Chapter 65: I’ll Just Hold You, I Promise I Won’t Move
Ekaterina froze, her mouth agape, utterly shocked by Qin Chu’s words.
He envied Jie Luo? What did that mean? Did this man… like her?
Looking at Qin Chu’s sorrowful expression, she felt the possibility was high.
A whirlwind of confusing thoughts flooded her mind, causing her brain to short-circuit.
If any other man dared to compare himself to Jie Luo, Ekaterina would’ve slapped him silly. “You? Compared to Jie Luo?”
And if any man declared his love for her, she wouldn’t be happy; she’d be disgusted… Though, no man had ever done that before.
But now, strangely, Ekaterina felt only turmoil, not disgust.
This internal chaos frightened her. Unsure how to respond, she instinctively reached for her flask, seeking the familiar comfort of alcohol.
But as she grasped the flask, her face flushed with embarrassment. She remembered her promise to Loseweisse: to quit drinking.
“Don’t drink anymore,” Qin Chu said, his voice gentle. “Alcohol is bad for you. It clouds your judgment.”
“Drink water instead. There’s some over there.” He gestured with his hand.
Ekaterina walked over, poured herself a glass of water, and brought it to her lips. She hesitated. Had Qin Chu used this glass? Was the water…
“Actually, could you pour me a glass too? Thank you,” Qin Chu said.
Ekaterina put down her glass and poured him one, her hands trembling slightly.
As she approached him, Qin Chu suddenly reached out, his arm encircling her slender waist, pulling her close.
A wave of warmth and a delicate fragrance enveloped him.
Ekaterina gasped, startled by his sudden action. The water in her glass sloshed precariously.
Thankfully, she remembered the previous night’s events and managed to restrain herself.
But her heart pounded in her chest, her athletic body stiffening as she struggled in his embrace. “Qin Chu, what… what are you doing?”
“We can’t… We can’t do this again.”
Even though Loseweisse had prepared her for this, she couldn’t help but feel resistant… No, afraid?
The fearsome Crimson Valkyrie was gone, replaced by a frightened girl.
In her panic, she didn’t notice Shaye’s arrival.
Qin Chu ignored her struggles, his cheek pressed against her flat stomach, as if savoring her warmth.
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything,” he murmured.
“To have experienced your… charms… was an honor. I wouldn’t dare ask for more.”
“I just want to hold you. Can’t you even grant me that?”
Ekaterina’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She had treated him so terribly. Letting him hold her… that was… acceptable, right?
It was… compensation.
She didn’t realize that her resistance was weak, her face flushed crimson as she stood stiffly in his embrace, his arm encircling her waist.
Her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest.
“Only holding,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “No… no other movements…”
“I promise,” Qin Chu said, his voice a soft rumble against her stomach.
The embrace lasted only a few seconds before he released her, taking the glass of water from her trembling hand and drinking it in a single gulp.
As he pulled away, Ekaterina felt a pang of… disappointment… After all, Jie Luo, the man she loved, had never expressed any affection for her, never held her so close.
Qin Chu was the first, and the only one.
She shook her head, dispelling the treacherous thought. This was wrong. She shouldn’t compare Qin Chu to Jie Luo.
She retreated, grabbing her own glass and drinking the water.
It tasted sweet.
This time, Shaye hadn’t added the touch of Lust. The first experiment had proven that adding the Ability’s power was too unpredictable.
She had only enhanced the potion’s affection-inducing properties.
“I’ll continue my training,” Qin Chu said, returning to his meditative pose.
He had been a perfect gentleman. He had promised only to hold her, and he had kept his word. He hadn’t made any other advances. Even the embrace itself had been brief, lasting only a few seconds, as if that was enough to satisfy him.
Ekaterina watched him resume his training, a strange sense of confusion washing over her. He was content with just holding her?
What did that even mean?
Her mind was a battlefield, her loyalty to Jie Luo clashing with her mission to seduce the Hero. Was she truly going to do this?
She questioned herself repeatedly.
Was this right?
She didn’t know. It felt as if she were being pulled into a dark abyss, consumed by shadows, her will slowly eroding.
She wished he would be angry, disgusted, even violent, like in the fabricated memories her mind had created.
That would have been easier, at least she wouldn’t have to grapple with this agonizing dilemma.
But he wasn’t angry. He was kind, gentle.
He was only saddened by her cries for Jie Luo. He had even expressed concern for her well-being, advising her to limit her alcohol intake. He had merely embraced her, nothing more.
And yet, this man was the one she had to seduce, the one she had to eventually kill, using his blood and life force to resurrect Jie Luo…
She had never questioned their plan before.
But now, a wave of revulsion, a deep self-loathing, washed over her.
She was a terrible person. There was no denying it.
If she died, she would surely go to hell.
She watched him, his presence becoming strangely comforting. If she hadn’t met Jie Luo first, would she have fallen for this… boy?
Yes, she would have.
But…
Her gaze hardened, her resolve returning.
