Chapter 157: You Will Be Ridiculed

"Vanessa, do you still remember what happened in the Black Mountain Marshlands?"

On the river's surface, Li Meng was carrying Vanessa as he sprinted madly.

While running, he casually chatted with Vanessa.

"I do remember, Ammon. How did you survive back then?"

Vanessa curiously touched Ammon's neck.

She vividly recalled personally beheading Ammon.

However, even though his head was severed, Ammon hadn't died.

Not long after, he reappeared, lively as ever.

"My self-healing ability is incredibly strong; killing me isn't that easy."

Ammon's explanation made Vanessa roll her eyes.

This was not something that could be explained away with a mere claim of strong self-healing.

Even among dragonkin renowned for their regenerative capabilities, decapitation was fatal.

Although she was puzzled, Vanessa didn’t ask further.

At that moment, Vanessa's brow slightly furrowed.

She turned her head slightly to look toward the southern shore.

"Ammon, I sense the presence of the Black Robe."

Hearing Vanessa's words, Li Meng's expression shifted slightly.

Without stopping, he continued dashing across the water's surface.

"Vanessa, what is the Black Robe?"

Vanessa mentioned sensing the Black Robe's aura instead of Olivia's, which piqued Li Meng's curiosity.

"The Black Robe is a semi-divine artifact woven from the silk of the goddess Lolth. It conceals the aura of dark elves, enhances the body in all aspects, and is exclusive to dark elves. It has no effect when worn by other races."

"Semi-divine artifact? It’s so fragile that it can be destroyed so easily!"

Indeed, Yue E's water cannon magic was strong, but not to the extent of destroying a semi-divine artifact.

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"Well... the goddess Lolth fears water!"

Hearing this, Li Meng showed a look of realization.

So it was due to a weakness.

If the goddess Lolth feared water, then naturally, her silk would as well.

No wonder Vanessa's Black Robe had been so easily damaged.

"Is it Olivia?"

"It should be her."

Li Meng furrowed his brow, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

Wasn't this expected?

After he had taken Vanessa, it was natural for Olivia to keep pestering him.

"Ammon, capture her!"

Vanessa looked toward the southern forest with an expressionless face.

"Are you sure?"

Li Meng turned to glance at Vanessa, who was perched on his shoulder.

A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.

After all, Olivia was Vanessa's clanswoman.

The fact that Vanessa had come to the Goblin Forest with her suggested their relationship couldn’t have been too strained.

"Luckily, she’s here. If she returns to the clan, Ammon, you’ll be in big trouble!"

How could Li Meng not understand the implications of Vanessa’s words?

The dark elves were likely a major power on the Augus Continent.

If Olivia called for reinforcements, he would undoubtedly face grave consequences.

"I’ll deal with her later. Let’s focus on the main task first."

Once Olivia was captured, everything else would be easier to handle.

With the "Word of Command" skill, she would eventually submit.

If not the first time, then the second. If not the second, then the third.

Even the strongest will would eventually crumble.

"Mm, since she’s followed us this far, she likely won’t leave easily."

On the vast river’s surface, the two rapidly disappeared into the distance.

Shortly after they left, on the southern shore of the Goblin River, a certain spot began to distort.

In the next moment, a figure cloaked in black appeared out of thin air on the riverbank.

"Vanessa... why?"

The voice from under the Black Robe was filled with confusion and doubt.

After a while, the black-cloaked figure disappeared silently once more.

That night, deep within the eastern forest along a tributary of the Goblin River, a campfire crackled.

By the fire sat two figures, one large and one small.

The larger was a green-skinned goblin, standing 2.5 meters tall.

The smaller was a dark elf, petite and exquisitely shaped, with graceful curves.

Vanessa nestled in Li Meng’s embrace, staring blankly at the fire.

"Vanessa, what are you thinking about so deeply?"

Vanessa lightly shook her head.

"Ammon, I’m sorry. It seems I’ve forgotten many memories about you. They’re always blurry yet profoundly etched."

Hearing this, Li Meng’s heart tightened.

It seemed the "Word of Command" skill wasn’t high-level enough.

Would Vanessa regain her clarity?

Li Meng reached out, pressing his palm against Vanessa’s forehead.

"It’s okay, Vanessa. We’ll always be together, creating countless memories for the future!"

Li Meng’s words struck a powerful chord with Vanessa.

She turned to gaze at Ammon's strangely handsome yet ugly face.

"Ammon, you’re right. I won’t overthink anymore!"

Li Meng reached out and ruffled Vanessa’s hair.

"It’s late. Let’s get some rest!"

Vanessa smiled softly and nodded.

That night, as the hours passed, the campfire began to die out.

Nestled in Li Meng’s embrace, Vanessa suddenly opened her eyes.

A glint of sharp light flashed through them.

Carefully, she removed Ammon’s arm, slipped out of his embrace, and stood up.

By the fire, Vanessa glanced around cautiously.

Then, she headed into the depths of the forest.

Not long after Vanessa left, the sleeping Li Meng opened his eyes.

He remained motionless, quietly listening to the sounds of the forest.

---

A hundred meters away from the campfire, Vanessa came to a stop deep in the forest.

Her expression turned cold as she scanned her surroundings.

"Olivia, come out. I know it’s you!"

As her words fell, a black-cloaked figure appeared beside her out of thin air.

The figure reached out, grabbing Vanessa’s hand, and attempted to pull her away.

"Vanessa, let’s go. We must leave before he wakes!"

Olivia tried to drag Vanessa away from this place of trouble.

But she found she couldn’t move Vanessa.

Vanessa’s expression turned colder as she shook off Olivia’s hand.

"Olivia, no matter what you say, I won’t leave Ammon’s side!"

"Ammon? Who’s that?"

Olivia, startled, pulled back her hood to reveal her face.

"Ammon is my lover. I’ll never leave him."

"Vanessa, what’s happened to you? Since when did you have a lover?"

Olivia looked incredulous.

For a thousand years, Vanessa had been alone.

Even during her centuries of wandering the continent, she had never found a partner.

And now, in just five years in the Goblin Forest, she had found a lover?

What race in the Goblin Forest could possibly catch Vanessa’s eye?

Could it be a goblin?

"Vanessa, stop joking. Let’s leave this place first."

Once again, Vanessa slapped away Olivia’s hand.

"Ammon is right there. I’m not leaving."

Hearing this, Olivia froze.

She stared blankly toward the faintly glowing embers of the distant campfire.

"Van… Vanessa, the lover you’re talking about... it’s not a goblin, is it?"

Vanessa looked expressionlessly at Olivia, whose face was filled with disbelief.

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. By the goddess Lolth… Vanessa, you… will be ridiculed by the clan."