Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 725: The Maternal Family of the Ice Block

Previously on Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’...

Infiltrating the Summoning Demons Sect under the guise of the Heitu Immortal, Li Mo finds himself in a bizarre predicament when the sect leaders propose a plan to eliminate his true identity. Despite the presence of his own allies acting as "Dharma Protectors," the demonic cultivators brainstorm ways to neutralize Li Mo’s formidable defenses. To his horror, the group settles on using potent aphrodisiacs to trap him during his wedding night. Just as Li Mo hopes the plan will fail for lack of supplies, his own mole, Old Huang, unexpectedly stands up to claim he has exactly what they need.

"Oh? You...."

Situ Ding's gaze shifted toward the young man. The youth possessed a sickly, sallow complexion and sunken eyes, looking exactly like a man wasted away by a life of debauchery. The Vice-Leader's expression flickered slightly.

The chamber fell into an immediate, heavy silence where a falling pin would have sounded like thunder. Every person in the room tracked his line of sight.

Li Mo maintained a facade of perfect composure, though his heart hammered with a trace of anxiety.

The man before them was a vice-leader level demonic master. Was it possible he had detected something suspicious about Old Huang?

Huang Donglai forced himself to slow his breathing, even as a thin layer of cold sweat coated his brow.

"Hahaha... Marvelous. Our Divine Sect truly never lacks for emerging talent." Situ Ding stared at him intensely for several heartbeats before erupting into a boisterous laugh:

"Just by looking at your face, I can tell you're no good egg. You probably haven't been a flower-picking thief just a few times!"

Having infiltrated the demonic sect, Huang Donglai had indeed assumed the identity of a member who practiced the wicked art of plucking yin to supplement yang. However, under the strict laws of the Great Yu, flower-picking thieves were sentenced to castration and borderland exile. That particular man had been a coward, choosing to spend his coin at brothels instead.

"You flatter me, Vice-Leader."

Huang Donglai finally exhaled a secret sigh of relief.

But Yuwen Cuojin's eyes narrowed once more: "Liu Hao, why did you fail to report in that one time?"

With such significant operations looming, every sect member was required to send regular updates to Yuwen Cuojin regarding their status and location to prevent any leaks.

During that last check-in, Huang Donglai had happened to be visiting the Autumn Water Pavilion.

"I got caught at a brothel," Huang Donglai replied, his mind racing as he improvised.

"A brothel?" Situ Ding's brow furrowed. "You still need to frequent such places?"

"Vice-Leader, you may not be aware. Under Great Yu law, the penalty for a flower-picking thief is brutal—castration followed by exile. Consequently, I simply sought an alternative path."

Huang Donglai felt a surge of gratitude for the time he had spent with Murong Xiao, which had provided him with a wealth of useful experience:

"Why not just spend a bit of silver to practice plucking yin to supplement yang at a brothel? Even if it costs some money, it is a small price to pay to avoid a prison cell."

"Hiss...."

"That actually makes a lot of sense. Why would a flower-picking thief risk his life to steal from respectable women?"

"Because they prefer virgins?"

"If you are willing to pay at a brothel, are you really worried about not finding virgins?"

The gathered demonic sect members looked at one another, their expressions reflecting a sudden, profound realization.

Situ Ding was momentarily stunned into silence. He had assumed this youth was a reckless criminal, never imagining such a pragmatic approach to the art of plucking yin to supplement yang. After a long pause, he let out a dry cough:

"Well, given the current tension, it can be seen as acting expediently."

"You still haven't answered my question." Yuwen Cuojin refused to let the matter drop.

Huang Donglai adopted an expression of deep distress.

"Hmm? Speak up! What were you doing?" The suspicion on Yuwen Cuojin’s face intensified.

"I... I was apprehended. I was thrown into the prefectural office for an entire day and only just managed to find a window to escape."

"Caught at a brothel? Which law in the Great Yu forbids visiting a brothel?"

"But I didn't pay," Huang Donglai stated, his voice thick with a sense of grievance and indignation.

"...."

The demonic sect members traded glances. As demonic masters of the Summoning Demons Sect, being caught for skipping out on a brothel bill was a truly humiliating admission.

A confused Situ Ding asked: "Then why didn't you pay?"

