Chapter 22

Six months later..

"Congratulations, boss." Leon said as Duan Cai climbed into the car.

Duan Cai had just graduated officially from school. His mortal form had required him to graduate and due to his lack of knowledge in the mortal world it was a rather annoyance for him. He had barely managed to pull it off with his grades because he had none of the mortal knowledge when he had started school in this world. At his real age it was something he had no knowledge of ever going through in his home world. If he had the memory was still not there for him.

"Forget that nonsense, Leon. Have you heard anything from the Kaen sect lately?"

"Sir, they have been oddly quiet the past few months since you wounded the phoenix. I take it they should be making a move soon. They've probably been awaiting his recuperation."

"I can agree with that. If he is one of their top men they surely would prefer to have him involved. Given a direct attack is out of the question they will probably think of some other underhanded method to make a move very soon. I have felt them near our mansion lately. They've kept their distance, but surely they are planning something."

Duan Cai thought things over as he sat there talking to Leon. The last six months had been quiet to an extent that made them both feel oddly uneasy. They knew how badly the Kaen sect wanted to end the Dragon Syndicate and have even caught them spying on them countless times, but they always avoided confrontation with Duan Cai. It was getting to the point that they felt like they were trying to bait them out for some reason. If things kept going on as they were Duan Cai felt like he might go crazy. He was use to being followed around by Vail who still kept to his shadow like a cat after a rat and now he had other people spying on him as well but in a sloppier manner.

"This is getting ridiculous.." Duan Cai sighed to himself as he glared out the car window.

"Sir, shall I intervene with it?" Leon asked as he always loved when Duan Cai would let him off his leash to take action.

"Tonight.. Avoid causing a scene during the day. I don't need more on lookers than we already have." Duan Cai nodded slightly.

Leon smiled as he cheered excitedly in his head at the thought of intervening with the spies tonight. He had been itching for a fight with another cultivator for a while now.

"You got it, sir!" Leon agreed to the condition to take action only after dark tonight. He could understand why Duan Cai wanted him to avoid fighting in the daylight and causing more problems for them. If he fought after dark and someone died in the fight it was much easier to clean up their own mess.

"Calm down sparky.. I know you're all set to fight, but if you can try to figure out what the hell they are up to before you kill the man." Duan Cai glared at Leon as he could see how excited he had been getting over the idea of being set loose to fight someone.

"Shut up!"

Leon's eye twitched at being called sparky and he slightly slammed on the breaks causing Duan Cai to get jolted from his comfortable position. It was obvious that he had done it on purpose, but Duan Cai said nothing because he knew it was him reacting to being called that by him. A smile crept up on Duan Cai's face as he could hear the man grumbling to himself while driving. Leon had his hand so tightly gripped to the wheel at his knuckles were turning turning white and shaking from his nerves.

"I got it.. now why don't you relax before you pop a blood vessel, La Mia Stella. ~" Duan Cai leaned forward and spoke to Leon in a calming tone in attempt to make the man relax.

"Sit back before you go through the windshield, Duan Cai." Leon firmly said while using Duan Cai's real name to push that he was frustrated with him. He hated being called that and knew that Duan Cai knew it was well, but he still used that name on him again.

"Alright, alright, alright.." Duan Cai leaned back into his seat again so that he did not push Leon further. It was a joy to tease Leon, but he knew not to push his limits. He had noticed that lately Leon had been cultivating a lot more intensely than when they had first met so he presumed the guy was probably wearing himself out with all the hard work to get stronger.

Due to the tension between the two of them while in the car a heavy silence enveloped the car for a long time until they reached the mansion. After parking the car Duan Cai climbed out and took a look around. He could feel the pressure of near by cultivators from the Kaen sect. There was also the faint aura from Vail that he could sense as well, but he was already aware of him. If that ninja suddenly vanished one day it would feel almost weird to Duan Cai because he had been following him for over seven months now since he had come to earth. It was almost like he was another body part to him at this point even though the man was simply waiting for a chance to kill him.

Since the ninja still had yet to make an actual move against him he had only used the ninja for mere companion at this point. Though he knew to never let his guard down because no matter what he thought of the guy, Vail, was still simply buying time for the perfect moment. No sane person would simply accept someone they knew was being paid to follow them for a chance to kill as an actual friend or companion. That was like brutally declaring your fate to accept death into your own home.