“You should have done this from the beginning. Her alcohol tolerance is nothing I have ever seen before…”
Hiko let go of Theresa’s shoulders while giving a strange look. She returned to her seat as if nothing happened. Then she picked up another shot glass and downed it in one go.
“Fwu…”
I felt speechless upon seeing her casually drinking yet another glass. I looked down at the sleeping Teriri, resisting the urge to touch her cheeks. My left hand went behind her knees while my right hand supported her back. I carried her to the comfortable-looking sofa and gently lifted her down. Her faint breaths carried the scent of floral wine. Her flushed cheeks reminded of her fanatical side whenever I presented my blood to her.
“You don’t seem to consider her as your in-law. Won’t your wife at ho be angry at you?”
I turned around and saw Hiko’s half-curious, half-joking look.
“I talked about it with her before.”
“Oh?”
I continued explaining amidst her astonished looks.
“I am not blind to others’ affections. The fact I kept dragging it on until now is a huge mistake of mine. But I… we realized I shouldn’t have done it in the first place.”
If I wanted to, I could have gone on a ‘marriage’ spree and sealed the deal with more than half of my partners in one go.
I did not.
For once, I saw it as a compromise they might not be willing to take. Even if they are, it could end up with them being hurt. Thus, I gave them more ti with the pretext of seclusions and the likes. I wanted them to think… if I am worthy of their affection.
It is this guilt that made apprehensive of starting a “harem” back then. It is very unfair to the other party. If Kiana didn’t talk with back then—to talk into accepting Seele—I would have rejected them. It is painful, that I know, but I don’t want to hurt Kiana even more.
The thousand years of isolation back in the Thirteenth Titan’s tomb allowed to realize not just Rembrance, but also reflect on my past actions. I could have found the perfect ti to confront others instead of dragging it for so long. What Wendy did is a reminder.
They would get hurt more the longer I keep them hanging.
Hence I did not reject Theresa’s advances just now. I remained silent, understanding where these affections ca from—and whether or not I held the sa sentint as hers.
“We agreed on one thing.” I said. “I will have a good talk with my partners… and see where it will lead us in the future.”
Hiko fell silent. She did not refill her shot glass as usual. Instead, her gaze lingered around for a good while. Her lips let out a sowhat entertained smile, mixed with a hint of disbelief.
“Now I see why others… nevermind.” She paused montarily before speaking, “I am also a part of that, no? Then let’s continue drinking.”
I sat down and accepted her invitation for another round of drinking.
*****
Hiko’s eting with Shi Tian could be counted on two hands. They are either formal occasions or decisive battles. Not once did she see who he truly was. Everything she had heard of him are from hearsays.
For once, the public has an overwhelmingly good opinion of him. He was seen as the esteed Dao Ancestor, the First Cultivator that brought Earth into its current prosperity. At the sa ti, he is also one of the heroes who fought against the Honkai. The biography written by Sin Mal helped contribute to that endeavor.
There was even a ti where he garnered an obsessive following. It was nothing short of a cult. Fortunately, it died down as he appeared less and less into the public eye. Shi Tian’s fa blended into the background, being treated as a historical hero and a revolutionary genius. The only other ti he appeared was during his Divine Transformation Realm breakthrough. He showed everyone that it could be done. That humans could also reach that level of power through hard work and personal dedication.
In the eyes of others, he is akin to an end of the road. They could not chase his figure, but they could still chase his back.
In short, Shi Tian is Earth’s spiritual pillar.
No one could point out a flaw in him… not even his apparent polygamy with six wives. That was what Hiko found incredulous about it.
‘What is so special about him?’
As one of his ‘partners’, she had long been embroiled with the situation around him. Hiko heard gossip about his two psychotic students who once fought on the Moon for so illusory chance that would bring them closer to him.
Before she knew it, she found herself becoming more and more curious. That was until she finally t him today.
‘A rabbit.’
That was the only thing she could think of. The peerless First Cultivator, the Dao Ancestor responsible for the spread of the Dao, turned out to be a gentle and kind person in private!
Hiko knew n deep enough to understand so things. Most influential people generally had a following of won behind them. They were the type to get flattered the more won that liked them. A good majority of her failed dates ca from Hiko’s flamboyant and independent personality. Those n knew they would have their balls crushed the mont they chose Hiko as their wife. As for the rest, they had no won around them. It’s just that they disliked Hiko for being too ‘strong’, both physically and spiritually.
Shi Tian was the equivalent of a mythical find. A golden fish Hiko would have never let go back when she completed blind dates upon blind dates. Though he appeared strong and determined, he remained very considerate of others’ feelings. His consideration went as far as to make him feel guilty for others liking him!
He was soone Hiko would have never thought existed, yet he did.
‘No wonder others love him.’
The once inexplicable actions of others started to make sense in her eyes. She looked at his contemplating look again. A thought started to bud inside her heart.
‘If I am in their position…’
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