"What's so difficult to understand?" Taiga spoke up. She had a hand on her hip and leaned down, nearly nose to nose with the secretary, "You're able to cultivate—that's good. Now it's time to train."

Ying Yue He managed a shaky laugh and created some distance between the two of them, "Train? I don't think I have time for that and I don't believe..."

"Your boss brought you here for a reason." Shen An Na said. The only one sitting at a respectable distance from them, "And the others assessed the same."

"If Taiga scratches your face and you do not bleed—maybe it'll prove that you've become a cultivator. What do you think, Miss?"

Li Yang found himself pushed to the corner—Shen An Na and Taiga both talking with his secretary.. Well, if he were to be honest about things, he was thankful that somebody else would explain the situation to his secretary.

But it also impeded his original schedule.

Something flew from the corner of his vision, and the CEO caught the canned soda from his hands—and the thumbs up from Hua Zhao. "Nice catch," The martial artist was bent over a mini-fridge they had in this office until he stood up. He glanced covertly towards the girls, "It always takes a bit of convincing to someone not used to this. You understand that it's always surprising, right?"

"As if you'd know that, Zhao." Mou Gu rolled his eyes, "You were born in a warrior clan, so it's natural for you."

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't know."

Li Yang checked his watch and stepped towards the two, "Excuse me, but is there a chance that either of you are patrolling tonight around the city or some sort? Correct me if I'm wrong about my assumptions of your line of work."

"Well.. wait, I didn't pay attention before since it's rude to intrude using one's senses—but your Qi Refining has become much better, huh?" Mou Gu raised a brow, "You raised.. at least two stages. Or you're on a half-step to another stage."

"Yes, that appears to be the case," he agreed. He forgot that there was some sort of etiquette between using spiritual senses.. although he hadn't actually tested it yet. This was his intended time to work on cultivation. "I still have to gain actual combat experience if I were to put this cultivation into any actual work. So if any of you two will be going out—I'd like to join you, or at least observe from the background."

"Going out.." Hua Zhao scratched his head and popped open his can of soda. He took a sip and let out a sigh, "It's usually the other folks who do that—other people that you haven't met, by the way. They're the ones to ensure the safety of the city from any pesky but vicious grunts, while we go out when it's actually dangerous."

Li Yang remembered the System's evaluation on this guy and he raised his brow, "I suppose that there's a hierarchy then, like any organization."

"Did we already mention the Four Pillars?" Hua Zhao asked. "That's basically us."

"Tch, how arrogant to call themselves like that." The Panda muttered beside him. "Pillars of what? Shen Society is basically asking for some tribulation."

Li Yang ignored it and asked, "Akin to the roles that Sect Elders do I garner?"

"Maybe.. but it's still different—"

"You can think about it as Classes." Mou Gu cut in and shrugged, the man leaning against a wall. "I mean, that's how my friend puts it—there are different types of cultivators and even specializations. I do my best to focus on the sensory aspects of cultivation, but it's mostly to detect one's qi and aura and locate them."

"Four Pillars are based on the Four Fundamental and Traditional Weapons: Sword, Saber, Staff and Spear." With a flick of a wrist, a single-edged curved blade appeared in Hua Zhao's hand.

Mou Gu slapped the back of the martial artist's head, "Little Zhao, you can't just pull that out and freak our guests—Ying Yue He's still trying to grasp what's happening."

Hua Zhao grunted and put his saber away, "Although it helps that we've indeed got our own talents that distinguish us from one another. Now that you've asked, we forgot to get you a weapon when we went to the market, did we?"

There were certain stakes associated with revealing that he actually had one—but if he kept hesitating and chose not to do so, it would just be more difficult for him. "I actually have a weapon with me, but it's different from those four that it seems I'll have to look for another instructor." the CEO walked over to a table and opened his suitcase, he took out the Saber-Tooth Dagger and presented it to them.

"Oh a dagger, huh?" Mou Gu raised a brow.

"That actually looks cool."

Li Yang was no weapons expert, but it was easy to come to a conclusion. "This weapon isn't exactly suitable, is it when it comes to facing the creatures that you deal with?" Even the saber and sword provided some decent distance, unlike a dagger.

"It's a lot more close ranged than any of our weapons, that I admit." Mou Gu affirmed. "But if you know how to fight unarmed, then there are some things that can be transferred still in terms of knife combat."

