Lin Xue had a very long dream.
The dream was a jumbled mess—sometimes she was on Blue Star, sometimes in the Forest, sometimes inside Luoyun Cave.
But what she dreamed of the most was that little home her parents had left her.
In the dream, she seemed to have fallen ill, lying motionless on the bed in her own room, with her Grandmother, the only family she had left, sitting by her side, talking to her and feeding her medicine.
Though life was hard, with Grandmother’s companionship as her only kin, she felt warmth and happiness.
Just like that, she lingered in a hazy daze for a long, long time, as if centuries had passed.
Today, suddenly, someone began making a racket by her ear, trying to drag her out of this warmth and happiness and pull her back to reality.
Lin Xue frowned, her face full of resistance.
She did not want to leave Grandmother.
“She’s my woman, and today I’m going to touch her, to kiss her—what can you do about it?”
A voice shouted arrogantly beside her.
A sudden sense of crisis welled up in Lin Xue’s heart.
Who is this? Who does he want to kiss?
She vaguely sensed that this person was coming for her.
No, I must open my eyes quickly!
Her eyelids were unbearably heavy.
Lin Xue fought against the oppressive fatigue, struggling to come to her senses.
The moment she managed to open her eyes, she saw an enormous rat head, puckering its lips, coming right at her, just about to press against her own lips.
Lin Xue was utterly horrified.
What the hell is this disgusting thing??!!
Without even thinking, she slapped out fiercely.
After being fed Beast Core Shards for over ten days, she had crossed two minor realms in her sleep and accumulated a tremendous amount of Demon Power.
Startled awake, all the Demon Power she had stored up burst out with that one slap, smacking right into Shu Er’s ugly face.
The rat head before her let out a miserable shriek, sent flying by the sheer force of that brick-heavy slap.
Teeth shattered, it spun several times in mid-air before rolling across the ground.
Lin Xue sat up on the bed at once and got off.
She had been asleep for so long that her mind was completely blank.
Only after recalling for quite a while did she recognize that she was in the Yi Fang inside Luoyun Cave.
Her memories gradually returned.
She remembered that she and Zhang Zongnian had killed Hong Lao San’s subordinate Hong Huzi and his lackeys outside Luoyun Cave, and then dealt with the Beast Taming Sect’s Spiritual Bird that had come after her.
Later, just as they were about to flee, the Spiritual Bird self-detonated and injured her, knocking her unconscious.
So, what’s the situation now?
How long was I unconscious?
Do Hong Lao San and Hong Yanzhi know I’m the killer?
What is the attitude of those in the mountain toward me now?
She saw Zhang Zongnian across from her, being held up by two rat Demons, his head drooping, his whole body covered in wounds and already unconscious, and her heart immediately clenched.
How did he end up beaten like this—was he tortured?
Are there squads of demon soldiers outside, waiting to seize me for trial the moment I wake up?
A strong sense of unease grew inside her.
Across from her, Shu Er’s two cronies stared blankly as Lin Xue knocked him out with a single slap, their eyes wide and dazed.
The future Second Madam knocked out Second Lord—what should they do?
They didn’t dare curse at Lin Xue.
After all, she was set to become Second Madam—cursing her would be suicide.
The two rat Demons looked at each other, then decided to ignore Lin Xue’s violence.
They dropped Zhang Zongnian and rushed to Shu Er: “Second Lord, are you all right?” “Erlord, wake up!” “Elder Huai, please save Second Lord!”
Elder Huai hurried over and checked on Shu Er’s condition.
These days, Shu Da was very concerned about Shu Er’s health. If anything really happened to Shu Er because of Lin Xue, Shu Da would never let this little snake demon off.
Fortunately, after examining him, he found that Shu Er had just taken a blow to the head and fainted, plus had his teeth knocked out, but nothing serious. He finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Xue watched as Elder Huai, his face filled with worry, examined the big, silly rat demon she had just slapped dizzy. She was a bit stunned.
She recognized him now—this rat demon was Shu Er, the one who’d helped carry wine jars into the storeroom with Shu Da the other day.
She was puzzled—Shu Er was just a lowly rat demon. Why did Elder Huai care so much about him?
Aren’t rat demons the lowest caste in Luoyun Cave?
Thinking of Shu Er puckering up to kiss her while she was unconscious, Lin Xue broke out in goosebumps and rage surged up inside her.
The damn rat was so brazen, he actually tried to kiss her while she was unconscious!
Luckily she woke up in time. Otherwise, wouldn’t she have been kissed by that disgusting thing?
She should have just drawn Xuesha earlier and stabbed him, turning him into Yueli!
She didn’t know how long she’d been out, or if anyone had done anything weird to her while she was unconscious.
At this thought, Lin Xue’s face turned pale.
Just then, she suddenly heard a little demon shout from outside: “Great Cave Lord arrives!”
Lin Xue’s heart clenched at once.
Hong Lao San is here?
Is he really here to interrogate me?
Elder Huai and the two rat demons exchanged glances, quickly lifted Shu Er and laid him on the bed Lin Xue had just been on.
Then they straightened up and stood at attention, ready to greet the Master of the Cave.
Lin Xue also stood straight, hands clasped in front of her abdomen, waiting for Hong Lao San to enter the Yi Fang.
