Chapter 39: Pretending to be Weak is Hard Work
Stunning Love. Loseweisse had crafted this potion for Jie Luo.
She had been deeply in love with him, yearning to be his wife, to merge their souls, to offer him her maidenhood…
But for some reason, Jie Luo had been… resistant.
No, she couldn’t think of him that way.
Loseweisse shook her head, banishing the disrespectful thought. Jie Luo had been focused on saving the world, his mind unburdened by such trivial matters. He wasn’t like Qin Chu, a pathetic, insecure creature.
Despite her repeated hints, even outright propositions, Jie Luo had remained unmoved.
Desperate and fearing that another woman might steal him away, she had delved into forbidden knowledge, seeking a way to ensure his affections.
Stunning Love was her solution.
She had succeeded, but before she could administer the potion, Jie Luo had died.
Though she felt it was a waste, it was the perfect tool for controlling Qin Chu.
If he consumed all seven vials, he would fall madly in love with her, becoming her loyal slave, his will subservient to hers. She could command him to do anything, even to end his own life.
This way, she wouldn’t have to endure his touch, wouldn’t have to sully her pure body with his presence.
But she couldn’t administer the potion herself. It was too suspicious, its appearance too unusual.
Angelica, as his maid, was the perfect candidate.
Of course, Angelica wouldn’t obey her readily. She would need to devise a plan.
As Loseweisse pondered her options, she retrieved a magical scroll from another drawer.
It contained a powerful mental magic spell, Mind Control.
Stunning Love, Mind Control… A closer inspection of the Holy Maiden’s chambers would reveal a collection of forbidden artifacts, items banned from public circulation.
Mental magic, due to its unpredictable nature and potential for abuse, was strictly prohibited in the Heavenly Continent. Those with an aptitude for it were exceedingly rare, appearing only once or twice every few centuries.
Loseweisse possessed this rare talent. Mental magic was difficult to master. Despite years of study, she could only cast it reliably when her mental state was perfectly balanced. Even the slightest emotional disturbance could lead to failure, even to a backlash that could damage her soul.
Due to its instability, it was unsuitable for combat. So, she had imbued the scroll with the spell while her mind was at peace. Anyone could activate the scroll, regardless of their magical abilities.
The control it offered wasn’t absolute. The target would become a puppet for three hours, obeying the caster’s every command. After three hours, the spell would dissipate, and the target would have no memory of their actions or the events surrounding the spell’s activation.
This should be enough to control Angelica. She had to make Qin Chu consume the first vial of Stunning Love, no matter the cost.
If Angelica cooperated, she wouldn’t have to waste this precious scroll.
But she wouldn’t handle this personally.
…
Meanwhile, at the Hero’s residence, Ekaterina was instructing Qin Chu in the art of Battle Qi within the training grounds.
She acted like a doting older sister, meticulously correcting his every movement.
“Though most people believe that Battle Qi and magic are distinct forces, at our level of power, they share the same origin: the manipulation of elemental energy.”
“The difference lies in the method of application. Magic involves storing elemental energy within the body and releasing it during combat. By manipulating its sequence, pure magic can achieve incredible destructive power.”
“Battle Qi also utilizes elemental energy, but instead of releasing it, it’s integrated into the body, enhancing physical abilities like speed, strength, and defense. It can also be imbued into weapons, increasing their power.”
“Your first task is to sense the elemental energy present in the air.”
Ekaterina, despite her ulterior motives, proved to be a capable instructor, patiently guiding Qin Chu through concepts he already understood.
Qin Chu sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, but his mind perceived a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors: fiery red like the sun, icy blue like a glacier, deep blue like a raging ocean, and electric purple like a thunderclap…
Rebirth had enhanced his innate talent.
It was said that sensing even a faint spark of elemental energy within a day was a sign of exceptional talent. Qin Chu didn’t know what it meant to perceive the sun’s fiery energy so clearly.
“The Battle Qi I’ll teach you is called Star Flame,” Ekaterina said, her voice filled with pride. “When mastered, its destructive power rivals that of a falling meteor. It’s one of the highest-tier Battle Qi techniques. Can you sense… tiny sparks, like embers, within the air?”
Qin Chu, his eyes still closed, feigned disappointment. “I’m sorry, I can’t see anything.”
Idiot, Ekaterina thought, her patience wearing thin.
“And your hand is too high. Lower it slightly.”
She knelt behind him, her body pressing against his back as she adjusted his posture. He could feel the warmth of her body through her thin dress.
“Don’t try to see it with your eyes. Feel it with your heart,” she instructed.
Feel it with his heart… Yes, that was much clearer.
Ekaterina’s face, close to his shoulder, was almost touching his. He could feel the softness of her skin against his cheek.
Strands of her red hair tickled his nose and face.
She watched him, his face flushed, his breathing quickening.
She decided to retreat before he lost control, before his instincts overwhelmed his reason, before he pushed her down and…
No, that wasn’t her concern. She feared that, without Loseweisse’s presence to restrain her, she might lose control herself, killing him and ruining their plan to resurrect Jie Luo.
For Jie Luo, she could endure a little… discomfort. But she wouldn’t let this boy take advantage of her.
She patted his shoulder and stood up. “Qin Chu, practice diligently. Don’t slack off. I’ll be back this evening to check on your progress.”
Her “business” involved drinking. In his previous life, he had been the one carrying her back home after her drunken escapades.
Everyone knew the Hero was training. No one would disturb him.
Qin Chu opened his eyes. In a single afternoon, he had mastered the first layer of the thirteen-layered Star Flame Battle Qi technique, condensing Battle Origin within his body!
Though the first layer wasn’t difficult to master, his speed was still astonishing. In his previous life, it had taken him half a month to achieve this.
His biggest challenge wasn’t mastering the technique but hiding his progress from Ekaterina.
Her constant presence behind him, her warm body pressed against his back, the feel of her soft skin against his cheek… It had been distracting, making it difficult to conceal his true talent.
He sighed.
“Pretending to be weak is hard work.”
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