Dongfang Yue looked at the man before her, a cruel smile gracing his flawlessly handsome face.
A desire to escape, to break free from his control, frantically bloomed in her heart.
However, as the warmth of his fingertips reached her, as his familiar scent filled her nostrils, the Love-Binding Gu within her began to stir restlessly.
That rebellious thought that had just emerged was instantly drowned by an irresistible, pathological sense of attachment and submission.
She even... couldn't help but feel that he was right.
What he said made so much sense... Just as Dongfang Yue's mind was in turmoil, about to be torn apart by two extreme emotions, her phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated.
Tianji: "Thor is in trouble. Come to Tianchen Club immediately."
...Tianchen Club.
At this moment, a thrilling scene was unfolding in the innermost training room.
"Roar—!!!"
A man with bulging muscles was letting out a beast-like roar.
It was Thor!
At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had lost all reason.
Surrounding him was no longer the controllable golden divine lightning of the past, but purple-black lightning with an aura of destruction and savagery!
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
Violent black electric snakes frantically struck the four walls of the training room.
Outside the training room.
Fuzi, Tianji, and Jueying all had extremely grim expressions.
"No!"
Fuzi's beard bristled slightly as he sternly shouted, "Thor! Calm down! Focus!"
He used his ability to "speak and it is done," attempting to soothe Thor's agitated mind with the power of words.
However, no sooner had his voice fallen than it was completely torn apart by the even more violent thunderous roars from within the training room, failing to create even a ripple.
"His power is too chaotic! I can't get in!"
Jueying's tone was full of apprehension.
Inside the training room, a dense purple-black electric net covered every corner, leaving no blind spots. His proud stealth and assassination techniques were completely useless.
Tianji, on the other hand, stood to the side, eyes tightly closed, fingers rapidly calculating, fine beads of cold sweat already forming on his forehead.
A few seconds later, he suddenly opened his eyes, shaking his head with a pale face.
"Oh no! He... has been contaminated by a kind of inner demon karma I've never seen before!"
"This isn't just a simple loss of control over power; there's a problem with his Dao Heart! Conventional methods are completely useless!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Fuzi and Jueying's hearts sank.
A problem with his Dao Heart?
For Tianming Zhe (Fated Ones) like them, this was even more serious than having their physical bodies destroyed!
Just as the three of them were at a loss, even starting to consider whether to activate the final contingency plan and completely destroy the entire training room along with Thor.
A calm voice sounded behind them.
"Gentlemen, why such panic?"
The three of them suddenly turned their heads.
They saw Dongfang Yue walking towards them unhurriedly.
She glanced at Thor, who was like a mad demon, and her beautiful face showed no surprise, but rather an expression of 'just as expected' understanding.
"This isn't a loss of control over his power; he's fallen into a demonic obsession."
One sentence instantly solidified the air in the room.
Fuzi's eyes narrowed, and he asked eagerly, "Little friend Dongfang, do you... have a solution?"
Dongfang Yue did not answer immediately.
She walked to the blast-proof glass, carefully observing Thor's condition. Her calm demeanor was not like someone looking at a nuclear bomb that could explode at any moment, but rather like someone admiring a piece of... art.
After a moment, she turned around and met the three's eager gazes.
"I know a little."
"This kind of demonic obsession originates from the heart and arises from qi. External force suppression is useless and will only make him completely collapse."
"The only way is to use special methods to forcibly strip that demonic obsession from his body."
After all, it was the Heart Demon Lure she had cast... A glint flashed in Tianji's eyes; he understood the deeper meaning in Dongfang Yue's words.
"What do you need us to do?"
Here it comes!
Dongfang Yue sneered inwardly, but her face still maintained the aloof demeanor of an expert, calm as a gentle breeze.
This was her true purpose for coming today.
Solving the problem was merely a means.
Seizing benefits was the core!
She looked around at everyone and slowly began to speak.
"My Dao technique emphasizes karma. I can save him, but the karma cannot be borne by me alone."
"First, I need to consult all the information here regarding inner demons and mental abilities, as compensation."
She needed to check the material (zǐliào - information/data) to appear professional, and at the same time, to disguise the Heart Demon Lure as a certain type of inner demon.
Fuzi and Tianji exchanged glances and nodded without hesitation: "No problem! All relevant classics in the Pavilion can be made available to you, little friend!"
Although these materials were precious, they were insignificant compared to a powerful combatant like Thor.
Dongfang Yue extended her second finger, and her gaze sharpened.
"Second, this act will count as my official joining of your ranks."
"From now on, I will be on equal footing with all of you. I hope to gain the same authority and intelligence-sharing qualifications as you."
On equal footing?
They were not yet willing to let Dongfang Yue join so easily... But... looking at the increasingly violent Thor in the training room, and then at Dongfang Yue's confident demeanor, they had no choice.
"Alright!"
Fuzi gritted his teeth and solemnly agreed, "As long as you can save Thor, from now on, you will be a member of our Tianming Pavilion's Demon Capital branch!"
A triumphant smile finally appeared on Dongfang Yue's lips.
She looked at Fuzi and extended her third finger.
"Of course, my Dao technique is quite special and rather unconventional."
"If any of you encounter similar minor troubles in the future, such as an unstable Dao Heart or the growth of inner demons... I can also act on your behalf."
She paused, then changed her tone, her smile becoming profound.
"However... the consultation fee will be separate."
At this moment, the three of them looked at the woman before them, who was smiling charmingly yet had secured the greatest benefits for herself amidst their conversation, and a thought simultaneously arose in their minds.
This woman... she was not just a powerful combatant, but also a... formidable figure who knew how to maximize her own value!
Finally, Fuzi made a decisive judgment, his voice firm and resolute.
"It shall be as you say, little friend!"
"As long as you can resolve Thor's problem, we will agree to all your conditions!"
"Deal."
The smile on Dongfang Yue's lips was finally no longer concealed.
That smile was confident, calm, and carried a hint of playful control over everything.
It was exactly like a certain man's smile.