City Within a City

Inside a mansion during a stopover, Li Yue was following an etiquette teacher hired by Helen to learn the protocols of the Royal Court. Looking at her mechanical movements in the mirror and then at Clo, who had already mastered them with ease, Li Yue’s mouth twitched in exasperation.

“Is this etiquette... really necessary?” Li Yue rotated her stiff wrist, momentarily forgetting if her current gesture was for a farewell or a greeting.

“Your current identity is effectively the successor. As someone who was supposedly hidden away and groomed, it would be a dead giveaway if you didn't even know basic etiquette...” Helen sighed slightly, finding the speechless Li Yue oddly amusing.

“It's not that hard, actually. It feels similar to some rituals in countries I've traveled to before. I learned them out of interest back then.” Clo had already fully mastered the movements. She cracked her wrists, looking relaxed and at ease.

In this scene, everyone seemed to have momentarily forgotten the pressure as they prepared to face unfamiliar surroundings. This moment felt oddly familiar to Clo—it was as if she had returned to that summer, to the daily life she shared with Li Yue before her memories had fully returned. Though simple, those days were filled with care, understanding, and affection.

It felt like everything was back... though she didn't know how much longer it would last.

“Of course it's similar... these are all remnants of the Mythological Era society...” Li Yue stretched. Today's lesson was over. Helen and the slender woman teaching the class walked out of the room.

“Aren't you from the Mythological Era? Why do you seem like you don't know any of this?” Clo wiped her face and found a change of clothes.

“Maybe everyone pampered me too much and saw me as a child back then. Besides, my personality was never one to be bound by rules.” Li Yue sighed, feeling like a boomerang from her past had finally come back to hit her—though she had been hit by plenty of those lately.

“That book just now said these rituals were passed down from excavated ancient ruins. The first King personally decreed them to show reverence for the Divine Lord,” Clo recalled.

“They say it was all to please the Divine Lord...” Clo glanced at Li Yue, suppressing a grin. “You should be laughing on the inside.”

“Honestly...” Li Yue watched Clo walk into the bathroom, her mouth twitching. “How can she be so smug? It's practically sacrilegious.”

Li Yue twisted her waist. As a being whose true form was a snake, her flexibility could surpass human limits. She could even coil around Clo in bed. This strange ability was the main reason Clo could almost never counterattack whenever Li Yue took the lead.

Li Yue stripped. Her physical transformations lately had left her feeling dirty and fatigued. She yawned, her long, scarlet tongue flickering in the air. At the tip, there were several barbs and a forked tongue. As long as she wasn't hostile, the barbs remained soft and wouldn't scratch, but this feature made it hard for her to grasp the subtle romance of a kiss.

Every time Clo approached with a flirtatious air, Li Yue's tongue would entwine with hers and then bypass her throat's defenses in one go, forcibly invading her esophagus.

“Come to think of it... she hasn't pestered me for a kiss in a while...” Li Yue tilted her head. “I think I almost made her faint from lack of air last time... Should I... hold back this time?”

Clo's mischievous smile from moments ago flashed in her mind. Li Yue puffed out her cheeks. Grabbing a bathrobe, she walked down the hallway. Hearing the sound of water from the bathroom, a playful urge surged.

“No... this time, I'm going to... punish her properly.” Li Yue pushed open the bathroom door with a thud. She immediately applied a layer of soundproofing magic. A partially activated Witnessing Death domain instantly cut off all sound from the outside.

“Ah?!!!!” Clo's scream echoed within the space. “Wait... I'm not done yet... What are you doing?!”

...

The next day, the carriage departure was delayed until noon because Clo claimed she was unwell. When she finally boarded the carriage without help, her legs were visibly trembling. She seemed listless, dazed at times, and missed several things Helen said to her.

She sat awkwardly, leaning to one side as if she had some hidden ailment.

Li Yue’s explanation was that Clo's old injuries hadn't healed and recent strenuous activity caused a relapse. She didn't elaborate on the specific illness, and Helen didn't press further. Though Helen didn't quite understand the reason... she didn't dare speculate on the Divine Lord's thoughts.

The journey was peaceful, free of the usual bloodshed. Amidst a calm and relaxed atmosphere, they left Limbo—or rather, the residential parts of Limbo. They passed through fields and crossed a rushing river. Finally, in the vast night, they saw it.

The magnificent, dark-red-glowing... City Within a City, representing the world's ultimate power.