The Childish Woman (6)

I walked to the end of the line-up with Fiona in my arms. Nodding, I said to Ellie, who stood not too far away, "We'll meet you in the forest."

She gave a thumbs-up of acknowledgement and vanished.

It's really a pity that someone of her cultivation base doesn't know what to do with her life. I'm not someone who meddles in their business, since she asked for it, I'll do what I can.

Before I met Fiona, I too was lost, heading nowhere in life, but kind strangers still lent a helping hand and steered me on the right path. This time, it's my turn.

I'm not a saint or a prophet though, and that's what I'm worried about. What if I direct her on the wrong path, and it ends in misfortune? It would truly be a tragedy. Plus, this world is nothing like the modern world back on Earth, where one can lend money, or provide necessities. It's brutal and violent. Hidden everywhere are greed and schemes. The consequences are dire. What do the cultivators call it, a heart demon?

Considering the fact that our priority is to get stronger as fast as possible, a heart demon amidst a breakthrough is a big setback.

Fiona tugged my shirt, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Daddy, you're thinking too much."

She cares about me! Pleasantly surprised, I asked, "Oh? You could tell what I was thinking about?"

"Stop thinking about sister Ellie, unless you truly want her to be my mother."

"..." I want to spank her again, but flicked her forehead instead.

"Haven't I made it clear already? I'm just trying to repay the favor! And even if I am attracted to Ellie, or any other woman, they wouldn't be your mother without your permission. You're the only girl in my eyes."

She covered her head with her hands, almost as if protecting herself from pain. I smirked. Don't tell me she's blushing under there?

"... Daddy treats me the best." She mumbled under her breath, but I heard it. My face curled up into a wide smile, and I hugged her even tighter. She realized, finally.

"Daddy!" She exclaimed, as she squirmed in my embrace. "What are you doing?"

"Treating you the best."

"..."

"Daddy, you're so petty. I teased you a little before, and you're still holding grudges. I bet this was all planned by you to get back at me."

"Nope, I've forgotten about her already. As I said, only you can enter my eyes."

"..."

Fiona was speechless for quite some time, before relaxing her body. We hugged like that for a while, before I set her down. The line-up was fast, and it was approaching our turn. Two boys were ahead of us.

"Help daddy repay this favor this time, and we'll head straight to Glendora right after, all right?"

"Mhmm." She dipped her head in agreement, her face a little red underneath the morning sun.

Patting her head, I crouched over and whispered into her ears.

"Lower your cultivation base a bit, if you can. Stay low-profile, don't attract attention to yourself. Don't let that old man or anyone touch you. Oh, and, most of all, remember that daddy is always by your side."

Fiona stood up suddenly. I did too, in shock, as she jumped into my arms for a hug, and ran away just as fast to join the line-up. Her face was a ferocious shade of red.

Ahh, she's way too cute! That blushing face is so teasable!

While I was mooning on the last traces of warmth from her hug, I shook my head. I've got to recollect myself and protect her from dangers, in the form of perverted old men and some dogs... I narrowed my eyes and disappeared into the crowd.

____________

Fiona POV

'Daddy has such a flattering tongue,' I thought to myself as I queued up behind the boy. I was just teasing him about sister Ellie, and somehow I'm always the one who ends up blushing.

I touched my face. It was hot, and probably very red. I shook my head, trying to forget the feeling of the hug.

'Ahh! It was me who started it this time! I'm so embarrassed!' I covered my face and cursed him at the same time.

"So shameless, how can he hug me all the time without getting flustered? Maybe I need some more practice..." I muttered, raising my head at the old man's excited shouts.

"Green talent! Green talent! I never thought I would find one here! Boy, tell me your name!"

I shook my head again.

"He treats me very well though... just because I wanted a bed to sleep in, he's gone this far to repay the favour! He's stupid, isn't he? There must be another reason behind this... did he really fall for sister Ellie?"

Thinking about that made me agitated, even though he reassured me already. I want to be the only one that he hugs.

It looks like I need to carry out this plan perfectly to help sister Ellie out, so she can leave us alone while we travel back home.

Members of the sect escorted the green-talent boy into the forest, leaving only me at the table with the old man. On it were two crystals that I was very familiar with.

"Okay, you're the last one, little girl. I want you to touch these two crystals and it'll show your talent." The old man said impatiently.

'Talent Measuring Crystal and Age Crystal, huh. I can hide my cultivation base, but I can't hide anything from those crystals... sorry Daddy, it seems I can't stay low-profile.'

I nodded and did what the old man asked.

Wisps of smoke swirled around the Talent Measuring Crystal and before long, it settled and a lush purple color filled the crystal.

I could feel the shock from the old man, and I sighed inwardly. I touched on the Age of Crystal and the same thing happened - wisps of smoke turned into a '7', with the old man's eyes blowing out of his sockets.

"Hahaha!" The old man laughed manically as his eyes glittered. "Age 7! Purple-rank talent! A once-in-a century genius! We've found a treasure!"

He reached out and tried to grab my arms. I backed away in fear, even trembling a bit.

A cowardly, obedient girl is much easier to groom, in the eyes of these sects. As expected, the old man coughed and adjusted himself to be more presentable. He even sent out small amounts of spiritual pressure to act like a dignified figure.

"Ahem, girl, I'm the second elder of the Burning Blaze Sect. You may not know this, but you have the talents that can overturn the heavens! You need not take part in any more of the recruitment process, we'll hold a formal ceremony as soon as we get back!"

I tilted my head, acting like his words confused me. As expected, the second elder frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Can I take part in the scouting grounds? Daddy said to fight for experience." I said, in a soft and meek voice.

His frown deepened. "Your daddy sent you here for experience? Where is he now? Does he know the dangers involved with you fighting out there?"

I was angry at him for acting like a concerned elder when he was just probing daddy's level of threat, but then I remembered that I'm acting too, so I need to bear with it. If he has thoughts to eliminate daddy... then don't blame me for being ruthless!

Instead, I flashed a bright smile full of praise. "Yes, daddy sent me here! He's very strong!"

I lowered my head and faked a few tears, acting like an abandoned child. "We were travelling across the continent, but he said he was busy and told me to join this scouting ground, wuu... is he leaving me?"

The second elder didn't expect me to cry suddenly and tried coaxing me. "No, no, your daddy is busy... he'll be back later... uh, it's all right, don't cry..."

I broke down wailing as I melted some ice to form some tears.

"Little girl," he said, his tone solemn. He wasn't trying to coax anyone anymore. Gone was the previous awkwardness he showed. "Your daddy must've encountered some troubles. Enemies, perhaps. He left you here so we can protect you, and for you to grow stronger."

I blinked. How shameless can this old thing get? Twisting facts like that, who is he trying to trick? Daddy hasn't even been here before. Why would he leave his daughter for a complete stranger to protect?

"No wonder he told me to fight those spiritual beasts. I can gain fighting experience from them!"

The second elder stared at me, dumbfounded. Ha. Serves you right! This wasn't part of the script, right?

"Wait, little girl-"

I stomped my feet and glared at him, as my spiritual essence erupted. "Don't stop me from fighting! I will help daddy!"

His eyes popped out for the third time as he stuttered. "T-third level of Q-Qi Condeseantion Realm?"