"Elena Jones, are you out of your mind? I'm your boyfriend, and you want me to have a child with your aunt?"
In the lavishly decorated villa, Lucas Sterling felt like his ears were playing tricks on him.
Just moments ago, his campus beauty of a girlfriend, Elena, had proposed the unthinkable—asking him to help her aunt have a child!
"Lucas, please, I'm begging you. Help my aunt!" Elena pulled at his hand, her soft voice laced with pleading. Her doe-like eyes shimmered with desperation, making it hard to look away.
"No. Absolutely not. I can’t agree to this."
Feeling her gentle grip, Lucas's heart raced, but he turned his face aside, determined not to cave in.
"Lucas, you know how things are. Ever since the disasters, the population has plummeted. The law now enforces that anyone over 25 who hasn’t unlocked their meridians must either marry or have children. They don’t get a choice—it’s random matchmaking."
"Once that happens, you're reduced to a breeding machine, tossed to whoever happens to fit the criteria, even outsiders or drifters. For my aunt, that would be worse than death."
"My aunt’s only three months away from turning 25. She’s tried everything, every method to unlock her meridians, but nothing’s worked. Even the Fifth Realm Grandmaster my grandfather hired said there’s no hope for her in this lifetime."
"She doesn’t want to settle for just anyone, Lucas. Her only option is to have a child..." Elena Jones explained everything, trying her best to persuade Lucas Sterling.
“If she can’t open a martial vein, can’t she try a spiritual vein or a magic vein instead?” Lucas asked.
In the High Martial Era, unlocking a vein meant stepping onto the path of cultivation. Veins were categorized into three types: martial veins for warriors, spiritual veins for immortals, and magic veins for sorcerers.
“She’s already tried. If the easiest martial vein doesn’t work, spiritual veins are even less likely. And magic veins? Those are for Westerners—tried that too, no luck,” Elena replied with a shake of her head.
“Then why not a test-tube baby?” he suggested.
“That won’t work either. My aunt... she’s never been with anyone. Plus, her body is special. The doctors said the failure rate would be too high,” Elena explained patiently.
“Your grandfather has so much power, a Fourth Realm Master no less. Can’t he protect her?” Lucas’s gaze swept over the sprawling mansion, its opulence almost blinding. This was Isabelle Beckett’s place, Elena’s aunt. Even the renovations alone cost over a fortune—extravagance beyond words.
“Distribution is a national law. It doesn’t matter if he’s in the Fourth Realm or even breaks into the Fifth, it won’t change a thing. Besides, my aunt is the most beautiful woman in Rongcheng. Her fame has spread far and wide. Who knows how many people are watching her…” Elena sighed deeply.
“Rongcheng’s most beautiful woman? Your aunt is Isabelle Beckett?” Lucas blinked, stunned. He hadn’t known that."Of course, you’re getting a huge advantage here. Isn’t it time you agreed now?"
Elena Jones’s gaze darted away, showing a hint of unease.
Lucas Sterling felt a twinge of suspicion. Something about her demeanor wasn’t quite right. Maybe it wasn’t as simple as she claimed.
"No way. This is a matter of principle."
Without hesitation, Lucas rejected her, extinguishing the light in Elena’s eyes.
"Figure it out yourself. I’m leaving," he said firmly, turning to head for the door.
But before he could reach it, an intense heat surged through him.
"Why... is it so hot..."
A raw, primal desire bubbled up inside him, overwhelming his senses, driving him to the edge.
"Something’s wrong!"
He spun around, eyes blazing red with fury. "Elena, what did you give me to drink?"
Only then did he realize she’d already retreated to the back door, her face pale but determined.
"I’m sorry, Lucas."
With those words, Elena slipped out of the villa, shutting the door behind her. The room plunged into darkness as the lights went out.
"I’m sorry... but I can’t let those beasts from the Kane family get to my aunt..."
