"Daddy look! We kidnapped our first princess!"
Those were the words that sealed Ling i's fate...
"You boys are in so much trouble."
...Not that she heard them.
""But moooom.""
No sooner had she passed through the grey portal than she began to choke on air.
"No buts. Sit down. We'll discuss your punishnt after dinner."
More specifically, Ling i was choking on the Qi in the air.
""...Yes mom.""
It was so... thick. Thick enough it covered her vision like fog and filled her throat like water.
"And you two! Why did you help them kidnap soone? You should know better than that."
This was a Holy Land the likes of which didn't even exist in stories.
"She's a Princess! Daddy says we need to kidnap every princess we can if we want to get married in the future."
Forget twice the result for half the effort, cultivating here would be a hundred tis more effective than anywhere else.
"Daddy said that's how he t you and the other Mommies!"
Just staying here passively would turn any cultivator into a Profound Sky expert in five- No! Three years!
"...Your father and I will be having a long talk later. For now, hand her over. Sothing's clearly wrong with her."
Only if they could survive though.
"Don't bother. I recognize her. She can sit next to . Right now, she needs to process the Qi in the air, or she'll explode."
Ling i's eyes were closed, and she didn't hear a word. She was completely oblivious to the world around her.
"AH! Don't let her explode Aunty Em!"
The genius of the Twin Heavens Sect was desperately circling her cultivation technique, trying to process Qi faster than it could accumulate.
"She'll be fine once she eats sothing."
And she was failing.
"Phew. That's good. She shouldn't die just because she's a weak poor princess."
It wasn't even a slow process. More and more Qi poured into her from her ridians, filling her Golden Core to bursting.
"...One of those cultivators? Is that where you ran off to?"
Desperately, Ling i cycled and cycled, but her dantian continued to swell to a painful level.
"We were bandits! We got a bunch of presents for everyone."
If this continued, she'd die.
"We have plants, and books, and dicine, and clothes, and please don't be mad."
...There was a solution, but one that would be just as painful than death. Or even worse.
"...We'll talk about it later. For now, go sit down. You two as well."
It would be a betrayal of her father, her sect, her struggles, and would potentially doom her to a fate worse than death.
""Yes mom."" "Yes, Mommy Tsu.""
With a decisive will, Ling i directed her Qi to shatter her ridians, making her a cripple for life.
...
It didn't work! Ling i found she couldn't control her Qi at all!
"...Why did he allow this?"
It was like trying to direct a leaf to the center of a hurricane, only to be blown away in every direction the wind willed.
"They were safe, got a lot of material, and will also learn that actions can have consequences."
No. It was closer to a river trying to direct the sea. Her minuscule power was simply another drop of water in the current.
"And because he found it funny."
There was an irony there that Ling i would never be able to appreciate.
A cultivator was the ultimate selfish being. They seized the power of the world for their own, uncaring of the results. Now, a woman dying of thirst was surrounded by water and it was drowning her.
"That as well. But there was a real goal. He doesn't want them to be trapped on the Island. They need to experience the world beyond the Family."
Ling i had a sudden epiphany there, as the pain mounted. A mont of clarity and Insight at the boundary of life and death.
"... I know. But unlike him, I'm not omniscient."
This place, this Qi, this WORLD... It was Alive.
"He knows that and tries to limit himself as well. But it wasn't just for them. He also wants you to be ready when they need to leave for real. And your reaction wouldn't have been genuine if he told you."
Alive and aware. Powerful beyond all reckoning, beyond the greatest cultivator she had ever heard of, but it was not passive.
"I'll talk to him myself later. But... Thanks Em. Getting into his mind is much easier when we have soone to translate for us."
No. This place. This World Island... It was alive, aware, and malicious.
"I am simply doing my duty."
Just as Ling i could absorb its Qi, so too could it absorb her.
"Then you should get her to the table soon. I might not know anything about cultivation, but she's going to die in twenty-seven seconds if nothing is done."
Drowning in Qi, the desire of every cultivator, she was helpless to do anything as she was consud by the Island.
Ling i, a genius cultivator, had tried to seize the heavens and been seized in turn.
Then a warm burst of flavor filled her mouth.
The pain faded, her ridians ceased aching, and her Golden Core no longer felt as if it would explode her dantian.
And Ling i could breathe!
As the food dissolved on her tongue, Ling i let out a sound that was a mix of a sigh and a moan.
The Qi remained just as thick as before, still omnipresent and thick enough to liquefy if given the chance, but it now seed as if it was trying to devour her whole.
It was as if the heavens themselves had granted Ling i a stay of execution.
More than that, with the Qi density still so thick, Ling i felt her cultivation advancing at a blinding speed.
The pain she endured, and the Insight she had gained, was enough to propel her to the middle of the Golden Core realm, sothing she hadn't expected to achieve for another decade. Spending a few months here would get her to the edge of the Profound Sky realm!
Almost without conscious thought, Ling i's mouth opened to accept another mouthful of food.
Like the first, a burst of delicious flavor dissolved on her tongue and her overstuffed channels relaxed further.
... Enough so that Ling i beca conscious of the sounds around her for the first ti since her arrival.
