[ The Observer 'Owl Brain' Thinks It Can Be Resolved Through Conversation ]

[ The Observer 'The Moon Overlooks The Mountains' Appreciates The Reply ]

[ You Have Gained 50 Charm Points ]

"Entirely on her decision, huh?" The cultivator stared at the CEO in front of him and eventually nodded, "That makes sense—alright. I'm relieved, phew." Mou Gu wiped sweat off his forehead and offered Li Yang a grin. "I was half-afraid of you using her as a human cauldron—ow."

Hua Zhao elbowed the man in the gut, and it threw the man back towards a wall. The three women looked up from their conversation, while Mou Gu croaked out what may have been an 'I'm fine'. The martial artist shook his head and glanced at Li Yang. "Don't mind him, he's paranoid like that. And, if you don't know what exactly he means by cauldron.... it's better off that you don't. It's not a recommended practice."

"I've encountered that term already." he said. Although he wouldn't explain that it had mostly come from research on the internet.. he had yet to confirm it with the System, but he had a feeling that it was the same exact thing. It was using another human being as a living cauldron for one's own cultivation.

A despicable thing.

"Then I suppose you already know why it's a terrible idea—and very risky." Hua Zhao frowned and then gave him a look, "But I think you're going to be fine. You got me the discount coupon for your business the other day too, so I think you're cool."

Li Yang didn't realize that the man would be cheap enough to be bought off by a $1000 discount coupon, but he only nodded. "I have no inclination for that. However, if the time allows it, then I could also learn from under you. I once heard that learning the saber only takes ten days compared to other forms of weapons."

"Well, make sure to call me Senior." Hua Zhao rubbed his nose, sniffing slightly. "Mind you, it takes ten days because saber is what a lot of people learn, but if you don't know how to use it—it's like taming a wild tiger. Brutish and fast movements."

The CEO wasn't sure if he would like to master such a fight style, but he had no need to be picky at all. "It is true that you're more adept than me with a sword, so if that's what it takes, then I'll call you my senior."

"Well... I'm sort of younger than you so it's kinda weird, but eh." Hua Zhao said, but then nodded. "If you do have some time and I happen to be here—I can give you a hand. It might seem like it'd be easier to use a wooden staff though, but that's Mou Gu's style. I mean yeah you have that neat dagger in your hands, but it's dangerous to swing that around and hurt yourself by accident."

Li Yang stared at the saber-tooth dagger and sighed inwardly, "It seems that I'll have to use this on a later time, or rely on Miss Taiga. I don't have a lot of time to spare for this training while working—at most, I can only train four hours."

He was no person whisked off into another world, he still had his duties to think about.

And one of them was looking at him now.

"Mister Li?" Ying Yue He called. There was a sheepish look on her face, and she stood up from the sofa. "If I can have a moment of your time, boss."

Li Yang excused himself and then approached her, "What is it, Miss He?" What would she choose for herself? He wouldn't mind if she chose to back out, but she would now be an additional burden on his shoulders if that happened.

"Miss Taiga and Shen An Na already explained it to me, and I think that the only way I can repay you after shattering the valuable tea canister and the tea in it is by working for it—but I'm not sure if I fulfill the criteria for it." Ying Yue He said. The woman chewed slightly on her lip and gripped her backpack straps tightly. "That is this cultivation thing might take a while for me to learn and I hope that you can wait until then."

The CEO glanced at her and then nodded, "Then the two of us shall accompany one another after work hours—you can consider this as an additional seminar or training along with being a secretary."

A determined look crossed over her face.

Something that he hadn't exactly expected, and so he cleared his throat. "I hope that Miss Shen has already stressed what are the dangerous aspects of this role though, because I do not wish for you to step into this blindly. Cultivation is a hard path to take on."

A scoff came from the Panda that suddenly appeared in front of him and it poked his nose with its paw, "Says the person who uses Charm Points, but yeah—it is hard. Just sounds ridiculous when you're the one saying it, Third Stage Qi Gatherer."historical

Li Yang scrunched up his nose.

