"Who is it that created such a vicious method?" Leyvi muttered to himself, a chill settling in his bones. "It enslaves both the body and the mind. It's just like Dastan said. In the Protogaea Continent, his kingdom could be considered among the good ones. The other half treat slavery as something utterly normal. This is terrifying."
His home, the Cloud Continent, was now under the governance of the Protectors, a coalition of righteous cultivators who had emerged over a thousand years ago to curb rampant lawlessness. After a millennium of their influence, it had become rare to encounter such blatantly wicked techniques or methods anymore.
But what about the kingdoms that allowed, or even cultivated, these kinds of arts? The ones where such darkness was permitted to flourish?
What he had just experienced was merely one example. It meant he had to be infinitely more wary from now on. More bizarre and insidious tricks could catch him off guard if he was not careful.
In his opinion, even that cockroach villain Ori's Slavemaker Pill was nothing compared to the spell he had just received. One was temporary, its effects meant to wear off. The other was designed to be permanent.
He could only hope it could be dispelled somehow. If not, it would be a constant, frustrating pain to have his own body moving on its own volition.
While Leyvi was lost in these troubled thoughts, the dazed Pink Enchantress on the ground finally began to stir. Focus seeped back into her eyes as she groaned and pushed herself up onto her elbows.
"Ah... what's going on...?" she murmured, a hand rising to touch her throbbing temple. "I feel so dizzy..."
Leyvi frowned, watching her closely. He was utterly unsure of what to do next. It had been proven beyond doubt that he could not harm her directly. No matter what method he attempted, even a non-physical attack like Spiritual Touch or Spiritual Pressure, his own body had instinctively sabotaged him, jerking him out of range or breaking his focus. He had been genuinely surprised by the sheer acrobatic range of movements his body was capable of, all for the sole purpose of protecting her.
Now, a new and pressing concern arose. If she noticed this bizarre compulsion, she would undoubtedly use it to her advantage.
When the Pink Enchantress Rose saw a pair of feet near her, she immediately recoiled, scrambling backward in alarm. She looked up and saw Leyvi standing over her, his gaze cold and utterly unfriendly.
The moment her eyes met his, her heart began to beat with a frantic, wild rhythm. Her mind was suddenly flooded with an intense, overwhelming longing for the man standing before her. And as the memories of what she had done to him rushed back—the ambush, the trap, the cruel spell, the violation of his will—an indescribable, crushing wave of guilt washed over her all at once. It triggered a complete mental breakdown.
"NOOOOOO! NOOOOOO! I AM SORRY! I AM SORRYYY!" she screamed, clutching her head as if to ward off the searing remorse.
Huh? She is going crazy. Did she notice that both her maids are on the brink of death? Leyvi thought.
He had already checked on them with his spiritual sense. They were still alive, but only barely. Severe burns covered their bodies, yet what truly threatened their lives were shattered bones and destroyed organs. It was obvious at a glance. Without consuming any healing products, their deaths were only a matter of time. Unfortunately, they were unconscious and unable to do so.
A sudden, dark idea clicked into place in Leyvi's mind.
Right. If I can't harm her physically, surely I can harm her mentally. Maybe I should capture the maids, heal them just enough, and then torture them right in front of her. That would make her suffer, would it not?
But the very next moment, Leyvi shook his head sharply, as if to physically dispel the thought.
Sigh... look at what they have done to me. I am turning into a vicious person without even realizing it. Torturing others to make someone I hate suffer? Leyvi, you can't do this. This is not who you are. You can't lose yourself just because you are surrounded by vicious people.
He reminded himself firmly of his own boundaries. He would kill to protect himself and his family if he had to, but he did not need to stoop to their level. There was a line, and he would not cross it.
He looked down at the still-screaming woman and spoke with cold mockery. "They are dying because of you. You have only yourself to blame."
"No, no, no... that's not it... please... forgive me... I was wrong... I was so wrong! Please don't hate me!" The Pink Enchantress crawled forward on her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around Leyvi's right leg, her voice breaking into desperate sobs.
