Chapter 70-71: I Plan to Explore the Void Again
Ekaterina had cleaned herself up, her clothes immaculate. She seemed to be clinging to this semblance of order, this outward appearance of composure, to maintain her dignity amidst her inner turmoil.
But after several rejections, the dual torment of her body and mind was taking its toll. She tried to remain defiant, but her eyes betrayed her confusion, her desperation, her pain.
She sensed that something was wrong, that her body, her thoughts, were being influenced by an unseen force.
Her instincts screamed at her to flee, to put as much distance as possible between herself and Qin Chu. He was like a magnet, drawing her closer, tempting her towards a dark abyss.
But her body disobeyed her mind. She couldn’t leave. She found herself drawn to his room, inhaling his scent, waiting for him to appear.
She didn’t even know what she would say to him, what she would do.
Normally, a woman as strong-willed as Ekaterina wouldn’t be so easily swayed. The potion would only increase her affection, not control her actions.
But Qin Chu’s cruel tactic, the silent treatment, had amplified the potion’s effects, her desire growing stronger, more difficult to resist with each passing rejection.
“Ah, Hero-sama, I just remembered, we have other important duties to attend to. We’ll take our leave now,” Charles said, his voice smooth and polite.
He was a smart man. To interrupt their… encounter… was… impolite.
He winked at Qin Chu, then, with his men, discreetly retreated.
As soon as they were gone, Ekaterina, unable to hold back any longer, lunged at Qin Chu, her arms encircling him, pulling him close.
Her lips, soft and pink, sought his.
She couldn’t bring herself to beg, to discard her last shred of pride, so she let her actions speak for her.
But before their lips could meet, she felt something blocking her, his finger pressed against her mouth.
The torment, both physical and mental, was unbearable. She looked at him, her beautiful face filled with confusion, questioning his actions.
Qin Chu’s voice, low and steady, held a hint of amusement. “Ekaterina…”
“Do you remember Jie Luo?”
His words were like a whisper from a demon.
Dark and chilling.
Hearing his name, Ekaterina shuddered, her face paling.
Ah…
She remembered.
Jie Luo!
The man she loved!
But if she loved him, why was she consumed by thoughts of Qin Chu? Why did his presence fill her with such… warmth… such longing?
Their night of passion… it was seared into her soul, impossible to forget.
She had almost forgotten. She and Loseweisse had planned this. They would use him, drain him of his power, and then kill him, sacrificing him to resurrect Jie Luo.
How could she have forgotten something so important?
And why did the thought of their plan now fill her with such revulsion? She loathed herself, the very idea of their scheme now abhorrent.
Qin Chu, seeing her pale face, her confusion, delivered the final blow.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t share my women. Especially not with ghosts.”
“Save your kisses, your body… for the one you love.”
He gently, but firmly, pushed her away, turning and walking into his bedroom without a backward glance, leaving her standing there, tears streaming down her face.
She wanted to tell him that she loved him, that he was the one she wanted.
The pain, the confusion, was overwhelming.
She didn’t know who she loved anymore. She was supposed to love Jie Luo. But she could barely remember his face.
Could she love two men at once? The thought disgusted her.
She truly was a terrible person.
She wouldn’t survive this night.
Outside, Charles and the other guards hadn’t gone far. They still had a duty to protect the Hero.
But curiosity, that inherent human trait, proved to be too strong. They hid around a corner, their eyes glued to the scene unfolding before them.
They watched, stunned, as Qin Chu rejected Ekaterina.
“Holy Goddess, he actually turned her down?”
“What a waste! Such a waste! I mean, she’s… well… she’s pretty damn hot, isn’t she?”
“Especially those legs…”
“You idiots! Don’t you know who she is? The Crimson Valkyrie! Forget about it! Just be grateful that it wasn’t you. I’d run for my life.”
They nodded, understanding dawning.
It was Ekaterina, after all.
Even if they had the opportunity, who knew who would end up on top?
“Hah! Qin Chu, you truly are cruel, tormenting her like this…” Shaye said, her voice laced with mockery, her tone betraying her annoyance at the new ghost’s presence.
Her unique position had been challenged.
“Not just her body, but her soul as well? Honestly, you should give up on being a Hero and become a witch. It suits you better.”
A witch? A magical girl? No, thanks. That was a one-way ticket to a beheading.
Qin Chu ignored her taunt. Seeing her sulking, he smiled. “Don’t worry, Shaye. No matter what happens, you’ll always be my most important companion.”
Well, Angelica was his most trusted… person… But Shaye wasn’t human.
His casual words seemed to strike a nerve.
Shaye’s spectral form flickered, almost dissolving, before solidifying again. She averted her gaze, refusing to look at him, her voice laced with feigned indifference.
“Hah! What are you talking about?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not your companion. If you hadn’t bound our lives together with that damn Heavenly Chain, if I hadn’t been forced to possess you during the time regression… I would have left long ago. You wouldn’t even be a blip on my radar. Don’t delude yourself… I don’t care who you surround yourself with, how many ghosts you collect. Do you think I’m jealous? Don’t assume we’re friends. We’re not, and we never will be. I haven’t forgotten what you did to me, sealing me away, twice! If I wasn’t immortal, you would have killed me, wouldn’t you? I hold grudges…”
She had spoken more words in this rant than she had since the time regression. Thankfully, as a spirit, she didn’t need to breathe.
And thankfully, she had no physical body, otherwise her blushing would have been impossible to conceal.
But even as a spirit, she felt her form… overheating…
Qin Chu, a smile playing on his lips, watched her, amused by her tsundere act… It was a bit outdated, but Shaye, with her undeniable charm, managed to pull it off.
His amusement intensified her embarrassment. She quickly changed the subject, gesturing towards the ghost sitting by the window. “So, what’s the deal with her?”
Anthea, quiet and unobtrusive, had left Qin Chu’s shoulder upon entering the bedroom. She hadn’t spoken a word, simply sitting by the window, gazing out at the world, her thoughts hidden.
“You know Anthea?”
“The one Angelica mentioned, the strongest Valkyrie from a thousand years ago, the Valkyrie Protector of the Nation?”
Qin Chu nodded, briefly summarizing his encounter with her.
Shaye fell silent. It was good that Anthea hadn’t harmed him, but her desire to take something from him was concerning. Just because she hadn’t acted yet didn’t mean she wouldn’t.
“Is it safe to let her stay with you?” Shaye asked, her brow furrowed with worry. “She’s powerful. If she attacks you, even together, we might not be able to stop her.”
It would be easy to get rid of her. Saint Monique or Augustus could banish her. Ghosts, though elusive, were not invisible to those with their level of power. They simply didn’t usually bother with detecting them.
“We’ll see. She hasn’t shown any hostility… yet.” He felt a pang of sympathy for her, their shared experiences creating a strange bond. But he wouldn’t tolerate her presence solely out of pity.
She was strong. She could be a valuable protector.
And she seemed to know something he didn’t, something even Shaye was unaware of, something that involved his own body.
“Shaye, have you heard of the Seed of Light and the Seed of Life?”
“No,” she said, her voice flat. “Never.”
As expected.
Qin Chu sighed.
“Shaye, I’m going to explore the Void again.”
…
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