Gurgle... You Might As Well Kill Me

Rumble.

A muffled clap of thunder suddenly sounded outside the window.

Amid that earthshaking thunder, Qin Lan Shan's body gave a sharp shudder.

As though awakening from a nightmare, she pursed her lips and shook her head.

People always had their own expectations.

She had come here seeking help, and she had thought that kneeling outside would be enough to show her sincerity.

After hearing what he said, she had fallen to her knees in full prostration.

Her current posture had already exceeded what she had mentally prepared herself for.

But what was the result?

He was not satisfied at all. He wanted even more!

Qin Lan Shan could barely accept becoming his woman, let alone becoming his slave!

So it was perfectly normal for her to resist.

"Oh? Sister Qin, what does that shake of your head mean?"

A faint smile appeared on Su Qing's face as he asked.

"Young Master Su, could you make some other request?"

Qin Lan Shan's voice trembled slightly.

"I didn't ask you here to bargain with me."

"I already gave you a chance. If you can't seize it, that's your problem. Don't say I'm being heartless."

"Your resolve amounts to nothing more than this. Go back. Don't waste time here."

Su Qing casually tossed the collar onto the table.

Upon hearing that, Qin Lan Shan felt a chill envelop her.

Leave?

If she left, what would happen to Foster Father?!

"I... I'll agree to it."

The voluptuous Elder Sister spoke urgently.

She had no other choice and could only compromise helplessly.

"This is no longer a matter of whether you agree or not. You need to beg me."

Su Qing continued.

"How can you be like this?!"

Qin Lan Shan's voice rose several pitches without her realizing it.

Over the years, she had met many refined gentlemen.

Even the crudest and most unreasonable people would restrain themselves in front of her.

Yet today, she had encountered someone so vile!

Why was he like this?

This young master had always had an excellent reputation in the capital. How could he...

"Sister Qin, don't make it sound as though I'm forcing you. If you can't accept it, then leave."

Su Qing waved his hand, speaking casually.

Outside the window, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky.

And that flash seemed to illuminate the gloom within Qin Lan Shan's heart.

At that moment, she suddenly thought of something.

His reputation had always been quite good, so why would he make such an outrageous request?

He did not seem impatient at all. He had even told her several times that if she could not do it, she should leave quickly.

So... he was definitely doing this on purpose!

If she could not accept what he said, she could only leave dejectedly.

At that point, it would no longer be a matter of him refusing to help, but a problem with her.

But if she kept doing everything he told her to do, then even if he did not want to help in the end, he would have no choice but to!

As Qin Lan Shan thought this through, she suddenly felt enlightened.

Trying to scare me away?

I've already seen through your intentions. No matter what you ask today, I'll satisfy you!

"Please... put this on me."

Her shame-filled voice echoed through the room.

Although she understood his purpose now, she was still humiliated beyond measure.

"What is this?"

Su Qing seemed somewhat dissatisfied as he asked again.

"A... a collar!"

Qin Lan Shan answered in a trembling voice.

This man truly was vile to an outrageous degree.

What rumored good person was this?

Could a good person come up with such a way of tormenting someone?

Although her impression of him had changed, she could not possibly say such words aloud.

What mattered most now was making him satisfied with her.

After her words fell, she heard the bell chime again.

A hand settled directly upon her slender, fair neck.

Before Qin Lan Shan could properly feel the warmth of that hand, her pendant was removed.

"Your pendant is rather unnecessary. How about giving it to me?"

Su Qing asked.

"Young Master Su, th-this isn't mine. It's a token I've been keeping on someone else's behalf."

"It is meant for my younger brother, who is away from home. I simply never had a chance to give it to him."

Qin Lan Shan hurriedly explained.

Naturally, she was extremely unwilling to let him take it so casually.

Even if you disliked the sight of it, shouldn't you at least return it to me?

"So now you're being disobedient? Other than arguing with me, is there anything else you can do here?"

Su Qing said unhappily.

What did it mean to be rebellious to the bone? Wasn't this exactly it?

You said you wanted to be my dog, yet the moment I make a request, you resist in every possible way.

Is that the attitude of a dog? You clearly want to be the master!

"This... is for you..."

Qin Lan Shan spoke in a pitiful, aggrieved voice.

Though it was only a few words, the sob choking her voice could be clearly heard.

She raised her head slightly, her eyes brimming with tears. Anyone who saw her would have their heart soften.

She was not pretending to be pitiful now. She truly was pitiful.

She had been bullied more times here than she had in all the years before this!

"Since you're giving it to me, it wouldn't be right for me not to accept. Fine, then."

Su Qing nodded in satisfaction.

He felt as though he had become some cuckolding brute, the kind who snatched someone away right in front of them.

I'm truly awful, but this feeling isn't bad at all.

His fingers gently stroked the pendant.

Since it had been tucked inside for some time, the pendant still retained a trace of warmth.

And as the Shopkeeper's words of giving it to him left her lips, the pendant underwent a subtle change.

A faint, flickering radiance appeared upon it and quietly merged into him.

Su Qing picked up the collar and gently swept aside Qin Lan Shan's rain-soaked long hair.

Perhaps feeling that this was not quite appropriate, he picked up a towel and began wiping it dry.

Once the bedraggled state was removed, Qin Lan Shan became even more alluring.

Her snow-white neck was like flawless jade, carrying a warm, lustrous sheen.

Perhaps because she was unaccustomed to this, a faint blush emerged upon it.

Qin Lan Shan, who had never been touched by a man, was deeply uncomfortable with the sensation.

But something even worse was yet to come.

A slightly cold touch pressed against her neck, while the faint scent of leather lingered at the tip of her nose.

At this moment, she felt an indescribable sense of absurdity.

She had clearly come here to ask for help in the beginning!

Why had she fallen to this state so soon after entering?

Click.

The crisp sound of a clasp locking shut rang out.

A flicker of panic flashed through Qin Lan Shan's eyes.

It was an instinctive reaction.

Then, she realized something even more terrible.

The collar was not some simple decoration, but a Soul Shackling Ring specially made by the Daoist sect.

Its effect was... to shackle the soul, making the shackled person utterly subject to its wearer!

Why? This wasn't what I thought it was?!

She opened her mouth to say something, but felt a constricting sensation around her neck.

Without the slightest pity, the young man tugged the leash as though testing how it felt in his hand.

"Gurgle..."

Qin Lan Shan's words were cut off, and she only managed to let out a mournful whimper.

That feeling meant that her autonomy had been completely stripped away.