Manipulative Harem God

[Be careful, host.]

Zhang Wei, concealing his alertness behind a facade of casualness, couldn't shake the anticipation of a potential confrontation.

After his recent boost in cultivation he was certain he could survive a battle with Xie Meirong, even if her powers was equivalent to the Soul Warming realm.

In contrast, Xie Meirong appeared surprisingly carefree, a faint smile gracing her lips as she walked toward Zhang Wei, her expression oddly welcoming.

Leng Yan, her senses heightened, prepared her best ability. Her hands radiated a bone-chilling blue aura, causing the temperature in the room to drop.

Zhang Wei, while watching Xie Meirong closely, secretly gathered strength in his left hand, hidden behind his back.

However, a nagging feeling of restraint held him back from launching an attack...Xie Meirong, for now at least, seemed harmless in his presence.

"Come with me," Xie Meirong said, her shoulders lightly brushing against Zhang Wei's as she took his hands. It was an unexpected move, one that startled both of them.

Zhang Wei felt the softness of her grip but retained his clarity, understanding the potential danger. He asked with a calm but cautious tone, "What do you want? You mentioned Leng Yan was responsible for all of this. Can you explain it?" He signaled Leng Yan to pause her advances, momentarily halting her approach toward them.

Leng Yan's eyes communicated her inner turmoil.

She believed that Xie Meirong was not just powerful but genuinely dangerous, especially after the recent display of her strength.

Even with both her and Zhang Wei facing her, she was uncertain if they could overcome her. What puzzled Leng Yan even more was Xie Meirong's seemingly inexplicable ability.

There were no fluctuations in qi around her, and she couldn't comprehend how it worked.

The fact that Xie Meirong wasn't a cultivator made it even more perplexing. However, she couldn't rule out the possibility that Xie Meirong was hiding her true nature, just like Zhang Wei.

Xie Meirong, with an oddly warm smile, led Zhang Wei toward her collection of disturbingly aesthetic artworks.

As they approached the gallery of horrors, Xie Meirong turned to Zhang Wei, her expression expectant. "How do you feel about them? Do you like my art?" Her dark eyes bore into him, eagerly awaiting his response.

"..." Zhang Wei's skin crawled at the sound of her voice, and an unsettling feeling washed over him, urging him not to answer. He glanced down and discovered that her hands clung tightly to his, as if she anticipated a reaction, intensifying his sense of disquiet.

[Host, please don't say it.] the system suggested, its voice tinged with exhaustion.

Xie Meirong's smile dimmed as she observed his lack of response, her disappointment evident. She muttered to herself, "I thought he liked it...."

However, her smile soon returned, but this time with a sinister edge. She readied herself to eliminate the two captives, determined to complete her dark task and make her escape.

Just as she was about to act, Zhang Wei's voice reached her ears, startling her.

"It's not that bad," Zhang Wei's voice broke the silence, sending a shiver down Xie Meirong's spine.

She turned to him, her eyes wide with curiosity and a touch of surprise. "You... have something to say?" she asked with a hint of impatience.

Zhang Wei, maintaining his composure, knew he needed to tread carefully. He didn't want to provoke Xie Meirong further, but he was also plotting a way to catch her off-guard and subdue her.

"I was just going to say," he began cautiously, "that your art, despite its cruel nature, is... impressive in its own way. You have a unique talent, and I can appreciate the skill it takes to create something like this."

Xie Meirong's eyes lit up with delight, and her sinister smile returned. "Impressive, you say?" she purred.

"It is," Zhang Wei nodded, restraining his true feelings, which were quite different from what he'd just said.

However, his words seemed to be exactly what Xie Meirong wanted to hear. Her smile widened, and she proclaimed, "You understand. You truly understand my art! I knew you were different!"

Zhang Wei couldn't help but wonder why she was associating herself with him, but before he could voice his thoughts, a strange force restricted his movements.

!!

"Zhang Wei!" Leng Yan sprang into action, her hand clutching an ice spike.

She moved quickly, closing the distance between herself and Xie Meirong, aiming to deliver a clean strike to the latter's neck.

"Eh?"

