Chapter 347: The Fallen Goddess and the Ignorant Simp!
"Natsuki-chan, where did you go yesterday? Why didn't you come to watch my race?"
Echizen Takumi walked forward, looking at Suzuki Natsuki with a puzzled expression, feeling that his beloved childhood friend seemed a bit off.
The streetlights in this residential area were dim and flickering, casting long, wavering shadows that danced across the cracked pavement. After being startled by Shen Anyu earlier that day, Echizen Takumi's drunkenness had completely dissipated, replaced by a gnawing anxiety that churned in his stomach like acid. He thought for a moment, unable to suppress his worry, and went to wait at his childhood friend Suzuki Natsuki's doorstep.
The Suzuki residence was dark. Suzuki Natsuki's parents were working outside and were not home, leaving the house standing silent and empty in the night.
He couldn't get through to Suzuki Natsuki's phone either. Every call went straight to voicemail, the mechanical tone mocking his growing desperation.
Echizen Takumi squatted bitterly for several hours by the gate, his legs growing numb and his patience wearing thin. He was getting thoroughly bitten by mosquitoes; the red, itchy welts on his arms and neck were stinging, but he barely noticed them. His mind was entirely consumed by scenarios of what might have happened to her.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he saw a figure approach. He waited for Suzuki Natsuki to return.
Just by observing Suzuki Natsuki as she walked under the halo of the streetlight, Echizen Takumi couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he always felt that something was amiss. It was a subtle intuition, the kind born from years of knowing someone, yet his mind refused to process the reality of what he was seeing.
His beloved Natsuki-chan seemed even more beautiful than usual, possessing a radiance that was almost blinding. Her small face was flushed with an unnatural, lingering heat, glowing like a ripe peach, and she looked incredibly lovely in a way that stirred a primal heat in his lower belly. Her eyes, usually clear and innocent, now held a misty, watery quality—a haze of exhaustion mixed with a strange, residual intoxication that had nothing to do with alcohol.
Moreover, she was wearing a stylish little dress that he had never seen before. The fabric was exquisite, shimmering with a pearlescent sheen under the night sky, hugging her developing curves in a way that was both elegant and provocative. In her hands, she was carrying over a dozen shopping bags, the handles digging into her soft palms, looking as if she had been on a massive shopping spree.
Echizen Takumi didn't recognize luxury brands like Chanel, Hermès, or Louis Vuitton—his world was one of modified car parts and cheap convenience store bentos—but even with his untrained eyes, he could tell they seemed very expensive. The glossy paper, the gold-embossed logos, and the sheer quality of the packaging screamed of a world he did not belong to.
However, Echizen Takumi didn't have time to dwell on such things or question where she got the money; at this moment, his gaze fell downward, and he urgently asked,
"Natsuki-chan, what happened to your knee?"
Echizen Takumi's eyes widened in shock as he looked at Suzuki Natsuki's knee. Her usually fair and delicate knee, smooth as fine porcelain, now had some obvious abrasions. It was red, the skin rubbed raw and tender, looking slightly swollen against the pale skin of her legs.
Suzuki Natsuki was utterly flustered. Her mind went blank, and a wave of panic washed over her. She was at a loss for words.
How could she explain? The sensation of the rough, expensive wool carpet of the presidential suite flashed through her mind. The memory of being pressed down, the commanding voice of that devilish man, and the friction that burned her skin while she submitted to his overwhelming demands—it all came rushing back. The phantom sensation of his hands on her waist made her tremble.
But before she could stammer out an excuse, Echizen Takumi began to scold her, his tone filled with a naive, protective anger, saying,
"You must have accidentally fallen and injured it. Natsuki-chan, how could you be so careless?"
"And you're carrying so many things. You should have called me to pick you up."
"Really, that's just too thoughtless."
Echizen Takumi proactively reached out and took the shopping bags from Suzuki Natsuki's hands. The weight of them was surprising, but he held them firmly, his eyes filled with tenderness and a foolish devotion.
He didn't notice the scent wafting from her—a complex, intoxicating mixture. It was the smell of her own sweat, mingled with a high-end, aggressive masculine cologne that definitely didn't belong to her, and the faint, musky odor of hormones that lingers after intense intimacy. To Takumi, she just smelled like the girl he loved.
At this moment, Echizen Takumi didn't have time to ask Suzuki Natsuki why she had broken her promise and hadn't come to watch his Akina Mountain race. All his anger vanished the moment he saw her "injured."
He offered all sorts of warm greetings, his voice babbling on as he cared about the injury on Suzuki Natsuki's knee.
He even wanted to run to the nearest pharmacy to get ointment to apply to Suzuki Natsuki's wound, treating the friction burn as if it were a serious injury.
