Chapter 104: The Patience and Greed of Snakes

"The far north? Oh, that's toward Mosdilcar."

It seems food isn't on the table right now.

Li En took a deep breath and suppressed his boiling bloodline.

He looked at Violet Rose; since he now had the information, he should rejoin Sallyman and the others.

The next stop should be Mosdilcar—he felt a faint surge of anticipation.

But Violet Rose didn't hurry back with Li En; she led him onward, ignoring Kuku, who was still brewing medicine, deeper into the cave.

Then, naturally, they encountered more shadow creatures.

"Crash!" The girl slammed a punch straight through the approaching shadow creature.

The overflow of power struck the cave wall, even making Li En feel a slight tremor.

He was numb—not from the shockwaves, but because shadow creatures, supposed to be physically immune, had just been punched to pieces!

This makes no sense physically!

"Hehe, because I'm a magical girl."

Magical girl? That's very magical—never mind then.

You're strong, so you get to talk. Setting aside all that nonsense, Li En was starting to understand how the "Beast" applied its power.

The Beast's authority became her unique supernatural ability, yet what she used most was the Beast's absurdly high stats.

Though Violet Rose hadn't shown her regeneration, Li En guessed she had it—and it was strong. With stats like a Beast's foot, not using them for close combat would be a waste. He also sensed something strange coating her fists—not magic, but something more dangerous.

"It's snake venom, from the 'Snake's' authority. Snakes deceive all things; conceptual-level venom requires a medium to twist reality."

Lies are the essence; altering the "status quo" is the result. Twisting reality might require only a single will.

She "deceived" herself into believing her fist could pierce shadows—and it did.

Li En felt this application method was familiar—wasn't this similar to "Maria" before? Using the Beast's absurd stats for melee, with an added talent authority that was even deadlier.

Unlike Maria, who relied entirely on instinct, Violet Rose used her power systematically and with restraint.

"Hmm, inside the Snake, I'm of the Keeper faction. The Secret-Stealers are far more dangerous." But Violet Rose didn't seem to want to hide anything—she wanted Li En to know more about this system.

Li En sensed vaguely that the Beast's "knowledge" itself was a corruption; knowing it increased the likelihood of a Beast-touched person becoming fully Beast.

Even her Qiyue Beast Melur disguised herself as a real snake before ordinary people—but toward herself…

"I do hope you learn more, because we're the same kind… Do you know how many years it takes to produce a stable 'Snake' bloodline—and one that's male?" Violet Rose didn't hide the affection in her pupils.

Yet this affection was strange—she looked at Li En not as a lover, but as a treasure.

"In my whole life, I've only seen three. All snatched away by those greedy little bastards." Melur added lazily.

How nice—if I were a hundred years younger, I'd have snatched one too.

"Oh, so it's compatibility under 'equal social standing.' Is this kind of romantic relationship… a bit too twisted?" Li En sounded like he was joking, but he was politely declining.

Because we're the same kind, we should fall in love and pair up? Li En didn't like that idea.

"No, no, no, don't you think it's romantic? From the moment you're born, your one and only partner is destined to meet you by fate's accident." The girl's starry eyes sparkled right before Li En's face.

In this moment, the girl truly believed in fate's chance encounter, grateful for this connection.

But Li En, having thought it through, grew even stranger in expression.

If we're talking about fate, isn't this accidental meeting… really your niece's?

Sensing this had no effect on Li En, Violet Rose's love-struck demeanor vanished instantly, returning to her usual calm, mature self.

"Practically speaking, aren't you relieved? A girl who only watches you is destined to be your companion. Even if you're a bastard, a scumbag, a lecher—she'll forgive you, love you."

"I don't need your answer now. I only need you to remember me, to think of me occasionally. I'll wait patiently."

Honestly, looking at this earnest, adorable girl, Li En was momentarily shaken.

"Crack!" Then she swung her fist again, crushing another approaching shadow giant.

Splatters of filth exploded across half her body, yet her gaze still lingered lovingly on Li En.

Li En finally broke, laughing aloud, then pulled out a towel to wipe her face.

But the conversation ended here. Smiling, Violet Rose tiptoed to lean against him—then stopped, without pressing further.

Li En still needed to grow. If he were consumed now, he'd die.

As she said, forming a good connection and waiting was enough.

But from another angle, it was no different from raising fish—marking them and waiting for harvest.

