The taste Ye Feng missed the most was that of the ice cream he ate as a child.
Rich with the fragrance of milk, silky and smooth, a single lick was enough to leave an endless, delightful aftertaste.
Now, he felt as if he had rediscovered that childhood sensation.
"You—what are you doing!"
The Herrscher of the Void wore no shoes or stockings, her pair of flawless, snow-white, and delicate jade feet left exposed to the air.
They trembled as they retracted, their already translucent skin now glowing with a silvery, honey-like sheen.
An uncomfortable, sticky sensation lingered between her toes, causing the long, elegant digits to wiggle restlessly in mid-air.
Her five toes would sometimes clench tightly like a cat's paw, and at other times, bloom open like a flower.
She lowered her head, her face a mask of disgust.
The Herrscher of the Void's cherry lips quivered before she finally asked:
"Human, why are you helping her?"
"Helping her? Not at all. It was purely an irresistible impulse, completely irresistible."
The Herrscher of the Void's beautiful brows knitted even more tightly. She pulled her jade feet back, pointing her toes toward the ground until the taut arch of her foot nearly formed a straight line with her shin.
Ye Feng continued, "You know me. I'm just a humble, solitary gourmet. When a delicacy presents itself, how could I possibly let it pass? Besides, this isn't the first time. Why are you acting so shy, Xiao Kong?"
The Herrscher of the Void snorted coldly. "I had assumed that, at this moment at least, we were on the same side. Was I truly mistaken?"
Just as Mebius had helped torment her, now she was helping Ye Feng torment the Herrscher of Thunder.
"Xiao Kong," Ye Feng said in an earnest tone, "how could you bully your own colleague? Herrschers ought to stand united in friendship and love. Otherwise, how will you ever stand against a Great Demon King like me?"
The Herrscher of Thunder scoffed. She lifted her head, her fair cheeks still glistening with moisture.
"Friendship? With her?"
The contempt in her tone was matched only by the disdain in her eyes.
This sent the Herrscher of the Void into a rage.
She was furious.
She was absolutely livid!
"You remnant of lightning, let me give you a taste of my power!"
The Herrscher of the Void snapped her fingers. The Subspace ribbons binding the Herrscher of Thunder's limbs began to constrict, pulling outwards.
The tension was so great it seemed she would be torn limb from limb.
The Herrscher of Thunder was instantly stretched taut. Paired with the one-piece black bodystocking she now wore, her voluptuous figure was outlined in curves that would make one's blood boil.
Then, just at the most explosive point of that curve, Ye Feng's finger pressed a 'pause button'.
The Herrscher of the Void lost control over her transformed Subspace Lances. She immediately realized it was Ye Feng's doing again!
Once, twice, again and again! Would it ever end?!
Ye Feng used his forearm to gently pat the soft lips of the Herrscher of Thunder, who was preparing to launch a taunt, while signaling the Herrscher of the Void to calm down.
"In my world," Ye Feng explained, "a contest isn't a matter of life and death, but of being driven to desire both life and death from ecstasy. To be precise, it's a competition of patience and fighting spirit. Beyond mere physical attributes, it is a grueling battle of willpower. Only then can it be called a wholesome activity."
Ye Feng pinched one of the ribbons, demonstrating.
"Take its usage, for example. The binding is good. You figured that out on your own, Xiao Kong. To have reached this level is quite impressive."
"…"
The Herrscher of the Void was speechless. Being praised by Ye Feng, she had to admit, felt strangely complicated.
"But what comes next is wrong. Even if you want to be a Sadist, you only need to provide an appropriate amount of pain. Don't get greedy. Because even when inflicting pain, the ultimate goal is still pleasure."
Listening to Ye Feng's lecture, the two Herrschers desperately wished they could punch him.
You bastard! What do you take Herrschers for?!
"Xiao Kong, come here."
Ye Feng beckoned to the Herrscher of the Void.
She wanted to refuse.
"Xiao~ Kong~"
But when Ye Feng called her name again, a gentle smile gracing his face, the Herrscher of the Void's spirit faltered. She floated over, however reluctantly.
The shadow of that time when "she tightly held the rope, preventing the light sphere from falling" still lingered deeply within her.
She didn't want a repeat performance.
Besides, what would happen if she went over? It was nothing more than getting screwed.
Hadn't she already told that Kiana brat that this was exactly what she came in here to do?
Yes, there's no shame in this at all!
I am doing this willingly!
That's right! In fact, I am the one using Ye Feng as a tool to bring myself pleasure!
The Herrscher of the Void's brilliant golden pupils gave her an air of divine majesty, radiating with untamable pride.
"Human, come and bring me pleasure."
Ye Feng couldn't help but smile. "It would have more flavor if you referred to yourself as 'This Queen.'"
