Chapter 296: Layla (I)

When Alex landed to the palace's tiled floor, he clenched his hand into a fist and punched out hard with it into the air.

As soon as his fist met the air, a small amount of air that was in front of his body was pushed away from him.

"Cool." Alex said with a smile.

As he was feeling the new shocking toughness of his body, the ancient voice of the palace-spirit suddenly sounded out.

"Congratulations boy. You have successfully cultivated your body. Now, it remains bloodline cultivation for you to become a quad-cultivator" It said.

Haha!

Alex grinned and nodded his head.

"Very soon. And I think I should be the first in this world to be a quad-cultivator." He said.

"Certainly. Who else do you think can rival your abilities? None. Although there would spectacular geniuses in some other places in cities in some other states, but their ability definitely wouldn't match close to yours." The palace-spirit said.

Alex nodded his head.

"Ready to leave?" The palace-spirit asked.

"Yes, you can bring me out" Alex said.

Immediately Alex said so, space distorted around his body and he was teleported out of the palace.

When he appeared in his room, he sat in the cross-legged position on his bed and went into his comprehension state.

***

Few days later...

Alex was going through a large, thick-cover book when a knock was heard on his door.

"Come in" He said.

Then the door opened with someone who was a member of his organization stepping in.

Immediately this person entered, he said "Master, there is someone here to see you."

Alex furrowed his brows.

'Who could this be again?' He said inwardly.

Then his eyes narrowed when he remembered the young, chubby lady from the Imperial Herb House. She had once told him that her boss would come to lol for him soon. But he couldn't be sure if this person was the boss of the Imperial Herb House.

"Did the person tell you where he or she is from?" Alex asked, looking at the person before him.

"Yea, she said she is from the Imperial Herb House" The person replied.

'Hmm. It could be her' Alex muttered within himself.

"Where is she?" Alex asked.

"She is in the private discussion room that we set up for you" The person replied.

"Okay. You can go back to your post" Alex said.

The person nodded and left.

Alex then stood from the bed, changed his clothes and left his room for the private discussion room where he would meet the female that was from the Imperial Herb House.

When Alex got there, he opened the door and went in.

Immediately he entered, he saw a young woman. But she was wearing a mask. Still, he could definitely say that she was beautiful.

The young masked lady had a long and straight black hair, a pointed nose, gorgeous intensely blue eyes and a beautiful white skin that was as smooth as jade.

When the young lady saw Alex, she said with a smile that was hidden by the mask she wore "It's very nice meeting you, The Godly Punisher"

Alex nodded his head.

But there was a question that kept ringing in his mind, so he proceeded to ask "Are you the boss of the Imperial Herb House?"

"Yes. I am the one. My name is Layla, Layla Scarletwood" The lady responded.

"Okay. It's nice meeting you too" Alex said. Then he mentioned "I met a worker of yours who said you wanted to see me."

"Yes, I wanted to see you for something of great importance." Layla said.

"And what might that be?" Alex asked.

"I have this ancient expert inheritance that I want you to accompany me for." Layla said.

"Accompany you? You mean as a bodyguard?" Alex asked in a curious tone.

"No. But a-as a p-partner." Layla said with slight difficulty.

Alex's eyes shone with great surprise when Layla said that. Then before he could say anything, Layla quickly spoke again, as she felt that he might reject her proposal. "Actually, the inheritance can only be shared between two cultivators who... who tr-trust and love each other."

The glow of astonishment in Alex's eyes increased in intensity once again. Then it receded after Alex got a grip on himself.

"If I heard you right, you want me to be your cultivation partner?" He asked to confirm once again what he heard.

"Yes" Layla responded.

"And the inheritance can only be shared between two cultivators who trust and love each other?" Alex asked.

"Yes, or it could backfire, ruining the both of them" Layla said sincerely. She didn't want to mince words, telling him from the start exactly what he needed to know. Also, at the moment, she was hoping that Alex wouldn't reject her request, as she felt that she really hasn't done much for him, except give him some body-cultivations herbs for free and order her workers to treat him specially. But if Alex hadn't come to her herb house, she would have come to his organization with many things to give him. Although Alex could be insanely rich as he had a super-rich uncle, and all her wealth and assets wouldn't match close to his, but she felt that Alex wasn't the type to look down on someone's financial status. So, if she gave him the little that she brought with her, Alex would accept it with a smile. But he had come to her place already, and there was no need for her to bring him anything again. The only thing she could do now was tell Alex everything he needed to know, so he could believe her and possibly trust her.

