Chapter 948: Tonight is Another Night of Indulgence ♡～
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 948: Tonight is Another Night of Indulgence ♡～
...
"Honestly... what’s the rush?"
I gently wiped the corner of my mouth. Sister Bai’s sneak attack had been quite unexpected.
However, it also made me realize that after holding back for all these days, some witches might be even more impatient than I was.
But Sister Bai didn't think much of it. After all, that little taste just now was merely an appetizer.
A shallow sampling to quench her thirst; the main course would come later tonight.
Moreover, after being busy for a while and playfully tasting Sister Bai’s handiwork, the sky in the Dungeon World gradually began to darken.
The day-night simulation in the Dungeon World followed reality.
As night fell, the outdoor charcoal grill was replaced by a campfire.
The darkening sky turned a deep, profound blue.
The warm orange firelight flickered, causing our gazes to waver.
There is always a suppressed emotion that will quietly leak out at a certain moment, triggering an instantaneous resonance.
Perhaps a tentative finger lightly brushed the back of the other’s hand, pulling back as if struck by an electric shock, only to be firmly grasped by a strong hand.
The moment their eyes met, shy emotions laid a silent foundation, and the proactive witch tasted the forbidden fruit.
The initial campfire quietly died out, but the fire of desire in their hearts flared up. The night was like a hazy black veil.
Throbbing souls, immersed in each other’s fragrance and softness, carried the two figures as they gradually intertwined.
Resonating heartbeats, gazing at each other’s deep affection, intoxicated by the water-like tenderness of shared pleasure.
Lost in their devotion, the muffled sound of a wooden door was heard, and I had already been pinned to the bed.
Tonight was another night of indulgence.
...
A new day.
Refreshed and invigorated.
Even a night of fierce battle was but a temporary interlude.
The full stretching of the body and the bliss that shot straight to the soul paved the way for an even more wonderful relaxation in the sleep that followed.
Though there was still a lingering desire for more, moderation was an instinct that needed to be learned.
This night, I finally understood why the "Breeding Project" was a great subject that many witches were willing to study for a lifetime.
Because it really was that kind of... that kind of indescribable yet addictive subject.
For a witch who had experienced it, even just hearing the name of the project would make her bones feel soft.
Make no mistake, this was a very serious academic discussion; I had benefited greatly last night.
This was the first time I had felt the true essence of the Breeding Project. If previous attempts with Sister Bai were more about satisfying... "desire," then this time it was about life on a deeper level.
Although I was not yet a Transcendent Witch and could not discuss the true essence of breeding with Sister Bai, I had already experienced the theoretical "practical operation."
The essence of breeding is the nurturing of life.
Changing one's perspective, this is actually similar to creating life. While not identical, there are at least things to be learned.
If there was a difference between breeding and creating life, it was probably that... breeding didn't seem quite so lofty.
As long as there is life, it will always find a way to continue. This is the creative power possessed by life itself.
I got dressed, hiding the marks from last night beneath my clothes. These marks would actually fade before long, and even a simple spell could smooth them away, but I still preferred to let them linger on my body for a while.
Waking up late, I strolled through the woods with Sister Bai. By now, the simulated sunlight was close to noon.
Yesterday, there should have been so many topics to discuss, but in the end, everything had been poured into the fire of desire.
At this moment, Bai Yu finally remembered something.
"Xiao Han, aren't you curious why I went to the Expansion Realm?"
"Mmm, I heard it was because the Expansion Realm and the Core World are going to be interconnected?"
"That’s only one of the reasons. Xiao Han, didn't you say you wanted the Baking House to develop in the Expansion Realm?"
"Mmm... actually, you didn't have to do that, Sister Bai~"
"It was just a small favor. On the contrary, by going there, I actually took advantage of you, Xiao Han~"
"Eh? Me?"
"Yes. In the current Expansion Realm, those people have gradually deified you," Sister Bai said with a smile.
"Ha? Is it that exaggerated?"
"It’s not an exaggeration at all~ However... this is both a good thing and a bad thing." As Sister Bai said this, she also thought of other aspects.
"A bad thing? What bad thing?"
"With my Heart Sense, I can faintly feel that their worship and deification of you are built on the fact that you haven't appeared in their sight for a long time. Do you understand what I mean, Xiao Han?"
