--- Chapter 119 ---
A day has passed since the "failed." meeting between the Great King Faction and the Blue-Eyed Dragon God. It's hard to suppress the rumor when several earthquakes and typhoons appeared out of nowhere from the Bael Mansion.
Well, It's not like Huo Yuhao tried to hide it.
"Right?"
Lucifuge Clan's Mansion, Grayfia's Quarter.
Huo Yuhao whistled while resting on the edge of the pool. He watched Ophis floating on the water with her floaties and ate candies like no tomorrow, devouring her middle of the day's snack.
Everything is going as planned except for one thing.
"Lord Yuhao, what do you think of my swimsuit?"
Venelana Bael smiled and walked toward Huo Yuhao in her lust-inducing swimsuit, a white bikini with a floral pattern that cups her voluptuous breast and matching underwear wrapped around her wide yet creamy rear.
Huo Yuhao was surprised, coughing and watching Venelana's body from top to bottom respectfully. Even though he has beautiful partners and can handle his desire quite well, there is nothing wrong with appreciating beauty.
After all, he is a man too.
"What about mine, Yuhao-sama?" Another voice approached him.
Huo Yuhao turned around to the left and saw Grayfia bringing a tray full of refreshments from him. Unlike Venelana's provocative swimsuit, Grayfia is somehow able to combine her maid outfit with a swimsuit. Is she prepared for a situation like this?
Grayfia modeled a black one-piece bikini wrapped around her perky body perfectly and a see-through wet white apron on top of it, which somehow makes her lewder. There is also a window from the swimsuit, framing the sight between two mountains flawlessly.
Huo Yuhao gulped slightly upon seeing it, feeling a soft pillow wrapping his left arm. Venelana took her chance and hugged him, having a playful smile on her face.
"Lord Yuhao, you haven't answered my question?" The brunette devil coyly asked.
"You look beautiful, Venelana-san." Huo Yuhao replied with a wry expression. It was clear that she wanted his attention.
Venelana giggled and returned, "Hehe, You can drop the "San." from my name, you know. After hearing your statement yesterday, I know my status is lower than yours."
"Kyaa, You're so domineering~! It makes my heart skip a beat."
"Then, Venelana. Let's keep it here." Huo Yuhao smiled a little. It's not like he doesn't like Venelana or anything, but her intention to break the limitation placed by the Bael Clan with his help is weak.
Venelana is a beautiful woman. Don't get Huo Yuhao wrong, but he wouldn't help someone that couldn't help herself.
She has to show her worth, not just as a pitiful woman but also as a strong-willed person that could break worldly laws.
"Stay away from Yuhao-sama, Venelana." Grayfia placed the tray on the floor and frowned at the brunette.
Venelana rubbed her cheek cluelessly and responded, "Eh, But I did nothing wrong? As the escort assigned from the Great King Faction, I only do my duty to accompany Lord Yuhao."
"Truthfully, I don't have a problem with it." Grayfia pulled Huo Yuhao to her bosom. "However, you're from the Bael Clan. Who would have known that you were approaching Yuhao-sama with an ulterior motive."
"Do you really see me that way, Grayfia?" Venelana smiled weakly.
Grayfia didn't miss a beat and answered, "Yes."
Venelana laughed in amusement because that answer hit quite a sore spot in her heart. Grayfia knew she was a mere tool for the Bael Clan without its own desire, wanting freedom that doesn't even exist.
She looked at Huo Yuhao and said, "I got a headache. I'll rest in my room for a while."
Venelana brought a towel from her magical earring and covered her body with it, walking away in a gloomy mood. Her lonely figure gradually disappeared from Huo Yuhao's field vision.
"She is always like that." Grayfia sighed while placing a drink on Huo Yuhao's lap.
"Venelana Bael is a once in a thousand years genius. Her talents "strictly." were nurtured by the Bael Clan from the tender age of three, turning her into a puppet for them."
