The Step-up (1)

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The purple Death Astral Combatant shot through the forest and once realizing that despite transcending in brute strength the oversized mountainous Gorilla lacked in mental and spiritual senses equally, his silent stalking became a simple one. Though curious about the size of shitter a mountain could produce, in the end, Ja Sun's reason one. He never was into the toilet puns as indicated by how he would never let Ah Yin live out that 'one' line which would cause Ah Yin to think at night.

She had indeed won that day, but at what cost?

Ja Sun knew of this particular beast. A Titan Giant Ape hailed for its impressive physique but lower mental aptitude compared to other Spirit Beasts. What Ja Sun hadn't expected to see was the dangerous giant beast landing in a protective and hidden lake under a cliff further protected by an array of trees with impressive volume and size of leaves that blanketed the surroundings. And most certainly this place looked beautiful. Small fireflies moving without being intimidated by the Titan Ape since they were incapable of such an act itself. The reflection of the moon on the calm surface of the lake was not marred by a single ripple.

Even the Titan Giant Ape simply sat down and then lied on its back, truly copying a hill's existence but what made Ja Sun feel surprised was that despite the movement and the vibration, the surface of the lake still did not move.

Before Ja Sun could curiously search the lake with his mental energy, he heard a loud shout waking the beast up.

"Just what do you think you were doing?"

It was a woman. Dressed in plain green robes, her long brown hair neatly tied into a long scorpion tail, the woman who looked minuscule suddenly jumped, revealing herself to be stronger than ordinary spirit masters, and landed on top of the Titan Giant Ape's face. The soles of her sandals dug down and the spirit beast breathed loudly.

In front of Ja Sun's eyes, an earthly glow covered the beast's entire body and soon the mountainous Titan was reduced to a man barely reaching 3 meters in height. He wore animal skin over his body and his short hair stood up like needles. The woman, with the reduction of size, now stood in front of him.

"Auntie, I had to go! I ate too much!"

As the woman's glare sharpened, the lake flashed briefly before a dark-skinned man with raven blue hair emerged from within. His entire being displayed a sense of laziness and unlike the burly 3-meter tall man, this long-haired individual was around 1.8 meters.

"Elder Brother, help me!" The man sought assistance but almost seemed to be growling threateningly.

'Two 100000-year-old beasts... with temporary human forms?' Ja Sun observed and then his gaze fell on the woman, 'And that's most probably a 100000-year-old beast turned into a human... spirit rank just above rank 80.'

Narrowing his eyes, Ja Sun was already planning on making use of the situation. Just because he managed to find a relationship with Ah Yin didn't mean he had to turn acquaintance with every single 100000-year-old beast and humans without trying to gain value from them. Their value, of course, meant the 100000-year-old Spirit Bone and Spirit Ring... or Spirit Soul.

While Ja Sun had never considered cold slaughter a quicker and efficient option, at first glance, it seemed more beneficial to ambush those who can be killed easily and reap the rewards. After all, in this case, the human resource was trumped by the possible spirit treasure.

But...

'Killing the woman will only net me a Spirit Bone. Knowing her identity would have been great. If she's a human turned from a feline spirit beast, then the spirit bone will be useful for Three-eyed Silver Lion. But...'

Seeing the bond displayed by the three individuals, Ja Sun knew he would be able to use it well. There were two problems. He had yet to confirm the identity of the second Spirit Beast and he had to be prepared for brutal revenge if their bond is unnaturally strong.

At this moment, a dog-sized rabbit was observed hopping in their direction. The rabbit had pink markings on its forehead and it jumped into the woman's embrace.

"Haha, yeah, you're going to be a strong spirit beast soon yourself. Your two brothers will protect you during the tribulation."

The woman's words earned Ja Sun his curiosity. Ah Yin had revealed that once a Spirit Beast turns human, at least for her, a few core memories are seemingly repressed or simply removed. Her ordinary life as a tree was pretty much intact as some form of experience but she had nothing to speak of aside from the core rules revealed to her when a spirit beast turns human that helps them understand their future path.

