Author Note: Important Note at the end, please read~.
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To change the strange atmosphere created by Yasenia's involuntary sensual stretching, Esther spoke aloud. "Yasenia, I'm quite curious."
Yasenia leaned back onto Andrea again but didn't continue their hidden adventure. She used her arms to lean Tatyana onto her while resting her head between Andrea's soft pillows. "What are you curious about?"
Esther looked at the girls and chuckled. "Them. I mean, it's not my first time seeing a harem. There are a few men with women flocking around them in the Academy. Women doing the same with male groups are less, but they also exist. However, even when I look at those harems, I find that the eyes of those people are always a bit dissatisfied."
Esther looked at Angel and the others and smiled. "However, I can only feel happiness from them. How do you do it?"
She didn't mindlessly think about Yasenia being the best or any other extreme thought. For Esther, Yasenia was a junior she looked up to as a talented cultivator and someone she was interested in but not obsessed with.
When asking these questions, she was just that, curious and intrigued.
Yasenia got thoughtful. "I said it many times, and I don't mind repeating it again. They are happy, but I still owe them the world. No matter how well I treat them, it is a fact that they are part of a harem. Each of them is worthy of having my entire love, so I feel bad having to split it between them."
"I never tried to be… equal with them because I think that being natural is best. If I force myself to create a schedule, it will become a chore, not a relationship."
"I've never wanted a harem, Esther." Yasenia sighed while the fan girls were surprised. "If it weren't because of my constitution, I would never have created one. That's also why, when I see all of you following me and feel some of your loving gazes, I feel…"
Yasenia didn't end the sentence because she didn't know how she felt.
Was she sad? Was she guilty?
She was not.
She liked and cared for them.
However, what Yasenia feared was these girls ignoring other people and maybe missing their better half because they aim to become hers eventually.
The S.L.U.T members looked at Yasenia with surprise.
Yasenia smiled and looked at them. "Remember that having high dreams and expectations is good, but you must never become blind to your surroundings. Looking up at the stars is beautiful and fills up with courage, but eventually, we must look down and around us, or else, we will trip, fall, and hurt ourselves."
They all nodded thoughtfully.
Esther sighed and smiled softly. Her emerald gaze moved toward the girls. "You girls better take care of your dragoness."
Cecile smiled thinly. "We will."
The others also firmly nodded.
Esther asked Kali. "By the way, Kali. How are you doing? I see the scars are healing, but they are still very much visible."
Kali has been discussing this with a few others but didn't mind answering again. "Honestly? It doesn't matter."
Kali leaned on Yasenia's side after Andrea moved one arm to make space. "I've come to even like the scars a little bit because of Yasenia's care for them, hahaha."
With a smile, she looked at Yasenia and pecked her lips. "Moreover, they are a good way of shooting away suitors. If it weren't because they were caused in that situation, I would have stopped searching for a way to heal them permanently. As long as Yasenia loves me, I wouldn't mind living with them for the rest of my life."
The girls felt like they were fed honey, leaving a sweet aftertaste.
Our dragoness was not agreeable, though. "Don't you dare stop, honey. Although I love you dearly and don't mind your current appearance, you must heal yourself to be in perfect health!"
"I don't care about your looks, but your health must always be nothing below perfect!"
Kali laughed and grabbed Yasenia's arm between her breasts. "I know, love."
The other girls murmured with excited voices.
"They are so sweet!"
"I thought the bath would be arousing, but I'm going to leave with a toothache."
"Right. I could look at their interactions for hours and not be tired."
"Each sentence is like a mouthful of dog food, making me remember that I'm still alone."
"Sigh, my Dao Partner should be back at Sky Continent. However, I don't know how he took the news of our disappearance."
"Hm, I understand, sister. Maybe they've moved on thinking we are dead."
Tatyana suddenly spoke. "You are all under disappearance status. If your relatives back at home take action about something, thinking that any of you are dead, it's not because they were not warned. I guess that if you manage to return, you'll be able to discern who stays with you for benefit or because they care about you."
They all looked at Tatyana and remembered.
Esther asked respectfully. "Headmistress, could you speak to us about the Continent's situation."
Tatyana tilted her head. "Hm… should I?"
Yasenia kissed the side of her head and asked. "I also want to listen."
The simple kiss was a great encouragement, and Tatyana explained a little bit.
"None of the juniors that entered the secret realm returned. So, there is a generational gap in every sect. All the students of strengths between middle and peak Mental Nourishing level are basically gone."