Opening her eyes, the Young Miss of the Twin Heavens sect found herself face to face with a laughing young woman no older than her.
"You were right Mikael," she snickered, staring at Ling i. "Cultivators are hilarious. Her bodily response to the influx of energy is no less than a druggie getting her fix."
"I'm always right~" A man singsonged.
""""""No, you're not.""""""
The man ignored the combined voices interrupting him to continue speaking.
"Don't be hard be too hard on our little vic- Princess. She just went from the worst trash basuco cut with baking soda to the purest Columbian powder that would even make Snowfla overdose."
"Please do not ntion that man while we are eating," a familiar voice spoke, and the kidnapped princess blinked slowly as she stared at the beautiful woman. One of... many. But this one was... familiar, sohow.
Ling i, uncomprehending what was happening, obediently opened her mouth and a third bit of food was placed on her tongue.
"What's Columbian powder daddy?"
"It's slang for a drug that causes montary pleasure at the cost of long-term health."
"Why would soone use that kind of drug? Why not use a better one?"
"Access and escapism. So people are less fortunate and seek what pleasure they can get, even if it hurts them in the long run. Don't forget that we are very lucky to have Mommy Tsu for any health issues."
"But why don't they make better drugs then?"
"Because not everybody is as smart as you are dear."
"Oh... Should I make better drugs?"
"While that can be a project for the future, you should only do so when you're older and understand the socioeconomic consequences of your actions. For now, continue to learn about the world and, only when you have ford your own opinion should you commit to a plan like that... Unless you just want to create them for fun and don't plan on releasing them. Then go ahead so long as
or one of your moms are with you."
"Okay Daddy."
"Good girl. Now finish your dinner. Mommy dea worked hard on it and the sooner you all finish the sooner we can get to movie ti."
"Can we watch a docuntary tonight?"
"It's Isne's turn to choose."
"I guess Jojo's good too."
It was by the fifth bite that Ling i was aware enough to be able to recognize the face of the woman she'd been staring at while the man spoke to the little girl seated beside him at the table.
(Her mind absently noted her as Olivia, the little girl who found Sarig and Jiraiya Senju accosting her and her fellow sect disciples.)
When she could finally put a na to the face and voice, Ling i couldn't help but blurt it out.
"Shuang Aima!?"
It was as if a spell was broken, and a torrent of sound and images suddenly beca clear to Ling i.
She was seated at a long rectangular table positively bursting with beautiful won. No including her, there were sixteen won eating and talking amongst each other. Interspersed between them were a few young children, but none older than the two boys who had kidnapped her.
"Wonderful of you to join us," the sole man, seated at the head of the table, gave her a mischievous smile. "I was worried we'd have to keep you locked in a tower until you got better."
The man's eyes were a burning orange with obviously slit pupils.
A fully grown dragon!
"The Mansion does not possess a tower, Sir Bard. Perhaps we should recreate mine ho in Ariamis?" A pale woman with long white hair, slightly scaly skin and spikes for eyebrows over slit green eyes said, and Ling i's head snapped to her.
Dragons. A table full of dragons!
She'd been taken to a dragon's den!
"You know, that's not a bad idea," the Dragon King, for that was what he must be, rubbed his chin in thought. "What do you say kids? What to make a clubhouse with Daddy?"
""Yes!""
"You two are still in trouble," a... voluptuous blonde dragon said, glaring at Sarig and Jiraiya who wilted under her look.
"It's alright boys," the Dragon King laughed, getting a glare as well, to which he winked back. "So am I. We'll do it when we're out of the drake-house."
Both boys looked noticeably happier at that and started eating again.
Ling i seized the brief lull to increase her chance of survival.
She descended from her chair to kneel toward the table full of creatures more powerful than even the Sect Master.
"A hundred thousand pardons to the Dragon King. This humble one is Ling i, a lowly disciple of the Twin Heavens Sect and failed to greet the Esteed Ones properly. The Long Island sect is more wondrous than imagined and this lowly one was overco in its splendor. The na of Mai Keer is as thunder in this humble one's ears and this one begs your benevolence in sparing my sect for any offense this humble one might have caused Your Eminence"
Everyone had watched her entreaty in silence, so in surprise, but her plea was t with an unexpected response.
Laughter.
Not from the Dragon King, who watched her with a neutral face, but from the young woman sitting across from Ling i. She was the youngest here by far excepting the actual children. Perhaps not even in out of her teen years and into full womanhood.
"Hahahaha," she howled, pounding her fist on the table. "'Mai Keer!' 'Long Island Sect!' Oh god, she's great! Can we keep her? Can we?"
"Hey," Sarig stood up in his chair, pointing a finger at the laughing woman. "Don't bully our Princess! She's ours!"
The blonde woman who sat between him and Jiraiya placed a firm hand on his shoulder and forced him back into his seat.
"Sorry little guy," the laughing woman said, not sounding regretful in the least as she reached over to ruffle his curly hair. He batted her hand away with a pout.
"Val. Don't laugh."
The room fell into complete silence, not even the clinking of silverware continuing after the Dragon King's order.
Ling i, who remained bowed, couldn't see his face as he spoke.
