If he couldn't be sure of their relationship in the future, then there was absolutely no way he and Tong Meng could reasonably continue.

"Tong Meng, what will you do in the future?"

Tong Meng swallowed, lifted her head slightly, and stared into Gu Fangyi's eyes, her elongated eyes showing a trace of confusion.

"What do you mean, 'what will I do in the future'? I don't understand what you're saying."

"Will you continue to follow the Nightmare Demon?"

Gu Fangyi stared into Tong Meng's eyes, seeking the answer he desired from them.

However, he was disappointed. Looking at Gu Fangyi, Tong Meng's originally hazy gaze sharpened considerably.

"At any time, under any circumstances, I, Tong Meng, will never betray Lord Nightmare Demon. Lord Nightmare Demon is my master—past, present, and future, forever! No matter the situation, Peacock Tong Meng will always be her master's most loyal warrior."

Tong Meng's words were firm, without a hint of hesitation.

Her attitude made Gu Fangyi feel a pang in his heart for the first time.

Gu Fangyi's expression shifted. If Tong Meng was unwilling to betray the Nightmare Demon, then he had no choice but to be ruthless.

"Sigh, it seems you won't join our side. Well, we were never meant to come this far. Let's just pretend today never happened!"

Gu Fangyi's tone left Tong Meng momentarily stunned. Why does this feel so familiar?

When Gu Fangyi was at Nightmare Castle last time, wasn't it just like this?

Has he really made a habit of this?

"Gu Fangyi, you're not going to pull your 'hit it and quit it' routine again, are you?"

"You're not human!" Gu Fangyi stated matter-of-factly.

"You... How can you be so shameless?"

"How is this shameless? You're the one unwilling to leave the Nightmare Demon. If you don't leave the Nightmare Demon, how can we continue our relationship?"

Gu Fangyi had already stood up, preparing to pull on his pants.

This time was different from the last; Tong Meng had initiated it entirely.

Since Tong Meng took the initiative, he couldn't very well ask her for money, could he?

So Gu Fangyi had no intention of paying and was about to leave.

Emotionally, Tong Meng couldn't tolerate Gu Fangyi treating her this way. Last time he even paid; this time, he wasn't giving her anything at all.

No, no, no, this isn't about money at all! What Gu Fangyi is doing is simply wrong!

"Gu Fangyi, stop right there!"

"People with different principles can't walk the same path. I'm leaving. Is there anything else?"

"Can you listen to my story?"

Tong Meng's earnest gaze moved Gu Fangyi. After a moment's thought, he took off his pants again and climbed back under the covers.

"Go on, speak."

Tong Meng was rendered speechless by Gu Fangyi's series of actions, but she was still happy he was willing to return.

"In the past, I was just an ordinary animal-type Peacock. It was Lord Nightmare Demon who saved me and gave me a name, Tong Meng..."

Tong Meng's story wasn't very long, as the lives of Exotic Species weren't as eventful as human lives.

But even someone as somewhat dense as Gu Fangyi could sense the deep emotional bond between Tong Meng and Lu Xiaotian.

"Gu Fangyi, I will not betray my master, because her existence is why I am who I am today! I have never asked you to do anything—for example, I never asked you to betray Lu Luo! So I hope you won't ask this of me. Can you do that?"

Never asked for anything? Bullshit! She was just asking him to put more effort into it a moment ago! Has she forgotten already?

Indeed, what Tong Meng said made sense. She was unwilling to betray the Nightmare Demon, just as he himself was unwilling to betray Lu Luo.

With his current physical state, his semi-Exotic Species abilities, and his incredibly fast growth rate, joining the Nightmare Demon's faction would probably be a piece of cake if he wanted to. But would he betray Lu Luo? Of course not; they were brothers who had shed blood together! Perhaps Tong Meng was just like him.

"It seems our relationship can only end here," Gu Fangyi said, and once again began to pull on his pants.

"Gu Fangyi, can't you wait a little longer?"

Tong Meng threw off the blanket, standing completely naked before Gu Fangyi.

"What else do you have to say? Say it!"

"You never give people a chance to finish speaking. If you keep this up, you'll never find a girlfriend."

Gu Fangyi was stunned for a moment. That logic doesn't add up!

"Find a girlfriend? Why would I find a girlfriend? Women only slow down my draw speed. To become stronger, the most important thing is to stay away from women."

Gu Fangyi spoke with self-righteous conviction, but when Tong Meng spread her Peacock wings and wrapped them around him, he immediately couldn't resist.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Doing what you want to do."

