183: The ingredients are ready, I'm going to have snake soup!

“What is this black qi again?”

Chen Heng realized he knew too little about this place; new things he didn't recognize would pop up from time to time.

“No one knows what the black qi is, but it erodes everyone’s mind.”

“Only great demons above the rank of Demon General can barely resist the black qi's erosion, but they also become cruel and irritable.”

“As for the lesser demons below the rank of Demon General…”

A hint of sadness flashed in Madam Hu's eyes.

“Once lesser demons are eroded by the black qi, they completely lose their sanity and turn into mad demons who only know how to kill.”

“Oh, so it turns out you’re just too much of a noob.” Chen Heng suddenly understood, no wonder he hadn't felt anything.

All this time, it was just Bai Jun, this noob, who couldn't handle it.

“Alright, I'm a noob…” Bai Jun had nothing to say; his mind had indeed been eroded by the black qi.

“Hey, you go wait over there for a bit, I have something to say.”

Chen Heng waved his hand at Bai Jun, who immediately understood.

“Come on, inside.” Chen Heng grabbed Madam Hu’s wrist and led her into the room, closing the door with a bang.

“Master Chen, this servant is still…” Madam Hu was immediately flustered, seeing this. She had just woken up and couldn't handle Chen Heng bothering her again.

“Can't you think of something else?” Chen Heng sighed, speaking with a hint of helplessness.

“Tell me, how did you, a Fox Spirit making a living in a Flower House, manage to remain a virgin until now?”

Chen Heng sat on the rosewood soft stool, looking up at Madam Hu.

“I, I usually use 'Dream Entry' to absorb Yang Qi, so I've never touched a man…”

Madam Hu lowered her head, her fingers tightly clutching the bedsheet.

“Master Chen, you don't need to worry. What happened yesterday was consensual, and I will absolutely not cling to you.”

Seeing Chen Heng remain silent, Madam Hu quickly added.

“I know that a lowly lesser demon like me is not qualified to sleep in the same bed as you. To receive your favor, this servant is already deeply grateful.”

“Alright, stop!” Chen Heng stopped Madam Hu from continuing.

“First, tell me what your real name is?”

“This servant has no name. We lowly lesser demons are not qualified to have our own names.”

Madam Hu lowered her head, her gaze somewhat evasive.

In truth, Chen Heng didn't know that in Madam Hu's eyes, Chen Heng was an unattainable figure.

For a lesser demon without even a name, to have her first time taken by Chen Heng was already an honor.

“This wretched place really is…” Chen Heng scratched his head. He was someone who responded to softness, not hardness.

If Madam Hu had simply clung to him, Chen Heng wouldn't have bothered with her, letting her fend for herself.

But in this situation, Chen Heng really had to consider Madam Hu's safety.

He definitely wouldn't take her with him; after all, Chen Heng wasn't foolish enough to bring a burden.

Returning from the Eastern Demon Alliance to Qiyang City required crossing half of the Eastern Demon Alliance and the entire Jade Fan Kingdom, neither of which were easy places.

There would certainly be numerous dangers. Chen Heng himself would definitely be fine, he could just crush his way through.

Even with Bai Jun, it wouldn't be a big problem.

But if he took Madam Hu, who had no combat power besides being cute, Chen Heng couldn't guarantee she would make it back alive.

“Forget it, from now on you'll be called Hu Ling.”

Chen Heng himself was terrible at naming things, so he just gave her a random name.

“Thank you, Master Chen, for bestowing a name!” Madam Hu, oh no, now she should be called Hu Ling.

Upon hearing that Chen Heng had given her a name, Hu Ling immediately knelt on the ground, loudly thanking Chen Heng.

“Why are you so excited?” Chen Heng looked at Hu Ling strangely. It was just a name, wasn't it?

And the name wasn't even that good.

“Master Chen, do you not know the significance of giving a name to a lower-class lesser demon?”

Hu Ling also froze for a moment, looking up at the somewhat puzzled Chen Heng.

“Could it be that giving a name has some special meaning?” This completely stumped Chen Heng. Why were there so many rules in this wretched place?

“Yes, once a powerful great demon bestows a name upon a lower-class lesser demon, it signifies that the lesser demon henceforth belongs to that great demon.”

“That is to say, from today onwards, I am your property.”

Saying this, Hu Ling pulled open the clothing at her shoulder, revealing her fair and tender shoulder.

“You see, this is your brand.”

“?” Chen Heng looked at the black Phoenix brand that had appeared on the originally fair and flawless shoulder and fell into contemplation.

Why is my brand a black Phoenix?

No!

I'm not of the Yao Race, so why can I leave a brand?

Also, what even is that brand?

Why is this wretched place so strange?

Seeing Chen Heng's expression change repeatedly, Hu Ling thought he regretted taking her as his property.

“Master Chen, if you are unwilling, you can directly kill me, then…”

Hu Ling lowered her head, biting her lower lip tightly.

“Forget it, let's just leave it at that.” Chen Heng rubbed his throbbing temples.

“First, tell me what this brand does?”

“There are many uses, mainly depending on how the superior who bestowed the brand wishes to use it.”

Hu Ling knelt on the ground, respectfully lowering her head as she spoke.

“The branded individual cannot resist the superior's commands, and the superior can also share their power with the subordinate.”

“The superior completely controls everything about the subordinate, including their life.”

“Furthermore, the most important function of this brand is to signify identity, letting other Yao Race members know that you are a demon with a master.”

“No Yao Race member would dare to provoke a demon with a master. The weakest Yao Race member capable of leaving a brand is a Demon Lord.”

“Put all that aside for now. First, tell me about this power-sharing business.” Chen Heng's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected this brand to have such a convenient function.

If he could truly share power, then Chen Heng could just clean up Heavenly Demon City and leave.

After returning and reporting his safety, he would come back to kill the Demon Emperor.

Oh right, and destroy those Aristocratic Families.

“If you allow it, I can use a portion of your power.”

Although Hu Ling didn't know why Chen Heng was interested in this function, she still answered obediently.

“No more than thirty percent of your inherent power, that is the limit of the brand.”

This makes things easier, Chen Heng rubbed his chin.

“Alright, from today onwards, you are my property.” Chen Heng stood up, gently pinching Hu Ling's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“You'll move out of the Flower House in a bit…”

“Oh, right, where does the Snake Demon Lord live? You can stay with her from now on.”

“But you just killed Tiger General yesterday, will the Snake Demon Lord let me stay there?” Hu Ling stared blankly at Chen Heng, her small hands tightly clenched.

“Also, I signed a contract with the owner of this Flower House…”

“That's not something you should worry about.” Chen Heng released Hu Ling’s chin.

“Tell your Flower House chef to prepare the Materials for snake stew for me; I want to eat it when I return later.”