Lao Ji found the whole situation funny, it was unbelievable. The boy survived somehow and was trying to deceive him. What's funnier, the boy was a too cunny, he almost fooled him if he wasn't the one who killed his father.

When he first saw the boy he felt he was familiar, but before he could remember he was surprised by the boy's question, he pressured him, he almost backed off. Though he wasn't scared it wasn't a good idea to make his presence known. But then a memory flashed through his mind, a man they ambushed with their senior brother, though the man escaped, they assassinated him later. But why did he remember the man though? Looking at the boy in front of him, their features slowly fit each other. Even though their eyes' color was different, they shared far more than just that.

Once he made the connection, he started to understand the boy's struggle, he was an interesting fella. When he teased him a little bit, he was sure the boy was about to attack him. Unfortunately, Lao Bo ruined the fun. "Lao Bo there just one thing left to do, and we can go," before his fellow loses his mind, he said "I will talk to Xugi or his son, that's it," he smiled viciously, 'I can't go before setting the stage after all'. He looked forward to more fun, what trouble the boy might cause in the future, 'don't disappoint me, boy!'.

-------------------------------

As Majid walked to the spirit source, he was concerned, 'What did he do wrong...'. what led him to that situation, at the start, he gave his predicament his full attention. Once he started his cultivation though, he threw all the other matter to the garbage bin. Though it would affect his cultivation, it wasn't more important than his life, he shouldn't have ignored that. As he could see the blue light of the spirit source he set the matter aside, he would give it more consideration once he found another place to settle down.

Looking at fiery it, she looked fine, even his appraisal confirmed that her states peaked, with no weakened state anymore. He looked at Teemao, 'might as well, system apprise'.

[Target limited data]

Name: Teemao

Affiliation: Fire-Snake Clan.

Why would you even show me this, he was in a bad mood, so he was ready to find fault with the system, it was the only one he could take his steam off. Especially after the last quest, it seems the system knows more than it pretends to be.

Then why did you show me the foxes states, now that he thought about it, the information about the foxes were detailed a little bit, even if he ignored their states as a system analysis from their spars, but how did it know their age.

[If the target was unguarded against you or was willing the system can apprise him]

Does that mean that little Teemao didn't trust me yet, human are indeed complicated, he shook his head.

Wait, what, his mind jolted, System, how can you do that.

[Request unauthorized]

What if I used my free choice reward?

[Request would be accepted]

He shook his head, the main quest in his way was to uncover the puzzles of this system, Tell me at least this, are you linked to some higher power or something. In that was the case, its knowledge would be explained, otherwise, it was really strange.

[No, the system is only an AI residing in the host's brain and soul ]

His intuition told him it was important to know, but he couldn't rush his decision, this reward only came after a life and death trial, regret won't help him later.

He looked back at Teemao, he needed to make the boy more agreeable. Teemao was in heaven as he cultivates.

Ok I know what to do, hehe.

He brought the beast core over. Once Teemao saw it, he drooled with his eyes hypnotized.

Man, I feel like some kind of pedophile for some odd reason. It was an infection he got back on earth, nearing your forties without marrying or at least showing interest in women, you became a suspect in people's eyes, or so he felt. Dealing with kids became an awkward task for him.

"Teemao I'm trying to help your cultivation, OK..." he made a long presentation before he brought the subject, "... so I'm gonna scan you with my soul, OK," as the vulgar idea crossed his mind he became more sensitive to ask. "I have no interest in men...boys Ok, I'm just trying to help you".

"What do you mean" Teemao tilted his head to the side.

"Never mind," sweat beaded on his forehead, he shook his head.

Just what the heck got into me.

This is the kind of thing that made him believe in the devils' existence, once one of these ideas touches you, it was as sticky as mucus, as if someone is whispering in your head.

'System apprises,'

[wait... system analysis]

.

.

STATUS Name: Lee Teemao Age: 14 Affiliation: The Fire Snake Clan Strength: 5 Agility: 2 Toughness: 1 Vitality: 1 Stamina: 6 Qi: 3 Soul: 3 Elements Affinities: wood: 5

.

.

Majid was speechless at the states, they were mediocre even compared to the little fox. He stopped himself from looking for the reasons, he would analyze his situation later. He gathered fiery and Teemao, it wasn't safe in the cave anymore, so he decided to leave. He wanted to share his conclusions with them. He addressed fiery first, he recounted what happened this afternoon, "...So there is a great chance they would find this place" the place fell silent for a moment.

"As for me, I will leave tonight!" Since his fall for the scary detection technique, he didn't feel safe moving outside anymore, especially during the day when most people are awake. He went outside giving them some space to think. Teemao came along, he wasn't comfortable yet to stay alone with Fiery. Though there's beast taming in this world, their clan didn't seem to have any beasts. So people aren't used to the concept.

"Are you really gonna leave this place?" reluctance could be seen on Teemao's face.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up on it," Majid planned to leave and return when the situation calms down. Teemao nodded his head at that.

