Cocolia stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, her brow deeply furrowed.
The transparent glass reflected her formidable figure.
Blonde hair, ample bust.
Cocolia was tall with a statuesque figure, clad in a Russian-style military uniform. A red and white, fleece-lined shawl draped over her shoulders, adding a touch of valiant glamour to her inherent sexiness.
Her beautiful purple eyes shone like jewels, and her hip-length golden curls made her as lovely as a doll. She wore purple gem earrings.
Judging by appearance alone, she was an exceptionally rare and beautiful mature woman.
Ye Feng had always believed that the Cocolia from Honkai Impact was younger, prettier, and possessed more charm than her counterpart in Honkai: Star Rail.
At this moment, a dark and irritated expression marred her features, her finger resting on her chin.
She had acted too rashly.
Wa Yi Te was a "precious combat asset" cultivated using data from the first Herrscher of Reason. It had taken an enormous cost to produce only two successful cases.
To have destroyed one in a momentary fit of rage was indeed a shame.
After all, she still had so many goals left to achieve.
And to achieve them, she needed more power.
"So be it. He was merely an artificial human."
She had indeed sensed his killing intent; destroying Wa Yi Te was not a true loss.
However, the failure to retrieve Raiden Mei left her deeply anxious.
There was only one chance.
This failure had undoubtedly alerted the enemy. With their guards now raised, there would likely never be another good opportunity to capture the "Third Herrscher."
"Tch. I suppose a long-term plan is the only option now."
Cocolia gritted her teeth.
Her obsession with the Herrscher Cores, beyond her own ambition, also contained a measure of love for her daughter.
She simultaneously used Seele for experiments, causing her to fall into the lowest depths of the Sea of Quanta, while also desperately trying to find a way to "fish her back out."
Cocolia was the ultimate embodiment of contradiction.
What did that mean? In simpler terms, her entire existence could be summed up in a single word: a clown.
Of course, her face and figure were still top-notch.
She lowered her head, murmuring to herself, "Only the energy within a Herrscher Core can open the Eye of the Abyss and forge a path to the Sea of Quanta… Only then is there a sliver of a chance to save Seele."
In truth, even if her entire plan unfolded exactly as she envisioned, the probability of actually rescuing Seele was exceedingly low.
Even so, the fanatical Cocolia would stop at nothing to see it through.
"Raiden Mei is now a difficult target, but Schicksal still possesses three Cores."
She quickly altered her strategy, having already acquired a lead on the Gem of Serenity.
"Dr. Maggi… if I can just win him over…"
But before that, she first needed to make a trip to the City of the Abyss.
---o---
"You see, Master? It's not scalding, and it doesn't hurt, does it?"
Ye Feng said, grinning at Jingliu.
She sat on the shimmering edge of the pool, tentatively dipping the tips of her toes into the crystal high heels, which were filled to the brim with hot spring water.
Through the transparent crystal, Ye Feng could clearly see his Master's jade toes, trembling like fragile willows in the hot, viscous water.
Plop—
As her foot slowly slid into the shoe, the water overflowed, trickling down the crystal-clear walls…
The opening of the shoe formed a perfect, seamless seal against her smooth arch.
Ye Feng had released his control.
Jingliu, naturally, would never have put them on willingly, but Ye Feng held dominion over her body.
Her immediate reaction was one of intense discomfort. It was a sticky, clinging sensation, like a relentless spring drizzle, and it was utterly unpleasant.
Her body carried a natural, moon-like chill, and her small feet were even colder, clashing violently with the scorching water.
Once control of her body was returned, Jingliu disdainfully grabbed the heel, trying to pull the shoe off, only to be met with a squelching sound.
"They're like the Golden Fillet charm. Once they're on, they can't be taken off," Ye Feng chuckled.
Hearing this, Jingliu tried a few more times before ceasing her struggles.
Her line of thought was simple, as clean and decisive as the fall of a sword. She reasoned: Resistance is futile. Let him have his fill, and he will naturally stop.
In its own way, this too was a form of resistance.
"Are you satisfied?" Jingliu's voice was cool, imbued with the transcendent air of an immortal.
Ye Feng didn't answer. He leaned back against a large rock, admiring the beauty beneath the moon, and changed the subject. "Master, have you gone to see Bailu? The current Vidyadhara Dragon Master?"
Jingliu's expression instantly tensed, the chill on her face deepening.
"Why do you bring her up?"
