"Very well."
Morpheus agreed readily, and Yinghua let out a sigh of relief. He'd been worried about how to explain a refusal to his master, but Morpheus's swift acceptance eased his mind.
His smile grew more genuine.
"When would you be available, sir? I'll report back to my master now."
"Now works."
Morpheus stepped forward, grabbed Yinghua's shoulder, and cast a teleportation spell.
In an instant, they left Tokyo and arrived at Luo Hao's lair.
Mount Lu, a place of towering ridges and shifting peaks, its true face obscured to those within its embrace.
This was where Luo Hao lived in seclusion, deep within the mountain in a modest hermitage, shunning outsiders.
Save for her disciple, Yinghua, she rarely met anyone.
Trespassers risked death at the hands of this narcistic woman.
Of course, her sect's disciples could see her.
But they'd pay a steep price afterward.
Those who saw her face had to blind themselves; those who heard her voice had to destroy their eardrums.
Among the current Campiones, Luo Hao's fearsome reputation rivaled Marquis Voban's.
"Whoa, this is Mount Lu...?"
Yinghua blinked, finding himself transported from modern Tokyo to a dense, ancient forest. Recognizing the surroundings, he confirmed it was Mount Lu.
He was all too familiar with this place.
"Lead the way."
Suppressing his shock, Yinghua obediently guided Morpheus through a narrow forest path into the heart of Mount Lu.
There, nestled among the peaks, stood an ancient hermitage.
As Yinghua approached with Morpheus, he dropped to his knees, clasped his fists, and called out, "Master, your disciple Yinghua requests an audience."
Seconds later, a clear, melodious voice echoed from within.
"Didn't I send you to invite the one who slew my enemy? Why are you back so soon? Don't tell me you haven't even set out."
The voice grew cold, laced with menace, making Yinghua tremble.
He hurriedly replied, "Master, I've brought your guest!"
"What?"
Surprised, Luo Hao opened the hermitage's door and stepped out.
She saw her disciple and the man standing behind him.
Morpheus, in turn, observed the ancient Campione.
Like Voban, Luo Hao was over two hundred years old. But unlike the white-haired Voban, time had left no mark on her.
Despite her age, she appeared as a stunning beauty of seventeen or eighteen.
Draped in a flowing white robe, her silky black hair was styled in three braids.
Every gesture exuded natural charm, captivating and mesmerizing.
Morpheus had seen many beautiful woman but few could match Luo Hao.
Perhaps only Medusa could rival her.
Her beauty transcended humanity, rivaling that of a goddess.
No wonder she was so confident, even narcissistic.
She had every right to be.
Upon seeing Morpheus, Luo Hao was startled. She hadn't sensed his arrival. Even now, seeing him with her eyes, her senses registered nothing.
It was as if he were a phantom.
"No wonder you defeated Voban," She impressed by Morpheus's stealth.
Morpheus laughed. "I heard you wanted to share wine with me?"
"But compared to my strength, I'd say your beauty outshines all."
Luo Hao let out a soft huff. "A smooth-talking rogue."
Despite her words, her eyes betrayed a flicker of delight.
From anyone else, such words might mark them as a lecher.
But from the man who killed Voban, it was high praise, and Luo Hao was pleased.
Her "rogue" comment was mere playful chiding.
Yinghua, witnessing this, lowered his head. He'd never seen his master like this.
Could this supremely narcissistic woman be thawing, blossoming at last?
Was he about to gain a master-in-law?
Bang!
The next moment, Yinghua was sent flying.
His slight malice hadn't escaped his master. With an outsider present, Luo Hao refrained from a full beating, delivering only a small lesson.
"You're dismissed."
Used to her blows, Yinghua spun 360 degrees in midair, landed on his knees, and said, "Yes, Master. I'll take my leave."
He scrambled up and staggered away.
Only Morpheus and Luo Hao remained.
Morpheus stepped forward, casting a spell to shape the earth. A table and two chairs rose from the ground.
Luo Hao impressed, "A fine trick."
"I think so too," Morpheus replied with a smile, inviting her to sit. He retrieved fine wine and delicacies from his Light Dimension.
"These are my thousand-year-aged wines. If you don't mind, shall we drink a few cups?"
"As I wished, yet dared not ask," Luo Hao sitting down. She sniffed a cup. "Truly fine wine. My collection pales in comparison."
Morpheus smiled. "If you like it, I'll gift you some."
With a wave, a pile of thousand-year brews appeared.
Luo Hao's curiosity piqued. "How do you do that?"
"I have my own dimension, akin to a Heaven or Hell, where I can manipulate time. A thousand years is but a snap of my fingers."
Realization dawned on Luo Hao. "So you're a god."
"Sort of, but not like the gods you know."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
If you want to read up to 50 chapters ahead, don't hesitate to visit our patron: pat reon . com / XElenea (removespace)