Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Romantic Sentiments
"What are you two trying?"
Gu Qing suddenly pushed the door open.
"Eek!"
Tang Ruan jumped back in fright.
She looked at Gu Qing guiltily. "Sister Gu, you’re back? I... I’m going to go grill some meat for the others..."
Tang Ruan scurried away.
Leaving Zhao Chi with his hand still outstretched.
Gu Qing watched Tang Ruan run off with a puzzled look, then turned to Zhao Chi. "Why did she run off like that?"
Zhao Chi shook his head. "Are you all done with your baths?"
"Mm, everyone’s outside eating now. But we’re short on clothes, so we’ll need to make more tomorrow."
"Okay. Ten more people will arrive tomorrow. I’ll create some more Tailors."
"Mm." Gu Qing closed the door.
She approached, her body swaying delicately.
"Lord, did you give me a new Skill?"
"It’s not a Skill. It’s an Improved Gene."
Gu Qing asked in surprise, "Genes? The kind you get from a Racial Bloodline?"
"That’s right."
Gu Qing said softly, "But you went through so much trouble to get that. And you’re just giving it to us?"
"Of course. The stronger you all are, the stronger I become."
"But... can’t an Individual Gene also be used on the Lord? Why didn’t you use it on yourself? This Healing Fluid is life-saving. Why give such a precious Gene to me?"
Zhao Chi smiled. "It’s best used on you. Your role is a healer, after all. In addition to using Spiritual Techniques for Treatment, this gives you another Healing Skill that doesn’t consume Spiritual Power. It’s a straight upgrade for you."
Gu Qing smiled and nodded lightly.
But from the look on her face, that wasn’t the answer she was hoping for.
’Women...’
Zhao Chi changed his tune. "Besides, this Gene will also keep you safer..."
"I knew you were worried about me, Lord!"
Before Zhao Chi could finish, Gu Qing excitedly interrupted him.
Just as Zhao Chi was about to say more, a system notification appeared:
[Gu Qing’s Affinity has increased. Current Level: Romantic Sentiments.]
"..." Zhao Chi fell silent for a moment.
’Was Gu Qing just waiting for me to say something caring so she could eagerly raise her Affinity?’
’Why does it feel like she raised it herself?’
’Can you just raise your own Affinity?’
’It’s like she’s domesticating herself.’
’And Tang Ruan is the same.’
’In just a little while, her Affinity shot up to Tier Two. How could it be that fast?’
’Even if I used precious items on them and gave them Improved Genes, it shouldn’t be this drastic, right?’
’Is it like this for other Lords?’
This was completely different from what Li Ruanyu taught in class.
He still remembered when Li Ruanyu gave that public lecture in the big hall. The whole place was packed to the gills.
Sure, some students were probably just there to see Li Ruanyu, but most of them wanted to hear about the emotional relationships between a Lord and his subjects.
Generally speaking:
The increase in Affinity and Loyalty are related, but one doesn’t guarantee the other.
It’s possible to have high Loyalty without Affinity ever being unlocked.
Or to have Affinity unlocked, but not have high Loyalty.
But in either case, the rate of increase is never that fast.
A case of reaching Tier Two Affinity in a single day is almost unheard of.
Besides Tang Ruan, Gu Qing also jumped straight to Tier Two today.
Tang Ruan could be a coincidence, but for it to happen with Gu Qing too... that couldn’t be a coincidence.
Then there was Loyalty.
Gu Qing and Tang Ruan both had 7 Loyalty, and the other Female Soldiers and Female Craftsmen had all reached 5 Loyalty.
This was just way too fast.
Zhao Chi didn’t know why, so he could only chalk it up to being the creator of these Peach Blossom Women.
’Do they get some kind of emotional Bonus towards their creator?’
While Zhao Chi was still lost in thought, Gu Qing took his hand, pulling him from his musings.
"Lord, you cut your index finger when you were cracking the whip earlier. I haven’t treated you yet."
Gently, Gu Qing took his hand, unfurling his index finger and softly stroking the wound.