"Ling i cos from a world where strength is the be all, end all. Where any old man on the road can kill millions. Where cities are regularly destroyed overnight. Where you never know if one wrong word to soone stronger than you can result in your entire family being wiped out. As a woman in such a world, particularly one with a unique body like hers, you can imagine her fate were she to displease soone above her. I hate formality, just as much as you, but to people like her it was a shield. Her only shield in a world where justice is just a concept used by the weak to make themselves feel better about their terrible lives in the hope that the immortal, all powerful monsters shaped like them will one day feel a fraction of pain they inflict on people just trying to live their lives."
"...Sorry."
"It's all right. You're still adjusting to your Elent. Just rember that sothing funny to us might be a source of trauma to others. She genuinely thinks that we will kill, eat, or... defile her because of her Pure Spring Divine Bod, which is a resource many wouldn't pass up on. Maybe we'll do all three. Yet rather than ask to be spared, she's begging for her sect's safety. Why is that, Ling i? Why not beg for your life?"
Ling i responded without hesitation.
"This humble one's life is yours to do with as you please, Esteed Dragon King. This humble one rely wished for benevolence to be carried to the Twin Heavens Sect. This humble one's father, teacher, and sect brothers and sisters are blaless for this humble one's failure to respect the illustrious Long Island Sect."
"Family, huh."
There was a beat of silence as Mikael t the eyes of not only Valeria, but also of his kids who were watching this event with distressed looks. Sarig and Jiraiya looked angry, Olivia was frowning, and Isne was openly crying.
"If I were to kill this woman right here and now-"
""""Daddy don't-""""
"Shh. Let your father speak."
"If I were to kill this woman right here and now, she'd consider it a rcy. If I told her Sect, they'd have to thank
and apologize for the inconvenience she caused . Do you all know why?"
"...Because they're scared." Olivia answered quietly.
"They, and Ling i, are scared." Mikael nodded at his eldest daughter. "Scared of my power. Of what I could do to them and what they cherish. There is no greater fear in a cultivation world than the fear of death. Their entire lives revolve around running from death. In doing so, in fear of an End that will inevitably co, they make Life cheap. Fear is good. It keeps us alive. But it isn't all there is. So do not laugh when soone begs for their lives or those of those they love. Just as I once did. Instead, help them to their feet and teach them that Life is more than a fear of Death, even if that fear is all they've ever known."
A hand, rough and calloused from years of hard struggle, gently pulled Ling i from her kneeling position and she found herself looking up at the gentle eyes of the Dragon King.
He was smiling. Gentle at first, but once she was standing on her own feet, his smile turned mischievous again.
He pulled out the chair she had been seated in and gently guided her back to her seat beside Shuang Ai, who had been the one feeding her the lifesaving food.
The Dragon King's smile was gentle at first, but once she was seated, his smile turned mischievous again.
CLAP!
"Since we do not plan on hurting you and will return you ho after dinner if you wish, let's get introductions out of the way," the Dragon King, as if the grave mood never existed, simply retook his seat with a smile. "I'm Mikael. Dragon Dad. You know Em and Emma Frost." He gestured to Shuang Ai and Shuang Aima respectively. "We're the only ones to really interact with your world so, like , they used iterations on our nas to fit in better."
There he went using 'your world' again. Even without his strength, it was clear the Dragon King ca from a higher realm of sorts by his words and actions.
"Use whichever na works best for you," Shua- Emma Frost said casually, sipping a red drink from a clear glass.
"Beside Emma, is Nico Robin. You t our daughter Olivia." A more traditionally beautiful woman, with long dark hair and clear skin, seated next to Olivia. The resemblance between the pair was clear, only differing in the younger girl's curlier hair and darker eyes.
"Beside her is lina-"
"And?" It was a woman with one regular eye one made of fla that raised a brow and interrupted the man.
Wasn't she worried about displeasing the Dragon King?
"I was getting there. And the Phoenix."
Ling i's heart skipped a beat. A phoenix?!
At least a few beasts could claim to have the bloodline of dragons, extrely diluted as it might be, but a Phoenix was another story entirely!
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"They're kind of a two-for-one special and the bird brain doesn't like to be ignored. You'd think it was used to it by now. Anyway, next is Scathach." A woman who'd taken one look at Ling i, gave a nod, then went back to speaking to the blonde next to her. "Then Glynda Goodwitch."
"Greetings."
"Artoria Pendragon."
"Your courage and integrity does you credit." Another fair-haired woman, just as... bodacious as Tsunade gave Ling i a respectful nod.
Ling i wondered why there were more plates in front of this 'Artoria' than any other four people combined but knew better than to ask. Besides, if there were dragons and phoenixes here, perhaps she was a Tao Tie?
"Priscilla is our floofy dragon." The woman with scales blushed and ducked her head shyly at the Dragon King's introduction. "And the woman on her other side is Hippolyta."
Hippolyta gave Ling i a long, intense look that she didn't have the context to understand. Evaluating, perhaps? Or commiserating? Either way, the Dragon King moved on the young woman who had laughed earlier.
"You'll have to forgive Valeria for her insensitivity earlier. She's run away from ho for a dashing older man, and he's brought changes to her life. It's left her... emotional."
