Chapter 314 - 158: Red Dust Skill Goes Online (Part 2)

Chapter 314: Chapter 158: Red Dust Skill Goes Online (Part 2)

Beside the winding, nine-turn corridor, the camera focused on the back of a figure in a qipao. A rich, classical atmosphere filled the air. The high, stiff collar accentuated her slender neck, a hint of skin teasingly revealed. The knotted frog buttons, coiled into floral shapes, rested in pairs, coyly suggestive. A slit in the qipao offered fleeting glimpses of a pale thigh, like an ostentatious flower blooming with seductive charm through the years. Truly exquisite.

Her high heels stopped. She waved a silk fan, then glanced back over her shoulder. A lock of black hair swayed. A single smile could launch a hundred charms.

CLICK! The camera froze the exquisite moment in time.

"Su Ran, you’re pretty good at this. I love them."

"It’s mainly because you’re so beautiful. Even my random snapshots turn out gorgeous. Sister Piaopiao, your figure is just incredible."

"Hehehe, what a sweet talker. Here, come over. I’ll reward you with a photo."

Liu Piaopiao pulled Su Ran over domineeringly, hooking an arm around his neck and holding up her phone with the other hand.

Liu Piaopiao: "Smile."

Su Ran: "Hee hee hee."

Liu Piaopiao: "Are you an idiot? Smile again, or I’ll stomp you."

Su Ran: "Heh..."

"BEEP BEEP BEEP, that’s the one. That slightly roguish smile."

CLICK. She snapped a selfie of the two of them and sent it to her Moments with the caption: [My Imperial Photographer, Little Ranran]. Then, as if she hadn’t had enough, she said, "Let’s take a few more sets."

"Alright. How about we shoot something more... stimulating?"

"...Little Ranran!!!!"

"I meant *this* kind of stimulating."

Su Ran closed in step by step. Liu Piaopiao made a tactical retreat, but her heel hit the stone embankment. With a cry, her whole body tipped backward toward the fish pond, but Su Ran grabbed her hand.

"Don’t panic, I’ve got you. Look at the camera."

Holding the camera with one hand, he started frantically snapping pictures—CLICK, CLICK, CLICK—of the qipao-clad lady about to fall into the water.

Unanticipated beauty is the truest beauty.

[Ding! Beautiful and Seductive Young Lady photoshoot complete]

"Okay! Perfect!" Su Ran pulled Liu Piaopiao back to her feet, extremely satisfied with this set of photos. "Sister Piaopiao, look at your pict— What are you doing..."

Liu Piaopiao cracked her knuckles and closed in on him, step by step.

"You stinker, Ranran! I’m so good to you, yet you almost forced me into the water just for a photo! I’m telling you, you’re done for. You’re playing tricks on me now? You’re dead meat."

"Huh? Sect Leader Liu is here! Sect Leader Liu!"

Su Ran waved at the space behind Liu Piaopiao.

"Dad?" Liu Piaopiao happily turned to look, but the long corridor was empty. When she turned back, she saw Su Ran had already run to the other end of the corridor. "You’re tricking me again, aren’t you! Get back here!"

Su Ran strode forward, ignoring her.

"I told you to get back here."

Su Ran still ignored her.

"Fine. You won’t come back, right? Then I’ll just jump into the fish pond. Later, when they ask how I fell in, I’ll say you pushed me. The photos in your hand will be the proof. One... two..."

Su Ran turned to see Liu Piaopiao standing on a rock, her body wobbling on one high heel. One leg was extended over the water, making her look as if she were about to fall. She tilted her head, giving Su Ran a half-smile. "Are you coming over or not?"

A blatant threat.

"Alright, alright! You’re so annoying." Su Ran felt this mother-in-law was even harder to handle than her daughter. He had no choice but to turn back. He stuck out his foot. "Go on, stomp it."

Liu Piaopiao stomped on his foot hard a few times, only then feeling satisfied.

’I really have to hand it to this mother-in-law,’ Su Ran thought. ’She’s a mother, for crying out loud, yet she’s so childish. Not mature or composed at all.’

Next up: the Ancient Beauty, Shan Weizi.

Shan Weizi was much more obedient. Close the door, and you could shoot however you wanted. The photos came out incredibly vivid.

The photo showed Shan Weizi reclining alluringly on the bed, one hand propping up her head, a languid expression on her face, her long, pale legs on full display.

"Like this?"

"The skirt, up a little more... a little more... just a bit more... okay, okay, stop. Don’t let anything show. It needs to be suggestive, hinting at what’s underneath."

