“Shin, there is I’m wondering about.”

Kali suddenly asked in a curious tone.

“What is it?”

Shin replied while glancing towards Kali with his eyes closed.

“Your body.”

Kali’s pupils turned golden as they looked through Shin’s body.

“It has changed, how and why?”

Kali’s tone was serious and her eyes slightly narrowed.

Shin glanced downwards before he answered.

“The stronger I become, the more they can help me. They mended my body so that it could become stronger quicker.”

“’They’, who are they, Shin?”

Aria was surprised and asked hastily.

“I forgot to say; I have 12 guardians.”

Shin spoke embarrassingly as his cheeks turned red.

“12!?”

Laura shockingly spoke as her eyes widened.

It wasn’t much different for Peutoa, Kali and Aria, but they didn’t raise their voices.

“Shin, why do you have guardians? And on top of that, that many?”

Kali asked while a thought appeared in her head.

This time, Shin shook his head.

“I do not know why they are guarding me. They have always been with me as long I can remember. One of them said once; it was their instincts to guard me, they haven’t said anything else regarding that.”

Instincts?...

Aria, Peutoa and Laura didn’t know what to think.

12 guardians…

Can it be those 12 back then?

Kali shook her head denying her thoughts.

“Young master?”

Peutoa raised her voice; she finally managed to gather enough courage to speak up.

Shin tilted his head as he heard a new voice, but it did sound familiar.

“Is it, Peutoa?”

Shin asked curiously.

“Yes, it is me, young master.”

Peutoa bowed slightly while confirming that it’s her.

“What did you want, Peutoa?”

Shin smiled innocently as he glanced forward towards Peutoa.

Peutoa gritted her teeth and tried to speak cautiously.

“Are you not blaming me?”

Shin pouted as he shook his head without any thought.

“I don’t understand, why should I blame you? And for what?”

“Did you not fall into despair because of me?”

Peutoa felt like her strength leaving her body, she finally said it.

Shin tilted his head as he thought for a couple of seconds.

“You are not wrong, but you’re not right either.”

Shin’s voice was filled with confusion; he didn’t understand what he was feeling either.

“Besides, isn’t everything alright now?”

Peutoa raised her voice when she heard Shin’s last sentence.

“No, you are blind because of me.”

“Hahaha”

Shin laughed without knowing why. It was true that Shin couldn’t see and it did panic him in the beginning.

Everyone in the room stared at Shin in confusion, why would being blind a laughing matter?

Shin sensed the weird atmosphere around him, he coughed weakly before raising his head and swept it from one side to the other side before revealing a victorious smile.

“I’m now blind; it means that I won’t be able to do things by myself.”

“Which means, that I would need a hand to help me with everything. None of you will be able to leave me now, you’re stuck around my little finger, haha.”

Shin stretched his little pinky and spun it in circles while giggling.

“Hihi, you’re right, you little devil. We won’t be able to leave your side anymore; we are stuck in the spider’s web which you have made.”

Kali snickered while laughing warmly.

Laura tried to hold back her laughter because of Shin’s overly weird movements with both her hands, but even so; small suppressed sounds escaped her lips.

Peutoa just dumbly listened to what Shin said, she had no idea that Shin would use everything and anything for himself own convenience and fun.

“Hehe, I didn’t know that my little kid would even spin his mother around his little pinky.”

Aria laughed wickedly while stroking Shin’s hair.

“Now, let’s see. Laura bring a simple breakfast here, Peutoa, you follow Laura and help her.”

Laura and Peutoa bowed respectfully before leaving the room.

“Now, Shin. There’s something that I want to ask you about.”

Aria’s voice turned slightly serious after Peutoa and Laura left.

“W-What is it?”

Shin became nervous because of the change in Aria’s tone.

“Aria, don’t be serious like that.”

Kali rolled her eyes as she glanced at Aria.

“Cough, sorry.”

Aria apologised before her voice became soft again.

