'That girl is so weird... Her mood changes all the time. Maybe she really doesn't understand my jokes? Gotta be careful with them...' - Looking at Taemi, Kai thought.
She was in a slight state of confusion right now, and kept muttering something.
- So what's up Taemi? Will you help me with some advice? Hehe. - Laughing, Kai interjected.
Hearing this, the girl quickly snapped out of her trance.
- To be honest, I'm not sure. Since we are disciples of the Shadow Sect, we are living in its territory. There's no reason for us to stay in the city itself... - Taemi sadly replied.
It could be seen that she was saddened at not being able to be of any use to Kai. This girl's reactions were indeed very strange.
Although before this, she had only seen Kai once. But he had crashed into her mind so much that she had interacted with a fictionalised version of him many times. Taemi really did feel like they had known each other for a long time. She even had a strange affection for him. In all her time in the Shadow Sect, she had never told anyone about it. Well that was understandable, as it would be a bit embarrassing to talk about such a thing. Other people might think she was sick.
- I see... It's okay. You've already helped me enough. - Kai replied good-naturedly.
At that moment, a waitress came over to remove the extra plates from the table. She was very polite, and smiled at Kai all the time. Her service was indeed of a high standard.
Looking at her, Kai suddenly thought of something, and asked:
- Oh! Girl, can you tell me where to find a good hotel? - Smiling he gave out.
- Of course sir! It's no problem at all. Our Master has many different properties in the City of Shadow. If you leave the Golden Lotus and go to the right. You'll see an inn on the way out of the park. I can guarantee you they'll serve you just as well as this one! Hee-hee. - Said the waitress, and smiled flirtatiously.
- Thank you so much. You've been very helpful. Hehehe. - Kai replied with a wink.
He liked to talk like this sometimes. Flirtatiousness and playfulness were kind of sly traits. And Kai liked to talk to people who were sly and witty. Conversation with them turned into easy mind games.
- Please! If you want, you can wait until the end of my shift and I will guide you myself. - Issued with a slight hint from the girl.
Just as Kai wanted to continue this light flirtation, he felt something on his leg.
- Ouch! What are you doing? Hahaha. - Shouted out Kai and started laughing.
That feeling on his leg was preceded by a strong squeeze of Taemi's hand. She pinched Kai's arm!
When Kai turned to look at her, he saw that she was staring angrily. But not at him, but at the waitress.
- Listen, girl. Go do your job. He'll know where to go, it's not that far. - Taemi said coldly.
- D... Yes. Sorry! - A little frightened, the girl said.
After that, she quickly bowed and ran away.
- What was that? Ha ha. - Kai asked with a laugh.
- Don't be so frivolous in the City of Shadow..... What if she was trying to trick you? - Taemi replied irritably.
- And how could I have been tricked? - Kai asked smiling.
- Well... Um... Well she could have taken advantage of you... - Taemi started to choose her words.
It was obvious that she was a little embarrassed to voice her thoughts. She started to blush again.
- So maybe I would be the one taking advantage of her? Hehe. - Kai replied lightly.
Hearing this, the girl was stunned for a second. But, it didn't spark any anger in her as expected. She quickly found an explanation for the situation.
- She's not good for you! Why do you need some mediocre waitress? Maybe you'll soon become a member of the Shadow Sect! Such connections will only bring shame to all of us! Hmm! - Taemi let out an angry snicker.
She was actually angry at the fact that Kai would go somewhere with some obscure girl. But she didn't want to admit that to herself.
When Kai was around, all her thoughts were very contradictory and changed quickly. She had been used to cultivating her cultivation as well as alchemy development since she was a child. She had never wasted her time on such emotions. It was all very strange and new to her, she couldn't understand herself.
Her inexperience in such matters was evident in the intense brightness and contrast of her emotions. Taemi's reactions were not always harmonised between reason and feelings. This was ultimately leading to such strange behaviour.
- Hehehe. Alright, whatever you say. I wouldn't go anywhere with her anyway. - Kai replied calmly.
- Huh? You wouldn't? Why not? - Taemi asked with interest.
- Hmm...' Kai said thoughtfully, 'I'm tired after the journey. All I want to do now is wash my face and get cleaned up. It would be nice to meditate a bit or maybe sleep. I have plans to go to the Shadow Sect tomorrow. I don't want to waste time on nothing. - Kai explained.
- Isn't that what you're doing right now? You're wasting your time drinking in a restaurant! - Taemi said with a sneer.
- Well, I'm here with you, so it's not nothing! How can drinking with a friend be a trifle? - Kai said proudly.
Those words again caused Taemi to have contradictory feelings. On one hand, she was so pleased with the first part that she even clenched her fists. But on the other hand, the second part killed all the enthusiasm.
'It seems like this guy is just a master at creating a great atmosphere and immediately destroying it with a single phrase...' - Taemi thought.
- You're a master of making excuses for yourself! That's what you are!' Taemi said angrily.
- Think what you want, I don't like to argue. Hehehe. - Kai said light-heartedly and took a sip of wine.
- Ooooh! You piss me off so much! - Taemi said irritatedly and lightly banged her fists on the table.
- Okay, okay, don't freak out... Do you want more wine? - Interrupting her, Kai asked.
- Yes, come on! - Shouted Taemi angrily.
.......
For about another hour or so, Kai joked and teased Taemi, driving her then to rage, then to redness and a smile. It seemed like one could die from so many varied emotions....
The longer the conversation went on, and the more Taemi drank, the more liberated she became. Towards the end, she sometimes tried to poke fun at Kai herself. And sometimes she imitated him by slapping Kai on the head. This happened when Kai said something she liked.
And at one point...
Taemi threw her head back and passed out.
'Hmm? Drunk? Damn... I knew it, with such a fragile body, I shouldn't have fallen for her words...' - Looking at the sleeping Taemi, Kai thought.
While at first he offered her wine himself, at the end she would tell Kai herself to refresh her glass. When he tried to change her mind, she would get angry and yell at him.
Watching all of this, Kai called for the waitress and paid for his food and drink. He also decided to leave a generous tip for this girl. He really enjoyed her service.
Getting up from the table, Kai advanced towards the table where Taemi's acquaintances were sitting.
- Hello, once again! There, your girlfriend got drunk and passed out... Can you carry her home? I'm in a hurry. Thank you! - Kai said with a smile and went out.
He didn't even wait for their reply!
At this moment, the whole group of girls were totally freaked out by this bastard! Who does he think he is?! Who does he think he is?!
- I'm going to kill that bum! - Mera shouted and quickly stood up.
But as soon as she looked around, Kai was nowhere to be found... He had literally vanished into thin air!
- Shh! What the hell! Mera swore.