After Su Yaoyao left, the terrified look on Noah’s face vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there at all.

The corners of his mouth tilted up into a chilling smirk.

He raised a hand to the collar around his neck, and a faint purple current crackled from his fingertips.

In the blink of an eye, he effortlessly removed the Rage Value detection collar. His movements were elegant and fluid as he nonchalantly placed it into the hand of a black-robed subordinate.

"Go and keep watch. If that little female comes back, report to me immediately."

Noah’s voice had the crisp ring of a young man’s, yet it carried a bone-chilling cold that sent shivers down the spine.

He was well aware that he couldn’t be away from water for long. His body’s instincts urged him to take this chance to go for a soak and replenish his steadily depleting hydration.

"Yes, Lord Noah," the black-robed subordinate answered respectfully, a trace of awe in his voice.

The city was bustling with activity, and the marketplace teemed with people.

Su Yaoyao weaved curiously through the crowd, her eyes twinkling with excitement. A brilliant smile graced her face as she took in the bustling scene, a sight she had never witnessed before, and her heart filled with wonder.

’This is my first time visiting a Beastman market.’

The Beastmen here came and went; some enthusiastically hailed customers while others haggled over prices. Every face was alight with the vibrancy of life, giving her a true sense of the bustling, worldly atmosphere.

Her only complaint was the pair of ridiculously oversized shoes she was wearing. Each step was a struggle, making a loud CLOMP, CLOMP sound.

Su Yaoyao frowned and couldn’t help but complain, "These shoes are way too big! It’s hard to even walk."

"There are no females in the city, so naturally, there’s no women’s clothing," Mingye said. He walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, his steps steady. His voice was deep and magnetic, yet clearly audible above the din of the crowd.

Su Yaoyao pouted. ’I guess that makes sense,’ she thought. ’This is Mingye’s territory, after all. What normal female would come here? Unless they were kidnapped, like me.’

But then... Her gaze swept around her, and a daring idea suddenly popped into her head.

’Mingye didn’t even have his men follow us, and he’s just walking on his own up ahead. Isn’t this the perfect chance to escape?’

The more Su Yaoyao considered it, the more plausible it seemed, and her steps began to slow.

She stopped, carefully checked that Mingye wasn’t looking back, and then quickly and quietly slipped off her shoes, her movements as stealthy as a cat.

"What’s wrong? Decided you don’t want to wear shoes again?" Mingye’s deep voice rang out without warning, striking Su Yaoyao’s ears like a clap of thunder.

"No, no! I think a pebble got in my shoe. I’m just checking," Su Yaoyao said, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat. She fumbled to put the shoe back on.

She looked up at Mingye, only to see that he still hadn’t turned around. She couldn’t help but wonder, ’Does this guy have eyes in the back of his head?’

What Su Yaoyao failed to notice was the subtle change in the snake tattoo on Mingye’s neck.

The snake’s head, which had been facing forward, had now slithered to the nape of his neck. Its two beady green eyes glinted with an eerie light, unblinkingly fixed on Su Yaoyao’s every move.

Just then, someone sharp-eyed in the crowd was the first to spot Mingye and shouted excitedly, "Look! It’s the Lord!"

That single cry swept through the entire street like a whirlwind.

The Beastmen, who had all been busy with their own affairs, stopped what they were doing in unison. Smiles of delighted surprise bloomed on their faces as their gazes snapped toward Mingye.

"It really is the Lord!" "It’s been a long time since the Lord has come to inspect the market himself!"

Cheers erupted one after another. Many Beastmen immediately put down their wares and rushed to gather around Mingye, their eyes filled with reverence and adoration, as if they were welcoming a revered king.

"My Lord, this is a chicken I raised myself. It’s nice and plump. Please, take it home and try it," a burly, smiling Beastman said as he walked up, offering a fat chicken to Mingye with both hands.

"That’s not necessary." Just as Mingye was about to decline, another Beastman rushed over and shoved a basket of brightly colored fruit into his hands.

"My Lord! This is fruit I grew myself. They’re incredibly sweet! Please, take them and have a taste."

More and more Beastmen crowded around, each presenting Mingye with their own gifts: fresh vegetables, handmade crafts, and all sorts of delicious food.

Before long, the gifts piled in Mingye’s arms were as high as a small mountain.

Su Yaoyao watched all of this with curiosity, her heart filled with astonishment.

She had never imagined that Mingye could be so loved and respected by the Beastmen in his own territory.

’Isn’t he supposed to be the big villain?’

The scene before her was a far cry from the image she’d had of him, leaving her with even more questions about the man.

In the midst of the frantic chaos, a shove came from the crowd, and Su Yaoyao felt a sharp tug on the hem of her black robe.

She instinctively tried to steady herself, but she was a step too late. With a soft RRRIP, the black robe slid off amidst the crowd’s gasps, falling to the dusty ground.

"A fe-female!" "AH!" A few terrified cries instantly shattered the lively din of the street.

The bustling, crowded street was instantly deserted, as if an immobilization spell had been cast.

Goods on the street-side stalls still swayed gently, but the male Beastmen—who just moments ago were haggling and shouting their wares—had all vanished as if they had seen a monster, scrambling for cover in the nearby shops and houses.

Some had even dove into corners, daring only to peek out with a pair of eyes, trembling as they glanced in Su Yaoyao’s direction.

Su Yaoyao was completely baffled by this sudden turn of events. She frowned, her eyes filled with bewilderment as she surveyed her strange new surroundings.

She had assumed all the males outside the base would be like the Pig Beastman she first encountered—greedy and vicious toward females.

But to see these male Beastmen so utterly terrified... that was a first.

The Beastmen hiding in the shadows trembled uncontrollably, their eyes wide with terror.

If Su Yaoyao’s gaze happened to sweep over and meet theirs, they would flinch like startled fawns, immediately lowering their heads in fear and shrinking back even further.

"There’s no need to be afraid. This is my new maid," a steady voice announced, breaking the strange, tense atmosphere.

Su Yaoyao turned to see Mingye standing to the side, addressing the crowd with a calm expression.

"Maid?" Su Yaoyao’s eyes widened. She pointed at herself in disbelief, fuming internally. ’Why not just tell them I’m the poor village girl you abducted?’