"I know that." Davis followed after her words, "You're a good mother who wants the best for her children. Tianyu can only have the very best, whether it be the girl's upbringing or her parents' attitude. That's why we need to search far and wide and can quickly decide for it would implicate Tianyu to an unhappy life."
"…"
Mingzhi couldn't say anything after he explained it like that.
He always had some excuses, valid excuses and she couldn't bring up the issue anymore.
She raised her hand and touched his hand that was on her shoulder, feeling pampered and convinced even though she had prepared herself to go there no matter what.
Suddenly, she appeared smug, "Are you worried that I would look at other men?"
"What I'm worried about is temptation." Davis chuckled ever so lightly, "Being faithful is a test of time that we immortals would eventually struggle against. I failed like a champion, but you all need to keep it until the end of time, which may be fair or unfair in our perspectives. In any case, the moment I do not care about you looking at other men would probably be the day I lose all feelings for you."
"Hehe~" Mingzhi giggled at his straightforward answer.
She knew it was part of the reason why he wouldn't send her there and why she also wouldn't send him there. Temptation was the biggest enemy of any kind of committed relationship. As an immortal who comprehended Enigmatic Heart Laws, she knew they still weren't above temptations. No human was. To human is to err. Those who could not be tempted with absolute certainty were probably not humans but constructs, to begin with.
That was why being faithful, loyal, or committed, whatever one may call the feelings of staying together without breaking apart, was not only a test of character but also a test against time and patience.
Nonetheless, with the Lust Garden Lower Realm filled with all kinds of temptations, it was extremely easy to lose oneself there. It didn't exist without its reputation that said one could be easily entrapped with honey and other such exotic commodities.
It was one thing to err and another thing to err in a place that would make one err. It was more like- they were asking for it!
"Then- how much do you care for me right now?" Mingzhi inclined her head, laying on his hand.
Davis couldn't help but smile, "Very much."
"Then- how much do you care for a woman who has given birth compared to a virgin flower?"
"I can pick the cherry later since I will have to deal with a mature fruit first," Davis responded without missing a beat.
Mingzhi bit her lips as her cheeks became a shade of red, "Really?"
"If it weren't for Tianyu taking up most of your time, I'd be having you every night."
"Shameless fellow~ That isn't even the truth since you were fixated on cultivation for the past year."
"Hahaha." Davis laughed as he shot a look at Stella.
The latter looked away, pretending not to hear but she also couldn't hide her smile.
Mingzhi patted her bosom, "But thankfully, no one new entered because of it. I can't believe you still didn't touch Aila and even sent her away to the secret realm. Aren't you planning on not taking her?"
"How can that be? It's just- we both feel the time isn't ripe. Fortunately, we made so much progress in our cultivation and can now hold on to our own without having to worry about powerful forces due to the layer limit. We can now cultivate our love and affection all we want. When the Covenant is over, I'll also head to the secret realm and join our group."
Davis couldn't help but wonder what Isabella and the others were doing right now. He was sure they would've at least destroyed and ransacked the town that the people had set up at the entrance.
"Mhmm… I'm stuck here since I became an Empyrean." Mingzhi pouted before she smiled, "But hopefully, Tianyu can also grow up without having to encounter dangerous situations. The Heaven's Warriors should also stop pestering us by a lot. How's the situation in the Verdant Vale Lower Realm?"
Davis explained, and after Mingzhi caught up, she nodded.
"It seems like I might have to go there instead and show them it's not safe to surround us either."
Davis chuckled at her words, "I'm afraid that they might not learn and only disturb us more until they pull the Celestial Transcendents. Forget about them. What do you think about the Ghostly Crow Lower Realm? Should we also take its Realm Core?"
He sought Mingzhi's opinion on another expedition. After all, being too greedy and having their forces spread out wouldn't be good. Even if they conquered it, they would fail to retain it.
Sometime late, the Ghostly Crow Realm Master finally opened his eyes as he looked at the dark skies.
It appeared to be night already.
When he sat up, he saw that he was still alive, but his expression quickly froze as he saw the Divine Emperor of Death and his sixth wife right beside him.
"Ah, finally awake. I really didn't want to heal you, so thank goodness."
Davis sighed as he smiled at the Ghostly Crow Realm Master, causing the latter to feel a spine-chilling cold seep through his bones. He clenched his teeth, glaring at the Divine Emperor of Death.
"So, Mingzhi says that you didn't prepare what I asked for except the trillion High-Level Transcendent Crystals found in your spatial ring. I take it that you're partly willing and partly unwilling? Do you want a last chance?"
Davis asked as though he was providing the best hospitality he could offer, making the Ghostly Crow Realm Master furious since it sounded like it couldn't be any more patronizing, full of condescending tone. However, he still spoke.
"I'm responsible for the future of the Ghostly Crow Lower Realm. For their future's sake, their valor and honor, I can never lower my head or do such a humiliating act. Our reputation cannot be tarnished! Our children must be able to hold their heads high. Just kill me and be done with it!"
"…"
Davis looked quite intrigued, even amused.
"Do you even know what it is like to be under constant threat from a ruling force and have your family hunted down to the last member?"
"…" The Ghostly Crow Realm Master didn't reply.
Davis simply smiled, "I'll start with your first wife. I heard you love her very much. I won't do anything to her, but I'll find her and bring her to you and then behead her right in front of your eyes. Then it would be your other wives. Your parents. Your children."
As he spoke, his voice became colder and colder, causing the Ghostly Crow Realm Master's heart to chill.
The Ghostly Crow Realm Master flared, "You d-"
"Do I dare?" Davis raised his brows, "You're really asking a calamity that?"
"…!" The Ghostly Crow Realm Master trembled, feeling like his heart sank to the depths of the abyss.
A few seconds later, he lowered his head and opened his mouth.
"What do you want?" His tone was now a far cry from itself, seeking forgiveness for how miserable it sounded.
"Pretty simple." Davis spread his hands to the side, "I want to make you feel regret for ever acting righteous and trying to stick your nose in where it doesn't belong. How dare you hurt my Myria? You tried to kill her in one move. You didn't even warn her like a normal cultivator would do but act like an assassin."
"That's-"
"For starters," Davis's eyes narrowed, his voice cold, "Beg me to beat you up."