Lin Xue’s mind buzzed all of a sudden.
Her hands and feet turned cold at once.
Hong Lao San doted on his son so much—he might not hesitate to grant his son’s wish and send her off to “look after” that little hellion for two days.
Judging by the look in that troublemaker’s eyes, even with her toes she could guess what he was up to.
If she spent two days in his room, would she ever come out again?
She’d probably end up with not even her bones left after he was done playing with her.
“No!”
Unexpectedly, Hong Lao San and Hong Yanzhi rejected Hong Huzhi’s request in unison.
Hong Huzhi was stunned. He never imagined that even Hong Lao San, who spoiled him most, would refuse him. For a moment, he was bewildered.
Hong Yanzhi sneered and said, “Don’t think your elder sister doesn’t know what’s going on in your head. I’m telling you, my servant girl—you’re not allowed to touch!”
Hong Huzhi looked to Hong Lao San.
Hong Lao San, blushing, said, “Son, ask for something else. This one really isn’t possible.”
Hong Huzhi’s face was full of confusion as he asked, “Why? Who is she? Why can’t she come take care of me?”
Hong Lao San avoided his gaze. “Your father has his reasons. Be good and ask for something else. If you ask for something else, your father will definitely satisfy you.”
Hong Huzhi drooped his head, disheartened. “Then forget it. Father’s word means nothing. Whatever I want, you won’t give. Forget it, your son doesn’t want anything.”
Hong Lao San was thoroughly embarrassed.
Lin Xue was both surprised and relieved.
Hong Lao San hadn’t tossed her to his son to be ruined.
But why?
Why was this old cat suddenly being so kind?
It couldn’t just be because she cured his poison, could it?
She felt there must be another reason behind it.
Lin Xue grew wary in her heart.
Hong Yanzhi snorted and said, “Father, ignore him. I have something to report to you.”
She reported to Hong Lao San how she had sent Hua Ban to capture the entire Tian Jia family, and come to mete out punishment.
Hong Lao San listened and simply said, “Handle it as you see fit.”
Hong Yanzhi said, “Then your daughter takes her leave.”
She raised her brows and scolded Hong Huzhi, who was still on the bed: “If you’ve nothing else to do, go roll back to your own cave. Don’t hang around here disturbing father’s rest.”
Hong Huzhi instantly rolled and scrambled off the bed and slunk out the door.
As he passed by Lin Xue, he glanced at her sideways, smirked crookedly, and licked his lips.
His gaze was full of invasive intent, burning with hot desire.
Lin Xue shuddered from head to toe at his look, a chill running through her.
She felt rather depressed.
She’d thought this little demon would at least have to lie in bed for ten days to half a month after being stabbed so badly.
Who knew he’d recover in just two days.
It seemed the coming month would be tough to get through.
Hong Yanzhi finished her business and took her leave, returning to her own dormitory.
Lin Xue followed Hong Yanzhi back to her bedroom.
For the rest of the afternoon, Hong Yanzhi was busy handling matters in the cave.
From time to time, some monster patrol leaders would come to report to her.
It was clear that, although Hong Lao San was the Master of the Cave, it was Hong Yanzhi who actually ran things.
She handled everything with practiced ease, quickly putting everything in order.
Lin Xue was happy to be idle, standing off to the side and lost in her own thoughts.
She pondered how she would get through the days ahead.
She was already targeted by that Shao Ye Tiger.
Though Hong Yanzhi could serve as her protection umbrella for now, keeping the little fiend at bay—
If Hong Yanzhi wasn’t by her side one day, what then?
Just like Tian Pingping—there were always times when Hong Yanzhi couldn’t cover her.
She was simply too weak.
If she were strong—if she reached the Condensed Core Realm—she wouldn’t need to be so timid and fearful.
Lin Xue brought up her Panel and looked at the “Experience” column, which showed “None.”
She wondered if she should find a way to earn more experience and get some serpent cores.
But to gain experience, to seize serpent cores, she’d have to kill people—or demons.
And to kill, she’d have to leave Hong Yanzhi’s side.
If she left Hong Yanzhi’s side, she’d lose her protection, and might get kidnapped by that Tiger Shao Ye.
Lin Xue felt she’d fallen into a vicious cycle and couldn’t help a headache.
Unconsciously, night fell.
A little kitchen demon arrived carrying a food box, bringing supper to the door of Hong Yanzhi’s bedroom.
