Blood trickled from the cuts but was quickly frozen and shattered by the icy blade's chill.
By the hundredth cut, the Doctor's body was convulsing violently.
By the two hundredth, her strength had waned under the relentless agony.
By the three hundredth, she had grown desensitized, her body flinching instinctively at each slice.
By the four hundredth, something bizarre occurred—a faint trace of pleasure seemed to mingle with her pain.
By the five hundredth cut, any normal person would have been reduced to something resembling a shredded fishing net. Yet, the Doctor's body displayed a startling regenerative ability, her wounds beginning to close almost immediately after being inflicted.
"Your body is… peculiar," Lucas muttered, tracing his finger along one of her rapidly healing gashes. "You know, powerful regenerative capabilities can be both a blessing and a curse."
A sinister grin spread across his face. "Because it means I can torment you without holding back."
Lucas's work was methodical and precise, adhering strictly to the torment described in his notebook. Every ounce of pain Ursa had suffered was repaid to the Doctor twofold.
Outside, the night gave way to dawn. The wooden floor of the room, once pristine, was now encrusted with a thin layer of blood.
The threads stitching the Doctor's lips had dissolved in her saliva, but the woman—drained of energy—could no longer muster a sound. Though her body healed, the memory of each wound seared into her psyche, a relentless echo of suffering.
"You're quite resilient to have lasted this long," Lucas remarked with a yawn. "Congratulations. We're down to the final item. Let's finish this up—I have an appointment to keep."
Unbeknownst to Jean, still peacefully asleep, the man she would meet for their date in a few hours had just carried out a brutal night of vengeance.
"Abdominal perforation," Lucas read aloud. "Depth: approximately ten centimeters."
The Doctor's eyes widened with fear. She attempted to crawl away but was caught by the ankle.
"How should I double this for you?" Lucas mused, a cruel smile curling his lips. "Your abdomen isn't thick enough for a twenty-centimeter perforation. I might need to get creative."
"No… please…" the Doctor whimpered hoarsely, pleading for mercy.
"I'll give you two options," Lucas said, his tone eerily calm. "Option one: I make two holes in your stomach. Option two… you know what."
The Doctor hesitated, her face contorted with terror. After a moment, she reluctantly raised two trembling fingers.
Even with her augmented body, capable of rapid healing, two holes in her abdomen would likely damage her organs beyond repair, potentially killing her.
"Don't regret it. This is your choice," Lucas said, pulling out his staff. "Let's enhance this a bit."
With a flick of his fingers, Lucas summoned a twisting mass of thorns and brambles, which coiled tightly around his staff. Razor-sharp barbs sprouted from the vines, transforming the staff into a horrific instrument of torment.
The sight of the weapon drove the Doctor to despair.
The pain was excruciating.
[First Cup of Red Wine activated.]
[Reward: +30% proficiency in Dendro Element.]
The door to the room creaked open as "the Doctor" emerged, her expression as composed as ever. Two Fatui guards stationed nearby bowed deeply. "Doctor, your orders?"
"I've received a classified directive from Her Majesty," the disguised Lucas said, mimicking the Doctor's voice perfectly. "I'll be departing for Liyue on a solo mission. I won't need an escort."
"Yes, Doctor!" the guards replied in unison.
"And the traitor I interrogated last night has been… humanely disposed of," Lucas added coolly. "See to it that the room is cleaned."
Though separated from the room, the guards had already caught the scent of blood wafting through the air. It was clear the interrogation had been gruesome.
Of course, this "Doctor" was none other than Lucas in disguise. The real Doctor had passed out from the final round of punishment and was safely stashed in the teapot realm, awaiting Ursa's decision on her fate.
Now wearing the Doctor's garb, Lucas exited the Goth Grand Hotel without incident. The disguise would buy time before the Fatui noticed the Doctor's disappearance—enough for Lucas to return to Liyue.
After returning home, Lucas quickly showered and dressed. Just as he prepared to leave for his date, the system suddenly chimed in.
[You're planning to go like that?]
"Why not?" Lucas asked, puzzled. "This is how I usually dress."
[That's fine for everyday life, but today is special! It's Jean's first date! At least try to look formal.]
"You make a good point…" Lucas admitted, scratching his head. "But it's too late to shop for new clothes."
[Idiot! Did you forget about the system's shop? Honestly, do you even respect me as your system?]
"The shop sells clothes too?" Lucas asked, surprised. "I thought it was for weapons and skills."
[Don't lump me in with outdated system novels! We've evolved, okay? Whether it's a nail clipper or an aircraft carrier, if you've got the points, I've got the goods!]
Lucas couldn't help but suspect the system was trying to meet a sales quota. Nonetheless, he took its advice and bought a new outfit.
The transformation was astonishing. Normally indifferent to fashion, Lucas now radiated charm. As he walked through Mondstadt's streets, passersby—especially the women—couldn't help but steal glances at him, their eyes filled with admiration.
The meeting spot was the fountain in Mondstadt Plaza, a popular rendezvous point for couples. Wanting to be considerate, Lucas arrived ten minutes early, knowing Jean would likely be punctual. A perfect date should never begin with the lady waiting.
While waiting, two young women approached him. Known for their boldness, Mondstadt girls were far more outgoing than their Liyue counterparts.
"What a handsome guy!" a short-haired girl exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. "Care to join us for a date?"
"That's not fair!" a long-haired girl protested, frowning. "I saw him first!"
"Then let's have a three-person date!" the short-haired girl teased. "I know a place where three's not a crowd."
"Sorry…" Lucas said, smiling politely. "I already have a date."
"So what?" the long-haired girl retorted, unimpressed. "Do you really think your date is better than the two of us?"
