Ling Mo finally snapped out of his daze, but before he could even sit down, Serena Feng’s question left him stunned again. He stared blankly at Serena, unable to figure out why she would ask something so personal.
Wasn’t this their first meeting? Were they really that close?
Serena realized that Ling Mo hadn’t come seeking medical treatment, and they weren’t actually acquainted. As she poured him water, she explained, “Sorry, occupational hazard—doctor’s instinct.”
"It’s fine," Ling Mo replied, taking the water and lowering his head.
Serena then noticed that Ling Mo seemed to have a habit of lowering his head—a trait that didn’t match his outward demeanor at all.
Sure enough, all that cold-blooded, bloodthirsty reputation was just a façade. If he were truly like that, Sean and Left Shore wouldn’t have taken a liking to him.
Serena didn’t say anything else and sat down across from Ling Mo. After he finished his water, he placed the cup on the table with stiff movements. Serena realized he probably had social anxiety—completely different from Linden Ling.
It made sense—if he had a normal personality, why would he show up at her door in the middle of the night? She was a young woman, after all!
"Miss Feng," Ling Mo’s voice was still unpleasant and slow. "Sorry to disturb you so late. I hope you can introduce me to Ninth Royal Uncle." He glanced at Serena, saw she had no reaction, and quickly added, "If it’s too much trouble, just pretend I never asked."
"Why would you think that? You’re only asking for an introduction, not for me to speak well of you in front of Ninth Royal Uncle. What’s troublesome about that?" Serena had no intention of making things difficult for Ling Mo; she just wanted to know why he wanted to meet Nolan.
Was it the same as Linden Ling, or did he have other intentions?
"If—if it’s not too much trouble, could you let me meet Ninth Royal Uncle?" Ling Mo’s face twisted as he spoke, making him look even more frightening.
Serena knew this wasn’t anger—Ling Mo’s throat was the problem. As a doctor, she genuinely wanted to examine his throat or at least make him stop talking. Serena was certain that every extra word he spoke only brought more pain.
It was like having his throat cut with a knife, yet he endured it without a sound. This man was anything but ordinary—his pain tolerance was off the charts.
Not wanting Ling Mo to suffer more, Serena asked bluntly, "What do you want Ninth Royal Uncle to do for you? And what can you offer him in return? If your terms are right, maybe we can talk."
Hopefully, Nolan wouldn’t blame her for cutting in—Ling Mo really was her kind of person. Serena had no real power or connections in the jianghu; even tracking down news took endless detours. She needed to build up her own network there.
She remembered Nolan saying the Assassin Alliance was founded by the Phoenixfield Clan. Besides that, the clan secretly supported a few small sects, but now those groups were growing disloyal and no longer respected the Phoenixfield Clan.
From the actions of the Lan family and the Phoenixfield Clan, Serena understood how crucial it was to have her own power in the jianghu. The only thing the clan left her was the Assassin Alliance, but its elders were aging, and she couldn’t rely on Left Shore or Dorian Owen.
If she wanted to hold her ground and grow stronger, she had to build up her own strength—and Ling Mo, a true jianghu man, was a perfect fit.
Ling Mo hadn’t expected Serena to be so straightforward. Remembering the rumors he’d heard, he dropped all pretense and said flatly, "I want the lives of everyone in Skyvault Fortress. All I have to offer is my own life."
How deep must his hatred run, to speak so calmly about wiping out an entire clan? Serena gazed intently at Ling Mo, who didn’t flinch under her scrutiny. His eyes showed no twisted, crazed hatred—just a dead, tranquil calm.
Ling Mo wasn’t blinded by vengeance. He truly hated—so much that only absolute hatred could drive him to this.
"Your life isn’t worth much," Serena said bluntly, without a trace of warmth.
She wasn’t a saint; sympathy alone wouldn’t make her risk herself against Skyvault Fortress. Even for Nolan, destroying Skyvault Fortress was no small matter.
"I know." Ling Mo showed no anger at being dismissed—he completely agreed with Serena. "But my life is all I have. Maybe, one day, I’ll have Skyvault Fortress itself." He didn’t know how to make empty promises; every word he spoke was honest.
"You could never hold the position of Skyvault Fortress Lord," Serena pointed out sharply once more.
Ling Mo was completely unsuited for dealing with people. After just a short time together, Serena could tell he had social phobia. Someone like him could never manage Skyvault Fortress.
"I can be your puppet. I don’t care what Skyvault Fortress becomes." Ling Mo wasn’t saying this out of spite, nor did he consider being a puppet shameful.
Hearing this, Serena realized she had no room to bargain—Ling Mo had already lowered himself to the most abject position, seeking their help in the humblest way possible.
Sigh... Serena was about to soften when Ling Mo spoke again: "I know there’s a secret in Skyvault Fortress—supposedly tied to the Former Dynasty’s treasure."
"The Former Dynasty’s treasure?" That instantly piqued Serena’s interest.
Nolan had already told her about the Nine Provinces Map—if this was the Former Dynasty’s treasure, it might be linked to the map.
Ling Mo thought for a moment, then nodded heavily. "I don’t know much—Linden Ling knows more."
He was so honest it was almost worrying. Even knowing Linden Ling was his rival, he still told Serena something so important—basically inviting her to approach Linden herself.
Still, sometimes simple people have simple luck. Serena actually preferred dealing with Ling Mo—kids who are stubborn are easier to trick.
"I’ll look into it. Your proposal is tempting, but I need time to think." This was no small matter—it involved not just Skyvault Fortress, but the wider jianghu and the upcoming Martial Arts Conference. She had to discuss it with Nolan.
"Alright, I’ll leave now. If you have news, tell Left Shore—he’ll find me." Ling Mo literally spoke these words through blood; as soon as he finished, blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
As a doctor, Serena couldn’t bear to watch: "Open your mouth. Let me take a look."
Ling Mo’s eyes widened in shock, but he quickly shook his head, indicating he was fine.
He was used to it.
He’d only spoken too much tonight—otherwise, it wouldn’t have been this bad.
"I’m a doctor. I know better than you whether you’re alright." Serena stood in front of Ling Mo, her expression stern. Seeing he still wouldn’t budge, she pressed again: "Don’t forget, your life won’t be yours anymore. You’d better listen to me and open your mouth."
A flicker of struggle passed through Ling Mo’s eyes, but under Serena’s persistence, he finally opened his mouth…
A foul stench hit her nose. Blood flowed uncontrollably from his mouth, with bits of white flesh visible. Through the crimson, Serena could just make out Ling Mo’s rotting tongue.
"This badly injured?" Serena swore that in all her years as a doctor, she’d never seen a mouth so ruined. She couldn’t imagine how much pain Ling Mo had endured just to speak so much.
Serena admitted, she wasn’t a kind person—but the softest part of her heart was struck by the wounds in Ling Mo’s mouth. Facing him like this, she simply couldn’t look away…