Money Bags Meng
Chapter 1:
"How does it feel, Elder Sister Xu?" Meng Hao felt pleasure course throughout his body. The sensation was simply divine.
Skin met skin.
In the Southern Domain, he was hard pressed to find the time for such earthly pleasures, but here, in the ancient Demon Immortal Sect, anything he wanted was within his grasp.
His every whim, every desire, every pleasure...
The comfort was almost unbearable. Like tiny feathers gently kissing his body, the sensation was extremely cooling. It was like his entire body was immersed in a jade fountain flowing with the most pure of waters.
In response, Xu Qing moaned deeply. Pleasure had overtaken her sensibilities and made her its slave. Her voice, low and hoarse, constantly emitted a throaty noise. The sound was almost reminiscent of the sound made by a rarely-used, splendid gate creaking.
Her face was completely flushed and her chest heaved up and down chaotically. The perfectly coiffed hair she usually sported was in complete disarray.
In her position, it splayed wildly on the bed like countless ice veins in deep winter. The seemingly cold beauty burned with a heat unbecoming of her nature.
Standing up, Meng Hao was barechested and grasped at a glass of Spirit Wine, which flew into his waiting hand. He threw back his head and allowed the sweet taste of the wine caress his tongue.
The texture was like velvet, and the effect of the alcohol more profound. Like a tranquil stream, the wine travelled down his throat smoothly until it reached the lake of his stomach. Within this lake, the the Spirit Wine seemed to burn like a smoldering flame.
It was an odd sensation that Meng Hao never considered possible; an irony considering the concoction of his Nascent Soul involved merging the five phases. His entire body was pleasingly cool to the touch, but at his core, the smoldering flame burned unwaveringly.
Cool on the outside, but hot on the inside. Meng Hao theorized that even normal mortals would be able to enjoy the wine in his hand.
Meng Hao quietly admired the potency of the Spirit Wine, half of his attention on pondering the unique sensation of the wine and the other half on the flushed beauty.
Wantonly swishing the wine in his glass, Meng Hao brought it to his nose and inhaled the decadent fragrance deeply. The action was clumsy and unpracticed, causing some of the wine to dribble over the sides of the glass.
Even upon spilling onto his hand, the fine liquid appeared to sizzle on his palm before vanishing without a trace into his body.
"Thank you for your time, Junior Apprentice Sisters," Meng Hao said cooly. All around him, scantily-clad beauties bowed in respect until their torsos were parallel to the floor.
Each one was a bewitching beauty within the Demon Immortal Sect capable of stopping hearts with a single passing glance. Their countenances were all uniquely different yet still aesthetically pleasing. Bodies like willowy reeds bending softly on the riverbank. Limpid eyes comparable to crystalline ponds...
And should he desire it, Meng Hao could embrace every single of these beauties in a single night.
He sighed softly. "Apologies, Junior Apprentice Sisters, I've wasted your valuable time." Meng Hao let more of the Spirit Wine slide down his throat and allowed for a small drop to purposefully escape from his mouth.
The small drop ran down the side of his lip, sliding down the skin of his throat before sizzling away near the center of his chest. The wine itself was clear, but upon absorption into the body, a hazy, purple mist was released.
Unknowingly, a few of the stunning maidens licked their lips. Meng Hao carefully observed their reactions and smiled.
Spirit Wine, let alone Spirit Fruit, was a precious luxury few could afford. Taken from the juices of Spirit Fruit and carefully extracted through a mystical process, dozens of Spirit Fruits could produce a small flagon of Spirit Wine. The liquid was placed to ferment in a carefully regulated environment within the skull of a Great Dragon. The remnants of the dragon's power would slowly infuse into the Spirit Wine, granting additional benefits to the fleshly body.
Some would argue that he was a sadist, but personally, he felt that he was a great vindicator. The pained look in some of their eyes made the width of smile stretch imperceptibly.
Amazingly, he was somehow able to retain his features upon ascending into the Primordial Demon Immortal Plane, causing him to become thoroughly shocked.
Whether or not if this change was visible in the eyes of disciples other than the ones who had found host bodies was unknown.
Frankly, Meng Hao had his own theories behind why he was able to perfectly retain his features, but currently, he did not care. Right now he was Ke Jiusi, an Elite Apprentice and Little Patriarch of the Fourth Peak.
It would be closer to say that these beautiful maidens lusted after his prestige rather than what he personally had to offer. Meng Hao possessed a handsome, scholarly charm, but this alone was not enough to make these devastating beauties take note otherwise.
"Little Patriarch is being to kind. We, Junior Apprentice Sisters, are honored to help relieve your tensions," A pale-faced beauty stepped forward to speak.
In fact, the beauties gathered in the Immortal's cave all felt somewhat wronged. Each one was capable of bending the will of any disciple with their coquettish charm, but in front of Meng Hao, they had to lower their head subserviently and smile.
Countless of strong cultivators would vie just to get a chance to exchange pleasantries with these beauties.
Meng Hao smiled enigmatically and bit into the Spirit Fruit. The juices were succulent, and the flesh of the fruit melted away in one's mouth like golden ambrosia.
"Elder Sister Xu, please, you must try the wine and some of these fruits." Meng Hao waved his hand and the Spirit Fruit he had bit into landed softly in Xu Qing's palm.
Xu Qing brought the fruit up to her mouth and bit into it gingerly. A light flashed in her eyes, and she eagerly devoured the morsel, licking her fingers clean of the remaining juices.
Meng Hao matched gazes with her, and she smiled lightly. All around Meng Hao and Xu Qing, the waiting beauties felt enormous jealousy within their hearts. They closely scrutinized the woman they had been forced to... service.
What qualifications did she have to be serviced by them? In every aspect they surpassed her, be it charm, demeanor, or figure. So what hidden qualities did she possess? In what manner were they each personally lacking?
Why were they not in her position, and the woman on the bed not servicing them?
If Xu Qing were perhaps a dazzling fairy or the holder of an unfathomably deep cultivation base, they would begrudgingly accept the situation in their hearts. However, Xu Qing was neither of these things.
It was an unsolvable riddle that turned slowly in their mind. The pale-faced beauty peered closer and activated a special Daoist magic capable of tearing apart any possible layer of deception.
To her surprise and disappointment, the technique revealed nothing extraordinary at all. By all means, the woman who laid lazily upon the bed was a regular cultivator.
