My Xianxia Harem Life

"Oh? That’s not free, you know," Riley teased, his tone dripping with smug amusement.

Veronica chuckled, appreciating his quick wit, and rewarded him with a warm laugh.

Her cheeks flushed a soft rosy hue, and it was clear that the single glass had hit her hard.

The slight tipsiness only enhanced her beauty, drawing audible gulps from the crowd.

Even Riley found himself staring.

Veronica wiped a stray drop of wine from the corner of her lips with a slow, pink tongue.

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Every man’s heart skipped a beat, and desire hung thick in the air.

In that moment, Veronica was a goddess incarnate, destined to haunt their dreams tonight.

"It’s my husband. You remind me of him," Veronica finally confessed, her voice soft but steady.

Riley nodded thoughtfully, reaching for the bottle to refill her glass, but she placed her hand over the rim, stopping him.

"That’s enough," she said with a teasing smile.

"I can only handle one glass. Any more, and you might get lucky enough to see a naughtier side of me, Riley."

The way she said his name sent a shiver down his spine.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes slightly hazy, and her lips curved into a mischievous smile.

She was intoxicating, even more so than the wine.

Riley chuckled.

"I wouldn’t mind that at all," he said, leaning back.

"Do tell me more, though. Is your husband away on a mission or quest somewhere?"

The light in Veronica’s eyes dimmed slightly.

"He died."

Riley felt a pang of guilt for bringing it up.

"I’m sorry to hear that."

"Don’t be." She waved a hand dismissively, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"The ones responsible for his death are gone too. I made sure of that. Justice has been served, and that’s enough. More than enough."

Her words were firm, but there was a trace of melancholy in her tone, as if she were trying to convince herself more than him.

"I see," Riley said, carefully gauging her mood.

"How long has it been?"

Veronica hesitated for a moment before answering, "More than a hundred years."

Riley’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"A hundred years?" He leaned closer, his tone gentle but insistent.

"That’s a long time. Long enough to grieve and mourn. Maybe it’s time to move on, to let someone else into your life. Someone who could make you smile again."

Veronica’s lips twitched into a genuine smile, but it was tinged with amusement.

"You mean you, don’t you?" she asked, a soft laugh escaping her.

"You’re barely in your twenties, Riley. You’re a baby compared to me."

"I’m twenty-five," Riley corrected, grinning as he flexed his arm. His biceps bulged impressively beneath his shirt.

"And I’m more than enough man where it counts. I could take care of you, Veronica, if you’d just let me."

Veronica tilted her head, her eyes lingering on his arm.

"They’re impressive, I’ll admit," she said, her tone playful.

"But you’re also in big trouble, Riley. With two giants after your head, you’ll probably make me a widow again in no time."

Riley smirked, leaning forward with a cocky grin.

"And what if I manage to escape all that? What if I outsmart the Phantom Abyss Sect and the Prince Clan? What then? Do I get a kiss or something?"

He expected a witty comeback, maybe another laugh, but instead, Veronica leaned in.

Riley froze as her warm breath brushed against his ear.

She was so close he could smell the faint, intoxicating mix of wine and her natural fragrance—a blend so alluring it made his heart race.

"If you survive both the Phantom Abyss Sect and the Prince Clan’s bid for revenge," she whispered, her voice low and seductive, "I’ll give you more than a kiss."

Riley swallowed hard, his pulse pounding. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

The way she spoke, the way she moved—it was as if she were toying with him, drawing him into her web, and he was powerless to resist.

"A deal, then," he said finally, his voice thick with excitement and determination.

"You’d better be ready, Veronica, because I don’t lose."

Veronica leaned back, her laughter ringing out like the sweetest melody.

"We’ll see, Riley. We’ll see."

But even as she laughed, Riley noticed the flicker of something deeper in her eyes—hope, doubt, and perhaps a trace of longing she couldn’t entirely hide.

And that only made him want her more.

Riley had drunk five jugs of Dragon Hearts wine and finally decided to leave as the last light of day faded, giving way to the darkening sky.

He couldn’t help but smile to himself, considering the day a resounding success.

Not only had he managed to get to know Veronica Gray—a woman who was as intriguing as she was beautiful—but he had also struck a bet with her in a game that he was certain to win.

The Phantom Abyss Sect and the Prince Clan, who once seemed like insurmountable obstacles, now appeared like ants in comparison to the strength and divine techniques he had amassed.

Sigh!

"If only I could get my hands on the Dao of Time next," Riley thought to himself, a wistful expression crossing his face.

"Then I could just fast-forward through all this tedious nonsense and skip straight to the good parts. No more waiting, no more obstacles."

With a deep, satisfying breath, he turned his gaze to the path ahead and walked back toward their courtyard.

The night had already fallen, and the Heavenly Sword Sect seemed even more beautiful under the soft glow of countless lanterns that dotted the landscape.

Their gentle light flickered like stars, casting a serene, almost ethereal glow over everything.

Riley couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of it all, though his thoughts were far from tranquil.

As usual, the people around him kept their distance, casting him only the briefest of glances, their eyes quickly diverting away as if they dared not acknowledge his presence.