If the way Mikael's mouth was twitching from a barely repressed smile didn't clue Ling i into the fact that there was secret in his words, then the chorus of ""Booo!"" and groans from won around the table would have clued her in.
So even went so far as to throw food at the Dragon King!
Ling i was prepared to grovel again at the serious breach of etiquette and the loss of face it brought, but Mikael just laughed and held up... the Boss? between him and the food.
Faster than Ling i could follow, all the food in the air disappeared and the fat cat let out a tiny purr of satisfaction before Mikael set it back on his lap.
"Ignore his jokes," Valeria said, but she was laughing as she addressed Ling i. "I really am sorry for laughing at you like that. I just beca a Paradox Dragon, and my first manifestation was Logic/Emotion. It makes
a sociopath if I don't reign it in."
"That is quite alright Young Miss," Ling i clasped her hands and bowed deeply, not understanding half of what was said. "This humble one would never dare to question a lady of your stature."
"...Your world is kinda ssed up." Valeria was no longer laughing as she looked over Ling i as if she were a particularly interesting alchemical ingredient.
"Perhaps we should not toss rocks in our particular glass house," Hippolyta told the younger woman.
"Our world was pretty normal though," Valeria shook her head and her smile returned. "Tell you what, I'll bring you back to your ho after dinner and help you for a bit to make up for you."
"But we just caught her," Jiraiya pouted and crossed his arms. "I don't want to give up our first Princess. I won't."
"Jiraiya." Mikael's tone was warning, but not harsh.
"...sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"..."
"Kidnapping Princesses is fine," Mikael lectured. "But keeping them against their will is wrong. If they want to stay, they can but you should never force anyone. Understand?"
"...I understand."
Mikael kept an eye on his eldest child for second, to make sure he really did, then he gave a grin and leaned forward over the table, covering his mouth as if he was trying to tell the boy a secret.
"Psst." He hissed loud enough for everyone to hear. "That just ans you need to get your Princesses to want to stay."
That cheered the children up and Ling i felt distinctly uncomfortable as all four kids looked at her with shining eyes.
"Anyway, got distracted a bit," Mikael sat back in his seat and continued with his introduction beginning where he left off at the end of the table. "You know Em, but on your other side is dea. She's the one who made this delicious al and saved your life."
Ling i gave the woman a bow.
"A thousand years of gratitude. This humble one is ashad that she could not handle the Long Island Sect Qi, for it is as bright as the sun and as deep as the ocean. If there is anything you wish, please speak and this humble one will go to any lengths to accomplish it."
Rather than waive her off or dismiss her offer as useless, for what could Ling i do that this dragon couldn't achieve, dea instead perked right up.
"Perfect. I've been aning to get a better grasp of Qi. It technically falls under 'Magic' so I can interfere with it, but I need a practitioner's perspective if I want to get holistic grasp of it."
"No dissections on this one. I'll get you others," Mikael said plainly and then, ignoring Ling i's look of fear, continued. "You've t Sarig, this is his mother, Tsunade and on her other side is Jiraiya. They're our oldest and little troublemakers. I don't know where they got it from."
"""""""""From you."""""""""
""""From Daddy!""""
It was almost disconcerting how half the won present answered as one, but the children joining in at the sa ti made it cute, with how Sarig and Jiraiya high-fived behind their mother's back as they laughed at the unified response.
"It's a complete mystery."
"I apologize for any trouble they caused," Tsunade gave Ling i a tight smile as she side-eyed her boys and her husband, whose face was completely expressionless... Which lasted until Isne poked him in the cheek and he squished hers in turn, much to her delight. "I'll be having a... talk with them later."
"Please do not be too harsh. The Young Masters did not harm us and saved this humble one's life from a demonic sect elder."
Ling i, despite her situation, did have a pretty good impression of the children. She hadn't been hurt, or even really inconvenienced by them (baring the current kidnapping, which was turning out surprisingly well.)
Without Jiraiya and Sarig there, Ling i would probably be dead, or worse, at the hands of the Mo Xi. Even her junior brothers had been left alive to report what had happened to the sect.
(Mu Bang's injuries were, of course, forgotten about. Such was the cruel fate of Mook A in a cultivation world.
But don't give up Mook A!
I believe that with hard work, perseverance, and enough luck, you will get promoted to full Henchman status!
Fight on Mook Bang!)
"They did?" Tsunade asked, seeming to be genuinely surprised as she gave her boys a more evaluating look.
"He was trying to take our Princess!" Sarig 'explained,' throwing a fist in the air as if punching soone. "So, we beat him up. He was very poor though. The Boss ate most of his stuff, but we got so pills and plants for you Mommy. And books. And clothes. And-"
"Awweee," the dark-skinned woman seated on Sarig's other side reached over ruffled his curly hair. He growled, but she just did it again. "You can't stay mad at these little guys when they're helping people, can you Tits?"
"I can. They still snuck out and need to be punished for that." Both boys wilted but Tsunade's voice softened as she continued. "But, since so good ca of it, I suppose you can help with the clubhouse."
"Yay."
"Thanks mommy."
"What about ?" Mikael asked.
"You're still in trouble," Tsunade responded with narrowed eyes, but her lip was twitching.
"I guess I am sleeping on the couch tonight," Mikael muttered, seeming to wilt...
