The district must have heard about his altercation with the elves as everyone seemed to avoid James as he walked down the street. He didn't think they should, but he couldn't control their actions. Even their souls were filled with fear as they turned and fled, or gave him a large berth.

"Hmm…this doesn't feel right," he murmured.

Jamie glanced at him. "You're a scary person."

"I am not," he argued. "I'm kind and fun."

Cocking her brow, she gestured to everyone around. "Are you though? You scared those elves and the crowd simply by talking about a dragon. Also, you give off an aura that is scary."

Grumbling, James didn't want to admit that she was right. I can't pull my soul in anymore than I already have!

Jamie patted his arm. "If it makes you feel better, it's a comfortable feeling to me now that I've been around you. I feel safe and protected."

"That's because you are my sister," he said. "Why wouldn't you feel protected?"

Giggling, she linked arms with him and hurried him down the street. "How much further?"

James spread out his senses and found Luna much closer than before. She was only a street away and was touching him in return with happiness and slightly drunk.

"Why is she drinking so early?" he questioned.

"Living with you will do that," Jamie teased.

"Hey!" he protested. "Maybe she's drinking because she misses me!"

"Doubt it." Jamie shook her head. "If I were her, I'd be drinking too."

"You're mean," he grumbled.

"I have to tell the truth, dear brother."

Glaring at her, he remained silent as they walked the rest of the way. Entering a market square, he marveled at all of the stalls and shops. Demi-humans of all sorts were hawking wares and calling out to him as if they sensed his money.

"We should buy something," James told his sister.

"No!" she snapped. "Part of that money is mine and you are not spending gold on things you don't need!"

"Maybe I do need things…"

Poking his chest, Jamie frowned. "I'm telling Luna on you!"

Holding up his hands, he hurried towards an inn. Jamie followed quickly and together they entered to the loud cheers of drinking patrons.

Everyone eyed them as he scanned the bar. Dozens of people were drinking and eating at broken tables. Most of the people were gathered around the bar, hovering around a lone figure that was joking and laughing. When that person pushed people out of the way, she jumped up.

"Husband!" Luna screamed. Taking her first step, she staggered before correcting herself. Hurrying over to him, she jumped and wrapped her legs around his chest while burying his face in her cleavage. "Took you long enough!"

"Can't…breathe…"

Jamie laughed next to him.

Pulling away, Luna climbed off and clung to his arm. "How did enchanting go?"

James didn't answer right away. Scanning the bar, he winced as dozens of men glared at him. Some of them were cracking their knuckles as if they were prepared to fight him to the death.

"I see you have some admirers," he muttered.

Waving them off, Luna kissed his chin. "You're the only man for me! Drink with me!"

Quickly shaking his head, he averted his gaze from the crowd. "I think they are going to kill me…"

Laughing, Luna grabbed Jamie and pulled her away. "You can drink with me!"

Squeaking, Jamie tried to fight back, but the wolf was too strong. Pushing through the crowd, they reached the bar and a large moose demi-human handed over two ales.

With a glance at James, the moose raised his brow and gestured to the bar. Sighing, James walked over, squeezing between the patrons as several of them shoulder checked him, trying to rough him up.

Luna beamed as she handed him a drink. "Come on, love, drink with me!"

Sighing, he took the drink. Taking a sip, he immediately felt his body reject the liquid as he didn't need it. Frowning, he handed it back to Luna.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"My body won't let me drink it…"

Eyes wide, she looked at the ale before shrugging. Lifting it to her lips, she started downing it in large gulps. Coming up for air, she held up the mug. "To good ale!"

The bar cheered as many of them held up their drinks. Looking around, James spotted a certain feline slipping coins out of a patron's pocket. When their eyes met, he winked.

Frowning, the cat pocketed the coins and walked over. The crowd parted for her as she came to stop before him. "Who are you?"

"James," he said, introducing himself. "And you have very orange hair."

Frown growing, she glanced at Luna who was reaching for another mug. "She probably shouldn't drink more…"

"Care to stop her?" James quipped.

