fall to deaf ears. "It seems like you''ve made quite a decision to¡­" Thana stared at Li Yang and the ''panda'' hovering close to him and she raised a hand to her face. The scythe in her hand thud quietly in the cement of the hospital. "What have I gotten myself into this time?" Li Yang immediately raised his sword at the woman in front of him. His gaze narrowed at her but he understood that she wasn''t like any of the spirits that came and became attached to the magical death circle he created. "Are you from the land of the dead?" he asked. "I''m here to visit the Afterlife Train and that is why I summoned you here." Thana stared at him and resisted the urge to laugh aloud. A pecking order was obvious in a situation like this one. She was not a monster that could be slain by such a simple blade, no matter how much it was crafted for monsters. She was above him. But that didn''t make their situation any less different. There were Humans, Grim Reapers¡­ and there were Gods. Naturally, the ones at the top of the food chain did not bother to think about how the others were affected by their decision. A lion did not ask a lamb if they were being interrupted from their path and mission in life. Thus it was obvious to Thana that she stepped into a position where the Gods were involved and she wasn''t liking it one bit at all. Especially that floating furry creature right near Li Yang¡ªit was easy to get a read on a person''s identity¡ªbecause it didn''t register at all to the Grim Reaper''s natural database for all living beings within its immediate jurisdiction. The Grim Reaper''s eyes flickered a pale yellow glow as she pointed her scythe at him. "I am here to do one thing alone¡ªand that is to free all of these souls that you have conveniently gathered for me," Thana said. Li Yang stared back plainly at her. "Then I must have done you quite a favor so it seems that it would be good for you to return it." Thana gave him a flat look. "I am not one of the Fae or Demon that are honor-bound by such things as this one. Step away from that death circle, Necromancer or you will find yourself meeting the end of my blade¡ª" A wave of energy flew at her, dispelled from the blade. The Grim Reaper quickly blocked and knocked it away from her. Her weapon took the brunt of her attacks. If the man was going to do this then¡ª A sudden heavy aura quickly began to press down on the Grim Reaper and it was as if she was suddenly given the brunt order of carrying the weight of a thousand souls. Thana raised her head, stared at the man and wondered if it was his own doing. It exuded a power that didn''t quite fit with what came in her mind as a Necromancer. Was it from the Ones involved with this mortal? Thana glanced at the man and frowned deeply as she quickly realized what seemed to have been the problem. It wasn''t fair to call Li Yang a mortal anymore. Or, even if he was¡­ the man was already taking steps to change his path. This was the beginning to the road of immortality. Something that a lot of mortals, kings and even heroes had dreamed and desired of. Whether it was the philosopher''s stone, elixir of life or the fountain of youth¡ªit was sought after and longed for. The man already had a good grasp of how to maneuver the world''s energy to his own bidding and despite it being obvious that he was new to this. Li Yang''s stance didn''t quite seem right to the Grim Reaper... "You have talent for this, mortal. I''ll give you that." Thana broke free from the world''s influence and shrugged the energy off as her body dematerialized and became dissoluted from its effects. "But beings like me are not bound to this world and neither are we bound to the rules that govern you¡ª" "Do you have anything that you want?" Li Yang asked. The Grim Reaper looked at him blankly and possibly confused. Nobody in their right minds would have asked someone like Thana a question like that. Whenever she came¡ªand that was when their alternatives, ''angels'', were busy¡ªpeople, mostly humans, came screaming and trying to get away from her. There were a lot of regrets and burdens in their short and uneventful lives. They were supposed to have more time. They should have done this and that. They did not want to die. They wanted to live. It was always about them, them, them¡ªalways focused on what their pathetic lives were about to lose. Nobody asked a Grim Reaper a question concerning them, and even if they had, it was merely to inquire of the possibilities of becoming one themselves or vanquishing someone like her. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: So in this case, Courting Death¡­ or Courting a Grim Reaper? Did anyone expect that? Yes, it was a terrible joke. Don''t end my life because of it xD Alright, next chapter coming up. Thanks for reading. Just another side character appearing, but I''m unsure of reception. Chapter 221: Passage To The Afterlife (1) "...What do I want?" Thana said and stared at the man. Details about Li Yang quickly came to her mind''s information and she quickly filled in the gaps. She spat at him. "I do not want your money and I do not want anything from you¡ª" "You don''t have to want anything from me. But I doubt that you''ll give me what I want without something in exchange¡ªso name it," Li Yang said. There were people like him. Thana tilted her head at this man and resisted the urge to sigh. "You see this world in terms of transactions, do you not? You think that everything is merely exchanged in this world and that''s how you''ve succeeded in the business world." Li Yang frowned at her, but nodded. "It is a rare thing for anybody to do something without an equivalent exchange." "Yes, yes," Thana said. "Then there is something¡ª" She planted the scythe on the ground and smiled at him. "But for a being of my stature, that cannot be the case. You can already tell that I am a Grim Reaper¡ªsomeone who is not besought by physical desires at all, I do not hunger, thirst or even engage in the procreational acts that your people engage in. I lack nothing and the act of desiring something else is irrelevant and unattainable to me." The CEO stared silently at her. Thana really didn''t know why she even bothered in this conversation with this man. She was wasting her time and that was of great essence. She took a step forward and beheaded a ghost attempting to consume its fellow ghosts to power itself up. As she stepped in front of the circle, the first layer of the ancient runic magic slowly began to disintegrate. She raised her scythe and pointed it at him¡ªand she hardly blinked as the man blocked it with his sword. This Li Yang was surely having enough bravado simply because they were being watched by his sponsors, patrons or whatever these Gods were to him. Thana stared blankly at him. "Understand that whatever it is that you and the ones that are watching you are doing¡ªit does not concern me at all. I am simply here to do my job and I do not wish or want for anything at all." "What about a conversation?" Li Yang asked. "Huh?" "If you really have no desires at all whatsoever in the realms of physical desires¡ªthen I suppose this conversation of ours is merely a way to satisfy your mental needs?" Thana''s grip tightened around her scythe as she pressed the cold glint of metal on his chest. It seemed like he allowed himself to be touched by the metal because he wasn''t even worried about his life. Perhaps he was aware that a Grim Reaper couldn''t do anything to a person who wasn''t going to die yet and that added to his bravery. He was confident that the Grim Reaper was only trying to unnerve him. Thana''s plan wasn''t working at all. "Am I correct?" he asked her. Li Yang realized that her movements were faster than his. Which should have been obvious, as they were on two different levels and stages. They were two different species. But his face betrayed to show any signs of discomposure at all. In a way, his face tended to be schooled and frozen in that annoying blank look. And he had focused on simply doing what he at least knew best. Or assumed he knew it was the best thing for him. Figuring out what the other party wanted. Li Yang had always been used to listening to other people''s demands and fulfilling that expectation. If that was what was required at this moment to find a way to Luo Ju Di and bring her back¡ªthen so be it. "What are you trying to say?" Thana frowned at him. "I''ve lived a countless eon more than you¡ªthere is nothing remotely interesting in a conversation that I can get from you. If anything, this conversation of ours is simply me humoring a child." Li Yang smiled for once. "Then I can''t help but simply wish that the others were like you¡ªthe ones I''ve met so far have been so extremely bored that I''ve been nothing but a way to pass their time. I may have wrongly assumed that it was the same for you, or for beings who didn''t worry about anything." Thana stared at his face, taken aback by the man''s words¡­ but mostly his smile. It was a disarming one. Not a lot of people smiled in the face of death¡ªor its representatives. She huffed. "Not everyone can be like¡ª" The dark clouds above them grew even darker and lightning expelled from the skies. The Grim Reaper gritted her teeth as lightning exploded right in the center of the runic circle and destroyed the Death Circle. Both she and Li Yang arrived at two other buildings. This wasn''t a freak storm at all. "Hah, you''ve offended some Observers." The snooty voice came from the ''Panda'' creature. "Better watch your tongue¡ª" The Grim Reaper ground her teeth and stared at Li Yang. "You know what, if you guys will keep bothering me about this Afterlife Train Station then fine. Let''s just go there to settle this." "... You''ll do that?" he asked, sounding a little perplexed. A scoff escaped her lips. "Good to confirm that you aren''t some kind of amnesiac Grim Reaper or whatever¡ªyou can actually show emotions, huh?" "I''m here to save a person I know." Li Yang said. He sounded a little offended enough to make the Grim Reaper snort. "Oh let me guess, is she some kind of lover of yours? Got to save her before she arrives in the Underworld huh? Humans." Li Yang didn''t give her a reply and simply arrived right next to her. After a second, he spoke with an awkward shrug. "She''s the mother of my daughter." "Sounds like some kind of story, huh?" "It''s not much." "I wasn''t actually serious. I''ve already heard and seen countless people''s lives, what could have even been the difference with yours?" Thana slashed her scythe through the air and watched the fabric of the world get cut apart. Li Yang stared at the new wave of energy that was expelled out from the tear through the world. It was unlike anything that he experienced before. He thought that the energy waves in Telriah were already abundant, but it seemed like this place was just brimming with energy. Thana threw him a look. "Alright, step right in and we''ll get you to your destination. Try not to be a burden as there are entities that might attempt to steal your life." "Noted," he said. The Grim Reaper pursed her lips at him, thought about saying something but then decided against it. Finally, the two of them entered the portal. . . . . . In Taiga''s perspective¡ªthe Bossman was kidnapped by some kind of evil witch. Her eyes widened and she rushed towards the tear through space. Unlike last time, she wasn''t going to let Li Yang slip away from her fingers again. "I won''t let you go again, Bossman!" The Tigress Spirit made it into the closing gap right before it shut itself. The world that they were familiar with was soon left behind them. Chapter 222: Passage To The Afterlife (2) Pure brightness and white light filled his entire vision¡ªuntil the glare ended and he ended up somewhere else. Li Yang had been to Shanghai just moments ago, but now he wasn''t sure where exactly this place was, except for the fact that this was a new location. The Grim Reaper''s tattered black cloak fluttered behind him and might have been the only dark thing in his current perspective. "Your view will readjust to the immaterial plane," Thana said. Li Yang narrowed his eyes and found that while the light was gone, the blank state of the world around him was ever present. He might as well have been tossed into a blank canvas. The only color that he saw in this world was that of the Grim Reaper, himself and¡­ Thana glanced over her shoulder and looked at him. Once again, the visage of her pale light yellow eyes and white hair framed over her face was a little bit unnerving. Li Yang had already stared into the face of a god, but there was an uncanny aura about this woman that kept him on guard. Thana droned on to him, sounding a little bored. "Unlike your little friend floating here, cultivator or not, most don''t visit the place¡­ I actually doubt people like you visit this place. Your people who pursue immortality will consider walking here as a death wish." "I guess camouflage doesn''t work that well here, expected." Bao grumbled and reappeared in Li Yang''s vision. The Grim Reaper was already moving ahead of him and it seemed like she was walking on nothing. A bridge that consisted without anything in particular. A thin air of nothing. Li Yang blinked once¡ªthought he saw the world around him shift, but then it reverted back to pure white except for the outlines and traces of building-like objects in the edge of his vision. He followed after the Grim Reaper wordlessly. At least until he reached beside her and asked, "Is this place supposed to be like a background of pure white without anything identifiable?" "Hah!" A snigger escaped the Grim Reaper''s lips. "Did you hear that?" "I have ears." Bao rolled its own eyes. "He doesn''t know shit." The two of them seemed to have reluctantly acknowledged each other. Moreso than Li Yang himself. "Well, if this subservient creature of yours does not tell you anything." Thana motioned to their surroundings. "This plane tends to be a representation of what the individual deems it to be. Most of your people have trusted that there''s always a glimmering white light at the end of the tunnel, so that''s what I assume to be the same for you." "Even if I know I''m not dead yet?" Li Yang asked. He didn''t quite react to the initial statement, but Bao seemed to have frozen in place when the Grim Reaper said. Thana continued to walk. She didn''t miss a step as she stepped forward into seemingly nowhere. It was almost as if they weren''t going anywhere at all and simply standing in place, but he trusted her to be actually moving and not messing with him. "Yes¡­ Well, whatever, who knows? You might die here, but at least we''re actually at our destination now. Open your eyes now, we''re at the train station. Took us quite a while, huh?" Li Yang frowned at that. He didn''t like how the Grim Reaper acted like they''d walked for so long when it was barely three minutes or anything like that. On top of that, was the way she phrased things. "My eyes are already¡ª" Thana was suddenly beside him and her hand covered his eyes¡ªher skin didn''t feel like a chill of death as he expected it to be. When she removed her hand, Li Yang saw a completely different place. It wasn''t unlike a normal human station, except for the fact that there were various entities roaming across the brick floors of the place. There were wooden benches occupied by what appeared to be a long-eared spirit like being, there was an extremely obese-like dark shadow that stood close enough to the railtracks. And several more other creatures beyond his own imagination. Thana waved a hand in front of him and planted her scythe lazily into the floor. "Welcome to the Afterlife Station, stay in one place and don''t hop into trains to find your friend or whoever she actually is, I''ll ask around¡ªwhat''s her name?" How could he have gotten distracted? "Luo Ju Di¡ª" "Alright, stay here and don''t talk to strangers. I mean that!" Thana said loudly as she could have possibly done. The Grim Reaper walked towards one of the available ticket booths and leaned in front of the counters. All around them, other spirits and souls went about their business as if they didn''t notice the Grim Reaper¡­ and a living person? Li Yang didn''t quite enjoy being treated like a kid. He looked over his shoulder once to check what exactly they''d been walking through¡­ and quite unlike his initial vision of seeing traces and outlines of buildings, the man found himself in an underground station. At least, Li Yang thought he saw a flight of stairs in the distance. "Your perception helped you easily arrive here without getting lost," Bao grumbled underneath its breath. "Not sure if it''s your own mental self-defense mechanism or that Grim Girl did it for you, she''s actually easier to deal with than most Grims, I suspect." "What do you mean?" "Her cloak is ugly as hell." Bao flicked a paw. "Ah, hierarchy is still prevalent here." Li Yang said underneath his breath. "We have a train station and you have bored Observ¡ªer, interested deities from the Heavens watching you struggle through the obstacles that they''ve placed in front of you. Only the top-top couldn''t care less about this at all." "Top-top, huh?" Li Yang said. "Forget I said anything." "Hey, I''m back and you seem to have really stayed in one place." Thana looked at Li Yang in surprise. She raised a brow and stifled an amused tone. "Most people in search of their loved one''s soul would have ran ahead to the trains already and tried to get aboard it." Li Yang sighed inwardly. "I don''t think it would harm me to follow your suggestion. You know this place more than me." "Alright, I got good news and bad news." "Bad news." "Your friend or whatever isn''t here," Thana said. She gazed around their surroundings and affirmed that there was no human soul currently roaming around the station. "... and the good?" "My job here is done, I brought you here." Thana raised the blunt end of her scythe and pointed behind him. "You can get back to the mortal plane." "I don''t think we made any agreement like that and I''m going anywhere until I see her for myself." Li Yang frowned. Thana stared at him. "Then we''re going to need more details. Her name didn''t pop up among those who traveled and neither is she here in the station or else you would have had a teary reunion." "Chunhua told me that it was some kind of beast-transforming entity that''s a death or soul collector that took her, so if they can''t identify Luo Ju Di¡ªthen that creature. Surely you know your fellow soul-collectors." "That''s vague as shit," Bao said. "But I guess you can''t expect much from a kid." "Did you just say beast?" Li Yang glanced at the Grim Reaper. "Then you must know what I''m trying to say?" For a Grim Reaper supposed to be separate from emotions, Thana''s eyes darkened slightly. "Sluagh? They''ve managed to steal a soul before an actual death representative got to it. If that''s what took her¡ªthen she really won''t be here." "A Slaugh¡­?" "They''re the reason for unexplained death, souls getting lost. Usually they come to pluck weakened souls as gigantic birds, but they can also appear as emaciated beasts if they prefer." Thana looked around the station and then back at the man. There was still that determined look on his face. Thana grunted. "I suppose if that''s what took her¡­ I''m liable to help you." "Then where do we go?" "...well, this is where the worst news comes in now. There are too many Slaughs in this plane so I hope that you can actually put your sword to use. We''ll have to cut through them and hope that this Luo Ju Di''s soul ain''t eaten yet." . . . Taiga leapt into the portal and found herself in the spirit world. At least that was how her ancestors might have called it. This kind of place wasn''t something that she was used to¡­ feeling more at ease by having a more physical body. All around her, several dark trees that reached far beyond than possible stretched out and hovered over her. It was an intimidating nightmare-fueled atmosphere that made the tigress spirit freeze uncertainly. In the mortal realm, or physical earth--she was on top of the food chain. A real tiger on the prowl, but around here¡­ Taiga raised a hand and watched fire appear within it. It was a good thing that she managed to cultivate her soul for a bit, but she was still in a small pinch. All around her came the sound of large and piercing bird cries in the air. The first gigantic bird swooped in. Taiga''s claws managed to cut that one down and she watched her fellow spirit consumed by the flames and disappearing. However, that was just the first of them. When she glanced up, there was an entire flock above the skies. Chapter 223: Passage To The Afterlife (3) Of all the things that could have happened, being swept up in some hazy and fever dream was the least surprising thing for Luo Ju Di. The cries, screams and howls of everything around her was something that droned in the background. Her senses and consciousness were dull. A heavy stuffing in her ears that blocked sound. Perhaps being dead was supposed to be like this and she couldn''t say anything at all. She felt weightless, motionless and simply caught up in the air. Her body¡­ if she could call this non-corporeal form as a body at all, was bereaved and stripped of any sort of substance. It was almost as if some parts of herself were drifting away. Lulled into this state as she found herself losing herself little by little, surprisingly, she took it better than most. You couldn''t escape it. There was no way to avoid it. What was there to gain to fight something that happened to everyone? Nothing at all. Death¡­ How can one exactly explain it? There was still something bubbling inside of her. Remnants of a reality that was once hers. Luo Ju Di remembered being in the hotel, staying with her daughter and wondering about what would happen to them. Now it seemed so silly¡ªbeing so caught up in the wiles and worries of living and being alive. Chasing, running and always struggling. Never amounting to anything at all. She had left it all behind. All of the responsibilities were gone, but still she remembered how much she worried and felt so contradicted at that time. Her chest throbbed and blood pounded in her ears. Silently hoping and praying that the CEO or the Li Family wouldn''t do anything drastic like taking her daughter away and then the earthquake. The hotel that his secretary took her to was one of the best¡ªLuo Ju Di could tell that much. But the building still leaned, no, did more than leaning and was on the verge of collapse.It really did. The alarm blared in her ears. Luo Ju Di quickly reached for her daughter at that time, and did her best to protect the girl who looked more scared than anybody else. Chunhua was the only one who mattered to Luo Ju Di. The child who cried and sobbed about monsters¡ªan explosion sounded in Luo Ju Di''s ears. Another sharp ring of pain, then she was gone. There was no bright white light or even a flashback of memories. None of that happened. Everything was gone¡ªand she wasn''t there anymore. No tears, no sobbing¡­ she was just gone. There was nothing, nothing at all when one was dead. It was the cease of existence. It was as if she had never lived at all, with no one to remember, no one to recall a thing¡ªand then there she was again. Luo Ju Di was pulled out from the depths of nothingness and thrown back into the throes of what may have been ''living'' for the dead. The woman gasped as if she had drowned and she gulped the air around her. Existence. She was alive again. Plucked out from the void and swept up into the merciless squawks and shrills of bird-like creatures. Only alive to be tortured again, and yet there were many just like her. In this strange afterlife and sense of living¡ªthe others around her trembled and cried. They were trapped and engulfed in such a suffocating horde of bird-like monsters that it was almost as if she couldn''t breathe. Just ''almost''. Luo Ju Di was now alive and conscious, if only half-alive. Drifting and alive¡­ if only to be gone again. The evidence was all around her as the number of souls, spirits just like her was dwindling down¡ªgetting consumed and eaten. Luo Ju Di already felt herself drifting away, whether it was memories, consciousness and every flicker of something that made her who she was¡­ she was losing it. And the terrifying thing was that she couldn''t tell at all. Already, it was out of Luo Ju Di''s grasp, as if a burden was suddenly lifted. A part of her was stolen, plucked away and taken by these horrendous fowls. What was it? Who was it? A memory? A dream? Something else¡ª Fire suddenly lingered at the edge of her vision. Brilliant plumes of flames that spoke and reminded her of a phoenix, rebirth¡­ a struggle to keep on living? Yes, a pathetic attempt to keep on fighting. On Luo Ju Di''s side, one of the emaciated winged creatures howled and shrieked, before she found it disintegrating into ashes. Possibly achieving a death that was more permanent than hers. The cloud and fog in Luo Ju Di''s mind cleared slightly. Her unfocused gaze that was caught up in a cloud of nothingness¡ªreturned bit by bit into reality. More traces of fire stormed up into the air as the creatures all around her shrieked and continued howling at the defiance of something¡ªsomeone who refused to fall. "You guys¡ªTaiga eat birds like you for breakfast!" A ridiculous voice called out a war cry into the dense and thick horde of creatures. It was just one voice. A single cry of defiance that made Luo Ju Di''s consciousness trickle back in, if only to think about how weird it was for someone to fight. It was such a child-like voice¡­ Maybe it was in how they spoke of it. The image and sound of Chunhua''s voice returned to Luo Ju Di. Something seeped within her¡ªreclaiming something that was once hers. In this afterworld plane of spirits and the dead, memory and purpose rekindled in someone dead as the woman grew more self-aware of the state that she was. Luo Ju Di was dead, that much was true. There was no hope for her at all, resigned as she was to whatever this state of existence was and will be. But for a moment, her gaze met that of a woman appearing like a tiger and throwing fire all around her. Everything was burning all around her. Until they were suddenly extinguished as well. The flames died out. Chapter 224: Passage To The Afterlife (4) A great majority of the flock of Slaugh descended upon Taiga until she herself succumbed to the darkness and disappeared into the horde of them. Even the fire burning brightly winked out when faced with a tremendous amount of darkness, spirits that eluded and diminished her powers into nothing. Doom clung and hung tightly in the air. There was nothing to say, except for the fact that Taiga had done her absolute best. She performed her strongest attacks that could have blown buildings apart and even torn a chunk off a mountain. She went all out. If this fight had happened back on earth¡ªthen she was absolutely sure that she would have won and conquered all of these bird monsters. She didn''t have any name for them, although she could have checked the monster and beast glossary if she were at Shen Society and Shou Temple. It happened that spirits from another realm, usually the underworld, came up and wreaked havoc on earth. But as their battle grounds were in this realm of the spirits, she was now taken as captive. Taiga was going to end up kind of dead, eh? The Tigress Spirit craned her neck and looked around her surroundings. There were many other souls and spirits like her¡­ but they were in terrible shapes. The physical body had signs of whether one was weak or not, and the same could have been said for them. It was like looking at ghosts that were losing and flickering their light. The creatures that captured them were joyful. They continued shrieking and howling, it was an aria of death and doom, consuming their prey and sucking whatever was the essence of living spirits and souls. Condemning them and possibly not allowing any of them to return to the cycle of death and rebirth. "Vultures, scavengers." Taiga muttered underneath her breath. A bird shrieked in her ears and nearly defeaned her. Taiga blinked once and twice. Stunned for a moment. Maybe blood flowed out of her ears in this kind of realm too. Maybe if she hadn''t gotten distracted for a moment, then Taiga could have gotten away when she realized that there were too many of these monsters. But the woman that stared at her was familiar. Or she looked kind of familiar to Taiga. It reminded her of Chunhua if the child was a little bigger and had grown into a beautiful woman. But this woman was dead too¡­ although, her spirit seemed more robust than that of others. Was this woman kind of like Chunhua then? That little girl was able to see spirits and maybe had a knack in dealing with them? If the woman was the same then that was a relief¡­ although it was still surprising why she got captured in the first place. Well, Taiga got captured too, so that was an unfair comparison. "Hah¡­ I suppose we''ll be the last ones. But we''ll still wind up dead." Taiga said aloud. She didn''t care if these creatures heard her¡ªshe was right! Even if they were all captured, those who resisted the creatures and fought them off were still there and fighting to remain alive. Alive as much as they can be. However, in the edge of Taiga''s vision, the ones closest to the birds surrounding them were slowly being eaten and consumed. Passing away to decay and non-existence. Taiga and the rest were going to reach that point, wouldn''t they? Already disappearing and fading away, some of them disappeared without even the sound of passing away. People, living creatures like her were gone just like that. "If only I hadn''t chased after Bossman, but at least he''s not here." Taiga babbled to herself, the loudest of all the souls and spirits¡ªminus the bird monsters. "So that means he''s okay¡­ at least as okay for a person forced by that witch thingy." She still remembered the dark cloaked individual that forced Li Yang into the portal. Taiga jumped right after them, but she hadn''t been able to catch up to them and was instead captured. She still needed to save the Bossman. Taiga let out a deep breath within herself and stared into the sky. The sky here¡­ it was just a never-ending blue, or it would have been that way if it weren''t for all the bird spirits swarming all around them. They were all trapped here and it was only a matter of time till they were gone. Taiga tried to kick and twist her body, and accidentally bumped into a spirit that already lost its head. It couldn''t even make a sound. Taiga recoiled back and flinched, avoiding all of the others already on the edge of oblivion. There was no more hope for them. A bleak and gray color surrounded them all. It was nibbling and sinking into Taiga''s brain, the painful realization. The inevitable end that they were going to meet¡ªit was going to be swift. Taiga drifted for a moment into a state of temporary hope and regret. If she had arrived here earlier, and Taiga knew about this before¡­ could she have made a difference? This wasn''t right at all. If she was prepared and knew this beforehand, perhaps she could have done something. Was it possible for her to bring a large talisman and swat all of these monsters into fleeing back into the depths of the underworld? The cries and shrieks of other souls who didn''t wish to fade away but were still dying and disappearing filled the Tigress Spirit''s ears. They were all slowly dying and it was only moments till they were gone. "Alright, recover strength and then break out of here. Easy peasy." "... You''re that confident, aren''t you?" Luo Ju Di stared up at Taiga. The Tigress Spirit glanced down at the woman and managed a weak laugh. "Taiga has to be. Or else, I''ll fall into despair like you and I can''t do that. It''s not my time yet, Miss. So we gotta chin up¡­ I''ll do something." Chapter 225: Connections (1) "Even the Underworld rejects these Sluaghs," Thana said. Li Yang pulled his blade out from a creature and stared at her. "What?" All around them hung an even thicker stench of death. If this place was an immaterial plane full of Spirits from various paths of the universe, now the cloud of demise and finality was prevalent and overrode the blank state. The Grim Reaper placed her foot on top of the spirit''s chest and ignored its attempts at mauling her with its crooked beak. Her eyes glowed like pale stars and shone down on the dark entity''s body. She held the scythe in her hand tightly and stared down at the creature. Almost ignoring the man''s question in lieu of staring down at the creatures hindering her duties. "And so they roam freely and take the weak ones to their ultimate deaths. Where did you take this Luo Ju Di? Do you know of her name¡ªof this woman''s life?" It responded with a monstrous screech. Li Yang''s own blade trickled with the warmth of blood¡­ some of which were his own, but he only paid attention to her words and didn''t mind his injuries. He glanced around him in these pseudo-city streets and found it littered with hundreds of these Sluagh''s corpses. In the back of his mind, the Achievement of a Rampaging Beast - II was already prodding him to check the rewards, but he was still wary of his surroundings. Somehow, a vast majority, if not of all the creatures here contained the same Afterworld Dissolution Skill he had¡ªevading his blade for quite some time and then striking him hard. There was only the Grim Reaper''s presence and his own luck that he survived this mess, he doubted it was possible to do alone. For now, he focused on the remaining Sluagh left alive and found no intelligence in its eyes. Only a never-ending flurry of horrendous sights and fury was in its vision. "I don''t think trying to converse with this beast will do us any good," he said. "Yeah, attempting to interrogate them is worth nothing." Thana spat, even though she had tried and it didn''t work. "Best kill it. Would you do it? I''ve noticed that you''ve been lazing about and making me kill the vast majority of them." "It does seem to be your area of expertise," he said. "I believe it''s best to let professionals do their work without any interference." "Did your people like you having this kind of sassy rebuttal? Just slice its throat, will you?" Li Yang''s body felt heavy in this place, a sign that it really wasn''t meant for a living person at all, some kind of afterlife restriction that kept him slower and as if he was moving through a thick pressure of water¡ªbut he still struck his sword down the creature''s throat. The results were as nauseating as it could be in the real world. But Thana didn''t bat an eye at the violence and simply looked around them. "This is the three hundredth Sluagh we''ve encountered, and we''ve yet to see any signs of them flocking together in their little herd. If we continue down the road at this rate, we might never see her again." Li Yang looked up to her face. Those casual and careless words were thrown so easily. He refused to go back without Chunhua''s mother. "We can''t stop looking, Miss Grim Reaper. We have to find her¡ª" "It''s Thana for you," Thana finally said it and averted her gaze. It was an unnecessary bit to share her name, but she still said it. It was just unfair for her to know everything about him, but for him to call her improperly. The Grim Reaper continued informing the man. "This plane is far larger than yours and we have no compass, no direction at all to lead us to her¡­ things would be different if you could tell us where she is." "All I know is that she was taken by the beast that Chunhua told me." Li Yang''s jaw hardened. "I have nothing more at my disposal and I already tried earlier to gather items to find her. The best way I''ve done it is by summoning you¡ªbut even that was a gamble on my part." "Do you have some sort of connection with her? Spiritual or anything at all?" "She''s the mother of my child." Li Yang said, but found it unhelpful at all. Even he knew that was all the link he ever had with her. What else was Luo Ju Di to him? Their memories from when they first met was never something that stuck in his mind at all, instead his attention was on somebody else back then. She only re-entered his life a year ago to ask him to be a father, never wanting to be involved with him as well. Thana crossed her arms as the Sluagh beneath her disappeared into the darkness. She barely managed to snag the dark feather from the creature and collected it into her bag. "I''m asking you if you love her¡ªwhat if she''s your soulmate or something? Connected by something like fate or destiny intertwining the two of you?" Thana found herself asking. "It might be possible to track her down using a shared connection." "What if I could do that?" Li Yang asked, suddenly remembering something in the Shop. "Connect a string that''ll connect me to Luo Ju Di? That''ll help us find her in this plane." "It has to be a pre-existing one¡­ and how did you even get yourself a thread of fate?" Thana stared hard at him. There were many heroes and legends true, the Grim Reaper had heard of them all. But to actually meet someone as fabled as the person in front of her now was still a little¡ªwell, annoying to the Grim Reaper''s time conscious side. Li Yang was thinking back on the red string of fate and he resummoned the System''s Shop to check on it. Chapter 226: Connections (2) [ Red String of Fate ] Are you looking for your next possible match? Gain Access to the God of Love and Marriage: Yue Xia Lao Ren''s special red string of fate that can help locate potential couples. If you''d like, you could potentially tie yourself to another individual. The One Who Slaughters: This deity sells these strings? How mercantile. The Observer ''Apache'' Doesn''t Bat An Eye Owl Brain: The Points that Yue Xia Lao Ren earns from this transaction might help them Sea Foam: Psh, I doubt it will work DatPeach: I saw ''Cupid Love Gun Ray'' or whatever earlier. No need to mock others. Sea Foam: ...hmph. The Observer ''Pomegranate'' Is Interested In Seeing It Work "We''re back to square one again, aren''t we?" Li Yang muttered underneath his breath. Potential couples. Would it work with him and Luo Ju Di? They already had a child didn''t they? That should account for far more potential than others. "What are you staring at?" Thana blinked. There was a sudden great reading of energy like no other, but even to a Grim Reaper like herself, there were no visible signs of change in the atmosphere where she was at her strongest. As if a veil was also placed on her own eyes. Thana didn''t like it one bit at all¡ªeven when she was supposed to stay neutral. While the Grim Reaper was able to collect and clean up the filth of Sluagh around the immediate area, it was clear that she was nothing more but a small cog in how the world around them functioned. And there was supposed to be nothing wrong with that. But once again, it was a stark reminder of how it was like to be favored by the Gods. Li Yang finally answered. "I''m looking for items that I can acquire to help me find her¡ª" Thana stared at the human and actually smiled. "It''s amazing that you''re doing this for a person to whom you have no connection at all except for the child?" "Life isn''t so pleasant that every family ends up living together underneath one roof." Thana crossed her arms, still unconvinced. "Surely you can do something without relying on ''items'' meant to find her." Li Yang stared at the items on the screen with a deep-set frown. Maybe there was something else besides the strings? He didn''t think of Luo Ju Di as an enemy at all, so those items meant to attack a target from afar didn''t work either. Thana interrupted his thoughts. "This kind of search is a little saddening when there''s nothing at all that binds you to her¡ªI think, even a memory would have worked. Something that ties you together, no matter how briefly. You can do that, right?" "Just a memory is enough?" Li Yang raised a brow. "Souls are far more connected to one another than you think." There was nothing for him to lose. "I can try." "Good, I''ll go do something useful so tell me if you find something." She disappeared in a blink of an eye. Li Yang was sure that if it was Setsuko he had lost, he''d find her in this strange world within a heartbeat. The System itself confirmed an Energy Bond worked nicely. It was probably as useful or even better than this red string of fate to him that he still had to attach. But he really had nothing¡ª Except for that memory in the rain. The heavens sudden downpour and Chunhua in his arms, running across the city to find her. A clock¡ªa timer set loose upon him, and it was only when his company mattered, the child and his mother were nothing but an additional task for him¡ªbut then it stopped feeling that way, just suddenly. Or maybe it was just that small conversation in the building where she worked. The way they started talking in her workplace even briefly and her rather-awkward reaction. Luo Ju Di had stopped being so cold and blunt, and even talked about herself. It was at that moment that they stopped at merely just discussing Chunhua''s life akin to a business transaction. Perhaps it was at that point that maybe an actual partnership could have worked out. It could have been an ideal ending¡ªmutual trust and concern for their child, perhaps even a friendship that might have grown on its own if Li Yang wasn''t bound to the Heavens. He neglected that chance and now he was here and looking for her. Luo Ju Di was as good as dead, she already was¡ªunless he found her. Li Yang sighed heavily and lifted his gaze¡­ and finally saw something in front of him. The Grim Reaper was still pillaging the dead Sluaghs when he noticed the thin cord appearing in front of him, faint and glimmering of blue. A memory of bittersweet regret and what might have been¡­ it was already disappearing as he looked at it. Even his own attempt at trying to find her was only borne too quickly and flickering away like candles. The man quickly moved up to his feet and traveled down the enclave of the city streets. The Grim Reaper Thana looked up from the corpses of the Sluaghs only a second late, the CEO of Olympian Corp disappearing into the thick rows and pillars of the pseudo-temple. No. It wasn''t pseudo at all. Her eyes widened at the manifestation of a Sanctum of Death. As to which deity or being it belonged to, the Grim Reaper herself had no idea. But all it proved to her was that perhaps the Heavens themselves were truly blocking the man''s attempt to find this Luo Ju Di. Was this a chance for her to finally leave and exit? Thana told him to tell her when he found something, but he didn''t wait at all. She loathed that. And yet although the immaterial planes were something that any spirit, human or non-human, can traverse to¡ªthe same couldn''t be said for manifestations of domains. Thana hesitated for a couple of minutes. It was stupid to involve herself, dangerous too. Thana couldn''t exactly die, but there worse punishments than death. ¡­ If Li Yang unfortunately died, she needed to be there to at least collect him, right? Surely, a deity who respected the cycles of life and death would let a poor Grim Reaper like herself go if she told them that she was only doing her job. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Not every person would throw their life away for someone they just met. I mean maybe they would¡ªI''ve seen a lot of selfless isekai protagonists jumping in front of trucks to save somebody else xD On other stories, some protagonists are in a bleak point of their life and may also just grimly want to end things ;-; I''ve seen stories start with that too. But all I wanted to say is that Thana''s sort of cute in wanting to enter the dangerous domain to collect his soul. People are bound to give excuses to their actions and she has hers. So yeah we''re entering the Domains of a Deity? Think Jujutsu Kaisen, I guess? If you haven''t watched that, go do that. I''ll wait. Any guesses to which deity/death-related individual, we''ll meet? Chapter 227: Connections (3) Li Yang opened his eyes and found himself in a new location, and all he could see was black and utter darkness. When he first entered the immaterial plane, there was nothing but light that told him the world he was in was at a higher point than what earth might have been. Now things were different. He was only running earlier but was swallowed and taken into this new area. Li Yang figured out that this was a cave, a cave that seemed to stretch on forever, and the only light he seemed to have was the glint of the blue thread still running through the rocky ground and terrain. Li Yang didn''t claim to understand anything at all. But all he knew was that, similar to Ariadne''s thread that helped Theseus find his way to the labyrinth, he only had one way to go and so Li Yang chased after the blue thread without any hesitation. He couldn''t let it disappear¡ªand so he wordlessly chased after it, weapon ready in his hand. The first of the undeath came after him. Skeletons with their eyes glowing in an unholy yellow and ghastly green flame, they ran towards him soundlessly. Devoid of any actual voices to screech out their sorrows, only the rackets of their bones as they came at him was the sound in the dead of the night. Li Yang clicked his tongue, kept his gaze on the lingering string before he raised his sword and met the first skeleton head-on. Without any actual weapons on their person, the skeleton soon came crashing down as Li Yang leapt over it and faced the rest of the undead coming at him. [ You Have Encountered A ¡ª ] [ You Have Encountered A Skeleton¡ª ] [ You Have Encountered Multiple Skeletons ] [ You Have Encountered A Wave of Skeletons ] [ Achievement Quest: Lord of the Bones - I Has Started! ] You are now in a territory filled with undead skeletons that have risen up from their graves. Their souls are too weary and have returned to a state where all they seek is the death of all living beings. Vanquish at least 200 of them and lay their souls to rest. That was easier said than done, but when it boiled down to actual things¡­ he found the opposite of it was true. Even when he was alone, they were actually easy to deal with. If not a little tricky as his sword sometimes poked at gaps in the rib cage or got stuck in a tibia and femur. Nevertheless, the CEO still broke through the bones and crushed their skulls to dust. Perhaps it was a different matter if it was just an ordinary man by himself, a skeleton''s body was still hard and without the layer of qi protecting him from their attacks, then he would have bruised and injured himself moreover at just trying to battle one down. At his stage, these undead creatures seemed like grunts. He continued down the path of the cave and felt himself descending down the dark and twisting path. Thankfully, Li Yang''s vision was already sharp enough thanks to his cultivation increasing his senses, but more importantly, the undead''s eyes glowed like a signal to themselves, promising of his impending doom. He''d fight against that notion. "Surely even you can tell that you''re trespassing into someone''s territory, right?" Bao appeared in the corner of his vision. The fat and plump creature was floating through air and unhindered by all the creatures that came at them. Even when a skeleton was right in its path, the creature simply phased through it. Li Yang already tried his Afterworld Dissolution earlier and it did not work here. Possibly because he was already in the Afterworld, so it once again spoke of the unfairness that this creature had, no matter its actual arrangements with the Heavens. Luckily, whether it was intentional or not, the Panda now appeared like some sort of round lantern. Its body was glowing like a luminescent jellyfish. "Oi, you heard me, right?" Bao frowned at him. "What kind of person just enters a cave without any permission?" "If the direction of the thread of memory leads me down this path..." Li Yang hesitated. There was reason and logic to the Panda''s sarcasm, but he looked at the creature and sighed, "Time is of the essence, I can''t stall anymore by finding another way." "So you say, but it feels like you''re going to deal with a lot of enemies. Anyhow, pretend like I was never here," the Panda said before it disappeared in a wink of an eye. If it had left even a glimmer of a smile, the CEO would have resembled it to a cat, but there was no time for any of that. Li Yang grunted, but then continued on the path. It seemed like he could turn back now and change his direction but he had already gone too far down to return to the surface. Every second spanned in Li Yang''s mind like an hour, as more and more of these creatures appeared out of nowhere. One moment he was running on his feet, chasing the thread down and feeling as if he was bound to escape, but then his feet were hooked by a zombie appearing right from the earth as it attempted to drag him down into the soil. Its attempt to gnaw at his leg was far more injury-inducing to the zombie in the first place. Still, he evaded it and soon had to keep himself on guard to attacks both in the front, beneath him and even above him. Spinning their webs or screeching into the cave, both gigantic spiders and vampire bats descended on Li Yang and attempted to snag him into traps or to the death. Li Yang dealt with them on his own, until he finally started seeing bigger and stronger undead. It was a funny feeling to be the one who was coming down towards the undead''s territory, unlike the other way around as the olden games used to make it out to be. A strong slash of qi dispersed into the air and cut the Draugr into two. Or Li Yang had hoped that would have been the case. They were in an immaterial realm, but somehow the hulking figure of this beast took a lot more damage than shambling skeletons or rotting zombies. [ You Have Successfully Killed Your First Draugr ] [ You Have Received Bonus Points ] It wasn''t that much of an achievement when there were at least thirty of them all rammed up inside the narrow portion of the cave. And yet if it weren''t for the fact that it was too narrow for them to jump at him all at once, he avoided his own defeat. Li Yang found himself running low on his own internal qi. While the world around him was brimming with energy, it was now only death energy that his own System refused to assimilate. Whether it was being picky or mere ludicrous, the CEO simply afforded himself a drink now. He leaned back temporarily against the wall and gladly found himself actually leaning on the cave''s surface and not a disguised skin-changing monster. Li Yang gathered his strength and recuperated for a second. [ You Have Deducted Points¡ª [ You Have Purchased The Divine¡ª ] [ You Have Consumed The Divine Energizer Drink ] Right after it, Li Yang already went down and held on to the string of memories. He had already tried to rekindle it by thinking back on his time with Luo Ju Di, but it still failed to fully relight itself. Similar to a candle''s wick, it was burning and turning to dust. Li Yang refused that thought. It wasn''t too late... to do what? Go back or abandon his mission to find Luo Ju Di? He shook his head and continued down the path. The more he traveled deeper, the more he found himself hearing voices in his head that weren''t exactly his. Whispers that weren''t just the System''s robotic voices, now they were feminine and more alluring? Not exactly, but they called him. It took him into places. Until he finally stopped and arrived into what may have been a resting spot or save point if this were anything like a game. Li Yang found and entered a strange territory in the dark cave. The passage he passed through suddenly shut behind him. Whether it had saved him or trapped him was something one had to question. Compared to the ever present darkness that clung and hung around him earlier... this place was glowing with a warm light. There was a beautiful pond available that trickled and gurgled with fresh waters, and at the very center of it all was a miniature island holding a singular large fruit-bearing tree. Its branches hang low and were welcoming, with ripe fruits ready to pluck or perfect for one to nap and rest themselves in. This place looked like a sanctuary to him. And yet when he summoned the System in front of him to gauge the location¡ª [ ??? ] It told him nothing at all. ¡­ And yet that was already telling, in and of itself, he didn''t trust this place one bit at all. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Thank you for reaching the end of the chapter, here are the references available in this chapter, Greek Mythology of the Labyrinth and Ariadne, Plants vs Zombies, Dungeon Novels, Cheshire the Cat and Save Points in RPG games. (Most notably my favorite, Final Fantasy!) I know games should have save points, but man isn''t it more suspicious that the Dark Lord''s tower has a ''save point'' for a Hero to recuperate? Chapter 228: Connections (4) "Bao?" His voice only echoed within the confines of this hollow room, a stark reminder that the creature did not even want to be involved in this situation at all. Li Yang turned away from the pond and the trees and stared at the cave entrance behind him. He was sealed shut, so the only way out was another entrance. North, West and East. Li Yang entered through this area through the south, and the only way he could find which way to go out was through¡ª The thread floating in front of him looked mangled, as if it was torn and bitten by dogs as it slayed into three different directions and courteously decided that it would give the man a hard time. Did it mean that the paths all led to the same exit? He wished that was the case, and yet Li Yang''s mind was still grasping at straws and at the details around him. Somehow, despite his own [ Mental Fortitude ], his thoughts and attention strayed to everything within this room. Regardless of any spells, glamor or enchantment¡ªthis place was already eye-catchy and somehow pertained to his senses. Why was there a need for a room of this size? If this was the wrong place for him, why did it continue to befuddle him. The longer Li Yang lingered here in this place, the more it showed the secrets within it. Those rocks and ceilings that governed the entire place were inlaid with rocks, stones and precious gems that only glittered now. Opals, jade, onyx and other gemstones that should have made their formations elsewhere suddenly filled his vision. Now in addition to the glittering and crystal waters that promised a soothing rest and recovery, the stones and gems twinkled above him and promised him countless riches beyond of his own. The fruits hanging in the low bough of the trees never looked sumptuous and pleasing to the eye. Li Yang''s own body, his stomach grumbled as the exhaustion of speedrunning his way through this cave''s territory finally beset him. A visage of a woman''s silhouette, no... a figure of a woman was now resting in the tree branches. While he couldn''t quite see her face, enshrouded somehow by the deep and dark foliage of the tree, everything else around her was present and filled the entire room with a deep saturation. Her skin was the softest touch of pink and it was as if the entire cave around him suddenly rained in flower petals. The moist and delicate fragrance of an intangible fruit was at the tip of his tongue and filled his nose. When the woman grabbed one of the fruits in the tree, her grip was intentionally too much, she squeezed it too hard as she tried to break it into and the sticky dark pink liquids came sliding down her smooth hands and arms. Until it finally crested around her bosom. It never occurred to him until now that she was naked. For a brief moment, he was given the sight of her luscious pink lips parting open and mouthing his name. The woman''s voice was breathy and husky all the same, and it was as if she whispered it right into his ears. Already, he was hallucinating. In the back of his mind, he was quite aware of everything that was happening. Why was this woman, spirit or enchantress trying to do so by being so messy when opening a singular fruit? Was she some kind of child that couldn''t even properly unpeel a fruit? Damn, she was unbelievably so messy. Those thoughts were prevalent and pushed at the boundaries of logic and reason. And yet it was as if his body and mind were split into two. The former succumbing to the glorious treasures and promises around his surrounding, the enticing scent of her sweet and glorious nectar¡ª Li Yang tightened his hold on his sword and swiped it across his arm. Red cut across him. The woman in the tree suddenly dropped her fruit in surprise. The two halves both fell into the pond below them¡ªsinking deeper and deeper, far deeper than what one may have originally assumed it to be. A sudden jolt of pain coursed through Li Yang''s veins and helped him clear his thoughts¡ªor regain his own body''s senses falling prey to his surroundings. Li Yang grunted and immediately started walking forward, going around the small pond until he found it becoming even bigger. He found and stepped over the small wooden bridges in order to head north. If there had been any riddles between straight paths and twisting paths, of the left and right, which one to choose¡ªHe only kept marching forward, maintaining and pretending a semblance of calmness as if there was never was a woman in the tree¡ªthe back of his neck was prickling behind him. Was she staring at him like she was throwing daggers? It didn''t matter, already, in the north¡ªanother entrance was opening up as a boulder lifted itself from the ground. The thread in front of him was already coming back together, reforming back into one shape. He''d escape this without any troubles. "Li Yang!" A voice shouted and echoed within the caves. It came from the west hall of the cave, and Li Yang instinctively spun around to see who it was. The Grim Reaper Thana was unfortunately loud, thoughtful enough to chase after him, and yet, that was all the trigger it needed. He hadn''t heard the voice of the pink lady earlier¡ªbut now her screams made the entire cave tremble beneath her. The woman screamed in a language he couldn''t understand and yet it changed the sanctuary''s atmosphere to a deadly and dangerous one. The center of the tree split right in the middle, opening like a monster''s mouth. Within it were engorged and twisted branches that sprouted and flew everywhere across the cave. Akin to pointed, thin and pricked needles¡ªthey latched and dug into both water, stone and without a doubt one''s flesh. Li Yang threw back the first wave of wooden projectiles with a swing of his sword enhanced with a wave of his sword qi. He threw a look at the Grim Reaper. "This way!" he said. That was all the encouragement that Thana needed. The Grim Reaper threw one look at the pink lady, cowered and then ran like hell towards Li Yang¡ªcatching several of the wooden thorns right on her cloak, but she still chased down towards him. Water suddenly rose from the pond and burst towards the Grim Reaper. It snagged her by the ankle of her foot and started dragging her back to the middle of the cave. She tried to stop herself from slipping into the waters by digging her scythe into the ground, but the waters were too strong. Thana was gone in a blink of an eye. Li Yang was already close to the exit and the woman at the tree was still in hysterics, but he stepped forward and launched back towards the pond. The trees were still throwing their sharp and thin projectiles, and somehow, even with the layer of qi on his skin, it pierced him. However, he didn''t stop at all. Li Yang dropped his sword into the ground and then dove into the waters. Chapter 229: She Knew Him (1) One moment, Thana Dierdre was hesitating and considering leaving the CEO alone to face the Sanctum of Death all by himself¡ªthe next thing she knew was the freezing temperature and darkness that surrounded her. The waters dragged her down to its depths, the songs and screams of the Lorelaies ever present in her ears. Whether that was of the souls that were present, or simply her imagination, Thana did not care. A vague sense of self-preservation flickered within her, but she did not move. If she was stupid enough to get caught by water, mere water and fall prey to its depths, then so be it. She did not know if Grim Reapers themselves could die and yet without ever a clue, she sank like a rock. Was it better that she came down here? She temporarily gazed up and shuddered at the shadowy and yet pink figure above her. The presence of the deity or one of the deities within this cave. Better to fall here than incur the wrath of a god. Thana couldn''t exactly drown, but the sensation of liquids filling up one''s lungs was never a pleasant experience. Her eyes glowed within this pitch dark blackness and she wished that she had instead kept her eyes shut in the first place. In the distance, a silent splash came above her. But it already seemed like thousands of meters away from each other. The waters around them were treacherous as much as the grotesque creatures submerged within it¡ªCocytus? Probably. Thana''s memories were still sharp to think this was Lethe and she did not consider this as Acheron. No solemn vows were made at this hour, but still, Thana''s mind wagered on in her surroundings. She wondered if she was ever alive or had always been this way. There was no semblance of any memory in her brain and all that was happening was this¡ªhe was suddenly in front of her, coming down from above. It was Li Yang. Thana blinked in surprise, she didn''t think that he''d come back for her¡ªand yet he silently pulled her into a kiss and swam back up, pulling her slowly with him. A second later, Thana realized that it was him attempting to give her oxygen, which he probably forgot she didn''t need, but then they resurfaced. Li Yang quickly grabbed onto the edge of the earth and pulled her up. The singular tree around them had stopped raging and so had the¡­ her. Thana couldn''t meet the goddess incarnate''s gaze. Whether it was a vessel or just a manifestation, ranking was still ranking¡ªeven though the goddess threw a fit. Thana immediately secured the scythe she had dropped on the ground and scrambled up to her feet and quickly bowed. She eventually threw herself on her knees and hoped for respite. "Our deepest apologies for trespassing and desecrating your sanctum, honored deity of death." Thana said and hoped that Li Yang also did the same. Oh dear¡ªhe wasn''t kneeling at all! "Who are you?" Li Yang asked. Thana wished to crack her head on a rock¡ªthis man was being too belligerent for his own good! "Do you not recognize me?" "No." Thana resisted the urge to hook the man''s leg and bring him to his knees. She was still staring hard at the ground and couldn''t read their expressions, but this was clearly a huge NO in the Grim''s Guide to Dealing with the Deities and the Dead. "A shame when you''ve named your own company after my fellow deities." "Oh, are you one of the twelve?" "No, but I am well-acquainted with them." "I see." Maybe there was something wrong with him¡ªseriously, there was bound to be something wrong when a mortal man decides to wander into this plane, but now so, even more! Thana was already aware of who this deity was and either Li Yang was playing dumb, or he clearly didn''t know how important this goddess was! "Is that all you have to say to someone who has personally visited you?" A sigh came from Li Yang''s lips. "I don''t think there''s much to say¡ªI''ve already been watched for at least 24/7 by all of you. So I do not understand the need to see myself in the flesh, unless it was to torment me, and that''s already happening now." "You should be more delighted and magnified by my presence alone¡ªnot many would have taken the opportunity to visit a mere mortal." "And yet I am not." "..." Thana felt a chill down her spine as the deity drew to silence. Considering the sudden scream earlier, it wouldn''t be surprising if Thana found Li Yang''s head on the floor already, decapitated with a scythe not too different from hers. But another thing happened. A sudden chirp sounded in the cave. The voice of the goddess turned into a much lighter and whimsical tone. "Ah, it''s really true that you''re as cold as ice and I can finally confirm it now that I''ve seen you in the flesh. A mortal woman would have already gotten upset if you treated her this way." "What?" Li Yang''s voice finally took in a startled quality. Thana herself blinked and wondered if she heard the actual goddess gushing right now. Li Yang was being a disrespectful mortal and yet all the goddess was doing was mentioning it with a ditzy and airy voice. Had she drank too much of the pond water and was currently going through an episode? When Thana lifted her gaze slightly, she was given the sight of the goddess'' perky and plump behind. The goddess was circling around Li Yang as if he was some sort of mannequin and she was gauging him with a critical and seasoned eye. "A mortal woman can easily become offended by such harsh and callous treatment¡ªit''s a wonder why you''re still even managing to sleep with multiple women." Li Yang''s eye twitched at the comment. "I think you can ascertain that it''s a mutual thing between me and them. Especially since you''re one of the Observers, are you not?" The goddess raised a hand underneath her chin. "But I suppose a woman can forgive a man with such a handsome face to look at. You remind me a little of someone else with your grouchy nature." Li Yang sighed and then threw a look at Thana. "Are you alright?" Thana was still on her knees and just awestruck at the conversation happening. The Grim Reaper still couldn''t believe her ears and with how the two were talking to each other as if they were on the same level. Li Yang cleared his throat and offered her a hand, "You don''t have to keep kneeling¡ª" "Why this little Reaper certainly does need to kneel in my presence," the Goddess interrupted him. "But I suppose since it''s you helping her up, I''ll let it go just this once. I do love myself to see a man of few words and yet all action." Thana struggled not to make a face, but accepted Li Yang''s hand as he heaved her up. She quickly bowed once again and thanked the goddess for her mercy¡ªand watched it fall to deaf ears. "So are you going to include this grim reaper into your harem, Yang? I can call you, Yang right?" the goddess cheerfully asked but then suddenly demurred. "Or can I call you¡­ Mister CEO?