"This isn't enough to destabilize strong sects. The foundation of high-level sects is the number of Dantian Spiritualization Realm and Transcendence Realm cultivators. The same can't be said for lower-level sects, though."
"The loss of their most talented disciples is a huge blow since their future powerhouses are nowhere to be seen. Moreover, smaller sects usually give their strongest disciples precious treasures, or those disciples would rather move to a higher-level Power."
Tatyana chuckled. "Sect loyalty is a baseline, but who would gain real loyalty to a sect unless they can receive benefits and have deep connections with it? There are exceptions, but the saying 'Each their own' is the most prevalent with young cultivators. It is natural to think that dying early is a waste since they can later become stronger."
"Therefore, many of those powerful disciples left the sects without a few powerful treasures, so that's another big loss."
A S.L.U.T. member was confused and asked. "Why did this happen? I heard a few demons I killed telling me that we were doomed, so did they have something to do with it?"
Tatyana nodded and explained the overall plan of the Demons.
"The Demons that came are from a nearby star."
"Star?"
Tatyana nodded. "Star, planet, Continent. The places where people live have many names."
Angel blinked. "Mommy Tatyana, those who call planets stars, how do they differentiate from actual stars?"
Tatyana laughed. "Silly girl, it's not like that would be the only word with the same phonetic and writing form and different meanings. It is a matter of context."
"Anyway, the demons want to cripple our foundation before attacking us, seniors. If you have something to protect, many will fight to the death. However, many seniors would turtle up and try to create new generations without juniors to protect. It is quite genius because it gives them a few years to develop their juniors and become another power, solidifying their foundation in the Sky Continent."
Yasenia and the others realized.
Imagine that our dragoness wouldn't exist. Would Tatyana have fought against those demons in the first place? She probably wouldn't have batted an eye. However, since they messed with her daughter, our Death Empress Demigoddess slapped them until they fled.
Kali commented. "But the seniors should be able to see through the cover, right? If mother-in-law can see through it, the others should not be blind to their scheme."
Tatyana smiled. "Yes, but who wants to risk fighting an all-out war without a younger generation to carry on the traditions of their ancestors? For us, long-living cultivators, passing down our knowledge and inheritance is all."
Tatyana turned around, not minding the looks, and directly buried herself into her daughter's soft body.
"During the cultivation journey, everyone wants to be remembered and leave a mark on the world were they to fail, to become eternal in another sense."
"For example, Yasenia's dual cultivation technique is not just a technique, but the memory that once a being that could dominate gods and immortals with their sensuality existed."
"The sword technique you use is a memory of a swordsman that created a new path for the sword."
"The summoning technique is the memory of a master that managed to create semi-sentient life."
"Every cultivation method, every technique, every martial art you learn has a history behind it. Those methods that are not passed down eventually become memories and then nothingness. Those passed down are the mark of someone who managed to create something influential at some time."
"Progeny, sects, empires, divine artifacts, secret realms. The only reason all these exist is our desire to conserve a memory of ourselves. When a person dies, the thing engraved in their tomb is not how they felt during their days, but the accomplishments during their lives."
They all became silent and pondered over this.
They were all young, so these profound questions and statements alienated them.
They understood the concept, but putting themselves in their position was impossible.
Why would you sacrifice everything to pass down these things? Is it that important to leave a mark?
Naturally, the mindset of cultivators below a hundred years old and cultivators over ten-thousand years old or more have different priorities and mentality.
Yasenia's hand caressed Tatyana's damp hair and scalp, making her snort comfortably and close her eyes.
The look of comfort from the usually unreachable and otherworldly woman was an enchanting sight to behold.
The way Tatyana rubbed her face on Yasenia while sniffing and hugging her made them think that Yasenia was Tatyana's support.
They found the thought ridiculous and discarded it quickly. 'How could a powerful senior like the Headmistress rely on a junior?'
Yet, it was the truth.
For our Death Empress, the soft embrace of the dragoness was all that kept her from becoming something far darker and gloomier. 'Thankfully, little treasure appeared, or I would've used that technique I found.'
Mirrory spoke into Tatyana's mind. 'Tatyana, you should discard that technique… No, it is better if you destroy it. That kind of cultivation method never reaches a peaceful conclusion.'
Tatyana said. 'I won't destroy it.'
Mirrory frowned. 'I'm telling you that the [Eternal Abyss Slaughter Heart] technique should never have been created. This was made by an insane God that mindlessly massacred everything to regain the feelings he lost about his lover. If you cultivate it entirely, you will become almost unstoppable, and the side effects will also be lifted. In the same realm, you'll be matchless. However, the technique is vicious and consumes everything about the cultivator.'
