The more Rowan Forrest spoke, the redder her face became.

This time, Damon Grant finally heard it clearly. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He wasn’t just hearing things.

’This female cultivator is saying she likes me?’

’Damn it, so someone wasn’t just pulling a prank on me.’

"You’re saying you like me?"

He pointed at himself, staring at her in disbelief.

’Fuck... Did this female cultivator get her brains scrambled by a Demonic Beast?’

"You must have hit your head."

’Otherwise, how could someone so young have such terrible eyesight?’

He pried her hand away and took two steps back.

Rowan Forrest looked crestfallen.

She glanced at his tall, powerful frame, then looked down at herself. ’He must think I’m too skinny and weak.’

’But Mother always said you have to fight for who you love, or someone else will snatch them away.’

So she mustered her courage and said, "Is there a girl you like? If not, you could consider me."

"Don’t be put off by how skinny I am now. I’ll definitely start working out."

Damon Grant: "..."

’Is that the main point here?’

’Fuck, this isn’t about her being skinny. The problem is that her eyes seem to work just fine.’

"You say you like me? How can you prove you like me? You’re not one of those spies from the Immortal Sect, are you? I’m not falling for your tricks."

"No, I wasn’t sent by the Immortal Sect."

Rowan Forrest tilted her head slightly.

"Liking someone needs to be proven?"

"Heh, of course. Can you prove you’re not lying? I’ve seen plenty of tricks from you Immortal Sect types."

’My theory must be right,’ Damon Grant thought. ’This has to be a plot by the Immortal Sect. They probably sent her to dig up some dirt, using a honey trap. Otherwise, a female cultivator this beautiful would have to have a screw loose to like me.’

He hadn’t even had a chance to figure out what information this female cultivator could possibly want from him. But in the next instant, she reached out, grabbed the front of his robes, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

Perhaps because she was so short.

The kiss landed directly on his Adam’s apple.

’That feeling... so soft.’

’Wait...’ Damon Grant froze on the spot, his eyes wide.

Rowan Forrest let him go and stepped back, her face flushed as she glanced at him.

"Is that enough?"

’Sh-she... what did she just do?’

’She kissed me.’

’Kissed me.’

"You... what do you think you’re doing?"

"You... you shameless female cultivator! How could you..." ’My virtue...’

Damon Grant stumbled back in fright, and the Iron Ball in his hand fell to the ground with a THUD. "Enough for... for nothing! You... you audacious female cultivator! Next time I see you, don’t blame me for being rough!"

He spouted some nonsense and then bolted.

Watching him disappear, Rowan Forrest hurriedly called after him.

"Wait, you dropped your Magic Artifact!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than his figure reappeared.

Damon Grant bent over, snatched the Magic Artifact from the ground, and vanished in an instant, not even sparing her a glance.

Damon Grant was gone, leaving Rowan Forrest standing there, completely dumbfounded.

’He runs so fast.’

’What on earth did he mean by that?’

’I’m the one who’s losing out by kissing him, aren’t I? Why does he look like some virtuous maiden who’s been taken advantage of, while I look like some kind of villainess?’

But when she thought about what just happened, Rowan Forrest felt her face burn so hot it could have been steaming.

’I was trying to kiss his face, but I couldn’t reach. I ended up kissing his Adam’s apple instead, but it wasn’t a total loss. I got to feel his chest muscles. So firm.’

’And his Adam’s apple was nice to kiss, too.’

She slapped herself lightly on the cheek.

"You shameless girl, you really got your fill, didn’t you?"

’I hope there’s a next time.’

"I won’t give up."

’As long as he doesn’t have a Taoist Companion... I still have a chance.’

’Wait... did I forget something? Ah, it’s not important.’

Celeste Grant and the others had no idea what had just happened here.

That night, Javier Sinclair and Celeste Grant spent some quality time alone together. When they returned the next day, a subordinate came to report that they had captured two people from the Immortal Sects.

The one who came to report this was the Hall Master of Bloodfury Hall, Damon Grant.

The ones they caught were Jocelyn Grant and her man. Because Jocelyn Grant couldn’t keep her mouth shut, they both had a leg broken and were sent to the mines.

This was somewhat unexpected for Celeste Grant.

While they were having a barbecue yesterday, she’d heard that some Demon Cultivators had clashed with the Primal Heaven Sect, and that Jocelyn Grant’s man had been injured. That must have been why Jocelyn Grant had abandoned the son she’d just found and rushed off.

The thought of Jocelyn Grant left her speechless.

’One moment, she’s having a tearful reunion with her biological son, crying her eyes out. The next, she’s ditching him to chase after her man. Her maternal love has a one-minute expiration date, apparently.’

’Normally, I couldn’t be bothered with her, but Jocelyn Grant delivered herself right to my doorstep. As the hostess, I understand the need to be... hospitable. I’ll have to give her a warm welcome. Oh, I’m getting a little excited.’

’It’s time for this villainess to finally step up her game.’

At this thought, she looked toward her Hall Master.

"Not bad," she said. "You all did a fine job. Go collect your reward."

Her voice paused for a moment before she continued, a sinister look on her face. "As for those two... give them a *very* warm welcome. And have the disciples at the mines shackle their feet. I want them mining day and night, without a break. If they dare to slack off, you don’t need to be gentle."

Damon Grant nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, My Lady."

After her subordinate left, Celeste Grant couldn’t help but laugh.

’I’m in no rush. I’ll let them suffer through some hard labor first. Then I’ll go see them in person. Jocelyn Grant will probably die of anger when she sees me.’

The next few days passed uneventfully.

Well, if you had to say *something* happened, there was one thing.

The Hall Master of Bloodfury Hall, the one who’d been kissed by the female cultivator, found he couldn’t calm his mind to meditate these past few days.

Damon Grant would sit down for Cultivation, only to open his eyes half a day later having accomplished absolutely nothing.

His mind was now constantly filled with the image of being kissed by that female cultivator.

Then his face would flush and his heart would race.

A bead of sweat trickled down his face.

’Why am I thinking about that woman?’

「An hour later.」

"Why is it her again? What the hell does she want?"

’She’s just one female cultivator.’

’How could she possibly affect me?’

And then for several days... he even started having wet dreams.

「That afternoon.」

He was squatting in a corner.

He took out his phone.

Then, he furtively pulled a piece of talisman paper from his robes. It was the one with the number his brothers had brought back for him. He’d carelessly tossed it aside and thought he’d lost it, but he’d found it in his room again today.

’I just want to see what this female cultivator is planning.’

’Yeah, I don’t mean anything else by it.’

’A weak little noob dares to kiss me.’

Not far from him, Aaron Sinclair, dressed in black and red, was walking in his direction. He immediately spotted the big lug acting suspiciously in the corner.

’So sneaky. Something’s definitely up.’

Curiosity piqued, he sidled up next to Damon Grant. In one fluid motion, Aaron Sinclair braced a hand against the wall and leaned in to get a better look.

He saw the other man tapping the talisman paper and then inputting the number that appeared on it.

He was adding a friend.

"What are you doing?"

The moment he spoke, Rook, who was squatting in the corner, jumped, and the phone nearly slipped from his hand.

Seeing who it was, he quickly knelt on one knee.

"This subordinate greets you, Young Master."