Cultivator Jasmine appeared much as I remembered her. She had pale skin, long black hair tied up in a severe bun, and brown eyes so dark that they almost appeared black. Scars marred her face, which she made no effort to hide. She wore the black and gray robes of Restless Grave Hall, which suited her. I gave her a martial salute.

  “Greetings, Cultivator Jasmine!” I said with a smile on my face.

  She stared at me, her eyes wide with shock.

  “Young Master-…” she started to say, then stopped herself. “No. Cultivator Darian.” She frowned. “Or maybe Brother Darian would be more appropriate since we are part of the same sect now.”

  I shrugged.

  “Either one is fine with me,” I said, “Though I prefer the latter. We aren’t strangers after all.”

  Cultivator Jasmine, or Sister Jasmine now, nodded. She had a wary expression on her face.

  “Very well.” She said. “What are you doing here, Brother Darian?”

  I gestured to her.

  “I heard that you joined the Dawn and Dusk Sect, so I came by to congratulate you,” I said. “I would’ve done it sooner, but I was out traveling when the entrance exams took place. After I returned, I spent some time recovering at Martial Idiot Clinic.”

  Sister Jasmine gave me a worried look.

  “Are you alright?” She asked.

  Her concern touched me.

  “Of course.” I flexed to show her that I was in fine condition. And I was. Thanks to the Vital Warmth Pill that Senior Bonefire gave me, the ghost qi in the area no longer bothered me. I didn’t know how long it would last, but I intended to make the most of it. “Who do you take me for?”

  Sister Jasmine started to laugh, but caught herself and stopped.

  “Come on in.” She said, moving aside.

  I entered the cave abode. It was larger than I expected. Warmer too, which I appreciated. While I could tolerate the cold of the Valley of the Misty Grave, I didn’t enjoy it. In fact, I hated it. Entering Sister Jasmine’s cave abode gave me a welcome reprieve.

  There was the main chamber, which served as the living quarters. Lamps with glowing crystals illuminated the space. With my spirit sense, I saw that there was a small meditation chamber off to the side, as well as chambers for the various facilities that most cultivators needed. However, they were all empty, which gave the cave abode a barren atmosphere.

  Even the most furnished room in the entire cave abode, the main chamber, didn’t have much. There was a bed, a wardrobe, and a plain round wooden table with a pair of wooden chairs. That was it. There were no decorations, no personal touches, nothing.

  “Welcome to my cave abode, Brother Darian.” Sister Jasmine said, a sardonic expression on her face. “Plain and humble, I know. However, since I am a plain and humble person, it suits me.”

  I looked around with a frown on my face.

  “You don’t have a place to cook.” I said. “How do you eat?”

  I noticed that Sister Jasmine was still at peak Qi Condensation, which meant she still had mortal needs. Food, sleep, and so on. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I did as well, but not as much.

  “I can’t cook,” Cultivator Jasmine said, “So I rely on Fasting Pills to sustain myself.”

  I made a face at that. Fasting Pills alleviated hunger for a time, negating the need to eat food. However, that was their only virtue. They were tasteless, bland, and a chore to eat. As a demon of hunger and desire, the thought of subsisting on Fasting Pills alone horrified me.

  “Please tell me that you at least have a place to make tea.” I said, a pained expression on my face.

  Sister Jasmine covered her mouth and giggled.

  “Of course,” she said, “I need to serve my guests something. Not that I get many guests.” She paused. “Or any at all, now that I think about it. Give me a moment and I shall brew some for us.”

  Sister Jasmine pulled a crude-looking small stone stove out of her storage ring, as well as a kettle and some water. Despite its crude appearance, the stove was actually a low-grade magic tool. Sister Jasmine placed the stove on the wooden table and filled the kettle with water, before setting the latter to boil. While we waited for the water to heat up, the two of us made small talk. Sister Jasmine gave me some news about Flowering Blossom Palace, as well as her life in Restless Grave Hall, while I told her an abbreviated version of my travels.

  When the water was ready, Sister Jasmine pulled a tea set made from low-grade green jade out of her storage ring and started brewing some spirit tea. Her movements were smooth and elegant. Soon, a delicious and aromatic scent filled the cave abode. Sister Jasmine poured some tea for us both. We sat at her table and spent the next few minutes enjoying our tea in silence.

  “So,” Sister Jasmine said, “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  I raised an eyebrow at her.

  “I told you,” I said, “I came by to congratulate you on joining the Dawn and Dusk Sect.”

  “Oh.”

