Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 218
In the evening, still lingering with the last traces of summer, the inland city, surrounded by mountains, had no wind at all. The air was humid, sticky, and suffocatingly oppressive.
For outsiders from the highlands or coastal areas, this climate was so unbearable that it made them lose the motivation to do anything.
A tall, red-haired girl unbuttoned another button on her chest.
Her striking appearance and figure, different from the petite local girls, were enough to make her stand out. This action made it even harder for the men on the street to take their eyes off her: her fair skin and the prominent half of her chest were boldly exposed to the air. Even the bold streetwalkers wouldn’t dare to open their collars so low.
But no one dared to treat her like a streetwalker and approach her because her expression was too calm and composed, even with a hint of indifferent arrogance. Coupled with her deep eye sockets and high nose, she exuded a sharp aura of “men are all trash”. Although attracted by her appearance and bold demeanor, it was still early, and most men weren’t yet drunk enough to think they could flirt with this beauty—truth be told, even without considering her heels, she was taller than most men on the street. Admiring was one thing, but no one wanted to stand in front of her and become a laughingstock.
“Vasilia!” someone called out to her.
Vasilia looked up and saw her friend Alibeth standing in front of a tavern, so she changed her original plan and walked towards the tavern.
Alibeth was also tall, but not as tall as Vasilia. Her hair was closer to brown, and she had a faint dimple on her left cheek when she smiled.
Vasilia glanced at the half-open door and could tell that the tavern wasn’t of high quality. The people inside were those with limited pocket money or travel expenses. Even though it was still daylight, it was already lively and noisy, with people drinking.
Seeing Vasilia’s raised eyebrows, Alibeth didn’t need to speak to know what her friend was thinking. “Alibeth, how did you end up in such a place looking for men?”
“It’s not me,” Alibeth quickly said. “It’s Shana who met a singing guy a few days ago, and I’m here to find her.”
Vasilia said, “Remember to remind her not to get pregnant by accident.”
Alibeth was momentarily choked by her bluntness.
They were the new generation of the Lion Family. Every year, some girls between the ages of 16 and 20 were allowed to leave their hometown to travel around the continent, broaden their horizons, hone their skills, and also—fall in love.
If they met outstanding men during their journey and had excellent offspring with them, it would be a good thing. This was the tradition of the Lion Family.
“She’s just playing around,” Alibeth said helplessly. “Although Shana is a bit wild, she’s very careful about such things.”
Bards, as a group, were indeed mostly charming and humorous, with a talent that particularly appealed to girls. But for the Lion Family, men who sang and wrote poetry every day were too weak and wouldn’t be considered as potential fathers for someone like Vasilia, who was in the cadre reserve.
Vasilia always preferred to be alone, while Alibeth was good friends with Shana. The three of them happened to meet in this city and naturally gathered together, but Vasilia couldn’t agree with Shana’s overly broad choice of partners.
“Want to go upstairs and drag Shana out with me?” Alibeth invited her. “That girl gets too carried away with men. If she’s still naked in bed, I’ll need help wrapping her in a sheet and throwing her out the second-floor window to sober up.”
Vasilia was amused by Alibeth’s harsh words, which put her in a slightly better mood. She really didn’t want to step into this roadside tavern, but since Alibeth said so, Vasilia also thought Shana needed some restraint.
“Alright,” she said.
The two pretty girls received a chorus of whistles and lewd or covetous looks as they walked into the tavern, along with a small portion of disdain.
For example:
“What is that? A woman?”
“Where do such tall women come from, fuck…”
“Freak. Maybe she’s a witch…”
Alibeth coldly glanced at the corner, where a few men were commenting on Vasilia’s figure. The men, who thought they were quiet enough, immediately shut up under her imposing gaze.
“Don’t mind them,” Alibeth said as she made her way through the tables and crowd with Vasilia. “They’re just a bunch of wimps.” If it came to a fight, even together, they wouldn’t be enough for them to warm up.
Vasilia didn’t mind at all. Like everyone else, hunting the opposite sex was one of her purposes in traveling the continent, but she always liked men who were strong enough. Appearance was secondary. The main thing was to be tall, robust, and have a beast-like quality…
Vasilia suddenly stopped.
“Vasilia?” Alibeth, standing on the stairs, looked back in confusion.
Vasilia withdrew her gaze.
“Nothing,” Vasilia said.
As they walked up the third-floor corridor, they heard Shana’s naturally slightly hoarse and uninhibited laughter. There was no need to search—the wide-open door and the noisy room were undoubtedly their target.
“Shana!” Alibeth stood at the door with her hands on her hips, frowning at the overwhelming smell of alcohol inside.
