I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 217 Xiaoye's Love Affair Leads to the Imperial Palace's Arrest!

As Chen Mo uttered his thought, the Primal Essence on the panel rapidly dropped from 2000 to zero. Immediately afterwards, this vanished Primal Essence transformed into a wondrous chimera energy…

There's no need to modify your own body first; you can directly target the demonic fetus and begin the incorporation process.

The connection had barely begun when Chen Mo felt an unbearable pain. He let out a hysterical scream.

"what!"

A piercing scream echoed throughout the Red Moon Palace.

Chen Mo could no longer maintain his seated posture and rolled around on the ground, finally biting down on a piece of wood at the head of the bed. With a series of "crackling" sounds, a large chunk of the wooden bed was torn off by Chen Mo.

Even so, the pain still erupted and swept over us like a tidal wave, making it utterly unbearable.

Over the long period of time, Chen Mo had revised and deduced countless times, thinking he had seen his share of storms. Yet, he still greatly underestimated the pain of the chimeric demon fetus.

This kind of pain... it can really kill you!

It felt like every inch of bone and flesh was exploding.

Before long, blood began to seep from Chen Mo's skin pores, and conspicuous cracks appeared on his skin, with blood gushing out...

The system warning was quite dangerous, and it was indeed extremely frightening.

Although I look horrifying and am in unbearable pain right now.

But Chen Mo knew there was no turning back.

Moreover, he does not regret his choice.

For the long term, this plan is undoubtedly correct!
Click!

Chen Mo gritted his teeth, enduring it hysterically, and stubbornly held on.

"This is the path I chose, and no matter how bitter or painful it is, I will grit my teeth and keep going!"

And so, Chen Mo gritted his teeth and rolled on the ground...

I don’t know how long it took.

Chen Mo's consciousness was somewhat blurred, and his thoughts were not very clear. In his dazed state, he felt the pain in his body slowly dissipating.

He knew the chimera should be ending soon and he really wanted to open his eyes to see what was going on.

Unfortunately, I was just too tired; it felt like all my energy had been drained.

Unable to open his eyes, he simply lay down on the ground to rest.

After a long while, he finally felt much better and slowly opened his eyes, seeing the familiar bedroom.

"The pain is finally over. This time it was so difficult."

He took a few deep breaths, and once he had regained some strength, he sat up cross-legged again. His cracked skin had mostly healed. There were no other obvious wounds on his body.

It's likely that the immortal body of a peak-level drought demon possesses terrifying regenerative abilities.

Open the panel.

[The chimeric magic fetus is successful. 】

Current chimerism progress: 1/10000

[Hint 1: You have obtained a drop of demonic blood within you, and have initially gained its power. If you activate the demonic blood, your abilities will be greatly enhanced.]

[Tip 2: The demonic blood is highly corrosive to your body and mind; once activated, this corrosive effect will accelerate.]

[Hint 3: The demonic fetus is not dead yet; it is still developing.]

[Hint 4: The process of chimerism is the process of merging with the demonic fetus. As the chimerism progresses, the demonic fetus's resistance will become increasingly fierce. Once you are obliterated by its spirit, you will die.]

Every step is dangerous. Good luck.

Upon seeing the last line of text, Chen Mo was utterly speechless.

Good luck……

This is the first time such a thing has happened to Golden Finger.

It seems I'm really in danger, which is why the golden finger came out to comfort and encourage me?
Chen Mo gave a helpless, bitter smile.

However, he was not one to mince words, and immediately changed his mind, "Let me check the demonic blood within my body."

He opened his inner vision and circulated the power within his body. He immediately sensed a drop of black blood in his blood vessels.

The drop of black blood had already transferred from the demonic fetus into its own body.

Moreover, he had long since ceased to be human; the blood within him was the purple life force of a zombie. Surprisingly… he couldn't fuse with this drop of demonic blood. Instead, it seemed to be turning black from the demonic blood.

"Just a drop of demonic blood, and it's already so monstrous. It's vaguely trying to blacken and assimilate the zombie blood all over my body. Luckily, the golden finger's interlocking function is mediating, otherwise I'm afraid I would have been blackened by the demonic blood long ago."

