"You know, master, you don't have to stay here."

I turned my attention to Li Mei. Currently, she was in her smaller fox form. She was the size of a terrier, with nine fluffy tails fanned out behind her. Her fur was sleek and white as snow. It was also softer than anything he'd ever felt in my life.

"Tired of me already?" I teased.

She came up to me and rubbed the top of her head under my chin. "Never. But I'm okay. The sect leader already said I can defend myself."

That had been a relief. Jiutian Xuan came by to speak to Li Mei. She offered her apologies for the way she had been treated and assured her she could defend herself in the future.

"I know." I shrugged. "I worry Chan will come and try to kill you while I'm away."

"Then why don't I stay with Elder Chyou? She said that she'd look after me." Li Mei reminded me.

That was true. And Chyou had chastised me, too. Informing me that if I focused too much on my fear, it could hinder my cultivation. I took in a deep breath and let it out. Maybe I needed to listen to them. I wasn't one to worry about things that were beyond my control. This bond between me and Li Mei caused my overprotectiveness. I'd need to work on controlling these new feelings before they controlled me.

"Alright. I could always use some more contribution points. I'll go to the assignment hall. After I drop you off."

She leaped into my arms and licked my cheek. I scratched behind her ear. I called Liu Feng and the three of us walked toward Elder Chyous's house.

Chyou was in her pavilion as usual. When she saw our approach, she came to meet us halfway. "Greeting Elder Chyou," I said and bowed, still holding Li Mei.

She bowed back, a brilliant smile gracing her full lips. "Does this mean you're finally taking my advice?"

I sighed dramatically. "Yes, I have learned the error of my ways. The wise and ancient Elder Chyou is always right."

She smacked my arm and glared at me. "Who's ancient? I'm not so fond of you that I won't give you a good thrashing."

I laughed and bowed again. "My apologies venerable Elder, please forgive me."

She rolled her eyes and held out her hand for Li Mei. I handed her over and Chyou held her lovingly, stroking her soft fur. "I'll take good care of her."

"I love the attention, but I can, in fact, take care of myself." Li Mei sulked.

Chyou flipped her over, so she was belly up then scratched her belly. I watched with amusement as Li Mei's tongue lolled to the side and she went limp in Chyou's arms.

"Oh, don't stop. I'll be as helpless as you want." Li Mei moaned.

I shook with my repressed laughter and said goodbye to them both. I had to get out of there. Li Mei's back leg started kicking in the air like a dog. When I was sure I was far enough away, I laughed like a madman, having to stop and catch my breath.

Liu Feng was laughing with me. "She was so adorable! I thought I was going to die from laughter!"

"I know! It took everything I had to hold it in." I agreed.

We continued laughing for a few more minutes before we continued on to the Assignment hall, now in high spirits.

The usual attendant straightened when he saw me approach. "I'm looking for an assignment. Something that will take me out of the sect."

The attendant sifted through the papers he kept and then handed me one. "There's been reports of a demon beast attacking the villages in Peach Blossom valley." He told me.

I took the paper and read.

***

Demon Beast hunt

Hunt and exterminate the demon beast attacking the Peach Blossom Valley villages.

Reward: 1,000 contribution points.

Additional rewards: Bring back the Demon Beast core and receive either a Fine or Rare quality weapon or piece of armor

***

"I'll take it," I told him. He stamped the paper with his seal. I nodded my thanks and left the Assignment hall.

Liu Feng thankfully knew where Peach Blossom Valley was. Within the mountain range, the Yin Yang sect called home were several valleys with filial villages. Liu Feng herself was from Peach Blossom valley herself. I'd stop at her village for a visit. I hope she still had living members to visit.

I knew when we arrived at Peach Blossom Valley. I would have been blind to miss it. Every tree in there was a peach tree. The Peach Blossoms on the trees bloomed all year round, giving the valley its name.

"I don't suppose you know why the flowers bloom all year round?" I asked Liu Feng.

