Chapter 72: Serpentās Seduction
This was the most heartbroken Chi Wan had ever been since returning to this world.
She hadn’t wailed when she was injured, nor when she was misunderstood or misinterpreted. She hadn’t even wailed when she learned everything of hers had been stolen.
Even when her life was hanging by a thread, she hadn’t cried like this.
But now, she was sobbing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.
Just as her brain was about to suffocate from lack of oxygen, a ding sounded in her mind as the System’s voice rang out:
[Host, Iām back!]
Her crying stopped abruptly.
Seeing that she had stopped crying, the men in the hospital room, who had been racking their brains to coax her, paused.
Cang Lin lowered his head and rubbed his temples.
He couldn’t figure out where a dragon was lacking compared to a tiger.
But he immediately realized the truth.
Rightāshe simply loathed him, so why would she like his dragon?
Shen Yu was the happiest. The moment his miniature white tiger nuzzled her hand, she stopped crying.
The “snakes” that had been pushed aside were obviously not very happy.
Shi Ye watched the fawning white tiger with a cold expression.
So… she simply likes fluffy things. It wasn’t because she liked wolf ears…
Chi Wan, unaware of the situation in the room, was busy communicating with the System:
“System, youāre back?”
[That’s right! Even though I haven’t been officially promoted yet, Iām still considered an ‘in-system’ employee. The Main God System fished me out. But the condition is that I have to go back for a debriefing and write a report.]
[So, Host, Iām going to disappear for a while.]
[Don’t worry, Iāll be back as soon as possible!]
[By the way, that rogue system can’t detect whether you have abilities or not, but I managed to uncover its secrets. Ji Keās energy level is Beyond-SSS-rank, Fourth Tier. You are currently S-rank, Eighth Tier. Keep it up, Host! Surpass her before she arrives!]
[When that time comes, you can go wherever you want, and she won’t be able to do anything to you.]
[Iām heading out first, Host. Protect yourself and wait for me!]
Chi Wan was instantly invigorated.
The System’s voice vanished. When she came to her senses, she realized a large white tiger was snuggled up beside her.
That big tiger was currently nuzzling her with its massive head.
Not only that, it even stuck out its tiger tongue, intending to lick her.
Seeing the tiger tongue getting closer and closer, Chi Wanās face turned pale.
In the next second, the tigerās head was firmly pushed down by Shen Yu!
Cang Lin looked at the white tiger with a hint of disdain. Seductive tiger.
Four men, either standing or sitting, appeared before Chi Wan.
The tall statures of the Sentinels combined with their SSS-rank pressure made Chi Wanās face turn even paler.
“Do you not like having so many people here?”
“Youāve just woken up. Pick one to stay and take care of you.”
As soon as Qi Ye finished speaking, Cang Lin left of his own accord, though his backāstiffly pretending not to careālooked a bit desolate.
Chi Wan hadn’t quite grasped the situation and subconsciously chose Qi Ye, with whom she had the most contact.
Those green eyes looked down at the fair small hand clutching his sleeve, and a ripple spread within them.
…
After placing the last of the items she might need on the bedside table, Qi Ye sat elegantly by her bed:
“Go to sleep. Iāll watch over you.”
His voice was raspy, carrying a trace of his unique cool toneāit was exceptionally pleasant to the ear.
Chi Wan, however, was a bit unaccustomed to this.
She shrank back a little, putting more distance between them:
“Aren’t you… a bit too close? Besides, I don’t need anyone to watch over me while I sleep.”
He was close enough that she could smell the astringent scent on him.
Under the dim light, although his eyes were on her, they lacked their usual sharpness. It was as if they were covered by a thin layer of mist, making his emotions unreadable.
Qi Ye didn’t answer but asked instead:
“Wanwan, do you have something on your mind?”
Chi Wan was stunned by his question, and she didn’t even notice the change in how he addressed her.
She subconsciously turned her head to avoid his gaze:
“No.”
Qi Ye lowered his eyes, his state relaxed, as if they were just having an ordinary conversation:
“Don’t worry. I promised you that I won’t use Mind Reading on you without your consent.”
He shifted the topic, coaxing her to open up:
“But I always feel like youāre hiding something. This burden is too heavy; itās weighing on you and making you look miserable all the time.”
He didn’t like it.
He didn’t like seeing her unhappy.
Chi Wan kept her back to him and just mumbled:
“I don’t have anything on my mind.”
Except for the System, she didn’t trust anyone.
Moreover, telling them about such things wouldn’t change anything. If her destiny had been stolen, then these so-called male leads had nothing to do with her.
They were just temporary comrades-in-arms.
Seeing that thin back was both independent and stubborn, Qi Yeās eyelids lowered slightly. He softened his voice, retreating to advance:
“Wanwan, Iām feeling a bit unwell. Help me.”
Chi Wan turned back and saw the 90% Violence Value on his light-brain.
She nodded. Just as she was about to get up, a silver snake body gently pressed her back into place. Its tail coiled, even helping her pull the bedding up a bit.
He propped his head up and looked at her with a gentle smile:
“Just lie there obediently and release your Spirit Body. Iāll find it myself.”
