Next morning.

Jensen woke up and found Himari still asleep. Her legs were wrapped around his thighs and her breasts pressed against his chest. Her breathing was slow and soft.

As always, his morning wood was already awake and active, ready to go but a simple glance at Himari’s face told him she would most likely not survive another session.

He closed his eyes and focused on his Level.

Through his hard work over the past few days, he had already pulled all his paths to Middle Level 2. But the quantity of blood energy required was becoming ridiculous.

He theorized that he would need to kill and absorb several Level 3s for each of his paths just to reach Level 3.

He could not even imagine how bad it would become when he final reached Level 3.

His current method of cultivation was no longer sustainable long term, and it was best he found another way soon, or he would be spending years stuck at Level 3.

Talia, Roden, Maria, and Lily would most likely not face the same issue.

Not yet, but it would soon become more apparent the more their number grew and the higher they levelled up.

Especially if they found a way to awaken other paths.

He felt Himari slowly wake up.

Her hand brushed against his dick as she tried to stretch. She groaned from the ache she was feeling as she tried to move.

Then she froze and her fingers wrapped around his dick as she stared at it intensively, as if trying to decode its secrets.

Jensen’s eyes opened and he stared at her action.

"You really do not want to go there."

Himari’s eyes snapped up and met his gaze.

She knew he was right... her body could barely move as it was and any more action, would most likely lead to her death.

She released her grip and tried to get up from the bed but failed. She tried a few more times before giving up.

She lay back down and turned her head toward him, deciding to get to the reason she was in this state in the first place.

"My Lord, have you come to a decision about my request?" She asked casually, like this was not one of the only lifelines she had left.

"While I did enjoy myself thoroughly last night," Jensen began. "And having you around would most definitely be fun, but I do not take useless people. If the only thing you are good for is sex, then no."

He paused.

"I have several women I could call, and they would rush over here to fulfil my desires in an instant... I don’t see a reason in investing in another one."

Himari nodded. "I do not doubt that my Lord. In fact, I believe if you simply walked out that door and asked, 99.99% of women would be more than willing to jump into your bed at a moment’s notice."

She flattered him before she moved to more serious talk.

"I have a lot of information on the Uesugi clan for you, but I doubt that would be enough for you to accept me." She paused. "Perhaps if you tell me more about your goals, I can be of help."

Jensen stared at Himari’s face and chuckled. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"I have to say, you know just the right thing to say, but I will humour you. I am trying to build my own clan." He looked at her. "What do you bring to the table?"

Himari fell silent for a few seconds.

’A new clan,’ she thought. ’How strong is he? How strong is the clan currently?’ She wondered, trying to gauge his position.

She considered asking for the information then decided against it.

’Should I ask to be his second-in-command? No. That is too brazen. While he seems cool and easy-going, I can tell he would kill me in a heartbeat for a minor reason... best not to push it.’

’Perhaps I should just settle with something similar to what I already have... I could also... yes... yes... yes.’

Suddenly her eyes lit up as ideas came to her and she immediately tried.

"My Lord, have you heard about the kunoichi?" Himari asked.

"Is that like a sub-clan of the Uesugi or something?" Jensen asked.

Himari frowned. "My Lord, How much do you know about the Uesugi clan?"

Jensen thought about it for a few seconds before he answered.

"Nothing much, actually... except that it has existed for millennials." Jensen paused. "Also, Daisaku explained the reason for so many branch clans."

"I see... you do not know much." Himari nodded. "The kunoichi is not really considered a sub-clan, like the Fuma Clan."

"Fuma Clan?" Jensen interrupted.

"Yes... members include Taro." Himari began explaining. "They are an ancient clan that has served the Uesugi since forever... They serve as their shadow and dagger."

"According to legend, the first Fuma Patriarch swore an eternal oath of servitude to the Uesugi Patriarch. The clans have kept true to that oath to this day."

"Just because of an oath by their ancestors?" Jensen asked.

"This... I do not know." Himari answered. "You would have to get the answer from the main clan or one of the major branches."

Jensen nodded after all he did not expect her to have all the answers.

"Continue with your explanation."

Himari nodded. "The kunoichi are more known as female ninjas, but that could not be more wrong."

"The kunoichi are more spies than assassins... We were typically trained in espionage, infiltration, seduction, and lastly assassination, but mostly by poison."

She shifted on the bed.

"According to the records, we used to work as servants and maids to gain direct access to targets’ homes but that changed when major houses became very careful and began using contracts and even choosing servants from their birth."

"The Kunoichi had to find another way to gather information and what better place than where the good-for-nothing members of aristocrats gathered to enjoy themselves?"

Jensen answered. "The brothels."

"Yes." Himari nodded. "Men who typically visited such places were susceptible to pouring out information to impress women, especially after being pumped full of alcohol and drugs."

She looked down at her hands.

"I managed to avoid that fate, but I am very certain that my mother was one. And Daihachi would make me live that life if I fell into his hands."

"How does this help me?" Jensen asked. His voice was flat with no concern for her fate.

"My Lord mentioned starting a clan of your own." Himari looked up at him. "I can train a loyal group of kunoichi to keep an eye on your household for you. I can even train a group to create an information network... Although that would take a while."

Jensen studied her face.

He could see the benefit of having a wide range information network and keeping an eye on members of the clan especially since he planned to recruit none Vampyres to diversify.

But...

"With everything you have told me and I can make out, how do I know you are not just doing this to spy on me for Daihachi?"

"Because Daihachi hates me far too much to see me, let alone work with me." Himari smiled. "And I am not dumb enough to put my life in the hands of a vengeful man I have offended."

"What did you do?"

Himari’s smile widened. "I managed to con his wife into bed with his father." She paused. "Aiko is not his daughter... She is his sister."

Jensen’s eyes widened, shocked.

"I guess that explains a lot," he said. ’Like father like son.’