Chapter 136: Indulging Excessively?

Hu Yihu had stated his position so firmly that Hu Mo could not even find a reason to argue back.

The meaning was obvious: one ought to show some consideration when doing such things. Even if erecting a barrier was excessive, at the very least they should have shut the doors and windows. Otherwise, how embarrassing would it be if someone happened to see them?

A powerful impulse suddenly surged through Hu Mo. Since he had already been misunderstood, perhaps he might as well simply take Fox Bai Mei then and there and be done with it. Yet he was also worried about what sort of tricks Fox Bai Mei might employ. If anything went wrong, he would have no idea how to deal with the consequences.

“Why are you laughing? Stop laughing. I have to hurry and undo your seal, or my shameless old grandfather will start imagining all sorts of things again. Clear your mind and hold your breath. I’m going to use my Wood-Fire Chaos Battle Force to break through the seal. If you make me entertain any more improper thoughts and something goes wrong, you can wait to become a roasted fox.”

Hu Mo’s words were extremely direct. Yet they were undeniably effective. Fox Bai Mei immediately became dignified and composed, like a well-bred young lady of noble birth. Her expression was so pure that Hu Mo did not dare touch her at all, afraid that he might sully her.

“As expected, it’s true. Foxes possess ten thousand forms and a thousand moods, and every single one is perfect to the extreme. Truly terrifying.”

Muttering to himself, Hu Mo rapidly formed dozens of hand seals. A strange sealing pattern appeared behind Fox Bai Mei, while his fingers moved at astonishing speed, tapping her back more than a dozen times.

Under his control, the Wood-Fire Chaos Battle Force entered the pattern. Pain appeared on Fox Bai Mei’s face, but she stubbornly refused to make a sound, fighting desperately against the agony.

Her heart was filled with resentment toward Cang Ling. If not for Cang Ling, why would she have to suffer so terribly?

Hu Mo could sense the hatred in her heart. His brows drew together, and he said coldly, “You’d better not harbor so much resentment. My master tried to make you submit from the very beginning, but you refused. That was why she sealed away all your battle force. Besides, the power contained in this seal will become your greatest nourishment. The Wood-Fire Chaos Battle Force I’m sending into you while breaking the seal will also become part of your own strength. Do you still think my master harmed you?”

His words echoed through Fox Bai Mei’s mind. She was no fool. The moment she felt the power within her body continuously increasing, joy immediately filled her heart, and she secretly transmitted her voice.

“Was I wrong, Master? Thank you—and my gratitude to your honored master as well!”

Compared with an increase in her strength, what did a little suffering matter?

Fox Bai Mei had originally been in the process of gathering her power. The other members of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan needed only a year to restore theirs, but she had been dispersing her power five years ago and had yet to gather much of it back.

Now, after receiving the battle force of Hu Mo and his master, her rate of recovery had increased a hundredfold. How could she not be excited? How could she not be overjoyed?

Hu Mo also secretly congratulated himself. If he had not cultivated the Lingbo Formula to the fourth level, he truly would not have known how to open Fox Bai Mei’s seal.

So this was what Cang Ling had meant when she said she would give him the method for breaking the seal. It had merely been a thought that would appear in his mind once he reached the fourth level of the Lingbo Formula.

At this realization, Hu Mo’s admiration for Cang Ling rose another level. She had actually foreseen the future and known that he would reach the fourth level during this period.

Thinking of this, he suddenly began to miss Cang Ling and Lin Nan. Where had the two of them gone? Why had they not sent back even the slightest news?

Still, the strongest thought in Hu Mo’s mind was that the two of them must be traveling and sightseeing somewhere outside, leaving him alone in Flame City to suffer.

Nearly half an hour passed before Hu Mo finally removed the seal completely.

By then, Fox Bai Mei had returned to her original form. She lay curled up on Hu Mo’s bed, her body tightly wrapped in a mass of white light, like a gigantic egg—or perhaps a massive cocoon.

Hu Mo let out a breath of relief and muttered, “I’ll let her recover slowly. I’d better get outside quickly, or that old man will start imagining more nonsense.”

He pushed open the door and walked out, utterly exhausted. The moment he stepped outside, he saw Hu Yihu standing beside the ornamental rockery. He seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, and his expression was extremely grim.