'I don't know how many years ago or where you got it, but I can tell that you are about to enter the first path, [Soul Avoidance Path], of the three paths.'
'Your emotions are mostly intact, and you managed to maintain most of yourself. This is miraculous in and of itself. However, if you enter the first path, the chances of…'
Tatyana interrupted. 'I know.'
Mirrory sighed. 'This is an emotion-consuming cultivation technique. Do not use it.'
Tatyana opened her eyes and tightened her embrace on Yasenia's body. 'I won't cultivate it. But I don't want to get rid of it either.'
Mirrory snorted. Her elegant and usually cold voice sounded slightly annoyed. 'Do as you please. However, as strong as it is, nobody who has cultivated it to the third path has lived long enough to regain themselves. Without exception, all of them were consumed by their heart demons and became mindless creatures that fell into the [True Abyss], not that Demon world called [The Abyss], and corrupted.'
Then, Mirrory cut the connection.
Tatyana closed her eyes again and buried her face in Yasenia's warm body. 'With my little treasure, how could I use that technique? She is my light. I don't want to fall into the darkness and lose the only person able to warm my heart.'
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Author: Welp.
Tatyana: …
Tatyana: Should we have a talk, author?
Author: Hm? Woah!
Evelyn: And while Tatyana has a conversation with Auhor, I summon you!
Inasyn: Tada~. I'm here at last!
Angel: Hello~.
Inasyn: Kya! You are so cute, little Angel.
Angel: Hehehe, thanks.
Inasyn: Hm? Where is the Author?
Andrea: Having a conversation with Tatyana. Is she your target for questioning?
Inasyn: Nop. I want to ask things to Yasenia!
Yasenia: I'm all ears.
Inasyn: Hehe, but not you!
Yasenia: ???
Inasyn: For the power the Author gives us, I summon you!
*Puff*
Yasenia: ...
Evelyn: Mah, heart, I can't.
Andrea: How can such a cute creature exist?
Angel: So cute, so cute, so cute….
Kali: Oh. My. Heavens. I want to pamper her to the skies and beyond.
Cecile: …
Inasyn: As expected, five-year-old Yasenia is the cutest!
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: Big sister, where am I?
Inasyn: M-Maybe she is too cute.
Kali: Baby girl, come here and let big sister hug you.
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: B-But Mommy says that I can't follow strange people!
Kali: *Spats blood*
Inasyn: Cough, baby girl. If you answer my question, you can return to Mommy's side.
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: *With glistening round and big golden eyes* Really?
Inasyn: O-Of course! (She is so cute, ah!)
Inasyn: The question is…How would you make your future wives happy if you were with them?
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: Wives?
Inasyn: Yep, the people you like the most.
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: Hmm…
Evelyn: Her thinking face is so adorable! Look at her tail swishing in confusion!
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: Ah! I know!
Inasyn: How?
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: I will give them delicious food so they are happy!
*Critical hit*
Angel: Socutesocutesocute….
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: I will also give them many hugs if they are sad!
*Consecutive hit*
*Cuteness Law Strike*
*[Celestial Theater] updated defenses maintain the realm.*
Cecile: I can die happy.
*Little Yasenia smiles adorably and wags her tail.*
Five-Year-Old Yasenia: Also, also! I will fight all the baddies so they will never be hurt.
Inasyn: Sorry, in the end, it was too much...
*Cuteness Law Evolves due to tail-wags.*
*It becomes Cuteness Law Domain*
*[Celestial Theater] updated defenses collapse.*
*[Celestial Theater] collapses due to unexpected amounts of cuteness.*
…
Author: I hope you regained your smile after the heavy chapter~. Bye-bye, dears~.
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Author Note: Well, if you've read 545 chapters, I guess you like my writing style, hahaha. Hence, I'm here to tell you about a novel I'm uploading to a mobile app. It's a visual novel with options to choose from.
There is a free path, but there are also paid options. You can find my other novel in the "Scripts: Episode & Choices" App, from IGG, in the app store for either IOS or Android. The name of the novel is "Her Alpha, Her Omega."
A small warning. The character designs are a bit... subpar. But, well, I have no control over that. The story is good, though. I honestly recommend it as the author. (I'm a bit shameless, okay? Hahaha.) It's also in the first person! So you'll experience how it feels to get courted by a powerful woman who may or may not have a surprise~.