"Hey! You guys—chatting up a dangerous female high schooler at night—aren't you afraid you'll disappear from the world without a trace?"
Arden walked into the alley and kindly called out a loud warning.
They were just misguided delinquent youths—hardly deserving of death.
However, the cold gleam of the blade in Arden's hand completely contradicted the benevolence of his words.
"Where did this guy come from—playing the hero to save the damsel?"
"He looks hard to mess with!"
"I've seen him before—he's that powerful Daoist from Yunkui Summit!"
"Tch! Let's let him off this time… we're leaving!"
"….."
Ju Fufu loved acting as a chivalrous hero, punishing evil and promoting good. Arden, dragged along by her, had handled quite a few side cases. The reputation of the twin fiends—the hero duo—was already widely known among the hooligan crowd.
"Mm… am I really that scary?"
Watching the punks flee in panic after tossing out a token threat, Arden touched his fairly handsome face.
At this moment, only Arden and the shark girl remained in the alley.
"….."
They stared at each other; big eyes locked on big eyes. The atmosphere was slightly awkward.
Clang~!
Arden sheathed his sword.
"Miss shark girl, are you alright?"
He asked symbolically to ease the awkwardness. With her strength, she was obviously fine—but he couldn't exactly say, "I saved those punks from you," could he?
"I'm fine, thanks, Uncle, for helping me save energy… but please don't call me shark girl. I'm a Shark Thiren. My name is Ellen Joe!"
The shark girl looked calm and indifferent, as if she hadn't taken what happened earlier seriously at all.
But after hearing her words, Arden could no longer stay calm.
"U-Uncle?"
Shock flashed across Arden's face. This was the first time he'd ever been called "uncle" by a cute girl. "Ahem! Ellen, right? I'm a disciple of Yunkui Summit, my name is Arden Xu… I really don't think 'uncle' is an appropriate way to address me. I'm still young."
He deliberately emphasized the word "young."
"I'm seventeen. How about you?" Ellen raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Twenty-three!"
Arden answered honestly—he'd just celebrated his birthday not long ago.
"Heh!"
The corner of Ellen's mouth lifted slightly. She let out a soft chuckle but didn't say anything.
"….."
That left Arden feeling extremely unsettled.
At my age, I can't possibly be seen as a middle-aged daoist, right? No way!!
The moment images of "greasy middle-aged daoists" from certain shows popped into his head, Arden screamed internally.
"Don't just laugh without saying anything—that's rude… forget it! I'll treat you to a cup of milk tea, then you should hurry home. New Eridu at night isn't a place for a female high schooler to wander around casually."
Arden complained lightly, but didn't pursue it further.
Being called "uncle" was fine—as long as Ju Fufu and Master Yixuan didn't mind.
….
"One more pearl milk tea—with pearls this time. Sugar…?"
"Half sugar, thanks!"
Ellen showed absolutely no restraint when it came to Arden treating her.
And then she got even less restrained.
"Um… can your motorcycle still take another passenger?"
Taking the milk tea and thanking him, Ellen pointed at the sidecar motorcycle parked nearby, her face full of curiosity and eagerness to try it.
"It can, but—"
"Take me home!"
Before Arden could finish saying "non-romantic partners can't sit there," Ellen cut him off and spoke first.
"Uh… casually riding with a strange uncle isn't very safe, you know?"
If Ellen insisted on occupying the "partner" seat, Arden honestly wouldn't mind—he'd even welcome it. Still, he reminded her out of concern. A lack of vigilance wasn't good for a girl. Even though Ellen was strong, accidents could still happen.
"Aren't you a disciple of Yunkui Summit? I've heard the Daoists there are all good people who like helping those in need… and there's nothing to worry about anyway. I'm very good at fighting!"
Ellen spoke bluntly—she didn't like beating around the bush.
In truth, she just wanted a ride. If she and Arden were complete strangers, she wouldn't have made the request. But since he'd proactively helped her with a small problem earlier, she figured helping her out a little more wouldn't be an issue.
"That's true!"
Arden circled Ellen once, carefully observing her body, then nodded.
"Although you look slim, based on my understanding of Thiren physiology…"
Ju Fufu looked even slimmer and more delicate than Ellen, but only Arden truly understood how terrifying Thiren bodies could be. "As long as your tail isn't hollow, it weighs at least twenty to thirty kilograms—and your core strength is enough to support it swinging freely… swinging!"
Staring at Ellen's tail, Arden imagined it slightly. A cute JK girl carrying dozens of kilograms every day—and that tail could swing freely—how comfortable the waist and hips would be… In this regard, Arden had plenty of experience… ahem! He meant how powerful they must be.
"….."
Arden rubbed his temples. He really couldn't afford to keep thinking like this.
He was already being called "uncle." If he reacted at a time like this, wouldn't that cement him as a "perverted uncle"?
"Uncle, you definitely don't have a girlfriend!"
Ellen shot Arden an annoyed glare. Even if his assessment was correct, openly discussing a female high schooler's weight on the street was extremely inappropriate and rude.
"I don't have a girlfriend… but I do have a Senior Sister, a Master, and a shop proprietress!"
Arden puffed out his chest proudly.
When it came to popularity with women, he believed he lost to no one.
"Senior Sister, Master, shop proprietress? Pervert!!"
Alright. Arden had successfully cemented himself as a "perverted uncle."
Though Ellen kept calling him a perverted uncle, she still climbed into the motorcycle sidecar without hesitation.
"Uncle, drive."
"Wait—you forgot this."
Instead of starting the motorcycle, Arden took a helmet out of the storage box and handed it to her.
"Safety first!"
This was the helmet Ju Fufu and Master Yixuan had both worn before. Now, it was Ellen's turn.
"So troublesome!"
Ellen resisted a bit, but eventually put it on.
Pfft—!
Looking at Ellen wearing the helmet, Arden couldn't help laughing.
For some reason, he was reminded of the fan-made video he'd seen before transmigrating—"Shark Girl Maid Cafe."
Too similar. It was way too similar!
"What are you laughing at? Hurry up and drive already—I'll be late for work!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Arden started the motorcycle.
Vroooom~~!
Following Ellen's directions, Arden rode across several streets.
"This is it. Stop here!"
The motorcycle finally stopped in front of a uniquely styled small building.
Completely different from standard apartment complexes, every brick and tile exuded a sense of classical elegance.
"Victoria Housekeeping Co.…"
Arden softly read the words on the sign.
"Remember the location and the sign. If you need housekeeping services, come here—we don't just clean houses, we clean Hollows too."
Ellen stepped out of the sidecar and handed the helmet back to Arden.
"….."
Faced with Ellen's blatant business pitch, Arden was speechless. "You got a free ride from me and you still want to make money off me?"
"Bye-bye, Uncle!"
Ellen waved and turned to head inside.
"Bye! I think we'll be seeing each other again very soon!"
"Again?"
Ellen stopped and turned back, looking at Arden in confusion—only to see him already riding off on his motorcycle, leaving behind what he believed was a dashing and mysterious silhouette.