"…This Queen?"
A smirk crept onto the Herrscher of the Void's lips. "Hmm, a fine title. Human, you understand This Queen well."
"I do, don't I, Your Majesty?"
Ye Feng said, "I originally intended to change Your Majesty's attire to a white bodystocking, creating a striking black-and-white contrast with the Herrscher of Thunder. A flanking maneuver that would surely have left me utterly defeated.
But I have just changed my mind. Such a delicious ice cream should be paired with a dancer's outfit. The see-through fabric and silver chains will only further accentuate the allure of your jade feet.
Moreover, the cold, hard quality of the metal will serve as a perfect counterpoint to the warmth and softness of your skin, adding another layer of complexity."
Ye Feng performed a "wardrobe change" on the Herrscher of the Void.
Her pure white hair, so bright it almost reflected the light from above, was now adorned with a golden circlet, fastened with a light-blue gem from which dangled a rhomboid ruby pendant. It made her already beautiful face appear as elegant and noble as that of a foreign princess.
Looking only at her face, one would think her proud, majestic air had simply been touched by a hint of seduction.
But as one's gaze traveled down, the full allure of the dancer's costume became apparent.
Attached to the head-chain was a veil of black gauze trimmed with silver thread, which draped languidly over her delicate form, ending at her knees.
Silver chokers and armbands encircled her delicate neck and shoulders. A sky-blue gem hung beneath a blue prism at her throat, poised to jingle against the silver ring with every step.
Her well-toned, wasp-like waist was taut and firm, without a single trace of fat. Flowing silk fabric was wrapped around her lithe midsection, the ribbons converging at her cute navel into a crystalline, sea-blue gem that shimmered against her snow-white skin.
Finally, there were her bewitching, slender limbs. Armbands revealed her smooth, tempting armpits, attached to sleeves of white silk that narrowed to the base of her middle fingers. Her smooth, creamy legs were styled similarly; the long, taut left leg was adorned with two leg rings, while the right remained immaculately bare, taking the aesthetic of asymmetry to its extreme.
Both of her delicate ankles were clasped by silver ornaments, from which exquisite chains flowed down the arch of her feet to fasten at the base of her middle toes.
"Tsk, tsk. Truly magnificent."
"Tch… Your tastes are truly… deplorable."
The Herrscher of the Void felt a sense of unease. Even the slightest movement created an unpleasant friction, accompanied by the crisp clinking of metal.
"Don't be like that," Ye Feng said. "I used to think only Rita could pull off this dancer outfit. I never expected you to wear it, Xiao Kong. You're an even more pleasant surprise."
The Herrscher of Thunder looked up. Seeing the Herrscher of the Void's new attire, she couldn't help but sneer.
"Heh, is this how you pleasure your master? You filthy [BEEP]."
"What did you say!"
A vein bulged on the Herrscher of the Void's forehead. No one had ever dared to address her with such vulgar filth.
Though, she had to admit to herself, this outfit was indeed a little… degrading.
But what could she do? She couldn't take it off.
And how dare she say she was pleasuring Ye Feng?
What kind of twisted logic was that?
The Herrscher of the Void raised her palm, preparing to teach this insolent, conquering lightning a proper lesson.
This time, Ye Feng did not intervene, allowing her to whip the Herrscher of Thunder's alluring, full bust.
To her credit, Xiao Kong seemed to have her principles: she didn't strike the face.
Of course, the Herrscher of the Void knew Ye Feng enjoyed the spectacle, which was precisely why she aimed there.
One, it allowed her to vent her anger. Two, it humiliated the Herrscher of Thunder. Three, Ye Feng wouldn't stop her.
Three birds with one stone.
This Queen is an absolute genius!
She gave free rein to her fury.
The Herrscher of Thunder, however, was a tough one. No matter how hard the Herrscher of the Void struck, she didn't utter a sound.
Instead, her eyes were filled with mockery, as if to say, "You're nothing but his dog, too."
This drove the Herrscher of the Void to the brink of madness.
The crucial, embarrassing detail was that with every strike, the ornaments on her own body would sway and rub together, producing a crisp, melodious sound…
It was utterly mortifying.
The Herrscher of the Void finally stopped, her eyes glaring at Ye Feng, filled with resentment.
Ye Feng simply patted her head.
"Kiana and Mei are the best of friends. I thought you two might get along harmoniously. I never expected you to be at each other's throats like this."
This was likely a case of one mountain being unable to contain two tigers.
Two "Queens" could not coexist in the same space. Their pride would instinctively cause them to repel one another.
"Speaking of which, the two of you will be sharing a dragon in the future."
"?"
"?"
A dragon?
The Herrscher of the Void froze. The word 'dragon' naturally brought to mind her companion, the Judgment-class Honkai Beast, Benares.
