Pach

  -----

  I went to a local bar with Yanisse and her bodyguard, whose name was Alexahe most on Russian male name, actually. He owerful” S-Rank Huhat beloo the girl’s Guild. He possesses special Skills such as Lie Dete, Telepathy, and “Damage Share” where he’ll take any damage from a target he has imbued with a Rune beforehand. He’s pretty much her shield and utility tool. And he’s happy to serve, I suppose.

  “So that’s how it is! I had no idea that Russia was such a good ally of the Uates. The st time I saw any news about the two, both were in quite a rather... not so well iuation.” I said. “But I was never into politiuch, so I am guilty of being ignorant about everything regarding these topics.”

  “Well, when the Apocalypse began, most of our try was devastated. Especially by the Three Camities, as we call them. Three S-Rank Dungeons opened aroyed our three major cities. The president was killed, and most of the gover officials and your military were devastated too. When I awakened and mao sy the damned S-Rank Monsters with my allies, it was too te; our try was in plete ruins. It was America that extended a hand of help.” She sighed. “And we had to relutly agree. Even with my power, I only destroy; I ot create. I couldn’t rebuild people’s houses, I couldn’t create a safe enviro, and I couldn’t feed the orphaned children.”

  “I see, so that’s why, when you got a telepathic message of me toug that Prime Minister’s tender little neck, you immediately came here? So, you teleport?” I asked her.

  “Yes, I leave special areas imbued with my Runes, which I use as Teleportation Spots.” She answered, revealing her powers to me with fidence. She was rather id-back. “Alexander, go get me another vodka.”

  “…” He quickly left with the small cup.

  As I drank the liquor, I asked her something.

  “Why did you invite me to drink? Did you want to gauge my strength? How ho was I? By now, I’ve told you mostly everything regarding my family.” I said. “But I ’t talk more than that... But as you’ve already guessed, I indeed disappeared and gaihese powers while I was gone. And once I returned, here we are.”

  “Then you don’t o tell me anymore. You must truly be a Lost Person who got lost inside a dungeon gate aurned.” She said. “Incredible… You’re the first one in the world, Bing Xue.”

  “I suppose I am.” I shrugged. “So, Miss World Css Ranker, how is life as one?”

  “Stressing and tiring, you should have hidden your strength instead. You’re up for a life of endless bloodshed." She started smoking her cigarette, below her silver eyes I could see bck slits, she looked very tired.

  “I am much more used to such a life than you could ever be; trust me,” I answered with fidence. “Oh, may I heal you? You seem quite tired. I o touch your shoulder, though.”

  “…You heal me? I’m fihough.” She said.

  “There is a lot of exhaustion and accumuted stress; I take that away,” I answered with a gentle smile. “May I?”

  “…Sure.” She said. “Do your worst.” She smiled almost ically as she smoked her cigarette. Although she looked very tired and stressed, she was still a very attractive and cold beauty.

  I touched her shoulder, imbuing her with a Golden Aura of Healing Light. In a mere sed, all her exhaustion was gone, and her appearance looked much more radiant. And she gaihe energy worth several days of sleep, which she had been probably missing. I also made sure to lesseress on her small body due to her tremendous quantity of Mana and gave her a good massage on her shoulder muscles.

  “Oooh, fuck…” She almost moaned in pleasure. “Hahhh… No healer has ever- What the hell did you use?! It is… It’s amazing. I feel so refreshed, like I’ve slept for a whole month!”

  “It is an A Healing Teique that repairs the Meridians. It bines acture with Ki iion teiques.” I answered. “I bi with a healing skill; it seems to work well.”

  “It worked more than well, Bing Xue. Dammit, now I feel ied to you.” She groaned. "Argh, and it’s already going to be 12? I got another S-Rank Dungeon raid ter. I guess I should get going. I hate to leave it like this, though.”

  “It’s fine, dear; have fun.” I smiled at her.

  “…You’re way too nice, girl.” She sighed, suddenly approag me and looking into my eyes; our faces were quite close out of nowhere. “You got the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen, though, I have to admit it. Here, take my number.” She wi me while giving me a piece of paper with her number. “Let’s meet again sometime; you’re fine.”

  “Your number?” I couldn’t help but blush slightly. “Well, thank you, Yanisse. I will make sure to add you to my phone hen. It was a nice experieo meet you. I wish I could have seen your Void Magic though.”

