Chapter 690: A World-Famous Painting

By the time Luo De returned to the Camp of the Thousand Throats, it was already noon.

But since the Gureish Clan had come early to submit their surrender, Eve likely hadn’t noticed his absence.

Luo De glanced from afar—the new Gureish priest was a much younger land naga.

She was beautiful, and her figure was fine, but neither matched Lilien Eve and her daughter.

The mother and daughter were among the finest in the entire land naga population, not just in the Mirror Desert.

Even the young Gureish priest sensed Luo De’s gaze and gave him a sultry, fawning smile from afar.

Luo De strode boldly into the tent where they were speaking.

Eve shot him a glance but paid him no mind.

The priest, a mere poseur, flinched in alarm, convinced he’d done something wrong, and stared at Luo De in panic.

Only when he saw Luo De plop down on a cushion in the corner to rest did he finally calm down.

Yet his voice still trembled and cracked with tears, making conversation nearly impossible.

Soon after, the priest took his leave.

Eve watched his retreating back, her professional fake smile slowly fading.

She spat dismissively: “Pathetic coward. Scared half to death, can’t even speak straight.”

“Yeah, am I that terrifying?”

Eve glanced at him, gliding gracefully to his side, extending her snow-white, delicate hand with pride: “You did this?”

Luo De squeezed her handback, lightly kissed it, and Eve’s expression instantly softened.

“Of course. Who else?”

“Why not just reorganize all the Mirror Desert clans at once?”

“That would weaken the land nagas’ overall strength. You can’t swallow a fat man whole. First, digest the Gureish Clan properly.”

As he played with her naga fingers, she suddenly yanked her hand away coldly.

“Hmph. I’ll surpass you someday.”

“Alright, alright. By the way, your mother’s investigating those disappearances, right? It was the Campbell Clan colluding with the former Gureish General. I’ve already rescued them. When are you sending someone to pick them up?”

Luo De had planned to tell Lilien and get some new favors in return.

But he realized the collusion between the Campbell Clan and the Gureish Clan couldn’t be hidden.

He’d clearly crushed the former Gureish faction—Lilien would immediately trace it to the Campbell base.

Such coincidence might make Eve suspicious.

In the end, he decided to let Eve accept this favor.

Tally had somehow slipped out of the shadows and nestled softly against Luo De’s chest.

Luo De paid her no mind: “By the way, bad news—some of the missing were Campbell Clan experiments. They likely have no official records. Keep an eye out.”

“The Campbell Clan’s [Factor Blending]?”

“Oh? You know about that?”

“I’m practically in the same line of work. I’ve heard plenty of rumors.”

“Those [Factor Blending] misfires look different from regular nagas and have weaker physiques—probably won’t live more than a few years. But I can help them recover. If you train them consistently, they’ll become solid allies.”

Eve froze, seemingly not hearing much.

She asked blankly: “You said they won’t live more than a few years? If they’re going to die anyway, why save them? Better to make use of them fully.”

“Make use of them how?”

Eve snapped back to herself, shook her head: “Nothing. Don’t worry—I’ll go get them.”

Luo De let out a confused chuckle, scanning the land naga from head to toe.

Eve didn’t flinch, lifting her chin to meet his gaze.

Their eyes clashed, each holding quiet tenderness.

The tension slowly shifted.

Before the atmosphere could turn intimate, Tally shoved her pouting face between them.

“I’m still here.”

“Hmph.”

Outside the tent, voices rose in greeting: “Honor the Priestess!”

Soon after, Lilien entered, regal and exquisite, wearing a golden crown, powdered and painted, holding her staff, her face soft with a smile—radiating both authority and maternal warmth.

Eve was naturally delighted. Mother and daughter were close, and Eve loved showing off her achievements to her mother.

Luo De’s deeds would naturally be counted as hers.

She spun a tale of flawless strategy and masterful planning.

But a mother knows her child—she knew someone else had helped.

Lilien’s beautiful, bright eyes flickered briefly over Luo De’s face.

Mature beauty had its downsides—just one ordinary glance felt wildly seductive.

Luo De returned it with a cocky smile, instantly flustering Lilien, making her eyes dart away.

Fortunately, Eve was busy talking, her back turned, unaware of the silent exchange.

When she mentioned the disappearance case had been solved, Lilien was overjoyed.

Such an incident during her routine inspection would damage the Braal Clan Priestess’s authority if left unresolved.

Both mother and daughter were decisive—Lilien immediately proposed going to the scene.

Eve gently gripped her arm: “Let me go. I’ve never handled something like this before.”

Lilien didn’t hesitate: “Fine. I have nothing to add. Just make sure you show yourself publicly, comfort the clan members.”

“Understood. I’ll bring some guards.”

Luo De smiled: “I’ll go with you.”

“No! Stay here. Talk to my mother. Protect her safety! This place isn’t safe yet!”

Lilien stiffened, her smile freezing: “That’s… not appropriate. Let Luo De go with you.”

“No, no, really no!”

Eve walked out, calling out orders to the deputy outside the tent—likely mobilizing personnel.

Luo De seized the chance, stepped close, wrapped his arm around Lilien’s slender waist, and kissed her.

“Mmm—”

Lilien shoved him away in panic, horrified by the boy (Tally) rolling his eyes beside Luo De.

“My person.”

“You’re insane! Eve’s right outside!”

She forced her voice low, staring at Eve’s blurred silhouette beyond the curtain, her mind in chaos.

“Why worry? She told you to let me take care of you.”

Luo De kissed her again—this time not gentle, but forceful.

Lilien’s eyes welled with tears, but she couldn’t push him away—only pounded his chest with her tiny fists.

As the familiar, scorching scent of the man flooded her mind, engulfing her completely,

Lilien stopped pushing—instead, she grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, greedily devouring every inch of his face.

“I’m sorry, Eve…”

“.”

Tally, in boy form, slumped, watching the wild kiss between his master and Lilien—lipstick smeared everywhere—then glanced at Eve’s faint outline just outside the curtain, the snake loudly giving orders to her deputy.

This is a world-famous painting.

(End of Chapter)