Chapter 176 - 166: I Dare You to Dodge Again

While Su Mo lay unconscious, the fires of war outside raged on.

She slept for two days, and for two days the battle raged. Both sides suffered countless casualties and were utterly exhausted, yet no victor had been decided.

That evening, Long Yan, Mo Xiao, and the others discussed the possibility of a truce for a few days.

Mo Xiao frowned. "A plague is running rampant on Jiang Wu’s side. They shouldn’t have the energy to keep fighting. We should prepare for a truce."

Meanwhile, in Jiang Wu’s tent, the Think Tank and Ai Ci were discussing their strategy with her.

The Think Tank frowned. "A plague is sweeping through the army, and the Beastmen’s strength is limited. We should prepare for a truce."

Jiang Wu’s tone was sharp with displeasure. "A measly plague, and it’s this hard to deal with? I don’t have the energy to drag this out. I want a decisive battle! Give those Beastmen some Elixirs to boost their stamina!"

The Think Tank’s frown deepened. "Everyone needs time to recover their strength. Now is not the time to push through by force. Taking too many of those things will hinder their advancement and is detrimental to our long-term goals!"

Jiang Wu’s alchemy always prioritized speed, ferocity, and intensity. While her Elixirs could boost one’s power in a short time, the physical backlash was incredibly severe.

The Think Tank frowned. "From this battle, we’ve seen the extent of Long Yan’s power. He’s also suffered heavy losses. Furthermore, he took a Fiery Fire Pill, and that kind of damage is irreversible. Once we’ve recuperated and weathered this plague, we’ll still have the strength to achieve victory."

Ai Ci chimed in, "The main combatants are indeed severely drained."

Jiang Wu’s cool gaze swept over him, and she fell silent.

...

When Su Mo regained consciousness, the sky outside was already pitch-black.

Groggily, she opened her eyes and saw someone slumped over the side of the bed.

Her voice dry and raspy, Su Mo called out, "Mo Xiao."

The moment Mo Xiao lifted his head, his gaze met her hazy eyes. A flash of ecstasy lit up his features, and an instant later, he pulled her into a tight, emotional embrace.

"You’re finally awake."

Su Mo leaned against his chest and mumbled, "I... I want some water."

"Wait here!"

He vanished like a gust of wind, only to return a moment later carrying something.

Su Mo took the opportunity to check the status of her Totem. ’Looks like the energy is back,’ she thought. ’It seems to have leveled up, too. Excellent!’

Mo Xiao handed her a bowl of warm water. After she drank, he gave her a bowl of light cornmeal porridge.

Su Mo listened to him recount the events of the past two days as she ate.

"The truce began after nightfall. Right now, Fei Yan and Xuan Shuang are both busy tending to the wounded."

Su Mo nodded, setting down her bowl and chopsticks. "I’m going for a walk."

"I’ll go with you."

Just as Su Mo stepped out of her room, she saw Long Yan and Xuan Qing approaching.

Long Yan’s gaze was filled with concern. "Miss Su."

Su Mo offered a reassuring smile. "I’m fine, don’t worry. I was just on my way to find you."

She stepped closer to him. "Your hand."

Su Mo took his pulse. It was surprisingly more stable than she’d imagined, and she couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.

Then, she took a few pills from a pouch at her waist and handed them to him. "Don’t take any more Fiery Fire Pills. Instead, take one of these every ten days. They will help you advance."

Long Yan swallowed the coppery tang of blood rising in his throat and nodded gently at her. "Alright."

Su Mo then asked about the Dragon Clan soldiers, and Long Yan assured her that the Witch Doctors had things under control.

It’s just that the Think Tank, his wife, and the Little Dragon haven’t been rescued yet.

Su Mo already had a sense of the situation. They were likely safe for the time being. Jiang Wu wanted to use them as leverage against Long Yan, so she wouldn’t kill them just yet.

A short while later, an attendant came for Long Yan, and he departed with them.

Su Mo tilted her head, and her gaze met Xuan Qing’s clear, cold eyes.

She vaguely recalled that when he’d helped her retreat, he had been struck by Jiang Wu’s whip.

Su Mo furrowed her brow. "Is your injury any better?"

"Yes," Xuan Qing answered calmly.

"Let me take a look," Su Mo offered, reaching for his wrist.

Xuan Qing’s brows knitted as he raised his hand, avoiding her touch.

Su Mo: "..."

’What’s his problem? I’m just checking an injury. Does he have to act like I’m some kind of monster?’

