Like a command

"Do you understand the difference, Master?"

Ivan nodded. It wasn't hard to understand the difference, since the second one was clearly a command, while the first was a polite question.

"Good. Then what's the difference with: 'Celine, would you please give me a massage? '"

It was once again the same question, but withing the imitated voice, there was an undertone of dominance, making it feel less like a question but more like a command. Although it was the same words, the effect was different.

"It's the tone.", Ivan answered. "By using a tone as if there is only the answer 'Yes', it changes it from a question to a command."

Susan nodded satisfied. "Good. That's exactly right. Often, the important thing isn't the choice of words but the tone of your voice. It can change a question into a command or the other way around. Now try it."

"Celine, could you please give me a massage?", Ivan tried to say this sentence in the same tone as Susan, but he still didn't quite manage it. It still seemed more like a question than a command.

"It's still lacking but for a first try not bad.", Susan said. She then asked Celine, "I'm guessing you will be Ivan's personal servant, right?"

"I don't quite understand what it means to be a personal servant, but I guess so."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you.", Susan told her gently. It was completely different from how she treated Ivan.

"Now for servants, it is quite easy. Don't interrupt your master, if not to stop him saying something wrong or stupid. Obey his orders, as long as they don't infringe on your basic rights. Always be respectful."

"Ok.", Celine nodded to show that she had understood. "Then how should I address him? Is there a norm or can it be chosen freely?"

"The standard is 'Master', but you can also use one of his titles.", Susan explained.

"Then I'll call him 'Master'.", Celine decided.

"But only in public.", Ivan reminded her. He was unwilling to have her call him 'Master' all his time. Instead, he preferred their current relaxed and comfortable interactions.

"Sure that's fine.", Susan agreed. "It's common for most personal servants to call their master different in public and private. They are after all one of the closest people to each other.

But for now, you should try to talk in private as you would in public so that you can train and don't make a mistake."

"Makes sense.", Ivan agreed.

"Didn't you want a massage?", Susan asked Ivan, making the other two realize that they were still standing around in the living room.

"Right.", Celine exclaimed. "When we went shopping last time, I bought everything required. And I also had one of the rooms refurbished so it would be more comfortable for a massage."

She then led them towards one of the rooms.

"Massaging is always a good skill for a personal servant to have.", Susan praised before asking curiously, "So have you only learned it or do you have a skill?"

"I have a skill, 'Basic Heavenly Massage'.", Celine answered while hiding how she got the skill.

When she heard the skill name an expression of astonishment appeared on Susan's face. "Really? You really have this skill?", she asked excitedly while grabbing Celine's shoulders and starting to shake her.

Celine was surprised by the fervor shown by the other woman. "Yes. But could you please stop shaking me?" She was completely helpless against Susans shaking. Even if she used all her strength which had increased drastically after changing her race, she was unable to stop her from shaking her.

Susan hurriedly let go of her. "Sorry. I was just too excited. Do you even understand what this skill is?", she then asked.

The other two shook their heads. Wasn't it just a massage technique?

"No wonder you don't see it as something special.", Susan took a deep breath.

"First of. Every skill that has the word 'Heaven' in its name is a great skill.", she said, "Didn't you read the description? Especially the part about stimulating the cells?"

"So?", Celine looked at her in incomprehension.

"So? That means it can strengthen your cells. And this is independent of your cultivation since it is based on a different system. So a regular massage can make one's bodily strength be higher than those of one's peers. And this is something extremely important in the upper realm. Especially with the rarity and difficulty of body refining skills."

"Huh? Aren't we training in body refining skills?", Ivan asked puzzled.

"Yes and no. Although technically the flesh, blood, and pathway refining realms are body refining realms, where the body gets refined, it is more of a transformation of the body to better support the gathering and usage of Qi. The normal way after that is to collect Qi and use it for skills. At that point, the body refining has more or less finished and any additional bodily strength comes from the Qi flowing through it.

But besides that, it is also possible to further strengthen the body itself. The cells will then generate a new power which is similar to Qi."

At that point, Ivan interrupted her, "You mean Vital Qi?"

"Yes. How do you know about it?"

"Because of my bloodline.", he honestly responded.

"Mmm. Makes sense." Surprisingly she didn't ask about her bloodline. Instead her expression seemed as if she had expected it, making him wonder if she knew about his bloodline. And if she did, how.

"So anyway. Even for those with the right bloodline, it is hard to continue training their bodies. So since just training Qi seems more effective most people only focus on that. Coupled with this neglect as well as the difficulty itself, good body refining skills are rare and hard to get. So something like the 'Heavenly Massage' massage, which can provide the same effect is very valuable.

And although its the basic variant, don't look down on it. If you would give me a message as well I would be truly thankful."

"Oh so how would you show your thankfulness?", Celine asked. She would always try to get the best out of everything. And listening to Susan she found her to be even more knowledgable than her, so she should have some good things.

"How about I give you my body?"

The response shocked them. "What the...?", he couldn't stop himself from saying.

Celine too looked at her askant.

Seeing their skepticism Susan smiled wryly. "She wasn't surprised by their reaction."

"Well, that wouldn't be for just some massages but also something from Ivan. So how about it? You give me those two things and I'll give you my body?"

They looked at each other in confusion.

"Um? What do you want from him? And why should we want your body?", Celine asked hesitantly.

They had already arrived in the room. In the center was a massage table with a small one beside it with some flasks, with liquid in them, on it. There was also a small area divided off, which was for changing and a shelf with comfortable white towels. There was also a small seating area with just a few chairs.

Now Susan sat down on one of them. "First of all, I have a spiritual bloodline and if I guess correctly that is exactly what he needs. Second, I could speed up your training. And as for what I need from him, that's some base essence and some blood essence."

"Base essence?", Ivan asked surprised. "I don't think that's possible." Although blood essence was important as well, it would slowly regenerate and he currently had a full amount. But his base essence was currently damaged and giving something of it away would make the damage even worse.

Seeing his defensive position, Suan laughed softly. Her voice regained her silken quality, which always managed to make him uncomfortable.

"I know. I can see that your base essence is currently damaged. But even if it wasn't it is much too weak and there is no way that you could provide the amount I would need. Maybe you will have enough if you reach the late Earth Realm."

"So it is something for the future.", he sighed in relief. Although he truly required someone with a spiritual bloodline, so he could stabilize his bloodline, if it was this far into the future than he didn't have to get into this mess.

"Not quite. Although I didn't plan to talk about this with you yet, we might as well do it now.", Susan said while pulling out sheets of paper. "I want to make a contract with you. I will give you my body as well as a method to fully stabilize your bloodline with it and in exchange, you will give me the amount of base essence and blood essence I need after you reached late Earth realm."