The Maternal Family of the Ice Block

"Oh? You...."

Situ Ding looked at the young man with a sallow complexion, hollow eyes, and the appearance of someone thoroughly debauched. His expression changed slightly.

The room instantly fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All eyes followed his gaze.

On the surface, Li Mo appeared calm and unruffled, but inwardly he couldn't help feeling a bit nervous.

The other party was a vice-leader level demonic master. Could he have seen something amiss with Old Huang?

Huang Donglai slowed his breathing, cold sweat beading faintly on his forehead.

"Hahaha... Excellent. Our Divine Sect truly has talented individuals emerging constantly." Situ Ding stared at him for a long moment before suddenly laughing heartily:

"Just looking at your appearance, I can tell you're no good egg. You probably haven't been a flower-picking thief just a few times!"

Huang Donglai, who had infiltrated the demonic sect, had indeed replaced a sect member who practiced the evil art of plucking yin to supplement yang.

However, according to the laws of the Great Yu, flower-picking thieves were to be castrated and exiled to the borderlands. That man was timid, so he usually just spent money at brothels.

"You flatter me, Vice-Leader."

Huang Donglai finally let out a sigh of relief.

But Yuwen Cuojin narrowed his eyes again: "Liu Hao, why did you fail to report in that one time?"

With major events at hand, to prevent leaks, every sect member had to send periodic messages to Yuwen Cuojin, reporting their location and status.

Last time, Huang Donglai had coincidentally gone to the Autumn Water Pavilion.

"I got caught at a brothel."

Huang Donglai said, thinking quickly on his feet.

"A brothel?"

Situ Ding frowned: "You still need to go to such places?"

"Vice-Leader, you may not know. According to the laws of the Great Yu, if a flower-picking thief is caught, the punishment is severe—castration followed by exile. So I simply found another path."

Huang Donglai was grateful he had spent some time with Murong Xiao and learned quite a bit of experience:

"Why not spend a little money to practice plucking yin to supplement yang at a brothel? Even if it costs a bit? A small amount of silver can save you from prison."

"Hiss...."

"That makes sense. Why would a flower-picking thief risk their life to pluck from respectable women?"

"Because they like virgins?"

"If you're willing to spend money at a brothel, are you afraid you won't find virgins?"

The demonic sect members looked at each other, their eyes filled with the light of sudden understanding and wisdom.

Situ Ding was momentarily speechless. He had thought this kid was a lawless character, but he never imagined this was how one practiced plucking yin to supplement yang. After holding back for a long time, he finally coughed lightly:

"Well, with the recent tight situation, it can be considered acting expediently."

"You still haven't answered my question."

Yuwen Cuojin wasn't diverted from the topic.

Huang Donglai showed a troubled expression.

"Hmm? Speak! What were you doing?"

The suspicion on Yuwen Cuojin's face grew thicker.

"I... I was caught. I was locked up in the prefectural office for a day and barely found a chance to escape."

"Getting caught at a brothel? Which law of the Great Yu says you can't visit a brothel?"

“But I didn't pay,” Huang Donglai said with a look of grievance and indignation.

"...."

The demonic sect members exchanged glances. They were all demonic masters of the Summoning Demons Sect. Getting caught for not paying at a brothel was indeed quite shameful to say out loud.

Situ Ding asked, puzzled: "Then why didn't you pay?"

"The sect hasn't paid our stipends for two months. I would have if I had any!"

Huang Donglai said with a bitter expression.

"...."

The sect members looked at each other, clearly indicating this was indeed the case.

Yuwen Cuojin and Situ Ding looked embarrassed. They glanced at the Black Earth Immortal Lord beside them, their faces involuntarily reddening. They increasingly felt that the Immortal Lord's gaze held a kind of ruthlessly wealthy pity, making them feel so poor they wanted to sink into the ground.

"Ahem, we've made fools of ourselves before the Immortal Lord."

Situ Ding cleared his throat: "The sect doesn't usually delay stipends. It's just that the losses from the battle at the Imperial Capital were too great, and we've been regrouping recently..."

"It's all because of that hateful Li Mo!" Yuwen Cuojin clenched his fist and growled hatefully.

"Yes, it's all his fault!"

"If not for him, we wouldn't have lost two months of stipends!"

"When we capture Li Mo and seize the Great Shang legacy on him, we'll get bonuses then, right?"

The demonic sect members were roused to fervor.

Li Mo: "??"

What does this have to do with me? You can blame me for not paying your stipends?

Young Master Li somewhat wanted to take out a few chests of gold, silver, and treasures to distribute to everyone. After dividing it up, everyone could go home and find their mothers. Unfortunately, this wasn't entirely something money could solve...

"Capture Li Mo, get bonuses!"

"Capture Li Mo, get bonuses!"

"?"

The young Immortal Lord Li turned his head and looked speechlessly at Elder Qian and Elder Xue. Why are you two joining in the excitement?

"Alright, let's get back to the main topic."

Situ Ding pressed down with one hand for a long time with no one paying attention, so he could only speak in a deep voice to quiet everyone down.

He looked at Huang Donglai again.

"You just said 'no need to look.' What did you mean?"

Huang Donglai gave a lecherous smile and took out a bottle from his bosom:

"This item was concocted by me based on the secret formula of the Joy Union Sect, and I've improved upon the original!"

“Not only is the effect doubled, capable of making the afflicted unable to distinguish between human and animal, but its scent can also blend into wine, making it impossible to guard against! After the effect wears off, the victim will fall into a state of yang deficiency.”

The more Huang Donglai spoke, the more excited he became, when suddenly he felt a chill run down his back.

He looked back and saw the Black Earth Immortal Lord wearing a face full of nuclear-grade benevolent smiles.

"Hiss...."

Situ Ding sucked in a cold breath, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

With a casual beckoning gesture, the Double Joy Powder was drawn into his hand.

"Does it truly have such miraculous effects?"

Li Mo: "...."

He knew without testing the effects of anything Old Huang concocted. Now that things had come to this, he couldn't very well interfere. It might arouse suspicion.

Knowing the wine was drugged, he just wouldn't drink it when the time came.

"Then let's proceed accordingly. Just send me a message via your token when it's time to act."

Li Mo stood up. The purpose of coming here today had been achieved.

"We respectfully send off the Immortal Lord."

Yuwen Cuojin and Situ Ding, along with the group of demonic sect members, bowed in farewell.

Before the words had fully faded, dreamlike bubbles and shadows scattered. By the time they regained their senses, the Immortal Lord and his party had vanished without a trace.

"If this medicine proves effective, there will naturally be rewards after the deed is done."

After saying this to Huang Donglai, Situ Ding examined the medicine bottle in his hand, lost in thought.

He was somewhat unsure about the effectiveness of this thing.

"This subordinate is willing to test it."

Luo Yexian said with a profound expression.

"You're willing to test the medicine on yourself?" Yuwen Cuojin raised an eyebrow. This guy usually dodged trouble, yet today he was actively offering himself?

"It's all for the contribution to the Divine Sect. One should charge forward without regard for personal safety. By the way, will the sect reimburse the expenses for the brothel?"

"...... Didn't you say there's no problem with that aspect, you're just not interested in women?"

In the end, Luo Yexian still went at his own expense.

Why go even if it's self-funded?

As long as he was in a state of 'yang deficiency' later, he wouldn't have to join the assault on the Clear Abyss Sect.

Staying at the brothel, completing the task, then opening a mahjong table to win back the silver spent—wasn't that fragrant/great?