Novel Lived
Chapter 353- Engagement
353 Chapter 353- Engagement
"Is everything alright?" Esme asked, her attention drawn to the sharp glow that suddenly lit up the area.
At that moment, Ryuk materialized out of thin air, landing with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
His eyes, visible behind his mask, settled on her.
"Yes," he replied tersely before striding over to Regina, where Yu Shao Yan stood motionless.
She maintained her cold stare at him, though a hint of hesitation flickered across her expression due to that sound earlier.
In the distance, the sound of a massive explosion echoed, signaling that something significant had occurred.
Observing him unscathed and without a dust mark—as he had been after the battle just the day before—Yu Shao Yan began to doubt whether her determination to self-destruct would even faze him.
Her gaze then shifted to the woman with golden eyes, and she noticed the two children at her side.
If she couldn't harm him, perhaps targeting them would be her best option.
She resolved that if anything were to happen to her daughter or granddaughter, she wouldn't hesitate to take others down with her.
"Do you really think exploding your soul would have any effect on me?" Ryuk spoke firmly, his intent clear as he regarded her, aiming to reinforce her understanding of her precarious position.
Naturally, even if he wanted to, there was nothing he could do except escape from here as soon as possible. Even with that, there were chances of him getting injured, but still, in this situation, he needed to mentally make her feel defeated.
'!?!'
'N-no, how does he...?!?' Yu Shao Yan exclaimed internally, her surprise evident on her face.
She hadn't anticipated that he would know about her hidden card.
A chill ran through her as the realization struck: she was deeply vulnerable at this moment.
The internal injuries she had sustained yesterday due to suddenly waking from seclusion, combined with his ability to nullify all her internal energy, left her without any backup. Yet she clenched her fist as she tried to hold her position further. "Y-you know that it doesn't change anything, even if you were to—"
"Then do it," Ryuk challenged without so much as a moment's hesitation, firmly daring her.
He sought to plant a psychological seed in her mind, insinuating that no matter what actions she took, they would not affect him.
He was determined to win this mental battle, fully aware that her soul bomb would only complicate matters further.
'....' Yu Shao Yan fell silent, striving to maintain her outward composure.
Yet inwardly, she found herself grappling with the notion that he might be right—that whatever she attempted would have no real impact.
Her gaze unwillingly drifted toward her granddaughter, who lay unconscious, while her daughter held her tightly.
The sight left her feeling utterly helpless.
"Hand over your manuals and everything related to your cultivation.
I might think about forgiving your mistake," Ryuk said, his tone calm as Esme and the others observed him intently.
Most of their eyes, including Jenny's mother, were fixed on Yu Shao Yan, hoping she would make a sensible decision.
"What? Do you really—" She wanted to reject him outright, but as she caught sight of her daughter's desperate gaze—filled with despair and a flicker of hope that she might finally make the right choice—her resolve began to waver.
"Be quick," Ryuk urged, his voice steady and unyielding.
"....Here, take this," Yu Shao Yan said, her voice trembling.
Without further hesitation, she removed a dimensional ring from her finger and handed it over to him.
It contained everything from breathing techniques to advanced manuals she had painstakingly studied and accumulated over the years.
"Good. Yao Lian, come here," Ryuk instructed, turning his attention toward Yao Lian, who was slowly emerging from the mansion.
Yao Lian moved in their direction while absentmindedly rubbing a little lower on her belly with one hand and biting her lip in deep thought.
"...Hm?" Yao Lian replied, still immersed in the fog of her calorie-burning experience from last night.
Her energy core had just stabilized after being filled with internal energy as she advanced to the next level.
Though she had heard about dual cultivation being too intense, the vivid memories of the previous night caused a deep crimson flush to creep across her cheeks, as it was not at all simply as intense as the theory suggested.
Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly registered a voice calling for her. She lifted her gaze to find that same merciless man—who had not shown a simple touch of care for her body—standing before her, gesturing with a finger expectantly.
"Wh-what do you want?!" she stammered, her steps faltering as her attention was seized by the man, the memories of last night's encounter sparking heat across her skin.
She instinctively crossed one arm over her chest and the other below her belly, attempting to shield her body from an overwhelming surge of vulnerability.
'...'
[Run away and protect yourself, innocent lady (;ŏ﹏ŏ)]
'What the...' Regina was the first to notice Yao Lian's unusual reaction to Ryuk's presence, narrowing her eyes as she studied the scene before drawing her gaze away, determined to suppress the conclusions forming in her mind.
After all, she shouldn't interfere in her liege's private affairs.
'This idiot...' Ryuk narrowed his gaze, clearly seeing Yao Lian creating a misunderstanding here.
[ Misunderstanding? ಠ_ಠ]
Caught in a haze of conflicting memories, Yao Lian hesitated, her body quivering on the brink of retreat.
She stood there, frozen, unconsciously trying to step back from even his shadow, torn between instinct and the gravity of the situation. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Stop right there," Ryuk observed her body language, realizing that it was probably too hasty for him to even consider her adapting to what happened last night. Just because it was morning, she should focus on stabilizing her internal energy.
Such impulsiveness had evidently led to her reaction.
But it struck him as foolish for her to behave like this in front of everyone, almost as if she were intentionally giving them clues about what had transpired between them.
With a swift movement, he vanished and appeared just half a hand's distance away from her, as if he had teleported right in front of her.
'!?'
"W-whaa—" Yao Lian exclaimed, clearly shaken by his sudden presence.
Before she could think of jumping back, he seized her hand and extended it toward him.
"Shut up and wear this," Ryuk instructed, fully aware that she needed something to help calm her racing thoughts.
He placed the ring directly onto her ring finger.
Yao Lian's eyes widened as she looked down at the ring now adorning her hand.
Her gaze flitted between her fingers and his face, obscured by a mask.
Yet, oddly enough, she seemed to overlook the mask, for his true face was etched in her memories.
[Congratulations on your Engagement, Host (￣(ｴ)￣)ﾉ]
"Is big sis being cheated on right now?" Sam whispered casually, his arms folded and hands resting behind his head, seemingly indifferent to the effect of his words.
"Seems like all men are unfaithful. Poor sis," Mae added, crossing her arms over her chest and giving a reluctant nod, as though accepting the harsh truth of the situation.
'Huh? What?' Esme, who had been observing from a distance, suddenly froze as she tried to comprehend what was unfolding before her.