Chapter 381: Melodies and Shadows

As strings and drums intertwined, a pair of bare, jade-like feet danced in time with the beat as they slowly approached the long table before Yenir, leaving him silent.

Clad in a sheer white fabric that barely revealed her form, she was so close that he almost reached out to caress those delicate, ivory-like feet.

Beneath the scant garment that minimally concealed her body, a faint allure began to emerge.

More enticing than complete nudity, this subtle reveal sparked an irresistible urge to explore further.

Perfectly smooth, elongated, and pristine.

They were like the finest mutton-fat jade—in a post-apocalyptic world starved of resources, such delicate beauty must have come at an enormous cost.

Yenir even wondered if these girls had ever stepped outside, living like caged canaries day after day, waiting for a distinguished guest to determine their fate.

Moreover, although they were Awakeners, this specially selected group appeared untouched by battle; their daily routine was all about perfecting dance moves and learning to please, hoping to eventually be chosen by a high-ranking powerhouse.

When she lifted her head to meet his gaze, Yenir saw the lead dancer’s eyes, tender as spring water, filled with longing—every part of her seemed to whisper that, if he desired, she was his to claim.

Her exquisite features and unique mixed heritage—a hallmark of the Western Region—would have made her an object of desire in a bygone world.

Especially with her superb figure; unlike the petite, fragile girls from the inland battle zones, the young women of the Far Frontier boasted a full, vibrant allure that stirred a dangerous urge to dominate.

Though her eyes revealed a tinge of shyness and nervousness, her entire bearing radiated a proud spirit, much like a wild stallion—a comparison Tang Hai had just made.

Even Yenir had to admit that these girls were of exceptional quality, capable of igniting a conqueror’s desire in anyone.

As they drew closer, he could catch a faint, virginal fragrance wafting directly into his nostrils.

“My Lord, please allow me to serve you a drink…”

Her voice trembled as she gracefully straddled Yenir. With her right hand emerging from under her sheer fabric, she gently wrapped it around his neck while her left intercepted the jug and tilted it towards her lips.

Turning her head, she pressed her flushed, wine-slicked lips enticingly close to his; droplets of clear wine trailed from her mouth as if inviting him to taste them.

Gazing at her, Yenir could feel the subtle tension in her body—her long legs encircling his waist in an intensely suggestive embrace.

He even sensed a warm pressure pressing against him.

It seemed that the slightest movement on his part would send a shiver through her entire being.

Among the group of attendant girls, every eye was fixed on him—especially the girl nestled in his arms, whose heart almost burst out of sheer excitement.

She was visibly nervous; it was her first time being sent out.

Before they were brought in, their caretaker had warned them that this guest’s status was beyond their wildest imaginations—and any displeasure from him would lead to severe punishment.

Yet seeing that Yenir was clearly young and not as rough-handed as expected, a small sigh of relief escaped her.

Thankfully, he didn’t strike her as one of those perverted Awakeners.

In the Tianlang Safe Zone—a venue famed for hosting high-profile figures—the visitors were almost exclusively formidable Awakeners. Any notions of gentleness faded away; these dignitaries turned into brutish beasts, and some had even witnessed sisters being torn apart after a debauched display with Third-Stage fighters.

And the price for such transgressions was barely more than a single piece of equipment offered in compensation.

A young man like Yenir, reserved yet youthful, was undoubtedly the ideal guest in their eyes.

Given his status and his unassuming handsomeness, which had kept her untouched, might he be a second-generation scion of a major faction—a bashful one on his first outing, perhaps?

At that thought, the wine-sipping girl felt her heart stir.

In their world, if a destined master ever emerged, the best one they could imagine would be someone like Yenir.

Emboldened by this thought, the girl grew daring—nearly pressing her body against Yenir. Ignoring the envious glances of her companions, she pressed her face against the mask and signaled for him to open his mouth.

Somehow, amid her wandering thoughts, she became curious about whether the face below that mask was as attractive as rumored.

But before she could delicately try to remove it, Yenir calmly grasped her wrist with his right hand:

“No need.”

“I’m not accustomed to this.”

His voice was calm and oddly soothing.

The girl was taken aback—she had never expected Yenir to reject her. Had she not been attractive enough? Or had her advances displeased this powerful figure?

In an instant, an overwhelming mix of indignation and panic filled her, leaving her at a loss as to what to do next.

Meanwhile, Tang Hai—who had been waiting for Yenir to make a move—also froze in surprise.

Seeing Yenir’s apparent lack of interest, Tang Hai’s face filled with utter bewilderment.

Damn, he isn’t even stirred—can this even be called a man?

These girls were arguably the finest the Far Frontier had to offer. Even the ranks of the Bloodshadow Legion couldn’t match this quality. After all, the Tianlang Safe Zone operated like a semi-commercial haven, focused on pleasure.

Truth be told, if it weren’t for Fang Hao’s involvement, he really wouldn’t be so eager to entertain Yenir.

“Young Yenir? Not satisfied, are you?”

“Shall we swap them out, or have them perform a new act?”

Tang Hai blurted out, clearly perplexed by Yenir’s mood. A master at reading people, he quickly wondered what exactly didn’t suit Yenir’s taste.

It made no sense—if they’re all men, he couldn’t believe there were any ‘vegetarian’ cats in this world!

“There’s plenty of unique entertainment here—like the War Dance.”

“You must not have seen it before. How about I have them put on a show?”

Suppressing his doubts, Tang Hai forced a smile and, with a suggestively ambiguous gesture, signaled the girls to begin preparing their act. Perhaps the young master from the Capital was used to such scenes, even if the Far Frontier girls exuded a different charm compared to those of the Capital.

With a sidelong glance and a coy smile that seemed to explain everything, he added:

“Young Yenir, you surely haven’t seen anything like the War Dance before.”

“Soon, these girls will duel in pairs—it will be absolutely spectacular!”

“Of course, it won’t be gory, but rather a feast for the eyes. You’ll see them competing for the chance to serve you, working up a drenching sweat in the process.”

“When the scene escalates, they lose all inhibitions—it’s far more thrilling than just watching a dance…”

With a brief chuckle, Tang Hai wiped the smile from his face and issued a cold command:

“Listen up, everyone! Whoever earns the chance to accompany Young Yenir will be rewarded with ten thousand Trade Points! Now, change into your battle uniforms!”

At his words, Hana, the attendant in charge, felt her heart skip a beat.

“Ten thousand Trade Points!?”

As the currency issued by the Tianlang Safe Zone, ten thousand Trade Points was roughly equivalent to twenty thousand Credit Points from the Military. That sum could easily hire a few struggling Third-Stage fighters—or even a batch of Second-Stage fighters risking their lives.

Lord Tang Hai’s extravagant spending made it clear just how highly he valued this mysterious man…

As for the battle uniforms, they were specially designed outfits crafted to satisfy the peculiar whims of influential figures—whether styled as a general’s armor or a doctor’s suit, they were as flamboyant as one could imagine. Naturally, amid the fray, these custom uniforms would tear apart, leaving only scraps behind. The resulting scene was, frankly, quite risqué.