"Huh?"
Even the dignified Ruler of Death could not help freezing for a moment at such a shocking statement, letting out a sound like a startled kitten.
But she quickly realized she had lost her composure. She cleared her throat at once and forced down her shock, along with another strange feeling she had not even noticed herself. Only then did she regain her dignified, elegant, and lofty demeanor.
After giving it a little thought, she spoke with a somewhat puzzled expression:
"What do you mean by that? Is this some new kind of provocation?"
Wu Yi immediately raised a hand and said:
"Of course not. Every word I just said came straight from the heart, without the slightest deception."
Seeing how serious Wu Yi seemed, Ronova asked again:
"But even I know that mortals should be extremely careful when choosing a partner. Generally, they spend a long time together before choosing someone with whom they share deep feelings. Yet you and I have only met twice. How could you dare propose marrying me?"
Yes, why was that?
To tell the truth, Wu Yi himself was not entirely sure.
But the blood suddenly coursing faster through his veins and his pounding heart told him plainly that he had probably fallen for her.
It was a feeling from so long ago that he could barely remember the last time his heart had raced for someone.
As for why he had fallen for her... Wu Yi had a few guesses, but even he did not know with complete clarity.
The human heart was always unpredictable, influenced at every moment by a multitude of different factors. Yet humans were also creatures so prone to deceiving themselves that even every thought flashing through their minds was reworked countless times under the influence of all sorts of factors. As a result, even Wu Yi could not immediately find the truly correct answer among his many thoughts and feelings.
If he insisted on doing it, it was not impossible. He could simply suppress all his emotions for the time being, then search through his memories and carefully monitor the changes in his neurons' activity as he received each piece of information. That should allow him to sort it all out properly... As an Emanator of Abundance, he could naturally do that.
But there was no need for that.
Love was bound to be blind and impulsive. If he made everything too clear, knowing exactly which of the other person's traits made his heart race, then his heart would no longer beat with such vitality.
When it came to matters of the heart, a little ignorance was a rare blessing.
So in the end, Wu Yi merely smiled and said:
"If I had to say, it could only be love at first sight... Of course, you could also call it lust at first sight."
That was a lie.
He had lived for so many years and met so many people, including many beauties renowned throughout the sea of stars. Naturally, a pretty face alone would not make his heart race.
Beauties like Ronova were extremely rare, but not nonexistent. Her beauty was certainly a factor, but it was definitely not the main reason.
Still, that reason was just right for answering Ronova's question.
Wu Yi had no intention of revealing the details of his feelings.
A gentleman knew better than to speak intimately with someone he barely knew.
Ronova, however, knew nothing of what he was thinking. Hearing his answer, she suddenly could not help chuckling:
"Heh... You really are an interesting mortal."
"Over the centuries, I have seen countless people hold all manner of attitudes toward 'death.' Aside from the most common and boring kind, those who fear death and beg for mercy, some stare at death in anger, some treat death with cold indifference, and some refuse to bow their proud heads even in the face of death. There have even been foolish emperors who tried to order death to stay away... There have been countless people of all kinds."
"But someone like you, who knows he is facing 'death' itself and still dares to express his love to death... You really are the first I have seen."
She raised a slender finger clad in black silk and pointed it at Wu Yi:
"My, my, you really are a lustful, audacious fellow. I don't even know what to say about you."
"But... unfortunately."
Ronova's face suddenly turned stern again:
"Although you are a Descender, your existence is not much different from those mortals in my eyes. Put away those ridiculous desires of yours!"
By the end, her tone had taken on a hint of reprimand.
"That's terribly unfair, Miss Ronova." Wu Yi shook his head and smiled as he defended himself. "I think I was simply struck by your beauty and couldn't help but admire it."
In response, Ronova merely snorted, her face full of disdain:
"Hmph, what a smooth talker. Even if you say that, I won't give you the slightest bit of preferential treatment, you know? The authority of the god of death must be upheld, and the duty of death must be fulfilled."
"That's unfair. I wasn't looking for any preferential treatment," Wu Yi said, spreading his hands. "I just thought it would be wonderful if I could see a god of death as beautiful as you every day. That's why I spoke without thinking just now. Please forgive me."
"Heh, give it a rest."
Ronova shook her head. She had now fully regained the haughty manner she had displayed when she first appeared, and spoke rather unhurriedly:
"Stop indulging in wishful thinking, mortal. I don't like lustful, audacious fellows like you. If possible, I hope I never see you again."
But after saying that, she seemed to feel she might have spoken too harshly. She looked Wu Yi over, thought for a moment, and added:
"...Though, that said, your eye for beauty, your candor, and your courage are worthy of praise."
"Those mortals before you were all far too dull. They were either too afraid to glimpse death's true face, or lacked the courage to speak this truth... Honestly."
She suddenly let out a long sigh, unable to keep herself from complaining:
"Though I never care what mortals think of me, and I don't give preferential treatment to mortals who flatter me, I don't punish mortals who dare to speak the truth, either. In all these centuries, you're actually the first to praise me to my face. It's truly incomprehensible."
There was no telling at all where this supposed lack of concern was. Perhaps even Ronova herself had not noticed, but she was talking much more than before and had relaxed considerably, having stepped out of work mode a little.
Perhaps, as she was now, she was more like a corporate drone complaining to a colleague about her awful workplace over drinks after work.