mpatient,”hereplied.

“Youmayeanytime.Ifyou’reunavaibleoraintwodaysthe.”

Ichuckledawkwardly.

“Gotit.”

Thenheadded,

“Ifthere’snothingelse,return.Youhaveafewtasksawaiting.

Later,Ishallteachyouateiqueortwo.”

Hearingthis,Ibrightenedandskippedofftofieward.

Speakingofwhich—heoncesaidhecouldtakeontheformofanyoneIdesired.

Ihaddecidedonanyonespecific.

Sofornow,IaskedhimtoappearasMeng,mypersonalbodyguard.

Thoughcalleda“personal”guard,sheonlyprotectedmewhenIwasoutsidetheTianfamilyestate—

which,holy,hadhappehaimes.

Thestewardtransformedusingmymemories.

1

NowfullyinMeng’sform,shesmiledandsaid,

“YoungMaster,howmayIserveyou?”

“Whoa!”Iyelpedinsurprise.

Thevoice,appearance,gestures—everythingwasidentical.

Thisrealmistrulybeyondprehension.

“Iwanttotakeonatask,”Isaid.

TheAsuraRealmhasresidents—justastheYangRealmhasmortalsandcultivators.

Wheretherearemortals,thereareneeds—andsometimesevenmissiobehindbyoldercultivators.

Mengreplied,

“Uood.Twotasksarecurrentlysuitableforyourlevel:

1

SparringPartnerorPillFurendant.”

“I’lldothesparringpartaskfirst.Whatdoesitinvolve?”

“Itmeansfightinganoppoofthesamecultivationlevel,butwithoutinfligseriousharm.”

Inodded.

Theseryged,andIfollowedthepathshepoioward—akindofarena.

Ierwasaroundbatptformwithonlyafewpeoplenearby.

Myoppowasanolderyouth—PeakFoundatioablishmentstage.

Helookedatme,astonished.

“You’retellihisbaby-facedkidismyoppo?”

Hehadthatsmuglook,thekindthatmademeirritated.

1

Ipickedupawoodensword,narrowedmyeyes,andstaredhimdown.

Thewhistleblew.Wecshed.

Hewasstrong.SothisiseakFoundatioablishmentfeelslike?