337: hermaphrodite

Candle Dragon originally just wanted to find a place to rest, but now he was genuinely intrigued. Having lived for hundreds of thousands of years, there was no type of person he hadn't seen. But this kind, which was both wild and slightly bizarre, was truly rare.

"Sit." He raised his chin and pointed to the chair opposite him.

Taotao didn't stand on ceremony, plopping down onto the chair. The tip of her tail subtly brushed against the hem of Candle Dragon's Daoist robe, a deliberate probe. "Daoist Priest, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting Yin Street?"

She picked up the Jägermeister on the table, poured half a glass for Candle Dragon, and as her fingertip brushed the rim of the cup, it left a faint pink glimmer that flashed under the light.

Candle Dragon did not touch the wine. He merely tapped his knuckles on his knee, his gaze fixed on Taotao's tail: "Yes, first time."

"Then you really must have a good time~" Taotao blinked, leaned forward slightly, and the sweet, cloying fragrance emanating from her body spread further.

"We have plenty of fun things here. What would you like to try, Daoist Priest?"

Candle Dragon lowered his eyes, gazing at her face so close to him. The rouge blush at the corner of her eyes was just right, and suddenly he smiled.

The smile was completely different from his usual gentle demeanor. His eyes and brows held the casual indifference of someone long accustomed to a high position, yet they also betrayed a hint of untamed licentiousness.

"Let's chat first."

He raised his hand and touched the tip of Taotao's tail. "Your tail is quite unique."

Taotao hadn't expected the Daoist Priest to be so direct. The tip of her tail trembled, the red mole near her eye twitched along with it, but the smile on her face grew even sweeter. "Does Daoist Priest like it? If you like it, touching it is no problem~"

Candle Dragon actually followed her suggestion, sliding his hand up the tail. When he touched the warm fur, Taotao's body trembled slightly, like a snowflake swept by the wind.

"I've seen many tails before,"

"Snake tails, fox tails, wolf tails... but never a heart-shaped one."

His hand stopped at the base of the tail and rubbed it. Taotao let out a muffled groan, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and a hint of moisture appeared in the corners of her eyes. "Daoist Priest... you're so naughty~"

Candle Dragon chuckled softly, withdrew his hand, and picked up the glass of wine to take a sip.

The liquor was spicy going down, but left a sweet aftertaste.

[The nature of the Dragon is lustful. This saying truly does not deceive me.]

[Back in the Source Realm, many attended to me. Sleeping for a thousand years suppressed my desires. Now that I'm awake and have met someone pleasing to the eye, there's no need to restrain myself.]

He looked at Taotao's flushed face and suddenly felt that inquiring about the Underworld was not urgent. It wouldn't be bad to have some fun with this little Succubus first.

"Do you have private rooms here?" Candle Dragon put down his glass, the smile in his eyes deepening as his hand tapped a lively rhythm on the tabletop.

Taotao's eyes brightened, and the heart shape at the tip of her tail swayed more happily: "Yes, we do. Does Daoist Priest want to change locations?"

"Mhm."

Candle Dragon stood up, the hem of his Daoist robe sweeping the floor. "This place is too noisy. It's uncomfortable to talk."

As he stepped forward, he deliberately bumped Taotao's shoulder, the action intimate yet natural.

Taotao understood, smiling as she took the Daoist Priest's arm, her tail wrapping around his wrist, tightening in circles like a pink ribbon.

"Daoist Priest, follow me~"

As the two walked toward the private room, Candle Dragon's gaze swept over the gyrating figures in the dance floor, showing no lingering attachment whatsoever.

His Divine Sense was entirely focused on the Succubus beside him. His thumb occasionally brushed the tail wrapped around him, and watching Taotao blush and glare at him, he found it immensely amusing.

The private room door closed, blocking the music outside, and it instantly became much quieter.

Just as Taotao was about to turn around, Candle Dragon pinned her against the wall. The force was moderate. The sleeve of his Daoist robe slipped down, revealing his arm where the pattern of dragon scales faintly appeared.