Grayfia looked at the path Venelana took and added, "She never felt an ounce of love from her family as her mother is just a mere succubus who falls in love with the previous Lord Bael. And that mother passed away before Venelana could even feel mother's love."
"She never had a genuine smile on her face. If you see one, it's either fake or only to act polite."
"That sounds miserable." Huo Yuhao sipped his drink.
"However, It's not the right time to help her."
"Grayfia, do you want to know what my mother enjoyed the most?"
Grayfia tilted her head and replied, "Is it Yuhao-sama?"
"Well, not that obvious. I mean in general."
"In general?"
"Yeah, What my mother likes the most is a person with a will to fight their destiny and fate. She likes irregulars because they could be a good wife for me and match her requirements." Huo Yuhao shook his head.
"Eh, Wife??" Grayfia was startled.
"Well, engaged would be the correct word for now. Do you think Shishou and Ying'er just became my fiancee by doing nothing?" He chuckled helplessly because Huo Yun'er is a kind woman, but to make her son happy, any girl or woman had to fit her demands first.
Grayfia gulped nervously, imagining the gruesome or almost impossible task Huo Yuhao's mother tasked Scathach and Qianye Ying'er. She clenched her hand slightly as she should have expected that being on Huo Yuhao's side wouldn't be easy.
'I have to prepare myself.' The silver-haired devil vowed to be worthy before meeting her master's mother. A powerful will to fight her destiny and fate? She would do anything for Huo Yuhao.
"Uugh, I'm back Nyaa~!" Kuroka jumped out of a teleportation magic circle.
Huo Yuhao smiled at the black cat and greeted, "Welcome back."
"How was it? Do you find anything useful about the Naberius Clan's laboratory?"
Kuroka sighed and replied, "No."
"Everything has been burned to the ground. No evidence was left behind besides my sister and me in that experiment. I have this vivid memory about my mother's gift before she passed away, but I forgot where it disappeared."
Huo Yuhao patted Kuroka's head and said, "It's okay. We aren't in a rush anyway."
Kuroka purred happily, wagging her butt left and right in joy because of something about Huo Yuhao's warm hand pleasing her. It's instinctual behavior from her blood, wanting to submit to him.
'Hehehe~! Darling smells so good.' The nekoshou thought while rubbing her face on his thigh. Bear in mind, Kuroka is in her human form.
"Go Sleep." Grayfia pulled out her handgun and struck Kuroka with a time bullet, freezing the depraved cat's time. She pulled Kuroka from her leg and threw her to the pool.
Splash!
"NYAAA~!!!"
"SO COLD~!!!"
Kuroka's time returned to normal and cold water immediately welcomed her. She shivered because Grayfia's attack was so fast for her reaction time. She rubbed her head on Huo Yuhao's thigh a moment ago, but suddenly water splashed onto her face.
"YOU'RE SO COLD, NYAA!!" She yelled at Grayfia.
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
Grayfia pointed her handgun at Kuroka, making the nekoshou grit her teeth in annoyance because this was unfair. Kuroka is also part of the Dragon Nest, so how could only Grayfia awaken her martial soul?
'What am I lacking? Hehe, should I become more stealthy with my approach?' Kuroka floated in the pool.
'Since Huo Yuhao never pushed me away, he doesn't dislike me. Yosh, I can do this, Nyaa~!!' She pumped her fist in the air.
[Kuroka's loyalty has increased]
[You now could awaken Kuroka's Martial Soul]
Huo Yuhao raised one brow and stared at the appearing system panel with a somewhat surprised look. He expected this to happen sooner or later, but day and a half long compared to Grayfia, Gabriel, and Azazel. Well, they have their own cases on viewing him.
Grayfia is a maid who admired him from a young age and had quite a fetish in the master&servant's relationship.
Gabriel used his existence as a coping mechanism, healing her injured heart slowly and ultimately with the new experience.
