The contrast between the sinister illumination and her otherwise delicate features was unsettling, transforming her beauty into something otherworldly and ominous. Yet, despite the darkness that seemed to envelop her, a bright and unmistakable glee radiated from her eyes, a stark reminder of the twisted delight she took in her newfound power. As the arcane symbols pulsed with energy, she could feel the slave contract, which her master had so casually taught her, slowly weaving its way into the deepest recesses of her mind."It was worth all the whining I did," Zhi Ruo muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with a mix of satisfaction and lingering embarrassment. With a deliberate and confident motion, she reached out and clutched the sapling in her hands, feeling the life force pulsing beneath its delicate bark. The connate Qi that had been swirling chaotically around the room moments ago now responded to her touch with an almost reverent obedience. No longer did it spread out ra
Although Zhi Ruo isn't entirely sure how Ravel levels up or even how her butler continues to grow stronger, she is certain of one thing: Ravel has the ability to level up. It's a fact she doesn't fully understand but has come to accept nonetheless. Zhi Ruo's puckered up her lips unconsciously. Her thoughts shifted to the state her contracts were in.Zhi Ruo finally tore her gaze away from the sapling, reluctantly pulling back her heightened senses so that she was no longer acutely aware of the intricate state of her contracts. With her focus shifting, her eyes settled on a delicate flower resting quietly a short distance away, its presence unassuming yet somehow captivating. Her expression remained mostly unchanged, though a faint glimmer of curiosity surfaced in her eyes. Having finished evaluating the first prize, Zhi Ruo turned her attention to the second, the one she had chosen at random. Naturally, it was the flowerInside the glass box sat an unassuming flower, its petals perf
My back straightened instinctively, a subtle tremor running through my hands as I stood among the sea of petals. The air was thick with the fragrance of flowers, in its own way, it was almost eerie. Each delicate bloom seemed to pulse with life, amplifying the excitement I could barely contain. If Ravel was here to see my expression, he would have called me a lunatic despite his upbringing.Still, it would have been weird if I wasn't excited upon receiving such a huge landfall. The realization that I could wield a law without ever fully mastering it was nothing short of incredible. It wasn't just any law either—it was one that felt deeply familiar, intricately woven into my life through the teachings of my master. The humm in my consciousness made me realize the true potential of the petals around me.But the excitement soon faded, the initial rush of wonder slipping away as the petals around me vanished at my command. With just a single thought, they retreated, condensing into a su
Zhōngguó made a face in my direction, a clear attempt to provoke or elicit some sort of reaction. However, it didn't bother me in the slightest. If anything, it only made my amusement grow. I could feel a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips, but I chose not to indulge him. My attention gradually shifted away, and I soon ignored the weapon who was clearly trying to rile me up for his own entertainment. The soft hum that drifted from his direction served as a quiet backdrop, but I paid it no mind, busying myself with putting the petals away in their proper place."Why aren't you as excited as I thought you'd be?" His voice broke through the quiet, carrying a tone of curiosity. By now, he had already made himself comfortable, sprawled lazily across my bed like it was his own personal lounging spot. I could feel his eyes on me.With a quiet sigh, I swept my fringe away from my face, tucking the stray strands behind my ear. Slowly, I raised my head from the mask I had been inspect
There was something deeply unsettling about the atmosphere in the room, an almost palpable tension that seemed to cloak the space and instill a sense of unease in anyone who crossed its threshold. However, it appears to be like the two men had not noticed each other's gazes as they were blatantly sizing each other up.There was a rather interesting look on Ravel's face as his face adorned a smile that even Zhi Ruo would find rather creepy. On the other hand, the Patriarch seemed entirely absorbed in his own thoughts, completely unaware of Ravel’s unnerving expression. His focus remained on the steaming cup of tea in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly as he took a slow, deliberate sip.There was nothing that Ravel could do but wait in silence with his impregnable smile.'Master has said that she has plans to deal with her grandfather when it comes 'with her secrets'. Though, I don't think she has taken into account how much the man has kept his eyes on her even if he was not in sig
Ye Gu Shi sat up straight his eyes gazing down at Ravel's form. He felt awfully overwhelming, that the butler who was just acting could not help but break into genuine cold sweat. "Ravel, I will now ask you to use that strength to aid me for a bit." The patriarch's voice reached Ravel's ears, Ye Gu Shi was solemn as he asked, it was obvious that he put great importance to this, that much Ravel could tell.Ravel furrowed his brows, his gaze still lowered on the floor. "May I ask what this is about?" He ventured out carefully, Ravel could almost feel the worried frown on Ye Gu Shi's face even though he did not dare to raise his eyes at this moment.There was a deep sigh that reverberated in the room, Ye Gu Shi almost seemed tired and worried all at once. This made the butler more curious than he would ever care to admit. "I know you have hidden your strength for quite some time, I hoped that you would be willing to use that strength to protect my granddaughter." His request came out lik
Thirty minutes before their scheduled landing, a soft knock echoed through the quiet hallway as Ravel, the ever-dutiful butler, rapped his knuckles on Zhi Ruo’s door. He stood there, impeccably dressed as always, though his usual calm demeanor was tinged with something more urgent.The butler proceeded to inform that he got from the patriarch to Zhi Ruo. Ultimately, and very quickly, betraying the contract he had with his master's grandfather.Zhi Ruo who had just woken up after getting a 3 hour power nap, couldn't get a word in after she was bombarded with Ravel's information dump. She could only let her butler in wordlessly, and led him to the table where he continued to babble on.She, on the other hand, had other plans. After guiding Ravel to the table, Zhi Ruo didn’t bother sitting across from him. Instead, she walked right back to her bed, not even pretending to be interested in the deluge of information spilling from her butler. With a sigh, she plopped face-first onto the matt
[Thirty minutes later— landing time...] In the vast expanse stretching near the Sighted Valley, the aircraft descended smoothly, landing without much of a hitch. As the doors opened, Zhi Ruo stepped out with an air of quiet confidence, her movements purposeful and composed. Behind her, Ravel followed closely, his demeanor attentive as ever.The other contestants had already gathered in the designated drop-off area, their murmurs filling the space as they watched the new arrivals. Zhi Ruo took a steady step, her gaze sweeping over the (still) ufamiliar faces. The last time she had been here, she had been left unnoticed, easily dismissed, and barely given a second glance by the crowd. But today was different. This time, all eyes were on her, a subtle shift in their expressions was apparent.This was not the same indifferent reception she had received during her first arrival; this time, she was far from overlooked. There's this hushed silence that blanketed the whole place, Zhi Ruo wa