“I need you to do something for me. My blood brother has recently died and the cultivation association has taken away his territory, intending to hand it to someone else. His only disciple has no where to go. She's a young cultivator, 24 years old, and only at the first stage of her technique. I need you to pick her up from the east and bring her back to me. One of my men will send you the address. The rest of my brother's things are going to be shipped over.” Johan immediately explains over the phone, expecting no refusal.

Fuck, Taylor thought. He was trying to be responsible and take care of his kid, but he really couldn't say no to Johan. He just… owed him too much. He was basically Taylor's master in everything but name. No one would bring it up, but that's basically where things stood.

“Just pick her up, right? Nothing else involved? No one to fight?” Taylor asks, not wanting to commit too early.

“It's possible there will be a few fights.” Johan admits, immediately dashing Taylor’s hopes. “Most of my older disciples don't really have time for this, otherwise I would feel comfortable entrusting this to them. There is your old tutor, Benson, a fourth stage cultivator, that I could send over, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to burn through those favours you owe me. Besides, I hear you took on a Vampire Viscount, which isn't bad. It passes for anything that might happen on this trip.” Johan explains casually.

“Fuck. Man, I'm currently babysitting my kid. Couldn't you at least send someone with me? Benson's free, right?” Taylor asks, attempting to negotiate. He couldn't outright say no, but making the job easier would be better for him down the road.

“Damn, than how would that even be considered a favour?” Johan says with a sigh, unimpressed. “Fine, I guess. It is possible he's necessary for this trip. I'll have him fly over to your place on my jet and pick you and your kid up.” Johan says before hanging up.

“Fuck.” Taylor exclaims. He couldn’t explain it but Johan just gets on his nerves somehow. “Casual prick. Forcing me to run on errands… I know for sure that dick isn't doing anything important…” Taylor mumbles to himself. That dude… how would Taylor describe it? It’s not that he doesn't care about anything, it's that he finds everything beneath him, I think? He gives you this look like you should already know everything he knows and gets confused when you don't think or feel the same way he does. It's like he wants to look at you like an equal but the reality is very different. He's a nice dude in a very arrogant and demeaning way. Yeah, that’s it, I think. Taylor thinks to himself, letting his thoughts wander.

He was a very peculiar, but like it was said previously, he was basically Taylor's master. He wanted to hate the guy, but Taylor didn't think that was possible. He was just glad they were on the same side. He didn't ever want to think about crossing him.

But I still can’t help but hate the guy, Taylor thinks to himself. Because otherwise I would have to love him… Taylor continues, a shiver running down his spine.