After receiving his promotion, Aurelius moved from the modest Chile Town to the bustling Cumbum Town. Cumbum, established a millennium ago, offered vast resources and opportunities, attracting newly promoted knights from smaller towns.
After five years of travel, Aurelius arrived in Cumbum and used 20,000 merit points to buy a plot of land. He built a two-story home, with a shop on the ground floor where he sold formations, pills, talismans, and other goods. The second floor housed his main room and two guest rooms.
In the year 1010, Aurelius sat in his shop, his left hand propping up his head as he lazily gazed at the door. His thoughts drifted. "So, no customers today either," he mused with a yawn.
He pondered, "Do I really lack talent in business? Maybe setting up shop in the outer region was a mistake. The items are too expensive for the locals."
"Should I take on some missions to earn more money? The old man left, saying he'd be back in a few years."
"I guess I'll wait until he returns before making any moves."
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Aurelius' lazy eyes suddenly snapped to attention, fixed on the door.
The door creaked open slowly, and a woman stepped inside. She stood tall, at 6.5 feet, nearly matching Aurelius' 6.8 feet. As she entered, Aurelius took in her appearance with keen interest.
She wore a stunning navy blue floral hand-embroidered dress. The sweetheart neckline framed her collarbone gracefully, while the puffed sleeves, adorned with intricate embroidery, added an air of elegance. The fitted waist accentuated her slender figure, and the gathered hem swayed gently with each step. Button detailing ran down the front, giving the dress a vintage charm.
Her every step was deliberate, each movement calculated with precision, exuding a captivating grace that seemed to pluck at Aurelius' heartstrings. As she approached, Aurelius' gaze was drawn to her eyes. They were mesmerizing, with black pupils surrounded by grey irises, edged with a striking black border. Her eyes seemed to hold an infinite depth, as if they could devour everything in their path.
It took all of Aurelius' willpower to suppress the impulse to stare and instead, he composed himself, looking calmly at the woman before him.
As she stood before him, Aurelius took a closer look at her face, marveling at its perfection, as if it had been sculpted by a master artist over decades. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he asked, "May I know what you are looking for?"
She blushed, her charm radiating, and replied, "I noticed a job posting outside your door. I'd like to inquire about it."
Realizing his mistake in assuming she was a customer, Aurelius apologized, "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Please, come in. We can discuss it over some tea."
They settled at a table, and after bringing two cups of tea, Aurelius asked, "Can I know your name and why you want to work here?"
"My name is Eisheth Zenunim, a succubus," she replied.
The name struck him. "Zenunim? Are you from the Zenunim family, one of the three great families ruling a third of the western region?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
Surprised, Aurelius asked, "Why are you here? It's not that I'm not interested in hiring you—just curious."
Eisheth responded, "Mister, do you remember about 700 years ago when you saved a woman in the Ice Caribbean Forest? I am that woman."
Aurelius was taken aback. "So, you're that woman? But why are you here now?"
Eisheth explained, "When you helped me that night, I was in despair and had lost all hope. You saved me and gave me a reason to live. After completing my obligations, I came to find you and repay your kindness."
"You don't have to repay me," Aurelius said. "I helped you in passing. Just forget about it and live your life happily."
Eisheth grasped his hand, her eyes pleading. "Repaying you is what will make me happy. Please, let me do this."
Aurelius hesitated but then agreed. "Alright, but you'll receive all the benefits listed in the job posting. You'll get a bedroom, a basic salary of 1000 merit points, and Sundays off."
Eisheth smiled, her happiness evident. "Thank you, sir. I will follow your instructions."
"You don't need to follow my instructions rigidly," Aurelius said. "Just focus on making the business thrive and attracting customers."
Eisheth nodded enthusiastically.
And so began the partnership between Aurelius and Eisheth, a relationship that would later make them known as the fearsome duo in the underworld.
Year 1300
Aurelius was deep in his alchemic chamber, meticulously refining high-level flawless pills to replenish the empty bottles in his shop. As he worked, he mused to himself, "Ever since Eisheth joined the shop, business has been booming. We're earning so many merit points. I think it's time to promote her."
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud shout from outside. Concerned that a customer might be causing trouble, he hurried out to the reception area. Just as he arrived, he saw Eisheth walking through the door.
"What's going on? I heard a loud noise," Aurelius asked, noting her composed demeanor.
