A month slipped by in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Ian Song and Harriet Gu grew almost inseparable—their relationship so close that, aside from not taking the final step, they'd done everything lovers could do.
Meanwhile, the list of those heading to the Martial Soul Hall was announced today.
Both Ian Song and Harriet Gu were on the list.
The Martial Soul Hall is located in the Holy City, the Human Race's sacred ground, and will open in one week.
Tomorrow.
The thirty-three intermediate students on the list will travel to the Holy City under the joint escort of Vice Dean Dragon Sword Lord and Melody Empress.
During this month, Lynette Ji never stopped trying to win Ian Song over. He kept pretending to play along—if not for the risk that using Puppet Mastery to enslave her would alert her main soul to his secret, he would've done it already.
According to Greenie's reports, Lynette was unhappy about Ian getting close to Harriet and seemed to be considering sending someone to assassinate her. This made Ian wary; luckily, he had a spare Ninth-Grade Spirit Armor, so he found a chance to give it to Harriet.
With Ninth-Grade Spirit Armor protecting her, unless a Martial Saint personally attacked, even a sneak attack from a Grandmaster wouldn't be able to hurt her.
That evening.
Greenie came by again, delivering an invitation from Lynette Ji, asking him to meet her tonight at a restaurant in the city.
"What tricks is she trying this time?" Ian asked in a low voice after sending away the twin maids.
Greenie shook her head, looking a bit panicked. "This servant doesn't know what the princess intends."
"Alright, got it. Go back and tell her I'll be there on time."
After Greenie left, Ian couldn't help but lower his head and think. This past month, Lynette had invited him several times, and each time she used Fox-Demon charm arts to try and enchant him.
Back in the Great Qin World, Lady Peachblossom was also a master of charm arts, so Ian had some understanding of this kind of technique. Until now, Lynette's enchantments had been fairly gentle.
She was probably planting the seed of enchantment in his body, getting ready for the day she'd fully take him over.
"Is she planning to fully charm me this time?"
Ian couldn't help but wonder to himself.
"If she really tries to completely charm me, should I just flip out on the spot, or pretend to be under her spell?"
After thinking it over for a while, Ian made up his mind: if it was just a normal dinner, he'd keep playing along with Lynette. But if she tried to fully take him over, he'd drop the act and go straight for confrontation—no more games.
After Ian tore down Tianwu House, the second-ranked restaurant, Fortune House, quickly rose to take over most of its business.
Sure enough, Lynette's banquet for Ian was set at Fortune House—and once again, she'd booked the entire place.
Ian made his way to the most luxurious private box, where the maids Jade and Mandy were waiting at the door as usual.
Both maids were actually Ian's puppets.
The two girls opened the door for him, and Ian stepped inside. Instantly, a faint, intoxicating fragrance filled his nose, making him feel light-headed.
Lynette was dressed in her usual white gown, looking pure on the surface, but every smile and gesture radiated irresistible fox-demon allure.
"Greetings, Senior."
Ian bowed politely, his eyes showing a hint of infatuation.
Seeing this, Lynette was quite pleased.
"No need to be so formal. Junior, please take a seat," Lynette said with a gentle smile.
"Yes, yes!"
Ian nodded repeatedly, looking a bit dazed—just like someone under a charm spell.
"Here, try this. I had Fortune House's chef make it especially for you." Lynette picked up her silver chopsticks and placed a piece of food in Ian's bowl, her manner intimate and gentle.
"Thank you, Senior." Instantly, Ian put on a look of soul-stealing obsession.
Then, Lynette elegantly picked up the wine pot and filled Ian's cup, handing it to him with both hands. Her eyes were soft as water as she said, "Junior, please drink it all."
"Alright, alright!"
Ian agreed eagerly and reached for the cup, but he was so excited that he spilled quite a bit of wine. Seeing him act so clumsy, Lynette's eyes flashed with faint disdain.
"Gulp!"
Ian downed the wine in one go and said to Lynette, "Senior, your wine is delicious."
"Is that so? Then I'll pour you another." Lynette laughed softly.
In no time, after several rounds of drinks and dishes, Ian was half drunk. Yet his eyes kept drifting to Lynette, growing more and more obsessed.
"Junior, I hear you've gotten pretty close to a girl named Harriet Gu lately?" Lynette asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Ian nodded honestly.
"If I asked you to break up with her, would you do it?" Lynette stared intently at Ian, her charm arts intensifying.
Based on Ian's earlier pathetic behavior, Lynette assumed he'd agree without hesitation.
But to her surprise, Ian didn't immediately nod. Instead, a look of struggle appeared on his face.
Seeing this, Lynette ramped up her charm arts even further, her eyes flashing coldly as her tone hardened: "Junior, I want you to break up with Harriet Gu. Can you do it?"
"Wh-why?" Ian asked with difficulty.
"This brat still has the strength to resist?" Lynette's eyes flashed with surprise, and she ramped her charm arts up to sixty percent. "There's no reason. I just want you to break up with her. Will you do it?"
As the charm arts grew stronger, Ian's eyes went blank and he mumbled, "I... will..."
But then, a look of struggle appeared on his face again. "Senior, why... why do you want me to break up with Harriet...?"
After saying this, sweat broke out all over Ian's forehead.
"You brat!"
Seeing Ian still resisting, Lynette grew annoyed and unleashed her full charm arts.
"Ah!"
Ian cried out and collapsed to the floor.
"Crap, I overdid it!"
Seeing Ian collapse, Lynette panicked. Her goal was to control him, not hurt him—if she pushed too hard and turned him into an idiot, it would be a huge loss.
Thinking this, she hurried over to check on Ian.
Just then, Ian—who seemed unconscious—suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed Lynette, and pressed his mouth to hers, mumbling, "Senior, you're so beautiful. I want you, I want to have you!"
"Mmph! You bastard!"
Furious, Lynette instinctively slapped Ian, knocking him out cold.
Caught off guard, she not only got hugged and kissed, but he even stuck his tongue in her mouth. It was utterly disgusting.
"Damn it!"
Her eyes glinted with killing intent, her chest heaving with rage—she wanted nothing more than to kill him right then.
But she knew that if she really killed him, she'd never get away with it. After all, he was a key student at Sanctum Martial Academy.
In the end, she suppressed her fury, but refused to stay any longer and stormed off in a huff.
As soon as Lynette left, Ian opened his eyes and stood up, a sly smile on his lips as he muttered, "Tsk tsk, that fox-demon taste really isn't bad."