Inside the side hall of the Royal Palace, Hua Ye had sprawled back onto his soft couch, one arm around a giggling female angel. Su Mari stood to the side, his expression still dark and sullen.
Chu Mo entered the hall and gave a deep, respectful bow. "Your servant Chu Mo greets King Hua Ye."
"Old Chu is here? Sit." Hua Ye didn't even lift his eyelids, his tone casual. "I heard you were quite impressive today? You even caught Su Mari's kick with ease? I didn't know you had that kind of skill."
Here it comes. Chu Mo's heart tightened, but he immediately put on a look of trepidation, saying hurriedly, "My King... I did not intend to hide anything! It's just... these meager tricks of mine are not worth mentioning in front of powerhouses like Your Majesty and Manager Su. Speaking of them would only invite laughter."
"Oh? Meager tricks?" Hua Ye finally turned his gaze toward him. "That didn't look meager. Tell me, what kind of skill is it?"
Chu Mo composed himself. "To answer the King, this is not part of the Angel civilization's cultivation system. It is a set of... physical techniques passed down from my homeland, known as the 'Six Styles'."
"Six Styles?" Hua Ye raised an eyebrow; he had clearly never heard of it.
"Yes. I am ashamed to say it is not driven by dark energy. It is purely about tempering the physical body and unlocking human potential. It focuses on extreme control over every ounce of strength, every inch of muscle, and even breathing and blood flow."
Chu Mo explained, "It includes 'Soru' for instantaneous explosive speed, 'Tekkai' for enhanced defense, 'Kami-e' for evasion, 'Geppo' for stepping on air, 'Rankyaku' for vacuum slashes, and 'Shigan' for concentrated piercing power. I have practiced this for years without pause. While it lacks grand utility, it's enough for health and handling emergencies."
He paused and looked at Su Mari with a helpless expression. "Today, when Manager Su attacked in his anger, I instinctively used the 'Tekkai' technique to withstand it in my panic. I was lucky not to be hurt. I truly had no intention of provoking Manager Su, let alone hiding my strength. In my eyes, such crude physical brawling is... unrefined, so I never mentioned it to the King."
Hua Ye listened, tapping a gemstone thoughtfully. A refugee drifting through the universe with some "local methods" from his home—though unique, it seemed primitive compared to the high-tech and dark energy systems of the Angel civilization. This explained why Chu Mo had never shown it; he likely thought it was embarrassing.
"I see." Hua Ye nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation. A smile returned to his face. "To be able to match Su Mari in strength, there must be something unique to it! Old Chu, you always give me surprises. Since you've mentioned it, organize a manual of these 'Six Styles' and present it to me. I want to see what's so mysterious about this body-tempering method."
"If the King is interested, I shall certainly organize a detailed report for your perusal," Chu Mo replied quickly, feeling a slight sense of relief. Handing over a redacted and weakened version of the Six Styles' principles was an acceptable price to pay.
"As for Hexi..." Hua Ye's tone turned playful as his gaze drifted between Chu Mo and Su Mari. "Su Mari says you are pestering her. Is that true?"
Chu Mo immediately put on a look of embarrassed bashfulness, rubbing his hands together. "My King... this... everyone loves beauty. Miss Hexi is as beautiful as a goddess and incredibly talented. When I first saw her in the plaza, I was struck by her grace. I do... harbor feelings of admiration."
He glanced at the fuming Su Mari and added with an innocent, sincere tone, "I know Manager Su is interested in Miss Hexi as well, but... since he isn't with her yet, I thought I might try my luck too. That isn't too much to ask, right? Fair competition!"
"Hahaha!" Hua Ye roared with laughter at Chu Mo's frank and somewhat rogue-like confession. He slapped the thigh of the beauty beside him and turned to Su Mari. "See? I told you Old Chu was fine! He just thinks Hexi is pretty and wants to chase the girl! You're being way too jealous! It's just a woman! Whoever has the skill to win her over, she's theirs! I won't interfere, and I can't be bothered to!"
Su Mari's chest heaved, his face as black as a pot. He opened his mouth to protest, but seeing Hua Ye's "don't annoy me" expression, he swallowed his words. "I... obey your command."
In his heart, however, his killing intent grew maniacally. Chu Mo hadn't just made him look like a fool; he had the audacity to declare open war for Hexi.
---
Back at his office in the Cloud-Top Celestial Palace, Chu Mo's expressions vanished. He pressed a communication button, and soon Hong Yu appeared silently at the door.
"Boss." Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of exhaustion deep in her eyes.
Chu Mo handed her a written list. "Hong Yu, I need you to do something. Use our channels outside the Royal City to secretly collect the items on this list. Use multiple disguises and stay under the radar—especially from Su Mari's spies."
Hong Yu scanned the list, her pupils shrinking. "Boss... many of these are strictly controlled strategic resources. Especially these," she pointed to several names. "The control level is at the maximum. Requisitioning these in bulk is high risk."
Chu Mo nodded. "I know. That's why we use external channels. As for the risk..." He looked her in the eye. "If—and I mean if—the shipment is intercepted, have the agents swear that these were ordered by the Finance Ministry to replenish the Royal Treasury's strategic reserves. I will have the stamped documents ready in advance. The goods will eventually enter the treasury, not our personal storage. Understand?"
Hong Yu realized he was using his official power to provide a legal cloak for the materials. She nodded. "I understand, Boss. I'll arrange the most reliable people."
As she turned to leave, Chu Mo called out, "Hong Yu."
She turned back. Chu Mo's gaze softened. "These years have been hard on you. You've taken many risks and... suffered much for me. To get close to Hua Ye, I had you..."
"Boss, don't say it," Hong Yu interrupted with a bittersweet smile. "It was my choice. Being able to help you and have a place to belong in this world is enough for me."
Chu Mo shook his head firmly. "No. I won't forget those sacrifices. I will compensate you—double. Just wait a little longer; it won't be much longer now."
Watching her depart, Chu Mo sat back. He closed his eyes.
Hong Yu... and the other female angels who followed him. They survived in the cracks of the Heavenly Palace Order, giving everything. Once Hexi's research was successful, the first batch of First-Generation female angel genes would go to them.
This wasn't just about building his own power; it was a promise—and a form of redemption. To give them long lives and the power to protect their own dignity.