[Tai Lung's POV]
I made progress.
Although I could not just command other chi as Mei could, I was able to replicate that somehow when it came to infusing them with my own chi.
It was extremely inefficient and I was better off pumping it and strengthening the object with my chi alone but progress was progress nonetheless.
Not to toot my own horn but it spoke volumes of my genius.
Now enough about that, let's talk about more important issue at the moment. Mei was sleeping on the bed and her mask had fallen off during her sleep so her bare face was revealed.
She was beautiful, extremely so. Maybe it had something to do with my past life and the fact that I had not seen a human face in a long time but she had a unique charm which I haven't seen in decades.
She had pale white skin which looked almost unhealthy, probably because she spent most of her time wearing a mask. She had white hair and her eyelashes and eyebrows were lucious and white as well.
She had a youthful face, which showed that she was in her early twenties and she also had Asian features.
Overall, she was a very attractive young lady who would surely be popular in my past life just because of her beauty alone.
"Wake up, it's time for breakfast," I said and kicked the bed she was sleeping in.
Her eyes fluttered open to reveal a beautiful pair of silver eyes. She blinked her big eyes once and twice before she let out a yawn and got up while stretching her arms.
"Good morning." She said while rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning. Now wash up quickly." I told her and it took her a few more seconds for the drowsiness to disappear and she realized she was rubbing her eyes.
"???" She tilted her head and then she saw her fallen mask on the floor. She paused abruptly after that and then she touched her face.
She felt her face.
Her mask was gone.
I watched the myriad of emotions going through her face with an amused smile on my face. Because she wore her masks most of the time, she was not adept to hiding her emotions or being stoic so I could read her like an open book.
Wait, that is an understatement. She was like an iPad, showing me everything without having to put the effort of reading her expression.
"My mask." She whispered, "It fell off."
"Yeah, maybe next time use proper straps when you go to sleep. I don't know why you would prefer to hide your pretty face though." I said with a shrugshrug. Most likely being a princess and being a human - who are associated with slaves - were not really a good mix.
"Ah." Her words got caught in her mouth. "Pretty?" She stared straight into my eyes and I let her.
"I'm not saying it again." I said before turning around and leaving the room.
She stayed cooped up in her room for quite sometimes but eventually, she came out and this time she was rid of her mask and heavy clothing. Her human features were finally revealed as I saw her skin, her arms and her supple legs.
It was a nice sight, for more reasons than one.
"You're staring." She said.
"Of course, it's the first time I am seeing you." I said.
"No, not that. You are staring but not with aversion." She said and stepped forward. I followed her movement, burning her image in my mind. The image of a human, a woman.
"Hm? Why would I?" I asked and finally turned my gaze to her eyes, "Do people usually do that?"
"Yeah, pretty much everyone does."
"Well, most people are dumb." I said and I should know because I have experienced that first-hand. People believed anything they were told even when it came to hating other people or a whol species.
Yesterday, I bought fish from the market with the plan of cooking them on my own this time. So that was what I did as I cut the fish with my claws and boiled hot water to cook it.
"Do you really not find me ugly?" She asked me again. Was it an insecurity of hers? Not that I care as I answered honestly.
"No, quite the opposite." I said but she wanted to hear it.
"Which is?"
I stopped and looked at her.
"You're quite beautiful." I said and her cheeks exploded in red. She put her hand on her face as she took in my words.
She's also cute.
But enough about that, let me focus back on my fish. I continued cooking the fish and made a nice boiled fish for us. With my extremely acute sense of smell and with a little help of chi, I made what would probably be the best-boiled fish in the world.
Mei also started helping me as she cooked rice and chopped up some vegetables for the sides. Contrary to what you would expect from a girl living in a castle, she was a competent cook.
We prepared the meal quickly and set up the table. Its already quite late so it was more than time to have breakfast.
Although I did not really need food, the need for fish was eternal.
"What are we going to do today?" Mei asked while sitting down at the table.
"We will try to get you to affect people with your chi today. You can practice on me." I said without missing a beat as I had already planned it.
"I will also be going out." I said.
I still remembered my main objective which was protecting China from invasions. Although I would definitely be aware of it if an invasion were to happen since I was literally in the military city of Tibet, I wanted to patrol the borders for a bit.
From what I learned from Mei, she said that there was still an issue between Tibet and the Gupta Empire so an invasion was still far away. And they did not plan on sending people to capture me either since I was in their city and starting a fight here would be too disastrous.
She said the nobles were having a headache about what to do with me but more likely than not, they would skip fighting me and just straight up invade China, hoping I would leave the city to protect my own Empire.
Mei was sent to Shigatse to support the main army and to use her special ability to strengthen the weapons and armorus of the army in bulk before anything happened. Unfortunately, i got her before anyone else.
"Going out where?"
"Somehwere." I said and she made an annoyed face. It was weird how expressive she was without her mask on.
And so, after eating our meal we spent the entire morning trying out my theory that she could probably enhance or command people's chi to strengthen themselves.
With this, she would be able to make a normal soldier become like a kung fu master who could use thier chi to enhance themselves. It would be a literal game changer in any form of battle or war.
But unfortunately, we found no success in that.
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"Well, that is enough for today." I said and got up. She seemed hesitant to end our session from her face. Did she enjoy this usually? I never realised while she wore her mask.
I went to the cupboard and took out a chain.
"Really?" Mei asked me with a flat face.
"What? I am going to leave and don't forget, you are still my hostage. Can't let you run away now can?" I said.
"Just bring me with you." She said and her eyes turned pleading. "Please."
"You and your little human legs can't keep up with me." I said.
"Then me and my little human legs can't run away either. What's the point of the chain? " She retorted.
"Yes, but it would be a bother if you try and I have to chase after you. Chaining you up is the better alternative." I said and was about to cuff her but she raised her hand.
"Wait please, not the chain." She said and her eyes glazed over.
"Since ancient times, my kind was enslaved and chained up like this. I don't feel comfortable with this." She begged me.
"Cool." I said and snapped the cuff closed on her neck. "But I don't care."
"Urgh!' she made an annoyed sound and puffed her cheeks as I wrapped the chain around a pillar and locked it.
"There, with the length you can still access the bathroom and kitchen." I said with a smirk.
"Well then, stay safe." I said and she cursed at me but I paid no more heed as I went to the balcony and leaped out.
I flew towards the largest tower in the city. I stayed on the roof of it and looked around the city with my eyes. Other than the fact that the city was quiet and with fewer people, nothing was noteworthy.
Then I closed my eyes and spread out my senses.
..
..
..
Or at least I tried to.
!!!!
[IMAGE]
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