Corrupt Creations

Another night Seth and Lilian would be passing on the Hilkhell city. Although, it would be an entirely different night for them. 

Caizhi left the group and the mood was a bit heavy now, however, after entering the inn room and getting totally alone with Seth, Lilian was taken over by a feeling of embarrassment and anxiety, even though she didn't know what she was expecting to happen. 

The bed was a bit larger now with one less person. Lilian made a barricade with a lot of pillows and laid down to sleep. Seth was already on his side, since he was thinking about Caizhi and his life. 

As always, sometime after Seth fell asleep, Lilian could finally rest in peace, otherwise her heart wouldn't let her do so. 

Early in the morning she drowsily woke up totally glued on Seth. Her grip this night seemed tighter than before. 

She hastily tried to distance from him, but Seth prevented her from doing so. 

"You can stay like that if you want." He said mildly. 

Lilian, of course still panicking a bit, had the impulse to move away, but somehow, she stopped her resistance and laid there glued on his chest. 

"Lilian, is there something bothering you?" 

She felt the warmth coming from him, something that deeply tranquilized her. 

"How can you tell?" She asked confused. 

"Every morning, after I wake up, I can feel the strength of your grip, and it keeps increasing every time. It's feels like you don't want to let it go, afraid of returning to some kind of situation." 

Lilian was touched by his words. She had been trying to reason her bedtime actions all this while, but only now, she finally realized something. 

"Sigh... What would it serve to me, to discuss something like this with you, someone that I don't even know the real identity?" 

Seth stood silent for a bit of time. 

"I could tell you who I really am, it is not a big deal for me." 

"!" Lilian expressed some shock. 

"But that knowledge is exclusive to my wife. So, would you abandon that always-on-guard-woman faction and defect to my side?" 

Lilian rolled her eyes and smiled after hearing that. 

"Don't you already have Caizhi? And if I'm not wrong there is still that young girl from before." 

"Meiyi? Yeah, you're right, I treasure them both." Seth grinned. 

"Are you sure you're not biting more than you can chew?" 

"Hahaha, don't worry about that, you should worry more about yourself, on the arms of a man that want to bite everything on sight." 

Lilian laughed lightly and changed the pace of the conversation, turning it into something more serious. 

"On the surface, the Blazing Phoenix Sect seems to be going really well and unpreventable, but the real situation is definitely not that bright." She paused for a bit. After the next sentence there would be no turning back. 

"Since we are a rising star between the kingdoms, the other kingdoms and factions were treating us with utmost caution. However, that was just a convenient cover. Behind the scenes, they blocked our trade channels, stopped suppling some of the essential materials we needed and more. All of this orchestrated by the nations at the first and second ranks, StormWind Valley and Wu Martial Kingdom respectively. Actually, the biggest threat against us comes from the Wu Martial Kingdom." 

Lilian adjusted her position, getting a bit more comfortable on Seth's embrace. 

"The other Kingdoms are only doing an economical struggle with us, even the StormWind Valley didn't step outside this line. But the Wu Martial Kingdom have been pressuring our Blazing Phoenix Country in a lot of ways. They have instigated some minor fights where they killed a lot of our practitioners, however we couldn't put any fault on them without proof. There have even been some marriage proposals with me and my lil sister as targets." 

"It is still not something that would let me or our sect echelons uneasy, however, my father noticed some changes that were secretly happening withing our territory. Right below our nose, some sects were being supplied with better grade weapons, mercenary groups were forming at some different points and so on. We tried some counter-measures, but all of them were unsuccessful." 

"I fear that a war is approaching. While I'm apt to fight until the end, what is going to happen with Yuyin? We already lost our mother and our father is always overloaded with work. I fear she would not handle it." 

Lilian unconsciously let everything she has been holding, escape. This place was where she felt secure for some reason. Somehow, here, her uncertainties were not able to boost her anxiety. This was what she had just noticed some moments before. 

Seth caressed her hair and said: "If anything ever happens Lilian, you can call me and I will be there to help you." 

Unkown to Lilian, his dark element entered her skin and turned into a mole resting behind her neck. 

Lilian was telling him some really important confidential information, but she felt that it was worth it. Only in the future she would rejoice her choices of today. 

Lilian and Seth were in a really special intimate time, however, Seth made sure not to push things further. 

It was a delicate moment for Lilian, she was discovering some feelings that were new to her. It would take time, but she was slowly walking a road without return. 

Some hours passed by and in the afternoon, Seth and Lilian decided to look for something to do. There was still a week and a half for them to come back to the Blazing Phoenix City through the teleportation channel. 

After leaving the inn, it didn't take time for someone to come to talk with them. They were famous people on this city at the moment. 

Impressively the person that came to talk with than was none other than Colton Hilkhell, the city lord. 

"Greetings, young friends. I am Colton Hilkhell, the lord of this city. I would like to invite you esteemed guests to lunch at my house so we could discuss about some good business." 

"It's a pleasure to meet the city lord. You actually arrived at a really good time. We happen to have some free time so we will accept your offer." Lilian accepted the invitation. 

Seth didn't say a thing he just let Lilian take control of the situation. Seth and Lilian had already noticed that the sudden approach had to do with their friendship with the goddess disciple Caizhi. Then it would be better to make use of this status and gain some benefit than always deny anything. 

"Alright, let me guide you then." 

After walking for twenty minutes and reaching the center of the city, where most of the important buildings were, Colton Hilkhell brought then to a big and beautiful villa, spanning for more than nine hundred meters. This villa was built at the center of the city and was even more majestic than any building near it. It was the private property of the Hilkhell family. 

They entered the big house and went directly to the backyard, where there was a huge table full of different meals over it. 

Without any more delay, they had their lunch. 

After they were full, the city lord than started to state his business. 

"Esteemed guests, is there anything I can do for you?" The city lord wanted to win their favor. 

"We came from afar just to witness the event. Now we are prepared to leave for the Blazing Phoenix city, but the teleportation channel has closed for reparations. Is there any other way for us, to get there faster?" Lilian asked. 

"The Blazing Phoenix city? Well, it is quite far from here. The other methods will take longer than two weeks, so they won't be any better than teleporting. How about this? I'll make sure for your priority over the teleportation channel. You are going to be the first." 

"That's good." 

"Is there anything else? That's too simple." 

"Well, if you insist. Could you arrange these materials for us?" Seth was the one that talked now. He handled the city lord a paper filled with lots of different materials. 

The city lord gave it a quick look. 'Oh, quite expensive. But it's worth it their favor since they are friends with the goddess disciple." 

"No problem young lad. I'll make sure it will be delivered at the inn you are staying in a week." 

"That is helpful. Thanks." 

"Hahaha it's nothing." 

While they were engrossed on their conversation a man entered and headed directly towards the city lord. 

"City lord, there was a report of another beast going on a rampage on a village nearby." 

"Again?! What is happening here?" 

The man that entered was the head of the city guards. He was responsible for the overall security and responsible to report any unusual activities to the city lord. 

"Sigh, increase the number of soldiers that are doing those expeditions to solve the problem. No, it's better if we could hire some outsiders or mercenary groups to do the job. There are still so many people inside the city, that the security can't be lessened right now." 

"Excuse me. If it's not a bother, we could go check it." Seth had to travel many hours inside the forest to find some beasts to fight, now that they presented themselves for him, he wouldn't let the opportunity pass. 

Lilian looked at him, but she too thought it would be a good activity to kill some time. 

"Well, there has been so many cases of beasts rampaging lately, that we are in dire need of some helpful hands. Alright, I won't be polite then, give me a minute I'll come back to give you the details." The city lord entered the house to grab the information from his office.