Chapter 228: What Valentina and Others Did (5K Bonus 61 62)

I fulfill your request, and you must fulfill mine in return.

This sounds fair and poses no problem… but only if you ignore the speaker's current naked form.

For a shrimp-headed creature to speak these words feels strangely unnatural.

But when considering the actual situation, this isn't even a real issue—because the other side isn't any good either.

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Leimei's eyes suddenly lit up, and she asked instinctively: "Really, anything at all?"

Herbert laughed and nodded: "Of course it's true. You can do anything you want."

Shrimp-headed knight paired with shrimp-headed mermaid.

A perfect match, made for each other.

"Then…"

After a moment of excitement, Fu Leimei whispered:

"I want you to tell me—after the epic story ends, what happened between the hero and the princess who waited for him?"

Just as the story tells it.

The hero who returned as promised.

Take me away.

And let me know happiness.

"Okay?"

Both understood the meaning hidden in these words.

Herbert responded without the slightest hesitation.

"Then naturally… as you wish."

He nodded, lowered his head, and gently kissed Fu Leimei's lips.

At the same time, he softly removed the young lady's garments, making her as clean as himself.

The two gently pressed close, in this pure water, feeling the warmth emanating from each other.

"Mmm!!!"

Just as Herbert's hand touched Fu Leimei's waist, her body suddenly trembled.

The intense stimulation made her soul shudder; her eyes flew open, and she suddenly came to her senses.

Fu Leimei suddenly realized where she was.

"Mm! Mm… wait! Hold on!"

"Hmm?"

She shook her head, gently pressing her palm against Herbert's chest, and, seeing the boy's confused gaze, hurriedly explained:

"Don't misunderstand! I'm not refusing you—I just want to ask, are we really going to do this here?"

She turned to look at the lost temple, unease flickering in her eyes.

Though quiet and mysterious, and abandoned for many years, this is still a divine hall belonging to the gods.

"Uh…"

When it came time to actually begin, Fu Leimei grew timid again.

This is a god's temple!

No matter if the deity has already perished, the significance here is entirely different.

Would committing such a sacrilegious act invite divine retribution?

If the god's spirit in heaven learned of this, wouldn't it unleash divine punishment!!?

"Here… isn't it inappropriate? Shouldn't we go back?"

The young lady's suggestion was perfectly reasonable—after all, this place isn't entirely safe.

But Herbert disagreed with her.

He had already hesitated twice; there was no reason for a third.

So what if it's a temple?

I want it to be a temple!

Didn't Poseidon defile the pure maiden Medusa right inside a temple?

Oh no.

Will Fu Leimei suffer divine punishment?

After all, she's about to defile a pure holy knight… cough!

Herbert held Fu Leimei tightly, preventing her from leaving, and smiled: "Afraid of what? Don't you find it thrilling… to do this here?"

"Don't hide it—I can feel your excitement."

Just like last time, when they were separated by the water curtain beside Valentina, Fu Leimei appears uneasy on the surface, but inside, she's even more excited than he is.

A temple!

The most sacred place!

Every movement here will be watched by the gods!

The divine will witness all of this!

Doesn't that… sound thrilling?

Excitement is excitement, thrill is thrill—but reason still matters.

"How about we just… call it off? I won't run away, and you won't either."

After much thought, Fu Leimei still felt this act was improper—what if the deity ever revived and sensed it?

But regarding her worry, Herbert had considerable confidence.

"Don't worry, it won't be. She definitely won't care about such a trivial matter!"

While confidently assuring Fu Leimei, he sought opinions directly in his heart: "You'd say so too, right? Divine my lord? You certainly wouldn't mind such a trivial matter, would you?"

Worry about what?

For something like this, wouldn't it be better to just ask the person herself?

This elder sister, you certainly wouldn't mind me researching how to obtain happiness with someone else in your temple, would you?

And the deity's reaction was exactly as Herbert had imagined.