"I already know what zombies and ghosts are. I also have a general understanding of what demons are. But I don't know what this demon is. Activating demon blood can greatly enhance one's abilities. I'd like to try it, but activating demon blood is dangerous. I'll hold off for now."

Chen Mo resisted the urge to unleash his demonic blood.

Although he was very curious about what a demon was, the risk was too great, and it wasn't necessary.

Moreover, the inlay process has already begun. Sooner or later, I will become a demon.

There's no need to rush this.

With this in mind, Chen Mo gathered his thoughts and activated his ghost and zombie cultivation techniques. He was indeed stuck at the peak of the Bright King Realm, unable to break through in a short time.

However, the crimson moonlight within the Red Moon Mirror remains vast and powerful, providing a continuous supply.

"It's clear that breaking through the barrier to the Martial Arts Grandmaster level doesn't depend on a lack of Red Moon Essence, but on other things. There's no point in me staying here any longer; I should leave Red Moon Palace for now."

Chen Mo stood up and looked at the familiar bedroom. After entering the living room, he saw the chair his godmother had sat in when telling him stories, and the drum stool he had sat on. His godmother's image involuntarily flashed through his mind again.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, and my eyes welled up with tears.

These few peaceful days in this life have vanished just like that. They can never be brought back.

Chen Mo vaguely remembered that when he first came here, he was trembling with fear, afraid that his godmother would harm him and kill him. At that time, Chen Mo desperately wanted to leave this place.

Now, Chen Mo doesn't want to leave.

He stood there in a daze for a long time before walking out of the living room. Then, standing at the doorway, he bowed deeply to the chair where his godmother had once sat.

……

When he returned to reality, Chen Mo opened his eyes.

I saw the bedroom in the Jiang family mansion.

Blue gauze curtains and cotton quilts. Beside her sat a woman in a purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hands clasped, her pretty face cool and aloof as she gazed out the window, her clear eyes revealing deep worry.

Her long hair fell down.

It gives people a sense of tranquility and peace.

Chen Mo looked down and saw a fair, jade-like hand tightly gripping his right hand. The touch was silky smooth and incredibly delicate.

The departure of his godmother left Chen Mo feeling extremely sad and lonely, but this hand offered him a little bit of warmth.

Chen Mo turned his hand around and, with a slight force, grasped that hand.

Ok?
Nangong Ye realized something and turned around abruptly, only to find that Chen Mo had already woken up. His face lit up with joy, "Young Master, you're awake! Are you feeling unwell?"

Chen Mo shook his head. "I'm fine. By the way, Xiao Ye, how long has it been?"

Nangong Ye glanced at the sky outside. "Only about 15 minutes have passed. Jiang Yan came to see you just now and called you 'little brother,' so she must genuinely care about you, young master..."

She recounted what had just happened in detail.

As Chen Mo listened, he pondered: Only two quarters of an hour outside? Yet inside the Red Moon Palace, it felt like ten years had passed. He didn't even feel hungry inside. This Red Moon Mirror is truly too mysterious. If I were to frequently go inside to cultivate… what would become of me?

One day outside is equivalent to more than ten years inside?
Who can stand this?
The mirror my godmother gave me wasn't some kind of treasure at all; it was clearly just another cheat code.

However, upon further reflection, Chen Mo realized something else: even after possessing the Crimson Moon Mirror for so many years, his godmother hadn't been able to break through the limits of a Martial Arts Grandmaster. This showed that the Martial Arts Grandmaster was the pinnacle of this world, and something must be binding it. Simply accumulating time wouldn't be enough.

Fortunately, I haven't reached the level of a martial arts grandmaster yet, so I don't need to worry about this issue for the time being.

and many more……

Chen Mo suddenly realized something, immediately released Nangong Ye's hand, and sat cross-legged on the bed.

Nangong Ye thought Chen Mo had encountered some difficulty, so he immediately asked with concern, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

Chen Mo didn't hide anything: "I felt like more than ten years had passed inside the Red Moon Mirror, and I even cultivated inside. I remember reaching the Great Perfection of the Bright King Realm inside. I don't know if things will be different outside, so I'm giving it a try."

