Chapter 403 - 171: Observing
"S-System! What happened? Why did the affection rating drop?!" Qing Yan asked in his mind, his inner voice trembling violently with a mixture of sheer confusion and absolute horror.
Cold sweat instantly drenched the back of his robes.
The system wasn’t going to punish him for this, right?! He really didn’t do anything wrong! He was just trying to be nice, polite, and attentive!
How could ten whole points of affection vanish into thin air in less than two seconds?!
[Host... why don’t we select another goddess to conquer?] The system suggested, its usually monotone voice carrying a rare, subtle hesitation.
For some inexplicable reason, the moment that tall, dark-robed young man with golden eyes appeared on the street, the system’s core processing code felt a strange, chilling sensation of profound danger.
It was as if an ancient, invisible predator had just casually glanced in their direction.
Unfortunately, its current programming functions were strictly optimized toward female targets, meaning it could not use its specialized observation skills on men.
Even if it tried to force an analysis, the system’s current level was far too low and undeveloped.
Right now, its observation suite couldn’t even determine basic hidden physiological traits—such as whether a Targeted Goddess had already lost her primal yin or retained her virgin purity.
Advancing blindly against a man who radiated such a dangerous—no, such a terrifying presence was an immense risk.
"No!" Qing Yan retorted fiercely inside his mind, his hands clenching into tight fists within his sleeves. "I want her! System, you have to help me! She is the only reason I’m pulling myself together after everything I went through! I refuse to give up!"
[...Host, right now, you have absolutely nothing to compete against that man,] the system stated with cold, unyielding logic. [He pulled her by the waist and she obeyed him without a single shred of resistance. Look at yourself realistically, you have nothing. Why don’t you find other, more accessible goddesses first to farm rewards, gain more strength, and accumulate more cultivation resources?]
Qing Yan hesitated for a long, heavy moment as he ground his back teeth together, but as he stared down at his frail, trembling hands, he was forced to admit to himself that what the system said was the absolute, harsh truth.
Right now, in the grand hierarchy of this realm, he was just a sad, pitiful little Golden Core student.
He was merely a native of this lower territory who happened to get lucky, possessing a slightly better innate talent than the rest of the common street beggars.
He had no powerful background, no formidable backing, and no supreme artifacts.
In his current state, he couldn’t even protect his own dignity from wild beasts, much less protect a peerless goddess like Qian Yunxi from a young master famius for idiocy, killing people left and right.
’Strength... I need strength first!’ Qing Yan thought, taking a deep, ragged breath to calm his racing heart.
"Alright, system," Qing Yan sighed inwardly, yielding to reality. "Let’s find other goddesses first to build up my stats. But let’s find one that is easier to capture, someone with a low difficulty rating so we can grind rewards quickly!"
"Brother Yan~!"
Qing Yan froze dead in his tracks as that soft, delicate, and exceedingly gentle voice echoed from down the stone street.
He slowly, stiffly turned his head around, and his eyes bore witness to a sight that instantly caused his soul to shudder.
A woman(?) was currently running toward him at high speed, her arms waving back and forth in a profoundly cute(?) and energetic fashion.
She stood nearly seven feet tall, possessing a frame so broad and hyper-muscular that her massive shoulders seemed wider than the city gates.
Her chest was built like a solid iron battering ram, and her thick, exposed forearms and calves were covered in a dense, dark coat of coarse, wire-like body hair that bristled in the wind.
Her face featured a heavy, square jawline, a flat ape-like nose, and thick bushy eyebrows.
Yet, despite this terrifying, monstrous physical frame, she was wearing a tiny, frilly pink floral dress that strained dangerously against her bulging biceps, and her face was coated in thick white powder and bright red lipstick.
She moved with dainty, hyper-feminine skips, blushing furiously as she approached!
Qing Yan felt his left cheek twitch uncontrollably, his stomach churning violently as a wave of deep, instinctual nausea threatened to overwhelm him.
"S-Sister Wang... h-how are you doing?"
This was Er Wang—the daughter of the head manager who ran the servant quarters at the outskirts of the city where Qing Yan used to live.
Back then, before he entered the academy, the original Qing Yan was exceptionally attentive, fearful, and utterly submissive toward her.
