Deliciousness is Unmatched...

"You dog of a slave, what immense gall you have!"

Inside the grand hall, Yu Youhan looked down from her high seat, her phoenix eyes fixed coldly upon Chen Mo.

Chen Mo hurriedly lowered his head and said, "This humble one could not restrain his feelings; I beg the Highness to forgive my sin!"

Heaven have mercy, he truly hadn't done it on purpose!

But when those fragrant, soft little feet had been delivered right to his lips, he simply couldn't control himself.

That refreshing, sweet, and faint fragrance had left his mind a complete blank, and as if possessed by a ghost, he had taken a light suck...

The ancients did not deceive me when they said there is nothing better than a woman's feet!

"Presumptuous!"

Yu Youhan's voice was as piercing as the biting winds of midwinter. Her robes fluttered without a breeze, and an aura as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a prison caused the very air to nearly solidify!

Boom!

Boundless pressure crushed down, pinning Chen Mo firmly to the floor. His bones and sinews let out a "creaking" sound, as if he would be crushed to pieces and reduced to a puddle of mush the very next moment!

In this instant, Chen Mo finally regained his senses.

Previously, the Highness's tolerance and "special care" toward him had made him feel a bit carried away, to the point that he had nearly forgotten she was the most terrifying existence in Absolute Immortal!

A female demon who slaughtered without blinking!

She could grind him into dust with a single finger!

"This humble one deserves to die; I beg the Highness to calm her anger!"

Chen Mo said with great difficulty.

"Only when I permit you to touch may you touch!"

"If you dare to do it again, do not blame me for being ruthless!"

Feeling a wave of scorching heat radiating from her wrist, Yu Youhan let out a cold snort and withdrew her pressure.

"Thank you, Highness, for sparing this humble one's life."

As if granted a reprieve from death, Chen Mo prostrated himself and gasped for air, his back already soaked through with cold sweat.

This fellow is becoming increasingly brazen; he actually dared to lick... he nearly made me lose my composure again!

If I don't give him a taste of his own medicine, there's no telling what kind of outrageous actions he might commit next!

As long as there is no hostility in my heart, Red Silk will not appear. Putting on a show to frighten him a little shouldn't be a problem...

Yu Youhan thought to herself, her face expressionless as she said indifferently, "Speak. Why have you suddenly entered the palace?"

Chen Mo steadied himself for a moment, then pulled a token from his robes and presented it.

Yu Youhan's eyes flashed. "The Flying Phoenix Token? How did this thing end up in your hands?"

"The Highness had Eunuch Jin deliver it to the Chen Estate..."

Chen Mo recounted everything that had happened just moments ago, word for word.

"To have merely killed a demonic creature and be promoted to the Principal Sixth Rank, with the special bestowal of the Flying Phoenix Token—this reward far exceeds the standard."

"And that Jade Shatterer blade..."

"It is clear she intends to poach my people."

Yu Youhan sneered, a trace of killing intent flickering in the depths of her eyes.

She could be indifferent toward others, but Chen Mo was different; this "inner demon" was her greatest weakness and soft spot!

If the Highness succeeded in turning him, he would become an excellent weapon to use against her!

"Since the Highness values you so highly, what are your thoughts on the matter?" Yu Youhan asked in a clear voice.

Chen Mo replied with a firm tone, "The Highness's kindness to this humble one is akin to a rebirth. This humble one is willing to lay down his life for the Highness, and I shall never harbor a second heart!"

Yu Youhan nodded in satisfaction.

After the Highness's reward, Chen Mo had not hesitated to enter the palace immediately to report it, which was enough to prove his stance.

"Not bad. You have not disappointed me."

"Aside from this, is there anything else?"

Chen Mo shook his head. "I dare not disturb the Highness's quiet cultivation; this humble one will take his leave."

With that, he bowed and began to back away.

Watching his reserved and slightly distant demeanor, Yu Youhan was momentarily stunned. Once she realized the reason, her brows smoothed out, and her eyes held a hint of amusement.

"Stop."

Chen Mo's footsteps halted, and he stood in place with his head bowed.