Under the blue light, his cool-toned skin seemed to gain a bit of warmth from that smile.
With a snake as his Spirit Body, he naturally looked quite aloof. The corners of his eyes were narrow and sharp, slanting slightly upwardāhe was more beautiful than many women. If it weren’t for his sturdy bone structure and the clearly visible muscles he couldn’t hide, he would have perfectly suited the term “femme fatale.”
Chi Wan obediently did as he said.
The silver kitten, much like its owner, lay lazily by the bed, positioned between her and him.
A miniature silver snake began to glide from his forearm toward the kitten, gently rubbing against its fur and body.
Qi Yeās Adamās apple bobbed. His gaze as he watched Chi Wan deepened, but his eyes remained perfectly clear and rational:
“Wanwan, let me be your Designated Sentinel.”
He had had enough of the self-reproach and fear he felt every time he saw her in grave danger.
He didn’t want to go through it again.
To hell with being calm and self-possessed. He was a snakeāa snake that would use any means necessary to achieve its goal.
Pillowed on the fluffy pillow, Chi Wan only thought for a second before immediately shaking her head.
“Why?”
The snake tail swept over the kittenās belly. It was both itchy and numbingālike a punishmentācausing Chi Wan to flinch.
She quickly came up with a reason: “I don’t need a Designated Sentinel.”
There were many special mutual rights between a Designated Sentinel and Guide; they were practically semi-bound. She definitely didn’t want to get involved with the male lead in such a way.
“If you let me be your Designated Sentinel, youāll receive many rewards.”
Hearing him say this, Chi Wan looked at him curiously.
The snakeās scales were rubbing against the kittenās head, and Chi Wan also uncontrollably squinted her eyes in comfort.
Etching her charming appearance into his eyes, Qi Ye continued to entice her subtly:
“After becoming your Designated Sentinel, not only do I have the obligation to protect you well, but youāll also have a share in all my contributions.
From then on, one person’s honor becomes the honor of two.”
His tone was slow and gentle, his voice pleasant. With his calm explanation combined with the massage-like stroking of the snake, Chi Wan was almost lulled to sleep.
After her groggy mind processed his words, she felt that no matter how she looked at it, it seemed like a guaranteed profit. If she had more Contribution Points, wouldn’t she have more Energy Concentrate?
Besides, a “Designated” status could be revoked at any time.
She could just revoke it before she left.
Seeing that she seemed somewhat swayed, Qi Ye gave a low laugh:
“Iāll take that as a ‘yes’.”
As he spoke, his fingertip gently pressed against the pink paw pad of the cat:
“Let’s seal it.”
With their senses connected, Chi Wan suddenly felt as if the sole of her foot had been tickled. She quickly retracted her small foot and instantly woke up.
She propped herself halfway up and looked at him with a reddened face:
“You…”
Before the word “out” could leave her mouth, the man in front of her looked at her with an innocent expression.
This was the first time Chi Wan had seen such an expression on Qi Ye.
His usually restrained and unfathomable appearance, with his half-lidded eyes, never showed joy or anger.
Now, he was blinking his green eyes innocently, which, combined with the yet-to-decrease Violence Value on his light-brain…
It made it look like she was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Chi Wan continued the previous topic:
“Fine. Then letās be Designated partners.”
Temporarily.
After watching Chi Wan enter her fingerprint into the Designated Sentinel/Guide agreement on the light-brain, a smile rippled in Qi Yeās eyes.
In the next second, the kitten was coiled by the silver python in an extremely intimate embrace.
Chi Wanās face grew redder and redder:
“Is this also part of being Designated partners?”
Qi Ye shook his head:
“More than that. Designated partners usually involve deep-level soothing. When you have time, you can explore which parts of my body you prefer to touch.”
“Itāll make it easier to use during soothing.”
Chi Wan felt like there was something strange about his words.
She was a bit tired, and her small head was also a bit slow to turn.
It wasn’t just his words; he also seemed a bit strange today.
It was as if a snake that had always hidden its venomous fangs had stopped hiding them, starting to bare its desires and ambitions openly.
Combined with tonight’s conversation, she also felt like she was being enticed by him bit by bit toward the outcome he wanted.
But Chi Wan wasn’t panicked in the slightest.
She wasn’t a pushover either.
He was just a tool-snake delivered to her door to help boost her combat powerānothing more. She could discard him heartlessly once she was done with him.
Translator’s Note:
Qi Ye is such a smooth talker! Using “Contribution Points” as bait for our hardworking Chi Wan was a stroke of genius. Also, the kitten and the snake together is just… chef’s kiss.
Key Terms:
- Designated Sentinel/Guide (ęå®åØå – ZhĒdƬng shĆ oxiĆ ng): A formal partnership that grants mutual access and benefits, often seen as a precursor to marriage or a lifelong bond.
- Energy Concentrate (č½éęæēø®ę¶² – NĆ©ngliĆ ng nĆ³ngsuÅ yĆØ): A resource used to boost or restore ability levels.
- Violence Value (ę“čŗå¼ – BĆ ozĆ o zhĆ): A measure of a Sentinelās mental instability.
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