[I’ve seen everyone’s comments, and I, the old Na, have taken note. It seems Taliya isn’t quite popular with everyone just yet. Well, that’s within expectations—after all, she’s a character meant to grow. I’ll be making some adjustments to Taliya’s storyline soon. After these chapters, we’ll start the fiancée Princess Vanessa’s arc. A small spoiler: she’s a deeply hidden yandere, but she’ll use methods different from Enya to take possession of Kane (her methods will make your neck feel cold). Please look forward to it, and keep following the story! The plot will be adjusted soon and become even more exciting.]
No, sis, if you want to curse someone, just curse them—why do you have to drag me into it? Do you believe I won’t just get you pregnant out of spite, and then if your son is born without a handle, you’ll be the one freaking out… Kane grumbled to himself, his curses getting more and more outrageous.
“Kun’er, I know your feelings for me run deep, but at a time like this, please don’t look at me with such passionate eyes. A girl can get shy, you know?”
Taliya cupped her face in both hands, her ears flushed red, fidgeting left and right in embarrassment.
“……”
Kane suddenly understood why Saint Relic Mengmeng always lost control and resorted to violence.
If he were stronger, he would have done the same… Could this female delinquent not read the room?
“I sense movement from the Sacred Wall. Looks like they’re nearby.”
Just then, a voice came from above, followed by hurried footsteps.
Kane made a shushing gesture, and Taliya covered her mouth with both hands, nodding frantically.
The footsteps above hovered near and far, constantly circling this area. It seemed these people planned to wear them down in a battle of attrition.
“How long can you hold out?”
Hearing the footsteps recede for a moment, Kane asked Taliya.
Taliya lifted her chin proudly:
“Relax, this is what I’m best at. Three hours is no problem at all.”
Almost without pause, the next second, a voice came from above:
“The Sacred Wall can last for three days. From past experience, that girl can only hold out for three hours at most. Anyone who desecrates the Holy Remains will never escape the punishment of the Sacred Wall.”
Taliya: ……
Kane: ……
Awkward.
Especially in front of his own woman—Taliya felt utterly humiliated, wishing she could roll up her sleeves and rush out to beat those bastards to death.
Kane didn’t really care. In fact, if Taliya could really hold out for three days and nights against these lunatics, that would be a real disaster for him.
By then, even the yellow flowers in Loharin would have wilted.
“How strong are those three?” Kane asked.
“Two at the second tier, one at the fourth. If it were just the fourth-tier one alone, I could counter-kill them, but with the three working together, it’s much harder.” Taliya quickly understood Kane’s meaning.
Since a fight was inevitable after three hours anyway, they might as well seize the initiative and catch their enemies off guard.
“So, if it’s one-on-one, you can take care of the Scarred Man.”
Kane caught the key point.
Taliya nodded decisively.
As a Feng Aotian, defeating enemies above one’s level is basic.
“But the three of them cooperate flawlessly. I’ve already tried many ways to split them up, but all ended in failure.”
If there had been a way, with Taliya’s vengeful nature, she would never allow these people who’ve interrupted her so many times to keep bouncing around in front of her.
“…What if I could lure the other two away first?”
After a moment’s thought, Kane voiced his plan.
“No.”
Taliya refused outright, without hesitation.
The reason was simple.
“How could I let you take such a risk, Kun’er? The Tower of Truth people are all lunatics who’ll do anything to achieve their goals, and your strength… Anyway, this is something I, as your woman, should be thinking about. You just hide behind me and cheer me on.”
So, I’ll be the one to kill, and you’ll be the one to… kill? Is that it?
Though indirect, it was the undeniable truth.
Kane was only first-tier. In others’ eyes, facing two second-tiers was like a sheep entering a tiger’s den—a sure way to die.
To be honest, Kane didn’t think he could defeat the two of them as he was now. But if it was just to stall or restrict them a bit, he had plenty of ways.
“Don’t be in such a hurry to refuse. At least hear my plan first.”
“Even if you have a plan, it’s still a no.” Taliya rejected him again: “Letting your woman take risks for you is not what a gentleman should do.”
You’re no gentleman either, and who says I’m your woman… Kane didn’t have time to argue with this female delinquent. Even if what he was about to do wasn’t his original intention, he had no other choice.
“Is that so.” Kane curled his lips disdainfully, then shot her a look colder than cold: “Liya, you’re so annoying~ Don’t talk to me again.”
The moment he said that, it was as if Taliya had been struck by lightning. She stood there, charred inside and out.
Her face went pale as she staggered back several steps, then crumpled into an ‘orz’ pose of utter defeat—one hand on the ground, the other pounding it hard enough to make dull thudding sounds.
“I got called annoying again, called annoying again, three times, three times… That’s three times in a row now. Am I really that awful? Why do all the women I like end up rejecting me? I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I don’t—!”
“Uh, I don’t want to hit you while you’re down, but I never said I was your woman either,” Kane squatted beside her and quietly added insult to injury.
“No! No! No! I can’t do this, I can’t solve this problem!”
Taliya, hit with a double blow, hugged her head and howled at the sky. At that moment, it was as if the familiar One Cut Plum BGM began playing in her ears.
Kane slapped his forehead speechlessly, watching as time ticked away in this race against the clock. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said,
“If you agree, afterward… I’ll go on a date with you.”
“Hotel, really?!”
Taliya sprang back to life, rushing up and grabbing Kane’s hands in excitement.
Under his mask, Kane’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He shook her hands off and corrected,
“A date.”
“Raw dog in a hotel, got it.”
“……Forget it, let’s just wait it out after all.”
“Ahem, you mean a date, right? So what’s your plan, exactly?”
“……”
At this point, Kane couldn’t even be bothered to roll his eyes. He explained his plan.
Taliya rubbed her chin in thought, then nodded after a moment:
“If it’s just that, it’s not impossible. But there’s always the chance—what if they have more people, or some other deadly move up their sleeves…”
“Before that happens, even if I have to leave you behind, I’ll run,” Kane said honestly. “I’m not one to gamble with my life. I value it more than anyone.”
“That’s true. You still have family to care for, after all.”
Taliya wasn’t upset; on the contrary, she nodded understandingly.
With that, Taliya prepared to dismiss the Sword of Starry Night and officially begin their battle plan.
But before that, she grabbed Kane’s wrist and confirmed again:
“You’re sure you’ll go on a date with me afterward?”
“Yes.”
“Then swear it. I’m afraid you’ll stand me up—ah, no, just swear it.”
“……”
Kane looked silently at the serious-faced girl. He had no choice but to raise his hand and say,
“I swear on the name of Kun’er.”