  Sister Jasmine seemed disappointed by my answer, though she did her best to hide it.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked.

  She didn’t answer right away.

  “I…” she started to say, then stopped. “Nevermind. I’m just being silly.”

  I gave her a mock glare.

  “No, you can’t do that.” I said. “Don’t start a sentence and stop before finishing it. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

  Sister Jasmine pursed her lips.

  “I thought you came by to, well, to hear my answer.” She said in a small voice.

  It took me a moment to understand what Sister Jasmine meant. When we last saw each other, I asked her to be with me. Well, I asked her if I could court her. However, since I had no intention of ending things with just that, it was the same as asking her to be with me.

  Thinking back on it, that was a rash and impulsive action on my part since the two of us hadn’t known each other for long. Even so, I didn’t regret it. Sister Jasmine held off on giving me an answer, since she needed time to think about it. I told her that I would wait as long as necessary, even if it took a hundred years.

  I reached over and grasped Sister Jasmine’s hand in my own, before pressing it against my cheek and holding it there. Her hand felt soft and delicate.

  “I told you I would wait for your answer.” I said, looking her right in the eyes. “I don’t intend on pressuring you, one way or another. As I mentioned, back at Flowering Blossom Palace, I leave the decision entirely up to you. The power is in your hands. I will wait as long as I need to.” I grinned. “However, I don’t plan on staying away from you while I wait.”

  Sister Jasmine blushed and looked down, but didn’t remove her hand from my cheek.

  “I realized it when we first met, but you really are a fool.” She said. “What if I reject you? You would waste your time on a mere maybe?”

  With my free hand, I picked up my tea cup and took a sip before answering.

  “It’s not a waste of time.” I said. “Even if we don’t become lovers, I enjoy your company.”

  Sister Jasmine’s blushed deepened and pulled her hand away to fan her face.

  “I must have made the tea too hot.” She said.

  I found her reaction cute and chuckled. Sister Jasmine glared at me, but I noticed the corners of her lips tugging upward.

  “That said, there are a few things I should tell you about.” I said, my expression growing serious.

  Sister Jasmine gave me an inquisitive look. I explained to her the rule I put in place about taking in new wives, and the reason behind it.

  “I see,” Sister Jasmine said, her expression downcast, “In that case, we can never be lovers. I doubt your wives would welcome someone like me.”

  I shook my head.

  “I don’t see why not.” I said. “You are a lovely woman.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Sister Jasmine snorted.

  “To a fool like you, maybe.” She said. “Most people find me standoffish and off putting. This is deliberate on my part. I don’t want to deal with people who want to get close to me so they can use me, only to toss me aside after they get what they want.”

  Her words filled me with sorrow. Sister Jasmine had a tragic past. Her family treated her like garbage and only viewed her as a means to secure an advantageous alliance through marriage. The one person who treated her with kindness, her twin sister, betrayed her and scarred her face out of jealousy. When Sister Jasmine became “damaged goods”, her family kicked her out. Afterwards, her twin sister crippled her cultivation and sold her to some slave traders.

  No wonder Sister Jasmine distrusted people. Her own family, the people who should have loved and adored her, instead abused and betrayed her. Just thinking about it filled me with anger and disgust towards them. They reminded me of my own kin, Clan Wind Dance, though Sister Jasmine suffered far more than I had in the past. Even if she rejected me, I planned on helping her exact revenge on them.

  “Will you give them a chance?” I asked. “My wives, I mean. They may surprise you. Even if you reject me, I think it would be good for you to befriend a few other people. Loneliness and solitude can eat away at a person. I know from personal experience.”

  Sister Jasmine eyed me with suspicion.

  “Are you sure you aren’t doing this because you want to sleep with me again?” She asked in an accusing tone. “I may not be much to look at, but you’ve experienced just how skilled I am at pleasuring a man. How do I know that you don’t just want me as a bed warmer?”

  I didn’t let her words affect me, because I knew she was just lashing out. Instead, I answered her questions with the seriousness they deserved.

  “You are wrong on two accounts.” I said, holding up two fingers. “One, you are beautiful. The scars on your face don’t diminish that, not in my eyes.”

  Sister Jasmine’s eyes widened.

  “Two,” I continued, “If I just wanted to satisfy my lust, I wouldn’t have put so many restrictions on myself. At the risk of sounding arrogant, but I have several options. I could visit Flowering Blossom Palace.” I gestured to myself. “Also, I am a core disciple of the Dawn and Dusk Sect. There are plenty of women who would throw themselves at me because of my status alone, if given the chance. Not only that, but I have it on good authority that I have a rugged handsomeness, which some women are attracted to.”

