Settling down into the warm baths of the Demonic Cult's main estate, I gently rub and massage my shoulders, trying to remove the terrible sore strain with some since time relaxing.
"Luo Chao… How are you feeling? I heard that you got knocked around pretty badly."
"I'm okay… My chest hurts and my right arm is a little fucked, but the doctors said I should be fine with a few weeks rest."
Sinking deeper into the depths of the shared bath, I let out a nice long sigh of satisfaction. "That's great… We even got a hefty pay from our mission too. We should go out tonight."
Luo Chao nods, "Sure, should we invite the other boys too?"
"It's only natural since we were all on the mission together."
"I see, I see…" Luo Chao pauses as he stretches forward, grabbing a floating table with some wine on it, pouring himself a glass. "What about the Commander?"
"He said that he'd like to be alone for some time, so we'll have to go without him."
Luo Chao nods as he pours another cup of wine, handing it to me as we share some time together like we did as children. "I guess that's okay. The kid's probably stressed out. Besides, now we can go out fucking as many prostitutes that we want with our money."
I simply stare, a long, silent, judgmental stare. "See, this is why everyone knows you as a pervert. Even the commander called you one."
"Well I get women."
"More like you sexually harass women. The only women you get to sleep with you are prostitutes."
Luo Chao huffs, crossing his arms over his chest, acting like a spoiled child. "Well that's simply they can't stand how much aura I have. It's simply so strong that only women that know martial arts can handle me."
"You mean prostitutes that also work as assassins. One day you'll end up losing your family jewels and all your money."
"S- Shut up… It hasn't happened yet, so statistically, it won't happen."
"This is why you shouldn't have skipped classes."
"I'm smart."
"Then if you have a 50% chance of obtaining something and then that chance is boosted by another 50%, statistically, how high of a chance do you have now?"
Without missing a beat, Luo Chao responds. "100%"
"...Idiot."
"Stupid."
"Virgin."
"Man whore."
After a few minutes of insulting each other back and forth, we ended up in a fight in which we were later banned from using the Demonic Cult's main estate public baths. Luo Chao was also arrested for public indecency and put on a sexual offender list due to him flashing a child on accident.
Sitting outside of the guard station, I couldn't help but pray for my childhood friend. "May he be luckier in his next life…"
The door suddenly slams open as the half dead Luo Chao walks out. "The hell do you mean next life? I'm not dead yet."
"I've simply just given up on you in this life."
Luo Chao clicks his tongue, kicking me in the back. "Oh shut up would you. Let's go out and fill our stomachs with food."
"Sure sure… Whatever you say, you sex offender."
Patting off my bottom, the two of us walk out of the Demonic Estate and straight into the surrounding town. For people that call themselves demonic, we were nothing like that.
All of the towns under our care are well established with a nearly zero crime rate, everyone is treated somewhat fairly besides the class differences, but even with that everyone supports one another in the community.
The only thing about us was probably the martial arts we study, how we value achieving strength, and the fact nearly everyone here is rejected from the rest of society.
Ending up in a fine restaurant, we take our seats outside, viewing the lively streets and bright lights that light up the sky.
"One share plate of spicy beef ribs, honey glazed chicken wings, and barbeque pork belly. Also two jars of wine."
"Is that all, sir?"
Luo Chao nods, pulling out his money bag to pay the waiter before he disappears to put in our orders.
"Someone's spurging already."
"All of that fighting and injury has me hungry. Besides, I need to build up my muscles again!"
"You mean fat?"
Luo Chao reaches his foot under the table, stomping on it at the same time I slap him across the face from the table.
"I see we're even."
"I paid for the food so you owe me."
After not a very long wait, the waiter returns with our jars of wine, followed by the share plate of pork belly. And as expected of Luo Chao, he takes a swig of wine and a bite of pork belly, stuffing himself full without another thought.
"Hurry on, eat some too before I finish it all."
"Yeah yeah, I got it."
Pouring myself a cup, I follow suit. The pork belly was soft and tender, its flavor strong and impactful as it spread around my tongue.
"This place hasn't changed since childhood, huh Luo Chao?"
"They still use the same recipe. You think Bai Xiu is working tonight? We should see her if we can."
Raising a hand, I called over a waiter, requesting for Bai Xiu to serve us. Within a few minutes, a familiar figure appears. A short, petite girl with slender portions, her face smooth and skin slightly tanned from working in the kitchen so often.
"Hu Qing, Luo Chao! You two are still alive!"
"Of course we are! Join us at our table!"
Bai Xiu quickly complies, taking her seat as she steals some wine and takes some pork belly for herself.
"So how was your first mission?"
Luo Chao shrugs, rubbing his sore arm. "It was rough, but we all managed to make it out alive."
"Really? The cursed division made it out without a single loss?"
Both Luo Chao and I nod, fighting over the last piece of pork belly with our chopsticks before Bai Xiu takes it for herself.
"So what are you two doing out tonight? Shouldn't you guys be like… Training or something?"
"Nope! We're currently on break to recover!" Luo Chao boastfully brags, "and we're out here to spend our mission reward to spoil ourselves and to sleep with some women."
Bai Xiu gives Luo Chao a judgement glare, "thinking with your dick as usual, huh? Perhaps we should cut it off and see if you become brain dead."
"Please. Sister Bai Xiu, you know he can't even think with his dick. It's simply acting on its own."
And like a moth to a flame, a group of beautiful, snow-like women walk down the street, Luo Chao's eyes gluing onto the first one as he almost hypnotically gets up from his seat to follow suit.
The waiter arriving with the rest of our order simply stares at Luo Chao, letting out a sigh of disappointment before returning back inside the shop.
As the end of the group comes into sight, I take a look back, slightly perplexed and confused as for what I saw.
"Commander Gu?"
He was standing next to a tall woman, her face hidden by an icy blue veil as he held her hand. His face was plaster with a gentle cry, almost as if he was displaying all of his weaknesses bare before her.
Was she his secret lover? Wait… Is that the Ice Witch!? Were the rumors true??
"No way…"
Bai Xiu hears my muttering, "no way what?"
I quickly brush it aside, perhaps they're just close friends… What type of fucking bullshit lie am I telling myself to cope with this??
"Don't worry… Besides, we should follow after Luo Chao. He seems to be following those pretty girls, so let's make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
"But our food…" Bai Xiu pouts, picking up a chicken wing before devouring it.
"Ah, just bring the plates with us. And the jars of wine too. We might have to hit him over the head with them."