Shana, with freckles on her nose, was sitting cross-legged on the bed, playing dice with a long-haired man. There were three or four other people in the room, both men and women, clapping, cheering, and laughing heartily.
“Alibeth, why are you here? Feeling lonely without me?” Shana was wearing only a thin robe, which seemed to be wrapped haphazardly around her body, almost fitting Alibeth’s prediction of “wrapping her naked in a sheet”.
“You’ve been playing for too long. Remember, we have to leave for Lakan City tomorrow?” Alibeth said helplessly. “Have you been fooling around in this room for the past few days?”
The long-haired man touched Shana’s thigh. “Shana, baby, are you leaving me?”
Shana threw the dice aside and leaned against him. “No, leaving you would be worse than death.”
Alibeth was used to Shana’s behavior, but the noisy crowd in the room made her a bit impatient. She glanced at the men and women on the carpet who ignored her, seriously considering whether to throw them all out first.
Vasilia approached Alibeth, who was half a head shorter. Even without entering the room, she could see inside.
“There’s been a change, Shana,” Vasilia said expressionlessly. “‘Over there’ sent a message.”
Both Alibeth and Shana’s expressions changed almost immediately. Shana straightened up, tied her messy curls into a ponytail, and effortlessly jumped off the bed.
“Shana?” The handsome, dark-skinned man was a bit taken aback.
“I love you, Ronan, but I have to go.” Shana blew him a kiss. “It’s okay if you forget me.”
Alibeth had no interest in irrelevant people. She and Shana followed Vasilia into the hallway, eagerly asking, “What message? Is there a mission?”
Vasilia’s performance and rank in the family were higher than theirs, so the two girls fully trusted that Vasilia had received orders from their superiors.
“Oh, two days ago, Lord Yelia said, ‘Return by the first snowfall this year,'” Vasilia said.
Alibeth and Shana: “…Is that it?”
This kind of notification was clearly a mass message, only differing in the time of receipt!
Alibeth realized that Vasilia was making an excuse to get Shana out. She slapped Shana alertly. “Alright, do you still want to go back? We need to leave as planned tomorrow.”
Shana shrugged. “But Ronan has great skills, and he’s gentle and patient.”
She said this, but she had no intention of turning back.
Vasilia led the way down the stairs. “Gentle… you like such weak men?”
“I’m not like you,” Shana said. “Or rather, you’re not like most women. I know you like those gladiators who can match you in a fight—oh.”
She let out a teasing whistle.
Alibeth, walking last, didn’t understand why Shana suddenly stopped on the stairs.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, puzzled.
Shana stepped aside to make room for her.
Alibeth saw that Vasilia had already walked down the stairs, but instead of leaving, she went to a corner. In that dimly lit corner, a man sat at a table against the wall. He was very tall, with broad shoulders and long legs. Most importantly, his seemingly ordinary posture and clothing couldn’t hide his superior physique—Alibeth was sure that beneath those clothes were well-trained muscles.
The warriors of the Lion Family were like that, shaping their bodies through years of rigorous training. The man exuded a similar aura, and Alibeth was surprised she hadn’t noticed him when they entered.
But clearly, Vasilia had.
She walked to the table and sat down directly.
“Want a drink?” she asked.
The tall man, even while sitting, was a head taller than others. He glanced at Vasilia, but his gaze lingered on her face rather than her boldly exposed chest.
His scrutiny was almost presumptuous, but Vasilia didn’t feel offended.
“No,” he said.
Vasilia wasn’t angry at the refusal. Instead, she showed her first smile of the night with great interest.
“Is it because I’m not attractive enough?” she bluntly asked. “Do you prefer pure, pitiful girls?”
The tables along the tavern walls were designed for one or two people. Both of them were taller than average, so even sitting normally, their long legs were already touching under the table.
Vasilia leaned forward, bringing her face closer to his. “Am I not your type?”
The men around them stared, but her target leaned forward, easily blocking most of their view.
His move seemed intimate, as if he were about to kiss Vasilia’s earlobe, but only she heard his low, steady voice.
“I don’t sleep with a Lioness.” His naturally deep voice deliberately lowered and vibrated the air, giving Vasilia goosebumps.
As he finished, he started to pull back, but Vasilia grabbed his collar, preventing him from retreating.
“How about a fight?” Vasilia’s eyes sparkled with flames. “If you lose, you listen to me.”
The man was silent for a moment, then pried her hand off.
“What if you lose?” he asked.
“I won’t lose.” Vasilia was always confident.
“Oh,” the man said softly. “Then you’d better remember the name of the first person to defeat you.”
“My name is McMullen.”
The author has something to say:
Just writing whatever comes to mind.
Their reunion is in Chapter 180.
<<< || Table of Contents || >>>
Kinky Translations 