My CEO Harem Cultivation System

Chapter 168 - The Way Of Winning A Person's Heart

"Oh," Mitsuko said and briefly glanced over at him. She looked at him from head to toe and then wrinkled her nose. "Well, you yourself look like you could get a bath. You have all of that unpleasant sweat running all over your body."

He quirked a brow. "Is that an invitation for me to join you in the spring?"

The man decided to be straight to the point. He didn't want to play around with her, or rather, he didn't want to blur the lines between her training him to be adept with using Ao and what they did.

"You… you can interpret however you want." Mitsuko walked ahead of him and never looked back. Her white robes were truly stained and covered with dirt in their spar earlier. "It is not up to me to decide whatever runs through your filthy mind."

He quirked a brow and wordlessly followed after her—if only to get his sword that had landed several feet away amongst the trees. The man stopped and picked up his sword, and saw that Mitsuko looked at him once. Possibly curious about what he had done, but then hurried away with a huff—and that was pretty much just about it.

Li Yang rolled his eyes and stood up.

He sheathed his sword and looked back at the path for the temple. The two of them shared a kiss and while it was overall pleasant, he was unsure if he should pursue her. 

At least, when he compared his current relationship with Setsuko and the probability of going home all by himself.

It was only a matter of time.

He could feel it.

And yet there was another thing. He looked at the destruction all around him—the uprooted trees cast away by Mitsuko's Ao Wave Blast, the struggles and sparring on the grass… would it be really alright for him to head back and let the Priestess handle the aftermath of her actions?

If she didn't worry about it then it was fine. Training was done and he could head back to the temple and absorb the rest of the Beast Cores he had gotten. The man returned to the temple all by himself.

While he might have been able to procure the Beast Cores from the young Priestess Leila in exchange for allowing her to satisfy her curiosity about the male anatomy—he was under no illusion or delusion that if he offered it to anyone else, perhaps someone like Mitsuko—he'd receive the same treatment.

Or maybe he would?

If anything, this might have been heaven on earth if a man was in a good position like he was.

The sight of various maidens of varying beauties were in the distance, somehow it did not seem like they were perturbed by Mitsuko's displays of power or were too focused in their work.

"Ah, it's Setsuko's Consort—hello!" A couple of the Priestess working outside of the temple saw him. Some pulled up to their feet and gave him a wave, others only looked on from a distance and continued with their activities. 

A vast majority of them were actually tending to some plot of land, growing fruits, grains and root crops. It seemed like a great number of the Priestesses truly did have a tendency for green Ao.

"Good afternoon, Priestesses. Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked with a smile. There was still good to be done by creating a solid and respectable reputation. So far, after interacting and helping them for a couple of times, he was well-liked enough. "Do you need help in watering your crops?"

One of the Priestesses was quick to scold him. "No, we can't expect you to work—it's our job!" 

"Besides, it's pretty easy and relaxing actually." The Priestess he recognized to be one of Leila's friend gave him a smile. It was a woman he couldn't quite remember the same. She turned to one of the vines and concentrated in stimulating her Ao on them.

A bright juicy plump tomato suddenly grew up from a vine stalk.

"Would you like to try one of my freshly grown tomatoes?"

Her friend elbowed her and said, "Tomato."

"It's pronounced as tomato."

"Why would someone eat a raw tomato?" Another Priestess laughed and then turned to him. Unlike the other Priestesses who seemed kind and delicate, this one was actually of a different temperament. She had an alluring aura that spoke of her confidence and she leaned in towards him and batted her eyelashes. "I grew some grapes in my vineyard, if you'd like to visit them right now behind the garden."

"Oh, I bet they'll be sour, Ixora."

"Please don't talk about your tomatoes, Mareena."

"Hey, let's not squabble right now. It's embarrassing to do it in front of him."

"Speak for yourself, Tomura."

Not everyone of them were exactly working extremely hard to develop their abilities in manipulating Ao. He cleared his throat and inclined his head, "I think I have to go on ahead and wash up, Priestesses. If you'll excuse me."

"Oh, we'll see you at supper then, Li Yang!"

"I better get these fruits and vegetables to the kitchen then and let Sister Ellwyn do her cooking soon. Do you have anything you wish to eat tonight, Li Yang?"

The CEO paused for a moment, after looking at the freshly grown and plump tomatoes—he could go for some tomato risotto and maybe wine if the grapes in the vineyard had been prepared a long time ago. However, he wasn't so sure if the women knew it here or had immediate access to the necessary ingredients for the complete dish?

He looked at the women for a moment and rubbed his chin. "Would it be alright if I can try something in the kitchen?"

A vast majority of the Priestess's eyes widened. "You're going to cook for us?"

"Well, if it tastes alright." He shrugged, not exactly the best cook, he then eyed the crop field behind them. "But I'll be in need of what you've grown, the freshest vegetables and fruits."

"Not a problem!"

"Sounds good to me,"

"Pluck as many as you need, we don't mind~"

He raised a brow, but then his lips twitched. "Very well then, I'll take everything."

—-

Setsuko Hirayama never thought she'd live to see the day where she'd become like the Priestesses that she once disregarded and treated with derision. 

She had planned to rise up in the group of Kin Hunters and live her life actively enough in her early years. Once she had finally saved enough money, then she'd retire at a good age and then enjoy the rest of her life. And that had been with or without a man, it was completely optional.

That was pretty much it.

But as her attention drifted away from Priestess Rei's lectures, she clutched her chest and thought about the warmth in her stomach and then inside of her heart. It was like she was given a new chance at life because of a man that arrived from another world.

While the part about him leaving was something she avoided like the plague—

There was only contentment in her chest. She raised her hand and allowed the flicker of Ao to gather around it, and while she could feel it flowing around her hand, it was invisible to most of the people's eyes.

Blue Ao.

It was strange since she had sworn that the High Priestess said it was red—but then she had only watched and did her best to replicate what High Priestess Rhelea had done. Setsuko glanced out at the window and at the setting sun, eager for the end of the day so she could find Yang once everything was over.

"—for those who wish to rise up in ranks, or for those who want to maintain them." 

Priestess Kei's voice held an edge that seemed directed at her, even while the Priestess walked around the small room. 

"It is best that you participate in the upcoming test for Priestesses here in the temple. While Mashiro Temple is open for all women with the ability to use Ao, it is not enough for them to be simply leeches and not contributing at all."

Setsuko wasn't imagining it.

Setsuko thought it was her twin sister Rei that was the terrible one to be with, but instead, it was the quiet but extremely strict Kei. The Priestess Rei was actually quite kind to Leila… that girl, who—she had shared Yang with for a night?

While things happened, she didn't seem to mind it much as she was caught in the moment.

But now, she was just wondering if that had been a good idea.

Her blood boiled slightly at the moment, but unlike that girl, she held a much more intimate and close-knitted bond with Li Yang. Setsuko didn't need to feel insecure about it at all, didn't she? But what about Mitsuko? Surely she didn't have to worry about a woman who's attention was solely on keeping the Mashiro Temple's progress and growth, right?

"Alright, we'll be dismissed for today."

Finally!

Setsuko bolted up to her feet before anyone could. She met the gaze of the green-haired Priestess and only smiled. The woman never had any troubles by going against another person… or at least didn't care.

—-—-

Author's Note: "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach?" It also works for girls too! Cooking is definitely a skill valued by both men and women. Perhaps there is a chance to live on take-out food, which may have also risen due to the events last year… but, getting a home cooked meal is nice too! The plucking fruit joke may have been terrible, lol. Watch out soon for a new cover! People on Patreon have already seen it though, as thanks for helping me afford them. Thank you for reading!