131: Breakthrough, Maso accepts his fate

Twenty minutes ago, beneath the God Sealing Tower.

Shu Fei Ma Suo stood alone in the massive shadow cast by the tower's base, her back against the cold tower wall.

A few strands of her pale golden hair, stirred by the breeze, stuck to her slightly damp cheeks.

She tilted her head back, trying to hold back the tears about to break the dam and the sob threatening to burst from her throat; every breath was filled with tearing pain.

"The future of the Hobbit Clan..."

"Why does it have to be me?"

She questioned herself countless times.

The elder's aged yet hopeful voice echoed incessantly in her mind.

"My dear granddaughter, you are the most brilliant pearl our Hobbit Clan has seen in trillions of years! The hope of the Hobbit Clan rests entirely on you. You must, at all costs... at all costs, you must obtain the dragon egg!"

At all costs...

These four words burned into her soul like a red-hot iron.

She thought of Laimuli, the man who always carried a smile like the gentle spring breeze, the man who knelt by Daming Lake and loudly declared he would protect her for a lifetime.

But now... for the sake of the clan, she had to serve a stranger who looked at her only with raw lust!

She hated Huang Chen's overbearing nature and flippancy, but she hated this damned fate even more!

Why?

Why should she have to endure all of this?

The tears finally spilled over, gushing out like a broken dam.

She bit her lower lip hard, tasting the saltiness, yet stubbornly refusing to let herself sob aloud.

"Laimuli..."

A broken name spilled from between her teeth, filled with endless longing and despair.

"I'm sorry!"

I don't know how much time passed, but with trembling fingers, she pulled up the communication interface and opened the chat window with Laimuli.

【Shu Fei Ma Suo: Forget me!】

Afterward, she set the communication to silent, stood up, and all fragility on her face was perfectly retracted, leaving only a coldness that kept people at a distance.

She took one last look at the towering God Sealing Tower, then turned, stepped forward, and walked toward the inn designated by Huang Chen.

...

Jinling City, District 9999, "Cicada Song" Inn, Room No. 3, Heaven Wing.

Shu Fei Ma Suo sat before the vanity, her beautiful face flushed with hidden emotion.

She had changed out of her Level 45 Gold Battle Armor and was wearing a pale golden tight-fitting long dress unique to the Hobbit Clan, which outlined her stunning curves.

Time ticked by, second by second, and every second felt like a year.

She thought of Laimuli's warm smile, and thought of her grandfather the patriarch's earnest instructions.

In the end, everything dissolved into Huang Chen's pair of aggressive black eyes.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A light, rhythmic knocking sounded.

Shu Fei Ma Suo's body jolted violently, her heart clenching tightly.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady: "Please... please come in."

The door was pushed open.

Huang Chen's figure appeared at the doorway.

Closing the door behind him, Huang Chen's gaze instantly locked onto Shu Fei Ma Suo in the center of the room.

He walked slowly into the room, every step feeling like it was treading on Shu Fei Ma Suo's taut heartstrings.

However, he did not approach Shu Fei Ma Suo, but walked straight to the window, standing with his back to her, gazing at the blurred outline of the God Sealing Tower outside.

"Attack me!"

"What?"

Shu Fei Ma Suo's eyes widened at his words, her body unable to stop trembling.

She had heard that many nobles had perverse hobbies like bondage, wax dripping, and whips.

Could it be that this man also had such unhealthy habits?

"Stop talking nonsense, use Soul Severing Stab to attack me!"

Huang Chen ordered in an unquestionable tone.

Shu Fei Ma Suo dared not hesitate; she immediately drew her long spear and her figure shot toward Huang Chen's back at high speed.

"Golden Bell Shield!"

"Black and Yellow Body!"

Huang Chen's thoughts stirred, and his entire body was covered in a layer of pale golden light.

"Pfft!"

-5024!

Seeing the damage value appear, Shu Fei Ma Suo couldn't help but widen her eyes again.

Her nearly 7000 Strength, combined with the bonus from Soul Severing Stab, had only dealt 5000 points of damage to Huang Chen.

Just how high was the opponent's defense?

On Huang Chen's side, the moment the tip of Shu Fei Ma Suo's spear touched his body, he began to mobilize all the metal elements in his body to converge at that point.

Then, layer upon layer of spiderweb-like defensive shields formed at the center of the attack, weakening the blow layer by layer.

【Ding! Congratulations, your Black and Yellow Body has reached the Minor Success realm, currently cleansing your marrow and cutting your bones, bone structure +20】

【Ding! Congratulations, your Golden Bell Shield has reached the Minor Success realm, currently cleansing your marrow and cutting your bones, bone structure +25】

Hearing the notification, a look of joy appeared on Huang Chen's face.

45 points of bone structure gave him another 2205 points of potential.

With a thought, he added it all to Constitution.

His attack power was basically sufficient now; it was better to play it safe.

With his skill realm improved, Huang Chen was in a great mood, and a smile blossomed on his face.

"It seems the Saintess has already made a wise choice."

Shu Fei Ma Suo didn't know what had just happened to make him suddenly smile at her, and she dared not ask, only saying coldly:

"I... have no choice."

Her voice was dry and hoarse, every word seeming to be squeezed out from between her teeth.

"Very good."

Huang Chen turned around, his gaze falling on her again, carrying a condescending sense of oppression.

"I like people who know how to read the situation, especially... beautiful, smart people like the Saintess."

His words carried a hint of flippant praise, which only made Shu Fei Ma Suo feel more humiliated.

"Mr. Huang!"

Shu Fei Ma Suo forced herself to lift her head, meeting his highly aggressive gaze, a final flame of struggle igniting in her pale golden eyes. "You promised the divine dragon essence blood... did you get it?"

"divine dragon essence blood?" Huang Chen curled his lips into an icy arc.

He took a step forward, and a strong masculine aura pressed down, causing Shu Fei Ma Suo's breath to hitch, and she subconsciously took half a step back.

"Shu Fei Ma Suo!"

Huang Chen's voice turned cold suddenly, carrying an unquestionable strength. "You don't seem to have figured out the situation yet. Do you think you have the qualifications to negotiate with me?"

He took another step closer, his chest pressing against her breasts, and the wyvern egg appeared in his hand.

"Does this prove I have the ability to bring back the dragon egg?"

Leaning down slightly, Huang Chen spoke softly, almost pressed against Shu Fei Ma Suo's ear: "In the short term, who else do you think can get the golden splendor dragon egg besides me?"

"Now! Either take off your clothes now."

"Or, turn around and leave this room."

"Choose."

The cold words were like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely against Shu Fei Ma Suo's final psychological defense.

Her face instantly turned as pale as paper, and her body swayed as if she might collapse.

Crystal-clear tears slid silently from the corners of her eyes.

She bit her lower lip hard, the luster in her eyes completely extinguished, leaving only an ash-like hollowness and desolation.

She did not speak again.

Shu Fei Ma Suo's trembling fingers slowly reached toward the exquisite buttons at the collar of her pale golden dress.

The movements were slow and stiff; every slight touch felt like stripping away her own soul.

The air in the room gradually solidified, leaving only the sound of Huang Chen swallowing saliva, and the subtle rustling of fabric, like a mournful cry.

【The next part is even more exciting, please, big bosses, give some recommendations!】