Chapter 518: What Gods Give Can’t Be Refused
Chapter 518: What Gods Give Can’t Be Refused
Not only the two souls, but Asaka Akihime’s body too got sucked into the black hole.
Fang Cheng instinctively tried grabbing them but stopped himself. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
Tsukimi Narumi’s voice echoed around them: “I need them in the Hell of Flames to craft a new body. Asaka Akihime’s current one needs fixing too.”
Fang Cheng relaxed slightly. He’d almost suspected this was some conspiracy by the evil gods to steal the girls’ souls. But thinking again – if Iyaya or Tsukimi Narumi wanted that, they’d just take action directly without schemes. His distrust of these gods ran deep.
While waiting, he checked his Life count.
83 lives spent. 646 remaining.
Man, he’d thought his stockpile was huge, but this burned through them fast. A few more sessions like this and he’d be broke.
As Fang Cheng planned where to get more lives, the girls’ souls arrived in the Hell of Flames.
Fire ruled this world. Flaming clouds choked the sky. Lava rivers cut through black-red earth. Air reeked of sulfur, floating sparks glowing like fireflies.
Red-skinned demons sporting dual horns stalked the land, spearing wailing souls on tridents to roast in molten rock.
Asaka Akihime and Ye Yuqing’s souls lay motionless until their eyes snapped open. They sat up simultaneously.
“Huh? Akihime?”
“Yuqing!?”
They stared at each other – first meeting between two halves of one soul. Ye Yuqing lunged forward, crushing Akihime in a bear hug. Akihime clung back just as fiercely. Born from the same soul yet distinct, they’d endured despair together, sharing every moment – closer than blood sisters.
“Where are we?” Akihime tensed at the hellish environment.
Yuqing waved casually. “Relax, it’s just Tsukimi Narumi’s hell.” Having been the god’s proxy, she’d visited before.
But seeing demons torturing souls, Akihime stayed wary. “Why bring us here?”
“Dunno. Let’s ask the Boss.” Yuqing shrugged. She’d adopted Tsukimi Narumi as her leader long ago.
“Come on. She’ll be at her usual spot.” Yuqing tugged Akihime along the largest lava river’s bank. The demons ignored them, busy tormenting other souls.
Asaka Akihime noticed the souls all had human forms. Remembering her mother, she asked, “Do people come here… when they die?”
Ye Yuqing explained as they walked, “No. This world has neither heaven nor hell…”
Souls normally disappear after death. Those who made deals with evil gods would belong to those gods.
The souls entering Hell of Flames all made pacts with Tsukimi Narumi.
Tsukimi Narumi judged these souls – evildoers suffered torment from night demons, while virtuous ones lived peacefully in hell.
“This is Tsukimi Narumi’s personal practice,” Ye Yuqing added. “Iyaya treats all souls as toys to play with however she wants.”
After hearing this, Asaka Akihime asked, “How do you know all this?”
“Because I work in Hell of Flames now!” Ye Yuqing puffed her chest proudly. “Tsukimi Narumi wants me to be night demon commander. The position’s reserved for me, though I won’t officially take it until…”
“Until when?”
“After I die.”
Black lines formed on Asaka Akihime’s face. Someone dangled a carrot, and this fool happily chased it. Wasn’t this just wishing for her early death?
They soon reached the lava river’s end, where a volcano pierced the clouds. Floating above it hung an aerial city.
Being in soul state, they flew directly up without tiring.
Inside the city, Asaka Akihime saw countless souls inhabiting the space. Ye Yuqing led her to the central skyscraper’s top-floor balcony.
A tall woman waited there, hair neatly coiled, wearing frameless glasses and a pencil skirt with black stockings – every inch the executive secretary.
“Sister Reina!” Ye Yuqing called out.
Tsukimi Reina glanced at Asaka Akihime. “Follow me. The Goddess awaits.”
As they entered the building, Ye Yuqing whispered, “She’s Tsukimi Narumi’s powerful assistant. Don’t meet the Goddess’s eyes – it’s lethal.”
Asaka Akihime nodded nervously. Last time in paradise with Fang Cheng, she’d been unconscious throughout. Now she’d face an actual deity.
The building’s cramped exterior gave way to vast interiors. A glittering chandelier hung below arched ceilings. One wall displayed paintings, the opposite featuring full-length glass windows showcasing the hellish cityscape.
Their footsteps sank into crimson carpets without sound. After traversing a hundred-meter corridor, they stopped before massive doors.
Tsukimi Reina bowed without knocking.
“Goddess, they’re here.”
The door automatically opened just enough for someone to slip through.
Ye Yuqing dragged Asaka Akihime past Tsukimi Narumi and strode straight inside.
“Bow your head.”
Asaka Akihime immediately ducked. During that split-second motion, she glimpsed a red-haired woman on an elevated platform.
But try as she might, she couldn’t recall the woman’s features – the memory kept slipping away like sand through fingers.
Ye Yuqing waved casually at Tsukimi Narumi. “Hey Boss, had dinner yet?”
From her perspective, Tsukimi Narumi sat armored in silver upon a divine throne, fingers laced together beneath cascading red locks.
The deity’s face stayed blurred, unclear even to Ye Yuqing who served as her proxy.
Tsukimi Narumi’s commanding voice rolled downward without preamble. “You come. Asaka Akihime waits here. Her body requires tuning.”
Only Ye Yuqing comprehended these words. To Asaka Akihime, they were silent as falling snow.
After hurriedly translating the message, Ye Yuqing vanished alongside the deity.