Shaking her head, the cat took a step back. "Well, James, it seems you were right. We did see each other again. Now I need to find a new inn."

"No need," he said. "I won't cause you trouble. In fact, I admire your work."

Taking another step back, she didn't make it far before Luna grabbed her. "Kitty!"

Jamie snorted in her mug before scooting over to make space for the cat.

"Don't call me kitty!"

"Kitty cat?" Luna questioned while handing over a mug of ale. "James is paying!"

"It's Amber!" the cat snapped. Glancing at James, she took the mug. "He's paying?"

"Yup!" Luna chirped. "He's amazing like that!"

"I am?" James questioned. "I suppose I can use some of Jamie's money."

Growling, Jamie glared at him. "Don't you dare touch my gold!"

"Finish your drink, sister," he teased.

Grumbling, she started drinking again. Luna laughed as she pulled James into her side. "I got us a room! Aren't you excited?"

James couldn't help but glance at everyone around them. Most of the men were glaring at him with hostility that he had never felt before. Amber seemed to notice and snickered.

"You're popular," she teased.

"I noticed," he murmured.

Jamie looked around as well. "I don't think I'm drunk enough for this…"

Luna grabbed another mug. "I am! James, Honey, you should kiss me already. You have to show these people that I'm yours."

Before he could argue, Luna grabbed his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. She lingered for several long seconds before breaking away. "Does anyone have a problem with my husband!" she growled.

Stolen novel; please report.

Almost everyone nodded.

Frowning, Luna stood up. "Is that so? Maybe he should buy everyone a drink!"

Closing his eyes as everyone cheered, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking over, he found the bartender holding out his hand with a large smile. Summoning a gold coin, he handed it over.

"How long has she been like this?" he asked.

The moose chuckled. "She has been talking about you for hours. The drinking started the moment she arrived."

"Figures…"

Amber nudged him. "You're making friends now. You're alright for a human."

"Sorry, Kitty, but I don't have any storage rings on me," he teased.

Glowering at him, she said, "Amber! I'm not Kitty!"

James watched her hand slip over to a nearby man and pull out a few coins. Raising his brow, he smirked. "Cheating on me?"

Returning his smirk, she added the coins to her pocket. "A girls gotta eat."

Luna turned to her. "Are you flirting with my husband…" Closing her eyes, she swayed.

"She's really drunk, isn't she?" Amber questioned.

Sighing, James picked his wife up and turned to the bartender. "Which room is ours?"

"Two oh' one," he said. "She has the key."

Pushing through the crowd, he left Jamie and Amber behind as he hurried up to the room. Taking the key from Luna's waistband, he unlocked and pushed open the door. Once inside, he set her down in bed and covered her up. It was still hours before dark and the drunk was already asleep.

Returning to the bar, he found everyone relaxed now that Luna was out of the room. It was almost as if she was influencing everyone into being attracted to her.

Joining Jamie's side, he found her with three empty mugs before her. Amber was now sitting with two of her own and a smug feeling in her soul.

"How much did you make?" he asked.

"Enough," she answered.

"Make what?" Jamie asked.

Chuckling, he didn't answer. Turning his attention back to Amber, he asked, "did you feel energy coming off Luna?"

"Yup," she answered right away. "I think everyone here did."

"Damn," he mumbled.

"It's not like the energy you are letting off," she added. "If people weren't drunk, they would be terrified of you."

Jamie nodded in agreement. "Once he accepts you, the energy feels amazing."

Amber frowned as she glanced at his sister. "You don't seem like you are related to him."

"I claimed him as a brother," Jamie said with as shrug. "I like you…"

"You like me?" Amber questioned. "I just met you."

"You're cute," she slurred.

James snickered. "Someone's a light weight."

"I'll beat you up!" Jamie threatened. "I'm not afraid to hit my brother!"

Amber glanced at him. "You have odd friends."

Before he could respond, the front door burst open, nearly coming off the hinges. A very familiar man was thrown into the room, bloody and beaten.

"Mender?" James questioned, his eyes falling on his friend.

