"Thank you, mighty Immortal." The woman's voice trembled as she uttered those words, each syllable filled with deep fear.
Han Ling smiled upon seeing the woman's fear, but decided to let her live in order to get a gift for Han Xinrou.
He felt strange in his heart. After all, he had coldly abandoned her in the previous life — even if she had killed him, Han Ling didn't think that could heal the pain he had caused.
Now, in his second life, she had welcomed him with open arms, giving him all sorts of things. All she wanted was for him to stay with her.
His cultivation had risen to the Void Refinement realm because of her. Under normal circumstances, his cultivation limit would have been the Nascent Soul realm.
Han Ling pondered as he held the small chain attached to the collar on his neck.
While Han Ling was lost in thought, the woman in front of him began trembling even more when she saw the collar around his neck.
'Is he some kind of fugitive demon?!'
Yu Yui was nearly crying, regretting having come down this path. Her special physique — the Sanctified Fairy Body — had guided her here, giving her the feeling that she would find a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on this path.
She had always trusted her special physique, for it had always guided her toward opportunities. But today, it seemed her physique had betrayed her.
After thinking for a while, she concluded he must be some powerful demonic cultivator imprisoned by a sect. That assumption came from the collar around his neck — he could only be a prisoner.
Yu Yui couldn't be more wrong.
Still, no one could blame her. Who would imagine that a powerful cultivator would willingly wear a collar? After all, all cultivators are arrogant and proud.
Yu Yui's body was frozen, her legs trembling with fear. She knew trying to run was useless. With that man's spatial powers, he would catch her in the blink of an eye.
That might even make the cultivator angry and give her a more painful death — something she definitely didn't want. So instead of running, she decided to wait for death, for she was a coward and couldn't take her own life.
Yu Yui stood still, her body trembling like a little bunny awaiting slaughter.
When Han Ling snapped out of his daze, she closed her eyes, preparing for her inevitable end.
"Tell me, why were you being chased?" The serene voice echoed in Yu Yui's ears.
A question was definitely not something she expected from a bloodthirsty demon.
"Huh!? You're not going to kill me?" She raised her eyes in surprise, asking without thinking, covering her mouth right after the words came out.
Han Ling found the woman's reactions amusing — the way she acted like a frightened bunny was funny.
"No, your existence still pleases me… So you won't die, as long as you prove yourself useful." Han Ling's voice was neutral. He had a goal in speaking to this woman — he wanted to buy a gift for Han Xinrou, otherwise she would already be dead.
Yu Yui visibly brightened. With her special physique, she knew this was a great opportunity, though she didn't hold much hope, since her physique had already let her down once.
"Uhh…" Yu Yui stammered, unsure how to explain the situation. Everything had happened so suddenly — just minutes ago she had been ready to die.
"Un… I am Yu Yui, the saintess of the Blazing Lotus Sect," she said in a low, hesitant voice, averting her gaze as she uncomfortably fidgeted with her hands.
Han Ling found this funny, lowering his gaze to Yu Yui as he said with a laugh:
"You? A saintess? But you're weak." A faint smile appeared on his lips as he spoke those words.
"Even though my cultivation is low, I'm very talented. And with my father's support — the sect leader — the elders couldn't refuse," Yu Yui said with visible pride in her voice, biting her lips and shrinking back as she continued.
"I… was betrayed by my sister!" This time her voice was louder. She continued with a voice full of suppressed anger. "She seduced my husband — the holy son — and killed our father, taking control of the sect."
"Oh? Your sect is so pathetic that just any woman can take control?" Han Ling said with an amused voice. His mind was beginning to nurture murderous thoughts. After all, he hadn't killed her because she might be useful, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Yu Ling wasn't just any woman," Yu Yui's voice was bitter. "She was a seductive vixen, and she seduced most of the elders with her charm. That way, it was easy to take control after our father's death."
"What a sad story. But give me a reason not to kill you right here and now." Han Ling's voice was cold, his amber eyes staring at Yu Yui with an apathetic gaze, making it clear he was serious.
At that moment, Yu Yui panicked. Her mind raced to find a reason to be spared and failed miserably, finding nothing but her body that might attract Han Ling's attention.
Yu Yui clenched her fists tightly, her shoulders trembling as tears threatened to fall. The crushing pressure from Han Ling's amber eyes made her feel naked — exposed to the soul. The fear was so real that her heart nearly leapt from her throat.
But deep down, there was a small spark of wounded pride. She was the saintess of the Blazing Lotus Sect! She couldn't die like a worthless nobody. And it was that pride, mixed with desperation, that led her to make the most humiliating decision of her life.
"If… if it pleases you…" she whispered, nearly choking on the words. "I can… offer my body…"
Han Ling raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised — and somewhat amused.
"Oh?" He crossed his arms, the collar on his neck swaying slightly as he stepped closer, slow steps, like a predator before prey offering itself willingly. "You think that frail little body of yours might interest me?"
Yu Yui bit her lip hard. Her eyes filled with tears, but she knelt anyway, clutching the hem of Han Ling's robes. Her voice came out trembling, but determined.
