A hot yet gentle breath brushed against her earlobe, sending a tingling numbness through her.
Ye Feng's words petrified Aponia, turning her to stone like the goddess statue.
A flash of panic crossed her eyes, followed by a look of sorrow, and even resentment.
Sensing that Ye Feng was about to speak again, Aponia frantically pulled him into a death grip, one hand pressed against his back, the other on the back of his head, holding him firmly within her waves.
It was as if, so long as she didn't meet his gaze, so long as he didn't speak again, the reality of her being "awake" would simply not exist.
"Little Feng, why... why..."
Aponia's voice trembled.
As long as this fact wasn't exposed, she could continue to deceive herself.
As long as she "didn't wake up," she was still under hypnosis.
Why did he have to mercilessly strip away even her chance to remain "confused"...
If she "woke up," she would have to face reality.
"Because I don't want Aponia to deceive herself. What's gained through hypnosis is shallow, after all. To truly know this matter, one must practice it personally."
After enjoying a face-full of her bounty, Ye Feng lifted his head and looked directly into the nun's eyes.
Aponia's eyes always carried a hint of sorrow—the grief of one who could see fate but could do nothing to change it.
Only when she looked at Ye Feng did Aponia's eyes hold light, joy, and contentment.
But as they looked at each other now, Aponia subconsciously tried to turn her head away.
How could the nun, who constrained herself with near-ascetic strictness, have the face to look at him?
But Ye Feng held her cheeks with both hands.
"I want to understand Aponia on a deeper level. May I?" Ye Feng said.
Aponia's compassionate aura had already faded. Her current expression was as awkward as a mother who had "discovered her son watching porn in his room."
The nun's body and soul trembled even more violently.
Why does Little Feng's "deeper understanding" sound so ambiguous?
Aponia stared at him blankly. Surely, I must be mistaken, right?
"Little Feng, let me go first... Mmph?"
However, Ye Feng placed his index finger over Aponia's soft, cherry lips.
"Aponia, you understand completely. But at this point, even if you say no, I won't stop. I don't want to hold back anymore, Aponia."
"Little Feng..."
Aponia's eyes were like pools of water as she stared at Ye Feng, neither refusing nor agreeing.
But the air of sanctity and calmness that exuded from her slightly displeased Ye Feng.
Those vacant eyes seemed to say, "It's already come to this, so let him do as he pleases. It doesn't matter anymore."
That self-deprecating attitude was not what Ye Feng wanted.
He wanted a more "proactive," more "spirited" nun.
"Let's continue the competition from last time."
"..."
Aponia turned her head to the side, saying nothing.
Ye Feng continued on his own, "The time limit is seven days. I will definitely make you say 'I want it' to me."
Ye Feng was the type of man who, once his clothes came off, was in it to the end. And right now, his jacket had already slipped off, lying in a messy pile on the floor by the church pew.
The contest of endurance began.
From the very start, Ye Feng applied 「Perception Weakening」 to Aponia.
Aponia remained motionless, her gaze faintly fixed on Ye Feng as he rode her.
Under the influence of [Discipline VI, Thou Shalt Not Succumb], Aponia kept her mind clear.
Her expression remained indifferent, her eyes downcast, like a holy mother showing compassion for the world.
Even as her body began to sweat profusely, she remained perfectly still, not uttering a single sound.
No one understood the power of the [Discipline] better than Aponia herself.
Mind and body were incapable of defying it.
Even if the person who received the precept was she herself.
Aponia didn't know why Ye Feng was insisting on this competition.
Just as she was, at this moment, lost in confusion about herself.
But since it was a competition, there had to be a goal.
Yes, no matter what, at this time of her greatest confusion, Ye Feng had given her a goal—and that was [Thou Shalt Not Succumb].
No matter what, she could not say those words.
This time, the strongest psychic-type MANTIS of the Previous Era was getting serious.
Although Aponia hadn't responded to Ye Feng earlier, her all-out posture had already stated her attitude.
Still, the time limit is seven days. What kind of attack will Little Feng launch?
....
...
Aponia would never have imagined that she would spend seven full days in the church.
Now dressed in a 「Black Bodysuit」 + 「Backless High-Slit Cheongsam」 + 「High Heels」, Aponia glanced wearily at the wall clock.
"Three hours left," Ye Feng said.
"Aponia, you're truly amazing. You haven't said a single word to me this entire time."
"..."
"Well then, the real match begins now."
"?"
"Heehee, you didn't really think your senses were dull because the [Discipline] was working, did you?"
"—!"
Aponia's pupils contracted slightly.
Little Feng knows I used the [Discipline] on myself?
But why does he say it's useless?
If it had no effect, then why was my body's reaction so weak?
"Of course, it's because—"
Ye Feng visualized Aponia's [Status Panel] and then, right in front of her, he deactivated 「Perception Weakening」.
Instantly, a surging tide of arousal washed over her.
Caught completely unprepared, Aponia's body began to thrash wildly.
It wasn't the effect of the [Discipline]?
The [Discipline] was actually ineffective!
In a daze, Aponia saw the words 「Ecstasy Accumulation」.
"I stored up all the perception that was weakened this week, you see. Now, I'm giving it all back to you."
Ye Feng smiled gently, but then he locked the heart-shaped lock on Aponia's pink progress bar.
A week's worth of accumulated sensation exploded in an instant. Aponia was on the verge of going mad.
But she couldn't go mad. Under the effects of [Discipline VI, Thou Shalt Not Succumb], her thoughts were instead becoming incredibly clear.
Her body, however, could be said to have fallen into a state of chaos.
A single, clear tear uncontrollably streamed from the corner of her eye.
"Crying is useless, you know. Crying also counts toward the accumulated time."
"..."
Of course, she wasn't crying. It was just that Aponia's consciousness could no longer control her body; her instincts were beginning to rebel against her mind.
"You really want it too, don't you, Aponia?"
"...N-No... I don't..." Aponia managed through gritted teeth.
"Really? Then I'll just keep it locked."
Aponia stared at the wall clock. Two hours and fifty-six minutes remaining...
She just had to hold out for these two-plus hours.
Although Aponia didn't know why she had to be so persistent, she knew that if she gave up, she would truly succumb.
She stared at the clock as its hands circled again and again. She had never felt that a mere three hours could be so long.
But Aponia still managed to endure.
She was, after all, the strongest psychic-type MANTIS of the Previous Era.
How could she possibly submit? How could she possibly succumb!
A smile of relief appeared on Aponia's face.
Just then, a voice like a nightmare sounded.
"Oh dear, I forgot to tell you. When I said 'three hours left,' I meant that after these three hours pass... there will only be four days left out of the seven. Keep it up."
What! Four more days!?
Translator's Note: Ye Feng's line, "What's gained through hypnosis is shallow, after all. To truly know this matter, one must practice it personally," is a lewd parody of a famous line from a poem by Lu You (陆游) of the Song Dynasty. The original line, "纸上得来终觉浅,绝知此事要躬行" (zhǐ shàng de lái zhōng jué qiǎn, jué zhī cǐ shì yào gōng xíng), means "What is learned from books is ultimately shallow; to truly understand a matter, one must practice it oneself." Ye Feng twists this classic piece of wisdom to justify his actions.