Luo Yu looked at the Purple Pearl, so close at hand, his face wearing a slightly regretful expression.
The corners of his mouth curled up.
"Hey, how long have we known each other?"
"You haven't started liking me already, have you?"
"You!" Purple Pearl glared and said, "What kind of joke is this?"
"Why would I like you, liking you would irritate me, wouldn't it?"
Luo Yu shook his head.
He pointed at his own eyes.
"You can't fool me; I'm quite sure you've already got a shadow of me in your heart."
"You're so full of yourself," Purple Pearl said angrily, stamping her foot.
Luo Yu denied it.
"You're wrong, it's not vanity, it's confidence."
Purple Pearl looked at the man's shimmering deep black eyes and was momentarily stunned.
"Fine, I can't argue with you."
"I admit, I now find this man a bit special."
"But, so what."
"You're about to die, poisoned by me; not even a god, much less I myself, can save you."
"Admitting it?" Luo Yu raised an eyebrow.
Purple Pearl retorted loudly, "Are you so desperate that you're still thinking about women when you're about to die?"
"Who says I'm going to die," Luo Yu said nonchalantly.
Purple Pearl sneered, touching Luo Yu's cheek.
"Enough with the act. You must be in so much pain right now, pain that you can't bear; I can offer you a quick end."
"What kind of quick end?" Luo Yu's smile was playful.
Purple Pearl was just about to explain when she saw Luo Yu's sly expression and immediately guessed his ulterior motives.
"You're about to die, and you still have the mind to play the rogue?"
Luo Yu sighed.
"If I died, would you miss me?"
Purple Pearl scolded, "Please, we're not close, okay? You started by injuring my people, faked your identity, and spread rumors that I'm your wife; it would be too lenient just to kill you."
Luo Yu's eyes twinkled.
"Then, do you have that little special feeling for me in your heart? I still believe in love at first sight."
"No," Purple Pearl replied without hesitation.
"I'm already a dying man," Luo Yu emphasized.
Purple Pearl hesitated, pursing her lips, her voice squeezing through them.
"I don't understand why I would have a good impression of a jerk like you, whom I've just met."
"It's too strange."
"Oh, then that's settled," Luo Yu said candidly.
"What do you mean?"
Purple Pearl was just about to ask when the man's breath came at her face-to-face.
The whole person was engulfed in a pair of strong arms, almost suffocating.
The pirates were stunned. Wasn't this guy supposed to be dying from the Captain's poison? How could he still embrace the Captain so forcefully?
A frenzy before death?
Purple Pearl was even more bewildered.
Logically, Luo Yu should be numb in his limbs by now, unable to move, the poison permeating his organs, about to die violently, so how could he still be fine?
"You... what's going on with you?" Purple Pearl was full of questions.
Luo Yu blinked.
"What's going on? While I still have time, I'm just taking the opportunity to hug you."
"Won't you even fulfill my last wish?"
Purple Pearl didn't know what to say for a moment; she should have resisted, but the warmth from the man's broad chest and that carefree smile made her stop struggling and instead wrapped her arms around his waist.
A twinge of regret in her heart deepened; she was somewhat reluctant to let Luo Yu die just like that.
This man seemed pretty decent apart from being a bit of a rogue.
Certainly far stronger than the uneducated pirates on the island.
Initially, Purple Pearl truly was immersed in a growing sense of regret.
But gradually, she became aware that something was off.
The arms Luo Yu had around her were consistently strong, even getting tighter, making her blush.
Could this really be someone who was severely poisoned?
Purple Pearl began to struggle, trying to break free from Luo Yu's embrace.
"Don't move."
With a strong force, Luo Yu subdued her.
"???"
Purple Pearl glared in disbelief. How could this be possible? After being poisoned by her for so long, even moving a finger should have been difficult.
This guy was still so strong and powerful?
Something wasn't right, there had to be a problem.
When she tried to transfer her Soul Power with great effort, all of her Soul Power vanished without a trace like mud disappearing into the sea the moment it encountered Luo Yu.
Even if Purple Pearl was slow to react, she now realized there was an issue.
This guy wasn't poisoned at all!
She lifted her stunning face and questioned Luo Yu.
"Why, even though I've clearly injected my poison into you, are you completely unharmed?"
"Stop talking, I'm almost about to die from the poison. Just let me hug you a little longer before I die without regrets," Luo Yu said, his hands in disarray.
Purple Pearl saw no fear of imminent death on Luo Yu's face and felt even more certain of her suspicions.
"Stop pretending, you're clearly fine; you're obviously just taking advantage of me," she accused.
Luo Yu released his arms, smacking his lips.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Touching my own woman, how can that be called taking advantage? That's called a loving caress."
"Pah!"
Purple Pearl was almost angered to the point of spitting blood; the regret that had been building in her heart completely dissipated, replaced by the feeling of being played for a fool.
"Why aren't you poisoned!!!"
"I don't know either. Why don't you give me another bite to try?" Luo Yu suggested with a wink.
"Ah!"
Seeing Luo Yu's confident demeanor, Purple Pearl realized that her poison probably had no effect on him at all.
She had initiated a kiss with the aim of subduing him, but he had ended up getting the better deal.
She felt utterly frustrated.
"You clearly aren't afraid of poison, so why did you play along with me? Just to take advantage of me??" Purple Pearl fumed, glaring at him.
Luo Yu touched his nose.
"Don't talk nonsense. You're so confident in your poison that I panicked too."
"I even forgot that I'm immune to all poisons, and actually thought I was about to say goodbye to the world just now."
Purple Pearl looked at him with resentful and angry eyes.
"I don't believe a word you say."
"You're just taking the opportunity to cop a feel."
Luo Yu shrugged helplessly and looked towards the pirates in the corner of the room.
"Women are such strange creatures."
"She wants your life, and when you steal just a little touch, she actually gets mad."
"Click, click!"
These were the sounds of Purple Pearl grinding her teeth.
But as angry as she was, a sense of relief inexplicably welled up within her.
I can't be feeling relieved that this guy didn't die.
How could that be possible?
Absolutely not possible.
Purple Pearl will never be subdued!
Luo Yu waved his hand, "Alright, all you pirates who are just watching the show, scram."
"I need to have a private chat with my woman."
"No one moves, help me capture this man!" Purple Pearl shouted.
Luo Yu laughed.
"Please, look at the state of affairs now; how many people do you think are willing to follow you into battle?"
Purple Pearl looked at her subordinates.
All she saw was a group of burly pirates hunching their necks in a corner, eyes full of terror.
Among them, some even pleaded with a crying tone.
"Captain Zizhenzhu, for our sake if not your own, please just give in to this lord."
"Yes, we beg you."
Purple Pearl laughed, a laugh filled with disdain.
"You bunch of cowards, you're scared when you face a strong enemy? You just give in?"
"Heh, you're all so tough when you're shouting and defiant, but see how pathetic you look when you're kneeling and begging for mercy."
"All of you are nothing but spineless turncoats."
"Just get out, I don't want to see you."
...
Late at night, Luo Yu sat on the bed of the woman, scrutinizing a sea chart.
Purple Pearl brought over a basin of water for washing feet and knelt down gently.
Looking up at the man, she said,
"My Lord, your footbath is ready!"