Lady Sha's lips curled into a wicked smile like a villainess who just devoured her victim, as she stroked Liang's lightly reddened cheek with a gentle hand. Liang remained there, frozen — not in awe, but in confusion. Who slaps a guy and then flirts right after?
"Okay, pretty boy," she purred. "Here's the deal. My mission was to get the demon eye and make sure it didn't end up in the Mushin Cult's hands. I was an undercover spy in the cult, navigating their ranks, waiting patiently for the right time to strike. I was supposed to take those goons out myself once I'd acquired the demon eye, but thanks for making my work easier. So in return I'll help you and be your ally. There are a lot of entities after the eye."
Liang rubbed his cheek, still trying to get his head around the fact that this is what his life is like now. "Yeah, well, you've been nothing but super helpful and very nice so far. Nice whip, nice ways of almost killing me… You're a walking emotional rollercoaster."
Lady Sha tilted her head, eyes narrowing dangerously. "You're really funny for a guy who can't even catch his breath after just one little slap. Still, maybe you're right in a way. Maybe I'm going too easy on you,might be 'cause you're pretty."
Xu Wen hummed in Liang's mind. "I'm calling it now, lil vessel. She wants you. You know it, I know it- hell, even the wind knows it. Soon you'll be saying 'My beloved mistress Sha.' I've seen dynasties fall for less."
Liang rolled his eyes in disgust, ignoring the old demon's trash-talking. He thought about how insane his life had become. Then muttered "I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted a quiet, peaceful life. I have... a whole lot of other things...problems... that are a hell of a lot more important than your freaky, sick fantasy mission."
Lady Sha took a step closer to him, placing her index finger beneath his chin, lifting his face to meet hers. "Too bad. Because now, you're in this mess with me, pretty boy. You'll help me with this job. Or die refusing. This is the consequence of being the vessel for the eye"
"Dying? Seriously? That's a little dramatic, don't you think?" Liang muttered, glancing at her minions, some dead, others unconscious and recovering from the earlier ass-kicking.
She smiled sweetly. "I like dramatic. Makes the pain so much more delightful. Don't you agree?"
"Right," Liang said, dryly. "So, what's this job you speak of? I'm guessing it's not a dinner date, considering the whole 'sacrificial cult' vibe."
"Smart boy." She laughed, but it was more like the laugh of someone who had just found a new toy to play with. "The 'job' is quite simple: We're going after.... the Twins of Temptation. They'll eventually come after us, technically you, but we're going to flip the game and strike first. I'd rather hunt than be hunted"
Liang's eyes widened. "You say what now?"
Lady Sha leaned in, her breath warm against his face, making his eye twitch in every direction. Trouble was coming and it smelled like roses and blood "You'll meet them soon. They're two of the most dangerous and beautifully sexy women alive. The Twins who specialize in temptation magic and feed off desires and lust. They were once part of Munshin Cult's elite until they went rogue. And surprise, they're after the demon eye in your left socket. They think it can lead them to immortality or something much greater."
"Great, I've got sexy badass twins after me, an undercover dominatrix and a sarcastic demon eye in my left socket." Liang muttered. "And these twins are after me just because of you, Xu Wen?"
"Bingo!" Xu Wen responded proudly
"That wasn't a word of praise dumbo".He replied snappily at Xu Wen. "Why does everything related to you sound like it came with a warning label that says 'do not open unless you want your life ruined completely'"
Xu Wen chuckled darkly "Because it did. You just didn't read. That's on you"
"Should've never believed that old man's words, he was suspicious in every way..but my desperation got the best of me"
Xu Wen snorted "Too late now to regret"
Stares over at lady Sha
"But why didn't they steal the eye before i did?" Liang asked lady Sha
"like I said, the ruin is basically a chaos arena. Nobody with mana could go in and those who were able to enter never made it out alive I'm surprised you even made it out" She backed away, eyes shining brightly. "Well lucky for you, we're partners now . Whether you like it or not."
"Lucky for me?" Liang threw up his hands. "I'm as lucky as a man who just stepped on a rake with the stick flung to his face." he used his hands to gesticulate
She smiled, she was clearly loving and enjoying every second of his frustration. "Oh, I think you'll do fine, you have potential. You might even enjoy it. You're sure to get some action. And, who knows? Maybe even learn a few things about power, pain and self control." She looks at his you know what.
Liang shivered. "Don't look at me like that, do i look like I'm here to learn anything?"
Xu Wen laughed. "You're in here for a lot of things, boy. And none of them are going to involve you walking away with your sanity."
"Man you mean"
"It's fine when she calls you boy but not me? Well don't care. Doesn't change what I said"
"Go to hell Xu Wen"
Lady Sha twirled, flipping her hair over her shoulder like a cover model on a magazine. "I'll take that as your agreement. Let's get going, pretty boy. We've got a cult to infiltrate and a couple of other powerful beings to bother on our way. And all the more reason, do try to stay alive and keep your pretty fine demon eye away from being ripped out of your socket. I warn you, those twins are a tough nut to crack so be cautious." she winked coyly at him
"Just to be clear…" Liang shot her a deadpan look even though his heart was doing otherwise. "We're talking about a hand to hand or a sword battle here, right? Not... whatever weird thing you're probably imagining?"
She gave him a sultry, sideways glance. "We'll see...."