“Shin, do you not blame Peutoa? You do have the right to be angry at her and any of us.”

“Haha…”

Shin laughed softly as he opened his eyelids, staring towards Aria with empty eyes. Shin raised his hand towards his face, waved it a couple of times before letting it down.

“Losing my eyes is, of course, a huge blow. But, there is something else I learned because of it.”

Shin shook his head as he slowly closed his eyes.

Aria and Kali bitterly smiled when they heard Shin’s reasoning.

“Shin, you have changed.”

Kali suddenly spoke up as she glared at Shin with a mysterious smile.

“You shouldn’t act like a grownup yet, hihi. None of us would mind you still acting like you were before. You don’t have to burden yourself anymore, even if you make mistakes, your mother Aria and I will always stay by your side.”

Kali suddenly glanced towards Aria while her lips let out a small voice which Shin couldn’t hear.

“Isn’t that right, future ‘mother-in-law’, hihi…”

Aria’s face turned red with anger as she clenched her fist.

“Yes, she’s right Shin. We would love you no matter what, so just act like yourself and just be happy.”

Even when Aria was furious, she couldn’t let it show in her voice.

Shin let out a smile of relief as he leaned backwards.

“Okay, I will remember.”

“Do I have to do something today?”

Shin asked as his eyelids were still closed.

“No, your priority is to rest.”

Aria shook her head; she couldn’t let Shin do anything taxing with his fragile body.

“Furthermore, do you still want Peutoa to be your maid? She’s a cultivator on the Throne stage; she would be able to protect your life if need be.”

Shin gasped as his eyes widened, asking curiously.

“Is Peutoa that strong?”

“She should be in the late stage of Throne. It depends on her luck and will to break through to the Emperor stage.”

Kali said while using her finger to raise her chin up.

Aria glanced at Kali before nodding.

“Kali is right, Peutoa should be able to advance to the Emperor stage, but there’s no telling when it will happen.”

Shin pouted as he looked troubled.

“Why is everyone so strong?”

“Hihi, don’t worry, Shin. You might get stronger yourself if you start cultivating.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Kali snickered, she has never thought of people below Half-Divinity stage a strong person.

“I forgot to ask, do you know how to cultivate your own powers, Shin?”

Kali asked while staring at Shin.

“No.”

Shin shook his head before speaking again.

“But, I don’t think there is a need for me to do so either.”

Aria narrowed her eyes slightly while glaring at Shin.

“Why is that?”

“Because.”

Shin concentrated deep inside of his body, sensing his hollow body without any strength.

I want to fill it…

Shin’s body felt like a whirlpool where everything gushed in. The entire room got drained of Energies and Divine Energy.

Kali glanced around the room when she felt everything was being dragged towards Shin; she sensed that there were no powers left in the air.

Aria stared rather at Shin, wanting to know how it would affect his body.

As Shin opened his eyes, he felt his hollow body barely getting satisfied.

“Old man told me that I don’t need to use any specific cultivation path. He told me that I could use different types and cultivate almost anything, but it would be best just to nurture what my body is best at.”

Shin spoke calmly and slow to let Aria and Kali understand what he can’t fully understand.

“I can gather anything in my body; it’s a catalyst for me to cultivate my strength and body.”

“Now that’s weird. Aria, I thought you were a monster.”

Kali glanced at Aria then stared at Shin with an amazed gaze.

“But, Shin here is more astonishing than you. I bet he would become strong very quickly.”

Aria rolled her eyes as she talked with Kali without taking her eyes off Shin.

“Shin is amazing; I can’t deny that thought.”

The door squeaked as it was being opened.

Laura entered with Peutoa behind her.

“Just place the plates there, we will eat in a moment.”

Aria ordered them while staring at Peutoa.

“Peutoa…”

Her voice wasn’t warm like earlier; it turned cold once again while her eyes were slightly narrowed.

Ah, sigh. Did they decide what my punishment will be?

