Chapter 60

After coming out of the control room and walking for a few minutes, Lu Yu saw the door to Tai Lie’s exclusive training ground and pushed it open to enter.

Tai Lie had just finished a phase of training and was resting while taking a sip of water, wiping the sweat with a soft leaf. Although this was just a dream, it felt quite real. After training for a long time, one would get tired, thirsty, and sweat, just like in reality. The training ground also thoughtfully provided clean water and soft leaves for rest.

The first time Lu Yu entered the training ground with Tai Lie, he thought this was the basic mode of the training ground, where everyone was the same. However, later, when he opened his own training ground, which was a physical training ground, he found that although the facilities inside were still quite primitive, the items provided for rest were not soft leaves and bamboo tubes filled with water, but towels and mineral water.

Lu Yu speculated that besides teaching and training facilities, certain things in the dream training ground might also be related to the experiences of the participants themselves. Because he had towels and mineral water in his mind, the dream training ground created these two things.

Although he didn’t know the significance of this, Lu Yu still silently noted it in his heart.

Not thinking about these things anymore, Lu Yu looked at Tai Lie, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips as he walked towards him.

At the moment Lu Yu walked in, Tai Lie noticed someone had arrived. Of course, it could only be that person.

A softness flashed in Tai Lie’s eyes, and he calmly wiped off the sweat, put down the soft leaf, picked up the bamboo tube, and drank some water.

Lu Yu walked up to him, watching the man’s Adam’s apple move up and down, and his face blushed slightly. “Uh, um, Tai Lie, are you free now?”

Tai Lie put down the bamboo tube, raised his hand, and wiped off the water stain on the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “What’s the matter?”

Maybe it was because he had just drunk water, Lu Yu felt that his voice wasn’t as deep and hoarse as usual, but rather thicker and more mellow, a standard dominant male god voice.

Lu Yu realized he might be a bit voice-controlled, otherwise why did his voice feel like it had a voltage of a hundred thousand volts, drilling into his ears and then into his heart, making his ears and heart itch?

He turned his head away, not looking at the “culprit” in front of him, the excitement and boldness he had when he came here had now retreated like a turtle. “Actually, it’s nothing…”

“Nothing?” Tai Lie took a step towards Lu Yu. “So you’re just here to see me?”

Lu Yu, “Um, sort of… Hey, why are you getting so close…”

Lu Yu watched Tai Lie approach, his mouth twitching, but he felt a little happy in his heart. If Tai Lie wanted to kiss him, then he could just accept it, and he wouldn’t have to initiate it himself!

He placed his hand on the man’s perfectly sculpted chest, pretending to hum, “Why are you in such a hurry—oops?”

Tai Lie slightly bent down, his hand gliding over Lu Yu’s arm, placing the bamboo tube on the wooden rack behind him, and then retracting his hand. “What did you just say?”

Lu Yu: …

He pushed the person away suspiciously. “I didn’t say anything.”

Lu Yu looked suspiciously at the man in front of him.

He was handsome, manly, with a dignified and upright demeanor.

He didn’t seem like someone who would deliberately tease others.

So just now… did he really just put down the bamboo tube?

Tai Lie, “What are you looking at?”

Lu Yu mumbled, “Nothing.”

Returning to the story, after Lu Yu refused Tai Lie’s offer to stay in his stone hut, Tai Lie never mentioned it again. Then, the two times they were intimate later on seemed rushed, as if Lu Yu had actively sought out opportunities to be with him…

Now Lu Yu seriously doubted whether he had overthought things. When Tai Lie suggested he sleep in the stone hut, he probably just wanted to chat under the leaves. Lu Yu had been thinking about all sorts of nonsense like “safety helmets,” but Tai Lie probably didn’t understand, after all, didn’t Tai Lie say he had never liked a man before? He definitely didn’t have any experience in that area…

Two beginners together…

Tai Lie lowered his head, looking at the man’s delicate features and elegant nose. Being so close, his breath rushed into Lu Yu’s nose.

He furrowed his brows slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and the muscles on his back tensing up.

Although he had just drunk water, he felt his throat starting to dry again.

Tai Lie forcibly suppressed the restlessness and clamor in his body.

He needed to give Lu Yu time. When their relationship was stable, then he could…

Tai Lie stepped back.

Lu Yu noticed his movement and pursed his lips.

The air fell silent for a moment.

Lu Yu didn’t know whether he should still bring up what he had planned just now.

In theory, kissing was something normal couples did, but his intentions were indeed impure.

Or should he clarify with him? He didn’t have to reveal everything about the control panel, just say that intimacy was necessary to upgrade the village?

After thinking it over, Lu Yu decided it was better to say it sooner rather than later.

He lifted his head. “Tai Lie, I want to kiss you…”

Tai Lie suddenly raised his eyelids, not saying a word, and moved towards Lu Yu.

“Wait a moment, there’s something important I want to tell you first.” Lu Yu hurriedly stopped him.

Tai Lie stared at him intently. “What is it?”

Lu Yu briefly explained in terms Tai Lie could understand about how intimacy between them could upgrade the village.

Tai Lie’s expression gradually darkened as Lu Yu spoke. “You’re saying you want to kiss me for the sake of developing the village?”

Lu Yu was taken aback. “Well, not entirely…” Of course, he also really wanted to be intimate with him.

