≪ 22 Minutes before the current time ≫

"Finally! I escaped from hell! Liberty at last!" I said to myself as I go out of the bathhouse.

With the endless barrage of words coming out from Eumi's mouth and the temperature inside the bathhouse rising up, I almost certainly did not make it out alive.

Thank god Eumi stopped talking endlessly temporarily and decided to continue teaching me about the facts Elder fairy Hyuxia for some time later.

Although I escaped from hell this time, that doesn't mean that the personification of hell herself won't hunt me later.

This is nothing but a temporary relief.

"Hey, you know what? Let's continue talking about Elder fairy Hyuxia later Xiare. You're making Mr. Knight and the sect master wait. That's bad you know?" This was Eumi's final words to me before I went out of the bathhouse.

It is also these words that made me shiver uncomfortably and pissed off at the same time. You're the one who's making the entire world wait!

Even if Mr. Knight is calm and won't mind the fact that we stayed in the bathhouse for a freaking long time, this doesn't affect the fact that you made everyone wait ya know?!

However, despite the fact that she's too talkative, she's still my friend. A friend won't betray each other right?

I just needed to distract Eumi as soon as I return back from the task the sect master will give me in order to shut her up.

Yep, that should be the plan. I should remember this. Brain! Please remember this!

Or maybe not. Who knows?

After finally escaping within hell's clutches, I head to the building where my fellow disciples and I live at and head inside my room, looking for a dress that can be presentable to wear in front of the sect master.

I don't want the sect master to look at me as a careless or a messy lady. I want to last an impression hoho…

While looking for a dress that looks neat and clean, Eumi also came inside my room and began looking for something to change clothes. Yep, Eumi and I are roommates.

Coincidence? I think not.

"Found it." I said to myself as I see the best dress I can find.

It was a pink and white robe made out of silk with a huge golden circle at the middle part of the robe. There was also a pair of red lines on both cuffs.

This should be it. Neat and Clean.

Also pretty.

At the same time, Eumi also found her dress and began changing clothes.

Slowly, I take off my towel exposing my fair skin to Eumi. After that, I gently wear my undergarments before dressing myself with the robe I found.

Eumi, on the other hand, was completely minding her own business. She was silently combing her hair while looking in a mirror.

However, while she was combing her hair, she did not notice that her left shoulder is exposed due to her kimono falling off her shoulder.

If the kimono falls further, her chest too will be exposed, which would reveal a cute pair of buns.

"Eumi." I look at her while dressing myself. Sigh… This kid is too careless.

"Hmm?" Eumi replied while focusing on combing her hair.

"Your kimono." I point my hand to her chest. Although she's facing the mirror, she can still see me pointing out her chest just by looking at the mirror.

"Ah!" She exclaimed. Quickly, she stops combing and fixes her kimono, making her exposed shoulders now covered with the kimono.

While Eumi is too clumsy for her own good, no one from this building underestimates her. You know why? That's because she's the disciple of the disciple of the sect master.

As confusing as it was, it's the truth, making Eumi the official soon to be sect master of the Moonlight Blade Sect. I'm not kidding about it.

Though it was the sect master who chose Eumi to be the disciple of his or her disciple instead of the sect master's disciple himself… or herself? No one really knows if the sect master really does have a disciple or the sect master was just joking around and just want to take Eumi as his disciple under the pretext of his "disciple."

Even the higher-ups don't know anything about sect master's disciple.

Even Eumi doesn't know herself.

That's what she said to me, I guess?

In short, despite the fact that Eumi does or doesn't have a master, the sect master is the one that chose her, making her a very important person within the sect.

However, because there was no one teaching her, she's currently living with me as she waits for her master.

The sect master even stated that someone will pick her up. However, no one came.

"Xiare, come with me and let's eat together." Said Eumi, smiling.

Oh right, I forgot that I skipped eating earlier.

"Sure, let's go." I replied back, with a nod.

≪ 10 Minutes before the current time ≫

"Have a safe trip Xiare! Bye Bye! Don't forget to give me some presents when you get back!" Eumi shouted while waving her arms to me.

I really feel glad for having such a friend.

Though she may be scary sometimes.

After we finished dressing, we went to the main area of the disciples building and ate together peacefully.

Then, after we ate breakfast, We went to where Mr. Knight is staying at. However, because of some obstacles that prevent us from going to Mr. Knight such as food stalls, we end up getting to Mr. Knight's place late than the expected time.

Instead of being angry, Mr. Knight did not mind it. He even instead said that we should take our time as the sect master really did not mind such matters being rushed.

However, with us being guilty of ourselves, I and Eumi decided not to waste more time and instead told Mr. Knight to take me to where the sect master is.

And as of right now, we are currently on the roads just near the 「Beyond mortal realm」 disciple's abode where I live.

"Are you ready to come with me Ms. Xiare?" Said by a man, looking at me with a happy expression. Of course I am! This lady wants those sweet sweet loot rewards! Hahaha!

"Un." I nod as a reply. The man in front of me calmly nods back and said, "Please wait for a while Ms. Xiare. Astara!"

The man beside me is Mr. Knight. Makes sense right? Currently, he's shouting at the air, saying, "Astara!" Astara? What is that?

Just as I asked about what Astara is, I heard a piercing roar above the clouds.

"Roaaaaaar!!!" It was like a roaring thunder, with no sign of stopping.

I look at the overcast sky. There was a huge snake-like beast with wings floating above the sky. It was so huge that even multiple clouds are overshadowed by the huge beast.

