Chapter 26: New Home
The night was calm in Percival Barony, with guards patrolling the streets as a crisp breeze drifted through the air.
Shennong walked ahead, leading Yenissa, Rilith, Velara, and Romina, whose eyes were covered with blindfolds. Their footsteps echoed in the silence, the only sound aside from their hushed whispers of curiosity and uncertainty.
"Where are we even going, Shennong?" Yenissa asked, her voice laced with impatience.
"You'll see. Just wait a little longer," Shennong reassured, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.
"Are you going to have sex with us after blindfolding us?" Velara muttered, shifting excitedly.
"I swear if you don't shut up, I'll—" Yenissa back to her normal self wanted to shout at Velara, but realized Shennong was there and decided to not continue with what she was about to say. She knew Shennong already saw her going back to her past self with Rilith and Velara back when they were having sex, but she didn't want him to think she was like that all the time.
She is a changed woman and she wanted to show that.
"Relax," Shennong interrupted. "This is not something like that. You'll thank me later."
Romina, still uneasy about being outside, let out a small sigh. "Are you sure no one's watching? I can't afford to be seen wandering around."
"No one is watching," Shennong replied. "We're almost there."
They continued for a few more minutes before finally stopping.
"Alright, I'm taking them off now," Shennong said as he carefully removed their blindfolds.
Blinking against the dim light from the lantern on the side of the road, the women found themselves standing in front of an unusual sight—a wooden door embedded into the ground, just a few meters away from Josie's tavern. Yenissa frowned, clearly puzzled.
"What... is this?" she asked.
Shennong grinned and slowly opened the door. A set of well-lit stairs descended into the darkness, the flames of torches flickering along the walls.
"Come on," he urged, stepping inside. "Follow me."
One by one, the women hesitantly followed him down the stairs, their eyes adjusting to the warm glow of the never-dying torches.
"These flames will never go out," Shennong explained as they walked. "I crafted them myself."
Romina's eyes widened. "That's insane! I've never heard of fire that doesn't burn out."
"That's because it's not just normal fire," he said with a smirk. "It's a skill. Yenissa know about it."
"Is it [Sandboxer]?" Yenissa already knew, but she wanted to confirm.
"It is." Shennong gave the confirmation.
Their descent continued for what felt like an eternity until they reached another massive wooden door. With a push, Shennong slowly opened it, revealing a breathtaking underground chamber.
The entire room was crafted from smooth, polished wood, the walls and ceiling seamlessly blending together. Despite being underground, the space felt warm and alive, with intricate carvings and decorative elements. Flowers—ones favored by succubi—were placed carefully around, adding a touch of elegance.
Yenissa's jaw dropped. "What is this place?"
"Welcome to our new home," Shennong declared proudly. "This is where we'll be running our business from now on."
Rilith and Velara exchanged stunned glances. "This is insane," Rilith whispered. "How did you even do this? We never saw you working on anything."
"Because I was digging and crafting every day for two hours this past week," Shennong explained, crossing his arms. "Right now, my backpack is filled with over two thousand soil and mud blocks. The hardest part was getting the wood—I had to go out constantly to gather it."
Romina narrowed her eyes. "Wait. You left the city? How did you get past the gate?"
Shennong's grin widened. "I never even saw the gate. This place has multiple tunnels leading to different locations. Josie's tavern, the forest, and even the Baron's mansion."
Romina's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's insane..."
Before she could say more, Shennong gently took Yenissa's hand and led her further inside. He guided her to a large wooden bed adorned with delicate flowers, its craftsmanship exquisite.
"This is your bed from now on," he said softly, brushing a few petals away. "I remembered you always complaining about how uncomfortable sleeping was."
Yenissa stared at him, her heart swelling with an unfamiliar warmth. Then, with a bright smile, she pulled him into a tight embrace. "I swear, I am the proudest woman alive right now. I'm so glad I kidnapped you."
Shennong chuckled. "That's a weird way to say you love me."
She laughed against his chest before pulling back to kiss his cheek. "I do."
Shennong smirked, looking at the others. "And this is just the beginning. I plan to expand this place, make it grander, and replace all this wood with the most valuable materials in the world. But I'll need your support."
Rilith and Velara exchanged excited looks. "Count us in," Velara said with a grin. "This is already amazing, but I can't wait to see what else you do."
"Agreed," Rilith added. "You're crazy, but I like it."
Romina, however, remained silent. She stared at the beautifully crafted space, a sense of unease settling in her chest.
Shennong noticed her distant expression. "What's wrong?"
She hesitated, looking at the others before finally speaking. "Do I... really belong here?"
Yenissa frowned. "What kind of question is that, human girl? Of course, you do."
Romina glanced at them, doubt flickering in her eyes. "I feel like an outsider. You all seem so sure of yourselves, so comfortable here... But me? I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't have followed all of you."
Shennong sighed and stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're here now, aren't you? That means something. If you are going to make a decision don't go back and regret it. Stick to your decision. Beside I can see you don't want to go back... I know you have lot of lore behind you and you're free to talk with us anytime."
"I feel like I will be a burden to you guys," Romina's concern was evident. The main reason Shennong didn't really care about her situation because it didn't affect him. He wanted to know more about her power, but it was not his main goal. As long as she stayed with them, he knew someday he would be able to learn more about her.
"That's exactly what we want. Bring us more problems. More problems mean more resources and more things for me to collect."
Yenissa sighed, realizing they were never going to get any rest with Shennong's personality—he would always be chasing something. Right now, that thing was the very land they were building their new home in.
Romina looked up at him, surprised by his sincerity. The warmth in his gaze, the unwavering confidence in his words—it was enough to make her doubts waver.
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"Stay with us," Shennong said simply. "We'll build something incredible together."
After a long pause, Romina finally nodded. "Thank you for your words."
Yenissa smirked. "Good. Because we're not letting you go that easily. Now that you know about us, we can't let you go anyway."
Velara playfully nudged Romina. "Come one! Do you dislike being friends with us?"
Romina let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "No! No! I just never thought I would be friends with demons."
Shennong grinned. "They are not demons. They are succubi. Succubi and demons are different."
"I am sorry. I would never make that mistake again." Romina said while everyone got comfortable in their new home.
As they stood there in their newly established underground haven, a sense of unity began to form between them. This was only the beginning, but for now, it was enough.