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I forgot which reader mentioned something about goddess'' characters in the early chapters, but I hope this one did not disappoint xD Or if it disappointed you, make you root for the CEO unshackling himself from the "System" and "Contract" lol. Either way, thanks for reading! Extra details: If you''re unfamiliar with the Greek Mythology then the waters mentioned by Thana were part of the five rivers in the Underworld. The Acheron (river of woe, sometimes, healing), the Cocytus (river of lamentation), the Phlegethon (river of fire), the Styx (river of unbreakable oath by which the gods took vows), and the Lethe (river of forgetfulness). Lorelei (aka Loreley) is legendary German siren (often depicted with a mermaid tail), who was created by Clemens Brentano in 1801. Thana is a shortened version of Thanatos, the god or personified spirit (daimon) of non-violent death. Dierdre is a variant of Deirdre (Irish, Gaelic), and the meaning of Dierdre is "broken-hearted, sorrowful. And finally, yes, it''s Persephone. Goddess of Underworld and Spring! Chapter 230: She Knew Him (2) There was a legitimate reason as to why Bao the ''Panda'' did not desire to be visibly around and present when Li Yang entered the Sanctum of Death¡ªand it was the goddess'' fault. Sure, Bao could also incur the wrath of this deity far more quickly than Yang¡­ but it wasn''t because it was afraid of her or anything at all. It was just troublesome, really. Encounters with them were tricky. Most of the time, life and death were in their hands. Unfair that may have been, but that was how things worked. Bao needed to prioritize its own safety and well-being over Li Yang''s and it was best done by avoiding the goddess and others among their level. There had been the Telriah Goddess, but it was also a lucky encounter. Aurora was thankfully at a far flung realm to have been up to the news, and she had also been kind of shabby after the millennium''s sleep. So it wasn''t even a surprise to this creature that Li Yang got away by a hairbreadth''s distance. This goddess on the other hand was far more active and insidious. Bao contemplated that a vast majority of the Observers were that way, content to spend their days on this for entertainment. "So are you going to include this grim reaper into your harem, Yang? I can call you, Yang right?" The Goddess asked. Thana became rigid in her bow. She was unsure if she heard correctly. But this was what it was like to enter the lair of a vicious snake. "Or can I call you¡­ Mr. CEO?" the goddess finished with a purr. ¡­ Bao wholeheartedly wished to avoid the embarrassing moment of a goddess literally falling all over and fawning over a mortal man. However, what else could a powerful being do amidst the passage of time? Most were truly content to always rest, whatever the day. Creation now a boredom and a chore left to others who pursued it. Right now, they were simply reaping and enjoying the bountiful benefits of what was already present. "Call me whatever you like." Li Yang''s answer was dry, but it did nothing to dampen the goddess mood. The questions as to whether he wished to add Thana to his harem¡ªhe did not warrant it a reply. The goddess was purposefully relishing being around Li Yang and gauging his reactions around her. It was almost akin to a human fussing over its dog, or rooting for a fictional character in a story or movie¡ªthat was how the Heavens saw Li Yang. A way for the goddesses to have an object of affection and attention¡ªfor the gods to compare and try to place themselves in the shoes of this CEO and see how well they would fare in the same situation. This goddess of the underworld tilted her head. "You wish to leave now, haven''t you?" Li Yang glanced behind him at the trail of the blue thread already disappearing and nodded. He picked up his sword and kept it at his side. "Of course." If he had been any more rash, then he would have left this goddess in the dust¡ªand almost did it. But it was better that he didn''t provoke a god''s wrath at his current level. For now, all he did was speak as brusquely as he could without directly interfering with them¡ªand he hoped that was enough to relay his spite. The deity with the blossoming aura of pink didn''t seem to mind at all. The goddess'' eyes glinted at him "You wish to save this Luo Ju Di don''t you, Mister Li?" Li Yang temporarily froze at the name, many people called him that, but only one face came to his mind. This wasn''t the goddess at all, it was Ying Yue He, and yet he just agreed with the deity to fast-track their conversation. "I know that this is against the normal way of how things work¡ªbut if I cannot do this much at my current level, then I might as well have stayed as a powerless man." Thana just stood quietly beside him, possibly wishing to leave now as much as him. If anything, probably more. Li Yang had no way to discern her thoughts. "Powerless?" The goddess'' eyes widened and she rested a hand on her naked breast. Her nudity did not seem to hinder her at all as she strolled up to him. "You''re a CEO¡ªyou have a multitude of people underneath your thumb, wealth unlike the vast majority. You''re in the one percent and yet you call yourself powerless?" Li Yang knew it was a moot point when she pointed it that way, but he was convinced. "Yes." He did not need to point out the occasions where he could have died and had let people down because of his incompetence. Luo Ju Di''s death was his own inability to make a proper decision at that time. No amount of wealth could have brought her back. However, all of this was meaningless to a goddess who was caught up in her own reverie of him. The daydream, illusions or whatever fantasies these feminine deities wrought up about him was enough to keep them emotionally distant or ignorant of his own thoughts. "To a vast majority of women¡ªyou''re already a man of their dreams." The goddess trailed her finger up his chest. Within her fingertips, power throbbed and pulsed within them, already enough to kill him in an instant. "Their own prince charming¡ªthough I suppose a king suits you more as a title and a nickname." Li Yang immediately stepped back and kept his expression blank and unconcerned. Still, his brows furrowed together as he finally spoke. "None of this concerns me, goddess. I''m wasting time by being here and indulging you¡ªif this is your way to hinder me from saving Luo Ju Di, then I''m leaving now." He turned away from her and started moving towards the cave''s exit. Thana was quick to bow at the deity and then chase after him, possibly deciding it was better to stay with him than be with the goddess alone. "Do you really think that you can just leave here without my permission? You''re in my domain and within my authority." Chapter 231: She Knew Him (3) The atmosphere around them hummed like a whirring whistle, a foreign power that engulfed and it wasn''t only the tree present in the small island within the pond. Neither did it thrum exclusively in this small cove within the cave¡ªbut the entire place. What earthquake and tremble that they felt earlier was something minor. It was only an expression of annoyance and pittance at Li Yang''s sore attitude earlier. That had disappointed the goddess earlier, but now divine energy circulated within their midst and brought them to their knees. A pressure that was stronger than anything he encountered, even when he met Aurora''s vessel in person. This metaphysical realm allowed beings to establish their dominance within this place far more than on earth or physical domain. This goddess was in complete control of the surroundings and Li Yang had overstepped his boundaries. Quite literally in this sense. Li Yang shared a quick look with Thana and noticed her uneasy expression, the struggle apparent in her face as she was quickly defeated and brought into this stance. The Grim Reaper who promised a deadly encounter with him back on earth was at the mercy of someone else. "Do you really think that you can just leave here without my permission? You''re in my domain." The CEO glanced back at the goddess and finally answered. "We are indeed in your domain and Thana and I will be leaving in order to let you keep your peace¡ª" "You''ve trespassed." "I did not see a sign that told me to keep out." "There were murderous skeletons and undead creatures that were trying to chase you out, how wasn''t that a sign?" "If that''s the point then we''ll start leaving now to finish the job," Li Yang said. His gaze flickered around their surroundings and he glanced at the still open doorway. "This was in my way and I''m in a hurry¡ªif you''re going to kill me now, then just do it or let me out, goddess." The goddess stayed silent. He was calling her bluff. That was as simple as it was¡ªand so it seemed like the goddess knew that it was the case. She let out a breath and gave him a crossed look. "Fine, I''ve stalled you for long enough¡ªothers are unwilling to let this come to pass, but I''m rooting for you to save her." So it boiled down to this kind of situation, he was fortunate enough to not encounter someone who''s actively going against his plans. Li Yang gave her a firm nod and rose to his feet, "I''ll do that. Thana let''s go." "Oh wait, but before you go, Mister CEO¡ª" The goddess snapped her fingers. Thana shakily stood up on her knees and used her scythe as a rod to keep her from falling prey to the atmosphere. It was fair to say that she still couldn''t believe and fathom that the goddess was actually letting them go. Was this truly how the heroes of old and glorious age managed to leave their bewitching but temptress that sought to pursue them? The tree behind the goddess resumed its normal and safe form. Gone were the dangerous branches as it resumed blossoming in splendor once more. A great viridian color to its foliage, thickness to its trunk and finally a beautiful multi-color of the fruits that grew on it. One of the fruits suddenly flew into her palms and she offered it up to him. A gentle smile was on the goddess face as she looked at him, as if the raging goddess was nothing more but a flicker in one''s memory. "Please replenish your strength with this fruit, consider it as a reward for your labor. A just compensation for all of your travails, Li Yang. It has been a delight meeting with you." Li Yang stared at the tender fruit and shook his head politely. "You honor me with your words and gesture. However, I have to decline the fruit, but you have my gratitude." "Huh?" The goddess blinked and stared at him in surprise. "Why?" "You know the reasons as much as I do. Goodbye." Without waiting for another reply, Li Yang rushed out of the sanctuary with Thana immediately in tow. There was a sound that came from within the place, something that sounded like a laugh, but he didn''t pay any heed to it. He had already wasted enough time trying to get out of there. It was a good thing that there were no more creatures that arrived from their surroundings to attack them. A small token gesture of the goddess to no longer hinder them from leaving her domain. Li Yang wished she had done it earlier. But it was hard to grasp the preconceived notions and thoughts that flitted through the deity''s mind. Once the two of them ventured further away from where the goddess was, the Grim Reaper threw him a look. "You really disrespected her by not accepting what she was trying to give you. That''s quite a foul¡ªyou''ve committed too many trespasses." "Would you rather I stay here for good?" Li Yang asked. The Grim Reaper blinked at his sudden question. Her deathly pale skin suddenly took on a touch shade of red as she shook her head. "That''s a ridiculous question. Where did this come from¡ª" "Are not people of your nature associated with a particular pantheon or such?" "No." Li Yang had been almost certain that Thana was someone of a Greek descent or followed them, but he just shook his head. "That fruit could have very well been an invitation to remain here forever. It was a crafty method." "And yet you didn''t fall for it¡ª" "It was risky as you said, to decline a gift from the gods and the chances of incurring her wrath despite her kindly nature was likely¡­ but if I can get away with offending them now and creating minor disturbances and grievances, I might as well do it." "You''re much bolder than you look," Thana said. There was an amused tone in her voice as she glanced up at him, taking note of his appearance a little more carefully. "The aura of death hovers close to people of your nature." "It''s always present for mortals¡ªdeath will always be a risk." "Oh you see it that way?" Thana asked. "Death as a danger?" Li Yang focused on the light ahead of them as it resembled what he expected it to be at the end of a tunnel. This was probably the closest thing he''d ever seen to anything pertaining to it. He gave the Grim Reaper a shrug before he continued moving forward. "For others, death is the end of all things and may as well be a sweet release¡­ but that''s not possible for me at all. I doubt that everything will be over once I die, so either way, nothing matters to whether I live or not." Thana gave him a silent look. She didn''t say a word. Li Yang was not privy to her pondering, but it didn''t matter as he reached the end and finally exited the sanctum of death. Terrible and ghoulish screeching welcomed his ears as the two of them arrived into a forest with trees overcasting and an empty sky save for what blotted it with darkness. Monstrous fiends of birds gathered together in the air, a catastrophic aria and tune singing and crooning to a deathly feast. All of them caught up and were focused in one place. Li Yang raised his sword and concentrated the qi available within his body. A powerful energy swept and poured out from his meridians and enshrouded his sword¡ªhis will and concentration focused in a singular moment. Even if his own life''s existence were for naught¡ªothers were not. The man''s gaze hardened on the flock of creatures in the air. The thread that flowed out from his body disintegrated at this place and there was nothing else in the stretched silence. Thana did not utter a word, she tightened her grip on her own scythe and glanced at the man who did not fear for his life. Whether that was actually the case, it mattered not to her. He slashed into the air from a distance. It was unnoticeable at first, and to any who may have seen him, it was as if he was striking futilely at thin air. But the invisible attack made its presence known and reached the herd of the Sluaghs. A visible distortion appeared and tore through the air and right into the creatures. Chapter 232: She Knew Him (4) One slash. A singular cut of his sword through the air and caused a visible tear across the plane. That was all it took to send the flock of Slaughs into disarray, attempting to escape at once. The presence of both Li Yang and the Grim Reaper alerted the creatures of their near demise. Not even bothering to put up a fight, they gathered and whirled together into an impossibly strong whirlpool to escape them. These creatures were vultures, feasting on the weak and fleeing the strong. Only descending if there was a confirmation of success. Thana was a professional Grim Reaper through and through, she was aware of her power and authority amongst these creatures¡ªshe was in her complete element. Right after Li Yang''s attack, she darted out into the sky, her cloak unfurling through the air like an actual phantom of death. She moved without any urging or convincing on Li Yang''s part. The Grim Reaper swirled and cut an arc into the air, plunging several of the foul and dark-feathered beasts to their doom. All it took was one cut and they were fleeing, dividing and the whirlpool in the air broke at her attack. Her scythe divided through both the ordinary souls and the monsters, impeding their desired escape with her own presence. Already, a dark circular rune appeared beneath her feet and spun about them all and caught everyone in its path. The Reaper''s eyes flashed as she chanted underneath beneath her breath and muttered an oath. The rune beneath her spun even faster and extended its range, capturing everything within her perimeter and she planted her scythe into the air and activated it at once. "[ The Fallen''s Embrace of Death ]¡ªattain what your deeds bestow upon you. Perish or Die." Thana spoke words of power. A simple chant that affected the immediate circle around her and sent the Slaughs to their immediate doom, as for those that were ensnared by them, they were to be brought to their proper places. Li Yang''s eyes widened. The hum of power within the air spoke enough of the spell''s action¡ªhe dashed from the ground and then leapt through the air. He should have noticed it earlier, but blinded by all of the creatures that swarmed together, he failed to see¡ª A spinning wheel of fire exploded within the rune and caught it into flames. "My circle!" Thana''s eyes widened at the amount of power and at her enchantment dissolving, the stronger souls and spirits broke through her runic circle. An orange-haired Spirit with the eyes of fire leapt past the trap, her body twisting agilely through the air and with one hand grasping another soul. "Sorry about that¡ªWe''re not ready to die." When Li Yang leapt up and prepared himself to cut through Thana''s spirit binding¡ªTaiga and Luo Ju Di were leaving the now-abolished circle. The circle of fire acting as a catapult earlier. They met halfway through the air until Taiga landed on the ground, Luo Ju Di now carried in her arms. Li Yang met the two of them back on the ground. A surprised and shocked look on all of their expressions. "Yang?" "Bossman?" "When did¡ª" "You guys made me lose track of all the spirits!" Thana shouted in dismay, her voice overpowering them at that moment. "That was supposed to be a big haul and you ruined it all." She threw a nasty look at Taiga and Luo Ju Di, right before she lingered on Li Yang''s face. It didn''t look like the Grim Reaper could stay mad for too long. With a click of her tongue, Thana shot out of the sky with her scythe prepared. Underneath the skies of this plane, the weapon looked closer to a net from a gleam of a light¡ªthe Grim Reaper started hunting down the souls that escaped. Now that Thana was out of the picture, the three were left to their own devices and were unsure on how to proceed now that the momentum was lost. Or so it may have seemed. Taiga dropped Luo Ju Di from her arms and then threw herself at Li Yang. "Bossman, bossman¡ªyou''re back. You''re back in the flesh. It''s really you. It''s really you, right? Taiga''s not dreaming at all?" Taiga looked up at Li Yang''s face and gave it a squeeze. Taiga inspected every inch of his face with a disbelieving look on her face. Even with the two of them just standing with each other, Li Yang could hear Taiga''s heart beating loudly in her chest. Was it from exhilaration? The fear from what happened? Or was it because of him? With his cheeks slightly squished in her hands, Li Yang looked at Taiga and managed a smile. He lifted his hand and tugged her closer to him, the Tigress Spirit''s face now propped and resting on his shoulder. "It''s good to see you too, Taiga." Taiga froze at his words, before she buried her face on his shoulder. "Yes¡ªyou''re back. You left without paying Taiga at all and didn''t even say a word. You''re terrible, Bossman." Li Yang blinked at her words, until he finally soothed her and patted her hair. "I''ll make sure to compensate you properly now. Thank you for being here, for whatever reason it may have been." He had no idea how she ended up here. Taiga pulled back slightly away from him to look him in the face. Her nose was slightly red, but she gave him a serious look with a fired expression on her face. "Pay me with lots of sex." "H-huh?" Li Yang stared at her. "Did you fall for it, Bossman?" Taiga grinned at him and her eyes were twinkling. "I still like money more¡ªmoney is money. But if you want to give me makeup sex, then it''s also fine with Taiga. Taiga missed you very much, Bossman." Sometimes he still found it unbelievable, but he chuckled and poked her forehead. "We''ll see about that, Taiga¡­but first, it seems you have met Chunhua''s mother?" Taiga''s eyes bulged. "What?!" Chapter 233: Reunion (1) "What?!" Taiga stared at Li Yang unsure if she heard correctly. "Luo Ju Di, are you alright?" Li Yang asked. He didn''t know how else to approach the woman. He may have been able to be more inquisitive if he was the one who saved her and carried her in his arms, but now that it was all over, he kept a polite distance. "I''m okay¡­ perhaps a tad shaken up." Luo Ju Di answered and looked at her own hands. They weren''t exactly shaking, but it may have been because she was still frozen up in shock. "All in all, I''m fine. Chunhua¡ªshe''s safe isn''t she?" "Yes, she is." Li Yang assured the woman with a firm nod. Luo Ju Di looked up to him and briefly smiled. "Thank you." "You don''t need to thank me¡ªit''s my responsibility." Li Yang said. "That''s the least that I could do for Chunhua." It didn''t seem like she was aware of how long Li Yang was actually gone. "Still¡­" Luo Ju Di sighed but nodded. "I''ll just take your word for it then." Taiga stared back at Li Yang and Luo Ju Di, both were respectfully distant and aloof with one another. Somehow, the way that they treated each other in Taiga''s eyes was something of a cool restraint and it was like watching two cold people talk to each other. Li Yang wasn''t like that to Taiga¡ªmaybe he was, but he softened up to her. Still, did Taiga really say all those words in front of a woman who actually mothered a child of Li Yang''s? The Tigress Spirit was caught in surprise. Despite meeting Chunhua at Li Yang''s home, Taiga had never met Luo Ju Di in the flesh. Taiga was expecting some sort of negative reaction¡ªwith Chunhua''s mother dragging her by the hair and calling Taiga a harlot and whore for being overly affectionate with the CEO¡ªregardless if Taiga had saved her life. But none of that happened. Luo Ju Di stood just a couple inches away from them and had her arms crossed together. She didn''t look uncomfortable per se, but her gaze was clearly focused around the forest around them instead of directly at Li Yang and the woman who saved her life. A part of Luo Ju Di was still wondering if this was some sort of dream¡ªmaybe she was just comatose? Still, it was quite weird of her to fantasize about Li Yang being an extremely doting man towards a different woman. Sure, Luo Ju Di could still remember the moments when he smiled and actually ran throughout the entire city to bring Chunhua to her and the romantic atmosphere back then¡­ But she thought it was a fluke. A great number of CEOs were said to have machiavellian tendencies and that whatever tender side she saw was an illusion, his genial nature a facade. Even though she remembered Li Yang as nothing but a competent, if not aloof part of the student body during his university years¡ªshe was sure that he had changed. Luo Ju Di built walls around her¡­ but not it was crumbling and giving her a different perspective to the man she hesitated over. "Ah, by the way, Mrs. Luo Ju Di¡ªI''m not sure if we''ve met properly before, but I''m Taiga." Taiga decided to break the ice between all of them and beamed brightly. Luo Ju Di stared at the woman who saved her and bowed lightly. "Yes, we''ve now met. Thank you for saving my life, I am unsure of what those creatures were but I am now aware that I could have been gone without your intervention. I''m not married though, so please drop the Missus title." "O-oh, okay!" Taiga said. Luo Ju Di offered her a nod, before glancing at Li Yang. "I do not know where we are, but I wish to return back to my daughter. Since you¡­ since you came here to help me, I''d like to impose on you once again, Yang." She seemed to have dropped the last name basis. Li Yang was actually more surprised at her question and with the way she handled this situation¡ªYing Yue He nearly hyperventilated when he told her that she was a cultivator. For a woman who had no blood of a fighter and didn''t believe her daughter''s vision, she was taking it well. Li Yang immediately pulled up his System''s screen and entered the shop section. "I first entered this plane through the help of the Grim Reaper, but now that she''s gone, I will have to find a way out of here. Or perhaps there is a natural way to leave this place without the need of anything else?" [ Welcome Host To The Immaterial Realm! ] [ You And One Of Your Companion Has Their Physical Forms ] It is essential to return to the physical domain to avoid continuous damage to your cultivation body and realms. Your spiritual cultivation is severely lacking and your spiritual qi is being drained within each moment you reside in this place. Li Yang didn''t even bother batting an eye at the System''s ''innocuous'' ways of not mentioning anything before. Even with the Patch Update, it seemed to have neglected this¡ªalbeit he should have been aware firsthand. [ Would You Like To Use World Warper''s Power By 15% To Return To Mortal Plane? ] Included wherein are you and your two companions. "Is there anything else that may incur damage to me or them?" Li Yang asked. Both Taiga and Luo Ju Di stared at the man who was talking loudly to himself. His voice had taken a somewhat tired and lacklustre tone, before he glanced back at them and then grabbed both of their hands. "Please do not let go¡ªespecially you, Ju Di. Please hold on to me, even if you find it repulsive." Li Yang stared up at her spirit with a careful look. It was even more dangerous for a soul to return back to earth when she was untethered to her body. The connection cut away by the Sluaghs who took her away. If she disintegrated and was vaporized throughout the warping despite all of his counteractions¡ªthen he wouldn''t know what to do. Luo Ju Di stared at him and blinked. "I don''t find you anything like that." Li Yang looked back at her and nodded slowly. "Good." Taiga squeezed his arm and pressed herself closer to him. "Let''s go now, Bossman. I don''t like it here¡ªit''s a little bit out of Taiga''s league." "And yet you''ve managed to escape those creatures," Li Yang said. Without another moment of hesitation, he confirmed the System''s prompt to activate the portal. The entire spiritual forest was basked in a spray of light that cast the entirety of it into light. Then they were gone. . . . After a couple of moments, Thana shot back into the forest with an entire flock of spirits right behind her back and them floating behind her. She stared at the subtle spiritual distortion within that point in this plane and found herself with a rather flat expression on her face. "Geez, he couldn''t even wait for me to say goodbye?" she said. "Well, did you tell him to wait for you?" One of the spirits that she captured and was currently hovering right over her shoulder asked. The spirit seemed to be still in a chatting mood despite nearly facing their ultimate death. Thana didn''t need to warrant the spirit a response, and yet she still did. "Not exactly, but¡ª" "Then I guess he assumed that you weren''t coming back at all when you started hunting us down, Miss Greaper." The spirit shrugged. "It''s Grim Reaper." "Eh, Greaper is easier." One of Thana''s eyes flickered and she actually smiled. "You know what¡ªI''m throwing you into the lowest pits of tartarus. Forget the station to find your proper afterlife, you''re going in the thirteenth circle, alright?" "Woah there, Miss!" The Grim Reaper sighed and pursed her lips. Thana was overreacting a tad bit about her situation¡ªit was technically far easier for her to simply visit the man if she wanted to. Her people were tasked to guard and watch after mortal souls¡­ well, collect them. But that was almost the same thing, right? ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Cheers for Taiga. The first proper, proper meeting since Li Yang''s return? You betcha! I could have skimmed and skipped over the character development and made everyone extremely happy, but uh, we''ll go through a natural process? Thanks for reading! Phew, gotta rename old chapters, realized there was some repetition lol. Chapter 234: Reunion (2) A young child lay in the hospital room all by herself, asleep and currently unaware of her surroundings for the first time. Tired and worn-out from spending her days at the hospital, Chunhua was fast asleep and it was one of those rare resting times without any nightmares plaguing her dreams. While some of the people inside of the hospital were in degrees of shock with a body seemingly awakening a couple hours ago¡ªand a nurse was pretty sure it had been a zombie and were afraid of some apocalypse. Chunhua actually managed to rest in peace and solitude. It was at that exact moment that the door opened and a man and a woman stepped inside of the room to check up on her. Despite their busy lifestyle and having not actually been prepared for any sort of parenthood, they did their best to take care of the young child. The now-current CEO of Olympian Corp visited his old friend and her daughter along with his girlfriend. Both of them met together at the hospital right on the dot to pick Chunhua up from here. "Oh, she''s asleep." Gabrielle said with a sigh of relief. She rested her hand on his shoulder and whispered quietly. "Must have spent the entire afternoon watching her mother." Li Liang stared at Chunhua and softened slightly, "I really can''t believe you just left her alone here, Gab. Surely Hirire can manage even without you around, right?" "Geez, just because I don''t own a multi-billion company doesn''t mean I can let my business unattended. Besides, Chunhua''s a big girl¡ªor so she tells me in order for us not to worry. I think she wanted alone time to be with her mother and I respect that." "But I really did expect that he''d be here," Liang frowned slightly. He looked around the room that was bereft of anything that told of another visitor. Luo Ju Di herself did not have many friends in the city and neither did they mention this to the public. "I mean, he was all up in the news and¡­" "Were you looking for me?" Li Yang appeared right behind the couple, with Taiga right behind him. The Tigress Spirit was clothed in what appeared to be shorts and a simple long-sleeved top which was a direct contrast to Li Yang''s sharply dressed outfit. His older brother spun to his feet and immediately stared at him. "Yang, where exactly have you been for the past months? Did you not know how long you were gone¡ªwe thought you were dead!" Li Yang stared at him and only managed a small smile. "Not much of a welcome is it?" "You could have said something." "I don''t have excuses for that..." Li Yag started but kept his gaze on Luo Ju Di''s body. In his gaze¡ªsomething was already happening. "But it seems like we need to call the doctor." "What?" Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder and her eyes widened. She immediately shook her boyfriend''s shoulder, "Liang, Liang¡ªJu Di is waking up." Although their conversation was abrupt, Li Liang had to let it go as he and his girlfriend were quick to call some doctors. They didn''t even just use the small button to call the doctors, but they went out of their way to grab any available nurses and other medical professionals around. Li Yang let out a sigh of relief. Luo Ju Di''s eyes bleared open and she slowly sat up¡ªand yet she weakly just leaned up and stared at Li Yang. A part of her gazed at him unsurely but then she glanced around their surroundings. "How long was I out?" "Nearly a year." Luo Ju Di gazed at Chunhua asleep in the spare bed and her gaze softened, "I see¡­ Thank you, Mister Li. I shouldn''t have been gone for that long and yet I did. Chunhua looks like she grew a little taller¡ªhah." Li Yang stared at her. "You don''t have to force yourself to move too much, you just woke up, Luo Ju Di." "I don''t like being stuck in here." Luo Ju Di said. "But I suppose it allowed Chunhua to be taken care of by you¡­ or by your brother and his girlfriend?" Her words made it seem like she never knew that he was gone. Maybe she didn''t know it, but surely she should have remembered right? He didn''t know how things worked for her while she was in the coma. "Something like that¡­" "Well, you have my gratitude. I did not expect to be in this state¡ªand for the expenses. I''ll make sure to reimburse you," Luo Ju Di said. She was immediately taking things into account despite having just woken up. "I doubt something like this is inexpensive, Ju Di," Li Yang said. He thought about her situation¡­ and half-realized that he hadn''t been that able to read reports about "Do you have medical insurance?" "Some but¡­ I can''t expect you and your family to cover my bills." There was a certain sense of pride in her words, refusing to accept his help. On top of that, she made no mention of what happened in the other world, but that was alright. Either she didn''t want to speak about it or had forgotten along the lines of journeying back here to the world. "It''s fine¡ªyou should take advantage of what you can, Ju Di," Li Yang said. "It may seem hard to accept this, but doing this won''t affect my family at all. If you wish to avoid directly receiving money¡­ then it''s also easy to simply create a charity where the donations will come in." Luo Ju Di stared at him and then sighed. "You don''t have to make it that complicated. Fine, I''ll accept your help so no need to go all over the loops." "Good, then that''s settled." Li Yang glanced at Chunhua. "Once you''re feeling better and have recovered, we can start talking about the arrangements. I think Chunhua wants to stay with you, she wouldn''t be here if she didn''t¡­ but I''d still like to take an active role when I can." "Well, you''re no longer the one running the company," Liang said from outside the door. He and Gabrielle returned with some doctors and nurses that immediately approached. "I had to take over when you left¡­so you do have some free time now." Li Yang glanced at him. "Well, at least you finally did it for once. You have my thanks." His older brother blinked, frowned at his tone but just sighed and nodded. "Alright, I suppose I can leave this situation to you now, then? It''s been some time since Gabrielle and I had some time together, so we''ll leave it up to you." "Of course, take some time off if you want," Li Yang said. "Thank you, Liang and Miss Gab." Luo Ju Di managed to call out throughout the medical checkups that the nurses and doctors were conducting. All of them were mostly stunned that she had woken up at all. "Hey, no problem¡ªChunhua is a cool kid, we didn''t have any problems at all." Li Liang called out and waved. "I would stay a bit with Gabrielle but¡­" "It''s fine, visit me when things are better sorted here." "We''ll make it up to you, thanks!" Li Liang called out to her before he left with his girlfriend. Once they were out, Taiga herself just crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Li Yang. While she was completely around and perfectly visible this time for everyone to see, her presence was still largely overlooked. "Did your brother and his partner just ignore Taiga?" "They were more concerned about my long absence, but I can introduce you properly if you wish," Li Yang said. "No, it''s fine. Taiga doesn''t care that much." He didn''t expect that Taiga would mention something like that right now, but he was more than okay to comply if that''s what she wanted. "You have your work documents from the Shen Society, right?" "Taiga does, although erm¡­ didn''t bring it now." "Well, it''s still alright, we can just use it for later if you still don''t mind working for me. I didn''t expect to see you so soon, but I''m glad I did." Li Yang said before he glanced over towards Luo Ju Di. While she seemed preoccupied with the check-up, Li Yang and Taiga sat outside of her room to just talk. "Taiga is glad to see you too, but..." Taiga punched his arm and gave him a huge frown. "You still haven''t given an excuse on why you left¡ªso Taiga sort of understands why your family is acting all weird." Li Yang winced slightly at the punch, but corrected her. "Liang isn''t my only family, Taiga." "But his girlfriend is part of your family too¡­ and in a way, Luo Ju Di and Chunhua too," Taiga said and leaned back against the chair. It appeared like there was something on her mind. She fiddled with her hands for a moment and then eventually looked up at him. "If you wanted... Taiga can be part of your family too." "Hmm?" Li Yang looked back at her. "What did you say?". "Well, that is if you wanted to." Taiga pouted and quickly looked away. "Taiga''s already part of both Shou Temple Sect and Shen Society, so it''s your loss if you don''t want Taiga around." Li Yang chuckled and pulled her closer to him. "I was kidding, I''d be honored to have you as part of my family." Taiga leaned back against him and rested her head on his shoulder. "...Does that make Taiga a step-mom or an aunt?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Thank you to the readers who buy the chapters, give gifts and joined Privilege this July and helped support me writing full-time! Without your guys'' support, I don''t think I''d be able to allot time doing this. There''s going to be another tier next month, but I also made a better deal? I''ll see you guys around. For my fellow free readers, hello though xD Out of all the books, you chose to keep up with too, so I hope you find fulfillment out of this story. Chapter 235: Reunion (3) Shortly after Taiga''s words, a doctor came out to talk with Li Yang about Luo Ju Di''s medical condition. The woman would be staying in the hospital and undergo some physical therapy to get her back on her feet. Taiga was a little embarrassed to have been caught snuggling with Li Yang, but soon decided to forget all about it as Li Yang went back inside of the room. Chunhua had woken up and was now hugging her mother tightly while Luo Ju Di brushed her hair. It was one of those moments that made Taiga wish she still had her family¡ªno matter how faintly she could remember them. "Uncle Yang, you really brought Mama back!" Chunhua looked back at him with awe. She went down from her mother''s bed and threw herself at him. "You really did it." Li Yang picked the child up and cleared his throat. "I suppose?" "Or it may have been a coincidence," Luo Ju Di said with a shrug. Somehow that answer told something about how she may or may not have remembered what happened, but it didn''t matter to him that much now. As long as she didn''t do much to argue with her child''s assessment. Right after Li Yang placed Chunhua down, the young child quickly hugged Taiga next. "Big sis Taiga! You''re here too¡ªI thought everyone left. It''s good to see you again." Taiga blinked, but also hugged the younger girl back. "Taiga can work with that title too." It almost felt like everything was fine and settled. Perhaps Li Yang could have sat back and relaxed at this moment, even though everything was far from truly okay, he had done much already since his return. However, no sooner than he looked around and thought that things were alright¡­ he soon received a screen hovering in front of him. It was a message, not from the Observers, but by someone who he almost didn''t expect at all. [ Narissa sent you a message. ] On top of that was a notification: The System can now easily send messages and have conversation through real time as long as it is within the encompassing world. Li Yang blinked. He didn''t really know what to expect from the Mermaid who agreed to take on some part of his ''curse'' for him because she wanted to help¡­ he realized that he hadn''t been able to reply the last time. Her message went along like this. Narissa: We should meet up¡ªat least to understand what actually happened to you for the last months. You Have Received Directions To A Location Narissa: Wear a mask, or anything to hide your face. I don''t want to get caught or anything There was this message and the ongoing main mission that put Li Yang in the right state of mind. He glanced at the time and while it was just around eight o''clock at night, he thought it was fair for a meeting. She deserved to know at least that much. "So Yang¡ª" Luo Ju Di began. "I need to go somewhere." Li Yang said at the same time. The two of them blinked at one another, before he cleared his throat. "What were you going to say?" Luo Ju Di shook her head. "No, forget about it. Chunhua can stay over here tonight, can''t she?" "Of course, I''ll send my brother a text so he doesn''t worry," Li Yang said. While he wasn''t sure if the man changed his number¡ªhis socials were actually easy to find. There was no problems with this, even if he didn''t have his own car yet. "Where are you going, Uncle Yang?" Chunhua said as she broke away from Taiga''s crushing hug. "Chunhua¡­" "It''s a small and private meeting with a friend¡ªan associate of mine. Not exactly linked to Olympian Corp, but we have an agreement." Li Yang didn''t really like lying and this was the best way he could say it¡­ without revealing that he was talking with an idol. "They must have been pissed if you weren''t able to meet with them after some time," Luo Ju Di said. While she didn''t know when exactly Li Yang disappeared, the conversation earlier¡ªshe caught a bit of Liang''s convo with him. "Yes, so I''ll be going and will come back to pick up Chunhua tomorrow or.... My brother." Delegation of tasks, even if he didn''t like to ask for help¡ªnot knowing the circumstances of what tomorrow offered him required people that could help take over his tasks¡ªhe needed to take it. After a brief goodbye, Li Yang and Taiga left the hospital and went out together. Taiga didn''t quite ask many questions¡ªand if she did have them, she kept them to herself. She trusted that Bossman would just tell it to her. Though far from the contrary, he''ve yet to tell the entire truth of his situation to anyone. Whether it was Bai Minghua or Narissa herself to even Setsuko... Nobody really got the full picture from him. Perhaps Narissa now knew more thanks to her own System as a part of his harem¡ªbut he was never too sure. Li Yang wondered how Taiga might react to it. "Let''s go, Bossman." Taiga grabbed his hand and then jumped up onto the roof of the hospital. "Taiga doesn''t know where we''re going so you have to show us the way." He felt the world around them change as the nightlife of Shanghai went dead silent¡ªthe shadow version of the city came to life. He took in the directions from the screen and searched it in his phone''s GPS. "We''re going to visit this¡­ bar?" Li Yang frowned slightly at the chosen place. Out of all of the places for them to meet, it was a little strange that she picked something that might have been filled with people. Taiga glanced at the directions on his phone. "Oh, you have a party friend?" "No, not exactly. But she may have wanted to relax." Li Yang said. "It''s a she? How did you know that she wanted to relax?" Taiga looked up at him in surprise. Taiga didn''t know Narissa, only Ying Yue He did, so he wasn''t sure how to explain it. Chapter 236: Reunion (4) This might be the start of where the women that Li Yang involved himself with were starting to meet up with one another. Well, it already happened before¡ªTaiga had sniffed out Bo Lifen and him doing it in the car, and she knew Ying Yue He¡­ but now she was meeting Narissa too. Perhaps it was better that he left her with Chunhua and Luo Ju Di¡­ but he was sure that Taiga would want to tag along. He wanted her companionship too. Still, the circumstances were strange. Taiga gave him a look that made him feel a little guilty when there was nothing to feel bad about. Li Yang cleared his throat. "She''s a Mermaid whom I saved from one of her people over a year ago, and she''s currently staying in the city as an idol. It''s been quite awhile since we last met, so¡ª" "You decided to visit her all of a sudden?" Taiga asked. Li Yang remembered that Narissa sent the message through the System¡ªso Taiga was bound to think that he just decided to visit her. It was hard to explain to Taiga that he could see a screen that told him what he needed to do in life. What happened right after that? Would she take it kindly that she didn''t need to be seduced at all by him? Would she find it offensive that she was not in the list of his ''targets'' to acquire? Once everything was said and done¡ªLi Yang still had secrets and they weren''t necessary bad to keep. Everyone had their right to keep their own matters private and it was one of those which he wished to keep to himself. Could he tell Taiga the entire truth? Li Yang might have needed to do it, but why should he talk about it in the first place? It was his burden to bear and nothing would exactly come out from sharing it with others¡ªwhile Bao said he was free to share it, he was reluctant. It was unnecessary. "Bossman, if Taiga didn''t see you on TV and came here to find you¡­ would you have visited this friend of yours first?" Taiga crossed her arms. "...It''s in the list of my to-do lists once I''ve returned," he said. "Returned from where exactly, Bossman? Taiga hasn''t heard the entire story either." "Let''s get to where Bai Minghua is first." Li Yang started to move with her following in line. Without the need to worry about human spectators, they were free to travel as they wished¡ªleaping from building to building. "You know how we visited the realm of spirits?" he said. "Wait, did Bossman stay there all by himself?" Taiga blinked. "That dark spirit from that realm¡ªshe helped you take out those monster birds. But wasn''t she supposed to be a bad guy?" "No, not quite." While he didn''t think he could talk about everything, he could talk about this much. "Then where did you go? You disappeared in a blast of light." Taiga said as she kept her gaze on the buildings. "Taiga thought it was her fault." Li Yang glanced at her and skidded to a stop. The two of them stood at the edge of one of the smaller towers of the city, and yet despite the precipitous height¡ªhe stared at her in bafflement. "How could it be your fault? You did nothing wrong." "But why did you leave¡ªTaiga wants that answer more than learning where you went. Unless you have souvenirs from where you came from?" Taiga said with a smile. She could be silly one minute, serious the next and sometimes both. Li Yang thought about it. "Close your eyes." "Okay." Taiga did it easily. He pulled out an item from inventory¡ªright before Taiga''s eyes widened and she stepped forward towards the egg. "What¡­ where did this come from?" The source of energy that came out from the Frostborne Razorbeak at the Frostborne Mountains was potent and powerful. It was unlike what Taiga had ever seen before from her experience in roaming numerous forests and temples. "It came from a bird." Taiga gave Li Yang a look and crossed her arms. "Taiga''s not that stupid. Was that you trying to make a joke, Bossman?" Li Yang shrugged but then offered her the egg and passed it into her arms. There was certainly a lot more where that came from. "It failed miserably. But I got that from my travels¡­ I ended up visiting another world to get stronger." "Oh." Taiga blinked and nodded dumbfoundedly. "Wait, what? Did you ascend into a higher realm, Bossman?" "Possibly." "The resources there must be pretty abundant¡­ but how did you do that? You''re much lower in cultivation than Taiga¡ªwhile Taiga admits that your foundation has become more refined and the meridians are really flowing better than ever¡­ Taiga is higher ranked in the realm of cultivation." Li Yang didn''t think that Taiga would start asking him about this merely because of an egg. He just wanted to see her smile a little, but things led to this. Would it be believable to say that he found an item? "And nobody has ever ascended for a long time..." Taiga frowned. "The Heavens Tribulations are harder than ever, I don''t think anyone has ascended in a thousand years¡ªwhich kind of brought on a stagnation. So how''d you visit another world?" "I''m guessing you didn''t like the egg?" "Taiga did! But you just made Taiga question everything." The Tigress Spirit coddled the egg to her chest. "Taiga might ask Mou Gu or a cultivation chef to whip her up a meal. This might be what Taiga needs to ascend." . . . There weren''t many places where the idol Bai Minghua could take a break and be at ease from the rest of the world. Whether it was paparazzi trying to chase her down if she attempted to enjoy time outside or a killer Aquarian Tyrannical Merfolks that was out to bring her back into the depths¡ªthere was never a stop to the ever-busy life of the performing idol Mermaid. However, she made the time of the day, or rather, night to contact Li Yang. While she wasn''t exactly happy with how he didn''t message her when he obviously could... she was willing to give him a free-pass. And this meeting of theirs was to only catch up to whatever exactly happened to him¡ªshe still remembered that their last proper and actual conversation was concerning a gift box. But then stuff happened, she couldn''t get ahold of him, news of his disappearance came and before she knew it, Narissa learned how to figure things out on her own. This place that she visited was one of the few places where people like her and probably him could relax. It was one of the safe places for Mermaids, Cultivators and other Spirits disguised could visit as an exclusive bar. Narissa discovered it through one of her friends and so she was here. But now she was somewhat regretting it. There was some kind of pale-skinned man dancing and grinding with a furry lady in one of the dance floors. The Mermaid scrunched up her nose and sipped her drink. Where was he? Narissa''s meeting with Li Yang was delayed by an actual egg. Chapter 237: Divine Wish Drinks (1) Fate, fortune and one''s devices¡ªmere coincidence if you will. Whenever one questioned it, the people were bound to sometimes get an answer and it could change their mind for good. Except that the newcomer was already late for the last half hour and she was getting tired of waiting. Li Yang could see it in the distance. They were close enough to read the signage. The nonsensical name of the Divine Drinks was displayed brightly in gaudy neon-lights that would have kept a drunkard away with how glaring the lights were. It wasn''t a first choice for most people around the area, there were classier bars and places for both young and old, all within drinking age, to come and visit. The nightlife of Shanghai city was filled with tremendous sights for many to engage in. But Li Yang arrived outside the venue and thought it was not the same in the shadow-version of the world. Compared to the pitch black darkness of most of the city when he and Taiga travelled through numerous buildings, the Divine Wish Drinks bar was truly filled with life. He could even pick up some of the noise even from outside of the place. It was a four-storey building, moderately sized¡­ even small considering city standards, but there was a certain charm to it that may have resembled one trying to enter a red carpet premiere spot. Two shiny poles with the luxurious red velvet rope gave it a Hollywood feel. Completing the image were two sharply dressed bodyguards that seemed to be assessing and keeping most of the people out. There was actually a small line of what appeared to be at least a dozen of what appeared to humans from first glance¡ªuntil Li Yang noted and took down the assortment in their appearances. He thought he saw a lady with shimmering green scales on her arms, two people down the line there was some guy that had exceptionally sharp ears and even two people that looked too much alike even for twins. Except for the fact that one of them was frothing in the mouth. Even the other people seemed to be avoiding those two, and yet the crowd was composed and mixed of different spirits. Li Yang thought that meeting a mermaid, tigress spirit and then even Setsuko with the fox bloodline was an extraordinary feat¡ªbut there were too many different people to mention. Even his companion seemed taken aback. She glanced around the other people behind them and actually spoke about it aloud. "Taiga has never been here before¡­" He thought that he heard some sniggers, but most of the people looked preoccupied with their own conversation. Li Yang frowned slightly, but waited until it was their turn. "IDs please." A deceptively normal-looking human asked. He was currently situated on the opposite side of what appeared to be a guy with sharp horns spiralling out of his forehead¡ªbut there was a certain menacing grin to the man. Li Yang didn''t think that he''d need it now¡ªespecially with Taiga having left hers¡ªbut the card he first received from Shen Society got the bodyguard looking at it. Right before the guy could say anything else, his companion looked over their shoulder. "So a newcomer then, that''s great!" The goat-man looked up to Li Yang and grinned. No doubt taking note of how recent the card was. "How''d you become a cultivator? Some ancient scroll with secrets? An old ghost cultivation master still lurking about in an undiscovered cultivation cave?" "Er, he''s with me." Taiga waved in front of the goat-man and motioned to herself. "So you got her as a girlfriend and accidentally discovered that she was a cultivator and now you''re dual-cultivating together? Man, I''m jealous. My girlfriend realized I had horns when we were having sex¡­ and nearly called both the police and animal control on me. She did not find it funny." Li Yang raised a brow. The normal-looking guy finally returned Li Yang the card. "Enjoy your stay, Mister Li and to you as well, Miss Taiga. Try not to get involved with too many folks¡ªsome are merely passersby." "Alright," he said. It was an odd thing to say to someone just visiting the bar, but perhaps it was a normal thing for them to get into trouble with all of the people that gathered around here. After their exchange, the man lifted up the velvet rope and they were allowed to step inside. The sound earlier from outside of the building became louder and played closely to Li Yang''s ears and he found that the sights didn''t deviate from a regular night club. "So¡­ where''s your friend?" Taiga grabbed his arm as the two of them squeezed into the corridors before arriving into a more spacious room. At the center lay the dance floor made out from what appeared to be shimmering-like stones. Multicolored lights focused around that area and on a small stage with actual performers playing live. "She''s probably around here," Li Yang said. He sent a message before he took in their surroundings. Near the northern part of the area was an open bar and then a secluded more area with couches and loveseats. Couples or otherwise, people who decided to keep to themselves were present there. However he didn''t see Narissa there. Right until he saw a blob of water fall right in front of him and then shape itself into an arrow pointing upwards. Li Yang looked up and saw that Narissa was in a balcony on what could have been the fourth floor¡ªexcept there was no floor at all. There were numerous platforms on different and wild places, but no actual stairs to move up to around it. How Narissa got up there was questionable, but it was already obvious that in a realm of the supernatural¡­ When did anybody have to take the stairs? One of the people at the top practically flew downwards¡ªlooking pretty much like a bird until they transformed back into a human. Li Yang turned to his companion. "Shall we go, Taiga?" Taiga already leapt up and aimed for Narissa''s platform. Chapter 238: Divine Wish Drinks (2) Taiga thought that she looked good and great¡ªand she was pretty damn flexible