Nangong Ye: "..."

Even as the head of the Demon Suppression Division, she was quite surprised by Chen Mo's words. However, having been to the Red Moon Palace before and knowing its contents, she wasn't too astonished. After a short while, she recovered and, instead of disturbing Chen Mo, used her spiritual sense to survey the surroundings, acting as a lookout and protector for him.

Chen Mo examined his own body internally.

The natal incense burner in my sea of ​​consciousness is indeed purple.

The nine sticks of the Great Perfection Purple Natal Incense were still burning brightly. Even the nine zombie markings were purple. Even the drop of demonic blood within his body was still there.

Sure enough... the Red Moon Mirror is exactly the same as the outside.

The only downside was that there was still a demonic fetus the size of a broad bean moving around in Chen Mo's abdomen, seemingly a bit angry, and much more intense than before.

Fortunately, with the help of the cheat system, as long as I don't activate the drop of demonic blood within me, there shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief and finished his work.

Nangong Ye then asked, "How is it?"

Chen Mo nodded: "It's exactly the same situation we encountered in the Red Moon Palace. The situation inside is exactly the same as the situation outside. There's no difference whatsoever."

Nangong Ye nodded slightly: "This Red Moon Mirror is truly magical. Jiang Hongyue gave such an important item to you, young master, which means she really treats you like her own son."

Chen Mo had just said "That's right" when he shut up.

In an instant, an overwhelming sense of sadness and reluctance welled up in my heart.

Nangong Ye noticed Chen Mo's sorrow and said, "The deceased is gone. Jiang Hongyue had high hopes for you, young master. Don't give up on yourself. You should accept Jiang Hongyue's expectations and continue to walk forward with strength. If your godmother knew how sad you were, she would be heartbroken even in the afterlife."

Chen Mo wiped his eyes. "I know."

Nangong Ye breathed a sigh of relief, then nestled her head on Chen Mo's shoulder and whispered, "Besides, you are not alone, young master. I will stay by your side. If you have any troubles, just tell me. I am willing to share them with you."

Looking at the person in his arms, even a fool would understand what was going on.

Chen Mo was indeed lonely and sad at this moment, and he felt that Nangong Ye's warmth was like a timely gift in the snow, which was extremely rare. Without hesitation, he put his arm around Nangong Ye's slender waist and said, "I know Xiao Ye's feelings. However, I am not human. I have abandoned my human body. Aren't you afraid that I will scare you?"

Nangong Ye's waist stiffened slightly, but quickly relaxed. He said softly, "What's so good about being human in this world? Human hearts are more venomous than ghosts. It's better to be a zombie or a ghost. As long as you treat me sincerely, I will treat you sincerely in return. I don't care if you're human or a ghost."

Chen Mo felt much warmer upon hearing this. "Xiao Ye is the head of the Great Qian Demon Suppression Division. He was born to slay demons and eliminate evil. If one day Xiao Ye were to draw his sword against his elder brother because of his stance, what should we do?"

Nangong Ye said, "If that day ever comes, I will no longer be this head of the household. But you, young master, are a zombie. What if you want to eat human flesh and drink human blood and bite me?"

Chen Mo suddenly laughed, "If there really is such a time when I lose control, it means that I have lost my humanity. In that case, life would be worse than death. Then I have no reason to live. I should go down and find my godmother first."

Nangong Ye suddenly raised his head and stared at Chen Mo in front of him.

Chen Mo also stared at Nangong Ye, their eyes meeting.

Nangong Ye suddenly raised her slender right index finger and pressed it against Chen Mo's lips: "Young Master, you mustn't talk nonsense. That day will never come. I promised Jiang Hongyue that I would take good care of you. I will never let you lose control."

Chen Mo wanted to say it was impossible, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

He didn't know what the future held.

Although it has a cheat code, it's not omnipotent and can't eliminate all risks.