"Built on... oh, I see." With Sister Bai putting it that way, how could I not understand?
It was like a religion established in a godless world being afraid that their god might actually descend before them.
The faith born from a complex person is equally complex. They can accept such an existence in their hearts, but they cannot accept that existence being by their side, and they certainly cannot accept that person harming their interests.
"Alright~ that is indeed something worth noting. I should thank you for the reminder, Sister Bai~"
"It’s just a small matter." Sister Bai didn't feel she should be thanked; it was something she believed she ought to do.
"Mm-hmm~"
While discussing this issue with Sister Bai, I quickly connected many things.
This situation wasn't surprising.
After all, in the beginning, I had truly led them to build shelters in the wilderness without asking for anything in return.
Even now, I shouldn't ask them for repayment in a profit-seeking way.
But I never had any intention of making them repay me anyway.
The Baking House is still too weak right now, which is why I said the original and greatest connection is Ninglan Qiuyue.
Once Ninglan Qiuyue is settled, then everything connected through the Ninglan Territory as a central hub can be moved forward together.
So-called reputation is always just a matter of preferential sentiment; it isn't meant to be consumed for profit, but rather maintained to achieve a win-win situation.
And... did they really think my Omni-Link Main Network Tree and the spread-out Root Network and Power Network were free and couldn't make money?
The free stuff is always the most expensive.
Even if I am no longer the one maintaining and iterating the Omni-Link Main Network Tree in the future, the share of achievement, honor, and equity that belongs to me will not change.
As for the academy’s Omni-Link Main Network Tree...
Talking about money would just hurt our feelings, wouldn't it?
Looking at the broader layout, it has already been launched.
The project for the Omni-Link Main Network Tree to lay down a Root Network in the Core World has actually already begun construction.
Invisible wealth has long since paved a path to heaven in the shadows.
I just haven't exchanged that sentiment for profit.
And I wouldn't be so stupid as to trade such a thing for money or resources that are useless to me.
"Here~ take this. This is the data we investigated regarding the Expansion Realm. There’s quite a lot; it even needed to be compressed with a Shared Rune before being sent over."
Sister Bai condensed a rune. This was the data that the witch who said she’d provide an assist had compiled overnight. It contained research data on many levels of the Expansion Realm. If given to an organization for development reference, this was top-tier intelligence that one couldn't get even if they begged for it.
"Hehe~ then thank you, Sister Bai~"
I didn't decline. After all, Sister Bai had already brought it out. Between me and Sister Bai, was there any need for such formality?
There was no need to be polite at all, okay?
"By the way, Xiao Han~"
"What is it, Sister Bai?"
"Weren't you curious where Ling Yi went yesterday?" Sister Bai said with a smile, as she had already sensed a slight anomaly in the Dungeon World.
As a Transcendent, the leap in her life level naturally made her powerful in all aspects.
"You sensed it, Sister Bai?"
"Yes. I felt a slight anomaly in the fluctuations of wood-nature power in the Dungeon World. There’s a high probability it’s related to that wood elf. Of course, that’s just my guess. Want to go take a look?" Sister Bai didn't speak with absolute certainty, but merely offered a suggestion.
"Of course~ Let’s go! Let’s see!"
I was naturally delighted by the suggestion. After all, the Dungeon World was essentially an external object. Even if I owned it and could control its operations to a certain extent, it didn't mean I was omniscient and omnipotent here.
Led by Sister Bai, we left the island and arrived at a massive forest on the other side.
As soon as I arrived, I felt a strong fragrance of wood and plants. But it wasn't exactly a scent; it was a kind of synesthetic illusion created by the invisible nourishment of life by a wood-affinity talent and high-concentration wood-attribute energy.
Of course, by a narrow definition, it was indeed an illusion. But from another perspective, wasn't this one of the five senses—an expansion of the olfactory perception channel?
A method of identifying Transcendent energy, primarily through olfactory perception, supplemented by Heart Sense understanding.
This was already a basic operation.
"This area is indeed a bit unusual. The wood power is exceptionally dense. Could there be some treasure left behind that the Wizards didn't scavenge clean before they left?" I asked curiously.
"I’m... not entirely sure about that," Sister Bai said with a smile, shaking her head. "But I have heard that when wood elves—those naturally born and nurtured lives—are about to be conceived and born, they affect the surrounding environment. Although I’ve never witnessed it personally, it’s worth looking forward to~"
"Eh? The birth of a new... wood elf?!"