The pale-faced beauty twisted her face in confusion until a sudden idea drifted into her mind.
It couldn't be that... the Little Patriarch had some sort of odd fetish? The more she thought about it the more the idea firmly planted itself in her mind.
She nodded to herself as if she had gained great enlightenment. She had heard the whispers in the shadows, in the solemn cries riding the wind. Stories of Ke Jiusi's tyrannical, overbearing behavior.
When she had serviced Ke Jiusi, she took careful observation of his reactions. Through her constant surveillance, she was able to monitor his pulse and behavior.
Although attended to by many great beauties of the Demon Immortal Sect, his pulse had not broken once, and his breath had not even hitched for a moment.
Was he perhaps bewitched by this seemingly ordinary demoness?
Reflecting on the situation, the pale-faced beauty's mouth formed a slim, alluring line.
Perhaps this Little Patriarch had developed some odd taste?
Fear overwhelmed her senses when she first heard of her summons, but on the long winding path of cultivation, she had considered this one of her first trials.
She had utterly braced her mind and body for the coming deviance.
Seeing the rest of the beauties gathered from other peaks of the sect, she further fortified her resolutions.
Who would have thought that the Little Patriarch would make her and the others beauties into handmaidens for himself and Xu Qing.
If it were not for the astonishing abilities of memorization and recollection, the pale-faced beauty might have not been able to recognize the status of the woman on the bed.
A mere Outer Sect disciple, a faceless figure in the thousands of disciples in the sect...
She sighed inwardly. The Heavens were truly too mysterious to understand.
Meng Hao took another Spirit Fruit and bit into it sloppily, allowing more of the sweet nectar to dot the area around his mouth.
The beauties all felt pain in their hearts in the manner that this Little Patriarch haphazardly ate these Spirit Fruits.
Each Spirit Fruit was an unimaginable treasure capable of endless uses.
Even despite their identities as heart-shattering nymphs, in terms of status, they ranged from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect.
Naturally, their statuses were at the peak of their respective positions, but even then, they could not even hope to obtain a portion of the Spirit Fruit.
Even the preparation of a Spirit Fruit required specific tools, so that the fruit in question would not be damaged from mishandling.
Each sweet drop from the Spirit Fruit was said to be strong enough to invigorate the body's qi and further cleanse away built-up impurities clogging the meridians.
The skin itself was considered a heaven-defying insulator of spiritual energy, used in the production of spiritual containers, and in some cases, clothing.
"Attend to me." Meng Hao raised his arms to the side, and from behind, two beauties aided him in donning his robe. Leaving the sash untied, the robe hung loosely on Meng Hao.
In fact, the robe he currently wore could be considered an extremely precious treasure. It was woven from the silk of Rushing Rapids Silkworms, only found native to the Second Peak. Then, during the production process, it was interwoven with the skin of Spirit Fruits, giving it a constant, refreshing scent. To top it off, it was then dyed in nectar from Golden Immortal Seeking Hydrangea, adding a layer of karmic enlightenment.
Each one of these items were heavenly objects, but the Rushing Rapids Silkworm's silk even more so.
The Rushing Rapids Silkworms would be born by the millions, but only a couple hundred might survive. They would then make their homes by waterfalls, but mostly areas of high water movement. They would hang over these perilous waters, and much like many disciples of the Demon Immortal Sect, engage in fleshly sanctification.
In their entire lifetime, they would produce only one strand of silk, a thin, flimsy line.
The life of the Rushing Rapids Silkworm and this single strand were ironically interwoven together. By strengthening the body, these silkworms in turn strengthened the strand of silk.
However, from these hundreds of Rushing Rapids Silkworms, during the process of fortifications, countless more would die. The silk strand would snap away like a failed heart string and send the silkworm to a watery grave.
The force and pressure of the rushing water could easily shred apart a unprepared cultivator.
The silkworms that survived and cultivated a strong enough body would then sever the link between themselves and the silk string.
They would willingly cast themselves into the water and allow the rapids to carry them to the bottom of the waterfall.
Upon reaching the end, a startling transformation of Heaven and Earth would occur. The silkworms would metamorphosize not into moths, but great birds!
Specially trained cultivators would then collect the strands of silk left behind. These heavenly treasures, in Meng Hao's tests and estimations, were equivalent to a Spirit Severing defensive item.
In comparison, however, this strands far outstripped the abilities of Spirit Severing devices. The strands were similar, but far below the silk of the eyeless larva was capable of producing.
This difference could only be defined as the vastness between Heaven and Earth.
Meng Hao rolled his shoulders back comfortably and lost himself in the pleasant feeling caused by the extremely thin robe.
A robe like his that boasted long voluminous sleeves and halted at his feet consisted of thousands of silk strings. The sash that hung loosely on his waists, elegantly embroidered with the changes in celestial bodies, alone in cost and function was more exquisite then the robe.
Besides being an amazing defensive treasure, the robe doubled as a cultivation enhancing item. The robe itself naturally attracted environmental qi, but when used in combination with the sash, the results were truly heart-shaking.
By tying the sash so that it was secured on top of the base, it would cause the body to passively circulate qi without entering deep meditation.
Coupled with meditation... Meng Hao shuddered. Such an item was in deep violation of the Heavens.
During the two hundred years he had practiced immortal cultivation, Meng Hao was shockingly able to achieve half-step into Spirit Severing.
Through his calculations, he estimated that with this treasure the total time he would need to cultivate to achieve his current power would be halved.
A fifty percent reduction... wasn't this too unfair? Meng Hao blanked out momentarily, scanning his memories of Ke Jiusi's power.
Somehow, even with the guidance of Father Ke, Ke Jiusi was the weakest amongst the Elite Apprentices of the Demon Immortal Sect. Looking further back at his acquired memories, it was no surprise to Meng Hao that Ke Yunhai had spared no expense at buying such treasures for his son.
From the memories, it seemed that Ke Jiusi spent more time frolicking and bullying than actually cultivating. Where the astonishing treasures he possessed could easily make him the number one figure in the younger generation, they only managed to barely make up the difference between him and the other Elite Disciples.
In terms of cultivation, they might have been the same, but in terms of Dao insight and effective battle prowess?
Ke Jiusi that never wanted for anything was hard pressed to match even the second weakest amongst the seven.
Meng Hao glanced to the side at an unassuming wooden cabinet to the side and smirked.
Meng Hao did not whether or not laugh or cry. Upon reviewing his memories, he stumbled upon the knowledge that the ordinary wooden cabinet could be used to increase the odds of success during Celestial Tribulation.
Within it contained countless more identical robes like the one he currently wore.
One for every day of the week, one for every special holiday, one for various sect occasions...
Should he desire it, all he had to do was call on his father and a new one would be delivered within the hour.
The maidens around him were clueless of the robes true function, other than the fact it was a truly handsome garment.
How could they know that by casually assisting him in putting it on, they had gained a tiny benefit? How would madly would they froth at the mouth if they knew he had countless robes just laying around collecting dust?
On the side, Xu Qing had collected herself and put on one of Meng Hao's robes.
The beauties on the side were shocked by the seemingly simple action, but the statement made their hearts tremble.
It was a mundane gesture, but Xu Qing's declaration was clear.
I am Ke Jiusi's woman!
If the actions that they had to perform for her before were not clear enough concerning her standing to Ke Jiusi, it was now pure as the ice from the Frost Soil Demon Emperor.
Xu Qing smiled slightly and sat on the bed, waiting for Meng Hao.
Unaware of the thoughts all around him, Meng Hao stood there silently; his mind full of conflicting emotions.
As a youth, he had always desired great wealth. After his parents vanished, he struggled on his own efforts and the kindness of others. He aspired to become a scholar in the Imperial Court, so that he would come to know of fame and riches.
Even now, following a path vastly different than what he had originally envisioned, wealth was his ultimate pursuit.
In his life as a mortal, he desired enough gold to pave his way from the State of Zhao all the way to the Great Tang in the Eastern Lands.
As an immortal cultivator, he dreamed of having enough spirit stones to build a stairway to the heavens.
He, Meng Hao, who was a failed scholar.
He, Meng Hao, who lived as a countryside bumpkin.
He, Meng Hao, who in past two hundred years, lived constantly on the run, considered the number one public enemy among the many sects in the Southern Domain.
He, Meng Hao, who was the uncontested, brightest star of his generation.
At this moment, he was the undisputed number one silkpants in the Demon Immortal Sect. The number of beauties available to him could be compared to the amount of rain drops in a fierce storm. The amount of Spirit Fruits he ate would be enough to nourish the talent of multiple generations. The luxuries he could obtain were as common as grains of sand in the desert.
So why did Meng Hao feel so bitter? He bit again into the Spirit Fruit and grimaced.
The otherworldly taste of the fruit unfortunately could not whet away at the dissatisfaction in his heart.
Deep within his heart, Meng Hao knew the truth.
It was because of the fact he was Meng Hao that trouble lurked beneath his heart.
He was Meng Hao, not Ke Jiusi.
He was not Ke Jiusi that lived in absolute luxury.
He was not Ke Jiusi who had dozens of friends that would follow him through thick and thin.
He was not Ke Jiusi who possessed an awe-inspiring father that would part the heavens for his son.
He was Meng Hao, a rogue without home.
However, it was the last aspect that burned the most fiercely in Meng Hao's soul.
For Meng Hao, his cultivation was his only pursuit. By focusing his obsessions on achieving perfection, the sufferings hidden in his heart could be buried deep within.
When he entered the Primordial Demon Immortal Plane, he had expected many things. However, Meng Hao could never imagine he would gain a father.
Abandoned at seven, Meng Hao had sealed the image of his parents within his heart and mind. Years passed, and Meng Hao continued to retain the image, but with the inevitable winds of time that came with the changes in Spring and Autumn, the image had slowly began to crumble.
Somewhere... somewhere along his path, he had surrendered the memories of his parents to the ravages of time.
Bit by bit, the memories crumbled in the dark recesses of his mind. The images left behind could only be compared to old, moth-bitten robes.
Ke Yunhai's love, attention, doting...
His sudden appearance was like a flaring sun that revealed all of the things he had hidden in the shadows of his mind.
How would his parents feel if they knew that in his heart, Ke Yunhai had begun to fill out the missing spaces in their absence?
Meng Hao was many things. A valiant hero, An intrepid cultivator, a con man of the highest degree, a thieving scoundrel...
He could be angry, happy, introspective, sad, determined, but he had never expressed bitterness.
The wounds in his heart had long ago scabbed over, but never fully healed. Ke Yunhai had reopened them, and like dark-colored pus, bitterness flowed freely from them.
From this Primordial Demon Immortal Plane, he attained many ancient, mystical Daoist arts, but the joy he experienced from such a boon was short lived.
It was whispered that the Primordial Demon Immortal Plane was a result of the dreams of the True Spirit Night. When Night awoke, it signalled the end of the dream.
Meng Hao sighed inwardly. If this was so... then he wished that the dream would never end.
The luxuries were once novel, but he now no longer cared for them. All he wanted was to enjoy his life and live happily. No more running, no more hiding. No more vengeance and no more enmity.
With Xu Qing beside him, Meng Hao could grow old with a smile on his face.
With Ke Yunhai standing protectively in front of him, Meng Hao could rest peacefully in his shadow.
With his various friends in the Silkpants Demon Entente behind him, Meng Hao would never be alone.
So why was he so bitter? Meng Hao looked off into the distance, and slowly, a trail of tears escaped from the corners of his eyes.
The beauties around him studied him inquisitively. The Little Patriarch's sudden shift in demeanor shocked all of them.
Meng Hao let the tears continue to fall freely, but made no noise. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his gaze was still unwavering looking off into the distance.
Why should he care if all these beauties saw him cry?
After all... they were all dead. They were all illusions.
And there within the crux of the matter did his problems lie. Everything in the Demon Immortal Sect, everyone, every action...
Everything was merely an illusion.
The taste of the Spirit Wine, the cool sensation of his robes, the warmth of Xu Qing's hand...
The love that he felt from Ke Yunhai.
Meng Hao felt deep hatred and self loathing, for himself and for everything around him.
Unknowingly, he had passively entered into the Fifth Anima, causing a crushing pressure to weigh down on the countless beauties.
None of them said a word, unless they somehow became the sole recipient of this terrifying pressure. They did not dare to even breath lest the sudden change of pressure would crush their lungs.
There was far more to this Little Patriarch than what meets the eye!
He hated that the entire realm was illusory.
He hated that the benefits he had here were nothing more but seafoam floating atop the Milky Way Sea.
He hated that eventually he and Xu Qing could not continue their lives here.
