Chapter 684: Greed and Disappearance

"Aren't you going to get some rest?"

Luo De half-reclined against the head of the bed.

A pale, languid body pressed lazily against him, greedily absorbing the pure energy of the [Creation Dew].

An eighth-rank peak, let alone Luo De’s exceptionally high-quality spiritual essence.

Under the operation of [Elibert’s Secret Guide to Pleasure], every depth and motion surged to elevate her own strength.

"No! Again!"

On the disheveled bed.

Eve panted, her expression weary yet blissfully dazed; ignoring the ache in her arms, she forced herself up, her sweat-drenched figure shimmering.

She pulled a stimulant potion from her spell satchel and gritted her teeth to drink it down.

Luo De grabbed her wrist and pried open her fingers.

"Don’t drink any more—this stuff causes tolerance."

From dusk until now, dawn barely breaking, nearly half a day without pause.

Eve had already hit her limit by midnight, but she’d clearly prepared—downing five clarity and stimulant potions in a row.

Like a middle-aged man’s stubborn endurance, she refused to stop until dawn.

Her Greed points on the interface were rising faster than her Lust points.

This woman really was treating Luo De like a juicer.

"I—I’m about to ascend."

"There’s plenty of time. We’re not just a fleeting fling—why rush?"

Luo De pulled her into his arms and gently patted her smooth back.

But Eve refused to play the delicate maiden; she sat shoulder-to-shoulder with him against the headboard.

Seeing the dog-man show no reaction, she angrily pulled her muscular arm into her chest, making it look as if Luo De was leaning on her.

Her serpent tail coiled around Luo De’s thigh, deliberately brushing upward.

"Hmph, who knows? You promised to come, then vanished for two months—what do you think I am?"

Luo De thought for a moment, then smiled: "A partner in a transaction of power and sex?"

Her beautiful serpent eyes instantly narrowed, anger flashing with hidden sorrow.

"Fine, fine—I finally know what kind of woman I am to you. Okay, then, leave."

"Didn’t you say that yourself? Why does it make you angry when I say it?"

"I—"

Luo De rolled over and kissed her cheek.

At first she resisted, turning away, but soon she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, refusing to let him go.

The soft pressure was staggering—expanding, reshaping, the sensation spreading everywhere.

Her tongue was long, agile, and powerful—Luo De truly lost to her.

But instantly, the effect of [Enchanting Fluids] left him dazed and intoxicated.

Sensing the girl’s deep insecurity, Luo De immediately activated the power of his Lust Domain, soothing and promising her endlessly.

"Hmph, you don’t even live in the Mirror Desert—when you’re gone, how am I supposed to keep the subordinates and newly conquered lands in line?"

"How about a goodnight kiss every day? I can come by easily."

"Do I even care about your kisses? Ridiculous."

Well said.

Then why are you still biting my lips?

"By the way, isn’t your mother already at seventh-rank peak? Why so anxious?"

Luo De smoothly steered the conversation toward Lilian.

Yeah, I’ve wanted to ask this for a while.

"Mother’s progress since the Axe Beach trip has been rapid, but—but—"

Eve hesitated, "But since then, she’s been distracted, neglecting court affairs, constantly sending people out of the Mirror Desert to search for some human man, and even carving a wooden statue of a man at night. I suspect she’s been emotionally deceived by a man."

"Hmm, maybe it’s not deception? Are you the type who opposes your mother remarrying, Eve?"

Luo De broke into a light sweat, feeling suddenly warm.

"I don’t oppose it—land Naga don’t have your humans’ rigid morals. But she should find someone who can help the clan, not some pretty face. I saw that carving—broad brows, big eyes. Could be some useless bard."

"What about someone like me?"

Eve didn’t catch on, thinking he meant rank: "Of course that’d be best—two eighth-rank peaks. Not just the Mirror Desert—we could start expanding the Bular Clan immediately!"

"Good."

Luo De smiled.

Eve was truly exhausted, beginning to drift off, yet still chattered on about her mother Lilian.

"Lately, while inspecting the territories, Mother found several villages under our protection had people going missing—she hasn’t figured out what’s going on yet..."

"You know, I really miss being a child, curled in Mother’s arms—soft, fragrant, I slept so soundly..."

"After this is settled, I’ll take you to meet Mother. Dress nicely."

I can vouch for that.

Lilian’s embrace truly was soft and fragrant.

Slowly, Eve slipped into sleep.

Luo De held her close, using his Grass Domain to aid her recovery, then licked his lips.

"Missing persons, huh..."

The Mirror Desert.

Gukur Village.

The Bular Clan’s noble tent.

"You say Eve led a team of twenty, seized territory east of the Zaka Oasis from the Gulesh Clan, and killed four of their seventh-rank high-tier?"

Land Naga Lilian rested her elbow on the low table, her serpent tail elegantly coiled.

Her upper body was draped in a deep indigo silk robe interwoven with gold thread, the fabric flowing like water.

The precisely tailored robe accentuated her full, noble curves.

—A high, wide gold belt cinched her slender waist; the upper torso, slightly fitted, highlighted her ample chest without appearing vulgar.

Her long black hair was braided with pearls and gold thread, coiled neatly.

Snow-white fingers pressed against her temples; silver wristguards, intricately engraved, lent dignity without losing style.

Lilian’s features resembled Eve’s, but softer, gentler—now, however, a faint frown of anger creased her brow.

"When did Eve pick up this habit of exaggerating?"

Her eldest daughter Eve had always been more responsible than the flighty younger daughter Betty, and in recent years had advanced rapidly and governed diligently.

Yet now, had she been infected by that little sister’s nonsense?

The Naga soldier kneeling before her hurried to reply:

"My Lady, Eve Princess’s adjutant reported that troops had already been dispatched to open new routes—marching records, quartermasters, and grain officers have all been mobilized. Given Eve Princess’s nature, this is hardly fabricated. Moreover, this wasn’t just the twenty elite soldiers—Eve Princess brought a man with her."

"A man?"

"Yes, my Lady—a human man. He single-handedly killed four seventh-rank high-tier Gulesh Clan warriors—his power is terrifying. And reportedly, Eve Princess is very close to him."

"Oh?"

Lilian’s languid, beautiful eyes gleamed. "Truly?"

"Just now, someone sent word that the man entered Eve Princess’s tent with her, and they activated a soundproofing ritual."

"Excellent!"

Lilian was overjoyed. Her eldest daughter was reliable, but as a Naga born with insatiable lust, lacking a husband was a glaring flaw to her people.

Since the man she’d kidnapped from Axe Beach—her designated consort—had fled after she couldn’t control herself, she’d felt nothing but guilt and regret.

Now, at last, there was relief!

"I must return to see what kind of man Eve has chosen."

"But you’re still inspecting—what about the disappearances?"

"Curfews, patrols, population registration, safety campaigns—do I need to teach you these? I’ll finalize tomorrow and leave. After that, you stay—fail to solve this, and you answer for it."

".Understood."

After the reporting subordinate left.

The golden glow of sunset cast a dim, lonely atmosphere over the tent.

Lilian fell silent, instantly withdrawing from her earlier excitement.

A heavy, aching weariness clung to her chest; her knuckles whitened as she clenched them.

She turned back, gazing sorrowfully at the curtain separating the inner and outer layers of the tent—the splattered, unstained water mark still clinging to it.

The tent was the same one—but the person who had been there was long gone.

"Sigh..."

(End of Chapter)