No, no, no. That could easily backfire. If that's the only reason she becomes attracted to me, what happens when she's explored and figured out every mystery in my body? She might lose interest and go chasing after new mysteries. No, the better option is to attract her with my personality.
Uhh… but how do I do that? Acting goofy?
"Leyvi, hello. You're spacing out. What are you thinking?"
Barbara's voice brought Leyvi back to reality.
"Oh, I was thinking about how to make you like me," Leyvi replied without thinking.
"Huh?" Barbara froze on the spot. Her mind started spiraling.
What, what? Did I hear that right? Did he say he wants me to like him?? That… that means… he likes me, right? Right?
When Leyvi saw Barbara suddenly go silent, he realized his mistake.
What the heck! I blurted it out accidentally! Why did I say that? Now she's going to find out about my ulterior motive! Sorry, Anda, I failed my mission right away. She might get uncomfortable and refuse to help with my training anymore… arghhh! I ruined it! Stupid Leyvi! Idiot!
Leyvi scolded himself inwardly, his expression stiff as his thoughts ran in circles. He tried to come up with something, anything, to salvage the situation, but his mind went completely blank.
It's over. I can't think of a single excuse that explains why I want her to like me. Sigh… no wonder relationships built on lies never last. It's so hard and exhausting to make up stories again and again.
"Umm... Leyvi, can I know why... why you want me to like you?" Barbara asked shyly, fidgeting with her fingers.
Oh no. Here it comes. What should I tell her? Leyvi struggled inside. After a few seconds of mental wrestling, he let out a sigh. Why make things difficult? Just tell her the truth.
"Actually, you're someone important to me and my family. If possible, I want you to be a part of us. So, I'm trying to make you like me first. But I accidentally blurted that out and spilled the beans. So embarrassing. Hahaha." Leyvi decided to be truthful.
As expected. Telling the truth felt much better. It was always so refreshing. Why lie when there's no reason to? Leyvi thought to himself.
Meanwhile, Barbara's brain exploded. Not literally of course, but it might as well have.
I'm someone important to him… he wants me to be part of the family… isn't this a proposal? Has my time to get married finally come? A man I fell in love with wants me… Does that mean I can finally try all those things I read in my erotic novels? Ah… my heart… my heart can't stop racing…
Barbara fainted because she got too excited.
Leyvi quickly caught her falling body.
"Barbara! Are you alright?" He was both concerned and confused. "Why did she faint? Uhh... thankfully Anda brought Ava away. If she saw Barbara like this, she'd flip and try to beat me up."
Looking at the fainted Barbara in his arms, Leyvi didn't know what to do. He had made ladies faint in bed many times before, but this was the first time he'd made one faint with just words.
Wait, no. He made Anda faint with words last time, but that happened because he unconsciously imbued mantra power in his whisper, triggering her brain with stimulations. This time, there wasn't anything like that, just normal words.
"Is she not going to wake up?" Leyvi wondered. "Huh? She smiled while unconscious. What is going on here? Hmm… let's bring her into the carriage first."
Unbeknownst to Leyvi, Barbara had wandered off into a vivid dreamland that unfolded like a lifetime of fulfillment.
She saw herself standing at an altar beneath blooming cherry blossoms, her hand in Leyvi's as they exchanged vows, their eyes locked in eternal promise. The years flowed seamlessly: cradling their first child, a giggling boy with Leyvi's mischievous smile, then a daughter with her gentle eyes, their home filled with laughter and the patter of tiny feet.
She watched their children grow: her son becoming a brilliant artisan like his father, her daughter a graceful healer tending vibrant gardens. Together, she and Leyvi built a thriving family estate, surrounded by loved ones, their bond deepening through shared adventures, quiet evenings by the fireside, and triumphs over life's trials.
Grandchildren arrived, filling their days with joy. Time passed, their hair turned silver, and they sat hand-in-hand on a porch watching the sunset, whispering sweet nothings even in old age. Finally, in a candlelit room, she passed peacefully in Leyvi's warm embrace. His tearful "I love you" was the last sound she heard, her heart full after a life of unwavering love, purpose, and unbreakable family ties.
