Moon Fairy turned suddenly, his gaze settling on Lin Daiyuan, who stood quietly at a corner.

"Colonel Lin has shown me great kindness," he said. "In the Beastly Peaks, she is the one I trust the most. I wish to have her by my side at all times to protect me. Would that be possible?"

The generals of the Desolation Corps smiled in amusement at his request.

"You do have a sense of loyalty," the Desolation Marshal paused before continuing, her eyes on Lin Daiyuan. "Little Lin is talented and strong. But with how important you are, even a Fourth Baptism Realm bodyguard is not enough to ensure your safety. I shall let her stay by your side, but I will arrange for additional protection."

"Thank you, Marshal!" Moon Fairy exclaimed, his eyes lingering on Lin Daiyuan with a deep intensity.

Lin Daiyuan felt a chill run through her as their eyes met—a silent acknowledgment of an unspoken grudge.

Fortunately, the young fox had not sought immediate revenge! But why did he insist on keeping her so close?

A sense of foreboding chilled her. She knew the look in his eyes was not to be underestimated—he was cunning and vengeful, far from the harmless facade he presented.

Before she could respond, Moon Fairy addressed the Desolation Marshal again. "However, Colonel Lin can be quite harsh with me. Could you ask her to be a bit gentler? To follow my instructions?"

The request sounded almost childish, prompting the Desolation Marshal to chuckle, then sternly said to Lin Daiyuan, "Did you hear that? Be gentle!"

After that, she reassured Moon Fairy, "Don't worry. If she so much as harms a single hair on your head, I'll skin her myself."

Her words were characteristic of her usual tough demeanor—an unmistakable sign that she was not one to be trifled with.

Lin Daiyuan could only nod meekly, her mind in turmoil.

"Come here," Moon Fairy commanded, assuming control over the situation.

Seeing the formidable woman now subdued and holding back her anger was profoundly satisfying to Moon Fairy.

True vengeance, after all, wasn't about ending lives. It was about subjugation.

"Follow me back to the Desolation Marshal's base."

The Desolation Marshal left the command to other generals, declaring a ten-day celebration before personally escorting Moon Fairy, Lin Daiyuan, and a few close confidants back.

Lin Daiyuan, realizing that they all remained human, reverted herself into a statuesque beauty with long, shapely legs and a visage that was both enticing and inviting—far more appealing than her bear form.

Moon Fairy, unable to stand her bear-like appearance any longer, remarked, "By the way, don't turn into a bear in front of me again. It's nauseating."

"You!" Lin Daiyuan was taken aback by his first command, which unexpectedly wounded her pride—or rather, her bear pride.

Yet, all she could do was grit her teeth and suppress the anger welling up inside.

"This boy saved the world, I'll endure... just endure..." she murmured to herself as she traversed mountains and rivers, finally arriving beyond the Ghost Cauldron.

In a secluded valley, a black steel palace emerged, resembling a colossal beast sprawled across the land.

This palace was no ordinary structure but a chariot warship, driven by celestial energy, likely equipped for warfare. Its mass surpassed that of the Nine Heavens Divine Ark by a thousandfold.

The closer one got, the more palpable the chilling divine might of this black steel edifice.

It lay dormant, yet its presence was oppressive, hinting at the terror it could unleash when provoked. This was the

base

of the Desolation Marshal—a place not meant for the uninvited.

Moon Fairy was assigned here for the sheer security it offered, a fortress in every sense.

"The Marshal's Base is divided into three sections: the Southern Hall, Northern Hall, and the War Room. The War Room is where military decisions are made and where you will practice your cultivation. My daughter and I reside in the Southern Hall, while the Northern Hall, being smaller, serves as the guest quarters. That's where you’ll stay," the Desolation Marshal informed Moon Fairy.

She arranged everything like a stern mother, meticulous in her planning.

Moon Fairy was performing too well for her to be strict at the moment.

"Yes, Marshal." Moon Fairy nodded.

Everything here reminded him of Mu Dalong and Mu Xiaolong. He fondly recalled the time his true self spent living together with them, even if her old man, the Sword Warden, was living the next door over.

Apart from the War Room, the Marshal's Base seemed scarcely populated.

Then the Desolation Marshal personally led Moon Fairy to the Northern Hall.

The entire base was cold, grim, and shadowy, entirely unlike the Eternal Sword Prison's Valley of Ruins. It was filled with cold metal and steel, forged from the finest celestial ores, imparting a suffocating atmosphere.

This matched the Desolation Marshal's austere temperament perfectly.

"Settle in and rest for now. I have matters to attend to, but tomorrow I will take you to the War Room for cultivation," the Desolation Marshal instructed.

"Yes." Moon Fairy merely needed to nod as she arranged everything.

"I’m giving you some flying talismans; contact me if there’s anything urgent."

This gesture from the Desolation Marshal left Lin Daiyuan both awed and terrified. In her eyes, the Desolation Marshal was a revered figure, almost untouchable, with whom she had little contact.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Yet here she was, giving Moon Fairy flying talismans, allowing him immediate access to her—a gesture akin to a mother's care for her son.

Such treatment was exceedingly high! And with high treatment came great danger.

"Moon Moon," the Desolation Marshal called out as she stood at the doorway of the Northern Hall before departing.

"Yes, Marshal," Moon Fairy said.