"W-w-what is that?" I subconsciously asked. Just by looking at the size alone above, I can feel such tremendous aura the beast had.

It was like those of dragons that are revered by many.

"Haha.. meet Astara Ms. Xiare." Said by Mr. Knight, smiling greatly. It seems that Mr. Knight is proud of this beast. Is this Mr. Knight's companion beast perhaps? If so, then Mr. Knight truly is rich.

And strong too.

"Is Astara a dragon?" I asked Mr. Knight. Usually, that kind of size is a dragon, right?

Well, I'm fairly new to this cultivation world so I really don't know about such beasts haha…

"Hmmm… she's more of a leviathan than a dragon." Mr. Knight proudly replied. Well, if you have a beast like that, wouldn't that make you proud?

"A leviathan?" As I said, I don't really know much about beasts. I'm truly sorry about that.

Maybe I should have listened to one of my teachers teaching about beasts.

Sigh…

"Yes, Ms. Xiare. She is one of the daughters of the northern ocean emperor, Thorum and the celestial dragon saintess, Empress Spejickl. Oh, she's descending down." Mr. Knight said as he points out the descending Astara.

Once I heard those words, I immediately recalled my thoughts saying that this being is nothing but a beast. I'm truly sorry. I didn't know that you are a majestic being.

I look again above. At this moment, I came to a realization. This being is something that ordinary mortals couldn't pick a fight with. This being was something that can cause the ruin of many mortal empires.

Having the head of a dragon, antelopes of a great deer, body of a snake, scales of an alligator, claws of an eagle, and finally, having fin-like wings and tail. There were 8 wings on the majestic being's body, like those of a seraph within the ancient texts. It was as if this being is a seraph of the oceans.

It was so large that even the other disciples had to stop what they are doing and look at the size and appearance of the great being.

This event was something that they could only experience once in their entire lifetime.

"Ruuuuuuu….." The majestic being, Astara spoke. Although I do not know what the great being Astara said, I do know that's calling somebody based on the words the great being said.

"I see." Mr. Knight nodded without someone talking about agreements or anything. Huh? What do you mean by "I see?"

Suddenly, Mr. Knight looks at me and said, "Ms. Xiare, It seems that we have to jump over the cliff." Mr. Knight said, focusing on the cliff in front of us.

"Eh?" I replied back, confused. What do you mean jump? Are you asking for us to die?!

We are over at 3000 altitudes you know?! It's an instant game over for us if we jump! I don't want to die yet!

Yep, the place where Eumi and I live in is at over three thousand meters above sea level secluded within the mountains. No normal people can live in here except cultivators like us.

Suddenly, without any preparation, I was caught off guard pushed by Mr. Knight off the cliff.

"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!" I cried. No humans can survive this fall! How could you!!!

F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!

Are you f*cking kidding with me?!!

F********ck!!

WAAAAA!!!!

As I was crying mid-air, Mr. Knight also jumped off, with his face filled with a smile. He was genuinely happy. He was definitely happy about this.

"Ahahahahahahahahaha!" He was madly laughing while I was crying. You're a demon, Mr. Knight! I hate you!

"Astara! Now!" Mr. Knight said to Astara, the majestic being.

"Oooooooohhhhh!!" Astara replied back with a loud roar. It was so loud that the nearby snow around Astara was pushed from their original position.

Mr. Knight, who was laughing earlier, dives at air towards me and said, "Hold my hand if you don't want to die!"

Out of fear of dying, I instantly hold Mr. Knight's hand. I will trust you on this one!

"Obice aqua!" Mr. Knight casts a spell. I don't know any spells yet so don't ask me what the spell is

Water flowed out from without warning from the hand I hold. Is this Mr. Knight's spell? Cool.

The water that came out from Mr. Knight's hand instantly surround us, like a bubble. Although I'm inside the water sphere, I'm not wet and I can still breathe and see normally.

Is this another effect of Mr. Knight's spell?

I turn away my sight from the hand I'm holding and look at the surroundings. The surroundings were completely otherworldly.

It was as if I'm under the sea, except that I'm not but instead, I'm within the water sphere created by Mr. Knight.

I look at the scenery outside the water sphere. It was magical as if I'm in deep space. Just by looking outside without the water gushing at your eyes makes it beautiful than ever.

As I looked around, I saw Astara, the majestic being, suddenly moving faster than before. The majestic being was moving to catch us.

I pray to myself that everything goes smoothly.

"Haha… You don't need to worry about it, Ms. Xiare." Mr. Knight looked at me and smiles.

That smile. That damned smile.

Before I knew it, Astara the majestic being was already below us, waiting for us to fall down. I look at the majestic being with amazement.

Slowly, the water sphere evaporates until there was nothing left. Although I'm falling, Below me is the majestic being, Astara and the one holding my hand is Mr. Knight.

Right now, I feel both angry and happy at this little scene. It made my heart beat faster than usual there.

Looking below, I stop holding hands with Mr. Knight as there was no need to hold each other's hand.

I then land on Astara's gigantic scale. Mr. Knight also did the same thing.

After landing, Mr. Knight goes to Astara's head and pats it. I then follow him as I don't want to be left alone and fall and die above the sky.

Mr. Knight then looks at the northern direction and said, "Astara, head to the 「Hall of illuminating lights」." Mr. Knight then looks at me and said, "Ms. Xiare, are you ready to go to where the sect master is?"

Without hesitation to hide my adventurous spirit, I grin and said, "Hell yes!"