Mage Manual-Chapter 1483 - 1083: False Affection and Empty Words

When the two found the most suitable intimate frequency for each other, Ash felt their souls begin to melt like ice cream, as if two soft cream masses were merging, indistinguishable, blending seamlessly.

No wonder no one trades soul fragments... In this state, the party with the stronger and higher Soul Realm holds absolute dominance. If the other harbors even a hint of malice, they can easily alter one’s thoughts, implant twisted ideologies, equivalent to handing one’s life into the other’s hands to be played with at will!

But Ash wasn’t afraid at all. Perhaps it was because the ruby chains would restrain Vishi’s actions, or perhaps it was because, even if he was actually afraid, he didn’t dislike this feeling.

Their bodies sought each other, their souls invaded and merged. In every aspect of spirit and body, they became each other’s closest existence. Yet, deep in Ash’s heart, he still detested Vishi’s cruel and violent nature, still feared her potential betrayal, still worried about what schemes Vishi might be hiding.

Loving her like a lover, yet wary of her like an evil ghost.

Love and loathing, intimacy and fear, peace and anxiety, all kinds of complex and even conflicting thoughts coexisted in Ash’s heart. No relationship could be more twisted and bizarre than this... These intertwined conflicting emotions peaked during their repeated pursuits of each other, gradually corroding Ash’s sensibility and rationality.

Like a trap set by demons, like a mire created by evil ghosts, he was sinking into despair bit by bit, drowning in tenderness.

Ash wondered if he had gone bad... He had clearly resolved that as long as Vishi refused to change her violent ways, he would give up completely, sever the future as he had abandoned the past, relinquish that inexplicable sentiment, follow the Sword Maiden and others’ advice, and become the harshest Prison Director to suppress this inhumane prisoner.

Vishi did not disappoint him. She maintained her dignity as a Ghost Prophet, even though being a little more well-behaved would allow Ash to treat her equally. Yet, she stubbornly bared her fangs, as if shouting to the world that there were only humiliated Demon Maids, not submissive Ghost Prophets!

Her demeanor could be exceedingly humble, yet she has always been incredibly arrogant deep down!

However, just when Ash was ready to give up, completely admitting Vishi was indeed the demon he loathed from the bottom of his heart, Vishi proposed this deal that could restrain her fangs... She clearly could have brought it up sooner!

If Vishi had offered to trade soul fragments for her self-control earlier, Ash would not have questioned her to the point of a fallout and naturally would not have been utterly disappointed. Moreover, if Vishi needed soul fragments so badly, she should have offered this trade long ago!

But she simply did not do so.

It seemed like she was waiting for Ash’s questioning on purpose, using this opportunity to utterly shatter Ash’s unrealistic fantasies, to let Ash see the twisted roots of cruelty she had laid bare. When Ash was hopelessly disappointed, she then presented the soul fragment trade, showcasing her dazzling flowers and vibrant leaves to Ash...

Ash vaguely realized he had been toyed with, that Vishi intentionally wanted Ash to loathe her utterly, and then to make Ash fall for the Ghost Prophet he despised most... She wanted to see Ash trapped in such a conflicted and painful complex mindset.

As expected of a Ghost Prophet, this is a high-level maneuver I could never think of even if I racked my brain... Ash found sorrowfully that he had already become unable to free himself from Vishi’s schemes, having no choice but to fiercely take some compensation back from her.

Vishi seemed to feel Ash’s mood change. For the first time, she did not regain control, allowing herself to be ravaged by Ash as a prisoner obediently welcomed the whip of the Prison Director.

When their lips parted, a transparent suspension silk stretched between them. Vishi was about to melt into a pool of water, leaning softly against Ash. The two embraced, as if hastily recovering their strength during a halftime break, breathing shallowly and quickly, their bodies heating up, even their skin flushed a suggestive peach color.

"Is it enough?" Ash suddenly asked.

"Not enough." Vishi lazily said, "I need to delve into the deepest part of your soul to scrape away the last bit of soul fragments."

"How do I let you delve into the deepest part?"

"Just love me properly. That’s the most crucial step." Vishi whispered in his ear, "I couldn’t delve into your soul; if you reflect seriously, it’s because you didn’t disguise a heart truly in love with me."

Ash thought about it, suddenly looked at her and asked, "What about you?"

"Hmm?"

"When you delve into my soul, I’m also delving into yours." Ash said, "If the prerequisite for handing over the soul is pure love, then do you also..." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"That’s right, I like you too." Vishi laughed, "You are the only male I have ever liked in my long life... It’s a pity you are not an Elf; it seems the Eternal Dusk Elf bloodline will go extinct."

Ash was taken aback, eyes revealing disbelief, "Really?"

"Of course it’s true. I’m the last Eternal Dusk Elf. If I combine with a human, the offspring will definitely not maintain the Eternal Dusk bloodline—"

Ash sighed helplessly, "You know I wasn’t asking about that."

"You’re asking if I like you? Of course it’s true." Vishi stared into his eyes unwaveringly, an enchanting aroma wafting onto Ash’s face, "I really... can disguise the feeling of liking you."

Seeing Ash’s dumbfounded look, Vishi couldn’t help but laugh wildly, her pink twin tails shaking. She embraced Ash, her eyes full of mocking laughter, "What did you think? I’m a millennial Demigod Ghost Prophet! How could I truly like someone else? What kind of person like you is worth my affection?"

"But to advance to Divine Lord, I can disguise my feelings; it doesn’t matter even if I like you." She mischievously approached Ash, raising her eyebrows in challenge, "And you? Did you fall for my pretense of affection? Did you really like me?"

Ash pressed his lips tightly, shaking his head after a moment’s silence, "Of course not, I only pretended to like you to prevent you from harming lives... You’re a vicious Ghost Prophet, how could I like a mage like you?"

"That’s right."

Vishi saw the familiar colors in Ash’s eyes, mixed with evasive and guilty desire. Rationally knowing he shouldn’t do this, but emotionally constantly finding excuses for his wrong behavior... She finally lured Ash into the same predicament as hers.

Ash guessed correctly, Vishi indeed did it on purpose.

Mutual love is like a curse to her, she wasn’t willing to have an unnecessary vulnerability, let alone entrust her heart to someone else... If she were to become like the Sword Maiden and Silver Lamp, she might as well erase her memory through suicide.

But if it’s pretend, there’s no problem.

If it’s something done for interests, it becomes reasonable.

This is not only her desire, but also Ash’s desire, even... the desire of the Sword Maiden and others.

"The Ghost Prophet doesn’t want to like you, and you don’t want to like the Ghost Prophet." Vishi whispered, their lips touching, seductive charms flowing at her brows, exhibiting sweet tenderness without reservation, "We can only be like this, pretending to embrace each other passionately."

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