The King of Black Fog

"I'm not sure, in novels with female leads, they always have some sort of bloodline power, like a Demon God Bloodline or Primordial energies, and they don't need Elixir Pills."

Chatting for a while, Li Changzhou yawned, feeling a bit sleepy. He then opened the "Honey Pot World," swallowing the three of them, the little Jade Cauldron, and all the medicinal materials inside.

"Get some rest early," he said, standing up and walking toward his own wooden hut.

He had spent the morning in Ming City and from dawn till late into the night in Sicily; he had almost gone a day without sleep.

Although going three or four days without sleeping wouldn't affect him, there was something to be said for habits. Besides, sleeping was always more rejuvenating than not.

Behind him, Li Qianxia and Yang Qinglan exchanged a glance—the two, having just taken their Elixir Pills, were full of energy.

"Hey, bro, don't go," Li Qianxia grabbed her brother's hand.

"Is there something else?" Li Changzhou turned around to ask.

"In the dead of night, in a foreign land, one man and two women, what else could there be?" Li Qianxia paused here, smiling ambiguously, "Shall we have a big battle for three hundred rounds? The two of us against you?"

"Oh?" Li Changzhou seemed interested, "What are the stakes for winning or losing?"

"If you win, treat us to a meal; if you lose, treat us to a meal."

Li Changzhou nodded, "No wonder that's how female novels write it; bloodlines are indeed important."

If it weren't for his own sister, Li Qianxia probably would have already died.

"You're not satisfied?" Li Qianxia asked.

"Mr. Lu Xun once said, wasting someone else's time is like going after their life. What do you think? Am I satisfied?" Li Changzhou countered.

"Well then, let's change it—um—" Li Qianxia pretended to think hard, "If you win, Qing Lan is yours; if you lose, you belong to Qing Lan. How about that?"

"Is there even anything to discuss? I surrender!"

"...I thought you'd at least say 'Is there even anything to discuss? Let's start!'" Yang Qinglan held her forehead and sighed, deeply aware that this person was shameless, hopeless, and extremely lecherous.

But she had no complaints that he was shameless, hopeless, and extremely lecherous only towards her.

October 22, a morning in Sicily.

The three of them sat on the terrace of a Five Stars hotel overlooking the Mediterranean, enjoying an Italian breakfast.

It wasn't a grand meal, as Li Qianxia had requested of Yafeiluna that it had to be Italian specialties, not the kind of things that are available everywhere simply for being tasty and looking good.

"How's Hede doing?" Li Changzhou asked Yafeiluna.

"He slept through the night and still hasn't woken up." Yafeiluna was having breakfast with them.

Li Changzhou nodded; being able to sleep was a good sign, which meant there were no issues.

As Li Qianxia ate, she took pictures with her phone, saying she'd send them to her "bestie" Xu Mengjie later (the one who spent $1,125 on high heels, saying the sky in Chicago was as blue as a robin's egg).

Outside the terrace, there were cliffs and a heart-shaped coast, with the deep-blue sea occasionally bisected by the white lines of sailing boats.

In an alley, a group of tourists who had rushed to the city in the middle of the night were carrying their suitcases and climbing more than a hundred steps.

After eating, Li Changzhou and the others followed Yafeiluna to Hede's room.

Upon seeing Li Changzhou, Hede's body trembled and he quickly prostrated himself on the ground, assuming the most devoted posture of worship.

"My lord," he even wanted to kiss Li Changzhou's right shoe.

Yang Qinglan flashed blue in her eyes and pushed him away—if Li Changzhou dodged by himself, it would look rather unimpressive—this was the disadvantage of having too few skills.

"How's your condition?" Li Changzhou asked him.

"Thanks to the lord's mercy and blessing, I am alright now," Hede answered, sounding very earnest.

Li Changzhou took out Hede's Identity Card and without a word, gave him a skill. This time, he consciously "warned" the black fog to not frighten people.

Hede's head was deeply buried in the carpet, his body trembling but without any other discomfort.

"Give me Gregory's Identity Card," Li Changzhou said next.

"Yes," Hede responded.

