Bab 13: Chapter 13
"Ah!"
Due to the combined effects of centrifugal force and the floating stone, Nathan tumbled towards Ningguang's direction.
Before his cry could even stop, his head encountered something soft.
Above his head were towering peaks, and a faint fragrance wafted through the air. Nathan felt like a traveler who had accidentally wandered into a peach blossom paradise.
"I... I'm sorry, this is completely a misunderstanding..."
Without needing to look up, Nathan could guess what his head was pressed against.
This was his first meeting with Ningguang, who was still one of the prestigious Liyue Qixing.
Yet now, on this floating stone where they were alone, they had experienced an incredibly intimate contact.
To prevent Ningguang from further misunderstanding, Nathan hurriedly tried to escape from this warm paradise while explaining himself.
"It's alright... I don't misunderstand!!!"
A slight smile crossed Ningguang's brow, though her beautiful eyebrows had drawn into a straight line.
Unfortunately, in his current position, Nathan couldn't see her expression.
Because any slight movement of his head would only result in being enveloped by that softness.
"Ning... Ningguang... could... could you let me move away?"
Moreover, Nathan's speech had become muffled and unclear.
His desire to distance himself wasn't granted as he wished.
Instead, Ningguang extended her delicate hands, her slender fingers caressing his forehead.
Whenever he showed any intention of breaking free, he would be pressed back by the perfectly measured force of her palms.
"Not yet, it would be too dangerous to leave now!"
Ningguang's answer was logical, seemingly concerned for Nathan's safety.
However, the increasing pressure from her hands seemed to contradict her words.
As he ventured deeper into the metaphorical peach grove, Nathan's vision became completely obscured by Ningguang.
By this point, his mind had gone blank, far too overwhelmed to formulate any objections.
............
"Young Master Nathan... we've arrived!"
The gentle voice resonated beside his ear, finally bringing Nathan back to consciousness.
After finally regaining his proper posture, the Jade Chamber was right before his eyes.
The time spent in Ningguang's embrace felt incredibly long... so long that he thought he would never wake up.
"Something's not right..."
Just as he thought about the word 'long,' a thunderbolt of realization struck Nathan's mind.
What was long wasn't his consciousness, but rather the floating stone beneath their feet – its ascending speed had been unusually slow.
Compared to the initial surge of centrifugal force, the current gentle floating was moving at a snail's pace.
"Young Master Nathan, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no..."
Before Nathan could think it through, Ningguang's concern was already right beside him.
"...How could I possibly think that the floating stone's abnormality was Ningguang's intentional doing!"
Nathan immediately shook his head, casting aside his earlier suspicions.
The status difference between them was enormous, and this was their first meeting – Nathan convinced himself that the earlier anomaly must have been coincidental.
After bringing Nathan up to this palace in the sky, Ningguang turned to him with a smile.
"As the mistress of the Jade Chamber, I welcome you, Young Master Nathan!"
"Thank you for your invitation, Ningguang!"
"So, standing here, what are your thoughts?"
The following question caught Nathan off guard.
In his consciousness... he felt like he had heard this question somewhere before.
Without thinking too much, Nathan looked around the Jade Chamber and honestly replied to Ningguang.
"This magnificently splendid palace, and its height that allows one to overlook all of Liyue.
Truly, standing at the peak of all peaks, all other mountains seem small!"
Looking down at Liyue from this height, Nathan unconsciously recited a verse from his previous life.
Only after speaking did he realize that in this world of Teyvat, there was no Du Fu (Chinese poet) to have written such poetry.
After saying it, would Ningguang think he had created it himself?
Nathan quickly looked at her, but she merely nodded calmly.
"Indeed..."
Speaking only these two words, Ningguang offered no further explanation.
This seemingly calm reaction made Nathan's heart somewhat anxious.
However, Ningguang said nothing more and led him into the Jade Chamber.
.......
Entering the palace, an atmosphere of nobility and luxury rushed forth.
The interior decorations were all antique artworks.
Everything was made of materials that appeared incredibly expensive at first glance.
"Let's continue!"
Fortunately, with Ningguang walking in front, she didn't see Nathan's surprised expression.
She led him through the tower, finally reaching the great hall at the highest level.
"Click!"
As Nathan entered this spacious room, the door behind him automatically closed.
The sound of the closing door made his heart skip a beat.
Strange, everything felt incredibly strange.
Since entering the Jade Chamber, everything had seemed peculiar.
In the game world, there were various staff members bustling about.
Not to mention, Ningguang herself had three secretaries who never left her side.
Yet after the door closed, there was no sign of Baishi, Baiwen, or Baixiao.
The entire Jade Chamber was silent, as if in this massive palace, only the two of them remained.
"Ningguang... can you tell me now why you called me here?"
Nathan tried to maintain his composure, planning to leave this eerie place quickly after understanding her intentions.
"Don't rush, let me prepare first!!!"
Nathan's question was met with Ningguang's mysteriously meaningful smile.
"Rustle! Rustle!"
The next second, the silent room was filled with the sound of fabric rubbing against fabric.
"Ning... Ningguang... what exactly are you doing?"
Nathan was completely stunned, because right before his eyes, Ningguang had shed her tight robe.
Now before him was a scene of snow-white splendor.
Strange... it was incredibly strange how someone would suddenly undress without any explanation.
"What are you standing there for? You should undress too, my master!!!"
Leaving the purple-gold robe on the floor, Ningguang slowly walked over.
Already ignoring the strange form of address from her lips, Nathan's mind was now completely occupied by the white scene before him.
His collar was grabbed, and he felt warm breath on his neck.
"I've waited for this day... waited for so long... finally... I can devour you..."
"I..."
Nathan wanted to resist but noticed Ningguang's body emanating a yellow light.
Good heavens, she had even employed her Vision's power to control him.
However, at this crucial moment, an even greater variable appeared...
[Detection of sub-scenario opening conditions, Life Simulator about to activate!]
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone