"Gai, I regret to inform you that we have conquered the Count's Domain. And your beloved fiancée, the Count's Daughter Sierra, is also under our control."
"Tsk tsk, look at you now. Where's that high-spirited demeanor you used to have...?"
A woman's cold, mocking voice rang out, echoing through the frigid dungeon.
Wang Xi, leaning against the wall, looked up toward the voice.
The woman stood with the light of a torch behind her, her face hidden in shadow. He could only vaguely make out her heavy, gleaming armor, a blue-emblazoned cloak, and a full figure that the armor could barely contain.
'Food-grade.'
It was an old habit of Wang Xi's, making a silent critique.
Even though he couldn't see her expression, he could guess she was wearing a triumphant smirk.
"Teacher, why would you do this?"
Wang Xi asked, his tone calm.
He shifted into a more comfortable sitting position to ease his sore backside, the shackles on his hands and feet dragging their chains with a CLANK.
"You're Sierra's cousin and the Knight Commander of Randall. I don't understand why you would betray the Count and conspire with the Northern People..."
"Why?"
The woman chuckled. The curved iron plates on her chest jiggled incessantly, drawing the eye.
Wang Xi admired the sight for a few moments before his vision went dark.
The woman had taken a step forward, knelt on one knee, and seized Wang Xi's chin, forcing his face up.
Up close, Wang Xi could clearly see the woman's delicate features, especially her pair of valiant and resolute, pale green eyes.
"You've studied with me since you were a child, but aside from Swordsmanship, you haven't improved in any other area—especially your mind."
The woman sneered.
Her tone then shifted, becoming wistful.
"This place held me back, Gai. In Randall, even in the entire Stag Kingdom, it's difficult for a woman without a powerful background to get ahead... Only the Northern Lands are a place where I can truly display my talents. And all of you will be the rungs on my ladder to success."
"So what do you plan to do next?"
Unable to break free from the woman's strong grip, Wang Xi simply tilted his head back and asked in a low voice.
"Kill me? Then kill Sierra and the Count?"
"No."
The woman shook her head with a smile.
A hint of seductive charm flashed in her eyes.
"If I killed you, there'd be no way to negotiate. You are all very valuable bargaining chips. Besides, how could I bear to kill you, Gai?"
As she spoke, the woman acted without warning, grabbing Wang Xi's collar and ripping it violently.
RIIIP—
Wang Xi felt a chill as his body was exposed.
His linen robe had been torn to shreds with ease.
"Did you know, Gai? I watched you grow up, from a tender boy into the valiant man you are today... I'm jealous of Sierra! She gets you so easily! And the Count's Domain!"
By the end, she was practically grinding her teeth.
Wang Xi took a deep breath. He knew what was about to happen. He raised his eyes to meet her undisguised, blazing gaze.
Then, as if unable to withstand her stare, he closed his eyes in resignation. He looked like a lamb that had given up the struggle, ready to face the long-suppressed violation of the lioness.
Wendy let out a triumphant chuckle, her laughter growing louder and more unrestrained.
"..."
Wang Xi sighed internally.
'Forget it.'
'I'm a grown man. This isn't exactly the worst thing that could happen. Besides, she's not old or ugly—in fact, she's mature and beautiful.'
'If you can't fight it, might as well enjoy it.'
Wang Xi mocked himself silently.
'In my past life, I toyed with the emotions of countless girls. I guess this is karma.'
Just then, Wendy's voice rang out again:
"Gai, I got something special from the Northern People..."
Wang Xi opened his eyes to see Knight Wendy holding a small, black, palm-sized bottle. As she shook it, he could hear the sound of sloshing liquid.
He heard Wendy giggle and say:
"This is a Wizard's Magic Potion called 'Kiss of Fertility'. After you take it, it will greatly increase your... accuracy. But there's a small side effect. You'll probably lose your ability in *that* department afterward."
"The sole heir of the Farrell Clan will be our child. He will grow up with me in the Northern Lands, and then return with the bearing of a king, his rightful inheritance."
"Here, drink it."
"I won't drink it!"
A jolt went through Wang Xi, and he immediately started to resist.
"Gah! I don't wanna drink it!!"
The side effect of this stuff was too vicious. Although it would temporarily turn him into a "Heroic Divine Gunman," the price was permanent dysfunction after a single shot.
Wendy was slender, but her strength was astonishing. With just one hand, she easily pinned Wang Xi to the ground, then smilingly poured the Magic Potion into his mouth.
"No—GLUG!"
"Don't—GLUG!"
"Stop—BLECH!"
CLANG!
The empty little potion bottle fell to the floor and rolled aside.
Wang Xi lay sprawled on the ground in a pathetic state, spitting up the yellowish-brown liquid. He wanted to vomit up his own bile, but a portion of the potion had already been forced down his throat.
He could feel the bitter taste in his mouth.
His face was ashen.
"And now, Teacher will teach you one last lesson."
Wendy said with a smile, her voice laced with a long-suppressed excitement and anticipation.
"I've also invited a special guest to watch this important lesson from start to finish."
As she spoke, she began to unbuckle her armor and stepped to the side.
The torchlight fell on Wang Xi's face.
He looked up and out of the cell, and froze.
