Ark Simulator: Didn't I Have No Physical Form?

Yela didn't look at him again. She looked away, and the hand that Su Rui had slapped away naturally withdrew. She didn't pinch Su Rui's ear again, but gently placed it on her knees. Her gaze became distant again, as if penetrating the walls of the palace, looking down at Kjerag below the mountain, looking at the families that had temporarily "quieted down" because of her "Blank" decree.

"Fear is also a driving force." Yela's voice rang out calmly, as if she were talking to herself, or perhaps explaining to Su Rui, and also to Enya and Ensia Silverash, "Only by knowing reverence can one understand boundaries. Blank is a mirror, and also a sword. It reflects the heart, and also hangs over its head."

Her voice was soft, yet carried an ancient, unquestionable quality. She didn't deny what Su Rui meant by "deterrence" and "exploiting fear," even seemingly regarding it as a natural and effective tactic. The Blank was a mirror, reflecting the greed and shortsightedness within the various families; Blank also a sword hanging over their heads, reminding them of the divine gaze and potential judgment. Only by knowing reverence could they understand what should and should not be done.

Listening to Yela's words, which were almost a tacit agreement yet carried a deeper interpretation, Su Rui was momentarily speechless. He had originally thought that Yela would defend herself and emphasize the unfathomable nature of the "oracle," but he did not expect that she would so calmly acknowledge the "deterrent" element in it, and even elevate it to the level of "reverence" and "boundaries."

This left him with a sense of powerlessness, like punching cotton. The slight "exhilaration" he had felt from "revealing the truth" quickly dissipated, replaced by a more complex and indescribable emotion. Yela... seemed to be more... insightful and more... unpredictable than he had imagined.

Inside the bedchamber, a slightly contemplative silence fell once more because of Yela's calm words. Enya looked at Yela thoughtfully, seemingly gaining a deeper understanding of the profound meaning behind Yela's words regarding "reverence" and "boundaries." Ensia Silverash, after her initial shock, seemed to have deepened her admiration for Yela —truly worthy of being Lady Yela! Even her "scare tactics" were so philosophical!

Perhaps it was because of Yela's calm, almost tacitly approving attitude, or perhaps it was because Su Rui's "bold" remarks did not provoke the expected "divine punishment," but the atmosphere in the bedchamber seemed to have subtly changed. The invisible sense of oppression caused by Yela's "divinity" and "majesty" seemed to have lessened somewhat.

Ensia Silverash, who had been somewhat reserved and cautious because of Yela's presence, relaxed considerably. She looked at her Su Rui, who was still being held in Yela's lap but seemed a little dazed from their earlier "confrontation" and whose face was still flushed, and the mischievous and curious glint in her eyes shone again.

Volume 18, Chapter 1247: Ensia Silverash Secretly Tests the Waters

Ensia Silverash quietly slipped off the low couch, her bare feet stepping onto the soft carpet like a kitten about to steal food, and tiptoed closer to Yela and Su Rui.

Yela seemed to sense her approach, glancing at her with her golden eyes but neither stopping her nor making any comment, as if tacitly approving of her actions.

Ensia Silverash, having received tacit approval, grew bolder. She moved closer to Yela, tilted her head up, and gave Yela a sweet, ingratiating smile. Then, her gaze fell on Su Rui's profile, which was so close to hers, still flushed and slightly puffed up from her earlier excitement and embarrassment.

Su Rui looks kind of cute when he's angry, especially his fluffy ears, which are trembling slightly from his emotions, and the redness at the tips of his ears is particularly noticeable.

The thought of teasing her Su Rui sprouted in Ensia Silverash's mind like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. She remembered the scene in the greenhouse during the day when Su Rui clumsily comforted her and let her cry in his arms, and she also remembered his amusing appearance of being embarrassed and powerless to resist when Lady Yela "harassed" him from all sides.

She reached out her small hand, with a hint of tentativeness and a touch of mischievous excitement, and gently poked Su Rui's cheek, which was particularly clear and flushed with a healthy blush because she was sitting sideways on Yela's lap.

