Dilemma

"Changyan, uh... uh... uh, I'm sorry!" Chen Beixun spoke solemnly, even bowing respectfully.

"Hmm?" An Changyan was taken aback. It wasn't that she was surprised by Chen Beixun's apology.

Rather, it was the way he addressed her.

Generally, within the Kekumeng Race, using a full name was reserved for close friends, relatives, or superiors addressing subordinates; to show respect, one would only use the surname. Chen Beixun's choice of address made An Changyan somewhat curious.

Chen Beixun seemed to notice her confusion and immediately explained.

Chen Beixun: "In my hometown, there are many nuances to how we address people. For instance, there are many ways to address someone you're familiar with, and this is just one of them."

"Oh!" An Changyan said, half-understanding, then immediately asked: "Are there any other strange ways of addressing people in your hometown?"

"Yes!" Chen Beixun smiled at An Changyan and said: "Linbei!"

An Changyan asked in confusion: "What does that mean?"

Chen Beixun laughed: "It's a way to refer to oneself."

The atmosphere gradually grew harmonious, but suddenly!

Chen Beixun felt a wave of dizziness; the world seemed to spin!

"Ah!" Chen Beixun covered his head with one hand, fighting through the vertigo to command the Demon Island Vine to protect An Changyan, ensuring he wouldn't hurt her.

"Chen Beixun!" An Changyan stepped forward anxiously; she didn't understand why he had suddenly collapsed like this when he was perfectly fine.

"Don't!" Chen Beixun reached out a hand, signaling her not to come closer. He then sat cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes to resist the sudden wave of dizziness.

Seeing this, An Changyan stepped aside and watched quietly.

Three days later...

"I've mostly recovered." Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Chen Beixun slowly opened his eyes, his breathing slightly rapid, looking uneasy and anxious.

"Chen Beixun..." Seeing him open his eyes, An Changyan stood up immediately, as if she were burdened by some grave matter.

Chen Beixun glanced at An Changyan with a puzzled look and asked weakly: "What's wrong?"

"Uh... uh..." An Changyan looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. She kept her gaze lowered for a long time before finally speaking: "Pavadode is dead."

Pavadode had a 'Life Detector' on him, so they would know the moment something went wrong.

"But Pavadode is a Domain Lord!" Chen Beixun's body shook, unable to hide his shock.

"Let's leave this place quickly." An Changyan was clearly frightened; her tone had changed, carrying a note of pleading.

Chen Beixun scratched his head and said with a bitter expression: "We're trapped here; we can't get out."

"Ah?" An Changyan reached out toward Chen Beixun. The spirit she had just felt relieved and relaxed because of his recovery was, at this moment, dragged back into an icy abyss.

"No way... can't the Demon Island Vine do it either?" Tears welled up in An Changyan's eyes as she stepped closer to Chen Beixun, one step at a time.

Chen Beixun remained silent.

"You're joking... right?" She suddenly threw herself in front of Chen Beixun and gripped his hands tightly.

An Changyan was, after all, still a girl fresh out of the nest; facing such a situation, she could only hold his hands tightly to seek a shred of security. Growth does not happen overnight; it requires the tempering of time, just as Chen Beixun had experienced.

"This..." Chen Beixun rubbed An Changyan's slender, jade-like hands, quietly watching the raised, ice-blue vascular patterns on them.

He was helpless too; the only exit had been sealed shut. Moreover, the space was small, making it difficult for the Demon Island Vine to unleash its devouring power. It wasn't that it couldn't devour, just that it was difficult to do so.

"What do we do... what do we do!" An Changyan lifted her head, shouting in a panic. Her usually cold, jade-like face and her mouth—which never matched her stoic demeanor—were for once unified in their frantic chatter.

Chen Beixun quietly watched her magnificent beauty. He was mostly silent and dazed, like most people who stare blankly at a single spot when lost in thought.

"What do we do... huh?!" In Chen Beixun's vacant gaze, a flash of surprise suddenly appeared.

How is this person so beautiful? Chen Beixun swallowed hard; he rarely paid attention to An Changyan's appearance in his daily life.

Before he was over 100 years old, Chen Beixun had already set aside all matters of romance due to certain circumstances.

For some reason, a certain emotion was rekindled at this moment.

He cupped An Changyan's tear-streaked face, bringing it closer bit by bit until their faces were pressed together.

An Changyan sobbed as she met his gaze, one hand resting on his shoulder.

After a while, she looked away and leaned her head against his other shoulder, then closed her eyes.

The faint, natural scent of An Changyan lingered at the tip of Chen Beixun's nose, refusing to dissipate.

