…

I regret my decision.

Mostly because I forgot the cardinal rule of cultivators.

…to be petty as hell.

Ever since I poked and chased away that cultivator, I’ve been experiencing pokes on my back every moment or so as I head to Big Sis Crane’s place. Even when I try to catch them sight of them by turning around fast enough, I can’t get close.

All I hear after I turn around is a mocking chuckle in my ear.

Even if I can see them with my scan, doesn’t mean I can react without taking extreme measures.

Too bad for them… I’m totally willing to take extreme measures.

I secretly bite a pill that will increase my physical speed and physical limits to the absolute limit. And when I sense her coming behind me, I use my upgraded speed to spin around.

But that’s all I can do… as there’s a difference between being able to react and being able to beat them at their own game. Or in this case, pseudo-combat.

Right as I turn around, I sense them easily moving twice as fast, flipping over my head to land a poke on my back, before chuckling again. Moving far out of range.

If this was a fight, I would be unequivocally beaten.

Well… at least this will help me not get too proud of what I did before with the Core Formations. Those guys I fought were the bottom of the barrel. And even though this woman is a Nascent Soul, she’s a genius in her own right. If she was low Core Formation, she’d still be wiping the floor with me, without breaking a sweat.

This is only one of Big Sis Crane’s people.

I can already tell that she has a few more people of this woman’s level and skill under her control.

No wonder everyone fears her and her people.

…why did I poke a woman like this, again?

Right as I think that, I get a poke on the side of the face, as I stop moving for a moment to think on this. An indication to keep heading toward Big Sis Crane. A reminder that though I may have been relaxed on the timeline to meet her… someone of Big Sis Crane, or better said, Matriarch Crane’s status, is not normally made to wait.

Still holding the tiny bead that Gong wanted me to pass to Big Sis Crane, I move fast toward her location.

I decide to have a conversation with the invisible lady as we move, though. But not in a traditional way.

“Are you allowed to speak? One poke for no, two pokes for yes.”

Like before, she pokes the middle of my back, though I don’t attempt to catch her this time. One poke.

“Is that just for now?”

Right as I say that, I spin around before they move, to see if that will allow me to win, but she easily sidesteps me and pokes my back again. Two pokes.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Maybe they have a temporary vow of silence. Considering they are an invisible ninja type, that would sense.

However, this only makes me more curious. I float a question that I’ve been wondering since we started this little game of ours.

“Are you having fun, though?

Instantly, faster than ever before, I feel a poke on one side of my body. When I try to spin to look at her, she pokes the other side. Two pokes.

But it’s the moment of hot breath on my ear and the low chuckle that really tells me how she feels.

…

I keep moving forward, even as I try to catch sight of her. Now with a new purpose and plan in mind.

Activating my combat scan, I use this as an opportunity. A chance to train my abilities on a genius Nascent Soul cultivator, who seems committed to messing with me. And in some ways to surpass the gap between realms, if only a bit.

Stretching it to its limits, I once again see all the possible paths that she can take to poke my back. And looking for the most likely chances to catch her.

So, I ask question after question to get her to poke me. All the while, using more and more strange ways of trying to catch her.

Leaning backwards into a reverse spidercrab position. Doing backflips. Headspins. I even use a talisman to fly into the air, to lower her options for movement. None of them work.

The whole time, I hear her laughing up a storm at my desperate antics, even as we get closer and closer to Big Sis Crane’s place.

Dang it… I only have a few more opportunities left. What could I do to catch them?

I use all my scans to figure something out. To come up with something. Anything, to beat her.

Because at this point, my pride is at stake.

And then it comes to me. Making me freeze in place.

Earning me another poke on the cheek from the woman, to keep me going. But this time, I don’t move, realizing that, of course, this would be the solution.

Seeing that I’m not moving even after the prompt, a second, harder poke is approaching fast from my left. As I turn, I follow the path my conversation and relationship scan always leads me to.

“You know…you’re actually really cute.”

As I say this, she trips the slightest bit, giving me the chance I need to use everything in my body to turn fast enough and finally do this.

I catch her finger in mine.

“…got you.”

…

…

Silence.

…

You know, maybe following the relationship scan isn’t the best idea.

I hear a soft sigh escape from her lips as she delicately withdraws her finger from my grasp.

Yet, it is the uproarious laughter emanating from Big Sis Crane's place that enlightens me to a crucial truth.

Big Sis Crane has been watching and listening in the whole time.

Oh no…what have I done?

She’s seen every silly action, corny comment, and stupid question I’ve asked. As well as my flirtatious words.

The invisible cultivator moves ahead, meaningfully locking eyes with me before continuing. In exchange, several other invisible cultivators head over to me. Surrounding me, though at a distance.

And despite them being invisible, their shaking shoulders, tells me what I need to know. They’ve been listening in via that telepathy action that higher realm cultivators do.

I feel my face turn hot with embarrassment.

…I may have won the battle, but at what cost?

I continue moving toward Big Sis Crane, my embarrassment is only made worse when I walk inside to reveal Sister Nuan with her hand on the bridge of her nose, standing beside Big Sis Crane, who is still laughing wildly.

“Hahahahaha, this was the best show I’ve seen all year. Even better than what you did before! Hahahahaha.”

Hidden beside them, is the same invisible woman from before. And it’s only my scan that shows me the slight fidgeting from her, indicating that I’m not the only one that is feeling this way.

I can’t help but to sigh, before recollecting myself.

Stepping in front of Big Sis Crane, I bow and speak after her laughter ebbs down.

“Disciple Delinion greets Matriarch Crane. As always, it is a pleasure to be in your presence.”

Her chuckles subside a bit more, before she waves away the courtesies.

“Hahaha, call me Big Sis Crane and after that, there’s no need for such things.

“The entertainment was definitely worth the wait. You never disappoint, do you?”

She stops and pauses, before continuing while looking into my eyes.

“Well…mostly.”

She referring to when she killed all those captured people.

I don’t regret it, but I still have to show sincerity…. Even if I dislike it.

Even with my inner thoughts, I speak other words.

“Big Sis Crane, I’ve brought you gifts to honor you and your continued support.”

I pull out the three talismans. In an instant, I see one of the invisible cultivators grab it from my hands and bring it over to her. To someone who can’t sense them, it would appear to shoot to her hands, without the use of qi.

“Interesting…”

Her eyes shine as she looks at them.