【"Heh!"】

Toward this shameless ally, the deity straightforwardly expressed her displeasure.

【"If I had power right now, I would definitely descend divine punishment and strike you dead on the spot."】

Nie Nasha felt very annoyed.

If you two had just done it directly, I wouldn't have bothered, I'd have just pretended I didn't see.

But why must you insist on seeking my opinion?

Are you sick in the head?

Something like this, you want to ask me?

Are you even human?

Having had his little prank, Herbert laughed unusually happily, and said with a chuckle: "Haha, look at what you're saying, isn't it precisely because you don't have power?"

【"Hmph."】

Nie Nasha coldly snorted, and said in a flat, indifferent tone: 【"Yes, you're right, I currently have no ability.

【"I don't care, you two enjoy yourselves!"】

After dropping this line, the prankster goddess fell completely silent.

Ignoring that damned fellow.

Going to sleep!

"Alright, consent has been obtained."

Herbert nodded with a beaming smile, preparing to continue with the next step from earlier, when he suddenly noticed Fu Leimei's gaze.

In those beautiful eyes, there was now undisguised inquiry.

She was puzzled.

"Mm? Is there something you want to ask?"

Fu Leimei stared at Herbert, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly: "You... are you Her?"

!!!

Upon hearing this, Herbert was completely stunned for a moment, and for a time couldn't quite react.

Her?

Who?

Is... oh!

He understood what Fu Leimei meant.

She was doubting Herbert's identity, suspecting that he was the reviving ancient god.

The various special abilities Herbert displayed could absolutely not be explained by talent as an ordinary mortal.

She had doubts about this.

Fu Leimei didn't mind Herbert's identity; no matter who he was, it wouldn't change the fact that he was the hero she had chosen.

But she wanted an answer, even a hint would be fine.

Herbert looked deeply at Fu Leimei, smiled and shook his head: "No, you need not worry."

You guessed some of it right, but the wrong parts are even more.

He didn't explain further, only assuring: "I am not the deity's chess piece, much less the vessel for Her revival."

"She absolutely will not revive within my body."

Two people sharing one body?

How could that be allowed!

And after receiving the assurance, although Fu Leimei still had some hesitation, Herbert no longer gave her time to keep thinking.

At a time like this, should you be concerned about such things?

Shouldn't you be concerned about yourself?

Speaking of which...

How does one exert force in water?

And, there's still one most important question.

Herbert looked at Fu Leimei's fish tail covered in gorgeous scales, examined it seriously, and reached out to stroke it.

"So, exactly which scale is it hidden under?"

Fu Leimei gave Herbert a look, blushing, gently bumped him with her head, pushed away his mischievous hand, and said softly:

"Don't move around, I—I'll do it myself..."

And just as Herbert and Fu Leimei were researching how to become happy in the underwater temple, there was one place that seemed exceptionally quiet.

Mist Monastery, Third Precept House, Endless Labyrinth.

Valentina was sleeping.

After her bloodline purification, Miss Hungry Dragon finally received the inheritance from her bloodline — standing at the same starting line as the other young dragons!

To put it simply, after repeating who knows how many years, she, who had become a professional boxer, finally managed to step onto an elementary-school-division ring…

Under normal circumstances, this dragon inheritance would last a very long time.

Generally speaking, the digestion time ranged from three years to thirty years, and some special dragon inheritances could even last over a hundred years.

This depended on those young dragons' aptitude — the stronger their ability to accept the inheritance, the shorter the absorption time.

The inheritance was not a one-time event; it could be paused midway and received in segments, and would not be completely lost due to outside interference.

But generally speaking, the first time receiving the inheritance would last at least a month or more.

That was why Herbert had been so at ease leaving Valentina at the monastery, not waiting for her to wake up, and directly bringing Fu Leimei to Elda to do some construction.

Even Nie Nasha had not expected that this dull-witted special-body dragon would display astonishing talent in receiving the inheritance.

