"Friend?"

An Mengni was stunned, staring blankly at Chen Mo.

The word had never appeared in her demon life's dictionary. Even as the head of the Heavenly Stems, the Vermilion Bird revered her and dared not overstep in the slightest.

The only one considered relatively close to her was You Ji, who now had her Divine Soul sealed within a black cat, trapped in Tiandu City and unable to escape.

Unexpectedly, the first time she heard the word "friend" was from a human's mouth...

Even though the other party didn't know her identity, a peculiar feeling welled up in her heart that was hard to describe.

"Why, you look surprised by this answer?" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and said.

An Mengni came back to her senses, nodding: "Indeed, it's a bit beyond my expectations. I thought after all you've been through, you should hate the Demon Clan deeply..."

"Just as there are bad people, there are good demons too. You can't generalize," Chen Mo said candidly. "It's hard to clearly define right and wrong in these matters. Everyone is just standing on different sides. From the Demon Clan's perspective, am I not also a 'villain' slaughtering their kind?"

Over the years, the number of humans killed by the Demon Clan might not even match the number Yu Youhan killed in one trip to the Desolate Domain.

If you really want to be picky, many things are just indescribable.

An Mengni's expression grew more complicated upon hearing this.

The tension between humans and demons was like fire and water, especially in recent years as relations became increasingly strained.

If possible, she also hoped the two races could coexist peacefully, but alone it was a one-sided effort, which is why she had previously cooperated with Chu Heng, attempting to extend her influence into the Great Yuan Court to affect court decisions, aiming to achieve her goals.

Ultimately, it ended in failure.

Yet this man, Chen Mo, who she originally saw as an obstacle, shared some views with her unexpectedly.

"But..."

Chen Mo continued, "If a member of the Demon Clan appears in human territory, I will still kill them without hesitation because I cannot risk other people's lives." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The most dangerous aspect of the Demon Clan is their intelligence, which is not inferior to humans.

Cunning, deceitful, and good at disguise, ordinary people simply cannot discern them. Once they show mercy, it will only lead to greater danger.

"I understand that, but in the end, the demon clan can't be completely wiped out. Perhaps finding a better way to stop this senseless slaughter is possible." An Mengni looked at Chen Mo with some expectation, asking, "How do you think the conflict between the two races should be resolved?"

Chen Mo shrugged, saying, "I'm not in the position to make predictions or decisions. I'm just a small centurion; this kind of issue isn't for me to consider."

"Nobody can predict the future. If one day..." An Mengni wanted to say something but swallowed her words.

"What about the future?" Chen Mo asked.

"No, nothing." An Mengni shook her head.

Chen Mo didn't press further, watching the flickering flames, and said: "During this period, I will keep an eye out for that Earth Fire Essence for you, but the Five Elements Qi in this world is in complete chaos. The deduction method doesn't work, so you shouldn't have high expectations."

"With Mr. Chen willing to help, I am already extremely grateful." An Mengni nodded slightly, then curiously asked, "But I see you seem to need Immortal Materials urgently. Is there some special use for them?"

Chen Mo didn't avoid it, saying, "I need to gather materials to refine a Golden Core to help a very important person extend their life."

"Golden Core..."

An Mengni's eyes flickered as if she thought of something.

The air quieted down; the campfire crackled and burned, bringing a touch of warmth.

Chen Mo sat cross-legged, hands and feet facing upward, eyes slightly closed, beginning to operate his cultivation technique to regulate his body.

An Mengni sat cross-legged beside him, palm supporting her chin, her watery eyes staring at him without blinking.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" Chen Mo sensed the gaze, asking with his eyes still closed.

An Mengni frankly replied, "Because Mr. Chen is good-looking, I just can't get enough of looking."

Chen Mo: "..."

If you put it that way, I won't argue with you.

An Mengni's slender fingers brushed past her lower abdomen, feeling the fierce Evil Qi in her Innate Essence, and silently thought to herself: "Don't worry, I won't let your body be used for nothing. Once all is over, I will personally purge this Qing Sha for you, ensuring your life is safe and sound."

Soon, a wave echoed in the Sea of Consciousness.

"Are you worried about Yu Hongyin?"

"She is Chen Mo's friend; naturally, I won't harm her either."

"Over the years, due to your body's condition, you haven't had any contact with the opposite sex. In a way, I've filled that void for you. You should be thanking me, you know."

"..."

The wave quickly subsided, as if it had shyly hidden away.

That sense of rejection faded, making the Divine Soul and body blend even more harmoniously.

"Although my relationship with Chen Mo has gotten a bit closer, how to get him to willingly come back and have children with me is still a problem..."

"Or maybe take enough Primordial Essence back and try slowly?"

"No way, that was risky enough just now. If I do it a few more times, Chen Mo is sure to notice something unusual. Besides, the quality would drop... even if it succeeded, how would I explain it to Chen Mo? I can't just say it's a gift for him, right?"

An Mengni sighed, worry etched in her brows and eyes.

Why is it so hard to have a child?

...

...

A night passed.

The sky gradually brightened, the eastern sky tinted with a fish-belly white.