Just as Chen Mo was stunned, Nangong Ye suddenly leaned in and kissed him, then quickly turned away, saying somewhat shyly, "This is my first kiss, which I offer to you, my lord. You have taken such a good deal from me, so you must take responsibility. Therefore, even if you have a demonic fetus inside you and are a zombie, you cannot give up on yourself. I hope you will always remember that there are people in this world you care about."

Chen Mo felt the lingering fragrance on his lips and pursed his lips: "I know. This is also my first kiss in this world. Xiao Ye, you didn't lose out."

Nangong Ye was taken aback: "Why did you add this world?"

Chen Mo chuckled and said, "It's nothing."

After saying that, Chen Mo got out of bed, stood up, and took Nangong Ye's hand: "Let's go see our godmother."

The usually aloof and unrestrained Nangong Ye became somewhat shy at this moment and nodded: "Mm."

The two left the bedroom and went to the ancestral hall next door again.

Upon entering the hall, I saw Xiao Bei playing alone in the courtyard. He seemed unaware that Jiang Hongyue was dead, or perhaps he knew but didn't care much. He was simply preoccupied with his play.

When Chen Mo arrived at the entrance of the hall, he heard Jiang Yan and Jiang Shuihan sobbing inside.

He went in, cupped his hands in greeting to the two women, and said, "Sister Jiang Yan, Brother Shui Han."

The two immediately stopped crying, turned around and saw Chen Mo. They then came up to greet him.

Although Jiang Yan was dressed in a phoenix robe, she did not have the air of an empress. Instead, she held Chen Mo's hand affectionately and gently stroked his cheek: "Auntie is gone. From now on, it will be just the three of us siblings managing this household. Xiao Mo, you don't need to be a stranger. Just treat me as your own sister. If you need anything, just ask. I, Jiang Yan, will definitely treat you like my own brother."

Jiang Shuihan also expressed his opinion: "From now on, I, Jiang Shuihan, will have a younger brother. Although I am a few years older than you, you don't need to be a stranger. Just call me Brother Shui."

Perhaps because Jiang Hongyue had given instructions, the two of them truly did not treat Chen Mo as an outsider.

This warmed Chen Mo's heart.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Yan asked, "Xiao Mo, you were the closest person to your aunt when she was alive. Now that your aunt has passed away, your sister is thinking of keeping the news a secret to avoid the royal family finding out and causing trouble for the Jiang family. But your aunt still needs to be buried. Xiao Mo, do you have any ideas?"

Chen Mo walked to the red coffin, carefully looking at his godmother's peaceful face, and after a long while, he spoke: "People believe in returning to their roots. My godmother merged with the Red Moon Mirror in this ancestral hall and embarked on an extraordinary path. I thought it would be good to seal my godmother's body in this coffin and then place it in the ancestral hall."

Chen Mo originally wanted to cremate his godmother's body, but he couldn't bear to.

After discussing it for a while, Jiang Yan and Jiang Shuihan finally agreed.

Finally, Jiang Yan spoke up: "My aunt instructed me before that after she left, Xiao Mo should place her aunt's hand on your abdomen. Xiao Mo, go now. I will seal the coffin later."

Jiang Yan didn't know why Jiang Hongyue made such an arrangement, but she figured it must have a purpose.

Meanwhile, Nangong Ye looked at Chen Mo with anticipation. She knew why... because Jiang Hongyue wanted to take away the demonic fetus inside Chen Mo.

However, to Nangong Ye's surprise, Chen Mo refused: "No need. Just seal the coffin."

Unaware of the situation, Jiang Yan and Jiang Shuihan didn't think anything of it and were about to seal the coffin.

"Wait a minute." Nangong Ye called out to stop, then pulled Chen Mo out of the ancestral hall and whispered, "Young master, what is the reason for this? Jiang Hongyue told me before that you have a demonic fetus inside you. Moreover, it is the demonic fetus that has gone through thirty-six lifetimes. Jiang Hongyue is doing this because she feels sorry for you and wants to take that demonic fetus to the underworld."

Chen Mo was stunned, not expecting his godmother to have told Nangong Ye such a secret.

It seems that the godmother highly approves of Nangong Ye.

