Henry didn't know if he should be overjoyed or mortified as the five maids dressed him. They moved with professional precision, toweling him off and applying ointments to his many cuts.

  Standing completely nude in front of a full-length mirror, Henry had to admit that he was quite the specimen. Most cultivators he had seen so far were thin and wiry. He, on the other hand, looked like a seasoned bodybuilder. His body was riddled with scars, where most cultivators had flawless skin. This fact was not lost on the maids.

  "Young master is hardier than the other noble scions," said the pink-haired one. She had a cute little button nose and was the smallest one of the bunch. He recalled the other girls calling her Fen.

  "Truly young master is made of studier stock, befitting a scion of the Dragon Lands," the green-haired one said as she toweled off his backside. This maid was called Lu and seemed to be the one in charge.

  Zi, the one with the purple hair, asked, "Young master, is this your first time in the Dragon Lands?"

  "Yeah, it's my first time. I'm new to all of this, so if you ladies could fill in some gaps in my knowledge, I'd super appreciate it."

  "This Lan will strive to be of service," said the blue-haired maid as she combed Henry's unruly mop of hair.

  "Lan, you nitwit, what services could you possibly provide? You've never even left the manor before."

  The redhead, named Hong, had a fiery temper. She was Henry's favorite. He had a thing for redheads.

  "For starters, just how strong is Gram Gram?"

  "Oh, that's an easy one. Pick me, master, I know," Fen said, jumping up and down with her hand raised. She giggled when she did; it was pretty adorable.

  "You, the cute pink-headed one, may answer."

  Fen was radiant with joy as the other maids glared daggers at her.

  "Madam is one of the four great beast lords, Lady Tiamat of the Dragon Clans. She holds dominion over all dragons. She's so cool; I want to be like her when I grow up."

  Fen was practically vibrating with excitement. The other girls just rolled their eyes and went about dressing Henry.

  "Madam is crazy strong but super nice if you are polite. She can be pretty ruthless if you make her angry, though."

  "I see; hey, Sebastian called me a scion; what's that all about?"

  "I'm pretty bad with politics, young master, but I know that means stuff is expected of you," Fen said, sticking her tongue out in concentration.

  "I believe I can answer that better than my dear sister," Lu said as she pulled a pair of black silk briefs up Henry.

  She didn't even bat an eye when passing by his naughty bits. She was giving off that "been there, done that" vibe, like a sexy librarian or a tough school marm.

  "The four beast lords are constantly engaged in a cold war. The lords can not fight; that would be too dangerous for the planes. Instead, they have scions who do it on their behalf. Usually, it is their grandchildren that the honor falls on."

  Lu had him put his legs through some grey trousers, pulling the zipper up a bit too slowly, though.

  "The four lords host a tournament where the scions compete. All Madam's children have submitted a scion for this century's tournament, except her Eldest son. Young master would be Lord Shenlong's first scion."

  "Wait a second, what about Fei? Isn't he Goldy's kid too? Why can't he fight in this tournament ?"

  "That's simple; Lord Fei is not a full-blooded clan member," Zi, the purple-haired girl, said.

  She spoke so quietly that it was barely audible unless you strained. Where the other maids looked like they were wearing uniforms, she did not. Zi looked born ready to wear black and lace.

  "Ouch, that's gotta kill the ole Northern Sky Breaker, but wait, I'm not full-blooded either, so what gives."

  "Young master, you are as full-blooded as madam is, or you wouldn't be able to walk into this manor," Lan, the blue-haired one, said almost reverently.

  "The fact that she found you in the mortal world is also astounding. Young Master, what's it like there if I might be so forward?"

  Lan sighed wistfully as she buttoned up a cotton Oxford shirt for him. Her body was pressed dangerously close to his. She smelled like hydrangeas and fresh rain.

  "You aren't missing much; it kinda sucks being mortal; I'd rather be a dragon, to be honest."

  "You got the right idea, master. Being a dragon is the best," Hong exclaimed, pushing Lan out of the way.

  She smelled like roses and cinnamon, and sparkling blue eyes stared at him expectantly.

  "Yay, the best," Henry said weakly.

  Hong put a belt around his waist and yanked it tight. She pulled him close, innocently looking at him with those magnificent azure orbs. Biting her lower lip, she whispered in his ear, "I wouldn't mind seeing the mortal world if it's with you, master."

  A polite cough interrupted the maids mid-flirt. It was Sebastian, the eternal cockblock, standing at the door. He peered down at the girls, a look of distaste evident on his face. Then he looked at Henry with a quirk of one of his eyebrows. How one man could show so much emotion with his eyebrows was astounding.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Young Master, it is very unbecoming for someone of your position to fraternize with the help."

  He turned his gaze back onto the maids, this time it was icy cold.

  "Now you five know exactly what you were doing. I am very disappointed, and you know what I do to things that disappoint me."

  The five girls looked visibly shaken; they tried to huddle together in solidarity.

  Well, that shit was not going to fly, especially not in front of Henry.

  "Hey, C-Bass, can I call you that? It's fine. Don't answer; I'm going to call you that. Could you lay off the girls? They were just friendly."

