"Is this my sister in law?" Barbara asked, her voice still thick with emotion. She looked up at the tall, valiant woman standing beside her brother. The woman wore a battle skirt fashioned from short sword sheaths, and Barbara blinked her tear-damp eyes in curiosity.
"You could say that," Barcas replied, rubbing the back of his head. He was slightly taken aback that she had arrived at that conclusion so quickly. Was it really that obvious?
Barbara squinted, a hint of sternness entering her expression. "What do you mean by that? Is she my sister in law or not? Be clear, brother. Are you trying to shirk responsibility?"
She did not like her brother being so unconvincing. It made it seem as if he were ashamed of the relationship. In her opinion, he should be more like Leyvi, who was open and above board, proudly acknowledging his wives without any hesitation.
As twins, he could easily sense his sister's disapproval. He let out a soft sigh, his own expression shifting to one of quiet confidence. "That is right," he stated clearly. "This is your sister in law, Livana. When we return home, I will marry her as soon as possible."
"Hehe. That is more like it! I almost disowned you as my brother," Barbara giggled, her stern facade melting away into relief and happiness.
Livana, who had been standing to the side, could not help but allow a small, genuine smile to touch her lips. She had not even exchanged a full conversation with Barbara yet, but she already liked this cute sister in law immensely. Not only had Barbara immediately taken her side, but she was also the same delicate, scholarly type as her brother, which instantly evoked Livana's innate desire to protect her.
"Nice to meet you, Barbara. I am Livana," she said, stepping forward. "I fell in love with your brother at first sight and pursued his love. I hope you can accept me and bless our relationship." She admitted this boldly, without mincing her words.
So what Senior Lapin said was true. She really is the one who pursued my brother first, Barbara thought, casting a knowing glance at Barcas.
Barcas, for his part, could not help but feel a little embarrassed by the direct and public confession.
Why do you have to say that out loud? he thought, his cheeks warming with a flush of embarrassment.
Barbara, however, smiled sweetly at Livana. "Do not worry, Sister Livana. My brother is not that popular with ladies, so I am truly grateful that you like him." She then turned a playful but warning gaze toward Barcas. "If he does anything irresponsible, Sister Livana, you can report it to me. I will make sure to correct him."
The corner of Barcas's mouth twitched. This girl... why is she acting like I am some kind of unreliable man? A wave of indignation rose within him. And who says that I am not popular? He consoled himself with the thought that just because all the ladies back home had been too shy or intimidated to confess to him, it did not mean he was undesirable. Since Livana had started pursuing him, he had begun to entertain the hopeful idea that there were other women who liked him but were simply too afraid to approach. Probably. Maybe.
Suddenly, Barbara's expression shifted as she received a sound transmission from Anda. Her eyes widened in shock, and she immediately switched her gaze from Livana to her brother.
"What? Sister Livana is pregnant? Is that true, brother?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and burgeoning joy.
The others in the group also reacted with surprise. After all, it was notoriously difficult for cultivators to conceive.
Leyvi found himself genuinely impressed. Among all his wives, only Nala had become pregnant, and that was after seven years together, an event he largely attributed to the luck talent he had given her. And now, his future brother-in-law had managed to achieve this in less than three years? It was a testament to some truly amazing luck.
Meanwhile, Barcas was also surprised, but for a very different reason. How did she find out? He had taken meticulous care to seal the embryo within Livana's body, ensuring it was undetectable even to the most sensitive energy sensing methods. His entire strategy had been to conceal the pregnancy, to prevent anyone from exploiting what he saw as a potential vulnerability.
Without a moment of hesitation, Livana confirmed it.
"That is right. I did it against his wish," she stated, her voice clear and unwavering. "I wanted his child even though he said it was not the right time. I was lucky and managed to conceive. If he had rejected the child, I would have raised it alone in my home continent, and I would not have blamed him for it at all. After all, it was my own selfish decision."
A small, proud smile then appeared on her face. "But although my man may look frail, his heart is as big as a mountain, and his will is as tough as diamond. He accepted the child, so I have decided to leave my current identity behind and follow him to his home continent as his wife."