With this in mind, Chen Mo didn't hide anything and told everyone what he had done at the Red Moon Palace. Of course, Chen Mo didn't mention that he had a cheat ability.

Nangong Ye was greatly surprised when he heard this, "You've started to fuse with that demonic fetus?"

Chen Mo said, "Hmm." Nangong Ye's face turned pale: "Are you crazy? How terrifying is that demonic fetus? Even Jiang Hongyue couldn't do anything about it..."

Chen Mo's eyes hardened: "I'm not crazy, on the contrary, I'm perfectly rational. This demonic fetus drove my godmother to her death twice. I don't want to follow in her footsteps! After all, this is a twin demon; besides the demonic fetus inside me, there's another one in Shou Kang Palace. If I don't do something, when the demonic entity in Shou Kang Palace erupts in the future, I will become the next godmother."

My godmother has protected me her whole life; now it's time for me to step up and do something myself.

Nangong Ye stared at Chen Mo for a long time, and finally his eyes revealed a look of appreciation and admiration.

She didn't refute anything, only saying, "Young Master has understood responsibility and commitment. He has begun to walk his own path. Since Young Master has made his decision, I support him. If we can resolve these twin demons, there will be hope for the Great Qian Dynasty."

Chen Mo nodded: "What I'm doing has nothing to do with the Great Qian Dynasty. I just want to protect the people I care about. Besides, I don't want to die."

Chen Mo returned to the living room and, together with the other three, sealed Jiang Hongyue's coffin. They then placed it under the incense table beside it. Without notifying anyone else, the four of them bowed before Jiang Hongyue's coffin and offered incense. That was considered the funeral.

After everything was finished, Jiang Yan said, "Xiao Mo, I have to hurry back to the palace. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty will have objections."

"Sister Jiang Yan, be careful."

"I understand. From now on, you will be the young master of the Jiang family. If you need cultivation resources, just ask your brother Shui. If you encounter any difficulties, you can send someone to the palace to inform your sister." Jiang Yan gave a long list of instructions before hurriedly leaving.

Jiang Shuihan said, "I've had the East Courtyard cleaned up, and from now on, Xiao Mo, you'll live there. However, I plan to keep your identity as the young master a secret for now, to avoid being targeted if others find out. Xiao Mo, you still need to focus on cultivation and increasing your own power is the most important thing. I still have some follow-up matters to handle, so I'll stay in the Central Courtyard. You can contact me anytime if you need anything. I'll come to the East Courtyard to have lunch with you later."

"Brother Shui, please get back to your work."

After seeing Jiang Shuihan off, only Chen Mo and Nangong Ye remained in the large ancestral hall.

Chen Mo knelt on the prayer mat in front of the red coffin for a long time, until Xiao Yuan came to report that the East Courtyard had been prepared and was ready for occupancy. Only then did Chen Mo stand up and walk out of the ancestral hall with Nangong Ye.

In the eastern sky, golden clouds shimmered as a red sun slowly rose.

The sun has risen.

The golden rays of the sunset shone on Chen Mo and Nangong Ye, casting two long, narrow shadows on the ground.

……

The east courtyard is very large.

It was bigger than any courtyard Chen Mo had ever lived in before.

However, only Xiao Yuan was serving him. Perhaps Jiang Shuihan had arranged this on purpose to keep it a secret.

Although Xiaoyuan is a woman and quite young, she is very skilled. She is efficient, attentive, and not talkative. She's very easy to use.

Nangong Ye stayed there until nearly noon, and seeing that Chen Mo's emotions were relatively stable, he then said goodbye.

"I still have many things to attend to at the Demon Suppression Division, so I'll take my leave now. I'll come to visit you another day, young master. If you have time, you are welcome to come to the Demon Suppression Division to see me anytime."

And so, Chen Mo was left all alone in the East Courtyard.

He sat in the armchair under the eaves, quietly watching the sun rise from the east and then slowly move to its zenith.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Having been in the capital for less than two days, he became the young master of the Jiang family mansion. Logically, this was an incredibly prestigious position, something most people could only dream of their entire lives. However, Chen Mo couldn't feel any joy in his heart.

