My homecoming was met with a scolding from Ai Tutu. Apparently, I shouldn't have said first that I'd spent the night in a hotel with my friend. But the urge to tease her was stronger, and anyway, I did explain that this friend had spent the whole night translating ancient texts for me so I could find cultivation vessels for her and Mu Nujiao that I wanted.
Truth be told... before I could explain, with a cry of "How could you!", I got a solid slap. I didn't dodge; for such a harsh joke, I deserved it. So I flew out of the house like a champagne cork. Ai Tutu's strength at Junior Pack Chieftain level hadn't been canceled. Good thing the door was open, or we'd have needed repairs.
She even stopped being mad at me after that, just pouted and demanded affection. She also said to treat Tang Yue better and stop setting her up. Pure gold, not a girl. And convincing me to pet my girl didn't take much. Though when Mu Nujiao came down and caught us in the living room, it was pretty awkward. We always forget about her in moments like these.
The girls spent the whole day familiarizing themselves with the artifacts. Ai Tutu especially liked the Lightning Blade for its ability to release the full charge at once and take out an opponent. Mu Nujiao preferred the Holy Shield for its many tactical uses, thanks to the ability to change its size.
I mostly helped Ai Tutu learn to control the lightning charge's power output, since if she unleashes it unrestrained on the Kowloon arena, she might kill someone. And we don't need to strain relations with the criminal city. So maximum, disability. In that case, I can definitely buy my way out.
Mages treat injuries much more casually in general, especially rich mages. All thanks to one organization—Parthenon. I won't talk about resurrection magic, though it's one of the pillars of this organization. It's enough that they can casually regrow a limb for you.
So with enough minted coins, you can roll up to them even as a limbless caterpillar, and you'll leave on your own two feet. That's what Holy Land means.
No wonder a real religion has formed around Parthenon's founder. Considering her power in life, at mid-Emperor level, she fully deserved the title of Goddess. And no need to mention her self-sacrifice, when she personally turned her soul into the Parthenon Spirit to preserve resurrection power, forfeiting her afterlife.
Finally, after a full day of artifact training, the girls got tired and went to bed. I won't fool around with Ai Tutu tonight; the girls will need unclouded reactions and fresh minds tomorrow.
The next morning, we loaded everything into my spatial ring and headed to Kowloon's contact in Shanghai. By the way, I need to get the girls their own spatial storages; I'm tired of carrying everything. And Chinese New Year is coming soon. Maybe start a notebook for good ideas?
The contact was in a regular residential area of Shanghai. He sat in a normal apartment playing on the computer. Looked like an ordinary guy in his twenties. His whole job was passing requests from people who came to him to his boss and relaying answers back to us.
Wonder if he just works here part-time? And what's wrong with emailing his boss directly, bypassing the guy? Apparently some criminal rules I don't know.
After sitting in his one-room for about ten minutes, we finally arranged through him for three White Eagles to pick us up, again with two female pilots. Which cost extra, by the way. Their service is nothing compared to the military.
The Eagles' landing spot was no longer in Shanghai, so we said goodbye to the guy and left his apartment. Sensing with my spatial perception, the guy sat back at the computer after we left. Wonder, doesn't he fear getting whacked? He's not even a mage. Oh well, not my business.
Using a taxi first, then our feet, we finally reached the Eagles' landing spot. It was just a couple kilometers from Shanghai, so relatively safe. Logical—if they set dangerous landing spots, clients would tell them to shove it, and they need the money and rep.
Our transport arrived only after a couple hours. Two girls and a pleasant-looking guy, just with lots of facial piercings. I didn't care, but Ai Tutu quizzed the girl about such decorations in flight. Hope she won't do it herself. I have nothing against piercings... if not on my girl.
We arrived in Kowloon a few hours later. They dropped us on a high-rise rooftop and left. Oh well, it has a view of the whole inhabited zone anyway. Maybe that's the point?
"Mu Bai, where did you bring us?" Mu Nujiao asked grimly, surveying Kowloon from above. Even Ai Tutu frowned, noticing some guy getting beaten on the street.
"I brought you to a place to hone your combat skills—in the smugglers' city," I softened the explanation a bit, not calling the locals criminals. Didn't help much though.
For the next five minutes, I listened to Mu Nujiao's tirade about how irresponsible and careless I was. Mentioning I'd made a deal with a local crime boss only worsened it; now in her view, I was tied to crime. Even my girl shook her head disapprovingly.
When I'd had enough, I pressed them with a glare and magic:
"Enough sniveling. I brought you here, so I'm responsible for your safety. And I'm not involved in any criminal stuff; I just paid for our protection and for this city's problems to bypass us. No more, no less," I said in a stern tone.