too. But then the water poured down and she saw the woman waiting up the balcony, the tigress spirit immediately recognized who it was. She landed on the platform and saw a blue-haired woman with tantalizing features¡­ wearing sweatpants and a hoodie. Well, her clothes didn''t matter at all¡ªher face was beautiful and underneath those baggy pants were no doubt an attractive body. "You''re¡­" Taiga began. Li Yang arrived a second later after her and then glanced at Bai Minghua. It was obvious that a man of his standing knew someone like the top idol of the recent year¡ªeven the boys in Shou Temple knew who she was¡ªso Taiga awkwardly waved a hand. "You''ve brought someone?" Bai Minghua glanced at her swiftly before addressing Li Yang. He shrugged nonchalantly. "You never mentioned anything about it being an exclusive meeting." "Well, whatever¡ªdoes she know what we are?" Bai Minghua started and then halted at Li Yang''s look. "Oh, she doesn''t?" The man had a pointed look on his face that made her queasy. It was their just their first time meeting and Taiga didn''t like how the conversation began already. While it was obvious from the get-go that Li Yang''s meeting with Bai Minghua was clearly out of the ordinary¡­ this woman was probably making it bigger than what it actually was. "What are you guys?" Taiga found a bean bag and sank into it. She crossed her legs and compared hers to the idol¡­ and she cleared her throat. "Also, is there food here? Taiga''s feeling a little hungry." The look on Bai Minghua''s face as her expression twitched slightly but then smoothed over as she picked up a board out of nowhere and then slid it over the table¡ªit was priceless. Li Yang on the other hand just looked at Taiga mildly amused. Or maybe it was a resigned but accepted look. That was enough to make her smile¡­ because he was being kind to her. It wasn''t just because the Bossman felt guilty, right? "You were in Japan last night, you''ve come back pretty fast," Bai Minghua said. She figured out through the System that she was the only one who was officially in Li Yang''s harem and so she didn''t pay much attention to the girl. Li Yang sighed inwardly but then nodded. "I guess it''s fair that you know my whereabouts." Bai Minghua crossed her arms, quickly nodding and agreeing with him. "Of course¡ªyou involved me." "I don''t think I remember it that way," Li Yang said. "And what do you mean by that?" "You were the one who made the decision in the end." The Mermaid stared at Li Yang unamused but then reluctantly scowled. "So perhaps I did¡ªwhere are my answers now? You''ve gone to a place far beyond the normal reach of the..." While Bai Mingua actually didn''t mind it if Taiga learned of the relationship between her and Li Yang. "Of my ability to connect with you." The man didn''t look comfortable at all. Was the curse that she told him about truly that all-encompassing? Bai Minghua rubbed her face and then cursed her own self for finding it hard to resist that slightly unhappy expression on his face. "Well, you wouldn''t have the slightest guess of where Bossman went," Taiga said. She tried looking at the menu, but then couldn''t help but interject at this moment. A childish way to show how much closer she was to Li Yang, but she didn''t mind it at all. Bai Minghua stared at the tigress spirit and wrinkled her nose. Not only was this tiger girl wrong about that¡ªwas this what Li Yang''s tastes went now? Bai Minghua faintly recalled the secretary girl at the concert, but it seemed like this was someone else. Even that girl who attempted to pee in the hotel wasn''t as annoying as this one for the Mermaid. "I was in another world or realm, I hope that answers your question." Li Yang finally said. He knew that the two were distinct, but it was probably fair to say that it was both a different world located in another realm. Bai Minghua raised her drink to her lips and took a sip. "It answered where and how exactly you disappeared¡­ but why? Did you attempt to find a cure?" "You could perhaps say that¡­" Li Yang knew that it was much closer to simply getting stronger. A cure from being an entertainment of the Heavens? Yes, he was open to suggestions and looking for answers. But now he was back and he hoped he could find them here. Although the answer always seemed to be strength. Taiga sat up from her chair. "Did you say cure? Are you sick, Bossman?" "No¡ª" Something exploded below them¡ªbut right before Li Yang or Taiga could do anything in response to it. Bai Minghua raised a hand. "If it''s actually important enough to pay attention to, the alarms would sound. All in all, Miss¡­ Tiger?" "It''s Taiga." "You don''t have to worry about it at all, I have it covered," Bai Minghua said. She was delaying whatever was afflicting Li Yang by being with him, right? There was the promise of power that made her consider it when he first pitched this¡­ but at this point, she was just genuinely concerned about his state. Although as far as she could see, he didn''t need her concern at all. Li Yang seemed to be surrounded by enough people¡ªexcept they had no clue at all. . . . . . The Divine Wish Drink''s floors now held a small container¡ªthe young woman didn''t seem to have held back her strength properly. Regardless, Ning Bi scowled and simply made her way out of the hole and took out her phone. Ignoring the stares on her back, she started her way back to the entrance of the bar. She was waiting for her friend to arrive¡ªand it was her friend who decided to invite her, but she arrived here first¡ªwhat was taking her so long? Finally, she saw the older woman in the back of the line. Glancing at the two bodyguards, she cleared her throat. "So you see my lovely friend at the back? She''s the owner of Heavenly Jade Pavilion¡ªand I''m already here, so can you let her in now? I''ll vouch for her." "She seems kinda old for partying." "We have people who are centuries old here¡ªand you really say that?" Ning Bi glowered at the goat-man. "Kidding. Excuse me, Miss¡ªthe VIP at the back!" The people reluctantly parted ways as a woman strolled up to the front of the waiting line. Compared to the others dressed for clubbing or an evening of festivities, the woman was dressed plainly as if she just stepped outside of her home. Bo Lifen sighed and crossed her arms. "You really didn''t have to do that, Ning Bi." "Hey, you were the one who wanted to have fun and make plans¡ªso did you take too much time in preparing and dressing up?" "No, I was deciding if I should have made an excuse and don''t come at all." Bo Lifen rubbed her face. "What time is it? Maybe the satyr''s right and I''m not up for this stuff anymore." "Hey, don''t listen to that guy and let''s just get inside." Ning Bi dragged her older sister-figure into the bar. Chapter 239: Divine Wish Drinks (3) Women felt like a mystery sometimes¡ªLi Yang prided himself in mostly being straightforward enough to get answers for most questions from them. Most people he talked to were willing to make it easier for him. But this time it was a little different. Both Taiga and Narissa were giving themselves not-exactly friendly looks but still smiling at one another. He wasn''t blind to this kind of situation. This happened to most people unwilling to let their nasty sides out. It was easy enough to see that both disliked each other from the get-go¡­ and he preferred to keep everyone''s heads cool. Li Yang pulled up to his feet and then offered his hand out to Narissa. "I think we''ve already completed the purpose of our meeting, so it''s good to see you again, Miss Bai Minghua." Narissa stared at his outstretched hand and didn''t take it. "If you have anything else that concerns me or you would like to seek help in, then I''m willing to fulfill it," Li Yang said at last. "I''m currently released from my position as CEO, but I can pull some strings if you need help in a certain industry of some sort." The last time that they saw each other was at the hotel and right until that night, Bai Minghua or Narissa was in her full-idol gear. Compared to seeing her now in just sweatpants and an outfit that clearly didn''t fulfill what a club outfit was supposed to be¡ªhe was concerned on how she was doing. Narissa sighed inwardly, but eventually just reached out for the sleeves of his suit. "The least that you could do is treat me like a person instead of a business associate. Sure, you brought your little friend¡ªbut engage in some conversation with me. Or do you just see me as someone who you can ejaculate on and then call it a night?" Behind them, Taiga may have made a muffled sound at Narissa''s words¡­ but Li Yang knew that the Mermaid had some points. He still narrowed his eyes at her sudden proclamation but sat down in one of the seats. "I did not think that I was someone beyond you merely trying to fulfill your debt of gratitude from." Their arrangements back then were strange¡ªmore akin to an agreement to have her as a harem member than anything brought on by immediate attraction, although they still slept together. Narissa didn''t want to say it aloud¡ªespecially not with another woman around¡ªbut she said it. "You must know that my workload as an idol is extremely strenuous, everything''s calculated¡ªdiet, dance, voice and acting lessons along with traveling around the country for performances. So, I guess¡­ you''re probably the closest thing I have to a connection." "What? Taiga said. Narissa picked up her drink and downed it. Once it was done, she set it down on the table and looked him in the eyes. "I mean, I''m kind of lonely¡ªso if we have this thing together, then you might as well fulfill the expectations of it." She decided to not use the word ''harem'' aloud to keep his desire of ensuring it was a secret safe¡­ she could actually read the atmosphere. Surely, only someone whose job was keeping people happy and entertained could get the slightest looks of discomfort or disconcerting even for a blank-faced man like him. "So you want an actual relationship with me?" Li Yang raised a brow at her statement. She glanced away from him. "Well, if you put it that way¡­" Narissa didn''t mind the look of shock on Taiga''s face, but at the same time¡ªthere was a certain heat crawling up to her face at his words. Didn''t this guy have another way of communicating it with her? Something more romantic and sensitive? "Bossman, listen to yourself for a second here¡ªyou got a kid, and you''re going to get her as some kind of evil stepmother?" Taiga spluttered. "Arrangement or not, this is not a good idea." "Stepmother?" "I have a daughter." Li Yang explained. He didn''t necessarily want to hide this information, Chunhua didn''t even know the truth, but overall, even he knew that there were implications if word got out. Not necessarily for the women in his life, he was more concerned on how it changed the perception of business associates. "Does that change things?" Narissa rubbed her forehead and laughed lightly. All this time, she thought he was a bachelor and maybe just someone who liked stringing women around, but this was another thing. "You never mentioned that¡ªI don''t and cannot be in any scandals with a married man¡ª" Taiga coughed. "Well, they''re not exactly married." "Oh, is that so?" Narissa raised her head and met the Tigress Spirit''s gaze. It was a moment of some subtle camaraderie between them¡ªlike sharing a piece of meat, or a meal. And when both of their gazes flickered right back at Li Yang, the two of them didn''t even need to have telepathy to mentally agree that he was a fine drink. She had to admit that even this Taiga had good taste in men. A little straightforward¡ªa tad too frank¡ªbut wasn''t afraid to get his points across and that was in addition to his good looks and wealth. Not that Narissa was lacking in those departments, but it was best to have someone on her level. So this was great, it wasn''t going to be so easy if Li Yang was surrounded by other women. Not that Narissa was going to back down from a woman that kept up with her ''cutesy'' act¡ªshe didn''t like that at all. Sure, Narissa pulled on a facade as the lovable Bai Minghua and kept fans happy with her performance, but the tigress spirit right in front of her was slightly messed up. "I''m a busy person¡ªI have things that I need to focus on right now, perhaps for a long foreseeable future if things continue down this track," Li Yang said. Already thinking about future targets, but then focused on Narissa. "However, I''ll take responsibility." "... I''d be a lot happier if you could at least tell me that you agreed because you like me or something." Narissa shook her head. What was she? Some kind of some duty to fulfill? Li Yang offered his hand and gave her a serious look. "I don''t want to lie, but perhaps we''ll get there¡ªwe didn''t have much of a chance to know each other after all." Narissa glanced up to his hand and then back at his face, gauging the sincerity in his tone. Begrudgingly, he was right¡ªthey didn''t have much from the beginning. She pursed her lips and shook his hand. His warm hands felt good for some reason and she hoped it wasn''t because she was suddenly starved for some sexy contact. Narissa wasn''t a woman controlled by her sexual impulses. That wasn''t the only thing on her mind. Narissa cleared her throat. "Alright, something else besides sexual chemistry then. I think we''ll get along and not just in bed. Dating or just getting to know you a little bit more besides a professional setting is great. Let''s get along, Li Yang." "I do make it a point to get along with people in general¡ªit''s something needed in social settings after all," He said and shrugged nonchalantly. Narissa rolled her eyes, but eventually smirked and leaned forward towards him. She squeezed his hand before she let it go. "After we''re done, I can assure you that you''ll leave your little side chick and stick with me." "Hey, I''m not some side chick!" Taiga bursted out. "See? Where''s that little third person talking, now, missy?" Narissa stuck her tongue out. Taiga crossed her arms. "If you think you''re being seductive right now¡ªyou look like some greasy little person who hasn''t showered in days with your appearance." "I''ll have you know, this outfit is casual and relaxed. Nothing is sexier than sweats and being comfortable in your own skin and whatever I wear." No intervention from the man arrived. Was Li Yang the kind of guy who''d step out from little arguments between women¡ªnot exactly, he disliked little spats, but the man suddenly noticed something¡­ someone while staying in their private little balcony as he noticed the crater from earlier fixing itself up. Bo Lifen was standing on the first level of the bar. "This place has magic doesn''t it?" She wrinkled her nose. What was she doing here? Chapter 240: Divine Wish Drinks (4) There weren''t too many instances of various races and individuals from wildly different backgrounds that came about¡ªmost were happy and content to stay in their respective territories. If there was some Unseelie Court stirring up trouble in the northern countries, then it was up to those in their area to protect them. Some evil cultivator trying to bring about the end of the world? It was locally handled by the sworn protectors around the area. It happened once or twice that some groups visited to hunt down enemies¡ªbut all in all, most kept to themselves. Bo Lifen stared at what seemed to be some kind of large gaseous green spirit that was repairing the crater on the dance floor. The term genie would be too inaccurate and even derogatory to say, it was a djinn working at this place. "I may have kind of done too much when I was landing from the fourth floor." Ning Bi admitted. "You need to keep yourself in check." Bo Lifen clicked her tongue. "I didn''t know that you hung around places like this one." "Hey, you were the one who told me that you wanted to have some fun¡ªand this place is a great way to meet new people if you''re hung up on someone." "I never mentioned that I was hung up¡ª" "Of course you didn''t, but you know how Bo Ling talks." Ning Bi shrugged. "On the bright side though, this place has some really great drinks. The owner really knows how to concoct fancy and wishful alcohol." "I serve tea, I don''t like alcohol." Bo Lifen crossed her arms. She was completely aware that it was a terrible way to argue with someone just around her brother''s age, but she didn''t care at all. In a way, she was already regretting that it was Ning Bi and not Daiyu or Suyin that she contacted for fun. "You know you''re being... " Ning Bi clicked her tongue but then stopped. She never stopped staring at Bo Lifen, but then said, "Look up." Bo Lifen frowned, but eventually glanced up¡ªand met Li Yang''s gaze. Her eyes widened and she backed up slightly. "What the¡­ someone like him hangs around places like this one?" "Oh, you two know each other?" Ning Bi asked and raised her brows. She finally glanced up and caught the sight of the older guy. "What a coincidence. And here you thought that there was something bad about coming here." Bo Lifen scrunched up her face slightly, but the two of them had stared too much at each other to look away. She reluctantly raised her hand and waved at him slowly¡ªdespite her arm feeling like they suddenly weighed like a ton of bricks. "Hey." "I don''t think he can hear you." Ning Bi commented. "I''m standing right in front of you and I could hardly hear that squeak." Bo Lifen tossed a look at the younger woman and gave her a half-glare. "Fine, I''m going up to say hi." "Can you jump up to the fourth level, old woman?" Ning Bi teased. Bo Lifen clicked her tongue. "You still act like you''re in grade school, spoiled brat." One moment, Li Yang decided to look around more around the bar and then the next second was Bo Lifen vaulting from one side of the wall to another¡ªuntil she seized the ledge of Li Yang and company''s balcony railings. Never much of a cultivator herself, she was still pretty damn good at keeping up. Bo Lifen heaved herself up and sat on the marble railings with an awkward smile. "Do you mind if I swing by?" she asked. "Wait¡ªthere''s another one?" The idol Bai Minghua glanced at Bo Lifen at the same time as a Tigress Spirit did¡­ their argument coming to a screeching halt. Bo Lifen frowned at them. "What do you guys mean by another one?" She shook her head and then glanced at Li Yang. "I''m just here to say hi and how''s it going? Haven''t seen you in awhile, I guess." "I was kind of gone for a bit." Li Yang replied with a shrug, but then cleared his throat. It has been some time since they''ve met and she looked more relaxed than when they first met. It was kind of nice to see that kind of change. "How are you, Miss Lifen?" "Nothing much, same old, same old. I went out to go out with my friend¡­ it''s a thing I''ve been doing lately." Bo Lifen smiled and then looked over to the ground floor. "But if it weren''t for my grandmother asking about you¡ªI wouldn''t have guessed or noticed that you were gone." Li Yang took her words as it was and nodded. "Ah, I''ll visit Grandma Lanfen then. Right as soon as I can." "That''s great, she misses you." Bo Lifen crossed her arms over her chest and let out a small smile. "As to why¡ªI still don''t know, but she''d appreciate that. Now that''s settled and I''ve said my greetings, I''ll leave you alone with your company." "Of course¡­ enjoy your evening with your friend," Li Yang said. He watched her turn her back on him, angling herself for a drop. Bo Lifen gave him one last look and a smile. "Yeah, to you as well. See you around." She hopped off and returned to her friend. Bo Lifen left Li Yang with two beautiful and wonderful women in their own right, but it wasn''t inaccurate to say that she might have accidentally stolen the spotlight. That was what both women decided together. Taiga already chanting Tea Temptress in the back of her mind and just overall glad that nobody else decided to drop by. The Tigress Spirit had absolutely no clue where Ying Yue He and... she didn''t know what would have happened if she were here as well. Li Yang cleared his throat and then glanced at Taiga and Narissa. "Have you guys stopped arguing?" Narissa glanced at Taiga and shared a look. "Perhaps the two of us can come to our own truce," the Mermaid shrugged and tried to appear unaffected. If she were dressed a little more provocatively then the man''s eyes wouldn''t exactly have strayed too far away. She blamed the little spat of the tiger spirit that distracted her. "A more amicable arrangement since there are other more important things than in-fighting." Taiga spoke up. "A temporary one though." "I suppose that''s better than nothing," Li Yang smiled a bit, although he resisted the urge to scratch his head or just shake it. It was once again one of those times where a sudden arrangement occurred right behind his back. It was a tad puzzling, although he got the general scope of where their sudden truce came from. "You know it''s not like we''re going to kill each other or anything." Narissa crossed her arms. "We''re not savages." He knew that much. "It would be a little too difficult if the both of you were too hostile to one another, regardless. So thank you." "If Bossman wants me to get along with her... Taiga will tolerate her. It''s not like we''ll see her often if she''s so busy with work anyway." Taiga smiled brightly. "The life of this idol thing must be so exhausting, so Taiga recommends you get ample rest whenever you can." Narissa smiled back. "As long as I don''t see your face when your ''boss'' and I meet up, that''s perfectly fine. After all, it''s not how much time you spend with a person, it''s the quality of it." "Is there something you''re trying to imply?" "There''s no hidden meaning, it''s obvious from what I said." "Nu uh," Taiga immediately threw a look at Li Yang. "She''s trying to be mean to me." "Oh, I say something that offends you and you think I''m being horrible?" Narissa raised a brow. "The nerve of this woman. Did you grow up in some kind of isolated forest? There''s a lot more nuance to what I said." "Alright, that''s enough." Li Yang said. Taiga stuck her tongue out. "I really don''t know what you see in her." Narissa threw a look at the former CEO. "Is it because she''s like some sunshine in your life? The fire to your icy demeanor or something ridiculous like that?" "That''s because Taiga''s probably better in bed than you," Taiga flicked her wrist. "What did you just say?" ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Hrm, pitting women against women. Sometimes, it''s a societal thing¡ªeveryone kind of compares one another to each other and there''s always competition. It can''t be helped sometimes when it''s become an unfortunate norm. There are circumstances and people who are unafraid to share, but yeah¡­ maybe these women will get along down the line. Or not. We''ll see. Chapter 241: Moving To A Certain Direction (1) Bo Lifen When they had first met¡­ things didn''t go well at all. That was the truth of things and yet Bo Lifen threw one last look at the balcony where Li Yang was before she was dragged by Ning Bi to one of their own tables. "I should have asked him¡­" Bo Lifen muttered underneath her breath. "Asked him what?" Bo Lifen sat down in one of their chairs and picked up a menu. "You know Bo Ling''s milktea shop?" "Of course, Bo Ling offered to hire me there. It''s ridiculous when he treated Hua Zhao and didn''t even offer to do the same." Ning Bi snickered slightly, before she cleared her throat. "What about it?" Bo Lifen stared at the younger. "I don''t really mind if the three of you have your own little disagreements, but you really should settle whatever it is that''s going on between you guys." Ning Bi pursed her lips, but then clasped her fingers. "We''re not here to talk about me¡ªwho was the guy earlier?" "You don''t recognize him?" Bo Lifen blinked. "Did my brother not mention him before?" "Wait¡­ is he that guy who was supposed to be insanely rich?" Ning Bi lifted a brow. She faintly recalled something and then called for a waiter. "I wouldn''t have expected that people like him would get involved in cultivation and the spiritual world in the first place¡­ unless he''s trying to obtain immortality. He''s trying to obtain immortality, isn''t he?" "Who''s not trying to obtain immortality?" "Uh, those who trust the wheel of reincarnation?" Ning Bi replied without missing a beat. "And the factions who believe in those are the Hua and Bo family, along with others, so I can''t see why you answered like that." Bo Lifen managed a small smile. "You got me¡ªbut for a man like him who has a business empire on his shoulders¡­ What''s not to like about managing one''s business for as long as he likes? If he gets bored, then he could drop it at a hat and then do something else if he wanted to." "Oh, you''re comparing him to kings and rulers that want to keep their sovereignty?" Ning Bi propped a hand underneath her chin. "Is that what he really wants? There''s nothing more relieving than dying being reborn again. Another try at life with a blank state is less burdensome on the mind and spirit than those who live continuously." "I don''t know him that well to say¡­" Bo Lifen started and then glanced at the balcony across from them. "I suppose if having several women in his arms is a component of that sovereignty thing then he''s doing quite well already." "Hah, I chose a great spot." Ning Bi''s lips twitched into an amused smirk. "I didn''t know that he was with some company. Is that why you started running back to me?" "He wasn''t in my plans." "But you''re going to ask him to drink some boba at your brother''s milk tea shop?" "Yes," Bo Lifen said. "But don''t take it the wrong way¡ªyou know he''s an influential person, my brother needs a little help in boosting his shop''s fame. Or else what about the money I loaned him for leasing the space? Real estate isn''t cheap, Ning Bi." "You helped your brother to set up the business?" "Yeah. So this is what it''s all about¡ªwith just his name or anything at all in a photo¡­ that''s already great marketing. I don''t think he''ll mind if I ask for a little favor like that¡ªunless he''s busy. If he can''t make it, then it''s too bad." Ning Bi tilted her head. "Did you try to convince me to believe you? Wait. You''re trying to convince and reassure yourself and I''m nothing but just some random friend you picked to hear this out and judge you?" Before Bo Lifen could say anything, someone came up and interrupted her. "Excuse me, ladies?" A wild djinn floated up in front of them with a notepad. It was a beautiful purple spirit that looked like its wisp of essence was made from a purple blanket decorated with crystalline stars. It gave them a smile. "What are the two of you having tonight?" Bo Lifen sighed and then ordered a drink. "One frozen strawberry daiquiri please." "And here I thought you didn''t drink alcohol." Ning Bi smiled at her and then turned to the waiter. "A side porch sangria, and maybe some chips? You want to try the blue guacamole with tortilla chips?" "Blue?" "It''s a signature color in our blue template meals," the waiter explained before snapping her fingers. All at once, their tables were filled with a pitcher of their desired meal and drinks. "But it seems like it''s your first time here, so this one is on the house." "Huh?" Ning Bi cleared her throat. "I''ve never been here either." Bo Lifen rubbed the back of her neck and then looked at the djinn. "So¡­ does that mean that you remember every face that comes here?" "It''s no trouble at all for a djinn''s memory." "Well¡­ so it means that you know that blue-haired woman on the other side? The Mermaid?" "Oh, you mean the one known as the star idol Bai Minghua?" The djinn lowered her head slowly. "That is correct. She has been to this establishment approximately twenty-eight times in the last three years." "Er¡­ shouldn''t asking something like this be illegal?" Ning Bi tossed a look at Bo Lifen. "No, I''m just testing the expanses of our friend''s mind. I''m impressed that you can remember that much¡ªI work in the service industry myself, well, I''m mostly a manager now¡­ but people like you are the ones who know customers well and probably treat them great, am I right?" "Yes? I think that''s a must in the service industry." "Even a djinn is stumped on what''s going through your head." Ning Bi raised her hands. "What are you thinking about now?" Bo Lifen pursed her lips and grabbed a napkin. "Can I get a pen¡ª" The djinn offered her notepad and pen. "Here you go, Miss." Chapter 242: Moving To A Certain Direction (2) One moment, Li Yang was seeing Taiga and Narissa argue and contest about little details that he didn''t think mattered that much¡ªsome guesses as to how Taiga and Li Yang got involved or who did it better. But then something else happened. "I really don''t know what you see in her." Narissa threw a look at him. Her gaze was both discriminating and yet curious. "Is it because she''s like some sunshine in your life? The fire to your icy demeanor or something ridiculous like that?" "That''s because Taiga''s probably better in bed than you," Taiga flicked her wrist. "What did you just say?" Right before he could intercede on their behalf, like glittering smoke of silk and dreams¡­ a woman appeared in front of him. Vapours and mists of purple lilacs and a night twinkling sky was streaked across her skin and there was a shimmering smile on her face. Alluring and beautiful, despite her lower half being nothing but mists¡ªshe caught the eye. "One Whiskey Smash for a certain man on this table. Refreshing peppermint and with a lemon for that extra zing¡ªyou must be the one who''s receiving this." "This is for me?" Li Yang stared at the mixed bourbon and at the djinn serving it to him. He never encountered one before but there was a certain phantasmal nature to her that made him stare a little¡ªuntil he snapped out of it. There was no toying with his mind like Narissa or the High Priestesses had done before¡ªher very nature was just striking. The djinn grinned at him mischievously and nodded. "Yes, it''s all for you." She leaned towards him and blocked the viewpoint of both Narissa and Taiga. There was something tucked in her chest almost as if she wanted him to take a peek at it¡ªshe pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to him. A message was written on it. ''Would you like to have some boba with me?'' Bo Lifen Li Yang stared at the woman in surprise¡ªalmost misread the note and thought he saw ''boobs'', but then nodded slowly. "Okay, thank you for the drink." He accepted the small glass and sipped the alcohol down. The method of Bo Lifen for conveying the message was weird and yet particular. Did she have any idea that this messenger stored it in her breasts? Both Taiga and Narissa thought that the djinn girl was flirting it up with Li Yang and weren''t taking it too kindly. Compared to Taiga and Narissa¡ªthis girl was pretty much of a shapeshifter of smoke and dreams. She could transform into anything that she or he desired. "Is he into that¡ª" Narissa muttered to herself. Contesting on who was better in sex wasn''t going to be a fair competition if they were going to be up against a shapeshifter. Taiga fiddled with her thumbs and then clamored for attention. She leaned sideways and waved her arm animatedly. "Bossman, are we not going to leave yet? Or miss¡ªhow about you getting my orders too?" A plate of fries and a burger appeared on the table. Courtesy of the djinn. "Oh, this is good." Taiga immediately reached out for the burger. If she wasn''t going to get his piece of meat¡ªshe might as well sink into another one. The thrill and joy of eating fast food after staying in Shou Temple and only eating boiled root crops and grass was evident in her face. Narissa wrinkled her nose at the gluttonous spirit and tried not to make a face. Whatever was interesting or even satisfying about an oily and fatty meal was something that the Mermaid was never going to understand. Li Yang finished his drink in one go and then leaned back a little. While he wasn''t a heavy drinker¡ªthat one wasn''t too terrible either. He looked at both Taiga and Narissa¡ªwondering if the two would mind it if he excused himself and leave them alone. ¡­ But then, that was another question in and of itself. Why should he leave the two of them and approach Bo Lifen immediately? Surely, the two were acquaintances and friends at most. He might have slept with all of them¡ªbut that wasn''t important either. He thought that the djinn threw her hair back at him and sashayed her hips before leaving¡­ and that was also something else. Albeit, the djinn might have just been teasing him and didn''t want to do anything with him. But yeah, he wanted to meet up with Bo Lifen to just catch up a little. The minty and slightly sour bourbon was good, but something a little sweet wasn''t too bad either. "Is something the matter, Yang?" Narissa asked. Li Yang said. "No, not at all. But I do think I cannot stay here too long, I have to get going." "Huh, where are we going?" Taiga managed to say in between her bites of her meal. She scarfed down her food and tossed Narissa a look. It was time to say goodbye to this fishy woman? She was relieved. "Well¡ªthat''s where I have some tiny problems." Li Yang began. His tone caught Taiga off guard and she looked at him. While Taiga didn''t want to ask it right in front of Narissa. "Um, are you not going to need Taiga?" "I''d like to be with you¡ªbut I think I need to do something alone. But before that, I really need to know what I should focus on first." Li Yang replied with a tired smile. He wanted to be considerate¡­ but could he just tell them that he wanted to have some alone time with Bo Lifen? That was bound for some serious consequences¡ªand he wasn''t even actually in a full and proper relationship with anyone yet at this point. Li Yang stayed in his seat and considered the circumstances. ¡­ and kind of hated his situation a little bit more. Perhaps some other guy wouldn''t have thought about this at all and just spent with whoever they wanted to¡ªor if they only had one person in their life then their time could be split between work, responsibilities and then their partner. However, it wasn''t all that crystal clear to him. Chapter 243: Moving To A Certain Direction (3) "¡ªJust tell them the truth!" Bao emerged from thin air and threw Li Yang an aggravated look. The creature disappeared after they entered the Underworld Shrine of a certain Goddess in the spiritual plane¡­ but now it couldn''t just stand by and simply act as some camera. Li Yang, Narissa and the others were still within the bar and the latter were surprised by the man''s desire to be alone. Taiga was immediately worried that she was being clingy, but Narissa on the other hand kept her gaze on him. "You''ve barely been with us and you want to leave? May I remind you yet again that you''ve gone for the last months?" Narissa said. "Maybe you''ve been with other people¡ªbut the thing is¡­ Taiga wants to be with you. You just can''t go and say you have important things to do and then leave us hanging." "Er, Taiga thinks that Bossman can actually just do that." Taiga scratched her head and looked at Li Yang. "At least this time, Bossman actually knows how to say goodbye properly. Instead of disappearing¡ªthis is already an improvement for Bossman." The way that Taiga said those words made him think that maybe he was being a little too selfish. He neglected to ponder about what went through their heads at a moment like this and assumed they''d be alright. "Narissa is right, I did meet someone who told me that whatever happens¡ªtime doesn''t stop pushing forward at all. I''m still surprised that either of you want to do anything with me at all." Li Yang admitted, remembering his conversation with Mitsuko as he gazed at the two of them. "I disappeared without a trace and it would have been fair for any of you to just leave." "Hey, we''re kind of attached by the hip at this point." Narissa crossed her arms. "Not because we''re that close or anything, but I made a decision back then to be with you¡­ and that''s not retractable isn''t it? At least for my part, I knew what it was going to be and I still made the decision. I bet Taiga over here can just run away like some little scared puss if she wanted." The tigress spirit chewed on her lip, before finally speaking. "Taiga did go¡­ er, didn''t wait patiently or anything like that. Taiga went back to Shou Temple Sect after getting paid by the Shen Society¡ªbut when Taiga saw and heard that you were here, Taiga wanted to meet you so she did." All three of them were very different people with wildly various backgrounds. One left her home to pursue what they wanted, another lost everything on that fateful day and was tossed around by fate and the last but not the least poured his energy to what might have been the only thing that gave him purpose and what he was good at. Now it was a little strange that they all found themselves together. It wasn''t as if everyone liked each other¡ªand there were varying scales to one''s emotions. But that moment of conversation over the loud music playing over the background and over the bright flashy lights on the dance area¡­ in this quieter and more calmer private balcony for visitors to dine and drink in¡ªit was an actual effort put into understanding one another. Bao grunted and wanted to insert itself into the conversation. Based on Li Yang''s words earlier, this is what it said further. "Task number one for you: Get yourself the next woman on your main quest. You''ve already involved yourself with these women so call it a day." The creature was aware that Li Yang initially wanted to have milk tea with Bo Lifen¡ªdespite the woman having melted strawberry alcohol just across from them, but it wasn''t supposed to care about that¡ªonly the linear progression of the man in terms of the System operation and quests. Narissa directly looked up at the creature. "You got yourself a little whiny bitch." "What?" Taiga frowned at her words. "Not you, sourpuss." Narissa rolled her eyes and then gave Li Yang a look. "I think I''m starting to get what you mean by curse." Li Yang glanced at Bao who he had been ignoring and imperceptibly nodded. In another period, he would have heeded those words easily and made it a point to be done with what he already accomplished. However, Bao seemed to have failed or refused to acknowledge that the people that Li Yang were with were people too. Compared to visual novel dating sim games, he couldn''t easily just switch gears and then love targets. Each of the women could see each other, talk and have an actual conversation. They simply didn''t remove themselves from his life just because his current love target or object of affection wasn''t them anymore. Or Li Yang liked someone else. Taiga already knew there was something up from the moment that Li Yang excused himself from the hospital. They have just finished travelling to the spiritual plane to retrieve Luo Ju Di''s soul and make Chunhua happy, but somehow, this ''Bai Minghua'' woman was important. Even if they didn''t seem to be actually good friends. Taiga distinctly remembered Ying Yue He proudly showing off and waving her tickets to Taiga in the office before¡ªand saying she and Li Yang were going for a date at the zoo, without Taiga around¡­ but it also meant that was the time that they met Bai Minghua too. So what happened in between those times? Taiga hadn''t been able to pry an answer out from Ying Yue He back then so it mustn''t have been any good. Was it related to this woman herself? There was a secret ongoing and Taiga needed to know. "What curse?" Taiga looked at him. "Is it something that made you go to another world to look for a cure? Why didn''t you tell Taiga about it¡­ or Ying Yue He? How come this woman knows it? Was she able to help you?" "I definitely helped him a lot¡­ but it seems like the curse is still active." Narissa eyed the floating creature on Li Yang''s shoulder. Bao never bothered acknowledging the woman and instead kept an annoyed face. It was his time to make a response for their queries. Consternation was on Taiga''s face and it made him hesitate. There was an answer that was in his mind and it was the very first decision he made when he got himself punched by the panda creature and into this mess in the first place. "I''d prefer to have you and Miss Ying Yue He safe and away from harm¡ªso it''s a lot better for things to be this way. You don''t need to worry about this curse, Taiga. It''s not your burden to bear." "But what about her¡ªdid you ask for her help because she could do it?" Taiga pointed at Narissa with a frown. She eventually just lowered her hand and walked up to him, proceeding to plop down on his lap. Narissa herself wanted to object to that act¡ªbut then let it be. It was their conversation and not hers. "Bossman, you didn''t tell me or Ying Yue He about this because you wanted to protect us, didn''t you?" Taiga rested her hands on his shoulders. "The fewer people involved with me, it makes it better and easier to manage." "You just wanted to handle this alone." Taiga pouted. "Perhaps you''re right." Taiga started shaking his shoulders and rocked back and forth on his lap childishly. "Well, you could have asked our opinions about this first, Bossman! We could have left if we thought it was too dangerous, but you''re not giving us a choice at all." Li Yang sighed a little and looked at her face. "I didn''t tell you any of this because¡ª" Taiga grabbed his face and leaned closer. "Bossman, you think you know what''s good for us without even asking me or Ying Yue He. We''re stronger than you think and I wouldn''t have left you at all. You didn''t need to be worried about that." He stifled a chuckle. "Worrying and managing¡ªthat''s what I do. It can''t be helped when I do it for a living." That he was always concerned? That it was better for him to be the one rejecting people than for it to happen the other way around? Even if he didn''t say it aloud, his thoughts strayed into that direction sometimes. "Well, this can''t be helped too." Taiga stared at him and then leaned down for a kiss. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Yes, please insert Aladdin''s Genie, Disney Style, Robin William''s line of the Genie trying to convince Aladdin to tell Jasmine the truth. I live for moments like these. xD Chapter 244: Moving To A Certain Direction (4) It was an impromptu kiss that eventually rose to new heights and deepened at the same time. Li Yang wasn''t a man who was inclined for public displays of affection¡ªexhibitionism wasn''t his thing. And yet this might as well have been his new path of life considering all the circumstances. Taiga''s lips were soft and melded with his, with a slightly salty aftertaste to it when she leaned back away from him. Her orange hair fell over slightly back her shoulders and made the redness that streaked her skin look like a blushing tomato. "Don''t hide stuff from Taiga anymore, okay?" she said. Li Yang stared up at the tigress spirit and smiled lightly. "Well, it can''t be helped anymore. I''ll let you know." "If anybody''s asking, I''m so glad that the two of you could make this little nook into your private room." Narissa said and flicked her wrist. The Mermaid known as Bai Minghua was definitely used to seeing and hearing about scandals like this one in the celebrity industry¡ªshe was never involved in them, but seeing the two of them snuggle and canoodle with one another was definitely something else. Maybe if she was the one kissing him, then there would be no complaints. But it was Taiga so she might as well just nag. "Apologies¡ªit was indecent for us to do that." Li Yang cleared his throat. One needed to remember that they were still in quite a rather traditionalist country, no matter the actual people involved¡­ at least, that was still how reserved his thinking could be. Either way, Taiga glanced at the other woman and only gave her a little proud grin. Narissa rolled her eyes. "Geez, as if you could call that quick smooch a real kiss. We could do one better if you wanted it¡ªbut didn''t you say that you had something to do? Your little friend might be reminding you to do the same thing." "Little friend?" Taiga blinked. "Taiga''s not short¡ªyou are!" Li Yang cleared his throat and followed Narissa''s line of sight, eventually ending up where Bao was in the first place. The creature seemed to be visible to those involved in the System and Heavens play. "I do have a task, but I have ample time to finish it. What I wanted to do is to have some alone time maybe and talk with¡­ Bo Lifen properly. She sent me a note that asked if I wanted to have boba with her." Li Yang admitted at last. "Oh, the girl from earlier?" Narissa said. Taiga''s brows knitted together at his confession. It made her wonder if it truly was alright that he admitted that aloud, because now she was aware that he wanted alone time to be with someone else. It was like Ying Yue He all over again. Except this time, the Bossman knew she was into him. "You want to talk with the tea temptress¡ªer, her, Bossman?" Taiga gave him a look. "Yes." There was a mild panic evident in Taiga''s tone. "Wasn''t sleeping with her a one-time thing? Wait, is Taiga a one-time thing too? After everything that Taiga said¡ªshe''s nothing more but a one-time and one-night stand? Taiga never actually asked for a label but really, that tea tempress?" Narissa snickered. "Nice nickname." Bao raised a paw to its face. "Okay, here we go." In the corner of the man''s vision were a small screen that popped up and relayed the onslaught of new messages. [ Owl Brain: This conversation took long enough to start ] [ The One Who Slaughters: Let these women fight and the remaining one be the victor and drink the others'' blood to become stronger ] [ Sea Foam: This is supposed to be a polyamorous relationship¡ªhe just failed to mention that, didn''t he? ] [ Observer ''Pomegranate'' Has Prepared Popcorn For Fellow Spectators ] [ Observer ''Trite'' Recalls Some Memories ] [ Observer ''Apache'' Welcomes The New Development ] There were too many messages, reactions and perceptions that came into his attention¡ªwhen all he wanted was to just get boba with Bo Lifen. Did he think it was ridiculous that it turned out like this? A part of him felt that way. But this was going to be part of his life, wasn''t it? Several women in his arms unless he was able to figure out a way to stop the System and Heavens once and for all. He didn''t want to see anybody get upset over this at all¡ªhe didn''t like problems starting in general. He reached out and held Taiga''s hand. She was the one more upset about it than anyone. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Just because I want to talk with someone else doesn''t mean that I like you any less, Taiga." "Do you want to just talk with Bo Lifen¡ªor do you want to get some pounding with her too?" Narissa cleared her throat. "Because that''s clearly different. Friends talking and hanging out with them is alright¡­ but you and Taiga here seem to have something already." "You know the situation, Narissa." Narissa blinked at the use of her name. "Wait how did you¡ªoh, I okay, I got it. Yes, I overheard and figured it out thanks to your little friend." She redirected her gaze back to the Panda, but eventually turned back to him. "So yeah, what''s going to happen next?" "You''re interrupting our conversation!" Taiga tossed a look at Narissa and frowned. "We''ve barely seen each other and Taiga has to share her time with you now¡ªseveral hours ago, I was with Bossman''s ex-girlfriend or something." "Luo Ju Di wasn''t exactly my girlfriend." Narissa propped a hand underneath her chin. The woman''s elbow rested on the surface of their shiny table, the leftover meal of Taiga completely gone. "You don''t look the playboy type, but you must be clearly a stud. Not my girlfriend¡ªvery interesting. So you''re not a label type, as evident with Taiga here already." "... I guess it wasn''t brought up," Li Yang said. "Nobody brought it up at all?" He thought about all of the times he had sex, and most of the times, their precursor was a lot of strange events. Bo Lifen simply said she wanted to lose her virginity to the Kitagawa Twins, being motivated to do it on a whim or ''payment'' for some error in their acts. Li Yang shrugged. "It may or may not have exactly crossed my mind. They just kind of happened after all, but I see that this has led to this kind of scenario. I''m usually organized with everything but this..." Narissa raised a brow. "Oh, is this a commitment issue?" "What?" Li Yang stared at the Mermaid. "Hey, I''m asking¡ªnothing''s wrong with open relationships. But for someone like you, I think you still want it to be exclusive right? You know how royalty have their harems? Although it''s more of a political move than just sexy time, too." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Phew, finally done with the Privilege tiers this month. I may or may not have underestimated the weakness in my wrists¡­ but there we have it. Aug 6, 2021 and we''re back to regular releases. I also did not expect that we''re going to have this harem/polyamory talk while it''s just approximately fewer than ten women, but here we are! Just because you''re in a harem doesn''t mean people don''t feel jealous. Relationships and people are messy. Who knew? https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-is-polyamory Chapter 245: What It Meant To Be In This Position (1) Narissa decided to do everyone a favor and ask the question that all of them had been waiting for. "Hey, I''m asking¡ªnothing''s wrong with open relationships. But for someone like you, I think you still want it to be exclusive right? You know how royalty have their harems? Although it''s more of a political move than just sexy time, too." "An exclusive harem¡­ I think that''s a given, is it not?" Li Yang asked. "The traditional one¡ªmedieval? But I can see why you''d still want it to be like that." Narissa rubbed her chin. "Although that one has got to have hierarchy within the group¡ªor in your people''s method of Imperial Concubines, there''s the Main Consort and then the Royal Concubines." "How the heck do you know all of these?" Taiga raised a brow at the Mermaid. Narissa shrugged. "Asian Dramas? After a tough day at work¡ªwhat else do you expect me to do? I veg out a lot. Mermaid or not, the people here can actually be pretty workaholic. Competitive market and all that." "Taiga just kills monsters and she gets paid for it," Taiga said. "Lucky you." Narissa sighed and then looked back at Li Yang. "So, Mister International¡­ Interspecies? Eh, let''s just call you Mister World¡ªyou know what, forget it. What are your plans now? Chase after that girl and then another? Don''t forget about us too." "Yes, I''m aware of that," Li Yang said. "Although to what exactly ''not forgetting'' pertains to¡ªwe''ll probably need a longer discussion for that. A schedule most likely¡ªcheck where our calendars align." "Good enough for me. What about you, Taiga?" Taiga crossed her arms. "Erm, Taiga just wants Bossman to do¡­ whatever he wants? Taiga''s sounding like Ying Yue He, but if Bossman wants to have boba with Bo Lifen then that''s fine too." "Oh you poor thing." Narissa placed a hand over her chest. "You''re bound for more adjustments?" "What?" Narissa waved her off. "Nothing. But it''s all clear. We don''t get all of his time¡ªbut that''s a given." She looked at Li Yang and cleared her throat. "At most, I''ll probably see you once a month¡ªmaybe an entire week if I don''t have any schedules or engagement with work. But I suppose you''ll like that over an overly clingy woman?" "Hey!" Taiga frowned. "I didn''t mention any names, you''re the one who got offended." Narissa rolled her eyes. Li Yang nodded and stood up. He glanced over towards the other end of the building and saw that Bo Lifen was still around with her friend. He gave his two companions a nod. "Alright, thank you. Now that it''s all settled, then it seems like I''ll excuse myself for now." "Wait, you''re going already?" Taiga straightened up and gave him a look. It was a small whine and pout that made her cute, despite them just settling this. "Don''t tell us that you don''t have a home or anything?" Narissa threw a look at Taiga. She threw him one last look and then winked. "Go get ''em tiger." "Taiga''s the tiger!" Li Yang shook his head and then made his way to the other end of the building. With one concentration of qi in his feet, the man bursted from Narissa''s balcony to the current one where Bo Lifen was staying. Bo Lifen looked up from her strawberry slushie in surprise. "Yang?" "Oh, he finally came over." A young woman who seemed to be at least ten years her junior said. She looked up to him and waved. "Please take care of my elder sister for the night, you''re doing the world a favor. Goodbye." Without waiting for another word, the young woman leapt off and once again caused another small shaking as she landed. Bo Lifen rubbed her forehead and gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry about that, forget what Ning Bi said. I''m surprised you came over here¡­ weren''t you with your uh, friends?" "You sent the server earlier and said something about boba tea?" Bo Lifen''s eyes widened. "Oh, I didn''t mean like right now¡ªright now. Did you excuse yourself from them because of me?" "They don''t mind it. Since I''ve just returned, I''m making it a point to meet up with all the people I''ve last been in contact with." She pushed her drink away back to the table and stood up. Bo Lifen looked him in the eye and smiled slightly. "Well, if I''m the next on your list¡ªlet''s do it right now. It''s the least I could do to welcome your return." "That would be much appreciated." "I never knew that you had a sweet tooth." Bo Lifen stepped towards the ledge of the balcony and looked down. They were approximately four storeys high right now and while it took her some effort to go up, Bo Lifen was now contemplating how to get down in one swoop. Li Yang didn''t say anything, noticing her expression. "There''s not a lot that I know about you either." Li Yang said. He placed his hands into his pocket and looked down. "Well, there''s still a lot I don''t know in general¡ªlike this place. I didn''t know it existed." "I think it''s supposed to be a temporary refuge for all of the world travelers from various species and races. People who I didn''t even know exist are here¡­ and most tend to be fantastical on their own. People like us need to train how to get down without injury¡ªbut some random winged humanoid person just goes down." "Really?" Li Yang raised a brow. "We were people watching earlier." Bo Lifen cleared her throat. "It''s not every time you see those Vampires with logical reasoning in their heads compared to our local Jiangshi, you know?" "I did not know." "Well it''s not that important¡ªlet''s just get out of here, shall we?" She gave him a sideway smile. "Would you mind if I try to carry you?" Li Yang asked. "Huh?" Bo Lifen blinked at him. "I''ve been training while I was gone¡­ and there''s something I''d like to try." Li Yang offered his hand. "If you don''t mind." Bo Lifen stared at him but then shrugged. She placed her hand in his and looked at him closely. "I was curious as to why you were gone¡ªbut it must have been your training arc, huh?" Chapter 246: What It Meant To Be In This Position (2) "My training what?" Li Yang stifled a snort and then eventually leapt off with Bo Lifen hand in hand with him. It was easy enough to land without no longer sustaining and impervious injuries at his level¡ªbut the man concentrated and allowed a high concentration of qi expel around him. Whether it was just the atmosphere around him that seemed to be filled with energy or just his skill coming to life, he made a way to help the two of them reach the ground floor safely. Similar to what others had done in Telriah¡ªenergy coalesced and formed into a stronger platform. The two of them landed on the qi platform without any troubles at all and Bo Lifen not looking shaken up at all. "What the... this is a high concentration of qi¡ªyou can use qi besides cultivating your body now? Don''t you think it''s a little wasteful?" Bo Lifen pursed her lips. "Could have used this to strengthen up your foundation and meridians." "It''s not a waste if I have more than enough energy for it." Li Yang said. People in Telriah were more willing to throw large-scale attacks due to the natural energy being higher than that of earth¡­ but that didn''t mean he couldn''t do the same here. "...If you say so. I''ve seen sword qi before, but trying to use it to make platforms and other objects? This is a new technique of yours?" "You can say that¡ªbut about that boba?" Bo Lifen blinked and then smiled. "Oh right, it''s not that far from here. My brother operates it¡ªI don''t know if you remember it, but my brother would be glad if you mention that." It was a tiny favor that she hoped that Li Yang wouldn''t mind doing. "I can actually recall that conversation." Li Yang replied. He didn''t need to mention that it crossed his mind a couple of times as the two of them made their way out. "We had dinner that night with my brother and his girlfriend." "Yeah, that''s right and you took me home because it was raining hard¡ª" Bo Lifen''s voice trailed off and Li Yang was also aware of why she stopped. It felt like the two of them were still caught up in the heavy drumming of the rain. The memory of the two of them in the backseat of his car was distinctive, memorable¡ªand they never really managed to talk about it at all. When the two of them met at Bai Minghua''s concert, Bo Lifen was with other people. So it never actually happened that they were able to discuss what exactly it meant for them to sleep together. Now that a year had passed, it felt better to just let it go. Or not mention it at all. Unless one of them were to actually bring it up properly. "Your parents seem to be like nice people." Li Yang commented as they stepped out of the building. The two of them didn''t pay much mind to the two guards or bouncers outside of the bar that shouted them a goodnight. "I guess they are, I mean¡ªmost parents are decent." Bo Lifen said. "Although, I swear they favor Bo Lei way too much and they''re too easy on Bo Ling. Their naming scheme isn''t too great either. It''s like a father named Davidson, naming their child Davie?" "A father''s legacy, I suppose." "I mean yeah¡ªmaybe. But a kid''s different from their parents." The two of them didn''t run or even catch a ride in one of the taxis or vehicles available in the streets. Li Yang and Bo Lifen just walked together and continued to chat. Nobody mentioned or brought up the fact that they were still hand in hand¡ªdid anybody notice it in the first place? The two of them didn''t seem to take notice at all, still stuck in conversation and doing everything in their ability to not bring that night up. The small shop in the business district of the city was almost unnoticeable with all the skyscrapers available¡ªbut somehow, there was something about it that caught the eye. Bo Lifen opened the door into the shop. "Oh sorry we''re closing¡ªwait, it''s you." Bo Ling stopped trying to turn down the customer when he realized it was his older sister. He then noticed that she was with company and quickly cleared his throat and smiled. "Ah, welcome to the shop. Is there anything I can get the two of you?" Bo Lifen sighed and gave Li Yang a look. Can you see what she was dealing with as a younger brother? That small message was clear in her face and it amused Li Yang like no other. Compared to his older brother, this guy seemed like a saint. "I was told that this place had good boba tea?" "Only the best!" Bo Ling replied immediately and then turned towards the preparation table. "I''ll whip you up a drink, sir. On the house¡ªlarge with all the extra bobas? You got it all. Sugar level? Let''s make it 125%." Bo Lifen rolled her eyes. "Try not to sound too enthusiastic, Ling." "Don''t embarrass me in front of the customer!" "Okay, okay. Just get me whatever." "You''ll pay up, right?" "Fine." Their small conversation quickly settled down as Bo Lifen finally realized she was still holding on to Li Yang. She tugged her hand away and motioned to the chairs. "Let''s have a seat while we wait." "Thank you." The two of them sat down and somehow found it a little less easier to start a conversation with it just being the three of them. Narissa''s words earlier about his plans¡­ Whether it was just hanging out with Bo Lifen as a friend or trying to get into her pants again¡ªit was a little terrible thing to think about now. Did he really like any of this? On some level¡ªit was a yes, but this was going against everything that he used to see himself. His life was supposed to be figured out by now. It was easy to make a 10 year to 20 year business plan for a company''s projection. Alright, it wasn''t actually easy¡ªbut now it seemed more easier to imagine than what he had in store for now. Li Yang made a life plan for himself as well. He made some notes and calendars of what he''d like to