Seize the Day

"Let me give you a fair warning first." Yaxiu seized Vichy's hands and pinned them behind her waist. Forced to arch her chest forward with her hands held behind her, her breathtaking curves pressed right against the contours of Yaxiu's body. "You'd best not speak ill of the Sword Princess or try to drive a wedge between us in front of me," Yaxiu said seriously. "Otherwise, I really will exercise my authority as your supervisor to severely punish a prisoner harboring such malicious intent." Vichy turned her head away in annoyance and muttered, "All right, all right, I get it! It's not like I said anything bad—why are you overreacting like this...? I already threw away all my shame just now, and here you are snapping at me over a single comment... I know how much you care about the Sword Princess, so let go of me!" As she spoke, she sulked again, nudging against Yaxiu like a little piglet. Yaxiu didn't let go; on the contrary, he gripped her even tighter and pressed on, "Why did you bring up the Sword Princess all of a sudden? In the middle of our insincere charade, you still have the headspace to think about someone else?" "I feel like we're doing her wrong! Can't I have a pang of conscience for once?" Vichy retorted in exasperation. "So how have things been between the two of you lately, anyway?" "Treading on thin ice." "Huh?" "I find myself liking her more and more, yet feeling guiltier toward her by the day. I feel like a ball of cotton candy with thorns hidden inside—I try my best to keep the thorns from touching her, wanting only to give her the sweet fluff, but the more deeply she loves me, the easier it is for her to prick herself." Yaxiu murmured softly, "And not just with the Sword Princess—I feel this same 'treading on thin ice' with all of you." "What's that got to do with me?" Vichy rubbed against his chest and whispered, "Once our transaction is done, you're just my supervisor. You'd better get hacked to death by them so I can have my freedom." "I'll never set you free in this lifetime," Yaxiu chuckled softly. "In every sense of the word." At any other time, hearing those words would have made Vichy sneer with secret resentment. Yet in this specific moment and atmosphere, she found herself utterly unable to muster any resistance. Instead, her heart raced, as sweet and airy as if she had just eaten cotton candy herself. She cursed under her breath, calling someone a "fool"—not even sure whether she meant Yaxiu or herself. She hurriedly steered the conversation back on track. "So in other words, you get along great, but you worry you're not doing enough for her, right?" "Yeah." "Then wouldn't it be solved if you just did better?" Vichy looked up at him. "For instance, by letting her experience unprecedented bliss." The corner of Yaxiu's mouth twitched as he faintly guessed what she was getting at. "You mean..." "You've probably already done plenty of couple things with the Sword Princess, right?" Vichy asked softly. "Yet from what I hear from them, you two seem to be saving the most precious experience for marriage?" "Not that I think that's bad. After all, when savoring a delicacy, some people like saving the best bite for last rather than devouring it right at the start. But what was the situation when you two made that promise? And what is the situation now?" "The Divine Lord of Stars is eyeing us hungrily, and Hell is on the brink of collapse. Even though we're immortal demigods, we already have one foot across the veil of death. Why have we been training and cultivating day and night all these past few days? Isn't it precisely because the overwhelming pressure from the Law Angels and Astral Law Angels is forcing us to wring out every last drop of our potential?" "The Divine Lord of Stars' Law Angels could descend upon us at any second." Vichy gazed at Yaxiu. "We might not have much time left." "I believe that when the Sword Princess made that promise with you, she truly thought the two of you would have a long life ahead of you—that there would be plenty of time for all those beautiful moments to unfold step by step, which was why she was willing to wait. But circumstances have changed. Under such crushing pressure to survive, do you really think she'll still cling to that old notion?" "Besides, everyone is under tremendous stress," Vichy grunted. