Chapter 2: The Beauty Trap

Unfortunately, humans are such contradictory creatures. Some things, the more you try to control, the less control you actually have. Although Zhang Wen shut his eyes tightly and tried his best not to look or think about Linoah’s seductive body, as her soft moans—so enticing they could almost melt one’s bones—continued to reach his ears, the energy within Zhang Wen’s body only became more turbulent.

Damn it! I suspected all along that the name “Spring Water Manual” implied something of that nature. It really is like that! No wonder I’ve felt so strange during my cultivation sessions lately! Normally, Zhang Wen had always been confident in his self-control. Now, recalling the situation when he first met Linoah, he finally realized the truth: either he had reached a critical point in cultivating the Spring Water Manual, or he was entering a kind of mating phase.

Once he realized this, Zhang Wen actually began to calm down. As long as the Spring Water Manual wasn’t malfunctioning in his cultivation, a little unusual energy fluctuation wasn’t a major issue.

Relieved of his greatest concern, Zhang Wen once again turned his gaze toward Linoah, who was lying on the table. To his dismay, his mind uncontrollably conjured up vivid images of him tormenting this peerless temptress. This woman would definitely be a Hollywood superstar on Earth, a seductress who walked the fine line between coldness and sensuality.

Imagining her naked body twisting like a snake, her expression a mixture of pain and pleasure, the energy inside Zhang Wen surged even more violently.

However, this time Zhang Wen didn’t deliberately suppress the energy fluctuations now that he understood their cause. Instead, he resumed his usual cultivation practice with the Spring Water Manual. As expected, he quickly discovered that the energy disturbance didn’t seem harmful at all—it actually heightened his senses. He could hear every soft moan from Linoah, and even detect the sound of the library’s main door opening again.

Who could it be this time? It seemed that Linoah had specifically come to the library to meet someone. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dressed so seductively. As Zhang Wen pondered this, he noticed that Linoah’s moaning had stopped.

Then, Linoah stood up and put her shoes back on. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned against a desk with a smile. A moment later, a small figure hurried into the reading room.

Could it really be him?! When the visitor stepped into the light, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but frown in surprise. He never expected that the person meeting Linoah in secret would be his immediate superior—Fifty-seven-year-old Dean Ode, the head of administration and discipline.

This woman is truly something else! Pretending to be aloof and unapproachable all this time, she had fooled the entire school. And now, without making a sound, she had managed to seduce Dean Ode. Zhang Wen mused silently to himself, realizing that his earlier decision to stay hidden had been wise. If he had gone out and been seen by Linoah, he would have offended not only her but also his direct superior. For Zhang Wen, who lacked a strong foundation at the academy, that would have been extremely disadvantageous.

Upon entering the reading room, Ode’s first action was to tightly shut the door and place an energy barrier on it, ensuring it could only be opened from the inside.

After completing his precautions, Ode turned to face Linoah. As soon as he saw her alluring outfit, he froze, staring at her as if he wanted to devour her whole.

“Linoah, you look absolutely stunning today,” Ode finally said after a while, his voice sending chills down Zhang Wen’s spine.

“Meeting Dean Ode deserves nothing less than my best effort. Tell me, does my outfit today meet our agreement?” Linoah replied with a smile, her charm so overwhelming that Ode nearly lost his composure again.

“Well… of course it does, of course it does! Linoah, why are you calling me Dean again? Haven’t I told you before? From now on, just call me Uncle!”

Uncle? What a perverted old man! Listening to Ode’s lustful tone from behind two rows of bookshelves, Zhang Wen’s hair stood on end. He couldn’t help but admire Linoah’s composure—facing such a perverted old man, she remained unfazed and could still smile so captivatingly!

“Today is the academy festival. I assume you didn’t specifically arrange this meeting just to chat like this. Tell me, what do you want?” After ogling Linoah for quite some time, Ode finally asked, seemingly satisfied.

“It’s nothing too serious. I just wanted to ask Uncle Ode to take me to the First Archives of the academy,” Linoah replied with a charming smile, her tone now obediently addressing him as “Uncle Ode.”

However, this time Ode wasn’t completely captivated by Linoah’s alluring call. He furrowed his brows in confusion and asked, “The First Archives? What do you want to go there for?”

“Hehe! Uncle Ode, I’ve recently encountered some difficulties in my spellcasting studies. I’ve heard that the best resources on spellcasting are all stored in the First Archives. As you know, the promotion evaluation is just around the corner after the academy festival. I’ve always dreamed of becoming the youngest four-star instructor in the history of Almystic Academy. Surely you wouldn’t refuse to help me, would you?” Linoah replied with a slight frown, her soft and enchanting voice making Zhang Wen’s heart beat twice as fast even from his hidden spot behind the shelves.

