Humiliation washed over her, subtle in the tremor of her hands, the slight sheen of sweat on her brow.

'He's right... I'm nothing compared to them,' she thought, jaws clenching tighter.

"But let me tell you," he continued, voice dropping low, "you can easily become stronger than me. But it appears you want to choose between your dignity and ambition, don't you?"

'!'

'H-he can see through... what is he!?'

She shook her head fiercely, panic flashing in her widened eyes. As if clenching her jaws, given she wasn't able to find any of his weakness, she rather got caught off guard by seeing he possessed something that was literally impossible.

If somewhere any women were to know, those ancient ambitious wenches, they would flock after him. But she indeed had ambition, yet also dignity—and he seemed to know that too.

"You already know, then let me go," she said, turning away with her head down, jaws clenched so hard her teeth ached. Her hurried steps carried her toward the door, heart pounding with conflicted fury.

He spoke again, stopping her cold.

"I will not take your virginity."

Thump. Thump.

Her body halted, eyes widening as she turned back slowly, shock replacing panic.

"I know about your physique. And it's fine. There are..." He arrived before her, crimson-gold eyes locking onto hers.

Her body seemed to tremble, like stiffened pie seeing a ghost. She stood, unable to move, violet eyes trembling as he leaned in like a demon whispering in her ears.

Arriving near her face, his voice dropped into a sensual murmur.

"There are more places in a woman's body that can be stuffed... you see."

'!?!'

"HOW DARE YOU!" She yelled instantly, swinging her hand.

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the chamber like a thunderclap, sharp and final. Yu Xiang's palm connected with Tianlong's cheek with enough force to snap a mortal's neck, her Core Formation cultivation lending weight to the blow that should have shattered bones.

But he didn't move.

Didn't even flinch.

The Great Vehicle realm emperor stood there, accepting the strike as if it were nothing more than a gentle caress, his crimson-gold eyes never leaving hers.

Yu Xiang's violet eyes widened in shock, her hand still hovering where it had struck, trembling with the aftermath of her rage.

Her breathing came in sharp, rapid bursts as the impossibility of what had just happened crashed over her.

She had done her life's biggest mistake, and its fate would simply be death.

Because in all her life journeys she had learned one thing: strong men have very big pride. Their instinct—if a woman dared hit them—the reaction would instantly be destructive.

"Why... why didn't you dodge?" she whispered, her voice cracking with confusion and growing terror. As if she was asking someone who could kill her why they let her commit the sin.

For someone of his cultivation level, avoiding her slap would have been child's play. She was an insect compared to his power, yet her hand had landed true.

The slight red mark on his cheek stood as evidence of contact that should never have occurred.

Tianlong tilted his head slightly. Naturally, he didn't feel even a mosquito sting. Though anyone would be angry—and he was, kind of—that anger was not needed. Sometimes if the ego comes between the gains, it's not worth it.

His expression was calm, almost curious.

"So should I take it as you don't want power?"

Her breath hitched, eyes clearly showing the turmoil within. This made no sense.

Every powerful man she'd ever encountered would have either dodged such an attack or retaliated with overwhelming force.

Their egos couldn't handle being struck by someone weaker.

Forget just the man who took the hit. Anyone, if they saw this, would instantly be outraged by the sheer audacity of a woman slapping a man—and him acting like a simp, not retaliating.

That's how this world worked.

If an unknown woman slapped someone, especially when one was clearly in advantage, it would not just enrage the one who took the hit. Everyone who saw him taking the hit and yet not retaliating would feel frustration.

She had seen this kind of situation several times, where if the man retaliated instantly, taking his stand by slapping back the woman, then people praised him. And if not, then the same people cursed that same man for being useless.

That's how the fucking world worked.

That's exactly what she had seen, understood from her experience.

That's why she was able to manipulate every man in her way.

They were so predictable and easy.

But he?

But he... he had simply accepted it.

"I don't understand," she stammered, her analytical mind struggling to categorize him. "Why would you let me...?"

She had expected him to dodge, maybe even force himself on her afterward. Act like any normal egoistic man would—win with power, treat women as slaves, let their wounded pride drive them to violence.

But he possessed pride without ego, power without the need to constantly display it.

It was confusing, maddening, completely outside her experience with men.

She had seen several sides of him, and now she was completely confused. He was not a simp considering his strength and the way he knew how to manipulate things in his favor. He wasn't acting on his desires—basically, he did not force himself on her, which he could—nor did he seem lovable, given how sexually vulgar he was.

Yet he was understandable enough not to turn her into ash when she hit him.

"Tch, why think too much?"

Tianlong's hand moved slowly to where hers still hovered near his face.

Instead of grabbing it roughly or pushing it away, he simply rubbed his cheek against her palm, the gesture so unexpectedly gentle that she yanked her hand back as if burned.

"Just think about it," he said, his voice carrying that same calm authority. "You already saw what I possess. Tell me, in this world, would you ever get a man like me to fulfill your ambitions?"

Her eyes glared at him, shock and fury warring in their violet depths.

It was clear—she trembled, knowing he was right, but what was more infuriating was how he knew everything about her.

The casual way he spoke of power, of fulfilling ambitions, as if he could simply hand out what others spent lifetimes seeking.

"How do you know?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She wanted to know how he knew about her body constitution.

He chuckled, lifting his hand to touch her black hair. His fingers moved through the dark strands with surprising gentleness, and as he did, he noticed something that made him pause.

Gray hints threaded through the midnight black—subtle streaks she'd carefully hidden with her hairstyle, visible only this close.

Leaning in, he inhaled the scent of her hair, his eyes widening slightly before he pulled back with another chuckle.

"Honestly, is this due to your body constitution?" he asked, noting how her hair carried an intoxicating fragrance that seemed to awaken something primal.

She bit her lip, defiance flashing in her eyes.

"You don't know?"

"No, I know that the man who takes your virginity would gain your powers and cultivation," he replied, his voice matter-of-fact. "But I never thought you would be made like a walking aphrodisiac."

Her eyes snapped shut, then opened to glare at him with renewed fury.

"You are a vulgar man."

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