"Mas–Master?"
Qian Renxue's mind couldn't quite process what was happening.
She stared warily at Lin Fan as he continued approaching, fear and disbelief flickering in her eyes.
Instinctively, she raised her snow-white arms and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
Her brow furrowed deeply as she demanded, "Who are you? How did you get into the Spirit Hall?"
Lin Fan tilted his head slightly, the connection between his spirit and Qian Renxue's clearly sensed by both.
A crooked smile slowly crept across his face.
"Throw the blanket aside," he said calmly.
Qian Renxue looked at him with confusion, her face immediately flushing red.
"What nonsense are you talking about, scoundrel!?" she snapped.
But before she could do anything else…
Qian Renxue's eyes widened in horror as she realized—her body was no longer under her control.
Clenching her teeth, she tried with all her might to resist the compulsion. But her arms moved on their own, grabbing the blanket tightly wrapped around her body and tossing it onto the floor.
The moment she finished the action, control returned to her as if nothing had happened.
She raised her hands, staring at them in disbelief. It felt as if she had done it herself… yet her rational mind knew that she hadn't.
"What… what did you do to me?" she asked sharply, eyes fixed on Lin Fan in alarm.
To have her body obey a stranger's commands—that was more terrifying than death.
Because she was in her personal quarters, Qian Renxue wore only a light, translucent nightgown. Without the blanket covering her, much of her pale, flawless skin was exposed to the cool air—and to Lin Fan's gaze.
The air itself seemed to carry her scent, sweet and intoxicating.
Qian Renxue's posture, half-reclined on the bed with only thin veils draped over her, ignited a dangerous heat in Lin Fan's heart.
There was a charm in things only half-revealed, a temptation even more potent than total exposure.
Right now, Qian Renxue embodied that allure perfectly.
Even Lin Fan, who had experienced countless beauties in his previous life, found himself impressed.
As the cool air brushed against her skin, Qian Renxue's shame turned to rage.
Her entire body burst with radiant golden light.
"You dare defile me! This is the Spirit Hall!" she shouted, voice cold as ice. "No matter who you are, you're not leaving here alive!"
"Oh?"
Lin Fan tilted his head again, a red glow flickering in his eyes.
Qian Renxue froze, her body locked in place as if turned to stone, sitting still on the bed.
Lin Fan reached out and pulled her into his arms, the red light in his eyes fading once more.
Qian Renxue's control returned—but now her mind was foggy.
She could feel the warmth of Lin Fan's embrace, and those crimson eyes of his stared into her own mismatched irises.
Snapping out of it, she began to struggle furiously.
"Let me go, you bastard! What did you do to me!? Why can't I control my body!?"
"Xue'er, I told you," Lin Fan said soothingly, "I'm your true Master. Why won't you believe me?"
He gently caught her wrists as she thrashed, continuing, "Haven't you felt it? That connection between us?"
Qian Renxue froze again, dazed in his arms.
From the moment she first saw him, a strange familiarity had bloomed in her heart.
It was a kind of closeness, a sense of déjà vu she couldn't explain—one that now grew even stronger.
Her resistance lessened.
She looked at Lin Fan and asked hesitantly, "Master? What do you mean by that?"
Lin Fan felt a spark of joy—she was starting to yield.
The initial subconscious imprint had worked.
Now, it was time for the next step.
Putting on an expression full of deep affection, Lin Fan locked eyes with her and asked, "Xue'er… have you truly forgotten me?"
Qian Renxue's heart trembled at the tenderness in his gaze.
The feeling of closeness intensified, washing over her like a wave.
Her expression softened. She shook her head slightly.
"I… I can't remember. It's like those memories just vanished…"
"Can you tell me… what really happened?"
Behind her back, Lin Fan's hand glowed faintly red, and a stream of energy seeped into her body.
A warm current coursed through her, spreading rapidly.
Suddenly—
With a burst of motion, Qian Renxue's angelic wings shot open on their own!
Golden radiance filled the room as her six-winged form shimmered with holy light, shining with divine brilliance.
But then—
To her astonishment, half of her wings began to lose their golden glow.
A deep crimson aura emerged from within her, engulfing the other half of her wings.
In moments, her six wings had changed—three remained radiant with golden light, while the other three had transformed into large, barbed bone wings pulsing with scarlet energy.
Qian Renxue looked at them in stunned disbelief. Her altered wings didn't hurt—quite the opposite.
A surge of overwhelming power flooded her body, seamlessly fusing with her spirit energy like a fish returning to water.
"This… what is this?"
Lin Fan lifted her delicate chin with a finger.
"This is the power you were always meant to wield," he said. "And now… it's returned to you."
"Well? Are you satisfied?"
Feeling the immense strength coursing through her, Qian Renxue stared at him intently.
Somehow, in just a short time, Lin Fan had taken on an air of mystery that made him seem untouchable.
Even with all her wariness, Qian Renxue could only nod.
Still unwilling to give in, she continued pressing, "Who… are you really? Why do you know so much about me?"
Lin Fan's crimson eyes flickered again.
He pulled her tighter into his embrace, pressing his cheek against hers.
"I told you, I am your Master."
"Xue'er, I've helped you reclaim your power… so now—"
"Shouldn't we do something… more enjoyable?"
Qian Renxue flushed as she felt his breath on her skin.
Only now did she realize she was still wrapped in the arms of a stranger.
She immediately began to struggle again.
"L–let me go!"
She didn't even notice that her tone had softened—just a little.
****
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