The room was spacious, but there was only one bed.
Chen Mo was the type who had the desire but lacked the courage. If he had been a bit bolder, perhaps Yun Yun would have already started her ten-month long vacation.
"You take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor," Chen Mo said, suppressing the fire in his heart.
Nalan Yanran responded with a soft, almost inaudible "Mm."
Ever since Chen Mo had booked this room and she had followed without refusal, she had anticipated that something might happen tonight.
"Would you like to have a drink before sleeping?" Chen Mo, having already prepared the bedding, took out a bottle of wine he had bought from a tavern in Black Rock City from his Storage Ring.
"Sure," Nalan Yanran replied, suddenly realizing that this was the beginning.
The room had a set of drinking utensils. Chen Mo poured a cup for Nalan Yanran, who didn't refuse. After a few sips, her face turned red, as she wasn't much of a drinker.
The way Nalan Yanran held the cup and gently sipped was incredibly charming. Seeing her beautiful face so close, the fire Chen Mo had suppressed earlier reignited.
Nalan Yanran quickly noticed Chen Mo's gaze, the naked desire in his eyes making her heart race with fear. Although she had mentally prepared herself for what might happen, at this critical moment, she found herself wavering.
A cool breeze blew in through the window, causing the candle flame to flicker. The wine in the bottle was soon finished.
As the saying goes, alcohol emboldens men.
Looking at Nalan Yanran's tender, tempting lips, Chen Mo's head uncontrollably leaned in.
Soon, Nalan Yanran's weak scream turned into muffled sounds, as if her mouth was being blocked...
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight touched the earth, Chen Mo helped Nalan Yanran, who had sprained her foot, out of the tavern early.
Chen Mo couldn't understand how a simple kiss had led to her spraining her foot.
This made it difficult to proceed with what was supposed to happen next.
What a sin.
The tavern owner who had booked the room for them the previous night, seeing this scene, sighed, "Young people these days really know how to have fun."
Because Nalan Yanran had sprained her foot, she could only ride the Azure Beak Eagle with Chen Mo, while the other eagle followed behind.
The former bore a weight that was not meant for her age.
For Nalan Yanran's safety, to prevent her from falling from mid-air, Chen Mo held her slender waist—it wasn't just to take advantage of her.
Nalan Yanran struggled for a while, but seeing that she couldn't break free, she turned and glared at Chen Mo, her eyes seemingly saying, "Keep your hands to yourself."
However, she didn't struggle anymore, letting Chen Mo hold her. Unconsciously, she recalled what had happened the previous night, her face flushing red.
...
The Azure Beak Eagle was incredibly fast, reaching the city near the Tager Great Desert in about two and a half days.
Desert City.
Due to its proximity to the desert, the weather here was dry and scorching, making the entire city feel like it was inside an oven. This made it extremely uncomfortable for the two who were visiting Desert City for the first time.
At the city gate, whether it was because they weren't wearing the Yunlan Sect disciple robes or because Desert City was inherently strict, they were subjected to thorough questioning.
After paying an expensive entry tax, the guards finally let them into the city.
Meanwhile.
Snake-People Tribe.
The leaders of the eight Snake-People Tribes gathered in a luxurious hall.
"Yue Mei, what exactly happened? Why did you issue three urgent orders? Are those humans that strong?" Mobas asked.
"One Dou Emperor, three Dou Kings, and four Dou Spirits. I encountered them last night. They were formidable," Yue Mei sighed lightly, straightening her posture. "I fled in disarray."
"Why have the humans gathered so many powerful figures? Do they intend to wage war against our Snake-People Tribe?" Mobas' expression turned grave.
"From what I gathered, they seem to be searching for Her Majesty the Queen."
"Then—"
"I informed Her Majesty, and she instructed me to notify all of you."
"What should we do now?"
"Let's deploy our defenses first."
...
"Ancient Map, this should be the place, right?" After searching for quite a while, Chen Mo stood at the entrance of the largest map shop in the city, feeling somewhat uncertain.
With a hint of doubt, the two of them slowly entered the shop. The place was sparsely populated, cold and quiet.
Chen Mo's gaze immediately searched for the shop's owner, the former top ten powerhouse, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong.
It wasn't hard to find. Soon, Chen Mo's eyes landed on an elderly man behind the counter, dressed in a sea-blue robe, arranging scrolls.
According to the novel's description, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong had been afflicted by Queen Medusa's Serpent Seal, causing his body to age rapidly, and his strength had been sealed down to the Dou Spirit level.
Chen Mo scrutinized him carefully, even as Nalan Yanran, who was curiously scanning the shop's interior, also turned her gaze toward him.
"Just an old man, nothing special to see."
"Do you need something?" Hai Bodong sensed the lingering gaze fixed on him, clearly not from someone here to buy a map. He spoke without turning his head.
"I'm trying to confirm if you're that person," Chen Mo said, his fingers lightly tapping on the counter.
Hai Bodong's hands paused as he arranged the maps. He turned around, his cloudy eyes sweeping over Chen Mo. After confirming that he had never seen him before, he replied, "You must be mistaken."
With that, he was about to turn back to his work when Nalan Yanran approached.
"However, the aura on this young girl feels somewhat familiar," Hai Bodong remarked.
"Old sir, do you know me?"
"It feels familiar, but perhaps my old eyes are playing tricks on me." Hai Bodong felt the fire poison in his body about to flare up, growing impatient. He began to usher them out, "The person you're looking for isn't here. If you're not buying a map, please leave quickly."
"Junior brother, who are you looking for?" Nalan Yanran poked Chen Mo's waist with her finger, leaning close to his ear and whispering.
"You'll find out soon," Chen Mo smiled, then said to Hai Bodong, "Is that so? The former top ten powerhouse, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, really isn't here?"
Boom!
As soon as the words left his mouth, a chilling aura rapidly filled the shop, and a faint mist obscured Chen Mo's vision.
Chen Mo's brow furrowed slightly. Thunder Fire surged in his hand, burning away the mist before him. He then spoke unhurriedly, "It seems I wasn't mistaken. Old sir, you are indeed the former Ice Emperor Hai Bodong."
Nalan Yanran shuddered upon hearing this and quickly drew her sword from her Storage Ring, preparing for battle.
This was the man who had once frozen an entire city.
"Who exactly are you?"
Hai Bodong's surroundings were filled with suspended ice crystals, ready to fly out at his command and instantly pierce Chen Mo full of holes.
"Chen Mo," Chen Mo said indifferently.
"Chen Mo?" Seeing the ice mist in the shop being incinerated by the Strange Fire in the young man's hand, Hai Bodong frowned and then said coldly, "I don't care who you are. Leave this place immediately, or face the consequences."
(End of Chapter)