  Sister Jasmine clenched her jaw and looked away from me.

  “You’re right,” she said, “You do sound arrogant.”

  “My point is that if I were the kind of person who would use a woman to satisfy my needs and then toss her aside afterwards, I wouldn’t put in this much effort.”

  Sister Jasmine glared at me.

  “So, what?” She asked. “Am I supposed to be grateful that a great cultivator such as yourself deigns to spend time with a lowly wretch such as myself?”

  “That wasn’t what I meant!”

  “Then what did you mean? Hmm?”

  Sister Jasmine’s growing hostility started to grate on me. This wasn’t going anywhere. Something had gone wrong along the way, and I wasn’t sure how to find the right path. However, I refused to give up. So, I reined in my growing anger and annoyance.

  Instead, I took a moment to put herself in my shoes. If I were her, why would I react the way she did? It didn’t take me long to find the answer. When I did, I wanted to smack myself on the back of my head.

  I stood up and walked over to Sister Jasmine’s side of the table. She maintained her composure, but I noticed her hands trembling. It pained me that I caused her to react like that. When I reached Sister Jasmine’s side, I crouched down, so that my eyes were a little below hers. Some would consider it unbecoming of me to literally lower myself like this, but those people had no say in my affairs.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to come across as patronizing as I did. I just wanted to illustrate my sincerity towards you.” I reached over and caressed her face with my hand. “I want you in my life, either as a friend or a lover. It doesn’t matter to me, as long as I have you somehow.”

  Sister Jasmine looked at me in disbelief.

  “That was both the most and least romantic thing someone has ever said to me.” She said.

  I grinned at her.

  “Did it work?” I asked.

  Sister Jasmine chuckled and shook her head. However, her expression grew somber right after.

  “I’m afraid.” she whispered.

  “What are you afraid of?” I asked.

  She gestured between the two of us.

  “This.” She said. “I’m afraid of opening myself up again, only to be betrayed once more. I’m afraid that your family and your current wives won’t like me, and that they’ll get in the way of us. You said it yourself that your older sisters were overprotective. What if they don’t approve of me?”

  That… Was a good point. My sisters were overprotective. Now that I thought about it, I found it odd that they hadn’t said anything about me being with Ellen and Willow. Well, Big Sis Sidra had, but that was to tease me about it. She hadn’t admonished or scolded me or interfered in any way. Well, she sent Ellen off to East Mesa City for five years, but she hadn’t done anything after that. I wondered why. However, that was something to worry about later. Right now, I needed to focus on Sister Jasmine.

  “Worst of all,” she said, “I’m worried that you’ll realize that I’m not good enough for you and that you’ll leave me once you do.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “You’re from a prominent family and a core disciple of the Dawn and Dusk Sect. More importantly, you’re a divine demon, which elevates your status further.”

  Her voice grew thick with emotion and tears started streaming down her face.

  “Me? I’m nothing. After my own family cast me off, I spent years slaving away at a brothel before I escaped. Even after that, I became a courtesan because I didn’t have any other skills. You deserve so much better than me.”

  I wanted to pull her into my arms, but I resisted the urge. That wasn’t what she needed right now. However, I did wipe the tears from her eyes.

  “You are not nothing.” I said in a firm voice. “You persevered despite the hardships and cruelties you suffered, when others would have faltered. Anyone who would judge you for that is a fool. As for becoming a courtesan, I’m the last person who would look down on you for that. I mean, you know what my maternal family is like. Or at least, you should have an idea.” I tugged at her black and gray robes. “If that isn’t enough to convince you, look at this. You became an inner disciple of the Dawn and Dusk Sect through your own efforts.”

  Sister Jasmine shook her head.

  “Vice Hall Master Sidra recommended me and a few others as payment for helping you when you visited Flowering Blossom Palace,” she said. “Otherwise, I would’ve never been able to join the Dawn and Dusk Sect.”

  “My sister gave you and those few others from Flowering Blossom Palace the opportunity to join the Dawn and Dusk Sect.” I said, correcting her. “However, you are the ones who seized that opportunity and made it your own. If you had failed the test, my sister’s recommendation wouldn’t have helped you at all. You passed the entrance test using your own power. No one can take that away from you, not even yourself. Don’t diminish your achievements like that. You deserve better.”

  Cultivator Jasmine looked stunned, as if it had never occurred to her to see the situation from that perspective. I almost wanted to laugh, though I held back to avoid ruining the atmosphere.

