Chapter 181: Aren't You Done Yet?! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 181: Aren't You Done Yet?! Lin Yue's psychological defenses crumbled unexpectedly fast. Or perhaps, it was all within expectations—the seed of "malice entropy" had long been sown, and it had been growing robustly. Earlier, Lin Xing—no, Xu Shi Zeng—had told her that as long as she could distinguish between dreams and reality, she would be fine. But in reality, whether the young assassin girl could control this line or not, her actions, meant to console herself, were actually catalyzing the seed in her heart to take root and sprout. Therefore. When Xu Shi decided to reveal the truth now, he had already anticipated this kind of outcome. After all, it was a seed he had planted. He was quite confident about its growth extent. He had once marveled at how unique the young assassin girl's situation was, emotionally entangled with Shen He, yet exhibiting a masochistic tendency that only appeared when facing him. He wondered what she would be like once she completed this closed loop. Now, the answer was clear. Her loyalty to him was no less than to anyone else. "Come here." With this thought, he beckoned Lin Yue with interest. Lin Yue didn't get up; instead, she scooted over bit by bit. After a moment's hesitation, she imitated her sister's earlier demeanor, crouching and snuggling at his feet. "Good girl." Xu Shi leaned down, lifting her chin and admiring her slightly shy expression with satisfaction. Well, completely satisfied might not be the right phrase. Thinking back, even the legendary strategist Zhuge Liang had to capture and release Meng Huo seven times before subduing him. Yet, the young assassin girl only fell completely after two encounters... Where’s the amusement in that for me? Well, the result was satisfactory. The devious victor thought to himself. "Master?" Lin Yue was still somewhat at a loss. She had just gone through a psychological change, shifting to a shy state. Although she was willing to submit to the man before her, she still found it embarrassing to speak, resorting to a half-pleading tone. "What? You don't seem very happy?" Xu Shi was well-aware of her inner thoughts and mischievously intensified his hand movements while teasing her verbally. "No, that's not it..." Lin Yue shook her head repeatedly, cautiously testing, "I-I was just wondering if... if Master wanted to do something to me?" "As I said, it's not what I want to do; it's what you want me to do to you." Xu Shi played innocent, "It's just the two of us here, Miss Lin Yue, feel free to express your thoughts." "I..." Lin Yue pursed her lips. She wasn't foolish; she knew he was deliberately teasing her. He must know what she wanted, so why make her say it out loud... Truly incorrigible. The young assassin girl squirmed in embarrassment, unwilling to speak. And since she didn't speak, Xu Shi simply let her stew in her discomfort. Finally, the ever-growing desire overcame reason. Lin Yue staggered to her feet and began to unbutton her shirt, inch by inch. "Master... punish me, punish me..." She spread her arms openly, ready to embrace her rebirth. "Alright." Xu Shi let go and picked up the whip he had prepared earlier. Ever wonder why the meeting place is in a cell now? (doge) Snap. ... Listening to the sounds from inside, Su Lin, waiting outside, couldn't help but roll her eyes. Xu Shi claiming it was only the two of them inside was the biggest lie—wasn't she also a person? No, it was the young master who was the real dog here. In any case, she could hear everything clearly... Who knows what kind of materials "Serpent's Ring" used for these cells, the soundproofing seemed adaptive—catches what you don’t want and misses what you do... This left Director Su quite displeased. She had been worried about the young master since yesterday, and now this scene made her emotions even more complex. Hmph. Her loyalty prevented her from leaving, so she could only stand with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, trying to maintain her decorum. Miss Su Lin was deeply conflicted. Unfortunately, a certain dog-man couldn't appreciate her dedication, reveling instead in the young assassin girl's reactions. Perhaps the prolonged psychological pressure and the sudden 180-degree shift in her mindset had left Lin Yue a bit overwhelmed; her longing far exceeded Xu Shi's expectations. Truth be told, her masochistic tendencies were something he forced out of her. If you're not a bad person, then no one is. Even the worst wouldn't lack a sense of guilt. However, seeing her enjoyment diminished his feelings of sin considerably. Moreover, Miss Lin Yue's endurance