It happened so fast it was dazzling, seeming like a momentary illusion.

"Daoist Priest."

Candle Dragon lowered his head, his nose almost touching her forehead, looking into her misty, watery eyes.

[He felt that this trip to Yin Street was worth it.]

"Play is play," his index finger traced Taotao's lips, his tone warning yet mixed with teasing, "but don't try any tricks."

Taotao was startled by the flash of golden light in the Daoist Priest's eyes, then nodded with a smile, the tip of her tail rubbing against his wrist. "Don't worry~ Taotao is very obedient~"

Candle Dragon said no more, lowering his head to kiss her... Inside the Jiaotai Palace, Shang Wan Ning was frowning at the Realm Map.

"The energy fluctuations in the Source Realm are getting stronger." She tapped the area representing the Source Realm.

"Xiao Si, can you determine which Gods have awakened?"

Xiao Si: "Not yet. The Source Realm's shielding is too strong. We can only detect the approximate location, but not specifically who it is."

Shang Wan Ning rubbed her glabella. The unease in her heart grew heavier. The awakening of the Immortals and Gods of the Source Realm would definitely not be as simple as just waking up.

Having slept for a thousand years, when they wake up and see the current structure of the Mercury Plane, they might very well cause trouble.

"Keep a close watch," she instructed.

"Inform me immediately if there is any movement."

"Understood, great host."

Five days later, the light and shadow of the Realm Map flowed across Shang Wan Ning's fingertips. The Secretary-General was still analyzing the Source Realm's energy fluctuations.

The palace door was slammed open with a "bang," and a figure stumbled in.

Shang Wan Ning looked up, her pupils contracting.

It was the White-Haired Loli, Chen Yu. But her face... was swollen and shiny, covered in blue and purple bruises, her eyes squeezed into two narrow slits, and the corners of her mouth were cracked and bleeding. She looked nothing like her original self.

If not for the unique Yin Energy fluctuations characteristic of a Prefecture City God emanating from her, Shang Wan Ning and Ling Qi would never have recognized her.

(ﾟ⊿ﾟ)ﾂ

"A-Yu?" Shang Wan Ning's gaze darkened. "Which Underworld God's incense offerings did you fail to pay, to be beaten like this?"

She stood up. "Ox-Head and Horse-Face, or Black and White Impermanence, or even Sister Meng?"

Chen Yu's mouth moved, only letting out a hissing "Ah ah." The pain made her gasp sharply.

The intermittent voice transmission smashed into Shang Wan Ning's Sea of Consciousness: "The God... who dined and dashed... at... Meise Bar... beat me..."

"Five consecutive days... deluxe package... Taotao, Lili, Lulu... ordered them all... didn't pay..."

Shang Wan Ning froze.

[???]

The system's mechanical voice cut in, completely flat: "Host, analysis: Target is an awakened individual from the Source Realm, using a Tier 6 Clone. Energy threshold is below the alert line."

"Shield and Firing Range determination: Non-urgent threat."

Shang Wan Ning pinched her glabella, speechless.

[What unique taste! The moment the Source Realm door cracked open, instead of causing trouble, he goes and patronizes a Succubus???]

[And the hermaphroditic kind?]

[Truly, absurdity's mother opened the door for absurdity—it's reached peak absurdity.]

She waved her hand, transferring a wisp of pure Divine Power to stabilize Chen Yu's injuries. "Where is He?"

"Wuwu X﹏X, after... after beating me... He ran..." Chen Yu's voice transmission was laced with sobs; her face hurt even more.

"Investigate."

Shang Wan Ning ordered the System, "Lock onto all recent high-energy anomalies, cross-reference with Meise consumption records. Dig three feet deep and drag Him out."

Xiao Si jumped out with a strong sense of presence, and the data stream on the Light Screen rolled rapidly. "Understood, receiving instructions~"