Although Hong Yanzhi was unwilling to lose Xixia Mountain, she also couldn’t bear to see Lin Xue agree to go to Erlong Mountain for her sake.
After all, Lin Xue was her master, and their fates were intertwined; if Lin Xue encountered misfortune, she too would suffer.
Yet she could also see that today, no matter what, Zong Biao Yao Jiang was determined to take Lin Xue away.
She was just a Lesser Beast at the Body Tempering Stage—completely powerless to stop him.
Moreover, Lin Xue secretly sent her a Chuan Yin, telling her not to worry, that she had her own way to escape. Only then did Hong Yanzhi calm down.
Seeing Lin Xue agree, Zong Biao Yao Jiang was overjoyed, and Zhu Yan’s pig face lit up with delight.
He grinned from ear to ear, laughing heartily, “That’s right, this is the wise choice.”
Satisfied, he stretched out his fat hand, counting on his thick, stubby fingers: “This one counts for three. Add the original six, and that makes nine.”
“As for the one still missing…”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang turned his head, eyes narrowing lewdly as he looked Hong Yanzhi up and down, his face twisting into a wicked smile,
“Eldest Miss Hong, you’re now at Body Tempering Late Stage. You’ll fill in for the last spot yourself. Since you say your Hong Family is so loyal, then go serve the Mountain Lord yourself to prove your devotion.”
Lin Xue and Hong Yanzhi’s expressions changed dramatically at the same time.
Hong Yanzhi never expected this damned pig would want to take her as well.
Lang Buping was even more anxious, jumping up and shouting, “No, Yao-Jiang Daren! Yanzhi is my wife, she already has a family, she can’t go be the Yao-Fei for the Mountain Lord!”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang snorted coldly, “You say she’s your wife, but have you Chengqin? Has the wedding happened?”
Lang Buping was momentarily speechless.
His voice grew smaller, but his face was still anxious: “Though we haven’t Chengqin, the Marriage Agreement is set, and the ceremony is being prepared. The Marriage Ceremony will be held in a few days.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang said, “Since you haven’t Chengqin, then she is still unmarried, and so she is qualified to be Yao-Fei! I, this Yao-Jiang, have made the decision: your Marriage Agreement is temporarily canceled. Eldest Miss Hong, you will come with me to Erlong Mountain and serve the Mountain Lord for a year. When you return next year, you can then complete the wedding.”
Lang Buping cried out, “Daren, the Marriage Agreement was made by both our families—how can it be canceled just like that…”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s pig face darkened as he threatened, “What, does your Lang Family intend to steal women from the Mountain Lord? Or perhaps Yellow Wind Mountain wants a new master?”
Lang Buping’s face turned pale; he dared not utter another word.
Hong Yanzhi clenched her fists, seething with rage.
Lin Xue looked at Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s arrogant face, her heart itching with anger.
Xuesha inside the Teleportation Ring’s storage space was restless, wanting to leap out and stab that fat, stubby pig neck.
She glanced at the tall, thin man standing to the side, coldly watching with his sword in his arms, and forcibly suppressed her urge to slaughter the pig on the spot.
She used Chuanyin Fashu to say to Hong Yanzhi, “Don’t worry. In eight days, I can use the Teleportation Spell once. When the time comes, I’ll take you away with me.”
She passed the relevant information about the Teleportation Spell in her ring to Hong Yanzhi.
Receiving Lin Xue’s message, Hong Yanzhi realized she still had a trump card in hand. Her expression eased a little.
She said to Lang Buping, “Husband, since Yao-Jiang Daren is delivering the Mountain Lord’s order, let’s obey. Husband, wait for me for a year. When I return next year, we will Chengqin.”
Lang Buping’s face was full of grief and indignation.
He never expected Zong Biao Yao Jiang to be so outrageous and unreasonable, forcibly snatching away his wife.
But after all, he was under the other’s jurisdiction, and his strength couldn’t compare. He had no power to resist.
He gritted his teeth and handed his fan to Hong Yanzhi.
Hong Yanzhi was taken aback, asking, “Husband, what does this mean?”
Lang Buping, eyes red, said, “Wife, take this. If you run into danger, use it. Perhaps it can save you from disaster.”
Hong Yanzhi was surprised, and deeply moved.
She knew well that Lang Buping’s Condensed Core Realm was forcibly achieved by Lang Qianxing using Tianliang Lingguo and Ling Yao.
He himself had little real skill. All the Shouling Demon Core Condensation big demons around, including herself, always regarded Lang Buping as useless trash.
Only, when Lang Buping became a demon, he somehow received Heaven’s favor, coming with his own treasure, spitting out a tiny fan from his mouth.
The surface of this fan bore a huge eye. Its greatest strength was to bewilder opponents—if one was careless, they would fall under its spell, unable to tell reality from illusion, left at the mercy of others.
Thus, all of Lang Buping’s power lay in this fan.
This was his most precious Benming Fabao, and yet now he gave it to her directly, telling her to use it to protect her life.
