Winter dusk.
A hazy drizzle fell, like smoke and fog.
Silver Moon Monastery, White Tiger Hall.
Tanya sat in the living room with her father.
From the tea room next door, the faint sound of the three heads of the Bear, Pig, and Cat Courts conversed.
She couldn't make it out clearly, and she didn't dare listen closely.
Having finally escaped her war-torn hometown and arrived on the peaceful and tranquil Silver Moon Island, Tanya felt uncertain about the future.
Her own fate, like the misty rain outside the window, drifting in the wind.
These days, Tanya has been traveling around with her junior brother Allen.
Returning to New Quint Town, she visited Allen's parents and was warmly welcomed.
Tanya could sense that Allen's parents liked her.
The way they looked at her was as if they were looking at a daughter-in-law who hadn't yet married.
Tanya was secretly delighted by this.
However, she soon realized her joy was premature.
It took Alan a week to settle the new immigrants.
He also took care of the livelihoods of Mentor Pantheon and Senior Sister.
Alan frankly told the father and daughter that he had two options for them.
If the father and daughter were willing to settle down on Silvermoon Island and live a stable life, then everything would be easy.
Alan planned to give his martial arts school to his teacher.
"Pan's Martial Arts School"—whether it was Pantheon or Pantheon—it made no difference.
With this property, his teacher would have no worries about his livelihood, and he could continue to teach and live out the rest of his life there.
Senior Sister Tanya could enter Silvermoon Monastery for further study.
Alan had already made arrangements for her.
Master Shiva, the "White Tiger Martial Master" of the Cat Academy, was quite interested in Tanya, a gifted young woman.
If Tanya could pass Master Shiva's assessment, she would become his direct disciple and, incidentally, attain the status of Elder.
In addition to arrangements for her training, Allen also privately discussed life's major events with Tanya.
"Sister, we're both not young anymore, and we have a foundation of affection. If I propose to you, you won't hit me, right?"
Faced with her overly blunt confession, Tanya was completely bewildered!
Seeing her cheeks flush, Allen wished he could find a hole to crawl into, he smiled and continued:
"Sister, I'm sincere to you. There are some things I must tell you clearly as soon as possible, otherwise it might be suspected of deception."
Tanya was startled and looked up.
Her distinct black and white eyes fixed on her junior, a hint of uneasiness visible.
"Senior Sister, you already know about my parents' situation."
"I have another sister at home, named Kelly."
"Kelly is cultivating in the Silver Moon Secret Realm. I'll take you there later to meet her."
Tanya nodded gently, motioning for Allen to continue.
"I also have a younger sister, Ella, the only daughter of my mentor, Ms. Sora."
"Ella and I are already engaged. She's my concubine."
"Concubine?"
Tanya immediately grasped the key information.
"Concubine" status is lower than that of a wife, but higher than that of a concubine.
"She has a formal status and can be included in the family tree, but she is not a mistress.
"Typically, a man can only take a concubine if he already has a legitimate wife.
"Alan doesn't have a wife yet, so why only grant Ella the status of a concubine?" This situation seemed illogical, and Tanya couldn't help but harbor suspicions.
Could it be that Junior Brother Allen had already reserved a place for me?
Tanya's heart raced.
Alan saw what Senior Sister was thinking and sighed.
With a touch of guilt, he spoke with some difficulty:
"Senior Sister, for some reason, I will never marry a wife. Sister Kelly will take on the role of mistress of the household."
Tanya's heart sank, and her expression darkened.
Ambiguous relationships between siblings were commonplace in warlock families.
Alan and Sister Allen had a deep bond; she had long known this.
But was there any point in trying to cover up the truth?
"Besides my sister and Ella, there's a girl named Renee at home who's my concubine."
"Sister, if you don't mind, I'd like to marry you as my second wife," Allen said earnestly.
Tanya's emotions were complicated.
On the one hand, reason told her that it was normal for the male head of a sorcerer's family to have three wives and four concubines.
If a family was founded by a female sorcerer, wouldn't the mistress be surrounded by a horde of male favorites?
Junior Brother Allen, you're a handsome man with unlimited potential!
With his qualities, there are women lining up to marry him.
Having only one concubine and one fiancée so far is considered quite restrained.
However, there was still a hurdle in Tanya's heart.
She wasn't concerned with Ella or Renee, but with Allen's sister, Kelly.
She could barely accept her lover having multiple wives and concubines, but what was wrong with having no legal wife and a sister being the mistress?!
Especially when she thought of Marvin's affair with his sister Nora, Tanya felt even more uncomfortable.
