Chapter 37: Cheating Is Stronger Than a Gravity Chamber (Patreon)

Bulma raised her glass. "First, a toast — to our man escaping the Gravity Chamber's clutches. Cheers!"

Lunch raised her glass too, eyes curving into a smile as she looked at Oryon. "Cheers!"

The three of them clinked glasses and each took a big sip of red wine.

A flush immediately rose to Lunch's and Bulma's cheeks.

Oryon sat down and patted his knee, and Bulma settled onto his lap with practiced ease.

Then she picked up a big piece of lamb chop and held it up to his mouth.

"Eat something first. I bet you're starving. You need a full stomach before you can eat us..."

Oryon gave Bulma's perky bottom a squeeze and laughed. "Here I was thinking I'd eat dinner and you at the same time..."

Bulma smiled and pushed the lamb toward him again. "Just eat already, my arm's getting tired holding this up."

Oryon opened his mouth and took the whole bite. The savory flavor burst across his tongue, juices flooding out, the taste lingering on his lips.

"Good?"

"Mm, delicious. So tender! Just as tender as Lunch's abalone..."

Bulma laughed. "Of course it is. Lunch's abalone really is a masterpiece — none of the chefs in my house can match her skill.

Lucky for you, though, the new chef we just hired makes a mean lamb chop, so you're in for a treat..."

Lunch gave Bulma a gentle nudge, her face flushing red. "Bulma, the abalone he means... probably isn't the one I cook."

Bulma froze for a beat, then blushed just as red.

"My abalone's pretty good too, isn't it?"

Oryon picked up a piece of abalone from the table and popped it into his mouth, savoring it thoughtfully. "It's decent, sure, but a little too watery. Feels like I can never get full off it..."

Bulma lifted her wine glass and took a small sip, smiling. "Never get full?

With all the chefs I've got cooking here, the supply's unlimited. There's no way I'd let you go hungry. Don't worry about the cost, there's plenty to go around..."

Oryon planted a light peck on Bulma's cheek. "Bulma, you're the best. Then I'm going to really dig in without holding back!"

Bulma pouted, sounding a little put out. "Just one kiss?"

Oryon decisively pulled her face back in and kissed her hard.

Their lips parted with a soft smack. She touched her own cheek and murmured, "That's more like it."

With Bulma and Lunch keeping him company, a whole table of abalone, oysters, lobster, and other seafood was devoured down to nothing.

By the time they headed to the bedroom, Oryon's stomach was visibly rounded — this time he'd truly stuffed himself.

With Bulma's help, he lay down on the bed, thoroughly satisfied. A fire seemed to be burning through his whole body; he felt no drowsiness at all, only a surge of energy.

"Hot... it's so hot, Bulma. Turn on the AC for me..."

Bulma pressed a button on the remote, and cold air came whooshing out.

Then she stepped onto the bed barefoot and dropped straight into his arms.

"Know why you're so hot?"

Oryon brushed aside the bangs falling over Bulma's eyes. "Why?"

"Because I had the chef slip in ginseng, deer antler, and a whole bunch of other tonics..."

Oryon blinked, then broke into a wicked grin and pulled her slender body against him.

"Is that so? Feeding me all those good things — are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Who's afraid of who?" Bulma thrust out her chest, refusing to back down.

The next second, Oryon scooped her up as easily as if she were a baby chick.

Moments later, Bulma was already crying for help. "Ah, help me... Lunch, come quick, come save me..."

A moment later, blue-haired Lunch walked in wearing a tight black silk hip-hugging dress.

She glanced at Bulma's pitiful state, startled, her legs pressing together on reflex, and asked, a little guilty, "Can I really hold up..."

An hour later, Oryon lay down to sleep, contentedly holding both Bulma and Lunch in his arms.

The System, silent for days, once again chimed in with a pleasant reward notification.

[Absence makes the heart grow fonder: your sweet interaction with Bulma left you both thoroughly pleased. Reward: 20 days of cultivation time.]

[Ding! Your intimate interaction with Lunch left you both thoroughly pleased. Reward: 10 days of cultivation time.]

In an instant, a wave of soreness surged through his entire body. His muscles felt like they were tearing apart, the pain bad enough to soak him in sweat.

Oryon could feel his strength growing.

Fortunately, it only lasted a few dozen seconds before the pain faded away.

Having a cheat code sure beat any Gravity Chamber!

Lunch was startled awake by the sound Oryon made and looked up at him, surprised.

"Oryon, what's wrong? Why's your head covered in sweat?"

As she spoke, Lunch sat up and grabbed a tissue to wipe the sweat from his face.

Oryon shook his head. "It's nothing. I've probably just been training too hard these past few days, and that meal was so rich it's only now catching up with me..."

Lunch let out a breath of relief and leaned into the crook of his arm.

"You scared me. I thought you'd worn yourself out..."

Oryon smiled faintly. "Don't underestimate me. There's no way you two could wear me out.

Tomorrow morning, test my Power Level with the Scouter again. I've got a feeling I'm only now starting to really pack on muscle."

"Mm!"

Lunch said, "Holding me like this can't be comfortable — your arm's going to go numb."

As she spoke, she turned onto her side, facing away from him, and pulled his arm around her waist.

"Like this, you can hold me while you sleep, and it won't put any weight on your arm..."

Oryon glanced back at Bulma, then looked at Lunch.

"But if I'm not holding Bulma, what happens if she wakes up in the middle of the night..."

"We'll deal with that if it happens..."

Just then, Bulma rolled over and tumbled right off the bed onto the floor, mumbling in her sleep, "Oryon, be gentle... I'm scared..."

Oryon tossed a pillow down to her, and Bulma hugged it close, drifting back into a sweet dream.

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