"Taiga is a good fit—she fights barehanded. Clawed rather." Hua Zhao said and motioned to the young woman staring down at his secretary. "She's an adopted tiger spirit from Shou Temple Sect. Actually, a lot older than either of us three and talented, so you're in good hands if you wanted a bodyguard.. asking for some training from her will be a tad difficult though."

Li Yang glanced at the woman and finally understood why there was a certain vibrant aura around her that even his secretary didn't have. "But she will be with me almost constantly once her work starts. So I'll have the chance to negotiate for lessons, if ever."

"I meant—she's going to be kicking your ass for a while." Mou Gu chuckled and motioned to him. "It's easy to ask her, but training is the actual pain. I hope your body is ready for that, Mister CEO. I don't want to seem rude, but fighting is harder than just absorbing the qi around us."

"Then it means that I'll have to bear with it, regardless then."

"Pfft.. that attitude, I like it." Hua Zhao chuckled and finished his soda. He tossed it into the trash, "Sounds a little masochistic, but that means you won't quit half-way when things get tough, right?"

Li Yang raised a brow, "Of course not. I don't quit things.. unless there truly is no hope for a situation, but that's the reason why one needs to measure their situation first before diving into something one doesn't know."

"But if I have to be honest, I think you're probably wasting some money by hiring Taiga—I don't think you have enemies out for your head, right?" Hua Zhao asked and then grinned. "You probably have more money than even our boss, but tossing money out right the window sounds a tad too much. Unless you somehow forgot to tell us about any sort of enemies that's hounding you, right?"

"... some instincts, huh?" the Panda whistled. "What's your response to that?"

The CEO's lips twitched, "I can assure you that there's no enemy actively hounding on me right now, but one can never know what'll happen in the future, will they? It's better to pay for security, even when you believe that you won't get robbed."

"Not to mention you happened to involve Miss Yue He into this little situation of yours—so it's not only yourself that you have to worry about." Mou Gu reminded him with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I say that it's a good decision for him, Zhao. Don't try to make this guy avoid it at all, besides I'm sure it'd be a sight to see. CEO turned cultivator is definitely something you'd put in your resume, eh?"

Words said so casually, yet he only focused on the implication. "I have no intention of putting her in any harm's way," Li Yang replied. "I'll do my best to protect and keep watch over her." He had already thought about it before, but saying it filled him with more conviction.

"That's the least that you can do for her, after all, Mister CEO."

"Indeed," Li Yang sighed and rubbed his face. He glanced at his secretary. Ying Yue He looked less spooked now, and he returned his gaze back to Mou Gu, "The best thing I can do for my secretary right now is to ensure that she's able to defend herself—especially when she has the potential to do so."

Mou Gu fell silent and then muttered, "... You're not planning on using her or anything, do you? It's true that there's a significant improvement to her physique thanks in part to her somehow getting stronger with just a tiny portion of the tea that you bought—but will you use her as some pawn to fight in the future? It doesn't seem far-fetched since you brought her here to learn about cultivation instead of letting this remain hidden from her."

[ The Observer 'Trite' Wants To Eat Popcorn ]

[ The Observer 'One Who Slaughters' Is Ready For A Bloodbath ]

"Woah, he's saying that you're gonna hide behind the back of your future harem army. What do you say to that?!"

.. It would be a lie to say that thought never crossed the CEO's mind. There had to be a reason why Ying Yue He fitted the criteria of being his target—and he assumed one of those being natural talent in cultivation and the other was appearance. So it did make sense, if a time ever came that he was placed in a difficult spot and say Ying Yue He was a strong body cultivator at that time..

"Of course it depends entirely on her decision." he shrugged. It also depended on whether he'd invest resources in her growth in the first place. It made sense that he would expect some return if he were to ever help her become stronger, and yet it could also end up as a loss.historical

—-—-

Author Note: Do you think it's terrible when a protagonist has other people doing the majority of fighting for him? There are evil protagonists who have minions and lackeys, heroic ones who can fight with allies and the power of friendship on their side and those who are lone people who say "I work alone". Where do you think does the CEO fall in line more? Will he play on a proverbial chessboard and use his army waifu pieces to take over the world, or will he be the one doing the fighting? Both? Share your thoughts!