"I know I'm nothing compared to you… but I can be useful… I can serve you, in any way you desire…"
Han Ling remained silent for a few seconds, observing her from above with penetrating eyes. The silence weighed like a blade about to fall.
He then clicked his tongue.
"You're pathetic… and at the same time, intriguing."
Yu Yui trembled at those words, unsure whether it was a good or bad sign. Her breathing was labored, and her face burned with shame.
"Stand up," Han Ling ordered coldly.
She obeyed slowly, rising with difficulty. Her mind screamed to flee, but her body wouldn't move without his permission. Han Ling then stepped closer, his face just inches from hers.
"If you want to stay alive, you'll be my slave. You won't have the right to refuse anything, no pride, no dignity."
Yu Yui swallowed hard. For a moment, she hesitated. But when she remembered the face of her sister sitting on the throne that once belonged to her father, the hatred pushed her a step forward.
"I accept…" she whispered.
Han Ling smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile — only coldness and a hint of sadistic pleasure.
"Then strip, now."
Yu Yui hesitated, her face paling, but her fingers were already moving to untie the knot at her waist. She knew that from that point on, there was no return.
As the robes fell to the floor, Han Ling's gaze became even sharper, colder, and curious.
He was not a man who thought with his lower body. Never had been. The point was that he had detected something different in her body.
From what he had seen in an ancient book, it appeared to be one of the nine legendary physiques — the Celestial Destiny Physique. People with this physique would always find opportunities, and they could always turn misfortune into an opportunity. People with this physique are often called children of heaven.
Han Ling hadn't detected it at first, and now he wanted to verify whether Yu Yui truly possessed such a legendary physique.
Yu Yui remained still as her garments slid off her body and fell to the floor, revealing her nudity. The night air felt heavier, thicker.
Han Ling didn't avert his gaze for a moment.
His amber gaze, sharp like a blade, scanned every inch of the woman's body before him — not with lust, but with clinical precision, as if he were a sculptor evaluating an imperfect masterpiece, trying to discern whether there was something truly valuable there.
And what he saw was... curious.
Yu Yui's body was of uncommon beauty, almost ethereal. Her skin was like pale jade warmed from within, slightly pink in sensitive spots — shoulders, collarbone, nipples, and vaginal lips. The soft light reflected off her skin with a faint glow, as if it were made of divine silk.
Her breasts were round and firm, the exact size to fit into a man's palms. Her nipples were hard, not from cold, but from the excitement she tried to hide. Han Ling saw that. He saw everything.
Her stomach was smooth, the slim waist leading to soft hips and thighs that subtly trembled under his gaze, like leaves in the wind. Between her legs, there was a slight moisture, which Yu Yui tried to hide by pressing her thighs together, but it was useless.
'She's aroused.' Han Ling thought, the corner of his lips curving slightly.
It was no surprise. He had seen eyes like hers before. Han Xinrou could be an example — people who hid a secret desire, deeply repressed, now writhing under the weight of their authority.
"You like being watched, don't you?" His voice came low, cold, but with a hint of scorn.
Yu Yui shuddered. Her eyes widened, and her body bent slightly, as if those words were a slap to her soul.
"...Yes..." The word escaped her lips like a shameful secret. "When you look at me... it's like... my body gets warm..."
Han Ling did not answer immediately. He just raised his hand, his fingers gently touching her chin, lifting her face so their eyes met.
"The body of the Heavenly destiny... Hmph. Nothing more than a façade for a body that longs for servitude."
His fingers descended slowly, passing over her neck, shoulders, and finally resting between Yu Yui's breasts. There, he activated a slight portion of his spiritual energy. A thin, subtle flow ran through her skin, slowly invading her meridians.
Yu Yui gasped, her legs trembling as she felt Han Ling's energy enter her, exploring deeply inside her body. It was invasive, intimate... and incredibly arousing.
He then closed his eyes for a moment.
"Yes... It's real. The physique of the Heavenly Destiny. Although still incomplete... If well cultivated, it could become something even more useful than I imagined."
Han Ling opened his eyes, now shining with a faint golden glow.
"You really do have something interesting hidden in that useless little body..." His hand slid down to her stomach, resting on the skin between her pussy and uterus. "A legendary physique... and yet you crawled at my feet like a desperate bitch."
Yu Yui bit her lips hard, her face completely red. Her shame seemed about to explode, but strangely, she seemed to like it.
"If you let me live... I will be your bitch. I... like it when you humiliate me..."
Han Ling let out a dry laugh.
"You have no pride at all. Pathetic... But maybe that's exactly why you amuse me."
He then turned, his hand withdrawing from her body.
"Get dressed. You will be useful."
Yu Yui stood still for a few seconds, as if those words were more valuable than any immortal technique. Then, she bowed deeply, her naked body still trembling.
"Yes, my Lord..."
Han Ling did not answer. His eyes were fixed on the starry sky.
A legendary physique... and a broken soul. A useful toy to gift Xinrou... or perhaps, something more.
But that, only time would tell.
***
End of chapter.