Lin Xue went to the door on her own, accepted the food box, brought it in, and set it on the table.
When she opened the box, a rich aroma rushed out.
A big bowl of rice, two small bowls, four small dishes—two meat, two vegetable—and a bowl of soup.
Everything looked, smelled, and tasted delicious, not inferior to what restaurant chefs might cook.
Lin Xue hadn’t eaten lunch, and now her stomach was growling. She swallowed her saliva involuntarily.
But as a servant girl, she could only lay out the food on the table, then stand behind, watching as Hong Yanzhi ate first.
Hong Yanzhi picked up a small bowl, served herself some rice from the big bowl, and ate with the dishes at a slow, refined pace, chewing carefully, graceful and delicate.
Lin Xue was starving, her stomach gurgling, and could only watch as she salivated.
Seeing Hong Yanzhi eat so slowly, she grew anxious, wishing she could grab a plate, pry open Hong Yanzhi’s mouth, and pour all the food in at once.
Hong Yanzhi ate for a whole stick of incense’s time—more than half an hour—before she was done.
She set down her bowl and chopsticks, directed Lin Xue to help her rinse her mouth, drink tea, wipe her lips, and only then was she satisfied and rose from the table.
Lin Xue couldn’t wait to sit down at the table.
Finally, it was her turn.
She’d been starving all afternoon!
The food was all leftovers from Hong Yanzhi, but she had no right to pick.
Lin Xue thought to herself: After all, Hong Yanzhi is a beauty. Eating her leftovers—so be it.
She grabbed all four plates, dumped all the leftovers and soup into the big bowl of rice, then cradled the bowl and, chopsticks in hand, wolfed everything down in big gulps.
In just a few breaths, the table was cleared of every last morsel.
Lin Xue let out a full burp, contentedly setting down her bowl and chopsticks.
Hong Yanzhi was dumbfounded, gaping at her.
A moment passed before she regained her senses and, full of disdain, said, “So crude!”
Lin Xue inwardly “hmphed” in response, unconcerned.
Who cares about grace or crudity? Filling the belly is all that matters.
She put the bowls and plates into the food box and took it out to hand to the guards at the door.
By now, the two guards outside had been switched to two other cat demons, one called Dingdang and one called Guangdang.
Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao were off duty.
Guangdang took the food box and brought it back to the kitchen.
Lin Xue thought: Thank goodness there are guards to run errands for me, so I don’t have to risk being caught by Tiger Shao Ye while doing chores.
From now on, she must stick close to Hong Yanzhi, never taking a single step away, and never give that little demon a chance.
Not long after dinner, Hua Ban sent a little demon to report that all thirty-five members of the Tian Family Mouse Demons had been captured.
Hong Yanzhi gave orders for the messenger to relay to Hua Ban: bring the entire nest of Tian Family Mouse Demons to the hall, and sound the Monster Drum to summon all the mountain’s monsters to gather.
The little demon took the orders and left.
Half a cup of tea later, a thunderous boom suddenly echoed through the cave.
“Dong!” “Dong!” “Dong!”…
It was the sound of the Monster Drum.
Deep and thunderous, it shook the heart.
With every beat, Lin Xue’s heart seemed to tremble.
The drum sounded a full hundred times.
Hong Yanzhi sat in her room, eyes closed and resting.
When the drum stopped, she opened her eyes, took Lin Xue, Dingdang, and Guangdang, and left the room.
She didn’t descend the long stairway passage, but instead turned into a more hidden narrow path.
At the end of the passage was a suspension platform that could go straight up and down, with pulleys, cables, and gears.
In front of the platform stood several bulky bear, pig, and ox demons.
The leader was a huge tiger demon, who stepped forward to salute Hong Yanzhi: “Greetings, Miss!”
Hong Yanzhi took Lin Xue, Dingdang, and Guangdang onto the suspension platform and ordered, “Lower us down.”
The big demons took the iron cables from the wall and, exerting their strength together, slowly lowered the platform.
Down it went, steadily for about a hundred meters, before coming to a stop at the bottom.
Below was another passage.
Hong Yanzhi stepped off the platform and followed the passage to its end.
Two leopard demons guarded the entrance, and as Hong Yanzhi approached, they lifted the curtain hanging in the doorway.
The view ahead opened up for Lin Xue.
She realized she had arrived at the lower hall.
Not far ahead stood the treasure throne, its back to their group.