Their compatibility was incredibly high. In Tong Meng's embrace, Gu Fangyi felt a sense of love he hadn't experienced in a long time!

Although he was reluctant to admit it, he knew it clearly in his heart.

After another bout of intimacy, Tong Meng lay in Gu Fangyi's arms. This was the umpteenth time they had been like this.

"Gu Fangyi, I know you're tough on the outside but soft on the inside. You won't abandon me again, right?"

Gu Fangyi didn't answer Tong Meng's question. Instead, he asked, "If one day, Brother Luo and the Nightmare Demon come to blows, whose side will you be on?"

Gu Fangyi regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth; he knew it sounded like he was pressuring Tong Meng.

Today should belong to the two of them, not the Nightmare Demon and Lu Luo.

However, Tong Meng didn't seem to mind. She looked at Gu Fangyi seriously.

"Why would you think Lu Luo has the power to contend with our master? My master is the King of Nightmares, a genius who became a Calamity in just seven years!"

Seeing Tong Meng praise the Nightmare Demon, Gu Fangyi scoffed.

"Calamity is nothing! If it took seven years to be called a Calamity, then the Nightmare Demon is far too weak. Brother Luo is the real genius. He is the savior of the Circular, the one chosen by the will of the world. His very existence is to cleanse this corrupt world!"

Gu Fangyi's eyes shone with a light similar to that of a Believer, like a Believer of Light in prayer.

It was this dual combination of faith and trust that allowed Gu Fangyi to draw power from Lu Luo's Doomsday Disc and progress so rapidly!

Tong Meng looked at the light in Gu Fangyi's eyes and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Because the same light had once shone from her own eyes—when she looked at the Nightmare Demon.

San Tong had watched the Nightmare Demon grow, bit by bit, watched her rise to become the master of the Red and White Castle, the Lord of Lords in the East Ring.

No one knew what the Nightmare Demon had experienced, but San Tong did.

They believed in the Nightmare Demon, just as Gu Fangyi believed in Lu Luo.

"Gu Fangyi, if one day Lu Luo and my master truly stand on opposing sides... we wouldn't fight each other, would we? At least, I wouldn't lay a hand on you. Is that enough?"

Tong Meng made her promise, but to Gu Fangyi, it meant little.

Sigh, he always fumbled when it came to women. Look at Brother Luo, he had several women eating out of his hand, completely submissive. Why couldn't he even handle one? Han Shiyu, Qi Xinzhu, Bai Yuetong—they were all women from the Inner Ring. They had all given up their status and careers in the Inner Ring to follow Lu Luo with unwavering devotion. So why couldn't he even manage a single Exotic Species?

Gu Fangyi couldn't figure it out, and a trace of anger welled up. He stared at Tong Meng's body and suddenly said, "Not enough!"

"Huh? Then what do you want me to do?"

Tong Meng didn't understand what Gu Fangyi meant at that moment.

"Come with me. Brother Luo will accept us."

"I've already told you, I won't betray my master, just as you will never betray Lu Luo."

Tong Meng's resolve was firm, and Gu Fangyi sensed it.

So he decided to resort to physical persuasion, to continue his carnal conquest of Tong Meng!

"Forget it. Since neither of us can persuade the other, let's settle this with actions!"

As Gu Fangyi spoke, he pinned Tong Meng down. Of course, normally, his strength wouldn't be enough to restrain her.

If Tong Meng allowed him to pin her, it could only mean she wanted him to.

"Starting again? You're really putting in extra effort today! But you'd better understand, your strength is far less than mine. Can you really manage?"

Gu Fangyi's face stiffened, but the quick-witted man soon found an excuse for himself!

"Brother Luo enhanced me a few days ago. I'm not the same person I was before!"

A determined look appeared on his face. I will soon subdue this Lord-rank Exotic Species! You fiend, tonight I'll make you kneel and beg for mercy!

With that thought, Gu Fangyi's gaze towards Tong Meng gradually filled with killing intent.

The room once again echoed with the sounds of their joyous battle.

「...」

The battle between Lu Xiaotian and Ji Shaoran wasn't kept secret; at least, the Hunters didn't hide the news of Ji Shaoran's death.

Soon, the outcome of the battle spread through the Hunters' informants, spies, and various other channels.

Everyone in the Fourth Ring, from the largest factions to the smallest, began to cheer.

"We won!"

Many people weren't entirely sure why they were so excited, but it didn't stop them from celebrating.