  “We do that ter if you want. I also want to spar with someone like you.” She smiled as Alexander finally came back, bringing the vodka. “Hey, Alexander! Why are you so te with the damn vodka?!” The girl drank it and then dropped the gss on the floor. “Let’s go; we’re going to be te for the Dungeon Raid! Goodbye, Bing Xue. I hope I see you again soon.”

  “Bye! And likewise, I would love to meet you again, Yaake care, please.”

  FLASH!

  The two disappeared before I could even say anything else. I wish it could have sted a bit longer. Her beauty was parable to some of the most beautiful immortal women I’ve met in Murim, although they didn’t match her hoy, siy, and true-ki. Those women were all rotten, and most of them were just the loyal, brainwashed sves of male cultivators who boasted gigantic harems. Well, most of them were Demonic Cultivators that were sughtered by my sect; their harems were mostly spared, but the girls, even as immortals, were too traumatized.

  But aside from that, yes... Yanisse was amazing. I want to meet her more. I don’t know what could e out of that, but friendship and perhaps something else? I am not really experienced with dating. I never dated anybody in my entire life. And I hate to admit it, but I am still a virgin as well. An eleven-thousand-year virginity—how hirious! I remember that people oh used to make fun of virgins; is it still the same now? I wonder.

  It's not that I didn’t want to date, nor that I didn’t want to find a woman to love or even make her my wife, but I simply couldn’t. I had to always be focused on my goals—fighting, growing stronger, and surviving—through all these years; this has never ged until now.

  I feel like my life is finally beginning again now that I am bae.

  “Now, what should I do?” I wondered, stretg my arms and then leaving some money for the drinks and leaving the bar, walking through the streets.

  I am finally doh all the things I wao do; I even made a e with a World Css Hunter. I suppose I should go chey mom and my sister, then cultivate some more and sider my possibilities. I o make money and also reach a maximum level so I get a Css iower.

  So I suppose once I am done iing my family’s cultivatiress, going to a dungeon gate should be good. Some stay permaly open and spawn monsters tinuously outside; they often form their own “Wild areas," where people hunt regurly. I should go there.

  But above all, money. I ’t just rely on my mother’s money. And selling the things I possess is… Too much for now. I should probably sell the goblin materials and the carcass of their boss too. And then, hunt ahings, as Mother does.

  I guess that’s much more rexed than all the stress I had to gh ba Murim; I prefer this life without a doubt.

  “I’m back~!” I greeted my family.

  “Katherine? What happened? You came so te!” My mother said.

  “Hey big sis, I feel stronger out of nowhere; what the heck did that food have?” Ruby wondered. “Look! There’s a whole golden aura around me!”

  “Oh, excellent; it worked well. I will help you two cultivate using the Ki you gained from the food I prepared.” I said. "Also, I’m now a World Css Hunter.”

  “World Css?!” My masped. “Oh my god! Katherine! You make your mother even prouder.” She hugged me tightly. “Did the test go well?”

  “Ah, yes. I even learhis new skill. Check this out.” I revealed to her a bck fireball emanating a cursed aura.

  “W-What the hell is that fire?!” Ruby cried. “It’s creepy; turn it off!”

  POOF!

  As the fmes dissipated, I ughed a bit after seeing my sister’s rea. Eleven years have passed here, yet this young woman still has the same reas as when she was a little girl. She’s so endearing.

  “That fme… It reminds me of the Camity Dragon from Frahat thing could also jure bck fmes and burn all of Paris with them.” Said my mother. “It is said those fmes tain powerful curses too; you wield that, Katherine?!”

  “Yeah, they had this simution about that exact creature, Mother! As expected, you’re very smart and resourceful. I fought it aed it with two blows. I then mao copy its ability. The System likes to spoil me, giving me all kinds of skills easily. It makes the assimition of Mana much faster. And it's quite fun.” I nodded as I sat down and stretched my arms.

  “You had to fight a simution of such a monster?!” Ruby pined. “That’s so crazy… No wonder you’re World Css, big sis! Now I’ll bee so popur if I tell everyone about this. Wait, no, I’m already out of college! Ugh, dammit. I guess… I could tell the nurses?”

  “Maybe just don’t tell anybody, Ruby; let’s keep these matters private.” My mother said, “Katherine. I saw the reat you as Bing Xue; is this some other name you had?”