Her soft apology, carried by the night, vanished into the shadows as she disappeared.
"Elena!"
Fury and frustration filling his voice, Lucas’s blood-red gaze locked onto the door. He charged after her, desperate for answers.
"Argh..." In a sharp gasp, a soft, boneless figure collided with Lucas Sterling.
The scent was intoxicating.
Warmth filled his arms.
Lucas felt his desire ignite, burning away reason.
A low growl slipped from his throat as he threw the beauty in his arms onto the couch.
...
[10,086 words omitted here]
...
[Another 10,086 words omitted here]
...
[And yet another omission]
...
The room was heavy with a lingering, delicate fragrance as Lucas slowly opened his eyes.
"Dammit, my back," he muttered, grimacing at the sharp ache shooting through his spine.
"Was that Isabelle Beckett?"
The faint tingling that crawled across his body brought flashes of last night—wild, unrestrained chaos. The drinks, the darkened villa, and the drug-induced haze had buried his sense, transforming him into little more than a primitive beast focused on a single thing.
Truth be told, he never saw the woman's face clearly—not with the lights out and his mind clouded.
But...
The satiny-smooth skin like a newborn's, the flawless, curvy silhouette, the pliable form soft yet inviting, and that alluring fragrance... It had to be Isabelle Beckett.
Not for nothing was she said to be the most beautiful woman in Rong City.
Even someone like Lucas, who'd always stood by his principles, found himself stirred again, almost craving another round.
Not that it mattered.
He'd already lost count of how many times it had been.
"Damn it," he sighed heavily, hands clenching into fists. "How am I supposed to face Elena after this?"Lucas Sterling had a splitting headache.
As the effects of the drug wore off, his thoughts grew sharper, and the consequences of last night’s events flooded his mind.
“Whatever. Elena Jones only agreed to be with me because of her aunt. She’s bound to open her veins soon, no question about that. Once she does, we’ll be living in completely different worlds.”
With that thought, Lucas relaxed a bit.
Truth be told, he had only recently started dating Elena. At first, she had flat-out told him not to waste his time—she wasn’t interested in relationships.
Then, out of the blue, she said yes a few days ago.
Looking back now, if it wasn’t because of her aunt... who would believe otherwise?
Once Elena opens her veins, breaking up is just a matter of time. And as for her aunt, once she’s pregnant, she’ll probably just take the child and cut all ties with someone like him—a man going nowhere.
So, why stress over it? Wouldn’t it be simpler to settle into the role of a good-for-nothing? Handsome and carefree—that’s the way to live.
If he couldn’t open his own veins, he’d find a girl he liked, get married, and lead an unremarkable life. Eventually, he’d turn to dust with no regrets.
“Guess I was never meant to be the hero of the story.”
Hands behind his head, Lucas let out a long sigh. His heart was at peace now. And oddly enough, it felt fine that way. If it weren’t for this incident, how could he have ever dreamed of getting this close to the most beautiful woman in Rong City, the daughter of a True Intention Realm master?
[Ding! Host detected to have formed a deep connection with another. Conditions met for system activation. Binding Return System activated.]
[This system aims to unite the masses and mold the host into the supreme existence who reigns over all. Main function: when bound individuals cultivate, the host will receive a multiplied return in cultivation progress. The multiplier increases with the number of bound individuals.]
[Currently bound individual: Isabelle Beckett.]
[Return multiplier: x10.]
[Note: Isabelle Beckett possesses the innate "Exquisite Physique," currently activated at 15%. The Exquisite Physique is one of the top ten innate constitutions, capable of opening the Exquisite Veins, absorbing various types of dark energy, with notably rapid cultivation speed and minimal bottlenecks.]
[Reminder: Host has unclaimed binding rewards.]
Suddenly, a mechanical female voice rang out.
What?!
A system?
Lucas Sterling shot up from the bed, instantly alert.
This useless life of his... could it actually turn around now?
