CHAPTER 163: RETURN OF THE HERO

"Anyway, let’s go," said Yu Lingluo cheerfully. With her master gone, their part of the visit was clearly over.

"Yes, let’s. I want to see my cottage too," Yu Xuan replied. The two siblings walked together, reaching the spot within two minutes.

The cottage sat quietly at the base of the slope, not far from Lingluo’s master’s hut. Along the way, Yu Xuan noticed several other cottages — five at least, dotting the area.

For a moment he thought, ’So her Master really does have more disciples?’

Unlike his master, who had only one disciple, him.

But there was no sign of life in them, which only made him more curious.

Meanwhile, not long after they had left, the shorty arrived at the old woman’s hut. Finding neither Yu Xuan nor Lingluo there, her face turned an alarming shade of red.

She stomped her foot, cursed both siblings under her breath with the fluency of someone well-practiced in it, and stormed off toward her own cottage.

’I’ll deal with those two brats later, let them enjoy for now...’ she thought. They had left the aftermath of Yu Xuan’s incident to her.

Back at Yu Xuan’s newly assigned cottage, he pushed open the creaky wooden door. Inside, the place was modest but surprisingly complete: a neat bed, a small meditation chamber, kitchen, bathroom, everything a small place could have luxury in a cultivation world.

"Not bad," Yu Xuan muttered, before promptly diving headfirst into the bed with a dramatic flop. The soft bed practically swallowed him whole.

"Why are you being lazy?" Yu Lingluo asked, rolling her eyes as she sat comfortably on the nearby chair.

"Because I can," Yu Xuan answered without shame, his voice muffled into the pillow. Then he turned his head to look at her. "So, sister... how’s your time here been?"

That simple question opened the floodgates. The two siblings began catching up on everything — her training, his travels, the chaos they each endured. Laughter and banter filled the small cottage, their words carrying out into the quiet mountain air.

For the first time in a long while, Yu Xuan actually felt a little bit at home. Without them realizing it, night had already fallen.

Grrrr.

Yu Xuan’s stomach growled loudly. "Ah, I need to eat now," he groaned. "Sister, help me cook."

"Cook? Why cook when we can order?" Yu Lingluo replied instantly, waving him off like he’d suggested chopping wood with his teeth.

Yu Xuan blinked in silence. "...Order? From where?"

"UFC," she said matter-of-factly, already licking her lips in anticipation. "Ultra Fried Chicken. It’s very tasty." She then ordered using her medallion.

He stared at her, utterly speechless.

A short while later, after more chatter, there was a knock knock at the door. Yu Xuan went to open it and found a young woman standing there.

"Are you Yu Xuan? We’ve got an order for Miss Lingluo," the delivery girl said politely and from her space ring removed multiple food boxes.

"Ah, yes, that’s me," Yu Xuan answered, though it took him two trips to carry in the absurdly huge order. When he asked about payment, the girl smiled.

"Already taken care of. Miss Lingluo is one of our most loyal customers. Honestly, she’s becoming more famous around here now... thanks to a certain someone." Her eyes flicked knowingly toward Yu Xuan before she left.

Shutting the door, Yu Xuan sighed. "Sister, seriously. Start learning how to cook. You can’t eat this every day."

He definitely wasn’t jealous that UFC had a delivery branch conveniently stationed inside her peak. Nope. Not at all.

"Haha, I’ll try," Lingluo replied, already digging into a crispy chicken wing.

They sat together, finally eating.

Yu Xuan hesitated at first — memories of the "goat incident" still haunted him, but after his first bite, all hesitation vanished. For once, dinner was peaceful... if a bit greasy.

When the meal was done, Lingluo stretched and bid him goodnight before heading back to her own cottage. Yu Xuan tidied up halfheartedly, then lay down on his bed. Closing his eyes, he wished for a good dream.

And it didn’t disappoint.

Because the moment his eyes shut, the hero’s eyes opened.

***

[A/N: Read Chapter 73 for a refresher.]

The hero’s eyes darted around the familiar chamber — the same absurd prison conjured by the Demon Queen’s forbidden spell.

And there it was again, glowing mockingly in midair:

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[Unbreakable Room]

1. All powers are sealed.

2. No damage may be dealt to either party.

3. Exit will appear only after the fourth condition is satisfied.

4. Do snu-snu.

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The hero’s face stiffened. This was the challenge.

To defeat the Demon Queen, he took the righteous path of explaining her "snu-snu". He remembered everything.

He clenched his fist, preparing himself mentally. And then—

Weight?

The hero blinked. Something heavy pressed down on his chest. Only now, did he notice it. Carefully, he lifted the blanket.

And froze.

There, resting peacefully against him, was the Demon Queen.

Her head lay snugly on his chest, her long black hair spilling across him like a silken waterfall. Her face — so perfectly sculpted it could probably bankrupt sculptors everywhere was calm, her breath soft and steady in deep sleep.

The hero’s mind went utterly blank.

’W-Why is she... sleeping on me?!’

Panicking internally, he tried inching himself backward, attempting to escape this deadly predicament.

But his slight movement caused her to stir.

He stopped, like a thief caught mid-act.

The Demon Queen stretched lazily, her hands slipping around him — and suddenly, she hugged him tighter, nuzzling closer. Her face pressed against his neck, her breath warm against his skin.

Something soft pressed into his chest. The hero’s eyes widened, his soul leaving his body.

He froze like an icicle.

’If I move even one millimeter... won’t I instantly become the most wanted criminal across Demon World?!’

Thus began the most excruciating twenty minutes of the hero’s life — a trial far harsher than any battlefield, dragon, or demon army he had ever faced.

And just as he thought he might actually survive this ordeal, the Demon Queen’s eyelashes fluttered... her crimson-gold eyes slowly opening.