Zhao Chi felt a slight sting, followed by an itch.
"It’s nothing. Just a small cut."
Gu Qing’s eyes were full of tenderness. "Since you gave me such a wonderful Gene, Lord, I can’t let it go to waste. Let me use this new Gene to heal you."
"Alright. I was just about to ask you to test out this Gene’s Effect anyway."
Gu Qing licked her lips. Parting her red lips, she took his index finger into her mouth.
Zhao Chi felt his finger enveloped in softness and warmth as her tongue glided gently over the wound.
"Wait, I haven’t even washed my hand."
Zhao Chi quickly pulled his finger back.
It came away with a glistening thread attached.
Looking at the wound, he saw it had already healed.
Zhao Chi wiped away her saliva and examined the spot closely.
It was completely restored. He hadn’t felt a thing.
No wonder this Gene’s Description said it could ’instantly heal Life.’
Truly instantaneous.
Gu Qing’s cheeks were red.
Not from shyness, but from excitement.
"Was that fast, Lord?" Gu Qing took a step forward.
"Very fast."
"I mean our relationship. Is it progressing too quickly?"
"Our relationship?"
"Yes. We’ve only known each other for eight days. Is it moving too fast?"
Gu Qing looked down at Zhao Chi, her gaze intense.
Zhao Chi’s gaze traveled past a pair of towering peaks before landing on her face. Her expression was completely serious.
"It’s been eight days already. Plenty of people fall in love at first sight. I’d say we’re taking it slow."
"Right? Exactly!"
Gu Qing broke into a happy, enchantingly beautiful smile.
Zhao Chi didn’t quite understand why she was smiling.
Gu Qing continued, "Lord, I have a feeling my Affinity for you is about to reach Tier Three. And when that happens... you can do whatever you want..."
Gu Qing wore a look of blissful anticipation.
’This is weird,’ Zhao Chi thought. ’Why does she seem even more excited about this than I am?’
’And what she’s saying doesn’t make much sense.’
’If Gu Qing really wants something to happen between us now, isn’t that her own decision to make? Why does it have to depend on Affinity?’
Zhao Chi voiced his doubts.
"Silly," Gu Qing said, covering her mouth with a smile. "Feelings are a two-way street. Even if I’m interested, you have to be interested too. There’s no sense in a one-sided crush, is there?"
Zhao Chi was confused. "But I am interested."
Gu Qing wagged her index finger.
"Don’t try to fool me, Lord. Your Affinity for me isn’t even unlocked. How could you be interested?"
"I have an Affinity level?"
"Of course you do."
Zhao Chi had no idea.
They never covered this in the lectures.
As far as Zhao Chi was concerned, Gu Qing, Tang Ruan, and even any one of the women outside was more than enough to stir his heart.
Before he came to this world, he’d never seen so many women of Class Flower Level in his entire life.
And there were a full ninety of them outside right now.
Tang Ruan was even at the School Beauty Level.
And Gu Qing was a step beyond even that.
’What’s more beautiful than a school beauty? A movie star? A city’s official beauty queen?’
Zhao Chi didn’t know the right term, but Gu Qing was on that level.
How could he not be captivated?
But if he really did have an Affinity level, it was true that he hadn’t unlocked it.
"Lord? You’re spacing out. What are you thinking about?" Gu Qing smiled.
"I was just thinking about how to unlock my Affinity."
Gu Qing crossed her arms and tilted her head in thought.
"Lord, has any woman ever made your heart race? I mean, truly made it race?"
’Of course there had been.’
Zhao Chi’s mind inevitably drifted back to his school days...
"Lord!!"
Gu Qing’s sudden shout shattered his reminiscence. She brought her face close to his.
"Huh?" Zhao Chi jumped, startled.
"Lord! I asked you a question; I didn’t give you permission to take a trip down memory lane. Now, look me in the eye and get that other woman out of your head!"
Her tone was imperious, leaving no room for argument.
It was full of hostility towards this unknown woman.
Zhao Chi was a bit dazed.
’Just who is the Lord here, anyway?’