At noon, Jiang Shuihan rushed over and saw that Chen Mo was in low spirits. He took the initiative to comfort him: "Xiao Mo, are you getting used to the place? If you need anything, just tell Xiao Yuan. Don't be shy, or I, as your older brother, will be unhappy."

Chen Mo stood up and said, "Brother Shui, you're too kind. I'm quite comfortable here."

Jiang Shuihan had Xiaoyuan prepare lunch and brought it to the living room. She then sat down facing Chen Mo, urging him to eat, and began to chat: "Our Jiang family isn't like those princes and nobles; we don't have so many complicated rules. We're all martial artists, no need for formalities. I heard from Lord Nangong that Xiao Mo's family is in the capital?"

Upon hearing this, images of his family members flashed through Chen Mo's mind, and his heart warmed. He said, "Yes. I entrusted Lord Chen Kun to send my family to the capital a long time ago. I haven't been able to visit them yet, and I feel really guilty."

Jiang Shuihan said, "That's alright. If Xiao Mo is worried about her family being away, she can be brought to the Jiang family residence."

Chen Mo said, "This matter is not urgent. I will go back and take a look when I have time."

It's not that Chen Mo doesn't care about his family, but... would it really be safer to bring his family to the Jiang family mansion?
You see, Jiang Hongyue was killed after entering the palace. The royal family and Empress Dowager Xiao most likely know about her godmother's serious injuries. The Jiang family is currently in the eye of the storm. Xiaoyuer and the others are just ordinary people. If they get involved, they could die in an instant.

Jiang Shuihan clearly knew Chen Mo's thoughts and didn't press him: "Then you can decide for yourself, Xiao Mo. By the way, my Jiang family has a martial arts pavilion, an alchemy room, and an armory. They contain many treasures. If you have time, go and see if there's anything you need. If you encounter anything you don't understand, just come and ask me."

"Thank you, Brother Shui."

During the meal, Jiang Shuihan introduced him to many aspects of the Jiang family mansion.

There are no fewer than a dozen experts at the Mingwang realm.

There are five martial arts masters.

Jiang Yan, Jiang Shuihan, the manager of the Martial Arts Pavilion, the pharmacist of the alchemy room, and the blacksmith of the armory.

There are even more experts in the True Spirit Realm.

After hearing these words, Chen Mo had a clear understanding of the overall strength of the Jiang family.

That's really abnormal.

In fact, it's even stronger than the Great Qian Demon Suppression Division. After all, the Great Qian Demon Suppression Division doesn't seem to have any martial arts grandmasters. Is that Xiao Ye?

Chen Mo didn't know.

Faced with such a powerful and influential Jiang family, it would not be an easy task for the royal family and Empress Dowager Xiao to take action.

I felt a sense of relief.

After the meal, Jiang Shuihan continued with her work.

Chen Mo composed himself, knowing that now was not the time to be sad. He then left the East Courtyard.

He didn't go to the Martial Arts Pavilion, nor to the Armory or the Alchemy Room.

Without him.

Martial arts, elixirs, and even weapons are all meant to be used by people.

Chen Mo is no longer human.

I don't think I'll ever need it.

He went to the ancestral hall again and paid respects to his godmother. Then he lit three incense sticks for the ghost ship.

He vaguely remembered feeling a sense of mystery when he first saw the ghost ship, as if he had some kind of connection with it. Later, after absorbing and refining the Crimson Moon Mirror, his connection with the ghost ship became significantly stronger.

Chen Mo was eager to see what kind of deity even the Empress of Northern Liang worshipped.

As Chen Mo offered incense, he indeed discovered that the ghost ship and the Red Moon Mirror within his body had some kind of mysterious connection.

It's a very special feeling.

Just as Chen Mo was about to continue exploring further, he discovered that the sensation had stopped.

Eh?
what happened?

Is it because my cultivation level is not high enough? Is it because I cannot establish a clearer and more stable perception?

After much thought, this is the only possibility.

For the next three days, Chen Mo stayed in the east courtyard and did not leave the house.