  “You’re right,” she said after some hesitation, before her expression crumbled again, “It doesn’t matter. The gulf between us is still too vast. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to cross it, despite our best efforts.” She sighed, a resigned expression on her face. “Maybe we should just stick with friendship and be grateful that we have that much.”

  “If the gulf between us is too vast to cross,” I said, “Then we need to shorten it somehow.” I pulled the present I prepared for Sister Jasmine out of my storage ring. “Taking this would be the first step.”

  Sister Jasmine’s eyes widened when she saw it, as if I had pulled out a priceless treasure.

  “Is… Is that a Foundation Breakthrough Pill?” She asked.

  “Yes,” I said, “I got it for you as a congratulatory gift for passing the entrance exam.”

  It cost me one thousand of my hard-earned contribution points, which was the same price as a Foundation Establishment level technique or mystic art, but I thought it was well worth the price. It would have cost twice that much in spirit stones, and only because the treasure hall near Mt. Dawn and Dusk sold Foundation Breakthrough Pills at a set price. They were far more expensive outside of the sect.

  “No, I can’t accept this.” Sister Jasmine said, a frantic expression on her face. “It’s too much. This would just widen the gulf between us, not shorten it!” She glared at me. “You idiot! Gah! Why did I fall for such a clueless and spoiled young master?”

  I furrowed my brow.

  “Just take it.” I said. “I already bought it and I doubt that the treasure hall will accept returns. If you don’t take it, it’ll just go to waste.” I shrugged. “It’s not like I need it.”

  Sister Jasmine looked like she wanted to strangle me.

  “Then save it for a promising junior or a future disciple of yours.” She said. “Maybe even your child, should you have one in the future. Don’t waste it on someone like me!”

  I sighed.

  “If it’s too much to accept as a gift,” I said, “Then accept it as a loan. Not from Darian Wind Dance, but from a senior who wishes to invest in a promising junior’s future. Even a debt is a thread of karma. You can repay me in the future.”

  My argument must have worked, because Sister Jasmine’s expression faltered for a moment. I resisted the urge to grin, lest I waste all my hard work up to this point. However, Sister Jasmine still needed some convincing.

  “You said you wouldn’t pressure me.” She said, crossing her arms and glaring at me. “You said that you would leave all the power in my hands. Was that all a lie?”

  “That was just for our relationship,” I said, “This is a separate matter from that.”

  Sister Jasmine let out a sigh filled with exasperation.

  “The only reason why you’re giving me this Foundation Breakthrough Pill in the first place is so we have a chance at being together.” She said.

  “And? The distinction is still there, so technically I didn’t lie.”

  Sister Jasmine pointed a finger at me.

  “Shameless!” She said. “Absolutely shameless!”

  I almost laughed at hearing the words that I said to Big Sis Sidra not too long ago thrown back at me. I understood my eldest sister a little bit better now.

  “Do you hate the idea of being with me that much?” I asked, putting on a pitiful performance.

  Sister Jasmine eyed me with scorn.

  “Manipulative little…” She muttered under her breath, before speaking up. “Fine! I’ll take it if it means you’ll stop bothering me about it.”

  Sister Jasmine snatched the Foundation Breakthrough Pill and placed it into her storage ring.

  “Happy?” She snapped.

  I grinned at her.

  “Yes.”

  Before she could respond, I leaned up and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. When I pulled away, she brushed her fingers against the spot I kissed and stared at me in surprise. A beat later, her face turned beet red and she started hitting with her fists. However, she didn’t hit me that hard and I was a large realm above her, so her blows didn’t hurt me.

  “Shameless!” She repeated over and over again.

  After Sister Jasmine calmed down and regained her composure, she finished the last of her now-cold tea and glared at me.

  “Is that everything?” She demanded. “Or do you have another surprise for me?”

  For a moment, I debated on whether or not to tell her about Senior Bonefire. Considering what happened earlier, she might feel even more burdened by my help. However, knowing that she had a powerful backer within Restless Grave Hall would also give her more confidence to stride forward. In the end, I decided to tell her.

  “Senior Bonefire owed me a favor for a service I did for him,” I said, “So I asked him to be your backer within Restless Grave Hall.”

  Sister Jasmine’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

  “You mean Hall Master Bonefire?” She asked.

  I blinked at her in surprise.

  “That ornery skeleton is the hall master of Restless Grave Hall?”

  Sister Jasmine responded by letting out a frustrated scream.

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  This chapter was edited by Radriel7