"Arigato, Takumi-kun, no need, thank you."
Suzuki Natsuki politely declined Echizen Takumi's help, pulling her legs back slightly. She felt a genuine sigh of relief that no abnormality had been discovered, but beneath that relief was a crushing weight of shame.
However, seeing Echizen Takumi busying himself, carrying the bags that were bought with the price of her body, offering her water, and showing all sorts of care, a complex storm of emotions raged in her heart.
Suzuki Natsuki sighed softly in her heart, her gaze drifting away from his earnest face.
'We can't go back, Takumi, we can't go back...'
It had already happened. The boundary had been crossed. She had been half-coerced, half-willingly taken by Shen Anyu. The memory of his dominance was etched into her very soul. She couldn't bear to leave the luxurious web Shen Anyu had woven. It was a golden cage, warm and comfortable. She was gradually sinking into it, drowning in the pleasure and the material wealth he provided. Even her most important things—her chastity, her dignity, and perhaps even her heart—had been taken.
Suzuki Natsuki now didn't know how to face Echizen Takumi. Looking at him felt like looking at a stranger from a past life. He was a boy playing with cars; Shen Anyu was a king ruling the world.
To say she felt guilty, she certainly did. The guilt gnawed at her like a rat. But Suzuki Natsuki also couldn't bear to leave Shen Anyu. The thought of returning to a normal, frugal life with Takumi felt unbearable now.
Whether materially or physically, it was already difficult to leave. Her body still hummed with the aftershocks of Shen Anyu's touch. The expensive silk underwear she was wearing now, a gift from him, felt like a second skin, constantly reminding her of who she belonged to.
Just like now, even though her childhood friend Echizen Takumi was right in front of her, chattering away, her mind was thinking of Shen Anyu. She was thinking of his cold, handsome face, his callous smirk, and the way he made her feel small and protected all at once.
As soon as she thought of this, Suzuki Natsuki was startled by her own depravity.
'Natsuki-chan seems a bit down, probably because she fell and hurt her knee...'
And watching Suzuki Natsuki's changing expression—the furrowed brows, the bitten lip—Echizen Takumi was deeply worried. He misinterpreted her internal conflict as physical pain.
The lively and adorable Natsuki-chan of the past had never been so distracted. It seemed she really had a bad fall and was in a lot of pain.
Echizen Takumi thought for a moment, racking his brain for a way to make her smile. He prepared to tell some amusing stories to distract Suzuki Natsuki and cheer her up.
As he talked, he brought up what had just happened earlier that evening.
"Natsuki-chan, you don't know how crazy that red Ferrari we encountered yesterday was! It just sped right at us and almost ran us over! That was practically a lunatic, a bastard, wasn't it?"
At this point, Echizen Takumi grew more and more agitated as he spoke. He waved his free hand in the air, mimicking the car's movement. He himself had almost been scared to pee his pants earlier, the terror of death still fresh in his memory.
If he had been run over and killed, he wouldn't have been able to see his beloved Natsuki-chan. The thought terrified him.
Suzuki Natsuki, hearing this, felt a sharp pang of guilt in her chest. She froze. That red Ferrari... she knew exactly who was driving it. She had been sitting in the passenger seat of that very car not long ago, feeling the vibration of the engine and the heat of the driver's hand on her thigh.
She gave a few perfunctory replies, her voice hollow. "Mmm... yes, dangerous..."
Echizen Takumi, however, became excited, mistaking her response for agreement. He patted his chest, his eyes burning with a childish determination, saying,
"Next time, next time I encounter that red Ferrari, I will definitely race him and win."
"Natsuki-chan, you absolutely must watch it live this time. You definitely can't miss it. I'll show that rich bastard what a real driver looks like!"
...
[Location: The System Space / Void Monitoring Feed]
"Want to race me? Win against me? Go to sleep, you can have anything in your dreams."
Shen Anyu, who saw this scene projected clearly through the [Nanometer Monitoring Robot], a hint of disdain flashed in his profound, starry eyes.
He sat on a throne within the system space, swirling a glass of red wine, watching the live feed like a god watching a comedy. The image of Echizen Takumi, looking disheveled and pathetic, holding the luxury bags Shen Anyu had paid for, swearing vengeance against Shen Anyu, was the height of irony.
With his [God-level Old Driver] skill, Shen Anyu's understanding of vehicle mechanics, aerodynamics, and reflexes had already surpassed the limits of humanity. He only needed to use ten percent of his ability; Echizen Takumi couldn't possibly win. It wouldn't even be a race; it would be a massacre. He would be easily crushed, left eating exhaust fumes and dust.
