New Novel🪶

“What’s there to be afraid of? Even if we become intimate today, I’d still be the one taking advantage,” Xu Zimo said with a relaxed smile. “But you’re too young, I’d worry you couldn’t handle it.”

Hearing that, the overbearing little girl’s face flushed slightly.

She snorted coldly. “Looks like you’ve never heard my name before. You’re not from Fire Bane City, are you?”

“Fire Bane City…” Xu Zimo murmured. He wasn’t very familiar with the Inferno Crucible Heaven, but this city might serve as a good place to start gathering information.

“Are you famous, then?” Xu Zimo asked casually, following her lead.

“Of course I am! There isn’t a single person in Fire Bane City who doesn’t know the name Bian Yue,” the girl said proudly.

“Oh? Then tell me a bit about this place,” Xu Zimo replied.

“This is Fire Bane City,” she began. “It’s built over the Marshlands and governed by the Chaos Fire God Realm. There are seventeen million cities like Fire Bane across the region!”

Halfway through her explanation, Bian Yue suddenly realized what she was doing. Her eyes narrowed. “Wait, why should I tell you any of this? Don’t think you can trick me into revealing information!”

She squinted at him suspiciously. “Are you an infiltrator sent by the Water Beasts?”

“Yep,” Xu Zimo said with a smirk. “You just caught me.”

Bian Yue snorted again, just about to retort when heavy footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.

A group of people entered.

Leading them was a stern-looking middle-aged man. He too wore the black crow robes of the manor, with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. His face was so severe that a single glance could make one straighten up instinctively.

“Second Uncle,” Bian Yue said quickly, her tone instantly more restrained.

“Little Yue, what kind of nonsense are you up to now?” the man scolded even before reaching them. “How could a stranger just walk into the Black Crow Dao Court?”

“Second Uncle…” Bian Yue’s confidence faltered a little under his gaze.

“Who are you?” the middle-aged man demanded, staring down at Xu Zimo.

“He’s my fiancee,” Bian Yue said before Xu Zimo could open his mouth.

Though clearly nervous, she forced herself to stand her ground.

“Your marriage has already been arranged. It’s not your decision to make,” the man said coldly, frowning.

“I’ve already told Father that if I’m forced into that marriage, I’ll end my life right in front of him!” Bian Yue snapped back, her stubbornness flaring.

“I know what you said,” her uncle replied grimly. “But do you really think you can just bring home some random man and expect us to approve a marriage?”

“That’s for my father to decide, not you,” Bian Yue shot back.

Her uncle’s eyes darkened, but he said no more. The argument had already crossed the line.

He turned his gaze to Xu Zimo and said in a cold, threatening tone, “If I were you, I’d leave immediately. Get involved in the Black Crow Dao Court’s affairs, and you might not even have a body left to bury.”

“I wasn’t interested before,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile. “But now that you’ve threatened me, I’m starting to get curious.”

The man’s expression turned even uglier. Without another word, he gestured to his followers. “We’re leaving.”

They came swiftly and left just as fast.

Bian Yue exhaled deeply once they were gone.

Though she’d just stood up to her uncle, that courage had been fleeting. Now that the tension was gone, a hint of fear crept back into her eyes.

“Thanks,” she said quietly, glancing at Xu Zimo.

After all, he hadn’t backed down, he’d stood by her side, even if unintentionally.

“No need to thank me. I didn’t do it for you,” Xu Zimo replied, shaking his head.

He sat up from the stretcher.

After this period of rest, his body was recovered enough to move freely again. In a few more days, his strength would likely return completely.

Seeing him sit up, Bian Yue was startled.

She had assumed he was badly injured and could barely move.

“What’s wrong? Where’d that fierce attitude of yours go?” Xu Zimo said with a lazy wave of his hand. “Now be a good girl and bring me something to eat, and some clean clothes. I’m taking a bath.”

“You sure act like you own the place,” Bian Yue muttered, pouting. But she didn’t refuse; she ordered a servant to make the arrangements.

“Listen, girl,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “Serve me well, and if I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll help solve that little marriage problem of yours.”

“You think I actually want to marry you?” Bian Yue huffed. “Even if we do get married, it’s just for show, to get through the moment. Afterward, we’ll go our separate ways.”

“You little firebrand,” Xu Zimo chuckled.

Soon, servants brought clean clothes and a bath.

Xu Zimo washed up and changed into fresh clothes.

When he emerged, his long black hair tied into a bun, his features sharp as if carved by a blade, deep eyes, a handsome face full of demonic charm, and a tall muscular body.

For a moment, even Bian Yue was stunned.

“Maybe marrying him… wouldn’t be so bad,” she murmured under her breath.

“Hm? What was that?” Xu Zimo’s voice cut in suddenly.

“N–nothing!” Bian Yue stammered, quickly waving her hands. “I’m going to talk to my father about this. You stay here in the courtyard, don’t wander off.”

“I’d like to take a stroll through Fire Bane City,” Xu Zimo said casually.

“There’s nothing worth seeing,” Bian Yue grumbled.

Then she called toward the gate, and a young maid entered.

The girl was pretty, dressed in a light green robe, with two small braids tied neatly atop her head.

“This is my maid, Little Jade. If you insist on going out, she’ll accompany you,” Bian Yue instructed.

With that, she left to take care of her own matters, there was much to handle after Xu Zimo’s sudden arrival.

Xu Zimo didn’t mind. He lounged in the pavilion, taking in the view.

The courtyard was beautiful, filled with flowers and birdsong, more like a peaceful garden than a warrior’s home.

Though the Inferno Crucible Heaven was scorching hot, a few cool breezes drifted through the courtyard, keeping it surprisingly pleasant.

“Master,” Little Jade said softly, standing nearby.

“How much do you know about this area?” Xu Zimo asked.

“This area?” Little Jade looked puzzled, unsure how large a scope he meant.

“You know about the Chaos Fire God Realm, right?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied with relief. “All our cities are under the Chaos Fire God Realm’s authority.”

“And outside the Chaos Fire God Realm?” Xu Zimo pressed.

“I’ve never left it,” Little Jade admitted honestly. “But I’ve heard there are seven vast regions in total across the Inferno Crucible Heaven. The Chaos Fire God Realm lies in the northwest in one of those regions. At the very center are the Radiant Lands, and the other six surround it.”

“The Radiant Court must be located in the Radiant Lands, then,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“Exactly,” Little Jade said. Then she tilted her head curiously at him.