Whenever he had free time, he would go to the Red Moon Palace and frantically absorb the red moonlight in a dreamlike environment, trying to break through to the realm of martial arts grandmaster.

Unfortunately, they were never able to take that final step.

Chen Mo estimated that he had probably been in the Red Moon Palace for more than ten or twenty years.

It still didn't work.

"It seems that breaking through the cultivation levels of the Corpse Ancestor's Undying Bones and the Ghost Emperor is not so simple."

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Mo had already become familiar with the unfamiliar Jiang family residence. Jiang Shuihan truly treated him like family, and Xiao Yuan was also very kind. Chen Mo was quite comfortable staying there. He hadn't heard of any movements from the palace during this time.

That morning, Chen Mo got up early.

The attempt to break through to the level of the Corpse Ancestor failed.

The attempt to become the Ghost Emperor failed.

Fortunately, he was already used to this kind of failure and didn't think much of it.

Xiao Yuan delivered breakfast as usual.

After washing up, Chen Mo said, "Xiao Yuan, I won't be having lunch at home today. I'm going out for a bit."

Xiao Yuan didn't ask for further explanation, only asking, "Do you need Xiao Yuan to accompany you?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment, "You're familiar with the capital. It would be good for you to show me the way."

Hearing that Chen Mo had agreed, Xiao Yuan was very happy and followed Chen Mo out of the Jiang family mansion.

The streets outside were still bustling with activity, teeming with people, wine flags fluttering everywhere, and the sounds of hawkers calling out their wares. Chen Mo first went to the Demon Suppression Bureau to ask for the address of the Chen residence, and then had Xiao Yuan lead the way. Before long, they arrived at the location of the Chen residence.

It was already noon.

Chen Mo stopped at the gate with Xiao Yuan and saw a maid carrying a bag of vegetables and fruits hurrying towards the Chen residence. The maid stopped abruptly upon seeing Chen Mo and then ran up to greet him.

"Second Young Master!"

Chen Mo nodded: "Qiu Lan, it's been a long time. You've become even more beautiful."

Qiu Lan was somewhat flustered and excitedly stammered, "Second Young Master, come in quickly. I'll go call someone."

As she spoke, Qiulan led Chen Mo through the gate and then shouted loudly, "The Second Young Master is back! The Second Young Master is back!"

Upon entering the Chen residence, Chen Mo saw old friends he hadn't seen in a long time.

Zhou Liang, Wei Heng, Liu Jiang, Ma Tie, and... Haitang.

Chen Mo was genuinely happy to see his old friend, feeling an indescribable sense of warmth. It was as if the world had become brighter.

He was very approachable, greeting everyone one by one with handshakes or hugs.

"Uncle Zhou."

"Wei Heng, Liu Jiang, Ma Tie."

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone was in high spirits, and the courtyard was filled with laughter.

Before long, Zhang Ru, the second mistress, came out. Upon seeing Chen Mo, she hurried over and grasped his hand tightly. "Second Young Master, you're finally back! For the past two years, Master and Madam have been talking about you every day. And Xiao Yu'er and Xiao Wu have been missing you terribly."

Seeing that his second aunt was in good health and looked radiant, Chen Mo felt relieved. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked, "Are Father and Mother here?"

Zhang Ru said, "The First Madam and Xiao Yu'er are here. They're in the courtyard. Second Young Master, please come with me."

Upon entering the central courtyard, Chen Mo saw his long-lost mother.

Although only two years had passed, Chen Mo clearly noticed that Lin Yulan's temples were turning gray, and half of her hair was white. The middle-aged woman she once was had aged considerably. When she saw Chen Mo, her steps were somewhat shaky as she quickly approached him.

"Erlang, I've missed you so much!" Lin Yulan rushed forward, hugged Chen Mo tightly, and cried her heart out. "I thought I would never see you again."

Chen Mo felt a pang of sadness, but mostly he was happy. He said, "I'm a grown man, I won't get lost."

"Mother knows you are very capable, but there are many ghosts and evil spirits in this world, and Mother is still worried. It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back," Lin Yulan said with tears in her eyes.

"Second brother!"

