Yu Di worked hard recruiting everyone he could over the next week. He made sure to go to every injured disciple he could find. Next he went to the servants’ quarters and tried to recruit every servant.

  The promise he made was simple: come for an hour a day and learn to cultivate like the Emperor.

  It wasn’t a lie, exactly. Yu Di caught a glimpse of the Emperor’s cultivation that one time he was entertaining one of his concubines. She was a young courtesan eager to please someone as strong as the Emperor. So she showed Yu Di a little of how he cultivated.

  The techniques were amazing and flawless. Despite not being a demigod, she could summon the clouds and call the thunder. The way she cycled the Qi into a circle throughout all her meridians was breathtaking.

  It wasn’t enough to bring him to the next realm and break through to God-hood, but it was entertaining. It also demonstrated that if a courtesan could cultivate to a high competent level, one didn't steal from the Emperor.

  Especially one that had demi-god sons.

  Anyway, the servants flocked to Bai Feng’s home. Hearing that an Inner Sect Elder was giving away free lessons to everyone made her instantly popular. Normally they would have had to give up whatever meager possessions they had for a glimpse of any formal teachings in this sect.

  Despite being an Inner Sect Elder now, she didn’t get a bigger place or a better place. Grand Elder Fu claimed that there was no space.

  Yu Di wanted to argue that a lot of disciples and Elders died in that attack. There should be plenty of space.

  But Bai Feng accepted it with the same resignation she always had.

  So Yu Di made the best of it. He taught a huge class an hour before dark. They stood outside Bai Feng's home and made as much space as possible in the small courtyard. It was the perfect time as the servants were finishing their tasks for the day. The outer sect disciples were finishing their training with their Elders.

  The servants and disciples didn’t mix. They made sure to separate themselves, blue tunics on one side, gray on the other. Many of the servants that signed the Qi contract showed up, along with a certain granddaughter.

  “Senior Fu, welcome to our class,” Yu Di called out.

  Fu Homei was trying to hide all the way in the back among the other disciples. But her purple tunic made her stand out the most.

  All the servants and disciples turned to look at her.

  “You’re doing too much, Junior Yu,” Fu Homei called out. “Just teach your class. It better be worth an hour of my time.”

  Yu Di smiled.

  “We can’t start yet until the mascot arrives.”

  Right on cue, Bai Feng’s door opened. A little girl popped out with a quick tumble and a roll across the soft grass. She wore a pink dress this time with long sleeves. It trailed behind her as she got up.

  “Baba, look at what auntie Bai gave me!” Yu Lin jumped onto the large rock in front of Bai Feng’s home. She waved her long sleeves in the air.

  “That’s so pretty, little Lin,” Yu Di said. “Now come greet all the aunties and uncles.”

  Yu Lin jumped off the rock, doing a flip in midair, before landing. She cupped her hands together and bowed deep, showing off the butterfly bow in her long hair.

  “Yu Lin greets all the aunties and uncles.”

  “She’s so cute!” one of the female disciples called out.

  Before Yu Di could stop them, they all clamored over to his daughter. They were patting her head, giving her candy, and commenting on her pretty dress.

  It gave Yu Di a little anxiety to watch so many people surround his daughter, but this was good. He wanted this. If Yu Lin could be the mascot for Bai Feng’s faction, then they will all come to love and protect his daughter.

  Fu Homei crossed her arms and slowly walked up to Yu Di.

  “This is such a waste of time. I don’t know why I came here in the first place.”

  “It’s because your grandfather has disowned you after the incident last week,” Yu Di said. “No Elder will take you except for Elder Bai.”

  Fu Homei snorted.

  “I could easily make my own faction as an Elder. I wouldn’t need any of you.”

  “Then it must be because you can’t resist my charms? I’ve been known to be called a pretty boy back in my village.”

  “If you’re a pretty boy, then your village must be filled with pig nosed mongrels. You should get your child before she’s swallowed by the other disciples.” Fu Homei pointed at the group holding Yu Lin.

  “Release her please,” Yu Di said. He walked over and plucked his daughter from the clutches of these mad women. If they wanted children, they should have some of their own. “We’re going to start our first lesson. Everyone line up.”

  “Where’s Elder Bai?” one of the disciples asked.

  “Yeah, we came to learn from her, not some servant.”

  Yu Di smiled at these children. They might be physically grown, but their minds were too weak.

  “Okay little Lin, sit here on the rock and watch. I might need your help later.”

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  Yu Lin nodded and sat on the meditating rock. Her legs dangled over it as she kicked at it softly.

  “For the first lesson, I was tasked by Elder Bai to assess your abilities,” Yu Di said. “That way, we can see where best to place you.”

  “I’ll go first,” a tall woman shouted from the back. She was easily a head taller than Yu Di. Her blue tunic was a size too small, but that was probably the largest size they had. “I’m going to beat you so hard for wasting our time.”

  Yu Di smiled. He might have been running around like a crazy man the past week, but he had been cultivating the entire time. He hadn’t reached the limits of what 10.1% of his curse unlocked meant yet, but he had a good feeling that he was easily in the Foundation Establishment realm.

  As far as these lowly disciples and servants were concerned, he might as well be a demigod.

  The only thing he had to worry about was not to use his powers if he could help it. Every use that wasn’t aligned with the curse tended to lower his threshold.

  So just physical power then.

  This would be an interesting test for him. Fighting with children can be fun too.

  The tall woman pulled her fist back. It looked like she was holding an entire ham in her hand, ready to punch Yu Di’s face so hard he’d feel it next year.

  Why do they always move so slow?

