Highness Couldn't Hold It Anymore!

True heartbreak is not a loud, chaotic quarrel...

Chen Mo stood with his head bowed, remaining sullenly silent.

Watching his aggrieved appearance, Yu Youhan inexplicably found it amusing, as if he were a young bride who had been wronged.

She scrutinized him carefully, her moth-like brows gradually knitting together.

"You've exhausted all your essence?"

The Nine-Turn Green Essence Pill was a holy-grade elixir, containing a vast amount of life essence; under normal circumstances, it should have been enough to last Chen Mo until he reached the Heavenly Human Realm.

Yet, only two days had passed, and it was already completely depleted?

"This humble subordinate went to carry out a mission yesterday..."

Chen Mo gave a rough account of what had transpired.

Upon hearing that he had been trapped in the Blood Prison and his physical body destroyed, Yu Youhan's eyes filled with icy coldness.

He had nearly lost his life just from carrying out a single mission?

She couldn't care less about Heavenly Demons or Evil Ghosts, but until she was completely rid of the Red Silk, Chen Mo absolutely could not die!

"Should I transfer him to another position?"

"No, the Heavenly Qilin Guard exists independently of the Three Offices and Six Ministries; without this status, he would be even easier for others to plot against."

"Otherwise..."

"Should I simply have him castrated and sent into the palace, so I can keep an eye on him myself?"

After giving it serious thought, Yu Youhan dismissed the idea.

Setting aside whether the Chen Family would turn against her, if this dog of a servant were to sway before her eyes every day, it might trigger the Red Silk...

She had no desire to experience that feeling of losing all her power and being at the mercy of another for a second time.

Chen Mo looked at the Noble Consort with expectant eyes.

Little did he know that his "little brother" had already taken a stroll before the gates of hell.

"Enough, open your mouth."

"Ah~"

Yu Youhan flicked her finger, and a cyan pill shot into Chen Mo's mouth.

A surge of vast life essence exploded within his body; the scalding liquid washed through his meridians and continuously poured into his vital points.

Chen Mo let out a satisfied hum.

"Her Highness's great essence has filled this humble subordinate's small apertures once more..."

"?"

Yu Youhan felt that something was strange, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

"This Nine-Turn Green Essence Pill is not some common trinket you can find at a roadside stall. After I wiped out the Golden Core Sect, I only managed to scavenge three of them in total... You had best use them sparingly."

The main issue was that the method for refining this pill had been lost to time; it was no exaggeration to say that every one used was one less in existence.

Chen Mo had experienced the effects firsthand, so he naturally understood the power of this object.

As long as he wasn't killed in a single blow or his soul destroyed, it was practically like having an immortal body!

Although Her Highness won't admit it, she really does care about me.

Chen Mo felt a surge of joy, and he quickly called out his slogans: "Her Highness's immense grace is etched in this subordinate's heart; I am willing to go through fire and water for you, and would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!"

Yu Youhan waved her hand. "That won't be necessary. Just stay alive."

"Right, I have another treasure I wish to present to Her Highness."

Chen Mo pulled a scroll from his robes.

After untying it, he drew out a red banner.

"That Qin Wuxiang spent years planning for this magical treasure. I thought it might be of some use to Your Highness..."

"A Soul-Summoning Banner?"

"The quality is decent enough, but it is a tool of ghost cultivation—a deviant path that is beneath notice."

Yu Youhan glanced at it, her expression full of disdain.

Chen Mo awkwardly rubbed his nose.

He hadn't expected that such a heaven-tier treasure would be considered so worthless in the eyes of Her Highness.

"However, the Dharma Seal engraved on it for devouring souls is somewhat interesting..."

Blue light bloomed in Yu Youhan's eyes, enveloping the Soul-Summoning Banner.

The banner instantly began to writhe and struggle as if it were a living creature, emitting waves of piercing, mournful wails!

Streams of black smoke surged out, bearing hideous, terrifying ghost faces that constantly hammered against the barrier of blue light!

