Chapter 55: No Way

After Miss Vesilia finished her words, she left immediately, as if she had come only to deliver a message.

“Am I just overthinking things?”

Li Ang shook his head, bid farewell to Sylph, and left the church.

On the way, he overheard some passersby discussing something.

Li Ang moved closer and finally heard clearly—it was about the current Demon Queen actually going to the capital herself for peace talks.

Hearing this, Li Ang was stunned.

Was she really so bold?

It was said that she would arrive in the capital in a few days.

Li Ang calculated in his heart that by then, he should have a chance to see the true face of the Demon Queen.

But for now, his main focus was still on completing the simulation.

When he got home, Li Ang closed his eyes again and lay down on the bed.

***

“Um… I can actually feed myself.”

Li Ang looked at the spoon in front of him, a little embarrassed.

“No way!”

Lias sternly rejected Li Ang’s suggestion.

“You have to eat properly! Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease!”

Helpless, Li Ang opened his mouth and obediently bit the spoon.

Seeing this, Lias scooped up another spoonful of soup and gently blew on it.

“But… why do I have to drink Goji Soup?”

Looking at the table loaded with all kinds of tonics, Li Ang felt his kidneys ache.

“If you… don’t get enough nourishment, how can you… Aiya, anyway, it’s for your own good!”

The succubus lady, flustered, brought the spoon to Li Ang’s mouth, watching him drink it sip by sip.

Ever since Lias woke up from her slumber, Li Ang’s life had changed dramatically.

You could say, his routine was now extremely healthy, and he came home for dinner every night.

Every day, seeing the succubus lady in a maid outfit when he came home, Li Ang was quite happy.

But the old men at the Potion Association were not happy at all.

After all, with Li Ang working less, their research progress had slowed down drastically.

Behind his back, they all accused Li Ang of being henpecked—how could women be more important than potions!

Li Ang couldn’t be bothered to argue with those old fossils.

What did they know—they already had one foot in the grave!

However, ever since the high-grade Mana-Stealing Potion was exposed, Li Ang’s reputation had skyrocketed.

It was said that in the end, a seventh-rank priest bought it, supposedly spending a fortune in high-level magic tools, and soon after, he advanced to Eighth-rank Saint.

When this news broke out, the outside world nearly went crazy.

The threshold of the Potion Association was practically trampled down; countless family powers with seventh-rank experts all wanted a bottle of the potion.

Eventually, the association announced that only three bottles would be produced per year, and all would be sold via Auction.

Moreover, every buyer would owe Master Li Ang a favor.

That last condition was, of course, added by Li Ang himself.

To most outsiders who didn’t know the inside story, this condition seemed rather harsh, but for those veteran powerhouses stuck at the seventh rank for years, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

However, such an obvious move to win over the strong naturally attracted the attention of a certain someone.

On this day, Li Ang was once again summoned by Solaris I.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Li Ang bent down, preparing to salute.

“Hey, Sir Li Ang, you are a great contributor to the Empire; there’s no need for such formalities.”

Solaris I stepped down from the dais, smiling as he helped Li Ang up and praised him.

“Come, let’s have a chat today.”

With that, he led Li Ang to a wine table already set to the side.

“The potions developed by Sir Li Ang are of inestimable importance to the Empire. The rise in our national strength is all thanks to you.”

“Your Majesty flatters me; it’s simply what I should do.”

“Ah, no need to be modest. I know you were a genius since youth. How come your temperament has changed so much over the years?”

Solaris I said with a smile, then began to inquire about Li Ang’s recent research progress.

Li Ang cooperatively answered, trying to explain things in simple terms for the emperor before him.

Before long, Solaris I brought up the main topic.

He took a sip of wine and then, as if casually, asked, “I heard that the high-grade Mana-Stealing Potion developed by Sir Li Ang has already been auctioned off?”

“That’s right.”

“I also heard you specifically set a condition, making the buyer owe you a favor. Why is that?”

Solaris I’s tone was curious, as if he was just wondering.

But Li Ang knew, this was what the emperor truly wanted to ask.

He looked up and replied earnestly, “Because I’m just an ordinary person without any magical talent. I worry I might encounter some danger, so this is my way of giving myself a little security. Forgive me for making you laugh, Your Majesty.”

Hearing this, Solaris suddenly remembered that this outstanding young man before him was, in fact, an ordinary person, whose lifespan would be no more than a hundred years.

What was there to fear? Nothing to fear.

He immediately smiled, took Li Ang’s hand, and changed the subject.

“I heard Sir Li Ang isn’t married yet. My sixth daughter is only ten years younger than you. How about marrying her?”

Upon hearing this, Li Ang’s eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly declined, “Her Highness the Sixth Princess has a noble status. I’m truly unworthy, and… I already have someone I admire.”

“It’s that red-haired lady by your side?”

Solaris seemed to understand and stopped trying to play matchmaker.

“Well then, I won’t meddle in young people’s romances.”

With that, he waved his hand, and Li Ang finally breathed a sigh of relief, rising to leave the palace.

***

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lias was simmering soup when urgent footsteps and knocking came from outside.

Hm?

Li Ang’s back already?

So early today?

She opened the door, only to find the visitor was actually Sophia, the young lady of Duke Seretes’s household.

“Why are you here?”

She was actually fairly familiar with Sophia.

“Ah, Sister Lias, something big happened!”

The young girl grabbed Lias and rushed into the house, looking anxious.

“What big thing?”

“It’s about Brother Li Ang…”

The girl panted, squeezing out a few words.

“What happened to Li Ang?”

The moment she heard it was about Li Ang, Lias grew nervous, grabbing Sophia’s arm with an anxious expression.

“His Majesty said he wants to marry the Sixth Princess to him! Sister Lias, you have to act quickly, or it’ll be too late!”

Sophia looked at Lias seriously.

“Wha… What? Li Ang is going to marry another woman? No way, absolutely not!”

Lias was a little dazed, muttering to herself.

“So, Sister Lias, hurry up and push Brother Li Ang down. If you make the rice cooked before the pot is ready, Brother Li Ang definitely won’t be able to marry the Sixth Princess then.”

Sophia offered her suggestion from the side.

Cooked rice…

But she and Li Ang couldn’t even do that kind of thing…

Just kissing nearly sucked Li Ang dry.

If they really did that, what would happen?

Sophia continued at the side, “My father and mother are that age and still exercise in their room every day. Brother Li Ang is at the best age to be tempted now. Sister Lias, you have to make your move soon, and let Brother Li Ang carry on the family line!”

Hearing this, Lias’s expression darkened.

She… seemed unable to do that kind of thing with Li Ang, nor could she bear him a child.

The woman bit her lip, eyes filled with a deep gloom.

If that was the case, would Li Ang marry someone else?

After all, she was still a demon…

Would he… abandon her?

The more Lias thought about it, the more muddled her mind became.