Chapter 98: One Who Acts Without Restraint
The Land of Snow—a bitter cold place covered in snow year-round.
Affected by the harsh climate, the local people's skin universally presented an icy snow-white pallor, hair color pale as platinum, eyes like frost-misted ice blue.
However, deep within a palace warm as spring with lavish furnishings, there existed an entirely different being.
Black-haired and black-eyed, tall in stature, his features carried an undisguised air of lecherous evil. Several beautiful women clad only in sheer gauze nestled at his sides, further accentuating his gloomy and arrogant temperament.
His name was Lei Niu, and he didn't belong to this world. (Plot device character, gone in three chapters, rest assured)
He came from a dimension where technology was highly advanced and a minority possessed the power called "Magnetic Field Rotation."
A year ago, he'd been blasted to death in a blood battle with his mortal enemy. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this strange place.
Though originally possessing five hundred thousand horsepower of magnetic field force, in his original world, he was far from a top-tier powerhouse.
Even more bizarre, after transmigrating, his power was suppressed by some unknown cosmic magnetic field, dropping to three hundred thousand horsepower.
This forced him to act cautiously.
Upon initially arriving in the Land of Snow, he laid low for a long time, observing secretly.
But he quickly discovered that this world's people didn't cultivate magnetic field power but instead used an ability called "ninjutsu," relying on something called "chakra" within their bodies to drive supernatural phenomena.
In his view, this power system was laughably weak—100,000 horsepower of magnetic field force could easily defeat this country's strongest warrior.
So half a year ago, he finally stopped hiding.
He murdered this nation's original ruler and forcibly altered the wills of all nobles and officials with magnetic field power.
From then on, he styled himself a deity, sitting high upon the throne.
Lei Niu had never been someone who cherished justice. He pursued power precisely to conquer and enslave the weak, to enjoy others' awe and submission. Authority and women—both were things he craved.
In his eyes, if one possessed power but didn't use it to satisfy these desires, then what was the point of cultivation?
The strong should thoroughly enjoy these things—otherwise, what difference was there between him and those weaker than himself?
On the other hand, Lei Niu never rashly challenged unknown strong individuals.
He understood better than anyone that there were always greater powers beyond. Even now worshiped as a deity in this Land of Snow, he remained vigilant—perhaps in some other corner of this continent lurked even more terrifying existences.
His previous life's perspective deeply influenced him: three hundred thousand horsepower meant nothing. He'd once witnessed from afar a battle between nine hundred thousand horsepower powerhouses. That world-destroying might made even his peak five hundred thousand horsepower seem like an ant.
That observation had completely shattered his conviction.
He couldn't comprehend that realm where raising a hand or foot could cause stars to tremble... After that, he'd lost the courage to climb higher.
However, he was quite satisfied with his current lifestyle.
Daily, over a dozen beautiful young women from the Land of Snow accompanied him under the name of "attending the deity." Fine wine and delicacies never ceased. He'd contentedly become this frozen nation's local tyrant.
Until one day, he glimpsed a particularly stunning actress on television—apparently called Kazahana Yukie. Indeed beautiful, surpassing all the women at his side.
So he spent heavily to invite her here for filming. Now half a month had passed—this "delivery" should have arrived.
A serving girl released a soft whimper. "My lord... you're hurting me..."
Lei Niu chuckled lowly, his fingers not lessening but increasing pressure. "Hurt? What comes next will hurt even more—you'd better endure it well."
Ambiguous sounds intermittently emanated from the palace depths, mixed with women's suppressed gasps and the man's undisguised laughter.
.....
The carriage slowly advanced as Naruko could already distantly see the Land of Snow's outline.
The entire city-state seemed built from ice and snow, pure white buildings glinting crystalline light under sunlight. From afar it resembled scattered building blocks—clean and dreamlike.
Beside her, Yukie seemed slightly lost in thought, eyes floating with nostalgia. Naruko couldn't help softly asking, "Sister Yukie, have you been to the Land of Snow before?"
Yukie came back to herself and smiled. "I lived here for a while as a child."
Naruko nodded as if understanding. "Oh..."
During their brief exchange, they'd already reached the checkpoint. After guards verified documents, they quickly granted passage.
Entering the city, Naruko was immediately captivated by the scene before her: buildings on both sides of the street were like ice and jade carvings, glittering with fragmented light.
This crystalline exotic scenery made her involuntarily widen her eyes. "So beautiful."
A team of unfamiliar people suddenly blocked their path ahead.
Leading them was a middle-aged man in pure white robes and a tall hat. He slowly descended from his carriage and bowed slightly to Yukie:
"Miss Kazahana Yukie, I represent the Land of Snow in welcoming your arrival. The Divine Lord has specially commanded me to humbly request your presence at the palace for a discussion."
Yukie frowned upon hearing this. "Divine Lord? What about the original ruler?"
A nearly devout smile surfaced on the man's face, yet his tone brooked no argument. "Ruler? The Land of Snow has long been guided by the great Divine Lord. The previous ruler was corrupt and tyrannical, oppressing the people—he's been exiled by the Divine Lord. Now, only the Divine Lord can lead us toward the light."
Yukie immediately heard the deeper meaning in his words—the Land of Snow's ruler had changed hands.
Yet such a major upheaval had no news in the outside world—this itself was extremely unusual.
Unease stirred in her heart, but circumstances were pressing. She could only temporarily comply. "I understand."
She turned to return to the carriage, but the envoy spoke again. "The Divine Lord has only invited Miss Kazahana Yukie. As for other guests, we've already arranged separate accommodations."
Naruko's brow furrowed hearing this, immediately sensing something amiss. "I'm Miss Yukie's bodyguard. I must accompany her."
The envoy had seemed about to refuse but suddenly paused in expression, as if receiving some message, then showed reverence. "Of course you may. The Divine Lord has sensed your sincerity and specially invites you to come together."
He stepped slightly aside in an inviting gesture.
Yukie said softly to Naruko, "It's fine—this is just the sort of occasion actresses must frequently handle. Don't worry."
But Naruko smiled and shook her head.
From their time together, she'd grown quite fond of this gentle and forthright star. "This is my duty. Besides, don't worry—I'm quite strong!"
She indeed had this confidence. At her age, already capable of independently executing S-rank missions, this escort mission really wasn't much of a challenge.
Even if truly encountering an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, Naruko was confident she could use Flying Thunder God technique to immediately bring Yukie to safety.
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