Chapter 266 Thorns

When returning from the club, Li Mochen rode in Angela's luxury RV, the Norfolk 'Aegis'. Compared to the off-road vehicle arranged for him by the Nathan Group, this 'Aegis' RV was far more comfortable. Its defensive capabilities were also extremely strong; legend had it that it could withstand tank shells.

"So, did you really kiss her, Angela?"

Li Mochen asked curiously after getting into the car: "I could tell there was a little excitement on her face."

"No! At least an inch short, this much!"

Angela deliberately gestured with her fingers: "She's already your woman, Amo! No one else can touch her except you, including me."

Li Mochen wasn't about to be counterattacked so easily. He raised an eyebrow and teased with a half-smile: "Really? Then you're trying to reclaim your old flame. I heard it: 'If you still love me, kiss me.' Hey, that's really sweet."

Angela glared at Lina angrily—it was all the head maid's fault for not warning her at the time—but the latter looked completely innocent. She hadn't expected her mistress to pull such a move.

"Amo, if you bring this up again, I'll kick you out of the car!"

Angela thought it best to end this topic quickly: "Let's talk about that Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek Sword you taught us. I always feel this sword technique is familiar."

As she spoke, she formed a sword gesture with two fingers and gestured up and down in front of her.

Li Mochen thought to himself, of course you're familiar; this sword technique was adapted from a sword art from the East in this world called 'Taiyi Hunyuan Sword'.

In the Primordial Dome, there was indeed a sword technique called 'Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek Sword', and it was quite famous, but Li Mochen couldn't simply copy it verbatim, nor could he create something from nothing.

Although he could shift the blame to Li Chunchu, Li Mochen had to consider the latter's capacity to take the fall.

Choosing an existing sword technique from this world and improving it could minimize others' suspicions.

'Taiyi Hunyuan Sword' was also a guiding sword technique, with effects of preserving beauty, prolonging life, and improving physique, just not as pronounced as 'Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek Sword'. And with Li Mochen's master-level attainments in swordsmanship, he could easily integrate the core essence of 'Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek Sword' into the forms of 'Taiyi Hunyuan Sword'.

"I remember now! This is the routine of Taiyi Hunyuan Sword, but each move has slight changes, and the flow of source energy is completely different."

Angela had already found a reasonable explanation for Li Mochen: "I've heard that Taiyi Hunyuan Sword has many schools. Is your family's Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek Sword one of them?"

"Taiyi Hunyuan Sword? I've never heard of it. Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek is just Green-Browed Rosy-Cheek."

Li Mochen feigned ignorance of the Eastern cultivation world: "If you're really interested, An Qi, I can give you some extra lessons when we get back. This sword technique really can preserve beauty; I'm not lying to you."

When he said this, not only Angela but also Lina beside her showed expectant expressions.

At this point, Li Mochen got to the point: "An Qi, you invited me to ride with you; you must have something to tell me, right?"

"You guessed right."

At Angela's signal, Lina handed a dossier to Li Mochen: "This is intelligence I got yesterday, related to you, Amo. I think the Dragon Witch Cult has reacted. In the coming days, you absolutely cannot let your guard down."

Li Mochen frowned and flipped through the dossier, then murmured: "'Illusion Heart' Delon, and 'Iron Thorn' Bertram?"

"The former is a level 17 illusionist of the Dragon Witch Cult, who arrived in Atlanta two weeks ago, presumably sent to hypnotize Hayer. But last night, for some reason, he wasn't at the underground base of the Gerald Factory. Then there's 'Iron Thorn' Bertram, a level 19 dragon-blooded sorcerer and a red priest within the Dragon Witch Cult. My family's intelligence network noticed him arriving in Atlanta this morning on a flight from All-America Airlines. Besides him, he brought a few helpers, but their identities are hard to discern. Most Dragon Witch Cult members are good at hiding. Only Bertram has very distinctive features."

Angela's voice was grave: "Amo, he's probably coming for you. 'Iron Thorn' Bertram is very powerful, and with his holy artifact, his strength is close to legendary. Among your people, only that sniper close to legendary and the Natural Punisher Dainn Stacy can match him. The Dragon Witch Cult has nothing left in Atlanta, but that's when it's most dangerous."

"Thank you, An Qi. I'll be careful."

Li Mochen put away the dossier: "Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask. I want to borrow your channels to inquire about 'Stones of Fate'—where to buy them and roughly how much they cost."

Originally, the Red Sparrow Club would have been a suitable channel, but due to Halloween, they moved this week's opening time to Thursday. However, after his fight yesterday, he launched the attack on the Gerald Factory and had no time to go. He could also ask Carl and the Nathan Group, but Li Mochen had long noticed that the former's information channels were far inferior to Angela's family's intelligence network.

"Stones of Fate? The divine fragments of the six Fates? Wait a moment."

Angela picked up the phone and dialed a number. After about a minute and thirty seconds, she replied to Li Mochen: "I just consulted the most senior appraiser at Dawn Auction House. He said there are about 220 Stones of Fate in all of America, and my family has three in its collection. He said the price of Stones of Fate has never been fixed. The last auction of a Stone of Fate, about the size of a thumb, sold for 13 million gold shields. Their practical value isn't high; they can bring temporary luck but then cause great misfortune. Still, as relics of the Fates, they are favored by many antique collectors."

"13 million gold shields?"

Li Mochen pinched his brow. Once again, he felt very poor.

"I see. An Qi, if I gather the money, could you sell me the three Stones of Fate your family has?"

"Of course."

Angela answered readily: "If you need them now, I can give them to you; you can pay later."

Li Mochen shook his head. As a man, he still had some pride.

When the two returned to Unicorn Apartments, they found several fire trucks and police cars parked in front of the building.

Seeing this, Li Mochen felt a sense of foreboding. When he took the elevator to his floor, he found it had turned into a waterlogged mess, and the living room inside had extensive burn marks.

Hayer, soaking wet, was sitting slumped in the middle of the living room. When she saw Li Mochen, her eyes lit up, and she rushed over and hugged him tightly: "Andre!"

Li Mochen wanted to give her a warm embrace, but at that moment, he heard a crisp 'crack' from his ribs, and then he couldn't help but wince in pain.