The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

A voice transmission from Zisang Jin had interrupted Chen Dong, and he had just finished replying.

Then, Liu Ling's voice transmission came through: "Master, she has been healed!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Dong entered the cave to check. He looked the still-unconscious Meng Yingluo up and down a few times and praised inwardly, 'Liu Ling's Celestial Profound Transformation Technique is truly incredible. As a healing art, it's even more potent than the Thunder of Life I comprehended. In such a short time, her meridians and external wounds are eighty to ninety percent healed.'

Of course, Meng Yingluo's Realm being only at Foundation Establishment was also a factor, which made the treatment much easier. It was a different story for the Golden Core Stage; their physical bodies would have already begun to transcend all things, and ordinary remedies could no longer heal their injuries. This was even more true for the Nascent Soul Stage. Take Liu Ling's own injuries, for example—without the Earth Mother Spirit Liquid, even she had no good way to heal them.

Seeing that there were no problems, Chen Dong prepared to hoist Meng Yingluo onto his shoulder and continue on their way. But at that exact moment, Meng Yingluo suddenly woke up. She awoke so quickly that even Chen Dong was caught by surprise; he had estimated she would be out for at least another incense stick's time.

Meng Yingluo's eyes were wide, staring at Chen Dong as he was poised to carry her.

Chen Dong was instantly embarrassed and retreated two steps.

With a faint smile, Meng Yingluo rose gracefully. Her posture was incredibly delicate, nothing at all like a bandit's. She was wearing Mu Qingzhu's white gauze dress, looking for all the world like a fragile woman recovering from a severe illness.

Meng Yingluo gave Chen Dong a weak bow. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for saving me!"

Then, she looked down at her clothes, and a trace of shyness crossed her face as she lowered her head. "I suppose Senior Brother must be the one who changed my clothes... There's no way to repay such kindness... I... I can only offer myself to you! It's just... I am still weak right now. I'll wait until I'm better to serve you, Senior Brother!"

Chen Dong and Liu Ling both stared at Meng Yingluo. Even Liu Ling, who had only met her once, could tell something was off.

'This demeanor isn't an act,' Chen Dong thought. 'That trace of affection in her eyes when she looks at me—that can't be faked. It would make sense even if she'd fallen for me at first sight and was using this as a chance to confess. Calling me Senior Brother is fine too, since I've already revealed my Golden Core cultivation.'

'But her every move, her every subtle gesture... that's impossible to fake. You couldn't move so naturally without decades of ingrained habit.'

'A drastic personality change from her injuries? No, that's impossible. Who changes this completely?' Chen Dong was also highly skilled in the medical arts, and he knew that personality changes from injuries were not like this.

'It's more like she has been possessed!'

Chen Dong transmitted a thought, "Qingzhu, Grand Art of Divine Calculation!"

As he did, a light flared in his left eye, instantly consuming a third of his body's Spiritual Qi to deduce whether Meng Yingluo had been possessed.

The result was chaos. Chen Dong then consumed half of his remaining Spiritual Power and finally got an answer: she was not possessed! To deduce anything more would require more than just Spiritual Power, and Chen Dong felt no need to go to such lengths right now.

It was enough to confirm that Meng Yingluo wasn't possessed and wouldn't try to sabotage their plans.

"Senior Brother, why are you looking at me like that?" Meng Yingluo said in a sugary-sweet voice.

"Who exactly are you?" Chen Dong demanded, his brow furrowed. He was sure she wasn't possessed, but he was also sure this was not Meng Yingluo.

"I'm Ying Luo. Don't you recognize me, Senior Brother?" Meng Yingluo's thin lips parted slightly, her tone a mixture of simple statement and melancholy complaint.

Chen Dong coughed dryly and took another step back.

"I'm in a hurry. Spit it out, or don't blame me for leaving you behind in this Demon Realm!" Chen Dong threatened coldly.

Meng Yingluo took a step forward, her frail body seeming to sway. "I really am Meng Yingluo! Senior Brother, please don't be like this. You're making my heart ache!"

Chen Dong snorted. "Liu Ling, we're leaving. Just leave her here!"

Meng Yingluo rushed forward to grab him but was gently repelled by a pulse of his Spiritual Power.

"Senior Brother, you're so cruel... so cruel..." she sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

When she saw Chen Dong and Liu Ling actually leaving the cave, she spoke again, this time in a rush, "Senior Brother, come back! I'll talk, alright? I'll talk!"

So, Chen Dong and Liu Ling waited for her at the cave entrance.

She hurried to catch up, beginning in a soft, plaintive voice, "I... am actually..."

Chen Dong cut her off coldly. "Faster. The Demon Realm isn't safe!"

Only then did she get to the point. "The truth is, Meng Yingluo and I are two souls in one body. I am Meng Yingluo, and so is she!"

Hearing this, Liu Ling glanced at Chen Dong, who frowned. 'Isn't this a bit like my situation with Mu Qingzhu?' he thought. With Meng Yingluo's current Realm, the Grand Art of Divine Calculation could tell in an instant if she was lying.

Her words were true.

But Liu Ling looked like she wanted to say something, yet she hesitated.

Chen Dong paid her no mind. He had Liu Ling take Meng Yingluo, while he himself carried Ao Jun, preparing to depart.

But just then, Meng Yingluo protested, "Senior Brother, I don't want a member of the Demon Race to carry me! Can't you carry me instead?"

Chen Dong didn't argue. He wasn't going to abandon Meng Yingluo for no reason, so he simply scooped her up into his arms.

Meng Yingluo gently rested her head against Chen Dong's chest, her pale face flushing hotly.

"It's wonderful to have you, Senior Brother!"

Chen Dong said coldly, "Shut up!"

Chen Dong harbored no romantic feelings for Meng Yingluo. Besides, his initial impression of her as a bandit was so strong that he felt an immediate repulsion toward this new persona.

Liu Ling once again conjured the mist that concealed their forms. It swirled up, enveloping Ao Jun and wrapping around Chen Dong and Meng Yingluo.

As they set off, it seemed as if all the members of the Demon Race and the powerful demonic beasts had been summoned elsewhere. Chen Dong's party flew for half a day, yet they only encountered a few extremely weak demonic beasts and nothing more.