9

She is in a great dilemma, and no one is there to help her.

She sadly packed up the clothes she brought and was about to leave when Ren suddenly reappeared.

Deep inside she was happy that he came back but on the surface, she pretended to be angry.

"Ren, why did you leave without my permission," she asked.

"Err—to get a disguise spell that's perfect for you" he replied

Hearing this, Theresa calmed down.

"So where's it?" she asked.

Ren did not reply.

"Come on Ren" she urged.

She needed a good disguise, and if anyone could help her, it was Ren.

"Fine, the disguise I will give you on one condition," said Ren.

"Ok! State it,"

"I want you to dissolve the contract."

Theresa was unhappy.

"Dissolve what?" Theresa asked.

"Mistress it seems your ears are going bad. Dissolve the contract. I'm not ready to be a contracted pet. You very well know it was by accident" said Ren.

"So what? The thing is, I will not dissolve the contract."Theresa said firmly.

"You forced me,"

In a second Ren had disappeared from where he was and appeared very close in front of her placing a sharp long sword placed at her neck.

"Mistress or whatever you are, I want you to dissolve this evil contract or else your little head won't stay intact."Ren threatened.

"Then do it. Do it," said Theresa shouted.

She then brought the sword closer to her neck.

"You have no fear. Do you know who I am? Do you think you can control me with your thoughts? I have severed that connection so you can't control me anymore. Isn't it better for you then to dissolve the contract?" said Ren in a low yet firm voice.

"I-I-Ren, you are all I've got here. Truly I'm not evil. I don't know why I became like this but you must trust me. I just have a desire to tame you. You are arrogant and view human lives as nothing. I know in contrast to others who made sacrifices to come to your lair I did nothing but Ren I have sacrificed so much. I don't have my parents, my Lovina, my best friend and I can't see Kim Tae Hyung anymore, What then do you want me to do? You're the only one I can talk to--" she tried to explain her eyes flooding with tears but Long Ren cut her off.

"You are unworthy Lady."

"Then kill me. The other passengers died so why not me? My parents are mourning me when I'm still alive. Do you know how helpless I am? I am alive but I can't reach them ever. I can't even summon anything. Ren, please, just take my life. That way I'll be even with those deceased ones."Theresa said a tear escaping her eyes.

This sight would make any man commoner or royalty to do as she bids but Ren was way too preoccupied with thoughts of how to dissolve the contract.

He had a lot of plans and he would not abandon them because of her- a very unworthy woman.

Theresa closed her eyes and the image of her parents, best friend, her doll, and her beloved idol.

"I hope you will leave well my dear parents," she muttered inaudibly.

Ren saw she was still determined and hissed.

He slowly sliced the flesh at her wrist and bit harshly on the bleeding part without sucking the blood.

After a while, he removed his mouth and wiped his lips with a white handkerchief.

Theresa showed no sign of suffering.

To her, this was nothing. When she came yesterday, she experienced pain worse than this and survived.

In no time, a red light left her body and entered Ren's body.

This was it!

The contract was finally severed.

Now she has nothing except the pearls she stole from him.

She finally opened her eyes and looked at him.

She saw he had an amused expression.

"Why is he laughing at me?" she thought.

"Mistress, go look at the mirror again," he said.

Theresa obeyed slowly walking towards the mirror, head bowed.

When she finally mustered the courage to look at the mirror, she nearly screamed.

Looking back at her was a lady who you could say had no hips to boast of, flat-chested and not even pretty though she couldn't be said to be ugly, this face was average. Way too average!

She looked back at Ren who had begun to laugh.

Now Ren looked much more handsome than before.

She immediately guessed what he did.

He never broke the contract nor wanted her life.

However, he transferred her beauty to himself and gave her a face and body that a peasant would not wish for.

Just look at her hair, now short and having some white strands.

To make things worse she was now thin so thin that she wondered how she was still alive.

If her parents saw her like this they'd bury Ren alive, that is if they could catch him.

The clothes she wore were now loose on her body.

Before it couldn't even reach her ankles but now, it has turned into a very long gown.

She looked so miserable.

She glared at Ren.

How dare he destroy her precious pride like this and he dare to laugh at her-his mistress?

"I'll kill you" she yelled and rushed towards him but he disappeared and reappeared behind her with a smile.

It seems like the days in the future will be fun. Much fun.