“Grandfather, why are you still here? Did you need something?” Hu Mo asked with an ingratiating smile.

His pale complexion was still striking, and Hu Yihu’s brows immediately drew even closer together.

“I’m telling you young people, don’t you know how to take better care of your bodies? Look at you! Just look at you! You’re a warrior, yet you’ve worn yourself out like this. For the sake of a little pleasure, are you really willing to risk your life? Did you keep at it from last night until now? You must exercise restraint—absolute restraint!”

Hu Yihu spoke with complete solemnity. Hu Mo, meanwhile, looked at him with a bitter expression, utterly speechless. This shameless old man was actually giving him a lecture on sexual health. It was simply too absurd.

As Hu Mo was thinking this, Hu Yihu’s old face suddenly leaned close. He gave a strange little wave, and Hu Mo immediately bent his head toward him.

“I’ll say this for you, Grandson—you really are something. You even managed to win over a princess, and now you’re indulging yourself here. You’re far more capable than your grandfather or your father. Not bad, not bad!”

Hu Yihu raised his thumb. After hearing just a few words, Hu Mo felt like crying.

“All right, all right, Grandfather. I beg you, please stop talking about this. Let’s discuss something serious. Did you come to see me because of what happened yesterday? You’re injured, so why aren’t you resting properly? Why are you running around everywhere?”

Hu Mo rolled his eyes and spoke irritably.

At this, Hu Yihu glared at him with tiger-like eyes and snorted. “You little brat, is that how you speak to your grandfather? You still remember that I’m injured? While you were carrying on in there for half an hour, did you remember that your grandfather was standing outside, exposed to the cold? What an unfilial grandson you are. Sigh…”

Hu Mo stared at Hu Yihu in stunned disbelief. This was the first time he had discovered just how difficult the old man could be.

Exposed to the cold? In the Heavenly Fire Empire, that phrase practically did not exist!

Hu Mo gave a bitter laugh and shook his head helplessly. “Fine, I surrender. I won’t argue. I accept defeat. Just tell me directly—what is the situation with those major sects and clans? How many of them have left?”

“Not a single one. Even Duanmu Shenxu has returned. It seems they have no intention of leaving Flame City until they accomplish what they came for.”

Hu Yihu’s voice suddenly sank, and a murderous aura radiated from his entire body.

Hu Mo understood clearly that the longer these sects remained, the more dangerous things would become for him. After all, aside from the Heavenly Soil Sect, every one of the other four great sects had some connection to him—and none of those connections were pleasant.

The Heavenly Saint Palace had even dispatched so many people. Without a conclusion to report, they would likely refuse to return.

At this thought, Hu Mo’s expression grew even more solemn.

“That old bastard Duanmu really has some nerve. Didn’t I tell him to get lost? Yet he came crawling back shamelessly. Absolutely despicable!”

Hu Mo was deeply irritated. He had finally begun to relax when they left, never imagining that their faces could be thick enough for them to return without saying a word.

Hu Yihu smiled faintly. “Silly Grandson, there’s nothing strange about it. These people came here for profit. For the sake of profit, what won’t they do? Still, they chose an excellent excuse this time. They’ve stopped mentioning the engagement. They claim to have returned because of the invasion by the foreign race. Mo, I believe you can handle this matter properly. I’ll just wait for your good news.”

Hu Yihu made as though he were about to pat his backside and leave, giving Hu Mo a light pat on the shoulder.

Hu Mo shook his head and said helplessly, “I know, my dear Grandfather. These little matters hardly require you to take action. Your grandson has already arranged everything. We’re just waiting for them to walk into the trap. Don’t worry. In a few days, you’ll receive a very pleasant surprise. By then, you’ll understand.”

A trace of smugness appeared on Hu Mo’s face. His confident expression was somewhat arrogant, but Hu Yihu found it extremely pleasing to the eye.

“Very well. Then your grandfather will wait for your good news. Make sure those bastards all fall here. Oh, and don’t let Zhu Wannian off either. Damn it—he actually made me ask for his help. It’s infuriating!”

Hu Yihu snorted. After venting some of his anger, he swept away with a flourish of his sleeve, leaving Hu Mo standing there helplessly as he watched the old man’s retreating back.

“What kind of deep grudge do those two have against each other?”