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have..." "In short, as the Sword Princess's lover, I think you have an obligation to help relieve her stress, Yaxiu. Don't you feel guilty about all the grievances you've caused her? If the happiness you give her far outweighs those grievances, wouldn't that stabilize her mental state and keep her personality from warping?" "The harder things get, the more we need to seize the moment and enjoy life." Vichy blinked. "Do you really have the heart to drag her through life-and-death peril before she's even experienced life's greatest pleasures?" It had to be said that whenever Vichy put her mind to work, every word she uttered was laced with bewitching temptation. Listening to her, Yaxiu's heart couldn't help fluttering. He shook his head, trying to resist the Spectre Prophet's seductive pull. "But I promised her..." "That's why you have to take the initiative, dummy," Vichy chuckled. "The Sword Princess is a girl. She has her pride and reservations—do you really expect her to break the promise on her own? Who knows, maybe she's just like me, tossing and turning in bed, wondering whether to come see you." *No, no, no. She isn't like you; you are like her—and you came way later,* Yaxiu inwardly corrected. "I noticed long ago that although the Sword Princess seems rebellious and independent, she's actually deeply conservative at her core. Making a promise like that with you perfectly reflects her naive fantasies—to think she'd actually care about things like a 'first time'—" "Don't you care?" Yaxiu suddenly interjected. "I am the Spectre Prophet!" Vichy insisted. "But did you know," Yaxiu whispered in a low voice, "during the demigod promotion ceremony, the first person whose dream I entered was you." Vichy froze, turning her head away to mumble, "S-So what? Not like I care." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Across two lifetimes, I walked a path of slaughter. The thrill of reaping souls to strengthen myself surpassed everything else. But because of that, I was always a fugitive on the run. Whenever I rested, I laid traps all around and used prophecy miracles to wash away my traces. I never dared entrust my safety to anyone, and naturally had no one I could trust. So... you understand, right?" She took the initiative to kiss Yaxiu. Yaxiu blinked at her, then suddenly burst out laughing. Vichy instantly felt she had done something profoundly stupid. Her cheeks burned like fire, hot enough to boil whatever water was sloshing around in her skull, steam almost venting from her head—*what on earth was she explaining?! She must have water on the brain!* "Forget it, forget it, pretend I never said anything! We're talking about you right now, so don't interrupt me!" Vichy forcibly wrenched the topic back. "In short, the Sword Princess is a very conservative girl. Even if she wants to seize the moment, she won't make a move herself, so you have to give her a little push, Yaxiu!" "Honestly, I think you could just toss her onto the bed—she definitely wouldn't refuse. But you probably want a sense of ceremony to make up for breaking your promise. In that case, treat her to a romantic dinner. Given how she loves excitement, she might even enjoy a ball—dancing in formal wear on par with wedding attire. So dinner, dancing, and a confession. Once the mood is right, everything else will follow naturally." "We can help with all the arrangements, setting up a romantic date for you even in dark Senluo." Cutting off Yaxiu before he could object, Vichy said, "The only two complications are the Witch and the Silver Lantern... but don't worry, I can persuade them." With a half-smile, Yaxiu asked, "And what reason do you plan to use to convince them?" "That keeping the Sword Princess happy is our party's most valuable asset, of course." Vichy blinked innocently. "What other reason could there be?" "So Yaxiu, go enjoy yourself with the Sword Princess while you can! We'll all back you up!" "Interesting." Yaxiu leaned close to Vichy's ear, his warm breath brushing against her pointed elven ear. "The Spectre Prophet I know doesn't strike me as the tender sort who thinks of others." "I'm not doing it for her—I just wanted to help you," Vichy shivered slightly, defensively arguing back. "After all, you're so crazy about her and under so much pressure lately. In the middle of our transaction, I couldn't help scheming for your benefit... For a maid who's worn herself out worrying over her master's love life, you ought to credit me with an extra reward!" "Really? Why do I feel like you're thinking that once you help me and the Sword Princess, we'll be able to unlock deeper tiers of transactions between us?" Yaxiu teased with a smile. "Just who is the one looking to seize the moment here?"