"Your task now is just to fight on the local combat arena and hone your skills. I've created all conditions for your improvement. If even in this ideal setup for you, you won't do anything because of the 'criminal' atmosphere, then go. I'll pay for your way back and won't even take the gifts. But forget about my further involvement in your development. I'm not growing greenhouse flowers," I ended the conversation from my side.
It was hard saying that to Ai Tutu, but if she can't trust me even on this, I'll rethink involving her in such things. I'm fine with my girl as a housewife, not a frontline fighter for humanity's survival. I'm confident enough in my powers to protect her.
After my tirade, the girls fell silent. I don't know what was in Mu Nujiao's pretty head, but Ai Tutu pleased me:
"I trust you, Mu Bai. I was just worried about you; crime ties lead nowhere good. But if you did this for us and are sure this adventure is safe, I'll follow you. I'd go anyway, even grumbling," My girl smiled cutely, hugged me tenderly, and pulled me into a long kiss. Eh, she's still too good for me.
After Ai Tutu and I finished kissing, I looked at Mu Nujiao:
"Should I order you a White Eagle for the way back?" I asked.
I wasn't worried about my investment in her; it cost me just some personal time and effort. If she leaves, I'll be sad I misjudged her, but nothing serious. She doesn't know any of my important secrets, so she can't harm me.
"I trust you. Always have. Just like Ai Tutu said, I was worried about you. Unlike us with our clans behind us, you have no one. The girl paying you huge money for intimacy doesn't count. I doubt she'd dive into a fight with the Magic Court for you. Especially since that org is the foundation of her family's power," She said in a slightly offended tone.
But from her words, she'd decided to stay with us. Nice to know I didn't misjudge her. And such care from her—let's be honest—warmed my heart a bit. Ugh! Bad Mu Bai! She's your girl's friend!
Though Ai Tutu did suggest... Dismiss those thoughts! Not the time. Our path to the arena continued in slightly awkward silence. Mu Nujiao realized she'd said something ambiguous. The girls didn't even look around the city much. Oh well, once they settle in, I'll give them a tour.
The arena was a street section fenced by stands. The organizers clearly lacked funds for a full combat arena, but it could mimic surrounding weather conditions now. That added a touch of randomness to fights, helping some mages over others.
Entering through the spectator entrance, we immediately heard explosions. Going further, we saw the arena section: two mid-level mages fighting, one main element fire, the other wind. Both first tier, no element seeds.
Not stopping for the boring show, we went deeper into the stands. There were betting booths, and further the arena manager's office. That's where we needed to go.
Knocking and getting permission, we entered a typical office clerk's room. No personal items or decorations. Either the owner changed recently, or he hates his job.
Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man in glasses with dark skin like my girl's older brother. Hair in a ponytail, several face tattoos. Felt like peak mid-level.
"I assume you're Du Yueshen? Nice to meet you, I'm Mu Bai, and these are my companions Ai Tutu and Mu Nujiao. Lai Chansin should have warned you about us," I nodded politely. Basic courtesy isn't canceled.
"Yes, I was warned. A high-level mage for your fight is found. For the girls, we'll pick suitable opponents after ten arena fights. Call it calibration," The man smirked for some reason.
"When's my fight? And when can the girls start calibration?" I asked what interested me.
I wanted to deal with my opponent quick and get to my business. I have totem vessel info, but need to pick the best. And it's not a ready guide.
I'll have to travel parallel worlds a lot to verify and finally get the vessels. Ideally, like my pendant, with reset development so I can take them to my world right away. Otherwise, find a way to drain them and kill the artifact soul inside.
I even considered ditching the hassle and just getting the girls White Tiger pendants like mine, but snapped out of it. Can't reveal so obviously. While my pendant is unique, I'm the totem's sacred guardian. If multiples...
Uncomfortable questions arise. Good my local pendant is well hidden; I'll destroy it sometime. I experimented absorbing parallel world White Tiger pendants—nothing happened, as expected.
Just identical artifacts; why absorb each other? At best, transfer accumulated development with big losses, but what's the point?
Thoughhhh, maybe not destroy the local one. When I'm stronger, I won't care about officials' opinions or suspicions. Like last life, give it to my cousin. Anyway, play by ear.
"The high-level mage is waiting. As soon as he heard who he'd fight, he agreed right away. Didn't even demand extra pay for bruised honor from a weaker-cultivation opponent. Must really want to clean your clock," Du Yueshen smiled.
"The girls can start calibration now. Free fights on the arena for another four hours. Then organized fights, which need tickets," He explained.
"Well, let's not keep my opponent waiting. I want to be first when organized fights start," I grinned predatorily, cracking my knuckles.
Apparently my sweet boy rep annoys even high-level mages. Well, I'll show him vividly why I have other titles besides "Gigolo."