Peutoa sighed in her heart; she had already prepared herself for it. Therefore it wasn’t a large surprise for her.

“Yes, Empress.”

Peutoa gave the plates she was carrying to Laura while she stood in front of Aria.

She glanced towards the bed, seeing Shin made her lips curve upwards slightly before she glared back at Aria seriously.

“There is something Shin wanted to ask you about.”

Aria spoke before she turned around before she looked at Shin, she sent a glance towards Kali.

Hehe, it’s all up to you now, my little player.

You’re doing it on purpose!

Kali gnashed her teeth when she saw Aria’s glance.

Hump… Like I will lose to some chick!

Kali sent a glance towards Peutoa filled with brutality with her eyes narrowed to the extreme.

Peutoa felt her body being crushed by Kali’s glance. She had a bad feeling of what might happen.

“Uhm…”

Shin tried to glance around, and he didn’t know where to face as his cheeks turned slightly red.

“Peutoa.”

“What is it, Young master?”

Peutoa was startled, she didn’t know what Shin would ask.

“Would, would you mind being my maid?”

After Shin managed to ask with a shy look, he felt his body becoming heavier as he leaned backwards.

“Uh, what?”

Peutoa dumbly stared at Shin while asking.

“Didn’t you hear, Peutoa? Shin asked you to become his maid, what’s your answer?”

Aria smiled while sending a glance towards Kali.

Was I not going to get punished? Then why did the Purple Witch Kali send me a glance like that??

Peutoa asked herself as she couldn’t understand. Without thinking, Peutoa dropped down on both of her knees heavily towards Shin’s direction.

“Master, please allow me to become your servant, I will offer you my body and life.”

“Hehe, aren’t you happy, Shin?”

Aria laughed while smiling towards Shin, before turning around to the kneeling Peutoa.

“Peutoa, from now on, you’re not my maid. You have no connection to this Kingdom, and you’re not my servant, you will serve Shin only.”

Peutoa heavily nodded while sending a glance towards Aria.

“I will serve master with my life.”

She stared at Shin with wide opened eyes.

“Don’t call me master; it doesn’t sound right. Do just call me Shin.”

Shin couldn’t believe that someone like Peutoa would follow him, he thought that she would never agree to it.

A smile appeared on Shin’s face as he opened his eyelids.

Old man said something like this might happen. I don’t want to do it, but he said if I wanted to know, I should do it without hesitating.

“Peutoa.”

Shin’s voice turned serious as he glared towards where he thought Peutoa was kneeling.

“Yes, Shin.”

She raised her head to look back at Shin. Her face held no expression as she looked deeply into his empty eyes.

“Mother said that you are only mine now and will only follow me, right?”

Shin talked in a slightly deep voice.

Aria, Kali and Laura nodded for themselves when they heard Shin’s question.

“Yes, I will only follow your orders. I will live and die for your sake.”

Peutoa confirmed without any delay.

Shin raised his left arm and covered his eyes.

What the others couldn’t see was that tears started to form in the corner of his eyes.

“Kill everyone in this room!”

Shin raised his voice as he commanded Peutoa.

The room turned silent, and the surrounding felt ice-cold.

Laura was shocked and couldn’t believe what Shin had ordered Peutoa.

It was slightly different for Aria, as she thought this was him testing out Peutoa’s loyalty.

The only one who was smiling was Kali.

Hihi, don’t think you can hide that easily.

She glared at Shin’s eyes with golden pupils. She could see that Shin’s eyes were covered in tears, but she looked deeper and could see the light in his empty eyes.

Peutoa’s eyes widened before she shook her right hand as a curved dagger appeared in it. She stepped forward towards Kali as she was closest to, the dagger closing up on Kali.

Even if Kali was surprised, a late-stage Throne could barely injure a Half-Divinity cultivator. But, it was slightly different now, as Kali was weakened because of using her Divine Powers to save Shin. If that dagger did cut towards her neck, it could deal an injury which might take her life.

