Chapter 147: Loyalty or Betrayal?
The ambient light of the room cast shadows across Bubai's face, his gaze fixed intently on Wei Yi kneeling before him.
His expression was inscrutable, a mixture of curiosity and calculation.
"Oh? Tell me what happened."
His low, urging voice prompted his maid to lower her head further, her subsequent confession barely above a whisper.
"My sister and I were brought back by the man to his tower. We were told to wash up. Both of us were frightened, but we secretly made some agreements. Everything was still normal here. But…"
She paused, a slight tremble coursing through her body, "Everything changed when we started serving the man. Wei Yi doesn’t know what it was, but there was a strange feeling, penetrating into me, making me lust after the man and I couldn't resist…"
Her words trailed off, her body quivering with the memory of the sensation.
Seeing his maid trembling like a quail and no longer speaking for an extended duration, Bubai leaned forward, using the tip of his foot to lift her chin.
A single glimpse revealed her abnormally flushed face. Intrigued, Bubai probed, "Is it still affecting you now?"
Wei Yi's composed expression faltered slightly, her breath hitching. She wrapped her arms around her chest, her legs rubbing together restlessly as she let out a whimper, "Y-Yes, master. Wei Yi can still feel it. Ha..."
Absorbing her words, a subtle frown creased Bubai's brow.
What a strong effect. What could it be?
Perhaps this was what affected him when he first visited that man’s tower?
Honestly, the effects weren’t so pronounced in himself, and after raising his guard, he had managed to completely resist the effect by utilizing his green Qi.
So, Bubai didn’t think it was a big deal.
However, this event woke him up. His own physique was special, yet he was still affected, let alone mortals like the twins. It was crystal clear the strange ability wasn’t something mortals could resist!
The twin kneeling before him struggling against its influence was proof.
But what exactly is it? Could it be a form of pheromones? If so…
Bubai’s mind was already spinning with possibilities, connecting dots and weaving theories together.
Pheromones. Plus the requirement of essence for cultivation. Could Jia Shizi be practicing the Pleasurewood Body Refinement Art or an upper-stratum variant?
Speculation buzzed like a hive in Bubai’s mind, but he knew he needed more data to confirm anything concrete.
Releasing Wei Yi's chin, Bubai planted his foot back to the ground, pressing for more info. "So, what happened after that?"
For a moment, Wei Yi's head drooped in silence, leaving him hanging.
After composing her words, she finally replied with a tremor in her voice, "Wei Yi let the man do whatever he wanted to my flesh, but Wei Yi did my best to resist the strange ability and kept my mouth shut. But, my sister…"
She gasped lightly, her teary eyes lifting slowly to meet his gaze. "Sorry, master. Wei Yi couldn't stop her. She told him everything, everything he asked."
Bubai's face remained impassive.
Honestly, he wasn’t too surprised. It was within his expectations that Jia Shizi would dig into his secrets.
With a steady voice, betraying none of the thoughts swirling within him, Bubai calmly pressed for more details, "Is that all?"
Upon hearing his question, Wei Yi shook her head, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and anguish. "If that's all, she can still ask for master's forgiveness, but, but… my sister, she..." She faltered, biting her lip and bowing her head.
Oh? Wei Er did something that could be deemed as complete betrayal? Was the effects on Wei Er worse than her sister?
Recalling the reactions of the twins upon their return, Bubai realized that things were more complicated than he had initially thought. The ability might have long-lasting effects.
Otherwise, Jia Shizi wouldn’t be so foolish to blatantly turn his maids into spies, lest they have second thoughts. Well, this part wasn’t too unexpectedly.
What truly caught Bubai off guard was the implication behind Wei Yi's words: she wasn’t affected!
Now, this was interesting. Was it an act to get him to let his guard down or was there another reason?
With keen interest, Bubai regarded Wei Yi with a piercing gaze, "So, why are you telling me this? It can't be you're trying to plead leniency for her, right?"
"Master, I-" Wei Yi looked up, meeting his gaze that bore into her like an abyss, causing her to tremble slightly.
She bit her lips in turmoil, her eyes squeezing shut as if doing so could let her hide from reality.
A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. After a moment of tense silence, she composed herself, lowering her head in submission. "Master, Wei Yi will not ask for your leniency. Please punish her as you see fit."
“Oh?” Bubai's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise at her steadfastness. "You won't stop me even if I want to kill her?"