He hated that the love in Ke Yunhai's eyes was not for him, Meng Hao, but for Ke Jiusi.
He hated that he was not Ke Jiusi.
But above all, he hated himself. He had allowed his emotions to be influenced by the long-dead shadows that were reanimated once every one thousand years.
He loathed his weakness to willingly succumb to all these desires. He was just an outsider, so why did he want to join so badly?
He wanted to run rampant in the Demon Immortal Sect and watch the setting sun atop of the Fourth Peak.
He wanted to laugh was his friends and make endless merriment.
But in the case of the Primordial Demon Immortal Plane, was this not similar to being a wooden puppet among shadow puppets?
Either way... everything was nothing but a falsehood.
Meng Hao's eyes turned bloodshot, and a trail of blood escaped from his mouth.
However, Meng Hao felt true shame when he thought of his parents.
Ke Yunhai, withered yet strong, had slowly become irreplaceable in his heart.
Meng Hao knew that in the future, whenever he would think of his parents, it would not be the outlines of the beautiful woman and handsome man that had left him behind in the State of Zhao, but the wizened features of Ke Yunhai.
Meng Hao let out a solemn laugh, more of a bark than anything. Blood splattered on his robe, but he was too absorbed in his world of thoughts to care.
He had allowed the smile of a long-dead ghost to warm the coldness he felt in his heart.
Was he a blood traitor?
Meng Hao did not know, but the thought continued to bother him. He had accepted another in the place of his parents, but was he truly unfilial?
Left behind to fend for himself, wasn't this as good as severing familial relations?
How could he be held at fault?
Meng Hao sighed, and a bit of color returned to his face.
The determination that had guided his immortal path shone brightly in his eyes. When did he allow himself to wallow in misery?
'In this Primordial Demon Immortal Plane, I came here in my true body, but can it really be considered a true body? There was no body to possess, but nonetheless, I fully acquired the identity of Ke Jiusi...' he thought.
'Is there such a thing as destiny?' Meng Hao had seen Ke Jiusi standing there. A lingering shade or sudden vision, Ke Jiusi's true nature was utterly unknown to Meng Hao. He could only speculate the truth behind his retained appearance in the Primordial Demon Immortal Plane.
'What does it matter? When have I ever allowed doubt to cloud my mind? Whether it be the Western Desert, Black Lands, or Southern Domain, I, Meng Hao, am known for my astonishing decisiveness.' Meng Hao chuckled softly to himself. 'In this lifetime... I am Meng Hao. In my last lifetime, I was Ke Jiusi.'
An invisible wind seemed to wrap around Meng Hao, and the suffocating pressure on the fairy-like maidens lessened, but did not disappear.
Having gotten used to the illusory, vice-like grip, they were able to better handle the reduced pressure.
'Ke Jiusi... is simply myself, as I have always been.' Meng Hao smiled slightly.
'After all, I am the son of Ke Yunhai, not Ke Kuhai. (1)'
Color returned to Meng Hao's face, and he waved his hand, causing the blood on his robe to vanish.
"All of you may leave." Xu Qing's voice droned coldly. She flicked her hand and a beam of light traveled into each of the beauties' grasps.
The previously frightened looks on their faces was rapidly replaced by looks of unadulterated joy. Within their palms, they each held a precious Spirit Fruit. Their faces flushed, they clutched the treasure to their bosoms and bowed deeply to Xu Qing.
"Many thanks, Little Matriarch!" Although they had their misgivings about Xu Qing, her generosity warmed their hearts.
"I hope... all of you understand how to appreciate benefits." Xu Qing's voice was calm, but was laced with steel. She gave each one a deep look, and inwardly, the beauties trembled.
"We understand!" Their voices boomed out in unison.
How could they not understand the thinly-veiled threat?
Regarding the Little Patriarch's strange episode... no one was to know!
"Very good. Should the Little Patriarch and I require some more... aid, we will send summons. You may receive similar benefits," Xu Qing said cooly. "Go, now. We require rest." Xu Qing's tone when she said voice caused some of the beauties' ears to burn red.
Perhaps there was a reason the Little Patriarch took such a liking to this woman...
Awoken from his reverie, Meng Hao watched as multiple prismatic beams of light sailed away from his immortal's cave.
"You should have split one fruit into multiple slices evenly for them. Giving them each a whole fruit for some simple service?" Meng Hao felt deeply aggrieved in his heart. Even though the realm was illusory and all its inhabitants were spectres of a long-gone past, he could not give up things up to the dead.
"You still haven't really changed that much compared to our early days in the Reliance Sect, have you?" Xu Qing's voice was cold like winter, but when she spoke to Meng Hao, traces of affection could be felt like melting snow in spring. She seemed to levitate off the bed, and without her feet touching the ground, floated over to Meng Hao.
Meng Hao could not see, but Xu Qing's face was almost a facsimile of his Blood Immortal mask as she pressed her body into his from behind.
"Are you ok?" Truthfully, Xu Qing was scared when she watched blood jet out of Meng Hao's mouth. This sudden action by the usually unshakeable Meng Hao caused deep fear to erupt in her heart.
'Yes, Jiusi'er, are you fine? Do you want dad to replace your robe or send some more disciples for a blood invigoration session?' Ke Yunhai's voice reverberated softly in Meng Hao's mind.
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At this moment, with Xu Qing at his back and Ke Yunhai's resounding concern in his mind, Meng Hao felt an inexplicable warmth blossom in his heart.
'I'm fine, dad.' Meng Hao smiled softly and turned around to fully embrace Xu Qing.
'Alright, study hard on those Daoist magics and try not to have too much fun with your girlfriend, ok?' In the face of Ke Yunhai's care and concern, Meng Hao felt his chest convulse.
"Did you enjoy the service?" Meng Hao looked into Xu Qing's eyes and smiled bashfully.
For any other person, such a smile would inspire endless fear, but for Xu Qing, it was a reminder that even after multiple sixty-year cycles, the sixteen-year-old youth she had taken with her to the Reliance Sect was still somewhere beneath the jaded layers left behind by the cruelty of the world of cultivators.
In many respects, he was still the young boy that gave her the Cosmetic Cultivation pill.
"Yes... let's get those Junior-apprentice sisters to come again." Xu Qing stretched her neck slightly and let out a contented sigh. The service that they had enjoyed was a combination of meridian massaging techniques and blood flow invigoration methods.
