The wine glass trembled in my hand.
Not because I was nervous.
Okay. I was nervous. But the wine wasn't helping.
Across the candlelit table, Hye-Ra looked like trouble poured into a satin dress, one leg crossed, her ankle circling the stem of her glass like it had been trained in seduction since birth.
"Drink up," she said, swirling her wine. "You need to relax."
"I'm plenty relaxed," I said.
"Then why is your aura jittering like a virgin's on prom night?"
As soon as I heard that, I downed the wine in one gulp.
That was mistake number one.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
FOREIGN YIN SUBSTANCE DETECTED
MILD TOXIN: "SIREN'S SIP" — EFFECT: LOOSENS SELF-RESTRAINT BY 30%
RECOMMENDED RESPONSE: ACTIVATE "QI THREAD HEALING – Lv.1"
"Wait, what?" I coughed.
Hye-Ra leaned forward. "Is it too strong?"
"No, no. Tastes like grapes... and bad decisions."
I closed my eyes and focused. System, activate that new thread thing. The one from Yura—
[ACTIVATING: Qi Thread Healing – Lv.1]
LINKING RESONANT THREAD: SEO YURA
NEUTRALIZING TOXIN…
SUCCESS. YOUR BRAIN IS NOW YOUR OWN AGAIN. YOU'RE WELCOME.
I exhaled.
The fog lifted.
And suddenly, Hye-Ra didn't look like temptation. She looked like strategy.
"You spiked the wine," I said calmly.
She tilted her head. "Just a little. Nothing harmful. I just wanted you… open."
"And here I thought this was a wine tasting."
"It is. I'm tasting you."
[CHARISMA CHECK: PASSED]
YOU MAINTAINED COMPOSURE UNDER HIGH-LEVEL SEDUCTION PRESSURE
+1 WILLPOWER. +1 INTIMIDATING FLIRT RESISTANCE
I leaned back.
"Then I hope you like disappointment. Because I came prepared this time."
"Prepared?" she echoed, amused.
I smiled. "System active. Qi flowing. Libido locked and loaded—but spiritually monitored."
She laughed. "Gods, you're adorable. Trying to talk like a real cultivator while still wearing Doraemon socks."
"...They're my battle gear."
She stood.
Walked slowly around the table.
Her fingers trailed my shoulder. "You've grown stronger," she whispered near my ear.
"But you're still new. Green. Vulnerable. She hasn't trained you properly yet."
Her hand brushed down my chest.
I tensed—then remembered the Touch of Tantalizing Qi.
[USING SKILL: TOUCH OF TANTALIZING QI – Lv.2]
EFFECT: Target's heartbeat syncs with yours. Emotional link: Open.
I reached up. Took her hand. Held it with a calm firmness.
Her eyes flickered.
Her breath hitched.
"You… learned to reflect energy," she murmured.
"You taught me last time," I said. "Too well."
She didn't pull away.
Instead… she stepped back.
Then bowed her head. "Interesting. I wasn't expecting that."
"You didn't think I'd use my skills, did you?"
"No," she admitted. "But I'm glad you did."
[SYSTEM NOTE]
YOU HAVE PASSED HYE-RA'S FIRST REAL TEST
AFFECTION: +4
NEW QUEST CHAIN: "THE WINE MILF'S TEMPERANCE TRIAL" UNLOCKED
"So," I said, trying not to shake, "what now?"
She looked at me—genuinely, not seductively—for the first time in a while.
"Now I know you're not just a boy fumbling through breasts and blessings."
"And?"
"Now you're worth testing properly."
She moved to the door.
Paused.
Glanced over her shoulder.
"And maybe… worth keeping."
Then she was gone.
I slumped into the chair.
Everything ached. Not from battle. From restraint.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Qi Thread Healing – Lv.1: Mastery Achieved
New Skill Unlocked: "Resonant Detox"
Effect: Allows user to cleanse Yin-based status effects from allies or self.
Upgrade path available through emotional trials + physical merging.
I poured myself a glass of actual tea from Yura's reserve stash.
Because if I was going to survive this storm of MILFs…
I needed more than stamina and luck.
I needed every skill the System offered.
And next time?
I wasn't just walking into the room horny and hopeful.
I'd walk in ready.