Left alone, Asaka Akihime finally raised her head to inspect the chamber.
Plush carpets. Crystal chandeliers. Masterpiece paintings. A golden-encrusted throne.
By mortal standards, this screamed opulence. For a god’s dwelling? Surprisingly plain.
Truthfully, every entering soul perceived this space differently, shaped by their own experiences.
These lavish items represented the height of luxury in Asaka Akihime’s mind, so these alone appeared.
Silence pressed down, thick and smothering.
Asaka Akihime stayed rooted, resisting the urge to explore.
A whisper brushed her ears: “Do you… crave power?”
“Who’s there?!” She whirled around to find Ye Yuqing standing behind her.
“Yuqing! When did you return?”
Asaka Akihime pressed a hand to her pounding chest. The smirking figure stepped closer. “Do you want power?”
Her heart skipped. This copy wore Yuqing’s face but radiated entirely different energy.
Asaka Akihime retreated. “What… what do you mean?”
“I’m asking…”
Suddenly behind her again, the imposter’s hands settled on her shoulders. Warm breath tickled her ear: “Do you want power?”
Muscles locked in paralysis, Asaka Akihime fought down panic. “I don’t need it.”
“Truly? Ye Yuqing aids Fang Cheng while you stand useless. Doesn’t that sting?”
The whisperer blew gently into her ear. “Doesn’t that make you jealous?”
“You’re wrong!”
Defiance hardened Asaka Akihime’s features. “I feel no envy. Only joy.”
She and Ye Yuqing were originally one being – who could feel jealous of themselves?
“But Ye Yuqing’s really jealous of you.”
Ye Yuqing giggled mischievously, tossing out divisive words: “She’s jealous you’ve won Fang Cheng’s favor.”
Asaka Akihime simply smiled. “That’s because she acts too childish. If she behaved properly, Cheng-kun would care for her too.”
“Do you truly enjoy sharing your man with other women?”
“I…”
The barb pierced through Asaka Akihime’s hidden insecurities, silencing her instantly.
Ye Yuqing’s victory smile widened as she watched the shadows in the other woman’s heart deepen.
Before she could press further, Asaka Akihime suddenly declared, “I don’t like it. I don’t want to. But nothing’s perfect in life. Being with my loved one is enough.”
The shadows shrank back to their original size, making Ye Yuqing click her tongue in frustration.
“Worthy of being my chosen one.”
“Who are you really?”
“Me?”
Ye Yuqing circled until their foreheads touched, peering intently into wide eyes. “I’m your god. You’re my Saintess.”
As expected, pure terror flooded those beautiful eyes.
Asaka Akihime had only ever unwillingly served one deity as Saintess.
When she realized this woman was Iyaya, her trembling fear became uncontrollable.
Iyaya savored the terrified reaction – this was how mortals should behave.
Not like that disrespectful Fang Cheng who treated gods like equals.
“Let me ask again. Do you want power?”
The goddess pressed closer, whispering temptations: “Fang Cheng and Ye Yuqing both became divine proxies. Won’t you join them?”
An inner voice screamed – Cheng-kun and Yuqing had taken this step. She couldn’t be left behind.
Her two closest people had done this. How could she refuse?
“No…”
Clutching her last shred of rationality, Asaka Akihime stammered, “I… I need Cheng-kun’s advice first!”
“Unnecessary.”
Unfazed, Iyaya breathed words into her ear: “Divine gifts can’t be refused.”
…
Fang Cheng waited patiently in reality.
He phoned Mechanical City to reassure Kanzaki Rin, briefly explaining the situation.
Then he casually booted up a game, ready for some competitive fun with the “Super Cool and Cute God”.
It seemed leisurely, but Fang Cheng endured every passing second in his heart. If any problem occurred, he might have to confront Tsukimi Narumi and Iyaya.
Luckily, that didn’t happen. A black hole suddenly appeared in the air, tossing out Asaka Akihime. She was no longer in a soul state but had regained her body.
Her bare, flawless figure stood unveiled before Fang Cheng. Iyaya had previously Repaired her body, now refined to perfection. True beauty becomes indistinguishable at its peak.
People’s tastes differ—some favor ample curves, others flat-chested frames, long legs, or petite figures. A beauty’s charm often lies in her unique aura. Yet within human standards exists undeniable beauty, except for contrarians.
Asaka Akihime surpassed even this. Her allure seemed woven from heaven’s essence, a divine masterpiece never meant for mortals. Even Fang Cheng, this seasoned driver who’d witnessed a goddess’s beauty, stared transfixed.
“Cheng-kun…”
Asaka Akihime hugged her chest shyly. Fang Cheng snapped awake, crafting clothes through blood creation. “Where’s Ye Yuqing?”
“She… remains with Tsukimi Narumi.”
Asaka Akihime lowered her head. Fang Cheng noticed something: “Akihime, why does your body still hold power?”
They’d shared one body. When Ye Yuqing became Tsukimi Narumi’s proxy, their flesh became a Chosen Saint’s form. Now separated, that power should’ve vanished—yet Asaka Akihime’s body still radiated Life and strength.
“Cheng-kun… Forgive me…”
Tears welled in her eyes. In Tsukimi Narumi’s Hell of Flames, she’d met Iyaya—forced into becoming her proxy. Now she shared Ye Yuqing’s fate.
Fury ignited Fang Cheng. “Iyaya, show yourself!”
“My, such temper.”
Iyaya materialized behind him, arms encircling his waist. Asaka Akihime gasped upon seeing her face: “Your… face…”