Chapter 163 - 153: Host, Quickly Test the Totem’s Power
The next day, Su Mo was up at the crack of dawn.
However, the others in the courtyard were already up even earlier. Cang Lan, Ye Yuan, and Fei Yan had already left.
Xuan Qing walked over with her breakfast. "Someone from the clan came for them early this morning," he said. "I’ll take you over after you finish eating."
Su Mo was a little surprised to see him hold out a glass of warm water.
She had a habit of drinking warm water after waking up, a detail her other men now knew like the back of their hands.
She just hadn’t expected Xuan Qing to know as well.
Su Mo drank the water and tried a piece of the corn and wild vegetable flatbread. The flavor was light and perfectly suited her morning appetite.
Just as she was about finished and ready to leave, she suddenly heard him say, "Wait a moment."
A moment later, he emerged carrying a bowl of some dark, murky concoction. "Drink your medicine before you go."
Su Mo froze, frowning instinctively.
’I thought he was just kidding yesterday, but he’s actually serious?!’
’So annoying! He’s making me drink medicine again! Again! I should just try to reason with him...’
Su Mo turned and walked toward him. "Um, Third Young Master, I’ll prepare it myself later. I shouldn’t trouble you with these trivial matters. You’ve come a long way, you’re a guest. How could I let you go to all this trouble for me, right?"
Xuan Qing looked at her, his expression serene. "I’m not exactly a guest. If I recall correctly, I am Miss Su’s fiancé, am I not? As a fiancé, it seems perfectly reasonable to take care of one’s fiancée."
The corner of Su Mo’s mouth twitched.
’He sure gets into character quickly when it suits him! Using his status against me? I bet he just wants to see me hopping mad! Fine, fiancé it is...’
Su Mo looked at the man before her and narrowed her eyes into a smile. "That’s right! Fiancé! Third Young Master, do you know what other people’s fiancés actually do?"
Xuan Qing’s clear gaze fell upon her. His expression didn’t change as he said, "This is my first time being a fiancé. I’m... not entirely sure. I would be grateful for Miss Su’s instruction."
A slight smile touched Su Mo’s lips.
’If this doesn’t scare him off, I’ll... I’ll just have to accept my bad luck!’
An idea struck her, and she began counting on her fingers. "Doing laundry, cooking, fetching water, chopping firewood, and taking any scolding or beating are a given, of course. You have to reject any potential romantic interests and be able to beat up villains! And most importantly, you must know how to warm the bed and provide emotional support! Things like that."
Su Mo deliberately took a step closer to him. "Third Young Master, are you sure you can handle being a fiancé?"
’He must think I’m insulting him. He’s definitely acting all calm and composed on the outside, but his heart is a raging storm! I’d like to see if he dares to bring up being my fiancé again!’
Before Su Mo could speak again, she heard Xuan Qing’s calm voice. "Doing laundry, cooking, fetching water, chopping firewood, rejecting romantic interests, and fighting villains—none of that is a problem."
"As for the last two..." The corner of his eye lifted in a slight tease as he deliberately added, "Which would Miss Su like me to learn first? Warming the bed? How about... tonight?"
He said it with perfect composure, but Su Mo’s eyes shot wide open. "You...!"
’Wait, why isn’t he playing by the script?!’
Xuan Qing raised an eyebrow. "Judging by your expression, you don’t dare?"
Little Nine let out a wicked laugh in Su Mo’s mind. "Host, hurry up and agree! We’re women as bold as eagles! How can you be scared by something so trivial? You must let him witness your power!"
Su Mo snapped in her mind, "You, shut up!"
"I...!"
Before she could say another word, she heard familiar footsteps from behind.
Mo Xiao walked over quickly. He vaguely sensed something was off about the atmosphere and couldn’t help but look at Su Mo. "Wife, what are you and the Third Young Master talking about?"
Su Mo said nothing.
’I can’t possibly tell this damn snake what I just said to Xuan Qing. If he finds out, he’ll get all jealous again, and I’ll be the one to suffer...’
Mo Xiao’s brow furrowed slightly as he discreetly glanced at Xuan Qing.
Xuan Qing only looked at Su Mo and asked calmly, "Should I tell Young Master Snake for you?"
Su Mo bit her lip, turned, and picked up the bowl of medicine. "It’s just medicine. I’ll drink it..."
After finishing the medicine, she grabbed the two fruits from the table, took a few bites, and said to Mo Xiao, "Let’s go!"
’Is that guy’s mouth laced with poison? I have to get him out of here as soon as possible! He’s such a pain...’
That morning, Fei Yun had taken in another batch of patients. Some of the older Beastmen had died, which didn’t surprise Su Mo much. They were still in the midst of the outbreak.
It was normal for those with weak constitutions to die before the medicine could take effect.
Su Mo asked Mo Xiao about the situation with the Tiger Clan.
Things were just starting there; a few Beastmen had fallen ill for no apparent reason.
However, Xuan Wei had reacted quickly and already isolated them.
Su Mo frowned. ’It seems this incident is inextricably linked to the female lead.’
She turned and asked Yue Ying, "How are the arrangements I asked you to make?"
Yue Ying smiled, fanning himself. "Those two are fighting as we speak. I’ll take some men to join the fun in a little while and add some fuel to the fire."
Su Mo’s brow furrowed. "I’m going too."
’Perfect. I can deliver a little something to Jiang Wu!’
Meanwhile, Jiang Wu had brought her people to block the base of Jin Tong Mountain.
She sat as steady as a mountain in a sedan chair not far away. Her Beast Husband, Ai Ci, was lying on her lap with a fawning expression, placing a grape into her mouth.
He had been hit by an arrow from one of Su Mo’s people last time, and his body had only just started to recover in the past two days.
"Wife, don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health. Since Jin Tong dared to launch a sneak attack, we’ll naturally have to teach him a lesson!"
Jiang Wu didn’t speak. She still had some doubts about whether it was really Jin Tong who had ambushed her.
After all, given what happened with Su Mo recently, Jin Tong hadn’t come out on top. How would he have the guts to attack her at a time like this? If Jin Tong weren’t so difficult to control, she would still be willing to cooperate with him.
With time, she could have cultivated Jin Tong’s body into that of a supreme expert. Today, she was really just here to intimidate that disobedient, damn white cat.
Ai Ci, lying on her lap, seemed to see through her thoughts. ’Even now, my wife still doesn’t want to give up on Jin Tong?!’
He was resentful.
A glint flashed in his eyes, and he said deliberately, "The way I see it, Jin Tong must have already sided with Su Mo. Otherwise, with his temperament, why wouldn’t he attack the North Wing now that it’s in chaos? Why turn around and attack us instead?"
"He’s a wolf that can’t be tamed! Su Mo was the one who cured his poison. If they hadn’t reached some kind of agreement, why would she have helped him? To prevent him from becoming Su Mo’s right-hand man, we need to get rid of him as soon as possible!"
Jiang Wu’s expression darkened. Just then, Ruo Xu came in from outside and asked, "City Lord, should we send in reinforcements for a full-scale assault?"
Before Jiang Wu could speak, a commotion erupted outside.
She lifted the curtain and saw Su Mo’s Beast Husband leading a group of people, charging right at them.
Yue Ying stood among the crowd, a smirk on his face. "Kill them! A great reward for anyone who helps Lord Jin Tong repel the enemy!"
Ai Ci shot up from Jiang Wu’s lap, his voice filled with excitement. "Wife, you see? They’re all in it together!"
Jiang Wu’s dark gaze swept over Su Mo’s figure in the crowd. She said to Ruo Xu, "Send in the reinforcements!"
Since Jin Tong was so ungrateful, he couldn’t blame her for being ruthless!
With Yue Ying’s forces joining the fray, the battle between the two sides indeed grew more intense.
Su Mo aimed in the direction of Jiang Wu’s group of Beastman soldiers and handed a dagger, smeared with the blood of a plague victim, to Yue Ying.
"No need for a fatal blow."
Yue Ying understood what she meant.
SWISH— With a few flicks of his wrist, the daggers flew with precision.
It was only fair that Jiang Wu’s people got a taste of the same suffering!
Not far away, Jiang Wu was also nocking an arrow to her bow, aiming right at Su Mo!
The Guardian Totem on Su Mo’s wrist suddenly lit up. Little Nine cried out, "Host, danger!"
She instinctively frowned, and in the next second, Xuan Qing teleported from behind to stand in front of her.
The Ancient Zither from his sleeve suddenly transformed into a sharp arrow and a bow as bright as a moon blade, as cold as frost.
Su Mo was surprised. His zither could not only change its size but also transform into a sharp weapon.
Little Nine’s voice was thrilled. "Host, this is a perfect opportunity! Quick, use his bow and arrow to test the Totem’s power!"
Su Mo was taken aback. "Me? Are you sure...?"
Little Nine shrieked, "Stop wasting time! Hurry up! I’m so excited~"
Su Mo glanced down at the dark pattern on her left wrist, then furrowed her brow and held out her hand to Xuan Qing. "Let me borrow the bow and arrow!"