2 The Invitation

The Mortal Dao had been proven to be inefficient in dealing with the Immortal Dao. At least, Leon truly believed that those of lower standing couldn't possibly hope to show chivalry to stronger beings.

Good, evil, and everything in-between, all of it was worth nothing in the end. After seeing his parents die, he was unable to see 'dying untainted' as a worthy cause. If he was to fall, then he'd rather bring his foes down to the depth of hell with him.

No mercy. No conscience. It was with this in mind that he figured out the first part of his great plan.

What his First Mother left behind was a recommendation letter to the Tang Sect and her own little 'tricks'. The standard hidden weapons of that secretive Sect were altered to be of better use to her, and he was also left with a lot of bottles.

Some of them were medicines while the rest were poisons. Useful, but unneeded at the moment.

If he wanted to slowly overcome those he so hated using normal means, he'd go straight to the Tang Sect. However, he chose not to instead. This didn't have to do with his ability, but that there was no way he'd follow the same path as his parents.

That's why that Inn owner was a key figure...

As he was sorting out his belongings, the girl he had been seducing knocked on his door.

Finally, he could get his plan in action!

When she finally arrived, Leon could see that she didn't have much experience with people of his kind. She seemed to hesitate on actually going inside, unable to decide what she wanted to do.

Rather than pushing her, the young Child of Gaia approached the door and made eye-contact with her. She blushed, unable to keep gazing at his face for long. It made him find her quite attractive.

He wasn't lying when he complimented her. Even though others would laugh at her for thinking too highly of herself, he instead saw it as her thinking too lowly of herself. She was a beautiful person.

"You came quite quick."

"I just wanted to tell you that... It's best not to wait for me. I... need to care for my sickly father."

"Can I have your name?" Rather than pressuring her, the young man nodded. He didn't close the distance with his body, instead choosing to be more intimate as a person rather than rushing.

"...Cyra."

"Such a unique name."

"My mother gave it me."

"Was she a Cultivator?"

"Mmm-hmm." She nodded her head.

Seeing the deep longing in her eyes, Leon altered his plans. He took out a strange bottle, holding it before her. She didn't need him actually telling her to know that this must be some sort of medicine.

"This can heal up your father instantly." Her eyes brightened as she unconsciously reached for it.

However, he didn't let go. This made her look up to see a change in his kind eyes. There was darkness within them she couldn't fathom as her heart froze for a second. She realised she made a mistake.

"Sorry... Umm-"

"You can take this."

"...I know. It isn't for free, is it?" She looked down on her body, seriously thinking of selling herself.

"It is." He let go of the bottle, letting her hold it in her hands. This reaction surprised her greatly.

She couldn't understand his intentions...

"Why...?" There was no benefits for him to do so.

"When taking something from me, you obviously have to pay me back. However, this 'first transaction' will be on the house." He may smile at her, but now she could tell he was faking it.

His tone was different, as well as his attitude. She tightly gripped the vial and focused on his words.

He said this was a 'transaction' for him...

"I can pay money for-"

"You can't afford it even if you sold this Inn. Do you think medicine like this is easy to find?" His harsh words silenced her. She smelled the contents and realised that this was a top quality product.

Only Cultivators and nobles could afford this...!

Suddenly, she felt the wait of what she was holding to the point she even wanted to refuse, but when she thought of how her father was coughing blood recently, she couldn't reject this 'kindness' of his.

It made her feel curious about his intentions.

"...You said this was the 'first transaction'. Does that mean there's more?" If this truly worked, then she wouldn't be interested in coming back. However, it didn't seem rational for him to just give this to her.

"On the second transaction, I'll give you my Tang Sect uniform. I'll even tailor it to fit your body."

These words astounded her.

Wasn't he being too audacious?! A Sect uniform was a kind of protection and tool. Even though it seemed normal at first glance, there were many things only those with this uniform were privy to.

For example: Not only was it made by fibre impossible to gain on the market, but just wearing it would allow a person to be protected by the Tang Sect's influence. However, that was useless to her.

It wasn't like civilians were able to wear such a thing. Having it meant nothing without strength.

"On the third transaction, I'll give you a recommendation letter to enter the Tang Sect." It was at this point her eyes dilated, but Leon didn't give her time to react as he continued speaking:

"On the fourth transaction, I'll give you 'Clear Bone Cleansing Milk' from a Dragon Eyed Lion Cow.

On the fifth transaction, I'll give you 'Stalactite Marrow Tempering Water'. Enough to fill a bottle.

On the sixth transaction, I'll give you a 'Tang Sect Meridian Opening Pill' of the highest quality.

On the seventh transaction, I'll give you a cultivation technique created by a great Master."

The more he continued, the more her heart started to beat in fervent excitement from what she heard.