Soft, warm, and feels... nice.

Su Rui was still immersed in the complex emotions caused by Yela's reaction when a cool finger suddenly poked his cheek. He subconsciously frowned impatiently and tilted his head slightly to the side, trying to avoid the annoying touch. At the same time, he let out a low "hmm" sound with deep displeasure.

Seeing that he merely turned his head away without reacting more violently (like slapping her hand away like Lady Yela), Ensia Silverash grew bolder. No longer content with poking his cheek, she traced her fingers up Su Rui's cheek, finally reaching his furry animal ears, which were still trembling slightly from his lingering emotions.

She mimicked Yela's actions, gently pinching the tip of one of Su Rui's animal ears with her fingertips. Her movements were even gentler than Yela's, carrying a girl's unique curiosity and a touch of playfulness as she gently kneaded the soft, sensitive downy hair on the ear tip.

"!" Su Rui's body trembled violently as his ear, a sensitive area, was once again "attacked"! A familiar current, a mixture of tingling and slight itching, surged through his spine. Almost reflexively, he shook his ear more forcefully and impatiently, trying to shake off the annoying finger, while letting out a clearer, warning growl from his throat, "... Don't touch!"

However, Ensia Silverash seemed completely unafraid of his ineffective "warning." Instead of letting go, she found Su Rui's "exploded" reaction even more amusing. She even reached out her other hand to try to pinch Su Rui's other ear, or to knead his cheeks, which were slightly puffed up with anger.

Su Rui became even more agitated by Ensia Silverash's increasingly demanding behavior. First, there was Yela's "mental oppression" and "physical confinement," and now Ensia Silverash's "physical harassment" and "curious manipulation." He felt like a mouse that had fallen into a pile of cats, being "played with" by this group of women (and a goddess) in turn, with no dignity whatsoever.

A profound sense of powerlessness and a "what's the use" attitude welled up within him again. Struggle? He couldn't break free from Yela. Rebel? To harm Ensia Silverash? He couldn't bring himself to do it. Reason with her? He couldn't reason with Yela, nor could he reason with Ensia Silverash, who was clearly just "playing around."

Since resistance is futile and escape has also failed...

Su Rui took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He no longer tried to avoid Ensia Silverash's curiously playing fingers, nor did he struggle futilely against Yela's "imprisonment." He simply closed his eyes again.

Then, under Yela's calm gaze, under Ensia Silverash's curious and excited eyes, and under Enya's gentle gaze, which held a hint of helplessness and amusement, yet also seemed somewhat indulgent—

Su Rui adjusted his position on Yela's lap to make himself more comfortable (although the position itself was quite embarrassing). He tilted his head back slightly, resting it at the junction of Yela's cool and soft neck and shoulder. His silver hair, slightly disheveled, brushed against Yela's delicate and perfect jawline.

Then, as if using up all his strength, he completely relaxed his body. No more tension, no more struggle, no more trying to maintain that pitiful self-esteem and defenses. He was like a tired large feline that had finally given up all resistance and decided to lie down and let himself be petted, softly surrendering all his weight to the cool and stable "cushion" (Yela) behind him.

He even let out a barely perceptible, faint nasal sound, like a sigh. Then, his breathing gradually became steady and long.

He... fell asleep.

Or rather, it's "playing dead".

On Yela's lap, under Ensia Silverash's curious "harassment" and Enya's gentle gaze, Su Rui, in an almost "give up" attitude, chose the most direct way to escape—sleep.

Out of sight, out of mind; if you can't feel it (pretend), you won't feel ashamed. Since you can't change the situation, just accept it, and then... fall asleep. When you wake up, perhaps all this terrible, shameful, and inexplicable experience will be over.

Su Rui closed his eyes tightly, trying to regulate his breathing, attempting to truly fall asleep, or at least, to enter a sleep-like state of unconsciousness. He could feel Ensia Silverash's fingers curiously poking his cheeks, kneading his ears, and even trying to pinch his nose (which he instinctively turned his head away from). He could feel Yela's cool breath spraying on the top of his head and the side of his neck. He could feel Enya's gaze still gently resting on him.