The 'Tribulation' made Ja Sun left wanting to know more.

'I can arrive with my real body and keep observing them for a while but I'd have to leave sooner or later. And I also have the mission to locate the Death Spider Emperor.'

Thinking for a moment and seeing that the group was not speaking anything else of a value aside from the fact that the rabbit with an astounding cultivation of 99999 years was the woman's daughter, Ja Sun's Death Astral Combatant left to locate the Death Spider Emperor. Anyway, he would need to think carefully about how to approach the situation. There are three spirit bones ready and potentially a fourth one.

---

"Ughh..."

Tang Hao's eyes slowly opened. Everything felt blurry and his entire body seemed to be filled with a sense of pain and warmth contesting against each other. His senses slowly expanded and he began hearing things. He began feeling things. A pair of hands held his and certain urgency filled a sharp voice.

"Is everything going to be okay?"

The reply, however, was calm, collected, and rational. The voice certainly soothed Tang Hao's senses.

"The quickest injuries to heal are physical ones. But what Tang Hao is suffering from isn't a flesh wound. No matter how fatal, I can take care of any flesh wound aside from the ones damaging the brain and the memory of an individual. This guy, on the other hand, is purposely injected with a large volume of an external element that seems to be earthen and in dispute with his system. His physical injuries are now completely removed but injecting my life element against the earth element will only make things worse. The best course of action is to take a slow recovery from this."

"Ka-ul told you didn't he? I'm the princess of the Star Luo Imperial Clan. I'll pay you for anything else that can be done. Surely—"

"What part of my expression gives away that I care enough for money. My assets surely surpass yours. Take care and if anything extreme happens, call me."

The owner of the voice seemed to have left the area and Dai Mu's hold around Tang Hao's hand tightened.

"I'm sure Elder brother will be fine... you should eat something," A familiar voice slightly roused Tang Hao but Dai Mu refused.

"Not until Tang Hao is fine..."

---

"Not until he is fine?" Ah Yin frowned and looked at Yuehua, "I confirmed it that he will be fine. All his injuries are taken care of and without the opponent's spirit control guiding it, the elements in his system would seep out gradually."

"I'm sorry," Yuehua nodded with a guilty expression, "I know that we were supposed to be away from trouble but all of you have to take care of my brother now."

"It's not a problem," Jun'er smiled.

"Because I'm the one who's doing it all of you are still enjoying your vacation," Ah Yin glared at the group who didn't flinch at the accusation. A new camping ground was formed by the crater where Tang hao clashed with the Titan Giant Ape. Aside from the tent where Tang Hao was being nursed, everyone else was enjoying the spot of sunlight due to the trees in the surrounding region being completely destroyed.

"But I've heard that a few girls act like this," Jun'er mumbled, "Always saying that they wouldn't move by his side or something like that. Didn't know I would meet one."

Everyone was sitting on a good recliner, leaving Yuehua and Ah Yin speechless.

"Wait, don't you always keep on sniffing Oscar? And last night you had somethings to speak yourself," Ja Sun pointed the hypocrisy.

"First," Jun'er looked at Ja Sun with a slight blush on her fair cheeks, "I like Oscar's smell because it's the best. Two... why don't you speak on relationships when you've actually weathered them? Me and Oscar are together for years. We can say what we want."

"I can say what I want, too," Ja Sun and Jun'er entered into a staring contest.

"Fine, can you say this to Little Yin?" Jun'er smiled wickedly and leaned towards Ja Sun to whisper something into his ears. For a moment, Ja Sun frowned and replied, "Even you can't do that to Oscar."

"Watch me," Jun'er walked up to Oscar and whispered softly, "I'm just gonna blow against your ear, and then when I lean back, nod, take me by my hand, and leave the area for a few minutes."

Oscar's gaze slightly brightened. Jun'er had played this trick on others before and as Oscar nodded with a bright smile, holding Jun'er's wrist firmly before leaving the small campsite since Jun'er had enough strength to protect the duo from anything not too extreme, Ja Sun was left slightly stunned.

