The Monster, Luo Min

The water in the underground river was as black as ever. The man casually threw down a handful of fish food made of some unknown material, and dozens of large, dark blue fish with sharp teeth and small bodies immediately jumped out of the dark water, vying to swallow the food that was about to be eaten.

Some of them even fought each other over food.

Their teeth are so sharp that even a light scratch on a companion will leave a deep wound, not to mention the extent of the injury caused by a deliberate attack.

The man watched this scene with pleasure in his eyes. After their battle ended, a patch of blue liquid slowly floated on the black river.

Before the dead fanged fish could even float to the surface, it was bitten by one of its own kind and dragged back to the bottom to be eaten.

Standing behind the man, Qi Yaoji also took in these bizarre scenes. After a moment of silence, she said, "Master, I have done as you instructed, but there are some things I don't understand."

The man placed the empty bowl aside. "You're curious, isn't it strange that I made you do all these things, and then had you deliberately leak clues to Sang Ying to lead her to solve the problem?"

Although that's what she thought, Qi Yaoji certainly didn't dare to say the truth, "I dare not speak out of respect for your plans, but I'm worried that I don't understand anything and might ruin things for you at a crucial moment."

"Don't worry, you can't ruin my plans. My scheme is already more than halfway complete. Just go ahead and do it. I'll tell you the reason when the time is right." The man's voice, coming through the mask, sounded somewhat unreal.

He quickly asked again, "By the way, how's the situation with Mara Gate?"

Although she mentioned Mara Gate, Qi Yaoji knew that what the other party really wanted to know was the monster hidden inside Mara Gate.

Thinking back to the person she saw before leaving, she could hardly believe that the monster covered in tumors was the once charming and pretty Luo Min.

The once noble and beautiful daughter of the city lord has become a terrifying monster after a tremendous upheaval.

Qi Yaoji quickly pulled herself out of the recent meeting and replied, "Everything is as usual, except that Luo Min seems to have changed quite a bit."

"This is normal." The man's tone remained unchanged. "This was her own choice, and she should have known this day would come."

Qi Yaoji pursed her lips. For some reason, she always felt nervous in front of this person. "But Master, she proposed to return to the Twin Orchid Realm, saying that she wants to reclaim the city left by her father."

As she spoke, Qi Yaoji lowered her voice slightly.

She also felt that Luo Min seemed to be getting more and more arrogant, but there was nothing they could do. They didn't have the kind of medicine that could make people develop Spirit Root, so they could only rely on Luo Min to create more variants.

If Luo Min doesn't cooperate, their plan probably won't go smoothly.

Surprisingly, the man wasn't angry. Instead, he was very forgiving and said, "Since she wants to, let her go. You can also help her out while you're at it."

"What do you mean?" Qi Yaoji asked cautiously.

The man replied frankly, "What I mean is, the chaos can begin."

Now that Sang Ying is away, his plan should proceed smoothly. Once she returns from the Upper Realm, it will be too late to stop it, and his years of scheming will finally come to an end.

Qi Yaoji left with a heart full of unease. Only after the man was left alone in the room did he turn around and look at the chessboard densely covered with chess pieces, and place the last piece on it.

"The plan is complete, my dear disciple. Wait a little longer for your master. Your master will surely fulfill your wish," the man murmured softly.

Madam Bai's sobbing gradually subsided after a long time. She had somehow ended up lying in Sang Ying's arms, her eyes red and swollen from crying, and her voice hoarse.

Belatedly realizing that she was lying in the arms of a strange girl, Madam Bai felt a moment of embarrassment.

She quickly rose from Sang Ying's embrace, tidied herself slightly, and then said softly to Sang Ying, "Thank you for bringing Qinglong's things back, and thank you for staying in the Dragon Race with me. You have done me a great favor. Is there anything you want? If it is within my power, I will do my best to help you."

Sang Ying shook her head. "No need. Senior Bai Qinglong has already given me the reward for delivering the sword. When she passed away, she knew she couldn't return to her clan and was deeply disappointed. She gave me everything useful she had left behind. At that time, I wasn't capable enough, so I also used her dragon scales and blood."

Sang Ying told Madam Bai everything she had used. After all, Madam Bai was Bai Qinglong's mother, and since she had touched something left behind by her daughter, she had to inform her.

Upon hearing this, Madam Bai sighed deeply, "I understand. I know her best. You can keep these things."

Madam Bai picked through the selections and kept only the Dragon Pearl.

The Dragon Pearl has the strongest aura belonging to Bai Qinglong, which is what Madam Bai cares about most.

Sang Ying was startled. "Madam, I..."

"Don't refuse. I know that with Qinglong's personality, these things must be her reward to you." Madam Bai's expression softened, her previous coldness gone. "You are a kind person, and I know you gave me these relics to comfort me. But since Qinglong has already given them to you, you have the right to keep them. I already made you suffer by taking the Dragon Pearl; how could I bear to take everything else with me?"

Actually, Madam Bai just wanted some things related to her daughter as a keepsake.

Madam Bai carefully preserved everything Bai Qinglong had used and the house she had lived in. However, as time passed, these things gradually lost the aura of their former owner.

This Dragon Pearl came at a crucial moment, giving Madam Bai a chance to live.

She held the Dragon Pearl, her expression both resolute and sorrowful.

Seeing this, Sang Ying no longer refused, as the dragon scales and blood were indeed very useful to her. However, she also comforted her, saying, "Senior Qinglong once showed me her memories. In the end, her greatest concern was for you and Old Patriarch Bai. She was willing to step forward so that you could live a good life. If possible, I hope you can pull yourself together and at least not let Qinglong Qinglong's sacrifice be in vain."

Madam Bai's tears fell again, but this time they seemed less painful than before.