"Ah, I'm not planning to do anything to her. Look at your expression, you make me sound like a pervert. I wouldn't go that far, I truly wouldn't. I may like mature women, but little girls are a firm no… In any case, Master, you should go and see her."
"You don't need to tell me that."
Jingliu did, in fact, intend to visit.
But she first needed to bring her mind and body into a state of relative tranquility.
Bailu carried a shadow of Baiheng. For Jingliu, seeing her would be a remedy a hundred times more potent than any medicine for her "illness."
Hmm… Baiheng?
Jingliu thought again of Qingque, who had entered this world, and a contemplative look crossed her face.
"Alright, Master, you can think on it. I'll be leaving now."
Splash. The water rippled.
Ye Feng stood and exited the hot spring.
Jingliu was somewhat taken aback, not expecting him to leave so abruptly.
She glanced around, and seeing that she was alone, she moved to pick up her clothes scattered by the pool's edge.
Slip—!
Jingliu, still wearing the high heels filled with spring water, slipped and tumbled into the hot spring, sending up a splash that soaked the surrounding area even further.
She clambered out of the water, drenched and disheveled, water dripping from the ends of her hair.
She looked down at the crystal high heels.
The heat of the water within them had not subsided in the least, and the scalding sensation made her heart tremble.
She never imagined they would be so slippery…
Halfway gone, Ye Feng returned, rushing back to the scene just in time to mock her.
"The grand Sword Champion of the Xianzhou, slipping and falling?"
"…"
This bastard only wanted to watch me make a fool of myself.
"Don't be upset, Master. At the very least, it's better than being screwed by me, isn't it? Though, speaking of which, I am truly impressed that your virginity count has yet to decrease."
Jingliu shot him an icy glare.
Ye Feng's interest was piqued. He clapped his hands together decisively. "I've made up my mind. I will no longer use any of my special abilities on you. Let's find out where your true limit lies, Master."
Jingliu remained as cold and proud as the winter moon. Faced with a powerful enemy's provocation, she wanted to retort, "Bring on whatever you've got," but the words felt wrong in this context.
In the end, she simply curled her toes and stared at Ye Feng in defiant silence.
---o---
When Qingque awoke, her mind was still full of the Grand Diviner.
The previous night's events had been utterly bizarre.
She had been tossed to the ground by Ye Feng like a discarded rag, her white-stockinged legs trembling so much they couldn't close.
But in the next moment, she had sprung to her feet with a sudden flip.
Later, while they played Celestial Jade, the Grand Diviner had stood by like a waitress, wearing a revealing backless dress and serving them tea.
The Grand Diviner, waiting on us while we play Celestial Jade?
Qingque couldn't have even dreamed of such a thing.
But in Ye Feng's world, it had happened.
And honestly, it felt pretty damn good.
Her superior, who treated her like a beast of burden, was now forced to be one herself.
"But what in the world happened to the Grand Diviner?"
She was clearly not herself. Had she been caught in some illusion, her mind ensnared?
Hiss…
Thinking of how the Grand Diviner had been completely obedient to Ye Feng's every command, Qingque couldn't help but feel…
"~~~How utterly fantastic."
Her eyes lit up.
If, one day, the roles were reversed—if she were the one standing tall while the Grand Diviner groveled at her feet—what a magnificent sight that would be.
"Qingque, slacking off again?"
An imperious voice sounded from behind. Qingque hastily scrambled up from her workstation, wiping a bit of drool from her lips.
Fu Xuan strode in, her expression grave. She took in Qingque's just-woken-up appearance.
"What were you doing last night?"
Qingque looked at the Grand Diviner before her, feeling a momentary sense of dislocation. It was difficult to connect this stern figure with the small, pink-haired woman who had acted like a maid.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Though Fu Xuan was petite, her posture was ramrod straight, radiating a natural severity. The glowing divine eye on her forehead only amplified her imposing aura.
Under her sharp questioning, Qingque couldn't help but shrink back.
"Ah, ah, it's nothing, Grand Diviner."
Qingque desperately wanted to ask Fu Xuan about the previous night.
But how could she even begin?
The Grand Diviner clearly had no memory of the events. Was she supposed to just ask directly, "Grand Diviner, do you remember being screwed until you trembled uncontrollably last night? Your juices dripped on my face."
She had absolutely no doubt that the Grand Diviner would tie her to a starskiff and launch her as a firework.
Ultimately, Qingque returned to reality, abandoning her fantasies.
"I even moved my bed here, all to complete my work as quickly as possible."