Just then, a girl's clear voice came from behind.

Chen Mo turned around abruptly and saw a pretty young girl wearing a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). She had her hair tied in a ponytail.

"You are... Little Fish?"

The girl rushed up, "Yes! Second brother hasn't come to see me for two years, he doesn't even recognize Xiaoyuer anymore."

Chen Mo released Lin Yulan, bent down and gently pinched Xiaoyuer's nose: "My Xiaoyuer has grown up so much, she's already a beauty. How could your second brother believe that the Xiaoyuer who only knew how to eat candied hawthorns has grown up like this?"

Chen Yuer blushed shyly: "Second Brother is always teasing people."

Lin Yulan then said, "Alright, stop standing there talking. Qiulan and Haitang, go prepare lunch. My second son is back today, so we need to prepare something lavish. Everyone in the manor is on holiday, so they can have a good meal."

Haitang agreed, "Okay, I'll go prepare right away. Qiulan, come and help me."

"Hmm."

Everyone went about their own business.

Lin Yulan then noticed Xiao Yuan beside Chen Mo. Seeing that Xiao Yuan had an extraordinary temperament and was beautiful and charming, she asked, "Second Brother, who is this girl?"

Before Chen Mo could speak, Xiao Yuan curtsied and said, "I am Xiao Yuan, the Second Young Master's personal maid."

She originally wanted to say "young master," but Jiang Shuihan had instructed her that Chen Mo's identity as the young master should not be revealed for the time being, so she changed her words.

Lin Yulan smiled and said, "You're really beautiful. Come in, everyone."

Everyone ushered Chen Mo into the living room. Zhang Ru personally made tea for everyone, and Lin Yulan took Chen Mo's hand and asked about his experiences over the past two years. Chen Mo naturally told the good stories, making it sound like a life filled with success and happiness.

After listening, Lin Yulan muttered, "Erlang only says nice things. I see you've gotten quite tanned; you must have suffered a lot outside."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "Men should endure some hardship. By the way, where is Father? Is he busy with business outside?"

From the moment he entered, Chen Mo noticed that the furnishings and decorations of the Chen residence were quite extraordinary, clearly indicating that his father was busy with business outside.

With Chen Yinfu's intellect, he was born to do business. In fact, he would find it easier to make the most of his talents in the capital.

Lin Yulan sighed: "Chen Wu got into a fight with some young masters at the martial arts school and injured someone. Your father went to apologize with some money. But he should be back soon."

Chen Mo was taken aback: "Chen Wu isn't an impulsive person. Since he's had a conflict with someone, it must be because the other party went too far. Do you know which family's young master it is?"

Lin Yulan said, "I heard he is the son of the Prefect."

Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture.

This is a high-ranking official in charge of a region, whose status is even higher than that of the Prince of Zhennan.

Chen Mo had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but thinking that his father was always meticulous in his work, he figured that if he went out to apologize, he should be able to handle things properly.

Before long, Haitang and Qiulan had prepared wine and dishes and brought them out to invite everyone to eat.

During mealtimes, everyone naturally enjoys themselves.

Chen Mo felt that he hadn't spent much time with his family in a long time and felt that he hadn't fulfilled his filial duty. So he urged his mother, Xiaoyuer, to eat more vegetables.

Just as they were finishing their meal, they heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Before anyone even entered the room, they heard a loud voice shouting.

"Madam, something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

Immediately after, a middle-aged martial arts master dressed as a guard rushed in, panting, "Madam, something terrible has happened. Earlier, I escorted Master and the Third Young Master to the Prefect's residence to apologize. The Prefect was quite understanding and didn't blame us. We met with the Prefect's son and apologized in person. The son didn't reprimand us either. But just as we turned to leave, the Prefect's son suddenly stood up, went mad, and died on the spot."

The prefect was furious, believing the third young master was responsible for his son's death. He immediately detained the third young master on charges of murder. The master pleaded in vain and was also beaten. I rushed back to report the news. At this moment, the third young master has already been taken to the Ministry of Justice prison. Moreover, people from the palace have arrived to take the third young master into the palace.

(End of this chapter)