"Apologies for being late." A soft yet commanding voice interrupted their banter.
The two girls turned to see Jean standing behind them, her elegant presence radiating authority. "Would you mind letting go of my partner?"
The two girls turned to look, their expressions instantly shifting to something more complex. The long-haired girl, who had exuded confidence moments ago, now looked especially sheepish. Grabbing her companion's hand, she muttered something under her breath, and the pair quickly retreated.
It was, of course, Jean. Her appearance not only startled the two girls but left Lucas momentarily mesmerized.
Jean was always captivating, but her usual charm leaned toward a noble and commanding aura. Today, however, she was dressed in an elegant off-the-shoulder dress that flowed lightly around her. The hem stopped just above her knees, leaving her fair, slender legs free of embellishments. Her golden hair was left loose rather than tied in her customary ponytail, and she wore frameless glasses that added an air of refined intelligence.
"Lisa suggested I wear this…" Jean admitted shyly, her cheeks tinged with pink under Lucas's gaze. "Does it… look strange?"
"No, not at all," Lucas replied, shaking his head. "Actually, you look… very beautiful."
"Thank you for the compliment." Jean gave a grateful bow, her loose neckline briefly revealing the alluring curve of her collarbone. The sight was enough to make Lucas's heart skip a beat.
Fortunately, no one else was nearby. Lucas quickly steadied Jean and leaned in to whisper, "When wearing a dress, you shouldn't bend over so casually."
"Ah?" Jean blinked in realization, her fair cheeks turning crimson. "That was… terribly improper of me."
"It's fine," Lucas said with a soft smile. "Just keep it in mind for next time."
Sensing a slight change in his demeanor, Jean nervously asked, "Are you… upset?"
"A little," Lucas admitted, his gaze flickering for a moment. "Jean, you're beautiful, but there are parts of your beauty I'd like to keep all to myself."
Jean felt a warmth bloom in her chest at his words. She lightly wrapped her arm around his, smiling as she said, "At this angle, I think only you can see, right?"
Lucas glanced down and realized the proximity provided him with a perfect vantage point.
"Don't stare too much…" Jean teased softly, her lips curving into a smile. "It's not as if you'll only get to see once."
"Of course… sorry." Lucas quickly averted his eyes, though the faint fragrance wafting from Jean was enough to keep his thoughts adrift.
Jean wasn't usually this bold, but last night, Lisa had given her a crash course on dating. Along with fashion tips, Lisa had shared numerous conversational techniques and subtle gestures. Combined with Jean's extensive reading of romance novels, she was putting her newfound knowledge into practice.
Meanwhile, in the nearby Good Hunter restaurant, a young woman peeked from behind a newspaper, observing Lucas and Jean as they walked away. After hastily shoving a half-eaten plate of overly spicy steak aside, she quietly began to follow them.
The girl wore a heavily concealing outfit complete with sunglasses and a hat, though strands of her golden hair peeked out from beneath. It was none other than Barbara, Jean's younger sister.
After learning about the date, Barbara had spent a sleepless night fretting and arrived at dawn to stake out the area.
Her reason? Fear that her dear sister might fall prey to the same fate she had endured at Lucas's hands.
Although Jean had reassured Barbara that this was just a "mock date" to fulfill a romantic fantasy, Barbara remained unconvinced. She was determined not to let Lucas take advantage of Jean.
Her sister's purity must be protected!
Just as Barbara began tailing the couple, she suddenly collided with someone in front of her. "Oof!" came the sound as Barbara stumbled back.
"I'm sorry!" Barbara immediately apologized, bowing her head.
"Barbara?" a familiar voice called her name, startling her.
Looking up, Barbara was surprised to see that the person she had bumped into was Eula, another member of the Knights of Favonius. Strangely enough, Eula was also in disguise, sporting sunglasses and a hat like Barbara's.
"Eula?" Barbara asked hesitantly. "Don't tell me… you're following them too?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Eula quickly clamped a hand over Barbara's mouth and whispered, "This isn't stalking—it's ensuring moral decency between a man and a woman."
Though Eula and Barbara rarely interacted, their objectives were perfectly aligned in this case.
"In that case, we might as well team up," Eula suggested with a sly grin. "Just don't slow me down."
"Don't underestimate me!" Barbara said confidently. "I have plenty of experience avoiding stalkers!"
Thanks to her popularity in Mondstadt, Barbara was often pursued by overeager fans and had honed her evasion skills to an art form.
The two quickly joined forces, shadowing Jean and Lucas as their date unfolded.
Despite their precautions, their concerns seemed unnecessary. Jean and Lucas's date was almost textbook-perfect in its innocence. They strolled through the park, shared a meal at an elegant restaurant, and even spent two hours reading together at the library.
The lack of excitement left Barbara and Eula feeling somewhat deflated.
While they didn't want Lucas to make any inappropriate moves on Jean, his lack of initiative left them feeling… bored.
"How odd," Barbara muttered, watching the pair walk side by side. "He wasn't like this with me."
"Same here," Eula grumbled through gritted teeth. "Does he only act differently around Jean?"
Both women had firsthand knowledge of Lucas's true nature. Though polite and composed on the surface, he never missed an opportunity to shamelessly tease them.
Yet with Jean, he seemed utterly respectful, refraining from even the slightest transgression.
Of course, they had no way of knowing that Jean herself was wrestling with her own thoughts. Lisa's dating lessons had emphasized that subtle physical contact could deepen intimacy, but Jean's upbringing made her hesitant to be too forward.
As the sun began to set, Jean grew anxious. Was this rare opportunity for a date going to end without anything meaningful happening?
"Hey there, you two lovebirds!" a cheerful voice suddenly called out. "You look like a match made in heaven!"