Pardofelis lived a fulfilling life during the past year.
In terms of physical improvement, she managed to get by using the martial arts taught by Shi Tian. It was a simple spiritual qi inducement to swiftly recover from fatigue. Using this recovery cheat, she can practice for ten hours without experiencing physical fatigue.
This way, she reached the level of an early Qi Refining Realm. Running as fast as cars can be done with utmost ease.
With that, the rest of her attention went to her "businesses". Shi Tian acted as her first teacher, followed by a group of influential businessmen who taught her as per Shi Tian's inducement.
Growing up in the Sundown Alley helped her adapt to this "battlefield". It did not take her company long to dominate the European Hemisphere, followed by the Far East and Shenzhou. Then, her main focus went to Earth's economic center, the Mu Continent.
Pardofelis did not forget her original intention. She used most of her proceeds to fund a charity organization responsible for housing homeless kids and orphans. She even managed to reconnect with the missing Aponia and Kalpas a month ago. They are living well off as the hospital's director and head of security, respectively.
The emergence of spiritual qi enhanced Aponia's Discipline multiple times, which ended up completely healing her patients' honkai corruption. She became famous after that.
That was also the time she knew about the strongest organization she faced.
"Fire MOTH…"
Pardofelis' legs curled up around a bar as she hung upside-down. Sweat trickled down her skin as she maintained the strenuous physical exercise for over two hours.
She habitually bit her thumb as she thought long and hard.
"They're totally unfair."
If Earth's economic battleground is akin to a chess, Fire MOTH is the player. They can overturn the board at any time. Such is the influence brought by this hidden organization.
What made her feel incredulous was the invasion they did a year ago. Shi Tian brought her along and managed to invade Fire MOTH's headquarters at the Mu Continent without anyone perceiving them.
Thinking of her Boss, she wondered what he's up to now. Contrary to expectations, Shi Tian lived the shut in life. He can stay in "seclusion" for months. Fortunately, she is "lucky" every single time. Pardofelis happens to meet him outside. Her monthly visits were not in vain.
Knock-!
"Hm..?"
Pardofelis was startled by the sudden knock on the door. She lived modestly—inside a two-floor small villa. A gate was present before someone could reach in front of the door.
'Another intruder..?'
Rustle-!
Bam-!
She quietly landed on all fours. The force dispersion technique was reminiscent of cultivators', but much more simplified. Pardofelis could no longer mind her sports bra and tight-fitting black shorts. She hurried to get her weapons—a belt filled with dozens of silver needles.
Perhaps due to his sense of humor, Shi Tian taught her the art of acupuncture. He did not expect Pardofelis to like this technique of saving and fighting. Throwing projectiles at long range is what she prefers the most.
Those who fight head on are too courageous in her eyes!
She hid eight needles behind her hands. She strapped the belt on her left wrist as she opened the door camera. A gorgeous pink-haired woman presented herself. Her plump figure is held by her tight-fitting combat suit. The emblem on her uniform was more than enough to make Pardofelis jump.
'Just when I thought of them..!'
"Hello? Is someone there?"
"No, no, no."
Pardofelis immediately went to her back door. She scaled the walls of her house easily as she stood atop the pointy iron fence with each of her feet.
She happened to see Kevin's blue eyes…
Sou-!
Sou-!
…
Pardofelis jumped down as she threw the thin silver needles. Kevin was surprised, though he was able to react. The needles aimed at his non-lethal parts. He was able to avoid all of them.
His eyes followed the petite body of the girl that went farther and farther away. Although late, he was able to barely catch up on her back… until she began to scale a five-storey tall wall. The sneakers on her feet are a pair of spiritual artifacts created by Shi Tian himself. Its functions are centered around Pardofelis' play-safe tendencies (i.e., escaping).
She managed to shake off Kevin's pursuit.
The pink-haired woman soon caught on. He looked at her with slight embarrassment.
"She escaped." He said.
"Oh."
Her pink irises followed Pardofelis' traces. She saw her jump from one rooftop to another. This kind of physical prowess matched Kevin's. With the magical sneakers, it was no wonder she escaped.
'Interesting.'
Someone else interrupted their awkward silence. Kevin's intercomms turned on.
["The low orbital satellite is following her figure. Her next destination seems to be…"]
A long chase began.
Every time Pardofelis felt assured, she spotted the familiar duo of Kevin and the pink-haired woman. Her entire body was covered with dirt and sweat.
'...No! I can't bring trouble to Boss!'
Pardofelis is currently in the Far East. She is only a few dozen kilometers away from Shi Tian's abode at Mount Fuji. She had thoughts of asking for his help but chose not to do so.
This chase lasted for three days before she surrendered herself. The might of technology and two humans with the same physical prowess as hers made her feel very tired.
Surprisingly, she was never brought into the prison. The amicable pink-haired woman brought her to a cafe under her dumbfounded looks.
"You… never planned to throw me in prison?"
"Ah~? Why would we do that? I can see you are a good girl."
"..."
Pardofelis' embarrassment exploded. Her face turned red as her gaze went down to her feet.
'All this time…'
It was she who ran off without a reason. She assumed the worst due to her overthinking tendencies, which led to the situation now.
"...I am sorry."
She scratched the back of her neck as she met the pink–haired woman's gaze. The latter seemed surprised at her lack of reaction.
"What do you want with me?" Pardofelis asked.
"We want to meet with your Boss."
"Nya..?"
The woman, Elysia, explained everything with a light tone.
"He is the one behind the recent changes, no?"
"Recent changes… You mean, spiritual qi?"
"Spiritual… qi?"
It was Elysia's turn to be bewildered.
"Boss' First Wife established a formation that spans the planet. It gave rise to spiritual qi. It's some good stuff. I slept less by inhaling it."
The foreign immortal cultivation broke Elysia's current worldview.