accomplish for his lifetime. He was already nearly 30 years old and if that felt like just the beginning for some then they weren''t wrong. Because everything was new. The woman sitting beside him, resting her elbow on the table and talking¡ªhe could never imagine meeting her, or just spending time with them. It was a change, not entirely welcome at first¡­ but it wasn''t terrible. He''d reluctantly admit that it was good. He kind of needed this¡­ and that seemed like something he should have acknowledged before. "My brother isn''t actually doing so bad. I''ve checked the books and there''s some revenue." Bo Lifen folded her hands together and looked at him. "What do you think? Can I get an impromptu consultation with you?" "Well, we came here when it''s quite quiet and there''s no other customer than us. So I can''t say anything¡ªbut it seems like your family shelled out quite a bit for this shop so it might take a while for revenue to return¡­ but at the same time, the location is good." Bo Lifen nodded. "Location is important¡ª" "It''s not, people get things delivered nowadays." Bo Ling interrupted. "Hey, you''re not in this conversation." "Right, sorry!" Chapter 247: What It Meant To Be In This Position (3) All it sometimes took was just reaching out to another person to rekindle an old relationship or connection to them. Both Li Yang and Bo Lifen spent the next thirty minutes of the evening just drinking some milk tea together. Neither of them would actually admit that maybe they found their drinks too sweet¡ªBo Lifen really didn''t like sugary drinks that much but pretended to like them. It wouldn''t make sense for her to invite him here if she didn''t. Li Yang just wanted to enjoy and bask in the silence of the evening¡­ and him who usually enjoyed sweets found it weird that his taste buds wasn''t cooperating tonight. "I''m going to start cleaning up." Bo Ling told the two older adults and found it slightly strange that he was here and witnessing his older sister actually pay attention to a man. Oh, he knew that like most girls, Bo Lifen wasn''t beyond listening to boy bands and idols¡ªbut those were just a passing thing. A simple entertainment that she indulged and liked to delude herself with. Actually talking with a man and tolerating their presence? It was another thing completely. Bo Lifen chewed on her straw for a little, simply glad for the soft background music playing within the shop. There was a delicate balance when it came to interacting with people¡ªand she, who was usually on top of her game when it came to customers, didn''t know anything beyond the basics when it came to Li Yang. The two of them haven''t seen each other in quite awhile. Bo Lifen felt like she was the one putting too much effort in reconnecting with the man, and yet Li Yang was accepting all of her advances¡ªer, invitations. So it meant that he was also a teensy bit interested in speaking with her. "Miss Lifen, I forgot to ask how you''re doing? I was still surprised and did not expect that you''d be out around this time of the night," Li Yang said. He placed his drink aside and glanced at the woman who actually looked dressed up for the night. "Oh, you already did¡ªsame old, same old. You know?" "Right. You did say that earlier, I kind of forgot." Neither of them were exactly helpful right now at lengthening the conversation. Earlier, they were able to pluck topics out from thin air¡ªespecially when they were still walking across the streets, but now it quieted down a bit. It wasn''t as if the silence was bad in and of itself. There was no deduction of Charm Points or any indicators on her face that their interactions were unpleasant. Far from it actually. "My answer''s kind of boring so it''s my bad." Bo Lifen looked out the window. "It''s just¡­ compared to you and perhaps to others, my life really does seem to be repetitive. I mean, surely you would understand what I mean, right?" Their old confrontation about him being boring came back to his mind. Li Yang glanced at her from the corner of his vision. "And it gets dull for you? This daily thing?" Bo Lifen brushed some hair behind an ear, sheepishly laughing. "Kind of. I mean I should appreciate that my life doesn''t have very high ups and low lows, but even the stability starts to grate a little on the nerves? So I spiced up things a bit tonight." "That''s not bad." "Of course it''s not." Bo Lifen frowned a little, although it looked closer to a pout. "You could almost say that''s what happened to me." Li Yang replied. "But as all things, even little surprises and changes are best in moderation." "Right¡ªspeaking of that." Bo Lifen eyed her brother from beyond the counter still wiping things up. "Ling you can get home now before it gets too late. I''ll close up the shop for you." "Wait, for real?!" Bo Ling''s eyes widened. "Didn''t you tell me that I should start becoming more responsible for my actions? You nagged me big time last week¡­er, I mean, I got it." Li Yang thought it was amusing that Bo Lifen''s expression was enough to get her brother moving. Albeit, the sudden request or order to have her brother leave surprised him. Did she not want to have the conversation with her brother present with them? After a couple minutes of grouching and shoving, Bo Ling left the milk tea shop to both his sister and Li Yang. He didn''t think that his sister would be so into the guy that she practically chased him out of the establishment, but if it meant that he got a free pass from cleaning¡ªthen that was alright. "... I mean, it''s not like they''re going to mess up the shop, right?" Bo Ling asked himself. He quickly dismissed the thought and tried not to shudder¡ªthe man hailed a taxi to get himself home. It was too icky thinking about sibling relationships. ¡ª- "Why did you make him leave?" Li Yang asked once the younger man was gone. A part of him felt like it meant something¡­ something that flipped a switch on him¡ªbut he needed to be realistic. The two of them just met each other today again. "My brother doesn''t know a thing about everything," Bo Lifen said. "Okay¡ªwait, what do you mean?" Bo Lifen stood up and quickly turned the sign of the tea shop to a "closed" before she glanced at him. "My brother is unaware of cultivation and stuff like that¡­" Li Yang raised a brow. "How come? Isn''t your family one related to cultivation¡ªeven your younger brother Lei is a cultivator." "Did my great grandmother boast about Lei again? That''s so much like her." Bo Lifen crossed her arms underneath her chest and sighed. It really wasn''t the time for Li Yang to think that something might happen between them. The sudden change in her tone was somber and he picked up on it¡­ a rare occasion for him to see a little more vulnerable side to Bo Lifen. "There was just an incident when we were younger¡ªand it was just bad enough that my family decided to use a memory sealing talisman. Not that it was needed in the first place, because he denied it ever happening." "I see¡­ I''m sorry about that." "Thank you¡ªI really shouldn''t have brought that up." Bo Lifen rubbed her face. "But I wanted to make you understand why my brother had to go¡­ and for you to not misinterpret anything about this situation." Li Yang thought it was only him whose thoughts swerved in that direction, but he caught the redness in her face. It wasn''t so strange that it strayed there¡ªthe two of them were perfectly normal adults. "Of course, I do not wish to ruin our evening together by having any of that," Li Yang said. Neither of them explicitly said or explained what "that" was supposed to mean, both were in tune to what the implication was. Friends or not, the thought slipped as long as the moment somewhat called for it. Bo Lifen looked up to his face and raised her brows. The woman thought she could let this moment go and end the tension, but she found herself speaking again. "Ruin the evening? You think something like that would ruin a night?" If anything, the two of them could have laughed about it. But neither of them were exactly the easiest ones to laugh or smile. Li Yang returned her look with a shrug, keeping his posture straight and face clear. "It''s a natural conclusion to draw upon, Miss Lifen¡ªit''s better not to ruin anything by being swayed by one''s impulses. I''ve had my fair share of them and a part of me still regrets at least half of them." "... And what about the other half?" Bo Lifen inquired. She wished she could kick herself in the leg right now, or get up and make her way to the door¡­ Well, just open up and leave. But all she did was sit back down beside him and smile. "What were your conclusions about those times?" "There might have been actions that I wouldn''t actually regret¡ªsome decisions like trusting my brother in building a company? It seemed like a terrible choice at first, but I wanted to support him¡­ and later down the years, it was actually the right course of action." "Right." "Yes." Bo Lifen averted her gaze for what seemed to be a millisecond at the moment that Li Yang cleared his throat. The two of them spoke at the same time. "So what about you?" "Was it regrettable?" The two broke into tiny smiles and sniggers right after that. Bo Lifen raised a hand and motioned to him. She gave him a slightly sheepish smile. "What were you trying to say?" "No, you can go ahead first." "Are you sure? You can totally go ahead first¡­" Bo Lifen looked at him and then just sighed. "Fine, I''ll speak up first. The night won''t end if neither of us keeps pushing it to the other. So what I wanted to ask was about¡ªyou know what." "What do I know?" Li Yang raised a brow. "Oh come on, don''t play dumb with me." Bo Lifen raised a hand to her face and covered it. "You know what I''m trying to say¡­ I just don''t want to say it aloud." Li Yang shrugged. "It might be better if you can actually say it clearly. You''ll be much more relieved." "Relieved you say?" Bo Lifen tried to strangle down her embarrassment. "I''m trying to ask where ''sleeping with my neighbor''s great-grand daughter'' falls into your regret or worth it scale. How could I feel relieved by asking that?" Chapter 248: What It Meant To Be In This Position (4) Li Yang''s lips twitched slightly at the embarrassed expression on Bo Lifen''s face. It was a rare moment to see her like that, but more importantly¡ªhe was actually hoping that she''d ask him about that. "... It wasn''t that bad, I guess." He muttered it in a way that made Bo Lifen''s eyes flare up slightly. She didn''t like his response, but she stifled her own reaction and just looked away. Who wasn''t going to be disappointed by such a lacklustre answer? That was telling in and of itself. Li Yang didn''t actually expect that she''d stay silent and only pout at his response. It was a childish response when she could simply express her distaste¡ªso he cleared his throat. "I''m more inclined to think that it''s an unforgettable moment¡­ that''s what you wanted to hear, isn''t it?" Bo Lifen''s gaze flickered to him and she pursed her lips at him. It was a silent ''duh'' moment, but she eventually nodded. The woman scratched her head as she walked over towards the counter of the milk tea shop. She fished out some keys from the cash register and threw him a look. "Even if we did it on a whim¡ªand I was still inexperienced back then, nobody wants to be regretted. And wasn''t that the time that you started loosening up too? You were extremely fuss back then." Well, she made a small point there. Li Yang wanted to relent to that as he stood up and threw his empty boba tea in one of the trash bins. He waited for her to make the move to the door and for them to take their leave. "I''d say the same for you, Miss Lifen. But it seems like you''ve grown more relaxed¡ªthat''s good to see." Bo Lifen only leaned back against the counter, crossing her legs for a moment. She was probably aware that his gaze drew to her and she took it as the opportunity to talk, toying with the keys. "...Naturally, we tend to loosen up as we age. We start relaxing as stressors and things that used to bother us, no longer do." "For some people surely." "Is Mister Li still stressed at his age? You''re still a kid, huh?" Bo Lifen''s lips twitched into a teasing grin as she called him a child. The two of them were approximately just at the same age, give or take¡ªbut she really had started relaxing and stopped caring about what her relatives'' deigned on her life. "It''s true that some circumstances change¡ªbut I still think it''s far from over to start relaxing at thirty. At least in my scenario, but it''s not childish. I sincerely doubt that anyone knows what they''re doing at any age." "Hearing you say something like that feels strangely liberating." Li Yang watched her expression ease a little, a certain youth still visible in her gaze despite her stern demeanor. Until he eventually found himself remembering what he tried to ask earlier ago. "You distracted me¡ªbut I think you never mentioned any regrets about what we did." "Like I told you, I''ve started to relax and am not bothered by things that happen in life. I take things as they come and don''t worry about events anymore. That time¡­ I liked it. I wouldn''t mind doing it all over again." Bo Lifen rubbed the back of her neck. Contrary to her words, she still looked a little shy and embarrassed about it, she did not appear as unbothered and above it all as she tried to put herself. However that was all he was waiting for. Reading the atmosphere and signs in the air, this was the final confirmation that he wanted to hear from her. It was easy enough to look back on their time together fondly¡ªbut to anticipate another moment within one another''s arms? Li Yang stepped towards her without any hesitation this time. The man''s silhouette was carved by the moonlight, it dipped in from the translucent glass door as he stopped right in front of her. Bo Lifen looked up to him and chewed on her lip, gazing at his expression. She dropped the keys, reached out to grab his tie and pulled her towards him. Pressed between the counter and his body, Bo Lifen was stuck in between as he dipped his head and met her lips. The two of them quickly exchanged fervent and heated kisses. The taste of sugar still present in his tongue. He snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her closer to him. A small sound of approval escaped her lips as his tongue slipped into her mouth. Until she pulled away from him. A trail of saliva dribbled slightly from the corner of her lips, and he looked at her confused¡ªuntil she jerked a thumb at the back storage of the shop. There was a flush present in her face as she did it¡ªbut once she invited him, there was no turning back against it. Bo Lifen moved away from him and stepped towards the front door to lock it. Once she was done with it, she motioned to the backroom. "There''s more privacy at the storage area¡­ it''s a little cramped, but I''m not an exhibitionist." Li Yang chuckled at that. "Alright, that''s clear." Their first time was brought on by a crazed and fervent fire that kept them tugging and pawing off each other''s clothes to get on to their fucking. This time, despite the more conversation and interruptions¡ªLi Yang was still pretty much interested in doing it with her. ¡­ Except that she was sort of right. It was a little hot, stuffy and cramped as she told him. Shelves were filled with an assortment of containers and bags filled with what may or may not have been items meant to store ingredients for mixing milk tea and their containers. Bo Lifen was by the light switch and cleared her throat. "So, lights on or off?" "You''ve never been that considerate before," he said with a chuckle. "Oh come on, we did it in a car¡ªand nearly in a park. There''s not many options for lighting back then!" Bo Lifen flushed hard. "I remember, naturally. But as for the question..." Li Yang shrugged. "The choice is up to you, either is fine with me." "Lights on would be the most appropriate response¡ªat least I can see your beautiful face, or something." Bo Lifen said, sounding a tad disappointed. "I mean, that''s what people would say, right? Or I want to see your tits hanging in the air¡­ not that you''re going to see them." Li Yang was quick to answer back with a brief smile. "I wouldn''t want to do anything uncomfortable with you." "Alright, let''s just get back to kissing me and shutting my mouth." Bo Lifen spread her arms towards him, but averted her gaze shyly. Still reluctant to admit that she was saying this to him. "With pleasure." Despite the brief intercession of conversation, the two of them eventually just got back on with it. The heat inside of the stuffy small room was just the answer they needed¡ªboth started peeling off their clothes one by one. Off came his tie. He nibbled on her bottom lip. Then came off the suit''s jacket. Bo Lifen ran her hands up his torso appreciatively, right before she found herself raising her hands up to throw off her blouse. Li Yang took the moment to appreciate her breasts still covered by her bra¡ªslightly plain and actually looked like it was something she used frequently in her home. While Bo Lifen hadn''t exactly dreamed that she''d meet him up like this¡ªthe clothes she wore had got to go. Her top had flown off to one of the boxes and soon Bo Lifen found that Li Yang expertly took off her bra hook in just one go. As a woman¡ªshe saved that piece of information for later, but the two of them were pretty much just making out and grinding each other at that point. While it was kind of hard to rub against each other with her back against the shop''s roughened walls, it didn''t matter as things started to continue down their thorny and heated path. Li Yang kissed around the crook of her neck, feeling her fingers raking through his hair and the eventual descent he found himself traveling. His hands grasped and squeezed each curvature of her hips and figure, exploring and just feeling the sensation of her skin on his. After leaving kisses and touches all over her neck, he finally drifted to her chest area and grabbed them without hesitation. Encouraged by the soft and sudden moans that escaped her lips¡ªhe took one of her nipples in his mouth. "Oh fuck, that''s great." Her knees rubbed against his crotch, but as they continued¡ªher fingers finally found the button and hooked down his pants. She pressed and then rubbed her hand against the bulge across his boxers, feeling the heat that came off with it. It may have been a little sudden once again, but they were doing it. As far as both were concerned, the two were going all the way again. The way that Li Yang''s mouth elicited breathy moans from Bo Lifen''s lips were enticing and he appreciated all the way she tried to give him pleasure as well. His boxers slid down as she finally grasped his cock with her bare fingers. A soft hiss escaped his lips, temporarily breaking away to look at her face. Bo Lifen seemed caught in the moment of trying to pump him, but she seemed to have read his silent request. "Okay, let''s switch positions." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I did not forget about the smut :3 Praises to the natural and enjoyable act! Although I''m semi-worried if the mood was wrong or it seemed unrealistic lol. Continuation tomorrow. Woosh. Chapter 249: The Next Direction (1) ** "Oh¡ªhey, Ning Bi." Bo Ling answered his phone right before he stepped inside of the taxi. "My sister? Yeah, she went to the milk tea shop and actually brought this guy¡ªhe''s that CEO on the news you know?" Ning Bi''s voice and question rang in Bo Ling''s ears and he tried to stifle a laugh. "My sister and the guy¡ªyou''ve got a very kinky mind. Oh crap, the taxi left me." Bo Ling looked up to see the taxi speeding away from him, no doubt thinking it was weird that he was talking with a girl. "Thanks Ning Bi, you scared off the guy." She made another answer as Bo Ling rolled his eyes. "You seriously don''t know¡ªactually, don''t give me that picture. Please, I need to retain my sanity and can appreciate not thinking about my siblings in that way whatsoever. Bo Lifen''s not the type either¡ªoh come on, I know my sister better than you. I grew up with her. She''s really not the type¡ª" Bo Ling was convinced that his sister wouldn''t do anything crazy. Perhaps he would have cried if he actually knew. ¡ª- They were going at it at the back storage of the milk tea shop. Li Yang was currently doing her doggy-style this time. She had her ass raised up to him and accepted his dick with each and every thrust while he pounded her without any questions. Within the burning heat of the storage room, their passionate fiery actions only matched it. They were going all out with that usual abandon, focused on the building and dizzying pleasure that rang and spread through each of them. Bo Lifen''s face was currently pressed on the wall¡ªher hands trying to maintain a semblance of holding herself up. Her dark hair fell over her face slightly as she tried to stifle in the pants that she was making, trying to not become a mess at having his cock ram in and out of her. It was a losing battle. Whenever he pulled out and then rammed it back in, Bo Lifen tried hard to not make any sounds but eventually just kept muttering underneath her breath. How they ended up in this slightly strange position that had his cock hitting all the right spots was just electrifying. "Oh god, do it right there¡ª" Bo Lifen chewed on her bottom lip and swallowed the small sound of pleasure that built up in her throat. She squirmed and moved slightly back and forth, as much as she could do with the man''s hands on her hips. There really was something a tad embarrassing about this position, and yet she couldn''t help liking it a lot. "You don''t have to hold back." Li Yang whispered in the back of her neck. He trailed kisses at her ear encouragingly. The hot-white rush of energy that streamed and pulsed around his cock was immaculate¡ªshe was tight, searing and hearing her voice trying to quiet down her moans were just another turn on. He slowed down a bit to keep himself from ejaculating at once and to catch his breath¡­ and took the time to appreciate her figure underneath the lights of the room. Oh, it could have been better¡ªif they weren''t in a small and cramped room, but the two of them didn''t even have to try hard to get where they were right now. "Fuck me again," Bo Lifen glanced over her shoulder and shook her butt at him with an impatient tone. It could have come out as a small whine, but not only was she sort of feeling empty without his cock inside of her¡­ she also kind of wanted to get this over with. Maybe deciding to just sleep with Li Yang inside a backroom filled with milk tea ingredients weren''t the most salient decisions ever¡ªbut she was going to live through this. Perhaps they''d get a chance to do it as somewhere more¡ª Bo Lifen sucked in a breath at his reentry inside of her. "Okay, that''s good¡ª" She steadied a hand on the wall and then used her left hand to squeeze her breast. The two of them were at it again and going through the motions of fucking and getting pounded. Until she finally felt the searing heat in her stomach and listened to his increasing breathing¡ªher eyes widened and she tried to slow him down. "Oh, pull out¡ªcan you pull out?" This was the hard part when doing it without any condoms at all, but she was doing it with him. He slowed down and eventually pulled out¡ªjerking on his cock, he came on her lower back and ass. Bo Lifen felt the hot warmth spurt all over her and she sighed in relief. She placed a hand over her chest and smiled lightly¡ªfeeling the healthy glow of aftermath sex. "So, I think the tissue boxes are at the top shelf, third box?" Li Yang raised a brow at her words, but being a stickler for cleanliness whenever it was possible did just that with his clean hand. He secured the box and took out some tissues, some for his hand and the rest of it for Bo Lifen. He could already see some of his cum drip into her ass cheeks, so¡ªthere was the need for that. Bo Lifen felt the soft tissue laying stickily on her back and then tossed Li Yang a look. "Er, thanks." But she suddenly flushed harder when Li Yang started wiping her back. "We can''t have some of it dribbling back to your pussy¡­" he said. There was no awkward inflection in his tone, but the silence that ensued afterwards did it for her. "Thanks, I think I can wipe my own butt¡ªthank you very much." Bo Lifen grimaced but also eventually just smiled. "There''s a bathroom when you go out of the storage, to the left so you can wash your hands." "Wait, there was a bathroom here?" Li Yang asked. It should have been obvious from the start that even a small establishment like this would have one¡­ but it slipped both of their minds. Chapter 250: The Next Direction (2) Well, that wasn''t entirely true. Bo Lifen was quick to answer the curiosity in his tone as she started pulling up her panties and shorts up her legs. "The bathroom is even smaller than this place. Would you have preferred that place? I''m a tad afraid we might ruin the tiling if we did it there." It may have just been because he was now a cultivator and started becoming stronger¡ªbut it also reflected and also equated to stronger pounding in a sense. Li Yang shook his head and found his lips twitching into a small smile. "Although comfort is one important factor, I don''t think it would have mattered¡­ as long as we actually did it." "I can''t believe I''m saying this¡ªbut you''re just like every man." Bo Lifen burst into a small laugh. It was a cute and silly kind of laugh, the type you didn''t think would come from a usually stern and uptight woman like her. So it made all the difference. "I mean, I''d hopefully wish my brothers wouldn''t grow up into wanting to do it with a woman just about anywhere." "Is that your way of admitting that you''re a sex freak?" "Me? That''s like the second time I''ve done it¡ªI''m pretty tame as far as standards go." Bo Lifen pulled down her shirt and then awkwardly turned around. "Mind strapping my bra''s hook? You were pretty good at removing it, so you can help me since I can''t reach my back that well." "I would have assumed you were more flexible," he said. It was an oddly strange request¡­ or something that Li Yang didn''t think he''d hear from a woman, but he helped fasten the hook without any questions. It was kind of peculiarly calming to fasten it. "You could just tell me that you don''t want to help me." Bo Lifen muttered underneath her breath. Li Yang raised a brow. "Now I didn''t mean that." The two of them were hopefully aware of that and avoided butting heads like they did when they first met. Bo Lifen eventually just relaxed and let it go to give him a look. Unlike before, it was time to lay it down immediately. "But okay¡­ wow. We just did it again." Bo Lifen placed a hand over her chest and then managed a small laugh again. "Welcome back to Shanghai sex? Is that a thing¡ªI hope that''s not an actual thing." He smiled and shook his head. "I don''t have any idea either, so I can''t help you there." "Wouldn''t most men be tired by now or worn out usually?" Bo Lifen rubbed her chin. "That''s how movies depict it. Men just roll off into bed and then they''re back into snoozeland¡ªunless you''re some sex god." Li Yang shrugged. "...I don''t think I''m a god, but I can go for another round." "Oh, I''m good¡ªI''m good." Bo Lifen raised a hand and smiled sheepishly. "This is enough fun for one night. I''m beat and my legs feel like jelly. You''ve grown stronger." "As a cultivator?" "Yeah and it translated slightly to your um¡­ sex skills¡ªmake sure you do it less strenuously when you do it with a regular person or something." Bo Lifen cleared her throat. Li Yang didn''t even need to mention that he was sleeping with other people, somehow, she could just tell it. It was interesting that some people could just tell it¡ªalthough he wasn''t sure how to react to it. "Of course, thank you for the tip?" he said. Bo Lifen''s lips twitched into a teasing smirk as she motioned to his crotch. "Thanks for giving me more than the tip." Li Yang snickered at her joke. "That''s terrible." "But you laughed." "I didn''t¡ªI only felt slightly amused at how terrible it was," Li Yang said. He finished cleaning everything up and collected the tissues from her. "All in all, shall we get going now?" "Right¡­" Was it a good time to call it a day and part ways? Both could feel that was the appropriate response. Fuck, fix things up and fly off into different directions¡­ but the two of them left the storage at their own pace. Li Yang threw the tissues into the trash bin and only looked around idly around the milk tea shop. The least he could do was make sure that Bo Lifen got home safely after tonight and check whatever notifications he got later¡ªthen maybe he''d try to see if Taiga and Narissa were still at the bar? Should he get back to his house? That was at least two hours via car, perhaps faster now that he could run on foot¡­ but somehow, the two of them lingered in the store far more than they should. Did he want to stay with Bo Lifen more? Maybe. "Let''s get going," Bo Lifen opened the door and stepped out of the shop. He followed after her and then helped her close and lock down the shop. This was already nice. Especially when Li Yang actually needed to concentrate on his main mission, so just doing this with Bo Lifen was already quite good enough for him. No strings, no commitments. He didn''t need to do anything that required a lot of his time when compared to both Narissa and Taiga. Bo Lifen let out a sigh and threw him a look. "So what happens after this?" Li Yang blinked. Was she already asking about commitment? "What do you mean?" "Well¡­ I wasn''t actually able to catch some proper dinner since Ning Bi forced me to get to the bar." Bo Lifen scratched her head. "So, I''m thinking about heading to a restaurant for a quick meal before getting home. What about you? What''s your next plan? Anybody on your to-do list?" "My to-do¡­ what?" Li Yang wrinkled his nose. Bo Lifen waved a hand lazily at him. "You know what I mean¡ªwasn''t I the one who suggested you to loosen up before because I was worried that work was swallowing your life? Now it seems like you''re single-mindedly following my advice." "You think I''m doing all of this because of that conversation?" "Not exactly¡ªbut just forget that I said that." Bo Lifen reassured him and then pointed in a certain direction. "I''m going to have late night dinner and you''re welcome to come if you want. Or you know, do your own thing. It was nice seeing you again though, bye!" Li Yang watched her jog down the streets and head into another direction. She only slowed down once to look over her shoulder, but once she was further away¡­ she eventually just waved and went over the next curb. He didn''t exactly run after her or did anything at that exact moment. Li Yang may or may not have ruined his chances at that particular instance¡ªit was an invitation to eat dinner with her. Compared to others like Taiga who he made it a point to include immediately into his life despite the time disparity it proposed to have energy for all of the women in his life. He didn''t do it. He kind of hated himself for not doing it, but he also didn''t want to have to choose between returning to Taiga and Narissa or chasing after Bo Lifen. Not to mention that he didn''t even think about Chunhua and Luo Ju Di¡­ and neither had he found any news or mention of Ying Yue He. ¡ªMaybe that was the next step that he needed to do. Out of all the people in his life, she should have been one of the first that he started looking for. Li Yang decided to visit her apartment. Chapter 251: The Next Direction (3) He found his visit to be a meaningless endeavor. The man knew the location and arrived from memory alone. Despite the lack of any transportation vehicle, he ended up at Ying Yue He''s apartment on foot. He could have gone anywhere else, but he went here. Li Yang realized that he didn''t have any actual idea where Ying Yue He stayed exactly in the apartment¡­ he wasn''t sure if she actually stayed there until today. He failed to ask his older brother about the whereabouts of his secretary. It was a disappointing realization¡ªhe may have gotten caught up in other events that took his attention, but she should have been one of the first that he tried to connect with. What were their years of working together if she didn''t come to his mind at all? The ex-CEO stood awkwardly at the rather old beat up apartment and soon wondered why exactly his secretary lived in this kind of place. He made sure that the salary of people in his company was competitive¡ªYing Yue He could have gotten a better place. He soon realized what may have been the reason when a cat prowled out of the door. It leapt out agilely and had a distinctively sense of freedom apparent in its eyes and whiskers. Despite being in mid-air and headed right at him, the cat somehow dodged it and let out a cry. "Meow!" Right before Li Yang could get out of the way, a middle-aged woman came bounding right after the cat and also came stumbling out of the porch. "Whiskers!" She cried out, before suddenly pausing at the sight of him. She even avoided falling flat on the ground. He thought he was going to catch her, but she stopped to look at him. Li Yang was already used to the incident of numerous women from various ages looking at him, but the older woman completely forgot about the cat and stared at him for a good second. "You''re too handsome to be in a place like this¡ªyou''re not looking to rent at Madam Dongxia''s apartment, are you?" The woman clapped her hands together and gave him a bright smile. "Because if you are, I''m the person that you''re looking for¡ªhandsome young man." The next thing that Li Yang knew was that he was ushered back into the apartment despite being completely rejecting the woman''s advances. This Madam Dongxia was the testament of a woman that couldn''t accept a no at all. "Please sit down and make yourself comfortable, would you like some tea¡ªI have tea." The older woman laughed and entered her kitchen. The reason why Li Yang even bothered to stay here was because she happened to be the landlady of Ying Yue He and she was bound to know where Ying Yue He was. Madam Dongxia exited her kitchen and came back with both refreshments and light snacks. This was the kind of person that told you to stay at her place for fifteen minutes and then you''d realize that you''ve been stuck with her for an hour. Ying Yue He wasn''t the type who''d said no, so if the landlady was this pushy then there was no doubt a reason why she stayed here in the first place. "I actually happen to have a single room that''s unoccupied¡ªthe tenant left a couple months ago to do something. Soul-searching, I think." Madam Dongxia immediately began to tell the story without any prompts. Li Yang couldn''t even properly sip his tea right now. Maybe it was too coincidental to be true? He cleared his throat. "This tenant of yours¡­ they don''t happen to be a person named Ying Yue He, Madam Dongxia?" "Oh, you know, Yue He?" Madam Dongxia placed a hand on her face in surprise. "No¡ªit wasn''t her who left her place. Incidentally, it was Chan Lee who did it¡ªbut I don''t think you know her. Now Yue He? She did leave as well, but she''s still paying for her apartment room. I think Yue He went on a business trip, so I guess she could still afford to pay the rent." Business trip? Did his brother organize that? It was unlikely because the man certainly needed all the help he could get for work. So it was another company? Li Yang didn''t know. "Do you have any idea where exactly this business trip happened? A couple months seems too long, even for a seminar." Madam Dongxia seemed to notice the deep-set frown on his face and quickly put things together. Or rather, this older woman suddenly connected things and gasped. "Are you her boyfriend?" "Boyfriend?" Li Yang blinked at the statement, but still shook his head. "No, not exactly¡ªbut I''ve worked with Ying Yue He and wasn''t aware of this sudden change in her schedule. I came here in hopes of looking for her¡ª" "Hah, young men and women these days don''t really use labels, huh?" Madam Dongxia clearly formed her own conclusion and was happy to gab. Li Yang clearly found himself out-energized by this much older woman who seemed to be in her early fifties. He didn''t bother correcting her this time and simply allowed her to talk. "Hmm, as far as I''m aware¡ªit''s supposed to be some kind institutional retreat center. Somewhere up in the mountains, beautiful hot springs and rivers for a business trip¡ªit had something to do with the Liu Group if I recall properly. Sponsored by them." "Liu Group?" Li Yang frowned. It sounded awfully familiar to him and it didn''t take too long for him to realize that it was one of the most successful family businesses in the entire country. The Li Family from where he came from managed to elevate through their current level through sheer hard work and grit. He was aware and had met one of the heirs of Shen Group that coincidentally was the one who managed the Shen Society, and he had also met the couple that was in control of the Song Conglomerates. His target right now was the Song Heiress¡ªbut now the Liu Family came up. "Surely they wouldn''t steal my secretary away just because I was gone, could they?" Li Yang muttered underneath his breath. Madam Dongxia''s eyes widened. "Secretary?" Somehow, Li Yang was reminded of Bao by this woman''s presence and he couldn''t exactly shake it off. He gave her a small smile and nodded. "Ying Yue He is my secretary, I''ve come here before to drop her off and I''ve also met another one of your residents here." "I was not aware that I was in the presence of a CEO!" Madam Dongxia laughed. "Where are my manners? I''m so proud of Ying Yue He for working at the Olympian Corp and now even her boss is looking for her. I''m definitely living vicariously through my tenants." "I see¡­ Thank you for the information. I''ll try to contact Ying Yue He via her contact number, unless you happen to know the exact address?" "Heavens no¡ªshe never tells me anything. She didn''t even tell me that she''s had such an outstanding and virile boss." Li Yang was glad that he did not drink the tea. Even though it was bad manners, he set the cup down and inclined his head. "Pardon me for my words, but I think I have another source from whom I can find her. It''s vital I contact her immediately so I have to go now." "Why not visit her apartment room? I have the keys. Perhaps she''d appreciate you dropping by if you brought something that she might have left there." "...No, it''s fine," Li Yang said. "Thank you so much for the time and welcome, Madam Dongxia. It''s pleasant to have met the landlady who''s in charge of where Miss He stays." The man pulled himself up to his feet and no longer wondered why the cat ''Whiskers'' was already trying to run away earlier, but still he smiled and went out of the apartment with his sanity completely intact. Once he finally left the apartment and he was sure that Madam Dongxia returned back to her place¡ªLi Yang sighed in relief and immediately took out his card from Shen Society. He could head there and ask about this Liu Group''s private mountain and hot spring area or he could drop by at Mou Gu''s place. If the restaurant happened to be open at this time¡ªwhich he hoped was the case. Ying Yue He was a regular at Mou Gu''s restaurant according to her when they first ate there, so the pink-haired chef was bound to pay more attention or have a clue where she was. He hoped that was the case. Beyond their interactions within the office and what Ying Yue He let him know about her¡ªthere wasn''t much he could say that he knew about her. What kind of life did she lead before coming to Shanghai and working at his company? She was renting an apartment and didn''t seem to have any immediate relatives here. How did she not know about her bloodline? Maybe it was just due to her being missing that Li Yang finally paid more attention to her. It shouldn''t have to be this way. However, Li Yang and Ying Yue He spent the last few years in a strictly professional relationship and that meant he never bothered before. That was one of his few glaring mistakes. He sighed and once again felt the familiar flow of qi around his surroundings. He looked up at the restaurant''s door and found it open¡ªhe quickly rushed inside to find the chef. And while he found people eating there, it also happened to be where he met her again. Bo Lifen raised a brow at him, holding chopsticks filled with rice and her own mouth puffed up a little like a chipmunk. "Mwwhhi Yang?" The two of them didn''t expect to see each other again so soon. Chapter 252: The Next Direction (4) This was Mou Gu''s Family Diner and it happened to be one of the places that Bo Lifen could eat without any pressure¡ªmost of the people who ate here didn''t mind if she had her hair up in a messy bun and looked like she walked out of a broom closet. Which she may or may not have technically done. But being caught in this pose by someone who was actually richer than her made her a little embarrassed right now. She swallowed her food and tried to speak again but was beat to it by a certain eager pink-haired bisexual cultivation chef. "Oh, look who it is!" Mou Gu turned around eagerly and pointed finger guns at Li Yang. "It''s the man of the hour!" "Ah, yes. Just the one that I''m looking for." Bo Lifen watched the expression on his face and looked like she was holding back her laughter. Out of all the people in the restaurant, she was the only one paying attention. Most of the people who were actually eating in the place were those who worked long hours and were just eager for a hot meal¡ªthey ignored the chef''s outburst. "It''s been a long time. What can I do for you? Are you hungry, want a free dinner, it''s on the house." Mou Gu rubbed his chin and then just snapped his fingers. "Okay thank the visitor, guys¡ªthe food''s on the house for everyone eating tonight." Now that was what made the people perk up in the restaurant. Li Yang didn''t mind footing the bill, but that wasn''t exactly what Mou Gu meant. Instead he glanced around the place furtively and didn''t take a seat at once. His errand here had nothing to do with Bo Lifen at all, so he just greeted her with a nod. "Good evening, Miss Lifen." "Oh, you know Lifen too?" Mou Gu gave the two of them some looks and immediately noticed the air around him. Nobody exactly asked him, but if this pink-haired guy was asked about his opinion¡ªhe was rooting for Ying Yue He. Just a tad more. "We''re acquainted through my great-grandmother." Bo Lifen explained with a simple shrug. "Ahhh¡­" Mou Gu nodded. "Do you know that Bo Lifen here is the manager of Heavenly¡ª" "Yes, I know that she works and owns the tea shop." Li Yang replied as he stood right where he was. He crossed his arms together and shrugged a bit. "I almost had a meeting there with my client." "That''s cool, really cool. Small world, huh?" "Certain affinity perhaps," Bo Lifen said, albeit she finally turned back to her rice bowl meal. "But please don''t let me interrupt the conversation between the two of you." This was what happened when they were with other people¡ªLi Yang and her seemed to immediately pretend as if they were just reluctant friends at best. Compared to maybe Taiga, the tigress spirit would be more happy and eager to introduce herself as close with him. "Okay, so wanna talk in the back?" Mou Gu jerked a thumb behind him. Li Yang stared at the door. "...your backroom?" "My dirty kitchen¡ªwell, it''s kind of cramped, but that''s where I do my cooking." Mou Gu immediately opened the door and welcomed him in. "My family owned this restaurant since I was a kid and it never got renovated to expand." "I see." The two cultivators entered the kitchen, not noticing the expression on Bo Lifen''s face as the door shut behind them. While she could probably listen in if it were an ordinary house¡­ the kitchen was sound proof. What exactly were the two going to talk about? Bo Lifen wondered, but it was none of her business at all. "Do you know where Ying Yue He is?" Li Yang decided to get straight to the point. The chef paused for a moment and then shook his head. "Not at all¡ªI was actually curious if she had been with you. It''s been awhile since she ate here and she doesn''t even visit the Shen Society to train with us anymore." How did that happen? Li Yang''s brows furrowed together as he stared at the chef. "Why would she just suddenly go off the radar and join a rival company?" "Join a rival, what?" "Liu Group." "Wait, did you just say Liu Group?" The smile on Mou Gu''s face disappeared at his words. "Do you know about them? I am not aware if they have any underground activities, although thinking about it now¡­ there were suspicions about this family." Li Yang frowned. "Ying Yue He went on a retreat according to her landlady and didn''t seem to return for the past months at all. A mountain retreat of sorts, company paid." "She may have been discovered by Liu''s men and recruited in their organization¡ªthey''ve got a metaphorical slice of the pie in Shanghai and other locations." "Are you telling me that they''re a cultivator organization like the Shen''s?" Li Yang asked. "Yeah, they''re¡­ I don''t want to be the one who says it, but they''ve got the control of the more unsavory parts of the province. They manage it well." Mou Gu crossed his arms with a shrug. "It''s a tense relationship. You know, making a temporary alliance with your arch nemesis to beat a bigger bad guy? That''s what happened." "I see¡ªwell, all I really care about is seeing Ying Yue He." Li Yang sighed. "But I suppose these network connections in the cultivator world might be relevant to me and provide a better perspective on how things work?" "Er¡­ maybe." Mou Gu scratched his head. "Depending on how deep she got into the hierarchy of the Liu''s Group¡ªwe could get out of there with Ying Yue He without breaking a sweat or having to make a deal." "Make a deal? Even in this situation?" Li Yang scoffed and then just clicked his tongue. "All I simply want to do is to see Ying Yue He¡­ if she''s currently preoccupied there and think that''s where she needs to be, then it''s her decision. I''ll respect that." The knowledge that at least two of the most prominent family names in their country had dealings with the supernatural and cultivation world made him feel¡­ surprised. It seemed like it was inaccurate to say that their world was separate from the normal one. "You don''t want her to be there at all." Mou Gu raised his hand. "Why? What''s wrong there?" Mou Gu gave him a grimace. "Maybe she gets powerful there¡ªbut they just don''t raise people with the talent for cultivation. They''re given dangerous tasks in exchange just to make up for it. Some are made to recover ancient scrolls and items no longer capable of being reproduced in cultivator-destroying temples, given assassination missions to take out competitors. You don''t want her there." Ying Yue He¡­ his secretary joined a group like that? Did she know what she was doing? Li Yang was afraid that wasn''t the case at all. "Then I take back my words¡ªwe need to go there and have her removed from that group at all costs." "All costs? You mean monetary and not a fight to the death situation, right?" "If the person in charge of this organization is part of the Liu Group then perhaps we can just settle." "... maybe, maybe that could work," Mou Gu said. "Or they''ll attempt to suck you dry." "Let''s just go there for a visit and see how it will work." Li Yang decided. "If they''re an organization then there''s still a semblance of structure within that group and we can make an agreement. I don''t think it''ll have to come to that, didn''t you say that we might also leave without breaking a sweat?" "If Ying Yue He isn''t actually a useful piece¡ªthey''d be willing to part with her. But who knows? Maybe she''s just actually working on the legitimate and public side of the Liu Group? The actual company and not the black market." "They''re the ones in charge of the black market?" "Like I said¡ªthe unsavory parts. Well, the market isn''t that bad¡­ not everything of it is. But you got to know that there are certain principles that didn''t change with the times." Li Yang clicked his tongue. "What are you trying to say? Don''t go about this in a roundabout manner and just tell me what''s the real situation that we''ll have to deal with." "They unearthed ancient scrolls that may or may not have accidentally summoned old evil master spirits that tried to wipe out humanity when they were released, they perform some experiment son some nastier sides of cultivation¡­ and well, slavery. You know, to have uh humans for said experimentations? They don''t really call it slavery as more of a servanthood¡ªthe bottom ranks of their organization if you will. Serving for the good of everyone within the group yadayada?" "You call that unsavory?" Li Yang stared at the chef blankly. "You were making blatant excuses¡ªgive me the address to where their ''mountain retreats'' or headquarters is to get Ying Yue He out of there. I''m going now." "Hold up, you just can''t go there suddenly!" Mou Gu''s eyes widened and he tried to appease the man. "That''s not a good idea, let''s talk about this more carefully and find a way to make an arrangement as you said. It took a couple of decades before the Liu Group, Shen Society and other cultivation sects were able to come to an arrangement that didn''t exactly make them want to destroy each other at once. You just can''t undo that." "Just when I thought that home was a little better than Telriah, I find out about this." Chapter 253: Making Choices (1) Bo Lifen didn''t happen to be near the kitchen''s door when it swung open¡ªand she nearly fell on her butt at seeing Li Yang walk out without a hint of pause in his steps. There was a certain change in it that seemed to say that he meant business. Actual business¡ª "Hold up, you shouldn''t go to Shen Society¡ª!" Mou Gu cried out and followed Li Yang with a frantic mode to his movements. He didn''t even care that there were still some patrons in the diner. Bo Lifen didn''t like the sound and how things were looking up. Li Yang left the restaurant and Mou Gu hesitated by the door. He rubbed his face and threw Bo Lifen a look¡ªand just threw a towel into the floor. "Leave the plates on your tables, I''ll get them later." He chased after Li Yang. The people in the small diner couldn''t help but share looks at one another. It wasn''t everyday you''d see a handsome CEO, ex-CEO, storm out of a diner and with a pink-haired guy chasing after him. People talked. "Were those two having a lovers argument or something?" "Never seen the guy before." Bo Lifen wanted to correct the people and tell them that they were completely out of their minds¡ªLi Yang and her fucked her half an hour ago before they came here so that was an illogical conclusion. Except she didn''t say that. Bo Lifen couldn''t just shout that aloud into the restaurant to some random people who she didn''t care about. Momentarily, she lifted the chopsticks full of rice back into her face and then started eating fast. Once she was done, she got up and then left the restaurant. ...She could go home since it was pretty late. Or she could chase down after Li Yang and Mou Gu¡ªor head directly to Shen Society. Bo Lifen rubbed the back of her neck. While she never actually stayed out of the house during these kinds of hours¡ªshe happened to tell her parents that she was going out with Ning Bi as chaperone. For heaven''s sake¡ªBo Lifen was a grown ass woman! She made her choice then and there. ¡ª- Of all the options to live one''s life¡ªstaying detached was simple. It was too easy to become indifferent and apathetic to most things that happened around one''s life. Who cared if people were starving halfway across the world? If you put your mind to it, it was fairly easy to block out everything and pretend that nothing terrible was happening. As long as it didn''t happen or managed to involve you¡ªthen it was fine. There were too many problems if you started to care too much¡ªso not caring at all, choosing to ignore and remain aloof to most things was the easiest way of living life. If anything, the Li Family had done a great example of that. His ancestors were willing to give up certain parts of their life in order to reach the pinnacle of where they were today. It meant being ready to stomp on others that tried to control you and simply doing what you wanted. One needed a certain amount of willingness to put oneself at risk by opening up to other people and listening to them. He didn''t like that. There was a strange unadulterated comfort in not putting any energy into something and knowing that maybe, maybe if he had put effort into it¡ªthen he could do it well. It was almost tantamount to living one''s life as an observer rather than a driver of the forces, but it was better than risks and danger. A certain part of him could manage to stay in that kind of thinking¡ªit was something that he may or may not have picked up while he was a kid, but even that didn''t matter¡ªbut in the end, everything came down to choices. Whatever dark and nasty thoughts that came brooding into his mind, in the end¡­ he still chose the proper course of action that benefited him. It just happened that this time, it involved someone else and that was the strange thing. If there was anything to hate in this world¡ªwell, he might have been able to turn a blind eye like the rest of the people¡­ but now he cared because Ying Yue He was caught up in it. Or maybe because other people were forced into doing things not of their own doing. It was an unfortunate reality to be in. He never had to live as a puppet before until now¡­ yes, so it was why he got worked up about it. "LI Yang, wait up!" He stared at the immediate area around him and took note that there was nobody around in the streets. Li Yang immediately sprang up into the nearest building to travel across the rooftops¡ªcompletely ignoring the other cultivator who didn''t want to give him answers. He would just have to approach someone else for it. He no longer bothered paying attention to the rambling of Mou Gu and simply kept his mind on the goal. Someone who knew about this Liu Group''s whereabouts? Shen Society was the answer that came to his mind. But would they give it? Mou Gu said they preferred to keep things as they were. There would be too much trouble in shaking an already pre-existing system. It was similar to what happened in Telriah¡ªhe wasn''t exactly against just an individual alone but a network and organization. Something that permeated through more than just killing one bad guy. It was too complicated and he doubted that he was at the capacity to simply abolish an organization just because he felt like it. Now that he didn''t have Mou Gu trying to tell him to think more rationally¡ªLi Yang found himself actually cooling off to think more properly and clearly. He sighed and readjusted his destination. If not the Shen Society then somewhere else. ¡ª- The streets of the black market were bustling with life even at this hour. It was fair to say that it was even more alive. And who stood at the center of it all? The merchants, of course! Commerce, money and profits were his thing and through some difficulty¡­ the Energizing Soda was about to hit the market. It wasn''t as great as the actual thing and he was sure that he sold the Blossoming Root Tea at a discount, the idea of sodas for cultivators was amazing. It was just the marketing scheme that he needed to liven things up. Some people already tried to do it before but weren''t able to do it properly without sufficient backing. As for him? He was able to do advertising at a good cost, marketing was within his fingertips. Sure, he thought he was going to get chewed out by Liu Guiren for selling the tea when it turned out that it was one of a kind and it was squandered¡­ but now he was going to make it up to the guy. "Maybe I could actually retire from here," he laughed a little. It was an odd thing to say. Once you were in this path of life, it was like climbing out of a hell pit to attempt to get out of it. There was no easy way of just dropping everything to live a normal life free from the influences of this world and the Lius. Beep. He blinked and picked up his phone from his pocket. There was a message from Suyin and he smiled slightly at seeing her send him a group photo with Mei and Xiaobo. The three of them seemed to be taking a vacation somewhere on an island resort. Suyin: ''Wish you were here with us. It''s really less fun now¡ªstill busy with work?'' This was one of those moments that he lived an ordinary life like them. Gen: ''You just want me to foot the bill.'' Still, life wasn''t always so bad for Yuan Gen¡ªcompared to others in the organization, somehow he managed to prove himself as a valuable asset to the Liu Patriarch and was able to live a relatively normal life. Compared to the traitors who turned their backs, others asked to delve into dangerous places to retrieve treasures¡­ he was the one managing a good chunk of the black market. There were feisty cultivators that might get mad or attempt to burn the shop down if they were upset about the prices¡ªbut he had security for that. He returned the phone into his pocket at the sound of the wind chimes. "Welcome to Yuan''s Shop, how may I help you¡ª" "I need to find the head of the Liu''s." "What?" he asked in amazement. He looked at the guy and immediately recognized the Li heir¡ªthe very same guy who bought the blossoming root tea about a year ago. Still it was easy to pretend like he didn''t know anything. "Pardon me sir, I think you got the wrong shop? Or place? I''m just a shopkeeper. I don''t deal¡ª" Li Yang stared at him and started pointing out facts. "The entire black market is supposed to be owned by this Liu family¡ªso whether or not you''re in direct contact with them, you can find me a way." "That''s a little too much for someone like me, sir. You need to find an office..." Yuan Gen wondered how exactly did this guy figure out that he was the direct person that submitted files and reports to the Liu Family. Did the Shen Society tell him that? Wait, Gen should have pretended that it wasn''t the Liu, Li Yang said ''supposed to be'' and he could have pointed out another family as the owners! That was stupid of him for him to miss. "Either you happily provide me a way to speak with them without any hiccups. Or I will have to make you do it¡ªeither way, you''re still going to do it. Let''s forgo all formalities now." Chapter 254: Making Choices (2) Who did this guy think he was? Yuan Gen''s thoughts were evident in his scrunched up expression¡ªbecause this Li Yang guy was being impudent right now. That look on his face was blank and his tone was quiet¡­ but there was an edge to it. Forgoing formalities? That was the most polite threat that Yuan Gen received, but it somehow felt more dangerous than those who told him that they would bash his skull into rocks. Whenever you upset quiet people, they somehow appeared more intimidating than the loud ones. It was one of those moments where you couldn''t help but wonder if you fucked up. Still, Yuan Gen held his ground with this guy. If he couldn''t have balls and courage in his own shop¡ªthen where would his pride ever be? He managed a small laugh, a friendly one and hopefully not exactly grating, as he then settled into giving this Li Yang a smile. The kind of smile that told others that ''Hey, no need to be that angry¡ªwe''re on the same side. You just haven''t seen it yet.'' that merchants and other people were familiar with and employed regularly. "Make me do it? Are you going to attack me and risk angering the entire city? I know you''re a CEO, a former CEO but that title does not offer anything here in the black market. Everyone is supposed to play nice with a smile. Attacking fellow cultivators happens outside of the black market and not here," Yuan Gen said. "How about we talk about this properly?" There were certain types of people who were hot headed and did not care about the dangers that might occur, but Yuan Gen was pretty sure that this man was reasonable¡ª His surroundings started dropping in temperature as Yuan Gen felt qi surround him. If one could even call it qi at this point¡­ the energy that Li Yang was exuding was way too potent for someone who was supposed to not even have ascended into a proper cultivation realm. "From the change in your tone, it seems like I am correct in assuming that you can get me to this Liu Group," Li Yang spoke slowly in a way that almost felt patronizing. "I''m only here for one thing alone and that is to retrieve a person from your organization." "A person?" "Her name is Ying Yue He and according to my sources, she may have gotten entangled in your organization by accident." Li Yang crossed his arms. "I don''t care for whatever your organization does as it does not bother me, but I want to find Ying Yue He and then have her cut off from your group." The man''s explanation was curt, prompt and brief¡ªhe