Chapter 112: Why Don't You Bite Me?

Seeing Zhu Xinyue clearly improved Hu Mo’s mood. However, when Zhu Xinyue noticed Hu Baimei lying on the bed, her expression soured instantly. With a look of intense vigilance, she asked, "Brother Hu, who is she? Why is she in your bed?"

Caught off guard, Hu Mo felt as though he had been caught in the act by a jealous wife, and his demeanor turned tense. He quickly regained his composure, forced a smile, and said, "Her? She is a girl I rescued from Wang Baiwan. She suffered serious injuries and is recovering here."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xinyue’s face lit up. She joyfully threw her arms around his neck and laughed, "So that’s who she is! I heard about this on my way here, and it’s true! Brother Hu, you are amazing; you truly are the savior of the people. It’s a good thing you rescued this sister from that lecherous villain, or the consequences would have been unimaginable. You’re the best, Brother Hu!"

As she spoke, she planted a quick peck on Hu Mo’s cheek, causing even his thick-skinned face to flush. Zhu Xinyue was so passionate that he felt as if he were being set ablaze.

"But it’s a bit strange. Brother Hu, I heard the commoners say you rescued a pair of twins. Why is there only one? Is there another one?" Zhu Xinyue scratched her head in confusion. Ever since she heard the news, her curiosity had been piqued. Now that she was face-to-face with Hu Mo, she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Hu Mo rubbed his forehead in frustration and replied with a bitter smile, "Let’s not talk about that; it’s just a minor detail. Sister Xinyue, aren’t you confined to the palace by His Majesty? Why are you here? It’s dangerous outside, and with all the assassination attempts on you, you really shouldn't be so careless!"

Hu Mo’s tone grew stern. He was genuinely fearful regarding these matters. He didn’t know what was so unique about Zhu Xinyue, aside from being a princess, that drew so many people to attempt her life. Moreover, those assailants were freakishly strong, often leaving him beaten to a pulp until he had to summon Cang Ling to resolve the situation. If not for that, he wouldn't have been branded as someone who "relies on women"—a thought that filled him with endless melancholy.

"Don't worry, Brother Hu, it should be fine this time. Let me tell you, I have many, many experts protecting me now. Besides the Imperial Tribute Hall, there are also many experts from the Shenmu Empire. Even if a mosquito tried to bite me, it would be obliterated instantly. Hehe, don’t worry!" Zhu Xinyue spun around happily, holding onto Hu Mo. Hu Mo’s expression darkened, as if he had just realized something.

"The Shenmu Empire? How did they arrive in Flame City so quickly?" Hu Mo asked urgently, his brows knitting together.

Zhu Xinyue was startled by his sudden question. She thought to herself, *Could Brother Hu be jealous because of my engagement to the Shenmu Empire?*

Hu Mo, however, was thinking only about the shifting situation in Flame City. Logically, the people from the Shenmu Empire should only appear when the envoys from the Heavenly Saint Palace arrived. How could they have reached Flame City ahead of schedule without his knowledge? It defied all logic.

"Hehe, Brother Hu, they arrived in Flame City via an ancient teleportation array!" Zhu Xinyue said with a smile, feeling as sweet as if she had been doused in honey.

"An ancient teleportation array? What is that? I’ve never heard of it," Hu Mo asked, looking at her with genuine confusion.

Zhu Xinyue immediately covered her mouth and glanced around cautiously before whispering, "Brother Hu, I let it slip by accident. This is actually a secret of our royal family. No one else knows about it."

Hu Mo frowned; now that she had said as much, he wasn't sure if he should be listening. Before he could respond, Zhu Xinyue covered his mouth with her hand and whispered softly into his ear, "There are no secrets between you and me, Brother Hu; I can tell you anything. Listen, that ancient array connects our Heavenly Fire Empire’s Flame City with the Shenmu Empire’s Green Wood City. Our two nations have been allies for generations, bound by an eternal pact, which is why such an array exists. The Emperor of the Shenmu Empire heard about my situation and sent several master experts through the array to protect me, which is the only reason I was able to leave the palace. Brother Hu, these past few days have been stifling; I feel so bored whenever I don't see you."

A warm, fragrant breeze washed over him, and her words felt like a soft caress on his heart, yet he felt an inward sting. Her claim that there were no secrets between them made him feel ashamed. It was true that she kept no secrets from him, but what about him? He knew all too well that there were too many secrets he had to hide from her, or the consequences would be dire.

He sighed inwardly, forced a natural smile, and said, "That’s great! I’ll spend these next few days playing with you so you can relax."

"Mm! Okay! Oh, wait, where are Sister Cang and Sister Lin? Why aren't they here?" Zhu Xinyue looked around innocently, searching for them.

