22

"Third master Gu...or is it First Master now?" Pef asked his visitor.

"Both of them. I have the position but not the wealth." Gu replied with a shrug.

"Ah. You want to make money?"

"If the coast til Port Li or even Lacrimosa is clear, then sea ships can carry heavy loads. Not just one ton like your small flying ships. A hundred tons per ship." the man stated with confidence.

"Yes. That's true. So, you have a business plan, what to buy and sell, how many ships you need, how many people you can pay, expected profits in one, two or five years?" Pef asked a bit amused.

"Ah. I wanted to build a single ship...and bring glass or brass, then send them local produce like lemons and oranges. Maybe rare woods or minerals"

"I'll give you 30 ships. And some copper plates for capital. But in 5 years I expect my money back. Not that I need money, but people must return loans. It's the law" Pef said with an approving nod.

Master Gu nodded wordlessly. He was somewhat surprised.

His wife had pushed him to ask, because she felt Pef was a nice Emperor, and was due to leave today. "So, how it this going to happen, you'll send word for ships, or..."

"I have some spare ships in my storage rings" Pef explained with a shrug, and rose to walk towards the port.

"Oh, you mean right now?"

"Why, you had other plans?" Pef asked with a confused smile.

"Actually, not at all. My wife will be pleased at the news..."

Pef ran along a pier and deposited the pirate ships. Then extracted 10 copper plates and a brass ring and filled the man's hands. "Wedding ring. Goes on her finger. Perhaps to her children later"

"That's too..."

"Say thank you" Pef replied with a handwave, then flew up.

He went to buy a few tons of oranges and a few lemons. Xie will like them, he hoped.

Then he took off, heading for Yellow Tear.

His maximum flight speed kept increasing, although qi consumption was also inconvenient.

Ten minutes at high subsonic speed, or a full day at walk speed. Same distance but in a shorter time.

Pef combined this with resting aboard the airship, and recovering his qi.

More acupuncture points opened along his legs and spine, almost like he held the entire world aloft when he flew.

By next month he recognized the long tear in the ground, walls made of yellow stone.

And after a celebratory circle of the town, he glided down to his house at the edge of the city, next to his plantations.

Xie was on her feet and waving, although her Awakening must have burned and tear through her with fierce bouts of pain.

"Pef, you're back...and you can fly..." she whispered as she hugged him tightly.

"And you would be in the Spirit rank, if you only ended the pain"

"One more month, husband. I feel it would cross me over into Earth"

'Would it?'

'Not by itself no. Awakening means practicing discipline. But combat and love are needed to complete all stages'

'So?'

'Sleep in the same bed, take baths, do everything together. And at most, one more month. If she loves you back'

"Why are you afraid, husband? I want to be strong!" Xie exclaimed while trembling from the pain.

"Eat, bath, read, sleep. All together with me. All the time. Every second. Or no deal"

"Sounds like a dream. I love your food!" the new wife said with a pain smile.

"And sleeping in same bed? Both of us naked?" Pef asked more sternly.

"Ah...we'll see how it goes. I have nightmares..."

"If you bite my neck veins, we might have a problem..."

"Okay, I'll try. See how it goes. My love should be stronger..." Xie whispered uncertain, while pulling her hair and scratching herself.

"So, give me a hug?" Pef asked with a fake smile.

'"Okay. Just close your eyes please. I don't want to see more eyes" the damaged woman said with sob.

An hour later, Xie slowly began relaxing and uncoiling.

"You're my hero. My savior. I'm safe with you..."

"Hey, you're a pretty lady. And bad ass. So we're like a team. And married. Don't kill me in my sleep, please?" our hero whispered back, not quite terrified, but close.

"Ha. It's Pef the moron. Makes great food. Let's not kill him...hmmm. We love Pef..." the woman muttered as she fell asleep.

'We?'

'Dual soul. I warned you'

'Her baby?'

'Rather, whoever came in its place' the glove explained.

'Oh. It better be a woman. And pretty'

'More like a transmigrated war veteran. Possibly a woman, as these things need a special slot'

About four hours later, Xie opened her eyes and looked around. Her eyes had a silver tinge, like someone else was looking through them.

'This is the boy who saved our body. Not a target. An asset, ruling over the continent. Saint continent useless. Expand parameter search. Xi continent. God tier weapons probable, but locked to the Xi bloodline. Our body is married to a Xi, the Xi qi method is still uploading. Situation favorable. Return to standby status'

The glove recorded the Tier 3 veteran and smiled inward. His user was even luckier than he knew. Even a damaged tier 3 was potentially a strong ally, if he could get the reborn goddess to love him.

Which has never been a problem, so far. Rather, the opposite.

Next morning, Pef woke up between two warm airbags, and held tightly by their owner.

"Hey, I am not dead!" he exclaimed rather happy.

"Shhhh. Sleep more husband. Our body likes you" a subtly different voice answered.

Pef poked the airbags to make sure he wasn't dreaming. A weak hand slapped his head.

"So, I'm Pef Xi, age 17" he said gently.

"Our body knows. Go make us breakfast. She will wake soon" the other soul said in a calm tone.

Pef blinked and went to make breakfast.

'You heard that right?'

'Partial amnesia, shell shock, combat trauma. Low tier universe, probably tier 1 or 2. Her qi spirit is water.'

'Okay. Is she friendly?'

'She is undergoing Legion indoctrination. She will be mostly pacified in 24 days'

'Got it. Meanwhile just be nice eh?'

'Be yourself, Aspirant. Behavior alteration will be perceived as hostile'

'Got it. Maize and spider legs then. And orange juice!'

The glove sighed and despaired. The idiot user might break the fragile pact.