Setsuko returned to her room, she was looking forward to resting. Simply sitting still and not moving, focusing her attention to the instructor on Ao was a terrible experience when one was used to always being on the move, but she listened—if only to have something to explain to Yang when she arrived in her room.

"Ah, Lady Setsuko—"

A shorter and more feminine woman chased her down and stopped her in her tracks. For the entire life of her, she couldn't remember who this person was. She tried to stifle the scrunched face she was making and looked at the golden-haired younger woman. "What can I do for you?"

Leila hesitated, noticing the woman's temper. "Oh, I wanted to apologize for my uncouth—"

"You've already said it, haven't you?" Setsuko held a hand over her hip. "You don't have to keep repeating it to me. It's nothing, I get it. Not all of us have seen a man's length before." Well, she had certainly a fair share when Kin Hunters sometimes took a dip in waterfalls and other bodies of water to relax..

.. Yang had been impressive.

Leila flushed red. She had left her other friends for this, but with such a straightforward woman, her resolve was shaking. But then she didn't even need to say anything.

Setsuko was fast enough to notice the look on her face and clicked her tongue. "You're asking permission to see him. Is that it?" Some women had the habit of exchanging men for the heck of it. A change of pace and such—which was obviously not a practice, but she was the Lady and Yang on papers as her consort.

The woman nodded. "... Ah, if that's alright? I understand that it's a bit shameful—"

"You're only going to look at it, right?" Setsuko eyed her.

Leila nodded urgently. "Yes."

It wasn't as if she was someone who could freely give permission and consent on Yang's part, but a certain tug in her belly made her frown. If this cute young woman asked permission— then he'd easily whip his dick out, right?

The thought of it made her stomach scorch.

An uncomfortable thought, but she could also imagine this girl's mouth dropping and gawking—which wasn't exactly a terrible reaction if she thought of it. One could almost say that she was proud enough to have people looking at him and then at her envy.

"Fine, follow me.. but if he's not feeling it. You scam away back to your friends, alright?"

Compared to Leila, who had grown in the temple all her life and was delicate as a flower, Setsuko had her rough edges that almost made her seem masculine. She never actually had any troubles with that before, except now.

—-

Perhaps it was luck or fate, maybe just keen awareness that made Mitsuko leave before the other two women arrived. While she had noticed that Leila, a lower-ranked Priestess was coming in their hallway, she wouldn't allow herself to be caught dead with the man. It was a terrible look.

"Fine, I'll look into giving you more privileges of moving around—at least so the two of us can train in private." Those were her words before she stepped out and then disappeared back to wherever her room was.

Li Yang scratched the back of his head, but only smiled briefly.

A successful agreement, although the cost of acquiring the access around the temple cost him some Points. Regardless, the Skill was worth it to him. It could even surpass the energy of the world—surely, it could even evade physical attacks.

Useful.

Then the door swung open, and he raised his head to see Setsuko.. and the lady from earlier. It hadn't exactly been hard to remember her; she was a memorable person for asking such a bold question—but first he greeted them. "Good afternoon, Lady Setsuko, Priestess Leila."

It was proper to always remember the names of people one met.

"Hello there Yang.. I've, uh, brought Leila with me right now." Setsuko wasn't sure how to bring it up. Or rather she didn't want to bring it up, and luckily the Priestess beside her also seemed to have much more trouble in speaking up. "You weren't lonely while I was gone, right?"

He inclined his head. "I was alright, because I knew you'd be coming back."

Such words were expected from him. He didn't exactly like feigning interest, his brother easily cultivated it, while he liked to get straight to the point and it was appreciated by some—contracts and agreements could be completed in less than a couple of days because he was willing to dictate his terms.

But for this situation, he spoke the truth while still trying to maintain his appearance as a doting consort?

"Really? Well, that's good I guess.." Setsuko looked around the room, finding a strangeness to the air around them, before she glanced back at Leila. She wanted the young woman to ask and not her. At least to test out how strong of a resolve she had. "I learned a lot today, haven't I, Leila?"

"Ah, yes. That's true." Leila nodded quickly. "She's a complete natural."

He smiled slightly. "That is to be expected from Lady Setsuko, she's a capable woman—er, Lady. Some who I deeply admire and it is the reason why we are, I'm immensely proud."

Li Yang had already known how to show appreciation, although he was laying flattery a bit heavily now.. but he had no idea if this other woman was coerced into coming here or something else.

He gave a look at Setsuko, but it wasn't easy to know what she was thinking.

Although there was a strange flicker inside of him, as if his Ao matched or understood the emotions tormenting the woman he had awakened. Some irritation, a bit of frustration and once again another tad of sexual desire.

What a strange combination, but then again, who was he to judge?

A taut silence drew around them in this moment, before he finally decided to break it and asked. "Is there anything I can do for the two of you?"

"Well, I came here to pick you up for dinner," Setsuko said. "I think Leila here has something to say though."

The memory of her first words to him flared back in his mind and also left the young woman's lips once again. "Can I please see your.. youknowwhat?" Leila's words squeaked at the end.

Li Yang raised a brow and threw a look at Setsuko. Why? Did she know? It appeared to be the case since she looked begrudgingly impressed and turned to him. "She's never seen a man before—well, at least his private parts. Are you willing to show it to her since she asked so nicely?"

A similar event, of at least a Panda asking the same thing, flashed in his mind. While he had been offended before and wanted to show his annoyance at the offer of the Heavens throwing him points to flash his body, this was.. a little different?

It was still an odd request.

Leila was a woman he had barely met and showing his entire body to her under a day was disconcerting, and also seemed improper. A Priestess was someone pure in his mind—but then again, it was this innocence of hers that made her naturally curious about his body.

His lips were pressed into a thin line that Leila was afraid she'd never actually get a chance to see it, she probably should have taken a bit more time to get to know them but she had been bold enough to request before now that she wanted to get it done as fast too.

"Do you have anything to offer me?" he asked.historical

The idea of using his body to gain something beneficial was now a little amusing. He honestly wondered how he lightened up this much, but it was probably because it was his own choice. He was more considerate of the situation now.

Priestess Leila licked her lips nervously. Something to offer? But it only made sense that they wouldn't simply agree to it by mere request. Why had she been so stupid to not think this through? She thought it would be alright because Setsuko left the decision to her consort, but any other woman might have also demanded something in exchange.

She averted her gaze. "I.. I'm not exactly sure what to offer you. I have some scrolls of previous Ao lessons to give to Lady Setsuko?" Was that enough? Her request wasn't that hard, right?

Leila only needed to see it once, and she'd be satisfied.

"That seems to be something obtainable from an archive of scrolls, or a library." he pointed out. Li Yang had a feeling it would be easier to access them thanks to Mitsuko, so he couldn't accept that.

"Do you have anything in mind, Lady Setsuko?" Leila turned to the other woman in hopes of an answer.

Setsuko naturally had things on her mind that she could consider now, but since it was up to Yang—their.. relationship now was defined on paper and in practice but never exactly in words. She would be slightly jealous, but it was still up to him.

Li Yang thought of something he read on his System and came to a conclusion.

"Beast cores."

"Pardon?"

"Ao is all around us, a life energy that fills this world, but Mashiro Temple also acquires cores, which I assume are concentrated in Ao energy. I'd like one." It was probably too much, since Kin Hunters risked their lives to get them from dangerous beasts, but that was his price.

It was up to her to decide.

"I'll let you touch it if you can get me more than one," he added with a shrug.