Unable to overcome this hurdle, she couldn't fully integrate into Allen's family.
"Junior brother, marriage is a serious matter, and shouldn't be rushed. Could you give me some time to carefully consider it?" Tanya asked, swallowing her grievance.
"Careful consideration is what I should do."
Alan held her cool, delicate hand, his eyes filled with guilt.
"Senior sister, I'm so shameless. I'm sorry..."
"Whether you marry or not, you will always be my senior sister."
"I will always treat you well and take care of you for the rest of my life."
Tanya's eyes flushed, and she struggled to hold back her tears.
"Alan... you love your sister very much, right?"
Alan lowered his head, speechless.
"Junior brother, life is short. There's no need to care about worldly opinions. Be honest with your inner feelings, lest you regret it later if you miss out," Tanya said softly.
Alan could certainly hear what his senior sister was hinting at, and a mixture of emotions washed over him.
After calming his turbulent emotions, he said bitterly,
"Senior sister, if you were Kelly, what would you do?"
Tanya was stunned and speechless for a moment.
After a long moment, she could only admit, "I... I don't know what to do either."
"You and my sister are like reflections in a mirror," Alan said softly. "If your roles were reversed, I would tell the other person: I will never marry a wife. Sister Tanya will always be the mistress of my house. Marry her or not!"
Tanya's heart trembled. Fighting back tears, she punched him. "Alan! You're such a jerk!"
That punch was pretty damn hard!
Alan rubbed his chest, grimacing in pain.
Tanya ignored his feigned pity and asked irritably, "Do I have any better options besides this?"
"Yes!" Alan said, his expression serious. "I've arranged another way out for you and the teacher!"
"Tell me about it."
"Sister, do you think the teacher is...willing to retire?"
"Is that even necessary?" Tanya rolled her eyes. "A man at forty, in his prime, has finally broken through to the fourth level. It's time to make great plans. You're asking him to retire and run a martial arts school in a small town where he's unfamiliar with the place. He doesn't object, but he's actually feeling very lonely."
"So, the teacher can't let go of his family, friends, and students. He wants to return to South Island College to continue teaching and strive for further advancement. Maybe he'll have the chance to become vice-president in the future," Alan said slowly.
"That's right!" Tanya nodded, then smiled bitterly. "Of course, these are all unrealistic fantasies!"
"Judging from the current situation, the South Island Federation is likely to lose the Civil War."
"In the future, even South Island College might not be safe. My dad and I won't have a home to return to."
"Sister, do you think there's a chance the South Island Federation can turn the tide?"
"That..." Tanya frowned. "Unless the South Island Federation can gain the support of a powerful ally, otherwise... it's too difficult."
Alan smiled and raised his teacup.
"Sister, do you think the Silver Moon Monastery is a powerful ally?"
Tanya's eyes lit up. "Junior Brother Allen! You want to play... pimping between the South Island Federation and the Silver Moon Monastery?"
Pa!
Alan put down his teacup, a look of displeasure on his face.
"Senior Sister, I'll give you one more chance. Reframe your words!"
"Huh?! Look at my clumsy mouth!"
Tanya smiled shyly and slapped herself on the face.
"Junior Brother, are you planning to broker an alliance between the Silver Moon Monastery and the South Island Federation?"
"Yes. You and Teacher, as representatives of South Island College, will submit a written document requesting the Silver Moon Monastery's assistance."
"That way, the Monastery will have a reason to intervene in the war and strike at the Beast Worship Cult, an ally of the North Island Federation and also our arch-enemy."
"Silver Moon Monastery, if you can contain the Beast Worship Cult, the pressure on the South Island Federation will be greatly reduced, giving it a chance to turn the tide."
"Once this is accomplished, you and Teacher, as meritorious officials, will surely be rewarded by the Federation, and your status within the academy will rise."
"At the same time, I and the Silver Moon Monastery behind me will... The academy will continue to support you and your teacher as always."
"With the powerful background of the Silver Moon Monastery, you and your daughter will easily establish a new force within the academy."
"Teacher, continue to run the martial arts school, recruit disciples, and cultivate your talents."
"As for you, Senior Sister, don't let your youth and extraordinary talent go to waste. Dedicate yourself to cultivation, strive to break through the fifth level as soon as possible, and seek the position of Vice Dean or even Dean."
"If you become Dean, the Pansen family will rise strongly and become the fourth most powerful family in the South Island Federation!"
"Senior Sister, this is the second future I have planned for you."
Alan held Tanya's hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
"The choice between the two paths is up to you."
Tanya took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming.