Sometime later, Barbara opened her eyes, finally awakening from her sweet dream. She was lying on a comfortable couch in a small, unfamiliar room. Her fuzzy mind was still lost in the warmth of that dream, so she didn't realize she had returned to reality.
Suddenly, a familiar face entered her partially blurry vision.
"Barbara, you're awake. I didn't expect you to pass out for hours. Are you alright?" Leyvi asked.
"Husband… you, you're young again," Barbara murmured in her fuzziness. Her hand reached out and gently stroked Leyvi's face.
Leyvi was dumbfounded. Husband? Young again? What's going on?
"My hand… It's not wrinkled anymore. Did I turn young too?"
Leyvi stared at the dreamy Barbara in confusion. Lady, are you delusional?
Barbara stared at Leyvi with love. "Husband, is this a miracle? We can live our lives together again. I'm so happy."
She raised her other arm, locking her hands around Leyvi's neck, and pulled him closer to her face. Their lips touched, and she kissed him passionately.
Leyvi continued to be dumbfounded. Can somebody tell me what is going on?
Barbara's fuzziness didn't last long as clarity slowly returned to her mind. And with that, she realized that it was only a dream.
Her eyes suddenly widened, and her active lips and tongue stopped in their tracks, slowly parting. She could even see a thread extending from their lips. Her face turned scarlet.
Barbara had never felt so embarrassed in her life. She didn't know where to hide. But for some reason, her widened eyes couldn't look away from him. Her dream felt too real.
Leyvi stared into her eyes, wondering what he should say in this situation.
"It seems that you like to take advantage of me. This is the second time, you know. Haha," Leyvi said with a chuckle. He went with his usual route, teasing.
Barbara felt like crying from embarrassment. He wasn't wrong. The first time, she'd hugged him while he was asleep, and now she had kissed him exactly like she always imagined in her fantasies.
"Barbara, could it be... that you like me?" Leyvi asked. Instead of wasting time wondering, he decided to just ask directly.
Barbara nodded shyly.
"Since when?"
"Since... since you said that you trust me," she replied in a voice as small as a mosquito's.
Leyvi blinked. I see... so she's liked me since then. But, just because I said I trust her? That alone can win a girl's heart? Isn't that too easy? He sighed inwardly. It's really hard to figure out women. Ah, who cares. No matter the reason, as long as she has feelings for me, my job's almost done! All I need to do now is properly bring her into our family!
Leyvi smiled, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha! So you already like me, Barbara? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I was wondering why you kissed me so passionately. Did it taste good?"
Now that he knew Barbara harbored feelings for him, his confidence soared, and he kept teasing her with a mischievous grin.
"I... I... ah, please don't ask!" Barbara couldn't stand the teasing any longer and turned away, burying her face into the couch.
"Hahaha!" Leyvi continued laughing at her reaction.
---
In the middle of a certain valley lay a fortress that still stood strong. Most of it appeared intact, defying the erosion of time that had destroyed the majority of buildings across the Titanis Continent.
Inside one of its rooms, a man with black hair sifted through hundreds of jade slips scattered across a large table.
"Hmm… which one was it? I remember seeing that Qi thread controlling method back then. I want to derive that specific part and integrate it into Livana's Sword of Heaven Martial Skill. It should improve her sword speed significantly. But I can't remember which jade slip it was… sigh, if only I had a perfect memory," the man muttered, inspecting the slips one by one.
At that moment, the door opened, and a tall woman entered. Her face was serious, her lips thick but firm, and her body toned. She wore the outfit of a female warrior with a battle skirt made from a collection of short sword sheaths tied together, though no swords hung from them. A valiant presence filled the room.
The man turned with a smile. "My beautiful Livana, done training? Want your usual massage?"
Livana's face remained serious, but her eyes softened slightly.
"Barcas… I'm pregnant," she said, cutting straight to the point.
"WHAT?!" Barcas leapt to his feet, knocking over the table. The jade slips scattered across the floor.