Chapter 604: Honey

Rachel’s statement highlighted a limit in Liam’s mindset. Actually, calling it a limit was either a stretch or incorrect. The issue mostly stemmed from conflicting factors.

Liam was nothing short of obsessed with protecting, and he was the greatest danger that could befall anyone’s life, both as an enemy and, especially, as an ally.

Horace had also warned Liam before sending him away, and he would literally die before betraying his teachings.

That was why Liam was reluctant to involve people he cared about in the mess that was his life. He knew he couldn’t stop them, but he could at the very least erect barriers and limit their exposure to keep them as safe as possible.

Nevertheless, the playing field had changed.

While Liam still couldn’t deal with all the cultivation world could throw at him, he had long since left behind his powerless old self. He had stepped onto the branching stage, the cultivation journey’s great divider, and had already defeated a mid-stage expert.

Overcoming the far longer and more demanding rooting stage had put Liam above the average branching expert. All those who reached that level were elites among elites, meaning he couldn’t possibly consider himself weak.

Moreover, Liam wasn’t a lonely variable roaming the Kingdom anymore.

Even before the Church’s purge, assembling a force had been Liam and Grace’s only option. The life-threatening trial had helped in that regard, gathering experts who would have otherwise taken decades to recruit.

Liam had found that easy to accept since the Church’s enmity had already forced Black Hound and the others to his side. However, chances were that a line had been crossed, and Liam was the only one who had yet to adapt to the new reality.

Since Liam was already this strong and the situation had degenerated to such levels, stopping others from getting involved with him might not be the best method to keep them safe anymore.

Recruiting those people might very well be the safer option at that point.

Truth was, Liam had been reviewing that option for the Dark Heaven Tribe for a while. It was why he had set off on the hunt with the goal of becoming able to kill leafing experts.

Still, Rachel’s statement suggested a more active role in the practice. Rather than merely taking responsibility for those Liam involved in his problems, he could ask directly. He didn’t have to tiptoe around the matter and only act when it was too late.

"Grace once scolded me for having a low opinion of myself," Liam mentioned. "But I am a low-stage branching expert. The odds are that you are dooming the Tribe with me."

Rachel flashed one of her fearless grins at Liam, some excitement mixing with her voice. "Unless you win."

Liam had no answer, and Rachel took it even further.

"And it’s the wife’s role to support the husband," Rachel pouted. "If I didn’t believe in my Liam dear, who would?"

"Grace?" Liam pointed out. "My actual partner?"

Rachel batted her eyes, leaning her cheek against Liam’s arm.

"You have already defiled me so thoroughly," Rachel whispered sensually. "You might as well go all the way. It might hurt Madam First Wife if you hadn’t vented at all before reuniting with her."

Liam would have turned a deaf ear to the whisper if the assault had stopped at words. Instead, Rachel was also pulling herself up from his arm, bringing the warm space between her legs closer to his hand.

"If you don’t stop," Liam warned, "I’ll never let you cling to me anymore."

Rachel immediately stopped her shenanigans. She continued clinging to Liam’s arm but lowered herself, keeping her thighs away.

"Little Sister needs Big Brother’s arm to survive this smell-" Rachel whined when her eyes snapped wide, a bright smile broadening on her face as her tone changed completely. "Honey!"

Liam had resumed ignoring Rachel since the danger was no more, not realizing another threat had appeared.

"Honey," Rachel repeated, biting her lower lip as she mustered a more suggestive tone. "Honey."

At that point, Liam couldn’t ignore the obvious. He glanced behind him to see if a honey ghost had somehow appeared, but nothing was there, meaning that word was for him.

"Honey?" Liam questioned.

"Yes, honey?" Rachel giggled.

’I’ve fallen into a trap, haven’t I?’ Liam thought. He still didn’t understand what that was about, but he realized that he had lost at something.

"You’ll make me blush," Rachel chirped. "Honey, you don’t have to sweet-talk me. I’ll lie down as soon as you ask. It would be even better if you pushed me down yourself."

’Senior Brother Joel, I need guidance,’ Liam cursed internally. Luckily, Rachel seemed to realize he had reached the breaking point.

"Still, honey," Rachel continued. "It is the pack leader’s job to provide and protect, but the pack has jobs of its own. Providing power to the leader is one of them."

Rachel seemed to like those comparisons with beasts, which made more sense after discovering the predominant lineage in the Great Quiet Desert.

"And clashes with other packs are unavoidable," Rachel pointed out. "Not having a pack would only leave its members at the mercy of others. It might look like care now, but what about once your true nature gets exposed?"

Liam had no argument against that. Rachel was right. Some exaggerated lies might work now, but everything would change once his bloodline became public.

The Dragon King had already shown how far he was willing to go with the Bloodline Screening. Public condemnations of Liam wouldn’t save anyone once he got involved. Chances were the King would kill anyone who had ever interacted with him just to be safe.

Once that happened, Liam’s decision to keep his distance would become a death sentence. The temporary safety he gave those he had interacted with would have only served to leave them defenseless.

Instead, if Liam brought everyone with him, he could protect them directly and push them to become even stronger. At the very least, telling them what they were against would prevent them from being complacent.

"Honey, snakes are solitary predators," Rachel announced. "It’s in their nature, but mine is to provide Bonds. Our union would solve that weakness. We are a perfect match under and beyond the Heavens."ℴ