The forest around Serpent Bloom Peak rustled with unnatural stillness. Moonlight filtered through misty branches, catching on silvered blades and crimson robes. Shen Mo moved with a predator's grace, eyes glowing faintly red, aura cloaked by a stealth technique granted by his system.
> [>] Quest Active: Hunt Before Hunted Objective: Eliminate the Lotus Inquisition Agent Reward: Shadow Lotus Step Technique + 500 Yin Qi Failure Penalty: Sect suspicion level +30%
He tracked the intruder from afar. A figure in black, masked and silent, moved like a ghost between trees. They had likely witnessed his conquest of Elder Yan Mei—or worse, reported it.
But Shen Mo was no fool.
He struck when the moon hit its apex.
Shadow clashed with shadow.
The masked agent spun with a dagger, but Shen Mo met the blade barehanded, redirecting it with demonic chi. His fingers jabbed into the figure's side, disabling meridians.
The mask fell.
A woman.
Wide eyes. Soft lips. Young. Pretty.
"Who sent you?" he demanded, pressing his knee against her chest.
She gasped. "Y-you don't understand… they're coming…"
> [>] Interrogation Success Secret Revealed: Multiple Inquisitors en route. Time window: 3 days Optional Objective Unlocked: Break the Inquisition
"Give me your name."
"…Fei Lian."
He stared at her. The girl was trembling, not from pain—but excitement. Her thighs rubbed together involuntarily beneath him.
He smirked.
"You enjoy being dominated?"
"N-no… I—"
Her words choked off as he pressed harder against her core.
> [>] Seduction Opportunity Detected: Fei Lian Affinity: Unknown (Mixed fear and arousal) Success unlocks: Lotus Seal Override Token
He leaned down, licking her neck.
"You were spying on me. You watched me fuck Elder Yan Mei, didn't you?"
She whimpered. "Y-yes..."
He pulled her robes apart.
"No more hiding."
Her breasts spilled out—pale, perky, trembling. He tore the rest of her outfit off and slid his fingers down her soaked slit.
"You're drenched. Lying little spy."
He plunged two fingers inside, then a third. She writhed beneath him.
"Ahhh! N-not there!"
He replaced fingers with cock.
Fei Lian screamed as he pushed deep into her, pinning her to the forest floor. Each thrust shook her small frame.
She begged. Moaned. Clawed at his arms.
He bit her shoulder.
She came. Violently.
> [>] Bond Established: Fei Lian (Infiltrator Tier) Reward Unlocked: Lotus Seal Override Token x1 Skill Acquired: Silent Bloom Step (Rank 2 Movement)
He pulled out, coating her belly with his final spurt.
Fei Lian lay panting, body twitching with aftershocks.
"I... belong to you now…"
Shen Mo stood and dressed.
"You're going to help me hunt the others."
She nodded weakly.
---
Two nights later.
At the edge of the inner sect, Shen Mo and Fei Lian met under a crimson lantern tree. She wore a thin silk robe, collar marked with his personal yin-seal. He traced her cheek with his fingers.
"Where's the next target?"
She bit her lip.
"There's a female inquisitor embedded in the Pill Pavilion. She suspects Elder Xue Yuelan. If she's exposed… your whole harem may collapse."
> [>] New Target Acquired: Inquisitor Han Yuerin Disguise: Pill Pavilion Master Assistant Affinity: Cold – Judgmental Risk Level: Critical
He turned his eyes to the distant alchemy halls.
Time to burn another bloom.
The Crimson Lotus would not stop blooming until every petal was soaked in sex, sin… and power.