Because her father held total authority over the housing assignments and could easily throw him out onto the icy streets to starve, the original owner of this body had pretty much been forced to become her obedient little dog, running errands and taking her verbal abuse without a word of complaint.
Now, of course, Qing Yan had successfully passed the entrance exams and officially become a student of the prestigious Imperial Academy.
In terms of legal standing, her family could no longer suppress or command him like they used to.
And yet, despite his new status, the deep-seated, instinctive fear that the original Qing Yan felt toward this terrifying woman was entirely real—and it had been seamlessly passed down to his transmigrated soul!
Er Wang stopped right in front of him, bringing her massive, hairy hands together in front of her chest as she batted her thick eyelashes at him.
"Brother Yan, running into you here must be absolute fate! I was just feeling a little hungry... why don’t I take you out for lunch? My treat~?"
Qing Yan’s eyes widened in horror, the horrific memory of the ape cave flashing through his mind.
He shook his head frantically, taking an instinctual step backward. "N-N-No—"
He tried his absolute best to refuse her invitation and flee the scene, but before he could finish his sentence, Er Wang’s tiny, painted eyes suddenly narrowed.
Her delicate, feminine smile vanished, and her face twisted into a sharp, terrifying glare that radiated pure, violent physical pressure! Her massive fists clenched, making a loud, bone-crushing *CRACK* sound that echoed through the alley.
Qing Yan swallowed hard, his throat going completely dry as he forced a stiff, unnatural smile onto his pale face, his voice cracking with desperation. "N-No ...no way I will let a lady pay! I-It’s my treat today! I insist!"
"Really?! Ah, that’s so incredibly sweet of you, Brother Yan!" Er Wang squealed in that high-pitched, delicate voice, clasping her massive hands together and swaying her giant body cutely from side to side.
Qing Yan felt as though the sky was literally collapsing over his head.
The humiliation, the fear, the sheer aesthetic nightmare standing before him made him want to drop to his knees and weep.
Just as he was on the verge of total mental despair, a familiar translucent blue screen expanded right before his eye.
[Name: Er Wang]
[Identity: Descendant of the Ancient Iron Scaled Gorilla Clan / Manager’s Daughter]
[Charm: 10 (Note: She possesses a sweet voice and delicate feminine manners)]
[Affection: 70 (Deep Crush / Obsessive Favorable)]
[Capture Difficulty: D]
Qing Yan stared at the status panel, his mind going completely blank for three straight seconds.
"...Fuck."
*
*
*
Qian Yunxi and Shen Haoran were walking together on the streets, his hand still resting possessively around her soft, slender waist.
The vibrant bustle of Leaf Green City swirled all around them, with student merchants shouting their wares and disciples from various factions passing by, but Qian Yunxi could barely register any of it.
Her heart was beating frantically against her ribs, her mind utterly consumed by the firm, warm pressure of Haoran’s palm against her side.
Every step they took together felt agonizingly slow, her mind racing with anxiety over what he might be thinking.
"Young master, that man..." Qian Yunxi bit her lower lip, her voice trembling slightly as she gathered the courage to speak up.
She looked at him out of the corner of her soft blue eyes, her expression filled with urgent sincerity.
"There’s really nothing going on between us. He was just thanking me for my help with a minor pill the other day... I truly have no personal connection to him."
"Yunxi," Haoran spoke, his voice cool, level, and completely unbothered.
Without breaking his stride, he smoothly guided her off the main thoroughfare, steering her into a quiet, shadowed alleyway situated between two towering stone alchemy halls.
The moment they stepped into the dim, secluded space, away from the prying eyes of the street crowd, Haoran turned her body around and pushed her gently yet firmly back against the cold stone wall!
*THUD!*
Qian Yunxi gulped, her breath catching in her throat as her back met the rough masonry.
She instinctively lowered her head, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders like a golden curtain, hiding her flushed cheeks.
She said nothing, her body tense yet completely unresisting under his physical dominance.
"Look at me," said Haoran.
Qian Yunxi swallowed hard, her long eyelashes fluttering as she slowly raised her head, looking up directly into his dark, magnetic eyes.
"I do not restrict your or anyone’s freedom," Haoran said smoothly, his tone even and measured. "You can interact with anyone you want, whenever you want. I have no interest in chaining my people."