Eisheth replied calmly, "It was nothing, Mister. There was a bit of a scuffle outside. I went to check on it, and the enforcement officers arrived soon after to handle the situation. Everything's settled now."
Aurelius sighed in relief. "Alright. You know, it's been a decade since I last promoted you. I think it's time for a change. I'm making you the manager of the shop. You'll have full authority to make decisions and hire new employees."
"Thank you for the trust, Mister," Eisheth said, her eyes shining with gratitude.
Aurelius smiled warmly. "And drop the 'mister'—just call me by my name, okay?"
Eisheth nodded. "Sure, Aurelius."
As Aurelius returned to his chamber, satisfied that everything was in order, but he missed a small detail, A small bloodstain at the corner of Eisheth's dress.
Once he was gone, a shadowy figure appeared beside Eisheth, delivering a report. "Everything has been taken care of."
"Do you know who was behind this?" Eisheth inquired, her voice steady.
"It was a local kingpin," the shadow replied. "He heard about the success of the Heavenly Store and sent his men to take control."
Eisheth nodded, understanding the situation. "Deal with him too."
The shadow nodded and disappeared as quickly as he had come, leaving Eisheth to manage the thriving shop with a steely determination.
Year 1500
A shadowy figure approached the thriving shop, thinking, "Haha... it seems my disciple never disappoints." Silently, the old man slipped inside to assess the situation. As he entered without alerting anyone, he noticed two succubi, one behind the counter and another fetching items for customers. His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What has this kid gotten himself into?" he wondered, recognizing their formidable presence. "The woman at the counter is at the 7th level, and the one assisting customers is also at the 7th level soul realm."
His senses picked up another aura—an even stronger one. "There's another succubus here, nearly at the peak of the 8th realm," he mused, before vanishing and reappearing beside Eisheth.
The old man released his soul energy, isolating the room. Even Eisheth, with her heightened senses, didn't detect his presence until he spoke. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my disciple's shop?"
Startled, Eisheth felt a brief panic. She hadn't sensed anyone, not even someone at the 9th level soul realm. Collecting herself, she realized he mentioned "my disciple's shop," and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She looked up at the old man, noting his fit appearance despite his age. His aura looked ordinary but the power he exclude made her instincts screamed was the person is the most dangerous, she had ever encountered.
"Senior, my name is Eisheth Zenunim, from the Zenunim royal family, daughter of the current lordess of the Zenunim family."
The old man replied thoughtfully, "Zenunim family, huh? I recall rumors from a thousand years ago. The incubus family, Azraethe, tried to rebel and seize control of the southern region."
"I also heard that the rebellion was unsuccessful and that the daughter of the Zenunim lordess was dead," he continued. "Seems those rumors were wrong since you are alive."
Eisheth replied, "Senior, I may look alive, but I am not far from death."
The old man observed her, noticing a dark grey mass devouring her vitality. She had no more than a thousand years left to live. "The Seven Emotions Peak Mortal Poison," he muttered. "The incubi must have paid dearly for it, disregarding the enforcement hall."
"Yes, Senior," Eisheth confirmed. "Despite being poisoned, I have no proof they were behind it."
She continued, "Knowing my limited lifespan, I decided to repay my savior before my death. Aurelius saved me when I was poisoned and powerless. Even a 1st level being could have killed me then. Aurelius gave me hope."
Her face lit up with a smile at the mention of Aurelius, before turning somber. "Now, with my limited lifespan and even my mother unable to help, I want to stay with Aurelius until the end of my life."
"You don't have to worry, Senior," she added. "I have already marked him with my oath. I will never harm him. Please, let me stay with him for the remainder of my life."
The old man was shocked. "You marked him with your oath?" He knew the significance of such a ritual. "Marked by an oath" was a sacred ritual where a succubus, upon finding true love, would vow to live and die with that person, allowing no other man near her.
"You are lucky, kid," the old man thought. "A royal succubus with an awakened bloodline at the 8th level, reached perfection in every level and near perfection in the 8th level."
After contemplating, he said, "Don't worry. I will not interfere. You can continue as you wish."
Eisheth sighed in relief and said, "Thank you, Senior, for understanding."
The old man left Eisheth's room and moved toward his disciple's quarters. As he approached, he saw Aurelius standing lazily on the balcony, watching the people entering the shop.
