It"s been three days. Zhi Rui knew the woman was in a state of shock. She let her stay in the safety of the pocket dimension with food and books to recover. She even taught basic breathing exercises since she often has random spikes of excitement. And also a minor meditation method for the mind.It won"t cure the root problem but will give her back the control of body and mind.
Ren Zu cried and thanked so much at the time. Her following action was to heed Zhi Rui"s advice to start learning soon. She studied the books for one and a half hour, reflected on what she read, then practiced it for four hours straight, ate, rested then repeated.
She did it for three whole days.
After another thousand cuts followed by natural healing, Zhi Rui wore a casual dark green robe and called out to the reading Ren Zu.
"Yes, master Zhi Rui?" She asked, immediately closing her book.
Zhi Rui shook her head, "Don"t call me master, it makes my insides twist. I"m Zhi Rui."
Ren Zu nodded "Yes, Miss Zhi Rui."
With a sigh Zhi Rui walked out of the room, "Follow me, I"ll take you to where you"ll live."
Ren Zu went rigid for a second, "I thought I"de be serving miss Zhi Rui by your side?"
Zhi Rui shook her head.
"Maybe in the future you could. But now you"re a mortal with an average talent for cultivation, With resources and absolute focus you"d still take at least a year to reach the third level.. and I"ll need only the strong on the battle that"ll come in six months."
Feeling the distraught on Ren Zu, Zhi Rui continued.
"But you can still help me in other areas. I have a lot of ground to cover, but I can"t divide my attention now. Together with Izumy, you"ll manage the people through the Comunity centers. Izumy will teach you how it"s done. And when you"re experienced enough you"ll lead the community centers, while Izumy goes to the barbarian kingdom, to take care of the community centers and the treaty between both countries."
Zhi Rui smiled towards her, "Without intelligent people like you, I wouldn"t be able to keep the places I conquered."
"I-Intelligent? H-How could I? I was on the bottom of the ranks in the light sect rescue facility."
"That place"s ranks, are based on control level rather than Intelligence. If you"re too unpredictable or unstable, you"ll be on the bottom, but if you genuinely believe in their words, then you"re on the top. The abilities they taught are simple, any hobo from the slums if given the opportunity would learn them."
"B-But I broke things.. I couldn"t follow the simples tasks." Zhi Rui sighed and shook her head.
"They induce that. if you put enough pressure on the right emotional b.u.t.tons. The person fails on the simplest things, even more so if you"re sensitive in nature. The person fails then the belief in its own incompetence takes root on the mind."
"H-How are you be so sure of that?" She asked.
Zhi Rui turned silent, on her time in that place she suspected the system and simply acted as a believer, the treatment on her improved, and she was able to scrutinize every action of them. But she didn"t tell her that.
"I read about it on a book.".
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They arrived at the first Community center she had built.
As always Izumy was talking amidst the people on the canteen, with Azula behind her.
Zhi Rui entered casually but people soon turned towards her.
Gasps followed by whispers ensued.
Zhi Rui held Ran Zu and umped in Izumy"s direction, landing right in front of her.
The girl had wide eyes. Zhi Rui hugged and kissed her with a smile, she turned to Azula, her slave, and did the same, bringing a blush to the Young woman"s face.
Zhi Rui turned to Ran Zu
"This is Ran Zu, she has basic knowledge of math and social skills.
you"ll teach her how the community center is run, and it"s objective. After I"ll move you to the barbarian"s region while She"ll stay here. It"s that okay?"
Zhi Rui asked with a smile. Izumy smiled brightly and hugged the awkward Ren Zu.
"h.e.l.lo, new Elder sister!" She said.
"O-Oh, h.e.l.lo?" Ren Zu awkwardly spoke.
Suddenly a slightly hairy arm cut them pulled them apart.
Izumy pouted cutely. "Dad we were bonding!"
He snorted "Your overly touchy welcome is overwhelming her, for someone who deals with the public you"re too oblivous."
"Humpft, I won"t talk to you." Izumy grabbed Ren Zu and brought her away."
Zhi Rui watched as Ren Zu got dragged away.
She turned to her side, Izaya was wearing a tight, blue robe with a belt on the waist his sleeves were pulled back to the elbows, his spa.r.s.e hairy chest was partially showing on the open collar.
His squinting eyes were aiming at the deep part of her own green abyss.
"Are you still mad of that I had s.e.x in the same room as those blonde siblings?" Zhi Rui asked.
"You"re my ruler, I wouldn"t dare to judge your ways." He answered with pure indifference.
Still looking in his eyes Zhi Rui asked. "Will you follow me into the underworld, or do you want to stay and take care of your daughter?" She suddenly asked.
Izaya stopped. "Why would you ask me this? The answer is obvious, I want to take care of my daughter, but if I don"t go with you, your chances of losing increases, and if you lose, my child will lose this small piece of haven she just acquired. So, yes, like every man, I would rather stay at home with my family but I need to work."
Zhi Rui squinted.
"What if my enemy offers you a good deal? "
Izaya laughed. "If I think you"re heading a dead end, and your enemy is trustable, I won"t think twice before shoving the knife in your back.
Zhi Rui smirked.
That"s all she needed. She"ll be spending a long time on the underworld, and with the exception of Hilda, everyone else of her close subordinate is free of the slave branding.
She expected him to be like this, but she still came in to test him. He"s still the same, protective father, honest to his word. Not a drop of guilt was in his heart when he spilled the words.
"You say, that, but if she decided to stick with me regardless of the possible result I doubt you"d take her away."
Izaya scoffed "I"d always prioritize her survival, only the living can mourn the death of a friend." He says and turned to walk away.
But Zhi Rui"s chuckled. "Right, there at that second, he must"ve pictured the situation. His chest filled with indecisiveness.."
That reminded Zh Rui of her second objective in coming to the community center personally.
She smirked and turned to where the girls went.
"That Izumy, she"s sure blossoming into a tasty thing. I can barely hold myself the desire to nip the bud."
Her mutter, while barely audible, traveled through the noisy crowd, falling on Izaya"s sensitive hearing.
A sudden gust of cold wind blew from behind. Zhi Rui could feel the enraged beastman presence breathing down her neck.
A deep eery voice with barely concealed bloodthirstiness spoke.
"What did you say?"
Zhi Rui grinned. "I only had mature, elegant, and warrior-type of women, so you understand, why I"d crave for something, small, delicate and tender like her- whoah"
*Thumpft!* *Crack!*
The people around turned to the noise. Even Izumy who was far away looked on Azula behind her whistled "So hot~~"
Izaya had shoved Zhi Rui on the tough brick pillar like a rag doll. Before she could bounce back he grabbed her roughly by the waist and locked her there with his own body. He leaned in slowly and growled like a beast.
"You"re better starting to rethink your tastes."
His fingers were almost penetrating her skin, Zhi Rui"s heart filled with excitement.