Lady Veronika was in absolute shock.
'Is he really that afraid of death? Just how low is he willing to fall? Where is his limit?'
She took off her shoe, extended her leg toward him, and gave an order.
"Lick."
Grey's eyes flashed with a strange light.
He took her elegant foot, doing so as carefully as if it were some kind of heavenly treasure. Before him lay a neat, white foot with slender toes that looked like juicy grapes.
Lady Veronika was too beautiful. Even her foot seemed like the work of a master sculptor.
He puckered his lips and gently kissed the tips of her toes, which were adorned with pink nails. Then, he obediently stuck out his tongue and ran it up her sole.
His eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly hid it.
'Why do I taste sweetness? Is that a hint of jasmine? Hm... Hmm... A rich floral accord, the freshness of white petals, a creamy texture, a light fruity sweetness. It tastes like pear and lychee. Is that a spice in the aftertaste? Holy shit, I could actually get addicted to this...'
An expert's body was completely different from that of an ordinary mortal. Every part, every organ, and every single cell was constantly purified by mana, the purest form of natural energy—whether during training or through the consumption of natural treasures.
Naturally, such an influence improved one's health.
As one progressed, the internal processes throughout the entire body harmonized. Cells became more resilient, organs functioned more efficiently, and common viruses and bacteria practically vanished. This meant toxins and harmful substances barely affected the body, unlike with an ordinary mortal.
It was common knowledge that purification was an integral part of cultivation. Therefore, all bodily fluids, including sweat, saliva, and so on, acquired a pleasant scent and taste.
Grey did not even dare to guess how powerful Lady Veronika's cultivation was. He already understood that she could take his life with her aura alone. It was only logical that her taste felt so unique and enticing. It felt like a natural aphrodisiac, one that left him slightly intoxicated.
He moved from her sole straight to her toes, taking them into his mouth one by one, as if savoring the most delicious dessert. First the pinky, then the ring toe, the middle toe, and straight to the big one.
They were smooth and incredibly pleasant to the touch.
Lady Veronika's eyes turned into wide saucers, and her body froze in shock.
She certainly had not expected such a show. It seemed Grey did not mind humiliating himself before her at all. She could even sense a slight eagerness in his behavior.
Where was his pride as a warrior? Where was the reluctance and resentment? In his narrowed eyes, there was only cunning with a hint of pleasure. She could tell for certain that he did not feel an ounce of discomfort, but treated her feet like the finest of natural resources.
It was important to understand that a patriarchal society still predominated in Eridania.
There were countless powerful women, and there were even known cases of reverse harems. However, such behavior was considered a disgrace for men and a completely inappropriate practice. No hero would willingly grovel before a woman. They all wanted to dominate her, to bend her to their will.
Such men were admired.
But Grey...
He acted completely differently. And that was exactly what surprised her. The total absence of reluctance on his divinely handsome face.
His movements were extremely deliberate.
He massaged her feet with his hands highly skillfully, greedily using his tongue to taste every part of her flesh, genuinely enjoying it.
Grey gently stimulated all her sensitive points. His fingers glided across her delicate skin, sending waves of goosebumps over her. His hot breath caused a tingling sensation and weakness.
The longer he did this, the more sensitive Lady Veronika herself became. Her body slowly warmed up. Charming moans escaped her lips every now and then.
"Ahhh... Ummm... Yesss..."
Lost in her own thoughts, she did not notice how she surrendered to the feeling of comfort. Meanwhile, Grey slowly moved higher and higher. He went from her feet to her shins, then to her knees and calves. His rough fingers dug into her tender skin with increasing persistence.
She became wet.
For the first time today, control of the situation completely shifted to Grey's side.
He squeezed her skin, kneading it like dough. He covered it with kisses.
They completely forgot that this process was supposed to be a mere test, not foreplay.
They surrendered to the pleasure and completely immersed themselves in the moment.
Grey moved higher and higher.
His eyes turned bloodshot. His pupils pulsed with a burning lust that he could no longer control.
He wanted this woman.
He wanted to get rid of the extra fabric. He wanted to touch her even more. He wanted to lift her to the peak of pleasure. He wanted her thoughts, her soul, and her body to belong exclusively to him alone.
He felt greed and lust slowly taking over, drowning out all other emotions and suppressing his rationality.
His eyes never left her body for a single second.
Her high peaks, rising and falling in time with her heavy breathing. Her soft thighs, which were so close. Her long legs, which he had the right to touch for his own pleasure. Every part of her was driving him insane.
He felt an all-consuming need, but he knew he had to act carefully. Steady the pace. Act boldly, yet patiently. Continue to raise the heat until she was completely at his mercy.
When his fingers gripped her thighs, she involuntarily parted her legs. Her knees gave out betrayingly, her skin broke out in goosebumps, and her body grew weak.
Grey's breathing quickened. He kissed her thighs, slowly moving further.
"Ahum... Mmmm..."
Feeling that his lips were dangerously close to her crotch, she snapped out of it immediately and gently pushed him away with her elegant leg.
Her bountiful chest rose and fell, and her mind was in complete chaos.
'Holy Venus, Mother Aphrodite. He did it. He completely took control of her. Her! The very embodiment of sexuality. Even if only for a fraction of a second. (Five minutes, at least. She was just afraid to admit it.) He did whatever he wanted with her, and she willingly obeyed him! This is unthinkable! She liked it! She was intoxicated by the sense of power and worship he gave her.'
Veronika's face turned bright red, but to hide it, she decided to return to the original topic.
"Are you serious? Do you value your pathetic little life so much that you're willing to lick someone's boots?"
