Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 169: Pickle

Liam couldn’t help but glance at the huge slab again. He had to admit he felt mighty wielding such a heavy tool, and the matter involved more than childish excitement.

A longer reach was a valuable advantage. It was true with height, claws, and especially weapons. The superior range enabled first strikes, which often became decisive blows in battles.

Weight was also a factor. Magical weapons were, well, magical, but some natural traits remained. Chances were, Liam could achieve effects similar to the Seismic Palm when swinging something so heavy.

Ultimately, there was some undeniable truth about the Disciplinary Elder’s opinion.

Liam was strong, incredibly so. His bloodline had gifted him with unmatched physical might, which would go to waste if he relied on small, sneaky tools, at least partially.

The best way to make the most of that inborn advantage was to pair it with a weapon that enhanced that very trait. After all, anyone could wield a knife, but few could wave a greatsword with ease.

Yet, that reasoning put Liam in a pickle since he could apply it to the Alchemy Elder’s opinion, too.

Liam’s cultivation journey would inevitably tend toward poison. That was the mastery his dantian demanded, and the best way to use it was through insidious weapons.

Poison didn’t need to crush, have a greater reach, or look mighty. It only had to hit to apply its deadly effects, and something as cumbersome as a greatsword would get in the way of that.

Realistically, Liam felt as if his strong body and dantian were a poor match. That obviously couldn’t be farther from the truth since he possessed the best of both worlds. His hesitation stemmed from the abundance of great options.

If Liam had to follow his guts, he would still lean toward making the best out of his poisonous nature.

Poison not only played into what Liam was already confident in wielding. Qi beat physical strength. It was what elevated cultivators beyond mortals, where their true, magical might lay.

Since Liam was on the cultivation journey, it felt only natural to lean deeper into its magical aspects to maximize the true source of cultivators’ strength.

Liam also trusted his Master’s opinion over the Disciplinary Elder’s, but there was reason to hesitate even there. After all, the Elder’s specialty was combat, while his Master’s was alchemy.

"I must discuss this with Master," Liam eventually said. He was out of his depths, and he knew it. It was simply wiser to bring the topic to the most trustworthy figure in his life.

"Of course," The Disciplinary Elder responded. "However, Disciple Liam, do keep something in mind. Assassins can only fight in one way, while warriors can fight no matter the circumstances."

That was a subtle comment about Liam’s dark fighting style, but it featured another truth he didn’t fail to spot.

Poison required extensive, expensive preparations, its price increasing at higher ranks. Meanwhile, a greatsword would be self-sufficient, needing no recurring financial and time investments.

Liam had already decided to bring the topic to his Master, so he didn’t dwell on those additional thoughts, instead handing the huge metal slab to the Elder.

That casual, one-handed gesture, despite the item’s size, made the Elder throw another look at Liam, but he suppressed his thoughts now. He had already overstepped his boundaries, so he retrieved the slab and focused on his duties.

"Today’s lesson is about advanced offensive stances!" The Disciplinary Elder sternly declared. "Disciple Melissa, Disciple Liam, to your dummies!"

"Yes, Disciplinary Elder!" Melissa threw her usual resolute cry, turning toward her dummy, already wearing a battle stance.

"And, Disciple Liam," The Disciplinary Elder continued, not forgetting his usual reminder. "No ogling of your Senior Sister during the lesson."

With the choice of weapon delayed, Liam reexperienced the combat lessons the Mutated Battlefield had forced him to interrupt. The Elder felt a bit stricter with him that day, but he didn’t think anything of it, especially since that was still nothing compared to the Divine Cult’s training.

A couple of hours into the hot afternoon, the lesson ended. The Disciplinary Elder disappeared as usual, and Liam’s gaze almost snapped at his left shoulder, unable to forget what now rested there.

It couldn’t be stressed how happy Liam was to have received a bow. He had felt naked ever since losing the weapon to the Divine Cult, but it was finally back, and he couldn’t stop smiling at its presence.

Still, something soft and damp interrupted the heartfelt reunion. Liam looked at his right arm, finding the sweaty Melissa wrapping her hands around it.

