Hearing Chen Mo's words, Yun Yun frowned slightly and scolded softly, "I am still a Dou Huang expert, not some weak woman without the strength to even truss a chicken."
"I won't let you leave my side," Chen Mo said as he walked closer and sat on the edge of the bed. The next instant, he reached out and pulled Yun Yun into his arms.
"I'm currently lacking powerful allies. I plan to establish a group called the Phoenix Guard, and I want you to be its commander."
Yun Yun's face flushed crimson. She tried to push herself free, but her body was still injured, and his grip was firm. With no other choice, she said weakly,
"You already have… Queen Medusa by your side. I… I can't really help you with anything."
"You can help me. And besides, don't you already know my feelings for you?" Chen Mo said, gently pushing Yun Yun back slightly. His gaze locked with hers until her face turned even redder.
"Sister Yun Yun, you once said that the next time we met, you would tell me your true feelings. That time has come."
Yun Yun's mind flashed back to the day she left the Nalan estate—when she told him that if they met again, she would reveal her heart. She had already made up her mind back then… but she hadn't expected things to unfold like this.
Her gaze wavered slightly before she spoke softly, "Although I don't hate you… I am still the Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect. Even if the Yunlan Sect no longer exists, that identity remains."
Chen Mo's expression darkened slightly. He could sense that Yun Yun did not resent him, yet he had killed Yun Shan and indirectly destroyed the Yunlan Sect. With Yun Yun's special status, she could not simply ignore the world's judgment and remain at his side.
"With my position, I should have done everything in my power to avenge the Yunlan Sect and you… but you know I can't bring myself to harm you. So it's better that I leave." Her gentle voice carried a faint sadness, like an orchid's fragrance in the air.
"I won't let you go. Even if I must force you to stay, I'll keep you by my side," Chen Mo said firmly. Then, with a softer tone, "Besides, before long, I'll be leaving the Jia Ma Empire. If you still wish to travel the continent, I'll go with you."
Those last words — I'll go with you — made Yun Yun's heart soften. Her jade hands clenched the bedsheet tightly before she gave a faint, helpless smile. "Aren't you afraid of Queen Medusa?"
Yun Yun didn't know the exact relationship between Chen Mo and Queen Medusa, but she could guess it wasn't simple.
"If I were afraid, I wouldn't be here right now. I want Medusa… and I want you too."
Those shameless words made Yun Yun freeze in surprise. She looked at the young man's still slightly immature face, brushed aside the hair on her forehead, and, showing rare charm, smiled lightly. "You're so greedy. Do you think Queen Medusa will allow it?"
"Is it wrong for a man to be greedy? Besides, you won't be able to escape from my grasp." Chen Mo tightened his arms around her slender waist again, his hand gently caressing her delicate face.
Yun Yun's snow-white cheeks turned pink as she struggled weakly, only to be held even more tightly.
"So, stay and help me," Chen Mo said once more, his voice low and persuasive.
Feeling the warmth of his touch, Yun Yun's resistance softened. Deep down, she knew she could no longer claim to be untouched by him.
She wanted to say, With your attitude being this forceful, would my refusal even matter?
But instead, what came out was, "We'll see how you perform."
When Chen Mo saw the affection hidden in her autumn-water-like eyes and the tenderness on her face, a surge of emotion welled up within him. He gently pushed Yun Yun onto the bed, and she fell backward onto the soft mattress.
He leaned forward, lifting her delicate chin. Under her startled gaze, his lips pressed against her rosy ones.
Caught off guard, Yun Yun could only let out a faint muffled sound before it was silenced. Her slender hands pushed weakly against his chest, but she had no strength to resist.
Though it wasn't their first kiss, Yun Yun was still clumsy, not knowing how to respond to him.
[Ding! Favorability +2. Obtained 2 Favor Points.Intimacy Bonus Activated — Acquired: Complete Set of "Transcendent Faction Identity Tokens."]
Neither of them noticed that the door wasn't fully closed. Through the small crack, a pair of eyes quietly watched the two figures kissing on the bed. The gaze lingered, filled with complex emotions, before a faint sigh escaped.
Fortunately, Chen Mo still remembered that Yun Yun was injured. After about ten minutes, he finally let her go and stood up, a faint smile on his face — one that almost felt like a declaration of ownership.
"From now on, you're my woman."
Yun Yun replied calmly, "I already told you — that depends on how you perform."
Chen Mo didn't argue. Just as he was about to speak again, a knock came at the door, followed by Nalan Yanran stepping inside.
Seeing her disciple enter, Yun Yun quickly adjusted her clothes, a trace of nervousness flickering in her eyes.
Soon, the master and disciple began to talk.
Chen Mo didn't interrupt. Instead, he sat down on a nearby chair and immersed his consciousness into the system to examine the so-called Transcendent Faction Identity Token Set.
There were five colors in total: Gold, Red, Purple, Black, and White.
There was only one gold token, 18 red, 180 purple, 1,800 black, and 18,000 white.
From highest to lowest, they corresponded to: Sect Master, Elder, Protector, Deacon, and Disciple.
According to the system's description, these tokens were indestructible. Once bound, only the Sect Master could replace or revoke them.
The main feature, however, was that the tokens could increase cultivation speed and recovery. The higher the rank of the token, the greater the enhancement.
Additionally, every set of 18 tokens could combine to form a joint attack skill — a single, devastating technique called "Annihilation."
The higher the rank of the 18 tokens used, the stronger the power of the combined attack.
Of course, these tokens required different individuals to activate them together. The stronger each wielder's cultivation, the greater the combined might.
Moreover, the holder of the golden token could monitor the life signatures of all who possessed the other four colors.
Good heavens, Chen Mo thought. This couldn't have come at a better time.
The auxiliary effects of these tokens were simply too powerful.
There was, however, a cultivation requirement:
Holders of White Tokens needed to be at least at the Dou Zhe realm.
Black Tokens required a minimum of Da Dou Shi.
Purple, Red, and Gold Tokens had no restrictions.
Chen Mo's mind was already forming plans.
The golden token, of course, would be bound to himself.
The 18 red tokens, he decided, could go to his women.
As for the rest — he'd decide later.
****
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