Demon Emperor Daochen perked up. "I knew you would agree. Don't worry, I absolutely guarantee the Netherworld Office's safety. As long as I'm there, nothing will go wrong."
Watching the Demon Emperor give one assurance after another, Houtu listened.
Houtu smiled faintly. "Go ahead and do what you need to. I have the final say in the Netherworld Office. Nothing will go wrong."
The entire Witch Clan was grateful to the Demon Emperor.
Lady Houtu herself admired him deeply, but fate had brought them together without allowing them to be together, leaving her terribly frustrated.
Still, she had buried this matter deep in her heart and would not readily let it show.
"These mandrake flowers are beautiful. May I pick some?"
Suddenly, the Demon Emperor made an unusual request, one that even seemed to carry a hint of romance.
Houtu was a little surprised, and her face flushed. "Pick as many as you like. There are plenty!"
But when the Demon Emperor actually made his move, Houtu's face turned green.
With a sweep of his hand, he harvested whole swaths of mandrake flowers, leaving only short stalks behind.
Watching him, Houtu was speechless. She really had misunderstood him after all. Having known the Demon Emperor for so many years, she knew he was someone who respected boundaries.
He had never once thought of stepping half a pace beyond the forbidden line.
Now, it seemed he truly had not changed at all.
He must have had some new idea to be picking so many mandrake flowers.
"These mandrake flowers have little use beyond being poison, and they really don't have much effect on powerful beings of higher rank."
Houtu offered the reminder unhurriedly.
The Demon Emperor nodded. "That's true."
"But I must say, they contain a peculiar substance that can make