Chapter 10: Pretty Boy
What was going on? Why did Mo Qi absorb demonic energy faster when he was near Mo Xiu?
He looked curiously at the man in his arms. He had heard of furnaces before, though he had never actually used one.
Could this be the legendary effect of a furnace? It was incredible!
Just a touch—and he didn’t even need dual cultivation? What kind of extraordinary constitution was this? If this man were in the cultivation world, people would be scrambling to claim him!
Mo Qi couldn’t help but feel like he had stumbled upon a treasure—and it had actively delivered itself to him. Where could one find such luck?
He was so delighted that he stopped questioning the reason. Quickly, he closed his eyes and focused on cultivation. Life had been so exhausting lately, and he was determined not to endure it any longer.
Since becoming the Demon Lord, it had been a long time since he had trained so diligently.
But the hard work paid off. Mo Qi realized that the demonic energy he had been slowly storing in his dantian over many days—barely even a trace—was now fully absorbed after just half a night.
In addition, he absorbed scattered demonic energy from this world into his dantian, saving it for future cultivation.
He had to admit, a world filled with faint demonic energy but devoid of spiritual energy was perfect for demon cultivators. He just wondered where all the spiritual energy had gone.
After finishing all this, Mo Qi’s control over his body improved significantly. At least now, a few of his fingers finally obeyed his will.
This discovery delighted him so much that he didn’t even notice the sun had risen.
When Mo Xiu woke up, he saw the man beside him staring at him with bright, sparkling eyes and felt slightly puzzled.
Smiling, he ruffled Mo Qi’s hair and asked, “Why are you awake so early? Are you hungry?”
Mo Qi really wanted to reply, hungry? Not at all! Just looking at you fills me up!
Mo Xiu got dressed, then after taking care of both of them, carried Mo Qi downstairs to prepare breakfast.
Several months had passed since the apocalypse, and ordinary gas or electricity was long gone. Unless a household had its own generator or gas canister, nothing could be powered.
Fortunately, their small semi-farmhouse had a stove on the first floor that could burn wood. There was still some firewood left to use.
In the apocalypse, finding food wasn’t easy. Most meals were instant foods. So having a hot meal was a rare treat.
Most people in Mo Xiu’s team were urban college students unaccustomed to cooking with a simple stove and had very few ingredients to work with.
But Mo Xiu was different. He had honed all his survival skills during his previous life, so using a wood stove was effortless.
He lit a fire, asked Lu Pingwan to add water to a pot in exchange for a small piece of bread, and when the water boiled, tossed in two packs of instant noodles, along with marinated eggs and luncheon meat.
Instant noodles had a powerful aroma. Even though the kitchen was on the first floor while most people lived above, the fragrance quickly filled the entire courtyard.
Almost everyone was drawn by the scent, their mouths watering.
They hadn’t never eaten instant noodles before, or if they had, it was rare and usually dry. Adding eggs and luncheon meat made it feel luxurious.
Some people stared hungrily, practically drooling.
Mo Xiu didn’t care at all and ignored the gazes. When the noodles were ready, he placed two large bowls on the table, leaving the remaining soup for Lu Pingwan.
She didn’t mind, happily scooping up the last half bowl of hot soup and savoring it with bread.
Mo Qi had already been drawn by the smell. Seeing Mo Xiu bring two large bowls, he was full of anticipation.
He wondered what kind of noodles these were—they smelled amazing and tasted like a delicacy he had never experienced.
After all, in the cultivation world, he had never eaten anything like this.
Mo Xiu patiently fed him bite by bite, only taking a bite himself when Mo Qi chewed.
A hot morning bowl of noodles warmed him from the stomach up, waking him entirely.
The two of them ate together, creating a cozy, warm atmosphere.
Xi Wenlin, who came out of his room, felt his teeth grit in frustration.
How long had it been since he had a proper bowl of noodles? And this man—not only eating so well, but being fed by someone else?
The jealousy and frustration made Xi Wenlin step forward. “Mo Xiu, are you having breakfast?”
What a pointless question.
Mo Xiu ignored him, thinking it in his heart.
Xi Wenlin, embarrassed and unable to ask directly for food, turned to the man sitting beside him.
“Hello, you’re Mo Qi, right? I’m Mo Xiu’s senior, Xi Wenlin. Nice to meet you.”
He greeted with his usual fake charm, assuming the man would at least show him some respect, especially being introduced by Mo Xiu.
But to his surprise, Mo Qi ignored him completely, continuing to eat the breakfast Mo Xiu served.
Xi Wenlin’s face darkened. Feeling humiliated, he forced a polite tone: “Mo Qi, didn’t you hear me?”
Mo Qi could hear him, of course—but why should he respond?
He was happily eating the noodles fed to him, finding the man beside him noisy and annoying.
Even controlling his body required effort, let alone engaging with a random stranger. Plus, the man’s intentions were so easy to read—it was boring.
He had already realized yesterday that Mo Xiu was the leader here, and everyone else feared him.
He didn’t yet understand why, but that didn’t stop him from concluding that with Mo Xiu by his side, he could walk anywhere confidently.
It was just a pity his body wasn’t fully under his control. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t move freely yet.
The two continued to be ignored, leaving Xi Wenlin feeling utterly trampled on.
He wanted to lash out, but a glance from Mo Xiu chilled him, silencing him instantly.
Recalling recent missions and witnessing Mo Xiu’s methods against zombies and subtle intimidation, Xi Wenlin knew this man was not to be trifled with.
After a long effort, he could only leave in shame.
During the three-day rest in An Ping Town, most people noticed something strange about Mo Qi.
At first, they thought he was just a pretty boy riding on Mo Xiu’s favor—spoiled, being fed, and carried around.
But soon, they realized something was off.
His reactions were unusually slow, clearly not normal.
In three days, Mo Qi barely spoke ten words, all slow and unclear, requiring effort.
Being carried around wasn’t because he was pampered, but because he couldn’t walk on his own. Without Mo Xiu’s help, he needed support, as if he were disabled.
So everyone concluded: this Mo Qi wasn’t the charming pretty boy they imagined.
His condition suggested either severe physical issues—or a problem with his mind.
Could he really be a fool?
Watching the man in front of him, being fed bite by bite, Xi Wenlin could only swallow hard.
“Xiaowan, get a small basin of water,” Mo Xiu said, placing three pieces of beef jerky on the table and speaking to Lu Pingwan.
The young girl eagerly sprang into action: “Got it, Brother Mo!” and happily fetched the water.
She received the jerky with delight, having not eaten this in a long time.
Once the water arrived, Mo Xiu carefully washed the man’s hands and face. After cleaning him thoroughly, he used the remaining water on himself.
Xi Wenlin watching all this felt even worse.
He had thought Mo Xiu was just pretending to test him. But now, Mo Xiu seemed serious—and clearly a face enthusiast, caring only about appearance.
Otherwise, why would he pick a man who was nothing but good looks, and bring him back? Xi Wenlin regretted his own restraint earlier. He thought: had he acted sooner, he could have been enjoying this luxury now.
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