- Ch 17

A warm and dry breeze caressed Siri's deeply plunging, mid-thigh short kimono with high slits that left both her legs and the sides of her buttocks fully visible.

Made of silk and velvet, it was comfortable to wear even though it was tight around the waist. The wide, long sleeves made it a little awkward to move around in if you weren't used to it, but no one would notice such detail when she wore such a sexy outfit. And it was gorgeous with large pink cherry tree patterns on a raven-black background.

'This was a bad idea but, they had agreed to it? Every single man will drool over me, and it would be hard for this Elliot to be possessive,' she thought. And that thought made her smile.

She knew that she would be the center of the event, especially as she was apparently, the only female cultivator in town. Somehow it would be fun as well as... annoying.

How can you have so many double feelings and conflicting emotions?

"He is here," said Raven.

"I need a weapon with me, don't I?"

"Where are you going to keep it," Raven said, looking her up and down.

"There's not much fabric to hide it."

"Who told me to hide it. It's perfectly fine to strap a shortsword around my waist and a knife around my thigh."

"Okay, but do you think they'll let you go armed at a ball," Raven asked.

"If they want me to be there, the answer is yes. I'm not going to be unarmed."

"You're going to the ball, not out to war," said Raven.

"There is always a war between me and the demons who are all over the place WHERE I AM!" Siri shouted in a rising voice.

"In case you haven't noticed," she said in a bitter voice.

"Yeah, yeah, take it easy."

Siri had found a katana-like short sword with silver and gold inlays, both in its blade and in the black sword scabbard. Clearly, a rune sword of the finest quality. And soon enough, she had found a nice dagger which she fastened around her left naked thigh.

"They won't care if you have a sword or two. You're a cultivator and, you can probably slaughter almost everyone there with or without a sword, provided they don't have higher cultivation than you. You have the experience of fighting that no one else," said Elix.

"Except you," Siri said to Elix, but he just shrugged.

The door opened, and in came Elliot, without knocking or making himself known.

Siri looked up, didn't smile, but started walking towards the door. Elix wasn't going to ride in any wagon. She was on her own. They would meet later at the ball, but for now, she would have to sit alone with Elliot.

Her hips, cheeky breasts, and plump ass moved seductively under her dress at the pace of her steps.

Elliot had walked in as if he owned the place, but he stopped in mid-step and stared at Siri, mouth hanging open.

Siri's first thought when she saw Elliot was, 'I hope he's as nice as his appearance.' He was really handsome, even hot at first glance and, she couldn't escape that feeling.

"Hi Elliot, close your mouth you look like a gaping fool at the moment." Siri couldn't help but giggle even though she was trying to be reserved.

He was dressed in fine black trousers, high leather boots, and a white shirt of the finest linen and silk. Short brown hair, vibrant blue-grey eyes, and he had a dominant masculine aura around him. He was a person who was always used to being in charge.

When Elliot noticed Siri's weapon, he said.

"You don't have to defend yourself when I'm around. Nothing will happen to you."

"Yes, I do."

"What are you going to defend yourself from?"

"You."

"What?"

"I need to defend myself against you."

Elliot looked confused, really confused.

"Come on, Elliot, we're going to your ball now. You must have a wagon with you, a nice wagon." Siri said.

Siri's sword scabbard struck lightly against her bare thigh as she walked, and Elliot didn't know what to do. Both Elix and Raven laughed softly and before Elliot could be offended by her words, Siri was on her way out the door.

In the street, there was a nice wagon with a hundred guards and other people. Siri looked at Elliot.

"Are you expecting to be attacked?" Siri asked.

"No, not if I show my strength and power," said Elliot.

Siri walked closer and, the guards, coachmen, and servants bowed.

She glanced back quickly and saw Elix nodding briefly at her. Everything was fine.

You look incredibly beautiful, Elliot said, and Siri smiled.

"I agree and, you look incredibly beautiful... too," answered Siri.

"Beautiful... " It seemed that wasn't the word he wanted to hear but more masculine positive expressions. Rather like handsome or strong...

Several of the guards around the wagon were cultivators with high cultivation. Some even had higher cultivation than Elix. The regular guards, or rather soldiers, were dressed in black and silver. And on their chests were emblems of a red eagle. Rune weapons glittered and, fine horses were tramping impatiently to go.

Maybe it was a good idea, not to make an enemy of Elliot, Siri thought.

Elliot's face was flushed and, he found it hard to look at Siri without swallowing. He looked out the window of the carriage and said.

"You have become known in the city, my lady, and are now a force to be reckoned with. You are the only female cultivator in this province and, you will be or are sought after by many powers." Elliot said.

"I've heard that before," said Siri, with a fed-up voice.

"Elix said that having a female cultivator as a wife is status and power. And that the children of cultivators will themselves become strong cultivators."

Elliot hesitated to answer.

"Yes, that's right. But I have a suggestion that will make it easier to avoid those problems. "

"What would that be?"

"Be my wife."

"What! I don't think so."

"The fact that you have several lovers doesn't matter. It's common among cultivators. But you know that... And It doesn't have to be real. It can be fake. You know, just for show."

"If I want such arrangements, I can ask several others, such as Elix."

"That is true, but they do not have the power I possess. You would be a target. You're safe with me here."

'If only you knew how wrong you are,' thought Siri.

"You like to just demand things and expect everyone to obey. Even other cultivators, like me."

Siri crossed her legs and straightened her sword. The short kimono had double slits, causing the fabric of the kimono's lower front to lay between her naked legs.

"I usually get what I want and, here you are," he said, still studying the city.

"Has anyone told you that you are far too arrogant?"

"I've heard that before," he laughed out loud and looked at Siri.

He tried to maintain eye contact with her but barely succeeded, as his gaze occasionally slid over her body.

"If you change your mind about marriage, just say so," said Elliot.

'Was he serious?'

"Let's talk about something else. What happened to the Phoenix Sect?"

Siri had an inner conflict. She didn't like Elliot but, at the same time, he and his family were the ones they would try to get help from. But what would he do if he found out that she was the one who had caused the demise of the Phoenix Sect?

Or rather, that she was the ultimate cause of its downfall.

'What can I say? Demons come from portals when I use Qi. That's preposterous. No one would actually believe it...' Siri thought.

He'll probably want to kill me if I tell him. But what else can I do?

"The Phoenix sect was destroyed by demons from the Greylands. And I was the reason they came," said Siri.

"What do you mean?" replied Elliot.

"Can I trust you? You're not going to hurt me, are you?"

His answer lingered a little too long for Siri to feel completely safe.

"No. I'm not going to hurt you. I swear."

...

...

"When... I use Qi. It opens portals for demons. It's not something I can control. That's what destroyed the Phoenix Sect."

"It all started a week ago when I left the Wind Sky Sect and joined the Phoenix Sect. It's like someone has put a curse on me. When I used Qi, portals in the form of clouds are created near me and out of them come beings from the Grey Land. I know how it sounds, but I can show you. If I use a little Qi, it just opens up small portals that I can destroy before they bring monsters here."

"Please don't do what. Don't do it when we're in a populated area, at least," said Elliot.

Siri looked down and had her arms crossed under her breasts, hugging herself.

The carriage stopped suddenly. They had arrived.