The ones that threw him into the room were the same cultivators that had harassed him in the inner sect. He remembered the black and blond-haired men, but the other three didn't talk last time. Although, this time, they flexed their cultivation and pushed people back.

James felt his mood shift as he glanced at Mender. "Pull him away."

Amber's eyes were wide as she looked between him and Mender. Nodding, she grabbed his friend and pulled him towards the bar. Jamie was standing and pulling a scroll from her storage ring as she helped the cat.

The five cultivators eyed James before roughly pushing people out of the way.

"Leave!" James growled.

"I don't think we will," the black-haired man laughed. "Figures we'd find you with a bunch of freaks."

The room bristled, but didn't dare do anything.

"Apologize to them," James said, "if you do, I'll let you live."

Grabbing an elf, the cultivator lifted him up. His eyes told James everything he needed to know in the moment. The elf was about to die.

Releasing the hold on his soul, he flooded the district with power. The entire room paled and sank to their knees as the cultivators fought to stay standing. Reaching out, James grabbed the man's soul and ripped it from his body.

The black-haired man hit the ground hard, dropping the elf. Rushing forward, James kneeled by the elf and checked him over. "Are you okay? Do you need healing?"

The elf shook his head. "No…"

Letting out a relieved breath, James turned to the other four cultivators. "Don't you dare think you are leaving here alive!" Getting back to his feet, he turned to the blonde. "You dare hurt these people. It was one thing to attack me and Luna, but to involve innocents, you will pay."

The cultivators started to back away when James latched onto them. His Soul Siphon didn't need more than a few seconds before they dropped to the ground, their souls his.

Pulling his soul back in, James eyed the bodies. "Someone throw them outside. Leave them in an alley or something. They don't deserve to be taken back to the sect."

Several different animal demi-humans grabbed the bodies and dragged them outside. Returning to Mender, James kneeled. "How is he?"

The man had both eyes blackened and swollen shut. His jaw was broken and arm bent at an odd angle. Even his leg was shattered as Jamie pressed the scroll to his chest. Magic activated a second later, and Mender's body started to grind and shift as he was healed.

"What did you do?" Amber asked, turning to James.

"Snuffed out some pests," James answered. "They hurt my friend and were about to kill more people. They didn't deserve mercy."

Swallowing hard, Amber stood and grabbed a mug of ale. "What sort of power do you have that does what you did?"

Getting up, James handed another gold coin to the bartender. "Let the drinks flow. We all need to forget what just happened." Turning to Amber, he said, "stick around and you'll find out. I'm always looking for new friends."

Finishing off her mug, Amber nodded. "I just might. I believe you said you were going to buy me dinner."

"He's buying me dinner as well," Jamie said as she stood.

Frowning, James glanced at the bartender. "Did I give you enough for dinner?"

Smirking, the moose shook his head. Sighing, James handed over another gold coin. "Feed these two. Make sure there's a third bowl for Mender."

Turning to the crowed, James found them eyeing him with worry. Smiling as best he could, he used his thumb to gesture at the bar. "Drink your fill! This is a bar, isn't it?"

A few of the men hurried forward, cheering. Like a dam breaking, the mood turned and within seconds everyone was back to drinking. Jamie raised her brows at him before picking up yet another mug.

"Are you going to be able to function in the morning?" he asked.

Smiling, Jamie slid Amber another mug. "I'll be fine, Amber is going to let me sleep in her room."

"I am?" Amber questioned.

"I saw you eyeing me," Jamie said with a smirk. "Don't think I'm getting you drunk for nothing."

Laughing, the cat tapped her mug to Jamie's before they both drank. James chuckled at them before kneeling by Mender's side. His eyes were open again and he was using Qi to heal the rest of his wounds.

"It seems I owe you again," he muttered.

James shook his head. "Never keep track of that. You're my friend and I won't tolerate people hurting you. But you should get something to eat and drink before laying down. It's too late to head back to the sect."