was quite impressive, wiping away the last bit of his shame—after all, as a combatant, her physical resilience was more than just talk... Who knows how much time passed. "Mmm..." Lin Yue moaned softly, her vacant eyes gradually refocusing, and she instinctively snuggled into Xu Shi's embrace. "Feeling better?" Xu Shi gently wiped her with a damp cloth, his fingers tracing the holy mark on her neck out of habit. Lin Yue's holy mark was quite interesting, situated on the back of her neck, resembling cloud-patterned wings. Other than that, there were no traces left—Xu Shi had applied just the right amount of force, without leaving even a red mark. Come on, this is about pleasure, not about punishment; as long as the young assassin girl is fulfilled spiritually, who needs the pain... Besides, what marks would low-temperature wax even leave? "Yes, thank you, Master." Lin Yue took the water he handed her and drank it all, snuggling closer into his embrace. Unlike others, she wasn't surprised or emotional about the changes on her body—this was a natural acceptance, a manifestation of wholehearted devotion. Naturally, it was also because she was still basking in the afterglow... She swore that since Xu Shi released her, she had never felt this fulfilled... How he treated her and how she relieved herself brought entirely different sensations. She even found herself reminiscing about the first time Xu Shi tied her up—how had she ever found it painful then? Clearly, it was such a pleasurable experience... "I still prefer it when you scowl and call me a demonic bastard." Xu Shi enjoyed seeing her this way, feeling it was his responsibility to see the pained girl happy. However, he couldn't resist teasing her. The contrast was endlessly amusing. "You... you were always the bad guy, the one who changed was me, not you." Lin Yue giggled, feigning anger as she protested. Xu Shi stroked her head in response, lifting her left hand during their moment of post-climax tranquility, "Got your finger reattached?" He was aware but hadn't paid close attention when last visiting Sin City to capture someone. Slight surprise filled him as he noticed. "Yes." Lin Yue answered softly. "So you could leave Shen He with a clear conscience?" Xu Shi asked knowingly, playing with her fingers as he did. "...Yes." Lin Yue blinked, thinking how he asked questions he already knew answers to, a testament to his mischief... "Ah." Xu Shi sighed, somewhat reflective. The young assassin girl had a straightforward nature; the mere fact that she could make such a gesture revealed much... It's no wonder she had such a drastic contrast after her fall. Once she committed to something, she took it very seriously. "Looking back now, do you think it was worth it?" He asked with playful intent. "Well... it was worth it then because I felt I owed him nothing..." Lin Yue was an honest soul, lying not even when questioned this way. "But now... my loyalty is to you, and it doesn’t seem worth it anymore." "Glad you see it that way." Xu Shi wasn't the least bit irritated, even adding an extra piece of advice, "Don't do such silly things again, even if it's for me." "Punishing yourself for others' mistakes? That's something only little fools would do, got it?" "Lin Yue understands." The young assassin girl earnestly accepted, nodding slightly, her heart warmed. The truth was, aside from her mother, only Xu Shi had ever spoken to her this way, not even Shen He. "How is he now?" She couldn't help but ask about Shen He when she brought him up. "He's dead. I killed him with my own hands." Xu Shi didn’t hide this from her and replied calmly, "If you want to see, I can take you later." "...No need." Lin Yue shook her head; it was clear that her obedience to Xu Shi had allowed her to let go of many things. This question was just to get closure, a period for her past. In truth, perhaps all of this was destined long ago. Reflecting on it, she found it quite poignant that her separation from Shen He had happened quite some time ago. As Xu Shi had said: though her heart was with him, it was not necessarily reciprocated, and she was still treated with suspicion as if she were a thief. Xu Shi, on the other hand, although he had wronged her in the past, never made excuses. And he had facilitated her revenge against Zhang Shi Jun through Lin Xing. Step by step, she had climbed to where she was now, and it wasn't just her sister she relied on but rather him... Once everything was laid bare, she came to this realization and couldn't deceive herself any longer. So what was Xu Shi exactly? Might he be someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart? Perhaps not—he certainly