This woman really knows how to reel a man in! No wonder people always say women are natural-born deceivers… Hmm? At the word “deceiver,” a sudden thought struck Zhang Wen.

Exactly! This Linoah teacher was far too skilled at using her charm. Her ability to manipulate men was almost too good. A mentor who had received formal noble education in the Empire and graduated from a prestigious academy—no matter how naturally seductive she might be—probably wouldn’t possess such refined techniques.

Zhang Wen took another careful look at Linoah and slowly a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

On the other side, facing Linoah directly, Ode’s expression kept changing. After hesitating for a long time, he finally shook his head with a troubled look and said, “No! Linoah, I can help you with anything else, but not this!” He softened his tone slightly as he continued, “I understand your desire to become the youngest four-star instructor in the academy’s history, but the First Archives contain records of forbidden spellcasting techniques. Even if you entered, it wouldn’t help you in the promotion test.”

“Alright then! If you really feel so conflicted about it, I won’t insist,” Linoah replied with a smile, seemingly indifferent, as if she had completely given up.

Playing hard to get… truly impressive. Linoah’s act made Zhang Wen, hidden behind the shelves, shake his head with a quiet chuckle. He had to admit, Linoah’s methods for dealing with Ode were indeed highly effective. However, her skillful manipulation only strengthened his suspicions—Linoah’s identity was definitely suspicious!

If Linoah were truly just an ambitious teacher, the most logical choice would have been to continue seducing Ode rather than playing hard to get. After all, while the latter strategy was more effective in hooking someone, it was also a high-risk gamble. If it failed, it could cost her all the effort she had previously invested in building their relationship.

For an ordinary woman simply trying to climb the ranks, such a choice would be foolish—a risk far outweighing the potential reward. Based on Linoah’s previous displays of intelligence and skill, she was clearly no fool.

Thinking this through, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but smile again. Judging from Linoah’s choice today, she must be determined to enter the First Archives at all costs. If he were Ode, he would have simply refused her and let her stew for a few days. That way, when she ran out of options, he could effortlessly take what he wanted without paying any price.

Unfortunately, Ode, already bewitched by Linoah to the point of losing most of his senses, couldn’t think of such strategies. As soon as he saw Linoah’s indifferent reaction, he became anxious.

“Then… what about our game…?” Ode took a big step toward Linoah, anxiously asking.

“Dean Ode, are you planning to break our agreement?” Linoah replied with a smile, playfully questioning him.

“This… of course not,” Ode stammered, his aged face quickly turning bright red.

Although Zhang Wen wasn’t exactly sure what kind of “game” Ode and Linoah were playing, he could clearly see that Ode’s refusal had deeply affected him, causing him great disappointment.

Right! Suddenly recalling a previous conversation, Zhang Wen remembered something Linoah had said when she first saw Ode: “I dressed like this today—do you think it still meets our agreement?”

So that meant Linoah had dressed so provocatively on purpose, as part of their game. Judging by how eager Ode was to continue, maybe the next step was for this famous beauty to undress completely for him? Zhang Wen gave Linoah a mischievous glance, his mind involuntarily conjuring up images of the stunning woman completely naked.

“Sigh! I never expected to cause Dean Ode so much trouble. I thought with your authority, taking me to the First Archives would be a simple matter. It seems I’ll have to find another way to pass the evaluation. Dean Ode, our game will have to start all over again next time,” Linoah said regretfully, suddenly stretching lazily as she made her way toward the door.

As Linoah stretched, her ample bosom pushed the neckline of her dress even more taut, making Ode’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets!

Although Ode knew full well that Linoah’s actions were deliberate attempts to seduce him, his breathing still involuntarily quickened.

However, the person most affected by Linoah’s provocative stretch wasn’t Ode, but Zhang Wen, who was hiding behind the bookshelves! From his angle—roughly a forty-five-degree side view—he had a perfect sightline of Linoah’s body. While Ode could only see her cleavage from the front, Zhang Wen could clearly see a perfectly shaped, fully exposed breast peeking through the neckline of her dress.

“Wait!” Just as Linoah reached for the doorknob, Ode finally couldn’t hold back and shouted, calling her back.

From behind the shelves, Zhang Wen could clearly see the faint smile forming at the corner of Linoah’s lips. Linoah quickly turned back and walked toward Ode, sitting down on the desk beside him.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry! I’ll take you to the First Archives,” Ode said with a lustful gaze, his voice once again making Zhang Wen’s skin crawl.