Seeing this, Chen Mo's face turned slightly pale.

He never expected this thing to be so terrifying, yet he had been carrying it around just like that...

The resistance of the Soul-Summoning Banner was naturally futile.

In no time at all, all the vengeful spirits were completely wiped out, falling utterly silent, and the color of the banner shifted from deep crimson to a dull gray-white.

Yu Youhan extended a slender, jade-like finger and "plucked" one of the ancient black Dharma Seals from the surface of the banner. Enveloped in green light, she pressed it onto the back of Chen Mo's hand.

The moment it touched him, the Dharma Seal took root, branding itself deeply into his skin.

Immediately after, a prompt flashed before his eyes:

[Obtained Primary Divine Ability: Soul Absorption.]

[Can absorb soul power to strengthen the spirit.]

At this moment, Chen Mo could finally decipher the complex character on the back of his hand.

It was clearly the character for "Soul"!

In an instant, she had refined a Heaven-tier Dharma treasure that already had an owner, and furthermore, extracted a Dharma Seal from it to bestow upon him as a divine ability.

Such methods were nothing short of miraculous, unfathomable to both gods and ghosts!

Outside of the game, this was the first time Chen Mo had intuitively felt the true power of the Noble Consort.

Broken, she was far too broken!

But...

He loved it!

With the Nine-Turn Green Essence Pill protecting his body, plus the Dharma Seal strengthening his spirit, this lowly slave shouldn't die so easily now, right?

Yu Youhan pondered to herself.

Seeing Chen Mo still standing there like a fool, she said indifferently:

"If there is nothing else, you may withdraw."

"Your humble servant..."

Chen Mo started to speak but hesitated.

Yu Youhan raised an eyebrow. "If you have something to say, then say it. Why the stammering?"

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage and said, "Your Highness has bestowed such a generous reward; your servant has no way to repay you. How about... how about I massage your feet again?"

"..."

Yu Youhan was momentarily stunned.

After a brief hesitation, she nodded. "Granted."

Desensitization therapy had to be done gradually.

With the experience from last time, she felt she should be able to endure it a bit longer this time.

Chen Mo sat sideways in front of Yu Youhan.

Her straight legs were crossed, resting upon his knees.

His palms gently grasped her pearl-like, jade feet, his gaze gradually drifting upward, skimming over her fair, smooth calves, where he vaguely caught a glimpse of snowy softness—

Under the Noble Consort's casual robes, there was actually nothing...

Chen Mo nearly lost his composure and hurriedly shifted his gaze, focusing his attention back onto her feet.

Touching her delicate, velvety skin, her adorable toes curled slightly, looking just like a meticulously carved work of art.

Recalling the foot massage from last time, Chen Mo did not hesitate. While pressing on her arches, he concentrated his True Essence into his fingertips and lightly tickled the center of her soles.

In an instant, a rich, sweet fragrance spread through the air.

It was as if an autumn rain had drenched an entire grove of osmanthus flowers.

Bang!

The next moment, Chen Mo was kicked directly out of the palace.

He traced a graceful arc through the air and landed with a "splash" in the pool outside the hall, kicking up a massive spray of water.

Xu Qingyi happened to be passing by.

Seeing this scene, she froze for a moment, then the corners of her mouth curled up, and her eyes curved like crescent moons.

"Heh heh, serves you right!"

Before Chen Mo could even reach for his token, she turned and ran away.

Chen Mo leaped up from the pool, circulating his True Essence to rapidly evaporate the water from his clothes.

Looking at the tightly shut palace doors, he wore a puzzled expression.

I felt like Her Highness quite liked it... why such a big reaction?

Inside the palace hall.

Yu Youhan's body went limp, her breathing slightly rapid as her legs rubbed together, her watery eyes seemingly thick with mist.

Her expression was a mix of shame, annoyance, and helplessness.

"Why is the time getting shorter and shorter? I couldn't even hold on for a moment after just starting..."

"This Palace is truly useless..."