Chapter 366: Online Romance

Luo De walked down the corridor, speaking with Yuna while observing the prisoners on either side.

Nothing special.

Stinking and sour.

The prisoners wore filthy clothes, their hair unkempt and faces obscured; their eyes, stark black and white, bulged wide.

Some huddled in corners sleeping, others stared fixedly at Luo De.

The Spider-Spawn used biological camouflage to hide their form, avoiding the sight of disgusting humans.

Luo De walked slowly, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone here.

Though he was a calm, gentle, respectable man in Shi Ying Town, when facing enemies he was a storm of cruelty and ruthlessness.

Whether wiping out the Rat-Slaying Squad or annihilating the mind flayer nest, he never hesitated.

So his aura of killing was far from low.

Every prisoner who dared meet his gaze felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them, their hair standing on end.

The prison was not full.

By the time Luo De reached the back, it was completely empty.

And in the last cell still holding a prisoner, a familiar back caught his attention.

——Fungus Man Toru.

The one who, along with the demon Artu and the Feathered Human Karoline, attempted to attack Shi Ying Town's protective array.

Now he curled on the ground, his body shrunk considerably.

Dimea had blocked his spore-release port a month ago; yet this fellow had endured it, refusing to break even now.

The curled Fungus Man suddenly twitched.

Likely he'd heard footsteps.

Toru turned sluggishly, saw Luo De, and offered a smile worse than crying.

"Forester Sir, long time no see."

"What's the point of enduring this? Why not work for Shi Ying Town outside? You can still inhale your hallucinogenic spores there."

Toru curled up even smaller.

"Working has no future, Forester Sir. Just like last time you caught me, next time someone else will catch me. I'm always alone anyway—better to lie down now."

With his spore supply cut off, his fungal existence had plunged into despair, with no hope for the future.

Is this some kind of withdrawal? Doesn't seem right.

"Even if I die here, I'll never work for you again."

Seeing his apathetic posture,

Luo De raised an eyebrow. Since he was just wasting food anyway, he might as well let Shi Laimu Black swallow his mushroom head.

At that moment, Yuna leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"Master, according to Fungus Man Bin'en, hallucinogenic-spore Fungus Men enter a state called 'Mind Fusion'—a blissful, illusory condition, which is why they become addicted. Honestly, judging by Toru's behavior, Yuna doesn't believe he can withstand withdrawal from hallucinogenic spore addiction."

Luo De inhaled the girl's fragrance, which, compared to the dungeon's sour stench, was unbearably refreshing.

He couldn't help but kiss her lips.

Yuna froze. When had her master developed such a habit?

But a master's request could not be refused; she swallowed her shyness and obediently kissed him back.

After a moment, they broke apart, severing the thread.

"Continue."

Watching Yuna's shy expression, Luo De felt a pang of guilt, like he was bullying a young girl.

Like Tally, Yuna would never refuse his lewd requests.

But unlike Tally's enthusiastic approval, the Spider-Spawn's earnest, reluctant expression was equally intoxicating.

"Given that this Toru's spore-release port is sealed, I suspect he has another way to enter 'Mind Fusion'—likely with outside help."

"So we just need to prevent him from achieving 'Mind Fusion'?"

A voice suddenly spoke from the wall beside them.

They looked up.

It was Tally, her head half-visible beneath the torchlight, watching Luo De and Yuna still entwined with a look of satisfaction.

Does she really think she's an aunt now?

"That's correct, Miss Tally."

"Still calling me 'Miss'? Shouldn't you call me 'Aunt' by now?"

"Ah yes, Aunt Tally."

Yuna felt the awkwardness of being caught in a lover's embrace by an elder, her heart fluttering.

She stole a glance at her master, staring at his damp lips, then unconsciously licked her own lower lip where it had just been kissed.

Luo De ignored them both, turning to Toru with a cold laugh.

"Heh."

If Shi Ying Town's garrison strength weren't so weak, he wouldn't bother with such trouble over a sixth-rank high-tier Fungus Mage.

"Any ideas?"

"Yuna… Yuna can't think of anything yet. Sorry, Master."

Seeing Yuna's self-reproachful expression, Luo De waved his hand, indicating he didn't care.

He sent the full details through the 【Far-Link Chain】 to Kali Site, asking for a solution.

The elf was clearly not busy—she replied quickly, and briefly, only four words, perfectly embodying a master's poise.

——【Sever the Link】.

A fifth-tier spell, primarily used to disrupt most communication spells within a radius, including but not limited to mind links and spirit connections, designed to gain advantage in information warfare.

This should work!

【Luo De: Thanks, love you.】 He casually replied in thanks.

【Kali Site:】

Frankly, this spell is rather obscure.

Luo De had only ever seen it in Kali Site 's self-written textbook.

After recalling it for twenty minutes, he barely managed to learn it.

Not simple at all.

Moments later.

【Sever the Link】 was successfully cast upon Fungus Man Toru.

At first, he showed no reaction.

After a few minutes, his expression changed drastically.

"Tori? Tori?!"

He leapt up in agitation, screaming wildly at empty air like a madman.

Yuna had guessed right.

Someone had indeed been actively engaging him in 'Mind Fusion'.

"It's you? You're the one who severed the link?!"

Toru's face twisted in rage; ignoring the thick iron bars, he slammed against them, reaching out to grab Luo De.

Wait.

This sounds exactly like a breakup from an online romance.

Luo De looked at the massive hand inches from his face and chuckled.

"No longer giving up?"

"Cancel the spell! Cancel it now! Fuck you, human scum!"

Toru's single-colored eyes were flooded with red rage; black veins bulged beneath his skin, far more terrifying than before.

【Rage +23】

【Rage +53】

【Rage +36】

The Rage points in 【Negative Emotion Absorption】 skyrocketed.

"Now this is the withdrawal reaction I know. Tally."

"Call me Aunt, brat~~"

Tally floated down from the wall, a 【Soul Contract】 leaping from her hand.

The contract stipulated lifetime labor, ten copper Along per month.

No choice—she'd already given him his chance.

Shi Ying Town might still allow you to break the contract. But under my control, you'll work for the rest of your life.

"Sign it, and I'll—"

Before Luo De could finish, Toru snatched it away.

He bit his finger, spilling pale red fluid, about to press it onto the contract—

SSSHHH!!

A space portal, lined with starry galaxies, suddenly tore open behind Toru.

A fleshy sphere as tall as an adult leapt from the crack and frantically pushed the Soul Contract out of Toru's hands.

"Tally!"

Shi Laimu rejoiced.

But Luo De's smile froze.

What the fuck? Cosmic entity???

You're dating a cosmic entity???

But he reacted instantly, drawing his sword and slashing—the sharp spiritual energy twisted the prison's iron bars into a spiral.

He leapt forward and swung at the fleshy sphere, the cosmic entity.

"No!"

Shi Laimu Toru screamed and threw himself in front of the sphere.

But the sphere shoved him aside, unwilling to let his flesh block the blade.

"Hnngh"

What's the problem?

Am I suddenly the Monk Fahai?

(End of Chapter)