Chapter Thirty-Seven: Heart's Reckoning: When Weakness Meets Strength
This is good.
In any case, whether you practice cultivation or not, or whether you are beautiful or ugly, there is no need to care.
"Remember that you, Ling Ru, are my servant. You belong to me only."
"My servant."
The girl in front of him was trembling with excitement, but he paid no attention to it.
"Here, take this cold liquid and drink it."
(Inner monologue of Ling Ru: This was the first time in my life that someone had taken care of me in this way. I was unable to practice cultivation, and that ugly birthmark on my face was enough to make everyone avoid me. Even my father… and my mother never gave me any affection.
I never knew what family warmth meant.
But with my young master… I felt a happiness that could not be described.)
At this moment, Ling Ru could no longer suppress her emotions, as tears poured down and she began to cry.
"Woo…"
"Woo…"
"Woo woo…"
"Woo woo…"
[Ding: Hunting progress +78, +79…]
Ling Ru said in a low voice: "Woo, Master… I…"
Ling Ru could no longer suppress her emotions, and she rushed into Li Yitan's arms, bursting into tears between his arms.
At that moment, a pair of small, delicate hands tightly hugged Li Yitan's tall body, while her delicate body trembled from crying.
"It's alright, it's alright."
"No one will bully you."
[Ding: Hunting progress +89, +90…]
{From the first-person perspective.}
Because of the aura of desire… and the aura of enhanced affinity with the opposite sex, it was natural for her to be drawn to me in this way, but what I did not expect… was the depth of her feelings.
Ling Ru…
She was not crying just out of being moved, but from years of injustice and suffering, from loneliness, from being ostracized in a world that shows no mercy to the weak, and from being regularly bullied.
I felt her trembling breaths against my chest, and her thin body clinging to me even more tightly as if she feared I would disappear if she let go for even a moment.
I gently patted her head and whispered near her ear:
"That time is over, Ling Ru… You are now under my wing. Anyone who dares to insult you from now on… I will tear apart with my own hands."
Her body trembled, then she lifted her head and looked at me with tear-filled eyes, containing an old fear… and a new hope.
Ling Ru said in a soft voice: "Master… can I… stay by your side forever?"
I smiled at her, my heart murmuring: "I won't let you go."
[Ding: Hunting progress +96, +97, +98…]
I did not answer her with words, but gently wiped her tears with my thumb, then lifted her chin to make her eyes meet mine directly.
"Ling Ru… your place is not behind me as a servant, but by my side… If you wish to stay, let it be with genuine desire… not out of duty, but as a choice."
I felt her body freeze for a moment, before her lips trembled, as if she could not believe what she heard.
Ling Ru whispered: "Master… I am useless and ugly, I will be a burden to you…"
But her tone was filled with astonishment, longing, and fragility.
I could not help myself… I leaned down slightly, approaching her lips. Our breaths mingled, and the heat of the moment dispelled the coldness of her past.
I didn't need to say anything else.
When our lips finally met, it was a light, soft kiss… but it carried everything: the promise, the protection, and even the permission for her to finally dream.
Her body trembled in my arms, her hand gripping my cloak as if she didn't want the world to tear her away from me.
I slowly pulled my lips from hers and whispered close to her ear:
"From now on… you are mine, and no one will dare look at you without my permission."
[Ding: Hunting progress +99…]
I looked at the system's hair.
Hunting is the process of chasing wild animals or birds with the aim of killing or capturing them, for the purpose of obtaining meat, fur, or skins, or sometimes for recreational and sporting purposes.
Hunting includes:
1. Killing the prey: This is the most common form and is often the primary objective.
2. Capturing the prey: This occurs less frequently and is usually used for scientific research or breeding purposes.
This is hunting on land.
In fantasy worlds, however, hunting may take on broader meanings than the traditional concept. There, hunting is not limited to killing or capturing prey; it may also include subjugating the prey, controlling it, and even turning it into a follower, a pet, or even a slave.
In these contexts, hunting does not end with death but reaches its peak when complete domination over the prey is achieved.
For this reason, my treatment of Ling Ru is correct and is considered actual hunting, because this type of hunting does not end with death… but reaches its peak when complete domination over the prey is achieved.
And my current prey… is Ling Ru.
Ling Ru, just an ordinary girl, is constantly bullied and called "the ugly girl" because of the birthmark that disfigures her cheek.
She longs deeply for love and care, and dreams of finding someone who will embrace her weakness and cherish her heart.
It is not surprising that events move toward this outcome, especially since the young man who now enters her life is handsome and wealthy, the kind that many girls wish to marry.
It is easy for people to love beauty, but difficult to love ugliness… and this law cannot be denied.
Ling Ru, who has been accustomed to being called ugly, loses hope that anyone will ever love her sincerely.
Suddenly, she finds herself in the arms of a handsome and wealthy young man who pampers her gently and acknowledges her without hesitation.
But… there's something that bothers me.
"System, why hasn't the hunting gauge reached 100?"
Ling Ru has completely submitted to me, so why isn't the gauge complete?
[Ding: Yes, Ling Ru is considered a successful hunt. However, the gauge will not be completed until her own plot begins. At the moment, she is just an ordinary girl, not the heroine.
But… once her own plot starts and her "Plot Aura" is activated, the hunting gauge will automatically be completed, and you will receive a "Hunting Box," because she will be considered a successful hunt.]
Does this mean… that will happen a year from now, right? Am I correct?
[Ding: Yes. According to the timeline of events, Ling Ru's plot is expected to begin after a full year has passed.]
I understand…
So, all I have to do now is protect her… feed her, and make her sink deeper into her pleasure and warmth. I will care for her with love and attention until the time comes.
But once her own plot begins… the real game will start.
I smiled slowly.
Ling Ru… you don't know yet, but you will become an important piece on my board.
And at that moment, I suddenly felt her embrace me.
Her soft chest pressed against me, and her arms trembled as they shyly wrapped around my waist, as if she feared I might slip away from her.
Her breath was warm, mingling with mine, and her eyes, full of hesitation and tenderness, stared directly into mine.
Ling Ru said in a soft, hoarse voice, "Sir… does my face bother you?
I looked at her silently for a moment. Her cheeks were flushed with the color of embarrassment, and her lips trembled between hesitation and anticipation.
I extended my hand and gently touched her cheek, then grasped her chin and lifted her face toward me.
I smiled at her.
Never… You, in my eyes, are more beautiful than the sight of the full moon reflecting on a calm golden lake in the heart of an ancient forest.
Her eyes widened, and her entire body trembled.
Ling Ru whispered, "Are you telling the truth?"
I moved closer, almost touching my lips to her forehead, then whispered:
This is even less than the truth… Your beauty cannot be described in words, because it is not just in your appearance, but in your heart, which chose me.
Ling Ru couldn't control herself; she closed her eyes and leaned her head against my chest, while her hands pressed more firmly against my back, as if she wanted to melt into this embrace forever.
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(Number of words in this chapter: 1,438 words)
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