Chapter 5: Who Could Resist?

Classic American comics from the 1980s often featured protagonists who, after enduring school bullying and gaining superpowers, remained true to their ideals and saved the world.

But that's pure fantasy. Like the superheroes we all know, Superman and Spider-Man were raised in stable families, which kept them on the righteous path.

In reality, someone subjected to prolonged abuse and violence would almost certainly become an abuser themselves upon gaining power.

Except for outliers like Naruto Uzumaki, whose subconscious was altered by Asura's Chakra.

Bai Qi, as a modern-day youth with no attachments, would naturally avoid any actions that could disrupt social harmony.

Amidst towering skyscrapers that pierced the clouds, the city's ever-burning lights blazed with the splendor of civilization.

Against the neon-lit night sky, a figure danced through the air, tracing ever-shifting patterns as it raced around the bustling metropolis.

Ren had slept for 485 years, her energy and vitality now overflowing, ready to support Bai Qi's unrestrained whims.

Surveying the land from a bird's-eye view, Bai Qi drifted through Shanghai's meticulously planned nightscape before arcing through a thin layer of clouds.

As the night wind carried the salty scent of the sea to his face, Bai Qi's expression turned wistful.

Releasing the Wind magic that had sustained his flight, Bai Qi calmly plummeted from the clouds—a free fall from ten thousand meters.

The frigid night wind at such altitude felt like a gentle spring breeze to Metherlence. His golden hair whipped across his forehead as he sank into contemplation.

What should he do next?

Having gained such power, Bai Qi had no desire to become a "Superman" or an oppressor.

Of course, if anyone harbored ill intentions toward him, he wouldn't hesitate to become a Homelander himself.

In the world of Elemental Gelade, Ren had a promise to fulfill.

When Ren's soul returned to Bai Qi, her memories and will didn't simply vanish. Instead, they merged completely with his own.

Ren was Bai Qi, and Bai Qi was Ren.

But before that...

They landed in a secluded, uninhabited place. The fierce wind subsided, and the Emerald Wind Blade dissolved into Divine Mist. A dreamlike figure materialized beside Bai Qi.

Her delicate face was exquisitely crafted, as if sculpted by celestial hands. Long, butterfly-like eyelashes framed deep emerald eyes that shimmered like a gentle breeze.

Azure hair cascaded down like soft, precious silk, partially veiling skin as pure as freshly fallen snow.

She radiated an ethereal purity, untouched by worldly concerns, evoking a sense of serene detachment, as if a princess had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

The sight of her black skirt swaying in the gentle breeze was breathtakingly ethereal, like a scene from a dream.

It struck Bai Qi's heart like a heavy hammer, his pulse surging once more.

This time, it was solely because of Ren herself.

Silently, Ren extended her slender hand and placed it in Bai Qi's palm. The warmth and smoothness of her skin sent a nearly imperceptible tremor through his hand.

To be honest, this was the first time he had ever formally held a girl's hand—and not just any girl, but an incredibly beautiful one!

Yet, this girl was also 'himself.'

In a conventional sense, Ren and Bai Qi holding hands was akin to one person grasping their own hand with both hands.

Their intimacy clearly transcended the boundaries of siblinghood, resembling that of a couple strolling hand-in-hand. Bai Qi and Ren walked side by side, their fingers intertwined, lost in their shared reverie.

From the deserted suburbs to the city's main thoroughfare, Ren's dreamlike beauty drew constant attention.

Her two-dimensional anime look brought to life in three dimensions was a dimensional upgrade of epic proportions!

Not only did she turn every head, but she was also repeatedly approached by strangers.

"Wow, little sister, what brand of wig is that? It looks so real!" exclaimed a cheerful young woman.

"Who are you cosplaying?" asked a young man who looked like he had his life together.

Cosplay wasn't unusual in a megacity like Shanghai.

"I-is that... Reverie Metherlence? You look exactly like her! H-hello, can I get a photo with you?" stammered a red-faced youth who was clearly a die-hard fan.

Normally too socially awkward to approach cosplayers at anime conventions, he couldn't resist Ren's stunning beauty.

He recognized me! This guy's definitely a seasoned otaku!

"It's not a wig," Ren replied calmly, politely declining the photo request.

As an otaku myself, I understand how he feels. But Ren's a real-life manga heroine, so... better not...

For the first time, Bai Qi was experiencing the attention that came with exceptional looks, leaving him with a peculiar mix of emotions.

Bai Qi hailed a "DaDa" express ride on his phone. On the way back to their rental apartment, even the driver, a man in his forties, kept stealing glances at Ren through the rearview mirror.

Men never truly grow up, the saying goes, and boys will always be drawn to beautiful young women.

When two bodies shared the same space, their overlapping senses made Ren and Bai Qi acutely aware of every gaze directed their way.

With Ren's striking beauty, it was only natural for her to attract attention.

The driver's glances were discreet, likely sizing up Bai Qi as a privileged second-generation heir. Messing with someone's girlfriend could easily lead to trouble.

As for how the driver reached this conclusion...

