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This Herrscher, with her personality starkly contrasting Fu Hua's, quickly earned Xia Chen's favor.
She was genuinely straightforward.
This sincerity wasn't akin to the blunt and heroic demeanor often found in tales of wanderers; rather, it resembled the innocent naivety of a child.
Xia Chen even felt that with his abilities, he could likely persuade her into bed ten times over.
However, such thoughts were undeniably wicked.
Yet, the way this Herrscher treated him seemed somewhat intriguing.
"Assisting Taixuan Mountain is somewhat my duty too. Since you helped me today, I'll return the favor."
The Herrscher of Sentience, acting like a child pretending to be mature, patted her slightly flat chest and said, "Shenzhou has always valued food and drink. Come on, let's go—I'll treat you to a meal, anything you want."
Xia Chen was mildly taken aback. "Don't we need to settle these residents first?"
"Don't worry about that, let's just go, go, go."
If it were the real Fu Hua, she would undoubtedly ensure the villagers' well-being before leaving. But as the Herrscher of Sentience, she immediately urged Xia Chen to depart.
Her actions lacked a clear sense of right or wrong, unbound by human morals and ethics.
Xia Chen couldn't help but frown.
Previously, he had contemplated convincing the Herrscher of Sentience to stand with humanity through the simulation scenarios. However, this subtle detail made it abundantly clear—she wouldn't align herself with them.
What humans needed went beyond merely combating Honkai; they also required preserving their civilization.
The word "responsibility" may seem light, yet it carries immense weight.
However, this straightforward Herrscher had clearly indicated her stance - she would not assist humans, even if they were inhabitants of Taixuan Mountain.
Her fight against Honkai stemmed from personal dissatisfaction with its existence, not to aid humanity. Nonetheless, it was still a means of combating Honkai, albeit driven by her own perspective.
Xia Chen chose not to confront the Herrscher of Sentience immediately.
Currently, Fu Hua's body, in its prime as a MANTIS fusion warrior, excelled in various martial arts. Engaging her now wouldn't be a wise decision, despite his anticipation for such a confrontation.
Moreover, having experienced the storyline, he knew what the Herrscher of Sentience feared most:
Doubt about her own existence.
She originated from consciousness and embraced an identity formed by self-recognition.
Once this sense of identity is shattered, leading to a loss of self-awareness, the Herrscher of Sentience effectively 'ceases' to exist.
This was also the approach used by Fu Hua and Kiana against her in the plot.
In silence, Xia Chen followed the Herrscher away from Taixuan Mountain. With their swift pace, they soon reached a nearby town.
The Herrscher of Sentience directly led him to an upscale-looking hotel before entering together.
"Eat and drink whatever you like, don't hold back."
Xia Chen hesitated momentarily.
"Before we proceed, just to confirm, do you have money to settle the bill?"
He had to admit, his emotional intelligence often left much to be desired.
Often, Ana would become exasperated with him, like a cat bristling in frustration.
"Don't worry, I have my ways," the Herrscher reassured, unperturbed.
She possessed the ability to directly alter human consciousness; ordering some food was inconsequential for her.
This reflected the character of the Herrscher of Sentience.
She was selfish, defiant, and reckless yet retained the raw sincerity inherent to humanity's primal nature. Some found her charming precisely because her actions aligned perfectly with the most basic human instincts, showcasing her genuine authenticity.
It's no wonder she earned the affectionate nickname "Senti."
After all, humans are inherently self-centered beings from their earliest beginnings, and her behavior merely amplified these innate traits.
The reason humans could successfully build a brilliant civilization is that wisdom suppresses our primal nature.
From this perspective, it also explains why the Herrscher of Sentience may appear less intelligent.
Xia Chen couldn't help but furrow his brow, clearly uncomfortable with such behavior.
"What are you waiting for? Is there nothing here you'd like to eat?" For some inexplicable reason, the Herrscher of Sentience sensed a familiar aura around Xia Chen, making her feel drawn to him.
Her logic was straightforward: if she wanted to be close to someone, she needed to treat them well.
"If there's nothing appealing here, we can try another place. It's not a problem."
The Herrscher's demeanor, displaying a playful innocence, made her seem more akin to a charismatic gang leader than a villain.
Xia Chen managed a forced smile and said, "No worries, I was just concerned about not having enough money to pay for it." He paused briefly before adding, "A few stir-fries and fried rice dishes will suffice; they all taste quite similar anyway."
This was his way of minimizing costs for the establishment, even though it was only a simulation.
The simulated environment closely resembled reality, to the point where committing crimes here could evoke a thrill rarely experienced in actual life. However, Xia Chen constantly restrained his desires.
Perhaps, Herrscher of Sentience might become the most challenging adversary he faced currently, aside from Finality.
Soon, fragrant fried rice arrived, along with thoughtful additions by the Herrscher of Sentience - pork knuckles and several vegetable dishes.
Neither Xia Chen nor Senti ate with much elegance.
Xia Chen consumed like a glutton, devouring everything effortlessly. Similarly, Herrscher of Sentience showed no restraint, directly grabbing the pork knuckle with her hands and tearing into it, abandoning any notion of table manners.
However, it smelled absolutely enticing.
Xia Chen's heart stirred, and he couldn't resist wanting to try it too.
Senti noticed his interest and promptly said, "Don't be shy, just go ahead with your hands, it's fine."
"Even though we're meeting for the first time, I feel quite familiar with you already," she candidly expressed, not hiding her fondness for Xia Chen.
Xia Chen hesitated briefly but followed suit, embracing the informal approach.
In his previous life, he had eaten pork knuckles this way before, albeit when he was much younger.
Setting aside any lingering embarrassment, this method truly felt satisfying.
The Herrscher of Sentience, like a child seeking praise, asked, "How is it? Isn't it really enjoyable?"
Xia Chen paused, then replied, "Indeed, it is."
Digging in with gusto, devouring food instinctively as nature intended, brought him genuine joy.
Soon, all the dishes on the table were swiftly devoured.
The Herrscher of Sentience attempted to skip out without paying, but Xia Chen settled the bill anyway, as his simulated identity still had some assets.
Confused like a child, the Herrscher questioned, "Why pay? If I remember correctly, money is very important. Why give away something so valuable?"
Xia Chen naturally wouldn't lecture her about disrespecting civilization and rules by not paying. After all, explaining such concepts to a kid would be akin to preaching to a brick wall.
Instead, he calmly replied, "If we don't spend money, what value does it hold then?"
Herrscher of Sentience was slightly taken aback.
"Hmm, you make a good point."
She couldn't deny that Xia Chen's words were indeed correct.
Changing the subject, she said, "You haven't told me your name yet."
"Xia Chen, with 'Xia' from summer (夏) and 'Chen' from dust (尘)."
"Oh, quite a common-sounding name, but it doesn't matter. Who can help falling for you, right? From now on, we're brothers!"
This Herrscher casually draped her arm around his shoulder. "We'll live together henceforth. Anyone who bullies you will have to deal with me."
Xia Chen remained silent, but his surging desire intensified even more.
He wanted nothing more than to devour her.