24

The next two weeks saw Pef and Xie work side by side, Pef sweating profusely while slowly bending reality to anchor a storage space to a millimeter of sapphire.

Xie was bending spider shells and crafting Earth ranked armor and weapons for herself, as her Nascent rank items were too flimsy for her next targets.

"Any results, Pef?" she asked lifting her eyes from her worktable, another dagger finished.

"Still just one cubic meter. I guess you can keep soap and a few daggers in here..." Pef replied with a defeated sigh.

"And using a larger stone won't help?"

"Not with my strength. It might even explode. I should get at least four cubic meters from one millimeter of sapphire. Must be doing something wrong"

"How large are other Sky rank rings?" his wife asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Hmm. Chief Quing has at least 2 cubic meters. Maybe Oracle Ching has a smaller one?"

"Oh. I got it! Try to elongate the space inside. Like only 30 centimeters tall." Xie exclaimed while holding her Earth rank maul in front. It was nearly 2 meters tall and had a meter long sharp spike. But on the side it was merely 10 centimeters.

Pef blinked amazed then smiled. He touched the maul with his ring finger and focused again.

The inner dimension changed shape, more like an oval. Then the maul folded and vanished.

"Well, that took a long time to figure..."

"You are a bit of a moron though..." Xie said, patting his shoulder in pity.

Pef held her hand to his cheek "Thanks love. Now, let me soul smith the stone into your own ring..."

"Oh no. You will make me a new ring. Not this defective test." Xie asked while waving the junk away.

"Gah! This will cost you! A long hug and three kisses!" Pef demanded in outrage.

"Three?"

"Fine! Two kisses. But heartfelt ones" Pef conceded as his demands were a bit harsh.

Xie leaned over and kissed him sweetly. After a minute, they came out for air and dove in again. The other kiss was harsher and more brutal.

Pef figured it out, right away.

But, he wasn't one to refuse such an exceptional offer. He fought back hard, fighting for dominance. The woman still won, using dirty tricks and molesting moves. Pef conceded with a light tap on her thigh.

Then Pef held her to his chest, enjoying the warm hug. "That was amazing, my lady. You're very skilled at kissing."

"Hmpf! For that magnificent kiss, you owe us two rings. They are miserably small" she explained, poking his forehead.

"As you say, my lady. I'm not yet 18. I hope, by the time I reach 20, you'll be satisfied with me"

our hero admitted meekly.

"Enough posturing, you idiot husband! Make us more of your cooking. And take us flying again, after that" the silver eyed woman demanded in a stern tone.

Pef poked her airbags in revenge, then ran towards the kitchen, dodging the slow slap.

The silver eyes followed him amused.

'A novice Sky rank smith. He will be useful, this young husband. However, we need to leave this qi desert. We can barely breathe. Target locked. An overgrown greedy Rock worm. It will make a good kill later, and secure us a Saint rank'

Her eyes checked her Earth rank items, and she sighed a little. Then she walked towards the kitchen, ready to be catered and pampered like a goddess.

Two weeks later, Yellow Tear was mostly set on the road to civilization, trade routes created to all big cities and various market items stored, like zinc and maize. Another school and book printer was set up, mostly for the legal needs, but also to foster inventions and jobs.

"It's time we leave, Xie. We have family in Smithtown, and a lot of training to do" Pef said while looking at the sky. He could fly, but he would be alone in the sky.

He needed his wives and recruits to grow and fly as well.

"Okay then husband. If you think this weak garrison will be enough" she answered in a doubtful tone.

Pef shrugged and said: "It's enough to keep the people safe and the trade going. If a big problem appears, then we will come back and stop it"

"Come, you should meet my parents" Xie said softly, and began walking towards the other side of the city.

Pef looked over the bits of stone or wood, stabbing the ground. A cemetery, though for ash, most likely.

Xie took the lead, stopping in front of two old wooden poles, and bowed a little.

"Mom, dad. This is my husband. He killed those evil men. You can rest now"

Pef took out two stones and replaced the old sticks, which crumbled at a touch.

"May you find better luck, in the next life" he said with a short bow.

Xie froze, then spoke with her other voice. "Our body will be safe now. No need to worry, anymore"

Then she took Pef's hand and walked away, without looking back.

'She won't be safe though. Bits of knowledge can't offset the gulf between ranks'

'We shall see. Brains are more useful than you may think'

Pef pushed off and flew up, holding his wife in his arms. Well, her body at least.

The other woman will need some time, to get to like him. Even if it took losing at kissing.

Ten minutes later, he took out the airship and started condensing and refining qi.

The other woman drew in a breath and coughed. "How can you breathe here, the air is too dry!"

"The Qi density is low, and the worm eats most of it. I know. Life sucks" Pef replied philosophically.

The silver eyes watched him for a minute, while her hand traced the airship's cradle.

"You have a dual soul too, husband. Extra memories. Right?" she asked with obvious intelligence.

"Very few. A world without qi. Flying zeppelins like this one. More metals. People lived twice as long"

"Yes. Those medicines you made. Kept fever low, protected our body from brain damage.

Lemons and oranges for vitamins. Not very advanced, but better than this planet"

"Not the same way as you. Mom died instead. I am the baby"

"You're no baby. In a decade, you'll be an Emperor" the veteran woman whispered to herself.

"As will you, dear lady. My qi skills suck, rather badly"

"Yes they do. You have much to learn, husband" she replied with a kind smile.

Pef sighed and picked the next warm current. Gain more altitude, before cold air and gravity dragged him down.