Queen Medusa narrowed her eyes. "Did you find out something?"
Chen Mo froze for a moment, unsure of what she was referring to, so he remained silent.
Seeing his reaction, Queen Medusa assumed he had tacitly admitted to knowing something. A fleeting look of panic flashed through her eyes before she quickly changed the topic. "Where did you go wrong?"
Chen Mo had already prepared his words on the way here, so he spoke calmly, "I shouldn't have contradicted Your Majesty. I shouldn't have angered Your Majesty. When Your Majesty hit me, I shouldn't have fought back."
[Ding! Favorability +1. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins.]
Hearing Chen Mo's words, Queen Medusa's frustration instantly vanished. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, carrying an air of satisfaction—Finally, I have tamed you.
Chen Mo was momentarily stunned. Huh? That was enough to gain favorability?
Was Queen Medusa turning over a new leaf? Normally, she only seemed happy after beating him to a pulp.
Since it was working, Chen Mo decided to double down. "I shouldn't have disrespected Your Majesty. I shouldn't have—"
[Ding! Favorability +1. Gained 1 incense stick of Enlightenment Time.]
"Alright, enough. Why did you come to see me? Surely, you didn't come just to apologize?"
Although there was a certain thrill in seeing Chen Mo submit, Queen Medusa was unused to the man who always opposed her suddenly acting so meek.
If he asked for her essence blood right after apologizing, she would definitely think he had ulterior motives.
And if that happened, he might lose the favorability he had just earned.
His eyes flickered with thought before he spoke. "Your Majesty, didn't you say before that I should serve you? These past few days, I've only been your punching bag. How about I give Your Majesty a shoulder massage? You seem tired—let me help you relax."
While trying to please Queen Medusa, Chen Mo also wanted to test out his newly devised plan to milk favorability.
Queen Medusa frowned slightly at the honorifics in his tone and replied coldly, "That won't be necessary."
"Your Majesty, there's no need to be polite. This is my duty."
Gathering his courage, Chen Mo began walking toward the throne.
He figured that if Queen Medusa got angry and beat him, he might earn even more favorability.
Queen Medusa's expression froze. She immediately sat up straight, her gaze locked onto Chen Mo as he steadily approached.
Her voice carried a trace of anger. "Impudent!"
Perhaps due to the exhaustion from healing Chen Mo earlier, or because his mysterious technique had drained a significant amount of her Dou Qi, Queen Medusa's reprimand lacked its usual force.
Chen Mo noticed that his favorability points hadn't decreased.
Which meant... she wasn't actually mad.
From what he had learned about her over the past few days, Queen Medusa only seemed to like people who were as domineering as she was—or even more so.
So at this moment, he needed to be even more assertive.
Chen Mo quickened his pace, climbing the steps toward the throne. Under Queen Medusa's astonished gaze, he placed his hands on her smooth, fair shoulders and gently kneaded them.
Queen Medusa's body tensed. She was about to stand up and explode with rage when Chen Mo suddenly pressed her back down.
In a commanding tone, he said, "Don't move. Sit still."
"You—how dare you use force!"
Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly felt the tension in her shoulders ease. The firm yet careful pressure from his hands sent waves of relief through her body, making her feel inexplicably refreshed.
[Ding! Favorability +1. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins. Triggered 'Intimate Contact'—gained the skill Qi Concealment Technique.]
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
Holy crap... there's potential here.
Queen Medusa's body gradually relaxed. She leaned lazily back into the throne, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a human was touching her.
Even she found it strange. If she had spared his life before, it was only because of her younger sister.
But after their fights, she had realized that beating Chen Mo gave her an odd sense of satisfaction.
Especially when his face—one that could make countless young girls swoon—swelled up like a pig's head. For some reason, it lifted her mood immensely.
When he retaliated in anger, his soft, powerless attacks amused her. She couldn't resist teasing him.
Even when he disrespected her, though she was furious, she didn't truly resent it. Instead, she found a twisted enjoyment in taming him.
Every time she knocked him unconscious, she felt an odd sense of achievement.
Over time, she had become somewhat immune to his flirtations and crude remarks.
But when he had told her he hated her and wanted nothing more than to kill her, she had truly been angry.
Yet... there had also been an inexplicable feeling deep within her heart.
So, she had lost control and used excessive force, severely damaging his meridians.
It had taken her three whole days of effort to fully heal him.
When he came to apologize today, Queen Medusa had suddenly felt a sense of accomplishment—like she had finally tamed this wild horse that always opposed her.
The comfort from his massage made her long lashes tremble slightly.
That was Chen Mo's first thought.
The sensation beneath his fingers, the angle at which he was standing, and the faint fragrance lingering in the air... It was all testing his self-control.
But could he afford to move recklessly?
After a full incense stick's time, Chen Mo's hands were starting to ache. Though the experience was enjoyable, it was pointless if he wasn't gaining favorability from it.
It was starting to feel dull.
Without further delay, he decided to get to the point. "Your Majesty, do you have any wishes?"
Queen Medusa, still enjoying the massage, didn't even open her eyes as she replied in a lazy tone, "For your human race to become slaves to my Serpent Tribe."
Chen Mo coughed awkwardly.
Saying something like that right to my face... isn't that a bit much?
[Ding! Favorability +1. Acquired 2 Favorability Coins. Triggered 'Intimacy Bonus'—gained Critical Strike.]
Chen Mo checked his status and found that the so-called Critical Strike would trigger a bonus reward the next time he gained favorability.
Another strange ability added to the list.
Chen Mo continued, "Then... is there anything Your Majesty particularly likes?"
"I want a Heavenly Flame."
Getting straight to the point, he asked, "Would losing a single drop of essence blood be a big deal for a magical beast?"
Queen Medusa finally opened her eyes, glancing at him. "Why are you asking so many questions?"
Queen Medusa, feeling pleased with his massage, answered, "Essence blood is the purest and most vital energy source within both humans and magical beasts. Of course, losing it is a big deal."
"Then, Your Majesty... if someone were to ask you for a drop of essence blood, what would you do?"
Queen Medusa's eyes narrowed.
"The person you're talking about... is it you?"
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