"I.. I'm aware, but I'll do it to repay you, Mister Li." She gave him a smile, "And this cultivation thing is almost close to like tai chi or qi gong really if you look at it, meditation and the energy around you? I think I can do those things."

"I have faith in you, Miss He."

Albeit based on the evaluation of the System—it would work for her far better to consume excellent resources to take advantage of her Innate Ascension Skill that paired with her bloodline and constitution. Speaking of which.. he could buy the 'Constitution Refinement' for her if it was possible.

He managed to give the Divine Energizer Drink to someone else, so perhaps that was also possible. That is if she were to agree? Or did he even need to tell her about it? Li Yang had no explanation as to why he figured out her bloodline and constitution save for the System.. so it was probably something he had to keep hidden.

"Ick, all of this lovey-dovey aura is making Taiga sick—are we done now?" Came an interruption from the young woman now standing in between him and the secretary. "So Miss here trains and I guess you'll train too?" She gave Li Yang a look, "You smell like freshly cut bamboo and Taiga's not sure if she likes it or not."

"Is that so?" Li Yang raised a brow and glanced down at her.

'Assess Individual Taiga'

[ System Evaluation ]

Individual is a being that ascended into the lower spiritual domain connected to the earthly plane most commonly referred to by individuals in this part of the world as 'The Veil'. Originally a magical beast from the earthly plane, but due to extreme hunting down for its resources—it eventually absorbed the spiritual core of its progenitor and the ability to obtain a human form.

"What's with that look?" A low growl emanated from the young-looking woman. "Do you think that your height is intimidating? Taiga is not scared of you—Zhao is a good example that small is terrible."

"Oi, stop that." Hua Zhao tried to intervene, red-faced. "You're supposed to be guarding him and not fighting with them."

"Fighting?" Taiga tilted her head, "Do you think this is fighting already?"

Shen An Na sighed and rubbed her face, "Taiga.."

The woman didn't exactly have tiger-like ears, but one could almost see a faint outline of it drooping. "Taiga is only pointing out that this man is giving strange looks, it's creepy. Like enshrouding of spiritual senses.. but he's not using it. I don't like it at all."

"She can feel the System's evaluation and take note of bamboo scent, huh?" the Panda raised a brow. "I haven't touched that thing for a while now."

Li Yang shook his head and glanced at the woman, " I have no interest in that—rather I wish to see you fight something else if possible." His words were enough to stir something from the air and gained looks from the people with them. "I wish to assess how far your capabilities really are, a demonstration if you will."

A chance for him to see some kind of opponent too, if possible.

"So you want Taiga to fight you?"

"No. I want to see you fight what usually troubles the city, to see if I am truly paying for what you are worth." He said with a light smile. "Based on my estimation, you are almost comparable or equal to other individuals who shell out at least a half million dollars for their security, at least I hope that is the case." The CEO had little expenses contrary to what one might expect from this—this couldn't exactly be deducted from the company's own security budget. He had to make do with his own finances.

He didn't mention that the payment was based on an hourly rate.

Taiga blinked. "Only half a million? That's not a lot, is it? Taiga is worth topnotch—anything these boys can do, I can do better." She frowned and looked around, "Do you have another dark dragon spirit lying around in some unsuspecting human host body, Zhao?"

"No." Hua Zhao flatly said. "At the most.. you can fight a Jiang Shi or Shades right now." He sighed and threw a look at Li Yang, "Ack, someone really wants to go out and get some action, don't they?"

"You have understood my intentions well enough."

—-—-

Author Note: Based on a Business Insider Article last 2020, the most expensive costs for private security goes to Mark Zuckerberg at $23 million dollars, including his family. Elon Musk expenses? Unknown.

Wasn't able to fit some action, but I'll make sure to fit it in tomorrow. Periods are a hell of their own x.x and yes, I am subjecting you to this info. Does it affect quality? Maybe.