looked like he''d rather prefer to be anywhere else than be in the same room as Yuan Gen and that was slightly off-putting. Did he think that he was disgusting or a no-good person? No, not just Gen but the organization as a whole. Yuan Gen thought that as a successful businessman, this guy would understand that there was a lot more nuance to the organization, but it seemed like he failed to do so. Probably the Shen Society made him adopt a more nihilistic point of view. "Entangled? You make it sound like a terrible thing when the Liu Group offers only the best for those that it meets and who agrees to work with them." "She doesn''t need that," Li Yang said. "She has¡­ me backing her up." "You compared to an organization that has been around for more than a thousand years?" Yuan Gen tried to bite back the sound of a scoff that came from his throat, so he coughed loudly. "I would have believed it more if you told me that Shen Society and other organizations that have alliances with it are going to back her¡­ but you''re comparing your resources to that of ours?" Li Yang''s expression twitched for a moment. Yuan Gen thought that he was finally able to make the guy see reason. "I understand that you may have gotten your hands on some very interesting items and resources that our sources cannot pinpoint. The drink that you provided to me is still being studied as we''re trying to replicate it¡ªbut that''s not enough to run a small organization. It took the Liu Family at least a thousand years to get where they are today, but you''ve only been in the cultivation scene for a year." "I''m not trying to make an organization," Li Yang said. "Oh, but this¡­ woman that you tell me is someone from our organization right?" Yuan Gen decided to pull up his phone and started checking for a list of any new recruits in the database. "A Ying Yue He¡­ she''s probably a cultivator. There we go." Somehow, Yuan Gen belatedly realized that he was revealing too much information now that an ordinary shopkeeper shouldn''t have been able to say¡­ but there were just people that had an aura that made you do things without even thinking about it. Maybe it was the way that this former CEO exuded an aura of authority that expected people to do things for him¡ªor it was the potent energy that Li Yang was also exuding¡­ maybe just a mix of those two that made Yuan Gen already let the slip-up happen. Thankfully, this guy didn''t seem to gloat at all. "How is Miss He?" Li Yang asked. "Is she doing fine and alright¡ªI haven''t been in contact with her for the past few months so¡­" Yuan Gen looked at the short profile and assessment. There was even a small entry on how Ying Yue He had ended up with them which was actually quite fascinating¡ªalthough Li Yang probably didn''t need to know that. If he put it into perspective, getting on this guy''s good side was better than animosity. If this Ying Yue He entered the organization to get stronger and somehow was involved with Li Yang in the first place¡ªthen it meant that this guy had a strong connection network. Was Yuan Gen good with convincing people to join them? Not really. Chapter 255: Making Choices (3) "...You''ve only been in the cultivation scene for a year." "I''m not trying to make an organization," Li Yang said with a flat tone. He was making a harem¡ªbut how would this shopkeeper even react to that kind of statement? Would this guy laugh or be impressed with the fact that was what he was doing? This shopkeeper eventually just told him that he found Ying Yue He as he checked his phone. Everything was on the internet nowadays it seemed, even old cultivation organizations learned to adjust to the new technological advancements. "How is Miss He?" Li Yang interrupted him with a frown. The thought of her being with other cultivators and all by herself at the same time made him grow concerned. While she was dependable as his secretary, he had no idea how she would fare as a cultivator. Special constitution or not. "Is she doing fine and alright¡ªI haven''t been in contact with her for the past few months so¡­" It was one of those moments again where he realized how he neglected the people that were at his side. This didn''t bother him at all before. In a sense, while it was possible that there were individuals in his company that were a good fit in serving the Olympian Corp¡­ there were a lot of possible individuals to replace them. That was how the market worked, with new technological advancements and people becoming more suitable and replacing the previous ones. Although training new employees was always costly¡ªif that was needed to make a better company¡­ then it was a price worth taking. Ying Yue He leaving the company wasn''t exactly bad if she really did pursue to be a cultivator¡ªbut not being able to explain why he left was the problem. It was only by chance that Taiga, Narissa and Luo Ju Di were still able to reconnect with him immediately after his return. Mitsuko''s sentiment of time continually moving forward was true and now it seemed more apparent than before in Ying Yue He''s case. But thinking about Mitsuko now as well¡ª His thoughts flickered to Setsuko and what she and Mitsuko may have thought when he left. He didn''t exactly expect that trying to kill a goddess led to his return back to earth. Setsuko should have been aware back then that he needed the Kaeli''s stone to leave and yet swallowed it. Despite their energy bonding, he may have failed to properly notice how she didn''t want him to leave. Things weren''t over there, but he needed to focus on patching up his relations here. Overall, iIt seemed like he was doing a great job at keeping people close with him¡ªfantastically great at letting these people know what he felt about them. Li Yang sighed inwardly. One way or another, he needed to find a way to keep everyone he cared about with him in one place. And yet that was still another plan for the future until he reclaimed his freedom. He wanted to be with them and yet not involve them in his mess. It was a constant struggle. The shopkeeper probably didn''t notice his internal turmoil at all and simply spoke up after checking his phone. "She''s pretty new but it seems like she''s doing fine." Yuan Gen leaned on the counter and waved his phone. "We''re not some bad organization that treats our assets terribly¡ª" "Ying Yue He is not just an asset¡ªshe''s a person that I have to meet tonight." Li Yang placed his hands on the counter. It may seem like a rush, but he was gone for too long and he couldn''t let another moment slip by if he could make things happen. "Come on¡ªlike right now?" Yuan Gen rubbed his face. "Yes, right now. If there are cultivation swords that can be used to fly over where she is right now then give me one with the coordinates available¡ªI''ll purchase one here or get it somewhere else." Li Yang was kind of saving his points to increase his own power, but purchasing a way to get around faster didn''t seem like a terrible idea right now. Still, the shopkeeper scratched his head and eventually nodded. "Fine, let''s do this. It''s a short trip¡­ and you''re the only one going with us, right? We don''t need any of the folks from Shen Society crawling up in our territory." It was a good idea that he came here rather than there. It wasn''t obvious when they first met, but this shopkeeper seemed to be up in the hierarchy of the Liu Group to be able to pull the strings immediately. At most, he was still expecting some kind of assessment and this guy just agreed. This shopkeeper probably thought Li Yang was harmless and that he was outmatched¡­ which probably wasn''t a lie considering numbers alone. But Li Yang nodded. "I''d appreciate that." A small chuckle finally escaped from the shopkeeper, the tension seeming to have left the shop now that they''ve come to an agreement. "You''re still pretty formal to me¡ªbut if I read the profile correctly, she''s in one of our remote islands. So let me call for a ship and we can take a small cruise. I''m sure guys like you enjoy this kind of thing, right?" "She''s out of the country right now?" "You know those kinds of islands that can''t be seen by ordinary people though? It''s a natural way to keep everyone out and simply concentrate on training. We can''t have tribulation lightning hitting cities so we go off the grid." "... That makes sense," Li Yang acknowledged with a sigh. "So yeah, I''m texting one of our men to get us a ride in at least half an hour¡ªthankfully we''re in a city with a port. Still, what''s your goal by having this Ying Yue He with you if you''re not exactly part of Shen Society or making an organization? Is she your girlfriend? Wife? A cultivation partner¡ª" Li Yang was pretty aware that this was the guy trying to think of a way to benefit from this sudden turn of events. Even if his fighting prowess wasn''t at the peak of existence, they denied that being a wealthy ex-CEO was immaterial to cultivators¡­ there was still some use in having someone like him as an ally. If that was what they deemed of him. However, at this point¡ªhe preferred not to get involved. He wasn''t at Taiga''s sect destroying level, but he also still disliked whatever this organization was doing. Logically he could understand from what standing they were, but he still couldn''t accept that there were organizations like them that actually used their fellow humans for experiments. He wouldn''t stop them, but it was best to not get involved. Li Yang looked out of the door and wondered if he actually lost Mou Gu on his way here. It was a little doubtful, unless he surpassed the guy, but this shopkeeper didn''t seem to have a clue. "Would you believe me if I tell you that I''m forming a harem?" "Are you interested in buying some alchemical pills that are good for sex and libido? Some jade flowers to increase yin capacity? There''s some bodyshaping cultivation arts." Yuan Gen replied. " "You''re not ill-disposed to it?" "I''ve worked in this line of business ever since I was a kid¡ªthere are far more wrinkly and slimy old men that attempted to have a harem and succeeded. The women in your harem will infinitely be at a better place than them." Yuan Gen shrugged and gave him a dry smile. "Of course, it shouldn''t have been a surprise that this is a common thing." "If you live more than a hundred years¡ªit''s easy to get bored with your current partners. So they tend to switch it off for the fresh cream of the crop." Yuan Gen looked at his phone without batting an eye. "Do you actually agree with that kind of mindset?" Li Yang asked. "Business is business, you know? So as long as they buy stuff and don''t interfere with Liu''s main operations, there''s no need to get worked up and I just deliver what they need. The same thing I''m doing for you." "..." Li Yang stared blankly at him. "Hah! I bet you won''t need mind-altering substances, right? Women are most likely to flock to you." "You are aware that saying all of these things makes it less likely for me to think highly of the organization, right?" Li Yang said. "I''m considering punching you right now if I were to simply give in to my annoyance." The shopkeeper raised his hand. "But¡­ we have the person that you need, so you don''t do that." "I can do it after I assure Ying Yue He is safe." The shopkeeper managed a laugh. "I like your humor. Having people like you in the group would give it a little more class compared to the old farts that are still hanging around their temples and acting like gods on earth. Don''t tell others I said that." "I wasn''t lying, it''s a warning." "But by telling me this, doesn''t it mean that you want me to avoid it?" The shopkeeper cleared his throat and shrugged. "This is like giving me a chance to prepare for the punch. Which is also kind of irrational at some point, knowing that there are worse people than me." "It means that whether you''re aware of what I intend to do or not, I will still do it." Li Yang replied. "And it''s true that you''re not as scummy as the people you''re describing, but you still work with them and do I need to have any other reason to express my distaste?" "Not really?" Chapter 256: Making Choices (4) The crisp and cool feeling was apparent in the air and paired with the taste of salt that hovered along with it; Li Yang stared down at the dark waters with a fleeting glance. The night''s starry sky reflected only a pale comparison of what it could be, even as they had left the city about an hour ago. Rumbling in the background, the small yacht''s motor was silent and barely noticeable, but they left a froth of bubbles in their wake. He was once again leaving the city without even telling anybody so much as a single word. This seemed to be the life that he liked to put himself in, free from any responsibilities to inform anybody else or to have them question his decisions. It was almost ridiculous that he did this after remembering how much Taiga threw herself into his arms when he returned. The relief in her chest and even the tears that she didn''t want him to see but he noticed¡ªit was almost as if he was treating it like an unimportant thing. ¡­ If not for his own promise to return faster before anybody realized that he was gone again. A quick trip, all in all to bring Ying Yue He back. This was all it was and he was clearly not abandoning anybody else again. The man found his musing interrupted by one of the men assigned in this yacht. Solemn and quiet, they might have wanted to make sure he was alright¡­ and not contemplating diving into the waters. "Are you not feeling sea sick?" He shook his head. "No, I''m good. Thank you for your concern." Even though all of these men were probably under the jurisdiction of this Liu Group, he found no reason to be impolite or harsh now. These people who operated the ship were ordinary and were not cultivators from what he had seen. They did not merit any of his temper, as he couldn''t exactly easily explain what landed them in the situation in the first place. Save perhaps for the individual that managed to get under his skin. "Well, it''s not like you''re going to remember how to get from one island to the next." Yuan Gen called out while resting on a beach chair as if sunbathing¡ªdespite the lack of any sun¡ªand practically relaxing. The guy even had a drink at this time, the very replica of the Divine Energize Drink that he once gave it. "So you should take advantage of the accommodations we managed to provide in a short time." "You don''t have to try to lure me to lower my guard." Li Yang replied. "What?" Yuan Gen blinked, a little flabbergasted at his response. "You still don''t trust us¡ªwell, whatever, suit yourself. Moonbathing wasn''t really my thing in the first place." The man retreated below the ship and left him alone above the deck. While Li Yang was free to stay in a private room which they claimed was of only the best accommodations¡ªhe refused to go down and actually accept any of the hospitalities that they sought to provide him. It was better to stay above. He wanted to see the island for himself rather than pretend he could relax while Ying Yue He herself remained unaware of his return. Li Yang summoned the system screen to check on their coordinates. [ Current Location: Yangtze River ] [ Destination: Liu Group''s Hundred Island Facilities ] It seemed like the System registered the location in its maps, and it made him raise a brow lightly. That was an acknowledgement of what this cultivation group was capable of and how he put himself at a certain risk by going alone. But could he really just decide to bring people around? The shopkeeper warned against people from Shen Society and everyone else he knew were not exactly battle-ready individuals. Be that Bo Lifen or Narissa herself as far as Li Yang knew. ¡­ Taiga would really get upset if she learned that he went off alone again. As far as she or Narissa was concerned, Li Yang had gone off to spend time with Bo Lifen. He wondered what exactly went through their minds at moments like that? Did they reluctantly accept it as something that happened? It was an afterthought at this point, even the fact that he essentially kept leaving his ''bodyguard'' with other people instead of keeping Taiga at his side to protect himself. Still, there was no more turning back. By proxy, Taiga was someone from Shen Society so he was probably going to do this alone either way. Next time though, he''d make it a point to bring Taiga along and also inquire of Narissa''s capabilities. Li Yang still had that pack of gum from so long ago that allowed him to breathe underwater, but having a Mermaid with him might have been more assuring than quick items. Still, should he buy a weapon now in the off chance that trouble happens on the beach? The System''s Inventory function would allow him to hide it from others, but besides the crystal sword that he shattered after fighting with the goddess¡­ he had something else, didn''t he? It was a little more his style than lugging around a sword. [ Inventory ] Crystal Dark Sword Shards Dao of Laughter Empty Healing Bottles x3 LSO Beauty and Facial Set LSO''s Clown Mask LSO Glitter-Pen LSO Water Breathing Chewing Gum Picture-Perfect Perfume Water of Rejuvenation (Vial) (50% full) Yao Slayer Yin-Yang Qi Pill [ Page 1 out of 2 ] Li Yang pulled out the pen and noticed that despite Ying Yue He trying to wipe it out all of the Merfolk''s blood from before¡­ some of it still stuck and clung to it. He gave it a small click and watched the laser-like ''glitter'' come out of it¡ªhe quickly returned it to the inventory. This pen was more suitable for generalized fighting than the Yao Slayer based on descriptions. Or he could purchase a better one. ¡­ While it was tempting to buy something from the Charm Shop, he''d much prefer using it to manually increase his cultivation levels and just forgo the training to save time. Chapter 257: Between Land and Sea (1) There were heroes, warriors and legends of old that worked hard to attain their powers. Myths of a man that struggled for a thousand years to obtain power and godhood, of a monkey undergoing challenges before ascending and several other more individuals that underwent trials and tribulations. Sure, there might have been individuals just born lucky. Perhaps being born a demi-god, or blessed with supreme luck and strength¡­ but most of them still underwent a process to reach their levels and become a pinnacle. Li Yang on the other hand only needed to have women think he was charming or sexually attractive to gain power. It was unfair in a way, he acknowledged that to another person, they wouldn''t have minded the Heavens watching and encouraging him to walk a certain path. He didn''t even need to manually cultivate if he desired it¡ªwhich made him realize that he needed to do that.Now was the good time to actually check on how much he accumulated since coming out from the Afterlife. [ Power Points: 86,169 ] So that was what remained after buying the Necromancer''s Circle of Death and the Aroma of Death? The former seemed to have only been one-time use to summon the dead and by proxy attract the Ghost Reaper. Or one of the Ghost Reapers available in the universe. What about the Aroma of Death? Could he use that again or was it a status condition now? Still, what he was currently perplexed with the most was the amount of points he had now. Didn''t he get anything from all the fighting he did in the Afterlife? He battled a lot of creatures back there that surely should have given more points. There were skeletons, zombies and other undead creatures back there. He slipped into what was deemed as a sanctum of death and he came out without nothing? "Isn''t that impossible?" Li Yang muttered underneath his breath. "I even actually met¡­someone in that place that should have merited me some sort of award or achievement at least based on the rather generous reward system." He didn''t give the Observers any satisfaction by mentioning any names or even what he figured out the goddess to be, but his System should have an answer for that, didn''t it? "Where are the rest of my points? Is it being blocked or anything?" Li Yang asked. Somehow, he was expecting Bao to pop in and give an answer, but the creature was silent. It seemed to have grown more unattached to providing him answers and stuck with the role of transmission. It was strangely unusual and even uncharacteristic of Bao to do that, but the System answered him. [ Greetings, Host! ] [ System Is Currently Checking The Host''s Heavenly Deposit ] [ Points And Gifts Earned Are On Standby Until Further Processing ] Once again the System decided to not mention anything until he actually prompted it. It was reliable and yet certainly not on his side for the most part¡­ whoever created this made it this way perhaps. Regardless, he didn''t experience such a thing before. "...Is this because of the Patch Update incident with DatPeach?" Li Yang asked. [ The Host Is Correct ] [ Do Not Worry, Host. The Points and Gifts Have Been Under Processing For The Last 5.5 Hours. 30 Minutes Left Until Acception ] "Is it really that slow to check whether or not there''s anything dangerous?" Li Yang shook his head and decided to purchase the next levels of cultivations while waiting. If the System was that thorough, then he''d let it be. There was no need for him to rush things as he had ample time before reaching the island. He summoned the Main Screen and went for the Personal Cultivation area instead of the Charm Shop. While gathering equipment and useful Skills to aid his combat style was necessary, it was also better to increase his base stats if he were to put it in a gamer''s perspective. This wasn''t a game at all and he knew that death was something that could happen to him¡ªbut it made things easier to organize and strategize if one thought about it this way. Li Yang would rather not be a¡­ glass cannon. Powerful but fragile when struck by a greater enemy was not a good thing, that experience he had of simply running away from Aurora at Telriah was unpleasant to say the least¡ªhe needed to become more impervious to damage than relying to one-hit enemies. If it weren''t for his strange affinity to the goddess'' brother and gaining a skill specified for god-killing then it would have turned out badly. He escaped death within a hair''s breadth. Li Yang was weak in universal perspectives. That was also still applicable to him here, despite training in Telriah. There were thousand-year old monsters on earth so he was still at a disadvantage. While his training at Mashiro Temple allowed him to be more at ease with using energy, and qi at earth... it was still him up against higher-leveled individuals who had more techniques than him. He''d rather choose a more realistic and balanced take on combat by still becoming a cultivator who could fight and stand on his own. The thought of having Taiga as a bodyguard before seemed like a brilliant idea, and he even contemplated hiring more if the situation became more dangerous, but now it was more possible for him to get stronger on his own. It made more sense to get stronger than to rely on others. [ Would You Like To Purchase Qi Condensation - XI? ] [ Deducting 25,000 Points From The Host... ] [ You Have Successfully Bought Qi Condensation - XI ] [ Would You Like To Purchase Qi Condensation¡ª ] Right before he could purchase the next Qi Condensation Level, Li Yang noticed the temperature around him drop. It wasn''t that often for him to actually notice a change in temperature because he could regulate his body to an extent. His entire field vision suddenly changed as the wind blew madly all of a sudden, white wisps covered the entire ship and blocked him from seeing anything else. Was this what Yuan Gen meant earlier of it not being useful to stay above deck? A kind of fog that blocked even those of cultivators? No. Li Yang didn''t think this was what the guy meant earlier at all. It was quite unlikely for a person to memorize a ship''s path unless they had some sort of special eidetic memory. This was another thing completely. He quickly retrieved his pen, before switching it out with the Yao Slayer. He could still imbue his qi on it to inflict damage, whether or not it was specified to dealing with other creatures. The sound of footsteps below the deck thundered in the back of his head. Were they going up at a time like this? The sound of alarms suddenly echoed and he saw a burst of light break through from the front of the ship¡ªa sort of light qi blast that attempted to purge the white fog that surrounded them. It was no use however. [ Warning! You Have Entered An AoE Space ] [ This Area Is Hovering Between the Living and Dead ] [ Welcome to the Ghost Mists of the Seas ] Chapter 258: Between Land and Sea (2) It wasn''t often that the sea fought against those who sought to travel her waters, safe passage was given to them that only desired to move from one port to another¡ªbut this time, those who died were the ones who reached out and reacted to the scent filling their surroundings. An ambiance of those who knew death but did not cower from it. They sought to find the source and found it in a living man. Li Yang eyed what appeared to be a corpse of a Mermaid, her wrists were bent unnaturally as she hovered in the air. The strong majestic tail of such a creature seemed to have been stripped off¡ªthe scales skinned off. Only a faint glimmer of what might have been shone despite the fog blocking out the moon and stars. He might have attempted to talk to it¡­ her, but only the sound of rumbling and low groans filled the air. There was no siren using her vocals to lure him into the deep, she was a shadow of her former self. No longer a creature of water or that of the earth. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light. Behind it were human skeletons¡ªtheir sacked fleshes giving away to rot and wear compared to the beautiful maiden. One of them looked like its ribs had been punctured aiming for a heart that was long gone, whereas another one had a dislocated jaw. There was only one singular Mermaid amidst the human corpses so it wasn''t hard to imagine what might happen. The human skeletons held on to harpoons and spears, others held on to nets and other things used to capture fish. Or a much larger one. Li Yang held on to the Yao Slayer he bought but did not make the first move. He remembered what the Aroma of Death did by protecting him from the mindless undead, those not controlled by another individual or practitioner of death, and while he thought it already waned in effect¡­ that didn''t seem to be the case. These lost souls did not attack him at all. Groaning and bemoaning, as if telling him a tale of their woes and demise but never striking first. A haunting beauty that stayed with him. They considered him a kindred spirit¡ªbut it all changed when the first scream pierced the night. One of the men in the ship reached above the deck and was quickly met with the rampage of these creatures and tore him to flesh. He didn''t even realize what was happening at first until he saw the first blood spurting out from an arm. Li Yang snapped out of his stupor and launched himself forward¡ªwhether they attacked him or not, these creatures did not hold the same standard to those of his companions. Not knowing any specific Necromancer skills or those of eastern methods to control the undead, he was forced to cut them down and bring their bodies to their eternal rest. A macabre of death. At first they seemed to have allowed Li Yang to approach and pass, but once they realized that he was making his way to the ordinary man¡ªthey started attacking him. The instinctual desire to be alive and yet not being capable of doing so, they only held onto this stage in between living and dying. "Get them and finish them off now!" Yuan Gen shouted. Below the deck, a couple of the men started going out and wielding weapons of their own. It seemed like despite being non-cultivators, they were still capable of holding these things off on their own. Even the shopkeeper went out with a large stick and used it to bash the skeleton''s out of his way. With the safety of numbers, he and the others were able to perform some kind of war technique by sticking to one another and using defensive attacks. Li Yang on the other hand dealt with the ones on his front¡ªbringing them to their end. These creatures didn''t know what hit them at all as the last skeleton went down. A certain vapor of qi expelling upon their death like their own aroma on their demise. The men of Yuan Gen were quickly lighting up matches and burning the corpses down. Li Yang held on to his sword and saw the first man that had gone up, only a stump available in one of his arms¡ªdespite him moving in to fight only after a second. "Are you okay, Ping?" One of the men quickly replied. "Does he look okay to you?" "That was a stupid question¡ªdangit, bring him to the medical bay." Yuan Gen covered his face with a hand, watching as the other guys started bringing the injured fellows below the deck, until he finally looked at Li Yang. "What about you? How are you okay? When did you even have that weapon with you?" Li Yang held the Yao Slayer and gave him a shrug. "I always had it with me, you just didn''t notice." "That''s a specialized weapon for fighting ghosts, spirits and those of mostly yin-nature¡­" Yuan Gen frowned as he eyed the weapon and then Li Yang up and down. "Did you have a storage ring with you? I didn''t see one on your fingers when you came in, and I don''t see any earrings on you either. You have a bracelet underneath the sleeve of your suit?" "I guess I can understand why you''re a shopkeeper, you have an eye for merchandise." Li Yang held on to the weapon and didn''t exactly place it back in his Inventory. While it wasn''t apparent before, it seemed like this shopkeeper individual didn''t just provide service without taking an assessment of his customer. "Wow, now you''re complimenting me." "Perhaps. But what''s that stick for a weapon?" Li Yang raised a brow. He remembered the time when Taiga trained him and he was forced to use an actual tree branch for a weapon, but now it seemed more practical to have a blade. His training with the Kin Hunters and those of Mashiro Temple helped him use it more. "Not everyone likes violence," Yuan Gen said. "Besides, it''s good for both hitting individuals and also as a backscratcher. Try doing that with a sword and you''ll end up with stabs all over your body." He considered that as the end of that conversation. Li Yang''s gaze then flickered to the corpses and other skeletons from the fight being burned and turned into ash by some sort of purple flame. "What''s the purpose of that? Some kind of special flame to actually extinguish the souls?" "You''ve never seen Purple Qi?" Yuan Gen raised a brow and snickered. He wagged his stick and pointed it to the people using matches that burned the bodies but didn''t seem to harm the ship itself. "Talk about the path of enlightenment, huh?" "I don''t get it at all, as far as I know¡ªqi has affinity to certain elements, and while there are colors associated with each one¡­ is there such a thing like purple flames?" Li Yang inquired. "Beyond what I''m seeing now." He could recall Telriah''s Ao Seven Energy Types¡­ but it didn''t mean that things were similar here back on earth. Knowing how there were different cultivation methods, techniques and other information available to grow stronger¡ªhe decided to just focus on what was the most fundamental. Purple flames didn''t seem like a skill or technique for those around his level. "Well, if you must know, purple tends to be associated with wood and also wealth in bagua and feng shui¡­ heck, even other countries associate it with royalty so you can see a pattern." "I think purple was associated with royalty because purple dye was very expensive in the past," Li Yang said. Yuan Gen gave him a look, but then proudly whisked the stick at the flames. "This is a profound spiritual qi that can expel the negative qi from these creatures to prevent attracting other creatures from the sea. The patriarch of the Liu is capable of imbuing this pure qi into various objects for later use." Li Yang raised a brow. It seemed like the people in the organization truly looked up to elders within their group. "I see¡­" "You don''t seem capable of appreciating it yet." Yuan Gen wrinkled his nose. "Well, what''s your spiritual root affinity? You managed to open your spiritual roots through the use of the tea that you bought from us, right?" That wasn''t exactly what happened, but he didn''t need to know. "I don''t actually have to tell you anything, you know?" Li Yang frowned slightly as he gazed at the vapors that still seemed to expel from the corpses despite the purple flames. "Of course you just have to be one of those secretive guys." Actually, there was something else that was bugging Li Yang more than the explanation of the purple qi. "Are you sure that this profound qi is working? From what I know, Mermaids have very high spiritual roots with water affinity. Shouldn''t that pose a problem when dealing with these flames?" "Mermaid¡­ you know, we encountered Gui now, whatever their previous nature, it''s changed. They''ve transformed into something more akin to ghosts that continue to plague the earth." Yuan Gen frowned at him. "We have to remove these kinds of phantasm qi or else we risk the chance of attracting other creatures that seek to destroy them." "Other creatures?" Li Yang didn''t like the sound of that. "We''re obviously not the only ones who detest these kinds of creatures. They also haunt and attack those who dwell under the sea¡ªso don''t jinx us by asking about it, or else we''re going to face something more treacherous than these. We''re already getting delayed by the injuries, but we''re nearly at our destination." Li Yang needed to remove that Aroma of Death status now. Chapter 259: Between Friends and Enemies (Mixed POV) Li Yang was gone. Not everyone noticed it as he expected¡­ as he wanted it to be. The Mermaid Narissa and the Tigress Taiga were no longer at the bar and had immediately left once he himself parted ways with them to be with Bo Lifen¡ªbut the Mermaid did not expect that the Tigress would tag along with her. It was like a stray cat on the street following you until you arrived home and demanded your hospitality. "Can Taiga stay with you tonight?" "Don''t you have some other place to stay?" Narissa stopped outside of the door of her hotel room to give the tigress spirit an unamused look. "... Taiga was staying at the Shou Temple Sect in Chongming Island, but it''s too tiring to try to get back there. Taiga would have to get past all of the ghosts and evil spirits that lurk around there." "I don''t care. Aren''t you supposed to be some fiery feline?" "Taiga does have fire roots¡ªbut what''s that got to do with any of these?" The spirit cultivator gave her a smile. "Just think of it as a sleepover because Taiga thinks we have to get along sooner or later." "Why do we need to get along?" Narissa gave her a dirty look. "... If we''re going to live together down the line?" . . . Only a certain individual knew that he left the city again and only another one knew and paid attention to the fact that he was missing. Bo Lifen who originally left him to have dinner by herself was now at Shen Society and sitting in one of the lounge chairs. Compared to the head of the society and the one cultivator currently staying at the office, she was distressed and looking at the clock. "So let me get this straight," Shen An Na looked up from her textbook to give the older woman a look. "You were expecting Li Yang to head here because you noticed a discussion erupt between him and Mou Gu at the diner?" Bo Lifen wasn''t someone who liked to engage with cultivators beyond than necessary, they were all troublesome, but she gave the young woman a nod. Nobody needed to mention that she sort of came running to the Shen Society''s headquarters. "Yes, I came here to meet him... but the two of us can see that he isn''t here. It''s been ten minutes already since I last saw him." "Well, unless he turned invisible and he''s been secretly here all along. Yes, he isn''t here." "That''s not very funny, An Na." "You know, I''m still trying to grasp the idea that you know him as well." Shen An Na closed her book to look at the reason why the usually reclusive member of the Bo Family came forward to report this situation. It was as exactly as Bo Lifen might have wanted it to be¡ªtheir relationship or what could have been the incidents surrounding her and Li Yang were unknown to many. People needed to mind their business! Except she was asking for a favor. Shen An Na rubbed her chin and thought about it some more. "Then again, the Heavenly Jade Pavilion has a lot of rich customers so he could have been one of those customers that you met along the way." "My great-grandmother knows him." "But you care enough to report this to me¡­ and were actually expecting him to be here?" The Tea Sommelier hung her head for a moment. If the man actually came here then there would have been no need to explain herself at all and for people to wonder her intentions at all. "As far as I''m aware, the man only discovered the cultivation world recently so I''d rather not have him go jumping from one situation to another. That''s inherently risky¡­ but something seems to have come up." "What exactly came up?" "That I do not know." Bo Lifen answered truthfully. The two of them only bickered and slept with each other, discussions about anything else were off the table. "¡ªI know what''s up." The door swung open, Mou Gu sauntered inside of the room and raised a hand. "Hey, Lifen. I didn''t expect that you''d be here." Bo Lifen scrunched up her face. "As others have already told me that. But you''ve chased after Li Yang, right? Where did he go and why isn''t he with you?" "Easy on the questions¡ªfirst one, yes, I chased after him throughout the city. I can''t believe that he''s still at the Qi Gathering Stage¡­ I would have already attempted to breakthrough the next stage if I were him," Mou Gu said. "Oh, so he has a knack for cultivation even at his age?" Shen An Na raised a brow. "Impressive." "You know he''s not that old," Bo Lifen muttered. "Well, you''re saying that because the two of you are at the same age." Mou Gu chuckled. "Just tell us where he is." "Patience is a virtue, Lifen. But yeah, I followed him all the way to the black market again and it seems like he might have headed to Liu Guiren''s right hand man. I didn''t enter the area itself to remain undetected from their formations. I remained there until they left the market and went to the port though." "He approached Gen for what reason?" Shen An Na asked. "Well, have you ever wondered why not only Li Yang went missing-in-action for the last few months? Even Ying Yue He no longer came to train here." "... Not really?" Shen An Na admitted. "But sure, tell us why." "Ying Yue He went to one of the Liu Family''s islands to train¡ªI guess she was recruited by someone else." Mou Gu coughed. "I thought she gave up half-way and I decided not to bother her." Once they heard the news that Li Yang was gone from Taiga¡ªwhere the Tigress herself left Shen Society to head back to the temple¡ªthey assumed that Ying Yue He would most likely not want to involve herself with them. Nobody expected for her to suddenly just go out of her way to find training elsewhere. Bo Lifen frowned slightly. "Who''s Ying Yue He?" "Wait¡ªyou don''t know his secretary?" Mou Gu gave her a surprised look. "Shorter than you, dark hair in a cute bob and overall just one of the sweetest and silliest person you''d meet?" Shen An Na and Bo Lifen only stared at him. The former did meet Ying Yue He, but it was clear that she was not impressed by his description, whereas Bo Lifen finally recalled this person at last. The woman who politely contacted her about the reservation at Heavenly Jade Pavilion ¡­and the one who Li Yang brought to Sun Aoyun and Bai Minghua''s concert. "Ah, so he disappeared to search after his secretary," Bo Lifen whispered underneath her breath and tapped her foot on the floor. "... Well, there''s a good reason for him to do that. You know how the Lius are." "I doubt that Guiren''s father would be directly involved in a situation like this one." Bo Lifen frowned at Mou Gu. "And the guy is actually reasonable enough, I''ve dealt with Liu Guiren many times already to serve them tea." The reason why the man decided to not have dinner with her was to look for his secretary. Before any of this had happened, he was spending time with Taiga and Bai Minghua too and then the man moved on to be with her. She wouldn''t be surprised to hear if Li Yang spent the past months on his training period to be around other women too. There was no need to feel upset about any of this at all since the two of them weren''t together. ¡ªbut why did it feel like she was simply part of his to-do list? Just another of the things that he checked off the list before he aimed for his next agenda? This time it was his secretary¡ªwho came after that? Did he have some sort of rotation on the list? "... Lifen, I''m sure you know that things are different at the Heavenly Jade Pavilion. That''s like neutral territory." Shen An Na pointed out. The woman looked deep in her thoughts that it seemed like it was hard to encroach on this matter. Bo Lifen was pretty stubborn when she wanted to. She was being stubborn right now. "I''m just saying that despite how the Liu Group operated in the past which was really¡­ problematic." "Problematic only?" Bo Lifen couldn''t easily just sweep all of the transgression of the group under the rug. Even if she was sort of getting hung up¡­ on stuff. "There isn''t much of a problem now if we''re talking about Liu Guiren. He''s been taking care of it more than his father, you know? New management." Mou Gu raised his hand. "Ugh, fine¡ªlet''s just say I agree with you. But Ying Yue He has a special constitution which is a prized thing. Li Guiren can be more accommodating than his father, but that''s because he''s willing to cut strings and people that he considers replaceable." Bo Lifen sighed. "If you knew that for a fact, then why did you not ensure that Ying Yue He wouldn''t get involved with them in the first place?" Mou Gu knew he was getting nowhere with Bo Lifen for some petty reason. Instead, he just tossed a look at Shen An Na. He might have been saying all of these with a lighthearted tone and chose not to argue, but it wasn''t an easy matter. "I''m asking for permission to chase after Li Yang and the hired ship if possible¡ªwe can''t just expect him to go there alone. That''s like tossing sheep in a pack of wolves¡­ Well, a lone wolf in a pack of hyenas? A nest of snakes? You know what I''m getting to, right?" Chapter 260: Between Land and Sea (3) "¡ªso don''t jinx us by asking about it, or else we''re going to face something more treacherous than these. We''re already getting delayed by the injuries, but we''re nearly at our destination." Yuan Gen took out a golden compass from his pocket. Li Yang needed to remove that Aroma of Death status now. He quickly pulled up the System''s status screen to check on any ''status ailments'' that afflicted him as one might have in a video game. It didn''t appear like he wanted to¡ªbut after a quick thought, it showed up. [ You Are Still Experiencing Aroma of Death ] Undead creatures, ghosts and spirits not tethered to any spot like poltergeists will be inexplicably drawn to you to find purpose or release from their states. They see the Host as a fellow individual who understands the experience of death. Most unintellectual ones draw in quickly like magnets, the intellectual ones can also break free from the positive perception Depending on the numbers gathered, if they are in huge numbers, other Necromancers, Exorcists, Grim Reapers or those dabbling in the affairs of the dead will also take notice. "I do not think that there is much need for any ''jinxing'' for anything to occur at all," he finally said. "What?" Yuan Gen blinked and stared at Li Yang with another judging look. "You don''t have a Solar Yang constitution do you? That''s like the only thing that comes to my mind that draws high yin-entities. This might only be us encroaching on their territories." "I suggest you head below deck if you wish to keep yourself safe," Li Yang said. "What? And leave you here alone?" Yuan Gen scrunched up his face. "I''ll go ask for some of the people to come up again. We did pack some inventory suited against ghosts so we''ll check those out." Li Yang''s grip tightened on his sword. "That won''t be necessary, you already know that my weapon deals better damage than that of others." "Still¡ª" "I think I hear something." Li Yang frowned and strained his ears. It wasn''t obvious at first, but he thought he heard something akin to a song. A Mermaid''s song perhaps, or a Siren. There was a sense of uneasiness that erupted within Li Yang as he kept his eye out into the sea. As far as he and the System''s assessment was concerned, the yacht was still in the territory of ghosts and sunken spirits that came from the depths of the sea. "I don''t hear anything¡ª" "Go." Li Yang pushed the guy away and stepped forward. So it appeared like a moth to a flame, several more deathly pale corpse-like entities arrived on the deck of the ship. Once again it was a variety of both merfolk and humans. Unlike last time however, it seemed like the Aroma of Death was losing its effectiveness because one of the more stronger entities launched rabidly at him.The deathly howl rippled and echoed throughout the entire yacht, the mermaid looking more like a rabid fish with its scales and fangs. It should have attacked him and he would have cut it down. Except for what came right after the mermaid corpse. A huge serpentine body leapt up from the dark waters, its large jaws took and tore the creature as it flew through the air and then it dove back to the sea¡ª Yuan Gen blinked and said it at the same time as the System identified the new apex predator. "Sea serpent!" [ Nian ] A serpentine beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. Known to devour children. The other ghost-like entities launched forward mindlessly despite the attack, even as the entire yacht rocked with the sudden change. The large crash of the waves tossed it back and forth through the waters, shaking it off its momentum. Li Yang slipped to the right side of the ship, gravity dragging him to fall over the ship¡ªright until he simply fought past it and used his weapon as a spear. Qi bursting through his feet, the man rushed forward and dove the blade through the remaining ghost-entities chests. Despite the newcomer sea serpent, Li Yang focused on relentlessly keeping the enemies back¡ªuntil he heard a sharp cry. Yuan Gen failed to keep his balance and was tossed up in the air. Li Yang''s hand moved through the System''s inventory as he took the LSO glitter pen and threw it right at the man. The item zipped through the air and grazed on the shopkeeper''s shoulder¡ªbut made the man fall back into the yacht pinned back against one of its sides. There would be no conversation if the guy died¡ªLi Yang returned to finishing off the rest of the ghost entities by himself. He used the remaining qi to keep his balance on the ship even while the Nian beast continued to leap up and tore through the remaining ones out of his reach. While it was far from an ally that could have joined forces with him, the creature also seemed to be revulsed of the undead more than it did of Li Yang and the others. ¡­ Although it might have been a different story if any of them fell into the waters. That may have turned out to be an inaccurate statement. When the Nian dove back into the water, it wasn''t only its weight that created waves that made the yacht unsteady. A piercing cry echoed within the vicinity. "Oh fuck, it''s summoning others We got to get away." Yuan Gen thrashed in place before he attempted to dig out the pen right off his shirt¡ªwhich was harder than it looked. The thing was literally planted into the external plating of the yacht. Li Yang looked for the steering mechanism of the ship and finally saw the helm and the cockpit. The bodies of the creatures still left were blocking it and yet the curious thing was that nobody was steering it. "What¡­?" "It''s a self-driving yacht¡ªjust get us out of here!" "I can''t exactly drive a yacht," Li Yang started. "It''s a wheel¡ªit should be pretty easy enough!" Gritting his teeth, the man knew the circumstances were dire. And yet he was bound to get them in more trouble if he were to steer them in the wrong direction. Regardless, if that was what it took¡ªLi Yang moved. He leapt past the bodies littered on the ground and then caught the sight of the purple flame qi still burning bright despite the attacks. Finally, Li Yang reached the half-open helm and headed for the steering wheel. And yet it was too late. Another large wave, more powerful than the lost one, crashed right on the yacht and knocked back against Li Yang and Yuan Gen. The latter was literally pinned and stayed right there all throughout the attack. Li Yang on the other hand felt the sheer water pressure throw him back a couple feet away. It appeared like the sea creature itself was attempting to expel the entirety of them by summoning waves to cleanse everything. He was knocked back against his feet¡ªfinding the water somehow stronger than whatever energy he fought before. There was an underlying strength contained in each water that somehow seemed to drain his energy. The System didn''t even need to confirm it. Li Yang didn''t see the creature anywhere¡ªbut only because it was too intelligent to even poke its head out of the waters. Regardless, the waves kept coming and thrashing the entire ship around. He moved as fast as possible to get to the helm''s cockpit. The man grabbed a hold of the helm''s side right as another torrent of waves ripped not only him, but the entire ship backwards again. Digging his fingernails on the ship, he held on and then started to reach for the ship''s wheel. Li Yang finally grabbed a hold of it and then started to turn it into another direction, far away from where he last saw the creature. The man also started gazing at what appeared to be the latest touch-screen control panel for the yacht. There were multiple glowing buttons that flickered in his vision. He kept his grab on the steering wheel and tried to look at them away. How he was going to speed this yacht up and stir it away from this area? Where was the buttons for it¡ª "¡ªthere." Li Yang finally found it. He pressed it right at the moment that the Nian finally rose its head above the waters again. The entire yacht propelled itself forward, even though the yacht was already a hundred feet away from it. Li Yang also took note that they had left the [ Ghost Mists ] area to much of his relief. In the distance, Li Yang could even actually see a small island in his vision. There were no obvious structures or buildings present, but he hoped that was the place they were going for. Yuan Gen already said that the island was just up ahead so that must be what he meant. Or did he? "Is this the right way?" Li Yang asked and glanced over his shoulder. Yuan Gen was completely drenched from head to foot, but he raised his head a little and then rapidly nodded. "Yes! Godspeed¡ªlike move in that direction as fast as you can! Can this thing go any faster?" Li Yang checked the controls and shook his head. "No, this is as fast as we can get away from them." Yuan Gen rested his head against the yacht and sighed a little. He believed that he had some seaweed or trash on his head, but that would have to wait. "Then we''re good, I think. Just keep this up." However it was far too early to celebrate. Behind them, the Nian sea serpent didn''t just stop to stare as the yacht had left its waters. It was mustering up all of its energy within its throat and then let out a screech¡ªit shot out a large ball of water headed straight towards them. Chapter 261: Between Land and Sea (4) There was nothing that Li Yang could do within those moments¡ªone minute he had his hands on the steering wheel and rushed towards the island, the next thing he knew was the ship getting obliterated by the large water ball. The dark waters engulfed the entire crew into the waters, with only the pale moonlight shining upon them. Everyone that might have happened to be in the way was ripped asunder by the water pressure. Dark waters turned red in that moment, shards of the ship spewing across the sea and some even hitting and stabbing right into the ex-CEO''s shoulder¡ªthe memory lapse in judgment caused his layer of qi to falter. Li Yang found his vision turning dark and felt the heavy tug of the waters. He was blacking out¡ªUntil the System started appearing in the precipes of his vision. Along with it was the shape of black and white creature yelling furiously at him. He couldn''t make out the words, but its eyes were a beady red as it attempted to dive into the water and save him. A sudden thunderbolt from the heavens spewed out from the sky and struck the waters. [ Congratulations! You Have Earned 100,000 Points For The Afterlife Detour ] [ You Have Received The Observer: Pomegranate''s Favor! ] [ Fruit of The Underworld Obtained! ] [ ¡­ The Host Is Currently Drowning ] [ ¡­ The Host Is Currently Passing Out ] [ Would You Like To Receive Harem Members'' Special Skill? ] Right before he passed out, Li Yang reached out with his hand¡ªhis fingertip barely touched the screen''s ''yes'' portion right before the Nian serpent lunged at him. ¡ª- Narissa would never imagine that she''d be spending an evening with Taiga¡­ or even somebody at all. When her old friend betrayed her and revealed her location to the long-gone transformed Tyrant Merfolk¡ªshe thought it was best to cut off contact with everyone in the waters. She wasn''t as forgiving and naive as other Mermaids like Odele might have been. She held her pride and refused to consider her dream of living on land adored by the humans as some senseless endeavor. The people here loved her identity as Bai Minghua and cherished her. ¡­ even those senseless buffoons who threw their money at her were able to find some reason to smile because of her. If that was enough to make them happy, then becoming an idol wasn''t terrible. "Taiga wants to ask if you have popcorn?" The Tigress Spirit was wearing one of her most comfiest pajamas and was also resting on the rug in her hotel room. The huge flat screen television was on and this Taiga was enjoying the accommodation to her full heart''s content. How this Tigress got here in the first place was annoying. "Go call room service!" Narissa snapped. It was hard to stare and glare at the ceiling, pondering about where Li Yang ran off to¡ªand didn''t even take the Tigress with him. Narissa could understand that a lot or even everyone couldn''t help but feel attracted to other people. Narissa wasn''t taken aback that Li Yang liked or even desired other women¡ªthat was normal. The only thing that differed between him and those men in monogamous relationships was commitment. Li Yang clearly had a different set of commitment standards. Or at least she hoped that he had some rules that he abided in. "Taiga can''t do it on her own," Taiga nagged back at her. The Tigress Spirit was holding the telephone and was lying upside down, her tail and pert butt was up in the air as she tried to ask for more help. Narissa eyed the other woman before grudgingly standing up and walking over to the Tigress Spirit. She slapped her hand on Taiga''s ass before she took the phone and called for room service. "Hello? Yes, This is Bai Minghua''s personal suite¡ªI''d like to get a full movie treatment. Popcorns, drinks and everything¡ª" There was something familiar floating in front of her. Even though she didn''t summon it, the status screen was up there in front of her. [ The Love Of Your Life Is Currently In Great Peril! He Is Asking For Assistance And You Can Do It By Lending Your Powers. Which Innate Skill Would You Like To Provide? ] ] Merfolk Water Breathing Abilities ] Sirenic Voice ] Undine''s Umbrage Taiga was red faced from having Narissa slap her on the butt. She tried to ignore it and pretend like it didn''t happen especially when Narissa started calling room service, but now that she stopped in her tracks. Taiga sat up and gave her a pout. "What''s the holdup, Blue Fish¡ª" Narissa shushed the Tigress Spirit and placed a finger on her lips. The Mermaid realized that this was the first time that anything like this had happened and she couldn''t help but wonder what "great peril" did this System mean? What exactly would help him the most? Without any context as to where the man could possibly be right now, Narissa gritted her teeth and then raised her finger towards the screen as she made her input. ¡ª- The powerful water ball attack earlier dove right into the middle of the yacht and exploded it into numerous pieces¡ªmen who were unfortunately in the ball''s direction immediately followed a similar demise upon contact. Those who were still at the sides and avoided such a death found themselves attacked by shrapnels from the yacht''s own interior and for those who might have survived even that were forced to swim for their lives up to the surface. Li Yang unfortunately received injuries on the second instance¡ªand yet the Nian serpent wasn''t done at all. It came right after the survivors put an end to their lives, with Li Yang being targeted as the strongest and most dangerous individual that it had seen. He yanked himself to the left and felt the dark serpent''s body graze and toss him back into the waters. He grabbed a hold of the piece of metal that stuck in his shoulder and quickly pulled it out. The thing was not helping him move in the waters. Not to mention Li Yang wasn''t sure if the System had worked at all, but he quickly thought of the Inventory and pulled something from it. Chapter 262: The Shared Power Between Them (1) The man popped the LSO''s water breathing gum into his mouth and then found his body suddenly adapting to his water environment. Similar to what he used before when Setsuko and him dove for the Gigantic Koi Demons Eggs, he could breathe underwater. Now where was his weapon¡ªthe creature gracefully rushed at him and didn''t give him much time to choose. Li Yang forced qi out of his feet and redirected his position quickly. He didn''t even have the frame of mind or time to care about the other passengers that went down along with him. Where was the System''s screen? What was his Skill¡ª? A sudden jolt of power waved and ebbed through his body and invigorated him. He didn''t feel anything like this before except for the time that he used up 30,000 Charm Points to use the A-Stellar Pack before. When he looked up into the waters, he met the Nian serpent''s eyes and felt a wave of both subtle thoughts and emotions come at him. Li Yang opened his mouth and tried to say something¡ªand found nothing but bubbles quickly coming out of his voice. There were no words to it that he could make out at all from the set-go and yet it came to his mind almost coherently. As if there was a telepathic nature to it that stemmed beyond immediate language. Right before it could have attacked him, the Nian beast ended up stopping mid-rush as if hesitating, but then immediately came forward regardless. Whatever Li Yang had said didn''t make it stop at all. There was no use to it¡ªand it threw another water ball attack at him. It came too quickly for him to dodge or swim away from. Instead, the only option was to strengthen out and weather through it. Now that he could see it clearly for himself, the ball of water was condensed and seemed to have a bright white light within it. Li Yang realized that it was not ordinary water at all but something that the creature may have created within its internal system. Cultivator or not, that was immense power that came from the center of the beast''s own spiritual core. He started to muster up qi and threw it on as a defense¡ªthe ball came and hit him directly. Or it would have done so, if it weren''t for the waters all around him redirecting it and throwing it back at the creature. The Nian''s beast eyes widened at its own attack thrown back at him. It knocked the beast several hundred meters away as it crashed back against the waters. Li Yang blinked and tried to look around him. He thought he only used up his qi to layer on his defenses but the water moved along with him. That was the exact moment that the System came back on. [ Congratulations! You Have Activated (2) Special Skills From Your Harem Members! ] Treasure the Undine Umbrage and the Mind and Emotion Connection that came from your dearly beloved women! These Skills will last for ten minutes only and can be leveled up as you increase your relationship with respective members. Enjoy! Li Yang blinked at the words. However, he didn''t have any time to ponder about it anymore. The creature was coming back at him more angered than before¡ªLi Yang could feel the underlying rage within the creature''s powerful movements. Li Yang glanced in his immediate vicinity and saw