Arriving at River town, Paul has increased his cultivation to level 68 of the second stage, while Fei Fei's cultivation went up three levels, making her a level 86 apprentice stage cultivator.
-If not for this whole mess, I would be at the second stage by now.
She complained as they walked the streets of the small town.
-With any luck, you'll reach Lesser Mage before we return to Storm Wave city.
Paul tried to console her.
-I know, it's just that I want to start using the White Dragon Empress technique and regain my previous level as soon as possible.
I feel defenseless with so little power; it's like the day I arrived in this realm and the rest of my cultivation disappeared.
She said with a sigh.
-You'll get there, and now you at least don't need a century to rise a single level.
You have been progressing at a steady pace ever since that big jump in cultivation right after you reset it.
-It's mostly thanks to you.
My restrictions are weakening all the time, making it easier to make progress.
She smiled.
They stopped talking once they arrived at the gate, where Paul asked the guards about the spider monster he had reported when he was there last time.
To his surprise, other than signs of the beast's presence in the area, there were no sightings, and even the mercenary guild's extermination squad had returned empty-handed after looking for it for over two months.
On the other hand, they managed to retrieve the remains of the people Paul had burnt and buried, returning the remains to their families for proper burial.
They thanked the guards for the information before leaving the town.
Paul took the lead, wanting to bring Fei Fei to his previous campsite or what remained of it.
A kilometer from the town, they used the transportation spell, which took them near their destination.
After a few minutes of walking, they arrived, and Paul saw that the beast destroyed everything in its rage as both shelters were torn to pieces, and even the campfire site was only a crater in the ground now.
The only remaining thing was the giant boulder he used as a tombstone for the mercenaries and the three young people from the Yuki and Ishi clans.
The names he inscribed on the rock were still there, with a note added by someone else.
"The remains were retrieved by the mercenary guild and returned to their families.
We thank the nameless person for burying our comrades with dignity according to the Custom of Mercy and Burial."
-So this is where you were sent when you crossed over from your world?
Fei Fei asked, looking around.
-Yes, I chose this place because it was far enough from my Father's family that they would not be able to find me before I was ready to deal with them.
The plan was to stay here for three months, up to half a year, before I moved out, but things got complicated on the second day of my stay here.
I met Maya and Mia, killed some Blood Rabbits, and the rest is history.
Paul smiled sadly at these memories.
Fei Fei knew his story; he told her everything when they were traveling with Anna.
-Alright, since we are here, let's talk to my sister and get out of here, unless you have a better place in mind.
-I do, and I doubt that anyone will be crazy enough to go there, considering that the Dead Breeder was not taken out yet, but we also need to be careful when we get there.
Paul brought her to the place where he found the mercenaries and the mana carrots.
Thankfully, there was no sign of the overgrown spider, and his search magic also didn't reveal its presence anywhere.
However, there was something that didn't sit right with him, as there were no other beasts in the surrounding area as well.
He decided to get close to the river, to at least have a chance to escape if the spider decided to show up.
At the shore, Fei Fei took out a transparent crystal that looked no different than a round plate.
Paul stood guard while she dropped some of her blood onto the crystal, and within a few seconds, it turned red, with a slight mist coming out of it.
A moment later, a woman's face materialized on the crystal's surface.
-Why are you calling me, you disgrace?
I give you this device to contact me when you decide to change your ways and decide to live as the proud dragon you should be.
The woman's voice was loud and clear,
It was also full of anger.
-Nice to see you to sis, I'm calling you to prevent the reputation of the Dragon clan from being destroyed.
-What did you do?
The woman asked with accusation.
-It's not me, I just discovered it recently.
There is a Draconia temple in the first realm that uses fate to trade Elves as slaves.
-Impossible, all the temples and congregations were dissolved, and the rest was destroyed.
What are you trying to accomplish?
Fei Fei's sister asked, not believing a word of what she just heard.
-I'm just trying to save my own skin, if you must know.
Surely the moment the clans learn about it, they will investigate, and if they discovered that I knew about it and did nothing, what do you think they would do with me?
There was no need for her to pretend that she cared at all, as all she wanted was to be left alone.
Her sister calmed down a bit, hearing this, as she was certain that their clan would send someone to kill her if that was the case.
-I'll inform the clan, but don't expect any reward for this information, even if it's true.
-I know, and I don't care about any reward.
All I want is to be left alone, and on that note, can you explain to me what my adult scale is doing in this realm, and why someone is using it to hunt me down?
-What are you talking about? Your scale is in the scale chamber, as are all the others.
If that's true, then why did I see mine being auctioned off less than a week ago, and the seller wanted to meet the buyer face-to-face?
Fei Fei asked.
-You know there is no way for any of us to mistake our scales for anyone else's.
-I'll look into it immediately.
Her sister said, visibly shaken at the news.
This time, she believed Fei Fei, as this was not something any dragon would lie about, no matter how much of a disgrace it was.
-Can you wait for a few minutes?
Fei Fei looked at Paul, who nodded as there was nothing dangerous in the range of his search magic.
-I can, but I don't know for how long.
-I'll try to hurry.
The woman said and vanished from the crystal a second later.
-That's not what I expected to hear from your sister.
Paul commented, still having an eye on the surrounding area.
-I can't blame her for being angry at me.
Fei Fei responded.
-Because I became a Dual cultivator, her fiancé at the time had broken off their engagement, so she has every right to hate me.
Truth be told, this is much better than the reaction I expected.
She smiled sadly.
It was evident that she missed her sister and the bond they had in the past.
At that moment, the face returned to the crystal, but it didn't belong to Fei Fei's sister.
-So you're still alive, you little slut.
The older woman hissed the words with so much venom, Paul was surprised the crystal didn't melt.
-Hello, mother, and yes, I'm alive.
Fei Fei said in a resigned tone.
-Don't call me mother, I don't have a whore as a daughter.
Hearing these words made Paul angry, and his cultivation surged, threatening to explode.
He turned around to give this old hag a piece of his mind about calling his woman a whore, but was stopped when he saw Fei Fei's stretched out arm, gesturing for him to remain silent.
-As you wish, matriarch.
So will I finally learn why my adult scale is here in this world, and why someone is trying to hunt me down using it?
-Not that it will help you in any way.
The matriarch sneered.
-But I'll tell you.
The clans had learned what you were doing for the last three thousand years and decided it was impossible to tolerate the shame you brought to the Dragon race any longer.
The woman said with a triumphant smile.
-So what, you sent an assassin after me?
Fei Fei could barely believe what she was hearing.
-No, we sent a hunter to bring you back. You will be placed in seclusion for as long as it takes for everyone to forget about your very existence.
If by that time, you don't change your ways, then you will remain locked up for the rest of your life.
Fei Fei's mother said smugly, like she already won.
-I'm not going anywhere, and if you are talking about me being a courtesan here, then you can as well blame yourself for taking all my things away when you kicked me out.
Besides, I am no longer a courtesan.
Fei Fei retorted.
-I know.
Now you fell even lower, becoming a slave to a human.
-Is there really no border you are not willing to pass on your way down, disgracing all of us as you fall?