Chapter 212: Chapter 212: I’m Here to Bring You Someone
Yu An was well-versed in the art of pushing her luck. She had only just gained some time to be herself while cooking and eating, but a few days later, she was already secretly demanding more.
Lord Mo frowned. "Two more hours."
"Six hours," Yu An said, holding up two fingers. "I’m really not used to this tiny body. Plus, I need to get out for a stroll every now and then."
After some haggling, they finally settled on four hours. In addition, Yu An could go out as she pleased, but she could not leave the Invincible Alliance’s grounds.
This was a pretty good outcome, and Yu An was very satisfied. ’If I need anything else in the future,’ she thought, ’I can just come back and haggle with Lord Mo again.’
After spending this time together, Yu An discovered that Lord Mo was actually quite reasonable.
Or rather, he was too lazy to argue, or perhaps he found her so annoying that he’d agree to anything just to shut her up.
The guards in Lord Mo’s courtyard were initially surprised that there were two "Lords," but they eventually got used to it.
One Lord was cold and aloof and rarely went out. The other, however, ran outside every day and had even cleared a small patch in the courtyard to plant vegetables they had never seen before.
"Guard Captain Zhao, come over here for a moment."
The guard at the gate scurried over. "My Lord."
Yu An brought out a basin of sweet and sour pork ribs and a bowl of rice. "Here, this is for you all."
"Any fresh gossip lately? Tell me about it later, will you?"
Guard Captain Zhao took the food, his face breaking into a wide grin. "Don’t you worry, My Lord. I’ll come and tell you all about it later."
’Ever since these two Lords arrived at the Invincible Alliance, our food has gotten better and better.’
Guard Captain Zhao gazed at the basin of glossy, tempting sweet and sour pork ribs and mentally rehearsed the latest gossip, determined to make his telling as exciting as possible for Yu An.
Ao Yin had been studying the blueprints Lord Mo had given him for days and knew nothing of this. Today, he had come seeking Lord Mo to clear up some questions and happened to walk in on this very scene.
"Alliance Hierarch, is that Lord Mo? Why is he..."
The subordinate stared at the amiable-looking Yu An as if he’d seen a ghost. When he turned to look, he saw Ao Yin had the exact same expression.
However, Ao Yin quickly realized something was wrong. "That’s not Lord Mo."
He strode over. Guard Captain Zhao caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye and nearly dropped the basin in his hands.
Yu An, however, was quite composed. She told Guard Captain Zhao to leave first, then turned to face the grim-faced Ao Yin.
"You’re Yu An."
Ao Yin’s tone was one of certainty.
"If I’m not Yu An, who am I?"
Yu An rolled her eyes dramatically. "Alliance Hierarch Ao, I know you’re old, but I didn’t think you were so old your eyes were failing."
Ao Yin’s expression darkened. "Hasn’t your body been possessed by Lord Mo?" he asked in a low voice. "How are you back?"
Yu An had no intention of answering him. She picked up her and Lord Mo’s food and prepared to go inside.
Ao Yin moved to block her, but Yu An dodged and cried out dramatically, "Lord Mo, help! Ao Yin is trying to steal our food!"
"Don’t be ridiculous!"
Ao Yin scowled. "Who’s trying to steal your food!"
’Even though this food looks more appetizing than what I, the Alliance Hierarch, usually eat,’ Ao Yin swore to himself, ’I would rather starve to death than fight over food with a brat like Yu An!’
’She’s just as annoying as her Beast Father, Ao Jin!’
Lord Mo arrived swiftly. Under his gaze, Ao Yin didn’t dare to move a muscle.
He was here to consult Lord Mo about something. Seeing that he was about to close the door, Ao Yin hurriedly said, "My Lord, about those blueprints you gave me last time, I have some questions..."
"Later," Lord Mo said, glancing at him. "Wait in the courtyard."
Ao Yin choked on his words but didn’t dare say more. Just as he was about to find a place to wait, he saw Yu An poke her head out from the room.