A young lady in a blue velvet dress with her blonde hair pinned up was kneeling outside, held down at the shoulders by two female guards.
Her mouth was gagged with a cloth, rendering her speechless. Her expression was one of utter shock, her beautiful jade-green eyes staring fixedly at her cousin and her fiancé inside the cell.
"Sierra?"
"Mmph!!"
The young Lady Sierra's pupils trembled. She made agonized, unwilling noises, shaking her head constantly, as if she couldn't accept this reality.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto the floor.
Wendy saw this and, as if deriving some intense pleasure from it, her triumphant expression quickly morphed into one of satisfaction.
Wang Xi was dumbfounded.
'Wait!'
'This scene seems... kind of familiar!'
The feeling of déjà vu was so strong that he temporarily forgot the predicament he was in.
"Useless Sierra, open your eyes and watch closely! Your dear Gai is about to be eaten alive by me, hehehe!"
Wendy sneered endlessly, then bent down and squatted.
Wang Xi closed his eyes.
He just recited a line in his mind:
'Wang Xi, oh Wang Xi, you've seen it all, you've done it all. Don't let your heart waver, and definitely don't let your body act! Grrr!'
Wendy's movements suddenly froze, her face showing confusion.
"Hm?" Her brow furrowed. "He clearly took the Magic Potion, so why is there no reaction at all?!"
Wang Xi slowly opened his eyes, his expression devoid of sorrow or joy.
He didn't respond to Wendy's confusion.
This was just a little trick he'd picked up after weathering many storms. Wang Xi had given this ability to forcibly calm himself a unique name—
Divine Second!
In just one second, he could enter the "Wise Man's Moment," no longer troubled by the temptations of feminine beauty.
All sensory stimuli were useless against him.
So what if he was a Sharpshooter...
If the gun isn't raised, what can you do to me?
"Damn it!" Wendy looked at the young man, who was lying there like a dead fish, and cursed, enraged by the humiliation. "Pull yourself together! Do you hear me!"
Wang Xi turned a deaf ear.
He lay lazily on the ground, letting Wendy do as she would, remaining completely unresponsive.
Outside the cell, Sierra, and even the two female guards, watched this scene in astonishment.
After bustling about for a while and seeing that Gai still hadn't stirred, Wendy, covered in sweat, grew more and more anxious. The Magic Potion had a time limit. Once it wore off, her scheme would be ruined.
"You..."
Wendy was slightly out of breath. She glared at Wang Xi and said.
"Is there something wrong with you?!"
Other than that, she couldn't think of any other reason why the young man would have no reaction at all.
Wang Xi looked at Wendy calmly and said faintly:
"Beg for mercy."
"Hm?"
Wendy's lovely brows furrowed, and her eyes narrowed.
"What did you say? Say that again."
"Wendy Barov." Wang Xi glanced at her and said in a commanding tone, "I want you to beg me for mercy. Admit defeat."
Hearing this, Wendy seemed to understand something, and a look of sudden realization appeared on her face.
Then, she let out a soft hum.
"Oh—I get it."
Wendy's previous exasperation vanished, replaced by a meek and docile demeanor as she pressed herself against Wang Xi's side.
"Gai, you're just like you've always been, so competitive. Even at a time like this, you still want to compete with your teacher..."
"You really are a child who refuses to grow up."
Wendy took a deep breath.
She leaned in and whispered in Wang Xi's ear:
"Teacher admits defeat, my good Gai."
Ding!
A flash went through Wang Xi's eyes.
「Iris Knight Wendy (Scarlet/Three Stars)」
「Target Defeated!」
「Capture "Wendy's" abilities?」
'Yes, yes, yes! Hurry up!'
he urged silently.
Instantly, a flash of white light only Wang Xi could see appeared. Three orbs of light flew from the Female Knight's body and entered the space between his brows.
「"Wendy" Card has been added to the Independent Card Pool」
「Insufficient Energy. Unable to draw.」
Wang Xi was stunned for a moment, then became furious.
'You damn troll! You're just asking for a beating!'
He had originally planned to escape by using Wendy's abilities, but it seemed that plan was now impossible.
"Now, you'll cooperate with Teacher, right?"
Wendy said with a smile.
But her eyes held a threatening glint.
"..."
Wang Xi said nothing, only shaking his head.
Wendy's gaze grew more dangerous.
"Playing me?" She abruptly drew the short dagger from her belt. With a SHING, the cold steel gleamed.
Wendy said coldly, "It seems you either have a hidden illness or you just don't like women... Fine. If I can't have it, then no one can!"
With that, Wendy postured as if to swing the dagger.
As the saying goes, why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? But in Wang Xi's eyes, it was all the same.
Because whether it was the chicken or the ox, they were both his dear brothers!
Wang Xi's eyelid twitched violently.
'Send me back!!'
He screamed in his mind.
Instantly, a long, thin fissure in his mind, like a closed eye, slowly opened, blooming with light.
VMMMM—
The scene around him froze, then faded.
The dark, damp dungeon disappeared, replaced by a clean and tidy bedroom.
Wang Xi was lying on a bed. Outside the window were skyscrapers, and the morning light streamed in, brightly illuminating the room.
The square digital clock on the headboard displayed:
"May 25, 2045, 7:59."