Eren's heart raced as he found himself standing before the person he least wanted to meet.
He knew that his life was hanging by a thread. This wasn't a dream.
He wasn't even sure if he would return to his world if he were to die here. The risk was too great to take.
With a calm facade, Eren stood up from the bed and faced Zhang Wei, desperately trying to hide the fear that was consuming him.
"I was merely talking to myself. Is there something I can help you with?" he replied, attempting to divert her attention.
Zhang Wei's piercing gaze locked onto Eren, her eyes filled with suspicion.
"You seem nervous, Elder Ren. Is there something you're hiding from me?" she questioned, her voice laced with a hint of danger.
Hearing her questions, Eren felt his heart skip a beat. He wanted to curse out loud at the woman.
"Am I hiding something? Of course I am! I'm hiding a ring that exposes my true identity! Can't you play along when I'm trying to divert your attention? Do you really want to kill me that badly?!"
Fortunately, he didn't speak his thoughts out loud.
In front of him stood the Blood Asura, capable of killing him before he could even blink. Behind him was the ring from the Hero Academy, and in his pocket was his phone.
He felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. He tried to calm his mind and prepare an excuse, but just as he was about to explain, his vision began to blur.
A semi-transparent screen appeared before him, displaying four options.
[Option One: You have committed a sin by betraying the trust of the Devil Sect. Confess to Zhang Wei and tell her that you are a spy sent by the Mythical Hero Academy.
Reward: Black Dragon Sword (Rare Tier)]
[Option Two: Tell Zhang Wei that you are just not accustomed to the company of a beautiful woman like her. Seeing her, you grew slightly nervous.
Reward: A Question Voucher]
[Option Three: Take a step back and explain to Zhang Wei that everything is fine and she is just overthinking.
Reward: An unknown egg (Mid Tier)]
[Option Four: Tell her that you have been feeling unwell lately and that you were just about to go to sleep. Tell her to leave so you can rest.
Reward: Healing Pill (Low Tier)]
Eren gazed at the screen that had seemingly materialized out of thin air, his mind filled with bewilderment.
He had delved into numerous chapters of this web novel, yet not once had the existence of such a system been mentioned when it came to Elder Ren.
Even in the chapter where the Elder died, there was no mention of any system whatsoever.
In contrast, the protagonist of the novel possessed a distinct system, though vastly different from the one now presenting itself before Eren.
That system lacked any options or choices for the main character. Instead, it mainly granted quests upon him, serving as a means to enhance his strength.
As the Main Character grew stronger, more options in the system were unlocked, like the store from which he could buy various special items.
That system had become the biggest helper of the main character, allowing him to survive even the wildest of situations.
On the contrary, the screen that had materialized before Eren was clearly different from the system he was familiar with.
There was no quest. If anything, it looked more like a guide. There was no punishment for failure, at least none mentioned. At the same time, all options came with certain rewards.
"Are you listening to me?" Zhang Wei frowned, noticing the strange behavior of Eren.
She stepped closer to Eren, feeling even more suspicious.
Eren came to his senses, watching Zhang Wei getting closer to him.
'Argh, screw it! I'll go with option two!'
With no time to think about it, he selected the second option.
Instead of stepping back, he confidently stepped forward, locking his gaze with Zhang Wei.
The chilling intensity in her eyes, as if they had witnessed the horrors of countless battles, would have unsettled most people. Eren, though unnerved, refused to show any signs of fear.
"Elder Zhang, you are absolutely right. I must admit, I was nervous," Eren confessed as he closed the distance between them.
Zhang Wei was taken aback, slightly overwhelmed by his unexpected approach. She hadn't anticipated him moving closer.
As a result, the space between them dwindled until only a few centimeters separated their lips.
"I was nervous because of you," Eren revealed, his voice filled with a mixture of vulnerability and admiration.
Zhang Wei instinctively wanted to retreat, overwhelmed by the proximity.
She had never been this close to a man before. However, she resisted the urge to step back, not wanting to appear frightened.
Instead, she remained motionless, resembling a frozen statue.
"B-because of me?" she stammered, her warm breath grazing his skin.
Eren's heart skipped a beat, a surge of unfamiliar emotions coursing through him. This woman was truly a beauty that could bring kingdoms to their knees with her charm alone.
He quickly composed himself, reminding himself of the danger that lurked within this woman. She was beautiful, but more than that, she was dangerous.
"Yes, it's because of you," Eren repeated, his voice steady but laced with sincerity. "Encountering a woman as beautiful as you is a rarity for me. Your presence here has made me nervous. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Zhang Wei heard Eren's words, unsure of how to respond. A faint blush tinged the tips of her ears.
No one had ever spoken to her in such a manner before. Even within her own sect, people were too intimidated to approach her. Yet, this man...
"Don't be absurd!" she retorted, turning away in an attempt to conceal her flushed cheeks. "Stop joking. I am not beautiful."
However, deep down, Zhang Wei couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart at his genuine words.
Though she was aware of her own beauty, hearing it from someone else was a novel experience in itself.