Chapter 403

Cui Qian.

Mr. Luo De, you're here!

Big squirrel Cui Qian and little mare-girl Bangde were playfully chasing and wrestling with a group of noticeably smaller Lota-Tosk gray squirrels.

Upon seeing Luo De approach, she sprinted over on all fours, her waist fat jiggling heavily.

Bangde, covered in squirrels, also laughed and leapt toward him.

She crashed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his bear-like waist like an octopus.

The other gray squirrels, also fond of Luo De, quickly climbed up his pant legs and soon covered his entire body.

Luo De felt the forest's innocence and warmth, and couldn't help but smile.

He cheerfully pulled out small biscuits and candies from his spell satchel and distributed them.

But soon he grew awkward.

Hmm.

Bangde had been growing rapidly lately—changing daily—her height now nearly reached one meter forty; the winter clothes bought at the start of winter were already too short, her chest bulging noticeably, far too full.

And she made no effort to avoid it, pressing her chest against his, squeezing and rubbing.

Father Luo De felt embarrassed.

Bangde, get down.

No, I haven't seen you in ages!

We saw each other yesterday.

That's ages!

Luo De sighed and sat down on the spot, freeing his hands to tickle her.

Little Bangde couldn't take it, laughing hysterically, yet refused to let go, as if deliberately challenging him.

Her round, petite buttocks pressed and dropped repeatedly, slamming against him.

She wriggled violently and laughed loudly, soon breaking into a sweat.

Her brown bangs clung to her smooth forehead as she panted heavily, grinning up at Luo De's face.

A faint scent of sweat and milk filled his nose.

It made Luo De sweat too.

This is getting dangerous, folks.

Luo De knew it was her competitive spirit, so he quickly surrendered.

Then kiss me.

Bangde's face twisted with mischief, her eyes fixed on Luo De's lips.

Okay, okay, okay.

Simple.

Just a light peck on the forehead.

But Bangde seemed dissatisfied—though she said nothing more, she rolled backward out of his arms.

Laughing, she lunged for the nearby gray squirrels: "Who grabbed my hair just now—"

Whoosh—

Watching her plunge back into wild play, Luo De exhaled in relief, glancing nervously around—thankfully, no sign of the half-deer child Ke.

Back to the matter at hand.

Cui Qian, you said you had a gift to deal with dragons—what is it?

Luo De, already seated on the ground, crossed his legs.

Big squirrel Cui Qian's fluffy cheeks were stuffed to bursting.

Her four front teeth chewed furiously on a biscuit, hands clutching it as crumbs rained onto her waist fat—she looked genuinely clueless.

"Oh oh, right, we still have this!"

She shoved the biscuit into her mouth, scrambled up Luo De's crossed legs with all four limbs.

She shoved the cookie into her mouth and scrambled up onto Luo De's crossed legs with hands and feet.

She sat down—dead weight, like a solid concrete block.

"Have you really been losing weight, Cui Qian?"

"Of course! I've learned two new diets from the new weight-loss mage in Shi Ying Town—'light fasting' and 'carb cycling'—and I've stuck to them! I'll definitely slim down!"

"Of course! I've recently learned two new weight-loss methods from the new weight-loss master in Shi Ying Town—'intermittent fasting' and 'carb cycling'—and I've been sticking to them both! I'm definitely going to lose weight!"

Luo De had heard rumors—he'd always assumed she was a new con artist.

Anyone with the time and money to diet wasn't a priority for city hall, so they left her alone.

But Luo De knew Rosalia held incriminating evidence on this mage and had kept it buried.

Clearly, once this pig was fat enough,

she'd hire a few bards to spread the dirt far and wide, wait for public opinion to turn, then swoop in to seize her assets.

Reputation secured, money secured.

A win-win.

Win-win, of course, meant Shi Ying Town won twice.

No choice—fiscal pressure was heavy; harvesting a few dumb rich fools' IQ tax was hard to avoid.

"Mind if I ask—what are these two diets?"

Luo De brushed biscuit crumbs off her belly as he asked.

Luo De brushed crumbs off her belly as he asked.

Cui Qian beamed, hands on her tiny waist.

"Honestly, Luo De, you're still human—you just don't understand these things."

