Zahar returned that evening itself, he carried some bodies which he placed into the alchemy workshop. Sana was there to greet him. She thought it wasn't necessary, but her mother told her that every good wife would be there for their husband when they are back from a trip.

Her mother was frankly blunt. “You’re his concubine. You should consider one of the goals in the Roaring Dragon Sect is to get promoted and elevate yourself to be his first wife.” Her mother said. “He likely has access to secret resources and techniques known only to him, and if you can get that, you will grow too.”

She decided it was best to defer to her mother's wisdom, and so went to see him.

"Welcome back." Sana walked into the alchemy workshop to find it filled with a strange stench. She recognized the creature, it was a late 3rd realm beast commonly found in the outskirts, nearer to the mountains.

The Firestone Monkey, and there were three of them all in various stages of harvesting. Zahar merely gave her a smile and nod, and went back to work.

"-do you need anything-" Sana gulped before trying what her mother taught her. "-husband?"

Zahar paused momentarily. It wasn't entirely wrong for a concubine to refer to her master as husband. In some worlds, it was true that the man was his concubine’s husband.

The Emperor smirked, and decided to play along. "Some tea would be nice, my dear Sana."

"Certainly, my love." The words still felt a little awkward, as it didn't have the meaning it was meant to have and she bowed like her mother taught her to, her dress intentionally more revealing than it was meant to be.

The tea came quickly, and she served it herself. She struggled, a part of her cursed herself, that she never took all the etiquette training seriously. But mother claimed this would help endear her to her new mate, and in return, she would receive his protection and attention.

Zahar noticed, of course, and a part of him smiled. It was indeed nice to receive service from one's concubine, and even when he managed an empire as a Zenith Emperor with millions of servants throughout the multiple worlds, there's still nothing quite like receiving care and attention from a beautiful lady that he adored.

He sipped it momentarily, and praised the young mistress for her effort. "Tea certainly tastes better when served by a beautiful lady."

She blushed slightly, and didn't know where to look. He placed the emptied tea cup back down and went back to work. She watched as Zahar emptied the bodies of their valuable parts.

She didn't know what he was doing, her knowledge of alchemy certainly lacking. As far as she knew, the monkey was only useful for the Beast Core, and the liver that was often used for medicine.

Zahar decided to educate her concubine. "I am making two pills from the beast core, one for your father, and one for you. It should take a week. It should improve your physique, and enhance your bone strength, giving your father the strength of someone two minor stages higher. For you, it'll be much more."

Sana bowed, and noticing what her mother said seemed to work, decided to follow through. "Thank you, my love. Your care for this one's family is appreciated."

The words still felt hollow. She didn't feel love. Perhaps not yet, even if she was comfortable with him and had done the deed with him. Zahar only nodded. "If a man came and demanded their daughter's hand in marriage, it is only right I make suitable reparations to the family. Consider this the second part of my dowry."

Sana briefly thought that was such an old-fashioned view, one that still persisted strongly in the upper circles, all those old farts. In a world where power makes the world go round, it is still the unfortunate truth that you will lose what you can't protect.

***

The City Lord was in a great mood. He didn't care what pill it was called, but any pill that could improve his physique and grant strength of two minor realms was a miracle pill.

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Unlike her father, who could absorb the pill within a single day, Sana needed almost three days, and Zahar had to help her with it. For three days, Zahar had to guide the essence of the Firestone Monkey into her bones and muscles, and help ensure they didn't deal damage to her body.

Zahar's qi entered her body and suppressed the violent energies from the pill throughout her body, while she focused on absorbing the relevant segments. It did somewhat frustrate her that it was such a hard process, when her father did it so easily.

But when it was done, she felt the flames around her instinctively, as if she resonated with them. It was surreal.

She felt his arms and fingers on her waist. The flames flickered into existence with hardly any effort. It’s almost like they danced around her fingers.

"Quite a good feeling, isn't it?"

She looked back at her supposed lover, and nodded. The carpeted floor was soaked with sweat from her three days of constant cultivation, and then she felt so hungry.

“Yes.” She said, and then her stomach growled.

Zahar snapped a finger, and two maids came in with food. He draped a robe around her, covering her body, and she began to eat. Those three days felt hazy, because of all the time she spent absorbing the energies from that damned pill.

It was preparation, Zahar said. She'll need it because of the kind of heaven defying talents that congregated at places like these great sects, and he wouldn't be there all the time to protect her.

A part of Sana cursed that her mother was right. By endearing herself to this man, she managed to get some additional benefits for herself and her family. Were men all so easily manipulated?

Even powerful ones?

Her mother said that beauty was a weapon, and she had to use it. Since men desired beauty, and desired to possess it, she should not shy away from trading her beauty away for benefits. A part of her was a little revolted, since it wasn't that far removed from prostitution in principle, but her mother had the exact response. "Everyone trades something for another, my dear. As long as he is willing to give it, then you should take it. It is what we are wired to do, to give better chances to our offspring."

She ate the food, and remembered the other advice her mother gave.

"We can fall in love with the one we spend time with. Don't delude yourself with dreams of love with someone you just met. Love can be cultivated, like the sparks of Qi, it can bloom when you least expect it. All you need is effort and time."

She looked at Zahar, and wondered whether she would fall in love with a man who would go on to have many wives.

How did the concubines of the Emperor feel?

Was it all a transaction in the end?

***

"Don't dwell too long in your thoughts, my daughter." Mother said to Sana, the words a little more than a whisper. "The fact that he beds you every other day is a good sign, and I am certain your father will be glad to know."

"Please don't tell father." Sana said. "It's so embarrassing when he speaks of it."

Mother laughed. "Oh, I made sure to let everyone know. Here's the thing, my dear. Men love the sensation of power, and they also love to have people know they are good in bed. It gives them a sense of power."

Sana stewed.

"Besides, all the maids know you and Zahar are happily doing it. They could hear you as they walked past your chambers."

Her face was absolutely red.

"Don't worry, and don't be such a prude. I've never raised you to be so sensitive about such things. It is our duty, and it is our power. Embrace it like a weapon, and use it on your man."

Her mother laughed.

"I really need to better train your sisters, if this is your reaction."

"They're too young!"

"Not much younger than you, dear. In a few years they too will walk your path, and I hope they find a powerful man like you." Mother said. "Your father has sent a letter to the Roaring Dragon Sect, asking for shared accommodations for yourself and Zahar, as you two are a couple."

"-what." Sana couldn't believe it. "Does that happen? Is that allowed?"

"Very rare, actually. Most men find new partners in the Sect, as with the beautiful women. As you grow in cultivation, you will only grow more attractive to those around you. The impurities purged, the body enhanced."

Mother herself was a mediocre cultivator, at just the peak of the 3rd realm, and Sana was already on par with her mom in terms of strength. The two exchanged a glance, and mother smiled.

She leaned closer to her daughter, and then gave Sana a hug. "You'll be alright. What will be, will be. We can plan, but fate decides. Remember to send letters."

Sana hugged her mother too. "Alright. I'll come home when I'm able."

"I hope when you come back, it's because you're pregnant, and need me to care, cook for you." Mother teased. “I’ll accept it if you come home with grandchildren, too.”

Sana shook her head. "Don’t think too far, Mother!"

“I can’t help it.”