Chapter 72: Poison of Spring

Two nights later.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Dragon-Watching Festival.

Taking advantage of the lull in the bustling Emerald City at night, Rod came to the forest outside the city.

Unlike the Wind-Rage City and the Scorching City.

Emerald City has no curfew; the city gates are always open, so the streets at night are perpetually illuminated by the glow of alchemical lamps.

And around the Dome Casino, the residents can still faintly hear the shouts from within.

"Do you like trees that much, Master?"

Tally sat on a nearby rock, swinging her feet in boredom.

Not far away, Rod stroked a mulberry tree.

Silently beginning to cultivate the breathing technique.

Even though the accumulation of spiritual energy within his body has reached its peak, he does not intend to stop his daily practice.

Emerald City is similar to the Elves' Verdant Court, so there is a vast population of trees surrounding it.

Just by Rod sitting quietly like this, he could feel a continuous flow of spiritual energy surging into his body.

【Growth Spiritual Energy +1】

【Growth Spiritual Energy +1】

【Growth Spiritual Energy +1】

And his luck was incredibly good; in no time, three points of Growth Spiritual Energy had been credited.

"Diligence leads to excellence, my little Tally."

After swallowing the last of the Fire Drake meat, Rod could feel his fire resistance rise slightly again.

More importantly, the scorching heat of the Fire Drake meat had added a layer of intensity to his muscles.

His strength was much greater than before.

"Look at me; I've hardly cultivated at all, I eat and drink as I please, yet I'm still higher rank than you."

Tally said arrogantly.

She bent her arm, displaying a bicep that showed not a single ripple.

"What's wrong? Shall we compare?"

"What's there to compare? If you have the guts, let's compare in bed~"

The succubus repeated her old trick and leaned in.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she reverted to her naked demon form, leaned against Rod's chest, and stuck out her long tongue to lick his chin.

Seeing this scene, Rod.

Suddenly remembered a monk who shouted "Great Power, Heavenly Dragon"; he had once cultivated with the help of a demoness.

Extending from this, I wonder if there is a breathing technique in this other world that increases spiritual energy through intercourse.

Just as he was thinking.

A familiar group of figures walked through the distant city gate.

Nineteen people, wearing magnificent black robes.

"The field trip group from Bahadur Magic Academy? They're coming to Emerald City too?"

But thinking about it, it made sense.

Their club, the Dragon Interest Society, specializes in studying giant dragons; how could they possibly miss a festival like the Dragon-Watching Festival?

And shortly after the field trip group entered the city one by one.

Suddenly, two figures came running out from inside the city, one in front of the other.

The one in front was a bald man who looked quite wretched.

And the pursuer was a halfling.

Rod recognized her; this was the Miss Lily he had met two days ago.

Lily must be the type who cultivates both spiritual energy and magic; a wave of spiritual energy surged from her body, and her speed suddenly increased.

In less than five seconds, she had caught up behind the man and pinned him to the ground with a single hand.

Screeching a brake mark on the ground.

Then they were shouting something.

Rod was quite far away and only vaguely heard the words "owed money" and "pay back."

It seemed to be a deadbeat who wouldn't pay his debts and a debt collector.

"Working security and as a waiter at the Dragon-Watching Platform during the day, then coming to collect debts at night?"

Actually, Rod always felt that this halfling named Lily had a strange sense of familiarity, which successfully piqued a sliver of his curiosity.

Over there, two more people came running out from the city gate.

These two were in terrible shape; their breaths were chaotic, panting heavily.

They looked like they were about to vomit from running.

"Damn it... run again, ha—! Do you think I won't... kill you..." Saying this, one of them kicked the deadbeat.

"Thanks, Lily; the rest is up to us."

The other person was more polite.

Lily nodded.

She tied up the deadbeat at her feet and handed him over to the two behind her.

Watching the backs of the three people as they left, cursing, she let out a long sigh, then turned to the side.

"Is peeping your hobby, Mr. Rod?"

Rod was walking over from the woods.

Hearing this, he smiled: "What's going on now?"

"A scoundrel who entered the casino to buy a Pleasure Potion sold his own wife and daughter."

"Truly hateful. Miss Lily, do you also work for the casino?"

"I work for most people, as long as they can pay."

She adjusted her belt, revealing a Bing Mo Fa short sword.

Perhaps because halfling and human children look too much alike, they could never buy mature clothing in a suitable size.

"Sounds like a mercenary."

"Precisely, Mr. Rod. Perhaps you don't know, but all members of the Hero Alliance belonging to the Hero Alliance are like this. We are active in various commissions within the cities, and I, as you should know, the expenses in the Emerald Domain are very high."

The Hero Alliance, huh.

Rod had an impression of this organization.

It was an alliance formed by ambitious halflings who took it upon themselves to act chivalrously and protect the weak, shuttling between various city-states and the wilderness.

Before departing, he had seen a report on the Hero Alliance in the Snow Hill Evening Post.

It said they had successfully rescued a group of slaves deceived into labor at a remote mine; because of this, the local authorities awarded their leader a Badge of Honor.

"Not bad, truly cool."

Hearing Rod's sincere evaluation, Lily smiled.

When she smiled, only the corner of her left mouth would curl up, making her look cool and aloof.

"The Hero Alliance, ah, I remember now."

Tally had by then reverted to her little sister persona; she said thoughtfully:

"Back then, when my great-aunt's cousin's daughter impersonated a priest of the local church in Wales City and gathered male believers and clergy to hold a party in the church, it was the Hero Alliance who stumbled upon it."

"Although I'm used to hearing such stories, I'm still curious to ask: how did the Hero Alliance deal with that relative of yours?"

Rod asked, holding his forehead.

"The Hero Alliance threw her into the local Security Hall and left immediately. As a result, she held another party inside the Security Hall, hahaha—"

Lily looked shocked; she said:

"I remember that incident... but that was a succubus."

Tally smiled seductively and turned lightly.

As her skirt swirled, she transformed into a decent human beauty holding an umbrella; turning again, she became a charming, scantily clad gnoll.

"A succubus..."

Lily turned to Rod, frowning.

"Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Rod, but keeping a succubus is not a good choice."

"Thanks for the reminder. Actually, Tally is not quite the same as ordinary succubi."

"..."

Lily's expression changed.

Clearly, she thought Rod was already deeply entangled and unable to extricate himself.

On the continent, there is a saying for people bewitched by succubi: 'Spring Poison'.

It cannot be dispelled by spells; it is a state of mind.

A human afflicted with Spring Poison.

I, Lily, as a member of the Hero Alliance, shouldn't I save him?

But how?

Putting myself in his place, what would make me feel a sense of redemption?

The halfling turned her brain, thinking rapidly.

In a moment.

Her eyes lit up.

That's it! Just by doing some chivalrous and righteous deeds, one can dispel the gloom and negativity in the heart!

Immediately, she extended an invitation to Rod.

"Mr. Rod, there is a factory in Emerald City suspected of manufacturing and selling counterfeit Pleasure Potions. Are you interested in investigating it with me?"

Rod had always been fated to be cut off from this kind of chivalrous, revenge-satisfying life.

Plus, the various martial arts dramas he had seen on Earth.

To say he wasn't interested would be a lie.

"Of course."

(End of this chapter)