the rest of the people still underwater¡ªhe first ended up giving them a hand while taking the opportunity to drift away from the serpent. His movements were now fluid and faster in the water than he had ever thought possible. The waters coiled and moved around him. Doing anything that an Undine might have been capable of within its natural environments. ¡ª- Narissa might have chosen the Sirenic Voice for Li Yang to use it to soothe or quell his opponents. It was something that she used often to stop people from doing anything that she didn''t like and to also have them do favors for her. ¡­ And yet, she was a tad worried. "Great peril¡­" Narissa muttered underneath her breath. She hoped she made the right choice of making Li Yang use her natural Undine abilities¡ªeven if the man was on land, there had to be enough water source for him to attack, right? Well, that wasn''t exactly what came on her mind first. There was the fact that water naturally had healing tendencies so that would have also helped recover any injuries that he might have had in the onset of any troubles or fight. Naarissa hated to admit it aloud, but she was more concerned of him not getting injured or recovering from them. "What are you muttering about, Blue Fish?" Taiga raised a brow at her. She was now back on the rug and was making sure that she wasn''t wagging her tail around like the last time. Instead, Taiga was eating her popcorn and drinking her soda happily. Narissa wondered if now was the right time to tell Taiga about the circumstances about Li Yang. Yet she was pretty damn sure that this feisty feline would just end up attempting to go out and find Li Yang. She checked out the man''s coordinates through the System and realized that he was too far away for Taiga to chase after him, so making the Tigress Spirit worried would be useless right? There was a lot to consider at this moment and it was making her head hurt. . . . In a distant realm beyond that was currently conceivable for any human space travel alone¡ªa white haired fox goddess now sat at the charred forest all by herself. Remnants of a temple were burning behind her, long gone since that day that changed everything. There was no one left behind, except for herself. But even that was also questionable in itself. Her gaze was focused on the screen that was hovering in front of her. This was the only bit of hope that she could hold on to. Chapter 263: The Shared Power Between Them (2) If there was a ranking of all the known strongest individuals in the entire country or world¡ªLi Yang would not have been part of that list. He was an unknown person that only recently entered the realm of those who obtained powers. Compared to monsters that have cultivated for centuries and those who have obtained great magicks that were lost in ancient times¡­ he was a small player. A greenhorn. Someone who barely caused a blip or a shred of alertness in the realm of consciousness of the world. Save for those at the very pinnacle of power, the overall strength of those below them also waned and changed in time. Cultivators or Mages, these people preferred to hoard the powers, secrets and techniques for themselves. If only to be bestowed upon those who they care or trust the most, family, same sect, alliances or those who provide benefits for them. Yuan Gen had no particular or outstanding talent in the realm of cultivation, that was why he was trusted¡ªbecause he was weak and couldn''t do anything to betray the people above him. He was no general that could cripple down a king''s power and take it for himself. Even if he was the shopkeeper that had access to countless poisons, tinctures and the sharpest needles¡ªhe could not kill a man that might as well have been a beast. Thus when he suddenly found the waters around him moving and then started lifting him out from drowning¡­ he blinked and tried to realize what he had come upon. Mermaids did not come and save humans, it wasn''t surprising to be consumed. But the water control was coming from someone and he could only point to one individual. Did this speak of some unknown talent that was yet to be discovered? Yuan Gen already knew that even if this Ying Yue He was a valuable asset to the Liu Group right now¡ªhaving this guy on their side was even better. It was comparing a moon to a star¡ªa star that had incredible chances of becoming a supernova. He tried to peer underwater but found it too dark. Yuan Gen only found the others within his group surfacing like him and all of them started to gather together. Was this safe? Yuan Gen shook his head and searched for the item he always kept on his person. Yuan Gen''s shoulder still felt like it was bleeding because of the pen from earlier, but he worked and forced himself to move despite the pain. The right hand man of Liu Guiren took out the golden compass. ¡ª- Li Yang was not exactly used to having water powers¡ªit was as if he had grown an extra hand¡­ or grown too many hands around him. While his five senses were not linked with the water itself compared to him using his spiritual senses, the water around him somehow felt like it belonged to him. He was able to use it and bend it to his will. Now, if only that his competition wasn''t against a creature that had lived its entire life in the ocean and a devourer to him completely out of his element. Li Yang was not grounded at all, he still felt the water pressure around him and it was kind of strange being so buoyant. But he had to make do. His concentration was split into doing several things. One of them was dedicated to keeping everyone afloat and as far away from the battle place as was possible¡ªwhile also making sure that they didn''t attract any other sea creatures. Another part of himself was making sure that he stayed afloat and did not sink like a rock. He dodged another hydro-powered energy attack and felt the water get charged around him. It was a strange battle that kept him up his wits¡ªwhile trying to ignore the roars and attacks that came in his mind. It was audible now, this creature''s thoughts came in fragments. Li Yang was beginning to understand more of its thoughts in addition to its emotions. He felt something go out of its lungs or body when he threw his own water javelin at it. While not exactly piercing through the scales, there was a pain that emerged within it. The creature''s attention was solely on him. Death. Stench of death¡ªpurge. Li Yang blinked but didn''t say a thing. It was recognizing him as an equivalent of death. This Aroma of Death status was helpful in dealing with ghosts and making them succumb to his will¡ªbut detrimental when faced against those who despised it. The two were practically at a stalemate¡ª The Nian beast slapped its tail at him and threw him several hundred feet back into the dark and cold waters. Its body was harder than anything Li Yang had encountered before and it showed. While he was pretty sure that he should be bleeding, he wasn''t exactly getting any¡ªbut the fight between them was going nowhere at this point. Li Yang needed to do something to even the odds as their powers were currently just blocking each other without any real harm. If only there was a difference between their elements. Water against water was kind of useless in of itself. He needed a new environment to change the odds and stack them against the creature. Was there anything that he could do with the water besides manipulating it, changing its form and also using it to heal? Was this the pinnacle of an Undine''s shared power? Seeing that he was currently far away from the beast, he quickly summoned the System Screen to find anything in his Inventory. There was a nagging suspicion within him that he could use something¡ªhe stopped at one of the monster parts obtained. He got a lot of random loot from the Frostborne Mountains when he went there¡ªfrom the largest feather to the fang of an ice wyvern¡ªbut there was a common thing to all of them. An element of ice. Could that work? Chapter 264: The Shared Power Between Them (3) [ Inventory ] Ice Wyvern Fang (Medium Size) Obtained from the Frostborne Mountains and contains a concentrated freezing Ao energy within it. In addition to plunging their enemies, the fangs of the wyvern contain a paralyzing and freezing nature within it. It was a crazy idea, but if the description called them freezing then the chances were that it could. He plucked out a frosted white feather from the Inventory and watched as the water around him drew more chilly. The water started freezing up and he knew that was his chance. Li Yang swept a hundred feet more away from the Nian and then gave the beast a look, egging him to come closer. The two could somewhat understand each other in a way that didn''t even need to think thoughts aloud and it was a strange thing to do with an opponent. But even if the creature knew¡ªwas Li Yang underestimating its thick scales? That sudden thought seemed to have stemmed more from the Nian than him, and he couldn''t help but shake its head. Come here to find out. He really needed better threats. The Nian Beast rampaged towards him at a speed that caught him off guard. It wasn''t using its full speed before¡ª! He found himself moments away from its maw before Li Yang forced the entirety of the waters to push them out of the sea. The entire beast''s body suddenly disconnected with the waters as it was thrown up into the air. Li Yang himself was several feet up as he took out the largest "Frozen" item in his Inventory¡ªthe Great Tusk of Tundra Mammoth. He threw it down into the waters that came up to meet it. A quick combination between the two elements occurred¡ªthe tusk enveloped by the waters and the freezing of such liquids. It turned into a curved ice javelin that was tossed up right into the Nian beast''s underbelly. Tear. Rip. Shred. Right as Li Yang crashed into the waters, the same thing happened to the Nian beast only that it was met with a fatal blow that ripped its belly and turned the dark waters to red. It wasn''t only the tusk itself that made the belly give way, velocity granted the weapon to plunge deep within the beast. The course of pain somehow also registered in Li Yang as well¡ªfeeling like his own stomach was shredded open despite not actually receiving the injury as well. It made his head reel for a second, but then he was back to using the water to dig the tusk deeper. Crimson continued to flow and slosh the waters with its life and it stared at Li Yang betrayed in a sense¡ªfor whatever reason it may have had. And yet a certain rage throbbed that somehow told him that the Nian beast thought it was right. Li Yang was indeed death, it was a murderer¡ª A far larger weapon suddenly plunged into the waters and struck the Nian beast in the head¡ªand Li Yang felt a rupture go out inside of him. The disconnection was cut then and there. He realized that there were several things that seemed to have arrived. Once he resurfaced, Li Yang realized that it was not something but someone¡ªseveral others have arrived. He couldn''t help but feel like he met a group of not sword-flying cultivators, but rather an organized group of gang members that only happened to be using swords as their vehicle. Several men and women flew in each of their own swords, everyone at a level or had the luxury of obtaining something that seemed like an artifact from the past. Out of all of them was the person who appeared to be the head of the group and the very same person that finished off the Nian beast. A man with dark purple hair was looking at Yuan Gen and the rest of the people that survived the attack. There was a certain sense of relaxed authority in the man''s aura and even in his slightly dry tone. This young cultivator didn''t immediately rescue the people still in the waters. "Even if the yacht was destroyed and the cargo went along with it, I suppose this serpent more than makes up for the cost, Gen. It''s been quite awhile since we caught one of these things, they''re reclusive bastards." He looked over his shoulder. "Guys, hook it up." Several of the people threw down what appeared to be gigantic fishing hooks to ensnare the beast and bring it up. That was what they decided to focus on more first¡ªalleviating the costs of what they had lost. Li Yang didn''t exactly voice a word immediately, although he was tempted to say that the death of the beast was still primarily because of him. He was the one who dealt the most damage to it and he was also inclined to mention that the rest survived because of him. However, he didn''t exactly care much for the glory now. The man found his gaze on someone else. What he didn''t expect of it all was a certain woman that was also with them. She was on one of the flying swords all by herself. Ying Yue He felt a stared from down at the dark waters and then recognized Li Yang''s face¡ªshe practically abandoned her sword and tossed herself into the waters. "Yang!" Ying Yue He cried out as she wrapped her arms around the man, tears immediately pricking her eyes. Li Yang wasn''t sure if it was from the cold or the salt getting to her eyes. The man was still fathoming her actually being here with him, but before he could fully actualize that this was now happening and he had seen her at long last¡ªthe man tasted her lips on his own. She had missed him too much¡ªthat she did away with the words or anything at all. "... When I said hook it up, I didn''t mean it this way." The head of the rescue team and leader of the group only shook his head at the couple practically making out in the waters. It was a reunion, alright. Chapter 265: A Chatroom From The Heavens What was more realistic than reality shows? Actual real life, no doubt. The One Who Slaughters: I would have preferred if he had beheaded that serpent creature himself. Or he drank the blood of it rather than let this group take it for themselves. Sea Foam: What is it with you and blood? Do you want him to bathe in it? Not everyone is a war freak like you Owl Brain: It is to be expected that there are benefits to consuming the blood of beasts stronger than yourself. Actually¡ªhe doesn''t need to drink the blood like Blood Biters, but he could prepare a sumptuous meal with it. His people have special Gourmet Chefs that deal with monster parts, don''t they? Was the pink-haired cultivator actually a chef "cultivator"? Pomegranate: He''s literally kissing his secretary now¡ªwhy are you guys concerned over that snake? It took ages for them to do this and yet all of you are conversing about this stupid snake. The chatroom of the Heavens were in a state of some hot debate¡ªmost of which Li Yang practically tuned out of and practically muted, because they were mostly unhelpful like their conversation now. Only Bao, the so-called "Panda" was forced to read and also gauge their reactions. It wasn''t only a Transmitter but also someone who needed to create scenarios if the Heavens'' Observers found it boring. Li Yang who once called it a TV reality show was right on the money. Reality shows were still a performance that wanted to grab people''s attention. Things were indeed scripted and even the depiction and screen time of each person on the cast was based on the assessments of the producer and camera crew. In this case, Bao was the one expected to make it all interesting. Thankfully, Li Yang managed to indeed make it something that people wanted to view¡­ at least a targeted demographic. Most of which were indeed the feminine side of the Heavens¡ªbut they were still deities and powerful figures who kept the LSO running and essentially kept Bao stuck here in this goddamn awful realm. Even the sight of the ''star of the show'' getting thrown into the sea and nearly passing out was nothing more than fanfare for them. A small step to the future. Bao on the other hand had¡­ actually tried to intervene. And once again faced a stupid heavenly tribulation as a result. How was it supposed to know that Li Yang was going to survive? Humans were incredibly squishy and died far too easily, even the so-called cultivators. Now the man was kissing Ying Yue He in the middle of the sea, his hand grabbing the back of her head as they vented their pent-up longings at last. A certain scene filled with two people long reunited after several months of not seeing each other. Of two people that were perhaps always meant to be together. ¡­ Bao really disliked that it would always have to be the one witnessing everything. ¡ª- Li Yang''s kiss with Ying Yue He ended around a minute or so, not exactly wanting everyone to witness the moment. Even if the Heavens could have very well classified him as a default exhibitionist in a sense. Another small ship soon arrived and picked each and everyone of the men, including Ying Yue He who refused to get on board her flying sword and simply stayed at his side. "Alright, we''ve collected everyone¡ªlet''s head back." The head of the expedition team called out to everyone and then threw a look down at the boat. "Yue He¡ªyou''re not coming back up?" "N-no. I''d much prefer to stay on the boat. The wind is a bit chilly," Ying Yue He said. Everyone knew it was a ridiculous excuse for a cultivator, but she was able to stay with Li Yang. She never let go off his hand, even when the tips of her ears were burning bright red. The cultivators that were flying on their swords made it a point to tease her about it. Surprisingly or not, even these people who seem to be part of what Mou Gu could have called an evil sect or evil group did a good act of portraying themselves as humans. That was what was scary about some monsters and even gods¡ªthey did a great job of depicting themselves as someone ordinary and normal. "Who would have known that the Moon Flower already has a partner," One of the few women cultivators on the sword called out with a laugh. "I guess this is why, Senior Longwei keeps getting rejected." Another chimed in, much to the embarrassment and chagrin of one of the men. "Oh shut up¡ªshe''s not my type." One of the male cultivators shouted at his companions, glanced at the woman aboard on the ship. "You''re nice and all, Ying Yue He¡ªbut my heart belongs to someone else!" He then looked away with a huff. Another cultivator shook his head. "Why are you even here with us?" "My sound bats are taking care of the perimeters, I can go wherever I like." Li Yang raised a brow at the nickname given to his secretary more than the presence of some cultivator who admired her¡ªknowing fully well that she preferred him, as if the kiss wasn''t enough of a sign¡ªbut Ying Yue He herself was just silent at his side and only blushed harder. It seemed like the other cultivators liked her, but the same couldn''t be said for her. She only intertwined her fingers with his and refused to even leave his side at all. Li Yang chuckled and tugged her closer. His secretary had always been cute, but now, he just kissed the top of her head. "Are you cold? I would offer my jacket, but we''re both drenched." Ying Yue He didn''t know what to say¡ªher lips were still tingling after the kiss and she was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she''d spew out only gibberish. Where have you been? How did you find me? Such thoughts and feelings rested in her chest as she glanced up at his face and tried to see if there was anything that changed about her boss. Except for what appeared to be the very soaked office suit and him somehow feeling stronger than before, Ying Yue He was relieved to see him. Her heart trembled slightly, but now that the two of them were together¡ª "We''ve reached the shore." One of the non-cultivator men shouted happily. After the incident in the sea, most of them were just happy to finally see dry land at last. This may have seemed like a fun time for cultivators as they captured a beast, but it was near traumatic for others. "Welcome to one of the islands of the Liu Group, Li Yang." Yuan Gen interrupted as they finally reached the shore. Ying Yue He couldn''t help but feel a tad nervous of what was going to happen after this. But all she really knew was that she would do her best to leave the group. That was the thing that she had said in the beginning when she first came here and everyone was well-aware of that. Even if they tried to deny it. Chapter 266: The Shared Power Between Them (4) When Li Yang stepped into the beach, even he who was still at Qi Condensation, recognized that sudden warping of the island''s air and qi. It wasn''t obvious to the naked eye, but he had felt the numerous formations available in the sand and even saw what appeared to be ritualistic totem-like structures. This was what accounted for him not seeing anything while they were still aboard on the ship. The System didn''t even need to signal him about it. [ Island of Illusions ] A hidden island dedicated to the art of training ordinary mortals to stage one to stage two cultivators. It contains a space suitable for those who wish to train themselves against illusionary enemies as well as the available monster beasts cultivated in the island. This was originally created by the fallen cultivator, Liu Qing Shan. Although he had to admit that it sort of helped in letting him know what his environment exactly was and what he was probably up against if he ever needed to fight his way out if it were unavoidable. However, judging by the relaxed demeanor and even the friendly way they talked and conversed with Ying Yue He¡­ it may or may not be tested. Several of the ordinary men who had been aboard in the ship were led by Yuan Gen himself to what seemed to be a small country house. Modern additions of what may have been originally a purely traditional area. The cultivators who took them back on the island were the ones in charge of the dead Nian Beast and they entered into what appeared to be a rift in the forest and then disappeared. Li Yang raised a brow. Nonplussed wasn''t exactly the word he could use to describe his emotions, but he was gauging everything with a critical eye. Right before Ying Yue He could speak up and possibly explain about the island herself, the purple-haired cultivator from earlier stepped up towards them and then pointed to a certain direction. "You must be the CEO Li Yang¡ªI wish Gen had let me know in advance that you were stopping by." The younger man bowed slightly at him. "We could have prepared more." Li Yang didn''t know what to take of the quite respectful treatment, but went along with it. "It was a sudden decision, I''ve heard that my secretary¡­ or rather, Ying Yue He was here." "Indeed." The man glanced at Ying Yue He, but still shook his head. "Still, the display we showed earlier at the sea has been inadequate." Li Yang would have disagreed and say that their sudden presence was helpful in saving everyone, but he simply let the guy speak whatever preconceived faults or misgivings he had. Anything that he would have said would have fallen to deaf ears anyway. The younger man cleared his throat. "To finish, we have some accommodations for newcomers and a guest room¡ªalthough judging by Yue He''s reaction earlier, she could also take you to her room and get changed there." Ying Yue He''s hand suddenly tightened around Li Yang''s. Now that this guy was finished with his speech, Li Yang shrugged slightly. "I don''t mind either¡ªthank you for the hospitality." "Of course, it''s actually a delight to have someone new over." The young man inclined his head again, smiling slightly in what might have been a crafted expression. "Is that so?" Li Yang asked. As for how first impressions go, Li Yang was reminded of someone akin to a courtier at the moment. Maybe it was him being exceptionally critical or still remembering Mou Gu''s words, but he didn''t trust these people one bit. He had no reason to. The young man reminded Li Yang of his brother¡ªsomeone who happened to be good at words and using them to his advantage. He wasn''t won over at all. "Truly, hard it may be to believe. Or perhaps it''s believable at all because you think I have something to gain from this encounter. I assure you, that we do things here in a two way street." The younger cultivator spoke his thoughts at last and then turned to leave. "Miss Yue He, I leave him in your care." "O-of course, Guiren." Ying Yue He managed to say. "I''ll see the two of you tonight or most preferably in the morning. It makes certain sense to stay awhile and recover from the attack. Not to mention that it''ll take some time for the Nian to get prepared and separate the monster parts¡ªwhich you had the greatest contribution to." After those words, the cultivator finally took his leave and left Li Yang alone with Ying Yue He. "... I don''t particularly like him." Li Yang mused aloud. Ying Yue gave him a look that said she really thought he shouldn''t have said that aloud, but then shook her head. It wasn''t the same if the man never said anything to her. Ying Yue He squeezed his hand and then started tugging him in another path within the forest. "I''ll show you where I''m staying. We should get dressed." "Or perhaps change out of our clothes¡ªa shower isn''t so bad either," Li Yang said. When it came to his secretary, she was actually a little more easier to read than even Taiga. The Tigress Spirit did enjoy talking in third person and being playful with him, but that did feel like a facade in a way. Maybe he just knew Ying Yue He more after knowing each other through the years. Her ears turning bright red was a good indicator of what she was feeling and thinking. "... How are you faring here?" Li Yang asked once they arrived at their destination. He expected ancient temples and pagodas, but to his surprise it did look what many might have guessed a retreat place to look like. Still, he didn''t want to get distracted about the place. If anything, Li Yang wished to know how she arrived here and wanted to make sure that she was okay. "I have this entire bungalow for myself," Ying Yue He explained with a sheepish smile. "So, you don''t have to worry about other people and there''s nothing ridiculous like hidden cameras or anything either. I checked that when I first came here." Li Yang couldn''t help but sigh slightly. If that had actually been a thing, that was more fucked up than anything he could hear right now. "I''m glad that you considered that and that I can see that you''re safe." "Mhmm¡­ I''m really safe." Ying Yue He nodded. She was totally not thinking about sex¡ªexcept the two of them had kissed earlier and that was the first base¡­ her gaze wandered slightly over the man still soaked from head to toe. The drenched look was actually quite alluring. This was something she might have imagined he''d look like if they kissed in the rain. "... You''re not being forced to reside here are you?" Li Yang prompted. "No! It was my decision to come here." Ying Yue He didn''t want to discuss the fact that she and Taiga sort of had a full-blown argument before, which led to one thing and another, and she found an alternative to the Shen Group which had been happy to take her in. "What if I ask you to leave with me?" "Yes." Li Yang raised a brow. "Just yes." Ying Yue He coughed at her enthusiasm but went along with it. "Of course I''ll leave if you ask me to. I came here to get stronger and then find you¡ªyou kind of made it easier by coming here yourself. You remembered my promise, didn''t you?" "I did." It was one of those things that weighed heavily on his mind before. Li Yang wanted to keep her safe and far away as possible, but it was almost inevitable that this would happen. Not that he was regretting it now. Ying Yue He actually looked happier and more self-assured for some reason. Li Yang could only think that it was because she achieved her goals. How strong did she get since the two of them have last seen each other? Li Yang decided to check on it. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Cough. A small context to Ying Yue He''s "I''m safe" which could have been a response to Li Yang''s worry about her being in this island or her telling him that she was at a safe day aka it was fine to have sex with her due to the low chances of getting pregnant xD I think a majority of you would have gotten that small and slightly terrible joke. Did you know that sperm can stay alive up to five days after having sex? Thanks for reading! Chapter 267: Hidden Island (1) The wooden floorboards of the bungalow were dripping wet and to Ying Yue He''s eyes, everything was thick with some kind of tension. She was inclined to think that it was the sexual kind, but the man was currently deep in his thoughts. Was he worried about what was going to happen if they stayed here for one more night? She was aware of who the people were and what they were capable of¡ªeven if they didn''t fully show that side to her. It was one of the things that a person kind of picked up with their intuition and gut feelings. ¡­ It also didn''t help that one of their Senior Cultivators was a Poisonous Insect and Animal Tamer and was very interested in breeding Gu Spirits¡ªit was kind of obvious at that point what kind of situation she found herself into. But they treated her well during her stay so she didn''t have much problems at all. Now that Li Yang was around and she was being asked to return back to the city with him¡­ this was where things might end up difficult. Ying Yue He rubbed her shoulder and wringed out some of the seawater. "Hey, why don''t you take a bath first, Mister Li?" Before the two of them could even decide to do anything, she''d like him to get a little more comfortable first. "I''m fine, you can go ahead first," Li Yang said. "I don''t want you to get a cold." Ying Yue He rubbed the back of her neck. "Uh¡ªI don''t get colds anymore." "Oh, right. My bad, it slipped my mind." "No worries. Thanks actually, I''ll go ahead now¡­ unless," Ying Yue He chewed on her bottom lip. Even if the two of them had kissed¡­ it didn''t mean that she''d get to invite him to join her in the shower, could she? That was jumping several bases¡ªbesides, it wasn''t what she wanted that mattered in this situation. Or maybe what mattered was her wanting to see the man''s expression ease up. "Unless?" "Ah, unless you wanted to¡ªbut of course you don''t. You just told me to go ahead first. Thanks!" He was doing one of those faces that he did in the office when he was stressed out¡ªsomething she picked up alone throughout their years together in work. Ying Yue He felt like she was working out in thawing out the more relaxed side out of her boss and that was a difficult endeavor. A hot bath was the first step to everything though and so she did. ¡ª- Li Yang let Ying Yue He take a bath first and it was something that she didn''t mind at all. He found her thankful, although hesitating slightly as if she wanted to say something. Right before she stepped inside of the bathroom, he looked at her retreating figure. He got slightly distracted with how her clothes stuck to her skin and made it revealing¡ªbut he concentrated on getting things done. ''Assess Individual Ying Yue He'' [ Evaluation Now Updated ] Individual is an insignificant being in the earthly plane, however there is some merit to their constitution if one were to pursue the path of Body Cultivation or Martial Arts. The Individual seems to have reawakened a suppressed bloodline that had thinned throughout the millennia. Through their choice of pursuing both body cultivation first and with the access of the great resources of the Liu Group, the Individual has achieved great success as a beginning cultivator despite their late start. Considered suitable as part of the ''Harem'' for the Host''s. [ ¡­ Further Information Gathered ] [ Name: Ying Yue He ] [ Age: 26 years old ] [ Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (2/9) Early Stage ] [ Body Cultivation: Pulse Condensation - Body Transformation ] [ Constitution: Gourmet Body (36%) ] [ Bloodline: Epicurean Bloodline (awakened) - Concentration (15.99%) ] [ Roots: Wood (11.2%) / Earth (14.8%) / Water (12.3%) ] [ Sect: Liu Group ] [ Cultivation Methods ] [ Blossoming Vine Scripture (Mortal) ] Power: Extremely Weak Comprehension: Advanced (250/256) Stage: Qi Condensation (9/9) Notes: A mortal cultivation method provided by the Shen Group that is perfect for those with multiple but roots that harmonize well. It focuses on creating a healing blend of qi in the latter stages, which is also good for alchemy-pursuing cultivators and those who prefer a less violent fighting style. [ The Waning Vermillion Butterfly (Earth)] Power: Weak Comprehension: Intermediate (48/128) Stage: Foundation Establishment (2/9) Notes: An earth-rank cultivation method provided by the Liu Group that focuses on the quick and decisive strikes that harmonizes with a more aggressive use of wood-roots. Can be combined with a poisonous cultivation method and upgraded to mystical arts of Venomous styles and also Illusionary styles. With the later stages, if the User has great mental energy, they can create actual butterfly-like attacks that fade once it hits its target with potent poison and frightening illusions. [ Martial Arts Methods ] [ The Moon''s Ephemeral Dance (Earth) ] Power: Weak Comprehension: Intermediate (96/128) Stage: Pulse Condensation (9/9) Notes: An earth-rank cultivation method and technique that provides the individual with greater speed and smooth movements. Requires continuous training of the body at powerful water sources to make the bones and body as graceful as the moon reflected in waters. [ Skills ] Innate Ascension (rare) Members of the Epicurean Bloodline can ascend through body cultivation, also known as martial arts, even without much training due to high receptiveness to their intake Spiritual Sense (common) Most cultivators use beyond their five senses to navigate through life. Individual has a degraded version due to lack of any cultivation method both spiritual or physical [ Fate ] Prior: Background Individual The individual has taken the path of least resistance and is living a mundane life Current: A Jewel of the Liu Group The individual has received a great amount of resources from the Liu Group and has received some prioritization compared to her peers due to her special constitution and favor from one of the higher-ups of the organization. Future: ??? [ Notes ] Freed from the System''s Missions by the Host due to intervention Epicurean Bloodline and Gourmet Constitution allows the Individual to Highly Benefit from Resources Epicurean Bloodline was said to have vanished or thinned due to the huge amount of resources needed and wanted by members to ascend Li Yang stared at all the changes in Ying Yue He''s status and then looked back at the bathroom door where she was currently bathing¡­ Did she really do all of this? It was hard to imagine that she grew that strong. ¡­ She even outmatched him by ascending into the Foundation Establishment Realm. Granted, he took advantage of what was akin to a cheat code by taking more levels in Qi Condensation that was granted by the System¡ªstill, this is what the Harem Cultivation System wanted him to get for as partners? He suddenly remembered the Song Family''s precious daughter and wondered how exactly did she get included in the list. Surely there was some sort of rhyme and reason to this System, didn''t it? It had specific conditions that made one woman viable as part of the harem and other times not. Li Yang assumed that Taiga was strong and she probably was¡ªbut when he remembered how Setsuko herself had some kind of Divine White Fox sealed bloodline and now he was seeing his secretary being prepared by this Liu Group as some sort of Poisonous Butterfly Cultivator¡­ he couldn''t help but sigh. He tried to remember the faces of the cultivators earlier on their swords¡ªdid one of them happen to be a Poison Cultivator? Li Yang wouldn''t be surprised if it happened to be the same exact guy who claimed to have no interest in Ying Yue He. ¡­ a part of him felt annoyed. He was more annoyed than jealous. Was Ying Yue He aware of the latter stages or did she just accept the cultivation method without a fuss? Li Yang knew that she did her best to become strong because of his disappearance. While he was happy with the results and now knew that he didn''t have to worry about her getting hurt¡ªunless they faced cultivators in higher realms¡­ they happened to be inside an island with cultivators of higher realms. What was he going to do? Wait until dawn and hope for amicable separation? Compared to the Nian beast that he killed¡ªthat was practically just a resource material and held no comparison to Ying Yue He herself. Should he try to escape now? Did he have any kind of item that would help him? These kinds of occasions made it impossible for him to solely use the Points he accumulated for cultivation alone¡ªbut simply rising in one cultivation method wasn''t going to cut out a path of escape for him and Ying Yue He. Li Yang opened up the System''s Shop Screen right at the same time that the bathroom door swung open. Ying Yue He stepped out of the bath wearing a fluffy white towel that somehow hugged her body well, showing off her figure and clean appearance. "Mister Li¡ªI mean, Yang. We''re not in that kind of relationship anymore, are we?" Ying Yue He coughed slightly. "Since I kind of left my job, you know?" Were distractions welcome? ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Golden Tickets! Golden Cores! We have those¡ªwell, the Golden Tickets at least. Thank you so much for the following who contributed their tickets for the book. FallenReaper, David_Hubbard, IronPirate, SoulessFang and Jack_Jones. Thank you so much for helping this book stay relevant in the ever-changing need for change in Webnovel! This book was more focused on Harem originally, but thanks to the [ Materials and Resources ] I''ve also been receiving from Fallen who joined the discord, I feel a bit more confident tackling the Cultivation part lol. Chapter 268: Hidden Island (2) "¡ªSince I kind of left my job, you know?" "Yes you did, Miss He." Li Yang nodded and then stood up to approach her, or rather walk past her. He stepped into the bathroom and glanced back at her, quietly taking note of the flowery scent that came from her damp hair. Her hair seemed a lot shorter this time than when she was in his office and revealed her soft and pale skin. She must have cut it while she was here, but before he could think too much about it. The man finally went inside and excused himself. "I''ll be taking my turn then this time." "Oh, enjoy your bath!" Ying Yue He called out. The man shut the door and then sighed slightly. He rubbed his face and then went for the shower to get his mind off things now. The hot water poured and produced a steamy atmosphere that allowed him to take a moment to relax himself and his body. Distractions were still distractions. Even now he wondered why he was having difficulty accepting this new situation. He should have taken her offer to take a bath with her. It was a strange thing to realize that Li Yang didn''t know how to act around her anymore¡ªor at least he was aware that their relationship was no longer that of a CEO and his secretary. This was particularly stupid in a sense, but the last years were Ying Yue He listening to him and he tended to rely on her as his assistant. Now that she mentioned the change in their dynamics, he realized it was the right way of looking at things. Li Yang and Ying Yue He were going to be peers and hopefully partners and yet he was slightly worried that the old way he treated her would still shine through. Was it really any different though? Of course, it was. The change wasn''t just in their job titles but in how they looked and treated each other. A part of him was always aware that Ying Yue He admired him¡ªbut it was something that he never actually brought up. He never needed to bring it up because he was the boss and he determined how far their relationship could actually become. Even though Li Yang was grateful for her presence, he never sought out for more. Relationships tended to complicate things. Romance was a great distraction for many and could also lead to one''s downfall if it occupied one''s thoughts constantly. The energy that could have been poured into becoming more powerful or accomplishing another project was diverted into love and keeping another person happy. It was a huge commitment. That was why it was so amusing to think and consider that all Li Yang ever needed to get stronger was to gather strong women around him and form his harem. In a way, even if he were to never lay a finger on them, and he were just to gather them then it was still possible to get stronger. Sure, he gained bonus Charm Points for actually sleeping with them, and he found himself enjoying that part¡ªbut it was distracting him from his main goal. It was to break free. He needed to overcome the temptation to seek Ying Yue He out and pull her to her bed and spend the entire night discovering every little supple part of her body. Li Yang''s breath hitched lightly and found the water pouring down on his body as another delicious tension remover on his body. Right now, Li Yang was supposed to be thinking of a way to get out of here. "Am I supposed to be some kind of horny teenager beset by raging hormones?" Li Yang clicked his tongue. One part of him wanted to simultaneously jump at his former secretary while another was also a bit¡­ awkward at the sudden developments. It reminded him of the time when he was in college¡ªwhen he was reminded of his rather lovestruck self. While some might have thought he was being too considerate or even pathetic as his brother once called him¡­ it was those times that he had let his guard down and actually allowed himself to simply be. But now, he couldn''t even picture her face anymore. Li Yang really did not have the time nor the energy to regress back into those simpler times at all. However, this was about Ying Yue He. Even if he was hesitant about taking things further and was also trying to find a way out, Ying Yue He was happy to see him back despite of the fact that they failed to fully pour out their feelings before, so he still needed to further discuss his relationship with¡ª A black and white ball of fur appeared in the shower. "Ding-Ding, motherfu¡ªhah, I don''t even have the energy to cuss." The Panda eyed him and trailed its gaze down his body and then stared at a certain part of his body. It let out a whistle. "But you clearly have the energy." Li Yang sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. It would go down on its own. "What can I do for you? Is there any life-threatening situation I should be concerned with besides my current predicament?" "I guess the first thing that you can do is wash everything off," Bao said. "But you''ve been getting requests." "What requests?" Li Yang asked. "Huh? Is this a sign that you''re taking them?!" The Panda''s eyes widened as it stared at the CEO that once denied stripping for a hundred thousand charm points. Time truly did change an individual, but whether it was for good or bad was up to anyone''s guess. Li Yang lowered his voice. "If it means finding a way to escape the island with Ying Yue He without getting caught then yes, I am willing to take requests that can further my agenda. I will still decide in the end if I will take it or not." "Well a certain group is willing to give you a safe voyage," Bao said. "But another prefers that you attempt to wipe out the entire island if you can¡ªbecause if you escape here with Ying Yue He, who is to say that you won''t be chased down by them for turning down their hospitality?" "I am aware of that." Li Yang frowned. "We''ll look into the suggestions then," Bao said and then presented Li Yang with a new large screen. If there was anything that modern stories may have gotten right for Xianxia and Wuxia stories, it was the dog-eat-dog world. One might have thought that it was simply reflective of the highly competitive nature of one''s modern living, but as today, so was the past. Nothing was new under the sun. Only a naive man would try to do his best to hold up to a certain ideal. Li Yang was that man who did his best¡ªor rather, left most of those activities to his brother and other individuals he found trustworthy¡ªbut it was impossible for anyone to say that they succeeded in achieving anything without stomping and trampling on the dreams of others. It was a world where it was impossible to not hurt anyone. For every cultivator that succeeded Foundation Establishment were countless mortals who could not even dare break through it may have died through tribulations. For each wealthy and powerful person were also those who had much less than himself. That was the nature of the world. Thus, if there were any unfair advantages for him to grab¡ªthen he would. "Alright, there we go--a bunch of Heaven formulated quests for you to take. You choose one, you alienate the others so be wary of that too." Bao flicked its paws and motion to the screen. The bathroom was the perfect time and place for him to choose. [ Heaven Granted Quest: Odyssey ] If the Individual is able to escape into the sea without being detected, the Celestial Observers, OwlBrain and Trite are willing to grant a safe voyage to return to Shanghai without any sea monsters, sirens and other deadly undine creatures that may have noticed the death of the Nian Beast. The pursuers will not find them while at sea in the event of discovery. Requirements: Stealth Escape Rewards: Protection While In The Sea [ Heaven Granted Quest: Bloodbath of the Moon ] If the Individual is capable of laying the entire island foundation to waste and kill all of the cultivators in the island, the Celestial Observer, The One Who Slaughters, will provide a new and powerful skill-type weapon: Burning Spear. Requirements: Total Annihilation Rewards: New Skill (can also be granted to another individual) [ Heaven Granted Quest: Hospitality of the Hearth ] If the Individual is capable of staying on the island and form a good relationship with the Hosts of the Illusory Island, the Celestial Observers, Scythe Wheat and Fire Dweller, will celebrate the lack of bloodshed and offer some blessings. Requirement: Diplomacy Rewards: Two Minor Blessings A small frown formed on Li Yang''s lips. All three of them were requiring a lot of things and each one was difficult in their own way--even impossible unless he were to burn through his current stash of Points to buy things in the Points Shop. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Today is September 1, 2021 and for the previous week, I failed to upload daily due to a series of health issues, and the latest of them is what I fear to be an impacted wisdom tooth. So yeah, things have not been chill lol. Terrible really, dudes. I''m on painkillers and antibiotics and not looking forward to a possible surgery. Thus September Privilege is at a discounted rate. Thanks for reading! Chapter 269: Hidden Island (3)* "Mister Li¡ªYang, I have some clothes here. Well, they''re unisex robes. Can I... um, leave it at the sink?" Ying Yue He knocked at the door unknowingly, but effectively interrupted him from making a choice. "Okay, thank you." Li Yang called out. Ying Yue He bit on her lip and stepped inside of the bathroom, her gaze immediately drawing into the foggy silhouette of the man in the shower. While there was a bathtub at the right, it seemed like he preferred to use the shower to make things quicker. Her hands tightened slightly around the fabric of the clothes and she stared far too hard at him in what may have been a daze. If the two of them were together in the bathroom, what would it have been like? "Miss He?" Li Yang was aware of her still lingering presence. "Is there anything that you need?" Ying Yue He caught herself and wildly looked around the bathroom, before her gaze settled to the toilet. She placed the robes on the sink and instead of leaving, she instead said, "I um¡ªI gotta pee." It was the same thing that she said back when Li Yang saved Bai Minghua from the weird aquatic person guy. Except this time it was more like an excuse, the tingling in between her thighs were something else completely. "Then I''ll rinse off quickly¡ª" "It''s fine, you can stay there. I won''t take too long," Ying Yue He said and immediately stepped forward to the toilet. It was so close to the shower''s translucent glass walls, that she could see his figure even more closely. She could see the outline of his body and even the steam from the bath, but never the exact details. It was as if she was trying to look at grainy details from a non HD video. Ying Yue He thought she saw his cock. Quickly, she looked away and then cursed herself. Was she some kind of pervert? Neither Li Yang or Ying Yue He would actually say anything even as the minute background sound of Ying Yue He''s undies getting pulled down came along as the water continually poured down over his body. There was no need to get too worked over by the fact that the sound of liquids came out, splashed and were soon finished. Ying Yue He really didn''t think that she was going to do it¡ªbut much to her embarrassment, she did. She cleared her throat and tried to pull her underwear up, but it was at the exact same time that he opened the door and stepped out. "W-Wait!" Ying Yue He''s cheeks flared up. This was not embarrassing or gross at all¡ªshe was just doing something natural, although she often wondered whether or not she''d stop doing this at all, regardless, she was caught in a rather exposed position. Li Yang''s gaze immediately took in the sight of her sitting down, legs slightly parted together and with her underwear still sticking on her thighs. He didn''t say anything at all, but immediately offered a hand and pulled her up to her feet. He placed her fingers on his chest and then they kissed. Ying Yue He''s gaze fluttered slightly, but she enjoyed the feeling of his still damp body on hers. What she thought was his dick was correct and it was far from flaccid¡ªand she couldn''t help but hope it was because of her. He tilted her head and quickly reached her ass and started dragging the band of her underwear further downwards¡ª Ying Yue He pulled away slightly. "Wait, I need to clean¡ª" "Then let''s just go here." He led her back into the shower and once again turned on the shower, disregarding the fact that she had already changed and it soaked her clothes, but she didn''t seem to mind. Ying Yue He looked up to his face and gave him a playful glare. This wasn''t what she had in mind when it came to cleaning herself up, but there was a dampness in between her legs that was neither water or pee at all. She rested her back against the slightly cold tiles of the bathroom and trailed her fingers across his jawline. There was a certain tenseness in between them that made her wonder what brought it on. Ying Yue He sighed a little and gave him a look. "Great, I''m wet." He chuckled once and pinned one of her arms up, grabbing ahold of her wrist. "That''s the point, isn''t it?" He pressed his fingers in between her crotch and gave it a sudden kneading. "We need to clean this up." "Mister Li¡ª" Ying Yue He choked a little then and there at his words. "I''m right, aren''t I?" Li Yang whispered in between the crook of her neck. His fingers continued to work on her slick folds. "You wanted this to be cleaned up, or would you prefer it to be messed up?" "Oh god," Ying Yue He''s eyes fluttered to a close as she bit on her lip. "Please mess me up¡ªmess up my insides." His sudden actions and words were shocking, but she didn''t fight it at all, and her body only heated up like fire at his touch. "I''ve wanted your dick for so long¡ª" Her words fell short through the moment that he kissed her and plunged his fingers into her cunt. She didn''t imagine that he''d just grab her pussy out of nowhere, but because it was him, she didn''t mind at all. Ying Yue He wanted this so much. Her legs quivered and were weak at his touch, the sensation of his fingers ramming inside of her walls. Ying Yue He continued moving her hips slightly back and forth in his fingers, yearning for more stimulation to fill and satiate her growing desires. When his thumb immediately found her clit, Ying Yue He thought she''d moan then and there. While it was far from reaching her own orgasm, his touch was electric and brushed at the right parts. She needed this. Chapter 270: Hidden Island (4)** Li Yang found Ying Yue He''s arms wrapping tightly around his neck as her fingers encouragingly ran through his scalp and hair. "Mmmm¡­" She tugged at his roots tightly and bucked her hips even while his erection pressed against her stomach. He wanted to put it in, but he also relished the machinations prior to it. The two of them continued to make out, sucking in and taking in each other''s tongues, occasionally brushing at each other''s teeth while the shower''s water continually poured down all over their body and only enhanced the sensitivity that wrapped around them. Finally, Ying Yue He trailed her fingers down his neck, then his chest until she finally reached his throbbing dick. Her fingers encircled around his cock and she found that it was far from enough for her to fully wrap it with¡ªshe let out a soft moan. It was everything that she dreamed it to be, her fantasizations somehow were accurate. "I¡­ I just move my fingers up and down, right?" Ying Yue He asked, a little shy but eager at once. Before he could say anything, she gave it an experimental pump and he gave a slight wince, realizing that her strength improved, before covering her hand with his and he helpfully gave instructions. "Generally yes, but you can differ the pressures into much lighter or firmer ones. You don''t have to squeeze it too hard¡­ and you could also just forgo this and instead do a blowjob if you wish." "Or do you want to just skip to the fucking?" Ying Yue He circled the head of his dick with her thumb, eyeing the slit and the beads of precum dripping out of it. Seeing it made her own pussy quiver and she could understand the desire to just have it rammed immediately inside her. "I appreciate you trying to give me a handjob though," Li Yang said. Ying Yue He found her boss once again underneath the layers of the rather sudden sex and it made her smile. She doubted that this conversation would happen in just any sort of engagement, so she only parted her legs and coughed. "Same with the fingering¡ªbut you can slam your dick in now and we''ll get started for the main event. Mess me up, boss." Li Yang blinked at Ying Yue He in surprise. He never expected her to put it that way, and though there was an inkling of her saying that he might have needed to improve in his method of fingering and for him to just fuck her. That was enough encouragement as any. It was more than ready. Ying Yue He gave one final kiss on his lips before she released his dick from her fingers. She eased up slightly on the wall and spread her legs open some more, ducking her head embarrassed but eager for it to happen. "I''m¡­ I''m ready." He plunged inside of her and buried his cock within her folds¡ªimmediately sensing both the breaking of something and a wave of energy coursing through his dick with a magnitude of searing and yet cool-like power. It was the strangest of sensations. Was this yin qi or something that came from her body''s special constitution? He reveled at the sensation and started thrusting in and out, appreciating the carnality of the moment but also paying more attention to the sudden energy that surrounded this moment. The sound of her soft moans tickled at his ear and he made sure to hold her up carefully, pinning her further to the wall to prevent any slipping. The tiles beneath the soles of his feet were incredibly wet, but they were incomparable to the moistness of her folds that sucked him and drew him inside of her. He was lost in the energy and the pulsing tense warmth that surrounded him. Sex always an indescribable moment that he couldn''t quite put into words. However, this was a different sensation from all of his previous sleeping with others, and he wondered if this was what dual cultivation was more about¡ªless on the sex and more on the exchange of raw and primal energy. He wondered if it was the same for her as it was for him. "Can you feel it?" "Yes¡ªgod, yes. I feel it." She whispered and panted. "You''re filling me up real good, keep it right there." All that appeared to him was the sight of her flushed and frenzied face, and the way that her pussy continually and greedily sucked him in and out. It was as if she never wanted to let him go. It seemed like he was the only one benefiting from the exchange of energy. But it wasn''t as if getting focused and enthralled on the sex was anything bad either. Li Yang remembered the time back with Taiga where he failed to properly take advantage of it, but for now, he focused and visualized the exchange of yin-yang energies between their bodies. His finger reached out above her head as he pulled out the first pill that he received from his time with Bo Lifen. He popped the Yin-Yang Qi Pill into his mouth and broke it into two, before finally pushing half of the pill into her mouth. The next thing he realized was a flash of light suddenly overtaken them¡ªhe did not know how long it lasted, whether it was only a couple of minutes or it stretched to almost an hour, but he felt his seed coming up. "Inside or outside?" he asked. The rush of his cum stirring up within his cock seemed far more urgent than anything he experienced before. Ying Yue He panted and looked him in the eye. "Did you even have to ask¡ªinside please." He spurted inside of her and felt the wave come over his body and wash over inside of her. ¡ª- Author''s Note: Slip inside the hidden island¡ªahem. Okay, enough bad jokes from me. I still can''t actually talk properly and am on three hours of sleep, but will do this. Make enough chapters that can cover healthcare. Smut is nice, but yes, we shall also move on with the plot now. Thanks! Chapter 271 - Staying Or Leaving (1) What had they done? ; Li Yang and Ying Yue He both rinsed their bodies afterwards, with even Ying Yue He cleaning the cum out of her body. Well, that made sense¡ªshe couldn''t go out and waddle around the room like some kind of duck keeping it inside of her. ; The idea of having it drip over her legs either wasn''t something Ying Yue He had in mind. ; Titillating and arousing maybe, but a bit of a nuisance. Ying Yue He herself wondered where she found the confidence to demand him to do it inside of her and so she had to think up a reason without looking like some pervert. "So, uh yeah¡ªit''s quite less likely for cultivators to get pregnant from what I heard," Ying Yue He said with an awkward cough. ; "Is that so?" A nod was the answer. "You don''t have to worry about it, because it''s like the heavens made it that way. The people say that''s also sort of how my ancestors must have kind of died out. Um, I''ll see you once you''re done." She squeezed out the water from her hair and then proceeded to rush out of the bathroom. That was one way to culminate their time. ; Li Yang rubbed his face. Was there any sense of regret? He enjoyed it frankly. Compulsively even. Not being able to make a decision on the mission to take and then eventually succumbing to hot sex with his secretary? It was both fine and horrible on some levels. This kind of compulsive behavior was the first thing that Li Yang needed before he completely ; spiraled out of control and he hated that. He was supposed to be concentrating on getting away from here as soon as possible. He needed to gear up. There was only one way for him to do it properly. [ Points Shop ] [ Filter: Clothing ] Camouflage Robes 5000 Points Diadem of Power 20000 Points Enshrouding Shawl 5000 Points Fur Coat Winter 3000 Points Gloves of Lava 5000 Points Hat of Hardening 1500 Points Invisible Cloak 10000 Points While he was never one to trust some random individual who promised him something without anything in return¡ªthe same couldn''t be said for that Peach. She wanted something and the exchange was hacking into the System and unlocking things that he was surprised the Heavens weren''t resolving. Even if things were expensive, one could almost see anything conceivable in the shop if one dared to waste hours doing it. He eyed and purchased something. But for now, he wore the change of robes that Ying Yue He got for him and then stepped out of the bedroom. He was just in time to see Ying Yue He plop on the dresser''s chair. She looked at him from the mirror''s ; reflection "Oh, hi Mister¡ªYang." She proceeded to dry her hair with a hair blower and Li Yang came to realize that this entire place was a lot more roomy than even the old apartment that she was living in. Ying Yue He looked over her shoulder and then smiled. "You look good in those robes¡ªbut ah, let me try to dry your suit." His former secretary held up the hairdryer with a determined glint in her eyes. Li Yang smiled slightly and shook his head. "I can do it¡ªno need to assist me, Miss He." ; While he didn''t mind leaving his clothes if necessary, since they could be swamped in time for an escape, it would be nice to bring it as well. He could even just store it in his Inventory. "Um, I don''t mind." Ying Yue He noticed him