Bai Qi's appearance was unremarkable, yet his girlfriend was breathtakingly gorgeous. She must either be drawn to his extraordinary wealth or his influential family background—perhaps both.

Not that he even tried to charm her. The boy hadn't uttered a single word to his girlfriend during the entire ride, absorbed in his phone. Yet even so, the dreamlike girl sat quietly beside him, her delicate white hand gently prying open his palm. Her slender, scallion-like fingers playfully poked his cheek, and she even massaged his shoulders, her smile growing increasingly radiant...

Burning with envy—

So damn bitter!

Everyone gets a taste of sweetness, and I'm the only one left watching from below.

The thought of facing his menopausal, irritable wife when he got home made the driver grind his back teeth in envy and jealousy.

He'd bet that if Bai Qi came from an ordinary family, he'd stand on his head and eat his own shit!

It's 3202, for fuck's sake! Where's the romance these days?

Bai Qi, naturally unaware of the driver's inner turmoil, would have simply smiled wryly if he had known.

He wasn't one for talking to himself, so of course he didn't chat with Ren.

But the driver wasn't just trying to scam a free ride.

Even if Ren were only half as beautiful, no ordinary guy could ever hope to date a girl of her caliber.

"What's up with that driver?"

Bai Qi watched the man grit his teeth and peel away in a fiery rush, his expression one of bewilderment. He quickly dismissed the odd encounter and entered the residential complex. Under the gazes of passersby—some filled with awe, others with envy, and still others with seething resentment—Bai Qi led Ren by the hand back to their rented apartment.

As the door clicked shut, the warm glow of the indoor lights washed over them. Bai Qi gazed at Ren, whose expression still held a trace of dazed wonder. He gently brushed her hip-length hair aside, his fingertips lingering on its warmth, captivated by her unparalleled beauty.

An inexplicable emotion began to stir within him, like wildfire consuming every corner of his being. Taking a deep breath, Bai Qi grabbed two fresh towels and strode into the bathroom.

His shower lasted a full twenty minutes—twice as long as usual—and he washed with unprecedented thoroughness, paying particular attention to certain areas.

After drying off, Bai Qi threw himself onto the bed and transferred the majority of his consciousness into Ren's body.

This is my own body. I can do whatever I want with it. There's nothing wrong with that!

[ Mm, no problem at all! ] The young girl nodded firmly, her cotton-soft footsteps carrying her into the bathroom.

It might sound ridiculous, but Bai Qi wasn't entirely unfamiliar with "traditional manual crafts." If he and Ren... ahem, it was at most like switching hands to reward himself.

Her delicate, pale feet padded across the cold tiles as Ren skillfully unbuttoned and slipped out of her plain black dress.

A vast expanse of luminous white skin was revealed, her exquisite curves barely concealed beneath the close-fitting fabric. Her slender waist radiated a supple, graceful beauty.

Lingeringly, her delicate fingertips glided over the smooth, textured skin, drifting toward their intended destination.

The graceful curve of Ren's fingers was particularly lovely. Her five jade-white digits gently curled around the source of the gravitational waves, her snow-soft knuckles rhythmically undulating with each breath.

In this way, Ren listened to the thrumming of her own heartbeat. Only when she'd explored enough... no, when she felt a slight chill, did she finally turn on the shower.

Warm water, adjusted to the perfect temperature by Bai Qi, cascaded over Ren's body. Clear streams flowed down her waterfall of hair, droplets tracing the graceful curves of her flawless figure as they trickled down her delicate, snow-white skin before splashing softly onto the floor.

The specific details of her bathing routine, of course, defy description.

Suffice it to say that Bai Qi's understanding of female anatomy had undergone a qualitative leap, so much so that the blanket draped over him remained stubbornly tented for quite some time afterward.

Twenty minutes later...

Ren reached for a towel hanging on the bathroom wall and slowly began to dry herself.

Perhaps it was the first time bathing this body with a male consciousness, leaving her both physically and mentally heightened. 

Under the warm white light, her snow-white skin glowed with a delicate blush. Her unadorned face radiated an ethereal beauty, otherworldly and untainted.

After drying herself, Ren casually tossed the towel aside and reached for what served as her "bathrobe"—Bai Qi's white dress shirt, also hanging on the wall.

She slipped into the oversized garment with ease. The hem barely covered her pert bottom, leaving her slender, flawless legs exposed. Her translucent skin shimmered with an ivory-like radiance.

Her collarbones formed a clear, straight line, flowing smoothly into the delicate hollows at their base, radiating an air of refined elegance.

The young girl gazed at her full-length reflection in the mirror, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.

Her bare feet touched the carpet as Ren walked unhurriedly to the bed, climbing onto it under Bai Qi's watchful gaze.

With her shirt unbuttoned, Ren opened her lotus-like arms and embraced Bai Qi's head, pressing it against her chest.

Then...

The two bodies tumbled onto the bed!

No way... No way...?

No sane man could possess the body of such a beautiful girl and resist certain thoughts, right?

Regardless of what others might do, Ren was too beautiful for Bai Qi to resist!

Charge!

Let's do this!