Dear, It's Time to Take Your Medicine!

Although Rosweisse felt it was somewhat wasteful, this truly was the best way to control Qin Chu.

Now, as long as Qin Chu used all seven potions, he would fall hopelessly in love with Rosweisse, becoming the most loyal lapdog beneath her skirt, utterly incapable of defying any of her commands. When that time came, forget assassinating Qin Chu—even if she ordered him to kill himself, he would not hesitate.

That way, there would be no need to rack her brains trying to seduce Qin Chu. Her own pure, spotless body would not have to endure Qin Chu's lewd advances either.

She could not do such a thing personally, nor could she make Qin Chu drink a potion that looked so suspicious at a glance.

As the maid serving Qin Chu, Angelica was the most suitable person to carry out this task.

Of course, Angelica would never obey her orders so easily. How exactly to handle that still required careful consideration.

As Rosweisse pondered, she pulled a magic scroll from another drawer.

It was an exceedingly precious scroll of spiritual magic: Mind Control.

The Love That Topples Cities potion and the Mind Control magic scroll—if anyone investigated even slightly, they would discover that the saintess's bedroom was filled with contraband, things absolutely forbidden from circulating on the market.

Because of their unique nature, spiritual spells were forbidden from being researched on the Skyvault Continent. Moreover, those gifted in spiritual magic were exceedingly rare; perhaps only one or two would appear in several centuries.

Rosweisse possessed the talent for cultivating spiritual magic. It was an exceptionally difficult form of magic to master. Though she had studied it for many years, even now she could only cast it successfully when she was in excellent condition. The slightest instability in her state of mind would cause the spell to fail.

She might even suffer backlash, her soul wounded in the process.

Because it was too unstable to be used in actual combat, Rosweisse had imprinted the spell onto scrolls whenever she was in good condition. So long as one held the scroll, anyone could activate the magic.

This Mind Control was not absolute. A target struck by the spell would obey the caster like a puppet for three hours. After three hours, the effect would fade, and they might even forget everything that had happened while they were being controlled, as well as events from a period before and after.

With this, she should be able to control Angelica. No matter what, she would first make Qin Chu drink the first vial of Love That Topples Cities.

If Angelica had the sense to cooperate, there would be no need to waste these precious scrolls.

Naturally, Rosweisse would not do this herself either.

Meanwhile, at the palace.

There was also a dedicated training ground here, where Ekaterina was teaching Qin Chu how to cultivate Battle Qi.

She was like an older sister who adored her younger brother beyond measure, carefully correcting Qin Chu's every movement.

"Although most people believe Battle Qi and magic are two different powers, for those who have reached our level, they share the same root and source. At their core, both are uses of elemental power."

"The only difference lies in how they are used. Magic stores elements within the body, then releases them when needed. Through adjustments in different sequences, pure magic power gains enormously destructive force."

"Battle Qi also uses elemental power. But rather than releasing the elements directly, it fuses them into one's body. It makes one faster in battle, stronger, more resilient. It can also be attached to weapons, giving them greater destructive power."

"What you need to do now is first sense the elements present in the air."

Ekaterina was a fairly decent teacher, meticulously guiding Qin Chu through things he understood better than she did.

Qin Chu sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes lightly closed. Yet before him, he could sense crimson like a blazing sun, blue-white like glaciers, deep azure like a tsunami, violet like thunderbolts...

After being reborn, his talent seemed to have grown even stronger.

It was said that when one first began sensing elements, being able to perceive a faint spark within a day was already astonishing talent. Qin Chu did not know what level of talent it was to directly sense the sun itself.

"What I am going to teach you is the Battle Qi that I cultivate as well—Starflame!"

"When cultivated to its peak, this Battle Qi can possess destructive power comparable to a falling meteor. It is one of the highest-grade Battle Qis. Can you sense traces like tiny sparks now...?"

With his eyes tightly shut, Qin Chu wore a face full of guilt. "I'm terribly sorry. I can't see anything."

Tch, idiot.

Ekaterina patiently suppressed the irritation in her heart and continued guiding him.

"Also, your hands are held too high. Lower them a little."

Ekaterina knelt behind Qin Chu. To adjust his posture, she had no choice but to press herself against his back. He could clearly feel the contact from behind.

Her thin formal dress could not block the sensation of her tender skin.

"Don't look with your eyes. Feel with your heart."