"Haha, them? They are always elusive and unpredictable. Even I find it hard to track them down. Let’s head out; the lady on the bed is still weak and needs her rest." Hu Mo’s emotions gradually stabilized, and his tone became gentle.

Zhu Xinyue nodded, made a shushing gesture, and led Hu Mo out on tiptoes.

As soon as they stepped outside, Hu Mo sensed seven or eight powerful divine perceptions. It was clear that these were the experts protecting her. While their presence was necessary, the feeling of being constantly watched was deeply uncomfortable. In particular, several individuals with wood-attributed cultivation showed a sudden spike in their aura when Hu Mo appeared—evidently, the experts from the Shenmu Empire were displeased by the intimacy between him and Zhu Xinyue.

Hu Mo smiled faintly and deliberately wrapped his arm around Zhu Xinyue’s waist, walking naturally through the courtyard. *Angry? I’ll make you angry enough to explode!*

Thirty feet outside the Hu residence, the faces of three elderly men, originally a pale green, turned red and then black, as if they were burning.

"This is outrageous! Princess Xinyue is the future Crown Princess of our Shenmu Empire; how can she be so intimate with another man? Where does that leave the dignity of the Shenmu Empire? No, we must intervene!" a black-faced man with green hair declared, his voice cold and sharp.

"Elder Ju, that young man is Hu Mo, the grandson of Hu Yihu. He is not someone to be trifled with. If something goes wrong and that old madman goes berserk, we’ll be in serious trouble!" another green-haired elder said, cooling down despite his reddened face. He was thinking more clearly than the first.

"Yes, Elder, don't act on impulse. That ‘Madman Hu’ is not to be provoked," the third man added nervously, remaining calmer than their leader.

"What? Elder Wood, Elder Green, when did you become such cowards? I don't care about you two; if you don't want to come, just stay here and watch. I, for one, cannot tolerate this!" With a shout, Elder Ju vanished in a flash of lightning, reappearing inside the Hu residence. Instantly, the vegetation within the courtyard began to grow at an alarming rate. Fueled by a powerful wood-attributed battle energy, the vines and weeds near Hu Mo grew with terrifying speed.

Without warning, the vines lashed out at Hu Mo. Simultaneously, a powerful pressure bore down on him. The three treasures within Hu Mo’s body emitted a faint hum as his defensive power rose to its peak.

"Heh, attacking someone in their own home? These old fools really have no shame," Hu Mo remarked with a cold smile. The defense formed by the three treasures shielded both him and Zhu Xinyue. As the vines touched the barrier, they disintegrated into ash with a series of soft pops.

It was a joke to think wood-attributed energy could prevail against fire-attributed energy, especially Hu Mo’s Chaos Fire. It was like a sheep walking into a tiger’s den, only serving to bolster Hu Mo’s power. As the vines hit his barrier, a powerful suction force from within Hu Mo drained all the wood-attributed energy from them, actually strengthening his own cultivation.

Feeling that powerful aura, Hu Mo felt no fear, only a craving—a hunger for that energy to flow into him and augment his strength.

Zhu Xinyue was startled by Hu Mo’s smile. It was the first time she had seen someone look so happy while under attack, wearing such a provocative expression. She was completely bewildered.

Soon, Elder Ju appeared before them, his surging wood-attributed energy erupting into the sky. The display was quite intimidating. Seeing him, Zhu Xinyue cried out, "Grandpa Ju, what are you doing? Brother Hu is not a bad person, he—"

"Your Highness, please step away from that boy, will you? You are betrothed to our Crown Prince; your behavior right now is highly improper," Elder Ju stated bluntly, showing no respect for her status.

Zhu Xinyue’s face burned with embarrassment. She had been so caught up in the moment that she had forgotten about the eyes watching them. Now, she realized she had gone too far—Hu Mo’s hand was nearly touching her chest, and from his demeanor, it seemed intentional. He didn't care at all about Elder Ju’s threats.

Zhu Xinyue panicked, knowing Elder Ju’s strength and fearing for Hu Mo’s safety. She tried to pull away, but Hu Mo wouldn't let go. Instead, he pulled her closer, a look of utter disdain on his face.

"Old man, you’re overstepping your bounds! You say Sister Xinyue is betrothed to your Crown Prince? Hah! I say Sister Xinyue is Hu Mo’s woman! What of it? Not happy? Come and bite me then!" Hu Mo sneered, pointing at the elder. His reckless words completely enraged the short-tempered old man. Looking up at the sky, Elder Ju roared and pointed a finger at Hu Mo, shouting, "Green Wood Thunder!"