"After all, Luo De, you're still just human—there are plenty of things you don't understand, and that's normal."

"Then let Sister Cui Qian teach you the great weight-loss method! First, light fasting—lightly bite your food. Remember, be gentle. That way, your stomach won't notice you're eating, and you'll naturally lose weight!"

"Then Sister Cui Qian will teach you the great weight-loss method! First up: intermittent fasting—that means gently biting into your food. Be careful to bite lightly, so your stomach won't notice you're eating, and you'll naturally lose weight!"

"Astonished, right? I didn't even believe such a method existed—one that satisfies your appetite and still helps you lose weight! The mage is amazing! Now, the second: carb cycling—rice for breakfast, noodles for dinner, and a big baked cake in the late night. You know what carb is? It's—"

"Stunned, right? I never thought there was a method that could satisfy your cravings and still help you lose weight! The master is truly great! Let's move on to the second one: carb cycling—eat rice during the day, noodles at night, and this big baked bun late at night. Do you know what carbon is? It's…"

"A bit at first, but you get used to it—it's for weight loss, after all!"

Luo De pinched the bridge of his nose.

He decided to find the weight-loss mage one day and beat her up—otherwise, the big squirrel in his forest would never climb a tree again.

He decided to find a day to beat up that weight-loss master—otherwise, the big squirrel in his forest would never climb a tree again.

Back to the matter at hand.

Luo De asked again about the dragon-fighting gift.

Luo De asked again about the gift to deal with the dragon.

Cui Qian pulled a plain gray stone from the fat fold behind her waist.

It was still coated in saliva.

The big squirrel froze, face flushing with embarrassment, quickly snatching the stone back.

"Sorry—that's my tooth-grinding stone. You know, squirrels' incisors grow fast."

"Sorry, this is my tooth-grinding stone—you know, our squirrels' incisors grow fast."

But the other gray squirrels, watching this, chattered excitedly, erupting into chaos.

Little mare-girl Bangde, born with the ability to communicate with animals, now served as interpreter.

She doubled over laughing:

"They say Cui Qian gave you her tooth-grinding stone—in Lota-Tosk gray squirrel tradition, that's a proposal of marriage! Hahaha—"

"I just grabbed the wrong one!"

Cui Qian shouted to the squirrels, then shyly glanced at Luo De:

"This—this is the real gift to fight dragons! The last one was a mistake!"

She pulled out another object wrapped in dried yellow leaves—a spherical shape.

Luo De paid it no mind.

But the small ball, half the size of his palm, was heavier than expected.

【Treasure: Binding Silk Ball】

【Treasure Trait: Binding】

【Details: Crafted from the silk of the Spider Queen Luo Si, this treasure releases a powerful binding spell—white silk ropes bind the target's joints and key areas, restricting 60% of its flight and mobility.】

【Details: A treasure forged from the silk of the Spider Queen Luo Si, capable of releasing a powerful binding spell. White silk ropes will bind the target's joints and key pressure points, restricting 60% of its flight and mobility.】

Dragons fly far faster than the Flight Spell—though their bulk makes them clumsy, aerial combatants are always tricky; limiting flight is a useful advantage.

A dragon's flight speed far exceeds that of the Flight Spell. Though their massive bodies make them far from agile, aerial combatants are always difficult to handle—limiting their flight ability is a valuable advantage.

Agility

Dragon

A flash struck Luo De's mind.

To improve my own agility—why must I seek out Spirit Arts?

To improve one's agility, why must one seek out spiritual arts?

I am the only seventh-rank War Soul user on the continent, and aside from the Bronze Dragon and Gorgon, I can currently accommodate at least ten more War Souls.

There are so many agile creatures on the continent—why not build a few outstanding ones and simply stack their speed?

Luo De angrily slapped his forehead.

You're thinking too narrowly; there's no need to build a unique Spiritual War Soul.

If you later find a War Soul unsuitable, you can just disband it—worst case, you'll be weak for a few days!

Thinking thus,

Luo De suddenly felt the 【Binding Silk Ball】 in his hand grow hot with enhanced spirituality.

At the same time, the 【Treasure Obsession】 on his panel triggered again.

(End of Chapter)