Feeling the other's stare on him, he scowled slightly.

'Oscar likes it in his ass?'

Naturally, Oscar never knew what Jun'er challenged Ja Sun with and he never bothered asking since it didn't affect him in any way.

"What was it?" Ah Yin inquired with a calm stare and Ja Sun's gaze brightened himself. Just like Jun'er, Ja Sun was thoroughly dishonest. In fact, Jun'er had paved a way for him. Those around him didn't know what Jun'er and Oscar were doing but Ja Sun could say anything and it would be considered the truth. With that in mind, Ja Sun sighed and shook his head.

"No, no, Jun'er was right. They just might be better in this stuff than us."

Seeing Ja Sun admit it so easily, Ah Yin couldn't help but frown.

"What is it?" She inquired once again.

"I'm telling you. Once I reveal it, we either do it or our relationship might end up being a mess. It's not worth it," Ja Sun shook his head again, lying on the chai with a relaxed expression as if it didn't matter to him but the more Ja Sun acted this way instead of lewdly approaching her, the more curious Ah Yin felt.

Everyone took a seat. Dai Mu and Tang Hao were inside the tent. Since Dai Mu didn't want to eat, the group wasn't going to force her either. Tang Yuehua began meditating once again with the sole intention to reveal her progress to her brother later on while Liu Erlong fell in a nap.

It was quite peaceful for them.

Until...

Pulling her seat close to Ja Sun, Ah Yin whispered her inquiry.

"You still feel you can't tell me some stupid thing Jun'er said? Come on, tell me, what is it?"

Ja Sun had to admit that in some heavenly situations, dealing with Ah Yin was simply a child's play when at times she can also be the greatest hurdle to be encountered.

"Fine... but you don't have to feel obligated to do anything just because Jun'er challenged us," Ja Sun spoke calmly and Ah Yin ignored it completely. She would be the one to decide what to do or not.

Leaning in towards Ah Yin, Ja Sun whispered something that he had been wanting to try. Aside from their first time in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Ja Sun and Ah Yin had slept together two more times but each one was shorter than their first time not because of physical restriction but because they would always get disturbed. This gave the recently formed couple no time to try exploring. Ja Sun considered himself as a great admirer of nature and had always wanted to explore it.

Ah Yin represented nature. Exploring her meant exploring the bountiful nature itself.

"There's no way she would do that... right? I mean... we all are together. Doesn't she feel any shame?" Ah Yin questioned softly, slightly unwilling to believe that Jun'er was capable of such...

Then she suddenly recalled Jun'er and Hu Lana's confidence in certain matters. Faltering, Ah Yin matched Ja Sun's gaze meekly. But much to her surprise, Ja Sun didn't force it any longer.

"See? I told you. Don't worry about it. Oscar and Jun'er aren't great, just different."

Ah Yin's lips twitched and she looked around. Liu Erlong was sleeping and Yuehua was meditating. If they left, the group would be without any protection. But...

"Wake up," Ah Yin kicked Liu Erlong's chair.

"Huh?" Liu Erlong groaned, slowly waking up, "What?"

"I want to talk with Ka-ul alone. Keep an eye on things," Ah Yin said before holding Ja Sun and dragging him away by his hands. Being the lead, Ah Yin clearly didn't saw what Liu Erlong and Yuehua did.

That smile... it made them think of all the dirty things they had witnessed or heard at once.

---

"Hehe, that will keep him quiet for some time," Jun'er snickered while the couple sat on a branch.

"Hey, I want to talk to you about something. It's what you said yesterday," Oscar looked at her when Jun'er shook her head with a smile. "No, don't worry about it," she smiled, "It's just a little strange seeing someone move forward with their life so... I wanted the same thing. But we had already discussed this beforehand. It's not right of me to rush you and honestly, I wouldn't want to start a family when you're unwilling."

"That's..." Oscar smiled sadly, "You were right. After I reached the rank of Spirit Emperor, I did think of trying and reach a higher realm before starting a family."