On the tenth day of her first inheritance reception, Valentina had already woken up.

"…"

Perhaps she had slept quite enough, Miss Hungry Dragon, who had been in a deep slumber for quite a while, slightly moved her eyelids.

Then her body trembled, she curled up, and buried her head in the blanket that carried a familiar scent.

A big bump rose up in the blanket.

Valentina's first challenge of getting out of bed was declared a failure within thirty seconds.

After quite a while longer, that big bump moved.

Grumble…

A soft sound from her belly reduced her sleepiness by a few degrees.

She wriggled a few times on the bed and poked her head out from the blanket — her eyes still tightly shut.

She was like a lazy cat, first slightly moving her body, then stretching an arm out from the blanket and pressing it onto the bed.

Valentina slowly straightened her slender arms, like a cat stretching its front paws to the utmost when lazily stretching, fully extending her body.

Her back also arched slightly, then slowly stretched flat again, every movement full of supple flexibility and grace.

Immediately after, her mouth opened slightly, and a big yawn escaped from her lips.

"Mm! Hm—haa!"

With her eyes closed, she arched her body forcefully, stretching her lazy back with all her might.

Then after stretching once, she was about to get up, but another wave of sleepiness surged into her heart.

So sleepy.

Should she keep sleeping?

This thought flashed through Valentina's mind, and she made her decision in an instant.

Plop.

Miss Hungry Dragon, who had almost gotten up, collapsed back onto the bed once more.

What was there to hesitate about?

She didn't have to go to work, so naturally she could sleep whenever she wanted.

And so, the second challenge of getting out of bed — also ended in failure.

But just as sleepiness was devouring her will, Valentina's nose suddenly twitched.

A faint, elusive scent drilled into her nose.

"…Hm?"

Her nose twitched several more times, and her brow furrowed slightly.

The next moment, before her consciousness had even returned, her body had already reacted instantly.

Valentina was seen suddenly springing up from the bed, her once-lazy eyes instantly wide open, a vigilant gleam flashing in her slit pupils.

She turned her head, her gaze eagerly searching all around, leaving no corner unchecked.

At the same time, her small nose kept twitching too, like a cat tracking prey, lightly sniffing everywhere.

Sniff sniff.

"This scent!!?"

"Herbert's scent, my scent, and… someone else's scent!"

Somewhat familiar, seemed to have a watery scent.

Was it the mermaid he had mentioned?

"Wait, this scent… he brought it from another cage? No, that's not right!"

At this moment, Valentina's eyes flashed with a light of wisdom, and her long-unused brain began running at high speed.

"It's her who has come here!"

"But how could she leave her own cage?"

Valentina narrowed her eyes, pondering what this meant.

She thought for a moment, and just as she was about to give up, a thought appeared in her mind.

"She… she also has the qualification to go out with Herbert?"

In the past, she had never had such a feeling.

As if the moment the thought appeared, the corresponding answer had already begun to gradually surface.

Miss Hungry Dragon blinked, recalled the scene she had encountered during the inheritance, and muttered: "So this is what that old thing called the inheritance of the Dragon of Wisdom?"

When receiving the inheritance, she had not held much hope for this ability, but now it seemed… it might be even more useful than what that old dragon had promised!

Her brain — worked well now!

In other words, I've finally become smart?

Valentina was about to get excited when suddenly a thought appeared in her mind, leaving her frozen.

"What? It's not that I got smarter? It's just… unlocking my original ability?"

"Hm?"

Even Valentina's former IQ could grasp what this thought truly meant.

"What do you mean! Are you saying it was my fault all along!!?"

My mind isn't stupid—it's just that I never used it?

Valentina grew angry.

Especially after realizing the inevitable answer, she became even more furious.

"Hmph!"

"No! That's not my fault!"

The Young Lady shook her head in irritation, then chose to outright ignore the voice in her mind.

How could it possibly be my fault?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

"Wait—that means, even without this ability, I could still arrive at the correct answer."

