---o---
"Magical girl?"
Ji Lin looked at Ye Feng warily.
"They're a group of girls who protect love, justice, and world peace."
"Hmm..."
Ji Lin's eyes lowered slightly.
She knew full well that she was no longer a "girl."
Even setting aside the 5,000 years in Jiuyou, she was already a married woman.
"Don't be so narrow in your definition. 'Girl' has never been about age, only appearance. Hundred-year-old vampires and thousand-year-old ancestors are very common types of girls."
Ji Lin stood gracefully, hesitating for a moment before saying softly, "This one is well aware of her own lack of strength. I can barely protect Shenzhou, let alone the world."
"That's why you need to make a contract with me, to obtain greater power to fight against evil."
"..."
Is it not possible that you are the greatest evil of all?
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! I'm just a little lecherous. But I also have a heart that fights for the good of the world!" Ye Feng declared with conviction.
Ji Lin just looked at him, not refuting.
The silence was deafening.
"Ai, it seems I've been gravely misunderstood. Besides being lecherous, does Ji Lin think I have any other shortcomings?"
"..."
"Forget it, it doesn't matter. Let me show you a short film."
Immortal Red Kite, I Didn't Lie.rmvb
Ji Lin was captivated by the sight of Red Kite and, before she knew it, had become completely immersed in watching.
She clenched her fists tightly, unable to calm her turbulent emotions for a long time.
"Red Kite... will die?"
"Hehehe, take a guess."
Ji Lin's expression flickered between light and dark.
From Kiana, Ji Lin had learned that although this man was shameless, he didn't lie and could "foresee the future."
"Is this also a glimpse of the future?"
"Oh? You think so? It seems you've had a heart-to-heart with Kiana and the others. That's right. It is indeed something that might happen in the future."
Ye Feng coaxed her patiently, "As you are now, you're no match for even a Honkai Beast. And in the next two years, higher-level Herrschers will appear frequently. The world situation will become turbulent and unpredictable, and in the end, the Finality will descend. At that time, if you're still as weak as you are now, you won't be able to do anything when disaster strikes. Just like five thousand years ago, when you could only watch helplessly as Cangxuan and Danzhu sacrificed themselves."
"..."
Ji Lin's expression grew heavy.
Herrschers... Red Kite and the others had only mentioned them briefly before.
To the her of 5,000 years ago, they were imaginary beings that existed only in concept.
But in this era, they had already descended.
The word "destruction" had been made manifest.
But more than any of that...
"Why would the Overseer of Schicksal want to kill Red Kite?"
"The 'why' isn't important. What's important is, do you want to stop this from happening? Or rather, maiden, do you crave power?"
"This one..."
Ye Feng pressed his advantage, "Taking a step back, by making a contract with me, can't you also get to know me and find my weaknesses? Never mind the outside world for now; here, you might be able to protect Red Kite and the others in the future."
"!!"
Ji Lin's whole body trembled.
It was as if she had just awoken from a dream.
The beautiful, virgin wife lowered her head as if in surrender. "What... must this one give in return?"
"Give me a kiss."
"!!"
"Relax, I'm just kidding."
"..."
"First, take off your clothes."
"?!"
"Why are you looking at me like that? It's not like I haven't seen it before. I was the one who tied all those little bells on you."
Ji Lin froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.
"You look troubled. Do you need me to help you? You only need to show your back."
"N- no, that's not necessary."
Ji Lin took a step back.
She turned around, her head tilted shyly. From behind, one could see the exquisite curve of her fair chin in the sunlight.
"D- do I only need to show my back?"
"It's an old tradition in Honkai Impact 3rd. We tattoo a few marks on the back."
She didn't quite understand.
This must be the contract ritual, she thought.
Ji Lin's trembling hand reached for the sash of her dress, but when it reached her waist, it paused.
No matter what, Ji Lin still couldn't bring herself to undress in front of a man.
Even if he had tied bells on her before, even if they had been naked together in the bath, even if her entire body had been bathed in his scorching heat...
But to actively untie the sash of her own dress... this was a trial of unimaginable difficulty.
"10 seconds left."
Ye Feng's voice rang out. "After 10 seconds, it will be considered an automatic forfeiture. From then on, for any reason, we will never make this contract again."
"10."
"9."
"8..."
Ye Feng began the countdown.
His voice was calm.
Ji Lin felt something pressing down on her heart.
Her hands moved past her conscious thought, acting of their own accord.
Rustle~
The silk slipped down her smooth body, exposing her flawless, snow-white back to the air.
Her beautiful bare back was perfect, as if it combined all the gentle beauty of a classical woman.
It was truly a vision of sloping shoulders, a slender waist, icy skin, and jade bones.
Especially when framed by the classical white gauze dress, it appeared even more graceful and elegant.
Ye Feng walked forward and placed a hand lightly on Ji Lin's shoulder.
"Don't turn around. I'm about to begin."
Ye Feng extended his tongue, its tip touching her skin, which was as smooth as fine lard, and began to trace the lines of a formation.
---o---
Chiyou Island.
In the dim and deep stone cave, the originally brilliant and holy body of the Xuanyuan Sword now bore several mysterious patterns.
The patterns, reminiscent of honeysuckle vines, were filled with a strange, bewitching quality.
They gave the once majestic Xuanyuan Sword the unholy aura of a demonic blade.
The body of the sword hummed, like a woman's muffled groan.
After returning, Ji Lin still felt as if Ye Feng were crawling on her back.
It was like sewage flowing down a pristine white wall, the streaks and stains hideously jarring.
Ji Lin's heart was a mess of complicated feelings.
She had never imagined that the so-called contract ritual would take such a form.
"It does... fit that... that g... Master's style."
"Huh??"
Ji Lin was suddenly startled.
Why, even after leaving his world, was she still unable to say... Master's real name directly?
But she quickly composed herself.
This wasn't entirely a bad thing.
Since it could affect the outside world, it meant that the contract she had signed was effective.
She could truly gain power.
"Hmm?"
Ji Lin, her consciousness attached to the Xuanyuan Sword, pointed the tip of the blade towards the cave entrance.
Someone was coming.
There were four people. Ji Lin recognized Fu Hua at a glance.
The other three were Theresa, Himeko, and Rita.
To be precise, the three from the Far East Branch were giving Rita a tour of Chiyou Island.
This was also part of Rita's investigative mission.
"So this is the legendary Xuanyuan Sword?"
The rose-themed, black-stockinged maid looked over from a distance, her wine-red eyes sparkling with an intoxicating smile.
A chill ran through Ji Lin's heart, and the humming of the sword ceased.
This woman... she was sent from Schicksal Headquarters, and she was the Overseer's right-hand woman.