As Nana reached out to unbuckle his pants, Qian Ran immediately stopped her.
Even though a part of him harbored such thoughts, Qian Ran couldn't bring himself to act in this moment—not when Nana was crying so heartbrokenly. After all, she had just poured her heart out, recounting the tragic story of her parents being massacred by the Holy Spirit Cult and their souls imprisoned. To take advantage of her now would make him a scoundrel, plain and simple.
Even if Nana was the one making the first move, he still couldn't do it.
Qian Ran still had some principles, after all.
If it were under different circumstances—if Nana hadn't just bared her deepest wounds and instead had willingly initiated intimacy—Qian Ran wouldn't hesitate. But the present situation was entirely different.
He lifted Nana's chin, his gaze meeting her tear-filled eyes.
Though Nana's face couldn't be described as top-tier beautiful, there was an undeniable allure about her. Her unique charm—sun-kissed skin, tall stature, and athletic build—all combined into a captivating package.
While Qian Ran did appreciate the traditional fair-skinned beauties, he already had plenty of those around him.
Even in the Douluo Continent, where many women placed great importance on having pale, flawless skin, the ladies around Qian Ran were all porcelain-skinned beauties. In contrast, Nana, having grown up with hatred festering in her heart and living a life steeped in darkness, had little concern for skincare.
This, however, gave her a fresh, unconventional kind of beauty.
Qian Ran, long accustomed to fair skin, found Nana's lightly tanned complexion refreshing—neither too dark nor too pale, just the right shade. Moreover, her tall and slender figure was rare among women.
Of course, there was no way Qian Ran could let such a stunning woman kneel before him without taking the slightest advantage.
Placing his left hand on her chest, he admired the shy expression on her face.
The sensation was quite impressive.
There was a pleasant elasticity to it.
Though Nana's figure wasn't as exaggerated as Zhu Lu's, it didn't mean she lacked appeal. On the contrary, Nana wasn't flat or lacking in the slightest.
Her tall, willowy frame, however, meant she didn't have the same fullness as someone like Zhu Lu, whose wider hips and curvier figure gave a sense of abundance.
Subjectively speaking, Qian Ran felt Nana's physique was more akin to that of an agility-type soul master—sleek, efficient, and perfectly proportioned for speed.
After helping Nana to her feet, Qian Ran noted how she stood there, chest out, filled with both shyness and determination.
Though her nerves were evident, she didn't retreat. Instead, she straightened her back further, pushing her chest out as if to invite his touch, making herself more accessible.
For the sake of liberating her parents' souls, Nana was willing to do whatever it took, no matter the cost.
Her greatest fear wasn't Qian Ran taking advantage of her; it was that he might not find her appealing enough to accept her offer.
She had always been insecure about her looks, especially after witnessing so many outstanding and beautiful women vying to be by Qian Ran's side.
Yet, to her surprise, Qian Ran seemed genuinely interested in her.
This unexpected reaction filled her heart with a quiet joy.
After all, who was Qian Ran? He was the most extraordinary genius of his generation. With so many stunning women surrounding him, his admiration for her could only mean that she truly was attractive.
"Have you thought this through?" Qian Ran leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear as he issued a final warning. "The price of my help is steep. Once you're mine, there's no turning back. I'm not like the Holy Spirit Cult—you won't get a second chance to escape."
"As long as you help me, I'll do whatever you ask," Nana replied, her face flushed from his breath but without a trace of hesitation.
"In that case, rest assured. I'll go above and beyond. By the time I'm done, you'll willingly belong to me." Qian Ran wrapped an arm around her waist, giving her firm, shapely hips a squeeze.
Ever since Huo Yun'er had introduced him to a different kind of pleasure, Qian Ran had come to relish such indulgences.
It wasn't just Huo Yun'er; the maids Dai Hao had sent his way also knew how to make him feel utterly satisfied. Although the maids' overall beauty couldn't compare to the likes of Dong'er, their attentive service more than made up for any lack.
Despite often claiming that Dong'er was his woman, Qian Ran couldn't deny her independence as an individual. He could influence her affections but had no right to control other aspects of her life.
His servants, however, were an entirely different matter. Qian Ran had absolute authority over them, even down to dictating whether they stepped out of the door with their left foot or right foot first. He could decide their waking and sleeping hours, and even their spiritual and emotional states were his to command.
Why? Because they were his maids—his property.
Unlike the nobles of the Douluo Continent, Qian Ran had a conscience and never treated his maids harshly. In fact, he rarely gave them strict orders at all.
But the power to control them was something he could not relinquish.
Once someone experienced such absolute authority, there was no going back. The feeling was simply too intoxicating. What man could resist such bliss?
"Put your clothes back on," Qian Ran said, handing Nana her discarded garments.
Nana's face fell, pain flashing across her expression.
"Don't overthink it," Qian Ran reassured her. "I'm a man of my word. Since I promised to help you, I won't go back on it. Once I've dealt with the Holy Spirit Cult for you, you'll willingly submit to me." He pinched her cheek playfully as he spoke.
"Okay." Nana breathed a sigh of relief and quickly dressed, taking the clothes Qian Ran handed her.
"You can leave now," Qian Ran said, issuing a polite yet firm dismissal. He couldn't guarantee his self-control if she stayed any longer.
"When will we go?" Nana asked, her cheeks still flushed.
"If you're in a hurry, tomorrow morning," Qian Ran replied after some thought. To him, a small Holy Spirit Cult outpost was hardly worth worrying about.
Even if an evil spirit master at the Soul Douluo level showed up, Qian Ran wouldn't flinch.
While it was true that evil spirit masters were generally much stronger than other soul masters, Qian Ran's six-winged angel martial soul was their ultimate counter. Regardless of the type of evil spirit master, his martial soul suppressed them completely.
"Can I stay here tonight? We can set off tomorrow morning. I can serve you tonight," Nana murmured softly.
"Fine," Qian Ran agreed.
"Thank you," Nana said, her face lighting up with joy as she stepped into his room. Before he could react, she knelt down to remove his shoes, replacing them with slippers from the rack.
Then she headed to the bathroom to prepare hot water.
This unexpected gesture left Qian Ran slightly impressed. Having such a maid attend to him might not be a bad idea after all.
If he were to form a maid corps specializing in soul tool warfare, Nana would make an excellent captain.
She could even assist in recruiting other members for the maid squad.
(End of Chapter)