  “Yes, it is the name I created for Murim. Calling myself Katherihere would only raise suspi. So I chose the name of my favorite Cultivation Novel female protagonist.” I told Mother, as she quickly served me some green tea.

  “I see… Well, I suppose that’s better.” My mother nodded. “Though, I am guessing they already know your true name and everything, right?”

  “Yeah, I met the Prime Minister of the States, quite a peculiar man. He said that he became bitter because his wife left him, and his son told him he hated him.” I said this as I drank the green tea. “I hope he has a better life, and I really hope he takes care of his family. To think he would cry in front of me for that."

  “W-What? The prime minister? Katherina, what the fuck are you talking about?” Ruby asked.

  “Ruby! Who taught you to talk with such mao y sister? Please talk to me with a bit more respect, alright, dear?” I asked her with a cute smile. “I will always have patieny family, but I don’t really like when you use swearing words against me, please?”

  “A-Ah, yeah, sorry… But yeah! What are you talking about, big sis?!” She asked.

  “Well, some representative of the gover seemed to o take into sideration my Rank or something…” I said. “Ah, mother, are you alright?”

  “Katherine, what did you do to him?” She asked me with a pale face. “Y-You didn’t do anything bad to him, right? Nothing like with Nichht?”

  “A-Ah… I mean, I taught him a valuable life lesson, aook a strong oath. Don’t worry, he will not bother us. It might quite literally kill him if he does!” I ughed out loud. But my family didn’t find it funny.

  “She definitely did something.” My mother sipped her coffee half-bitterly.

  “Seriously…” Ruby facepalmed. “Now I don’t know if I should feel proud of you being a World Css Hunter or not, big sis… Anyways, did y something to eat?”

  “Ah yes! I bought some KFC!” I said. “The chi is terrible, and the spices are horribly low quality, without eveioning the sugary drinks. But well, this is something I also missed. Eating ese food for eleven thousand years quickly makes you want to indulge in some cssic Ameri fast food. Let’s enjoy!”

  I pced the pstic bags over the table, retrieving them from my Inner Realm. The fried chi iping hot, and there was a wide assortment of dipping sauces and many sugary drinks. I also bought a lot of sweet desserts, such as mini pancakes, ice cream, and amon sticks.

  “Nice! I won’t have to cook lund dinner; yht a lot!” My mother was strangely happy about the simplest of things. Mothers are like this, I suppose.

  “Been a while since I’ve eaten fried chi. Oh, the tartar sauce’s good; it’s creamier than before.” My sister ehe chi.

  “Yes, these dippable sauces are actually made using my own ingredients. Although we’re indulging in such terrible food, I wao add some of my owions. It will also hasten your cultivation, so please eat! You’ll soon be able to form your Core.” I answered happily, eating some myself. The chy chi, its strong fvor, the slight spiess, and the creamy white tartar sauce made with Immortal Treasure Materials—it was quite a godly bination.

  "Ah, right, we haven’t even addressed that, Katherine!” My mother seemed angry. “Why did you trick us iing all of that superfood that makes us weirdly stronger? You never asked for our sent first!”

  “Yeah, but I’m fih it. So I get stronger by just eating?” Ruby seemed more along with the ride than our mother.

  “I-I’m sorry, mother. I should have indeed asked for your sent first.” I nodded. “But seeing how dangerous this world has bee, I wao make sure you two bee strong so you protect yourselves, even when I am not around.”

  “Katherine…” My mhed. “W-Well, if you put it like that… Fine. You’ll have to teach us how to do this whole “Cultivation” thingy, though!”

  “Of course! Leave it to me, my dear mother.” I smiled happily, drinking the fuzzy and bubbly co. “Ooh, after tasting thousands of Elixirs, this drink in parison is absolutely deplorable, yet I ’t have enough of it!” I kept drinking until I emptied the .

  We enjoyed a rexed and zy day, eating all kinds of snacks and greasy fast food, while I taught my dear family the steps of basic cultivation and more. It was a lot of information to take, so I wrote it all down into manuals for them.

  Tomorrow, I’ll help them fe the stro Ki Cores!

  Ding!

  [Because of the strong e and bonds you have with your family and your endless desire to protect them, you learhe [Family Bond (D): Lv1] Cssless Skill!]

  -----

  Pach