If she could attain everything he spoke of, then it wouldn't matter if she started off late. She'd be able to catch up with those who had been training from a young age and have the chance to surpass them. It was an invitation that could change her life.

"I... need time to think."

"You can take your time. I'll still be here anyway." A look of understanding appeared in his dark eyes.

He closed the door, letting her leave comfortably without clinging to her. As she was still thinking of her father's health, the first thing she did after the door closed was head straight for where he rested.

She looked at the old figure laying weakly on the bed and helped him sit up, then opened the vial in her hand. Cyra watched impatiently as her father drank the contents, even while spilling some of it.

However, the effects of the medicine worked way better than she'd ever expected. It was a miracle!

Her father started work the next day without any hints of having illness before this. He even seemed a bit younger from the clear signs of health shown by his skin. It pleased her greatly to see her father back in action again, but also worried her as well.

Those... 'transactions'. She still thought of them...

Cyra hadn't told him about where she got that medicine, nor did her father ask. He knew that nothing could stay untainted in this world, and he was scared of having to confront his daughter.

Even if she DID do something immoral to get this medicine, could he even criticise her? He felt that he was a useless father for leaving her alone, but felt even more worthless when he couldn't console her. It made him remember how she used to be...

The girl's mother was once of the Justice Blood Sword Sect, but ended up giving up her dreams when she had a daughter. It made the young girl feel responsible for her mother's early demise...

He knew she had the desire to reach great heights.

That's why, he chose to stay silent no matter the outcome. He wasn't overly protective enough to ask his mostly independent daughter to run the Inn when she got older. Her future was decided by her.

Cyra herself didn't rush her decision. She wanted to become like her mother, not out of a wishful dream of the future or obligation, but because she was somehow drawn to things like schemes and battles. The mundanity of mortality wasn't for her.

Still, would she sell her self respect for this chance? It wasn't like she couldn't refuse him.

He'd already given an expensive vial of medicine that fixed her father's health. Although she felt gratitude towards him, she also knew that he wasn't some 'kind man'. Who knew what he felt...?

Suddenly, she found herself waking up from a daze after touching Leon's room door. It was at this point she realised that she wasn't as 'pure' of a maiden as she liked. This 'transaction'... was too tempting.

As it was truly her first time, she cleansed herself all the ways she knew how before coming here.

Wearing a soft old times lingerie that made sure the cherries of her chest didn't become sore due to rubbing against her clothes, white underwear, and an outfit that she'd normally wear on a celebratory day, she knocked on the door to his room.

When Leon opened the door and was greeted to her pleasant appearance, he smiled at the fact that she was just as he imagined. What he deduced wasn't wrong, and from there he could understand more about her than even she knew herself.

"Come..." He reached out and grabbed her wrist. It was as if he had caught onto her like a prisoner.

The only difference was that she obediently allowed him to drag her. Letting him take the lead.

She expected him to go straight to what he let her in for, but instead was greeted to a truly welcoming evening. They talked, and he even took care of her emotional needs as a virgin yet to 'blossom'.

He was very slow and patient with her, making sure they were face to face the entire time they did it.

She drooled, unable to handle the weird sensations she was feeling for the first time. He might have done her slow, but she couldn't help herself from falling into the palm of his hand. It was almost like she was a servant trying to please her master than an equal, and the way her rapid heartbeat weakened her mind made her follow his intentions.

He was the master of the pain and pleasure. The one who could give her everything she desired.

As his hand held her hips, she slowly became less resistant to new positions. The only thing she could figure out about him using the last of her sanity was... that it was actually his first time as well.

He didn't say it, but the way he acted said it all.

From the way he used her dizziness from pleasure to interrogate her on whether she was on the pill or not. From the way he was curious about how different positions affected him and her. Everything was pointing towards him being a beginner at this.

If she didn't focus on him closely, she would have been tricked by the fact he was so good at this.

The first day was a nice and pleasant 'transaction'.

The next day was only a little different. Instead of going straight for the money, he gave her a set of clothes and told her to get changed into it. These clothes seemed a lot more expensive than she could afford, but something else bothered her.

Firstly, was that she didn't know where he got these clothes from that were in her size.

Wearing them was easy enough. The negligee was skimpy and seemed to function well as underwear for her. They were also white, which didn't seem too erotic. Though the texture and feel of the clothes made her want to keep these clothes.

It would've been no problem, but her second concern was her intuition that was asking her to decline such a request. She wasn't sure why, but it felt like she'd sink deeper in a swamp if she accepted... Almost like giving up autonomy.

Initially, he was picking how he 'used' her. Now he was even picking out what clothes she'd wear.

Perhaps it was just her overthinking, but it made sense the longer she thought about it. Was this his intention from the beginning? Even so, she was unable to bring herself to decline his gifts.

Things only took a drastic turn when the third transaction happened. His attitude changed again.

Still, she insisted on walking into his room...