The wind atop Mount Taixu was cool, causing the light silk canopy to drift like seaweed in water.
But the scene within the birdcage made Ji Lin feel even colder.
"You really need the [Limited Edition Figure] version of Red Kite for this. Two hands just aren't enough to handle her."
Ye Feng couldn't help but sigh with feeling.
"…Master, I implore you, please don't do this…"
Ye Feng gave Ji Lin a gentle smile. He then adjusted the height of the red silks binding Red Kite, slowly lowering her.
Ye Feng sat down straight-backed and chuckled.
"Did Kiana not tell you? I'm the kind of man who, once his clothes are off, will go all the way to the end. Ah, but I've just noticed that you're no longer allergic to seeing my body, Ji Lin. You were so innocent back when you were performing for me and Kiana."
"…"
Ji Lin's eyes flickered, her teeth biting her cherry lip.
The gap between the bars of the cage was wide enough, yet she could not cross into it.
That line seemed to stretch for an infinite distance, becoming a pathetic barrier.
The classically elegant, palace-gowned young woman gripped the bars of the birdcage tightly, her beautiful eyes fixed tragically on the scene within.
"Ji Lin, you must have realized it by now. I've played with every single NPC here. And that includes you."
"…"
"The only difference is whether you see it or not. Does burying your head in the sand like an ostrich mean it never happened?"
As Ye Feng spoke, he began to rotate the horizontally suspended Red Kite, as if turning the hands of a clock.
The silver bells on her body jingled softly.
At the same time, the numerous red silks hanging down and binding Red Kite began to twist together from the top in a spiral.
As Red Kite spun continuously, the silks twisted tighter and tighter downwards until they reached their limit. Only then did Ye Feng stop the rotation.
The dozens of red silks were now coiled into a tight spiral all the way down to Red Kite's back. The tension was so great that the stored potential energy was visible to the naked eye.
If he were to let go, Red Kite would surely spin like a whirlwind.
Ye Feng pinched Red Kite's calf, holding her in place.
He looked at Ji Lin.
The naive and pure, classical virgin wife simply could not comprehend the meaning behind Ye Feng's actions.
But her instincts told her it was… absurd.
Moreover, as she spun, the red silks binding Red Kite tightened, causing her skin to flush with congested blood.
"Master…?"
Ye Feng smiled. "Do you know of Meltryllis? Ah, I forgot, of course you wouldn't."
Ye Feng continued, speaking to himself, "She's a Servant from Fate. Her form is graceful, like a great dancer in a classical ballet, prancing lightly on her heels. I've long wanted to have a taste of her Noble Phantasm."
"?"
She didn't understand. She didn't understand at all.
Servant? Noble Phantasm? What are those things?
But coming from Ye Feng's mouth, they sounded incredibly indecent.
"My lady, would you care to perform a rendition of Phoenix Seeking a Mate?"
A jade xiao floated before Ji Lin. She stared at the verdant flute, her heart aching with sorrow.
Red Kite, please wake up…
Ji Lin fantasized that Red Kite could descend from the heavens as she once did and save her from this sea of suffering.
However, reality was cruel.
Ji Lin, separated by the birdcage, could only watch helplessly.
"Three requests. This is my first. Of course, you can refuse, but if you do, it will still count as three requests."
"Eh?"
Ji Lin was taken aback.
Playing the jade xiao again?
And he's using up one of the conditions for it?
Ji Lin was a person who honored her promises.
Although he said she "could refuse," this was in exchange for saving her life.
Unless it truly violated her bottom line, she would never refuse.
And now, Master had used the first condition so simply?
Ji Lin, who had been somewhat resistant, looked at the jade xiao floating before her. She reached out her fair, slender hand and slowly took it.
"This humble one… understands."
Ji Lin knew she was powerless to change anything.
Besides, the one in the cage wasn't the real Red Kite, but merely a puppet with an empty shell.
She took a deep breath, unable to stop herself from recalling Kiana's words: All the NPCs here are Ye Feng's private property. There's no point in getting worked up over it. If anything, we're the ones who profit by using them. That dog can't touch our real bodies anyway; the most he can do is write and draw on us.
Ji Lin knew this was self-deception, but in a helpless situation, it was indeed a form of comfort.
Ji Lin turned her head, unable to bear watching the scene in the birdcage any longer.
She placed the jade xiao to her lips, and the sound of music drifted out.
The melody of Phoenix Seeking a Mate was originally filled with tender affection, its notes flowing and graceful, its tune winding and dramatic. But at this moment, it was mournful and sorrowful.
Ye Feng, however, was in ecstasy.
This was no ordinary jade xiao; it was one that shared its sensations with him.
The unique resonance created as the beauty's fragrant breath entered the flute's chamber was utterly intoxicating.
Feeling a surge of delight, Ye Feng couldn't help but begin to chant.
"I will melt your body and soul, along with the very trace of your existence—Here I go… Here I go, here I go, here I go, here I go…! I'll swallow you in one gulp!
Ahahahahahaha! This is the Five-String Biwa, the pillar that devours all pleasure!"
Noble Phantasm Activated:[Saraswati Meltout: Benzaiten's Five-String Biwa]
He released his hold. The twisted red silks, filled with stored potential energy, were unleashed—
Red Kite began to spin like the propeller of a helicopter.
Spiraling to the Heavens.
The sound of wind, the sound of water, the sound of swaying… every sound entered the ear…
---o---
"…Human, why am I unable to awaken outside?"
The Herrscher of the Void couldn't help but question Ye Feng.
After coming down from Mount Taixu, she had blocked his path.
"To keep you from causing trouble, of course. So, just before it's time to return, I let you continue sleeping."
"Then I command you to remove all negative status effects from me."
"That I cannot do."
"Why not? Didn't you say you would grant any of our wishes this week?"
Ye Feng patted the sub-lance spear that the Herrscher of the Void had pointed at him and smiled.
"That's true, but when the requests of multiple people conflict, the one made first gets priority. Can't be helped; Kiana asked me from the very beginning."
"Tsk."
The Herrscher of the Void clicked her tongue with cold arrogance.
"If you're bored, I can generate the entire human population of Earth for you to kill."
"?"
A question mark appeared over the Herrscher of the Void's head, her face showing a clear "what the fuck are you on about" expression.
Ye Feng frowned. "Isn't slaughtering the entire population of Earth enough to satisfy you? If it's another world… it's more troublesome to generate."
"Enough!"
The Herrscher of the Void waved her hand. "I have no interest in deleting data."
"What I generate isn't something as simple as data, you know. Though they aren't real humans either. But it can let you have some fun first. You're just sitting around idle anyway."
"?"
The Herrscher of the Void froze for a second, another question mark appearing.
How is this guy even more twisted than I am?