"Junior Brother, I choose the second path!"
"Living in seclusion in a small town is too depressing!"
"I also want to realize my own value in life!"
"I need a bigger stage to showcase my abilities!"
"If the second path works..." Tanya's cheeks suddenly flushed, and she avoided Alan's gaze. "I'll... I'll agree to marry... well, I'll accept a concubine!"
The term "concubine" has existed since ancient times.
Officials or businessmen, without their wives by their side, would marry a concubine to manage the household.
Even though a concubine's status was lower than that of the wife, the distance between them meant they rarely saw each other, which could help avoid conflicts.
Tanya was curious about Alan's sister.
She longed to see what her other self looked like in the mirror.
But she also felt reluctant to live under the same roof with Kelly, living under the shadow of her elder sister-in-law.
So, if she could follow Allen's plan, successfully rise to a higher position at South Island College, and establish her own career, she wouldn't have to live in fear of her elder sister-in-law's mood.
In the family Allen established on Silver Moon Island, Kelly was the headmistress.
When Allen opened a branch base at South Island College, she would be the headmistress!
This was the same principle as the classical concept of "co-wife."
So, full of hope, Tanya followed her junior fellow apprentice to Silver Moon Monastery, hoping to gain their support.
However, only after taking this step did she realize how difficult it was.
The three abbots of Silver Moon Monastery held a closed-door meeting.
The meeting had lasted all afternoon, and no conclusion had been reached.
Tanya could easily guess that the three abbots were deeply divided!
If Silver Moon Monastery refused to take sides in this war, Tanya's dream would be shattered.
She couldn't help but secretly clench her fists.
The feeling of leaving her fate in the hands of others was utterly depressing!
However, controlling her own destiny... she wasn't strong enough yet.
Creaky—
The door to the adjacent tea room suddenly flew open.
Alan emerged first, bowing beside it.
Pantheon and Tanya quickly stood and bowed!
Master Bachs, the head monk of the Bear Courtyard.
Master Varaha, the head monk of the Pig Courtyard.
They emerged from the tea room one after another, nodding in return.
The two masters calmly walked out.
The holy aura surrounding them formed a barrier.
Walking through the drizzling courtyard, they remained dry.
Finally, Master Shiva, with a tiger's head and a human body, slowly emerged.
He stood at the doorway with his hands behind his back, watching his two brothers disappear into the distance.
With a gloomy expression, he muttered to himself.
"Old Bear is so complacent, he only wants to be a coward!"
"Old Pig is greedy for petty gains, unable to grasp the broader situation!"
"How can we run Silver Moon Monastery with these two idiots?"
Pansen and his daughter exchanged a glance.
From what Master Shiva had said, things might be in vain...
Master Shiva sighed, turned, and examined Tanya.
"Girl, how old are you?"
"Twenty-three, including the four years in the secret realm!" Tanya replied, standing at attention.
"Twenty-three years old, late fourth stage... wow!" Master Shiva exclaimed in amazement. "No wonder Allen is so optimistic about you. Your talent is no less than mine!"
"Master, you're too kind! You're my idol!"
Tanya had been hanging out with her junior brother for so long, and through osmosis, she'd learned a bit of flattery.
Master Shiva smiled calmly and asked, "Your name is Tanya, right? What's your bloodline?"
"Giant Horned Bull!"
"Ah...???"
Master Shiva scratched his furry head, his emerald eyes filled with confusion.
Who was Giant Horned?
I'd never heard of that bloodline before!
It would be bad to expose my lack of knowledge in front of the younger generation and make a fool of myself.
Master Shiva nodded with feigned composure.
"Hmm! Giant-horned Humm people, a very good bloodline, very rare!"
"Teacher, it's the Giant-horned Bull."
Alan smiled and corrected the White Tiger Martial Master, who was trying to get away with it.
"I know! It's just a toothache... and my pronunciation is unclear!"
The White Tiger Martial Master, irritated, bared his claws at the rebel, warning him to stop being disrespectful!
Turning around, he gave Tanya a kind smile.
"Come with me to the training room. I want to test your strength myself."
"If you're as strong as Allen says, it wouldn't hurt to have another disciple."
"Thank you, Master, for this precious opportunity!"
Tanya followed Master Shiva out of the living room.
After watching his daughter leave, Pansen looked back at Allen, his eyes filled with worry. "Didn't the deal go through?"
Alan poured the teacher a cup of hot tea and gestured for them to sit down and talk.
"No conclusion has been reached yet, so it's on hold for now."
"The three chiefs have significant differences of opinion."