Her heart pounded with anxiety, her mind racing—she was already thinking about how to explain things to Hong Lao San.
She had no idea what Zhang Zongnian had said to Hong Lao San.
She worried that what she said wouldn’t match Zhang Zongnian’s account.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside the door.
A tall figure stooped and entered the Yi Fang, followed by a squad of rat demons.
Lin Xue saw a tall, unfamiliar young man leading a group of rat demon followers into the room, and was stunned.
Who is this?
Where’s Hong Lao San?
Where’s Hong Yanzhi?
Didn’t they just announce the Master of the Cave?
Where’s the cave master?
Elder Huai bowed and saluted the man: “Greetings, Shu Da, Great Cave Lord.”
The two rat demons also knelt, knocking their heads to the floor. “We greet the Great Cave Lord!”
Lin Xue stared in amazement.
Shu Da, the Great Cave Lord?
This man is Shu Da?
She looked at the unfamiliar man’s burly figure and recognized him—he really was Shu Da.
After all, there was no other demon in Luoyun Cave this tall.
But when did Shu Da become the Master of the Cave?
What about Hong Lao San and Hong Yanzhi?
What happened in the cave?
How long have I been unconscious?
Lin Xue was shaken to the core and quickly knelt with the rat demons, saying, “Greetings, Great Cave Lord.”
Shu Da strode into the room and immediately spotted Shu Er lying unconscious on the ground.
His cold face changed, anger rising, and he pointed at Shu Er and questioned Elder Huai, “What’s wrong with my brother?”
Lin Xue’s heart skipped a beat.
Her face turned pale.
Crap!
Now that Shu Da had become the Great Cave Lord, Shu Er’s status had also risen—he was now Erlord of the cave.
She never imagined that rat would rise so quickly and become Erlord.
She’d knocked him out with a slap—this could get her in trouble.
Elder Huai quickly replied, “Please rest assured, Great Cave Lord. Erlord is fine, he just took a blow and fainted for a bit. He’ll wake up soon.”
Shu Da raised an eyebrow and asked coldly, “He fainted from one slap? Who hit him?”
As he spoke, his gaze turned toward Lin Xue.
As a Grand Demon, he could sense the strong Demon Aura swirling around Lin Xue, and saw she had reached Body Tempering Peak.
He’d raised Shu Er to Body Tempering Peak using the myriad-mouse cultivation method.
Among those present, only Lin Xue, who was also at Body Tempering Peak, could have knocked Shu Er out.
Shu Da was a bit surprised at Lin Xue’s cultivation being this high.
Ten Days Ago, when he saw Lin Xue, she’d been lying on a sickbed, her aura in disarray—he’d thought she was only at Body Tempering Middle Stage.
Who would have guessed this little snake demon was at Body Tempering Peak?
Of course, he didn’t believe Lin Xue could have reached Peak from Middle Stage in just ten days of unconsciousness; he just assumed he’d misjudged her earlier.
Elder Huai briefly explained what had happened, “Miss Lin acted without thinking. She’d just woken up and saw Erlord trying to kiss her. She was startled and overreacted.”
Lin Xue felt secretly grateful that Elder Huai spoke for her.
She bowed her head, looking meek, and said, “I carelessly injured Erlord. I beg the Master’s forgiveness.”
Shu Da stared at her for a while.
Lin Xue felt a chill from his gaze.
Shu Da finally snorted coldly. “Since my brother’s all right, I’ll let you off this time. But if it happens again, you snake demon can go keep Hong Yanzhi company.”
Lin Xue was completely confused.
Go keep Hong Yanzhi company?
What happened to Hong Yanzhi?
Shu Da pointed at Zhang Zongnian. “What about him?”
Elder Huai hesitated, carefully choosing words to help Zhang Zongnian as much as possible.
But a rat demon cut in and told the whole story in detail.
Only then did Lin Xue understand how Zhang Zongnian had gotten hurt.
Hearing that she’d already been promised to Shu Er by Shu Da, her face was filled with shock.
Then, a blazing fury rose in her heart.
Damn it, I was just lying in bed for a few days, and you actually arranged my marriage without me?!
Who the hell said I’d marry your brother?
Did you even ask for my opinion?
Lin Xue suppressed her anger.
Fortunately, the marriage would only happen after Shu Er advanced to Grand Demon.
But becoming a Grand Demon wasn’t so easy.
I still have time.
Once the Chuanyin Fashu is off cooldown, I’ll take Zhang Zongnian and use the Teleportation Ring to escape.
By the time that rat reaches Grand Demon, I’ll already be off in the Nine Heavens Beyond with Zhang Zongnian.
Marry you? Dream on!
Thinking of Zhang Zongnian, Lin Xue glanced at his unconscious form and her heart clenched again.
Shu Da seemed very protective of his brother.
Zhang Zongnian had attacked Shu Er—Shu Da surely wouldn’t let him off lightly.
Sure enough, Shu Da sneered, “This man is a Human Cultivator. I released him from the Di Lao and gave him a meal, but he dared to attack my brother. If he’s so ungrateful, just throw him back in the Di Lao.”
Shu Er’s two lackeys immediately responded, jumped up, and carried Zhang Zongnian off toward the Di Lao.