As for Azazel, Huo Yuhao thought the fallen angel was salty or wanted to become a cultivator with excitement when hearing about the Douluo Dalu Universe.
'I'll call Kuroka to my room later.' Huo Yuhao finished his drink and stared at the sky with a crooked smile. The Underworld is no different from than outside world, except for the sky. It's murky red.
The area around Lucifuge's Mansion has been cast with magic, making the sky blue. It's still fake, and Huo Yuhao doesn't fancy it.
"Since when did I become obsessed with the color blue?" He sighed while looking at Grayfia, who sat beside him.
Grayfia enjoyed her time with Huo Yuhao and daydreamed about something, not realizing her master's gaze.
Cough!
Huo Yuhao faked a cough because he had stared at her beauty enough and said, "Fia, maybe it's time for dinner already."
Grayfia smiled and replied, "I'll prepare the dinner then. You can rest, and I'll call you again, Yuhao-sama."
"Mm, thanks." Huo Yuhao returned with a nod.
...
...
Huo Yuhao's Room.
He stepped into the guest room prepared by Grayfia and closed the door, yawning because the Underworld was much more boring than expected.
"Hmm??"
Magic is covering the room from outside, preventing anyone from entering this room.
Huo Yuhao turned around and saw Venelana in a bathrobe, "What's the meaning of this, Venelana?"
"Lord Yuhao, do you dislike me?" Venelana asked instead.
"Am I not beautiful enough?"
Venelana walked to Huo Yuhao and stared into his mesmerizing royal blue eyes. She could never get enough of it.
Huo Yuhao rubbed his forehead and answered, "Haa... You're mistaking me. I do think you're beautiful, Venelana."
"Then, why??" She suddenly pushed him onto the bed.
Venelana unrevealed her bathrobe and let Huo Yuhao see her body in full glory. Every curve is revealed with no shame as she has the pride to be one of three beauties in the Underworld.
"For Lord Yuhao, I'm willing."
"I'm willing to do anything."
"You're crying..." Huo Yuhao's gentle voice struck her ears.
Venelana's eyes dropped a streak of tears, her emotion was unstable, and the Power of Destruction inside her was in chaos. She lunged toward Huo Yuhao and kissed him.
Huo Yuhao doesn't want to break the boundary, but consoling her should be enough. Leaving her in this state would be dangerous.
Their kiss lasted for a minute, but it felt like forever.
Venelana's supple and soft lips are heavenly, rivaling Scathach's, yet the devil is more skilled than the warrior queen in this field. Her tongue danced with Huo Yuhao's, falling into an unknown passion.
Another hot minute passed.
Venelana broke the kiss and gasped for air, huffing her voluptuous chest slightly. Her purple eyes focused on Huo Yuhao and sparkled because he didn't push her off.
"Let's stop here..." Huo Yuhao suddenly said, breaking her expectations.
"We barely know each other, Venelana."
"Do you truly like me? What about my feelings?"
"Don't you think you're egoist?"
"I-I..." Venelana couldn't form a word.
Huo Yuhao hugged her and continued, "Venelana. You should appreciate yourself more."
"You're a beautiful woman with blessed looks and talents."
"Freedom isn't something others could grant without cause. You need to help yourself first. Like, Who's Venelana Bael?"
"I-I'm sorry..." Venelana wiped her tears in a hurry. She felt ashamed because of her selfishness.
"I-I'll return to the Bael Clan first, Lord Yuhao..."
"Thank you for comforting me."
She picked up her bathrobe with a trembling hand and walked to the door, but for a moment. Huo Yuhao could see a faint black tattoo on her white back, which ruined her beauty.
Venelana forced a weak smile for the last time and said, "Then, Lord Yuhao..."
"See you later..."
Eluxia opened her mouth for the first time after observing Huo Yuhao and Venelana Bael's conversation. "Yuhao, that tattoo..." The necromancer said with a frown.
"Yeah..." A cold whisper escaped Huo Yuhao's mouth.
"Slave Seal."