Hong Yanzhi’s eyes reddened.
She had always looked down on Lang Buping.
When Hong Lao San pushed for marriage, she chose Lang Buping because he was weak, easy to control as the only son, so even if she married over, she could still rule the house.
That was the only reason she agreed to the Marriage Agreement.
Later, after suffering Shu Da’s rebellion and falling to be the plaything of nearly a thousand Star Slaves for half a month—her cultivation plummeting from the trauma—even then, Lang Buping had no complaints. He brought Old Ginseng and the Shan Zhong Yao Bing to save her, insisting on marrying her.
She thought the Lang Family only coveted Xixia Mountain’s territory, and while his actions moved her a little, she still looked down on him in her heart.
Now that Lang Buping had directly handed her his Benming Fabao, Hong Yanzhi finally felt his sincerity.
She took the fan, looked into Lang Buping’s eyes, her own brimming with crystalline tears, and said, “Husband, wait for me. I will come back.”
Lang Buping held her hand tightly and nodded hard, “I’ll wait for you!”
The two stared at each other, eyes filled with emotion.
Lin Xue watched this scene, feeling slightly moved inside.
Lang Buping truly was devoted to Hong Yanzhi.
She suddenly thought of Zhang Zongnian.
It was only now that she realized, belatedly, that sometimes the way Zhang Zongnian looked at her was just like how Lang Buping looked at Hong Yanzhi.
Lin Xue’s heart skipped a beat.
Could it be Zhang Zongnian liked her?
She felt a pang of sorrow: Whether or not he likes me, chances are, I’ll never see him again.
That tiny little mouse, stumbling through the swarm, dropping a cultivation manual at her feet and looking up at her with all its might, then with red eyes blending into the mouse crowd—that moment flashed in her mind once more.
Her heart ached anew.
Was Zhang Zongnian still alive?
Lin Xue suddenly thought: she was about to be taken away by Zong Biao Yao Jiang.
If Zhang Zongnian were still alive, remembered their promise to escape together, and came looking for her but couldn’t find her—what would he do?
Maybe he was still alive, but as a mouse, unable to speak or cultivate, without her care, how would he live out his remaining days?
She pictured a little mouse, full of hope, struggling to climb to the upper level of Luoyun Cave, searching everywhere for her in vain, and finally leaving in despair.
Lin Xue couldn’t help but feel intense pain and unease.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang looked at the deep affection between Hong Yanzhi and Lang Buping and felt very displeased.
He had taken dozens of concubines and played with countless female demons, but not one had ever looked at him with such eyes.
Jealousy churned in his heart.
He snorted in dissatisfaction, saying, “Enough, it’s getting late. All of you, come with me, back to the mountain.”
Lang Buping reluctantly let go of Hong Yanzhi’s hand.
Hong Yanzhi gave him a heavy look, then turned and walked to Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s side, standing next to Lin Xue.
Six female demons stepped forward, following behind the two of them.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang was just about to summon a black cloud and head back to Erlong Mountain when Lin Xue suddenly said, “Yao-Jiang Daren, please wait a moment.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang turned, frowning, “What is it now? What’s this little demon up to?”
Lin Xue said, “I have a few words for Young Master Lang.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang waved his hand impatiently, urging, “So much trouble! Hurry up, I have business to attend to—don’t waste my time.”
Lin Xue walked over to the sorrowful Lang Buping, and quietly instructed, “Young Master Lang, I have a favor to ask.”
Lang Buping wiped his eyes, looking at her through tears, “Miss Lin Xue, please speak.”
Lin Xue pulled him aside, sighed, and quietly said, “This may sound strange. Could I ask Young Master Lang to issue an order in the cave? In the coming days, make sure no one harms any mice.”
“And also, please place a sign in a prominent spot in the room I share with Sister Yanzhi, with the words, ‘Brother, please stay here for now and wait for your sister to return.’ Leave out some food and water, too.”
“If a mouse lingers in our room, please take good care of it. Make sure no one hurts it.”
“Perhaps in ten or fifteen days, I’ll bring Sister Yanzhi back. When I return, I’ll give you a great reward!”
Lang Buping looked at Lin Xue’s odd request, full of confusion.
But when he heard Lin Xue say she would bring Hong Yanzhi back soon, excitement appeared on his face.
He nodded vigorously, “Miss Lin Xue, don’t worry—I’ll do it right away. No need for a reward. If you can bring my Yanzhi back, it’s I who should thank you!”
Then he added solemnly, “Miss Lin Xue, please take good care of Yanzhi for me.”
With that, he bowed deeply to Lin Xue.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang impatiently called, “Are you done? If you’re finished, get over here—we’re leaving!”
After entrusting these things to Lang Buping, Lin Xue felt a little more at ease.
If Zhang Zongnian was still alive and came looking for her, he would see the sign and stay in the room to wait for her return.
She walked over to Zong Biao Yao Jiang.
A mass of black cloud formed beneath Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s feet, enveloping his followers and all the female demons, soaring toward the horizon.
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