355: The level 66 mage was left behind, and the queen cried and wouldn't let him leave!

The morning sun was a little blinding, filtering through the gaps at the top of the treehouse.

The special scent in the air hadn't completely dissipated, mixing with the sweet fragrance of moonlight flower honey, making one feel flushed and breathless.

Su Mo pulled his arm out of Lena's two soft, pale hands with some difficulty.

This little girl looked delicate and frail, but he hadn't expected her to be so strong when clinging to him.

"Mmm... Master..."

Lena mumbled groggily. Feeling the warmth in her arms disappear, her hands fumbled twice in the air. Failing to grasp anything, she reluctantly opened her eyes.

Her pair of silver-gray eyes still held unshed moisture, and tear streaks hung at the corners, making her look exactly like a little kitten that had been terribly bullied.

When she saw Su Mo standing by the bed getting dressed, she jolted, immediately disregarding the sheer, cicada-wing gauze dress that had already slipped to her waist, exposing large patches of pale skin, and scrambled to the edge of the bed.

"Master! Are... are you leaving now?"

Lena stretched out her hands and grabbed the corner of Su Mo's clothes. Her beautiful eyes were filled with panic and reluctance, and her voice was laced with a sob.

"Can you... can you please not go?"

"Lena will be very good... Lena will listen to whatever you say... Anything you want is fine..."

As she spoke, she rubbed her face against the back of Su Mo's hand, tears dripping down, looking like she would break anyone's heart.

Su Mo looked down at this little Queen crying so pitifully, and felt immensely satisfied.

However, business had to be attended to.

"Alright, stop crying. If you cry any more, your eyes will swell up like walnuts and you won't be pretty anymore."

Su Mo reached out and pinched her smooth, delicate little face. The sensation was so good that he couldn't help but rub it twice more.

"I still have a mess to clean up over there. The Contest of Ten Thousand Nations is about to start, and I need to go back and prepare."

"Contest... of Ten Thousand Nations?"

Lena sniffled, not understanding what this thing was, but she knew it was more important than staying with her...

She bit her lip, the light in her eyes instantly dimming, and the strength in her hands lessened slightly, yet she still couldn't bear to let go.

"Then... will you come back?"

"Lena is afraid... afraid that if you leave, those bad people will come and bully us again..."

Su Mo's hand, which was fastening his belt, paused slightly.

That was indeed a problem.

The Shadow Trolls were destroyed, and the moon wells were replaced with new ones, but the Moonlight Elf Clan was now a piece of fat meat.

Thousands of delicate, soft, and easily bullied Elf maidens guarding nine Mythical-grade moon wells—this setup, without a powerful bodyguard watching over them, meant they might be wiped out by some passing Abyssal Lord any day.

Wouldn't the home he just conquered be all for nothing then?

"Don't worry. Since you belong to me, how could I let you suffer?"

Su Mo grinned, revealing a confident smile.

With a backhanded wave, a spatial rift, black as ink, tore open behind him out of thin air.

"Time to get to work, old man!"

"Buzz—!"

A chill-inducing aura of death permeated the entire treehouse.

Lena's face turned pale with fright, and she shrank further into the blanket.

From within the rift, a figure emerged, draped in tattered robes and holding a skeletal staff.

In its empty eye sockets burned pale blue soul fire, and its entire body radiated the terrifying pressure of a high-level Undead.

The Undead Archmage—Antonidas!

"My... Lord..."

Antonidas's voice, like a broken bellows, sounded out.

It sounded a bit creepy.

But the old skeleton knelt on one knee, acting with utmost respect.

"Starting today, you will stay here."

Su Mo pointed at Lena, who was huddled on the bed, and then pointed at the vibrant Moonlight Forest outside the window.

"Watch over this woman and this forest for me."

"If a single blade of grass goes missing, or if this girl loses a single strand of hair..."

Su Mo narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling.

"I'll dismantle your old bones and feed them to the dogs."

Antonidas's two clusters of soul fire flickered violently, clearly recalling the terrifying experience of almost being burned as firewood before.

"Y-yes... my Lord... I swear... to guard... the Mistress..."

Su Mo nodded and turned to look at Lena, who was staring blankly.

"How about it? Is this bodyguard acceptable?"

"A Level 66 Archmage. He's a bit ugly, but his strength is absolutely solid. As long as a top-tier Overlord doesn't show up personally, this old guy can handle it."

Lena stared blankly at the skeleton frame radiating cold air.

It was terrifying.

But feeling that powerful aura, she instantly felt much safer.

With this big guy here, who would dare to bully the Moonlight Elves?

"Th-thank you, Master!"

Lena was so excited she wanted to leap forward again, but Su Mo stopped her with a finger pressed against her forehead.

"Don't rush to thank me. I have another use for leaving him here."

Su Mo smiled mysteriously.

"My skill, 'Monarch's Advent,' allows me to teleport to my dependents regardless of distance."

"As long as this old skeleton is here, it's like I've placed a ward here."

"I can come back whenever I want in the future. Understand?"

Lena froze, and then her silver-gray eyes lit up, like two small light bulbs had been switched on.

"R-really?!"

"You can come back anytime?!"

"Nonsense, why would I lie to you?"

Su Mo irritably flicked her forehead,

"So relax and stay home for me like a good girl."

"Mhm! Lena will definitely be good!"

The little girl burst into tears of joy. Ignoring the fact that she was still half-naked, she knelt on the bed, bowing and blowing kisses at Su Mo.

Just then, the door curtain was lifted.

Shen Yanbing, wearing her silver-white Moonlight Priestess gown, walked in, looking a bit uneasy.

When she saw the "vivid and fragrant" scene inside the room, along with the skeleton frame kneeling on the ground emitting ghostly fire, she froze completely.

"Su... Su Mo, are you... are you leaving already?"

Shen Yanbing blushed, not daring to glance at the bed.

"Yeah, pretty much."

Su Mo walked over and very naturally wrapped his arm around her slender waist, his large hand rubbing the silky fabric twice.

"What's wrong? Reluctant to part with this outfit? How about we take it back and wear it again tonight?"

"Y-you shut up!"

Shen Yanbing was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, and reached out to pinch the soft flesh at his waist.

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore."

Su Mo was about to leave with Shen Yanbing when a light bulb suddenly went off in his head, as if he had remembered something important.

He slapped his thigh suddenly.

"Crap! How could I forget about this!"

He stared intently at Lena on the bed, his eyes radiating an excitement that made Lena feel nervous.

"Lena, come here."