No, he really was wilting! Ling i noticed that the color had drained not only from his skin, but also from his hair and clothes. A small storm cloud ford over his head. And was that... music? It was. A dirge from an instrunt Ling i didn't recognize.
She was going to say sothing, but Ling i noticed how none of the won at the table seed concerned. So were even rolling their eyes. They all knew that Mikael would never actually 'sleep on the couch' as it were. He'd just 'make it up' to Tsunade in a more... intimate way once the kids were in bed. That didn't stop him from milking the drama for all it was worth.
Unfortunately, so people were just too pure for this world.
"Don't worry Daddy," Isne smiled, her cheeks dimpling as she stood in her chair to pat him on the shoulder. "You can sleep with
tonight."
Overco with cuteness, Mikael dissipated the illusion to cuddle his little girl.
"Since he's busy," the dark-skinned woman said to Ling i, leaning forward to see past Tsunade's... Tsunades. "I'm Yoruichi. This little blueberry, who's pretending to be dignified, is Ranni." "Cat!" "Then Diana, who is and is not Hippolyta's daughter, and Raven."
Ling i opened her mouth to ask about 'Raven' when she realized there was a woman she hadn't even noticed, despite her white cloak.
"I was getting there," Mikael pouted, Isne still seated on his lap.
"If we waited for you, we'd be here for hours," Diana told him, before looking at Yoruichi in exasperation. "Why did you introduce
like that?"
"Because it was funny."
"Anyway," Mikael returned his attention Ling i. "That just leaves this little bean, Isne, mine and dea's daughter. Not to be confused with dea, the Floofiest of Floofs."
"Mrow."
Ling i jumped in surprise from the sound that ca from right below her feet.
"That ans you should feed her," Mikael said, cracking a grin at Ling i's surprise. "She'll eat anything, but the best food is what cos off of soone else's plate."
"Mrow."
Hesitantly, and under the encouraging eyes of everyone else, Ling i picked up her bowl and, slowly, put it on the ground in front of the cat.
It disappeared, food and bowl, before she could blink.
"Mrow."
"Good job." Jiraiya gave Ling i a thumbs up as she sat back up. There was a new bowl, freshly filled, right in front of her.
"It was this humble one's... pleasure..." Ling i was still very, very confused. It didn't help that she was still slightly high from the Qi influx. She'd been keeping admirably steady despite that, taking everything in as best as she could, but even she had limits. "Will... dea not be... sitting to dine with us?" It just seed so odd that a table of beasts like this would force one to eat on the floor.
That got her so odd looks, which had her shifting uncomfortably.
"Why would she?" Mikael asked, as if Ling i was the crazy one here. "She's a cat."
"But..." Ling i looked from the dea next to her to the cat, who had migrated over to sit on Isne's lap, who was sitting on Mikael's lap.
"Oh." Isne seed to realize the source confusion. "Mommy is not a cat. The Boss was just nad after her."
"MROW!"
"I think you an," Mikael cald down his pet with grin. "That your mom was nad after my cat."
"Mrow."
"No treats for two days," dea told her 'nasake' with a devilish grin.
"MROW!?"
Suddenly the tubby feline was on the witch's lap, flapping her tiny wings pitifully as her eyes started to water.
"...mrow?..."
dea sighed and started to scratch the cat's jowls, much to her delight.
Yoruichi, seeing an opportunity for more chaos, decided to 'help' Ling i.
"A cat sitting down for dinner? That'd be..." In the place of the dark-skinned woman was now a black cat. A black cat that spoke with a deep, male, voice. "...Insane, wouldn't you agree?"
Ling i opened her mouth.
Ling i closed her mouth.
Open.
Close.
Open.
A spoon of food was shoved into it.
"Ignore them and eat so more," Em Frost told Ling i as she set her spoon down. "It will help you process."
Obediently Ling i began to eat, trying to ignore the laughter and talking filled the room as the al progressed.
With every bite, clarity began to return to her and Ling i's heart rate was starting to pick up as the euphoric feeling of the Qi influx faded to the background.
What was she doing?!
AHHHHHH!
She was seated at a table with dragons, phoenixes and who knew what other monsters. She'd been taken to a sect so much stronger than the Twin Heavens and was who knew how far from ho.
Looking around, they didn't seem like demonic cultivators. In fact, they were utterly foreign, both in appearance and behavior. Their clothes were odd. Their nas were odd. Their comportnt was even odder.
They talked openly on subjects that went way above Ling i's head-
("I prefer Stands to Hamon or Spin," Olivia told her sister and father. "The breadth of creativity in their uses and powers make for engaging plots."
"Spin spin spin spin spin spin," was Isne's response, spinning in place.
"I'd have thought you'd appreciate the mathematical applications of The Spin," Mikael said, spinning his youngest above his head with one hand.
"It interesting," Olivia conceded but shook her head. "But I like the breadth of creativity in Stands uses and powers make for engaging plots. Each is a puzzle to be solved as much as a weapon to be used.")
-No doubt the secrets of higher realms of cultivation.
More disconcerting was their lack of any sort of propriety!
Yoruichi, turning back into her human form, had been completely nude! And nobody seed to care! Certainly, she redressed quickly enough, but her clothes barely covered anything.
