Chapter 631: Development

Against all odds, Grace’s strategy actually worked, although Liam shouldn’t have been surprised after everything he had seen her pull off.

Still, that probably remained one of Grace’s greatest achievements.

After what Liam wasn’t sure to call a punishment or a reward, for both Rachel and himself, she had actually stayed put, not attempting her usual shenanigans.

Even the massage went by without any sneaky kisses, unnecessary touches, or whatever else Liam had endured in the previous months.

Rachel did as told, before sitting back on her knees, awaiting additional directives. Her cheeks were flushed, and a certain wet scent had long since filled the area, but she was otherwise the embodiment of a proper lady.

’She trapped her even from a distance,’ Liam thought as he prepared himself to lie down. ’I don’t know if I should be proud or scared.’

Of course, since the matter involved Liam’s Dao partner, he knew where he stood. If anything, he was a bit worried about the Dark Heaven Tribe.

’Is bringing them with me truly safer?’ Liam wondered. ’How is fighting to the death somehow more peaceful?’

Headaches aside, Liam’s thoughts returned to the main issue as he attempted to drift off to sleep.

As things stood, Liam had only received one rank 3 cauldron, wine, furniture, and upgrades on his tablets, which wasn’t even close to the totality of his absurd commission.

Rachel had started teaching Liam acupuncture, and she was also dealing with his physical enhancement. Yet, Liam’s list still had many items to check off, and he needed her parents for that.

Nevertheless, the almost five months spent hunting had provided far more than a new batch of smoking powder. If anything, that was the least of Liam’s achievements despite wasting time dealing with the Heavenly Blossom’s requirements and plundering mines.

Liam’s arsenal had expanded, not as much as he desired, but meaningfully nonetheless. He had added much-needed diversity, and things didn’t end there.

Aside from the toads’ stimulant, Liam had concocted two more alchemical products that had nothing to do with battle, both actually being among his main reasons for the hunting period.

Those alchemical products were also identical, at least in nature. They were rank 3 Master’s Pride, but meant to affect the Great Quiet Desert’s barren land, unlike the three Liam had concocted after his breakthrough.

The reason was as basic as they came. Liam could use those additional Master’s Pride in battle, but their true purpose was to serve as training swamps, as he had done on the border.

Liam’s growth was already unfathomable for branching experts, truly abusing his ability to survive deadly poisons to the utmost, but he wanted more. Finding the right opportunity was the issue.

Unlike smoking, even in its current debilitating version, the swamps required a specific, safe location and, most importantly, time.

That training method was nothing short of prolonged seclusion that had to happen in the open. The toxic swamp would provide some protection, but it would also act as a beacon, revealing Liam’s location.

With the enemies Liam now had, mere poison wouldn’t deter attacks. Even if it did, long-range attacks could still work. At best, that would force Liam to leave the swamp early, wasting the precious alchemical product. At worst, he would die without him even noticing it.

’The location isn’t a problem,’ Liam considered. ’That’s actually very easy to find. As for the opportunity ...’

The Great Quiet Desert was mostly devoid of human presence. With the vile perfume, Liam could easily find a suitable spot for his swamp. The harsh environment would do the rest. Even the forbidden zones he had just returned from would be perfect for the task.

However, the political situation prevented Liam from undertaking such lengthy activities. He couldn’t risk staying away for so long at that stage. Things had to settle down first.

The issue’s unfixable nature actually helped end Liam’s brainstorming, almost allowing sleep to arrive, but the Heavens didn’t want that taxing day to be over just yet.

Rachel seemed set on staying with Liam, as if on guard duty while he slept, when she summoned a black jade, and the mental conversation that followed put a pout on her flushed face.

"Honey, Mother dear summoned us," Rachel announced after storing the jade.

Liam had delayed his drowsiness at the jade’s appearance, and its disappearance made him push it away completely. He and Rachel stood up, his presence filling the atmosphere with seriousness, until he saw her undressing.

Truth be told, Rachel needed a change of clothes, quite desperately at that.

The spanking had drenched Rachel’s underwear more than ever before, and her half-transparent robe did little to hide the mark on her bottom. Her tanned skin made it less noticeable, but Liam couldn’t miss the slight swelling and its specific shape.

Rachel definitely couldn’t go out like that, especially not in front of her parents. Of course, she didn’t need to undress in front of Liam, but he realized what was happening too late.

By the time the half-transparent robe hit the floor, Rachel had bent forward, her panties already lowered to her ankles. She had turned away from Liam, but that only made her current stance sexier.

Rachel didn’t even put on new panties immediately. After removing her dirty ones, she straightened to remove her bra, covering her ample chest with one arm while peeking over her shoulder, shyness, arousal, and eagerness shining in her eyes.

Only after Rachel confirmed that Liam had taken a good look did she dress back up, just in reverse. She started from her bra, bending again once it was time for her panties.

With the underwear out of the way, Rachel wore a reddish top and short pants that barely hid the hand-shaped swelling. An open skirt joined them, to which she added a half-mantle.

The attire was still plenty revealing, especially at the waist and legs, but it was among Rachel’s most conservative ones. Given the fashion of the southern region, that was the best Liam could expect from her.

"While I wish to show off my Honey’s mark proudly," Rachel exclaimed, finally turning to approach Liam. "A couple’s bedroom activities should remain private, shouldn’t they?"

Liam didn’t reply. His brain had turned off long ago. He had only been waiting for Rachel to get ready since the summons was for both of them.

Yet, as Liam turned to leave, Rachel stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. "Was little Sister’s bottom as endearing as all the men interested in it thought it would be?"

Liam definitely didn’t want to answer that.

Beauty could take wildly different forms. For example, Grace had a more refined appeal, her shape harmonious rather than overtly sexual.

Rachel was the very opposite. She was tall, fit, and far fuller in all the right places. She was like a statue sculpted to embody sensuality and impossible beauty, a masterpiece without a single imperfection.

Rachel also had no dragon-shaped burn, likely proof that her Tribe’s authority had kept her from being branded during the Screening, just like Grace’s Clan had done with her.

That was to say, Rachel’s bottom likely surpassed her suitors’ wildest imagination. Still, while the sensation was now burned into Liam’s brain, his stance didn’t falter.

"Let’s not keep Amber waiting," Liam urged. The sudden summons felt ominous after all that had happened that day, so his brain didn’t even attempt to switch gears.

The ominous feeling was justified, though not for any reason Liam could have imagined.

Returning to the surface revealed that dawn had arrived, alongside a tense atmosphere. Unrest filled the air, and Liam could spot odd details during the short flight to the palace.

Clouds of sand rose beyond the Tribe’s perimeter, hinting at movement and hiding shapes. Slaves and tribesmen also hurried back and forth, and Liam felt sure some wore red belts.

Rachel’s escort was also superfluous. Liam still followed her, but he had long since spotted their destination, having sensed the odd presence of a familiar aura inside the palace.

Reaching the intended luxurious hall intensified the oddness. Uriah and Amber stood on the other side of Laurel and a brown-haired woman in her twenties, a rooting expert, who vaguely resembled her, with a table separating the two pairs.

The rooting expert and Laurel were sitting, the latter drinking slowly from a cup, her face lowered. Liam smelled anger, slight exhaustion, and some shame in her thin, frail figure, and an explanation arrived when he met Uriah’s stern gaze.

"The Red Sandstorm Tribe is no more," Uriah declared.