"The sect hasn't paid our stipends for two months. I would have if I had any!" Huang Donglai lamented with a bitter face.

"...."

The sect members looked at each other, their silent nods confirming that this was the painful truth.

Both Yuwen Cuojin and Situ Ding looked profoundly embarrassed. They stole a glance at the Black Earth Immortal Lord beside them, their faces flushing. They began to feel that the Immortal Lord was looking at them with a sort of wealthy pity, making them feel so impoverished they wanted to vanish into the floor.

"Ahem, we have shown our unsightly side to the Immortal Lord."

Situ Ding cleared his throat: "The sect doesn't typically delay payments. It's simply that our losses during the Imperial Capital battle were catastrophic, and we've been focused on regrouping..."

"It is all because of that cursed Li Mo!" Yuwen Cuojin growled, his fist clenched in rage.

"Yes, it's entirely his fault!"

"If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have missed two months of pay!"

"Once we seize Li Mo and take the Great Shang legacy he carries, we'll get our bonuses then, right?"

The demonic sect members were worked into a frenzy of excitement.

Li Mo: "??"

What does this have to do with me? You're blaming me for your missing stipends?

Young Master Li felt a sudden urge to pull out several chests of gold and jewels to hand out. If they just split the money, everyone could just go home to their mothers. Sadly, this wasn't a problem that could be fixed purely with currency...

"Capture Li Mo, get bonuses!"

"?"

The young Immortal Lord Li turned his head, staring speechlessly at Elder Qian and Elder Xue. Why were those two joining in the chanting?

"Enough, let us return to the primary matter."

Situ Ding held his hand down for a long time before anyone noticed, eventually needing to speak in a low, heavy tone to settle the crowd.

He turned his attention back to Huang Donglai.

"You mentioned there was 'no need to look.' What did you mean by that?"

Huang Donglai flashed a lewd grin and pulled a small bottle from his robes:

"I concocted this myself using the secret formula of the Joy Union Sect, and I've even improved the recipe!"

"The effect is not only doubled—making the victim unable to tell a human from an animal—but the scent blends perfectly into wine. It's impossible to detect! Once the effect fades, the target will be left in a state of severe yang deficiency."

As Huang Donglai spoke with growing fervor, he suddenly felt a sharp chill crawl down his spine.

He looked back to see the Black Earth Immortal Lord wearing a smile of nuclear-grade benevolence.

"Hiss...."

Situ Ding gasped, his eyes suddenly sparkling with interest.

With a simple beckoning motion, the Double Joy Powder flew into his palm.

"Does it truly possess such incredible potency?"

Li Mo: "...."

He didn't need to test anything Old Huang made to know it was effective. At this stage, he couldn't interfere without raising red flags.

Knowing the wine would be spiked, he would simply make sure not to drink it when the time arrived.

"We shall proceed as planned then. Just notify me through your token when the moment to strike arrives."

Li Mo stood up, having achieved his goal for the day.

"We respectfully see off the Immortal Lord."

Yuwen Cuojin, Situ Ding, and the assembled demonic masters all bowed low in farewell.

Before their words even finished echoing, the surroundings dissolved like dreamlike bubbles. By the time they recovered their senses, the Immortal Lord and his entourage had vanished completely.

"If this concoction works, you will be rewarded once the mission is complete."

After dismissing Huang Donglai, Situ Ding stared at the medicine bottle in his hand, lost in thought.

He still harbored some doubts about its effectiveness.

"This subordinate is willing to test it," Luo Yexian declared with a solemn expression.

"You are willing to use yourself as a test subject?" Yuwen Cuojin raised an eyebrow. This man usually avoided work, yet here he was, volunteering for duty?

"It is all for the sake of the Divine Sect. One must charge ahead regardless of personal risk. On a side note, will the sect cover the brothel expenses?"

"...... Didn't you claim you had no issues in that department, you were just uninterested in women?"

Ultimately, Luo Yexian went anyway, paying out of his own pocket.

Why go if he had to pay for it himself?

As long as he remained in a state of 'yang deficiency' later, he would have a perfect excuse to avoid the assault on the Clear Abyss Sect.

Hiding out at a brothel, finishing the task, and then winning back his silver at a mahjong table—wasn't that a far better plan?