CHAPTER 552
The Hidden Perils of Overseas Assignments
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【Xiao Ai has assigned someone to follow her for security, so there shouldn't be any worries.】
Su Cheng spoke, glancing at Xiao Ai who had just returned with Ye Qinghan.
【Once Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyao return, I'll be busy too. I should use this time to wrap up my current tasks.】
After briefly instructing Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyao to prepare for departure, Su Cheng turned and exited the main hall.
Ye Qinghan watched her master's departing figure, having already grasped his plan.
All she needed to do along the way was play the role of the useless burden. Her master simply wanted to simulate the absence of the senior sister. In dangerous situations, he intended to push Li Shiyao to her limits, forcing her to learn to think for herself and not rely on others for everything.
There was little to prepare. Ye Qinghan merely returned to change into a set of battle armor. Though she now understood her role was that of a useless character, she knew the act had to be convincing.
Li Shiyu, however, was different. She had been granted permission to wield her Chaos Bell during this mission, and now she too was fully armed.
As the two prepared to depart, a familiar figure they hadn't seen in ages suddenly appeared in Lingxian Hall!
Their gaze drifted to the small pavilion in the center of the courtyard. The sunlight was perfect today, and Xiao Ai was currently working in the courtyard, a stack of documents and a cup of tea on her desk.
But Xiao Ai wasn't working at that moment. Instead, she was talking to the girl beside her.
Ye Qinghan hadn't paid it much mind at first—it wasn't unusual for Xiao Ai to have one or two subordinates nearby.
But in that instant, Ye Qinghan felt a sense of familiarity toward that figure…
The girl had a black tail, with a tiny heart at its tip…
Ye Qinghan instantly recognized her. Su Muchan?
Su Muchan seemed to have vanished for ages. Ever since they'd been rescued from the spatial rift by their Master, Su Muchan had disappeared.
Though Ye Qinghan had gleaned some understanding of the Master's plans for Su Muchan through mind reading, was Su Muchan really that close to Xiao Ai?
"Xiao Ai, are you free tonight?"
Su Muchan propped herself up on the stone table with one hand, resting the other on Xiao Ai's shoulder. That little heart-shaped tail curled up her arm in a teasing spiral, as if tempting her.
"Tonight… I'm afraid I'm tied up." Xiao Ai scratched her head. By and large, any documents reaching her desk were beyond Amber's capacity to handle.
While many only required her final approval, some inevitably demanded her personal attention—either a trip to the field or additional preparation.
Take this one regarding the newly formed 49th Heavy Artillery Division, for instance. She had to personally visit to confirm personnel selections while also expediting equipment delivery from Qingbao County.
"Hehe, Lady Gu Ai, Mu Chan can wait for you~"
Xiao Ai paused, then tilted her head to glance at Su Muchan's playful grin…
"I've heard about your plans. Your ideas are indeed intriguing. During the last operation, they achieved results that even surprised Xiao Ai."
"The Master is the Master, and Xiao Ai is Xiao Ai. While the Master is indeed the head of this household, it is Xiao Ai who manages it."
"The Master doesn't concern Himself with such trivial matters, but Xiao Ai is different."
"Generally speaking, no one can get something for nothing from Xiao Ai. You understand what I mean?"
"Xiao Ai doesn't want anything she gives away to reappear before her in another form later on."
Xiao Ai practically spelled it out word by word, treating Su Muchan as if she were an idiot.
But empty words carry no weight. Loyalty requires time to prove itself, and Su Muchan simply didn't have that kind of time.
"Lord Gu Ai, heh heh, why speak like strangers among family? Didn't Mu Chan act on the Master's orders?"
"If not for Lord Gu Ai and the Master's assistance, how could Mu Chan have ascended to the position of Demon Sovereign so easily?"
"Lord Gu Ai, I'm not here to demand anything—I've come to learn!"
Xiao Ai chuckled. Damn, Su Muchan truly lived up to being Su Cheng's dungeon instance—she was just like him!
What the hell kind of learning is this? Let's be honest—this time we don't want goods, we want technology!
"You!" With that, Xiao Ai delivered a sharp slap to Su Muchan's backside!
"Su Muchan, you know what? Just last month, I told the Master you were a potential threat. My principle has always been to eliminate all threats first."
"Honestly, Xiao Ai doesn't think you're anything special. After all, I've killed over forty of the Master's dungeon instances. Those smarter than you, stronger than you—they all died by Xiao Ai's hand. You're not the only one."
"But the Master said your nature isn't inherently evil—you just overthink things. He told me to give you a chance."
"If you dare betray the Master's trust, Xiao Ai guarantees that complete annihilation will be the greatest luxury you'll ever know in this lifetime~"
Xiao Ai's adorable little face was clenched in anger, yet she didn't look the least bit menacing—at least not to Su Muchan.
"Hehe, yes, yes, yes~ Lady Gu Ai, don't you know me by now?"
"I adore my Master. Even if two tigers can't share the same mountain, there are exceptions, right?"
"As for proving loyalty, Master Gu Ai, no need to rush. Once Mu Chan finishes her current tasks, I'll have my mark too~"
Xiao Ai didn't really care about this. Frankly, it was just a daily reminder. If she truly didn't trust Su Muchan, Xiao Ai wouldn't bother with pleasantries. Even if it were Ye Qinghan, the young miss, Xiao Ai wouldn't give her any special treatment.
"Sigh… Honestly, I'd rather you focus your energy elsewhere. But Master's affairs? Xiao Ai can't control them, nor do I care."
"But Xiao Ai is genuinely curious—that engraving you mentioned, the one on the lower abdomen you talked about last time…"
Su Muchan chatted cheerfully, as if she and Xiao Ai were old acquaintances.
"Hmm, they say once that mark appears, Muchan will become a fully mature succubus. When that happens, she'll naturally be loyal only to her master."
Xiao Ai nodded thoughtfully. She was genuinely curious about that mark and had heard rumors about it!
She had seen Lord Xunye's research on the markings found on female succubi. It was said that once the markings appeared, the bearer would become a complete slave to the other party, unable to resist any command—utterly terrifying!
Succubi weren't actually that uncommon. After all, Su Muchan was a copy of Su Cheng, and Su Cheng himself was demonic. Though few knew it, Su Lin's sister was also a succubus.
This explains why Li Shiyao's holy blood sword formation, which held extraordinary efficacy against demons, could suppress Su Cheng back then. Otherwise, given Li Shiyao's strength, even with Su Cheng's wound from Ye He's stab still unhealed, he wouldn't have been chased and slashed by her.
While succubi aren't rare, research on the markings specific to female succubi is scarce. Moreover, in Xiao Ai's world, succubi are deeply despised. They possess virtually no combat ability, existing only as slaves or servants bound to others—considered an inferior bloodline.
"Whoa… You've got a mark on your back now. Remember to show it to Xiao Ai. She's really curious about this succubus mark."
"If we could deconstruct this spell and harness it, Xiao Ai envisions it might be useful for interrogations or other applications…"
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