What else could have elicited such a heated reaction? The purity of those maidens only increased the effect of the techniques.
Although only storm-breaking bodily transformations could move cultivators so, Xu Qing and Meng Hao felt thoroughly refreshed by the treatment.
Xu Qing blushed embarrassedly, the more she thought about, she had essentially abducted Meng Hao from whatever life he had before he became a cultivator.
Shyly, she took Meng Hao's hand and looked him in the eye. "Meng Hao... do you hate me? Do you hate me for taking you away from your home? Do you hate me for taking you away from your life?" Each word was slowly and carefully said. Xu Qing's face was calm, but internally, she was filled with turmoil. Discreetly, she studied Meng Hao's face for a flicker of any change across his countenance.
"How could I hate you? Along the long path of cultivation, one often finds oneself alone, I--"
"Meng Hao, I am a simple person," Xu Qing interrupted him. With a hairs-width distance between the two, no detail could escape the other.
Meng Hao's eyes locked onto Xu Qing's, and his heart trembled. Her face was still calm, but at the pools of her eyes, tears had begun to form. He could feel her erratic heartbeat, and with her hand in his, her volatile pulse.
"Please." Xu Qing all but begged. Her voice wasn't soft like jade, but it contained immense emotion.
Meng Hao sighed and stroked the side of her face. "When I was a young man... when you took me to the Reliance Sect... I had nothing; no money, no parents, and an uncertain future. I spent my days studying into the nights, memorizing treatises, and taking note of the delicacies of the four arts."
Xu Qing listened to Meng Hao with rapt attention. She had never before heard of his story before becoming a cultivator.
He took her hand and led her to the side of the bed. "Atop the mountain that day, I swore to myself," Meng Hao paused. "That no matter what path unfolded before me, I, Meng Hao, would continue living as well as I could."
Through tears, Xu Qing smiled and nodded her head in agreement.
"I don't hate you, and I to you, I am incapable of feeling such an emotion. I believe... meeting you, entering the world of cultivators... was all preordained before I was born. Is that OK?" Meng Hao gently ran his hand through Xu Qing's hair.
"Yes, that's fine." Xu Qing's voice was placid, but a great weight was eased off her heart. From now on, she would continue looking forward into the future besides Meng Hao.
Even if they only had these treasured moments in this illusory realm--fake or not--Xu Qing did not care.
"Wipe your tears," Meng Hao said gently. "We still have to prepare and go eat dinner with Father Ke."
The glitter in Meng Hao's eyes returned, sparking like a thousand ultra-high-grade spirit stones caught in moon light.
Opulence! Decadence! Unrestrained bullying and silkpantedness!
His time in this ancient Demon Immortal Sect was short, so he might as well thoroughly enjoy it!
BONUS chapter: Naughty Meng Hao:
Meng Hao passed his days quietly studying the Daoist magics alongside Xu Qing. He rarely left his immortal's cave except to temper his fleshly body, leaving various members of the Demon Immortal Sect to be left on edge.
Surely, this tyrannical Little Patriarch was plotting something dastardly!
Without Ke Jiusi's rampaging, the Fourth Peak was eerily devoid of any ruckus. The usual laughter of the Silkpants Demon Entente was common place on the Fourth Peak, but the sudden absence made everyone, including Ke Yunhai, unsettled.
'Hmmm, it's good that Jiusi'er is studying hard, but he's still a kid. He should go out every once in awhile and play with his friends,' Ke Yunhai pondered thoughtfully. He snapped his fingers and a wooden slip appeared in his hand. 'I'll call over Jiusi's friend... I'm sure he will be glad to have some fun.'
The wooden slip emitted a faint blue flow and shot out of his hands into the distance. With his heart settled, Ke Yunhai was able to refocus on his mind on his activities.
In the Immortal's cave, Meng Hao sat in a lotus position with his eyes closed. Opening them slowly, the mysterious glow of enlightenment filled his eyes.
"Someone is quickly approaching the cave. Stay here and continue your enlightenment. I will handle this," Meng Hao said cooly to Xu Qing.
Before he could even move, a loud voice echoed loudly in the cave. "Ke Jiusi, get your butt out here! You don't even come to greet me, Ji Yunzheng?!"
Confusion colored Meng Hao's face and he shot out to the entrance of the immortal cave.
Ji Yunzheng... Meng Hao scanned Ke Jiusi's memories and blanched.
Ke Jiusi was considered the leader in the Silkpants Demon Entente. Beside his side, Ji Yunzheng was his vice leader! If Ke Jiusi could be thought as the number one, then Ji Yunzheng could be considered the number two.
Not only that, in Ke Jiusi's memories, Ji Yunzheng was his best friend.
'Ji?' Meng Hao thought to himself, and a sudden malicious intent flared within. Quickly whelming the sudden murderous rage, Meng Hao landed softly on the ground in front of Ji Yunzheng.
To his Meng Hao's surprise, the youth in front of his radiated a pleasant air. In every encounter he had thus far with the Ji Clan, each member acted in an imperiously overbearing manner.
Ji Yunzheng's hair was long and shiny black. He wore many golden ornaments in his hair and wore a dark plum-colored robe. His features were angular, which made him quite handsome in the eyes of females.
His frame was not large, but could not be called slender as Meng Hao's physique as a scholar. However, the most striking feature about the young man was his eyes.
While they seemed mellow on the surface, due to Ke Jiusi's memories, Meng Hao knew better. If he had encountered this young man without the aid of Ke Jiusi's memories, he might have been taken in by Ji Yunzheng's ruse.
Beneath the surface of Ji Yunzheng's eyes laid an interesting combination of kindness and perversion.
In fact, the further Meng Hao looked back into Ke Jiusi's memories, the more he was confused how the two became such good friends. Unknown to Ke Yunhai, the two had actually swore a vow of brotherhood!
If Ke Jiusi was overwhelmingly tyrannical, then Ji Yunzheng was incorrigibly lecherous. While Ke Jiusi oppressed disciples wherever he went, Ji Yunzheng, while still a silkpants, spent most of his time ogling beauties and mentally undressing them in his mind.
This was bad... if Ji Yunzheng saw through his behavior and learned Ke Jiusi was not actually Ke Jiusi, then Meng Hao might have to take drastic measures.
Doing so would be no easy task!
Few knew the truth, but Ji Yunzheng was actually a secret master of the art of fleshly strengthening. He was never seen cultivating the fleshly arts, so how he did so was truly unknown.