So what if he has to cry pearls? She is in a much worse condition than he is.

Revenge is sure sweet.

Well, It seems they'll have some shopping to do.

"Alright grandma, do not worry. I'll take you somewhere where you can laugh, forget your worries" said Ren.

But Theresa frowned at him in disgust.

"A wine house?" she asked.

"No! Mistress, we do some shopping together as ladies."Ren explained and then transformed into a middle-aged slim lady that was not too pretty but much better than Theresa.

Seeing this, she had the urge to want to tear him into pieces.

Whenever he put on disguises, his clothes fit him perfectly. The female clothes he's wearing now makes him look so noble. But look at her, peasants will laugh at her or run away in fright.

She's like an HIV/AIDS patient.

She really needs a hole to hide inside.

Ren held her hand, and both vanished leaving the earlier clothes she brought behind.

-----------

Both appeared in an alleyway and Ren took the lead to walk out of it dragging Theresa along.

As she expected, people were stunned or scared especially little children.

"That lady is so thin. She can't even walk well"

"What happened to her?"

"She looks terrible"

"Safeguard your children"

Theresa felt uneasy while Ren was enjoying himself.

"Ren rent us a carriage," she said in a low voice

"Mistress, this place is crowded not suitable for carriage," he said with a smile.

"Damn it!" she cursed under her breath

10 minutes later.

They had both arrived at one of the best clothes shop in Luo ye country. Theresa was sadder since the clothes she set her eyes on were all too big for her tiny body.

A beautiful young maiden has just entered the shop dressed in white. She looked as fresh as a flower with a small smile on her lips.

The attendant whom she excused away welcomed her, and she searched for a dress that catches her eyes.

She was very slim and tall but not thin like Theresa currently is. She scanned the rows and rows of clothes and continued to shake her head until one finally caught her eyes. But that very one was being held by a sickly middle-aged lady who was way too average and did not bother to apply any make-up. That dress was hers, no one can take it from her.

So she walked faster than before though still trying to maintain her elegant and noble composure. In no time, she was standing in front of the lady who was Theresa.

"Madam, if I may ask do you like this dress?" the young maiden asked with her small yet sweet voice.

Theresa looked up and was stunned. This lady looked familiar. Very familiar.

"Who are you?' Theresa asked.

The girl was not happy that this lady didn't acknowledge her beauty as others do but still politely replied.

"I am Han Ling," she said.

Normally this should make this lady before her, to give her respect but it was the opposite.

"How may I help you?" Theresa asked. Though annoyed, Han Ling tried to remain polite.

"I want that dress, madam. It has caught my eyes," said Han Ling.

"It has also caught my eyes so I want it, "Theresa said as she took the dress and headed to the cashier's counter

"How much is this?" Theresa asked.

"5 gold coins," said the young male cashier.

"I'll pay ten gold coins" said Han Ling who just got there.

"I'll pay 70 gold coins. Dare to compete with me?" Theresa taunted.

"Why won't I? I'll pay a 100 gold coins" she decreed not wanting to lose to Theresa

Though she is the 6th child of her papa, he treats her like a princess and so she has some gold coins that currently amount to 500 gold coins.

It didn't take long for the dress that originally cost 5 gold coins to rise to 400 gold coins. This made some buyers gather. It seemed these two ladies were at odds with each other and were competing with wealth.

Who was gonna win?

Theresa had known who Han Ling was even before she said her name and so she planned to teach her a lesson.

Han ling clenched her fists beneath her long sleeves but still politely smiled and said 700 gold coins.

She wanted that dress at all cost. She would attend her friend's birthday party tomorrow night and so she wouldn't let an ugly lady take it. Besides, it was too big for her.

Just look at her clothes.

Though expensive, it's genuine beauty was lost because this woman decided to wear it.

Theresa was also not ready to back down and said: "One pearl"

This made them all stare at her.

Who was she? Does she think pearls are that easy to get?

To clear their doubts, Theresa brought out a refined pearl and gave it to the attendant.

"The dress is now mine, Han Ling. I can decide what to do with it. Yes, as you can all see I'm but a thin lady who will destroy the beauty of this dress so I've decided to ..."

Theresa took Ren's sword from its sheath and cut the dress into pieces and then handed the pieces to Han ling bowing.

"Dearest Miss Ling, forgive me for giving you this ugly gift."She said as Ren took back his sword.

