Chapter 284: Return

Fresh, gentle air.

Emerald leaves clattered against each other in the winter wind.

"Look, they're back."

Amid the crisp chirping of birds, Sharon's whisper sounded oddly tender.

She lay sprawled atop Luo De.

After speaking, she sucked his earlobe and flicked it lightly with her tongue.

Luo De gently pushed her away.

This was an open space between forest and farmland, where outsiders might pass by—mainly to avoid being seen.

Sharon was displeased, but said nothing.

She looked toward the spider-elves slumped, barely alive.

Only then did Luo De notice another one behind Yuna.

Presumably, that was the sister she mentioned.

One moment the spider-elves were sprinting for their lives; the next, once safe, they collapsed.

Their eyelids grew heavy, greenish blood gushing uncontrollably.

"Honestly, you shouldn't have saved her. That plague beast couldn't have stopped us from leaving, and doing this for a stranger is stupid—plus, they both look dead already."

"It was just convenient. Plague Mage, isn't regeneration your specialty?"

Sharon shook her head.

"Can't be fixed. The one on her back used a soul-sacrifice spell—the dark elves chasing them were injured because of it."

"What about Yuna?"

"Her physical essence is exhausted. The dark elves' ritual to summon the giant spider leg was linked to these spider-elves—they were always the ritual components. Even outside the ritual, they'd still be affected."

"Ah, this…"

Luo De was annoyed.

He'd actually been looking forward to the spider-elves dropping some skill.

Now? Nothing.

【The Great Cultivator has detected your blood and launched a lethal pursuit.】

【'Scent Disguise' activated successfully. The Great Cultivator cannot confirm your location.】

【Rage +523】

Luo De froze, then couldn't help laughing.

Panicked.

Hahaha—

His mood instantly lifted.

Sssss!

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air!

Sharon raised a spell shield, shattering several ice shards with a crackle.

Followed immediately by a dual-cast: 【Compressed Orb】 + 【Teleport Trick】.

Of course, the 【Compressed Orb】 was cast in place.

Sharon vanished from her spot, taking the full force of the 【Compressed Orb】 midair.

In Luo De's place appeared the elegant figure of Callist.

"Callist, long time no see."

Luo De greeted with a smile.

She scowled, snorted coldly, and unleashed another dual-cast at Sharon in the sky.

【Paralyzing Lightning】 + 【Bigby's Forceful Hand】.

First paralyze, then hurl.

Sharon's spell shield shattered and reformed, but couldn't withstand the force of the hand—she screamed, flying in an arc into the nearby farm.

"I told you, the extradimensional space is extremely dangerous. Why didn't you listen?"

Callist's tone was calm.

But her expression was icy, as if ready to devour someone.

Luo De nodded in agreement.

"It's dangerous indeed. I even ran into a ninth-rank."

The elf's beautiful lips twitched; her fists clenched, trembling slightly.

Luo De stood up.

He gently pressed his hand over her cool, shaking fists: "Unexpected things happened—we didn't foresee how dangerous it'd be. Look, we're back safe and sound. And we gained plenty. The outcome matters most!"

"Don't touch me."

"Alright."

Luo De immediately pulled his hand back.

She was genuinely angry. Better not push it.

Now was the time to shift her focus slightly.

He immediately pointed behind him at the spider-elf sisters: "Look, a pair of pitiful sisters being hunted by dark elves—I went through great trouble to rescue them, and Sharon here says they're beyond saving? What kind of plague mage is she?"

Callist looked at the sisters with deathly pallor, her brow furrowing.

"Spider-elves… the idiotic product of dark elves…"

"Apparently, it was Lady Luo Si's doing."

While the elf examined the spider-girls, Luo De casually recounted his experiences during the mission.

Naturally, he omitted the bondage play with Sharon.

Upon hearing the dark elves intended to seize the Dread Field, Callist fell silent for a moment.

"Though no one has ever seen Luo Si, years ago, while visiting Silver Hoof Deer Valley with my elders, I heard a half-deer elder prophesy that this powerful figure holds unique insights into the domain of fear—she aims to use the Dread Field to establish her own territory and gather her own followers."

Luo De spread his hands: "Again with the godhood?"

Used to it.

True gods have not yet appeared on this continent—top-tier experts are racing to become the first.

The elf nodded: "That's why I stopped you from entering the extradimensional space. After the recent Sacred Spark eruption, many believe the aetheric storm there holds divine opportunities—making it far more chaotic than ever."

With that, she stood, glaring coldly.

"Too bad someone let lust cloud their judgment, disregarding their own life and charging in anyway."

"Don't talk nonsense. What do you mean 'lust'? It was a fair exchange."

"Hmm, so whose pants are those on Sharon?"

Uh…

How did you recognize my pajama pants?

Fff—

At that moment, an unnatural shadow shot forward at high speed.

"Master!"

Tally leapt out excitedly, launching herself at him.

Luo De caught her with a smile, spinning her halfway around.

Today, Tally had taken the form of a conservative farm woman, even covering her hair.

But her face was sweet and charming, her chest full—still a striking contrast.

The succubus, utterly unbothered, buried her face in her master's head and started devouring his lips.

Suck-suck-suck—she ate greedily.

Luo De quickly held her back—Callist was right there.

Look, she snorted again.

"I'm starving, Master~"

The two had been gone a full day and night; Tally had never been separated from him so long—her stomach was empty.

"You have backup rations."

"I want my Master's~"

Luo De ignored her pouting.

He turned to Callist, nodding toward the spider-elf sisters.

"Can you fix them?"

"Sharon was right. Normally, neither of them would survive."

"Normally?"

"The older sister's soul has scattered, but her body remains intact. The younger's body is destroyed, but her soul is barely damaged—I happen to know a special soul-transfer ritual. That way, at least one of them can survive."

Callist crossed her arms. Though her face remained stern, Luo De knew her well enough to spot the hidden pride.

"Awesome."

Sharon teleported back—Callist had clearly held back, not using heavy force, so she was unharmed.

"Look, Luo De, I told you her knowledge is disgusting—she even knows such rare rituals."

(End of chapter)