There was something more intimate to the gesture that day. Melissa usually only clung to Liam’s elbow, implying closeness without losing decorum.

Yet, Melissa now had a whole arm under Liam’s, her left hand resting on his bicep while her right was on his elbow, making her closer, as if leaning onto him.

Liam wanted to say something, but his brain drew a blank, too focused on recording what was pressing against his arm.

Instead, Melissa lifted her emotionless face at Liam’s hesitation, stammering a question. "D-do you have to c-concoct?"

It seemed Melissa had already taken for granted that she could watch Liam’s training, and he never considered saying otherwise.

"I do," Liam nodded, proceeding toward his boulder. "I tried to tidy up as much as I could, but don’t be surprised when you see how messy it still is."

The containers Liam had placed on the path were no more, but opening the boulder still revealed extensive clutter. Ingredients in less cumbersome pouches covered over half of his cave, vastly shrinking the available space.

That was already a miracle considering the abundance of ingredients, and Liam found it acceptable enough since he now had enough room for his cauldron.

Actually, Liam’s mindset directly switched after crossing the entrance. Melissa had also gotten used to it, letting his arm go so that he could seal the cave and retrieve the ingredients he needed.

Nevertheless, once Liam brought everything to the cauldron and sat behind it, Melissa couldn’t help but notice how he kept his new bow on his shoulder.

"I-isn’t it uncomfortable?" Melissa wondered, looking at the bow while sitting beside Liam. She didn’t know much about alchemy, but it couldn’t be good to concoct with that hindrance.

"I slept with a bow on my shoulders all my life," Liam laughed happily. "I actually feel calmer now."

Liam couldn’t see it because the Black Bow had reclaimed his attention, but Melissa’s look at it had transformed into a glare. Undoubtedly, that weapon was a mighty opponent, one that Liam even had a long history with.

Melissa was behind in that battle, but her impure mind had devised plans to catch up and claim at least Liam’s other shoulder, and she didn’t hesitate to act on them.

"Senior Sister, I’ll concoct poison," Liam warned, still focused on the bow. "You shouldn’t stay too close today-."

A soft, slightly wet sensation spread on Liam’s cheek, followed by an equally soft weight. Melissa had partially leaned on him to deliver a kiss, already retreating by the time he turned.

Still, Melissa wasn’t done. She had taken Liam’s hand in her retreat, placing it on her waist once she sat back down, uttering a firm request. "Kiss me, too."

A few days ago, Liam had merely acted out of imitation, using his little life experiences to give shape to his desires and test how far Melissa’s confession stretched.

Melissa had authorized Liam, and she had even kissed him, so he had found it reasonable to imitate her.

However, there was something more intimate about that direct request, which Liam’s blank mind failed to explore. He only gulped before leaning toward Melissa’s cheek.

Liam delivered the promised kiss, but Melissa interrupted his following retreat by pressing on the hand on her waist, seizing Liam’s other hand to bring it to her face.

Melissa closed her eyes as she nestled in Liam’s palm, using it to caress herself, only to quickly reopen them, looking at him before her gaze fell on his lips.

Liam’s mind was so empty and full at the same time that he could only imitate Melissa, looking at her velvety lips, wondering what it would feel like to kiss them. The quiver that ran through them even sounded like an invitation, only for them to get away.

Liam could only watch as Melissa retreated, gracefully standing up and sitting a few meters away, crossing her legs and closing her eyes to meditate.

And Liam didn’t stop looking at Melissa even then. He couldn’t. The desire to do far, far more filled the entirety of his being, holding back only out of respect for a fellow cultivator’s training, especially one he cared about.

Thinking about training reminded Liam where he was, turning him to the cauldron. He prepared himself for what promised to be a long alchemical session, but he spared his hands one look first.

That wasn’t Liam’s first experience with Melissa’s waist, but that touch was incomparable to when he had carried her through the ruins. It was slim, soft, and something else that Liam didn’t know the word to describe.

’Definitely not a boar,’ Liam thought, part of him going crazy with desire, which his dutiful brain managed to suppress once he ignited the log.