He might be an extraordinary man…
He might have been forcibly summoned to this world, yet he was still fighting to save it…
He might become their savior, the protector of the Heavenly Continent…
But…
He was the key to Jie Luo’s resurrection.
And that meant she had to kill him.
Her eyes, though filled with a flicker of sadness, were now cold and determined. This goal, this mission, would never change.
It wasn’t fair to him, but for Jie Luo, she would do anything.
But why did her heart ache?
She shook her head, her gaze returning to Qin Chu. She had to follow Loseweisse’s plan, seduce him, make him crave her, become obsessed with her, so they could eliminate him once he had dealt with the Demons.
But seduction… it was beyond her capabilities.
She could fight Demons, she could train warriors, but seducing a man… it was an impossible task.
She looked down at her revealing dress, its form-fitting fabric accentuating her curves. And yet, he hadn’t reacted, he had simply held her briefly before returning to his training. What did she have to do to elicit a response from him?
She pouted, resting her chin on her hand, watching him train, trying to figure out how to seduce this… block of wood…
Was he truly that oblivious?
She was practically naked, and she had even offered herself to him! And all he had done was hug her?
He had no other… desires?
She fanned herself with her other hand. The training grounds were suddenly hot, his presence raising her body temperature.
Even without Shaye’s influence, she felt a primal urge to be closer to him, to experience another embrace, a kiss…
She wanted him to want her, but she didn’t know how to bridge the gap between them. Her body was the only thing she could offer.
As time passed, the heat within her intensified… If seduction wasn’t working… what if she initiated it?
The thought shocked her.
It was too shameless.
The first time, she could blame it on her drunken state, her clouded judgment.
Her revealing outfit could be seen as an attempt to entice him, to make him the aggressor. She could even justify it as a necessary step in their plan to resurrect Jie Luo.
But to actively seek him out, to proposition him… that was something she couldn’t do.
It felt like a betrayal of Jie Luo, an act of infidelity.
She still clung to a shred of her self-respect.
She couldn’t lose this last vestige of her dignity. It was her only light, her only hope.
And Qin Chu, without even realizing it, was slowly chipping away at her remaining defenses.
She fought against the growing urge, but it became harder to resist with each passing moment.
She wanted to be close to him.
She pressed her lips together, fearing that any sound she made would betray her desire. She trembled, her body strained with the effort of suppressing her emotions.
Shaye, a mischievous grin on her face, observed Ekaterina, impressed by her willpower. To withstand the combined influence of Lust and Stunning Love for so long…
Yes, Qin Chu had activated Lust’s power during their embrace. He could control the Ability, turning it on and off at will.
But she wouldn’t last much longer.
Ekaterina’s fingers twitched, unsure where to place them. Her breathing quickened, her eyes blazing with a newfound heat.
She wanted to do something, something shameful.
“Mmm…”
She bit her lip, drawing blood, the crimson stain making her lips even more alluring.
She had to distract herself.
She had to.
She needed a distraction.
“Qin Chu…” she said, her voice trembling.
“Yes?” he asked, his eyes still closed, his attention focused on his cultivation.
“How… how did you learn Star Flame Battle Qi so quickly? You’re already at the second layer?” she asked, grasping at a topic, anything to divert her thoughts.
His rapid progress had shocked her. Jie Luo’s pace had been a tenth of his. This man… he might actually succeed in defeating the Demons.
Qin Chu had suppressed his Battle Qi to the first layer while facing Augustus. He had released the restriction after they had left.
“Oh, that…”
“I’m not sure. It might have something to do with… last night…” He scratched his head. “Yesterday afternoon, I was just beginning to sense the elemental energy, just starting my cultivation.”
“But… I apologize. I didn’t mean to bring it up.” He apologized, his voice sincere, as if concerned about her feelings, worried that mentioning the previous night would upset her.
“Anyway, despite the… unexpected nature of last night’s events, I seem to have benefited from it. It’s as if your… guidance… helped me break through to the second layer.”
He offered a brief explanation, then returned to his training, ignoring her.
Ekaterina didn’t respond, her mind still grappling with the possibility that… that act… had somehow enhanced his power.
Silence, thick and heavy, descended upon them. Ekaterina, unable to endure it any longer, stood up, her body swaying seductively as she approached him.
Without her armor, the heat radiating from her was palpable.
Her red hair, cascading down his face, tickled his skin. Her chin rested on his shoulder, their bodies close, her breath warm against his neck.
Her voice, husky and alluring, whispered in his ear:
“Qin Chu… should we… again…”
“It’s not for me… it’s for the Heavenly Continent. The stronger you are, the faster you can eliminate the Demons… and…”
She almost said “resurrect Jie Luo.”
“And bring peace to the Heavenly Continent,” she finished, her voice barely a whisper.
She had found her justification. This wasn’t her desire. This was for the greater good. This was for Jie Luo.
A perfect excuse, wasn’t it?
Her gaze, clouded with desire, didn’t notice the sly smile curving Qin Chu’s lips.
Her hope, her will, hadn’t been completely crushed. There was still light in her eyes.
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