The Desolation Marshal pursed her lips, her tone earnest. "I know that today your life has taken a dramatic turn, skyrocketing too swiftly. You may find your heart troubled."

"Yes." Moon Fairy nodded, though inside he felt calm, accustomed as he was to upheaval.

"As someone who deeply cares for you, there's something I urge you to consider," the Desolation Marshal continued, her vibrant eyes glowing with a mix of authority and beauty.

"I'm listening," Moon Fairy responded.

"The so-called demon talent allows you to absorb the desolation faster and better than others, accelerating your growth and strength. However, this talent doesn't raise your ultimate potential. You are destined to save the world, which makes you crucial to the Beast Path. You could live worry-free without any cultivation. But as your senior, I hope you will settle your heart and strive to become truly strong, to protect yourself and hold your own in turbulent times," the Marshal explained earnestly.

Moon Fairy took a deep breath, his reply sincere, "Thank you, Marshal. I'll keep your words close to my heart."

"You're more composed than I expected," the Desolation Marshal remarked with a slight smile before turning to leave. As she walked away, her figure clad in black armor slowly vanished into the cold darkness of the Marshal's Base.

What Moon Fairy said was not important. What he did in the days to come would be closely observed by her.

After she departed, the Northern Hall fell completely silent, save for the heartbeat of the formidable beauty left behind.

She was a bear demon of high status and voluptuous allure, unmatched in beauty when in human form. Her pride was enticing, almost begging to be conquered.

Her almond-shaped eyes now fixed on Moon Fairy's back. Though he was supposed to be nothing more than a toy to be played with until she got bored, her world was turned upside down in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, Moon Fairy turned around. His expression remained calm, unnervingly so for Lin Daiyuan.

With a whoosh, he appeared right before her, jumping up into the air to meet her gaze...

The scene looked rather comical. But what followed was far from humorous.

Moon Fairy looked at her coldly and said, "Don't move, understand?"

"What are you trying to…" Lin Daiyuan asked before she was suddenly cut off.

SMACK!

Moon Fairy's hand struck her pretty face with such force that it sent her, a mighty demon of the Fourth Baptism Realm, staggering back several steps before falling to the ground!

"You little—" Lin Daiyuan clutched her face, a bright red handprint vivid against her skin, blood trickling down.

The slap ignited a volcanic fury within her, characteristic of her quick temper.

She was on the verge of roaring back, ready to flatten Moon Fairy with a slap of her own!

As she rose to her feet, Moon Fairy smiled coldly. "Try touching me, you big dumb bear. Just try."

"You… YOU!!" Lin Daiyuan recalled the flying talismans the Desolation Marshal had given him just earlier, the respect the entire Desolation Corps held for Moon Fairy, and his significance to the entire Beast Path...

She struggled to suppress the rage boiling within her.

"Are you thinking, 'Why not end it all and be done with this humiliation?'" Moon Fairy asked.

"I never thought that!" Lin Daiyuan snapped through clenched teeth.

"That's because you know well that you can't kill me. If you could have, I would have died at the Soul Refining Cauldron. And if you dare touch me now, both you and your clan will suffer terribly," Moon Fairy said icily.

"You're truly ruthless!" Lin Daiyuan's eyes welled up.

"Me, ruthless? Tell me, who started this? Me or you?" Moon Fairy replied.

Lin Daiyuan bowed her head, speechless.

"Alright." Moon Fairy smiled, stepped forward, and gently took her hand away from her face. His gesture eased some of the tension in Lin Daiyuan's heart.

"I want to apologize for my earlier behavior," she began.

SMACK!

Moon Fairy's hand struck her face again. He hit her exactly in the same spot as the previous slap.

"Why are you doing this?" Lin Daiyuan fought to keep her anger in check. For a woman as spirited as she, the urge to curse was almost overpowering, her voice tinged with tears.

Moon Fairy leaned down, clutching the front of her robe, and sneered, "I'm tormenting you for fun."

"You..."

"Remember, don't fight back."

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

He continued to slap her across both cheeks, reddening her face even further.

The enraged bear demon roared, all the while holding back her fury, her frustration and impotence making for a ludicrous sight.

"Scared now?" Moon Fairy asked.

"Moon Fairy!" Lin Daiyuan suppressed all her rage, knelt before him with tears streaming down her face, and cried, "I was wrong, I'm sorry! I'll listen to everything you say from now on, please stop tormenting me! I beg you!"

THUD!

As she spoke, she tried to kowtow to him with her voluptuous body. But before her face could touch the ground, Moon Fairy caught her.

"Don't give in so quickly; it’s no fun that way," he said.

"What do you want from me?" Lin Daiyuan cried out in despair.

Moon Fairy's hand slowly slid from her face downwards, his voice low and haunting, "The first time we met, you used me like an object while I couldn't move. Today, you are not allowed to move."

He deliberately slowed his actions. Piece by piece, he stripped away her defenses, making her kneel unshielded before him.

This process was a torment in itself.

"No, please..."

Her teeth clenched, eyes red and tearful, she was completely under his control. Her pitiful pleas for mercy sounded heartbreaking. Yet, as the ordeal continued, these pleas turned into intoxicated murmurs that echoed unrestrained through the Northern Hall, lingering long after...

The process was the same! But this time, Yun Xiao made her kneel submissively, ensuring she understood who was the dominant one in their relationship.

JustLivingJL's Thoughts