Kali could tell that Peutoa would go towards her first and was ready for it. But, Kali didn’t move, she just glared towards Shin with a smile.

“No!”

Laura stepped forward to stop Peutoa, but she was a step slower than Peutoa.

Aria stared at Kali; she thought that her smile was weird and wanted to see how Kali would resolve the situation.

Hihi, this is getting fun!

Kali could see Shin’s empty eyes burning in dark flames as her smile grew larger.

Peutoa’s dagger was getting closer to Kali’s neck. Peutoa used all her inner strength and released it all at once for a boost of a few seconds, in these couple of seconds she could rival even Laura!

Her face showed no emotions, but her eyes were cold and had an aura of malevolence.

Shin dropped his left arm as his eyes were wide open. He glared towards Kali and Peutoa; he slowly reached out his right hand towards Peutoa’s dagger. Even if Shin moved slowly, he could barely see Peutoa’s dagger moving towards Kali.

Old man, you were right!

Shin focused on his own body; he could sense thirteen different powers with various colours. But, the one in the middle was dark which released an aura of death.

The whole room enveloped in a dark aura.

Peutoa thought that she would reach Kali’s neck, but before she could cut Kali, she felt her whole body being pushed backwards. She couldn’t feel her body anymore and couldn’t use an ounce of strength any longer.

Laura stepped right behind Peutoa, but her eyes widened as she quickly glanced towards Shin, she could see him reaching out his right arm and his eyes were burning black.

“What’s going on?”

Aria tilted her head when she felt Shin’s aura once again, last time it felt a lot stronger, but it also felt like it went amok that time. This time, it is being concentrated and controlled.

“Hihi. So, you finally showed it, Shin.”

Kali laughed happily, she didn’t even care about her body being pressured by his aura, or that he ordered Peutoa to kill her.

So, this is the Divine Power of Death!

“Peutoa, it was just a test that the Old man told me to do for those who want to serve me. Now that you have succeeded it, none of the guardians will deny you being my servant.”

Shin spoke with a weak and hoarse voice while the black flames in his eyes died out.

“Cough cough.”

Shin coughed heavily, he used his right hand and wiped his mouth. Shin could sense that his arm became wet by something.

Blood?

“Hey, Shin? Are you alright?!”

Aria could see that Shin coughed up two mouthfuls of blood and rushed forward.

“Why did you do something stupid like that?!”

“Hah, this is the only way that they would accept another person following me. They must abandon everything for my sake, and I had no idea using this power was this troublesome.”

“Hahaha. Peutoa, I would appoint you as my thirteen Guardian from now on!”

“What, guardian, me?”

Peutoa dumbly stared at Shin with her eyes widened and a smile appeared on her face.

Twelve different colours shined from Shin’s stomach; Golden, red, purple, green, white, grey, silver, brown, blue, teal, pink and lime. They shined brightly and shrouded Peutoa.

Peutoa could feel her body becoming lighter and becoming more powerful. She didn’t open her eyes and continued focusing on the power within her body increasing.

Laura stared at the twelve colours enveloping Peutoa with a weird smile.

Aria glanced at Peutoa and Shin; she was slightly worried about what might happen to Shin because of this. She couldn’t feel any power or aura coming out of the colours.

Kali just stared with an amusing look, she did send gazes towards Shin to check if he was alright, but she was more into seeing what would happen to Peutoa.

Peutoa felt something being drawn out of her as the colours weakened. A light-yellow colour drew out of her and entered Shin’s body with the twelve other colours.

Peutoa felt a connection being created with Shin.

Shin felt the already thirteen colours inside of himself with one extra being added in which was light-yellow, now Shin could feel fourteen different powers inside of himself. He let out a satisfied smile as he looked towards where Peutoa was standing at.

“Am I one of your Guardians now?”

Peutoa smiled for once as she glared at Shin in respect and awe.

“Yes.”

Shin smiled brightly with his eyes closed.