Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 404: Transformative

The home Liam had opted for was next to a long mountain chain that cut through the border and ended somewhere in the northern region.

Tundra and forests alternated throughout the area, and Liam’s senses tingled to no end there. It had taken him one and a half weeks flying on the fan to get there, but that was by no means a safe place. The opposite actually.

Liam and Grace were near the border’s center, dangerously close to the magical beasts’ domains. Liam even believed they were right upon them, but with danger came safety.

Precisely because that was the magical beasts’ territory, Liam and Grace would be safe from cultivators.

Besides, the way Liam saw it, the two would spend most of their time underground. Also, once he came out to train, chances were no one would dare to get close.

Once the underground hall was settled, the couple took care of unloading the absurd number of ingredients they had purchased. Liam had to forsake most containers just to hope to fit them in a reasonable space, and a long inventory started.

Liam knew what he had to do, but he needed that second inspection to set a timetable. Expiry dates and more could determine the order of things, and it was his job to arrange everything.

"I’ll start with the rank 1 ingredients," Liam eventually declared. "They should last long enough, but it would at least give you something to sell in the meantime."

Liam was looking at several months of busy time, but Grace wouldn’t have it easy, either. During the trip, Mairis’ families had already sent communications asking for private meetings.

Grace would have to handle the monetary part of the business, unloading the rest of the inheritance, selling whatever Liam concocted in the meantime, and fostering those social connections so that the channels would remain open.

Of course, Grace also had to train and occasionally purchase additional ingredients. Lucas and Troy had become new variables, too, and they were hers to handle while Liam was busy.

That meant going in and out of the underground hall to meet the interested parties, which was far from safe. Grace would be on her own, but she couldn’t just stay still while Liam was unavailable.

There were things working in Grace’s favor. She had navigated those environments all her life, so she wouldn’t be careless. With the act she had put, the meetings would even happen on her terms, eliminating many dangerous variables.

The inheritance also had cloaking items Grace could use, turning the unruly area around her home into an advantage.

Yet, Liam didn’t like the current arrangement one bit. He trusted Grace and had already left her alone while he was busy with the inheritance, but both their relationship and predicament had changed drastically.

"I’ll arrange the first shipment," Grace nodded, joining Liam before the pile of ingredients. "We’ll sell something directly at standard market price, but I’ll push so that everything else goes to the auctions."

"Isn’t that slower?" Liam questioned.

"But the earnings will be far higher," Grace exclaimed, her whole face lighting up.

Liam chuckled, shaking his head. He knew that. It was one of the reasons behind the recent high expense, but he had predicted that kind of reaction from Grace.

Liam didn’t know when exactly it started, but those smiles had also become synonymous with fun.

"Besides, you’ll be busy for months," Grace sighed. "This is the time to settle down and engage in slower business practices with higher returns."

Everything made sense. Liam’s initial complaint was mainly about the more intense management such business practices required, meaning that Grace would have to go out more often.

"And it’s for the best that you are stuck here," Grace added. "Who knows how many customers we’d lose if you were free to start fights."

"It worked out with Lucas and Troy," Liam pointed out, crossing his arms.

Grace threw an annoyed look at Liam before bumping into his shoulder.

"Master Liam, fights are a waste of money," Grace scolded. "And I hate to put my loyal, handsome alchemist in danger. Poor, poor me would never financially recover if something happened to you."

"Am I wrong or are you calling me handsome more often?" Liam genuinely wondered.

"Oh, but you are," Grace chuckled, staring at Liam, licking her lips. "My Master is the most handsome of all. Who else can make his prized possession so rich? He even smells like money."

Grace loudly sniffed Liam out before throwing one of her sensual looks. Her temptress act was still in full force, but he responded in kind now.

"Grace," Liam called seriously, taking Grace’s cheek in his hand. "Will you be careful out there?"

Liam hadn’t forgotten that Grace was waiting for his answer. He planned to tackle that and a lot more in the following seclusion, but that meant leaving her hanging for months, during which something might happen.

"I will never let anything happen to me," Grace reassured, bringing her hand to the one on her cheek. "There’s too much money to be made to risk letting my protective Master unleash death and destruction."

That answer was as good. If anything, Liam found it easier to accept it because there actually was tangible money on the horizon, meaning Grace would truly do her best.

Still, before Liam could pull his hand away, Grace squeezed it.

"But, haven’t I been your good possession?" Grace asked. "Don’t I deserve a reward?"

There was a familiar vulnerability to the fingers on Liam’s hand, and he had long since learned what it meant. Grace had always been alone. She had been discarded so thoroughly that the idea of having anyone felt impossible in her brain.

It was why that type of touch was always hesitant. It wasn’t just fear. Part of Grace believed she had no right to cling to anyone like that, no matter how much she wanted them not to leave her.

Through time spent together and similar predicaments, Liam had gained that insight into Grace’s psyche, and his body moved on its own. Before he could realize what he was doing, his lips landed on her empty cheek.

Truth be told, Liam would have done far more. He had experience in how reassuring those acts were, but not yet. He had to restrain himself just a little longer.

The sudden kiss startled Grace, who slipped out of Liam’s grasp and turned once he straightened up. She slowly walked away, but her witty remarks didn’t fail to resound.

"Master Liam, kissing a lady so brazenly," Grace scoffed. "I’ll add the responsibilities that come with that to your eternal debt."

’Is it eternal now?’ Liam laughed internally, watching that appealing back for a few seconds before turning to the pile of ingredients, his expression going feral.

What stood in front of Liam was more than the longest seclusion of his life. He planned the process to be transformative, be it to his alchemical skills, his arsenal, his cultivation, and himself as a person.

But Liam didn’t hesitate. He summoned his cauldron and his talismans, taking the first step into that solitary journey, knowing that he wouldn’t be the same once it ended.