  Yu Di waited until the woman released her punch before stepping into close range. He tripped her ankle before moving past her.

  The woman fell to her knees as her momentum carried her forward.

  He probably could have fought that woman while still drunk.

  Wait.

  Yu Di realized that he hadn’t had a drink of alcohol in so long. He didn’t miss the buzz. He also didn’t miss the aimlessness he had for so long.

  There was purpose in his life now. He missed that.

  “Too slow,” Yu Di said. “It looks like I’ll be wasting my time if I fight you all one at a time. So why don’t you all come at me in pairs or groups of three. That way we can move on to the first real lesson.”

  The disciples didn’t like being shown up by a mere servant, so they ignored the instructions and attacked Yu Di in a large group.

  “Yu Lin, I need you,” Yu Di called out.

  Yu Lin jumped off the rock with her arms and legs spread wide. She slammed into a group of disciples with a simple technique that made her heavier and bigger than she really was. It pushed all the charging disciples back.

  It was Yu Di’s turn.

  He charged into the scattered group of disciples and knocked every single one of them down until they kneeled onto the floor. No techniques were used other than his superior reflexes from the body of a demigod.

  Only one disciple stood after that assault from both father and daughter. It was Fu Homei, her arms still crossed, with a stifled smile.

  “I don’t need to spar with you do I?” she asked.

  “No of course not, Senior Fu,” Yu Di said. “I was hoping that you would assist in teaching if possible.”

  “I didn’t come here to teach. I came here to learn.”

  “Yu Lin, show her.”

  His daughter stood in a wide horse stance. She took a deep breath and exhaled. To all the disciples and servants, it looked like she was just breathing.

  The look on Fu Homei’s face said otherwise. She must have seen how Yu Lin circulated her Qi throughout all her meridians with every breath.

  “How is that possible? She’s not even in the Core Formation realm yet.”

  “It’s because she is a genius,” Bai Feng said. She walked outside to greet everyone with a large tray of steamed buns. “Sorry I didn’t come out earlier. I didn’t think we would have so many people so I had to make more.”

  “We greet Elder Bai,” the disciples and servants all said at once.

  “I’m still not used to that. Little Lin, why don’t you help auntie Bai pass these out?”

  Yu Lin stood up from her horse stance and ran to Bai Feng. She took one off her large plate and ate one first before passing out the others.

  Yu Di shook his head. That little girl always had to have her cut before she would give to others.

  “So how about it, Senior Fu?” he asked. “Help me teach this bucket of loose sand and make them a formidable force? In exchange, Bai Feng will teach you a new technique that you can’t learn from your grandfather.”

  Yu Di already knew the answer before she said it. Who wouldn’t want such a deal? They would have to be a fool.

  “No, I don’t think so,” Fu Homei said. “I came here to monitor you on behalf of my grandfather.”

  Yu Di was wrong. Apparently not everyone thought like he did. The allure of power and a special technique wasn’t enough for this girl, then maybe something else could nudge her in the right direction.

  “How about if I break the Qi contract?” he asked.

  “Excuse me? You would destroy something so priceless?” Fo Homei asked.

  “What’s priceless for me is protecting and elevating my child." Yu Di watched as his daughter came zooming back, with exactly one bun left on the tray. “Thank you little Lin.”

  Yu Di picked up the bun and hugged her close with his free arm.

  “I would do anything for her.”

  Fu Homei’s face twisted for a second before she fixed it. That must have hit a nerve.

  “If you are willing to join Elder Bai’s faction and protect my child, then there is no need for the Qi contract.” Yu Di reached into his storage ring and pulled out a blank contract. With a flick of his wrist, he burned it for all to see. “You can—”

  A hard punch rocked Yu Di’s head as he fell hard onto the ground.

  “Baba! Are you okay?” Yu Lin squeezed her clammy palms onto her father’s face.

  “Ouch. I guess I deserved that,” Yu Di said. “I’m fine little Lin. Don’t worry.”

  Yu Di stood up and rubbed his jaw. From the way it ached, it wasn’t broken. So the little girl held back.

  “Are you satisfied?”

  Fu Homei glared before nodding.

  “Now that I’m not your slave, I don’t mind helping Elder Bai. But if you do anything like that again to me or any of our fellow disciples, I’ll make sure to kill you even if it means losing all my Qi and destroying my dantian.”

  “Fair enough. The Qi contract was never meant to enslave anyone. It ensured that people didn’t take advantage of Elder Bai.”

  Fu Homei took two steps closer to Yu Di, but Yu Lin stepped in front of her.

  “No, you can’t come closer to Baba.”

  Fu Homei looked down at the little girl before taking a step back. She got down to Yu Lin’s height.

  “Don’t worry little girl, I won’t hurt him anymore. I’m going to be helping Elder Bai from now on. What’s your name?”

  “Yu Lin.”

  “I’m auntie Fu. I’m going to make sure you and everyone here are safe. Is that alright with you?”

  “Even Baba?”

  Fu Homei glanced up at Yu Di.

  “Especially your Baba. He needs extra care. Can we be friends?”

  “Okay.” Yu Lin took out a fresh bun from her storage ring and offered it to Fu Homei.

  The inner sect disciple stared at the little girl.

  It was no surprise to Yu Di. A little child holding a storage ring. Now if only she listened and didn’t show it off to random people like Fu Homei. But he didn’t worry

  He never burned the real Qi contract in the first place.

  Fu Homei was still a slave to the contract, willing to lay down her life to protect his daughter. Was it cruel to do something like that to another person?

  Absolutely.

  But he would do anything for his daughter and her safety.

  Even if it meant getting a bruise from a child.