Nodding, he got to his feet and turned to the bartender. The moose handed over bowls of stew to the women and Mender before sliding them more ale. Taking a seat, Mender started to eat.

"The elders won't be happy," Mender muttered.

"Screw them!" Amber growled. "They shouldn't have let them do that in the first place!"

James couldn't agree more. The state of the sect was despicable if cultivators were allowed to act like that. Was his sect the same? He didn't remember ever seeing anyone like that.

"It never gets better," Jamie said solemnly.

Amber nodded. "And people wonder why I want to get out of this city…"

"Come with us!" Jamie chirped.

"Jamie?" James questioned. "We can't just invite anyone to go with us."

"It's fine," she said, waving him off. "Amber is a good kitty." Head swaying, she glanced at her mug before adding. "A kitty that is taking me to bed."

Amber glanced at him. "Is she always like this?"

"I want to say no…"

Mender glanced at her as well. "I've never seen her so relaxed. She's going to drag you away if you don't go with her."

Amber finished her stew before grabbing Jamie. "Let's get you to bed, love."

Watching them walk away, James sighed. "Jamie seems excited to get away from the sect."

Mender nodded. "I don't blame her. She hasn't had it easy, despite advancing so far. She's timid and doesn't like fighting. Not exactly core sect material."

James didn't argue the fact that she was a great fighter. Instead, he rested his arms on the bar while Mender finished eating. Sitting back, the man patted his stomach.

"Haven't had that good of a meal in a while." Mender handed the bartender a silver coin. "You don't have a room for me by chance, do you?"

The moose looked him over before handing over a key. "Don't bleed on my floor again."

"No promises," Mender said with a chuckle. Getting up, he looked over the key before finding the number and walking off. He looked exhausted after his beating and James didn't blame him for resting.

James stayed in the bar, watching the patrons drink and dance. He couldn't eat or drink, so he savored feeling their souls. Elation and happiness filled them, but it wasn't long before an orange cat was slinking back through the crowd, adding coins to her pocket.

"You didn't entertain her for long," James commented as Amber joined him.

"She passed out." Amber shrugged. "Not that I was opposed."

"She's a good girl," James said softly. "She deserves a good partner."

"How are you leaving the city, James?" Amber questioned. "You didn't use Qi on those men."

Pursing his lips, James turned his full attention to the cat. "I can't explain it in a place like this. But I am putting a group together. People that want to join my cultivation and grow stronger in the wastelands. It'll be dangerous, but worth it."

"Why the wastelands?"

"To learn the truth," James answered. "I want to know why the world is doomed and what we can do about it."

Expression sinking, Amber sighed. "Heavy talk for a fun night. Maybe we should get some sleep and talk more tomorrow."

He agreed. Getting up, he smiled at the cat. "I'll be around in the morning. Find me if you want to know more."

Nodding, she turned and walked through the crowd. Just before she reached the stairs, he noticed her tail swaying with happiness. Her soul felt hopeful and light as she glanced back at him. With a slip of a smile, she pulled more coins from someone's pocket.

Shaking his head, he waited until she was gone before returning to his room. Inside, he found Luna waiting for him with a frown.

"How many?" she asked.

"Five," he answered. "Don't worry about it."

"James…"

"Trash doesn't deserve to live," he said coldly. "They should be happy you weren't released on them."

"How much did you grow?" she questioned.

Checking his notification, he frowned.

Souls absorbed. Soul Strength: 7.089

After the fights in the forest and killing the cultivators, he had barely gone up point zero two. It was the slowest growth he had ever had.

"Not much," he said. "Looks like I'm going to be at level seven for a while. At least until we reach another ancient city."

Getting up, she pulled his head to her chest. "I love you. Will you be okay without me tomorrow?"

"If I get treated like this at night, I will be," he teased.

Laughing, she pulled him to the bed. "I can't understand how you still have clothes on. You owe me a massage with a happy ending."

"I do?" he questioned with a smirk. "How happy are we talking?"

Pulling off her chest wrap, she winked. "Massage me and find out."

Feeling her soul mingle with his, he pulled his shirt off.

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