Wei Yi's head bowed even lower, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, Wei Yi will not."
The little devil in Bubai prompted him to press on. "Then what if I asked you to kill her?"
Wei Yi's body trembled only for a moment before she looked up at him. Despite the tear stains streaking her cheeks, her face was composed and her voice, though shaky, held an unwavering resolve. "Then Wei Yi will comply."
A subtle chill touched his heart as Bubai silently studied the woman before him, "You're really willing to give up your sister for me?"
"Not just my sister.” Wei Yi’s unwavering eyes never left his as she declared, “Wei Yi is willing to be loyal to master and master alone."
This woman… Bubai stared into her eyes. Those certainly didn’t look like the eyes of a liar.
Yet, his skepticism couldn’t help but linger. A natural response given the circumstances.
After all, if a spy openly proclaimed allegiance, would anyone readily believe it?
He needed more than just empty words.
"Can you tell me the reason?" Bubai’s cool voice pressed for clarification. "What made you choose me over everyone else?"
Wei Yi's gaze finally averted, her struggle evident as she bit her lip, hesitating to answer.
“What’s wrong?”
Bowing her head, she admitted in a soft voice, "Wei Yi is not sure if master will believe me.”
“Oh?” Bubai encouraged her with a nod. "Try me.”
Strengthening her resolve with a deep breath, Wei Yi met his gaze head-on once more and confessed, "It's my intuition."
Nani? Bubai’s eyebrows lifted in surprise at her response. A woman's intuition?
Indeed, it seemed almost absurd at first, but when he gave it a second thought, drawing upon his past life knowledge, Bubai found himself considering it more seriously.
A woman’s intuition - it may seem like a silly concept, but it’s not something to be underestimated.
After all, a women’s intuition was indeed a horrible power that sometimes even leads to the legendary shura field.
But could he truly believe her? With an unreadable expression, Bubai stared down at Wei Yi in silence.
In the face of his prolonged silence, Wei Yi’s composed facade betrayed a hint of apprehension… and hope?
Could she really be…
There are many choices in life, some good, some bad. But all choices have consequences.
One wrong step, and it might be game over for him, but some choices... must be made.
Slowly, Bubai articulated his thoughts, "I am not one to trust in empty words and loyalty. Tell me, what do you want?"
Wei Yi’s heart skipped a beat at his question, her eyes quivering with hope, “Master… believes me?”
Meeting her gaze evenly, Bubai responded, "I believe in loyalty that isn't a one-sided transaction."
Wei Yi’s eyes shone with a mixture of relief and hope as tears welled up, yet a bright smile illuminated her expression.
With a trembling hand, she hastily wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks, though more continued to fall.
Despite her tears, she giggled to herself, the sound containing the joy bubbling within her.
Bubai observed her reaction, a truly rare sight. It was the first time he had seen this composed woman break down in such a way.
If it was really all an act, then… this loss, he willingly accepted.
Since the dice has been cast, Bubai was willing to indulge her. So, his voice softened and reassured her, "Take your time. You can tell me after you think about it."
With puffy eyes still shimmering in tears, Wei Yi looked at him, her smile unwavering. "There's no need to think. Wei Yi will be happy with whatever master gives me."
Bubai subtly frowned at her response. "That's not an answer.”
But Wei Yi shook her head, countering with a resolute expression. "It is. This is already more than enough..."
Leaking a soft sigh, the kneeling Wei Yi shuffled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his leg and burying her face against it.
"Master, Wei Yi knows my value," she murmured. "So, for me, being by master's side is already the happiest thing."
The cliché words of love, like reading off a script. Alas, it was hard to believe because there was no basis for her affection! The more she was like this, the more...
Bubai’s heart cooled, regarding her with a flat expression, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Are you sure there isn't anything?"
"If master really wants an answer to settle his heart, then…”
Wei Yi turned her head to meet his eyes, determination burning in her gaze. “Wei Yi will beg master to not cast me aside again. Wei Yi want to devote my all to master and master alone."
An earnest plea, a small demand. But it was good enough to establish the basic foundation.
“Hmm…” A small smile finally tugged at the corners of Bubai’s lips. “Very well. But...”
Reaching down, he affectionately petted her head, the familiar touch reassuring both her and himself. "If this is really what you want, that'll have to depend on your performance."