Although Henrietta was unconvinced by her master’s words, she was also aware that her master must have some basis for such a high opinion of Vaan.
Perhaps, Vaan’s spatial attack was far more complex than she saw.
“It’s not like I was going to make him an enemy anyway; I already promised Astoria, Master,” Henrietta mumbled to herself.
‘Not being his enemy is not enough!’ Henrietta’s master firmly stated, giving Henrietta a sudden fright due to her assertiveness.
‘What do you mean not being his enemy is not enough? What more do you want from me?” Henrietta responded speechlessly before asking, “Don’t tell me you want me to steal him from Astoria, Master?’
‘If you can’t share that man with your friend, then that’s precisely what I’m asking you to do!’ Henrietta’s master confirmed her suspicion.
‘You… You’ve gone mad, Master! What’s wrong with you? You were the one who told me no man was worthy of me, so what is this all about? Furthermore, how could I do such a shameless thing to my friend?’
‘This man is very compatible with you—! Can’t you see it, my dear disciple? If you dual practice with him, your power will improve by leaps and bounds! So what if you have to be shameless? All is fair in love and war!’ Henrietta’s master asserted.
The corners of Henrietta’s eyes couldn’t help but twitch several times.
She held a lot of respect for her master, someone who possessed great knowledge and experience due to her long age. Her master was a proud woman and could be a role model for many.
However, everything her master had just said made her want to throw all her respect out the window.
‘Master, don’t forget that we are two people sharing one body. The way I see it, it is you who desperately wishes to dual practice with him!’ Henrietta stated presumptuously.
The more she thought about it, the stronger she felt she was correct.
Otherwise, why was her master so eager to make Vaan her dual-practice partner? Did her master enjoy watching others do it?
Alas, Henrietta couldn’t be more wrong.
‘You… idiot disciple…! Are you trying to anger me to death?! Do I have to explain everything for you to understand?!’ Henrietta’s master roared thunderously in Henrietta’s mind.
‘Take a careful at that man’s physique! Have you ever seen another man with such a high affinity to fire and space, the two elements you are cultivating?! That man has a unique spatial physique that could accommodate other sub-physiques!’
‘However, that isn’t the most important point! He has a Mid-rank Fire Spirit Body! Moreover, it’s a Mid-rank Fire Spirit Body that is halfway to becoming a High-rank Fire Spirit Body! Do you understand how difficult it is for a human to attain a spiritual physique of such quality?!’
‘If you dual practice with that man, even if you can’t increase witch cultivation, you will surely be able to raise your comprehension of the Fire Law very quickly! I wouldn’t even be surprised if your understanding reaches the Demigod rank within three months!’ Henrietta’s master stated.
‘D-Demigod-rank Fire Law comprehension in three months? You must be exaggerating, Master…’ Henrietta doubted, but she was shaken by her master’s claim.
After all, it was extremely difficult for High Witches to improve in Pangea, let alone Transcendent Witches.
That’s why she shifted her focus and got an early headstart in comprehending the laws with the assistance of her master. But even then, it was no easy task to understand the laws at her level; the higher one’s comprehension, the slower their progress.
She barely reached the peak of the Transcendent rank after so many years. And yet, her master claimed her Fire Law could reach the Demigod rank within three months by dual practicing with Vaan.
How could there be such an easy path?
‘Furthermore, I’ve only heard of dual practice as a low-level method to increase mana accumulation. How could it possibly improve my comprehension of the Fire Law quickly?’ Henrietta added with a frown.
‘That’s because witches have only ever dual-practiced with mediocre men while being mediocre themselves,’ Henrietta’s master coolly stated.
‘Do you think they ever considered whether their partners were extremely compatible with them? Don’t forget; not everyone has a chance to perceive the laws early. It’s already impressive to comprehend the law at the Transcendent rank. As for those below the Transcendent rank? They must be dreaming.’
‘Since that man’s fire affinity is so high, the Fire Law would always be present around him. Thus, when you practice with him, your perception of the Fire Law will be higher than normal, allowing you to comprehend the Fire Law more easily.’