But he didn't care anymore.

He was like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, except this time, he buried his whole body in the embrace of "Iceberg" (Yela). As long as I "sleep" soundly enough, you can't "play" with me.

Yela looked down at the silver-haired boy in her arms, who seemed to have instantly entered a "dormant" state, his breathing becoming even, and he had even deliberately relaxed his body, burying his face in the crook of her neck. The almost imperceptible, nearly "playful" light in her golden eyes seemed to become more obvious. She could even feel Su Rui's deliberately slowed breathing and his slightly trembling long eyelashes, trying to prove that he was "asleep."

Volume 18, Chapter 1248: It's bad if there's no interaction.

She didn't speak again, nor did she do anything to "bother" Su Rui. Instead, the hand that had been resting on her knee slowly rose and then, very naturally and gently, landed on Su Rui's head, softly stroking his soft, messy silver hair with a soothing, slow rhythm.

The movements were gentle, carrying an indescribable, almost indulgent, quality.

Ensia Silverash was even more excited to see that her Su Rui had actually "fallen asleep," and that Lady Yela hadn't stopped her, but had even "joined" in the "petting the cat" activity. She carefully stopped poking Su Rui's face and, imitating Yela, used even gentler touches to stroke Su Rui's fluffy, wonderfully soft animal ears and his soft, relaxed hair.

Enya watched this bizarre yet inexplicably harmonious scene unfold before her—her younger sister, like a curious kitten, gently touched the "sleeping" Su Rui; Lady Yela, in an almost protective posture, held Su Rui and gently stroked his hair; and Su Rui, like a Big Cat that had been stroked comfortably and was now lying down to be petted, curled up in Yela's arms, "playing dead"...

The subtle bitterness and displeasure she felt from the overly "intimate" interaction between Yela and Su Rui seemed to be replaced by a softer, more complex emotion at this moment. Helplessness, amusement, indulgence, and perhaps... even a trace of faint warmth that she herself hadn't noticed.

She sighed softly, shook her head, and stopped dwelling on those complex emotions. At least for now, Ensia was beside her, smiling happily. Su Rui... although her situation was "pitiful," she didn't seem to be entirely "suffering." And Lady Yela... Enya's gaze fell on Yela's calm, serene, yet subtly gentle and beautiful profile. The awe she felt for this ancient being seemed to be mixed with a different kind of indescribable understanding.

The sky outside the window had already brightened considerably without anyone noticing. The dawn's light had finally torn through the thick clouds, casting a golden glow through the bedroom windows, intertwining with the warm firelight from the fireplace, and bathing the strange yet cozy scene inside the bedroom in a soft halo.

Ensia Silverash played with Su Rui's ears and hair for a while, then seemed a little tired, or perhaps she felt that her "sleeping" Su Rui wasn't so "fun" anymore. She yawned slightly, rubbed her slightly sore eyes, and then, like a tired kitten, snuggled up to her sister, sat down next to Enya, and gently rested her head on her sister's shoulder.

"Sister, it's dawn..." Ensia Silverash's voice carried a hint of weariness and reluctance.

Enya put her arm around her sister's shoulder, patting it gently, her gaze tender. "Yes, it's dawn. Ensia, you should go back now."

Although reluctant, Ensia Silverash knew she had to return before dawn and before the people in the manor discovered her disappearance. She nodded, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Su Rui, who was "sleeping" in Yela's arms, and whispered, "Then... Su Rui..."

"Lady Yela will send him back," Enya said softly, her gaze also turning to Yela.

Yela's golden eyes calmly met Enya's gaze, and she nodded almost imperceptibly, as if in agreement.

Ensia Silverash was relieved. She stood up, walked to Yela, Yela bowed respectfully. Her little face was full of gratitude and admiration. "Yela, Lady Yera, for letting me see my sister. And... thank you for taking care of Su Rui."

Yela didn't respond, she just glanced at her indifferently.

Ensia Silverash didn't mind. She took one last look at the "sleeping" Su Rui, a hint of a smile and reluctance flashing in her eyes, then turned around and followed her sister, tiptoeing out of the bedroom.