“Really, teacher? You’re really going to take me?” Linoah asked with an enchanting smile.

“Hehe. That’s right, I’ll take you! Sure, the First Archives are officially off-limits without the Dean’s permission. But since you’re a faculty member here, what harm could there be in taking a quick peek? But as for our game…” Ode said lustfully, inching closer to Linoah.

“Hehe! Dean Ode is just as impatient as ever. Alright then, Dean Ode, this time you win. But we still have to follow our agreement,” Linoah replied with a smile, hopping off the desk and leaning slightly forward toward Ode.

“Fine! As you wish. But after we visit the First Archives…” Ode grinned lecherously, his eyes greedily undressing Linoah with every glance.

“Don’t worry! After we visit the First Archives, I’ll make sure to give you a performance that will leave you completely satisfied~” Linoah said slowly and seductively, each word dripping with allure.

“Great! Haha! I’m really looking forward to our next meeting,” Ode said excitedly, his face flushed with pleasure as he rubbed his hands together and walked past Linoah. As he left, his eyes remained fixed on the seductive Linoah with insatiable greed.

Linoah maintained her elegant and charming smile until Ode had left the reading room and disappeared down the corridor. Only then did she let go of her smile, revealing a slightly amused expression.

“Phew!” Linoah exhaled deeply, as if exhausted, and walked toward the desk where she had left her coat.

But no one could have predicted what happened next. As Linoah walked between the desk and the first row of bookshelves, her high heel accidentally caught on the desk leg. Losing her balance, she instinctively pushed against the bookshelf to steady herself.

The bookshelf, filled with books, supported Linoah’s sexy figure. However, due to her tall stature, her eyes were now exactly aligned with the space between the top shelf and the second shelf down.

Just like that, and without anyone expecting it, Linoia and Zhang Wen locked eyes. When Linoia saw the smiling eyes of Zhang Wen, she couldn’t help but freeze in place. Likewise unprepared, Zhang Wen also paused for a moment.

However, compared to Linoia, who suddenly realized she had been watched, Zhang Wen naturally reacted much faster. Before Linoia could figure out what was happening, Zhang Wen had already gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and darted out from behind the bookshelf.

Just as Zhang Wen started running, he unexpectedly discovered that his energy was flowing more smoothly than ever before, and his speed had increased by more than double. In the blink of an eye, he had already dashed out of the library entrance and sprinted down the corridor.

Although Linoia was quite agile compared to an average person, by the time she turned around, she had only caught a glimpse of a dark figure bursting through the door. Moreover, since the lighting in the reading room was dim, Linoia couldn’t even make out the figure’s body shape.

By the time Linoia, ignoring her high heels and risking a twisted ankle, rushed to the doorway of the reading room, the corridor was already empty, without a single shadow in sight.

Who was he? Judging from his clothes, it looked like the uniform of the Disciplinary Committee. His speed just now indicated that his martial arts skill was at least at the sixth star level. Someone like that would be considered an expert even in the Empire. However, today’s meeting with Od had only been decided that morning. So, was he just here by coincidence? Hmm! He probably didn’t notice anything, right… Linoia leaned one hand against the doorframe of the reading room, her beautiful eyes flashing with a hint of surprise and doubt.

After rushing out of the library, Zhang Wen finally slowed down. He resumed his usual pace, walking along the lakeside path toward the plaza where the academy festival was being held.

Zhang Wen felt quite satisfied with what he had gained at the library today. Not only had he figured out the problem in his Spring Water Technique cultivation, but he had also had the good fortune to witness the sensual performance of Linoia, the famous icy beauty of the academy. As he recalled the alluring scene of Linoia half-reclining on the desk, gently massaging her delicate feet, Zhang Wen felt his body warming up again.

Heh! I didn’t expect that looking at beautiful women could actually benefit my Spring Water Technique cultivation. Then I should hurry up a bit; maybe I can catch the final round of voting for this year’s “Miss Almacean Beauty Pageant.” Thinking with interest, Zhang Wen quickened his pace again.

Before Zhang Wen could reach the academy plaza, he saw a short-haired girl running toward him in a flustered and hurried manner. Zhang Wen was very familiar with this female student. Her name was Amelis, a student officer of the Disciplinary Committee.

Almacean Academy had a long history and a prestigious reputation, with most of its students coming from imperial nobility. Therefore, the student culture was actually quite traditional. Naturally, the students who applied to join the Disciplinary Committee were even more traditional. Among this group of “most traditional” students, Amelis was an exception. She had a lively personality, often coming up with unconventional ideas and frequently doing things that made people both laugh and cry.

