The Childish Woman (5)

"..."

Damn, why did she choose such a troublesome way to do this? 'To gain experience', sure, maybe if it were for a day's worth! But she's asking for the long-term... which we don't have time for!

The bounty on Fiona's head, her marriage and the truth about her birth father's death. We need to settle these matters in Glendora as soon as possible. Ah, all these problems are giving me a splitting headache... aha! A lightbulb dinged within my head.

Since we have no interest in joining a sect, let's make Ellie the same! Based on what I know, from reading those novels, and my few day's worth of knowledge from interacting with people, most, if not all sects have shady backgrounds undeserving of their reputations!

We can act out a play that will bring out the ugly side of the sects for Ellie to see and send her on her way with some life advice or counselling of some sort... yep, that'll work. I hope.

"Give me a second, let me talk it over with Fiona." I said, turning over to see her rubbing her stomach. Ah, my heart throbbed. She must have been hungry without dinner last night... let's get this over, and fast.

"Sorry Fiona, Daddy knows we should rush to Glendora, but we need to repay this favor to Ellie." I whispered gently to her ears.

She grumbled. That, or her stomach, did.

"Is it really that important, daddy?"

"Of course." I nodded, trying to appease her. "Didn't you want to sleep on a nice and comfy bed?"

"But..."

I lowered my voice, barely audible, and murmured, "She's not as simple as she looks, Fiona. A Spirit King expert tailed us last night in the forest. Ellie scared him off. Without her, we might've been sleeping forever instead..."

Fiona shuddered. I pulled her into my embrace. Just the mere thought of death scares the hell out of her...

"D-do you think h-he was sent by Mom... my?" She asked in a frail voice.

So this was what was troubling her? Well, her mother first assassinated her birth father right under nose and now she's hunting her down... no one can live happily like that. Fiona must be so disappointed in her mother... I can tell she's someone that cares about familial bonds and kind in her heart.

I shook my head. "I don't know, Fiona... I truly don't know. But what I do know is that..." I paused, trying to collect my words together.

"... is that if it was truly your mother who sent someone to tail you, cut off all ties with her. She doesn't deserve to be your mother."

Fiona froze and let her body collapse into my arms.

'She's not taking it well at all,' I frowned. 'Did I take things too far?'

I couldn't bear to see her disheartened, but at the same time, I wanted that b*tch of a mother out of her life already.

Thus, I could only give in and try to coax her, patting her back gently.

"Sorry, did I jump to conclusions? Who knows, maybe it was somebody else that sent him. You're so pretty, and daddy's so handsome. There must be people who want to pick a fight!" I joked, trying to lighten up the mood.

It worked. Fiona chuckled. Fresh energy seemed to surge through her body as she jumped down from my embrace. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, how are we going to help... uh, sister Ellie?"

"While Ellie has a terrifying cultivation base, she has no experience regarding other matters, and the village head doesn't want to see her indebted to guarding this village any longer. She's thinking of joining a sect and asked us to take her place, so she can observe if she likes it or not." I explained, feeling troubled.

Fiona thought the same. "We don't have the time for that." She said, scratching her chin. I was glad to see her mood swing the other way.

I nodded. "I thought so too. We could join for a week, but that's too little time to say anything."

"Couldn't we just... run? Fiona has a few methods to erase our presence. If that doesn't work, we can go through another portal. Besides, sister Ellie doesn't seem like a bad person, or the type to hold grudges."

I looked over to see her innocent face, shining against the morning sun, but her eyes reflected a sense of desperation. Desperation to find the truth about her birth father's death and to resolve her family's vendetta once and for all.

My heart grieved to spoil her wants and needs, but I knew this wasn't the time. She's a kind, pure girl, but now she's resorting to some shameless deeds to get out of this. I can't accept that. Not when it was I who wasn't strong enough, having to be at other's beck and call...

I squatted and patted her head. "Listen, Fiona. It's because Ellie is a good person that we can't run from this. Repaying kindness is an important virtue in life. What goes around comes around. Daddy's not a Buddhist and you're not either, but either way, karmic ties will come back to bite you when you least expect it."

"Everybody has done something bad in their lives, that's just how the world works, but its always better to stay on a person's good side, okay? If they help us, we help them! If they want to kill us, we will be more ruthless than them!"

Fiona nodded in understanding, but then glared at me. "I am not bad!!"

I coughed. What a way to kill the mood, Fiona. Is that all you took from the life lesson? This should have been one of my proudest dad moments, the very first lesson, but now...

I grabbed her by the waist with two hands and lifted her up. "Yes, yes, my Fiona is a good, cute angel."

"Put me down, daddy."

"No."

"You're being bad again, daddy." She scowled. "I'm hungry. Let's help sister Ellie first. What's the plan?"

"Why were you so quick to call her sister?" I asked. It surprised me. She only met Ellie this morning, and she's already called her sister. What if she started calling random boys she met on the streets big brother? I shivered at the thought of that.

Fiona must've felt my restlessness as she stared daggers and wriggled her body. "Humph, should I call her mommy, then?"

"No, no, it's not like that. I'm not prioritizing her over you!" I hurriedly explained myself and gave a helpless sigh, settling her down on the ground.

"The favour, remember?"

Fiona crossed her arms and looked away.

'Hai, she's mad again, or is it... jealousy?' I chuckled inwardly and smiled. For all I know, she could just be moody from hunger. Foodies without food sure are temperamental.

I couldn't bear to let her stay mad at me, so I tried to take her mind off of things by talking about the plan.

"Now, now, don't be mad. Let's work out the plan for this first, all right? Daddy's thinking we can try to force the sect to use unscrupulous means for Ellie to see. You're a little genius, with your cultivation base considering your age. There's no way a sect would pass up an opportunity to recruit you."

"Daddy... you sound like you're selling me off." Fiona paused before she turned around and said with a pitiful expression on her face.

I coughed a fit. "Daddy was praising your talents..."

"..." Wait, that doesn't sound right. It really would look like I'm selling her off if I were to continue listing her talents. Then, am I making her even more angry?

I stared at her, nervousness within my body as a cheeky smile broke out of the corner of her lips.

She's teasing me again, ah. Getting so mischievous! Well then, two can play that game!

"I mean, you are the princess of Glendora, part of the Eastern hegemon. Cultivation resources are abundant there, and you probably have a powerful master. Besides, you also have the experience of the outside world, compared to those sheltered, arrogant brats. That puts you miles ahead of them. Talent only comes from hard work. And most of all..."

"Fiona..." My gaze softened. "You have me with you. There's no way a daughter of mine is not a genius! Daddy believes in you."

A little figure in white jumped into my arms as I finished talking.

"Daddy... you are quite the sweet talker, no wonder you can charm these sisters into helping you," she said, her eyebrows raised.

I spanked her bottom with a bit of force. I can't bear to hurt her.

Fiona still yelped in pain. I didn't care if she was exaggerating or not and hardened my heart, although it wrenched with pain.

"That's your punishment for teasing me. Let's go. I don't believe my princess cannot awe this second-rate sect with her talents."