The Childish Woman (10)

"She knew... from the very beginning?" I asked, looking at her. She smiled and walked over. I sweated, not knowing her intentions. It couldn't be anything good.

"So," she said casually, putting her arms around her hip. "Care to explain yourself?"

I looked at Fiona, and she shrugged. Hey, at least put a word or two, don't act like this you weren't part of this...

I scratched my head, not knowing how to start. A howl sounded about as we stood in silence. Ellie spoke up first.

"All right, all right, Fiona's already told me about your situation. I understand that, but... I hate being deceived! Don't take me for a fool just because I'm young," she said, spiritual essence erupting out of her body.

The physical sensation was suffocating. The dense pressure made me feel so small, so insignificant, like a shrinking ant. My legs were shaking, and they wanted to cave in to a kneeling position. This is the order of the world, or martial law, whatever cultivators call it - whoever's spiritual essence is stronger will always win.

I stood firm. You couldn't even tell that my entire body was shaking all over, unless you were beside me. Fiona noticed sweat dripping off my forearms, worry clouding her face. She turned to face Ellie, and wanted to plead with her to stop, but I waved at her to stop.

Fiona hesitated, before sitting down to eat the rest of the rabbit. Phew. Ellie's emotions are unstable right now. Begging her would do no good, and instead may irk her even more. Our calmness may rub off on her.

"It wasn't intended to be a lie, Ellie," I said calmly, wincing from the sudden increase in pressure. "I admit that I treated you perhaps foolishly because of your age, but I did not plan to keep it from you forever."

"So you planned to keep me in misery and alone, like how I was before," she said, withdrawing her spiritual essence. Pain filled her eyes, a look that I was familiar with.

I drifted back into my memories, back to my childhood. I saw myself clouded with grief at the sight of my mother, and her neglect of me. She walked away, choosing to have nothing to do with me. It was a betrayal, a kind of lie. I pinned my hopes on her, but it was worthless all along. That kind of hurt is what Ellie is facing right now... and with a world as bloodthirsty and schemed as this one, she's bound to suffer.

I sympathized with her greatly. It wasn't a matter of repaying a favour to her anymore, but to set her life straight.

Fiona's voice transmission broke me out of my thoughts. Ellie's past... is so tragic. No wonder she's still this childish at this age, there's no one to teach her. That gave me even more reason to guide her on the right path.

"Continue playing along with me," I told Fiona via voice transmission.

I stared at the grief-stricken Ellie, who looked at the ground with tears dripping from her. If she could deduce our plans from our simple actions earlier... that means she's probably guessed something about her past. That memory must've caused her to be emotionally sensitive about 'betrayals' and whatnot. It made me feel uncomfortable that I was part of the trigger of the outburst this time.

What could it be?

I've only talked with her briefly and showed my strength. She didn't hold much reaction to any of that. Then that means... my affection for Fiona?

No, no way that's it. I'm thinking too much. I've really changed... a person like me is showing sympathy. It's all thanks to Fiona. I'm... I'm becoming more human.

I treat Ellie more gently now. "Don't you know about Fiona's past? That means you should know her identity as the princess of Glendora."

She sniffed. "I didn't know the king of Glendora was a man as shameless and weak as you."

"..." What's with the personal attacks now? I pretended not to hear that.

"Ahem. Then there's no way that the rulers of a prosperous nation could judge a third-rate sect wrong. We've seen and been through a lot. These things happen all too frequently," I reasoned.

Ellie looked up and nodded, seeming to agree. Three figures flashed and descended from the sky just as she opened her mouth to speak.

Fiona ran to my arms whilst crying aloud, "Daddy! You're here! The old man wants to take me, wuuu~"

Ah. Here they are. If the core disciple didn't use any things that could save himself, he must've had a talisman that notified the sect. Fiona also spread her spiritual essence throughout the forest whilst Ellie was having her outburst.

Her acting is too good. I felt my killing intent rising, but I constrained it, making it seem like someone injured me. I lodged Heartbreak into my back. A burst of blood spurted out onto my arms, dripping onto the ground.

"First Elder, Sect Ancestor. That's the girl I told you about," the First Elder pointed.

The two old things widened their eyes and looked at each other. Greed and desire flashed on their faces.

"Fifth stage of Qi Condensation realm at seven, she's truly a purple ranked talent," the sect's ancestor commented. I scoured his cultivation base to no avail. Shaking my head, I scolded myself. I'm not strong enough...

The first elder nodded. "She'll surpass even the personal disciples in no time, not to mention a core disciple. His death was worth it. Letting us find her."

Their attitudes annoyed me. They're talking like Fiona is in their hands already. You old bastards, I'll deal with you later.

I harness my 'feeble killing intent at them. "You... don't even think about taking her under my watch," I said in a hoarse voice, coughing up blood.

I went all out with my acting, even biting my tongue for blood. I'm confident that Fiona and I can make a career out of this!

The three stepped back in shock at my killing intent, which surprised me. I can't judge their strength and cultivation base, but just my killing intent suppressed them for a bit.

Humoring them, I lowered it, looking like someone injured me. As expected, they sneered, malice forming in their eyes.

"Didn't you ask us to take care of her, but now your words just stated otherwise?" The second elder asked sarcastically.

The first elder drew his sword. "Either way... you're injured, your cultivation dropping to a mere Qi Foundation realm. Consider this unlucky, but you'll die for your daughter's life!"

"The heavens must be by our side... he's suffered such terrible injuries," he murmured, looking up at the sky. "A once-in-a-century genius... she's destined to bring greatness to the Burning Lotus Sect!"

His lips curled into an evil grin. "Don't dawdle! Kill him!"

Spiritual essence bursts out of the two elders, as the first elder charged at me. The second elder flew up into the sky and launched a spell.

I grasped Fiona's hand tightly. She tickled it with one of her fingers, not bothered at all.

Erm, the attacks are getting too close for comfort. I didn't have the strength to dodge after my legs turned to jelly under Ellie's pressure.

Is she going to do something... anything? I glanced at the unnoticed Ellie out of the corner of my eye. She stood still, a flicker of emotion across her eyes.

My palms sweated as I prayed inwardly. You can do it, Ellie! Pull yourself together!

I felt a gush of air from beside me and danger from in front. Their attacks were dangerously close...

I closed my eyes and smiled.

Fiona, who was hiding from behind me, climbed onto my back and grabbed my shoulders. She gave me a kiss of reassurance that sent ecstatic shivers throughout my body.

Ellie sighed as a familiar pressure crashed upon me, sending my knees trembling.

"I'm disappointed."