Seeing this, the corners of Yu Youhan's lips curled upward. "After I treated you like that just now, do you feel aggrieved?"

Chen Mo said in a low voice, "This humble one would not dare."

"You are the only person who has ever touched my body..."

Yu Youhan paused, her tone indifferent: "This Palace is merely reminding you not to push your luck."

Chen Mo was stunned by her words.

She hadn't even been touched by the Emperor?

In truth, he had already guessed as much in his heart.

In the backstory of Absolute Immortal, Imperial Concubine Yu's origins were mysterious, and her purpose for entering the palace was to "steal the nation's fortune," so there was no detailed description of the relationship between her and Emperor Wulie.

When Yu Youhan entered the palace, Emperor Wulie had not yet fallen ill.

However, with her cultivation level, as long as she was not willing, no one could force her.

"What, you don't believe me?"

Seeing him remain silent, Yu Youhan's voice grew a few degrees colder.

Chen Mo snapped back to his senses and hurriedly said: "This subordinate naturally believes the Highness."

There was no reason for Yu Youhan to lie about such a matter.

But what did she mean by telling him this so suddenly?

"Come here."

Yu Youhan commanded.

Chen Mo followed her instructions and walked over.

He saw her crossed legs lift, the skin beneath her palace gown as smooth as jade, and a pair of snow-white, delicate feet extended before him.

Yu Youhan turned her head away: "Take them."

It's just a pair of feet, I don't know what is so good about them.

Forget it, considering his loyalty... and the fact that my reaction just now was indeed a bit intense, I will just let him be.

However, after waiting for a long while, Chen Mo did not move.

Yu Youhan glanced at him, her eyes darkening: "What, you don't want to touch them?"

Chen Mo said cautiously: "This subordinate is worried..."

"Since this Palace has permitted it, what is there to fear? You were doing just that a moment ago... continue."

Yu Youhan gave a soft huff.

Continue?

Since he was acting under orders, there shouldn't be any problems, right?

Chen Mo's throat bobbed, and after a moment of hesitation, he reached out to support her arch and slowly lowered his head toward them.

The scent was like orchids, untainted by dust, and the delicate, smooth texture was addictive.

Yu Youhan's heart gave a violent jolt!

This time felt different from all the previous times...

A sensation of extreme numbness surged from her toes, spreading through her entire body in an instant.

Her wrists felt scorching hot, and an unprecedented, intense palpitation came in waves, drowning her like a raging sea!

"Highness?"

Chen Mo sensed something was wrong, looked up, and was instantly stunned.

He saw that Yu Youhan's eyes were unfocused, and a flush of crimson bloomed from her cheeks, gradually spreading to her slender neck, appearing like wild poppies blooming on a snow-capped peak against the backdrop of her white casual robes.

Poisonous, lethal, yet incredibly alluring.

Noticing his gaze, Yu Youhan bit her vermilion lips, her voice trembling: "You dog of a servant, no, you are not allowed to look at this Palace!"

"Yes."

As soon as Chen Mo lowered his head, he caught a thick, intoxicating fragrance.

He followed the source of the scent.

It seemed to be...

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the Highness's figure vanished, leaving only her voice echoing in the air:

"The hour is late, this Palace is tired, you may withdraw."

"...This subordinate takes his leave."

The sudden interruption left Chen Mo feeling unsatisfied and somewhat dejected as he walked out of the great hall.

Compared to the empty promises of the Highness, the Highness's dumplings are much tastier...

Not far behind him.

Yu Youhan leaned against a pillar, her body limp, her phoenix eyes misted with water, the spring in her heart nearly overflowing.

"He truly was sent by the heavens to torment this Palace, making me so unsightly every single time..."

"Next time..."

"I'll definitely be able to hold it in next time!"

The next day.

Heavenly Qilin Guard headquarters.

As soon as Chen Mo stepped into the office, he was surrounded by the members of the Water Bureau.

Qin Shou grinned so wide that the flesh on his face bunched up. "Congratulations to the Flag Officer on your promotion to Centurion!"

"Congratulations, Centurion! We offer our heartfelt congratulations!"