However, Echizen Takumi's arrogant words also reminded Shen Anyu of a more entertaining possibility: perhaps defeating Echizen Takumi in a race—his area of greatest pride—could completely shatter Echizen Takumi's ego.
Coupled with the fact that he had already taken his childhood friend Suzuki Natsuki, twisting her body and mind until she was dependent on him, a two-pronged approach could thoroughly plunder him. Breaking his spirit on the track and breaking his heart in love... this would completely destroy the [Child of Destiny's Halo].
But for now, Shen Anyu had no time to bother with such an ant.
Shen Anyu closed the monitoring feed with a wave of his hand. He had already used [Infinite Teleportation] to pinpoint the little maid Ruan Lingshan earlier, and now he had returned to the Magic City River View Manor in Yanxia.
[Location: Magic City International Airport - VIP Private Arrival Hall]
The air in the VIP hall was cool and scented with lavender, a stark contrast to the humid, mosquito-infested street where Takumi stood. The floor was polished marble, reflecting the crystal chandeliers above.
At this moment, Shen Anyu was outside the arrival gate, waiting to pick up Zhong Lingyin.
With [Infinite Teleportation], the distance between nations was meaningless to him. Suzuki Natsuki's overall favorability had already reached ninety-one—a dangerously high number. If anything happened to her, he could quickly rush over in a heartbeat. Leaving her temporarily also allowed her to rest and recover her body, which had been pushed to the limit during their intense session.
Accompanying Shen Anyu to the airport were his little apprentice, the stunning Yang Luoluo, and the [Child of Destiny] Ye Linyuan, who was currently one of the "seven sisters" in his reduced state.
'Why is this guy here to pick someone up too? Does he have designs on my Fifth Sister Zhong Lingyin?'
Ye Linyuan stood beside Shen Anyu, his small hands clenched into fists. He had been hit by a [God-level Curse Talisman] and lost all his cultivation due to the [Rejuvenation Art]. Currently, he looked like a harmless, delicate child of about six or seven years old.
He was in a very bad mood. Seeing Shen Anyu, this handsome guy with a jade-like appearance, tall stature, and an aura of effortless nobility, made him even more displeased to the extreme.
Standing next to Shen Anyu was like standing next to the sun; Ye Linyuan felt his own existence being overshadowed. The women passing by didn't even glance at him; their eyes were glued to Shen Anyu, filled with blushing admiration.
Especially since Shen Anyu was also Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan's man and had an intimate, ambiguous relationship with Seventh Senior Sister Yang Luoluo. Seeing Yang Luoluo stand obediently behind Shen Anyu, looking at him with eyes full of reverence, made Ye Linyuan's heart bleed.
But now Ye Linyuan had lost all his cultivation. He was weak, powerless, and could only rely on Shen Anyu's protection to survive in this dangerous world. Not only could he not teach Shen Anyu a lesson, but he also had to swallow his anger and pretend to be a grateful "little brother."
Ye Linyuan couldn't be more depressed. He felt like a tiger turned into a house cat.
[Ding! Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan feels depressed in his heart, plundering +9999 Destiny Points!]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan swallows his anger, plundering +9999 Destiny Points!]
...
Ye Linyuan gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with a hidden fire. He thought that once the effects of the curse wore off and his cultivation recovered, he would definitely teach Shen Anyu a severe lesson. He would reclaim Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan and show this rich young master the true power of the Asura War God.
Although Shen Anyu hadn't offended him directly yet, and had even protected and taken him in, Ye Linyuan had always regarded his seven goddess Senior Sisters as his private property, his forbidden wives. He did not allow others to touch them, look at them, or even breathe the same air as them.
In Ye Linyuan's possessive and twisted mind, Shen Anyu was a mortal enemy—a love rival!
Shen Anyu felt Ye Linyuan's hidden hostility radiating from his small body. He glanced down at the "child" and smiled inwardly, not caring in the slightest.
It was the indifference of a dragon ignoring a lizard. Ye Linyuan was still too green, too naive to play with him.
If Ye Linyuan knew that the [God-level Curse Talisman] that made him revert to childhood and lose all his cultivation, as well as the previous ambush by the killers, all came from Shen Anyu's hand, he would be incredibly furious. He would likely vomit blood on the spot.
Of course, if Ye Linyuan knew that Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan, Fourth Senior Sister Ye Liyou, and Fifth Sister Zhong Lingyin had all had their most important things—their bodies and their hearts—ruthlessly taken by Shen Anyu, he would surely explode completely.
Shen Anyu wore a spring-breeze-like smile on his face, greeting the passersby with perfect etiquette, but in his heart, his thoughts were cold and calculating:
'Once I've captured all seven of Ye Linyuan's goddess Senior Sisters and weakened his destiny value to a low point, I'll find a way to kill him...'
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]