Chapter 405: I Don't Need Your Feigned Kindness
Though the man was unwilling, he had no choice but to turn and leave.
Xiao Ye reached out to help the woman up, but she shied away. "I don't need your hypocritical kindness. You're just after my body like the rest of them!"
'But he really wasn't...'
'He just couldn't stand by and watch. If he had to admit to a motive, it was simply to recruit her.'
"But... regardless, thank you." The woman adjusted her dress, taking a deep breath to compose herself.
"I have to go." Clicking her heels, she walked toward a more secluded area.
Zhu Chen was having an even harder time.
He lacked Xiao Ye's intimidating presence, projecting a much gentler and more refined image.
Many women were drawn to that quality. Even those who didn't dare approach Xiao Ye sought him out instead.
Zhu Chen finally managed to escape the crowd, looking flustered for the first time. "These people are absolute lunatics!"
It wasn't just the women who were after him—there were men, too!
'It was enough to make him sick to his stomach!'
"I can't take it. I'm leaving right now!"
Xiao Ye chuckled and reassured him. "It's alright. Just stick close to me. No one will be able to touch you."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Uriel approached them.
"Gentlemen, how are you finding things?"
"Not great. This initiation ceremony has only shown me humanity's most primitive side. It's utterly vulgar."
Beneath his mask, Uriel's expression soured, but he didn't let it show. "Since you dislike this, it's perfect timing. Let's go to the assembly."
'An assembly?'
Xiao Ye frowned. "I thought you said it wasn't for another week."
"That's right, that was the original plan, but things have changed. The assembly is nearby. I'll take you there now."
Xiao Ye looked into Uriel's cunning eyes and understood everything.
'This probably wasn't a last-minute change. From the very beginning, they never planned on telling me the real time. It seems they still don't trust me.'
'This assembly must be extremely important. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so cautious.'
"Alright. Let's go."
Uriel led the way. The three of them left the estate and got into a car.
The car's windows were sealed and completely blacked out, making it impossible to see outside.
Moreover, a partition separated the front and back seats, blocking any view through the windshield.
They had even placed various disorienting objects inside, like an assortment of decorations.
Xiao Ye pretended not to notice their petty tricks, closing his eyes to feign rest.
Zhu Chen, meanwhile, let a small Compass slip from his sleeve.
After nearly two hours, the car finally came to a stop.
When they got out, all they could see was a pitch-black entrance.
The car had parked with surprising precision right at the entrance, leaving them no room to survey their surroundings.
"Let's go inside," Uriel said.
Xiao Ye nodded, exchanged a look with Zhu Chen, and stepped through the entrance.
Once inside, sound-activated lights flickered on one by one.
Unlike the previous estate, this place looked ancient, the air thick with the smell of mold.
Xiao Ye's keen eyes picked up on certain features. It seemed to be a structure from an era of conflict, built to withstand enemy artillery fire.
They descended steadily until they finally reached the bottom.
A large door stood here, further convincing Xiao Ye of the structure's age—at least fifty years old.
'Probably an abandoned structure.'
The door opened to reveal an entirely different world.
The entire place had been renovated and was incredibly luxurious.
Men and women were swaying gently to the music.
Compared to the people at the estate, this crowd was clearly a cut above.
Their clothes were all haute couture, and everyone carried themselves with a certain aloofness.
Xiao Ye's gaze swept the room, and he quickly spotted several familiar figures.
He could make out several very famous actresses, singers, and other celebrities from Country A.
Though they wore masks, their body shapes and tattoos gave away their identities.
Uriel sidled up, a wide grin on his face. "You're a new member. If you wish to join this assembly, there's an entrance requirement."
'An entrance requirement?'
Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow. "What kind of requirement?"
"Come with me. Only after you've done this will you be qualified to participate in gatherings like this in the future. I can assure you, every single person here has done it."
Xiao Ye glanced at Zhu Chen. "We'll go together."
Uriel let out a low chuckle. "Of course. Follow me."
The two of them followed Uriel to a room deeper inside.
It turned out that besides the main hall, there were private suites. They were enormous, with a level of luxury rivaling a five-star hotel.
Xiao Ye's gaze swept the room. "Are we supposed to wait in here?"
"Correct." With that, Uriel backed out of the room with a grin. "You'll soon find out what's next. I guarantee you're going to love it."
With a clap of his hands, a wall in front of them suddenly slid open.
In the room beyond, a row of women stood waiting.
They were completely naked, each possessing a perfect figure.
Among them were many familiar faces, including several famous female celebrities from their own Dragon Country.
"Uriel, what is this?"
Uriel explained with a smirk, "This is the surprise I mentioned. It's also the task every member must complete."
"However, I've heard that you Dragon Country people aren't accustomed to... group activities, so I'm making a special exception and allowing you two to do it together."
"Normally, you'd be expected to handle them all by yourself, while Zhu Chen would be in another room facing the same number."
As he finished speaking, several of the women had already stepped out.
Xiao Ye turned his back, refusing to look at them. "Uriel, step aside. I'm leaving."
"I will not do something like this. We in the Dragon Country have a sense of honor and shame. We would never engage in such bestial acts!"
Beneath the mask, the smile on Uriel's face vanished instantly. "Xiao Ye, you need to understand a simple truth: human nature."
"Our Angel Association reveres a return to one's true nature. Lust is one of humanity's fundamental instincts. If you insist on suppressing it, you'll only suffer a more severe backlash."
"Furthermore, it will only push you further from a higher state of being. Don't you wish to cultivate yourselves and become true gods? Don't forget the story of the Garden of Eden. Not even Adam and Eve, in the beginning, could resist their base nature."
Xiao Ye gave a scornful laugh. "Humanity developed and became the dominant species on this planet precisely because we abandoned the savage life of eating raw flesh and drinking blood."
"The most fundamental difference between humans and animals is that humans can control their instincts. Only beasts are ruled by them, going into heat whenever and wherever they please!"