"..."

CLICK.

"Phew..." Shan Weizi let out a breath. "Su Ran, I’m starting to think you’re a little bit per... Ah!"

Su Ran pushed Shan Weizi down, raised his camera, and took several shots from a high angle. CLICK, CLICK.

It took nearly a month, but he finally completed all the photography tasks. Su Ran realized that the experience was about more than just the rewards; it was about capturing the beautiful moments of the women around him. That was the most precious thing of all.

Of course, the system wouldn’t treat its host poorly. It awarded him a super-magical Skill: A Thread Connects Thousand Miles of Fate.

’Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have acquired A Thread Connects Thousand Miles of Fate.’

[WARNING: This Skill possesses a certain degree of danger. Remember not to use it recklessly, or it may cause social panic.]

Danger Index: Terrifying

Happiness Index: Off the Charts

Su Ran: ???

’Danger and happiness coexist?’

’Ethics and morality side-by-side?’

’It doesn’t even introduce the Skill directly, just warns me about the danger first. Looks like this is really dangerous.’

Skill Description 1: This Skill will generate one or more virtual Red Dust Lines on the Host’s fingers. One end of the red line is attached to the Host, and the other end is attached to a woman. (Woman: A woman who shares a romantic or fated connection with Su Ran. The deeper the color of the red line, the deeper the fated connection.)

’This... Isn’t this just the so-called ’Affection Meter’ Skill from those Divine Rich novels?’

’The higher a woman’s affection for you, the higher the score. The kind where you can get married on the spot once it breaks 100.’

’What the...’

Su Ran lifted his hand and saw six Red Dust Lines of varying shades tied to his five fingers.

One was connected to Shan Weizi’s finger.

The other five stretched out like electrical wires into the sky, their destinations unknown.

But each line had a name written on it.

Deep red: Xiao Wanqing. Blood red: Liu Jinyu. Pale red: Aina. Purple-red: Xie Yiren. And there was one for Ning Wenwen... it had no color. The system explained it would be colored after she turns eighteen.

’This...’

’This is ridiculous.’

Skill Description 2: There is a bundle of Red Dust Lines in the system inventory. If the Host wishes to bind someone, just tie them up! The person will be yours. The tighter the bond, the more they will love you, completely devoted to you until death.

’The problem is, there’s a whole bundle of Red Dust Lines in the system inventory. Does that mean this thing can be used to bind lots of women?’

’Use with caution.’

Skill Description 3: Besides active binding, the thread of fate will also be generated automatically based on the mutual affection between the Host and a woman.

Skill Description 4: The Red Dust Line is not eternal. It will change according to the depth of emotion. If the love fades, the Red Dust Line will disappear.

[Note: The main function of this Skill is to display the Host’s romantic life lines and clarify the depth of emotions. This allows the Host to better balance the colors, making it clear at a glance who likes the Host and with which women the Host shares a romantic connection.]

Su Ran was quite fond of this Skill. He felt that none of the skills the system gave him were garbage; they were all game-winning treasures.

BANG~

"Weizi..."

Just then, Liu Piaopiao suddenly pushed the door open and came in. She saw Su Ran pinning Shan Weizi down on the bed. Shan Weizi frantically pushed Su Ran away and straightened her clothes, complaining, "Mom, you didn’t even knock."

"The door wasn’t even closed, how could I knock? What are you two doing in broad daylight?" Liu Piaopiao noticed Su Ran was staring intently at her hand. "What are you looking at?"

"Sister Piaopiao, your hands are so beautiful. They’d be perfect with a ring on them."

Su Ran was talking about a ring, but he was actually looking at the line on her hand.

’What in the world is going on?’

’Why did a thread suddenly appear on Liu Piaopiao’s hand, connected to my pinky finger?’

PFFT~

Su Ran was horrified.

’But the color isn’t right. It’s a white line.’

’System explanation: White represents purity. As long as it stays white and doesn’t turn red, it’s fine.’

Hearing this, Su Ran relaxed.

"Well, alright then. Since you’re so rich, you can show me some filial piety. Buy me a pigeon’s egg," Liu Piaopiao said, staring at her own hand.

"No problem. I’ll go buy them right now. One pigeon’s egg for you and one for Weizi."

"Hehehe... I was just kidding."

"I’m serious. I’ll buy a ring for you to show my respect, and a ring for Weizi to represent my love."

The mother and daughter were both very pleased with Su Ran’s performance.

"In that case, let’s not waste any more time. Let’s go ring shopping, and on the way back, we can pick up some ingredients for hot pot."