Without warning, the old man rushed forward and kicked Aurelius in the back. "What are you doing, lazing around just because your master isn't here? Looks like you need a good beating!"
Startled, Aurelius turned, recognizing the voice. "You crazy old man! You said you'd be back in a few years, but it took you centuries!"
The old man's eyes narrowed with anger. "It seems you've gotten bolder in my absence."
Aurelius began to feel uneasy, but before he could react, the old man started beating him mercilessly. "Master, stop! I'm sorry! Stop, you crazy old man!"
After a while, they both sat down, sipping tea to calm their nerves. The old man finally spoke. "Kid, it looks like you haven't been slacking off. You've reached the high end of the soul realm. In 500 years, you could reach the peak and break through to the third level."
Aurelius nodded, acknowledging his master's assessment.
The old man set his cup down and fixed Aurelius with a serious gaze. "What about the woman who's managing the shop?"
Aurelius's eyes gleamed with intelligence. "You mean Eisheth Zenunim, daughter of the current lordess of the Zenunim family."
The old man raised an eyebrow. Aurelius continued, "When she first entered the shop asking for a job, I kept an eye on her. She mentioned I had saved her in the Ice Caribbean Forest, so I started investigating major events from that time."
Aurelius paused, recalling his findings. "During that period, the most significant event was the rebellion of Azraethe. Rumor had it that the daughter of the Zenunim lordess was dead. I dug deeper, but the matter was well-hidden, and I couldn't find any concrete information."
He took a sip of tea before continuing. "I decided to wait and observe her. She never showed any ill intentions. Instead, she protected me, supported me in every turn, and always had a happy smile. So, I stopped trying to identify her."
Aurelius leaned back in his chair. "About 200 years ago, when I promoted her, she hired two succubi. At first, I thought it was because they were of the same race, but I noticed their submissive attitude towards her. Then, there were incidents where clans and gangs targeting our thriving shop disappeared overnight."
The old man's eyes widened slightly. "You deduced she was Eisheth Zenunim from all that?"
Aurelius nodded. "Yes. The evidence pointed to it. I combined everything I observed and concluded she must be the daughter of the Zenunim family."
The old man sighed in disappointment. "So, you already noticed everything."
Aurelius, seeing his master's disappointment, couldn't help but chuckle. "Why are you disappointed? You should be proud that your disciple is smart. No, wait... you're looking for an excuse to beat me, aren't you? You've become crazier!"
The old man couldn't help but smile, shaking his head. "You cheeky brat. But well done, Aurelius. Well done."
After their conversation, Aurelius and the old man continued with small talk, reminiscing about old times and discussing various alchemical techniques. The old man, sipping his tea thoughtfully, suddenly asked, "What are your plans upon reaching the peak of the Knight realm?"
Aurelius looked at him quizzically. "What are you asking, old man? Even though the Knight realm seems like one realm, I still need to cross three soul cultivation realms: the Soul Acupuncture Opening Realm, the Soul Meridian Creation Realm, and the Soul Dantian Formation Realm. It will take me 500 years just to reach the peak of the second soul realm. I think I have a lot of time to even think about that."
The old man leaned forward, his expression serious. "Normally, I wouldn't have asked you until you reached the peak of the fourth realm, but after talking with you and hearing how you describe Eisheth, I know you care for her deeply. That's why I'm asking, because she doesn't have much time to live."
Aurelius straightened, his back rigid. "What do you mean, Master? She doesn't have long to live? And what does that have to do with the path I take after becoming a Knight?"
The old man recounted his conversation with Eisheth, explaining the gravity of her situation. "After reaching Knight status, there are two paths: one is the warrior path, and the other is the royal path. To become a Baron, one of the conditions is to get acknowledged by one of the seven lords of the Underworld. There is a trial you will need to pass. For the first trial, if you choose the Lord of the Underworld - Pride trial, one of the rewards is the Soul Vitality Fruit. It's the only fruit found in the trial realm and the only cure for her."
Understanding the implications and recalling Eisheth's sweet smile, Aurelius felt a voice in his head urging, "Never give up. Never abandon the person you love." An obsession took hold of him, and his eyes grew determined. "Old man, after reaching the peak of the second realm, I will participate in the Pride trial, as we can take the trial in any realm."
The old man, who already knew the answer and saw the transformation in Aurelius, smiled with a deep understanding. He knew his disciple better than anyone else, and this resolve only confirmed it.