The crowd cheered in unison, the atmosphere incredibly lively.

Chen Mo shook his head. "You lot are certainly well-informed... but it's just a title without an actual post. You'd better keep calling me Flag Officer to avoid any misunderstandings."

Qin Shou laughed. "There just aren't any vacancies in the office right now. I heard Centurion Shen is expected to be promoted to Vice Chiliarch. When that happens, you taking over the Water Bureau will be a natural progression, won't it?"

Liu Mang muttered from the side, "It's only a matter of time."

Chen Mo smiled and said nothing.

Easier said than done; how could it be that simple?

The internal relationships within the Heavenly Qilin Guard were intricate and complex; pulling one hair would affect the whole body.

The merit of slaying a Heavenly Demon alone wasn't enough to put him in charge of a bureau. Being granted the nominal rank of Centurion was already an exceptional promotion.

Moreover, there was an unwritten rule here:

To hold the position of Centurion, one must reach the fifth rank of the martial path!

Otherwise, it would be difficult to command respect!

What's so good about being a Centurion anyway?

It's far more comfortable being a small Flag Officer; if something goes wrong, there's always someone else to take the blame.

Chen Mo pondered secretly.

The Highness takes the big blame, Centurion Shen takes the small blame, and as for himself... sorry, this brother is non-stick.

"Oh right, Boss, the silver notes from County Magistrate Li are still with me..."

Qin Shou pulled Chen Mo aside and whispered.

Chen Mo replied, "Since it's medical expenses, don't skimp on it. After the office closes, take the brothers out to relax."

"Understood!"

Qin Shou looked excited.

For hot-blooded martial artists like them, there was only one place to "relax"...

The brothels!

And it was always the damn brothels!

"The Music Bureau recently got a new batch of courtesans, and the quality is very high!"

"One of them is quite famous; she's proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her beauty is stunning—comparable to a top courtesan!"

"Why don't you come along and have some fun, Flag Officer? Consider it a celebration for your promotion."

Qin Shou said with a grin.

Chen Mo thought about it and didn't refuse; occasionally changing his mood wouldn't be a bad thing.

"Call those guys from the Ding Fire Bureau too. After all, they put in the effort, and they have a share in this silver."

"Yes."

Qin Shou acknowledged.

Ding Fire Bureau office.

Li Yuan stood by the window, her eyes unfocused, lost in thought.

"Flag Officer Li... Flag Officer Li?"

A voice pulled her back to reality. She realized a lieutenant was standing in front of her, eyeing her with a strange expression.

"What is it?" Li Yuan asked.

The lieutenant handed her a document. "This is the transfer of authority. Centurion Chu has already approved it. The five squads under Flag Officer Yan... ahem, Yan Liang, will be temporarily placed under your command, Flag Officer Li."

Yan Liang had been thrown into the Imperial Prison, leaving his position as Flag Officer vacant.

Until a new successor was chosen, all matters would be temporarily handled by Li Yuan.

It could be said that the burden of the entire Ding Fire Bureau now rested on her shoulders alone.

"Understood."

Li Yuan took the handwritten letter without saying anything more.

The captain felt a bit strange.

Ever since returning from Tongling County, Li Yuan had been completely absent-minded, often staring out the window alone as if she had been traumatized by something...

"To think that I, in front of Chen Mo..."

"How humiliating!"

Every time she thought of this, Li Yuan wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Back then on horseback, that slap from Chen Mo seemed to have flipped a switch; that shameful yet indescribable feeling was something she had never experienced before.

"If hitting me... there, was to wake me from the illusion, it could barely be understood, but what was that slap on horseback for?"

"What exactly does he mean?"

"And ever since we returned, he seems to have been avoiding me... Am I that terrifying?"

Li Yuan felt a sense of insecurity she couldn't control.

She wanted to find Chen Mo to clear things up, but she couldn't find an opportunity, nor did she know how to face him.

"Commander..."

At this moment, several bailiffs walked up to her, their expressions somewhat uneasy.

"What is it?" Li Yuan asked.

"We..."