Feel with his heart—mm, it was even clearer now.

Ekaterina's fair, slender face rested against Qin Chu's shoulder. Their cheeks were nearly pressed together, and amid their brushing temples and ears, Qin Chu could keenly feel how delicate her face was.

A few red strands of hair drifted across Qin Chu's cheeks and the tip of his nose, tickling him.

Seeing Qin Chu's face flush crimson and his breathing quicken—

Ekaterina felt it was about enough. If this continued, there was no telling whether this man would lose control, go berserk, turn around, and shove her to the ground.

Being shoved down was not the problem. What she truly feared was that with Rosweisse absent and no one there to stop her, she might lose control herself and kill Qin Chu outright, affecting the plan to resurrect Jello.

For Jello's sake, letting this bastard take a little advantage was fine. She could not possibly let him eat her clean down to the bone, could she?

Patting Qin Chu on the shoulder, Ekaterina stood. "Little Brother Qin Chu, cultivate properly here. Don't slack off. I have important business to attend to, and I'll come back tonight to check on you."

Ekaterina's important business was drinking. During the first cycle, it had been Qin Chu who carried the drunken Ekaterina home.

Everyone knew the Hero needed to train, so no one would enter the training ground to disturb him for a long while.

Qin Chu opened his eyes. In only one afternoon, he had successfully entered the first level of the thirteen-level Starflame Battle Aura and condensed Battle Origin within his body!

Though cultivation at the first level was not especially difficult, such terrifying speed was still outrageous. In the first cycle, it had taken him half a month to enter the first level of Starflame Battle Aura and successfully condense Battle Origin.

For Qin Chu now, the hardest thing was not cultivation, but how to conceal his strength and the results of his cultivation from Ekaterina.

Especially with this woman constantly pressed against his back. Though the feeling of her full, toned body against him, their temples brushing together, had been rather pleasant, it had also caused Qin Chu no small amount of trouble in hiding his true talent and strength.

Sigh...

Qin Chu could not help letting out a sigh.

"Pretending to be weak is really hard."

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The Effects of the Potion

(A four-thousand-word chapter, please vote.)

The training ground was empty, with Qin Chu the only one there. He knew that no one would come to disturb him that entire afternoon. Even so, Qin Chu left behind an illusion of himself sitting cross-legged and diligently cultivating.

After making those preparations, Qin Chu snapped his fingers, and his figure gradually vanished.

Invisibility Spell.

There was no longer any need for the Phantom Demon's low-level Shapeshifting. Direct invisibility would do. This was one of the dozens of incantations Candice had taught Qin Chu.

He had deliberately revealed Angelica's whereabouts, as well as the information that Angelica was currently alone, to Rosweisse precisely because he was waiting for Rosweisse to act.

This was the final test for Angelica.

If Angelica could pass this test successfully, she would be able to break free of the shackles on her and earn Qin Chu's true trust.

If she failed, then...

Although he had the experience of the first cycle, Qin Chu had not grown careless because of it. Whenever he did anything, he took the other party's personality into account, judging what methods they might use based on their disposition combined with his own experience.

Rosweisse was a very clever woman. Though she dearly wished to kill Angelica, she would definitely restrain herself. She would control Angelica and use her as a tool to manipulate the Hero indirectly.

He knew Rosweisse hated him to death, and hated Angelica to death.

But to Rosweisse, the most important matter was still resurrecting Jello. For that goal, she could even suppress her personal feelings.

The Hero's Party's plan was actually very simple.

Based on the experience of the first cycle, it was nothing more than building a good relationship with him, making him fall in love with one of the girls, treating the other members as his closest companions, then stabbing him in the back after he had completely wiped out the Demonic Beast army.

The reason they had not killed him immediately was purely because his talent surpassed Jello's. They still needed a tool to bear the responsibility of fighting the Demonic Beasts. Otherwise, even if they killed him and resurrected Jello, Jello would still have to face Nag and would inevitably die again.

But now, his relationship with Angelica was even closer.

Though directly killing Angelica would have settled things once and for all, Qin Chu had told Rosweisse of Angelica's whereabouts. Coupled with the conflict between the two women, if Angelica died, Rosweisse would be the first person Qin Chu suspected.

Even if Rosweisse had a hundred ways to clear herself of suspicion, the seed of doubt would already have been planted. Trying to build a good relationship with him afterward would become incomparably more difficult, and the chance to stab him in the back might vanish into thin air.

