Chapter 26: Hidden Mission Completed

After that small episode, Zhao Shuman took Cui Niang back to his hotel. Entering the room he booked, he handed her a particular vial.

"Cui Niang, drink this."

"Brother Shuman, what is this?" Chi Niang looked at the vial and white liquid inside it curiously with her innocent eyes. Never for a moment did she think that it might be harmful. She was already his belonging, after all.

That was her nature. She easily believed anyone.

"This is an elixir. Don't waste time and quickly drink it." Zhao Shuman replied with a smile.

"Okay." Hearing him, Cui Niang didn't delay and drank it immediately.

Although she was taken aback that he was giving her an elixir as every elixir is very precious, and she wanted to refuse it, but he didn't look like he would accept rejection. So with a warm heart, she accepted it.

"How did it taste?" He asked as he felt a connection forming between them. Knowing that he had enslaved an Ancient Empress that could destroy Yore Continent effortlessly in the future, Zhao Shuman was very excited, but he hid them well enough.

"It was bitter and tasted fishy…." Cui Niang replied. The thick liquid made her feel warm in her stomach.

"Brother Shuman, I feel warm in my stomach."

"Hmm, that's normal. This is because of—"

[Ding! Congrats to the host for enslaving the Ancient Empress and completing a hidden mission. Rewards: Hourglass of Reincarnation, Soul Gourd, and Sky Spear!]

A sudden notification from System made Zhao Shuman pause between his words.

He complete a hidden mission? And it seems like he got a bunch of good things.

"Cui Niang, it will take some time for the elixir to take effect. Why don't you eat in the meantime, you must be hungry, right?"

"Hmm," Cui Niang replied immediately. Poor girl didn't even know that she had been once more enslaved right after being freed.

Zhao Shuman didn't really feel bad about doing this to her as it was necessary. Being an Ancient Empress, Cui Niang was a heroic woman who advocated righteous causes. Those who knew him understood that he, however… wasn't exactly righteous. Contrarily, he resided on the opposite part of the spectrum.

There's no doubt that when Cui Niang's memories of previous reincarnations awaken, and she finds out Zhao Shuman's handy works, she would immediately cast him aside, or worse, stand against him.

From the moment he knew he had transmigrated, Zhao Shuman's ambitions were lofty. He wanted to reach the highest point, become the most powerful man and sleep with the most beautiful of women.

Therefore, a big variable like Ancient Empress just couldn't be allowed to run amok.

That's why he, without any hesitance, turned her into his slave. In case she was to turn against him in the future, he would use the authority that comes with being a master and make her obedient.

After dealing with Cui Niang, he sat on a couch and browsed through the description of items he had just got.

[Hourglass of Reincarnation: An extraordinary item that could be used to restore a reincarnated individual's memories twice as fast!]

[Soul Gourd: A treasure that can store souls!]

[Sky Spear: A Supreme-Ranked spear!]

'These items are interesting. Especially Hourglass of Reincarnation. It was as if it was especially made for Cui Niang.'

As he recalled, Cui Niang started getting her memories of past reincarnation when she turned 16. If he were to use this item on her, it would be reduced to 14 or 15.

Zhao Shuman immediately took out the item. It was an hourglass build of shiny blue gemstone.

'System, use this item on Cui Niang.'

[Ding! Hourglass of Reincarnation has been used on Cui Niang!]

He glanced at Cui Niang and saw that she was eating without care and doubted if it really worked. But System hasn't fooled him till now, so he wasn't worried.

Soul Gourd was an interesting item, but he didn't have any use for it, so he didn't bother checking it out.

Finally, he took out the Sky Spear. A bloody red spear with mystical golden carvings appeared in his sight. He felt its sharp blade and nodded satisfyingly. Then, he put it back in the inventory and looked at his stats.

…

Host: Zhao Shuman

Cultivation: 4th Stage Heavenly Master Realm

System Point: 3000

Cultivation Technique: Innate Devouring Art

Cultivation Arts: Dog-Beating Spear Arts

Physique: Innate Devouring Body, Ancient Yang Body

Heavenly Luck: 3000

Inventory: 1x Great Teleportation Talisman, Enslavement Whip(Upgradeable)

Weapon: Butterfly Sword(Supreme-Ranked), Sky Spear(Supreme-Ranked)(Upgradeable)

Slaves:

• Xin Zhuyan (Loyalty: 10, Affection: 10)

• Meng Xia (Loyalty: 10, Affection: 18)

• Cui Niang (Loyalty: 6, Affection: 30)

• Lu Xiya (Loyalty: 0, Affection: 0)

…

He first noticed the addition of a new slave, Lu Xiya. She was a core disciple whose beauty was only a few points lower than Meng Xia and Xin Zhuyan.

'Seems like Xin Zhuyan is executing her mission wonderfully. When I get back, I'll reward her.' Zhao Shuman was grinning lewdly when he noticed the 'Upgradeable' option beside Sky Spear.

'It's Upgradeable!" He was pleasantly surprised and exclaimed in excitement. Then quickly clicked on it.

[Ding! System Points required for the upgrade are insufficient!]

Zhao Shuman tried to figure out how many System Points it required, but the System didn't provide him with any information. Reluctantly, he could only close the holographic panel.

"Cui Niang, can you tell me about yourself? How did you get to become a slave?" As customary, Zhao Shuman sat in front of Cui Niang and asked about her story.

Cui Niang looked at his sincerely concerned gaze and was overcome with emotions. It's been a long while since someone cared so much about her. Slowly, she began explaining, "I came from…."

It was just a cliche story of bandits attacking her village and whatnot. Zhao Shuman heard her story from one ear and took it out of another. Of course, he didn't forget to show concern and swear to protect her.

"It's alright, it's alright. Just follow me from now on; I'll take care of you." No one knew when, but Cui Niang was already sitting on Zhao Shuman's thighs, weeping silently as he caressed her head and consoled her softly.

"Okay, brother Shuman." Cui Niang replied.

Zhao Shuman wiped the tears off her exquisite cheeks, making Cui Niang shy suddenly. She also realised how ambiguous their posture was at the moment. She had never been placed in such a situation, so she was at a loss.

He saw her look and understood what she was thinking. With a pat on the back, he said, "Alright, it's getting late. Go and take a bath, we will be leaving this city tomorrow morning."

After he said that, he rose from the couch, lifting Cui Niang alongside him. As they separated, she heaved a sigh of relief and felt a sense of loss. In a daze, she went inside the bathroom to take a bath.

Zhao Shuman looked at his stats and found that Cui Niang's affection for him had reached 50. He can only shake his head, thinking she was too easily deceived. Thankfully, it was a good man like him who was deceiving her.

He wondered if he should bed her tonight.

'Forget about it. Let's wait for her to completely awaken before taking her.'

Right now, Cui Niang was still a young and tender girl; her majestic, elegant and heroic character as an Ancient Empress has yet to surface, which was marginally more appealing to Zhao Shuman. The achievement of deflowering her when it is her complete self will be much more satisfying, so he decided to wait.