Chapter 39: Cultivating in Spirit Realm
Klein stared at the cracked barrier, his dark eyes reflecting the oozing cursed energy seeping through the fissures.
’Azara did say that my curses are searching for me.’
’But Haa... seems like Hela has spread her ’shadow’ across the Cursed Realm of many worlds.’
’How did she do that?’
Hela was one of his strongest curses. If she had managed to extend her influence across multiple cursed realms, it meant she had grown even stronger in his absence.
Orpheus took his hand gently, "Are you alright?"
Turning to her, Klein nodded, "Yeah, I am alright."
She looked at his face for a moment, "You were saying something there... what happened?"
With a shake of his head, he replied softly "It’s just... I remembered someone’s face. Nothing else."
Orpheus didn’t press further. Instead, she turned her gaze back to the barrier.
She squinted slightly, observing the cracks and the cursed energy oozing through them.
"Huh... it has stopped."
She stepped closer to the barrier, "For years, the Cursed Realm was trying to push here, constantly attacking the barrier, trying to break through. But now... it has stopped."
"The pressure has lessened significantly. The cracks are still there, but the aggressive invasion has paused."
She turned back to Klein curiously "Does this have something to do with you? The moment you touched the barrier, the cursed energy reacted strongly... and then it calmed down."
Klein remained silent for a moment, staring at the place where Hela’s shadow had appeared.
The black heart in his chest was still pulsing faintly, excited by the contact with a cursed realm.
’Hela... if you’re out there, searching for me... I’ll find a way to reach you.’
He looked at Orpheus and spoke "I am not sure what is happening either."
Orpheus’ frown deepened as she stared at the cracked barrier, her hair swaying gently in the breeze of the Spirit Realm.
"Well, anyway, it’s a good thing the invasion has stopped. So it’s a relief."
Turning to her, Klein asked "Is there any way for me to enter the Cursed Realm?"
With a thoughtful look, Orpheus replied as she considered the possibility "To enter the Spirit Realm, there are some doors scattered across the world."
"But I am not sure about the Cursed Realm... if it’s the same as this realm, there should be doors out in the world."
Klein’s gaze condensed ’In this world, ’curse’ is not recognized as an attribute like ’Spirit’. Heck, I don’t think anyone even knows about curses.’
He glanced at the cursed realm in front of him ’How am I going to find a door for this realm... maybe I can try asking Erica later.’
Orpheus noticed his contemplative expression and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Klein... even if there are doors to the Cursed Realm, entering it would be extremely dangerous. That place is not meant for the living."
He turned to her with a smile "Since I also have this cursed energy, I want to try entering that place one day."
A soft sigh escaped her lips "You can think about that later. You are still not strong enough."
She waved her hand, and the world around them blurred once more as she teleported them back to her wooden house.
The transition from the barrier back to her wooden house was smooth, but the sudden shift in space still caught Klein slightly off balance.
*thud*
As they reappeared, Klein accidentally stumbled forward.
His foot caught on the edge of a thick root that formed part of the floor, and he lost his balance.
He fell straight onto the large, soft bed right on top of Orpheus.
"Ahh?" The Mother of Spirits let out a soft, surprised sound as his weight pressed her down onto the mattress.
Being under him, she looked up at him in surprise, "Oh my..."
Klein was propped up on his elbows with his face mere inches from hers.
He could feel the warmth of her body beneath him, the soft curves of her breasts pressing against his chest, and the gentle rise and fall of her breathing.
Her long green hair framed her beautiful face like a crown of leaves and flowers, and her full lips were slightly parted in surprise.
The scent of fresh flowers filled his senses, making his head spin slightly.
Orpheus didn’t push him away immediately.
Instead, she looked up at him with a soft, intrigued smile, "Well... this is quite the position you’ve put us in."
She raised her hands and wrapped them around his neck "Are you always this bold when visiting a lady’s bedroom?"
Klein felt a rush of heat rise in his chest, but he kept his composure, and a wry smile formed on his lips.
"Accident. The teleportation threw me off balance."
Orpheus let out a soft laugh, shifting her body slightly beneath him. The movement made her breasts press more firmly against his chest, and her thigh brushed against his leg.
"Accident, hmm? I wonder..."
Her green eyes sparkled with playfulness as she tilted her head slightly, bringing her lips dangerously close to his.
"You know... time flows differently here. No one in the mortal world will notice if you stay a little longer. We could... talk. Or do other things."
Looking into her eyes, he muttered "I am pretty sure you are just teasing me. If I fell into your temptation and touched you, you would kill me."
A playful smile bloomed on her lips that made her look both alluring and dangerous.
She lowered her hand and gently caressed his lower lip with her finger "Oh my... you are sharp."
"I heard gossip from women that men easily fell for temptations like this. That’s why I tried it."
With a chuckle, he pulled back and sat on the bed.
"Since you said time flows slower here, can I use this place to cultivate?"
Orpheus propped herself up on one elbow and nodded her head "I don’t mind."
"Time here is indeed much slower than in the mortal world. You can stay as long as you want."
She reached out and lightly brushed a strand of his hair away from his forehead "Cultivate as much as you like."
Klein nodded, feeling a strange sense of comfort in her presence.
He closed his eyes and began to cultivate, drawing in the incredibly pure energy that filled Orpheus’ domain.
Orpheus watched him silently and moved closer to sit beside him on the bed.
She leaned in, her lips hovering near his ear as she whispered seductively,
"Do you know that when you are shirtless, the energy easily flows through your skin and enters the mana core?"
Klein blinked and turned his head slightly toward her, "I don’t remember there being such things."
Orpheus smiled and slipped her hand slowly under the hem of his t-shirt, her fingers gently tracing the lines of his abs, feeling the firm muscles beneath his skin.
"Oh, trust me, it definitely works. It’s not like I want to see your body or something, I promise."
Klein smiled dryly in his heart, as he was not sure if she was simply teasing or maybe curious.
’Well... it doesn’t hurt to stay shirtless.’
Without overthinking it, he reached down and pulled his t-shirt off in one smooth motion, revealing his toned upper body.
Orpheus’s green eyes sparkled with appreciation as she moved closer, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug.
Her fingers traced slowly across his bare back and then down to his abs, exploring the contours of his muscles with gentle curiosity.
This is the first time Orpheus has touched a man like this.
Since only women awaken the Spirit attribute, she has seen many human and elven women here.
She has also peeked into the mortal realm, often going through the memories of the women.
That’s why she has a lot of knowledge about the mortal world.
She pressed herself a little closer, her full breasts brushing against his arm through the fabric of her green robes.
"Hoh... your skin is so hot."
She tilted her head to look at him "Does it bother you? That I’m touching you like this?"
Klein shook his head with a faint smile on his lips "No. It doesn’t bother me."
Orpheus’s smile widened, and she hugged him a little tighter.
"Then stay like this for a while. Cultivate while I hold you. The energy flows better when you’re relaxed... and close to me."
He glanced at her and smiled, shaking his head helplessly.
"By the way, Orpheus, can I take you in as my contracted spirit?"
