"Uh... did you say you want to blow up the Lava Cave?"
Hearing this request from Xiao Yao, Sharan was visibly taken aback.
"Is that not allowed?"
Xiao Yao retorted, hands on her hips.
"The monsters inhabiting the Lava Cave are very powerful and have earned the recognition of many dark elves. Normally, it's impossible, but if you can truly solve the crisis facing the dark elf tribe... you would be a hero to them. I believe even the elders would not stop you."
After some thought, Sharan added, "I'm just very curious, why would you..."
"Ha, it's because she got beaten up by those three giants earlier."
Before Sharan could finish, Fang Mo, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh maliciously. "Back then, she played a little sword spirit and ended up in tears after getting beaten. She then topped up 200 Q coins to buy a costume, but still lost, haha!"
"…Huh?"
Sharan blinked in confusion.
"Oh, I see."
Seeing that Sharan didn't understand, Fang Mo kindly explained, "Do you know why she's so short? It's because those three giants pummeled her..."
"You looking for a beating!" At this point, Fang Mo's partner finally lost her temper, turning around and kicking him, her small face flushed, either from anger or embarrassment. "Do you have to expose my past like that!?"
"…You're just joking, right?"
Sharan sighed, rubbing her forehead in frustration. "Anyway, the situation is urgent. The dark elf elders are about to go to war with the humans. If you can, please solve the epidemic problem as soon as possible. I'm really counting on you."
Saying this, Sharan bowed deeply in respect.
Given the low neckline of her dress, this bow was truly a sight, even making Fang Mo glance instinctively.
But just that glance...
Fang Mo immediately felt another kick from his partner and heard a stern question, "What are you looking at!"
"See, this is what professionalism looks like."
Fang Mo quickly turned to Xiao Yao, raising his thumb in praise without mentioning his own behavior. "Look at Sharan, that's the attitude you need when asking for help... If Hilder had bowed to me earlier, wouldn't I have helped her restore Terra by now?"
"Hilder is a schemer by nature; she wouldn't trust others."
Xiao Yao replied instinctively.
"That's true."
Fang Mo said, feigning displeasure. "So I've decided to oppose her. She wants to kill the other apostles to revive the demon world? I'll save them just to spite her. Watch me capture Delezie in thirty minutes."
"You..."
"Alright, I'm in a hurry."
Not waiting for Xiao Yao to say more, Fang Mo interrupted her. "Just enjoy yourself in Aphelia, I'll come find you after capturing Delezie."
"...Alright."
Xiao Yao blinked, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint it. "Contact me via public chat if anything happens."
"Okay."
Fang Mo responded, then flew into the air with the demon world person.
"Was your wife just jealous?"
As they ascended, Summon asked softly. "Is it really okay to brush her off like that?"
"Oh, it's fine."
Fang Mo glanced at the mini-map. Although it didn't show the location of North Myre, he could distinguish north from south. He flew north rapidly, explaining, "She knows my quirks... On the surface, I'm just a vulgar old pervert, ogling anyone who shows some skin, but in reality, I prefer a bit more innocence."
"Can you put me down then?"
Summon said, "I'm suddenly a bit scared."
"What's wrong with you?" Fang Mo looked at her puzzled. "I already said I don't like doing it with snowmen..."
"You dressed me like this!"
Summon couldn't help but shout.
"Ahem, this is to prevent you from seducing me." Fang Mo shrugged. "You're the princess of schemes; if you use your charm on me, it would be difficult. So, I made you wear a snowman costume, because I know myself well, and I'm not going to turn into Nunu."
"You..."
Summon wanted to retort but eventually just sighed. "Forget it, I can't argue with you."
"Enjoy the process, young lady."
Fang Mo chuckled, casually responding while overlooking the scenery below.
"By the way."
Suddenly, Summon spoke again. "About the choice you asked me to make, I've decided. I will stand by your side."
"Oh?"
Fang Mo turned to her. "What's your reasoning?"
"Maybe the demon world needs rebuilding, but not at the cost of others' suffering."
Summon said after some thought, "Lord Hilder's intentions might be good, but she's definitely wrong. Be it the plague, the wars, or the apostles she's plotted against, the cost of building the demon world shouldn't be borne by others."
"Mm, very good."
Fang Mo nodded happily. "It seems our princess of schemes is inherently kind-hearted..."
"Enough."
Summon sighed again. "I believe there must be other ways to revive the demon world... If Lord Hilder is wrong, I will stop her and find the right way for everyone. It might be a tough road, but it won't harm others."
"For now, we must stop her from hurting other apostles."
Saying this, Summon glanced at Fang Mo. "But I'm not strong enough... So I'm counting on you."