The crowd was left utterly stunned. She was a woman of remarkable determination and decisiveness. They could not help but admire her courage.
Barcas brought a hand to his face, hiding his profound embarrassment. He had not expected Livana to reveal everything so openly. She showed not even a trace of shyness about it. Having been alone with her for so long, he had not realized how she would behave around others.
Barbara's small mouth hung agape. Her sister in law was truly a valiant woman, and not just in appearance.
"Congratulations, Sister Barbara, you will become an aunt later," Anda said, stepping forward with a warm smile. She then turned her attention to Livana and Barcas, her expression softening with concern. "But Mister Barcas and Miss Livana, since you are joining our party, you should not hide this fact from us. Secrecy could put you in danger. What if we assigned you to a difficult battle without knowing? It could risk a miscarriage."
"Forgive us," Barcas replied, his tone earnest. "We naturally had our own reasons for hiding this matter. But seeing that my sister is fine and healthy, it seems she has found good company, so my concern was perhaps unwarranted. I hope I can rely on everyone to help look after Livana as well." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "I have halted our child's growth for now by sealing the embryo, as raising a child here is unrealistic. Also, Livana is a great fighter. She can help in a fight, but as you said, a miscarriage is a real possibility. So, even if she must fight, please ensure she does not sustain any injury that could cause one."
He explained the situation honestly, laying out his fears and his practical precautions before the entire group.
"Hahaha! Brother Barcas. Do not worry about it. We have many capable fighters here. Your wife can just take it easy," Leyvi said reassuringly. He then turned his attention to Livana. "Do you have a reliable defensive technique or perhaps a strong spirit artifact for protection?"
Livana shook her head. "I am an offensive-oriented fighter." While she possessed several life-saving treasures, they were all single-use items and could not be considered consistent defensive methods.
"Alright," Leyvi nodded in understanding. "Anda."
"Yes," she replied, already knowing what he wanted. She raised her palm, and a softly glowing orange gem materialized above it.
The others who hadn't seen it before were instantly intrigued. A bloodline gem?
"Miss Livana, please take this bloodline gem. You can use it for your protection," Anda said, extending her hand. "Go ahead and try it."
Livana accepted it without hesitation and channeled a stream of her Qi into the gem. Instantly, a thick, translucent barrier shimmered into existence around her, its shape vaguely resembling a massive, curved tusk.
Anda smiled, pleased with the result. "Depending on the amount of Qi you provide, this barrier can even protect you from a few attacks from a Commander Level Demonic Beast. Against cultivators, perhaps only elite Core Formation Realm experts, like Royal Guards, would be capable of breaking it. So I believe this will serve as a fairly reliable defensive treasure for you," she explained, gently tapping her knuckles against the resilient barrier.
"This..." Barcas was genuinely taken aback. They were giving away a precious treasure so freely?
A bloodline gem of this quality was extremely rare, especially one geared for defense. When compared to a tier four defensive spirit artifact with a similar function, a bloodline gem was undeniably easier to use and far more efficient in its Qi consumption. Its value was immense.
"This Lady... Anda... is this truly fine?" Barcas asked, his voice hesitant. Aside from his sister and Anda, whose name he had just heard, he did not know anyone else here, yet they were already presenting them with such a valuable gift. The generosity felt almost overwhelming, and it left him feeling a little off balance.
"No worries," Anda replied warmly. "We have a few of them. Isn't that right, Barbara?"
"Right, right. I have one too," Barbara nodded enthusiastically. She promptly took out her own gem and willed it to activate, producing an identical translucent tusk barrier around herself.
As if on cue, another tusk barrier shimmered into existence just behind Barbara. This time, it was Viola who had summoned hers.
"You see? So you do not have to feel awkward about it," Anda said, her tone gentle and reassuring.
Victor had also received one, but he did not feel the need to join this impromptu demonstration. He found the idea of showing off in such a way to be mildly embarrassing.
Meanwhile, a certain noble lady watching the exchange was fuming internally. Why didn't I receive one of those things? How unfair! Panda, I hate you!