Luo Qingyan said, “I’m puzzled too, but he didn’t seem bloated at all. In fact, he looked quite comfortable.”
Dongfang Che: “…”
Dongfang Che was silent for a long while, then sighed in admiration, “As expected of a Nascent Soul Stage big shot—his digestive ability is truly extraordinary!”
Luo Qingyan sighed self-reproachfully, “It’s all my fault. I originally wanted to fob him off with sweet potatoes, but I ended up attracting a foodie…”
That evening, Mo Chenxue arrived at the small grove right on time.
Luo Qingyan had already roasted all ten sweet potatoes.
Seeing him, she immediately handed one over. “Here, eat up.”
The sooner he finished eating, the sooner he’d leave. Don’t waste this lady’s cultivation time.
Mo Chenxue smiled. “Since you insist, I’ll oblige.”
He happily finished the first one, but the man’s brow furrowed slightly.
What’s going on? The favorability didn’t increase?
He had clearly finished an entire sweet potato!
Seeing him frown, Luo Qingyan asked, “What’s wrong? Is the sweet potato not tasty today?”
“No,” Mo Chenxue hid his doubts and said with a light laugh, “Little Junior Sister’s roasted sweet potatoes are very delicious.”
With that, he began eating the second one with a heavy heart.
Luo Qingyan watched him, feeling that this guy was acting strange today, as if he had something on his mind.
After finishing the second sweet potato, Mo Chenxue focused his gaze on the system.
Sure enough, the favorability was still at -90%, not increasing at all!
Luo Qingyan had empathy and understanding for the villain, but only to a limited extent.
If Mo Chenxue wanted revenge, he could challenge the Sect Master to a duel. Why did he have to drag so many innocent disciples into it? Especially Joyful Peak—they had never offended him. What right did he have to reduce them to ashes?
This was something Luo Qingyan could not forgive!
So her favorability could only rise to -90%, and it would never go higher.
Mo Chenxue didn’t know what this little girl was thinking, but eating sweet potatoes last night had clearly worked…
Every sweet potato he ate increased the favorability by one point!
But today it was useless!
Mo Chenxue put down the sweet potato, stared at Luo Qingyan, and asked seriously, “Little Junior Sister, did something happen today?”
“Huh?” Luo Qingyan was confused. “Nothing happened!”
Mo Chenxue said, “Think carefully. There must be something. There’s a difference between today and yesterday.”
Luo Qingyan: ?
The difference between today and yesterday?
Luo Qingyan furrowed her brows and thought for a moment, then said, “Senior Sister Huo Li came by in the evening. If you insist on a difference, that’s the only thing.”
Mo Chenxue’s eyes flickered. “What did she come for?”
“Nothing much. She just asked what we were having for dinner and left in less than a quarter of an hour.”
Hearing this, Mo Chenxue’s expression turned deep and thoughtful.
—So it was because Huo Li had come that the favorability stopped increasing!
Although Luo Qingyan acted like she didn’t care, Mo Chenxue knew that Huo Li’s visit today must not have involved any kind words.
Over the years, he had been fully aware of Huo Li’s feelings toward him. But he had no interest in romance, and although the Heavenly Phoenix blood was unique, there was nothing useful about it in the short term. So he had always maintained a distant, ambiguous attitude.
Huo Li must have regarded him as a fish in her pond. When she discovered he had taken an interest in Luo Qingyan, she secretly interfered.
That was something he could not tolerate.
“Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?”
Luo Qingyan waved her hand in front of his eyes.
“Nothing.” Mo Chenxue smiled warmly.
He raised his hand and conjured a beam of light, storing the remaining eight sweet potatoes into his Storage Bag.
“Little Junior Sister’s roasted sweet potatoes have an unforgettable flavor. After returning last night, this senior brother kept thinking about them. I can’t eat them all at once tonight—I’ll save them to enjoy slowly.”
Luo Qingyan was slightly surprised.
Why had the noble one suddenly become so rational about sweet potatoes?
But this was fine too—it saved a few sweet potatoes and spared her from worrying about him eating himself sick.
…
When Mo Chenxue returned to Mystic Sword Peak, Huo Li was already waiting for him.
“Senior Brother, you’re back?” Huo Li stepped forward to greet him. “Where did you go?”
Mo Chenxue cast a cold glance at her. “Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?”
Huo Li was taken aback.
Senior Brother had never spoken to her with such an icy attitude before!
She probed cautiously, “Senior Brother, what’s wrong? You seem to be in a bad mood…”
“Junior Sister Huo,” Mo Chenxue cut her off, his tone frigid, “As the chief disciple of the Ask-Immortal Sect, I have many things to consider every day, some of which are beyond your understanding. If you truly care about my mood, then stop meddling in my affairs.”