"I'll take it on one condition. Who are you?" Han ling asked.

Theresa simply turned to face the female Ren for an answer.

"Madam, she is someone you cannot offend. I advise you to take this gift that she's offered you from her heart. You are the second person to receive such a wonderful gift," Ren advised.

Han ling nodded and released her aura. These two old women standing before her only had the money but no cultivation (i.e. magic powers)

She wanted to suppress them into kneeling down and maybe get some pearls from them but the reverse was the case.

Ren released a bit of his aura directed to only her alone which made her sweat and she hurriedly took the rags with a smile and then left.

"Ok, People showtime is over" Theresa announced and walked out with Ren. She had lost interest in that shop. Since she was already like this why not just explore the ancient world like this?

So she and Ren disappeared and reappeared at the marketplace which was so crowded. There were many strange items that Theresa did not know and so Ren explained to her through telepathy.

He would often pat her shoulders which she found annoying.

Just like before, she received glances from people who either felt sorry for her condition or used her as an example of someone suffering punishment from heaven.

"See her? If you keep lying, you will become like that Jun'er. Do you wanna be like that?"

These were the words of a mother to her child on seeing Theresa.

But Theresa wasn't bothered.

What dazzled her was that there were no much food vendors in the market but you could find the ones who sold low-cost clothes, pills, jewelry and anything related to cultivation.

She was very disappointed but did not voice it out. What those novels said were lies. BIG LIES.

Ren told her that here majority were cultivators (i.e. magic practitioners) so not everyone wanted to eat or even knew how to cook. Those who sold street food and snacks in the market are those poor people who can't cultivate.

But those owners of top restaurants in Luo ye imperial city were cultivators who used their energy to prepare food, so those who eat conquer not only momentarily their thirst for some food and wine but also eat energy prepared food that is very good in purifying their bodies. The food prices there in these places are very high only the rich can afford them.

"Ren, I want us to find a restaurant, top restaurant. I'm starving," Theresa complained. She had pearls so she could eat as much as she wanted.

Boy! Her stomach must be furious. She needs to pacify it as soon as possible. The stinky tofu that she ate here on the street wasn't as delicious as the one described in the novel "Gourmet of another world".

Ren nodded.

He was not a good pet. How could he forget mistress was a human from another world?

He held her hand and disappeared.

..............

Exotic restaurant.

Theresa was eating in the high-class section of this restaurant.

She was chewing the meat and giving leftover bones to Ren.

"What does mistress think I am? A dog?" Ren thought unhappily.

If not for the vision last night from his Grandpa, he would not have so easily submitted to her. Anyway, at least he has several ways to make her suffer.

"Ren, try out this bone, "Theresa said handing another bone to him but he waved it away.

"Mistress, I'm a cultivator so..."He got interrupted by Theresa.

"Cultivator or not, you are still a beast. And a beast needs food." said a heartless Theresa.

"Mistress if even I must eat, do you have to give me bones to eat? Your current appearance is befitting of a dog why not you eat them?'

Ren, however, dared not to voice his complaints out.

"Mistress, when you finish eating, I will swallow the bones," He said to Theresa with a forced smile.

"Ok! As they said back in my former world, one does not waste food," said Theresa.

"Is bone then the only befitting food for me?" Ren thought again.

Just then, a worker ran in sweating.

"What is it?" Ren asked, a hint of anger found in his tone of voice.

"Madams, please follow me to another room. Eh... someone had booked this place before" the short middle-aged man explained.

"Oh, there are seats here for 8 people and there are 4 tables so let him come here," said Theresa.

"This scene mostly happens in transmigration novels I had read on web novel. I can't believe I'd actually see it real." she thought.

But the man sweat even more and tried to persuade them to leave until he heard footsteps and people talking.

His face paled, and he wanted to faint. He wasn't able to do as he was told. What will he do? If they fire him, how will he provide for his ailing wife and 6 children?

These two ladies before him were so hard-headed that they have landed him into trouble.

*A disguise spell can change a person's whole appearance, making even a fat person slim and shapely but it doesn't last long. Only a shapeshifter can last for as long as a week with a chosen appearance. The shapeshifter tribe is very hard to find and in an assassin organization, this person is treasured. A shapeshifter can even mimic perfectly the voice and lifestyle of the target's close relative to fulfill his mission.*