Zahar was rather satisfied with the haul of cultivation materials. The merchants did well, and shipped in a large number of low and medium quality herbs from the surroundings. It was what he did for an entire month, and by the end of that month, his cultivation barely rose to the 4th stage of the 2nd realm.

The merchants actually checked whether he wanted more, and he shook his head. "The City Lord has been exceptionally generous, but this is enough."

Around the same time, there was a buzz in the background, as servants scurried around. Sana's mother began packing her supplies for her stay at the Roaring Dragon Sect. Each outer disciple was awarded the right to take a small bag of their own belongings. These days, everyone cheats by stuffing everything into a small spatial bag.

Mostly personal effects, since the treasures available in the Roaring Dragon Sect greatly outstrips what’s available to most of the wealthy or powerful families.

"You've been accepted, Zahar." City Lord Eshtar passed him a letter of acceptance from the Roaring Dragon Sect. "You will enter as an outer disciple, under the invited disciples route."

Zahar nodded. "Thank you, City Lord. There was no need for you to come personally just to hand me this slip."

He laughed, and then joked. The City Lord's tone was friendly, accommodating. "May I speak with you, as a man to another?"

The ancient immortal nodded, and offered the physically older lord a seat at the tea corner in his chambers. Sana was out, spending time with family. It'll be some time before she sees them again. Most disciples don't see their family for decades, though they keep in touch through letters and various other means.

The City Lord's face was serious, as he asked. "My daughter is young, and she has not seen the crouching tigers and hidden dragons of the world beyond, despite our best attempts to tell her.”

They both sipped their tea for a moment, as if the City Lord wanted that message to sink in.

“Some of what she says and does is colored by that naivety. Me and my wife, we are both in the larger scheme of things, fairly average cultivators, and though we try our best to educate them, our knowledge is frankly lacking. I hope you do not find her words and her questions troubling."

Zahar smiled, amused at the cultivator's attempt to manage his expectations. "I know what I see, City Lord. I will not judge her too harshly."

"Indeed. If she has offended you, and you see it fit to punish her, I would like to offer myself as her replacement. I will bear her mistakes, and I ask for the chance to defend her on her behalf."

Zahar, however, didn't expect that from the City Lord. He thought he was fairly selfish as cultivators went, but it seemed hidden under all that is still some genuine love for her daughter. He nodded. "I wouldn't worry too much, City Lord. I like to believe I am a fairly decent judge of character, and your daughter shall be well."

"Ah- in that case, I'll take your word for it." The City Lord clasped his hands together in thanks. "There is another thing-"

"Ooh?" Zahar was amused.

"Do you have any foes, enemies or grudges that we should be wary of? In my limited experience, it would help if we could prepare beforehand-"

The Zenith Emperor laughed. That was a good question. "I must say, none that I remember. And besides, if my old rivals do touch anything in this realm, there's nothing any of you could do."

City Lord Eshtar nodded. "At least death will be swift."

"The most merciful of deaths."

"I assume this is not your true body?"

Zahar liked intelligent people, and merely shrugged. "It's complicated. Best not explained."

"Indeed, indeed." The City Lord sipped his tea, and after a long, strangely comfortable silence, he asked again. "My wife told me- you've not actually initiated the act with my daughter even after this past month and some. Is there anything unsatisfactory about her in her duties as a concubine?"

If Sana was listening to the question, she'd probably choke on whatever she was eating and spit out her tea. Her parents were surprisingly concerned with their daughter’s bed affairs.

Zahar laughed. "I have come into possession of this body just for a short moment, and this body is fairly weak. I spent the past month mending most of the flaws. Please rest assured that I have not found your daughter unsatisfactory. She is charming, and attractive. The fault of not consummating our relationship lies in me, but it should be fixed soon."

The City Lord looked greatly relieved. "Great. Great. That is good to hear. Lastly, I heard from my aides that you've stopped additional orders for the cultivation materials. Is there something else you wish to acquire?"

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"No. I intend to spend the rest of the month properly resting, and doing what a man should do with a beautiful woman."

"Ah." The City Lord had a bright smile. "Then I should not get in your way. I only ask that you treat her well."

Zahar just nodded.

***

"My father was here?" Sana was instantly curious when Zahar mentioned it. Zahar and Sana had largely settled into a routine where during the day, they'd do their own things, and after dinner, they would spend some time together.

"Yes." Sana had gotten quite comfortable undressed around Zahar, and he even noticed some unusual nightwear from her, which, he soon guessed, came from the mother. The city lord and his wife must have quite a good nightlife.

"What- what did he want- sorry, I mean, what did he say?" Sana said as she rested at her side of the bed. Her body no longer flinched when his fingers touched her waist or her shoulders.

