Chi Wuyao took another sip of wine before gracefully setting her goblet down on the table. Her dark eyes remained fixed on his, gleaming with a mixture of desire and cunning.
"As the future Emperor of the Northern Divine Region, it is only natural that Your Venerable Self will require an Empress by your side..." she said, her voice carrying that dangerous seduction that seemed to seep into one's very bones. "I offer myself as your wife, and my nine Witches as your concubines. Only the Brahma Goddess and the Dragon Queen can rival me in beauty, and my subordinates are likewise peerless beauties. Together, we can serve Your Venerable Self in whatever way you desire..."
She leaned forward slightly. Her black robe slipped a little farther across her skin, accentuating her ample cleavage. Her voice softened into a seductive whisper.
"Doesn't Your Venerable Self find such an offer... intriguing?"
Ren Zu subtly raised an eyebrow as the corner of his lips curved into a faint smile. He slowly swirled the wine in his goblet between his fingers for a few moments before replying calmly,
"The offer is indeed tempting..." He paused briefly, locking his crimson eyes directly onto hers. "But if I accept it, I'm afraid I might end up falling into a trap."
Chi Wuyao blinked, clearly surprised by such a straightforward response. Ren Zu continued, his tone calm yet sharp.
"I've heard many rumors about you. They say you've had more than one husband... and that every single one of them ended up dead."
The pavilion fell into absolute silence.
Chi Wuyao's seductive smile froze for the briefest instant. However, she regained her composure almost immediately, though a subtle stiffness still lingered in her expression. Tilting her head slightly, she spoke in a sweet, sincere voice.
"I would never dare plot against Your Venerable Self. Not even if I wanted to."
Ren Zu slightly lifted his chin, observing her with tranquil composure.
"Really? And what would be the reason?"
Chi Wuyao remained silent for several seconds. Her gaze slowly traced his flawless face, his snow-white hair, his deep crimson eyes, and features that seemed as though they had been sculpted by the heavens themselves. The longer she looked at him, the harder it became to avert her eyes.
Her heart began pounding violently within her chest once again.
She had never felt anything like this for anyone before. The sensation was new, suffocating, and terrifyingly sweet. She wanted to know him, to speak with him, to offer him both her body and soul without reservation, simply because his beauty was so absolute that it almost felt sinful not to worship it. That appearance was simply terrifying. The more she tried to resist, the stronger her feelings became. It was as though every passing second spent looking at him caused her to sink even deeper into that fascination.
She discreetly tightened her grip on the edge of the table, struggling to maintain her composure, but her voice came out softer and more trembling than she had intended.
"Because... even if I wanted to, I couldn't..." She lifted her gaze once more, revealing dark eyes filled with sincere, almost desperate longing. "Looking at you now... I simply can't think about anything else..."
Hm? What kind of answer was that?
Ren Zu was slightly surprised, but he quickly understood why Chi Wuyao seemed so dazed and enamored in his presence. For the first time, he had released his "charm" without any restraint. Its effect was so overwhelming that it could have caused even an emotionless automaton to develop absolute devotion toward him. Faced with such absurd power, it was only natural that the woman before him, who possessed emotions and desires, had become completely captivated by him...
He had done it because, naturally, he wanted her to become his woman. At least this time, he didn't consider it to be his fault. After all, it had been his own wives who had sincerely asked him to bring a few more sisters into the family. The three of them could no longer keep up with his physical vigor in bed, and on top of that, they already had to share him among themselves. From their perspective, if that was already the situation, why not expand the family a little further?
Of course, the request came with one non-negotiable condition. The three of them had made it abundantly clear that they would castrate him without the slightest mercy if he ever decided to pursue just any random woman or visit a brothel. If he was going to bring someone into their family, she had to be a truly extraordinary woman, worthy of becoming one of his wives...
The Devil Queen obviously possessed those qualifications...
Realizing that her previous words had been misunderstood, Chi Wuyao made a visible effort to regain her composure. She took a deep breath before answering,
"...What I meant is that it would be utter foolishness to plot against someone of Your Venerable Self's caliber..." she said. Her voice still carried its usual velvety seduction, but now every word was tinged with unmistakable seriousness. "Anyone who attempted such a thing would merely be a fool seeking their own death..."
Ren Zu tilted his head slightly, maintaining the faint smile on his flawless lips.
"I was just about to ask what you meant by those words." He paused briefly before continuing. "Was it nervousness that made you behave that way? And was that nervousness... caused by my power?" His crimson eyes met hers with even greater intensity. "If I wished, I could easily destroy every other Divine Region. Therefore, yes, you are right to fear me. But the moment the Soul-Stealing Kingdom becomes part of my domain, it will also belong to my subordinates. And I do not make a habit of destroying what belongs to me. Therefore, there is no reason for you to be nervous..."
Ren Zu's words completely pulled Chi Wuyao out of her dazed state. She blinked several times before recovering her composure with astonishing speed. A slow, enchanting smile once again graced her crimson lips, though her eyes still reflected profound shock mixed with admiration.