She completely ignored her uneven breathing.
Grey felt like howling at the moon like a wolf.
Still, he got to his feet. Unhurriedly, he adjusted his clothes and sat back down in the chair with his legs crossed, as if he had never left it in the first place. His posture was so relaxed and carefree that no one would believe it had been him kneeling just a minute ago, consumed by desire.
"Isn't that reaction a bit exaggerated? Please..." He drew out the last word as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "You're not some sweaty old man. You're a very beautiful lady. I'd even dare say I came out ahead from your little experiment."
Her eyes widened into saucers.
She couldn't help but ask, "And what if I were a man? A strong male threatening your life with some extremely strange tastes..."
Even she felt disgusted painting such a picture.
"Where there's life, there's opportunity." He showed her the dagger he was holding in his hand. "I'd bet you didn't even notice when I took it out. What do you think would've happened if I'd actually intended to kill you? Wouldn't our roles have reversed in an instant?"
Even though Veronika disagreed deep down, she chose not to argue with him. The difference in their strength remained absolute. If he had possessed even the slightest murderous intent, her sense of danger would have awakened her immediately.
He knew that as well. Perhaps that was why he had never acted.
Still, it was an undeniable fact that she hadn't noticed him drawing the dagger. The reasons and excuses didn't matter. With such an overwhelming gap in strength, pulling off a trick like that could only be called a legendary feat.
The demonstration of his ruthless methods sent a faint prickling sensation across the back of her neck.
A spawn of darkness! That's right! A devil's offspring! Perhaps the world had been saved by the simple fact that he couldn't cultivate.
"And yet..." She couldn't calm herself down. Her heart hammered relentlessly.
"What about a warrior's pride and honor? How are you even planning to grow stronger with such a... Ahem... Ahem..." She faltered slightly, unable to find the right word. "...such a pathetic mentality."
Grey objected, "I don't think my mentality is pathetic at all."
Now that he understood his life was no longer in danger, he relaxed and was perfectly willing to engage in a casual debate that obligated him to nothing.
He had nothing to lose. Respect? Heh. What a joke.
As someone who had clawed his way out of the mud in his previous life, endured endless hatred and flattery alike, read the strangest comments about himself on the internet, then reincarnated into a new body only to find himself at rock bottom once again, suffered beatings and humiliation in a slave camp, and escaped from cultists...
Care about the opinions of uncivilized barbarians?
No thanks...
This kind of life was completely familiar to him. Such ordinary matters didn't concern him in the slightest.
However, as someone who had truly experienced the horror of death, he cherished his life deeply and had no intention of giving it up, no matter the cost.
"Don't you understand how important principles are for cultivation?!" Veronika nearly shouted when she saw the smug look on his face. "How can someone with no moral backbone, no clear principles, and not even the slightest self-respect ever achieve anything in life?"
"Who told you I don't have those things? It's very simple. My moral principles are very different from yours. I'd wager they're no less firm than all that nonsense you believe to be unquestionable truth."
"And what do you think of true heroes? People who value honor above their own lives? Jingwei, Kua Fu, Prometheus and Heracles, Regulus and Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, if you prefer."
"Huh? Those idiots? Jingwei devoted herself to the meaningless task of filling the sea with stones? What absurd nonsense. And where are they all now? Prometheus is condemned to eternal torment. Kua Fu died. Heracles died. Regulus willingly chose death."
"Died."
"Died."
"Condemned."
He listed them one after another without the slightest change in expression.
"And you're suggesting I use losers like them as role models? What's the point? I'd rather be like Zeus. At least he succeeded."
"DON'T MAKE COMPARISONS WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Veronika cut him off sharply.
It seemed his words had struck a nerve...
Grey realized he had gotten a little too carried away. He needed to be more cautious and choose his words more carefully.
After regaining her composure, she continued questioning him anyway. Veronika now seemed genuinely interested and no longer wanted to argue over trivial details.
"And what about Sun Wukong or Vlad Dracula Tepes? Didn't they achieve success?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
"I call that survivor's bias. One success among a hundred deaths. And how many other 'principled' people like them are lying in nameless graves?"
Grey fell silent for a moment.
"Don't get me wrong, I respect them and all that... Perseverance is admirable. But if a fly tries to kill a spider, that's not courage. It's stupidity. Seriously, who in their right mind would chase the sun? For what? Why? Maybe they all had their own reasons, but I don't have any like that."
He took a breath and didn't even realize when he had started enjoying their honest conversation.
"Their lives aren't mine. I only have one life, and I love it very much. So allow me to do whatever it takes to survive. I have no reason to become a hero."
By the end of his monologue, Veronika seemed somewhat distracted.
She had fallen deep into thought, and Grey didn't dare interrupt her.
He knew his point of view would sound unimaginable to anyone in this world. The fact that someone was actually willing to listen to his ramblings brought him considerable relief. The stress that had built up inside him eased somewhat, breathing became easier, and his body finally relaxed.
Perhaps the fear of death he had just experienced had drained him so thoroughly that he stopped worrying and simply let himself drift with the current.
About five minutes later, Veronika finally came back to herself.
"Thank you for your honest opinion. You may not know this, but for experts like me, the most important thing is the cultivation of the soul. Your perspective was quite..." Her lips twitched, as though savoring the sensation itself. "...refreshing. Yes, refreshing."
"I can't fully agree with you. Nor do I entirely understand what exactly your beliefs are built upon, but I can't deny that this conversation benefited me. My strength has advanced slightly, and my mind has become clearer."
"Speak. What is it that you desire? If it is within my power, I will do my best to grant your wish..."