Silence returned to the bedchamber. The only sounds were the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace and... Su Rui's deliberately slowed, yet still slightly tense, long breaths.

Yela looked down at the silver-haired boy in her arms, who was still pretending to be asleep, but whose eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly when Ensia Silverash left. A barely perceptible, almost knowing glimmer flashed in her golden eyes.

She didn't wake him immediately, nor did she make any further moves. She simply maintained the position of holding him, quietly watching the sky outside the window grow brighter, like an ancient, unchanging Snow Eagle embracing a treasure.

Su Rui, who was pretending to be asleep, breathed a slight sigh of relief after feeling that Enya and Ensia Silverash's presence had completely disappeared, but his body remained stiff, and he dared not move an inch. He could feel Yela's gaze, which seemed to be on his face. That calm and unwavering gaze made him feel more uncomfortable than any touch.

He could only continue to "sleep," silently praying: May dawn come quickly, may this absurd "night tour" and "torture" end soon...

The warm fire in the fireplace bathed the bedroom in an orange-red glow, dispelling the occasional chill seeping through the window cracks and the last trace of unease in the long winter night. The air was filled with a faint, comforting scent of herbs and trees, mixed with the warmth of the baked furs and blankets, and... an indescribable, homely, tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Enya and Ensia Silverash, the sisters who had been separated for so long, nestled together on the soft low couch, talking in hushed tones. Ensia Silverash, like a little bird with its floodgates opened, chattered away about the interesting things that had happened at the manor, about the gentleness her brother SilverAsh occasionally showed, a gentleness different from his usual stern demeanor, about how wonderful the storybooks that had just been sent from Victoria were, and even about the few peculiar plants she had secretly planted in the greenhouse—plants she had traded with a merchant from the south, which were said to produce small blue flowers.

Enya listened gently, occasionally responding softly or asking a question or two. Her gaze mostly lingered on her younger sister's face, flushed with excitement, her eyes filled with an overwhelming tenderness and affection. To hear her sister speak, feel her warmth, and see her vibrant, lively spirit was the most precious solace in Enya's long and lonely years on the Holy Mountain. She greedily absorbed this warmth, trying to etch every single moment deeply into her heart.

However, as night deepened, the fire in the hearth gradually dimmed, leaving only the warm glow of the embers. The worries of the past few days, the adventurous mountain climb in the dead of night, the excitement of the reunion, and the sense of relief that came with complete relaxation now, all surged through Ensia Silverash's senses like waves. Her voice gradually lowered, the pauses between her words grew longer, and her once bright blue eyes began to be clouded with a thin mist of drowsiness. Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, drooping down one after another.

Volume 18, Chapter 1249: The Warmth of Weight

"...Then, my brother..." Ensia Silverash's voice grew softer and softer, the last word almost turning into a mumbled murmur. Her little head, little by little, finally rested completely against her sister's warm shoulder. Her even and long breaths rose softly, carrying the unique, unguarded peace of a child.

She fell asleep.

Enya felt the sudden, warm weight on her shoulder and listened to her sister's soft breathing. The last taut string in her heart finally relaxed. She carefully laid her sister down so she could sleep more comfortably, then picked up the soft blanket beside her and gently covered her sister, tucking the corners in. After doing all this, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, gazing tenderly at her sister's sweet sleeping face, as if she couldn't get enough of looking at her.

Just then, a faint noise seemed to come from the other side of the sleeping quarters.

Enya looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Su Rui, who had been held on Yela's lap in an extremely intimate (and controlling) manner and then seemed to have "fallen asleep," seemed to move slightly.

Su Rui was indeed "awake." Or more accurately, he had never truly "fallen asleep," but had only drifted into a brief, restless slumber under the suffocating situation and Yela's gentle, almost hypnotic caresses. Now, perhaps because the bedchamber had become quieter after Ensia Silverash fell asleep, or perhaps because a tension remained in his subconscious, he groggily woke up.