"I do. The ambient Qi in this valley is so potent that the Blossoms soak it up and rejuvenate themselves. The peaches on the trees are full of Qi as well. They're great for helping novice cultivators. We should take time to cultivate here. The Ambient QI will help you form your core."

I made a sound of agreement. This place was peaceful and I could feel the ambient Qi around me. "Where was the demon beast last seen?"

"Just north of here. Follow me." She instructed. I followed behind her, keeping a hand on my Jian. When we came upon the spot in question, I let my aura billow out. The demon beast will sense it and come looking for its next meal.

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We patiently waited till I felt the change in the Qi around us. I could feel a cold malevolence off to my right. I gripped my Jian but made no other move. The demon beast was stalking us. If we showed any sign, we were aware of its presence, it might choose to run or lure us to a place where it would have the upper hand.

Without warning, the demon beast leaped from the trees. I erected a barrier in time to take the brunt of its attack. The demon beast was a massive bangle tiger with blood-red eyes. A chitinous armor protected its torso and at the end of its tail was a barbed stinger.

It roars its outrage in being thwarted. Liu Feng stood close to me sword drawn. We faced down the demon beast as it circled us. His longer-than-average tail whipped about. The barbed end struck at us. We deflected its attacks, further enraging it.

Liu and I were a cohesive unit now. Before the incident with Chan and Li Mei, we would go on such hunting expeditions often. We'd developed a good working relationship. While I fended off the tail, she used her size and speed to dart in and cut at the demon beast's tendons. She started first with its front legs. It yowled and whined as it lost the use of its front legs.

Next, she cut the tendons of its back legs, effectively paralyzing it. It mewled and whined as its tail struck frantically at us. I blocked and parried its attacks before cutting its tail off entirely. The pitiful sound it made as it realized it was helpless tugged at my heartstrings. Not wanting it to suffer, I put it out of its misery. I plunged my blade into its skull, killing it quickly.

Liu Feng then carefully cut out its core. I stored both the care of the carcass in my storage ring. Maxing out its storage space. I needed to get a bigger one. Maybe a Rare quality storage ring was just what I would ask for. As for the carcass, I could take it to the sects for forge masters and they'd be able to make me some special weapons from it. The talons and bones from the beast would make sore outstanding weapons, let alone what the hide could be made from.

I caught Liu Feng staring off into the distance. The direction of her village was what I guessed. "I recall you come from this valley. While we are here, let's pay your family a visit."

She looked at me in surprise. "Why would you care?" She seemed genuinely curious.

I stepped forward. "It would be unfilial if you didn't visit while you were in the area. Besides." I stepped closer and pinned her against the nearest tree. Her cheeks flushed when I captured her lips with mine. She let out a soft moan. "While I've enjoyed our little game of cat and mouse." I pulled on her lower lip with my teeth. "I'm more than ready to stop playing with you little mouse and get on to serious matters."

Her eyes were wide and her lips slightly parted as she gazed into my eyes. She nodded her head meekly. I could say that I loved this woman. When she had a sword in her hand, she was strong and confident. But kiss her and she turned into a meal and pliant little thing. I couldn't deny I loved the contrast. "Lead the way," I whispered into her ear.

As if in a daze, she walked on unsteady feet toward the village she'd grown up in. The entire walk there, she seemed lost in her own thoughts, only coming back to herself when the village was in sight. It was a relatively large village with at least thirty homes that I could see.

A group of children spotted them. They pointed and shouted. "Liu Feng!" They ran off and shouted her name again and again. Within minutes, over a dozen people came out to greet them, or more accurately, Liu Feng. She beamed as she greeted friends and old neighbors. I loved the stunning smile on her face. We spent several minutes greeting everyone that came to see her. Naturally, no one paid me any attention, and I respectfully faded into the background. I sat on a stool and waited patiently. A young, thin girl approached me shyly. "Who are you?"