  Henry found that he was standing before the girls like a simp bulwark.

  "Young master, though I appreciate your chivalrous tendencies, I must insist that these five are not as innocent as they seem."

  Sebastian looked annoyed with having to explain all of this to Henry.

  "You see, young master, as a scion, you are allowed a group of retainers to accompany you on your journey."

  The proverbial lightbulb went off in Henry's head. These girls were honeypotting him.

  "Ahh, it seems you have realized their game. I will find much better retainers, so please let me handle these dolts."

  Sebastian made to move at the girls, who all looked like they wouldn't go down without a fight.

  Henry moved to intercept, putting up both hands in a sign of surrender.

  "C-Bass, my man, pump your brakes for a second. I knew that these ladies had some ulterior motives. Girls usually don't go for guys like me."

  Henry stared at the five maids with a hurt look on his face. They looked embarrassed to have been caught.

  "I respect the game, though. What I don't respect are bullies. You seem like a reasonable guy, Sebastian. Just let the girls be. Consider me knowing their punishment."

  "Very well, young master. If you are aware, then that is all I will say on the matter. Please finish your preparations; dinner will be served in ten minutes."

  The creepy butler glided out of the room, leaving Henry with five guilty, cute maids.

  Fen, the leader, was about to say something, but he cut her off with a look.

  "Now, ladies, I understand and respect it, but please don't give me silly excuses. All of you are hundreds of years older than me. You all could have just told me upfront."

  The maids all hit him with the doe eyes and lip quivers. Fucking xianxia manipulation tactics, Henry was sick of all the plots and schemes. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he let out a deep sigh.

  "Listen, I'm new to all this scheming and plotting, so if you want something, just ask me, okay? The worst thing I could say is no."

  Fen immediately said, "Please, young master, may we be your retainers."

  "Will it piss off Sebastian?"

  As one, the five girls nodded their heads enthusiastically.

  "Done, see how easy that was? Now, finish me off, girls. I don't think Gram Gram likes to wait."

  The girls, now much more motivated and much less lascivious, helped him get dressed fully.

  Sebastian slinked back into the room to collect Henry, escorting him and five very smug-looking maids to dinner. Sebastian was not very subtle, throwing murderous looks at Fen, who gave him a shit-eating grin. You could cut the tension with a knife. Those two held no love for each other.

  Dinner was held in a cavernous room with a long wooden table. Gram Gram was already seated at one end, sipping on some wine. Henry had a place setting at the other end of the table. It was so silly that he had to say something.

  "Gram Gram, don't you think this is a bit much? Can I sit next to you?"

  As if waking up from her stupor, Gram Gram couldn't help but chuckle softly.

  "Sorry, dear. Old habits die hard. Of course, you can sit next to me."

  With a curl of her finger, the long table shortened to a much more intimate length.

  Sitting down next to the woman, Henry served her food.

  "Oh Hen Ri, I don't need to eat, you help yourself dear."

  "There is so much food here; there's no way I can eat all this."

  There was indeed a mountain of delectable delights—plates overflowing with meats and vegetables, pitchers and carafes of juices and wines—way too much for one person to eat.

  "Hey girls, do you guys eat?" Henry shouted at the maids.

  They had been standing stoically in a corner, looking straight ahead.

  The first one to break was Hong. The little redheaded spitfire said, "Yes, master, we eat." Her sister looked mortified, but she couldn't help it—she was hungry.

  "Gram Gram, can the girls come have some food too?"

  "Sure, dear, why not."

  With a thought, the table lengthened as five comfy chairs popped up from the ground.

  "Come on, girls, join us. Sebastian, you too."

  "I find myself suddenly feeling ill, Madam. If I could excuse myself for a moment," Sebastian said with disgust.

  "You may go, Sebastian."

  The girls walked by him as if he didn't exist.

  Yup, there was some serious beef between the butler and the maids.

  Henry served the girls heaping plates of food and poured them goblets full of wine.

  Gram Gram just smiled at her new grandson. It felt cozy, like when her children were young and still in the manor. Hen Ri looked like he was enjoying himself as well.

  "Everyone pick up your glasses; I want to toast the hostess with the mostest, my Gram Gram."

  "What a shameless brown noser you are, Hen Ri. Thank you anyway; it's been a while since this house has felt like a home."

  Everyone drank deeply.

  Sebastian burst into the room as the girls and Henry dug into the food. The man looked rattled, which was odd considering his usual stoic expression.

  "Madam, we have a problem. Lord Rakshasa, His High Holiness Ao, and Lady Bennu are at the door demanding a meeting."

  Gram Gram was unfazed as she sipped her wine.

  "I'm having dinner, Sebastian; tell them they can wait."

  Damn, Gram Gram was a stone-cold badass.

  "Madam, pardon my impertinence, but they will strike me down where I stand if I tell them that."

  "Those old farts know how to ruin my night; fine, let them in, Sebastian."

  "Thank you, Madam," Sebastian said as he rushed to the front door.

  "Gram Gram, who are these people?"

  "Not people, sweetie, Beast Lords, and they want to say hello to you."

  Help a Bro Out!