Various thoughts flashed through Tai Lie’s mind rapidly, and his expression became increasingly grim. “So, feeding me food and bathing with me before, was that also for this purpose?”

“Or, agreeing to be with me was also for the sake of developing the village?”

“Lu Yu, I didn’t expect you to be so concerned about Matai.”

As he spoke, Tai Lie’s brows furrowed tightly, and his expression became so dark it could drip water.

Lu Yu heard him speak so much at once for the first time, realizing he had misunderstood. He quickly explained, “No, that’s not it! Don’t jump to conclusions! I’m with you simply because I like you!”

At this point, Lu Yu couldn’t care less about saving face, especially since there was no one else around. So, he spoke particularly loudly, almost shouting.

Seeing that Lu Yu’s expression seemed sincere, and after another confession, Tai Lie’s restless aura dissipated. However, his expression remained unsightly. “Lu Yu, I believe you, but I hope that you being with me is genuinely because of our feelings. That way, it’s fair to both of us.”

Lu Yu whispered, “I understand. It’s just a coincidence, and besides, I also want the village to develop well.” Besides, maybe the control panel would have some function in the future to help him prolong his lifespan.

“I’m very grateful for everything you’ve done for Matai,” Tai Lie said solemnly.

“Yeah,” Lu Yu muttered. “So… are we going to kiss or not?”

Tai Lie answered him with action, pulling him close and leaning down.

Unlike before, this time during the kiss, he added some force.

Lu Yu thought the little conflict had passed, closed his eyes happily in response, so he didn’t see the slight cloudiness in Tai Lie’s eyes.

In matters of love, Matai people would give their all to their partners, while also hoping for pure affection in return.

Tai Lie truly loved Lu Yu as a person, even if he didn’t have any witch abilities, and he was just an ordinary person, Tai Lie will still loved him.

He hoped Lu Yu felt the same.

—

Lu Yu returned to the control room, touched his slightly swollen lips, opened the control panel, and glanced at the progress bar.

He almost cursed out loud.

Both he and Tai Lie had worked so hard, but why wasn’t the progress increasing as much as the first two times?

If this continued, kissing probably wouldn’t be effective anymore.

But if even kissing wasn’t effective, how would they gain affection points in the future?

With worries weighing on his mind, after exercising for a while, Lu Yu fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, he was still troubled, but soon he didn’t have time to worry anymore.

After yesterday’s series of setbacks and marketing, many people came with hunted animals today.

Fortunately, there were also many Matai people among them, and with the knowledge they had learned from Lu Yu, Xia Cao, and others, it was easy to handle the barbecue. It was just grilling meat, nothing complicated.

By noon, after processing the first wave, they not only harvested a large number of fur resources but also obtained several weapon and armor chests.

Lu Yu felt a bit regretful that they only brought common land beasts, and there were no special potions or anything dropped.

In the afternoon, there were fewer people since they had only attracted one round of visitors last night. Lu Yu simply closed the door to thank the guests and let other Matai people spread out to collect information. He, Tai Lie, Xia Cao, and others then went to the commission area.

When they went, Lu Yu thought for a moment and decided to look for Mao Pu. Mao Pu had visited them again last night and even took them to his place for a visit, so Lu Yu knew the way.

Luckily, Mao Pu was in his hut, so Lu Yu asked if he could join them on their commission. Mao Pu readily agreed without hesitation.

As soon as they entered the commission area, Lu Yu was taken aback. The commission area was bustling, almost like a tourist spot during a national holiday, even livelier than outside.

Mao Pu explained, “Isn’t the Great Drift coming soon? We’ll definitely need to exchange goods with the external tribes, so everyone is actively preparing lately.”

Lu Yu pondered, “Are they trying to find the most valuable goods?” After all, nobody knew what the external tribes wanted the most or which goods could fetch the most in exchange. So, now was the time to rely on observation.

Mao Pu nodded, “Exactly! Although fur is widely accepted here, the external tribes may not want it. Rushing to exchange fur with others and then with the external tribes would not only be troublesome but also inefficient.”

“I heard that during one Great Drift, there was an external tribe on a piece of land that didn’t accept fur at all, even though they had plenty. But at the time, many of us here wanted a special type of wild beast they had. In the end, despite a lot of effort, we couldn’t gather enough goods to exchange and could only watch as another tribe from a different piece of land took the beasts away.”

Lu Yu was curious, “What kind of wild beasts? What’s so special about them? Why does everyone want them so badly?”

Mao Pu explained, “It is said that those beasts can run very fast, and the key point is, they can be ridden! They can also follow commands from humans!”

Could it be… horses?

That was Lu Yu’s first reaction. He had also thought about finding horses as a means of transportation, but he didn’t know how to tame them, nor had he encountered any wild horses. He didn’t expect that someone had actually succeeded in taming them.

It seemed that the people from the other land were quite capable.

Lu Yu asked Mao Pu for more information as they walked for a while, and finally, they squeezed their way to the front of the wooden shed where the supervisor was.

After explaining the reason to the guard in front of the shed, the guard went in to report. When he came back, he said only three people could enter. Lu Yu gave Xia Cao a few instructions and then entered with Tai Lie and Mao Pu.

The wooden shed was somewhat dim.

A person slowly turned around.

Lu Yu was puzzled. Wasn’t the person a pale-haired old man last time? Why was it…