Chapter 997

This is… Zhao Chi was startled!

"Is this your hardened skin?! You peeled it off?!"

Zhao Chi was extremely surprised, staring fixedly at Tang Ruan.

Tang Ruan said nervously:

"It's fine, my lord, you don't need to feel sorry for me. Anyway, Qi Yue has to cut me every day too, and I'm covered in wounds anyway.

"It's a bit more troublesome now, but it actually feels more satisfying.

"Anyway, I'm going to get hurt every day no matter what, so it doesn't matter how. What if my skin is actually useful? Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?

"You're not angry, my lord?"

It really is her skin?!

Zhao Chi wasn't angry—he was shocked.

He was even a bit tongue-tied: "How can you lump those two together? You let Qi Yue cut you so you can practice blocking with your skin armor and get more skilled at it. But this, this skinning of yours… this is pure pain."

Tang Ruan said coquettishly: "My lord, don't you know what kind of person I am? You should understand me best of all. You were so rough in bed that you made me roll my eyes back, and you didn't stop either…"

Zhao Chi was speechless: "No, I… you…"

Gu Qing quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"My lord, Tang Ruan's situation really is like this. I also felt it was a pity at first, but what she said does make sense, and actually it isn't bloody at all. If it's done well, not even blood appears—only her soft inner skin shows."

"But…"

"My lord, if Tang Ruan were even slightly reluctant, or even a little unwilling, I can tell, and I would stop her for you. But she was genuinely happy just now, so I really don't think there's a problem."

Zhao Chi fell silent.

People often say that to practice martial arts, you must first learn to take a beating.

First learn how to take a beating, and when you fight for real later, you'll know how to minimize the damage you take.

So Tang Ruan spars with Qi Yue every day, and comes home covered in wounds, but her defensive skills are steadily improving.

Zhao Chi felt sorry for her, but Tang Ruan was clearly enjoying it, and she also knew how to block attacks most effectively, so Zhao Chi let her be.

But this kind of thing…

Zhao Chi really found it hard to accept.

Gu Qing spoke again: "When Tang Ruan's body feels pain, she gets a physiological sense of pleasure. If her skin really is useful to you and can help her sisters, she'll feel pleasure and pride from within too. And she genuinely doesn't mind. Why won't you let her have it? Let her be happy both physically and mentally."

Zhao Chi sighed: "Fine… but when did you all do this? From the sound of it, you're a participant in Tang Ruan's skinning too?"

Zhuang Ya lowered her head and raised her hand, not daring to look at Zhao Chi: "I participated too."

These women…

Gu Qing answered: "Yes, I participated too. Tang Ruan came to me for help just now. I didn't agree at first either, but once she laid out these reasons, I really had no argument against them. Still, I couldn't bring myself to do it, so I took it upon myself to go find Zhuang Ya…"

Zhuang Ya glanced at Zhao Chi: "I was actually very hesitant too… but if I didn't help, Tang Ruan would have skinned herself, and the result was crooked and messy, and… so I just helped her…"

Good lord…

This is a whole conspiracy.

Zhao Chi covered his forehead: "So, you peeled off two skins?"

Tang Ruan smiled, then took out another white skin that had been peeled very messily.

Zhao Chi's entire worldview was colliding.

Gu Qing said again: "My lord, the silk I spray out is theoretically also my bodily fluids, even mixed with my blood. Why is your reaction not nearly this strong? Don't get hung up on the form. In this matter, no one suffers any loss. Tang Ruan is happy too."

Tang Ruan nodded along: "Yes, yes, look at my morale—my talent bonus is already maxed out."

Zhuang Ya's talent bonus was also maxed out. Whether it had increased because of skinning Tang Ruan, he didn't know…

Tang Ruan quickly added: "My lord, don't think of it as my skin. Think of it as my hair, or my fingernails—doesn't that make it easier to accept? And it's not a bloody skinning either, it's like a snake shedding its skin: the old outer layer comes off, and the inside isn't hurt at all."

"Like a snake shedding its skin?"

"Yes. Underneath this layer of armor isn't muscle and organs, but a very thin layer of skin. If you're careful and peel along the gap between the two layers, I feel no pain at all—just a bit of a chill on my body."

Zhao Chi listened, dumbfounded.

Tang Ruan went on: "So actually, I can do it without feeling any pain at all. You don't need to feel sorry for me. Of course, if the knife slips a little while peeling, I will still get hurt, but getting hurt will only make me happier."

Zhuang Ya added: "My lord, I discovered that when I helped her peel, I was actually quite good at it. I don't know if I was born with the knack, or if I just practiced it peeling the flesh-eater hide. So I can be the one to peel Tang Ruan's skin, guaranteeing as little harm to her as possible, and the skin will come off intact too."

"Hurting me is fine too." Tang Ruan added softly.

Zhao Chi considered it at length, then nodded.

"Tang Ruan, don't carry any psychological burden, and don't put any pressure on yourself. If at any point you feel even the slightest unwillingness, you must tell me, alright?"

Tang Ruan's face bloomed like a flower.

She nodded happily: "Of course! I'm actually the one afraid you'll have psychological pressure and burden. If you feel sorry for me, just be rougher in bed—consider it compensation for me~"

Zhao Chi said nothing more.

But he hadn't seen Qi Yue this whole time.

"Where's Qi Yue?" Zhao Chi looked around.

Gu Qing said: "Qi Yue couldn't bear to watch, so she went to the tailor shop to wait for you."

Zhao Chi looked at the white skin in his hands. Its shape was full of curves, like Tang Ruan's cicada shell, still carrying the beauty of her figure.

Zhao Chi found it hard to describe his current feelings—complicated, and deeply moved.

Since that's the case, he shouldn't let Tang Ruan's good intentions go to waste.

He'd go try again.

Zhao Chi walked hesitantly into the tailor shop. Qi Yue looked at him with concern.

"My lord, don't feel any psychological pressure, and don't condemn yourself morally. Tang Ruan and all of us hope the territory can get better and better. I couldn't bear to watch, but I do know what Tang Ruan was thinking—she's sincere."

Zhao Chi nodded: "Understood. Then let's give it a try."

"Alright, come on in."

There are two Tang Ruan hides in total.

But one of them was poorly skinned, only half is usable.

In total, 3 pairs of high heels can be crafted.

Zhao Chi activates the Speed-Craft Talisman and enters crafting mode.

In this mode, all materials feel different.

Zhao Chi can clearly sense how this skin, white as fine jade, is different.

Tough yet supple.

Smooth and fine.

The jade skin must first be tanned before it becomes leather.

With the Speed-Craft Talisman's boost, it's done quickly.

What he now holds is Bai Yu leather — the scaly surface has vanished, completely transformed into a smooth, supple finish.

The color is even purer white.

Before even crafting, Zhao Chi knows this leather is absolutely extraordinary.

Craft, craft, craft.

Soon, three pairs of high heels are finished.

When Zhao Chi begins the improvement, a system prompt pops up:

【The current fashion item has unallocated improvement points. Would you like to configure them first?】

Just as expected!

Zhao Chi clicks configure.

The familiar improvement interface appears.

【Please select improvement direction】

【High Heels Improvement Points】 10 points

【1. Dodge +5%】 10 points

【2. Kick +20%】 10 points

【3. Fall Damage -5%】 2 points

【4. Comfort +10%】 2 points

【5. Cleanliness +20%】 2 points

The current high heels' tech has already maxed out dodge, reaching +50% dodge, and can no longer be improved.

These 10 improvement points can only be chosen from the remaining 4.