The men stammered, unable to get a coherent sentence out for a long time.

Li Yuan frowned. "If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost. Why are you stuttering?"

They exchanged glances, and one of them plucked up the courage to say, "The county magistrate gave us five hundred taels for recuperation last time... After the shift ends, Commander Chen invited us to go to the Music Bureau to relax..."

Regarding the Tongling County case, Chen Mo had truly kept his word and submitted all their names.

This was an unprecedented achievement!

Not to mention how generous the imperial court's rewards were, just the reputation alone would be of great benefit to their future official careers!

Having received such a favor, they naturally didn't want to slight Chen Mo.

Besides, what man could refuse a free treat?

However, the Ding Fire Bureau and the Water Bureau had a tense relationship, and a commander had even been sent away just a few days ago... Without Li Yuan's approval, they didn't dare to participate in such a gathering privately.

"The Music Bureau? Chen Mo invited you?"

Li Yuan's expression turned cold.

The group nodded, bracing themselves.

Commander Li had always detested brothels and entertainment districts, and she was at odds with Commander Chen; it seemed highly likely that this was a dead end...

"Since it is recuperation money, my share is in there as well."

"I will go with you."

Li Yuan said indifferently.

"Hm... ah?!"

The group was stunned, staring at Li Yuan with blank expressions.

"Commander Li is... also going?"

"Is that not allowed?"

"That's not it..."

"Wait for me after the shift ends. Whoever dares to leave first will have their legs broken!"

"..."

Chu Liang had been in a very bad mood lately.

He never imagined that Chen Mo's "wild talk" from a few days ago would become reality so quickly!

Slaying the Tenth Heavenly Demon, promoted to Centurion, and holding the Principal Sixth Rank!

In terms of official rank alone, he was already on equal footing with him!

And it was an imperial edict issued personally by the Highness!

"This reward is clearly far beyond the standard; it makes no sense at all!"

"The Chen Family is clearly the lackey of Imperial Concubine Yu; why would the Highness favor him so much?"

Chu Liang could not figure it out no matter how hard he tried.

"Fortunately, it is only a pending appointment with no real power."

"The positions within the Heavenly Qilin Guard are set in stone; there are no vacancies for a Hundred-Man Commander, so there is no need to worry too much."

"For now, I should focus on handling the affairs within the bureau..."

After Yan Liang was thrown into the Imperial Prison, a mountain of official business had piled up, and a new Banner Commander had to be appointed as soon as possible.

Yet, there was no suitable candidate to be found at the moment.

"Fortunately, there is still Li Yuan."

Li Yuan was not only strong enough, but she was also decisive in her actions and held high prestige within the bureau, so it would be no problem for her to temporarily shoulder the burden of the Ding Fire Bureau.

"Where is Banner Commander Li? Tell her to come see me."

"I need to give her a thorough briefing regarding the bureau's affairs."

Chu Liang said to the officer standing nearby.

The officer hesitated for a moment before saying, "Banner Commander Li has already left..."

Chu Liang asked in confusion, "She left right after the shift ended? Doesn't she usually practice her blade at the Training Grounds?"

Seeing the officer's evasive manner, Chu Liang frowned and said in a deep voice, "Where exactly did she go? Tell me the truth!"

The officer shivered and whispered, "It seems she went to the Music Bureau with Banner Commander Chen and the others..."

"Cough, cough!"

Chu Liang nearly choked on his own saliva, his old face flushing bright red.

"Went to the, the Music Bureau?!"

"What is a woman like her doing in a place like that? And with Chen Mo, of all people?!"

The officer shook his head and said, "This subordinate does not know..."

Chu Liang's heart sank.

Since when had Li Yuan become so close to Chen Mo?

Of the two Banner Commanders in the Ding Fire Bureau, one had been sent to the Imperial Prison, and the other had been led astray by Chen Mo... Did this not mean he was effectively being sidelined?

"Chen Mo's pending position as a Hundred-Man Commander—he wouldn't be waiting for my seat, would he?"

Chu Liang felt his scalp tingle.

ps: It's the beginning of the month, please vote for me, love you all, mua~