Alex grinned.

"And you think I am trustworthy?" Alex asked.

"Well, to be sincere, I have been looking everywhere, including in cities in other states for a male that would accompany me to the inheritance ground. I however couldn't find any, as they were all full of darkness, filths and shits. But you, I can certainly trust with all my heart. And my reason for this is because of how you fought everyone to win Olivia's hands in marriage. At that point in time, everybody thought that you wouldn't come, but you appeared, proving them all wrong. It's that kind of man who would stand for me when the whole world is against me that I want to have in my life. Although you are engaged to her already, there's really nothing bad in taking one more. Besides, I have searched everywhere for a suitable candidate for me, and now that I have discovered one, I want to end my search today with him in my life" Layla said, speaking everything that was in her mind.

"Hmm. So you have asked some people in the past to accompany you for this inheritance thing?" Alex asked.

"Yes." Layla replied.

Then she continued "All the males that I met and wrote down their names in a list, I canceled them off because I didn't like the way they behaved. They were haughty, extremely naughty, annoying, and above all, untrustworthy. Everytime I went to their abodes to remind them of the inheritance, they would open their mouth to demand for sex from me, like I was an harlot. There was even a time one drugged the fruit wine that he served me. The bastard was actually trying to have his way around me, but he didn't know I used my power of fire to entirely burn off the wine in my stomach. After discovering that the drugged wine he gave me had no effect on me, he tried to kill me, since he was exposed. But the fool didn't know I was more powerful than him, as I have been hiding my cultivation level. I simply slaughtered the bastard. But I don't blame those guys anyways, I blame myself for not looking in the right places" Layla said.

"Who were those guys anyways?" Alex asked.

"Both popular and unpopular cultivators." Layla replied.

"Hmm. Okay." Alex said. And seeing how Layla was honest with him, he decided to ask her another question "Are you a virgin?"

"Yes, I am still a virgin. No man has had anything amorous to do with me" She responded.

"That's cool. But can you prove that to me?" Alex asked.

"How do I do that?" Layla asked.

"Well, by taking off your mask and gown to reveal your nakedness. Then spread your legs wide apart so I may see if the seal to indicate that you are a virgin is still intact" Alex said with lewd smile appearing in his face.

When Layla heard that, she shivered.

Although she was very unhappy with his request, as it seemed like he was trying to take advantage of the situation she was in. But since she had totally decided in her mind that she wanted him to be her cultivation partner, she could only do what he asks for. Besides, she felt that he was right to request for that. Although it was a little too much, but if it was her in his shoes, she would definitely request for the same thing that Alex asked for. So, the person must be ready to do anything to earn the person's trust. Also, she had made up her mind to do everything he would ask for.

But just as she was about to take off her gown, Alex's eyes that was glowing with fake lust was instantly replaced with surprise.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked in shock.

"I am doing what you you told me to do, which is to take off my dress so I may show you that my virginity seal is still intact" Layla replied in a perplexed tone. She couldn't understand why Alex was suddenly asking her what she was about to do.

"Nah. I was only kidding" Alex said. Then he continued "You see, I am also like those guys. I am a very naughty person. My mind is filled to the brim with filths. So, if I am like this, how can you find me trustworthy, since all that my mind is upon is how to get your luscious body to my bed and do some dirty things with it?"

"Well, you are not like them. You are different. At least, you just stopped me now from totally undressing to reveal my nakedness to you. Besides, you have been interrogating me since to know some things about me." Layla said.

"Hmm" Alex muttered. Then he asked "How am I different from the other guys?"

"The crazy guys that I met instantly demanded for sex when I told them about the inheritance, with the stupid excuse that I would be their cultivation partner which was the same thing as a wife. But you, you didn't ask for anything like that. The only thing you asked for which was a tease but felt right to me was that I should undress so that you may see if truly I am still a virgin. So you are different." Layla said.

"Hmm. But why me? Is it because of my battle prowess? It can't definitely be because you find me trustworthy" Alex asked.

"You are right. It isn't only because I find you to be a reliable person. But because of your amazing and seemingly fathomless battle skills. And since I have found someone who probably has it all, I decided to give it a shot. And I hope you wouldn't turn me down" Layla said and ended her statement in a pleading tone.