******** Companions **********
When I open my eyes, Shi is already awake. She's looking at me with an expression that is difficult to decipher.
"Good morning," she greets me nervously. "I... I'm sorry."
I look at her without understanding anything. I can't imagine why she's apologizing.
"What happened?" I ask, bewildered.
"I... I fainted, and... well... when I was supposed to be the one serving..."
I look at her once more without quite believing it. But, after thinking about it better, it makes sense. She's in my room, she's of lower rank, and she's supposed to be the one serving me. Only that, after several years of an equal to equal relationship, it's hard for me to see her as inferior.
"It's okay. I overdid it, you couldn't help it," I console her.
I approach her and kiss her, while applying a very soft qi on her tongue and back. I do it to practice, but I also want her to feel good, without going any further. Unfortunately, there's no time. When our lips part, a trickle of saliva hangs between us. She's looking at me with wide eyes and a little blush.
"Let's go, or we'll be late," I urge her as I finish dressing.
"Yesterday, you could go on, right?" she asks me as we leave.
I stop and look at her for a moment. She seems worried.
"Yes. But it's because of the qi, and what I've learned here and there. Also, from the notebooks in the copy workshop. Yesterday, I tried some things on you, and I went overboard. I don't have it under control yet. I hope it didn't hurt you," I lie.
I can't confess the truth to her. I can't tell her that I've absorbed a strange treasure. Or that I've inherited a strange forbidden cultivation method. And much less, tell her about the Ghost Residence.
"No, no, quite the opposite," she denies. She's redder than I've ever seen her.
She doesn't say anything else, and, as always, we separate for breakfast. For some unknown reason, male and female slaves are separated in the dining room. As usual, she sits next to Song. I'd say they glance at me a couple of times, though I'm not sure. I'm just glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. I don't know if she's telling her something about me. I just hope she doesn't get me into trouble. Maybe, I should've asked her not to say anything, but it's too late.
In the morning, I go back to copying notebooks, letter by letter. I don't need to think about the qi practices until tomorrow. I want to go to the storeroom to find and collect notebooks, but I'll have to wait. I take advantage of the breaks to try to fill my qi. I haven't managed to do so even after leveling up. Now, it fits a little more. Luckily, it won't take long to fill up.
In the afternoon, I bring food to the students who're cultivating in their cabins, I help with the construction, and bring water. I take advantage of the opportunity to fill the pond a little more, and review the notebook, as well as finish refilling my qi. I think I've got the main concepts clear now. Although, I still need to practice, especially when it comes to causing pain. Though, I don't really know how I'm going to practice it.
The only part I'm missing is the creation of "simple" drugs. It doesn't seem as "simple" to me as the notebook says, but it doesn't matter much either. I don't have any materials.
The drugs that appear are an aphrodisiac, one to make you sleep, a lubricant and another to have more stamina. It says not to use the latter too much, that it's much better to use qi to invigorate yourself. I don't even know where to get the plants that are needed. I could try in the potion's workshop, but they have them very controlled. If any disappear, there'd be problems.
I only recognize one plant of all those that appear in the notebook. For now, I'll try to pay more attention and collect the one I know. In the future, when there's an expedition to collect herbs, it would be interesting to sign up. Although they're somewhat dangerous. Sometimes, there're accidents, especially with slaves. If a dangerous animal is found, we can serve as a distraction, we're disposable.
----------
When I get to the room at night. Shi is waiting for me. She's looking at me in a strange way again.
"Are you okay?" I ask her. I'm thinking she's had another bad day, and is afraid that I'll get upset, or even dismiss her.
"Uh, yeah..." she answers somewhat hesitantly, "This... I've been thinking that... Like you said you could continue... Well, Song has some problems. That asshole Dian bothers her and forces her to have sex with him. If not, he hits her. You know how he is. He doesn't respect the basic rules between us. He does what he wants even if he has to endure punishments afterward. She would be better off here, and you would've one more to... serve you. I think..."
I look at her a little surprised, and somewhat sad by the fear expressed in her words.
"It's annoying that you're afraid of me," I reproach her, sighing.