11: I don't want soft armor; you're more useful right now.

This Foster Mother is quite interesting.

Gray rubbed his chin, starting to understand why Li had fallen for her. But at a time like this, he didn't need Tu Nan dragging them down. Since Li was already considering it, he had to seize the opportunity and finalize the deal.

"Alright, it's settled then."

"Get ready during the day. We'll meet at 7 PM by the River Valley, near the Red Sandlands."

"Tsk, I don't even know how I'm going to explain this to Fiona when I get back. She's been looking forward to that Soft Armor for a whole month."

"This isn't something Sand City can produce. Even the Archon's daughter might not have one..."

"That's your problem," Li interrupted his rambling impatiently.

"See you at 7."

He signaled Gray with his eyes to end the conversation.

***

The door was slammed shut, nearly hitting Gray's backside.

Standing at the door, he felt somewhat annoyed.

Even if he wasn't respected, couldn't the guy at least hide his disdain? He was the boss of the River Valley, after all! Taking a deep breath to hide the gloom in his eyes, he told himself to endure it for now.

Li's straightforward personality wasn't necessarily a bad thing... after all, he was capable enough. If he weren't, Gray wouldn't dare use him.

With the personnel arrangements for the evening finalized, Gray felt a bit more at ease.

To his surprise, when he returned to his room, Fiona was waiting for him in the living room.

"Is it done?" Fiona asked eagerly, appearing unusually anxious.

Gray snorted coldly. His sister never cared about the River Valley's affairs; she only showed up when she wanted something, clearly here to ensure she'd get her Soft Armor.

"Li agreed to go with us."

Gray decided to tell her about the Soft Armor now and give her a warning, lest she throw a tantrum later. If she caused trouble for Li in front of everyone, all the effort he'd put into Li would be wasted.

However, before he could speak...

"I don't know what that pauper has that's worth you visiting him in person. Since he lives in the River Valley, how does he dare disobey your orders?"

"Fiona!" Gray's face darkened.

Fiona had always been a useless brat with an arrogant attitude, which was partly Gray's fault for indulging her, but he would never allow her to actually cause him trouble.

"Shut up. I don't blame you for being a brainless fool, just keep your mouth shut when you're supposed to."

"Besides, a pauper?" Gray sneered. "You should really see that Chaotic Beast's home. I'd say even McCoy's room is only so-so in comparison."

Fiona was stunned for a moment.

McCoy—the Garrison Commander of Sand City, a Colonel, and from a minor noble background. She had been to McCoy's house with Gray, though she had never entered his private room.

But... "How is that possible? I went to see them right after they arrived. Hmph, they had nothing."

"That Foster Mother of his is also low-grade trash." Fiona didn't believe for a second that the Foster Mother could be living a good life.

"Foster Mother." Gray thought of that Female Beast.

"He raises his Foster Mother on pulu fruits like they're nothing," a flash of greed crossed his eyes. "A whole plate for her to eat as she pleases."

"And those clothes, the dishes..."

"In short, that Foster Mother is living a life you can't even imagine."

He glanced sideways at his foolish sister.

"If you could find a capable sucker willing to support you like that, would I still need to worry about you?"

He didn't want to talk to his short-sighted sister any longer.

"By the way, I've promised that Soft Armor to Li as his reward for this mission."

Fiona's eyes widened.

"My Soft Armor!" she roared. "How could you give my Soft Armor to him?"

"Shut up. Yours? It's mine!"

"I'll give it to whoever I want. Telling you at all is doing you a favor."

Gray waved her off impatiently.

"Stop badmouthing Li. He's someone I'll need later. This matter is settled."

"! You're breaking your word! You promised Father you'd take care of me!" This was always Fiona's ultimate weapon against Gray.

After her outburst, she kicked over a chair and stormed out.

"If you dare ruin my plans, don't blame me for locking you up myself," Gray's sinister voice trailed after her.

Gray was serious.

Fiona knew Gray better than anyone else; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to act so overbearingly in the River Valley for twenty years.

Realizing there was no room for negotiation, she actually calmed down. Her frantic pace slowed until she came to a halt.

She wasn't willing to let it go!

Gritting her teeth in thought for a moment, she stomped her foot and walked back into Gray's room with her head held high.

"I'm going tonight too!"

"I don't care. If you don't let me go, I'll start making trouble right now..."

Under Gray's unfriendly gaze, she stiffened her neck and looked away. "I want to see for myself just how powerful he is and if he's worth my Soft Armor."

Gray studied her for a long while and sneered.

"Fine..."

He leaned back into the sofa, thought for a moment, and looked at Fiona again.

"You really should go."

***

Meanwhile, Tu Nan and Li were far from reaching a consensus.

It was the first time Li realized Tu Nan could be so disobedient.

"Let go."

Tu Nan gripped his cloak tightly, preventing him from packing it into his bag.

"That Soft Armor, I know about it." Li thought she was just ignorant of its value and explained patiently, "It's a specialty of the Sea Soul Star. They only have things like that because the Females are in charge there."

"It's very soft and form-fitting."

"The true value of this thing is definitely higher; this trip will be worth it."

She pursed her lips tightly and just kept shaking her head, stubbornly refusing to let go.

Li was unusually talkative, but this Female Beast was being far too ungrateful. He had already promised Gray; could he really go back on his word now?

"Let go."

Seeing that much time had already been wasted, he impatiently drew his Scimitar. A flash of light passed before Tu Nan's eyes, and the corner of the fabric was severed.

Tu Nan stumbled back two steps, her eyes wide as she stared at the fabric in her hand. Suddenly, she buried her face in her palms and began to sob piteously.

Li's footsteps as he prepared to leave halted.

The rustling of fabric came from behind him, followed by Tu Nan's tearful voice.

"Lord Li."

She hadn't used that title in a long time. Tu Nan seemed to have reverted to the stage of their first meeting—timid, distant, and only remembering her status.

"I am the Foster Mother you bought, costing you sixty thousand currency."

Her voice was very low, but it reached Li's ears with exceptional clarity.

"Do you intend to just abandon me like this?" Her words were almost an interrogation.

"I don't understand anything, but I can guess... Gray came to invite you personally... and promised such a high reward. This is definitely... definitely... very dangerous..."

Her voice began to tremble, her forced composure shattering, and her tearful tone could no longer be hidden.

Veins bulged on Li's hand as he gripped the doorknob.

"I am not worthy of advising you. But... if it must be so, then please use me..."

"I beg of you... my injuries have healed."

"Let me fulfill my duties as a Foster Mother."

"Let me leave a Bloodline for you."

Li dropped his bag and turned around, walking toward her aggressively.

Tu Nan's outer robe lay scattered at her feet. The frail Female Beast wore only her undergarments, standing before him almost naked like an unopened white flower.

The nutritional supplements of the past half-month had shown significant results; her skin was no longer deathly pale, but instead had a faint, delicate pink hue.

She was indeed crying, her eyes and the tip of her nose all red.

Female Beasts were truly the most troublesome creatures in the world, and Foster Mothers were no different.

Li thought fiercely to himself, but his movements were gentle.

Picking up the clothes from the floor, he silently wrapped Tu Nan up and carried her to the bed, tucking her under the covers. In his eyes, this Female who had suddenly erupted seemed even more petite and in need of protection.

Li spent a long time organizing his thoughts, but in the end, he only left a stiff sentence: "I'm leaving."

He rubbed Tu Nan's head awkwardly.

He didn't look back again, striding out the door without hesitation.