Not much time passed, it was still the afternoon, he goes around working on his wall again making it more natural, working with the vines to hide the lines, the rocks weren't straight so the vines waved on the vertical and horizontal lines naturally. He adjusted and added some materials to his work of art, making his final touches.

Teemao couldn't help so he stepped aside, and kept watching. The young master indeed wasn't arrogant, first, he attributed that to his lost status, but it wasn't the case. The young master was still more powerful than himself, it was a known fact, but when he saw the apes body only then he understood the difference. He didn't show his superiority, he was even working by himself, others would have ordered him around.

Back then when they first met, he even let him go back to the clan, endangering his safety, 'It was bold of me to blame him when it was me who brought him trouble'. Though Teemao was young he was aware of the way of the world. Being a disciple one hears a lot of rumors of unlucky ones being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a lot of disciples disappeared without a trace. Sweat gathered on his forehead, if it was any other one in his place, he would have been a goner.

"Man if only I have some arrays!" Majid completed his work, with an array it would be impeccable, he thought, maybe he should ask for it, for his free choice reward. He shook his head, he had close to no knowledge about arrays, as such the system would give him a crappy manual. He looked at Teemao, maybe him.

"Teemao, by any chance, did you study some arrays?" he wasn't hoping for anything, maybe Teemao could know some basic concealing array, it would be better than nothing.

"No, young master, I studied alchemy."

Majid wasn't disappointed. Instead, he was surprised. he was delighted. He thought the boy was some simple herb gatherer. Who knew the boy was just what he needed, it would make his next plan easier. His mood improved a lot.

"Great buddy I know you're a special the moment I saw you," he tapped his shoulder and pumped the boy's chest with more praises, his awkward worries vanished like they were never there. He goes around humming collecting some rocks, then he puts them in an unnoticeable manner on the wall.

"What are those for?" Teemao understood whatever he was doing before, but he couldn't make sense of these rocks.

"You're indeed sharp" Majid took the chance to praise him again "Well, this is a code," he set it up so that it would be ruined if someone broke in, in case some smartass tried to bait them. He knew he was exaggerating, but his experience today thought him it never hurt to be more careful. Teemao's eyes sparkled again, Majid smirked.

He took notes of the code, in case he forgets, and then an idea hit him.

'System can you take a picture.'

[Unotorized request]

Even though he has the last specs, god knows how many hundred megapixels in his eyes, 'I can't take a damn picture,' the more he thought about it the more he grew irritated. A camera would be so useful at times.

'Should I use my reward... system can you give me a camera in exchange...' he hurriedly said 'I am just asking ok!'

[Unotorized request]

'...how about if you add a time limit to the media taken,' Majid started to get used to his system logic.

[Request is possible]

he was conflicted between his Camera and the system secret but in the end, he chose neither. He already noted the code, so it could wait for later. Both of them weren't urgent actually. And he still has some time, he would meditate over it, to find the most efficient use for it.

They came back by 6 PM, the sun was still hanging in the sky. He throws some branched aside, and he cut some pieces of the meat and put it in his bag. He cut some more for their last feast here. Then he dragged the ape's body and throws it in the spirit source. Even though it was an absurd idea, the water was stagnant for a long time, no mold could be seen, so he was sure it could preserve it, and he would be glad if it could enrich it as well, with more Qi.

He started the fire, everyone gathered around it, they ate their fell in silence. Only then Fiery broke the ice. 'We will leave' she was as calm as ever. Majid's looked between Fiery and Foxy, he wiped the moist in his eyes, what's this, though he didn't want to admit it, he was emotional.

"Fiery and little Foxy...." the worlds stuck on his mouth, "I think our journey together ends here". He lamented in his heart. He would like to continue their journey together, he got used to them, but he can't anymore. "You would be in danger with me!" he looked at Teemao as well, even though he himself was involved unfairly in that matter, he doesn't like to involve others. He wished there was some Korean plastic surgeon up here or some contact lens. Wait, contact lens! Though the technology necessary was ridiculous for him, he still took note of it.

'Majid! you helped me in my weakest, I would help you in yours,' He was taken aback, it was known dogs were fateful animals but that wasn't what he knew about foxes. And her words were just that touching, that his eyes reddened, this Fiery... but that made him even more resolute against it. These guys kept growing more and more on him like his family, his sole family in this world.

"Fiery, I appreciate your kindness," he looked at Foxy "it would be dangerous for the little Foxy".

'Majid, I knew of good places to hide in the beast region' Majid eyes widened, there were no risks if they hid again, in an even deeper place. So he doesn't have any reason to reject anymore, he wasn't fond either of separating so soon for many reasons.

"What about you Teemao" he looked at the boy, the latter looked serious.

"The moment I accepted your invitation, I embarked into the boat of your fate,..."

Majid was taken aback again, the kid was acting poetic, don't just get on my fate's boat or whatever, Majid felt awkward again, I'm not your father, he let out a deep breath. Anyway, this settles it, they will leave tonight.