The Dragon King even kissed a few of his wives!
In front of others!
These were obviously inhuman creatures with a complete lack of understanding of proper decorum.
But the most important question was simple.
What were they going to do with Ling i?
They said they'd return her, but they could be lying.
Maybe the Dragon King would take her as a concubine. Or possibly for his sons? They were young certainly, but Ling i was only twenty-five years old at the mont. That age difference wouldn't matter in a century or two.
It was possible, especially when one considered that Valeria couldn't be older than seventeen. Who knew what age was acceptable to dragons? Ling i doubted she'd be taken as the main wife, even with her Pure Spring Divine Body.
Compared to the won around her, she was more than a few steps behind in qualification, so the best she could hope for would be a valued concubine.
Ling i was... uncertain about how she felt about that.
No doubt the resources of the Long Island Sect would help her cultivation in ways that were impossible to imagine. Even the scraps from this table had been enough to raise 'The Boss' to who knew what realm. Thousands of won would kill to be in the position she found herself in.
Yet Ling i was reluctant. It wasn't that she was unwilling to take a cultivation partner or that she wouldn't aid her sect if her marriage was what was required.
It was that it had been against her will.
When Ling i reached the peak, it wouldn't be because of her own efforts and dedication. A lucky encounter was not to be spurned but nor should one's fate be determined by another.
"How are you feeling," dea asked as Ling i finished her... soup? It was as if it were a congee but with odd grains and more liquid. "Any side effects?"
"This humble one thanks Senior dea." Despite being surprised by the interruption to her thoughts, Ling i did not forget that she was very much in a den of dragons. "This humble one is feeling much better, a testant to Senior dea's alchemy."
"It's actually my aunt's recipe," dea explained with a kind smile. "It was practically all she fed us while I studied with her."
"I much prefer your version to the poison Circe used on ," Hippolyta nodded in agreent.
"'Kykeon can be dicine or poison. It's practically ambrosia. Teehee.'" dea quoted, even giving a slightly silly smile at the end.
"Was there any truth to the theory that it contained psychedelics that caused hallucinations?" Valeria asked, finishing her own al.
"A few recipes can do so, either with magecraft or simple herbcraft," dea nodded. "My aunt usually didn't though. Either she was giving her all to feed a guest or was using it as a base to conceal a potion's taste. There was no point in giving the pigs hallucinations."
Suddenly Ling i was much more worried about what she just ate.
"Do not worry." As if Em could read Ling i's mind, she answered the question before it could be asked. "Her aunt was famous for turning n who invaded her ho into pigs but there was nothing wrong with the food. You are safe here and will be returned to the sect just as you are."
Ling i, fearing she had shown sothing she should have, schooled her expression as best she could.
It must not have been enough, because Hippolyta spoke up to reassure her further.
"Do you know why Mikael taught his children it was alright to kidnap Princesses even if he won't allow them to 'keep' one?"
Ling i didn't know what she should say that wouldn't risk offense, but not speaking when spoken to directly was also rude, so she hesitantly answered.
"Should this humble one guess, would it not be how the Dragon King has... t one of his partners in the past?"
"Not technically wrong," dea conceded. "In fact, of his wives, only Robin and Glynda are not princesses, queens, a king, or heirs to a clan of wealth or prestige. And we did et by him kidnapping us, all be it unintentionally."
Ling i wanted to ask how one 'unintentionally' kidnapped a dozen won of royalty but knew that would be a step too far.
"But why princesses specifically?" Hippolyta pressed.
"Because he's a dragon and thinks it's funny," Valeria answered confidently.
"Also not wrong," Em said with a smile, but she answered Hippolyta's actual question. "Because 'Princesses' is an often-overlooked insight into a society. Most societies use the young won of upper classes as bargaining chips, to forge alliances, or as capital to be used to further a ruling class's aims. Their personalities and experiences also speak a lot. Are they drowning in luxury and completely disconnected from the common people? Are they educated and loved or forced to focus on just being a good bride? Societies mirror their rulers and rulers mirror their societies."
Ling i felt her heart skip a beat as she was forced to reevaluate Mikael.
Was the Dragon King so devious? Had he planned sothing like this just to get information? Had she given sothing away without realizing it? And using his children in his plans?
"Also not wrong," Hippolyta repeated Em's words. "But if Mikael truly wished for information, he'd just know it or look for himself. Nobody would be able to stop him. No. The reason Mikael encouraged the children to kidnap 'princesses' is because he is being kind."
Ling i wanted to ask why kidnapping princesses was being kind but, judging by the way the other won around her were nodding in understanding, she feared speaking up. Thankfully, the Amazon explained in a way Ling i could understand.
"They are all right, of course. Mikael does it because he finds it funny, gets him information, and because you never know if soone picked up might be a future friend or lover for one of his children. There is also the aspect that it gives his children practical experience in the world and getting them invested in soone outside of the Family. But for the sa reason that a princess can give information, they might be in need of help. If they don't, Mikael sends them on their way. No harm done, maybe even benefiting a little."
The way Hippolyta eyed Ling i let her know the woman was speaking of her, which Ling i couldn't deny. Even if she ignored all the information she gained, just returning to the sect with her advanced cultivation was already an incalculable blessing.