To prove it to herself, she blocked out the voice beside her ear and turned to stare at a spot not far away.

There, only half a meter from the bedside where she had just woken up.

"The scent is strongest here! Their two scents are mixed together!"

"Hm? What did they do?"

Valentina thought for a moment, looked at the ground, and tilted her head in confusion.

What did they do here?

Fight?

Sweat?

"Scent, two people, sweat…"

At the tenth second, Valentina seemed to grasp one possible explanation.

At the twentieth second, she almost saw the scene unfold before her.

Yet after thirty seconds… Valentina gave up thinking and comfortably lay back on the bed.

"Forget it. Why think at all? I'll just ask them when they get back."

Giving up thinking. jpg

She had tried. She had struggled. She had failed.

If you can't figure it out, you just can't figure it out!

As for the Dragon of Wisdom's legacy—it's quite useful, but she still needed more time to adapt.

"By the way, what did they go do?"

"Back to Wang Cheng? Or went to chop trees? Or somewhere else?"

"Herbert, when will you come back… hm?"

As she pondered, Valentina sniffed again, blinking in confusion.

"Huh?"

"Why is there a sea smell?"

"Did they go to the seaside?"

The next day.

Herbert sat by the shore, silently watching the red sun slowly rise above the horizon, nodding thoughtfully.

"Dragon: slightly elevated body temperature, immense strength, extraordinary endurance, but burst state cannot be sustained."

"Strong curiosity toward all physical activities, prefers to take the dominant role."

"Lacks agility, favors brute force… after repeated guidance, technique has improved."

"Extremely obedient, never doubts any request, believes everything said, exceptionally cooperative."

After thinking for a while, his thoughts drifted elsewhere, savoring last night's experiences.

"Siren: lower body temperature, gentle, average strength, but endurance surprisingly good, highly resilient, no burst capacity, passive recipient type."

"Practitioner, full of ideas, willing to act on them, fingers supremely dexterous, ideal for playing instruments, a technical master."

"Also obedient, but understands the true meaning behind every request—I suspect she knows more than I do."

"Hm, a hidden old seductress!"

"Also, movement in water is indeed easier than on land… the waves' assistance saves considerable trouble."

Herbert watched the rising sun, reflecting on the philosophy he'd gleaned from the rhythmic waves.

Use the opponent's force against them. Four ounces deflect a thousand pounds.

Softness overcoming hardness can also produce astonishing sustained effects.

"This is—the Second Law of Sunrise!"

He slowly rose, stretching his body with a powerful yawn.

Herbert looked at the rolling waves and smiled.

"I'm leaving. Come find me when you're done."

In response, a string of bubbles rose.

Glub glub glub—

The Young Lady was currently underwater surveying conditions for harbor construction—though that was merely an excuse.

Although Fu Leimei was very bold on top, doing certain astonishing things.

But she was slightly different from Valentina, who was very willing to follow her heart and take the initiative.

After coming to her senses, she returned to normal, becoming quite shy, and used the excuse of scouting to run into the sea and hide.

Regarding this, Herbert saw through it without exposing it, and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

It seemed he didn't have to worry about being forced into frantic exercise for a short while.

Some things, doing them actively and doing them passively, feel quite different... mm.

"Well, although I like them all anyway."

Whether active or passive, I like them the same.

Herbert bid farewell to Fu Leimei, and returned to the Elda territory with light steps.

He looked at Shi Diwen, who was still unconscious, and laughed, saying playfully: "Since you're awake, then open your eyes."

"Or, I can let you continue sleeping for a while."

Splash.

Hearing these words, the poor middle-aged man, who had been perfectly still, suddenly sprang up from the ground.

"No, no, no!"

"My lord! Please! Please don't let me sleep through it again!"

Shi Diwen covered his head in agony, wailing miserably: "I really didn't see anything!"

"Really!!!"

Please just let me off!

(End of this chapter)