simply standing around and while she was actually eager for snuggling¡ªand curious as to why the man hadn''t rested if they had just had sex¡ªshe motioned to one of the bean bags and the sofa. "You can, uh, put them in a wooden block of chair and take a seat. I guess Liu Guiren really thought we were together because we only have one bed." "Are we not together?" Li Yang''s brow rose. Ying Yue He flushed at the remark. "Together?" "We are both aware that we like each other," Li Yang said. "And I think what we did earlier also kind of made it more obvious." "Well¡­ there''s also one-night stand sex, fuck buddies, and other types of arrangements, Yang." Ying Yue He coughed, but then looked up to him. "Not that I''m saying that I want our relationship to be like that." They never actually explicitly said anything in the past to confirm it, but now this was it. What kind of woman never dreamed about dating her boss if there happened to be only a few years difference between them and he was both attractive and wealthy? Sure, there was probably some emotional turmoil going on as it was with the family¡ªshe imagined most families had their own sense of dysfunction, but being with her boss was something that made her thrilled. ; For someone like Ying Yue He who never knew what it was like to grow up with a family, this was a dream come true. Li Yang gauged her reaction, despite the lack of words and smiled. This was what he wanted to be clarified before but never really got the chance for it since he went into another world. Between being chained to serve as entertainment for the female deities in Heavens, he prioritized the path that might lead him to freedom. Now, he was also relieved to see that she seemed okay with the idea of being with him. After this came the next important matter. ; It seemed like Ying Yue He still had sleeping in mind when Li Yang himself was just eager to get out of here. Was it a good idea to stay? Ying Yue He seemed relaxed enough to call what seemed to be the descendant of the island''s owner by name. There was a Diplomacy reward for staying here. Remembering the young man''s rather slimy attitude however made Li Yang decide to want to leave immediately. He decided to say it. "About our duration of stay here, Miss He¡ª" A knock interrupted them by the front door. Chapter 272 - Staying Or Leaving (2) Ying Yue He was quick to get it and opened it to see a man who didn''t look much older than them. It was hard to tell ages with cultivators who may or may not have stopped aging or used items to stop it. "Senior Longwei, what can I do for you?" The cultivator sighed and held up a tray of food currently covered. He gave a rather nonchalant shrug. "Eh, the rest insisted on me bringing the dinner to you guys. Maybe check up if you aren''t trying to escape the island and all that¡ªwe know how jumpy some people are." The last part ended with a direct glance in Li Yang''s direction. Li Yang barely bothered giving the senior cultivator a look as he held onto the hair dryer and continued drying his suit which he chose to get out of the bathroom in order to look busy. "Please know who you are speaking to, Senior Longwei, that''s my boyfriend we''re talking about. Why would we try to escape?" Ying Yue He on the other hand flicked a wrist and disagreed with the beast tamer cultivator with a dismissive answer, before shutting the door and then making her way to Li Yang. She could actually lie better than him. Even Li Yang paused for a moment to comprehend what she said, while Senior Longwei himself probably looked like he had swallowed his tongue and words at Ying Yue He''s remark. She shut the door in his face before he could even give an answer. In one of the windows, Li Yang kept his gaze on the man that returned and slinked back into the forest. The cultivator rode on some kind of feral-looking beast monster that he couldn''t quite place. Either way, he had to hand it to Ying Yue He for her response. Or she wholeheartedly believed that him asking her to leave with him meant tomorrow and by asking properly¡ªhe was never the type to simply do insane things like this. "Do you know where we can get a boat?" Li Yang looked up to her and asked once he was sure that the Senior was already long gone. Possibly off to return to his friends or report on their presence. This was as good a time as any to escape. "Huh?" Ying Yue He blinked at him as she opened the cover on the food tray and revealed a sumptuous meal. If he wasn''t mistaken, that seemed to be the Nian Beast and a quick status check confirmed it was some Nian Beast Meat Dish. "Um, I think I know where the port is, but maneuvering one¡ª" Li Yang nodded and then stared into thin air. "If I do the mission, does the protection while in sea mean a free ship? Safe voyage can only mean one thing." "Mister Li?" Ying Yue He blinked at him in confusion. What was with the mission? Did he have a walkie talkie? Some earpiece that didn''t get wet? She didn''t see any spatial ring on his person and she didn''t think that he would be in contact with the Shen Society if he approached someone from Liu''s Group. The Panda Bao appeared in front of them and raised a paw. "I suppose they could offer a Ghost Ship¡ªand ah, okay. Confirmed that once you reach the port as indicated in the System''s map, they will automatically provide a sea vessel for you and your secretary to travel in. But good luck leaving undetected." [ Heaven Granted Quest: Odyssey ] If the Individual is able to escape into the sea without being detected, the Celestial Observers, OwlBrain and Trite are willing to grant a safe voyage to return to Shanghai without any sea monsters, sirens and other deadly undine creatures that may have noticed the death of the Nian Beast. The pursuers will not find them while at sea in the event of discovery. Requirements: Stealth Escape Rewards: Protection While In The Sea Ying Yue He finally saw Bao because it let her see it¡ªand the expression on her face was worth the amusement. She spluttered and pointed at Bao as if it was some kind of object. "Mister Li¡ªdo you have a spirit animal? What¡ªwhat do they call this? Bonded creature? Like a little ghost attached to some ghost cultivators?" Ying Yue He was aware of them¡ªwhich spoke volumes to how much training she was receiving. She didn''t seem disturbed by the thought and simply curious. Bao on the other hand, jerked a paw at her. "I am no mere creature bonded to this insufferable jerk like you and other women are." Li Yang raised a brow at the derogatory words. The term insufferable jerk seemed more applicable to the creature itself than himself, but it may have just been a two-way street. Ying Yue He only stared at it in awe at its ability to display cunning intelligence, but then felt her face heat up at its words about her and Li Yang. Bonded? That wasn''t what she had in mind when she was just reunited with her old boss¡­ her boyfriend. "But what about other women? What kind of bond are you speaking of?" Ying Yue He blinked and stared at the creature with a hint of both skepticism and incredulity. This was hopefully the drama that they in the Heavens were all waiting for. Li Yang got away by telling Narissa that it was a curse but could he make that excuse again with Ying Yue He¡ªbefore anyone could say anything else. He got up and threw the Enshrouding Shawl on the creature and found that it muffled the Panda''s words perfectly. "It''s nothing important as compared to leaving right away, Miss He." Li Yang offered her the Invisibility Cloak. "I know that they seem nice and they have taken care of you for the last months since I was gone, but they have an agenda with you. They want to use you as some kind of pawn in their organization. I won''t stand for it." ".... I agreed to it." Chapter 273 - Staying Or Leaving (3) This wasn''t what Li Yang wanted to hear from Ying Yue He. Everything that was supposed to be accounted for, the escape and fulfilling the mission¡ªhe frowned slightly. That was the only expression apparent on his face even as Bao threw off the Shawl of Enshroudment and gave him a glare. "I thought you agreed to leave with me." "I did, Yang¡ªbut I thought it was some sort of like we wake up in the morning here and then I make a formal leave to the Liu Group. If it weren''t for their help, I wouldn''t have been able to get strong like this. They deserve to have a formal goodbye instead of just us running away like some kind of fugitives." It was the first time that he really received a contradiction from her. "Are you aware what they will want to make you do?" Li Yang asked. "These people''s cultivation methods are, no, even what they do is¡ª" "Dangerous and risky. They kill people¡ªthey send their own men to death missions too. I''m aware of that, I knew what I was going into when I received the offer and they have all been very straightforward in that regard." Ying Yue He scratched the back of her head. Li Yang clicked his tongue. Ying Yue He rubbed her arm and averted her gaze. She didn''t expect that she would have an argument with him like this right now. While she was aware that morality in this cultivation group was extremely gray¡ªit was normal, wasn''t it? She had seen her boss stab what was an Undine seafolk person with a ballpen and made them bleed all in order to save Bai Minghua back then. It was strange if they were going to measure themselves in the standards that ordinary people placed themselves in anymore. "Is this some sort of mind control thing?" Li Yang stared at his secretary from head to toe. He didn''t realize any sort of mind control gases or anything in this regard, but his [ Mind Fortitude ] had allowed him to ignore those kinds of influences, the same couldn''t be said for Ying Yue He. "Mind control? Are you nuts¡ªahem," Ying Yue He caught herself and gave her old boss a look. "Why is it so hard to hear that I want to give a proper and solemn goodbye to them? Yang, weren''t you the one who taught and ingrained proper business dealings with every individual we come across to. Why can''t it be the same here?" "Then are you willing to do those things?" Li Yang asked. "How long did they ask you to serve them? What services will you have to offer them? What if they ask for your body¡ªif you''re not bothered by deaths. What about the people who are probably used as human cauldrons? Bastards like those that exist in this group¡ª" "Fine, there are bad apples here. A whole damn lot of them actually." Ying Yue He shuddered slightly. "But¡­ I can''t expect you and for me to attempt to run here without any single clue as to what we''re going to do. Do you want them to hold a grudge? Who are we going to turn to? Shen Society?" Li Yang stared at her silently. Ying Yue He made sense, even if he did wonder if those words were ingrained in her mind, but she was right that after their escape¡ªwhat was going to happen next? They might be safe during their passage in the sea, but what happened next after they reached the harbour? Mou Gu explicitly said that all organizations were in some sort of uneasy peace treaty with one another that kept them from murdering or battling each other. Li Yang ground his teeth and raised his hand to his forehead. He wished he could say that it was him that Ying Yue He could depend on¡ªthat she could leave it up to him. That it was all going to be okay for them to leave. That he could buy some kind of super expensive 100,000 Charm Point stronger than a nuclear weapon and blow the island to bits. ¡­ That was a waste actually. The island was filled with resources unimaginable to him and it now seemed ridiculous that he considered running away without even using any opportunity to obtain something to strengthen him. A special technique that could strip people out of their powers or godhood¡ªthat was always the plan. Even then, diplomacy had its own rewards from the very same individuals that blessed his own daughter before. It meant that their preferences aligned with peace or at least non-confrontation. Did it mean that they cared about his situation as entertainment though? Ying Yue He looked at him and wondered if she said too much. She didn''t want to hurt his pride or ego¡­ or just him in general. But if this was what it meant to keep themselves safe and avoid any sort of conflict, then even if it made her unlikable, if he thought of her as some kind of ridiculous woman¡ªthen she would do it. Hah. What kind of woman has she transformed into? Was she that callous now? Ying Yue He was aware of the atrocious acts that Li Yang was implying¡ªshe had even heard some of the other cultivators discuss it with either the same detachment as heror a sadistic glee that once made her shudder. However, she learned to cool her expression. Weakness was not acceptable here. But was that really the proper stance for her to take? There was no problem in being vulnerable sometimes and also standing up for what one believed in. How could she have grown so numb to others'' afflictions? The two of them shared a look and spoke at the same time. "You''re right." "You made a point." A small huff and laugh escaped both of them right now. It was weird that they managed to come to some sort of middle ground immediately that made things worse. They were both unafraid of looking at another perspective even if it contradicted theirs. That was when the first explosion sounded. Chapter 274 - The Celestial A beautiful and large ship was at sea. If there had been any ordinary mortal that lay sight on it, they would have assumed that there was trouble if a warship of this caliber was being called forth into the deep waters at a time like this. It would have alerted neighboring nations and called for the displacement of their own navy. However, there were concealment rituals in place that hid them in plain sight. Several ancient flags were flung in the vast air and the wind itself, or whatever they had in place propelled them forward at a speed that would have made any ordinary cultivator jealous. They were full speed ahead and were hopefully only a couple of minutes late from when Li Yang had left. The ship itself almost seemed like it was floating, hovering past the waters with how fast it traveled and moved through them. Any sea creatures that were lying beneath the dark trench of waters found themselves disturbed at both the size and power it radiated. A collection of poisonous sea snakes that often slept at the bottom of the sea bed were awakened by the vibrations it provided in the water and they quickly dispersed into different directions. In one of the underwater caves, a dark green color seeped into the waters as several thick tentacles drew forth to reach out to the ship¡ªbut it was gone before it could even attempt to do anything else. Sharks fled, but were dragged into the mouth¡ªinto the beak of the creature before it knew anything else. A temporary snack as the eldritch-like entity returned to its own peaceful slumbering and otherworldly dreams. The passengers on said ship were none the wiser, or couldn''t have cared at all about this situation. Bo Lifen''s stomach churned and it was not because of sea sickness. "I still remember the time when we saved Chan Lee''s friends from another one of their islands. Or is this the same island?" Mou Gu rubbed his chin and eyed the island in front of them. "I can''t remember and Zhao''s still stuck inside of the ship''s hull." Bo Lifen stared at the chatting cultivator and rubbed her face. Any other time, he would have been a blast at parties with all of his true-to-life stories of grandeur. Right now? He was being a nuisance to the Tea Sommelier currently bothered about Li Yang''s predicament. "When did any of that happen? How is it even substantial to where we''re going unless that trip made it possible for us to infiltrate the island without getting detected?" "About two years ago? Feels longer or shorter now that you mentioned it." Mou Gu shrugged. "But basically, compared to before that was expecting the Eternal Alchemist to visit the island in exchange for the hostages, they clearly do not want visitors now. Much much harder than before." Bo Lifen shook her head. She knew who these people were¡ªand Suyin was Chan Lee''s friend, but she couldn''t concentrate on them right now. "You know what, don''t tell me anything at all. We''re just here to nab Li Yang back and his secretary from the Lius and then we get back to Shanghai." Mou Gu gave her a look, but nodded. "You know, if a fight breaks out, you''re like a liability here." "Please don''t remind me¡ªbesides, if Shen An Na was here, then I''m less of a weakling." Bo Lifen said, finally getting annoyed for once. What was it with cultivators and their arrogance? She hoped that Li Yang didn''t state the obvious like this. "But she isn''t." Mou Gu still corrected her. "Anyway, just surprised she agreed in the first place. This Li Yang guy must be really charming, even more than me, to warrant this ship. We don''t pull this out unless it''s an end of the world problem." Bo Lifen pursed her lips and stared at the old ship that they were on. Despite being old, it seemed more advanced than any cruise ship that her family once enjoyed when they were vacationing. Bo Lifen remembered the time when Granny Lanfen blabbered about her old uncle getting nabbed by Mermaids, but as she moved forward to grab the edge and stared down at the water several feet below them, it made it feel like this ship was too large for a Mermaid''s voice to reach them. "What do you call this?" "It''s the Celestial¡ªa beauty isn''t she?" Mou Gu laughed. He extended his arms out and hovered at the end of the deck. "I feel like Rose, I should call Song to act as Jack. It''s a shame that I''m only with you¡ª" The island in front of them suddenly glowed in a hubbub of light that was not fit for a midnight. Or rather it wasn''t the island itself that glowed but a part of it, before any of them could figure it out, a large cannon-like blast shot out to the ship. Ballista like projectiles, larger than anything one could see before, larger than a Nian Beast''s own water balls shot at the ship and hit it¡ª It hit the first layer of the Celestial''s invisible shield layer forumation. The shield defense didn''t go down at all, and it only flickered for a moment. Bo Lifen herself was laying flat on the floor and was pretty sure that Mou Gu should have been blasted into the back of the ship. Whether he had cultivated layers of protection or not, he should have been obliterated by the magnitude of power packed in the blast. It reminded her of the old tales and legends of cultivators blasting mountains and seas apart, because the attack was reminiscent of it. Instead, Mou Gu was laughing and pointed at the island and laughed to no one in particular. "Straightforward ahead¡ªwe''re forcing this maiden ship into the island''s port." He clearly did not know what he was trying to say, but Bo Lifen only hoped that they were alright. Shen Society was not the one who opened fire. But this was a call to a war as any. Chapter 275 - Staying Or Leaving (4) Li Yang and Ying Yue He were rattled to say the least¡ªbut less so than Bao. It had shown itself in full glory, expecting that the man was going to face some juicy drama and explain the entirety of the situation to his secretary, but Ying Yue He never batted an eye. "I''m Bao¡­" The Panda muttered with its paws on its head. Why the heck was nobody paying attention to it? It wasn''t invisible right now. While it enjoyed the panic that Li Yang did earlier, now it was long gone. The former CEO already had the map of the island and it showed where the blast came from. It functioned close enough to a Live Feed of what was happening and it was a feature that he didn''t think was possible. Were these updates? He needed to concentrate first. "The forest in the northeast," Li Yang said. The map didn''t extend far beyond the island itself, but he could already see a ship coming in real time that was shown on the map as a dot akin to him and Ying Yue He''s position. The ship also happened to be labeled too, showing an ally color. "What exactly is there?" "That''s where the towers are located¡ª" Ying Yue He''s eyes widened. "Why would someone operate them? What''s going on? Is there some kind of attack?" Li Yang had only heard the first part before he quickly made a decision. "We need to get going then." "Huh?" Ying Yue He blinked. "A ship arrived and they got attacked by the towers." Li Yang explained briefly. In-depth explanations had to happen later. Unfortunately, Ying Yue He herself was not easy to convince. While Ying Yue He agreed that she was callous to the pain and mistreatment of other people now, she thought that Li Yang agreed with the notion of staying here. There were so many things that he hadn''t explained yet, but the man simply placed a cloak over her shoulders and then wore the shawl he threw over the Panda from earlier. Li Yang disappeared from her eyes, but his voice was clear. "We should take advantage of the chaos and leave now." "But that''s not really¡ª" Several shrieks and roars emerged from the forest, and contrary to Li Yang, Ying Yue He knew what those beings were. Different shapes and sizes, some took to the air like sonic bats while others stayed in the trees or even the earth for any unsuspecting prey. Senior Longwei didn''t even need to personally come up and visit them. There were at least a hundred cultivated beasts scattered within the forest and island. The door was thrown open and before she could say anything else¡ªshe felt Li Yang hold on to her and she was tugged away from the bungalow place. Ying Yue He understood where Li Yang was coming from, but she didn''t think it was still a good idea to leave without saying a word. "The Shen Society came," Li Yang said in explanation. Almost as if he was able to read her mind or at least understand her hesitation. "I know you don''t want to get into trouble or for anyone to get hurt¡ªand I think that''s why they''re here to pick us up. But if the tower attacked first, that changes things, doesn''t it?" Ying Yue He bit her lip. "I guess you''re right." But there was supposed to be a peace treaty holding them all up together. This shouldn''t have happened at all. Who exactly attacked? . . . "I''m accepting the Heaven Granted Quest: Odyssey." Li Yang acknowledged as the two of them went headfirst into the forest. The ground beneath them was flat except for the straggling roots and thorns that were in place. In the muted chat room, the Heavens were now arguing about the man''s stance. [ OwlBrain: It seems like my understanding was correct, he was going to escape. Based on my judgement of his psyche, he''s more non confrontational than you think. ] [ Sea Foam: Don''t talk about Psyche here ] [ Trite: Wrong person. ] [ OneWhoSlaughters: Coward. There are treasures here. He should have wiped them all. ] [ Fire Dweller: It would have made more sense to take a more diplomatic route. ] Unbeknownst to it all, Li Yang made his move. He did plan on going about the island in a more secluded way where he was sure there was no cultivator in place, but he changed his mind. If there were towers at north that were being operated¡ªthen it meant that the path there wasn''t as riddled with traps as anything. At least it was clearer than going through other parts of the island that were probably riddled with dangers. Li Yang and Ying Yue He only needed to leave undetected. How strong were the people''s spiritual senses to notice cultivators invisible and enshrouded with materials far beyond their capacity? Li Yang looked back and couldn''t see Ying Yue He, but he could feel her presence and knew she was around because he was holding her wrist. "Retract back your qi and conceal it to avoid detection." "What, we''re going to operate with no layer of protection at all?" Ying Yue He asked. "Yes." He could almost imagine the frown on her face as she said it. But this was for the best, it was hard to tell how much nondetection these items would provide. While it probably would have worked well in ordinary circumstances, they were facing cultivators with spiritual sensing and heightened regular senses, so they needed all of the camouflage they could provide. Bao was still following them so it meant that a god''s eyes could see it. Li Yang reached out into his inventory, the man bought Boots of Speed and placed it on. The material was comfortable and actually luxurious on his feet. He then picked Ying Yue He up and ran through the forest. Who actually cared if it was supposed to be some knockout copy of Hermes? What mattered was getting away with as much distance as possible. A part of him thought it would be great for them to simply reach another part of the island that was close to the waters and presumably get a ship from there¡ªbut even if it was a bit less practical, he was going to meet up with Mou Gu and the others. The idea of involving and endangering others because of him. He hated to admit but that was not how he wanted to go with things. They didn''t deserve to get into this mess just because he wanted them to help¡ªit was something he unfortunately realized. Li Yang preferred keeping things as they always were if it did not need to change. It also perfectly applied for the uneasy peace treaty they had made. Ying Yue He''s breath hitched as they passed by several large spiders scuttling in their webs. A carcass of a pig was stuck in its webs as their purple venom pooled on the forest''s floor. Li Yang stepped as far away from it as possible. Despite each spider having several eyes, it didn''t seem to take notice of Li Yang and Ying Yue He''s presence at all. Regardless, both of them still sort of held their breath and began to leave. Except that when they passed through the path, Ying Yue He''s arm brushed against a thread. "Ow¡ª" Ying Yue He bit on her tongue and stifled her pain.. Li Yang looked back to see that the sides of the path were all decorated with nearly invisible thin lines of thread¡ªher droplets of blood now coated and soaked the thread and alerted the spiders. Chapter 276 - The Escape (1) Its chitin was thick and impenetrable to normal blades, the Yao slayer from his time in the afterlife world did little and just bounced off its armor. Li Yang was not in a good place, he refused to use his qi and alert everything in the forest to his or Ying Yue He''s existence. At least that was what was going to happen once they recognized him as someone who wasn''t supposed to be here. There was no doubt an attack on sight command taught to these creatures and he wasn''t one to figure out how much chomping it would take. Every now and then, a flash of silky but thick thread blasted from the tip of the spider''s abdomen and hit the thin air to where Li Yang once was. Without the shawl of enshroudment, all of these spiders would have trapped them in one go. The sword would have gotten entangled if it stuck to the silk. But without him using his strength and qi into his weapon, the results were meaningless. Li Yang tried to find a path to escape, but the spiders blocked the entirety of the way. About a couple of feet behind him, Ying Yue He held a hand over her arm and winced. It was her fault that they got caged in by all of the spiders in this portion of the forest, and whether she had a cloak or not, Ying Yue He could smell the iron of her blood. The bleeding wasn''t stopping at all with how razor sharp the thread was¡ªand while she couldn''t see where Li Yang himself was, only an approximate location, the sound of blades meeting one of the spider''s armor, it was obviously a fruitless battle. Then the shower of poison began. Without any idea or clue as to where its prey was¡ªseveral of the spiders encircling them started spitting out venom into the trees and ground, melting them off without any hesitation. She dodged every now and then, darting away from the already present venom. Ying Yue He knew they couldn''t be stalled this much. One way or another, a decision would be made between the Liu Group and the Shen Society and with them in the territory of the Lius, it was insane for the Shens to come here without anything or anyone to back them up. "Let''s just go!" The qi in Ying Yue He''s body resumed at full blast. Her own movements were quick and smooth as she grabbed ahold of the cloak and leapt up to the trees. With one frontal kick covered with an earthen qi-like armor, the spider was thrown hundreds of feet back. Ying Yue He took off her cloak for one moment to show Li Yang that she was alright, right before landed back onto the ground away from the spiders and ignored the stream of venom that melted and ate an entire tree away. While she could have run immediately, Ying Yue He looked back to find her boss, cursing how the wardrobe''s invisibility also applied on both of them so she couldn''t exactly see him. But then she saw how the spider that Li Yang was fighting with was cut into half. She wasn''t surprised that the man had focused on sword qi if he had a talent for it. Li Yang took his shawl off, sped towards her location, right past her, while she quickly latched onto the back of his robes. She gave him a small frown. "I recommend that we just use qi and run as fast as we can¡ªwe can''t be slowed down by these bugs and other animals." "They''re classified under arachnida," Li Yang explained. Ying Yue He pushed him forward and groaned. "Please don''t give me animal facts right now, Mister Li. We don''t have the time at all." "Alright, my bad." The two of them sped off to the north, irregardless of all the creatures that now chased after them. It would have been a stampede if all of them were land-borne and yet some of them took to the air. "Protect your ears." Ying Yue He warned. Her words were barely just in time for the first screeching of the bats that appeared and dove through the air. Ying Yue He and Li Yang separated at the first appearance of an enormous snake that awoke from its slumber. Li Yang moved to the right, Ying Yue He to the left. Daring the snake to pick a target, but by then, it was already too late. If it weren''t for the addition of his qi and the boots, Li Yang was afraid that he wouldn''t have matched Ying Yue He''s speed. It made no sense to pick her up earlier, the martial arts movement that he read on her profile made her fast. Before the two of them knew it, the two of them arrived at a large clearing. What he imagined to be towers fit for a magical-like academy were now throwing off large blasts of concentrated qi. There were at least two individuals ducking and avoiding the blasts. But somehow, even the towers were dwarfed by what appeared to be a gargantuan ship that lay on the sand. The small dot it was shown in the map from earlier was not enough to portray its actual size. More than that, his gaze focused on what appeared to be a shield of some kind. He could already see the pink-haired cultivator, Mou Gu, dodging but never exactly getting nearer to the towers to cut them off. The second one managed to bypass the long-ranged artillery and finally passed into a range where the towers couldn''t attack. Several men flooded out of the towers to meet the lone cultivator head on. It was overkill. Hua Zhao looked up in time to see both Ying Yue He and Li Yang arrive. He dodged the first arrow that flew past him and then quickly cut off the second one and started backing away. "Oh¡ªMou Gu, retreat! We didn''t have to find them, they''re here!" Mou Gu''s gaze landed on them, and quickly ducked back into the ship''s shields. "Get your asses over to the ship!" "Oi, try to help take down these folks!" It was far from the most impressive rescue, the Shen Society was dwarfed from two to twenty in this case, and many others had already recognized Ying Yue He, but they were going to take it. Chapter 277 - The Escape (2) It was difficult finding cultivators with their own specializations, most tend to focus on the general desire of becoming a powerful immortal that could blow people away¡ªliterally in most cases. Long gone were the times where people pursued immortality with a sense of spiritualistic notion. Very few people followed asceticism and other Buddhist methods of ascension. Except possibly for the monks. Either way, cultivation has become something that was more brutal. A method of gaining power and influence. Perhaps that was always the way it was? Liu Guiren had no words to offer to it as his knife sank into the rare cut steak of the Nian Beast. He brought the small cut into his mouth and tasted its rather tender flavor that was almost contrary to what one might have thought of flesh. The umami was there though and so was the essence of the sea. Whether it was true that all life began at sea, he had no idea, but this was one of the easiest ways to acquire powers. Preparing monster dishes that were suitable to the palate was great¡ªso it was a shame that there weren''t a lot of chef cultivators. Alchemists, at least those who were trained to create pills of immortality, were also nearly non-existent. Cultivators with powers tied to their instruments, harmonious and inflicting harm at the same time were unimaginable as ancient texts faded. At least on this plane. Liu Guiren was aware and heard it all from his father who constantly insisted that the golden age of cultivation was long gone¡ªmost have already ascended into higher realms and that this planet was nothing more but a dry husk. The man should have long been gone if he continued blabbering like that. And yet, despite everything else, his father was stuck here just like the rest of them. The heavens were sealed. "Cheh." Liu Guiren did not care about that conflict. Why ascend the heavens when you could be a king on earth? He barely batted an eye at the sudden sound of explosion that echoed even in his own private quarters. It was just in time that Senior Longwei arrived with a rather red-faced and slightly delirious expression. Lady Ju Fen was great at making alcohol. "One of the men that was saved from the shipwreck was operating the tower and attacked an ancestral cultivator''s ship." Senior Longwei slammed his hands on the table. "There was no permission to do that, but they shouldn''t have a key to the tower in the first place. Who''s fault is that?" "Sounds like an excuse to me." "You have something to do with this!" The man was not the kind of person to dislike violence, but he did dislike being treated like a pawn. Liu Guiren cleared his throat. "Then punish them. You have my permission to get rid of whoever was actually in charge. What about what I asked from you earlier?" "Ying Yue He and that guy¡ª" "They ran away, didn''t they?" Liu Guiren frowned a little. "But shouldn''t they be trackable? You are the one in charge of the security on the island, Senior Longwei. Please don''t tell me that these two cultivators escaped under your watch. You should not be drinking on the job either." "If I wasn''t asked to report back¡ªforget it. I''ll just chase after them. They would have taken advantage of the attacks, but they wouldn''t have been able to coordinate with that ship. Would they?" "Whatever you think is best, Senior." Liu Guiren waved at him nonchalantly. It was obvious in the man''s expression that he didn''t care at all. That was what exacerbated the Senior''s temper more. What about all the resources? Energy and time spent in growing the girl''s powers? Longwei was the one who did all the work but they were going to let that priceless woman away? Unacceptable. ¡ª- Li Yang looked back at the island with a deep-set frown. The same invisible illusion that kept it looking like an ordinary and uninhabited place recurred and it was almost as if they had never been there before. Compared to the others who were just relieved to have him and Ying Yue He back and even escaped without much turmoil or problems¡ªthere was an undercurrent of doubt within him. What if he had made a wrong choice? He was expecting far more troubles, but even those who went out of the tower earlier were nothing more than grunts and greenhorns. When the spiders, snake, and other creatures from the forest arrived¡ªall of them retreated back into the tower to hide rather than face the. It was an apparent case of lack of harmony between the group''s hierarchy. Did it mean that most of the animals were uncontrollable and dangerous even for their own people? Would it attack anyone on sight? Somehow, that made both sense for an evil organization, but at the same time, it was an idiotic thing to have. ¡­ Still, this was ridiculous. Li Yang rubbed his forehead and looked back at Ying Yue He, Mou Gu and even Hua Zhao on the ship. Shouldn''t he just be happy and satisfied? Give up the questioning and simply bask in the relief of achieving what he wanted. Ying Yue He was here with him. "What will happen to the Liu Group and the Shen Society?" he asked. "Considering that we were attacked first, that was kind of a declaration for war¡ªbut there are possible reparations. It kind of happens." Hua Zhao replied with a scratching of his own head. "We say peace treaty, but there are circumstances of minor scuffles. If we were able to retrieve the both of you without any pursuit, then the costs may have outweighed the benefits." Li Yang still doubted that, knowing fully well that Ying Yue He attracted attention from the higher-ups, but he only nodded. "It''s probably a bad time to say this¡ªbut we didn''t expect that you''d just make a move like this out of nowhere." "I should have waited?" "Kind of." "Perhaps, but I don''t have much time to waste." Li Yang told the younger man, before he went below the deck. The Quest from the Heavens didn''t work out¡ªbut that was alright with him. All he wanted to do was catch his breath before he needed to focus on the main mission of seducing the heiress of the Song family. He looked at all of the available rooms below the deck and reached for the doorknob. When he opened it--he realized that not only was it some broom closet, Bo Lifen was hiding inside of it. She was currently cramped and only averted her gaze when she met his face. "What are you doing there?" "Funny question, don''t ask." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: It''s September 6, 2021 here and I just finished the last tier of privilege. It took awhile, but glad I''m done, even with the headache.. Not sure if anyone is going to purchase because I''m kind of in "no daily updates" gang, still you guys are luckier than the ones reading Races: Online though. Thank you for reading! Chapter 278 - The Next Step (1) Bo Lifen was in no way supposed to be seen by Li Yang himself. She gathered her wits and cleared her throat, making her way out of the closet as she tried to keep her aloofness. She looked him properly in the eye and gave him a confident smile. In the art of both war and relationships¡­ the first one to succumb to admitting more interest than the other was the loser! She couldn''t risk being on that side of the party. Li Yang raised a brow at her response. "I''m really curious though." Bo Lifen was too old to be playing around with her feelings like a silly highschooler. She frowned and gave him a look. "You refused to have dinner with me then in less than thirty minutes you arrived at the same diner that I was in. I thought you¡­ but anyway, you were looking all frustrated after a private conversation with Mou Gu, that you ran off with him following you in tow. Of course, I would get worried." "...And to summarize, you followed us all the way to here." Li Yang pointed out. He let out an amused sigh but made sure to hold it back for her sake. It was a terrible decision to follow him, even with the others as company, but it wasn''t a lie to say that he appreciated the effort. More than that actually. Her presence was a welcome surprise. "So you got back your secretary. Why isn''t she with you?" Bo Lifen crossed her arms over her chest. She was clearly not happy about the man''s affections and attention on another woman, but neither had she and him actually made a step forward in their relationship. It made sense for him to try and get his secretary back from the Lius too. Li Yang looked at the shorter woman¡­ and slightly wondered why as well. But then he frowned and shrugged. "She''s free to go wherever she likes, I don''t have to constantly keep her at my side." "Even if you just staged a solo and crazy rescue mission?" "...Yes." "You''re a lot more impulsive than you make yourself out to be¡­ I''m not sure if I said that before already," Bo Lifen pursed her lips at him. "Someone else might use the word courageous though. A risk taker? Big balls maybe. Forget that last part." "Impulsive is a good word. Although that diminishes the fact that I do consider and weigh in my options." Li Yang replied and glanced over his shoulder. "Right now, I just wanted to rest but I didn''t expect you to be here. So it reminds me, have I thanked you properly, yet?" "I did nothing to deserve any thanks." Bo Lifen waved him off. It was difficult to get mad at someone who always accepted the words that you threw at him. Or maybe it was just because it was Li Yang that Bo Lifen was dealing with. While she thought that some of his actions needed more carefulness, it seemed as if the man was operating under some sort of schedule. Rushed and hurried¡­ Li Yang just got back but it seemed like there were several things on his plate. It wasn''t everyday that a man would return to the city, meet up with an idol celebrity, sleep with her, find Mou Gu and then launch a visit to one of the hidden cultivation islands in less than twenty four hours, get a girl and then board one of the ancient ships back to Shanghai. "I''m grateful that you''re here. Even if¡­ I don''t say it that much." Li Yang studied her face for a moment. "It''s ridiculous to say that I''m not good with words, but I really prefer not to speak too much and simply let my actions and deeds dictate where our relationship will go." "...By deeds, do you mean, sleeping with me?" Bo Lifen coughed lightly. "No, not exactly just that." Li Yang didn''t had that in his mind when he said that. "I figured." A silence emanated between them at that moment. There was no rocking of their ship that could distract them while the two of them both thought of something to say. Bo Lifen looked down at the floor. "Uh, nice shoes by the way." Li Yang looked at his feet and quickly started pulling off the rather tacky shoes. Contrary to expectations, it resembled something that didn''t fit his robes at all. "This is just something I needed to use earlier. It helps boost my speed." "Neat. Did you get it in the black market or something?" Bo Lifen asked. "It might be harder to buy things now after the culmination of events today. Heard the explosion and everything." "There are other places, you know?" Li Yang shrugged. "Overseas? In another city?" Bo Lifen eyed the footwear with interest. She knew good quality and despite its appearance, she wasn''t fooled and could tell that it was high quality material. "I know Shen Society does have ties in other countries too. But ah¡­ you said you wanted to rest, didn''t you? Don''t let me bother you anymore." She caught herself before the two of them divulged into conversation about his clothing just to have them spend time with each other longer. It was a bit too ridiculous for her to do that while she was aware that he needed rest. Even if a cultivator was physically capable, the mental strength and energy was another thing entirely. "I''m still good and fine¡ªit won''t actually take too long before we get to the city." Li Yang answered. He didn''t mind standing around some more if it meant he could chat with her. "Please don''t jinx us with words like that." Bo Lifen made a face. "The Heavens tend to make us swallow our words if we declare to know one thing, then they do the exact opposite." "The Heavens¡­ when you say that. What exactly do you mean?" "Well, I''m not thinking of angels and cherubs if that''s what you''re asking. I mean the ones who probably ascended maybe and have their own vested interest on earth? I''m not so sure myself if there are many that pay attention since even once a cultivator ascends into the higher realms, there are countless realms above it and they need to work hard for it." It simply meant that only those at the pinnacle of creation and those who could afford to watch in their lofty realms were the ones who watched them right now. That said a few things or so about immortality. Li Yang tried to place his hands into his pockets, but his robes had none. "It''s because there''s not enough resources though, right? That is the conundrum in the cultivators nowadays and even those who are presumably above." "Right. That''s why there''s tribulation for those who go against heaven''s will." Bo Lifen scratched her cheek. She wasn''t the best person to ask about it, when even their matriarch had never actually reached the second stage. "I suppose you''re aiming to be an immortal, huh?" "That''s the first course of action." Li Yang nodded. "I''m still in the Qi Condensation stage, so there''s a long way to go before I can even think of ascending into that." He had all the means though because of the so-called granted gift from the Heavens itself. So it was only a matter of time. "And after that¡­" "Foundation establishment." Li Yang replied. "There are several stages after that." Bo Lifen already knew those, so she waved him off. "Let''s just say that you got what you wanted. Somehow, you manage to become one of the few named individuals here on earth that achieves immortality without being born with it," Bo Lifen said. "What happens next after that?" "After becoming an immortal, the next step is divinity, isn''t it?" If he needed to give those who provided him the System a piece of his mind, it truly meant that he needed to be on their level. Higher actually. That was a long way to go. Li Yang would have preferred not to say it aloud, but it was doubtful that the gods were incapable of foreseeing what he had in mind. Thus, if there were no surprises in his future actions, it only meant that he needed to work harder and take advantage of everything at his disposal. It was still a wonder why they haven''t meddled with the Patch Update either. Bo Lifen gave the man currently lost in his thoughts a good look, she was fully aware that there were immortals and then gods, but even those in the latter were on another level. Did he know the difference? The man was gone in a year and even her lack of cultivation prowess didn''t mean she couldn''t read or see how he carried himself with difference now. Li Yang even went to Liu''s island all by himself and was able to escape. That spoke volumes to how far he had come. Whether it was through luck, skill, or simply wit¡­ all three of them were something that was necessary to reach the Heavens. That was a great contrast when it came to her. She eventually sighed wistfully. "I would say that if anyone else told me that, I''d think that they''re being cocky. I wouldn''t be surprised if some ''random'' lightning suddenly took you out before you became a threat. But you''re being serious¡­ and based from what I''ve already seen now, there''s no stopping you." A small rueful smile played on her lips. It was the kind of expression and tone that made Li Yang pause unsteadily. "What about you?" "Eh, you know that my ancestors once served gods with tea. That''s how Heavenly Jade Pavilion came to be." Bo Lifen tilted her head and then broke out into a grin.. "Maybe I''ll brew you a cup in my next life." Chapter 279 - The Next Step (2) There were several things wrong happening right now. It was both unbelievable and acceptable to say the least. Perhaps it was easier not to address things and pretend that everything was fine, but that was something that he couldn''t do. Immortality. Eternal life. Exempt from the cycle of life and death. Eternity was such a long time. Li Yang couldn''t say that he feared death because he knew what came after it¡ªa cute Grim Reaper to take him to the afterlife. Well, forgetting that thought in an attempt to lighten the mood, he was still bothered by Bo Lifen''s statement. He was already used to the idea¡­ or didn''t need to contemplate that much when it came to someone like Ying Yue He. Even if the two of them were not together right now, he felt reassured when it came to her. She vowed to stay at his side and their conversation about cultivation was already made. Ying Yue He was someone who always kept her word. Taiga and Narissa were both from long-lived races so he didn''t have to worry about anything. It was just her. Did he really need to care that much about her to be bothered about the thought of Bo Lifen passing away? He really wasn''t as callous and as stony as he seemed to be. Li Yang gave her a look and took in the features of her face and committed it to memory. "I''d prefer to have a cup today, tomorrow and so on and so forth with you." "What?" Bo Lifen blinked at him in surprise as a blush crawled on her face. "Are you trying to hire me as your private tea sommelier? I''m a lot more expensive than you think I am." The two of them both knew what he was implying, but she didn''t dare say it aloud. Li Yang shook his head. "A part of me wishes to urge you to reconsider your thoughts. I''m¡­ willing to sponsor you if you ever consider becoming a cultivator. Or at least drink the tea that increases your longevity and youth. However, if I cannot entice you to drink more of those black ocean pearls that your friend sells to you, then I will look for that offer of yours in the future." Bo Lifen rubbed the back of her neck. "Then it means that you''ll have to find me when that time comes." "I will," Li Yang said. "And I hope that you remember me by then. Or I can remind you." "Slow down a little," Bo Lifen waved a hand, a bit flustered at his sudden seriousness. What brought this on? "You move way too fast for someone I just slept with hours earlier. Shouldn''t you be more concerned with your secretary over me?" Li Yang lifted a brow. "Are you trying to say that I can''t care for you the same way that I care for her?" "Frankly, yes. Even if there''s a harem of sorts¡­ there''s a hierarchy you know?" Bo Lifen crossed her arms. "For example, parents always say that they love each of their children equally¡­ but that''s not true, is it?" Li Yang found himself nodding along. "Naturally¡ªer, I get what you''re trying to say. Even if they don''t admit it aloud, there''s always someone treated better." He didn''t need to think too hard about his own family to know what she meant. "Right." Bo Lifen gave him double finger guns. "A part of my woman brain is telling me that I should get sappy and touched with all your words. Heck, I didn''t know that you could be romantic with talks of today, tomorrow and yesterday, but I don''t think that I matter or mean more to you than your secretary, right?" "I think that I care for both of you deeply. It''s hard to tell." Bo Lifen placed a hand on her hip and looked at him doubtfully. "Alright, I''ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I''m just saying that if I were you, I''d be more concerned with Miss He. That''s all." "What it looks like to me is that you like to downplay yourself." Li Yang pointed out. "No¡ªthat''s not it." Bo Lifen attempted to shoo him away. "I''m just giving free advice. You should take it since I''m being generous. Even if we tell you that we''re fine with things having no labels, it''s a whole damn lot clearer if you do give us one. I can see that you care a lot about your secretary enough to not have dinner with me." Li Yang didn''t expect that she''d still bring that up, until now. "Now that you mentioned it, we kind of have one." "Huh?" "Ying Yue He and I¡­" Li Yang thought about their conversation earlier at the island and considered that was a start to a relationship as any. He asked and she confirmed it back then. "She called me her boyfriend earlier." "Oh, did she?" Bo Lifen stared at him. She thought about the secretary still on the deck and felt a twinge of something she couldn''t name. Melancholy? Bittersweetness? Grimness. It was along those lines. "That''s as bright as day as a label. Not ''kind of'' for your information¡ªit''s a relationship compared to us being fuck buddies." "...And that''s how you see me?" Li Yang raised a brow at her. It was slightly amusing to hear Bo Lifen say it aloud¡­ but what else could they have been? He was surprised to have her label it in the first place. "Well, it''s not like you actively courted me or anything. You were gone for nearly a year too. Where did you even go?" Bo Lifen asked and then quickly looked away. "I mean, you could keep it to yourself if you want. You don''t have to tell me anything, I''m not your girlfriend." It really did seem like Bo Lifen was selling herself short. He always thought that she was a confident woman assured of herself, but right now, it was a little cute seeing her a bit hesitant about their standing. "Unluckily for you, I do want to say it." Li Yang smiled a little. "Let''s just say that I travelled into another world." "Huh?" "Another plane or realm of existence?" Li Yang didn''t exactly know why he admitted it to her, but it was nice talking about it and just being honest. He still needed to explain about the harem to Ying Yue He, whereas Bo Lifen just seemed to have taken it all in stride. One''s upbringing certainly helped out to a large extent. "...Right." Bo Lifen stared at him. "I want to believe you and I''m trying to do that. But the way you phrased it reminded me of my younger brother who watches anime. Did you get isekai-ed or something?" "If you want to use that term, then yes. Basically that." "I have a lot of questions." "We have time." ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: Phew. I need to step up my author game again after everything, hopefully the chapter is still nice? I''m starting to feel a bit too nitpicky about my writing again and feel like the quality drops if I just aim to write everyday. Quality control is hard. Pushing quantity too is what I want to do, without it being filler. A WN coin is approximately 0..02 cents if I remember. Feels funny getting stressed over it ;-; Chapter 280 - Interlude Of His Return [ Interlude - A pause between the acts of a play + the recap of the last 48 hours story-wise. Fast-pass if you will. Contains rhyming. ] And so the son of Li Chao Yun returned to earth and he raised hell on the second day of his return. A more accurate account of the tale would have been Li Yang visiting the afterlife, not necessarily descending into the underworld alone, but chaos did come upon his arrival. The first day of Li Yang''s return already caused some business relationships to unravel. The rather eccentric couple, Song Chuanli and Song Angeline, met him in the forest of Japan. Saving their lives, saving one, meant saving the other, and in their eyes, they saw a dependable young man. Yes, Li Yang appeared young to them, a gentleman who might become an excellent influence on their daughter. Their minds were convinced and so they provided accommodations until his return to their home country. A party was soon set and he would know of it later. But not now, since there was much for him to do and he focused on his own desires first. Upon his arrival and the news of his presence back in Shanghai was announced¡­ it caused quite a sensation. It alerted Taiga in the Shou Temple Sect to even Bo Lifen in the premises of her brother''s milk tea shop. The former finding a reason to no longer hide and wallow away in the temple. While the other, shying away. But Li Yang''s first agenda had always been seeing his daughter first. It was a strange thing to admit to himself, but that was what he prioritized. The heart of a child was still soft and prone to a pang of loss in depths that he himself knew by experience. So he came to the hospital and realized that Luo Ju Di was in a coma all this time¡ªand that her soul was snatched by the Sluagh¡ªhe made a move to correct what was wrong. Thus the circle of death, the Grim Reaper, and then the afterlife. A journey that plunged him to the depths of the spiritual realm. Right into the very underworld where a certain Goddess, an Observer, shared her desires with him and made it known that she was the first to meet him in person. Attempted to sway him away with a fruit. It did not work, and he continued on his decision to save Luo Ju Di. Only learning later when he saw the horde of Sluagh that a certain Tigress followed him. Taiga had thought that the Grim Reaper stole away her Bossman when she just saw him. It was a pressure that weighed on her shoulders and it weighed far more than she was willing to admit. But so it happened. Nay, lest it be said that the man did not work against the cycle of life and death. All he did was to bring back what was once there, all of this effort given, in an attempt to repair. Unbelievable that all of this happened under the span of a little less than twenty-four hours. ¡­ And yet it was far from the very end. A contact made by a Mermaid, a long-savored and awaited reunion with a Tigress, and a certain Tea Sommelier who just happened to be passing by in the same bar as he did. One after another, in only a few hours after making sure that his responsibilities to his child and her mother were given, came to this event. But it wasn''t enough to end the day at all. There was someone else he wanted to find and who was yet to come along. Despite the Panda''s adamant protest and reminders of deadlines, it wasn''t Anna Song. On the contrary, it was his secretary. Amidst it all, she was the first and constant presence in his past. It was a surprise that she would come to his mind last. Thus, it once again led to outside of the city and into an island of its own, traveling past ghostly seas and seafaring beasts that devoured ships and fishes of old. And then, before he knew it, there she was, lo-and-behold. Ying Yue He came upon a lofty cultivation sword and surprising things were realized. This hidden island, of the heavens sealed to others, and a desire of a certain individual that made his blood boil. Despite the peaceful surface, there was a lot of wretched turmoil that made him decide to escape. Into the forest they went, draping and wearing cloaks and shawls of invisibility not to be shed. Towers of cultivation and a ship used in the ancient days, into the latter they arrived and then fled. Only leaving a sense of foreboding and dread. Thus came the end of the forty-eight hours or so upon his return. Li Yang currently below the deck with Bo Lifen discussing things she had so much to learn. Meanwhile, there was much left to do for a man that was this stern. Goals, missions and quests. Each one required his devoted and hundred percent attention at best. All of this was at the Heavens'' behest. Thus came the compensation in the form of a System. While the Heavens'' Observers held his will for ransom, in exchange there was much he could achieve, seek and derive. A number of things that many could only dream of striving for. And there were several things to yearn for: Power, influence and wealth of splendor, countless beautiful women to adorn one''s bed and parlor, but all he desired¡ªfair enough to note that he had everything most craved and required¡ªwas the ability to return to how things once were. Freedom given, no more, no less¡ªhe would be the one to decide which life he shall live in. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: This chapter is more or less, an attempt to make a narrative voice, try on a bigger storyteller sense of grandeur if it were possible.. Rhyming more? Plain words are still the best in web fiction as clarity is the game, but if you pay for a novel in bookstores or e-book, some of them classics like Lord of the Rings have rhythm and flow. Some might not appreciate that kind of writing, and this one too, so I hope you fast-passed on this one? Chapter 281 - The Next Step (3) Out of all the adventures and experiences that Li Yang himself was acquainted with¡ªone always needed to go home at the end of it. It was the reward one sometimes tended to forget. Glory, riches and power were one thing, but it was incomparable to the relief of reaching a place that was truly yours. Sanctuary. Haven. Shelter. A place to turn to when everything was said and done. Somewhere to rest your feet, lay down your armor and preferably enjoy a warm meal with a loved one waiting for your return. The only question was¡­ was there a home for him to return to? It shouldn''t have been that big of a deal because it was him. A former CEO with assets that numbered far more than any ordinary person can dream of and possibly with countless properties underneath his belt if one were to believe the reports. Frankly speaking, he was not a wasteful person who owned too many things. His only problem was that going home to his place at approximately four in the morning where his brother and girlfriend might be staying made him less willing to travel. The Celestial arrived in one the ports of Shanghai hidden from most and it left Li Yang with both Ying Yue He and Bo Lifen¡ªand possibly the others from Shen Society back to their city. Each one of them hopefully having a place to turn to after all of the events that sequestered their night. "Phew, I''m beat." Mou Gu was the first to break the silence and waved at them. "I''m going back home and taking a day off or two from operating my restaurant. Good to see you back, Ying Yue He¡ªI''ll see the rest of you guys around." Hua Zhao followed in tow and said his farewell, "Yeah. My grandfather''s going to riot for coming home late, so bye." Behind them, the ship was then taken care of by someone else and taken away to its own port. That left Li Yang with both Bo Lifen and Ying Yue He who weren''t exactly as lost as him. "They''re not going to report to Shen An Na?" Li Yang frowned. "I think it will be done later after some rest." Bo Lifen explained with a shrug and bit back a yawn. "They''re a more relaxed organization than they make you think." "Of course." "You don''t sound too surprised, do you?" Bo Lifen chuckled a bit. Ying Yue He who was not blind or exactly deaf to know and realize that the two were talking so closely with one another. She reached for Li Yang''s arm and hugged it to her chest. "What about you? It''s quite late to be going back to your home Mister Li. You should stay at my apartment." Li Yang smiled a bit. "If that''s fine for you. I did not expect that you''d have your keys with you?" Ying Yue He lowered her blouse''s collar slightly and revealed a small necklace. "Spatial ring necklace? Don''t you have one of yours hidden somewhere?" "...I do." Li Yang found himself answering. He realized that it was probably a good ruse to have in the event that he was put at a difficult position and he was about to get robbed or plundered of his items. Bo Lifen, who had been about to answer Ying Yue He about where she was going, turned her head away. She knew she was right when it came to certain people that she met. A rather possessive type if she had seen anyone¡ªbut then again, most people that she met with were far unwilling to share a loved one with somebody else. It took a certain state of mind to be fine with it. Or to have orders, rules, boundaries and a code of conduct in place, whether it be the classical harems of kings and great cultivators to the more modern and polyamorous relationships. ...But to Bo Lifen who was observing it at this moment. It may have to happen in a future discussion and not right now. While her own emotions to Li Yang''s secretary were neutral at best, Bo Lifen was just glad that the man seemed fine and happy. That was all that she really kind of wanted for him. Bo Lifen couldn''t believe that she just wanted to see this guy happy for some reason. ...Perhaps she was willing to admit that it was because she felt a certain way around him. The two of them were sort of similar in some extent, that all Bo Lifen wanted was to see him be more at ease. Not waiting for any more chances to excuse herself, Bo Lifen parted ways with the couple and left them to it. She was going to sneak back home and hope that her parents were still asleep. But before Bo Lifen actually left, she glanced one last time at the two. Everything was just fine. Naturally, that was a lie. Everything around Bo Lifen''s own vision was spinning from all the revelations that were discovered and everything that went along with it. She needed a drink, or two. Maybe three cups, bottles maybe. And she wasn''t talking about tea, this time. . . . She looked dead. It was almost as if one were looking at a crime scene created by her own decisions. There were many regrets, things that she hadn''t been able to tell him, but not as much as this one. Her eyelids were fluttering to a close as she croaked out a word. "Hah¡­ I''m stuffed." Taiga coincidentally happened to be awake even at this time and was stuck in a coma. A food coma as she eyed the television screen with a sense of dissatisfaction. There was a litter of bowls of popcorn kernels and other assorted snacks that she had on her movie marathon. Several cans of soda rolled across the floor and turned the five star hotel into a pig-pen. It wasn''t the best distraction from keeping her mind away from Li Yang¡ªbecause she had seen the movies at least three times already. Beside her, Blue Fish, or Narissa as the idol introduced herself, was twiddling her thumbs. With no idea whatsoever as to what led the man to leave Shanghai once again¡ªand only returning just now based on the screen''s interface, she was upset at the least. Losing precious hours of beauty sleep¡ªit was ridiculous. "That man¡­ he''s safe isn''t he?" Narissa told herself that she wasn''t going to worry the Tigress Spirit, but she couldn''t stop her tongue this time. The man''s curse from the gods, did it bring him somewhere dangerous, this time again? Or did he buy a yacht and took that woman on a romantic boat ride somewhere? "I don''t know. That Tea Temptress may have sexual diseases we''re not aware of¡ªand Bossman doesn''t like using condoms." Taiga explained. "You''ve slept with him already, right?" Narissa nearly choked on thin air and threw the Tigress a look. "What are you trying to say?" Taiga pouted. "I''m saying¡ªer, Taiga is saying that she is aware of what''s happening between Bossman and Bo Lifen. Plus, Taiga thinks that you''ve also had some relationship with him so that''s why you''re tolerating Taiga''s presence, right?" Narissa pursed her lips. "You''re a lot smarter than you let on." Taiga grinned at the remark. "Of course." Before Narissa could give an answer, her phone suddenly beeped. Chapter 282 - Messages At Dawn Even a message at dawn where most was assumed to be asleep was practically the norm. These hours between 1am to 6am were the most active time for any young person. There was no longer any proper time or hour when it came to messages meant for socialite engagements and work arrangements either. Maybe if one''s phone was turned off, then it was a small gesture that meant that someone did not care about those things. If there was an emergency text or call in the middle of the night¡ªthen it was a giant F to the sender. These were sadly going to be messages and missed calls that were going to be seen in the morning right as soon as you woke up and brought the phone''s screen in your face first thing. But it so happened that her phone was always open. Her eyes were slightly bleary as she eyed the contents of the chat with nothing more than a sense of tiredness and yet alertness to the gathering. Only she could be the one who attended this meeting. A gathering most did not expect to see. Shen An Na read the text message from Anna Song about a welcome party¡ªmostly made because her parents were returning from their anniversary trip, and anyone who was anyone was invited. [ You have to come, An Na. We''re even hosting celebrities, influencers and idols¡­ Well, we''re waiting for confirmation. But some of them already said yes like Sun Aoyun. What do you think? ] Oh, her dear friend, Anna. The girl once hated her guts because their names were similar. Shen An Na who had slept through the entire predicament that was allowing the use of the Celestial ship to fetch a single woman in the cultivator islands of the Liu was more or less disgruntled. "I hate parties." She would prefer if her brother was the one who attended these events, but even he was more holed up in the Chongming island than her. But who else was going to attend? Shen An Na didn''t like rubbing elbows if it could be avoided, but then she realized something. There was no doubt a hot topic amongst the rich and business-oriented individuals as of today and it would be a thing for at least a week before something new kicked in to steal the spotlight. The now-called prodigal son, Li Yang, was no doubt invited to this engagement and that made it a little more incentivizing for Shen An Na to attend the party. Not for any weird reason, at all. It was just going to be interesting, that''s all. Shen An Na sent a response to the still-awake Anna Song and then buried her head into the pillow. Despite the cultivation world and all its happenings, it wasn''t fair to say that she and even people like Li Yang were now free from the scrutiny of regular people. Surely the man couldn''t exactly say no to events like this one, could he? Did Shen An Na just assume that he''d be going after everything that happened in the last twelve hours? Why yes, yes she did. . . . If there was anything better than sex, it was the cuddles that came afterwards in the event that your partner didn''t fall asleep and started snoring obnoxiously or they probably went somewhere else if this were a one-night stand. Ying Yue He however has finally done it. It wasn''t as if she was actively seducing her boss¡ªthat was how the old secretary got sacked in the first place, but after the years of pining after him¡­ she was now in his arms. He seemed to like it too. Ying Yue He realized that the man had fallen asleep. Most of the cultivator training that she underwent was reaching the point in time where sleep was already unnecessary. Why would a person fall asleep if the chance of letting your guard down was happening? Sure, there was still the option of sleeping and dreaming¡ªbut now, Ying Yue He had the opportunity to just bask in the warmth and heat of her man. She wiggled her body a little and pressed her back against his chest. The snug sensation of his arms wrapping around her waist was really nice too. "Yang?" Ying Yue He tried to check if he was still awake. Li Yang lazily lifted a brow. "Hmm?" It was difficult sleeping with someone in the same bed as him at first¡­ but he would admit that it was nice now. Back then, Setsuko often just ended up sleeping with him¡ªthe other kind of sleeping, especially when she noticed his morning wood, but this time, he actually managed to fall asleep due to mental exhaustion. More or less, this was going to be eight hours of him becoming idle. Even his own concern about how it ended for Setsuko, Mitsuko and even the Kitagawa twins were temporarily pushed aside. The problems of boredom to the Observers and what was going to happen next¡ªhe''d be leaving it to the future him. Or that would have been the plan except for the bright light of the room turning open. Besides the lack of having his own future trajectory made by him, Bao finally resorted to opening the lights and disturbing the now official couple. "Are you seriously going to sleep?!" Ying Yue He who was willing to ignore the sudden events that happened around Li Yang''s life¡ªmostly because she also had her own fair amount of changes¡ªnow stared up at the Panda and then finally connected the dots. "This is¡­ your favorite animal." "Your eyes cannot distinguish my true form, human." Bao intoned with a flat tone, finally deciding that if Li Yang was going to involve more women not officially in the ''harem'' approved by the Heavens, it might as well introduce itself. Not because it was offended by being ignored. Li Yang sat up from his bed and then rubbed his face. Whether or not he actually needed a lot of sleep, it was still annoying to find himself disturbed. "Ying Yue He, meet Bao. Bao, you already know who she is." "That doesn''t explain anything at all!" Bao protested. If Li Yang assumed that Ying Yue He was the one who was going to voice more complaints, he happened to be dead wrong. Chapter 283 - The Next Step (4) There were a couple of things that posed a problem to Bao¡ªand it wasn''t only because that Ying Yue He offered a hand out to it and attempted to befriend it as she might have done to some animal or a teddy bear. The entirety of the women surrounding Li Yang were not officially part of the harem. Instead of choosing to spend his time on actually gathering the pre-approved list of women, the man was actually picking out the people he wanted to be with? Heavens be damned that a man actually got his way with things, he needed to keep to the script! So Bao glared at Ying Yue He as she woke up earlier than Li Yang to prepare breakfast. The Panda''s gaze was trained on this disgustingly doting ex-secretary. Well, it didn''t take too long for Li Yang to get up to the smell of brewed coffee. Coffee or tea¡ªwhich one did he prefer? That almost seemed like a trick question, because it was obvious to Bao that the man happened to like both. Today though, the man padded over to behind Ying Yue He and then rested his chin above her head. He wrapped an arm around her waist and asked. "Why did you wake up so early?" Ying Yue He blushed at the sudden gesture as she turned off the coffee maker¡ªglad that there was something left in her pantry. It had been so long since she got here, that she was surprised that there was still something usable in her fridge. "Well, uh, I was about to go run to the nearest convenience store to buy something. My apologies, but I only have instant coffee, Mister Li." "That''s fine with me," he said. "You''re a lot hotter than coffee anyway." "Huh?" "What?" Both Ying Yue He and Bao stared at the man like crazy. Neither were aware that the man speaked nonsense when he just woken up¡ªand Bao was actually present for at least more than several times during the man''s actual wake up time. "That is to say, I''d like to return with you to bed and just have you close to me. You''re warm." Li Yang explained. "The bed is cold without you." "Ohhh." Ying Yue He looked mildly relieved after hearing that. This was the old boss that she was used to¡ªsaying one thing that seemed completely out of character, but actually implying something else. It led to some miscommunications and confusion in the past, but now, it was more of something akin to a word play of some sort. Ying Yue He spun around and then hugged back the man. If there was anything that may or may not have surprised her, it was Li Yang''s desires not only for sex but also the cuddling and other touches that went along with it. While she was prone to assume that men just wanted sex, that was only one aspect of a person''s desires, wasn''t it? "But I will still drink the coffee that you prepared for me. We can''t let it grow cold." Li Yang decided after a moment of Ying Yue He''s reply. Everything was so nice right now, but he still had things to go over through. "I don''t mind going back to bed if you want." Ying Yue He raised her head and looked at his face and noticed the seriousness in his expression. "Unless you have other things that need your attention and time?" Li Yang gave her an apologetic smile. "There actually are matters that need my attention. But I want to make sure that you''re safe." "You don''t have to worry about me. I''m a lot stronger than you think." Ying Yue He pouted. "I''m aware of that, but I''d still prefer it if we kept it under the radar for a while. At least you." Li Yang was aware that if he were going to pursue Anna Song, it''d be impossible to hide himself from the public, and by proxy, the Liu Group. But first and foremost was ascertaining what was the next step for Ying Yue He and him. If it was monetary problems, then as long as he recovered his accounts and it wasn''t frozen¡ªas his father once did to his older brother before kicking the guy out before¡ªthen he was good to go. "Does it mean that you''re asking me to find some other place to live in?" Ying Yue He asked. "Possibly. Perhaps someplace that you can blend in?" Li Yang nodded. "I''ll try to ask the Shen Society, but the sect that Taiga stays at also seems good, doesn''t it?" "O-oh¡­ I certainly never heard of it." Ying Yue He brushed back some of her hair behind an ear and averted her gaze. "Taiga talks about it ever so often when she has the chance." Li Yang told her. "They''re good people. Taiga even stayed there during the duration of my absence." "I see." He certainly needed to find Taiga and he hoped that she was alright after he left her with Bai Minghua. While he didn''t expect anything from Narissa, he hoped that she''d be able to tell him where the Tigress left. If worse came to worst, at least he knew where the both of them were. Safety in numbers. It was a little hard to believe, but there was no way that Li Yang could simply believe that they were able to leave the island without facing any sort of repercussions. Then came the need to check on Luo Ju Di once again. Make sure that she''s doing alright and everything was under control. Both her and Chunhua¡­ he needed to get them someplace to stay. Well, after the physical therapy and the recovery process, but that meant he still needed to take care of it. At least, he wasn''t one to assume that they were going to live under one roof together. Li Yang was bound to assume that those people would scour him for any weaknesses, and he''d rather not get them involved in any squabbles that he himself brought. Could he also get some safeguard for them? The fact that his older brother and his girlfriend were ordinary people didn''t mean anything to an organization like them, either, didn''t it? Now that it came to this, his mind drifted to his family to which he knows for a fact wouldn''t actually accept any sort of help if he were to tell them that they were in danger. He was now realizing how easy it was to seek revenge if they knew who they were looking for. It was almost as if there was a giant ''Kill Me'' sign plastered to their backs and Li Yang wasn''t as heartless enough to let his own family die. At least he knew that there was one person who wouldn''t run the risk of getting hurt. As much as he wanted to go check on Bo Lifen, at most, he could just send a text. Li Yang couldn''t believe that she just left without a word last night, but it probably meant that she wanted some space for a while. Or it was because she was not willing to risk her life with the dangers that surrounded him Whether or not that was the case, Li Yang still needed to actually pour attention into his current mission. Was it best to put it on hold though? He knew he couldn''t actually do that for real, but he''d also rather not stick a death flag on Anna Song if he could help it either. But time was not on his side. Chapter 284 - Family Impositions (1) "You better actually do what''s expected from you or else you''re going to get it." Bao jabbed its paw at him. The creature was currently standing on Ying Yue He''s dinner table and reprimanding Li Yang as usual. The only reason why he wasn''t even bothering with it that much to speak less is because of how much enthusiasm it was able to muster in Ying Yue He. It should have been really obvious that she liked animals a lot. Li Yang sipped his coffee in peace. "It''s so cute." Ying Yue He gushed as she leaned closer to the Panda-like creature. Her attempts at poking it were countered by a small slap that she evaded without blinking an eye. While there was more to it as ''Bao'' claimed, Ying Yue He just wanted to think of it like a brooding cat. "Are you a girl or a boy?" "Why the heck does it concern you, woman? Leave me alone as I berate this guy." Bao finally tugged itself away from her as it strolled up once more to Li Yang. "Don''t think you make light of threats like this one." "I am aware. But there is a certain need to situate and plan before going for the mission," Li Yang explained vaguely. "It''s an odd term. Makes me think of you as some kind of sexy agent, or something." Ying Yue He coughed lightly. Li Yang only smiled lightly at that. "I''m glad to hear that." He hoped it wouldn''t be so necessary, but the mission was pretty clear. Seduction was where it was at. The near six-year age gap between him and his target and hearing her being described by her parents made Li Yang think that he would be dealing with someone more child-like than he was used to. But it wasn''t in the way that Taiga was youthful or his daughter being an actual child. It just meant that his target was a spoiled brat. How it came to be that she was his next target¡ªit was something that he was afraid that he''d have to find out. No sooner had he woken up and started enjoying his coffee with Ying Yue He that the text messages came. [ Liang: I have no idea whatsoever where you slept last night. But at least haul your ass and bring your daughter home. You''re not going to let a child stay all by herself, would you? Hire a caretaker if you will. ] "He''s so good with words as usual." Li Yang clicked his tongue. "Um, your brother?" Ying Yue He asked. "Yes." "Sorry to hear that," Ying Yue He said. "Glad I didn''t decide to stay and work with him." He forgot to send a text to Liang last night about Chunhua''s accommodations, but¡­ it was never obvious or apparent that his own family cared about his disappearance. Would it have even mattered if he was actually dead? Li Yang pondered on that question many times over back when he was younger, dealt with dark thoughts, but mostly pushed them out of mind and out of sight. Now, he was just dealing with a heavenly force, but as long as it was an external force¡ªhe was going to deal with it. Still, the thought of hiring a caretaker came to his mind. Who was no better than Ying Yue He for the job? Now that Li Yang thought about it, it has been at least a year since she quit, and it was doubtful that anything that happened over the hidden island was something you could put in the resume. In the event that Ying Yue He ever needed something to return to a much more normal and simpler life, he''d do it in a heartbeat. For now though, Li Yang had a change of plans. "Miss He¡­ it''s a bit difficult to approach you for this. But I know no one else more capable than you for the job." Li Yang was going to ask for much and he wondered if it was a good idea in the first place. "You don''t have to flatter me, Yang. But what is it?" Ying Yue He straightened up in her chair. "Would you take care of both Chunhua and Luo Ju Di for me? Mostly, Chunhua." Li Yang went over the explanations of the situation surrounding them and he was surprised to know that Ying Yue He was not aware of all of this. Truth be told, Ying Yue He never looked back once she quit and it never crossed her mind to double check again¡ªit was almost excruciating to know how long Luo Ju Di was stuck in a coma and left Chunhua alone. How lonely it must have felt to be in that position. ¡­ and yet everything that Ying Yue He feared was coming true. It was nothing more than a throwaway joke at first¡ªmaybe an actual concern that bothered her when the mother-daughter pair first arrived a little less than a year ago. But now she was going to be an actual nanny?! Ying Yue He had an air of professionalism around her, but she was also slightly dying inside. How could she have forgotten about them? While Ying Yue He knew that Li Yang was not married whatsoever, what were the chances that a relationship would blossom after it? Was it a little too early for her to have gone with the boyfriend title? Countless little worries nudged and made her on edge, until finally, Li Yang squeezed her hand and gave her a look. "You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to." Despite also receiving a text from both his own father and even the person handling his grandmother''s contacts, he first and foremost wanted to know and make sure that Ying Yue He was fine. But it was about time that they finally contacted him. He was a little surprised that they texted him at the same time though.. Then again, what kind of people wouldn''t find it troublesome to have him littered all over the news? Even if they weren''t so kind or concerned, their reputations were still at risk. Chapter 285 - Overqualified Secretary After all the training that Ying Yue He underwent for the past year, she wanted to say that she was a little bit overqualified for the job. The woman gave up her job, her ordinary life¡ªas ordinary as it was¡ªin order to find him and in order to be at his side. This kind of request¡­ almost seemed a little too much? No. Ying Yue He saw the look on her boss'' face that came from a certain text message and knew that without a doubt, she couldn''t say no to him. Not only was she a ''yes-person'', but as long as she knew that it would alleviate his stress, then she''d go the extra mile. Child rearing. Could Ying Yue He think of it as training for their own future kids? A blush crawled up to her face at the sudden thought. Kids! Compared to other women in her workforce that were getting harangued by their parents to marry or else be considered ''leftover'' women¡­ Ying Yue He didn''t experience that. There were no parents that could bug her about this. She couldn''t even actually remember them now¡ªYing Yue He dropped the thoughts and shook them away. Even when she drank some memory enhancing tea and pills that strengthened her body and mind, it was always blank. "I''ll do it, Mister Li." Ying Yue He smiled at Li Yang and gave him a fist pump. "You can leave the task to me and rest assured, everything will be fine." Originally, Li Yang was supposed to pick Chunhua up, but with the sudden texts changed his schedule drastically. Li Yang nodded. "Thank you. I''ll leave the address to you, unless you still remember it, and I''ll see you..." "Um, are you no longer¡­ well, are you going back to your place?" Ying Yue He asked. It was hard to demand him to stay with her as she didn''t want to come across as too clingy. It was actually hard for him to come up with a proper answer. Who knew how long his errands were going to take and the fact that he really did want to return back to his own home. It wasn''t possibly that important, but there was something else he remembered. The fish. Chunhua really didn''t mention it, after all, her mother was probably more important than the fish¡­ but he kind of hoped it was still alive. Other than that, there was nothing wrong with staying here either. Li Yang looked at Ying Yue He. "Tonight. Let''s meet tonight at the hospital then we''ll see where we go from there. Stay safe." Considerate and yet always a little bit detached. Ying Yue He grabbed his wrist, tugged him lower and kissed his cheek. "You too." She''d probably save all the questions for later. Hopefully. . . . Li Yang travelled and soon arrived in one of the residences, the main residence of his grandmother and something that was more of an ancestor''s mansion after laboring their entire lives to buy this place and making it into the mansion it was today. It was the place where he grew up in and it was now something that Bao was looking around in with much interest. "You got any baby pictures here?" Bao floated around. "You know, besides that awfully luxurious and rich painting that your family has?" It stared at the enormous picture of what appeared to be a golden frame. "No. Not exactly. There wasn''t much reason for that and social media apps were nonexistent before." "You''re lying. You just don''t want to show off stark naked photos of your little butt." "I''d prefer if you could stop with that kind of statement." Li Yang gave the creature a flat look. "I''ll go look for an album. Who knows? Maybe you''d earn some points." "... Do whatever you wish." Li Yang stared up at the old painting and remembered the hours it took for the canvas to be made. It was one of the rare times that his grandmother tolerated having his mother in the portrait and naturally it was as opulent as Bao said it was. The butler told him to wait a while before he could meet his grandmother¡­ but for all he knew, she probably just wanted to make him wait and waste his time. The lady was usually prompt and business-like when meeting with business associates, but of course she''d make him stay for an hour or two if she could. All so in order to make him understand that in the point of power and influence¡ªshe was still at a higher and greater point than him. But at least she was still meeting with him? "Hah¡­" Li Yang didn''t think that way exactly. His older brother really did get things easier despite being disowned before and emancipated. A part of him could have easily just ignored the message from both his grandmother and father, and yet¡­ he still came here. The need to maintain the resemblance of a cohesive family was at least important in the case of going after the Song''s one and only beloved daughter. Not much in the actual realm of seduction, but so long as the Li family appeared well-put¡­ then even his disappearance would not be taken wrongly by others in the same realm of wealth as his family. While others may be prone to believe that only the financial aspect was enough to maintain a good reputation in the eyes of people, the socialites and the wealthy were also more scrutinizing than most. The Song family wanted a family dinner once they returned here. And though Bao may not have looked at it that much as progress, clearly thinking that approaching the woman was the key to actually gaining a relationship with the said person¡ªat least in terms of this relationship between business tycoons and magnates, it was almost a business transaction between families. He needed at least the bare minimum of support from his father and even the old lady. "Your grandmother will meet with you now, Sir Yang." Chapter 286 - Family Impositions (2) While on the hunt for baby pictures¡ªas ludicrous as that may have sounded. If there was anything that Bao and the Observers¡­ well, just more of the Observers were eager to find out besides a photo of Li Yang naked as a child, it was how the family meeting would turn out. The desire to communicate with one another on the chat group also resulted in new awards given to Li Yang. It wasn''t just enough to be an observer. One needed to also share their thoughts and opinions to fellow like minded individuals! [ VIP Observers Has Increased! ] [ Sea Foam: I''m expecting some kind of dramatic scenario. Show that old hag who''s boss! ] [ Owl Brain: Of course, you do. Why am I not surprised? ] [ DatPeach: Well, who wouldn''t? ] [ Sea Foam: Otherwise, you''re just being a sheep ] [ Pomegranate: But¡­ he''s going to be talking to a frail old woman. He wouldn''t lay a hand on her. So I''m not sure what you mean. ] [ TheOneWhoSlaughters: There is no discrimination in death ] [ Scythe Wheat: ...but there is a thing as filial piety and honoring one''s elders ] [ Owl Brain: There are worse things than death ] [ Sea Foam: Torture in one''s existence? ] Bao practically ignored the conversation and instead just floated about to take into account its surroundings. It had gone from one room into another and that was a lot of rooms. There was much evidence of something lacking with the family and it wasn''t just the absence of a photo album or any sort of familial related item. The Panda saw the portraits that depicted the Li Family in a grand gesture that boasted of generation upon generation when it and Li Yang first entered the mansion and surveyed the place¡­ but there was not a single memory of any happy event that was fully related to them as a whole family. "What a dweeb." Bao muttered. There was an almost nerd-like college photo it''d seen of a summa cum laude with accolades, and other similar awards. However, it was just Li Yang alone without anyone with him except perhaps for the person who took the picture. Well, there wasn''t any picture of his older brother either. Much less evidence of the man actually existing at all. There was not a love to be lost. [ Sea Foam: Quit stalling about with the mansion tour and get us to the on-screen drama will you? ] The Panda resisted the urge to roll its eyes. Of course, while initially interested, it was easy to grow bored of it. Bao located the grandmother''s bedroom and teleported just in time. Thwack. Words often cut deeper than knives, but an actual slap in the face was still something that showed one''s resentment. Not that it actually happened. Li Yang held onto the old lady''s wrist and one could actually find a small hint of satisfaction on the man''s face, presumably from the shocked reaction of his grandmother. "You¡ªlet go of me you ungrateful brat!" The old woman tried pulling back her wrist to no avail. "Will you bite the hand that fed you? I''ve literally given you everything from the palm of my hand and this is how you repay me?" In the past, Li Yang''s grandmother could easily do anything she wanted to do, but now, it was nothing more but insanity for her to think that she could actually lay a hand on him. Now he looked at her caretaker with a sigh. "Please make sure that she gets enough bed rest and that her blood pressure doesn''t elevate." He released his grip on her at the same time that she trembled, not necessarily out of fear, and glared at him with the expression of someone who felt betrayed and treated unjustly. There was also a hint of rage within it and possibly a desire to perhaps strangle him alive if she could. It was a sight that once made a younger child tremble¡­ a part of him still felt that disconcertion within him, an uncomfortable and unnerving sensation but it waned at last. He came here as requested, and so he would see it through. The verbal remarks were harsh as always, but now, it simply didn''t seem to matter that much anymore. He no longer needed to live up to the high and overbearing expectations given to him, he didn''t need to prove himself anymore. It was ridiculous to think that he sought validation and acceptance from them¡­ but that was what most people naturally grew up with. Believing, thinking and hoping that blood was thicker than water. Sacrificing so much for one''s family. It was about time that he truly understood that there was no amount of love whatsoever that could be gained from this elderly person. All that he could see was self-loathing and bitterness. Always wanting to one-up him and reminding that everything he ever amounted to¡ªshe was the one to thank for it. "Did you think that just because you were gone for a year without telling anybody where you were and possibly went squandering your life away¡ªyou waltz right back here without any ounce of respect or regard anymore? I practically raised you when your mother died because of you and yet you lay your hand on me." "I am aware." If he could say neglect and favoritism was a form of childcare, then she was correct. A part of him hated this woman more than his own distant father who poured everything into the business, but in the end, this woman was the one who raised his father and so, there more than shared similarities and tendencies between them. He couldn''t let his vision be clouded. Li Yang was actually more bothered that this was happening in front of a complete stranger, the caretaker, but for once, he actually wanted to see how the bitterness and rage somehow made this old woman live far longer than her peers. It was a strange cathartic experience to no longer be bothered about this unlike before. "All you had to do was keep up with what you were doing¡ªbut of course, you ended up having a child with some cheap slut or whore all those years ago." The old lady pointed a finger at him. "Do not think that I am unaware of everything that happens around your life. You cannot hide things from me." "She''s not a whore." Li Yang frowned as he concentrated on her first words. The latter was always just a threat. "She''s the mother of my child¡ªyour great grandchild and deserves more respect. But of course, it''s impossible to request that from you. Is there anything else that you''d like to berate me over for, grandmother? Or are you done? I have something to say to you myself." "All the things I do to keep your life on track after your brother''s gone in disarray." His grandmother clicked her tongue and shook her head.. "But of course, once you get rid of one of them, another just pops up like parasites." Chapter 287 - Family Impositions (3) "What do you mean by ridding one of them?" Li Yang stared at the old woman. A sudden silence overtook the room. Behind him, Bao and the rest of the Observers watching from their own distinctive realms could have been said to be at the edge of their seats. Not only metaphorically, as some may have actually been lounging on ethereal lounge chairs of divine fluff and cotton, with some celestial popped corn to nibble on¡ªbut they were actually looking forward to this part. The older woman''s lips curled into a startling cruel smile. "Easy. Getting them out of your life to prevent distractions. Your father failed in that aspect and brought the two of you into this world despite my arrangements¡ªand if it weren''t for him being my only son, I would have disowned him. So what else do you think I had to do?" "What. Did. You. Do. Grandmother." "I''ve left the ones I hired to take care of your ridiculous distraction to be creative with it." She shrugged and finally returned back to her bed, sitting down and allowing her caretaker to assist her in resting her back against her bedrest. Li Yang was ice cold. His grandmother folded her hands and gave him a dull look. "Did you really think I''d waste my precious time for a nobody? I do not understand what it is that had you bewitched by her." There was only a singular person that came into Li Yang''s mind during his college days. It was simply someone who had made his life a bit better when he met her, she was a good friend, no distinguished background¡ªand she was the one who he personally wanted to see during the anniversary party of the company. Naturally, it didn''t happen as things went down with him and Luo Ju Di. But after that time, he simply heard of her leaving the university without much of a word or trace and because she never said goodbye to him¡­ He thought it didn''t matter. The concern he had with her was nothing more but a one-sided path that led him to disappointment. It was foolish. He was foolish and he vowed to forget it as nothing more than a crush which was useless¡ªbut it never crossed his mind that the chances of interference were high. He never showed an ounce of interest, any confession or whatsoever from the start¡ªbut now he wondered the plausibility of this old woman interfering in that. Maybe he was jumping to conclusions about Huiwen''s disappearance and she was alright. Out of his life, mind and sight¡­ but hopefully okay. He didn''t know what to think anymore. Li Yang didn''t think that he''d think of her name again as he pushed it out of his mind already, but he looked at his grandmother and asked. "Did you meddle with the life of Huiwen Xiaochun?" "I don''t remember her name." She shrugged once again. "That might be it." Whether it was a wave of disappointment or something else unexplainable that ebbed within him¡ªhe couldn''t tell. The man only sighed. There was no use shouting over it and even getting upset¡­ it was already over. Whatever might have happened was surely to have long passed him. Forgetting about it and trying to distance from it was the only plausible choice if he wanted to step out of the room without trying to lay a hand on the woman that easily ruined other''s lives. Was Huiwen killed? Li Yang didn''t want to know. Whether or not the old lady was lying about her not knowing what exactly happened¡ªmuch less considering who the woman''s name was made it a fruitless endeavor to confront her. He just felt sick in the stomach. There was nothing that could placate him. But it was finished. "So what did you plan to tell me?" His grandmother insisted as she received a cup of tea and then sipped the hot beverage. "Do not tell me that you''ve impregnated another person when you left the country? I''ve left your current family untouched, but if you do have another child coming¡ªI hope it''s a son this time." Li Yang didn''t want to say it any longer. "I do not think it concerns you anymore." He replied with a smile of his own as he nodded his head at the caretaker as he made his way to the door. Despite it all, the older woman simply called out to him. "It will still come my way, whether or not you say anything at all." The man should have cut his ties long ago with this family. . . . There was no sense of glory, profoundness or even relish at the confrontation¡ªit would have been much better that he never came here at all. If his life was some kind of reality show that the Heavens watched, then this was nothing close to something that would rake in views and support the network. On the contrary, it was all very much gloomy and depressive. Emotionally draining. This was better cut. Removed and not shown. It was not something Li Yang wished for anyone to see and as he raised his gaze to meet the Panda''s eyes. For the first time since the arrival of the rather bitter and spiteful creature somehow only made to torment and capture whatever happened to him¡­ it clicked its tongue and looked away. "What kind of goddamn family do you have?" Bao asked and then answered its own question. "A fucking soap opera that''s what." Li Yang snickered. "There is a hint of truth to almost everything in life. Some exaggerated to be far larger than what they are and others diminished and almost invisible to the naked eye. Let''s just go." Before Bao or anyone could say a word through the Universal Chat, the man walked away and left them behind to their musings. He still had far more things to do than to stay here and sulk around. Everyone only had twenty-four hours per day. At least until time dilation occurred. ¡ª-¡ª- Author''s Note: I''m not good at balancing all the aspects of the ''title'' of this story. Some may even say it''s a half-assed attempt at best and as I go about my other two part time jobs, I realize that it''s never going to be a work of art. What can you realistically expect from a writer who''s expected to upload daily and crank out thousands of words? (Key word: expected) There are days where quality diminishes and hopefully finer chapters where some aspect shines. Sometimes, even a writing software like Prowritingaid or Grammarly can only do so much. It must be hard going through and sloughing through the chapter bit by bit or skimming, and hoping that there are little nuggets of worth something in the text. All I can do is continue to push forward and arrive at the ending I have in my mind. (That''s usually the part that you need to plan first.) With at least enough people to justify the time and cost. I''m probably not the first author to talk about this here lol.. Thank you. Chapter 288 - Family Impositions (4) Right before Li Yang left the premises of the mansion, he encountered his father. To whom most of the Heavens could attest was as sharply dressed as him, if not only looking older and yet also contained the same focused energy about him. [ DatPeach: This is one of those, ''Come to Daddy'' type eh? ] [ Sea Foam: I''d say that their people seem to have some sort of gene¡ªhe''s hot ] [ Owl Brain: At least we know where he gets it. In the occurrence that Yang does get old, there''s not much to lose. Gray hair is also a sign of wisdom of the elderly ] [ TheOneWhoSlaughters: A physique of a warrior even at that age is respectable ] It was best to pretend that the chat didn''t exist at all¡ªit was something only Bao slightly paid attention to and the creature was filled with surprise at how some of the ones in the Heavens were easily thirsting after a mere mortal. ¡­ then again, there were already countless occurrences in the millennium past of male gods going after ordinary human women that resulted in demigods scattered across this world, that maybe it wasn''t so bad. If anything, the interaction between Li Yang and his father wasn''t as tense as with his grandmother. The two of them were supposed to talk as well, presumably a brief missive, just some quick and sharp words about the disappointment the man felt towards his son. Li Yang was prepared for it. He''d pay half a listening ear to the same harsh words repeated over the countless years since he learned how to listen and then Li Yang would go over and tell his old man of the invitation of the Songs for a family dinner. Of course, the man would refuse him. Who could imagine a simple dinner? Li Yang would have none of that happening and he''d probably make an excuse as to why it wasn''t plausible to the Songs. At best, he''d have his older brother come with him to present a functionable enough of a unit in society. "... Welcome back." Li Chao Yun nodded at him. There were a couple of bodyguards behind him even as he entered their home. "Have you already finished your meeting with your grandmother?" "Yes," Li Yang said. "Yes, I have." "That''s good. Your absence has been felt and you left without even letting anybody know about your whereabouts, Yang. You''ve worried a great number of people, but at least we''re reassured that you''re not dead." The old man''s tone was probably dry, distant as any great desert that one might have to travel. As vast as the Kaeli Deserts that once covered the sprawling kingdom of Mitsuko¡­ but it was still a greeting made by his father. A small drop from a sparse rain cloud. One of the annoyingly few occasions where something this ''decent'' occurred¡ªthat was to say, despite the absence and strict expectations given to his older brother then him, the man was less painful to deal with than his own mother. Perhaps there was an ounce of affection? Nobody would openly ever discuss that, much less say a word about it and dare even think it was plausible to utter any hint of the word ''love'' in a familial sense. Of course, this was all nonsense. He really didn''t care about it anymore as the other person. "I heard from Chuanli and his wife that they''re returning within two weeks and they''ll be hosting a party by then." Li Chao Yun remarked knowingly. "You''ve at least made a good impression on them despite your disappearance, so continue with that." Li Yang blinked but then nodded. "I will, but they are inviting our entire family for dinner¡ª" "I''ve already informed them of your grandmother''s precarious health concerns and my own unavailability to join." his father said. "Do again reiterate that I regret that I''m unable to pay them a visit, but I''ll meet with them once my own schedule clears up." "Understood." "Good. That''s all¡ªyou''re free to leave." Li Chao Yun nodded at his son and then stepped forward. Li Yang himself was a bit surprised at how smoothly that conversation went. Of course, neither of them didn''t like to waste time¡­ but in terms of the atmosphere, it wasn''t as ridiculous as when he was younger. If that was all, he was going to head back home. "I forgot to ask." The old man stopped in his tracks and looked behind his shoulder. There was a crease over his forehead and a frown on his lips. "You have no intention of retaking the position of CEO from your no-good brother, do you? I''m afraid that everything you built would crumble under incapable hands." Li Yang paused and dwelled on the question. Almost the entirety of everything that he was fighting for, choosing to go against the desires of the Heavens for him was intrinsically and inexplicably linked with that position¡ªthat normal and ordinary life. That stressful and demanding position as the CEO of Olympian Corp was his normal life. And despite the jab that his old man threw at his older brother, Li Yang was also inclined to admit that to see everything he worked for in the past decade, simply being passed over wordlessly didn''t seem right to him. Even if there was some merit to his older brother''s actions in the beginning and them also taking over when Li Yang was gone, it wasn''t enough for them to simply just become the CEO. ¡­ but if Li Yang really did care about all of this as much as he did before, surely he would have worked faster to return here when he teleported to Telriah, didn''t he? A conflict of interests. "I would like to think that it was about time for him to take on a more hands-on approach in our work," Li Yang answered at last. "I''m still the major shareholder, so in the likelihood that troubles occur, it''s easy enough to hold a meeting, make some agreements with a few investors and then have my way with things." "In short, you want him to do all the hard work from now on." "Perhaps." CEO or not, the fate of the company was still in his hands. Chapter 289 - Concerns Of Fish And Time (1) "I threw it out. Why would I keep it with me?" The voice of Liang sounded from the other end of the phone. When Li Yang arrived back in his house after the meeting with his family, the man looked around for a fish bowl, some kind of aquarium or tank where Chunhua probably kept the tiny pink salmon. But without it in sight, he decided to give his brother a call and learned what happened. Li Yang clicked his tongue. "Couldn''t you have at least kept it somewhere and tried to keep it alive? I¡­ bought the fish for Chunhua but you just let it die?" The thought of that fish simply dying didn''t make sense to Li Yang at all. "Chunhua was busy waiting for her mother to wake and somehow that fish didn''t like to eat the fish food we got it. What was I supposed to do, feed it golden pellets? But did you seriously just go home for the fish? Also how the heck did you find your secretary?" "That''s none of your concern," Li Yang replied. "Sure. Whatever floats your boat. I''m just shocked that not only did you head home to check on some animal¡ªyou also found Ying Yue He so easily." "It''s probably because she preferred to work with me and knew that you''re terrible to work with." "Oi. Don''t try to sound like you''re better than me, pet lover." Li Yang couldn''t say that it was a special fish. But it truly was something that came from a special gift set meant for Narissa. The man chose to spare the details and instead only sighed. On the surface, it did seem ridiculous though. While he left Ying Yue He to visit Chunhua and Luo Ju Di, here he was on a hunt for some fish that was already long gone. "Where did you bury the fish?" If there were any remnants of bones or something, Li Yang might have found some use for it. "Bury? Did you think that I''d have time to dig out a little graveyard for it?" Liang snickered at him from the other end. "I''m running the company that you left and you think that I made a little funeral for the fish?" "Then how did you dispose of it?" Li Yang asked with a frown. He couldn''t be bothered with the tongue of his brother right now when his hope about the fish''s life was rekindled. "I flushed it into the toilet." "Okay, got it. I''m hanging up, bye." Li Yang ended the call and then sighed. While he was prone to believe that it was dead¡ªat least dead enough for his brother to throw the fish out¡ªthere was always the chance for things to be not as they seemed. The sight of Bao reappeared in front of him and the small bundle of fur gave him a plain look. "Please don''t tell me that we''re going to the sewers." Li Yang wrinkled his nose. "No. As much as I''d love to go discover if there''s anything dangerous in the waters that probably mutated from the waste of at least a million people, I won''t risk it." "Hah!" The Panda crossed its arms and stifled down a laugh. It gave him a serious look. "Good. We can''t waste time trying to see you wrestle a crocodile or alligator when it''s already a thing. There are already people who do that." "Beast Tamers?" Li Yang asked. "I was going to say, some folks that live in the land down under, but that''s also true," Bao said. The creature cleared its throat. "But now we''re done with your little errands, boy. When are you going to actually try and seduce the target?" Li Yang stared at the Panda and held back from snickering. "For someone who''s supposed to keep an eye on me, you clearly are not always paying attention to the events. There''s a family dinner in two weeks and that''s where I''ll get in the family''s graces." He wondered if it meant that this creature was not as omnipresent as it tried to make it out to be. Bao flicked a wrist dismissively at him. "That''s all fine and dandy¡ªI heard it when you said that you won''t only be courting a single individual, but an entire family¡­ but being on good terms with her parents won''t get you anywhere in her bed." "I am aware of that, but based on the description and stories that her parents tell of Anna Song. I don''t think it would be that hard as compared to someone like Bo Lifen. She and I didn''t get along well at first." Li Yang shrugged. "Whereas the profile of this Anna Song is someone who likes to party and have fun." The Panda gave him a flat look. "...The ''hard'' woman to sleep with was Bo Lifen because the two of you got that weird tension with each other? So you think that someone who enjoys her life¡­ this Anna Song is easier?" "She''d probably be more up to something casual?" Li Yang admitted. "Sex is fun afterall." "Okay, you''re the last person I expected to say that." Bao murmured something about frigidity before it clapped its hands. "Fine, let''s say that your logic is not flawed at all. You still have at least two weeks before you see her so let''s hope that you''re on the top of your game." "I have to be and I will be." "Gah. That confidence¡ªsome people do have it all, don''t they?" Bao crossed its arms and clicked its tongue. "Big fish in a small pond, that I tell you though." "As usual, you''re quite supportive." Li Yang remarked before he checked his phone. There was a message from Bai Minghua that complained about Taiga being with her and it made him smile a little, remembering that he had to thank her for last night. Except, it wasn''t only Bai Minghua that assisted him during his encounter with the Nian Beast at all. Li Yang looked up. "You know, besides all of this¡­ is there a way to communicate back to Telriah? I think that Setsuko''s just fine, but I can''t say the same for Mitsuko, Leila, and the rest." "Huh." Bao made a face. "The place where the goddess nearly tried to kill you. Why the heck do you want to check back there? Did you really start caring about some women you stayed with? You''re too soft." Whatever kind of negative perspective this creature had to feel that every ounce of concern to another person was some kind of weakness¡ªLi Yang chose not to dwell on the matter too hard. It would be too much of a pain to go on a debate, instead, he focused back on what he left behind in Telriah and what he could do. Returning there was impossible, and Li Yang practically just arrived back on earth. But it wasn''t fair to have left them alone simply like that. "I had to use fifteen percent of the World Warper''s energy to return from that Afterlife Plane, whereas, it would take a hundred percent to travel back there to Telriah." Li Yang placed his phone back into his pocket. "Time moves a lot slower there, or rather, there''s a time gap¡ªso I want to be reassured that the others are okay." "Geez." Chapter 290 - Concerns Of Telriah And Time (2) What were his options? Sending a message seemed simple enough and he had a Soul Bond with Setsuko that somehow counted as part of his harem. A name and title didn''t matter as much as he thought. And yet when Li Yang tried to pull up the message screen¡ªit was greyed out. "Why is it not working?" he frowned. Bao rolled its eyes. "You do know how long it also took me and even that Mermaid to send you a message from here, right? Instant communication with them that''s encrypted and free from the eyes of other outsider influences takes a considerable energy." "You mean that there are entities across the universe that try to read our messages?" Li Yang wrinkled his nose. There was nothing exactly spectacular for anyone to find and even his conversation with Peach seemed obvious enough for anyone who could guess about his motivation and hers. "Why wouldn''t there be?" Bao crossed its arms. "Information is power and gaining access to that is relevant to any being." Li Yang shouldn''t have been surprised when there were literal deities and so-called Observers watching his every move, but it only made him a tad disappointed. What could a picture of Narissa in her jacuzzi do to even change the fate of the universe? There were far more stakes than trying to get one''s hand on a guy in this pseudo-reality show. Li Yang realigned his thoughts back to his question. "A quick teleportation back and forth, maybe?" He summoned the System and checked the Shop portion in search of any possible energy-charging stones for the World Warper. Depending on how expensive it was, perhaps he could consider it. "You''re going to use that hacked System again, aren''t you?" Bao stared at him. "It''s a Patched System." "The same thing." Bao frowned deeply. It was originally supposed to bestow a Harem Cultivation System and that meant that items and skills given were bound to a certain category from the grand archive of the Great Library. However, it all changed due to the ''Patch''. Li Yang himself didn''t care about what the label was¡ªas long as it provided him benefits, then he would take advantage of it. But now it seemed like Bao was finally starting to remark and complain about the Patched System despite not noticing it before. "Why are you only saying a word now?" he asked. The creature grumbled underneath its breath but refused to give him a proper answer. Aware that most conversations with Bao tended not to be fruitful nor helpful when the creature was in this mood, Li Yang stared at the screen with some reluctance. [ Adelaide Ruby ] The sacred flame of the warrior in a previous millennium has been sealed within the confines of the stone to unleash its powerful and unquenching fire against the immortal dark entities that come from another world. 150,000 Points [ Bloodstone of Luna ] When the clan war between the Halpa and Gema lycanths finally ended on the thirteenth month in the waning world, their blood stained and riddled the moon stone and transformed it into a stone that feasts on blood and grants a capable user the gathered power from the stone. 275,000 Points [ Chrysoberyl Cat''s Eye ] A divine cat once bestowed one of its eyes to a weak humanoid race to defend itself from the dangers that lie beyond their small borders. The precious stone is highly regarded for its protection and warding properties that protect its owner from the deceitful creatures that prey in the night. 325,000 Points [ Dumortierite Quartz ] A dark blue stone found in the more transcended planets in the universe where its inhabitants all operate at the Water Realm and communicate solely through telepathy and other mind-energy consuming methods. 125,000 Points [ Eye of the Tah ] A mystical and powerful jewel obtained from the fallen temples of an ancient civilization that was powered by the mass sacrifice of its entire people to an unknown god that promised deliverance from the turmoil of their world¡ªdoing so, by consuming them all to increase its power. 1 Point Li Yang thought it was ridiculous that the available stones were quite expensive¡ªas if the System itself noted that his desire to return was nothing more than a ridiculous attempt. He wasn''t also that risky enough to attempt to purchase a cheap jewel that brought an end to an entire civilization. Other than that stone, even with the sudden achievement he obtained earlier, it was too expensive to actually attempt to head back to Telriah even if he were to do his best to quickly return by simply purchasing one stone. [ Achieved Beholders from Heavens Quest - I ] You Have received a total of five premium observers from the Heavenly Plane - First Sphere that willingly pay attention to your mortal existence over that of other beings in your plane. [ Rewards: 50,000 Points ] [ Total Current Points: 231,169 ] "The world of Telriah''s resources is far greater than I expected¡­" Li Yang frowned slightly. That was one of the conclusions he made if it wasn''t him getting ripped off by the System or it trying to lead him astray into a darker path. "There''s no use coming there¡ªwhat if you get back here after the quest timer runs out?" Bao reminded him and crossed its arms. "Sure. The consequences may not be that much to you anymore now¡ªbut I thought it still mattered." "Of course it does. But¡­ besides the company, there are other individuals that I am trying to assure are safe from harm, and yet I can''t do anything without putting others at risk." Perhaps it was best to put his mind away from these thoughts. Li Yang couldn''t be at all places at once even if he were a cultivator or not. The man shifted the tab to no longer search for items but any possible Skills. "Unless there''s some kind of Skill to obtain involving creating temporary clones to act in my stead." Everything was in his fingertip after all¡­ and only the problem of paying for it stood in his way. Bao decided to give him advice. "You know, you should just give it up and focus on better things. There are countless fish, er, women in the sea." "People are not as replaceable as you make them out to be." "Like I said¡ª" The creature stopped its retort at the sudden change in the atmosphere. The air dropped cold between them into freezing levels. Bao threw a look at the ex-CEO and asked a question. "What did you do?" "Nothing." A red rupture appeared in the middle of Li Yang''s house and where a clawed hand suddenly escaped and reached out towards him. It pulled the man into the vortex, a strong gravitational pull that only seemed to be collecting him back, but Bao suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve and refused to let it go. Bao threw him a glare that said it was the man''s damn fault anyway. "This is a blood summoning¡ª" Only the torn sleeve of the man''s suit was left in Bao''s paws. It was doing an awful job at keeping him in one place.