What did he mean by sharing?
The Herrscher of the Void quickly put it together. Ye Feng had the ability to see the future.
"Wait, is this wretch going to steal my dragon in the future?!"
"Even if you offered me your piece of trash, I'd find it too dirty to touch!" the Herrscher of Thunder scoffed.
"Alright, that's enough fighting from you two."
Before either Herrscher could react, Ye Feng laughed, wrapping his left arm around the Herrscher of the Void's shoulder, pulling her in to seal her lips with his own.
Simultaneously, his right hand grasped the crimson horn of the suspended Herrscher of Thunder, sealing her lips as well.
First, you two should practice your combination attack. Learn how to share this dragon of mine.
---o---
Kiana was frantic, a bundle of anxiety and anger.
She kept vigil by Mei's bedside, having never known a night to feel so agonizingly long.
Seriously, what is Mei going through in there?
Why would she call out that scoundrel Ye Feng's name?
Aaaahhhh! There! She did it again! That's the third time!
"Hmm? Wait a second."
Kiana was struck by a sudden realization. If Mei's experiences in Ye Feng's world were reflected back here…
Then all those times she herself was being screwed nearly to death…
A cold sweat streamed down Kiana's back.
She couldn't bear to think about it.
To even consider it was to risk social death.
But wait, Mei and Bronya have never looked at me strangely…
Maybe it only happens to Mei? Maybe it doesn't happen to me?
She scratched her head in frustration.
The uncertainty was torture, like the heart-shaped lock on Cangxuan's pink progress bar, leaving her hanging in uncomfortable suspense.
Kiana was tempted to install a camera in their bedroom just to see what she was like in her sleep.
But on second thought, it seemed pointless.
She couldn't even get into Ye Feng's world anymore.
No, that's not to say I'll never be able to get in again… Besides, if I can't get in, that scoundrel Ye Feng must be getting desperate, right?
I mean, he's still in the middle of that competition with Jingliu, and now the contestant has vanished.
The organizer must be panicking.
Kiana, of course, wasn't panicking at all.
And if there was even the slightest hint of panic, it was purely out of a sense of responsibility.
It was the call of duty for a "personal mission" yet to be completed.
That is the way of a Kaslana Knight!
"Aaaah, no! This isn't the time to be thinking about that, Kiana!"
The little bug clutched her head, shaking it violently as if to dislodge all the distracting thoughts.
If Ye Feng were here, he would surely laugh at her: Stop shaking, Bug. All I can hear is water sloshing.
After a good while, Kiana finally calmed down, though her cheeks still felt hot.
Whatever. What's done is done. What's the point of dwelling on it…
Her gaze fell upon the sleeping Mei, and her mood soured once more.
The night stretched on, long and slow.
Some were filled with sorrow, others with joy.
On Chiyou Island.
Cangxuan and Danzhu finally awoke.
Ji Lin was overcome with emotion, wanting to rush forward and embrace them.
But of the three, not one possessed a physical body.
The ethereal forms of Cangxuan and Danzhu hovered above the orange feathers, while Ji Lin projected herself from the Xuanyuan Sword. They faced each other, their ephemeral forms a "trio made of shadows."
After a brief explanation from Ji Lin, Cangxuan and Danzhu pieced together their current situation.
Five thousand years had passed. The cave they were in was on an island formed from the corpse of Chiyou, located in a sea region under the jurisdiction of Schicksal's Far East Branch.
"Sister, sister, we really didn't die!" Danzhu cheered, as vibrant and full of energy as ever.
"Is this… Fenghuang Down?" Cangxuan asked, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings. "Did Hua save us?"
She could confirm that they had been freed from that other world. Her perpetually tense spirit finally began to unwind.
A troubled look crossed Ji Lin's face.
It all depended on one's definition of "saved."
If it meant saving their lives, then the credit belonged to Master.
If it meant a temporary rescue from Master's clutches… then, yes, that was Chiyuan.
Ji Lin, who had tirelessly dedicated her own body to the cause, didn't even consider taking any credit for herself.
"Hmm? What is it, A'Lin?" Cangxuan noticed Ji Lin's hesitation.
However, Ji Lin couldn't possibly elaborate on the affairs of Master's world right now.
Because any mention of Ye Feng required her to address him as Master.
And in that attic, the figure of herself wearing nothing but a silk stocking over her head… If Cangxuan were to realize that was her, Ji Lin would have no choice but to commit suicide with the Xuanyuan Sword on the spot.
"It's nothing," Ji Lin said, forcing a relaxed smile. "We're all still alive. Nothing could be happier than that."
"Yes, yes!" Danzhu clapped her hands. "I really thought we were done for. By the way, where is Hua? I don't see her anywhere."