"But if the 'Princess' needs help? If she's in a situation where she doesn't want to return? Then he can use his children's kidnapping of them as an excuse to apologize. Do a favor to soone who needs it. After all, he's just correcting a 'wrong' he committed and helping his kids." Hippolyta gave Ling i a tight smile. "If you stick around long enough, you will learn that Mikael will always advance his own agenda and 'coincidentally' help others along the way."
"Many thanks Senior Hippolyta for your wisdom," Ling i bowed in gratitude for the explication. She'd believe it once she was safely gone from this den of beasts, but the attempt to alleviate her worries deserved thanks for what it was. "The Dragon King is truly blessed to have a woman such as you."
Right away, Ling i was conscious of the fact that she had sothing wrong by the tightening of the woman's eyes.
Thankfully, she didn't lash out and kill Ling i for whatever it was.
"I am afraid you have made a mistake," Hippolyta's smile was a little less sincere. "I am not Mikael's woman. Nor do I wish to be. I am simply traveling with him to grow stronger to better defend my people."
Ling i was opening her mouth to apologize when Valeria cut her off.
"Don't worry about her," the teenager waived at the woman beside her. Hippolyta studiously ignored the younger girl. "She's just in denial about what she wants. Unlike . I'm gonna get that scaly ass for myself."
"You're sixteen," dea rolled her eyes. "He's not interested."
"I know, but that's part of my plan," Valeria replied with a confident smile. "I'm on step twenty-seven. I'll be thirty by step forty-eight. By step one hundred and five I'll be one of his wives."
"Or," Em drawled. "Like all teenage girls, you will grow out of your crush when it remains unrequited."
"Nope. There's only one Monster for this girl. You'll see."
"Uhuh," Em teased. Looking at Ling i, who was very confused, she explained. "Mikael doesn't... engage with anyone except his wives. Think of it as core to his Dao Heart, if you wish. So do not worry about your Primordial Yin or your Pure Spring Divine Body. He's completely uninterested."
Ling i let out so of the tension she'd been holding. A cultivator as strong as the Dragon King would not violate their Dao Heart lest they gain a Heart Demon that prevented them from advancing.
Then, looking at the seating of the table, Ling i had another realization.
"You're wrong." Em said sharply as soon as the thought appeared in Ling i's mind. "Yes, I am not one of his wives either, but there are no arranged seats. It is first co first served. The only reason we are at the tail end is because I will be the one to bring you back, Val wanted to talk with you, dea needed to make sure you didn't explode, and Hippolyta was talking to her."
Ling i realized she had accidently hit a sore spot for all three won, Em especially. One that left their corner in an awkward silence.
Thankfully, dea was able to alleviate the tension by asking Ling i about her cultivation. Specifically, about her experience with Qi, the nature of each realm and what distinguished them.
It was such common knowledge that Ling i had no trouble speaking about it without fear of leaking the sect's secrets.
That, thankfully, carried the conversation until Artoria, despite eating the fastest, was done with her food.
"I think it's ti we say goodbye to our Princess," Mikael finally said, waving his hand and cleaning the table.
""Aw"" Sarig and Jiraiya pouted, and the younger brother continued. "You didn't give us ti to convince her to stay."
"You'll just have to try harder next ti," Mikael teased and the boys perked up, obviously getting the idea he was hinting at.
"Don't worry Princess," Jiraiya 'reassured' Ling i. "You might be poor and weak, but we'll kidnap you next ti as well. And we'll do it even better!"
Unsure whether to laugh or cry, Ling i just thanked the 'Young Masters' for their 'consideration.'
"Bye bye."
"Bye Princess."
"See you next ti!"
Mikael shuffled the children over to a nearby room as they waved goodbye. The won of the house began to split up, so in groups to return to their own activities, not forgetting to wish farewell to Ling i either.
As Em guided Ling i towards the entrance of the mansion, the Young Miss couldn't help but notice sothing odd.
The Dragon King was seated with his children facing a screen of so sort... Yet another 'Mikael' was being pulled by Tsunade to another room.
And, as Ling i exited the building, she saw another 'Mikael' brushing a horned horse.
"The best way to think of him," Em said, once more seeming to predict her thoughts. "Is to imagine the highest cultivation realm possible. Then imagine ten realms higher than that. Only then will you have the barest hint of Mikael."
Ling i shuddered in fear at the idea. For so reason, she did not believe Shuang Ai was exaggerating.
"May this humble one ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why are you letting this one go? Are you not afraid this humble one will speak of what she has learned?"
Em gave Ling i a flat look.
"Will you?"
"This humble one would not dare."
"Even if you did, it wouldn't matter." Em shrugged, conjuring one of those grey portals. "Your entire continent could throw themselves at
and wouldn't scuff one of my scales."
"If..." Ling i hesitated before deciding to take the risk. "If you are so strong, why haven't you simply taken what you wished for from the Twin Heavens sect? We could not stop you."
Em, halfway through the portal, looked back at Ling i.
"When you've reached the peak. When there's nowhere left to climb, what will you do then?"
Ling i didn't have an answer, and Em didn't seem to expect one.