"You look just like her." Chen Beixun closed his eyes, breathing in the delicate fragrance emanating from An Changyan.

He felt a fire burning in his heart, scorching his reason.

"I... I should be calmer." Chen Beixun lied to himself, placing his hand on An Changyan's waist and letting it wander downward.

"Mm..." An Changyan felt a sudden wave of comfort and let out a soft hum.

"Mm... mm." An Changyan, eyes closed, suddenly felt something on her buttocks.

"What are you doing?!" She was startled, immediately pressing both hands against Chen Beixun's shoulders and straightening up to stare at him.

Chen Beixun said nothing, moving his hand away from An Changyan's buttocks.

"You lecher!" An Changyan cast a look of disdain at Chen Beixun, then immediately smiled and asked, "Do you want it?"

"It's already come to this, anyway." An Changyan wore an indifferent expression.

Indulgence? Chen Beixun narrowed his eyes, returning to his usual calm, and said apologetically, "My apologies, Your Highness!"

"This was due to my lack of self-control."

Chen Beixun knew that while he had lost his reason, he had even grabbed the other's throat, nearly causing a tragedy. Adding this current matter to the mix, it was truly... excessive.

Hearing this, An Changyan embraced him and said calmly, "Let it be."

"I forgive you, but you must serve me well from now on."

After saying this, An Changyan rested his head on Chen Beixun's shoulder and contentedly closed his eyes to doze off.

Upon hearing this, Chen Beixun frowned, feeling somewhat puzzled; he did not understand what An Changyan's intentions were, nor for what purpose this was done.

Under normal circumstances, such a matter would rarely end without severe consequences.

Hmm! After some thought, Chen Beixun suddenly realized that An Changyan wanted to bind him to himself!

"Happy now?" Qishan appeared before Chen Beixun's eyes. Naturally, An Changyan could not see him.

He never shows up when he should, yet he appears suddenly at a time like this. Chen Beixun stared at Qishan with some irritation.

"Hehe! Don't get angry yet, listen to me," Qishan laughed.

"You! Fine... fine, speak!" Chen Beixun nearly cursed out loud, but seeing Qishan's sharp gaze, he deflated as if his spirit had been drained.

Qishan vividly explained to Chen Beixun, "You essentially 'had' her; the Kekumeng Race places great importance on chastity."

"So, as for what happens next, you understand!"

Chen Beixun suddenly understood: An Changyan was simply playing along, making a gamble based on the current situation!

An Changyan used himself as the stake in a gamble, betting that Chen Beixun wouldn't dare to go through with it! Then, he would leave him feeling overwhelmed with shame, only to generously forgive him and use that to win his heart!

Chen Beixun nodded, looking at An Changyan before him with a smile, thinking to himself, Very well, very well!

In truth, Chen Beixun could have simply forced the issue to turn the tables and used it as leverage to control the other. After all, the Kekumeng Race did indeed place great importance on chastity.

"Sigh~" Chen Beixun let out a soft sigh, stopped dwelling on it, and began to think of a way to get out.

Qishan, meanwhile, paced around the space.

"Hmm!" Qishan let out a surprised sound, then said to Chen Beixun, "The material of this stone wall is Ketes Eagle Stone! Its main characteristic is hardness! Extremely hard! It is basically on par with F7-grade metal!"

Hearing this, Chen Beixun stopped thinking and asked in surprise, "F-grade metal!"

"Hm?!" Hearing Chen Beixun's words, An Changyan suddenly lifted his head. "What F-grade metal?"

Chen Beixun: "..."

Chen Beixun coughed a few times and then said, "The hardness of this stone wall is comparable to F-grade metal!"

"Ah!" An Changyan cried out in surprise.

Chen Beixun was a bit speechless, but he still smiled and said, "Your Highness, I will find a way!"

An Changyan replied coldly, "You had better!", then rested his head back on Chen Beixun's shoulder.

Chen Beixun sighed; after all, he would have to endure this fellow's temper every day from now on. The sooner he got used to it, the better.

"Is there any way out?" Chen Beixun asked Qishan.

Qishan was silent for a moment before saying, "Look for any mechanisms."

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The grade of objects consumed by the Demon Island Vine is benchmarked against metals, for example:

Planetary Level: A1-9 grade metals.

Stellar Level: B1-9 grade metals.

Universe Level: C1-9 grade metals.

Domain Lord Level: D1-9, E1 grade metals.

World Lord Level: E1-9, F1 grade metals.

It does not necessarily have to follow the standard; for instance, a Stellar Level Demon Island Vine can also grow by consuming A-grade metals, though the quantity of metal required would be an absolute massive amount.