Therefore, Qin Chu judged that Rosweisse would definitely use spiritual magic to turn Angelica into a puppet under her control, thereby gaining indirect control over him.

Very few people knew that Rosweisse could use spiritual magic.

Qin Chu was one of them.

At Rublenza Market, Angelica walked along happily with a vegetable basket hooked over her arm.

In her heart, her master was the most important presence in her life from now on, even more important than her own life.

Angelica wanted to use every ounce of her strength to serve her master, to ensure that he was absolutely satisfied in every regard. Since her master had rarely expressed a desire to taste her cooking, Angelica naturally had to do her very best.

The meat and vegetables in Rublenza Market were expensive, but they were unquestionably of the highest quality and freshest available. The tomatoes were crystal-clear like red gemstones; the sliced steaks were bright red marbled with white snowflakes; the freshly picked vegetables were lush and dripping with green...

"That should be enough, right?"

Humming softly to herself, she lightly stepped onto the path back.

She had been at her master's side for more than three days now. To Angelica, these past few days had been like heaven. She did not need to be beaten by Rosweisse, her body no longer had to suffer torment, and her soul no longer had to endure humiliation. Angelica felt that both body and mind were recovering.

She had even nearly forgotten the task Pope Augustus had given her.

Saintess!

This was the first time Angelica had thought of those two words in over three days.

It was a promise from His Holiness Pope Augustus.

After all, it had been a goal she had worked toward for more than ten years. Remembering it so suddenly made her feel somewhat reluctant to let it go.

Angelica's smile grew quiet, and her once-light footsteps seemed to gain a little weight. She did not notice that behind her, a black figure was silently approaching.

The moment she reached a corner, there was a bang. A heavy blow struck her back, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

When Angelica opened her eyes again, she found herself outside the city.

Lush trees shaded the surroundings, and the dim yellow sunset spilling over her body made Angelica's eyes sting slightly.

The next second, Angelica began struggling desperately. But the collar restrained her magic power, preventing her strength from being used. She had no power at all to break free of the ropes around her wrists.

"Stop struggling. Save your strength."

A flippant voice came from ahead.

Angelica's throat moved as she swallowed. Raising her head, she discovered that directly in front of her stood two women dressed in habits somewhat similar to those of Holy Church nuns, though their colors were completely opposite.

Pure black nun's habits wrapped their curvaceous figures. Their bodies were strong and fit, tall and full, yet brimming with power.

Their faces were beautiful as well: oval faces, slender eyes, and slightly upturned corners carrying a hint of sharpness. On each of their smooth, pale foreheads was a strange mark resembling a giant eyeball, though Angelica had no idea what it represented.

There was also a torn burlap sack on the ground before them. She had been stuffed inside it and brought here.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Angelica took a deep breath and asked in a low voice.

She calmed down quickly. After all, she had weathered no small number of storms, and she had seen situations more perilous than this. She had once been bound to a pyre and nearly burned to death.

After calming down, she covertly looked around, seemingly searching for a way to escape.

But Angelica understood that escape would not be easy. These two strange black-clad nuns were quite powerful. Her magic power was sealed by the collar, leaving her unable to use it. She was no match for them.

After a pause, Angelica continued, "I am the personal maid of the Hero Qin Chu. Have you considered the consequences of kidnapping me?"

"Heh..."

When Angelica spoke Qin Chu's name, the two strangely dressed nuns could not help bursting into laughter.

"You actually expect that idiot Qin Chu to save you..."

"Hehe, the Hero only began learning from Ekaterina today. Even if he really were here, what could he change?"

One nun strolled over to Angelica, extended a pale, slender finger, and lifted Angelica's chin, forcing her to meet her gaze. "Well? You don't really think the Hero will come save you, do you?"

Angelica was secretly shocked. These two nuns knew more about her master than even she did. Even she had not known that her master had begun studying under Ekaterina.

Who exactly were they?

What relationship did they have with the Divine Church?

As Angelica pondered this inwardly, she once again asked in a low voice, "What exactly do you want?"

"It's very simple..." The nun smiled again. "We only hope you can help us do something."

"You are the Hero's maid and take care of his daily needs, so we hope you can add a little something to the Hero's food..." As she spoke, the nun took out a pink potion.