I smiled at her. I used my Qi manifestation to summon a Peach Bloom into his hand. Her eyes lit up as she cupped the flower in her hand and inhaled the sweet scent. I took the flower and pinned it into her hair. She was beaming at me. "I'm Alastair. What's your name?"

She blushed and swung her body from side to side in the way young children did. "Li Ju." Unable to stand her childhood embarrassment, she bolted away. I caught her peeking at me a little smile gracing her face. Kids were an enigma to me. But they were adorable all the same. Thirty minutes later Liu Feng seemed to notice I wasn't around and she made her way over to me a look of mortification on her face, She kowtowed several times before I could stop her. "I'm sorry, Master Ivory, I didn't realize I'd made you wait so long. "

"It's okay. And when we're in private, just call me Alastair. Come on, let's find your parents."

She nodded, and all but dragged me along to make up for the lost time. It wasn't as if we were in a hurry. But some of the social norms of this place were wonky. Such as making someone who was your senior in age or status wait too long for anything was extremely rude. I didn't see it that way. If this was official business or if she had accompanied me on an errand and we took a detour for her, then making me wait so long would be rude. But we were primarily here for her. These people were like family to her. Judging by their reactions to her beloved family no doubt.

But there was no point arguing with her about it now. I'd have to train her out of some of her bad habits at a later date. Liu Feng's family house was at the other end of the village.

When she knocked on the door, an elderly pair answered. The man and woman had grey hair, the woman leaning towards silver. But as old people went, they look fantastic. The woman was the epitome of milf. And the man looked old but strong at the same time. Neither had a wrinkle on them.

Both their faces lit up when they saw Liu Feng and they enveloped her in a hug. "Mother, Father, This Is Master Alastair Ivory."

Her parents bowed respectfully to me, and I returned their bows. They invited us in and sat at a well-made table sipping fruit wine with them.

"What brings you down the mountain?" Her father asked me.

"Liu Feng and I just finished hunting the demon beast that had been attacking the valley. Liu Feng mentioned she grew up in the valley and I suggested we pay you a visit." I told them.

They both beamed at me before turning their smiles on Liu Feng. She chatted with her parents, catching up with them. Without warning, her mother turned to me. "Master Ivory. What is your relationship with our daughter?"

Smirked at her and sipped my wine before answering casually. "We're courting."

Her mother let out a delighted gasp of air, while her father glared daggers at me. Parents were the same no matter the world.

"I suppose out of all the suitors she could have, you are slightly more acceptable." Her father told me.

I bowed my head, honored by his words. At least he hadn't threatened me with bodily harm. I accepted their invitation to stay for dinner, letting her have more time with her parents. I helped her mother cook, and I impressed her with my cooking skills. I heard her father mutter under his breath about "Men shouldn't be cooking" and rolled my eyes. Later, when we enjoyed our soup with white rice, the look of delight on the old man's face gave me smug satisfaction.

The sun was setting when we finally left. Seeing as it would be full dark by the time we got back to the sect, I used a teleportation talisman to take us back to the Assignment hall. I turned in the paper for its stamp of completion and handed over the demon core as proof of their success.

The attendant looked the core over and then stamped the assignment sheet completed. "The core is worth one Rare quality weapon or item. Which would you prefer?"

"A new storage ring," I told the attendant. He nodded and came back shortly with a silver ring in the shape of a curling dragon holding a blue orb in its mouth. "How big is the storage?"

"At Rare quality, it holds the size of a storage house. It also has the option for you to soul wander within and customize the space within." He informed me.

Soul wander? Nice. Soul wandering was when a cultivator separated themselves from the body. It was a lot like astral projecting. I hadn't done it yet. But maybe I'd practice with my new storage ring. I handed over my sect seal for my contribution points.

He took it and quickly transferred the points before closing the building for the night. I turned to Liu Feng with a smile. "Let's go home." I wrapped an arm around her waist and strolled with her to my residence.