wasn't gentle when bullying her... From this perspective, her submission to him was not by accident but inevitable. With this thought, she felt considerably better. The name Shen He no longer stirred any emotions in her heart. Surely, it would soon fade and eventually vanish entirely. Girls who have completed their descent all seem to be like this: without much need for guidance from Xu Shi, they attended to their inner turmoil all on their own. Especially after surrendering their bodies to him, it became even more so. "Alright, it's getting late. Our leader Yue should return," Xu Shi said, moving on to serious matters after their moment of warmth. "The situation in Sin City is still unstable, and it needs your oversight." "Anything for me to do, Master?" Lin Yue asked, sensible as always, seeking his guidance. "I told you, there's no need to call me that... never mind," Xu Shi reconsidered. He informed her of the situation, "According to the four major consortiums, Night City will undergo large-scale redevelopment in Sin City. The barriers between the two cities will gradually diminish." "Is this... for real?" Lin Yue asked, incredulous. Having been born and raised in Sin City, her greatest hope had always been to eliminate its dark deeds and prevent others from suffering as she had. And she had indeed taken action, at least making the Sixth District of Sin City a beacon of integrity under her governance. "This initiative was proposed by 'Feather Pen.' Rest assured, it's not just treating the symptoms." Xu Shi continued, "Even if it were, I'd keep an eye on them, so rest easy." "Thank you, Master." Lin Yue had no more doubts about him now, owing not only to her loyalty but also recognizing his authority in both Night City and Sin City. She didn’t have to worry about him saying one thing and doing another. As she spoke, she felt tears welling up—her wish was about to be realized, wasn’t it? Ironically, Shen He, who often spoke of such matters, achieved none of them, leaving her with nothing but disappointment. On the contrary, Xu Shi, who never made promises, realized all these things. "Why the tears? I didn’t remember you being such a crybaby." Xu Shi joked, comforting her, "Cheer up, there’s much for you to do." "You don’t need to handle the liaison; I can help you with that." He instructed earnestly, "But before that, consolidate as much of Sin City's territories as you can, preferably ones with resources. Don’t let 'White Iron' gain the upper hand, crowd them out so they have nowhere to stand..." "This isn't just for me; it's crucial for you as well. Only a unified Sin City is a harmonious Sin City. Understand?" "Understood," Lin Yue replied, nodding like a pecking chick. This had been her ongoing mission, "What about the 'Long Blade Gang'?" "Ding Jun is one of mine, you don't need to worry." Xu Shi smiled, "Besides, his heart might not remain in Sin City for long. It won’t be long before I have him transfer the Seventh and Tenth Districts to you." This was accurate; after the unrest, Ding Jun had contacted him first. The lad still desired advancement and development in Night City. This fundamentally distinguished him from Lin Yue. "Yes." Lin Yue was pleased by this; a bloodless transition was always preferable. She gave Xu Shi a light kiss before slowly rising to dress. "Don’t forget to take your sister with you, Leader Yue," Xu Shi teased as he watched. "Is that necessary..." Lin Yue hesitated. "Have her continue accompanying you. She's an invaluable asset," Xu Shi jested. "I can't always be in Sin City, having her there will make it easier to contact me." "Besides, you're probably accustomed to this pattern by now, aren't you?" "Oh." Lin Yue smiled bashfully, realizing the truth in his words. Leaving without bringing her sister back would leave issues with "Sparks" unaddressed. He really thought of everything... Xu Shi watched as she departed with Lin Xing and lazed around a bit longer before leisurely getting up. Su Lin, waiting outside as usual, taunted, "Should we congratulate the Young Master again?" "Shouldn’t I be congratulated? You’re so bitter; you'll get wrinkles." "I'm not bitter... Young Master, say what you will." Su Lin paused before quickly changing the subject, "I have something to discuss with you." "What is it?" "Well, tonight, could you..." Su Lin took a deep breath, mustering the courage to extend an invitation. Sadly, her words were cut short by an abruptly intruding phone call. "Hold on a moment." Xu Shi gestured, "Hello? Who is this? Oh, it's our Director Tang, er, I mean, Governor Tang, right, hehe..." "......" Su Lin was seething inside. Aren't you two done yet?! (End of Chapter)