"How am I supposed to paint without a paint, sigh."

In the training ground Tihana was having a headache figuring out the assignment left behind by Azrael.

On the other hand, Riana was busy practicing the basics of spearmanship.

"I am going to confess."

A quiet voice pulled the two out from their own world. They both looked at Lian, their eyes were wide open.

"A-are you sure? He is your aunt's lover." Riana said, while Tihana nodded vigorously, agreeing with Riana.

"I know that, and plus my auntie told me that I am free to confess."

"B-but, there's a possibility that you might've been rejected. Aren't you scared?" Tihana asked.

Lian smiled, not answering the question.

"I am going to confess now, I have already resolved myself. If you guys want to, you can also confess." She teased.

""N-no, I don't like him or anything." Riana and Tihana denied at the same time. They both shook their heads, flustered, and their faces blushed.

Lian only chuckled at the scene.

***

"Sure. I am free right now, so I can give some time to meet them. I'll be waiting for them at the training ground." Azrael replied to Maxwell.

After Azrael returned to the Rose estate, he coincidentally saw Maxwell who was walking back and front, in the front gate. Maxwell heard that Azrael left the Rose Estate, that's why he used this moment to wait for his return and inform him about Richard and Hubert.

After receiving Azrael's instruction, Maxwell immediately contacted Hubert and Richard.

***

"Father!!" Tihana and Riana simultaneously shouted.

"I am glad you are okay." Hubert patted the head of his daughter, lovingly.

Contrary to Hubert's show of affection, Richard showed his calm appearance in front of his daughter.

"As long as you are safe."

"Un."

Both Maxwell and Hubert could only shake their heads, seeing the unhonest Richard.

After checking on their daughters. The three walked towards Azrael who was sitting on the edge of the training platform.

"Thank you for saving our daughter, Young Master Azrael."

Hubert and Richard bowed their heads.

"And I apologized for my son and daughter's actions." Richard apologized.

"Well, it's all in the past now, plus they were more tamed and responsible now. Although it's a shame that you wouldn't be able to enjoy having an obedient son and daughter."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What do you mean, Young Master?"

"I simply mean that they chose to be someone's maid and gardener now. Oh by the way maybe you need to find another wife so you can have a successor someday."

Hearing this, Richard blacked out and fainted/.

"Father!!"

"Riana dashed towards her father while feeling the guilt inside her because she was one of the reasons why his father fainted. At the same time, she was surprised by the fact that her brother chose to stay to garden the city's outside.

***

The bright stars hung in the sky, as if an ornament for the dark curtain that covered the peaceful heaven.

Two figures were facing each other at the silent garden. They were Lian and Azrael. Lian was having an internal turmoil. She was trying to construct the best possible sentence she could construct, along the way of trying to muster up courage. On the other hand, Azrael was waiting for her to speak up.

Lian's lips opened and closed multiple times, as if struggling to voice out her own sound.

After a few minutes of silence, a single question coming from Lian's mouth broke the silent atmosphere.

"May I ask what is the real nature of your relationship with my aunt?"

"She is my wife." A simple and direct answer from Azrael.

Lian's heart hurts as if gripped violently. Although she already knew Azrael's answer from the very beginning, she still felt uncomfortable hearing it from the young man, the target of her affection.

Initially, she resolved herself to hide her feelings but after being encouraged by her aunt to confess, it lit the fire and desire in her heart to be one with the young man in front of her.

She can hide no more. Be rejected, then she could accept it, and be accepted then she would gladly join Azrael's 'harem' like her aunt told her.

She took a deep breath to calm her inside that was in turmoil.

"Azrael, I have something to tell you. The moment I saw you, I just thought that you were a beggar because of your appearance, a beggar with a sharp tongue. But after that, I realized that you were not ordinary because if you really were a beggar how could you survive in the forest?" She paused and looked at the starry sky. "And just like what I have suspected you are not ordinary. The moment I was in danger, you appeared." At this moment she turned her eyes at Azrael and she found herself looking at his captivating eyes. "You saved me. And when you were dressed properly, I couldn't help but stare at you most of the time because you are more captivating than I expected. I enjoyed accompanying you, when I was with you, I felt that l was a normal girl. A girl without the dignity of the Rose family to maintain. I can let my guard down and I feel safe. You saved me not only once but twice. Azrael, although the time we spent together was short, I am afraid that I am in love with you."

Lian's face had a tint of rose, while her eyes were becoming more enchanted.

However, before being fully captured by Azrael's eyes, she turned her head and looked below.

Without waiting for Azrael's reply, she spoke in a high-pitched voice, "I confess to you not because I want to hear your answer right now. Right now, I am content with letting you know my feelings. But please wait for me before I get stronger, stronger enough to defeat a Qi Core Realm Cultivator, when that time comes, please tell me your honest feelings about me." Her high-pitched voice became lower and lower until it became meek.

She then ran away while the rose color on her face became more dominant.

"Confessing to me then leaving me alone?"

Azrael chuckled at the events that unfolded.

He then returned to his quarter to cultivate.

***

Two weeks have already passed since the training of the trio began. The wall between Tihana and Riana completely crumbled and they became more open to each other. And Lian was pleased by the current development.

Within those two weeks Tihana and Riana broke through to Qi Refining Realm and at the 2nd stage; and the momentum of their break through were not finished yet.

Tihana was able to figure out how to paint without using any paint by using her Qi as medium to paint. Azrael guided her and gave her techniques on how to use paintings in battle.

On the other hand, Riana's basic spearmanship was becoming more refined and accurate. With the guidance of Azrael, she was able to easily see her flaws.

Surprisingly, Lian was only half-step on becoming 9th Qi Refining Realm Cultivator. This also can be attributed to her physique with proper cultivation method and guidance from Azrael.

Her progress surprised everyone inside the Rose Estate and she was showered of praise by everyone.

But inside her, she was in chaos, and at this rate of progression, it wouldn't be too long before she could hear Azrael's answer.