"Then bow and let me see your chest."
"You just said you don't like snowmen!"
"Hey, I'm just kidding."
Hearing Summon's exasperated voice, Fang Mo chuckled and patted the other's head like petting a puppy twice. "Since you already have a target, just work hard. As for Hilder, I'm definitely going to kill her. The rest is up to you."
The two chatted idly.
Soon, the scenery below gradually changed.
They flew over Hendon Myre, through Grand Flores, and soon arrived at a relatively desolate area, the northern part of the Bel Myre Principality, known as North Myre.
This place bordered the eternal snow mountains.
The climate here was quite different from Hendon Myre.
Unlike the lush forests of the south, this area was mostly open plains, with cool and dry air, and even a large desert not far away.
With a quick glance below, Fang Mo soon noticed several scattered cities.
Of course, these cities couldn't compare to the capital. They were more like remote towns or even villages.
"Are we there yet?"
Summon also noticed the villages below.
"There are quite a few towns here."
Fang Mo observed and indeed found many villages and towns. As for which one was the Village of Pain, he couldn't tell right away.
"Forget it, let's ask some lackeys for directions first."
After thinking for a moment, Fang Mo decided to go down and have a look.
With a thought, their figures slowly descended and soon landed in a dilapidated town.
This was an old town, its buildings weathered by time but still retaining the typical style of the Bel Myre Principality, with white stone walls and simple patterns that added an exotic beauty.
Fang Mo landed in the center of the town.
It looked like a square of sorts.
However, it was odd that although the sun hadn't set yet, the town was eerily quiet in the twilight.
The square had a few scattered trash cans and many sacks of grain, some already moldy and leaking green goo.
There was a faint, indescribable stench in the air.
"Something's not right here."
Even Summon sensed something was wrong, instinctively gripping her staff, and then two octopuses fell out of her hands.
"?"
Summon was stunned for a moment.
But soon, a large tentacle from her Sea Magic Ring patted her head reassuringly.
"..."
Summon's face darkened.
"Wow, as expected of a woman with the essence of forty-two chapters," Fang Mo said in amazement. "How convenient, you can summon octopuses wherever you go... How about renaming your ring to 'Octopus Ring'?"
"Can you stop bothering me?"
Summon stuffed the tentacle back into the ring, annoyed. "It's because this place is too weird. The ring is automatically protecting me... Can you check the situation here first?"
"Alright, I'll take a look."
Fang Mo glanced at the mini-map, seeing a bunch of human icons and a bunch of dogs: "No rats, okay, I know where we are."
"Where?" Summon asked.
"Yulin," Fang Mo said seriously.
"Hmm..." Summon pondered, then looked at him skeptically. "Are you lying to me again?"
"Nani?"
Fang Mo was shocked: "You can tell?"
"As expected, you're lying again..." Summon sighed, rubbing her forehead. "When you lie, you always look very serious. Haven't you noticed?"
"Alright, I'll be careful next time."
Fang Mo sighed. "Anyway, this should be the North Myre bandit group."
At this point, Fang Mo casually kicked a nearby stone.
The stone flew out with a roar, smashing through a wall with a loud crash, echoing in the eerily silent town.
Immediately after, the sound of footsteps came from afar.
Soon, a group of hooded figures surrounded them.
"Hehehe..."
These masked figures seemed to be bandits, but their mental state was clearly not right. Through the shadows of their hoods, red glows could be seen, their bodies twitching, exuding a cold and crazy aura.
"These... don't look like villagers, right?"
Summon glanced at Fang Mo.
"Isn't that obvious?" Fang Mo said. "Villagers would kneel before me. These are bandits."
Then Fang Mo took a step forward and shouted, "Hey, call your boss, Mozhen. I need to ask him something."
"Who allows you to call our boss by name? Don't you know the rules?"
A strange man with a dog's head stepped out, coldly eyeing Fang Mo. "You don't look like one of us. Fine, leave the woman... You can die."
With that, the dog-headed man disappeared in a puff of smoke, replaced by a dog.
He hadn't transformed; it was more like an illusion and teleportation.
The dog-headed man reappeared behind Fang Mo, ready to stab him, a smug grin on his face.
"Hey, what are you looking at..."
Before he could finish, a hand gripped his neck.
"Had enough?"
Without another word, Fang Mo drew his blade and decapitated the dog-headed man.
"Crazy."
Fang Mo tossed the headless body aside. "A level one dog-head dares to act tough..."
After dealing with him, Fang Mo looked at the remaining bandits. "I'll say it again, get your boss out here in three seconds, or I'll clear the area with my ultimate."