Chapter 4: ...Master?

"We are currently looking for new maids!"

Diao Mei's eyes were shining as she held Layla's hands. Her household wasn't really looking for new maids, but seeing how strong Layla was, and how she saved her, she would love to repay her by giving her a job.

"L...Lady Diao Mei, I don't think it is appropriate for-"

"If you don't want me to report you to father, then shut your mouth", Diao Mei spoke threateningly before one of the men in suits could finish talking.

"H...how about it, Miss Layla!? Would you like to work for me!?"

"Do you have a cultivator of at least Heaven Dao realm in your family?"

"W...what?"

Hearing Layla's words, Diao Mei almost choked to death. A cultivator of at least Heaven Dao realm? Does anyone with that kind of cultivation still exist in this world? She learned in history classes that there were cultivators like that a thousand years ago, but all of them are extinct. Either going to another realm or just mysteriously disappearing altogether.

In short, cultivators of the Heaven Dao Realm were the stuff of legends.

"That is my requirement. My employer has to be at least as strong as me", Layla said in a very serious tone.

"I… I see", Diao Mei didn't really know what to say. Is this woman saying that she is at the Heaven Dao realm? She did split a man in half with just a swing, but her being at Heaven Dao realm was… impossible. Was she… actually crazy?

Diao Mei shook her head, it still doesn't change the fact that this woman saved her.

"T...then, please at least let me thank you by inviting you to dinner at our house!", Diao Mei bowed her head.

"Hmm…", Layla placed her hand on her chin, "Would you also allow me to stay for the night?", she said.

"This…", Diao Mei's eyes twitch. Now she was somewhat regretting inviting her, but still, as a lady, her words were her bond. "S...sure", she stuttered. She then told one of her guards to call her house and prepare a room for Layla to stay in.

"Then I thank you in advance, young lady", Layla curtsied.

"N...no! It should be me that is thanking you for saving my life!", Diao Mei quickly grabbed Layla's hands again, preventing her from bowing further. She then dragged her out of the alleyway, as she continued to talk to her about some other random things.

"Clean up this mess", one of the guards, presumably the guard leader, ordered the other men to clean up the bodies of the thugs as he followed his young lady and her new friend out of the alleyway.

With Diao Mei and the Guard Leader gone, the men left all looked at each other, their eyebrows furrowed.

"...Useless", one of the men clicked his tongue as he kicked at the corpse of the dead cultivator thug.

***

"Welcome to the Diao estate!"

Diao Mei spread her arms as she pushed the huge door to their mansion, she did not even wait for a guard to open it for her.

Layla slightly bowed before entering the mansion. Layla was surprised at first. Was this lady Diao Mei a daughter of a governor of some sort? She noticed it as well when they first entered the estate, it took almost 3 minutes of driving by car from the gate's estate to their mansion.

Her master didn't really partake in the luxuries of life. They always kept it to themselves in the mountains whichever countries they go to. A small cabin-like house, or even a cave that she was tasked to remodel by her master.

"Father, I brought a guest!", Diao Mei continued to run around the house, "Miss Wei Ning, where's father!?", she stopped running around when an old woman wearing a maid's uniform approached her.

"Master Diao is currently in his studio, little Mei", the maid called Wei Ning bowed respectfully. She then looked towards Layla, who was still curiously looking around the place, "This is… your guest?"

"Yes. Have you prepared her a room?", Diao Mei asked.

"The other maids just finished preparing it"

Hearing this, Diao Mei ran towards Layla.

"Little Mei, stop running around!"

Seeing her young lady full of energy, Wei Ning shouted as she followed her. "Have you even taken your medicine for today, young lady!?"

But Diao Mei ignored her as she continued to approach Layla. Her breath was unusually heavy as she finally got in front of Layla. "Please... you may freshen yourself up before we have dinner", she said while catching her breath, "We... prepared a room for you"

Layla could not help but squint her eyes as she stared at Diao Mei, "Your meridians…"

She was about to say something, but before she could finish her words, Diao Mei once again grabbed her wrist and started dragging her away, "Wei Ning, take miss Layla to her room so she can freshen up!"

"Okay, but please stop running!", Wei Ning could not help but sigh,

"Please, follow me, Miss Layla"

***

Layla took a deep breath as she exited the shower, with only a towel wrapped around her body. It has been a while since she was able to relax and pamper herself.

Ever since her master died, she has been running around from one place to another. Her master told her to find something she liked to do, and that she was free to do anything she wanted, but the only thing she actually knew what to do was how to be a maid.

She could not help but sigh, how was she even supposed to live when all she wanted to do was be with her master? But that is impossible now.

Once again, her breaths became heavy. But she quickly shook her head, causing her wet hair to wave around in the air. Her master wouldn't like it if she was sad.

And so, with another sigh, she tried her best to smile… but even then, a single tear trailed down on her face.

"S...sorry!"

Perhaps due to her reminiscing, she did not notice that someone had entered the room. The owner of the voice quickly apologized and closed the door. But after a few seconds, the door once again opened.

"...Who are you?", a man entered the room, his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Layla.

Layla slowly turned her head towards the door, but her eyes instantly widened and her jaw slightly opened in shock as she saw the face of the owner of the voice. Her lips slightly shook and her hand softened up, causing the towel that was wrapped around her body to fall to the floor.

"!!!"

The man quickly covered his eyes as he once again repeated his question, "W...who are you!?", he shouted, "W...wait, why are you going near me!? Pick up your towel!"

Layla slowly approached the man, her hands slightly stretched towards him.

The man could not help but freeze as a naked… beautiful stranger gently touched his face.

"W...what are you doing?", the man could not help but gulp, "D...did my daughter hire you!? Please, I will pay you… just… just get out of the house!"

The man continued to shout, however, it was like the naked stranger could not hear him as she continued to touch his face. He was about to say something again, but he stopped as soon as he noticed the tears that were falling on the woman's face.

And, after a few seconds, the woman finally opened her mouth and muttered something,

"...Master?"