But then, Leng Yan's expression suddenly shifted. She had to slam on the brakes, freezing in her tracks, a look of bewilderment washing over her face.

"W-What the ****?" An unintentional curse slipped past her lips, her face contorting into a blank, deadpan expression.

Something had clearly disrupted her intentions.

*Clank!*

The ice spike plummeted to the hardened ground, shattering into two pieces.

[Host, your ruse is commendable! You managed to charm this psycho! By the way, host, how does it feel to be on the receiving end of being forced?]

Zhang Wei, "..."

'I would break your mouth, system,' he thought with a frustrated sigh.

[Haha, first protect your mouth, host.]

In the crystal-clear eyes of Leng Yan, a shocking sight unfolded. Xie Meirong aggressively kissing Zhang Wei, his figure restrained by her powers, her hands tightly wrapped around his neck.

Leng Yan's face twisted into a mix of disbelief and annoyance as she watched the unsettling scene.

Leng Yan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration with Zhang Wei.

She was puzzled by the way he had interacted with Xie Meirong, especially when he seemed to know her.

Was it possible that Zhang Wei had orchestrated this entire act? If so, why?

The confusion and uncertainty swirled within her, and she turned to make her exit.

But just before she could depart, a sudden *Boom* echoed through the room, and she saw Zhang Wei being pressed against the floor, his situation far from what she had imagined.

She stood there bewildered, torn between conflicting impulses. "Help him... But is he even in danger?" she muttered, her tone laced with a half-hearted chuckle.

Zhang Wei cast a stern glare at Leng Yan, silently conveying his disapproval, before turning his attention to the pressing issue at hand.

"Hehe, I like you, I won't kill you," Xie Meirong giggled, her eyes fixed on his face. Her slender finger traced across his cheek as she continued, "You don't look bad as well..."

The smile on her face grew more sinister, and her grip on him tightened. "In fact," she whispered in a tone that sent shivers down Zhang Wei's spine, "you're mine now. No one can have you but me. You would be my alive-art piece!"

"..." Zhang Wei's face remained stoic as he channeled his inner strength, successfully moving his hand to break free from Xie Meirong's grasp. He slapped her fingers away from his face, asserting his resistance.

"Eh? You are quite powerful as well! That's even better," Xie Meirong initially expressed surprise before a sly smile spread across her face.

Zhang Wei smiled back, but his tone was resolute. "The handsome part I'll gladly take, but, my dear, I'm in no mood to become anyone's exclusive toy."

"Why not?" Xie Meirong retorted, her obsession unyielding.

Zhang Wei leaned closer, his expression earnest. "Would you give me money?"

Xie Meirong seemed taken aback. "Why would you need mon—"

"Shh!" Zhang Wei hushed her, his voice low and conspiratorial. "So you won't give me money. What about giving me a house?"

Xie Meirong's determination wavered as she tried to persuade Zhang Wei. "Don't you already have a house? We can live together—"

"Enough. So no house, no money, what about cooking? Do you know how to cook?" Zhang Wei interjected, his smile growing, his eyes filled with a hint of mischief.

Xie Meirong's face darkened, and she clenched her fists in frustration. "You can cook for us!" Her lack of culinary skills was clear.

Zhang Wei nodded playfully. "So no money, no food, what about me messing around with other women outside?"

Xie Meirong's frown deepened, and her gaze turned possessive. "Impossible!"

Zhang Wei chuckled softly, his voice laced with amusement. "No house, no money, no food, and no fun... I see. Do you want to know something?"

Xie Meirong hesitated, her eyes locked onto his. "...What?"

Zhang Wei leaned in, his tone firm and unwavering. "Even if you have all of this, I still wouldn't become your exclusive."

"..." Xie Meirong seethed with frustration, her eyes blazing with anger as Zhang Wei continued to resist her advances.

Leng Yan facepalmed, unable to believe the bizarre situation unfolding before her.

She noticed the room trembling under Xie Meirong's mounting anger, which made her worry about Zhang Wei's safety.

However, she couldn't help but sigh and mutter to herself, "He should be fine, if he still has time to trash talk..."

[Host, she isn't looking happy at all... you certainly have some plan worked out if you can still trash talk, right?]