"Um, why don’t you two talk while you eat? I seem to have made too much food by accident."
She then brought out many more dishes from the kitchen, filling a large table with an exceptionally sumptuous spread.
Seeing this, Lord Mo glanced at Ao Yin. "Come in."
Ao Yin would never have stooped to eating food made by Yu An, but it was an order from Lord Mo, so he had no choice but to obey.
’I just won’t eat,’ he decided.
The subordinate who came with him was also fortunate enough to be given a seat. Overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, he hurriedly thanked Yu An.
Yu An just smiled without a word. As she ate with her head down, she perked up her ears to listen to Lord Mo and Ao Yin’s conversation.
Seeing that Lord Mo didn’t seem to care if Yu An heard about the blueprints, Ao Yin sat at the table and began to voice his questions.
Lord Mo answered in a slow, unhurried manner. As Ao Yin listened, he unconsciously picked up some food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
The sweet and sour pork ribs were delicious, with a rich, tangy sauce. CHEW, CHEW, CHEW. When Ao Yin realized what he had eaten, he was filled with bitter regret.
’Yu An isn’t going to mock me, is she...’
He looked up to see Yu An and his subordinate completely engrossed in their food, not paying him any attention at all.
Ao Yin breathed a sigh of relief. As Lord Mo reached a key point in his explanation, Ao Yin began to eat in earnest.
But as he listened to Lord Mo speak, he picked up one piece, then another, and then another. In no time at all, he had polished off the entire plate of sweet and sour pork ribs.
Just as he was still savoring the taste and wanting more, Ao Yin saw his subordinate, who had been about to reach for a piece of the pork ribs, staring at him dumbfounded.
Ao Yin shot his subordinate a glare. Sensing Lord Mo’s eyes on him, he quickly refocused his attention on the explanation.
The subordinate silently lowered his head and helped himself to a different dish.
By the end of the meal, most of Ao Yin’s questions had been answered. Yu An had only vaguely understood the conversation, gathering only that they were building some kind of "array within an array."
Perhaps not wanting her to know, the two hadn’t mentioned the Array’s purpose during their discussion, but Yu An guessed it probably had something to do with her.
Recalling what the Beast God had said before about Lord Mo needing to stabilize his soul and body, Yu An suspected it was related to that.
Ao Yin soon left with his man. Just as Yu An was about to try and pry some information out of Lord Mo, he closed his eyes and began to meditate again.
Yu An sighed and went out to listen to some gossip.
This was her way of relieving her boredom, and it also allowed her to hear some news from the outside world.
But even so, life in the Invincible Alliance was exceptionally dull. Every day was just eating and sleeping—though of course, Lord Mo’s daily routine was even more boring.
He meditated day in and day out, never getting up except to eat. Yu An observed him for several days and discovered that Lord Mo didn’t even seem to have the most basic bodily needs.
Day after day it was the same, and Yu An felt so bored she was about to start growing mushrooms.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—
"My Lord," a voice came from outside the door. "The Alliance Hierarch is here."
Lord Mo opened his eyes. "Enter."
Yu An was currently in her tiny form, dozing on the table. When she heard this, she shot to her feet.
’Ao Yin is here to see Lord Mo, probably with more questions. I can eavesdrop again!’
At that thought, Yu An stealthily found the best spot to eavesdrop.
But she was to be disappointed. This time, Ao Yin had not come to consult Lord Mo, but rather... to find Yu An.
"Me?"
Yu An pointed to herself and asked in confusion, "What do you want with me?"
Ao Yin’s expression was grim. "I’m asking you, has Huang’er recovered her memories? And is the Poisonous Insect Granny dead?"
This was the news his people in Dragon City had sent him. Upon hearing it, Ao Yin had nearly stumbled.
Yu An shrugged. "If you already know, why are you asking me? Did you just come here to have me confirm those two things?"
"Of course not," Ao Yin gritted his teeth. "I’ve come to bring you someone."
