"Magical girl?"
Ji Lin eyed Ye Feng warily.
"A group of girls who protect love, justice, and world peace."
"Mmm..."
Ji Lin lowered her gaze slightly.
She knew all too well that she was no longer a girl.
Even setting aside the 5,000 years in the Nether, she was already a married woman.
"Don't be so narrow-minded. 'Girl' has never been about age—it's all about appearance. A century-old vampire, a millennium-old ancestor—they're all perfectly valid girls."
Ji Lin stood gracefully, hesitating for a moment before speaking softly, "This humble one knows her strength is lacking. I could barely protect Shenzhou—how could I protect the world?"
"That's exactly why you should form a contract with me. Gain greater power to fight against evil."
"..."
Is it possible... that you are the greatest evil of all?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Sure, I might be a bit of a pervert, but I also have a heart that fights for a better world!"
Ye Feng declared with conviction.
Ji Lin simply stared at him, offering no rebuttal.
The silence was deafening.
"Ah, it seems I'm deeply misunderstood. Ji Lin, aside from being a pervert, what other flaws do you think I have?"
"..."
"Never mind. It's fine. Let me show you a short film."
"The Phoenix Sage, I Did Not Lie".rmvb
Drawn in by the image of the Phoenix Sage (Chiyou), Ji Lin found herself immersed in the video until the very end.
She clenched her fists tightly, her emotions turbulent and slow to settle.
"Chiyou... will die?"
"Keh keh keh, guess."
Ji Lin's expression darkened.
From Kiana, she had learned that while this man was shameless, he never lied—and he could "foresee the future."
"Is this... also a glimpse of the future?"
"Oh? For you to think that way, it seems you've had some... intimate conversations with Kiana and the others. Correct. This is indeed something that could happen in the future."
Ye Feng coaxed her patiently, "Right now, you can't even handle a Honkai Beast. And within the next two years, higher-tier Herrschers will emerge frequently.
"The world's situation will become increasingly unstable, unpredictable. And in the end... the Herrscher of the End will descend.
"By then, if you're still as weak as you are now, you'll be powerless in the face of disaster.
"Just like 5,000 years ago... when you could only watch as Cang Xu and Dan Zhu sacrificed themselves."
"..."
Ji Lin's expression grew heavier.
Herrschers... Chiyou and the others had only mentioned them briefly before.
To her 5,000 years ago, they were nothing more than abstract, fantastical concepts.
But in this era... they had already descended.
Destruction had taken tangible form.
Yet, compared to all that—
"Why would the Overseer of Schicksal kill Chiyou?"
"The 'why' doesn't matter. What matters is—do you want to stop this from happening? Or rather... girl, do you crave power?"
"This humble one..."
Ye Feng pressed further, "Even if we set that aside, by forming a contract with me, wouldn't you also have the chance to understand me better? To find my weaknesses? Regardless of the outside world, here... you might be able to protect Chiyou and the others in the future."
"!!"
Ji Lin shuddered.
It was as if she had been jolted awake from a dream.
The beautiful, chaste wife lowered her head as if yielding. "What... must this humble one give in return?"
"A kiss."
"!!"
"Relax, I'm joking."
"..."
"Take off your clothes first."
"?!"
"Why are you looking at me like that? It's not like I haven't seen you before. I was the one who tied those bells on you."
Ji Lin froze in place, unsure how to respond.
"You seem hesitant. Do you need me to undress you? Just your back is fine."
"N-no, that won't be necessary."
Ji Lin took a step back.
She turned around, her shy and flustered face slightly tilted to the side. From behind, the delicate curve of her fair chin traced a breathtaking arc in the sunlight.
"J-just my back... is enough?"
"It's an old Honkai Impact 3rd tradition—engraving a few sigils on the back."
She didn't quite understand.
Perhaps this was the ritual of the contract.
Ji Lin's trembling hand reached for the ties of her robe... but paused just above her waist.
No matter what, Ji Lin couldn't bring herself to undress in front of a man.
Even if he had once tied bells onto her...
Even if she had once bared herself to him in the baths...
Even if her entire body had once been bathed in his searing heat...
But to actively loosen the ties of her robes—this was an entirely different trial.
"Ten seconds."
Ye Feng's voice rang out.
"If ten seconds pass, it'll be considered a forfeit. No matter the reason, I won't offer this contract again."
"10."
"9."
"8..."
Ye Feng began the countdown.
His voice was calm.
Yet Ji Lin felt something pressing against her heart.
Her hand moved almost unconsciously, as if guided by something beyond her will.
Rustle—
The silk slid down her smooth skin, revealing her flawless, snow-white back to the open air.
Her bare back was immaculate, as if embodying the soft beauty of all classical women.
Truly—slender shoulders, a narrow waist, skin like ice and bones like jade.
Especially against the backdrop of her classical white gauze robes, her silhouette appeared all the more graceful and elegant.
Ye Feng stepped forward, his hand resting gently on Ji Lin's fragrant shoulder.
"Don't look back. I'm about to begin."
Ye Feng extended his tongue, the tip pressing against her jade-like skin as he began tracing the lines of the sigil.
...
...
On the Island of Chiyou
Inside a dim, secluded stone cavern, the once-radiant and sacred blade of the Xuanyuan Sword now bore several mysterious patterns.
The markings were enigmatic, reminiscent of honeysuckle motifs, yet exuded an eerie, bewitching allure.
What was once a blade of majestic authority now carried the demonic charm of a cursed sword.
The blade hummed softly—like a woman's stifled moan.
After returning, Ji Lin still felt as if Ye Feng's touch lingered on her back.
Like filthy water streaking across a pristine white wall, the traces left behind were stark and grotesque.
Ji Lin's emotions were in turmoil.
She had never imagined that the so-called "contract ritual" would take such a form.
"...It does fit that... that Master's style."
"??"
Ji Lin jolted in shock.
Why can't I say his true name even outside his world?
But soon, she accepted it.
This wasn't entirely a bad thing.
If the contract could affect the outside world, that meant it was effective.
She truly would gain reinforcements.
"Hmm?"
Now dwelling within the Xuanyuan Sword, Ji Lin sensed movement.
The tip of the blade turned toward the cave entrance.
Someone was approaching.
Four people. Among them, Ji Lin immediately recognized Fu Hua.
The other three were Theresa, Himeko, and Rita.
To be precise, it was the three from the Far East Branch, escorting Rita on a tour of the Island of Chiyou.
This was also part of Rita's investigation mission.
"So this is the legendary Xuanyuan Sword?"
The black-stockinged maid gazed at the sword from a distance, her wine-red eyes shimmering with intoxicating amusement.
Ji Lin's heart tightened. The blade ceased its faint trembling.
This woman... is from Schicksal Headquarters. The Overseer's right hand.
**Misutlin·Scharfachter.jpg
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