Yafeiluna's grey fog escorted Gregory in. At Hede's command, Gregory handed over his own Identity Card.

Li Changzhou bestowed a skill on Gregory, similarly "warning" the black fog.

Gregory's robust body thudded to the ground, with tears streaming down his face he worshipped Li Changzhou.

Li Changzhou thought for a moment and took out Yafeiluna and Calvino's Identity Cards.

The black fog stretched a "hand" and grabbed a string of blue flame characters, pressing them onto Yafeiluna's Identity Card.

Yafeiluna's emerald eyes filled with terror, shock, and respect.

She lowered her head, and her body shrank, as she knelt on the ground alongside Hede and Gregory.

"Thank you, my 'Lord'." Yafeiluna was wholeheartedly convinced.

Li Changzhou glanced at the Identity Card, 'Torture' had decreased by one level, but its power hadn't been affected; it was only that the number of targets and distance had been reduced.

"Tell me about what you felt just now," he asked as he lifted his head to her.

"You created man in your own image; to you, a day is like a thousand years, a thousand years like a day; great is only great because you allow it; eternal is only eternal because you deem it so. I have seen the 'Lord's' true radiance," Yafeiluna answered with sincere and calm devotion.

...Greeting the devout is really troublesome.

Li Changzhou remembered that he had said his codename was 'Lord,' not the religious "Lord."

His gaze swept over Yafeiluna and Hede. Now, there were two choices.

One was to kill Hede, allowing Yafeiluna to manage all of the Mafia by herself; the other was to let Hede live, so they could check and balance each other, competing for dominance.

"Rise," he decided to let Hede live.

Healthy competition was beneficial for them and for Li Changzhou himself—if Li Changzhou grew stronger, it naturally meant more benefits for them as well.

Yafeiluna and Gregory got up, while Hede remained kneeling on the ground.

"Lord, please allow me to offer my humble oath to you!"

Li Changzhou accepted his oath.

"You two, now go and gather your manpower. Three hours from now, meet me at Monreale Cathedral," he commanded.

"Yes!" Yafeiluna and Hede replied at the same time, each casting a glance at the other, seeing their rival.

In order to prove themselves, both hurried to make arrangements.

They not only focused on their own people but also set their sights on Calvino's forces.

Hede had a 'joining ritual,' and by taking his men to their doors, he could easily subdue them with a little pressure.

Yafeiluna previously couldn't compete in recruitment, but now, with 'Torture' and in addition to Calvino's underlings—most of whom had previously suffered 'Torture'—seeing Yafeiluna use the same Skill, they were quick to submit.

Both sides were determined to outdo each other, proving their utmost loyalty to the 'Lord.'

Li Changzhou, Yang Qinglan, and Li Qianxia returned to 'Honey Pot World.'

The sun shone brightly, the green trees were lush, butterflies fluttered, and the air carried the scent of fresh grass.

"It's your turn now." Li Changzhou looked at them.

Li Qianxia was still a bit scared.

"I'll go." Yang Qinglan stepped forward, taking out an Identity Card that listed the Skill she desired.

Li Changzhou watched her; Yang Qinglan smiled back at him.

The black fog stretched a "hand."

Yang Qinglan's body began to tremble, her head swam, and her vision blurred as she saw something Unbearable, something that was not any "Lord," but sin, an Evil God, the Abyss.

Just as she felt as though she was about to collapse and her insides might be turned out, her hand was suddenly gripped firmly by someone else's.

She took deep, drowning breaths and saw that it was Li Changzhou holding her hand tightly.

Her vision cleared. The black fog still stood there, mysterious as ever, but no longer 'Unbearable.' Gradually, the fog faded slowly from sight.

Yang Qinglan's emotions finally began to slowly 'come back to life.' She looked at Li Changzhou and gave him a comforting smile.

"It was a success," her voice was a bit hoarse.

Li Changzhou tightened his grip on her hand and continued to stare at her without blinking.

Yang Qinglan realized that success at this time was secondary, even an irrelevant answer.

"I'm okay," she said softly.

"Good to hear you're okay." Li Changzhou let go of her hand and his tightly pressed lips relaxed into a smile.