(MC POV)
"Papa… Papa… Mmmm…"
I opened my eyes to the sound of Cai Hong's voice in my ear, looking to the side to see my cute little dragon cuddling my arm while she was still stuck in dreamland.
For my little dragon to be dreaming about me… She's really too cute.
Feeling a weird sort of mental pressure from my other side, I turned my head to see Iris standing by my bedside staring at me. I could have mistook her for a statue seeing how motionless she was.
Last night she was standing at that exact same spot as well, don't tell me she hadn't moved an inch at all ever since?
"Oh, good morning Iris," I greeted her.
"Good morning Master," She greeted back, still staring at me with unblinking eyes.
"Did you sleep well last night?" I tried, hoping against all hope that she really wasn't just standing there the entire time.
"I do not require sleep, Master, so I did not sleep at all."
"Eh? Then… Don't tell me you laid there and stared at me the whole night?"
"That is correct, Master."
Ok, if you were anyone else, I would have immediately thought the person who said those words had a screw loose.
Then again, considering who she is, I think it's safe to say that she probably does have a screw loose.
Iris came closer to my bed, "I don't understand, Master. You shouldn't need to sleep either, so why do you still do it?"
I smiled wryly at her while stroking the still sleeping Cai Hong's head, "The fact that I'm quite used to sleeping is one of the reasons. The other reason is that it actually feels nice don't you think? You get to lay in bed together with the people you care about and share the warmth of the bed."
Iris thought for a moment but shook her head, "Incomprehensible… The act of sleeping and eating is a mortal requirement that phenomenal beings like us do not require to partake. Doing so is just a waste of time and effort."
I grinned, "Well… I belong to the camp of 'live to eat' and not 'eat to live'. I do it because I like it, not because I have to."
"Does Master not feel like this is a waste of time?"
"Not at all. Come closer and I'll even show you something nice."
She obeyed, kneeling by my bedside with curious eyes.
Reaching out my free hand, I laid it on top of her head and began patting her.
The effects were almost immediate as Iris moaned and collapsed on the bed, her body shivering in pleasure from the contact.
"Hnnng… This feeling… As expected of Master!"
I suppose I'm still a long way from teaching her mortal common sense so let's just leave it at that.
It's the start of a new day and there's quite a lot of work I have to do.
"Cai Hong, it's morning. Time to wake up," I nudged the little dragon gently.
Cai Hong yawned and rubbed her eyes leepily, taking a moment more to realise who was waking her.
"Papa! Kissies!"
Such a spoiled little dragon. Well, I don't mind spoiling her though.
I leaned forward and gave my daughter a kiss on her cheek, causing her to giggle happily before she reciprocated the action on my cheek too.
So cute.
Just as we were finally climbing out of bed, a knock emanated from my door.
"Master? Are you awake?"
Oh, there's a voice I haven't heard in a while.
"Sophia? I am now, is there something wrong?"
"Oh, not at all, Master. I was just here to wake you as per my duties that I've neglected performing for the past three years," The former demon lord stated cheerily.
"Aren't you the hardworking one? Is Joanne with you?"
"Eh?! Umm… Umm… Y-y-yes! I'm h-h-h-here!" A high-pitched voice squeaked out from behind the door.
I guess she never expected me to call out her name like this but if you think about it, it should be natural that she's here since I had previously assigned her as Cai Hong's servant.
Honestly, I'm quite surprised that none of these servants chose to return to their Sects and instead, they stayed here to wait for my return.
Then again… Considering they're all part of my disciples' fanclub, I guess I shouldn't really be that surprised...
The three of us went out of my room and Joanne assisted me in washing up my little Cai Hong.
Since I was here, there was no way Cai Hong would be happy that someone else took care of her instead of me. Besides, she's too cute for me to reject anyway when she stretches out her hands to me and asks, "Papa… Washy wash?"
Ugh… My heart.
Iris, of course, had no need for such trivial mortal matters since she doesn't get dirty unless she wants to.
With our morning routine done, we went out to the courtyard where the rest of my disciples were waiting for me.
"Good morning, Master!" They greeted, full of enthusiasm.
I'm not sure if it was just my imagination, but it felt like they had placed more emphasis on the 'Master' word than normal?
Maybe it's just because it has been quite a while since we had a lesson so they had been looking forward to it since last night.
Once again, I gathered all of them in my pavilion while the servants busied themselves with their chores. Even though I haven't been back in all these years, it seems like they didn't slack off in taking care of my home.
I regarded my disciples who were looking up at me with sparkling eyes, "Now, continuing our talk from yesterday… I'll obviously be helping to guide all of you towards achieving apotheosis with your own two hands. I won't lie, it definitely won't be easy, but it's not impossible either. So, are all of you prepared?"
Brendan raised his hand, "Umm… Master? Before we start, I have something I need to return to you."
Return to me? I don't remember lending him anything that he needs to return me though?
"Oh? What is it?"
Brendan came up to me and materialised a vial of liquid in his hands.
I squinted at the vial before realising what it was.
"The Origin Liquid? What's wrong with it? You don't really need to return this to me, you know? I know it has Origin in its name but it's not like I split off a part of me to make it."
Brendan shook his head, "That's not it, Master. With this Origin Liquid, we could have easily used it to create Divinity for us to consume. We do not wish to have such a temptation by our side."
Err… I suppose they can really do that. But temptation? Don't they realise I'm sitting right here? I mean I could literally grant them divinity with a snap of my fingers you know? Isn't that a bigger temptation?
Oh well, to each their own I guess. Since they seem like they've already decided on this matter, I simply made the vial disappear without a trace.
I nodded at them, "Alright, if there's nothing else… Shall we begin your lesson in achieving godhood?"
"Yes, Master!" All of them affirmed with enthusiasm.
I scratched my chin for a moment, "Hmm… Since all of you want to do it by yourselves, I'll find the best way that each of you can achieve godhood by yourselves. I do need to say again that it won't be easy, so are you prepared?"
"Yes, Master!!" They replied again with greater enthusiasm.
Alright then, guess I have my work cut out for me.