Because this victory belonged to the Fourth Ring.

Amidst the public's clamor and cheers, one place remained silent and uneasy: the Dawn Church of the Fourth Ring.

The Fourth Ring had its own Church, and its system was unique.

Even if the Fourth Ring's Church was relatively weak, that was only in comparison to the Inner Ring.

Within the Fourth Ring, the Church's power was enough to ensure its stability, making it almost immune to the area's fluctuations.

But now, the Church in the Fourth Ring was confused about its own position.

They couldn't claim to have ties with the Inner Ring Council, nor were they entirely people of the Fourth Ring.

Some ordinary members of the Dawn Church in the Fourth Ring wanted to join the cheers, but when they saw the tense faces of their Bishops, they didn't dare make a sound.

Everyone in the Church was silent, a silence that had persisted for a day.

Until, suddenly, someone threw open the great doors of the Church.

"It's quite lively outside! Hey, it's Sunday. Why aren't you all praying?"

The voice was abrupt, but to the ears of the members of the East Fourth Ring Diocese, it carried the weight of a final judgment.

"The Archbishop!"

"Lord Qiao Xing has returned."

"Archbishop, you've finally returned! The current situation in the Fourth Ring..." the Bishop trailed off, his voice choked with emotion.

Qiao Xing blinked, looking somewhat speechlessly at the Fifth Tier Bishop who already had one foot in the grave.

A Seventh Tier from the Inner Ring dies, and it's not like I'm dead. So why are you crying?

He scanned his surroundings once more, confirming one thing: these people truly weren't praying.

"Isn't the Fourth Ring quite fine right now? The Dark Energy level has risen, and I even feel the air is much fresher. Also, why aren't you praying? Isn't it time to offer prayers to Our Lord?"

Qiao Xing's questions seemed odd, yet unassailable.

Normally, this was indeed the time for daily prayers.

Furthermore, today was Sunday, a day for devout prayer.

But who was in the mood to pray now! The Fourth Ring had already descended into such chaos. The mighty Seventh Tier expert dispatched by the Inner Ring Faction had been killed, and the Fourth Ring was on the brink of upheaval, perhaps even civil war! Who would feel like praying? Why does Lord Qiao Xing always focus on things different from ordinary people? Or is it that his thought process is unlike that of a normal person?

"But, Lord Qiao Xing, the expert sent by the Inner Ring Faction has been defeated, and may even have been killed. Shouldn't we be paying attention to this matter?"

Qiao Xing took out his wooden teacup, leisurely brewed himself a pot of tea, and then took a blissful sip.

"Wow, it's been so long since I've had such authentic tea!"

While Qiao Xing was savoring the moment, a voice with a somewhat mechanical quality sounded from beside him.

"Is the tea from my place not good?"

"Your tea is fine, but it's too expensive; I can't afford to drink it regularly. Besides, wildflowers always seem more fragrant than the ones at home! Oh wait, I think I got that backward; the flowers at home are more fragrant than wildflowers!"

The Believers looked curiously at the person next to Qiao Xing. This person was entirely covered by a hooded cloak, their face and body obscured.

His voice, however, was quite distinctive!

After finishing the tea in his cup, Qiao Xing finally turned to the crowd.

"What are you all so worried about? Someone from the Inner Ring died, not the guy next door. Why are you so agitated?"

Here it comes, Qiao Xing's trademark sarcasm. By the way, why should one be happy if the neighbor died?

"Archbishop, we are the Church! Shouldn't the Church and the Inner Ring be one and the same?"

The aging Bishop staggered towards Qiao Xing, his thoughts likely reflecting those of the majority.

"Who told you the Church and the Council are one and the same? I wasn't aware of that. Also, why should you fear the Hunters? Have the Hunters broken in? Is the Church of the Fourth Ring about to be destroyed? Neither has happened. So, why aren't you praying?"

The Believers were somewhat speechless. Although everything Lord Qiao Xing said was right, why did he keep harping on their failure to pray today?

"But Lord Qiao Xing, with the current situation, war could break out between the Fourth Ring and the Inner Ring. Shouldn't we be making preparations?"

"Has war broken out?" Qiao Xing looked directly at the man.

"Er, no!"

"Well then, since there's no war, why aren't you praying? Instead of worrying about things that haven't happened yet, it's better to focus on what's at hand, like completing today's obligatory prayer. If you have nothing else to do right now, then I will lead the prayers that must be completed today!"

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