Hearing Sister Bai’s guess, my eyes widened.
I really hadn't considered that.
After all, wood elves aren't that easy to bring into the world. Moreover, this was a place that had been picked over by Wizards. It was already a stroke of great luck that one wood elf had been left behind. It hadn't been that long, and another one was being born?
Was this the wood elves' hometown or something?
"It’s just a guess~ If it’s not, don't be too disappointed, Xiao Han."
"No~ even if it isn't, so what? I’m just curious what Ling Yi is up to."
As we went deeper, we still found nothing.
In the end, I had to rely on tracking specific information through the Ley Line Information. Finally, in a very well-hidden spot, we found a cave.
"It seems to be here?" I looked at Sister Bai, my tone questioning.
"I can only feel that the wood power here is unusual, but I can't precisely lock onto the source. So, do you want to go in and look, Xiao Han?"
"Yes, I’ll go in." I pushed aside the thick grass curtain covering the cave. It was a naturally formed cave with signs of collapse, and the interior was very narrow.
However, I felt an even more intense wood power inside.
My Body Cultivation perception even allowed me to hear some whispers.
But the main thing was my Floating World Level Spirit Vision.
It granted me the ability to observe the world from the perspective of Real Time.
In the past, I defined Spirit Vision as observing information. At that time, Teacher Ji Niang didn't correct me. After all, I wasn't wrong; I just wasn't precise.
Real Time contains more than just information, but information is the concept most easily fed back and recognized during observation.
So, saying Spirit Vision is for observing information isn't a major issue of principle.
To use an analogy, isn't an atomic bomb just a weapon for killing?
It depends on how it’s understood and whether it’s misinterpreted. After all, a bullet is also a weapon for killing, but can it be compared to an atomic bomb?
No.
"Ling Yi~ are you in there?"
I spoke toward the interior.
I wasn't asking to startle her; through Spirit Vision, I had already confirmed Ling Yi was inside.
The collapsed cave was a bit small, and I couldn't fit. If I insisted on going in, I’d have to use force, but that would scare Ling Yi.
"Ah! Wuu~ Who? Who is it? Ling Yi isn't in here..."
Then, a panicked voice came from the cave. Just hearing it, one could imagine Ling Yi being startled inside and clumsily bumping into the stone wall.
"It’s me~ Xiao Han. Is Ling Yi really not in there?" I asked, suppressing a smile.
"Eh? It’s Xiao Han?" Ling Yi’s voice carried a hint of surprise, and then she accepted the fact.
"That’s right~" I watched as a figure gradually flew out. It was indeed the missing Ling Yi.
"Um... Xiao Han, I didn't expect you to come back? I... I thought you’d left and wouldn't be coming back..."
"Ling Yi, why do you look so guilty?" I knelt down, intending to tease this adorable, slightly dim-witted little wood elf.
"No... I don't! How could I! I’m not guilty!" Ling Yi denied it outright, as if her whole body was desperately trying to hide something.
"Then what’s behind you? You wouldn't be hiding something good from your best friend, would you? If you are, Ling Yi is going to be a bad Ling Yi~"
"No! Absolutely not! It’s not anything good! It’s... it’s... it’s..." Ling Yi suddenly got anxious, especially at the mention of "bad Ling Yi," which made her face turn very worried.
"Then does Ling Yi consider me a good friend? If we’re friends, you can't lie to me, you know~"
"Xiao Han is a friend! My good friend... but..."
"Then is Ling Yi worried about something? Friends don't do things to hurt each other. I can promise you that!"
"Really?" Ling Yi looked at me with great hesitation, as if facing a major choice.
"Of course it’s true!"
"Then... Xiao Han, you can't hurt my friend!"
"Okay~ I won't hurt your friend~ So, can you tell me what’s behind you?"
"Mmm... inside, inside is... Ling Yi’s last friend from before I had you as a friend, Xiao Han. Please, Xiao Han, don't hurt her, okay?"
"Since she’s Ling Yi’s friend, then she’s my friend too! Friends don't hurt friends!" I gave my promise once more.
And because of that sentence, Ling Yi finally let me see the... thing inside.
It was a mass of wood essence, concentrated to the absolute limit!