The hand hanging at Xuan Qing’s side tightened into a fist. He frowned. "I’m fine. I have something else to attend to, so I’ll be going."

With that, he turned and strode away.

Su Mo watched his retreating back, baffled but impressed by his intensity.

’Fine, I guess I was just overstepping...’

Mo Xiao’s heavy gaze followed the white-clad figure. He had a good idea why Xuan Qing had just dodged her.

’Probably... he didn’t want the wife to discover the scar on his wrist.’

Su Mo went out to check on the injured Dragon Clan soldiers, helping out for a while.

When she returned to her room, Mo Xiao had already prepared a bath. As she was soaking drowsily in the tub, he entered, lifted her from the wooden barrel, and placed her gently on the bed.

Su Mo’s eyelashes fluttered. The familiar scent filling her senses made her feel safe, but she had no intention of speaking to him. ’If I talk to him now,’ she thought, ’I can kiss a good night’s sleep goodbye...’

’He’s been abstinent for so long. He’ll probably be even more ferocious than usual.’

’She was honestly a little afraid of how wild he got in bed... When he lost control, there was nothing she could do.’

Faced with a choice between her own suffering and his, Su Mo decisively chose to make him suffer.

Mo Xiao had already seen through her little plan. He twirled a lock of her dark hair around his finger, his loving gaze fixed on the woman in his arms, wondering how long she could keep up the pretense.

Su Mo could feel his body temperature rising, growing so hot that she instinctively wanted to pull away.

Just as she moved, he pulled her tight against him, his low, hoarse sigh brushing against her ear.

His voice was a mix of restrained passion and adoration. "You little devil, you just love to torment me."

Su Mo couldn’t keep up the act. She frowned and shot back, "When have I ever tormented you?"

"You’re clearly awake, but you’re pretending to ignore me. If that isn’t torment, what is? You just do it because you know I’m a pushover for you."

"A pushover? You?" Su Mo bit her lip in exasperation as she glared at him.

’He’s so good at twisting the truth. Who’s the one who really gets tormented every time...’

Mo Xiao let out a low chuckle, rolling over to pin her beneath him. His voice was thick with desire. "These past few days... did my Mo’er miss me at all?"

Seeing the undisguised lust in his eyes, Su Mo’s heart skipped a beat. She nodded dazedly.

’This is no time to say something he doesn’t want to hear...’

Mo Xiao kissed her. "I want to hear you say it."

"I missed you..."

That was all the opening Mo Xiao needed. He gave her no chance to pull back.

His kiss was fierce and urgent, as if he meant to devour her whole.

Her body trembled as she tried to escape, but he gripped her waist and pushed her back down.

His searing breath washed over her neck, and a ragged threat whispered in her ear, "You dare try to hide from me again."

While Su Mo was still stunned, he seized her wrists and pinned them above her head. She was utterly powerless to resist.

It had been so long since their wedding, and he had been suffering day after day. And what about her? The moment her monthly bleeding stopped, she ran off to the Dragon Clan with Fei Yan.

Had she once thought about how he’d been enduring it all this time?

Tonight, no matter what, he was going to take her!

"Mo... Mo Xiao... Husband..."

Sensing he was on the verge of losing control, Su Mo called out to him in a panic.

He nibbled her earlobe, suppressing the tempest of emotions inside him as he panted, coaxing, "Mo’er, take good care of me, and I’ll be gentle~"

Su Mo looked at him, all obedient and compliant. "Okay..."

A moment later, Mo Xiao’s voice came out through gritted teeth, strained to the absolute limit.

"I told you to take care of me, not torture me to death~ Why are you being naughty again?"

Su Mo looked at the man bound in iron chains, her mood utterly gleeful. "My good husband~ my sweet, obedient husband~ don’t be so anxious~ I *am* taking care of you. This is just how I like to take care of you~ You’re getting a special treatment none of the others have ever had. Aren’t you happy? Aren’t you thrilled?"

’He dared to threaten me! Did he really think I was some sweet, innocent girl? Does he think I’ve read all that smut for nothing?!’

’So this is what it feels like to turn the tables and be the boss? Amazing! I’m just going to leave him chained up like this all night!’

Mo Xiao’s patience reached its absolute limit, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Immersed in the joy of her victory, Su Mo failed to notice the dangerous light glinting in his eyes.

Suddenly, a cold snort echoed in her ear, followed immediately by a loud "BANG"...