To a cultivator, there was only the climb.
Nobody ever thought of the summit itself or what followed after.
"If you ever reach that point, you'll realize that there are so things worth more than power."
The way Em's eyes were locked on the mansion behind them, a look of deep yearning in those icy pools.
Then the mont was gone, and Ling i was through the grey portal and standing outside the gates of the Twin Heavens sect.
"You will win the upcoming 'tournant' your sect set up." Em commanded. "We have no wish to deal with whatever simpleton your master wants to use to seduce us. Once you do, we'll help you in exchange for knowledge of cultivation and other matters. It will be mutually beneficial and will not betray your sect."
Ling i gave an awkward smile at the Sect Master being caught but bowed in respect. She was feeling much more comfortable now that she was back on familiar territory and knew these crazy dragons had held up their promise.
"This one will do her best. If this one may-"
"Why you?" Shuang Ai cut her off and Ling i was really starting to wonder if the woman couldn't really read her thoughts. "It's not because the boys kidnaped you. It's because Isne let them."
Ling i blinked in surprise, not understanding.
"If you are around us long enough, you'll get it," Em shook her head. "Just rember this. You can argue, disagree, or even fight anyone and it won't be held against you. . Mikael. dea. It doesn't matter. Except for Isne. If she doesn't like you, you won't even realize you've died."
Ling i gulped, not realizing that the cute little girl was such a terrifying being.
Em nodded, glad the girl was taking her warning seriously. Knowing her hus- Knowing Mikeal, he wouldn't have set her up to be his son's 'first princess' if she wouldn't stick around for at least a little while.
Ling i returned to her sect, safe and sound, even a bit stronger than before and with the greatest opportunity one could dream of laid out before her. So much happened in such a short ti that, even as she warned her father and master of the threat of the demonic sects, and the importance of keeping the Long Island sect pleased, that Ling i couldn't help but fear she was forgetting sothing important.
(Xiao Tian, Mu Bang, and sect brothers B and C would go on to flee the province, afraid of the retaliation of the Twin Heavens Sect for failing their mission and losing the Young Miss.
'Hunted' as they were, they'd form bonds of brotherhood and friendship stronger than steel and go on hundreds of adventures. By the ti they learned Ling i had been safe, and they weren't being hunted, it would be centuries later.
Mu Bang would spit out a mouthful of blood and pass out.)
It probably wasn't important anyway.
When Jiraiya and Sarig snuck out again, they'd show up in the middle of a battle between the sects. After beating up the demonic cultivators and 'kidnaping' Ling i once more, they'd try to convince her to stay with their 'aweso clubhouse' (read: magical fortress).
Even in the years to co, and dozens of kidnappings later, Ling i would never forget Em's warning and slowly learn how true it was.
All of Mikael's children were little monsters in the making.
But even with siblings with Elents like Peace, War, Knowledge, or even future children, Isne would still be the most dangerous. It was lucky she was so kind and loving.
Then again, she probably wouldn't have gained her Elent if she wasn't that way.
If the Dragon of Family disapproves of you... You probably never existed in the first place.
"And that is how your older brothers kidnapped their first Princess," Mikael closed the book quietly, smiling at the sight of his newest group of children trying in vain to stay awake.
So cute!
Conjuring two more bodies, Mikael picked up the babies and was about to bring them to bed, despite their cries for more stories.
On the way, he ran into Ling i who bowed.
He never really managed to get her to cut out with the formalities.
With a hint of Qi, Ling i transmitted her voice to his ear to not wake up the infants.
"Dragon King, can you please tell
where Jiraiya is?"
"He and Sarig are out being bandits again."
Ling i pressed her lips together, bowed once more, and made to leave to find the teenager.
He was supposed to kidnap her last week!
Then Ling i paused, looking at Mikael in hesitation.
"Yes?"
"I have a question, if I may?"
"Sure."
"Why the Twin Heavens sect? There are better cultivation manuals out there. Stronger ones. So why did you choose us?"
"The Twin Mind Spirit technique was originally called the Dual Body Mind Spirit technique," Mikael explained quietly, a teasing smile on his face. "Your founder discovered it in a ruin and changed it. We simply wanted to get the newer version to recreate the original."
"Would it be possible for
to learn the original?" Ling i asked, always eager to expand her knowledge of cultivation.
"Sure," Mikael grinned, conjuring a book and putting it in the young woman's hands.
She quickly opened it and flipped through it, her face turning redder with every word read.
Mikael laughed loudly at seeing her face, carefully ensuring the sound didn't reach the babies.
"The Dual Body Mind Spirit technique is the only dual cultivation thod that has no practical requirents for the practitioners while still allowing one party to transfer Qi from one party to the other. Or at least it's the only one that requires such a fun thod. My wives don't want to cultivate," Mikael shrugged with a teasing smile. "I, on the other hand, am dedicated to the Dao and retain a firm heart. They are just helping
with my cultivation, which also makes them stronger."
Ling i stood there, a lewd book in hand, as Mikael walked away laughing.
The Heavens were sotis cruel, sotis kind, sotis fair, and sotis unjust.
And sotis...
Just sotis...
The Heavens will completely upend your life because it wants to have kinky sex with its wives.
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