Looking back at Ke Jiusi's memories, it seemed that his current incarnation did not know either.
Such was the strength of Ji Yunzheng's fleshly body that once when he had done some strange, perverted act, he was given two lashes by the Purgatory Whip, but did not release a single sound!
In fact, he had released a fart and claimed that the Purgatory Whip had given his stomach bad cramps.
What level of ridiculousness was this?
Unknowingly, Meng Hao's eyes had gained a frosty edge, unnerving Ji Yunzheng.
"Heavens to Jiusi, do you hear me? Stop looking at me like that; I don't like men," Jiusi said cheekily.
"Like men your mother! What are you doing here, you scoundrel?" Meng Hao punched out and hit Ji Yunzheng's shoulder.
Resistant! Meng Hao took note of the visible lack of reaction from Ji Yunzheng's face. Although Meng Hao had not punched out seriously, a regular blow would still cause discomfort to anyone.
"Haha, Jiusi, of course my mother likes men. How else would I be here then?" Ji Yunzheng's words were exceedingly vulgar, but it made Meng Hao smile. Although he was trying to hide using the memories of Ke Jiusi's interactions of Ji Yunzheng, he found it hard to dislike the youth in front of him.
Hopefully, Meng Hao would not have to know silence the young man in him.
"You've been too quiet, Jiusi, and word has it you found yourself a woman," Ji Yunzheng said disapprovingly.
"You disagree? Yunzheng, we're getting older, we can't be kids anymore," Meng Hao said in rebuttal.
Ji Yunzheng paused, a blank looking suddenly appearing on his face. In a flash, he disappeared and reemerged in front of Meng Hao. His face inches away from Meng Hao's, he stared intensely at Meng Hao's face.
Sudden fear gripped Meng Hao's mind, and he felt his heart nearly leap out of his throat. Had Ji Yunzheng seen through Meng Hao? In a straight up fight with his current ability, he had no chance to stand up to such a figure.
Quickly calming his mind, he pushed back against Ji Yunzheng,
"Dammit, who told you to do that? Scare me half to death will you?" Meng Hao shook his fist angrily at Ji Yunzheng. "You better hope that I, your father, don't develop anything strange!"
Stepping backwards, Ji Yunzheng smiled and patted dust off his shoulders. "That's more like it! That's the man I call my brother! Jiusi, when did you start acting so mature?"
"I realized I can't keep acting like a kid anymore... I don't want to make father worry." Inwardly, Meng Hao sighed. Luckily, he had not been seen through by Ji Yunzheng.
Thoughtfully, Ji Yunzheng put his chin atop of his fists and nodded to himself pensively.
"Perhaps you're right, Jiusi. However, we're still young! Let's go out and paint the sect red! We can leave studying for later when we are old."
"No! I can't! I have things to do in my immortal's cave, and many magics to unravel. I'm really quite busy, so I'll have to ask Brother Yunzheng to escort himself out," Meng Hao said.
"It's that woman isn't it? I've heard the rumors, but I can't believe them. How can we--the top bachelors in the Demon Immortal Sect--be tied down so easily?" Ji Yunzheng said gloomily.
"C'mon, let's gather everyone out and have some fun! We can go drinking or watch the girls dance! Heck, we can do both!" Ji Yunzheng chattered excitedly.
Meng Hao shook his head negatively. "Forgive me, Brother Yunzheng. I am truly busy.
Ji Yunzheng's face fell and he yelled out, "Ke Jiusi, what sort of demoness is this that has you enchanted? One trip to the pleasure gardens with me and you'll forget all about her. D-did you do the thing between man and woman with her?" Ji Yunzheng's voice became more and more quiet as he neared the end of his words.
"An image transmission! I demand an image transmission! What type of beauty is this to capture your heart! Image transmissions or it didn't happen!" Ji Yunzheng shouted loudly. He lost all decorum, causing his loud shouting to attract a few number of people.
"If I show you an image transmission will you leave?" Meng Hao asked exasperatedly. Looking back at Ke Jiusi's memories, Ji Yunzheng was rarely so impassioned, but concerning his brother's affairs, especially man-woman relationships, he quickly became impassioned.
"Yes, yes, an image transmission!" Ji Yunzheng said in anticipation.
"Fine, observe." Meng Hao waved his hands, and a strong wind caused his hair to whip outwards in all directions. He circulated his cultivation base and connected intimately with his qi to craft the image of Xu Qing he held in his heart.
He thought of her dignified grace, her simple, cold beauty, and her elegant poise. All these thoughts, these feelings, Meng Hao poured them into his incantations to produce the image.
Slowly, a white mist formed in the air and began to take shape. Skin like jade emerged from the mist and a charming smile quickly followed. A sudden chill invaded the surroundings, but did not invade the bones. Instead, this sudden shift in temperature was like a cool embrace on a hot day.
His eyes closed, Meng Hao continually carved the image of Xu Qing and finally opened his eyes.
Endlessly radiant, but reserved!
This was the only way that the image of Xu Qing could be described. Were she aware of the events currently occurring, she would have broken down in gratitude and ravished Meng Hao on the spot.
Far away at the top of the Fourth Peak, a figure radiating ancientness opened his eyes. "Do you see that beloved? Our precious son... he is growing up." Ke Yunhai smiled, deep in the reminiscences of an age long ago.
Meng Hao looked at Ji Yunzheng and smiled cooly. "Well Brother Yunzheng, what do you think?" Looking at Ji Yunzheng's blank face, Meng Hao felt infinite smugness.
Although by no means he was an artist, it was an image he had taken from his heart.
"Brother Jiusi..." Ji Yunzheng's voice was hoarse. "This image..."
Meng Hao waited with baited breath to hear Ji Yunzheng's praise.
"This girl is at most a six out of ten!"
Meng Hao's smiled immediately disappeared and transformed into a rictus of fury.
Unaware of Meng Hao's anger, Ji Yunzheng continued to speak. "I'm not quite sure how you are so smitten with her. She has some strengths, but far too many weaknesses!"
"Please, continue Brother Yunzheng. Enlighten me," Meng Hao said behind clenched teeth. A thin line of blood traveled the contours of the front of his lip.