Huo Li’s expression changed. “Your affairs… what affairs do you mean?”
“All of them.” Mo Chenxue’s face was cold as ice. “I don’t want irrelevant people interfering in any of my matters. If there’s a next time, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Huo Li was shocked, waves of turmoil surging in her heart.
In all their years of acquaintance, Senior Brother had never spoken such harsh words!
Just then, a disciple came rushing over.
“Senior Brother Chenxue, Senior Sister Huo Li, the Demon Race is about to invade again! The Sect Master orders you to go to the Council Hall immediately!”
Hearing this, both of their expressions shifted slightly.
The Demon Race frequently harassed the Central Plains, committing arson, murder, and every kind of atrocity.
At the Council Hall, the old Sect Master, Perfected Master Wuji, and all the peak masters had already assembled.
Mo Chenxue and Huo Li strode in quickly and bowed in salute. “We pay our respects to Master and all the senior uncles.”
Perfected Master Wuji said, “Good, we’ve been waiting for you.”
With everyone assembled, the Mage Peak master spoke up.
He was a white-robed scholar with an elegant bearing: “According to our reconnaissance, this time the Demon Race’s young lord is personally leading over five hundred high-level Demonic Cultivators, heading straight for our Ask-Immortal Sect.”
Perfected Master Wuji stroked his white beard and said, “They’re not bringing many people, which means their target is very clear—they want a quick resolution.”
“Correct. According to intelligence reports, their target this time is the female disciple Huo Li, who bears the Heavenly Phoenix Bloodline.”
After a pause, the Mage Peak master continued, “Rumor has it that the Demon Race possesses a sinister technique that uses women as Cultivation Cauldrons. Since they’ve already declared their intentions, they must be determined to succeed…”
Huo Li heard this, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, yet there was a hint of excitement hidden within.
—What could she do? Her innate bloodline was simply something that made all factions covet her!
The Beast Taming Peak master spoke up: “Since the Demon Lord has come for Huo Li, she shouldn’t participate in this battle. Let her hide in the Secret Realm for now.”
Huo Li said without hesitation, “No, this disciple requests to fight!”
Perfected Master Wuji frowned: “But they’re coming specifically for you. It’s too dangerous for you to join the battle.”
“This disciple is not afraid!” Huo Li’s tone was resolute, like a woman with the spirit of an eagle: “The Demon Race has never given up their wicked ambitions. If I avoid them this time, what about next time? Can I just keep hiding in the Secret Realm, protected by others? It’s better to face them head-on, so our opponents won’t underestimate us!”
The Sect Master and the several Peak masters all nodded in approval upon hearing this.
Huo Li had courage and foresight—truly worthy of being the standout among the disciples!
“Then it’s settled,” Perfected Master Wuji said. “Chenxue, you will work alongside Huo Li this time. The task of protecting her is entrusted to you.”
Mo Chenxue clasped his hands and said, “This disciple obeys.”
Huo Li lowered her eyes, concealing the smugness within them.
—Once again, she was the center of attention. This sense of superiority from being the focus of everyone’s gaze had long become a habit, but it still felt quite pleasant.
Besides, she wouldn’t mind getting to know that Demon Race young lord either.
With the strategy decided, the Treasure Hoarding Peak master, who was in charge of the sect’s finances, began to fret over money: “I wonder how much this battle will cost us this time. Sigh!”
The Alchemy Medicine Peak master, responsible for medical care, also let out a sigh.
Every time they fought the Demon Race, quite a few disciples would be injured or killed. The medical disciples of Alchemy Medicine Peak would have their hands full again…
The news of the Demon Race’s invasion quickly spread throughout the Ask-Immortal Sect, and all the peaks began preparing for battle.
The disciples, meanwhile, were gossiping in secret.
“I heard that the Demon Race’s young lord is coming all this way just for Senior Sister Huo Li!”
“Ah! Really? Traveling thousands of miles just for her alone?”
Being coveted by the Demon Race wasn’t exactly a good thing, but it still felt quite impressive.
On Joyful Peak, Luo Qingyan and Dongfang Che also saw the warning signal in the sky.
Dongfang Che said dismissively, “Don’t worry, the Demon Race’s invasion has nothing to do with us. How many times has this happened already? The Demon Race never comes to our Joyful Peak. They all know there’s nothing here—even if they came, it would be a wasted trip.”
Luo Qingyan nodded.
Indeed, the Demon Race invaded to plunder, and Joyful Peak had nothing worth taking. It wasn’t even worth their while to make the trip.
But according to the original story, during this invasion, the Demon Race successfully captured the female lead, Huo Li.
It was also because of this that Huo Li met the second villain male lead…