CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: PRETTY BOY

"Come with me now, prison will ruin your pretty face," Kayla said, tightening her grip on Betty’s wrist.

Hazel, who was being taken away again, started laughing again, making Betty grit her teeth in frustration.

Betty remained standing there, stunned. Kayla looked at her with a frown, then her eyes lit up. "Don’t be so shy. I know I’m beautiful, and your face is... well, okay."

Saying it, she started dragging her with more strength.

Betty’s eyes dimmed as she was dragged along, her expression dead inside.

’Has this woman ever looked in a mirror in her entire life?’

She glanced over her shoulder, noting the direction Hazel and Maria were being taken. Her jaw tightened, thinking whether to run or plan something.

"See this?" Kayla said proudly, stopping in front of a tall building, gesturing at the area ahead. "This will be our home, pretty boy."

Betty: "..."

’Our home? What does she mean our? No, no, no... don’t tell me this woman actually likes thin boys. Nooo.’

Kayla tilted her head, studying Betty’s face with curiosity.

"Why do you look like you’re about to cry? Aren’t you happy? I’m going to make you my boyfriend."

Betty forced a trembling smile, her expression a perfect mask of misery.

"Haha... I’m happy. Very, very happy."

Kayla nodded in satisfaction.

"That’s what I thought. Let’s go."

She resumed walking toward the tall building ahead, dragging Betty along. Behind her, Betty’s brows furrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on Kayla’s hand gripping her wrist with unnatural force.

’Why is her grip so strong? After becoming a cultivator, my strength nearly doubled compared to before... yet I can’t shake her off easily.’

Two guards stood at the entrance. Upon seeing Kayla, they immediately bowed and pulled the doors open.

Inside, the hallway was dimly illuminated by battery-powered lights.

Betty’s gaze shifted to a muscular middle-aged man sitting on sofa. Water swirled gracefully around his hands, forming small streams that danced in the air.

’Huh... this man is a water awakener.’

"Daddy!"

Betty shivered at Kayla’s loud, almost childlike voice. The moment she released Betty’s wrist, she rushed forward and clung to the man like a spoiled daughter. A wide grin spread across the old man’s face as he patted her back affectionately.

"My cute little daughter—the most beautiful woman in the world!" he said proudly.

Betty quickly covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

’Little? She’s a middle-aged woman, old man...’

The man’s cheerful expression vanished when his piercing eyes landed on Betty.

"Who is this boy, daughter?"

Kayla raised her head from his shoulder, casting a shy glance toward Betty.

"Father, this man has a pretty face... I like him."

’But I do not like you,’ Betty thought sarcastically, rolling her eyes inwardly.

The old man frowned, scrutinizing Betty from head to toe before finally nodding.

"Hm. I will not accept this weak boy as anything serious, but you can... play with him for some time."

Betty let out a heavy sigh.

’What the hell? I thought he was at least somewhat normal when he started talking, but no—he’s just as crazy as his daughter.’

Kayla pouted briefly, then her lips curled into a grin.

"Okay then. I’m taking him to my room."

With that, she latched onto Betty’s arm and dragged her upstairs. Betty kept her expression calm, but her eyes quietly scanned every corner, memorizing routes and possible escape paths.

Kayla opened a room door and pulled her inside before shutting it behind them. She sat down on a chair and pointed to another across from her.

"Sit."

Betty obeyed slowly, lowering herself into the chair while keeping a cautious gaze fixed on her.

"Miss Kayla," she began, her tone soft and hesitant, "where did you take my sisters? C-can you release them from prison? I didn’t want my sisters to be in prison?"

Kayla’s eyes lit up, practically sparkling as she looked at him. Her shy demeanor seemed to strike the perfect chord with her.

Betty forced herself to maintain the act, though inside, she was seething.

’I knew it. This bitch is into shy, thin boys—I can see it in her shining eyes.’

Covering her face with both hands, Kayla shook her head dramatically.

"Umm, you should have told me earlier! I thought they were just your friends. Tch, don’t worry, pretty boy. I’ll release them and have them stay in a house instead."