The last one she marked and waited to mature… was that black dragon who just became a shadow dragon, and whom she'd just harvested—or was still harvesting right now.

Snakes never let prey escape. Greedy as they are, they'll come knocking one day and swallow everything whole.

"So, the dragon's hoard is right here."

Even a counterfeit shadow dragon still possesses the dragon race's typical greed.

Veteran adventurers never pass up a dragon's hoard—it often holds unexpected treasures, sometimes even more valuable than the dragon itself.

Though this area was sealed off by the subterranean elves' city, there likely weren't many treasures, but over decades, some surprises must have accumulated.

Sure enough, around the corner appeared a pile of small gold mountains, with chests and magical gear glowing faintly.

By dragon standards, it wasn't much—but it was still considerable wealth.

"Little dragon! I misjudged you—you really are a good true dragon!"

The tiny girl launched herself into the pile of coins, rolling around happily.

Coins flew upward, forming a golden rain. Li En even glimpsed a giant snake writhing within it—this girl was increasingly unwilling to hide her true nature from him.

But from another perspective, perhaps their distance had genuinely drawn closer without notice; in some sense, Li En had already begun to "accustom" himself.

"Li En, take two items."

"Me too?"

This entire expedition was Violet Rose's effort; Li En was just a rookie brought along to witness the spectacle.

The dragon was her "pet," she killed it—naturally, all spoils belonged to her.

"Everyone gets a share—that's the adventurers' custom."

If so, Li En wouldn't be polite.

These items, though valuable, meant little to Violet Rose, who was beyond legendary.

He didn't look at the treasure—his gaze fixed on the magical gear beneath the dragon's eyes, faintly glowing with magic.

These must have been relics left behind by failed dragon slayers.

He picked through them, finally choosing a magic ring and a pair of iron boots—their magical auras were the strongest.

"Later, have Kuku help identify them… uh, you're fast."

Kuku had somehow appeared, his body coated in dragon flesh and filth.

He finished identification in seconds, then casually tossed the items back into Li En's space bag—which now felt much heavier; the essence of dragon materials was surely inside.

"A shield ring—pretty ordinary. The boots are interesting—need a secret phrase to activate. I'll help you decode them later."

But before Kuku finished speaking, Violet Rose on the other side raised her staff contentedly, as if preparing to cast.

"Sssss… sssssss (We never left.)"

Li En was about to ask how to transport the loot—when suddenly, his surroundings changed completely.

He was back on the carriage, sitting exactly where he'd been before.

Before him sat Sallyman, coffee cup in hand, utterly stunned.

"Hey, I'm back…" Li En greeted her, but Sallyman kept staring straight at his back, her face paling.

In an instant, Li En understood.

He quickly crouched down, bracing himself.

"Auntie!!" A scream erupted from the carriage—next moment, the carriage swelled violently, coins pouring out from every crack!

Violet Rose demonstrated her ability to bring back everything—the entire dragon hoard had been transported directly back to her carriage.

"Boom!" The carriage burst open completely, crushing Li En and Sallyman beneath their seats, immobilized.

Above them, Violet Rose, also pinned, grinned foolishly.

"Hehe, Little Rose messed up."

But looking at that cheerful smile, Li En remembered the snake writhing in the golden rain.

You didn't think of this? You love being crushed by coins, don't you!

"Greed is also a kind of humanity. And humanity… is precious to us." The smiling girl seemed to imply something deeper.

"Lick lick, don't be mad." Violet Rose extended her long serpent tongue and licked the little girl beneath her.

But when she noticed Li En watching, she smiled sweetly again.

"You want some too?" She pressed her face toward him—only to be shoved away by the furious Sallyman!

For the first time, Li En saw Sallyman this enraged—not only did she headbutt, but the tiny snakes on her head bit their own relative!

"Don't bite Auntie!" Violet Rose screamed.

"Bite her to death, just bite her to death!" Snakes tangled together—but to Li En, it looked more like playfighting.

The chaos didn't last long. Once the coins were cleared and stacked into boxes outside, the subterranean natives stared in awe.

They were no longer in the previous goblin village.

While Li En and Violet Rose went after the dragon, the caravan hadn't stopped.

Now, the carriage rested between cliffs and stone pillars—in a subterranean spiderfolk village.

Those glowing eyes watching them—whether intentional or not—made the relative's words even more persuasive.

(End of Chapter)