Chapter 10: Next Time, Dare Again
“Smack!”
The pain in Ji Ma’s backside was sharp, causing her to whimper.
“Ah.” George let out a breath, feeling refreshed.
“Ouch, my poor butt.” Ji Ma decided not to move, her waist resting on George’s thigh. “It always feels like you’re exorcising demons and venting righteous anger on my poor little behind.”
“You really infuriate me; I couldn’t help it.” George patted Ji Ma’s head and said, “Get up.”
“Ah? You want to channel that righteous anger into my body?” Ji Ma pushed herself up, rolling off his thigh. She propped her head up with one hand, her golden eyes shimmering with a teasing look as she gazed at George. Her long legs were crossed, the tight pants accentuating the lovely contours of her youthful legs.
George blushed.
Ji Ma caught the rich scent of peach blossoms in the air and suddenly laughed, “Forget it, this place isn’t suitable.”
Although she could access the dream palace entrance, how could she let George benefit from it?
She stood up, rubbed her pert little backside, and prepared to leave.
“Wait, it’s not over yet.”
Ji Ma turned her head and asked, “What’s wrong? Is it a case of burning desire?”
“Stop diverting the topic to that area.”
“As a succubus, isn’t it natural to talk about such things?” Ji Ma knelt back down and asked, “Is there anything else?”
“Never again.”
“You’ve already hit my backside in front of a beautiful elf.” Ji Ma said, “My dignity has been greatly insulted; isn’t that enough?”
George’s brow twitched slightly as he said:
“I don’t want you to harm others for your own benefit. Take Mr. Dong Dong, for example. He was an innocent merchant, but after you dragged him into this mess, he’s been suffering in the army for almost half a year.”
“Oh.”
“The truth is clear now, but because of my deal with you, I can’t tell him the truth, and he won’t even get an apology from you. You at least need to compensate him a bit.”
“I have no money,” Ji Ma replied indifferently. “Besides, he made quite a bit at that time.”
“You don’t think you’ve done anything wrong at all.”
Ji Ma fell silent.
Not out of guilt, but simply because she thought that speaking the truth might land her backside in trouble again.
George sighed, “I know you’re silent because I’m stronger than you, but I’ll compensate him for you. You must promise me, never again.”
“Do what you want; it’s none of my business.” Ji Ma tilted her head, her golden eyes curiously surveying George’s handsome face as she said, “Also, does ‘never again’ refer to the painting I used to trick you into using as the cover for a risqué book?”
“Includes deception, coercion of others, printing obscene books, tarnishing others’ reputations, leading them into these matters.”
“So, does that mean as long as I don’t threaten anyone, it’s fine?” Ji Ma asked. “Come on, let’s collaborate. You draw illustrations, and I’ll write. I guarantee this pen name ‘White Hair’ will be famous far and wide.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
Ji Ma straightened her neck and said, “Next time, dare again.”
George raised the hand he used to smack Ji Ma’s backside, now wearing a steel funnel glove.
Ji Ma shrank back, saying, “I’m sorry! I was wrong. I suddenly realized I made a huge mistake; I absolutely won’t dare again.”
George’s brow twitched, indicating Ji Ma was lying. But he still lowered his hand and said:
“Although it’s not sincere… we agreed that you must not engage in evil again.”
“Who sets the standard for evil?”
“I do.”
“Then what’s the point of living meaningfully?”
George replied, “Helping others is helping oneself; it’s a joyous thing.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Saintly—never mind, I won’t preach morals to you.” George said, “I doubt you can truly feel joy from helping others.”
“Oh.”
“Just be honest; I won’t hit you.”
“Since I can use my extraordinary abilities to make others help me, why should I help others?” Ji Ma said. “Am I supposed to risk my life, battling chaos, just to work for free for others? Wouldn’t that make the extraordinary meaningless?”
“If your abilities can make the world a better place, why not? There are many things that are greater than personal interests.”
“Like a bag of potatoes?” Ji Ma sneered. “A bag of potatoes has a low value, but just because of people’s praise, it can be exchanged for the medical aid of a gold-tier priest. If one day Saint John stops working and takes his child to the big city, people will surely criticize him, saying he abandoned his patients and whipping him with morality… In the end, Saint John is just a slave to the masses.”
Hearing Ji Ma describe her former teacher in such a way, George initially raised his hand to point at her but then let it drop, his face showing sadness. He waved his hand, signaling her to go out.
Ji Ma cautiously asked, “George, did I go too far?”
George’s head, which had been held high, lowered slightly in frustration as he blamed himself, “It’s not your fault; the fall of one moral exemplar can only be compensated by ten.”
Ji Ma broke into a smile, “As long as you don’t hit my butt, that’s good.”
She stood up and walked to the tent’s entrance, paused, turned her head back, seeing George, who had always been hailed as a genius, with a proud temperament, his head slightly bowed and shrouded in shadows.
No matter how you looked at it, he seemed like he was going to darken.
Ji Ma felt a slight pang in her heart and softly said, “I’m sorry.”
With that, she walked out of the tent.
Outside the tent.
A few passing soldiers nervously glanced at Ji Ma’s shiny black horns and tail, their hands reaching for their sword hilts.
“Hello everyone, I’m the new succubus in the army, a very powerful extraordinary being; I just passed George’s interview.” Ji Ma’s tail pointed back at George’s tent as she smiled at them, “From now on, we’re comrades.”
Her smile had a captivating charm.
The soldiers couldn’t help but develop a fondness for her. Besides, since the paladin had verified her, she was a kind and good succubus. Thus, they lowered their guard against the succubus, completely disregarding years of propaganda.
They relaxed their grips on their sword hilts and returned her a friendly smile.
“By the way, do you guys know if there’s a merchant from Le’an Port in the army? His catchphrase is ‘I understand, I understand,’ I need to find him.”
“Keeping it a secret? We’re all comrades; who knows, next time you get hurt, you might need to drink my magic potion to survive and get back home to see your parents, please.”
“Thanks, handsome.”
Ten minutes later.
“Congratulations, Mr. Dong Dong.” Ji Ma grasped Mr. Dong Dong’s hand and said, “You’re about to be free.”
The weary expression on Mr. Dong Dong’s face turned surprised, “Wh-what?”
Ji Ma released his hand, raised her hand as if to slap, and said, “That devil was smacked up by George and ascended to the sky.”
“Ah?”
Ji Ma shoved a bag of clattering coins into his hand and said, “Here are two hundred gold coins, compensation for the restriction of your life’s freedom, and travel expenses.”
“Th-that’s so much?”
So, make sure to cry out of gratitude.
Ji Ma forced a smile and kept telling herself that this wasn’t her money.
“You can leave now, sir.”
Mr. Dong Dong opened the money bag, reached in, slapped himself in the face as if waking from a nightmare, and looked up at the sky.
“Yes, it’s real.”
“Are you happy? What a pleasant surprise?” Hurry up and cry.
“I understand.” Tears of sorrow fell from the corner of Mr. Dong Dong’s eye, “You’re going to use me as bait, aren’t you?”
Ji Ma: ????
“I see through it; the fate of a small person is just that helpless.” Mr. Dong Dong said, “Please make sure my last words are delivered to my family… why are you leaving?”
