(MC POV)
I opened my eyes to see a pair of blue eyes partially covered by strands of white hair staring back at me. It took me a moment to realise I was lying down on the ground with my head supported by her lap.
I blinked, "You're still here?"
She smiled. It was the first genuine, full-faced smile I saw coming from her, "Why wouldn't I be? After a display like that, I would be a fool to just leave here."
I groaned, feeling a headache assaulting my cranium.
Using the new skill of connecting myself to those 'stars' within my Cultivation Point, I managed to power up enough to banish that monstrosity back to whence it came with just a finger.
Unfortunately, this body is not yet strong enough to maintain that power for long, as evidenced by me blacking out right after I released the power up.
At least it wasn't as bad as vomiting out half the blood in my body like last time, shows that I've at least improved, right?
I guess the fox must have seen me collapse after banishing that tentacled freak back to the abyss, deciding to take care of me while I was unconscious.
Hopefully she didn't do anything funny.
"How long was I out?" I asked, trying to sit up.
"About an hour," She replied without hesitation, pulling me to lie back down on her lap. "And you shouldn't move too much yet. You must have expanded a lot of energy right? Just rest now."
I raised an eyebrow at her, "Since when have you been so caring?"
"Is it a problem for me to care for someone who is hurt?"
"Well, I'm not hurt and you're starting to creep me out."
She placed a hand on my head, her smile coming back to her face as she gently stroked my head, "It's alright. You've done well, just rest for now."
I sat up forcefully, pulling myself out of her grasp, "Ok… No. You don't get to act like that after being so cold and distant to me for the past few days. Also, I have other things I need to take care of, so if you'll excuse me."
She did not stop me from moving this time, opting to just stay where she was and show me that disconcerting smile of hers.
Spreading my arms outwards, I activated the scrying inscriptions I had left at the monster's village.
A small portal ripped open in front of me, showing a bird's eye view of the monster's village.
Or at least, what I remembered to be the monster's village.
The entire area was scorched black with nothing left to suggest former residents there, not even the foundations of the buildings were spared.
I know I've taught them to be thorough but… This is beyond my expectations.
I guess I should give them all some headpats when I get back… After I deal with the problem over here that is…
Ah well, nothing I can't handle. Just going to set off all the other preparations I put in place just in case.
Luckily I can be assured that all the Dark Sect Practitioners are done for thanks to that meddlesome tentacled thingy. If anyone survived that blast, I think he deserves to live.
Just kidding, I'll do another swoop around the forest to make sure they're all gone, I did say I like being thorough.
Now, just gonna snap my fingers and we can just call it a day.
Alright, now to deal with this new girl who is still staring at me with that intense gaze of hers.
"Ok, I'll ask," I started. "What's the deal? You want something, right?"
Her smile came back, "I know you don't want me to waste your time so…"
She moved herself to face me before placing both her hands on the ground in front of her, bowing her head low to just a few centimeters away from her hands.
"Please accept this unworthy one as your honoured one's disciple."
I crossed my arms, "Let me guess… Judging by the contents of our conversation last time where you talked about weakness… You're seeking power are you not?"
Her head bowed even lower, "Yes. What I seek is to follow the epitome of strength! Please allow me to follow behind your greatness!"
"And when you find someone stronger than me, what then? Abandon me for them?"
She lifted up her head, her smile still plastered on her face, "I will not lie to you. At this point, there is only one other person whom I might leave you for and that is my sister's mate."
I raised an eyebrow, "Your sister's mate? You mean you'll share a mate with her?"
She nodded slightly, "My sister and I have always shared everything… It was for that reason that I sought to leave her village in an attempt to be independent for once… If I were to deem my sister's mate unworthy of the respect that I have for you, there shall be none other I will follow other than you."
Well, I'm not worried about her abandoning me to follow someone stronger, it's a dog eat dog world in the other Planes after all. If I were to get my ass handed to me by some other guy, it'll make sense for her to cling to the safest means of survival.
That's what I did to survive back then after all, so I'm not going to be a hypocrite and fault her for it.
Since I have no intentions of going to those Planes for now, I shouldn't come across some really strong Practitioners that could rival the current me.
Ah… There's those busybodies who go around spiriting people away huh… Not sure if they will come back for Elaria?
Well, I already left a tracking inscription on her so there shouldn't be any problems even if they do try to take her away.
Anyway, that's a problem for another day. I suppose I don't mind having another disciple around, she might even become good friends with Manami seeing how they're both nine tailed foxes.
I shall not affirm nor deny the fact that the thought of having a fluffy bed of eighteen fox tails was especially tempting to me.
Come on!
Don't say you won't be tempted too! They're so fluffy!
I'm going to fluff Manami's tails while she makes me tea when I get back later.
Ah, for now I guess I'll let my other disciples take a look at her. The girls would probably have a better scope of this girl's mentality since they're of the same gender anyway.
Not that I'm being sexist but… Sometimes the girls just really confound me…
All I got to do now is hope the mate of this fox's sister isn't some OP dude that can one shot interdimensional horrors.
I mean, what are the odds of that being true, right?