Chapter Thirty: Wine, Lust, Wealth, and Temper—The Roots of Desire

Half an hour later.

Dinner was finished.

Xia He, being the newcomer, took the initiative to clear the dishes. After all, as a new "employee," she had to make a good impression.

Over the past two days of fleeing and interacting with them, she had gained some understanding of Xiao Zizhai and Chen Duo. Knowing they were, like her, pitiful souls, she formed a judgment about her new environment:

"At least it’s not too bad, and the food is actually quite good."

While washing the dishes, Xia He muttered to herself. She had to admit, Xia Ye’s cooking skills truly surprised her.

"Is this considered an employee benefit?"

At the same time, she noticed that this new boss didn't seem to stand on ceremony. The atmosphere between him, Xiao Zizhai, and the others was harmonious—not at all like the distance between superiors and subordinates, but more like friends. This was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise.

Just then...

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

Hearing a loud commotion behind her—like the sound of trees snapping—Xia He paused, startled, and hurriedly looked outside.

In the open space, Xiao Zizhai was standing before a pile of thick logs, splitting them with his bare hands. Xia Ye stood to the side, watching and directing him to process the wood into specific dimensions.

"So... are they building my room?"

Seeing this, Xia He was taken aback. She had indeed heard Xia Ye mention building her a room after dinner, but she hadn't expected them to build it from scratch on the spot.

However, their efficiency was remarkably high. In this short time, the raw materials had already been processed, and they were beginning to assemble the basic frame.

About an hour later...

"How about it? Does it look alright?"

Opening the door to the new room and placing the mattress and various supplies inside, Xia Ye asked with a smile.

"Yes, it’s great! Thank you!"

Xia He took a look and nodded. The room wasn't large, but it had everything she needed. It seemed intentional that the walls had been painted in warm tones, giving it a cozy, welcoming feel.

"From now on, this is your home. Welcome home!"

Seeing that she liked it, Xia Ye nodded gently and gestured for her to follow.

"Come on, let’s have a talk..."

With that, he called out to Xiao Zizhai, asking him to keep an eye on Duo-duo, and then led Xia He into the treatment room, pulling out a chair for her.

"Here, have a seat."

"Is this... where you work?"

Looking at the medicine cabinet, the patient bed in the center, and the "Three Maniacs" standing in a row against the wall like zombies, Xia He asked curiously.

"That’s right. As you might have guessed, my primary profession is a doctor. This is my treatment room and study. When patients come, this is where they are treated," Xia Ye replied with a smile.

"Hmm..."

"So, does that make me your patient too?"

After sitting down, Xia He chuckled, her smile tinged with a touch of allure, every gesture exuding charm.

At the same time, she moved her mind, quietly amplifying the influence of her ability. She wanted to observe his reaction and see if he could resist her power.

This was undoubtedly a risk... but it was also the simplest way to test him.

And at that moment...

"Heh, it seems you don't fully trust me yet. I can understand that; it’s only human nature," Xia Ye said with a faint smile.

He then stood up and walked over to her: "But I will give you a word of advice: your ability is unique. Until your own strength is sufficient to bear the consequences of your power, it is best not to test it so lightly."

*Snap!*

As he spoke, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

*Whoosh—*

"?! "

In an instant, Xia He’s eyes widened, and her body stiffened. She found she could no longer control her body in the slightest, as if her soul had been separated yet imprisoned within her shell.

To Xia Ye, this was merely a simple application of life-force. In his eyes, everything about Xia He could be dismantled. But to her, it was terrifying—a fear she had never experienced before.

Xia Ye knew very well that this girl was still a "wild horse" that needed enough strength to "tame" before she could be of use to him.

He understood even better that as more people gathered around him, he would gradually form a group. As the "leader" of this group, he needed to manage them and ensure their basic obedience. He would have to "teach according to their talents."

A dozen seconds later...

Xia Ye withdrew his hand.

"How is it? Feel your *Qi*. Are you willing to trust me now?" He smiled at Xia He and sat back down.

"Hmm?"

Xia He frowned slightly. As she felt within, her pupils constricted in shock.

"How is this possible?!"

She suddenly discovered that the *Qi* which usually flowed uncontrollably through her meridians had all returned to her *dantian*, gathering into a single mass, quietly suspended and still!

"How did you do that?!"

"To me, it is quite simple..."

Xia Ye smiled as he explained:

"Although the world’s supernatural abilities are strange and varied, they all boil down to the circulation of *Qi*. *Ability users* use the framework of the human body to echo the greater patterns of heaven and earth, imitating the power of nature to create their techniques. All methods in the world are like this."

"The reason your ability cannot be retracted is simply because your own cultivation is insufficient; you cannot break the 'fixed pattern' formed by the *Qi* within your body. I simply helped you by breaking that cycle, and your *Qi* naturally returned to your *dantian*."

Without waiting for her to speak, he continued with his plan:

"In truth, you are not to blame for being unable to control your ability. This pattern is exquisite and rare; from the moment it formed, it perfectly aligned with the profound laws of nature, giving it extreme stability."

"The power it manifests reaches the very origin of life. Because desire and reproduction are the basic logic for the continuation of life, your ability touches the 'root of desire,' making it naturally unique."

"But this is not enough..."

"Not enough?"

"That’s right. As the saying goes: man has seven emotions and six desires... and your ability only occupies a small part of that. In my view, you could go even further—to become the master of all worldly desire and the sovereign of all sentient minds."

"That is why I had Old Xiao bring these three back. They are wicked and deserve no pity, but they possess what you need. They can make your ability more complete, allowing you to transform and be reborn!"

"Their abilities? What abilities?" Xia He asked, puzzled.

"Wine is a poison that cuts the intestines, lust is a knife that scrapes the bones, wealth is the root of calamity, and anger is a thundering cannon... These four words—'Wine, Lust, Wealth, and Anger'—summarize the roots of human desire and evil," Xia Ye smiled.

"Among them, that woman’s ability paralyzes the human mind—you have already experienced it—and it represents 'Wine'..."

"That man in glasses has the ability of 'Loan Sharking,' lending *Qi* to others and demanding repayment with interest, eventually taking their lives to settle the debt. That represents 'Wealth'..."

"That fat man seems kind, but his ability is the 'Twelve Laboring Emotions Array,' which incites anger and exhausts the soul. That represents 'Anger'..."

At this point, Xia He realized: "Are you saying they came for me because my ability happens to correspond to 'Lust'?"

"Exactly!" Xia Ye nodded gently.

"Wine, Lust, Wealth, and Anger—the roots of desire. Rather than letting them scatter and commit evil, it is better for you to take control and gather them within yourself..."

"From this day forward, you shall be the source of both evil and good. Whether you hold back or release it, it will be according to your own will. You will no longer have to look at others' faces, but will instead stand above all beings. This is the promise I gave you!"

"This... can I really do it?"

Xia He’s body trembled. She felt a surge of anticipation, but also a sense of shame, as she clearly still harbored doubts about herself.

Xia Ye smiled at her, signaling her to relax, and replied calmly:

"With me here, you can!"