"Master Shiva favors supporting the South Island Federation."
"Mainly because the Beast Cult and the South Island Federation are hostile, and the enemy of our enemy can be our friend."
"Master Bachs, the chief of the Bear Court, maintains a neutral stance and refuses to get involved in the war."
"Master Varaha, the chief of the Pig Court, is more concerned with profitability."
At this point, Allen sighed.
As the old saying goes, those who rush in are not good at business.
Varaha doesn't object to supporting the South Island Federation, but only if the South Island Federation asks for help first. Otherwise, a good price won't be negotiated!
Can Pansen and his daughter represent the official position of the South Island Federation?
Sorry, given their status, they're not qualified to represent the South Island Federation.
The three leaders' discussion reached a deadlock, and they had to postpone it.
…
Next door, in the dojo.
White Tiger Martial Master personally assessed Tanya.
The final score: 95!
90 of those points are a combination of Tanya's bloodline, aptitude, and combat prowess.
An additional 5 points...because Tanya and she share a common interest and enjoy a drink!
Master Shiva, it's rare to have a drinking buddy who's so easy to talk to.
Tanya enjoyed a good drink with her, and there are many benefits!
Master Shiva, actually only twenty-eight, considered himself to be of the same generation as Tanya.
He was drunk and actually wanted to drag Tanya into sworn sisterhood!
Alan, who was drinking with them, broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this!
He quickly dissuaded Master Shiva from this ridiculous idea.
Otherwise... the generations would be messed up, and what would happen?
Tanya, feeling a little embarrassed, politely declined Shiva's offer of sworn brotherhood, still considering herself a disciple.
"Hmph! Alan, are you jealous of Tanya?"
White Tiger Martial Master clutched his bottle of wine, a look of dismay on his face.
"That's right!" Allen feigned resentment. "Senior Sister Tanya has only been at Silver Moon Monastery for the first day, and you're already trying to swear sworn brotherhood with her. If this continues, won't I be left out in the cold and no longer be your most beloved disciple?"
"Hey! You're a grown man, how can you be so petty?"
Master Shiva patted his head, his eyes a mixture of anger and fondness.
"As a teacher, I hate those who get bored easily!"
"My dear disciple, don't worry. Even if Tanya comes, you'll still be my most beloved disciple!"
"That's more than enough!" Allen smiled, holding up the bottle. "Teacher, come, I'll refill your glass! We won't leave until we're drunk tonight!"
Both Allen and Tanya had a good alcohol tolerance.
Sister and brother teamed up, barely managing a draw with White Tiger Martial Master at the table.
Finally, Allen couldn't hold on any longer and secretly took a hangover remedy.
Bearing a sobering attitude, he managed to stay sober. He summoned Tiger Girl Leni to escort Master Shiva, who had become drunk as a cat, back to his room for a bath and a rest.
I escorted my senior sister back to the guest room and helped her get ready for bed.
After all, Tanya was a remarkable woman, and her drunkenness quickly wore off.
When she regained consciousness, she found herself in her nightgown.
She settled comfortably in a soft chair, soaking her feet.
"Sister, soak your feet before bed to avoid a hangover headache."
Alan brought a small stool.
He sat across from Tanya, across the steaming foot bath.
He rolled up his sleeves and naturally washed her feet, massaging the acupressure points on the soles.
Tanya was a little embarrassed at first and tried to break free from his grip.
She was still a little dazed, unable to muster the strength.
He gripped her feet, and her whole body felt strangely limp. She could only lower her eyes, blushing, and let him serve her.
After soaking for half an hour, Allen used a soft white cloth to clean his sister's perfect, rosy feet.
"Sister, your feet are so beautiful."
He raised his head and looked at Tanya pitifully.
Tanya understood what the scoundrel wanted and nodded shyly.
A warm touch spread across the sensitive skin of her feet.
As if she had received an electric shock, Tanya couldn't help but squeeze her thighs together, feeling completely unwell.
It took a long time for Tanya to come back to her senses.
"Junior brother, um..." After a moment's hesitation, curiosity finally overcame shyness. "Have you ever washed Kelly's feet?"
Alan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head slightly.
"Sometimes my sister just gets bored and comes over to pinch my face like a toy. I'm surprised I'm happy!"
"It can't be helped. We've been like this since we were little."
"She even complains about my face, saying it's not as pink and plump as it was when I was little, and that it feels average when she pinches it... Listen, how infuriating is that? How can a sister be like that?!"
Tanya covered her mouth with her hands and laughed.
Two dimples appeared on her cheeks.
She felt strangely relieved.