Betty fidgeted with her hands, deliberately acting nervous.

"Th-thank you, Miss Kayla. You’re so kind."

’Yuck.’

Kayla burst into laughter, her body shaking so hard the chair beneath her creaked as if it might collapse at any moment.

"So, what’s your name, pretty boy? And where was your home before?" she asked, her tone shifting—her eyes turning sharp and predatory as she stared at him.

Betty subtly touched the collar of her jacket to ensure the buttons were secure, her mind on high alert.

’Why did her eyes suddenly turn lustful? If she tries anything funny, I’ll beat this woman so badly she won’t dare look at anyone like that again.’

On the outside, however, her expression remained timid.

"M-my name is Bennett... and my home isn’t far from here. We didn’t come here before because we were unaware of this location."

Kayla nodded thoughtfully, then waved her hand in a casual, almost playful manner.

"Don’t call me ’Miss.’ I grant you special permission—you can call me Honey. Hehehe."

Betty: "..."

’Honey, my ass.’

She rubbed her forearm uncomfortably, forcing a nervous expression while staying alert. Kayla’s next question made her stiffen.

"Then why were my men saying you’re a spy?"

Betty quickly nodded, dabbing at the corner of her eye to fake a tear.

"T-that’s because... when we were walking on the streets, I heard someone. I thought someone was calling my name, so I was just trying to listen carefully."

Kayla placed a hand on her chin, nodding slowly as if piecing things together.

"Oh, so that’s why, hm? If you three had been spies, I would’ve killed those two women and kept you in a cage. But since you’re not, that’s a relief."

Betty forced a calm nod.

’This woman is completely insane. The guy at the checkpoint was right—she’s a psychopath.’

"Knock, knock."

Kayla turned to the door. After opening it, she exchanged a few words with a gang member who stood there holding a bow. When he left, she looked back at Betty with a satisfied smile.

"Pretty boy, we’ll meet again tomorrow. You should rest for now."

Waving her hand, she stepped out and closed the door. Moments later, the distinct sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the room.

Betty groaned in irritation, standing up from the chair and pacing back and forth.

’Great. Now I’m locked in. I have to find a way to escape out of here, then rescue the hostages, and see whether there really are children among them, and fucking see if the thing Hazel had said before is true or not.’

Looking around, Betty noted that the room resembled a hotel suite—complete with a bed, a small table, and basic furniture, the walls were colored black and white.

She sat down on the bed, closed her eyes, and let her thoughts settle. After a few minutes of thought, her eyes snapped open with excitement. With a single thought, her figure disappeared, reappearing inside the familiar space pavilion.

Calista was seated at a table, absorbed in a book.

"Hey, Calista, I want to ask you something," Betty said, her tone eager.

Calista’s face lit up with excitement as she lifted herself into the air.

"Are you here to cultivate, right, right?"

Betty awkwardly waved her hand, coughing lightly, before her eyes sparkled again with anticipation.

"Uh, not exactly. Hey, Calista... you once said I can’t unlock superpowers after this pavillion, but is there any way for me to learn skills—like the ones in cultivation novels?"

Calista’s happiness vanished; she huffed loudly, her expression full of disdain.

"Hmph. Master, you should know you’re still a beginner in cultivation. There isn’t much you can learn at your current level."

Betty sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"Okay, I know I was being a lazy bum the entire week, but... can’t I at least learn some basic skills? Something I can use without needing higher cultivation?"

Calista sighed and nodded, gliding her crimson body toward the bookshelf.

Betty grinned, walking near the bookshelf.

"There is right, thanks dodo bird, you are the best and strongest phoenix."

A proud smile appeared on Calista’s face after telling her book she sat on Betty’s shoulder, her head tilted in confusion.

"Thanks for praising me master but What is this dodo bird? You said this to me before, and now again, is it a strong bird?"

Betty, who was opening the book, stopped, with a gulp, she nodded, sweat appearing on her face.

"Yep, it’s a strong bird."

After satisfying her curiosity, Betty looked at the book and started reading, her eyes squinted seeing the content, then started shining again.