"Haha, even if you did not ask, I still would have told you!" Ji Yunzheng laughed heartily. "Look, her eyes are simply too far apart. Her nose is definitely crooked. Her face is overall just aesthetically displeasing. Her head is too large, almost like that of the Withering Flame Demon Mountain. Hah, I think I almost vomited a little in my mouth. Also, look at her elbows! They're simply to pointy like some of the fangs we've seen on Greater Demons of Heaven and Earth. On a good day, she's maybe 6.5/10. And that's a HUGE maybe. Please brother Jiusi, it's not good to play jokes. You know my heart can't take it!"
Ji Yunzheng clapped Meng Hao's shoulders merrily and continued to laugh.
"Brother Yunzheng," Meng Hao said softly.
"Yes?" Yunzheng replied.
"Screw off!" Meng Hao slammed his fist into Yunzheng's face, launching him into the ground.
For the next fifteen minutes, the only thing heard on the Fourth Peak was Ji Yunzheng's crying and the resounding claps Meng Hao's hits made.
"I'm sorry, please Brother Jiusi! I did not know you made her your beloved!"
"Eleven out of ten! Say it, bitch! She's an eleven out of ten, Heaven wills it!"
"Eleven! Eleven! I'm sorry! Eleven!" Ji Yunzheng shrieked miserably.
Sweat poured down Meng Hao's face, and he sat down on the ground exhausted. Slapping his bag of holding, a gourd of Spirit Wine appeared in his grasp, and he drank deeply. Wiping his mouth of any residue, he tossed the gourd over to Ji Yunzheng who laid on the ground.
"Haha, Brother Jiusi still knows how to treat his friends well!" As if he had not just experienced a death-narrowing beating, Ji Yunzheng took the gourd and sipped happily.
"Keep to gourd. I'm going back to my immortal's cave." Meng Hao moved to leave, but Ji Yunzheng shouted after him.
"Your father wanted me to get you to have fun!"
Meng Hao paused, and a conflicted look appeared on his face. It was one thing for Ji Yunzheng to look for him to go revel in debauchery, but it was a completely different affair if Ke Yunhai asked Ji Yunzheng to go out as well.
His father must have been worried about his sudden change in attitude, so he sent Ji Yunzheng to tell him to have fun.
"Very well. Let's go out. But I'm not doing anything bad! I've turned over a new leaf!"
"Then what can we do?" Ji Yunzheng said frustratedly.
Meng Hao paused and gave Ji Yunzheng a once over. Meng Hao was cultivating his fleshly body using the various resources of the Demon Immortal Sect, but he still required time to rest in between or else the strain from training his body would overwhelm him.
"How about you teach me your secret body art?"
"What secret body art?" Ji Yunzheng said dumbly.
"Fool, don't try to trick me! C'mon tell this brother of yours." Meng Hao pleaded.
"Brother Jiusi, I really don't know what you're talking--" Ji Yunzheng's eyes glittered brightly and realization dawned upon him. "Haha, Brother Jiusi wants to do that now? You are still the same! Normally, I wouldn't take anyone with me for this event, but you are my sworn brother!"
Meng Hao was confused by Ji Yunzheng's wording, but nodded. "Please lead the way!"
"Brother Jiusi, I want you to know... this path is truly difficult and not one to tread lightly. The gains are immense, but the damage caused by it transcends the flesh!"
Transcends the flesh! Meng Hao's mind rumbled. What type of art transcended the flesh? Was it possibly also an art that strengthened the soul as well? Giddily, Meng Hao nodded in assent.
"Let's do it!" Meng Hao cried out.
"Good, good, good! I am glad to see my brother so enthusiastic. Hmmm... tonight there is a special event... however, I'm not sure if you can handle it. There is a chance you may not survive... however, if you do survive, you will be on the same level as me!"
"I can handle it!" Meng Hao roared.
"Yes, that's the spirit! However," Ji Yunzheng said lowly, "the place we must go the Sixth Peak!"
Meng Hao's eyes widen and his body trembled.
Stay away from the Sixth Peak and lay low!
Ke Yunhai had made this crystal clear to Meng Hao.
"Brother Yunzheng, is there no other way?"
"There is no other way! There is no great reward in this world without great risk. If you can't even muster the courage to step on the Sixth Peak, then how can you scale the heavens!" Ji Yunzheng said heatedly.
In his heart, Meng Hao knew Ji Yunzheng was right. To become the number one figure, Meng Hao would go to great lengths.
"Let's go!" Meng Hao steeled his heart, and besides Ji Yunzheng, flew into the air towards the Sixth Peak.
The pair arrived as the sun was setting behind the Sixth Peak. Sixth Peak was normally a taboo area, since it was reserved for female disciples only. Thanks to Ke Jiusi's memories, Meng Hao actually knew quite a few secrets concerning how to navigate the area safely and without detection.
If the paragon of the Sixth Peak actually found him...
Meng Hao shuddered. He did not want to think of the consequences. This innate fear spurred him to complete his tribulation even faster.
"Over there," Ji Yunzheng whispered lowly and pointed towards a great white fog.
Large and looming, the great mist seemed to cover over an area of ten kilometers. It hovered over Meng Hao menacingly, causing him to gulp involuntarily.
"Brother Yunzheng, please lead the way," Meng Hao said.
"I cannot do this. From now on, you must travel the path alone." Ji Yunzheng shooked his head. "Head straight into the mist. You will know when to stop." His voice took a sudden turn, but Meng Hao was unable to place the tone. However, it somewhat reminded him of the errant parrot, Lord Fifth. "Please... Brother Jiusi... becareful." With those parting words, Ji Yunzheng vanished away into the darkness of night.
Meng Hao sighed, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply in the direction Ji Yunzheng had left.
'Perhaps members of the Ji Clan are not all bad' Meng Hao thought quietly to himself.
His eyes burning with fire, Meng Hao swept away all hesitation and ran into the mist.
In every direction he looked, endless mist covered his vision. He dared not even extend his divine sense even an inch, unless he was found out. Continuing to run, his clothing became wet due to the mist.
Meng Hao was truly unnerved. Every now and then he would hear ghostly giggles, causing him to run even faster.
What sort of place was this that allowed Ji Yunzheng to temper his fleshly body. And the disciples of the Sixth Peak wanted to keep it all for themselves?
Not from Meng Hao!
In his musings, Meng Hao managed to somehow trip over some sort of object, causing him to rocket into the air. The speed he was running at was intense, sending him further in the air.
'Dammit, did I mess up!' He cried to himself.
Meng Hao's face paled as he began to hear the running of water and giggling of females.