He reached out, his strong, warm fingers gently grasping her chin and tilting her face upward, forcing her to maintain eye contact as he brought his handsome face dangerously close to hers.
"But..." Haoran’s voice dropped to a low, heavy murmur that resonated straight into her soul. "You must not forget. You, your mother, and the entire Spirit Hall... all of you belong to me."
Qian Yunxi felt a shiver run down the entire length of her spine, a strange, intoxicating mix of surrender and intense warmth blooming within her chest.
She nodded meekly, her blue eyes reflecting absolute submission. "I know, Young Master..."
Shen Haoran then leaned further in, bringing his lips directly to the shell of her delicate, blushing ear.
"Don’t move around," he whispered, his warm breath fanning across her skin. "We are being watched."
Qian Yunxi’s soft blue eyes widened in sudden realization, a sharp flare of alertness cutting through her hazy mind.
But just as Haoran ordered, she disciplined her facial expressions and did not move a single muscle, remaining completely still against the wall.
"It seems our snooping around has been discovered," Haoran murmured against her ear, his tone entirely casual despite the hidden audience. "Well, it’s understandable for them to be cautious. The grand trials just ended, and the news has already spread that some students have received an Academy’s Mandate. The current rulers of this city are terrified that their territory will be targeted next."
Qian Yunxi gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod against his cheek.
"Young master... what should we do?"
"Act just as if I was punishing you for talking to another man," Haoran whispered back, a dark, amused smirk touching his lips.
"O-Okay..." Qian Yunxi whispered, her heart skipping a beat as she prepared herself.
Before she could even process what was coming, Haoran moved!
He raised both of his hands, pinning her slender wrists firmly above her head against the rough stone surface, trapping her entirely within his broad frame.
Qian Yunxi let out a soft, sharp gasp as Haoran pressed his chest flush against hers, his immense physical presence completely overwhelming her senses.
He leaned down, burying his face into the side of her delicate neck.
His lips pressed against her soft, warm skin, planting deep, slow, and devastatingly sensual kisses along her collarbone and up toward her jawline.
’Ah...!’
Qian Yunxi’s head fell back against the wall, her lips parting as a quiet, trembling whimper escaped her throat.
To make the act look entirely convincing to the hidden observers, Haoran shifted his center of gravity, driving his knee upward into the warm notch between her thighs, rubbing his firm leg against her crotch through her thin silk robes with a rhythmic, agonizing pressure!
A sharp shockwave of intense, intoxicating pleasure shot straight up her spine! Qian Yunxi’s toes curled inside her boots, her hips instinctively bucking slightly against his knee as her breath turned ragged and shallow.
The sensation of his lips trailing fire down her throat, combined with the firm, relentless friction between her legs and his unyielding grip on her pinned wrists, melted her mind into pure, liquid heat.
Every fiber of her body tingled, her skin flushing a deep, radiant pink from her neck to the tips of her ears.
She squeezed her eyes shut, completely lost in the intoxicating haze of his touch, her chest heaving violently against his.
For several long, agonizingly delicious minutes, the intense, silent punishment continued in the narrow, shadowed alleyway.
Finally, the faint, nearly imperceptible aura fluctuations hiding in the rooftop shadows above the alley vanished completely—the suspicious faction scouts, thoroughly convinced they were merely witnessing an arrogant young master violently claiming his personal woman in a fit of jealousy, quietly retreated.
After a short while, sensing that the people who had been watching had left, Shen Haoran smirked.
He smoothly released her wrists and stepped backward, breaking the intimate physical contact.
The moment his support vanished, Qian Yunxi’s legs went completely weak!
Her knees wobbled violently, and she stumbled forward, almost collapsing onto the stone floor as her body trembled with lingering sensation.
She caught herself against the wall, her chest rising and falling in heavy, desperate gasps of air, her face completely bright red and her eyes glossy with unshed tears of bliss.
Haoran straightened his dark embroidered robes, dusting off his sleeves with a calm, handsome expression.
"Let’s go back," he said casually, turning toward the alley exit.
Qian Yunxi tried to smooth down her disheveled robes with shaking, trembling hands, her mind still spinning in absolute, dazed chaos.
"Y-Yesthh..." she stammered out, her voice slurred and breathy as she forced her trembling legs to move, stumbling obediently behind his tall, noble back.