‘However, this alone won’t help you reach Demigod-rank Fire Law comprehension within three months,’ Henrietta’s master stated.
‘Then, how will dual-practicing with Vaan help me reach Demigod-rank Fire Law comprehension within three months, Master?’ Henrietta frowned.
‘Of course, it would be thanks to that man’s own Fire Law comprehension; it is at a much higher level than yours. Also, his insights into the Fire Law are hidden in the world around him. Thanks to the compatibility of your two bodies, his hidden insights will also cycle through your body and be picked up by you during dual practice.’
‘Why else do you think cultivators love to fight so much and, sometimes, receive sudden sparks of enlightenment from them? Of course, in your case, you’ll be fighting in bed to receive these sudden sparks of enlightenment,’ Henrietta’s master softly chuckled.
As Henrietta listened to her master, she suddenly noticed an important detail and frowned.
‘Wait a minute…’ Henrietta stopped her master before asking, ‘Doesn’t that mean it’s not necessary to dual practice with Vaan in order to receive his insights? Don’t I just need to be close to him or fight him?’
‘Well, yes.’
Henrietta’s master’s blunt confirmation made Henrietta speechless.
‘However, the effect would be minimal. You need to have direct body contact for extended periods to reap the most benefits, and such a matter can only be achieved through dual practice,’ Henrietta’s master continued.
‘Do you think that man will just allow you to stick to him for nothing? And you, a chaste woman, can glue yourself to a random man without being in a relationship just because it benefits you? Isn’t that even more shameless?’
‘You have to give something in order to receive something; it’s a give-and-take relationship. Even if there is no love, a relationship is a must. You are currently in a favorable position to make this demand,’ Henrietta’s master stated.
She detested loose women with no self-respect for their bodies. The world was quite different from where she came from.
‘Ahem, what do you mean I’m in a favorable position to make the demand, Master?’ Henrietta coughed with embarrassment.
‘Right now, you are in a very awkward position,’ Henrietta’s master stated.
‘Although you are still the queen of the Black Rose Kingdom, most of your people have sworn their allegiance to that man with the Oath of Magic. In other words, no one will follow your orders over him, and that also makes the people feel awkward.’
‘However, if you marry that man, you can hand control of the kingdom over to him and resolve this moral issue once and for all. You will also get your freedom, and no one will question his legitimacy to rule the kingdom.’
‘Furthermore, you two can dual practice as husband and wife; both side benefits from all of this. He has no reason to refuse your demand. After all, you are still a peerless beauty,’ Henrietta’s master stated.
Henrietta felt even more embarrassed by her master’s words. She felt like her master was making fun of her.
After all, even though she had been cold to all men and seemed aloof, she was actually insecure about her body. She had gained too much power too early and retained the appearance of when she was seventeen all these years.
Although she had thought about altering her appearance to boost her confidence, she was greatly scolded by her master.
“Why must you change yourself to please other people? Do you want to look fake? That’s the mentality of the weak!” – her master had said those words to her.
Nevertheless, Henrietta still sighed when she glanced at herself.
“How can I be considered a peerless beauty? I still have my baby face, am short, and my chest is small… There’s no way men like this kind of underdeveloped body…” Henrietta blurted unconfidently with her hung down.
Her hands felt nothing when she placed them on her chest.
“I don’t discriminate. Though… I must admit, tapping that would feel a little illegal.”
“I don’t need your comment… huh?”
Henrietta suddenly froze when she realized someone other than her master had commented, and from a short distance away.
She glanced up mechanically and discovered Vaan studying her body intently as he gave a genuine and serious evaluation.
“You wanted to meet me?” Vaan asked.
However, Henrietta did not respond. She was frozen like stone. In fact, she thought being a stone wouldn’t be so bad; no one would notice her.
Unfortunately, the reality of the situation was that Vaan had approached her and overheard what she thought about herself when she was distracted.
“I…” Henrietta stuttered.
She felt so ashamed and embarrassed she wished she could disappear on the spot.
This was not how she wanted them to meet!