"Tsk, tsk, I have to say something fair."
Mora, who wanted to "be fair," threw an arm around Long Qi's shoulders like they were old buddies. "That's far too harsh. Since she's an actress, since she has to listen to the director, and since she fulfilled her own 'duties' so brilliantly, why are you so indignant?"
"I'm indignant?"
With an Extraordinary Species' arm around his neck, even if she was a peerless beauty, Long Qi had no other thoughts in his mind—only crushing pressure.
But soon enough, the fire swelling in his chest burst through that boulder of pressure, spraying sparks with a hiss at the edge of reason. He still grinned.
"Wasn't I praising her?
"Of course, I won't deny there's a little unfairness to it. Mister Hui went into the city and flourished, while us country bumpkins went into the city and found it was a completely different story..."
Mora raised an eyebrow. "You count as a vagrant?"
"This humble one was once driven south from Northeast Asia by the Skull Demon King. I also lived in Lake City for a few months under the Vagrant Return to City policy... Who would've thought, Lao Yao? Maybe we were neighbors for a while."
Lao Yao forced a smile, his expression complicated as his gaze also shifted to Wen Huilan.
"Mm, I think there was something like that during an old livestream." As Mora spoke, her gaze turned to Mountain Lord. "Then you and Mountain Lord are fellow townsmen. No wonder someone chose the two of you as partners."
Mountain Lord remained expressionless.
Atop Sky Ridge, the morning wind grew fiercer, stirring the clouds on either side like waterfalls flowing in reverse. The clouds that should have hung down were swept upward instead, weaving together over the narrow roadway.
The