"This is a soul tool?" Ma Xiaotao struggled against the restraints but couldn't free herself, growing increasingly anxious.
"A Rank 7 soul tool, freshly made. It's effective even against Soul Douluo, though it won't work on a Titled Douluo," Qian Ran explained with a smirk. The inspiration for this design had come to him after witnessing Snow Empress sealed on the Divine Platform.
Heh, this design is perfect for games.
If possible, Qian Ran thought, he might even craft a Rank 9 version to suppress the cultivation of Cai Meier and the others… and then…
"Using a Rank 7 soul tool for this kind of thing—only you could come up with that," Ma Xiaotao retorted, her face flushing crimson. Despite his status as a Rank 7 soul engineer, Qian Ran used his expertise for such purposes.
"You're overthinking it. This soul tool can also be used to detain prisoners. It's not just for you," Qian Ran replied with a mischievous grin, caressing Ma Xiaotao's cheek.
"Let me go, or I'll get mad!" Ma Xiaotao puffed her cheeks in frustration. Unable to channel her soul power, she felt an unfamiliar and unsettling vulnerability.
"Once the game starts, there's no stopping it," Qian Ran teased.
At the moment, Ma Xiaotao's head was locked in an iron collar, her hands secured through small openings on either side.
Qian Ran added a rope around her slender waist, threading it through a ring on the ceiling. With a tug, Ma Xiaotao's body was hoisted into the air.
Adjusting the height, Qian Ran left Ma Xiaotao balancing on her tiptoes, her legs stretched taut against the ground. Her long, shapely legs encased in thigh-high black stockings and her mature, curvy figure were on full display.
To her utter embarrassment, Qian Ran positioned a mirror in front of her, letting her see her humiliating predicament.
"Ahhh! This is so embarrassing! Let me down now!" Ma Xiaotao cried, lowering her head, too ashamed to look at her reflection.
Deprived of her soul power, she truly resembled a defeated knight.
Qian Ran thought the scene before him was far more entertaining than anything in a banned series.
"If you keep shouting, Ling Luochen might hear you. She's in the living room, and there are others outside. If they come in, don't blame me. Let them admire Ma Xiaotao's gallant figure," Qian Ran teased with a wicked grin.
Who would have thought that Ma Xiaotao, known for her confident and commanding demeanor in the inner court, would be playing such a game behind closed doors? The stark contrast was delightfully ironic.
"I'll keep quiet. Just hurry up!" Ma Xiaotao's voice dropped to a whisper, mortified at the thought of being discovered.
"One hour," Qian Ran declared, setting the terms.
Ma Xiaotao, with her soul power sealed, wouldn't be able to maintain this demanding pose for too long.
"Fine," Ma Xiaotao replied, her face flushed. Watching Qian Ran position himself behind her through the mirror, she felt an overwhelming wave of shame. She shut her eyes tightly but was promptly ordered to keep them open.
True to his word, Qian Ran stopped after an hour.
When he released Ma Xiaotao, she immediately lunged at him, her nails pinching and fists pounding him in playful retaliation. "You made me stay like that for a whole hour! My legs are so sore!" she complained.
"You should spend more time with Ling Luochen in the next few days. She's a good girl; don't bully her," Ma Xiaotao said between deep breaths, sprawled out on the sofa to recover.
Among the women around Qian Ran, Ling Luochen had the closest bond with her.
"Got it. Do I look like a jerk to you?" Qian Ran replied with a smirk.
After changing into fresh clothes, Qian Ran went to find Ling Luochen. The image of Ma Xiaotao in her knight cosplay still lingered in his mind—it had been stunning. If Ling Luochen wore the same outfit, the effect might be even better.
Ling Luochen's dignified demeanor and aristocratic grace would suit the role perfectly, her serene elegance making her an ideal match for the costume.
Taking Ling Luochen together with Ma Xiaotao someday? That would be… heavenly.
But not now. Qian Ran wasn't a complete scoundrel; he wouldn't push things too far on her first time. That wouldn't be right.
When Qian Ran entered the living room, Ling Luochen was engrossed in a book.
Since crossing into this world, Qian Ran had often turned to novels to pass the time, obtaining them from the system. The system cleverly adapted these books to fit the Douluo world's context, ensuring nothing felt too out of place.
Not only Qian Ran, but Wang Dong'er and the others also loved reading them. Thinking they were Qian Ran's own creations, the girls often looked at him with admiration, which Qian Ran shamelessly enjoyed.
The feeling of being idolized by one's women was undeniably satisfying.
Ling Luochen didn't notice Qian Ran approach until his breath, heavy with intent, brushed against the nape of her neck.
"Qian Ran, when did you get here?" Ling Luochen asked, startled and flustered. Standing so close to him, her heart began to race, thudding so loudly that even Qian Ran could hear it.
"I've been here for a while. You were so focused on your book I didn't want to disturb you," Qian Ran said with a warm smile.
"Did you write this? It's so good! But the world in the story is so chaotic—sects constantly fighting each other," Ling Luochen said, her cheeks flushed with admiration.
"That's how the world is. Conflict has always been a part of life. Even we hunt soul beasts—it's just another form of violence," Qian Ran replied, a trace of melancholy in his tone.
"If things continue like this, soul beasts will become increasingly scarce."
The world of Douluo, despite its superficial peace, thrived on the hunting of soul beasts for resources. Major clashes were rare because essential materials could be obtained in the Star Dou Forest and other such areas.
The prevalence of soul hunting masked the inherent violence of the system, rendering it a normalized act of survival.
(End of Chapter)