In a deserted alley...
Dim and shadowy, the surroundings were illuminated only by faint moonlight filtering through the eaves above, casting a sliver of brightness on the ground below.
After landing there, Chen Mo didn’t hesitate for a second before placing both Ling Ying and Xun’er down.
As the large hand lifted from her waist, Xun’er’s delicate little face turned a rosy red—an alluring sight—though a trace of annoyance also flickered in her heart.
"Well then, Miss Xun’er," Chen Mo said calmly, "I believe it’s time to talk about compensation."
"I wonder..." Xun’er considered for a moment before replying seriously, "Would an Intermediate Xuan Tier wind-attribute technique suffice as compensation?"
"Oh?" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, a sly look in his eyes. "Miss Xun’er, judging by your mysterious background, I’d wager you come from a rather powerful family. Offering just an Intermediate Xuan Tier technique seems a little stingy, doesn’t it?"
Clearly, Chen Mo was probing her limits—trying to squeeze a bit more out of her.
"Stingy?" Xun’er pouted. "Even the top three clans in Wu Tan City only possess techniques at the Intermediate Xuan Tier. Besides, you weren’t even hurt. How is that stingy?"
"You’re comparing me to them?" Chen Mo’s sword-like brows furrowed. He sneered. "Miss Xun’er, you’re underestimating me. I’ve suffered emotional damage—you’ll need to compensate for that too."
As he spoke, Tian Yuan, the sword hovering around Chen Mo, suddenly positioned itself above Ling Ying’s head.
He looked like he might strike at any moment.
"Wait!" Xun’er cried out, panicked at the threat to Elder Ling. "I’ll give you an Earth Tier gold-attribute technique! If that’s not enough, you can ask for more!"
In her desperation, she accidentally revealed part of her bottom line.
"Excellent, excellent! I love generous women like you." Chen Mo grinned. "Then... I’ll take three sixth-rank Magic Cores as well."
Xun’er’s expression darkened. This greedy bastard! She wanted to protest, but upon seeing the gleaming sword still hanging over Ling Ying, she softened her tone.
"Do you even know what a sixth-rank Magic Core means? I don’t have three—I only have one."
As she spoke, her fingers brushed over her storage ring, and a red, irregularly shaped Magic Core the size of a goose egg appeared in her hand.
"This is the Magic Core of a sixth-rank Scarlet Flame Lion," she said.
Chen Mo summoned it into his hand with a wave, nodding in mild satisfaction. "One is better than none, I suppose. And the technique?"
Xun’er was so furious at his pitiful sighing act that she nearly exploded, but she begrudgingly took out a jade tome from her ring and threw it at him.
"Golden Spirit Heart Technique," Chen Mo murmured, recognizing it immediately. Perfect for Ya Fei—she cultivates gold-attribute techniques. And in this backwater empire, there aren’t many Earth Tier techniques around. She’d never get her hands on something otherwise.
"Now will you release Elder Ling?" Xun’er asked.
"Hm? What about the emotional compensation?" Chen Mo chuckled as he tucked the Magic Core and technique into his storage ring.
He rubbed his chin and deliberately gave her a mischievous smile while scanning her figure with a teasing gaze.
Feeling the heat of his gaze, Xun’er quickly stepped back, wrapping her arms protectively around her chest. "W-What do you think you’re doing?!"
Chen Mo gave a cheeky grin, then suddenly flapped his wings and shot into the sky.
"I’ll collect that emotional compensation later!"
"Bastard!" Xun’er stomped her foot in frustration.
Chen Mo knew not to push her too hard. If she were to crush something like a spatial jade slip and call for backup, things could get ugly fast.
Back at the Courtyard
Qian’er was already asleep.
Useless maid, Chen Mo thought. Her master’s not even home and she’s already gone to bed.
Still, he didn’t hold it against her. He’d probably replace her in a few days anyway.
Chen Mo had intended to take a bath before sleeping, but after the exhausting clash with Ling Ying, fatigue washed over him.
He had just collapsed onto the bed when a shadow flickered past the window.
The silhouette vanished in an instant.
Chen Mo sprang to his feet and burst through the window, chasing after it.
Xiao Zhan, Jia Lie Bi, and the others who had been preparing to leave suddenly froze, their faces darkening. Two powerful auras had just flashed past above their heads.
Although they could only see one figure—Chen Mo—they clearly sensed two terrifying presences.
"Who’s Master Chen Mo chasing?" Jia Lie Bi asked, shocked, watching the figure vanish into the distance.
Ya Fei furrowed her elegant brows. "That aura... feels familiar."
"I know it’s you, my Queen. You came to find me—so why run?"
Chen Mo stared at the black-robed figure escaping in the distance. The system had already identified her as a one-star Dou Zong.
If he had doubts before, they were gone now. That back, that slender waist...
He’d measured it himself. No way he was wrong.
The black-robed figure said nothing, simply continuing her flight.
Chen Mo chased relentlessly.
The crescent moon hung high.
The night air was cool as water.
"That’s enough. Stop following me." The black-robed figure finally halted at the summit, turning to face him with a cold glare.
That cool voice. That familiar white jade mask.
As the night wind blew, her robe fluttered, revealing a glimpse of two long, snow-white legs beneath.
"My Queen, you’re a Dou Zong, and I’m only a Dou Ling. If you really wanted to leave, I’d never catch up," Chen Mo said with a wry smile.
They had only been apart half a month, but seeing her again sent excitement rushing through his veins. He had an almost uncontrollable urge to embrace Queen Medusa.
"Don’t call me that!" she snapped.
Queen Medusa’s hand reached out, and a rainbow-hued, serpentine longsword appeared in her grasp. Its point hovered a mere fraction from Chen Mo’s throat.
But Chen Mo didn’t flinch. He gently pushed the sword aside and took a step closer, locking eyes with her through the narrow slits in her mask.
When he was just an arm’s length away, he stopped. "Queen, what are you doing here? Did you come to see me?"
"Still awake and already dreaming?" Medusa sneered. "I’m here in the Jia Ma Empire to scout enemy movements. I just happened to end up here. Who knew you were around? What a nuisance."
Chen Mo smiled but didn’t expose her.
He didn’t mention the soul mark she’d secretly left on him when she departed the desert.
He didn’t mention how she just so happened to appear right outside his courtyard.
Instead, he asked, "Is the Snake-Person Tribe finally leaving the Tagore Desert?"
"And what if we are? Will you try to stop us?" she asked coldly.
"Because you’re human. And this war will be bloody—on both sides."
"Uh..." Chen Mo didn’t know how to explain that he wasn’t originally from this world.
So despite being human, he didn’t feel the ingrained hatred that others did toward the Snake-People.
All he could do was let out a soft "oh," and then quietly pulled out a golden inner armor from his system inventory.
It was the female version of the Divine Scale Heart Armor—soft, flexible, and capable of adjusting size.
"This is the Divine Scale Heart Armor. Its defense scales with the strength of its wearer. Take it. I don’t want you getting hurt in battle. I’d be heartbroken."
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