While the sudden appearance of a divine beauty waltzing in their house could make many men leap from joy, Harun was less than pleased. Nevertheless, he greeted Dilnaz with a smile. The kind of fake smile anyone could spot miles away.
"Welcome, Your Majesty. Couldn't restrain yourself anymore? Had to come sample the goods and play the honeypot trick to subdue me?" Harun said with a broad grin. With one hand on her hip and the other hanging by her side, Dilnaz shrugged.
"Sort of." The casual reply took Harun off guard. How could he expect that the stately empress would openly admit to such crude thoughts. Then again, if he knew what she came to offer, he wouldn't be that surprised.
The rows of chairs surrounding Harun stood between Dilnaz and he. Standing up from his cultivation mat, Harun leaped toward his all-purpose table and motioned for Dilnaz to take a seat.
"Please, make yourself at home. Considering how you came in, I'm sure you don't need my permission. But since I was raised as a gentleman, I still have to speak the words," Harun said and sat before the table. Ignoring his pique, Dilnaz sat opposite to him, and for a second, the two faced one another. For once, Dilnaz didn't look at Harun like meat on the cutting board. Her eyes even displayed undisguised appreciation.
Harun, however, seemed to struggle with the proximity—forcing his eyes to not glance at Dilnaz's cleavage. Here's why:
"Holy cow, look at this broad! Those jugs, those lips, those hips, that ass! How can you not tap that? Look, it may sound far-fetched, but as the Supreme Founder, you should also think of establishing the supreme lineage. This gal is prime material for lineage building. Top-grade babies guaranteed. This is your lawful duty calling to you. I will even reward you!" The system's voice boomed in Harun's mind like an over-excited lecher facing a row of supermodels.
Again, Harun was forced to wonder what kind of depraved individual came up with this system. Surely, the world would be a better place without him? And while he clashed with the system's surging appetite, Dilnaz couldn't help but wonder if her charms weren't destabilizing the boy.
"Ultimately, he's too young. I suppose that can't be helped. This level of self-control is already commendable. It should make the whole thing easier," she reasoned, bat her eyelashes, and flashed Harun an enticing smile.
"I must say that I'm impressed. Fully aware that Heavenly Gods, Empyrean Monarchs and even Demi-Emperors are racing for your eyes, you can still cultivate in peace. In your shoes, many others would have collapsed from the pressure and gone mad. At first, I admit that I didn't take you seriously—a regretful mistake," Dilnaz started, maintaining eye contact to not lose any change in Harun's countenance.
"I'm here to fix that. The Empyrean clan is willing to give you an official apology and welcome you as its Crown-Prince-Consort. You can freely choose among all Empyrean ladies, married or unmarried. Even Jiyan, if you wish. In fact, out of selfish interests, I'd rather you choose Jiyan. Because whoever you pick will become the Empyrean clan's Crown Princess and will be nurtured for the throne which, in the future, will make you the Emperor-Consort.
Moreover, you can take as many concubines from the clan as you wish to. As many as you can handle, of course. We also give you a license to choose among our trusted vassals, will let you keep your eyes and give you maximum training. If you have any other requests, I'm all ears. In exchange for all this, we only ask two things:
A) Make a Dao Pledge to live and die for the Empyrean clan.
B) Hide in an Accelerated Time World for 3,000 years to cultivate and breed Double Pupil children," Dilnaz offered, and Harun's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Renowned as the top beauties of the 33 Heavens, the Vermillion Fox and Bewitching Snake clans aside, in beauty alone, Empyrean women didn't have any rival. In grace and background, none could equal them. The celestials looking for an opportunity to get their hands could form lines from a mortal world to another. But not only was Dilnaz giving Harun license to make his choice, he could even pick as many concubines as he could handle? Regardless of their marital status?
Those conditions alone would have broken many. But to top it off, he could keep his eyes and receive their full training? The only glaring drawbacks were that on the one hand, Harun would have to give up a leadership position in the 10,000 Sect War, while on the other, he'd basically turn into an eternal subordinate of the Empyrean clan.
That much was to be expected. At the end of the day, the Empyreans wanted their crown and imperial authority back. Why would they sell their clan's women to become an outsider's servant? If they couldn't ensure Harun's unquestionable allegiance, they'd never offer such conditions.
"Even you?" Because of those drawbacks, Harun didn't doubt Dilnaz's sincerity, but still couldn't resist the words.
"Unless I do not count as an Empyrean lady, even me," Dilnaz candidly replied.
"It seems fairly obvious, but I still have to ask. What is your relationship with Jiyan?"
"She's my daughter and only child."
"I see." Harun closed his eyes, nodded at Dilnaz's words, and arched his head back, "I respectfully decline," he said, and confused by such a swift refusal, Dilnaz frowned.
"Why? Such conditions can water the mouths of Heavenly Gods and make many Monarchs flounder. What do you want that we cannot offer you? Or do you think that clinging on complete freedom can save you from your current predicament? Even if you can win the upcoming clash, even if you join the Serpent Domain, the hunt will not stop until someone steals your eyes.
You are too young, too weak. You need time to grow and the backing of those you know, for sure, will not rob you of your life. Like I said, if there's anything else you want, unless it infringes on those two conditions, we will indulge you.
Harun, what do you want most in life?" Dilnaz asked.
"Food and wine," Harun replied with a straight face, and unprepared, Dilnaz blinked.
"Excuse me?" Though she knew Harun cultivated the Dao of Gluttony, she refused to believe that, deep down, he only cared for some trivial snacks—Harun broke her expectations.
"Food and wine. Give me that braised pork, that roast lamb, those greasy turkey tails, pour me that wine, and I will love you for 1,000 years. However, this is not important." Opening his eyes, Harun glanced at the ceiling, ignoring Dilnaz's gaze.
"God-Empress, even if you could find and fulfill all of my desires, even if you guaranteed my freedom on top of all other benefits, I'd still refuse, because regardless of where I stand on the moral spectrum, there is one thing I will never do—" Here, Harun paused, and lowered his eyes back to Dilnaz's with an intensity she didn't see coming.
"To consort with a clan willing to sell its children for benefits. From the moment you made that offer, every second I glanced at you made my eyes burn. So please do me a favor: get lost and stop sickening me.
Words cannot begin to describe how sorry I feel for Jiyan," Harun said, struggling to restrain the rage twisting his face, and slapped hard by his words, Dilnaz trembled.
Gritting her teeth, Dilnaz restrained her aura outburst. Using the stakes of this agreement to cool her billowing fury.
"What, are you one of those unrealistic fools that don't understand the necessity of compromise and sacrifice? The Empyrean clan sheltered, raised, and led them all to their current standing. Glory, splendor, wealth and rank, what did the clan not give them? But what did they provide in return? Besides siphoning resources, what purposes do they serve? So if now the clan wants them to pay back a portion of all it gave them, why should they not comply?
This is the reality of our world. I expected be—" Dilnaz used her late father's words to sway Harun. But before she could speak them, a boundless pressure locked the last words in her throat. Purple filaments grew and coiled around Harun's form, a thick aura of violet mist surged alongside them, and his purple eye sparkled in the same shade.
"I think you do not understand." Harun stressed every word, and as if tricked into an irresistible illusion, Dilnaz saw the figure of an infinitely tall, clawed serpent form at his back.
"I said…get…LOST!"
*BANG*
Walls of boundless aura rammed into Dilnaz, hurling her out of Harun's pagoda in one ringing blast. Breaking through the wall, Dilnaz crashed 100 meters away from Harun, the first rays of the new day shafted in the sky, and she spurted blood.