"What?" Jun'er looked at Oscar with a slightly confused expression but he shook his head, "That's not all. I guess, yesterday when you said those things. Spirit Emperor... Spirit Sage, Spirit Douluo, and Titled Douluo. And maybe there's a realm even higher than that. It would never end.

You know, as a child, when I found out that my martial soul is a food like my dad, I was quite sad. He died when I was five. Mom died due to weakness a year after I awoke my Martial Soul. But I was good. Good in cultivating. My speed was better than others and I couldn't help but set goals for myself... and now I do think that goals have their own place and shouldn't control what I really want."

Smilingly, Oscar rubbed the back of his head, his white hair slightly dirtied already, "And I didn't want a flower to be the factor that makes me do this..."

From his spirit storage ring, Oscar took out an oddly familiar ring that looked like cut out from a diamond but had enchanting golden veins inside, "Ka-ul managed to complete his first work... and he wanted to present it to his master. I convinced him otherwise when I told him what I wanted to do."

Jun'er's eyes were wide by now as she looked at the ring.

Looking up at Oscar, her lips quivered as he continued with a bright smile, something he would do once Jun'er ate his cooking every time.

"Jun'er... want to have a child with me that's not born out of wedlock... by marrying me?"

Her nose began twitching uncontrollably once again.

---

Unknown to the couple that, too, took their step towards being a family, they had given Ja Sun a perfectly good reason to step on his own path of debauchery. From the very beginning of his life he had seen things and had been cockblocked one time too many but being with Ah Yin is a great experience for him that made him forget about those days.

Once again within a tent formed by a large cluster of Blue Silver Variants, private and public at the same time since they were still within the Star Dou Great Forest, Ah Yin looked at the stiff metal 'shape' with a frown. Biting her lips, she couldn't help but speak up. As smooth as it was...

"Wouldn't it... you know, slip out? Jun'er is... crazy."

"For the lack of a better term, yeah," Ja Sun nodded, not caring if he had unintentionally ruined Jun'er's reputation for his sake in front of Ah Yin. It was for the greater good.

Holding the object in her hands, feeling its cold touch, Ah Yin shook her head, "No, I don't wear trousers like Jun'er... let's forget about it."

"No problem," Ja Sun still smiled. Spooking the 'prey' by acting forcibly now? Ja Sun wouldn't do that. He never could. If not now, as long as there was a chance in the future, he would wait patiently just as he had waited to kiss Ah Yin after her 'grand' revelation. It would be worth the wait.

"Really? You're not acting like yourself," Ah Yin frowned, "Quickly answer me what was your real name in your previous life?"

"Jason," Ja Sun shrugged and Ah Yin nodded.

"Anyway, it's not like I would force you into doing this," Ja Sun shook his head, "It should be completely your choice. After all... I'm just a toolmaker. You will be the one 'wearing' it."

Blushing slightly, Ah Yin rolled her eyes.

"What if I never do it?" She inquired.

"Then I'll end up selling all the things I have created. Get a good profit," Ja Sun winked and Ah Yin's heart grew slightly calm.

"No... don't sell it. Maybe later. But now," Creating a seat using the blue silver variants, Ah Yin gestured Ja Sun to sit.

With a curious expression, Ja Sun couldn't help but speak up, "I thought it was hard for you. You really want to try it again?"

He didn't say this with the intention of twisting her thoughts but genuine curiosity. Ah Yin was indeed a little more open to 'normal' stuff and with Ja Sun not minding to service her, even liking it quite a bit, Ah Yin had tried to return the favor only to end it being... unpleasant.

"I've been practicing..." Ah Yin mumbled.

"Hah!" Ja Sun gasped, his face full of shock, "Ah Yin, you already replaced me?"

"Shut up," Ah Yin scowled before letting her Blue Silver Goddess appear as the beautiful sapphire blade of grass grew in width and rolled around into a pretty familiar shape and size.

"I was practicing with this," she remarked and colored Ja Sun impressed.

He had to admit that even he never thought of grass dildos but Ah Yin did.