"Your Venerable Self... truly lives up to your reputation..." she murmured, her voice low and filled with genuine fascination. "May I ask... what exactly is the level of your profound strength?"
Ren Zu calmly raised his goblet to his lips and took another sip of wine, as though the question were completely trivial. After setting it back on the table, he answered with the same serene indifference.
"In terms of power... at best, a True God would be qualified to carry my shoes."
Chi Wuyao froze.
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a brief moment, the famed Devil Queen completely lost her composure. Had those words come from anyone else, she would have dismissed them as the arrogance of a fool incapable of comprehending the vastness of the heavens. However, the absolute calm, unwavering serenity, and utter indifference with which Ren Zu had made that statement simply could not be faked.
Did he truly possess such an absurd level of power?
The silence that enveloped the pavilion became even heavier. A shiver slowly ran down Chi Wuyao's spine, blending fear, excitement, and a fascination that grew stronger with every passing moment. That man... was not merely beautiful. He was an existence that transcended everything she had ever known.
Worthy of her. Absolutely worthy of her.
Chi Wuyao remained silent for several seconds, still trying to process the absurd level of power Ren Zu had just revealed. At last, she gathered her courage and asked in a gentle voice,
"And what about my earlier proposal...? Would Your Venerable Self accept me as your wife, and my nine Witches as your concubines?"
Ren Zu held her gaze without hesitation.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's perfectly acceptable. I accept your proposal."
Chi Wuyao's heart skipped a beat. However, before she could celebrate, he continued,
"There is only one condition. I will have to spend a few days with you. I want to get to know you better."
She blinked, clearly surprised by his response.
"I never imagined that the Fierce Demon Venerable would be the sentimental type..."
Ren Zu smiled faintly before replying calmly,
"I care because I want to win your heart, not merely your body or your loyalty."
The instant those words left his lips, Chi Wuyao felt something inside her completely collapse. Her heart raced uncontrollably as a wave of warmth spread through her chest. Outwardly, she maintained the elegant and composed demeanor that had always defined her. Inwardly, however, her resistance had crumbled long ago. Her dark eyes shone with a mixture of surprise, longing, and a new emotion that even she herself could not define.
"Then..." she murmured, her voice softer and sweeter than ever before. "Your Venerable Self may remain here for as long as you wish. This Queen shall be at your disposal... for whatever you desire."
Ren Zu met her gaze with that unshakable calm, the faint smile still resting upon his flawless lips.
"Is that so?" he asked, his voice low and serene, as though they were discussing something utterly trivial.
Chi Wuyao gracefully inclined her head, her smile returning to her crimson lips with a gentler, almost vulnerable touch.
"Yes..."
The two stared into each other's eyes for a long moment. The air between them seemed charged with something denser than mere desire—a mutual, profound, and inevitable attraction...
Then Ren Zu poured more wine for both of them and casually changed the subject, as though wishing to ease the tension.
"Tell me about the Soul-Stealing Kingdom. How did you build something like this... and what led you to choose this path?"
Chi Wuyao blinked, surprised by the question, but soon a spark of interest appeared in her eyes. She began to speak, her gentle, melodious voice filling the pavilion. She spoke of her rise to power, the internal struggles, the betrayals she had been forced to commit, and the achievements that had made her the Devil Queen. Ren Zu listened attentively, asking precise questions, commenting calmly, and selectively sharing some of his own thoughts on the matter...
Hours passed like minutes.
They spoke about the Royal Kingdoms, the differences between the Divine Regions, the ancient legends of Primordial Chaos, and even lighter subjects—rare wines, strange landscapes each had witnessed, and the irony that two beings of such immense power were sitting there, conversing like old acquaintances.
Chi Wuyao laughed softly on several occasions, a genuine and enchanting sound she rarely allowed herself to make. Ren Zu, meanwhile, maintained that almost divine serenity, though his crimson eyes displayed genuine interest.
Finally, when the night had grown late, Chi Wuyao gracefully rose to her feet.
"Please forgive me, Your Venerable Self... I must excuse myself for a moment. I need to inform my subordinates of the new reality. The Soul-Stealing Kingdom now belongs to you..."
Ren Zu nodded.
"Go."
Before leaving, Chi Wuyao made a subtle gesture. The nine Witches reappeared inside the pavilion, each wearing expressions that blended respect, tension, and subtle excitement. They had already been informed through a voice transmission from their Queen that they would become the Venerable's new concubines...
"They will remain here to... entertain you while I take care of matters outside..." Chi Wuyao said with a discreet yet meaningful smile. "I hope they will be able to satisfy you."
The nine Witches bowed deeply.
Ren Zu looked at them, the faint smile returning to his lips.
"Very well. I'll chat with them for a while."
Chi Wuyao cast one last longing glance at him before disappearing from the pavilion, leaving Ren Zu alone with the nine peerless beauties.