Chapter 77: Damian Confuses Both Beauties
Akane led Damian and Raika away from the Sword Trial Arena.
Behind them, many disciples watched the three leave together with stiff expressions, especially the male ones.
"How the hell did that kid end up walking away with both Senior Sisters? First Elder Selvara, now Raika and Akane too? Is his talent sword cultivation or stealing attention from women?"
The more they talked, the uglier their faces became.
Damian naturally heard some of it, but he only smiled and pretended not to notice.
After all, jealousy from side characters was basically background music in a cultivation world.
Soon, Akane brought them to a quieter garden near the arena.
Only after confirming that no one was nearby did Raika turn toward Damian.
Her expression was calmer than before. "During our fight, I could feel your emotions clearly."
Damian raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Raika looked straight into his eyes. "You have no malice toward the sect."
Damian blinked.
Then his mouth twitched. "Wait, so you’re telling me you thought I was some kind of villain?"
Raika shook her head. "No. You suddenly appeared, became Elder Selvara’s disciple, and had unusual strength. I was suspicious. Also... a little interested."
Damian sighed on the outside, but inwardly, he almost laughed.
"Actually, you’re the villainess here."
Of course, he did not say that out loud.
After all, Raika had a multiplier, and that meant she was probably a future villainess.
Fortunately, she was also a treasure chest, and treasure chests should be treated carefully, not scared away.
Akane suddenly looked at Damian with a playful smile. "Still, the first time you saw us, you walked straight toward us."
Her amber eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me honestly. What did you want?"
Damian stopped walking.
Then, without hesitation, he grinned. "Do you really want the honest answer?"
Raika’s eyes narrowed. "Speak."
Damian looked at both of them and smiled shamelessly. "I wanted to talk to two beautiful women. Is that so wrong?"
Akane blinked.
Raika’s eyebrow twitched.
Damian then reached into his storage ring and took out two jade slips. "Also, I wanted to give you both a gift."
The moment the jade slips appeared, both Raika and Akane’s expressions changed slightly.
Damian handed the lightning jade slip to Raika and the flame jade slip to Akane.
"This one is [Thunder Split Sword Art], Mid-Rank Noble Grade. It should suit you, Raika."
Then he turned to Akane. "And this one is [Burning Edge Sword Art], also Mid-Rank Noble Grade. Flame-element sword art. Pretty perfect for you."
For a moment, both women were silent.
They were Heavenly Sword Sect geniuses, so they naturally had Noble Grade arts.
But being suddenly gifted Mid-Rank Noble Grade sword arts by someone they had just met?
That was still shocking.
Raika frowned. "Why are you giving us something this precious?"
Akane’s smile also became more careful. "Damian, gifts like this usually come with a reason."
Damian only smiled. "Reason? Simple."
He looked at both of them with a calm, shameless grin. "I like giving gifts to beautiful women."
Raika’s eyebrow twitched.
Akane stared at him for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. "That answer is too vague."
Damian grinned wider. "Then let me make it clearer."
He looked at Raika first, then at Akane. "Of course there is a reason. The reason is that I like both of you."
The garden instantly became quiet.
Even the wind seemed to pause for a second.
Raika froze.
Akane’s smile stiffened.
Damian continued as if he had not just dropped a bomb. "I like seeing your beautiful faces. I like talking to beautiful women. And if I see something that suits you, I want to give it. That’s my reason."
Raika frowned deeply. "That cannot be your real reason."
Akane also narrowed her amber eyes slightly. "Damian, are you serious?"
Damian shrugged. "Very serious."
Raika looked at the lightning jade slip in her hand, then back at him. "This is a Mid-Rank Noble Grade sword art."
Akane slowly raised the flame jade slip. "This is not something people give away just because they like someone’s face."
Damian sighed helplessly. "Why does everyone keep acting like liking beautiful women is not a valid motivation?"
Raika’s expression became even stranger. "Because it is ridiculous."
Damian stood up slowly and dusted off his sleeves. "Whether you believe me or not is up to you."
Then he pointed lazily toward Selvara’s mountain peak. "But if you really doubt me, you can go ask my master. She knows enough about my past to understand that I have always been like this."
Akane blinked.
Raika’s eyes narrowed. "Elder Selvara knows?"
Damian smiled. "Unfortunately, yes."
For some reason, those words made both women even more dumbfounded.
If Elder Selvara knew and still accepted him as a disciple, then did that mean Damian’s words were actually true?
Was he really the kind of person who gave precious things away just because he liked beautiful women?
That sounded insane.
No, it sounded completely impossible.
But looking at Damian’s relaxed expression, neither Raika nor Akane could tell whether he was lying.
Damian turned around and waved his hand. "Anyway, take them or don’t. That’s your choice."
He glanced back with a lazy smile. "See you later, beautiful Senior Sisters."
After saying that, Damian walked away without waiting for their answer.
Raika and Akane remained standing in the garden, both holding the jade slips in silence.
Only after Damian disappeared from sight did Akane slowly look down at the flame jade slip in her hand. "Is this... for real?"
Raika stared at the lightning jade slip, her brows still furrowed. "I don’t know."
Akane’s smile became a little helpless. "Just what the hell is wrong with that Damian?"
Raika did not answer.
Meanwhile, on the path back to the Mission Hall, Damian’s calm expression finally broke.
A bright grin appeared on his face.
In front of him, a familiar system screen had already appeared, and surprisingly, it was a critical hit.
His grin became even more shameless. "Damn... beautiful women really are the best treasure chests."