Perhaps for this very reason, Amelis didn’t quite fit in with most of the Disciplinary Committee members—although her looks had always been recognized as one of the top three beauties in the committee. When Zhang Wen first met Amelis, the young beauty had actually been hiding alone in a warehouse behind the Disciplinary Committee, crying her heart out.

However, Amelis’s “unconventional” ideas resonated with Zhang Wen, who came from modern Earth. Therefore, it wasn’t long before the two became the most compatible and closest pair of teacher and student within the Disciplinary Committee.

Yet, the Amelis that Zhang Wen was used to seeing looked different today at the festival. Her outfit gave him a fresh sense of excitement. Amelis wore a sleeveless top that seemed a size too small. The tight-fitting garment hugged her body, perfectly accentuating her graceful curves.

Just like all first-year female students at the academy, Amelis’s body had only recently begun to mature, far from matching Linoia’s level of sensuality. However, the budding charm of her youthful body and her small, delicate chest, outlined by the tight top, created an unusual sense of allure. Additionally, perhaps because she had been running too fast, one of Amelis’s shoulder straps had slipped off, exposing her smooth, tender shoulder and even part of her black bra to Zhang Wen’s eyes!

As for the girl’s lower body attire… Amelis clearly knew exactly where her most attractive features lay! Instead of the long skirts most commonly worn at the summer academy, she wore shorts! Looking at her pair of smooth, elastic white legs, Zhang Wen’s energy, which had just calmed down, began stirring again.

“Teacher Zhang! It’s a disaster! It’s a disaster!” Just as Zhang Wen was admiring Amelis’s alluring outfit, the girl noticed him too. Upon seeing Zhang Wen, Amelis first froze for a moment, then rushed over while shouting loudly.

Amelis had always been famous in the Disciplinary Committee for her “unfiltered speech” and “reckless behavior.” Now, in her panic, the things she shouted out made Zhang Wen both laugh and cry.

“Calm down! Calm down! Don’t panic. Tell me slowly.” Zhang Wen withdrew his gaze from Amelis, let her stop beside him, and patiently asked her.

Unfortunately, Zhang Wen’s patience didn’t rub off on Amelis at all. The girl was still anxious and fired off at him like a machine gun: “Teacher Zhang, it’s really bad! You have to go see it! Hurry up, hurry up!” The short-haired girl shouted for a long time but realized Zhang Wen hadn’t moved a bit. She blinked her eyes and simply grabbed Zhang Wen’s arm, dragging him toward the academy plaza.

The moment Amelis hugged Zhang Wen’s arm, the soft sensation from both sides of his arm made him feel a stir in his heart again. However, seeing Amelis’s anxious and flustered expression, Zhang Wen also realized that something serious might have happened.

“What exactly is going on?” Zhang Wen composed himself, following Amelis while walking and quietly asking.

“Just come with me! Come with me!” Amelis seemed too rushed to explain, only focused on dragging Zhang Wen forward. As she did, Zhang Wen’s arm was once again pressed against her chest, giving him a chance to feel her softness.

Soon enough, Zhang Wen saw a sea of people ahead. There were both younger and older students, and among them, mostly girls. They surrounded one corner of the plaza, discussing and straining their necks to look toward the center.

What are these guys looking at? I remember York told me that the final rounds of the Almacean Beauty Pageant were held on the open-air stage at the west side of the academy plaza. As Zhang Wen was curious, he suddenly heard Amelis’s piercing, ear-splitting shout: “Make way! The teacher from the Disciplinary Committee is here!”

Whether it was because of deliberate practice or not, Amelis’s voice was not only powerful but also had a penetrating force that could rival a loudspeaker.

“Huh?” Amelis’s shout pierced through the crowd, and the students who were watching all turned their heads. Upon seeing Zhang Wen’s distinctive Disciplinary Committee uniform, the students in front of him immediately moved aside, making a path for him.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhang Wen naturally couldn’t back down. He pushed through the crowd and walked into the center along the small path.

Halfway there, Zhang Wen already understood what was happening. It turned out that in the center of the crowd, there were two students holding “crystal energy swords,” ready to start a duel.

This was the first time since entering Almacean Academy that Zhang Wen had witnessed such a noble-style duel. And when he got a clear look at the two students, he understood even better why so many people had gathered around. These two students were actually famous figures from the school!

Standing on the left, wearing a black top, was Zack, the eldest son of the commander of the Empire’s strongest military unit, the Shinra Army. On the right, wearing a white top, was Cloud, the younger son of the Supreme Ruler of the Chaos Alliance.