Legacy of Hatred

When Liam withdrew his attention from his jade, he found Grace staring at him. He had already sensed her gaze, but her face told him that she had also noticed the change in his existence.

Liam smirked, putting his pipe and jade away while nodding at his waist. Grace understood the invitation, standing up and sitting at his side with her iconic poise, still wielding her communication device while peering into his cultivation.

Strangely enough, Liam felt no discomfort at the foreign Qi invading him. It was as if his being had authorized Grace, allowing him to enjoy her focused face. Even with her eyes closed and her attention elsewhere, she kept dealing with the communication, multitasking.

Grace soon withdrew her Qi, lifting her face and opening her eyes, the latter brightening, accompanied by a genuine smile. She knew the meaning of what she had seen. She was the only one in the entire world who knew. Despite the challenges, the man who had given her value was succeeding at his impossible task.

The smile shrunk, growing a bit impish. Liam could hear the tease Grace couldn’t voice, but six months living together in a home that was more of a prison had taught him a counterattack he had long since found enjoyable.

"It’s all thanks to you," Liam whispered in Grace’s ear. "I’ll never let you go."

When Liam retracted his head, he saw a deadpan face waiting for him, and he found it adorable. Grace couldn’t take those declarations. She loved them, but they shattered her dominant persona.

Of course, Liam knew the fix for that, too.

Liam wrapped an arm around Grace and leaned down, bringing her with him. Her expression immediately brightened, cheering silently as she closed her eyes, making herself comfortable on Liam’s arm, her favorite pillow.

Grace curled herself on Liam’s side when he closed his arm around her, her free hand clinging to his torso. She transformed into a little girl afraid of being left alone as soon as he held her, and watching her warmed his chest.

After all, Liam had spoken the truth. Grace was the fuel that allowed his efforts to flourish, and he couldn’t even imagine living without her anymore.

What had started as a simple partnership had evolved into an unbreakable bond. Grace had lit the way when Liam only had darkness, sneaking into his heart as he had done with hers.

Compared to Melissa, the process had been gradual. Grace’s inspiring wit, her soothing combing, her canny words, her sheer company in a dreadful journey, all the things she had given Liam despite never receiving them herself, and her refined sensuality had grown on him until she had won him over.

However, if Liam had to pinpoint an exact reason, it was exactly what now lay in his arms that had defeated him. He admired Grace’s strength, the way she had clung to life after all her Clan had done to her, but that genuine, maskless vulnerability was what truly affected his heart.

Liam felt privileged to be able to see Grace’s real face, that she allowed herself to be herself with him. She had shown him shades of that even before their relationship evolved to that point, terrified to be left alone but too traumatized to try clinging to him, and they had stabbed deeply.

It was genuinely heartbreaking how life had twisted such a devoted soul to the point where her biggest fear was to reach out for someone, where she couldn’t even believe that someone could be there for her because she had no value.

Liam had wanted Grace to get what she had earned, and, before long, he had started to desire being the one to give it to her. His stupid brain might have lagged, but that spark had existed ever since their separation before the inheritance.

Besides, it was just too fun hanging out with Grace. Even the simplest conversation could become a battle of teases that Liam would have never expected and had no idea how to handle with words.

Still, now that things had gotten to that point, Liam knew his role, what he wanted to pursue. There was boundless Hatred that would one day drown Grace’s Clan, but there was also love, the only real cure for the trauma she had suffered.

’If possible,’ Liam thought, admiring that relaxed face still dealing with mental conversations. ’No, even if it’s impossible, I’ll give her a life where she can always be like this.’

Liam didn’t want Grace to be strong anymore. He would become her strength so that she could always be like she was in his arms, happy and unburdened.

Grace had trusted Liam with herself, so he would give her the world.

The only real gripe was with Grace’s desire for a son. If Liam had to be honest, looking at her curled like that made him wish for a daughter to add to his embrace, a version of Grace he could hold and protect before the world even had a chance to get to her.

’I guess we can have both,’ Liam decided, soon finding green eyes looking back at him. Grace had felt him staring, and there were battles even his arms couldn’t win.

Grace was a deeply greedy creature after all, and hugs only satisfied her so far. The more Liam gave her, the more she wanted from him.

Liam smelled a trap in the vulnerable face Grace wore. He could read everything about her at that point. After being together so long and checking her circulation all the time, he knew her very soul, but she also knew his.

Grace beckoned with the hand on Liam’s torso, seemingly begging, only for some devilishness to flash in her expression when he took it. She brought his arm toward her, but not to complete the hug.

Liam found his hand pressed on Grace’s breast and a knowing, tempting look. He had realized she was up to something, but he liked that victorious stance of hers. He couldn’t even complain due to what he was getting in return.

After a while in a relationship, there were triggers that didn’t require words. Even a mere look could convey entire conversations and lead to desired outcomes.

Admittedly, it didn’t take a genius to understand what Grace wanted now.

Liam lay on Grace, and she held his face, diverting her gaze for a few seconds before storing her communication device. His kiss arrived right afterward.

"We have the meeting later," Grace gasped when she managed to free her lips.

"Should I poison them today?" Liam wondered, Grace immediately sealing his mouth with another kiss.

"Smiling Blade will be there," Grace warned. She obviously knew that it was time to leave and what that would require, and Elder Ray’s presence would hinder any plan.

’Not today,’ Liam cursed internally. ’Though he isn’t exactly an ally, either.’

Smiling Blade had been the couple’s ticket inside the battle cages, but he was getting his cut, too. Liam and Grace hadn’t really interacted with him much, so his stance on the two of them leaving was unclear, but chances were that he wouldn’t like losing that source of income.

’I’d rather cut a deal with him,’ Liam thought, ’He did do us a favor after all. However, if it comes to that ...’

Murderous ideas were already surging in Liam’s mind when the hands on his face pulled him into a quick kiss, snapping him from those thoughts.

"Liam," Grace panted, securing her arms and legs around Liam, holding him tightly, approaching his ear to release a whisper. "Master, may I wash your hair?"

Liam glanced at a corner of the cave. There was a small pool with running water there, similar to the habitations in the Pale Moon Sect’s second plateau. Before he knew it, he was on his feet, carrying Grace there.

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