"Elder Sister that tickles..." Meng Hao blanched as he heard a sweet young voice accompanied by a carefree giggle.
"Let this Big Sis, help you out, ok?"
If there was a medicine for regret, Meng Hao would have taken it at this moment. As soon as he returned to the regular world, he would use his prowess and pill concoction to create such an elixir.
SPLASH!
Meng Hao moaned as he slammed into water hard. The vastness of space and the twinkling of stars spun around his head as he picked himself off the ground easily.
Dropping to one foot, Meng Hao reached his hand out to find his grip on something.
To his perplexment, he gripped a soft, toned object and squeezed experimentally.
Still in a dazed state, he pushed himself forward and found himself blinded, but enclosed in softness.
Regaining his bearings, Meng Hao pushed himself off and scanned his surroundings.
"Oh, F**k," Meng Hao cursed loudly, and his skin turned into a bone white. "Take me now, Heavens, take me now."
Before him was an alluring young vixen. Her long, wet ebony tresses hung limply to her shoulders, but further enhanced her enchanting figures. Her face was not only pure in features, but also pure in a state akin to that of True Celestial beauties.
Although she emitted a timeless purity, her body was built in such a way that it would only drive men to state of raving lunacy.
All these things mattered little to Meng Hao because right now he was thoroughly screwed.
It took a moment for the heaven-seizing beauty to respond, but when she did, fat tears formed in her eyes.
"Y-you, Big Bro Jiusi, h-how could you!" The Beauty began to cry loudly, and Meng Hao stepped back woodenly to accept his fate.
'No one has ever truly died in the Primordial Immortal Demon Plane before, but I guess I will be the first!'
He was surrounded by beauties, Meng Hao finally noticed. Each one displayed different looks on their faces, but the thing they all had in common was that they were endless enraged.
"Small ones, big ones... what a delight!" Meng Hao said absent mindedly. In response, the females around him gathered around him angrily. His eyes were blank, and Meng Hao had already retreated to the safety of his mind.
"Please," he said hollowly, "be gentle. I am still a virgin."
Meng Hao's howls were heard through the entire seven peaks that night.
"I don't want to make father worry anymore. I'm turning over a new leaf. Were these all just empty words, Ke Jiusi!" Ke Yunhai roared angrily.
Beside him stood the mature, beautiful Paragon of the Sixth Peak and the girl Meng Hao accosted. In front of him, Meng Hao and Ji Yunzheng sat down on their heels with their arms tied behind them.
"Dad, I..." Meng Hao's voice trembled. He truly did not wish to make his father upset at him.
"Shut up, I'll get to you! And you, Ji Yunzheng! This is not what I meant by having fun with Jiusi'er! Wait until you grandfather finds out."
Although Meng Hao was in the grips of the bitter sea, Ji Yunzheng was unruffled as an ancient turtle.
"Hah, who do you think taught me such things, Senior Ke!"
"You... you..." Ke Yunhai's face reddened, and his forehead veins bulged out hideously. Breathing deeply, color slowly returned to his face, and he straightened his attire.
"A thousand apologies, Madame Sixth and Little Mistress Sixth!" In front of the two, Ke Yunhai actually bowed to his waist. "I will do what it takes to erase my son's mistakes!" Ke Yunhai tactfully left out Ji Yunzheng.
'I f**ked up big time. Little Mistress Sixth!' Meng Hao began to weep like a little kid. Little Mistress Sixth was the beloved niece of the Paragon of the Sixth Peak.
"It is not you who needs to pay, Paragon Ke, but your son." Madame Sixth's voice held an icy chill comparable to an endless winter. "My niece's purity has been compromised. How can she hope to get married now?"
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry." Meng Hao sobbed out. All traces of the unflappable cultivator were gone, and Meng Hao suddenly felt like a boy again in the State of Zhao.
"I will take responsibility." Meng Hao had no idea it meant to take responsibility, but he would not have his father pay the price.
"Jiusi'er..." Even though Ke Yunhai was thoroughly enraged, his eyes still softened towards his son.
"Please, honored aunt, I can't watch this continue any longer!" Besides Madame Sixth, the Jade beauty spoke out. She went directly to Meng Hao's side, freed him of his bonds, and helped him stand up.
Staring into Meng Hao's eyes, the Sixth Paragon looked at him coldly and unleashed the full force of her cultivation base on him. "You know... I hate you. I sincerely hate you."
Meng Hao felt his eyes bulge out like they were about to erupt violently, and his chest cavity felt like it was about to implode. The invisible weight leveled by the Sixth Paragon caused him to visibly stagger back.
Raising his head determinedly, Meng Hao nodded his head. "I-I know."
"Aunt, please. It was all an accident. Let's just forget this OK?" Seeing Meng Hao's state of distress the Jade Beauty frantically pleaded with her aunt.
"Hmph, able to speak through my pressure? Perhaps there is some hope for you." The Sixth Paragon smirked.
"I will accept responsibility!" Meng Hao all but shouted.
"Big Bro Jiusi..." An unknowable emotion raced in the Jade Beauty's eyes, and her face flushed deeply. "I accept!" Her voice quivered with unimaginable emotion.
"Very well." The Sixth Paragon hesitantly nodded. "Sign the marriage contract and set the date for the wedding!"
Meng Hao almost spat out blood, but smiled weakly. 'Marriage engagement?' Meng Hao felt his vision swim, and he fell back to the ground completely unconscious.
Still bound, Ji Yunzheng looked at Meng Hao enviously. "Dammit, this guy doesn't know how to appreciate good beauty! I should've gone!"
In response to his words, the Sixth Paragon slapped him across the head. "I will be having words with you." Her words held the promises of endless pain.
"Hehe, hopefully it's one on one!" Ji Yunzheng smiled weakly. Even at a time like this, he could make jokes.
As Meng Hao slowly faded into darkness, he spied a man. He was young, but released an aura of ancientness.
Looking down on Meng Hao, the man shook his head nostalgically.
"It seems that even when a path is walked differently in another life time, some treadings are the same as the last.
FIN
(1) play on words. the Yunhai in Ke Yunhai means cloud sea. I changed it to Kuhai, meaning the bitter sea
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Hope you guys enjoyed reading this story. Clocked in a little under 10k words, but still felt like I was rushed. (I kinda waited a little last minute to do this...)
Compared to my other contest story, I feel that my pacing in this was a little bit better, if not a little rushed, towards the end.