"The recommendation letter worked, and he asked me to be lenient with you."

"Oh." Sana smiled.

"He also asked when we'll consummate our arrangement as my concubine."

The lady cursed, and then blushed. "Don't- don't listen to him."

He placed his hand on her shoulder, and pulled her closer to him. "I'm in agreement, actually."

"-what-" Sana's face turned red. "I- I-"

That hand on her shoulder slid down to her waist, and pulled her closer. "The important question, therefore, is do you want to do it."

Sana's already red face didn't know what to say, but then, as her eyes and his met, her mind spun. It was something she thought about extensively. Fate had arranged for her to be a part of this man’s journey.

Life was strange, and her mother asked her to embrace her new life. She smiled slightly, and nodded.

If this was what fate sent her way, she might as well go with it. At the very least, he didn’t seem excessively cruel.

"-yes."

Zahar didn't ask why, instead, he pulled her close for a kiss, and their lips met. His hands went to places Sana had never let another man touch and that night, they proceeded to consummate their relationship for the first time. It was awkward, and it took a while for her to warm up to act of embracing a man and engaging in intercourse, but Sana eventually found some enjoyment in her first night with a man.

***

Sana walked to her parent's chambers, and saw her father grin at her. She didn't like that smug grin at all. She clasped her hand together, and greeted them. "Greetings, father, mother."

"Come my dear daughter, sit, sit." Mother just had a quiet, subdued smile.

"You wanted to speak to me?" Zahar had apparently gone out for a hunt. It was strange that he wanted to do so, but Sana wasn't going to object to it, and certainly didn’t see how he could be hurt with his abilities.

"How'd your first night go?" Mother asked.

"Uh. Alright, I guess?" Sana's face was a tinge red, but she could be honest with her mother. Mother and daughter shared a lot together, and it was Sana who asked her mother whether it was normal that he didn't seem to want to consummate their relationship. Mother just smiled at her response, giving her a look. Her mother wanted to hear the details later.

"Really? You were quite- loud." Father laughed. "There should have been some voice-dampening formations installed into your room. You didn't use them?"

Sana paused, face now really red. "Ah- I didn't know we had that."

"It's alright, we didn't ask you to tease you about your first time with a man." Father said, and then corrected himself when Sana glared. "Alright, maybe a little. But we wanted to tell you something."

"Oh."

"Remember Evin Emmaria?" The City Lord said. "Think you two met once when she visited with her father, the City Lord Emmaria, of Ouldran."

"Oh. Yes. Evin. It's been two years since we last met."

"She has also been accepted to join the Roaring Dragon Sect, and will be there with you."

"I see." Sana nodded, curious where this conversation led.

"Her father sent me a letter, a request, essentially. Somehow the news of my breakthrough to the fifth realm reached the other city lords, and many have started to reconnect." The City Lord said with mild amusement.

Something for her to do in the Roaring Dragon Sect?

"Truth is, the City Lord has many enemies, and some are targeting his daughter. He asked for you to help protect her. Her cultivation is behind you, only in the middle stages of the 2nd realm."

Sana couldn't remember what rank or realm the City Lord of Ouldran was, but every city lord was at least the 4th realm. "I guess I could do that. If the enemies are not too hard to handle."

City Lord Eshtar nodded. "It's best if you are subtle about it, until you know who you are dealing with. She will likely try to cling on you for support, and those that try to get her will target you as a result."

Evin and Sana didn't play all that much together. Their memories together were faint, hazy, but she did remember Evin as a pleasant lady that was at least nice to be around. Much better than the other boys.

"I also have some bad news."

Sana somehow expected that. "What- what is it?"

"The news of your concubinage has reached some of the other city lords, and a few of them are displeased. They won't do anything, because I'm now in the 5th realm, but I expect their children, a few that will join the sect at the same time as you, will give you and your mate some trouble. I wouldn't worry for Zahar, he is after all an ancient, but you need to be careful. They may engineer things to go wrong."

The young mistress frowned. "Oh darn."

"Some will challenge Zahar for it, but, if you could, some of these young children, their fathers are friends. It's best if you could counsel them, and let them know not to mess with Zahar."

She could already imagine the difficult conversations. The fact that she's a concubine of a supposedly no-named person would obviously trigger some people. "I'll try. I doubt they'll believe me though, unless Zahar beats them up."

"Sad, that is how it is. If only more people were gifted with your sense of intuition." The City Lord said with a long sigh. "I believe your time in the Roaring Dragon sect will be eventful, at least."

"That sounds intimidating, father."

“Well, you’ve been chosen.”