What the hell is wrong with this woman now? She's completely different from how she acted before. From elegant and seductive to this? And on top of that… my body not responding is infuriating!
When she had approached, he had intended to kick her away, but his leg had remained rooted to the spot, refusing to obey.
"Oi, crazy bitch! What do you mean by that? Why are you apologizing? Let go of my leg!" Leyvi demanded, his voice thick with disgust at her touch.
To his surprise, the woman immediately released his leg, as if burned by his words. She looked up at him, her ethereal face streaked with tears.
He seized the chance to retreat, putting several paces of safe distance between them.
Seeing him pull away, the Pink Enchantress Rose sobbed even harder, her shoulders shaking.
"I am sorry... I... I don't want you to hate me... please forgive me... please don't hate me... I regret what I did... I regret every terrible thing I said to you... please, give me a chance to repent..." Her words tumbled out between heavy, choking sobs.
No, no, no. This is definitely an act! Leyvi's mind raced. There is no way a person changes this fast. What kind of trick is she trying now? Right, that must be it. She is making me lower my guard so I will bring her to our hideout. She wants to target everyone!
That was the only logical explanation he could accept for her sudden, dramatic transformation.
"Hahaha! Crazy bitch! You can act all you want, but it will not work on me anymore. I have seen through all of your deceit." Leyvi laughed with open contempt, though inwardly, his mind was churning, desperately trying to figure out a solution.
What was he supposed to do now? Let her go just like this?
If he did, she would definitely harbor a deep grudge and come back to bite him in the future. But the problem was right in front of him. Because of that ridiculous curse, he could not harm her at all, let alone kill her to eliminate future trouble.
Hmm?
Leyvi sensed a rapid movement rushing straight toward him.
Someone's coming.
That movement pattern… it's Ava! That girl. Why is she coming back? I told her to wait there. Right. If I can't deal with this, then I'll just have Ava finish her off. Problem solved.
So, Leyvi decided to wait. While he did, the Pink Enchantress continued her performance, begging and sobbing, pleading endlessly for his forgiveness.
The longer it went on, the more grudgingly impressed he became by her acting. He felt that he and Anda could actually learn something from her. The performance was utterly convincing. Her emotion was raw and on point, as real as it could possibly seem.
The only thing that kept him from believing it was the glaring, illogical fact that they were complete strangers, and she had no conceivable reason to undergo such a sudden, profound change of heart. It simply did not add up.
Before long, Ava arrived at the scene. Like Leyvi, she was utterly confused by the spectacle before her.
When the Pink Enchantress saw Ava, her expression crumpled into one of profound sadness, and she began begging for her forgiveness as well.
"What in the world is happening here?" Ava asked, stepping beside Leyvi and keeping her voice low.
He offered a wry, frustrated smile. "I don't know either. I was going to kill her, but I can't."
He then proceeded to explain everything that had transpired after she fled.
"What a bizarre curse," Ava said after a few moments of stunned silence. "I thought you were going to spare her because of her beauty."
Leyvi rolled his eyes. "Who do you think I am? I am not going to like someone just because she is a little pretty."
"Hmph, you are a sex fiend, after all," Ava retorted.
Leyvi was left speechless.
"Hmph, since you can't do it, I will!" Ava declared.
Her body vanished and reappeared in a flash behind the sobbing Pink Enchantress, her sharp nails poised like blades to sever the woman's head from her shoulders. But a deafening boom of displaced air sounded in the next instant, and Leyvi materialized directly in front of her. His hand shot out with lightning speed and impossible precision, grabbing her striking wrist and halting the killing blow completely.
Ava was shocked. That speed had been even faster than her own, a blur she had barely registered.
"What are you doing?" she screamed at Leyvi, her voice sharp with anger and betrayal. "Why are you stopping me from killing her? I knew it! You sex fiend, you want to taste her body after all!"
Leyvi felt like crying.
His body had moved again. Not by his will, but with an almost divine reaction, stepping in to protect that insane woman. He did not even know his body was capable of such movement.
What kind of curse is this? It's terrifying.
Am I supposed to protect her from any danger from now on?