Chapter 1151 - 535: I Want to Rebel! (6K, Lottery Results!)

Chapter 1151: Chapter 535: I Want to Rebel! (6K, Lottery Results!)

Click.

That soft sound was so faint it was almost unnoticeable, like a dewdrop slipping silently from the tip of a leaf and falling into the pool below.

Yet in this Holy Sanctuary, rendered unnaturally filled with Silence by the Divine’s restless mood, it reached Herbert’s ears with crystalline clarity.

He saw the extra shawl-like robe on Fulingya’s body, as if it had lost its support, quietly slide down from Her rounded shoulders and pool at Her smooth bare feet.

Beneath the robe, it was not the forest huntress outfit he had seen last time, but a new set of light, thin gauze, patterned with floral designs.

Through the gauze he could faintly glimpse that long, slender figure brimming with Nature’s power and beauty.

Her skin held a healthy sheen, the lines smooth and strong, as if the agility of a jungle leopard and the resilience of ancient tree-vines had been fused into one, with only the crucial spots cleverly veiled by blooming flowers.

It preserved the sense of inviolable sanctity, yet at the same time laid bare, without reservation, a raw, exuberant beauty of Life.

The sight was truly beautiful, carrying a unique charm capable of making a mortal lose themselves in an instant.

The problem was—why?

A huge doubt coiled in the depths of Herbert’s heart, keeping him from losing his reason to beauty like other mortals might.

The wariness and suspicion in Herbert’s eyes were instantly replaced by overwhelming confusion.

This sudden turn of events had completely exceeded his expectations.

What was the Forest Goddess trying to do? Display Her divine body to assert Her majesty? Or... She’s not seriously planning to force Herself on me right here, is She?

It wasn’t that Herbert couldn’t accept that; he had never been the sort of pedantic man who dutifully abides by every moral code.

He just felt, well, uh... aren’t we moving a little too fast here?

This hardcore already?

"..."

Under his perplexed gaze, Fulingya, now divested of Her robe, drew in a deep breath; the rich vitality in the Sanctuary surged into Her lungs.

The blush lingering on Her face from dispersing the authority of [Pleasure] had yet to fully fade, but in those emerald eyes, the earlier hesitation and inner struggle had been replaced by a layer of resolve.

Fulingya had made up Her mind.

She stepped forward. Her bare feet pressed upon the soft blades of grass, soundless yet carrying an unquestionable momentum, and She came to stand before Herbert, silent and still.

"..."

Their distance was very close; Herbert could clearly feel the fresh scent She exuded, like a forest after rain.

And within it, there seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible... nervousness?

"Herbert."

Fulingya’s voice was deeper than before, tinged with some suppressed emotion. She fixed her gaze tightly on Herbert’s eyes and asked:

"Now, what do you feel?"

What do I feel?

Uh... can I say I feel like my chastity is about to be compromised?

Like I’m some minced garlic and spring onion all prepped by the chef—dammit, I’m about to be tossed into the wok!

The alarm bells in Herbert’s heart hadn’t completely fallen silent, but faced with the Goddess’s direct question and the extraordinary scene before him, he cautiously chose to reveal part of his true thoughts.

"Confused,"

He maintained outward politeness, lowering his gaze slightly to avoid that overly impactful body, and said slowly, "My lady, I... feel deeply confused right now, unable to understand what is happening at this moment."

Then he gave a slight nod, and in a steady tone added a sincere compliment.

"But at the same time... I must admit, the form you present now, like this Sanctuary itself, contains a kind of awe-inspiring, primal and pure beauty."

The mortal’s answer was proper, even laced with praise, yet it also clearly expressed his confusion.

Listening to his reply, Fulingya’s gaze flickered with a complicated glint.

She seemed unsurprised by his bewilderment, as if using it to confirm something.

"Herbert, it’s perfectly normal for you to feel confused."

Fulingya spoke lightly, her voice carrying a hint of wanting to distance Herself from something, and also like She was seeking a reasonable basis for what She was about to do:

"Let me clarify first: this is not my own intention."

She paused, as if organizing Her words. "It’s not that I actively wanted to... reward you in this manner, but that, after speaking with the Cold Winter Goddess, this was the suggestion She gave."

Upon mentioning the name of another God, Fulingya’s expression eased a little, as though doing so provided a pivot for Her behavior, making this seemingly out-of-bounds act feel more ’proper.’

That’s right.

I’m being forced into this too.

It’s all someone else’s idea, I absolutely didn’t want to take the initiative...

She went on to explain, Her tone gradually regaining some of the composure befitting a Divine, while more clearly revealing what She would do next:

"She suggested... that I, in the Divine Spirit body of the Tree Spirit Queen, perform the ’Tree Spirit Embrace’ rite upon you."

"It will be a hug, an exchange, or in other words, a bestowal."

She chose Her words carefully, trying to avoid being too blunt.

"I will draw out a small portion of your mortal, active Life Essence, and in return, I shall grant you a purer, more nourishing ’Breath of Life.’"

"This is not taking, but a cycle, a natural gift and return. Only through this special rite can the reward given to you truly merge into the essence of your Life."

She gazed intently at Herbert, as if saying that only in this way could his merits be properly matched, only in this way could he be ’satisfied.’

"So, that’s what this is..." Herbert blinked, muttering reflexively, feeling like the world had suddenly turned very strange.