"Hmph."
Fu Xuan nodded with satisfaction. "You are teachable. You may yet be entrusted with great responsibility."
"Eh? No, no, please don't!" Qingque panicked. "I'm just a piece of rotten wood; no amount of carving will help. How could I possibly handle any great responsibility?"
Fu Xuan remained noncommittal. She was firmly resolved to make Qingque her deputy.
But the girl was just too slippery, and her disposition was incorrigibly lazy.
Her repeated actions made it impossible for Fu Xuan to promote her without causing dissent. Others would see it and say, "Look, she can slack off that much and still get promoted, while my hard work gets me nowhere." If that sentiment took root, the Divination Commission would descend into chaos.
Thus, Fu Xuan's feelings for Qingque were a mixture of love and hate. She constantly assigned Qingque tasks to help her build a record of "achievements," giving her a basis for a future promotion.
But the girl was hopeless. Every time she accomplished something, she would pass the credit to her peers, simultaneously currying favor for the future while ensuring she never caught the eye of her superiors for advancement.
Just like now. The moment Qingque's lips moved, Fu Xuan knew what she was about to say.
"Hehe, Grand Diviner, debugging the great matrix is just too tedious. I can't possibly handle it all by myself. Could we get some more hands on deck?"
Fu Xuan snorted. "Complete your own work yourself. Why must you always try to push it onto others?"
Qingque cried out in silent agony. Is this really my work? Debugging even a single corner of the matrix requires a Chief Diviner and three Diviners. And you dumped the whole thing on me?
Fu Xuan glanced at her sideways. "What? Do you have an opinion on my arrangements?"
"Ah, no, no, not at all! I hold the Grand Diviner in the highest esteem."
---o---
Qingque felt like she was entering Ye Feng's world with two dark circles under her eyes.
The thought of working all day long made her entire body ache.
According to her life philosophy, work itself wasn't creating personal value; it was merely labor exchanged for pay. Slacking off during work—that was how one truly created value for oneself.
In other words, she had been exploited by the Grand Diviner all day.
No, to be more precise, she had been exploited nearly every day since the little pink-haired woman had taken office.
"Little Que seems quite exhausted."
"…Ye Feng."
Qingque turned her head. Previously, she would have jumped in fright. But now, she was so utterly drained, she couldn't even muster the energy to resist.
Ye Feng approached, draping an arm over the Xianzhou girl's rounded shoulder like a close friend—or rather, like a villainous blond luring her into temptation—and chuckled.
"Little Que, want me to take you somewhere to relax?"
"Can I refuse?"
"You can try."
Qingque was silent for a moment.
"What does 'relaxing' entail?"
"Come with me."
Ye Feng led her into a classical-style courtyard. It was complete with pavilions, terraces, rockeries, ponds, small bridges over flowing water, and artfully arranged flowers and trees. Just sitting on a stone bench felt as though the gentle breeze could whisk away all fatigue.
"I never knew such a wonderful place existed here."
Qingque squinted her eyes. The two previous times she had been here, it was in a classroom—a vast, empty, silent room with a single mahjong table in the center. It had been, frankly, quite creepy, like something out of a horror film.
"Right? If you want it, the place is yours."
Ye Feng's hand crept onto Qingque's waist, and even showed signs of moving lower, toward the tie of her sash.
"Wait, hold on a second. If you're going to screw me, just get it over with. I can't fight back. But saying things like that makes me sound like some girl selling her body for riches."
"Ah, my apologies. Force of habit."
With that, Ye Feng moved his hand upwards, slipping it into a gap in her soft armor and giving her a firm squeeze.
Qingque let out a soft cry, her body arching slightly as she clenched her fists and glared at him.
"What are you doing?!"
Ye Feng looked innocent. "Didn't you say you wanted me to be more direct?"
"…"
Fair enough. Qingque was speechless. It was a small miracle that she had managed to preserve her virtue the first two times. But after seeing the Grand Diviner carried off in Ye Feng's arms, she knew her turn would come sooner or later.
"No need to be so tense. In truth, this body isn't really yours."
Ye Feng explained as he continued his exploration.
"Wh-what?"
Qingque looked up, her bright eyes fixed on him.
And so, Ye Feng gave her a brief explanation of his world and the nature of the NPCs within it.
"Therefore, in here, you don't have to hold back. You can do anything you want. Absolute freedom, absolute relaxation. Even if you wanted to hang up your Grand Diviner for a whipping, there would be no problem at all."