The moment his consciousness returned, the first thing Su Rui felt was that cool yet firm embrace, and the undeniable, strong sense of restraint around his waist. He snapped back to reality, his body stiffening almost reflexively.

He carefully and very slowly raised his head, glancing at Yela behind him out of the corner of his eye.

Yela seemed to remain in the same position, her eyes slightly lowered, her golden eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyelids. Her breathing was even, her face calm and expressionless, as if she too had fallen into a deep sleep. But Su Rui knew this was merely an illusion. Whether this "ancient will" truly needed to sleep like a mortal was still unknown. He had no doubt that if he made the slightest "movement," those seemingly sleeping eyes would instantly open and firmly "lock" onto him.

He dared not make any big movements, only slightly turning his eyes to observe his surroundings. Then, he saw Enya and Ensia Silverash, already asleep nestled together on the low couch opposite him. The two sisters slept soundly and peacefully, as if completely isolated from the wind, snow, and disturbances of the outside world.

A thought, like a spark igniting in the darkness, instantly ignited in Su Rui's heart—opportunity!

Enya and the others are asleep! Yela... seems to be "asleep" too (or at least pretending to sleep)! Does that mean he can take this opportunity to sneak away? Leaving this "terrible" bedchamber, leaving Yela's side, and finding a corner to hide in is better than being "held" like this, unable to move, and having to endure that suffocating sense of shame!

Once the thought arose, it sprouted wildly like weeds. Almost impatiently, Su Rui began to carefully try to move his body. Little by little, he tried to free his waist from the seemingly casual yet rock-solid embrace of Yela's arms. The movements were so slight that they were almost negligible; he held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest, afraid of disturbing the "ice sculpture" behind him.

However, just as he shifted his waist slightly, almost managing to escape the confinement of those slightly cool arms—

"Woke up?"

Yela's calm, undisturbed voice, devoid of any sign of sleepiness, suddenly rang in his ears like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate.

Su Rui's body stiffened abruptly, as if frozen in place, all his movements instantly halting. He stiffly and slowly turned his head, meeting Yela's golden eyes, which had opened at some point and were now quietly watching him.

His eyes were clear and bright, showing no trace of sleepiness. They reflected the last flickering light of the fire and his own face, which was filled with embarrassment and panic at being caught red-handed.

"..." Su Rui opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat dry and unable to utter a single word. The escape plan was ruthlessly nipped in the bud at the very first step.

Yela seemed unconcerned about his current predicament, nor did she question his attempt to "escape." Her gaze swept lightly over the two sleeping sisters on the low couch opposite her, before returning to Su Rui's face.

"Tired?" Yela asked again, her tone exactly the same as before.

Su Rui shook his head almost immediately and forcefully. He had just "slept" for a short while (though the quality was extremely poor), and with his mind still in a state of high tension, he was wide awake. He just wanted to leave, to get as far away as possible from this capricious and bizarre "ancient will"!

"Not sleepy," he answered listlessly, his voice a little hoarse from nervousness, but his tone was firm. Not sleepy at all, he just wanted to leave this "place of trouble" immediately!

Yela remained noncommittal to his answer. She didn't speak again, but simply held Su Rui and slowly stood up.

Su Rui tensed up again at the sudden movement and instinctively grabbed Yela's shoulder. This time, Yela didn't carry him away, but instead, in this face-to-face, almost embracing position, she took a step, holding him, and walked towards the huge French window of the bedroom.

"What... are you doing? Put me down!" Su Rui protested again in a low voice, trying to struggle, but Yela's arms were like iron clamps, making all his struggles futile.

Yela ignored his protests, holding him as if he were a weightless treasure, and walked steadily to the huge French windows. Outside, it was the darkest and most violent moment before dawn. The blizzard that had raged all night showed no signs of abating; instead, it grew even more intense. The gale, like an invisible giant hand, churned the heavens and earth wildly, swirling goose-feather-like snowflakes high into the air and then slamming them down, frantically pounding against the thick glass windows with a dense and terrifying crackling sound. The whole world was swallowed up by a chaotic, roaring white, as if the end of the world had arrived.

