The Understated Dragon Lord novel Chapter 104

Upon hearing River Yu's words, Chris's face darkened, and he turned to Daniel with a demand for clarification. "Are you planning on feeding me this foul insect?"

"This Fate Seeker would sell for a million, and it's not even for certain I would sell one. As for eating it—Mr. Chris, don't get your hopes up. This particular Fate Seeker is the king among its kin, one in a million. Even if you offered a hundred million, I wouldn't sell it. The most I would do, out of respect for your daughter, is let you smell it to lure out the two centipedes in your stomach."

River Yu burst into raucous laughter once more at Daniel's declaration. After regaining his composure, he taunted Chris, “Mr. Chris, did you hear that? You’re not even worthy of eating this insect—just smelling it!”

His mockery lit a fire in Chris, who pointed at Daniel's nose and roared, “Who said I want to eat your stinking bug? Take your disgusting insect and get out! I'm not cursed; I don't need you!”

"Fine!" Daniel replied, cheerfully packing away the Fate Seeker, "Sure!"

With that, he turned to leave, but Isabella blocked his path. She looked at him earnestly and said with urgency, “You have to lift the curse from my father.”

"You saw just now—I’m not unwilling, but he simply doesn't believe me."

"If you draw the worms out of my father's stomach, then he’ll believe."

"Alright!"

The curse he had placed on Chris was no ordinary centipede curse; it was the pairing curse of both a male and a female centipede. Inside Chris’s belly, they would merge and then separate; poisoned equilibrium kept by their perpetual union and division.

As such, River Yu could manipulate Chris’s condition at will. If he wanted Chris to feel comfort, he would. If he desired Chris’s suffering, he’d make it so.

As Daniel positioned the Fate Seeker on his chest, Chris was about to protest but instead caught a whiff of a strange, alluring scent. It clouded his mind, stealing away his desire to speak.

The mysterious aroma seemed to roil in his stomach, as if worms were writhing. Then, an alien sensation crawled up his throat. And then, a dark, segmented head wriggled out from his open mouth.