Su Rui was stunned by the sight outside the window, momentarily forgetting to struggle. He could clearly feel the thick glass windows, supposedly able to withstand extreme cold, creaking under the onslaught of the gale and the pounding of snowflakes. In such weather, let alone descending the mountain, even stepping out of the temple gates would likely result in being swept away instantly or completely disoriented.

Volume 18, Chapter 1250: Heavy Snow Blocks Roads

"The blizzard is getting worse." Yela's voice rang calmly in Su Rui's ears, as if stating a fact unrelated to herself. Her gaze pierced through the raging blizzard, looking towards the chaotic distance, and in the depths of her golden eyes, there seemed to be some ancient and vast light flashing by.

Su Rui's heart sank. An even bigger blizzard... This meant that his plan to slip away at dawn was completely ruined. In this weather, leaving the temple was tantamount to suicide. He would be trapped here with this "terrible" Yela and the two sleeping sisters.

A strong sense of powerlessness and irritability welled up in Su Rui's heart. He looked away, no longer wanting to look at the despairing scene outside the window, nor at Yela's calm and expressionless profile.

However, Yela didn't seem to have any intention of letting him go. She held Su Rui in her arms, stood by the window, and quietly watched for a few seconds the wind and snow outside that seemed to be swallowing everything. Then, she lowered her head and looked at Su Rui looked somewhat dejected and powerless in her arms.

Su Rui could feel Yela's gaze, almost tangible, fixed on his face. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to avoid that overly focused stare.

Just then, Yela did something that completely caught Su Rui off guard.

She leaned forward slightly and lowered her head.

A cool and soft touch, carrying a scent as clear and pure as ice and snow, yet seemingly imbued with the essence of countless years, gently landed on Su Rui's... forehead.

It was a kiss.

It was very light, very faint, like the finest snowflakes, falling silently and landing on the skin, bringing a fleeting coolness. Yet it also seemed to carry some indescribable weight, and a kind of... ancient and tranquil power that could soothe all restlessness.

Su Rui froze instantly. His mind went Blank, and his body stiffened like an ice sculpture. All his thoughts and emotions seemed to be frozen and detached at that moment. He could only feel a slightly cool, soft touch on his forehead, as clear as a brand.

Yela... kissed him?

Even though it's just the forehead.

But what... what is this?! The previous hugs, ear rubbing, and tail touching (corresponding locations), while embarrassing, were at least within the realm of "intimate contact" (or "playing") that Su Rui could understand. But this kiss... although it was only on the forehead, carried a completely different, more private, more... indescribable meaning.

Su Rui could even feel Yela's cool breath gently brushing against the stray hairs on his forehead, sending a slight shiver down his spine.

The kiss didn't last long, perhaps only a fleeting moment. But for Su Rui, it felt like an eternity.

When the cool touch left, Su Rui was still frozen, staring wide-eyed at Yela's beautiful and serene face so close to hers, as if she were seeing her for the first time.

Yela, however, acted as if she had done something completely ordinary. Her golden eyes calmly met Su Rui, which was filled with shock, confusion, and a hint of barely perceptible panic, her face devoid of any extra expression.

Then, while Su Rui was still reeling from the shock of the "forehead kiss," Yela, holding him, turned around, no longer looking at the wind and snow outside the window, and strode towards the archway leading to the bedroom deep within the palace.

Su Rui only snapped out of her petrified state when she was carried by Yela through the archway into the more private, simply furnished yet antique-style bedroom, and saw the enormous bed in the center of the room covered with thick white fur and soft carpets.

An ominous premonition, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed him.

"Wait! Yela! What did you bring me here for?!" Su Rui's voice rose in fear, and his struggles intensified. He frantically tried to break free from Yela's embrace and escape this "dangerous" area. "Put me down! I'm not going in!"

However, Yela ignored his struggles and protests. Holding Su Rui, she walked steadily to the large bed. Then, to Su Rui's horrified gaze, she bent down and gently, as if placing a fragile jewel, placed Su Rui... on the inside of the bed.