Faced with his daughter's hopeful eyes, Ruan Tang hesitated. Could they really just decide to raise this thing on a whim?
After a moment of thought, however, Xu Lai agreed. Compared to those two wicked rabbits that wanted to eat everything, this Gold Swallowing Beast seemed far more harmless. It only ate Purple Bamboo, and they had more than enough of that!
Xu Lai crouched down and asked, "So Yiyi, is it okay if we don't keep the little rabbits?"
"Mm-hmm-mm." Xu Yiyi nodded eagerly, squatting on the ground and having a wonderful time playing with the Gold Swallowing Beast.
Meanwhile, Beibei, the conch girl, opened her eyes, finally waking from her coma. Tears, salty like the sea, involuntarily welled up. But I came first...
Soon after, upon hearing that a 'cute creature' had moved in, Ruan Lan abandoned her hot spring bath and happily ran over to build a nest for the little fellow.
After much discussion, Xu Yiyi ultimately abandoned Ruan Tang and chose to live in the new room with Xiao Hei. And Xiao Hei was the new name for the Gold Swallowing Beast... no, the panda.
This left Ruan Tang feeling rather heartbroken. My daughter has grown up and learned to be independent...
"Don't worry. If our daughter isn't here to keep you company at night, I will," Xu Lai said gently, taking his wife's hand with a smile.
Ruan Tang pulled her hand away and pouted. She then looked at Taotie, who had been standing the whole time, and asked Xu Lai, "Why is he still standing?"
"My Lady, there is a distinction between sovereign and subject. Your servant stands..."
Before he could finish, Xu Lai cut him off. "What's this nonsense about sovereigns and subjects? Back in the Heavenly Court, didn't you lounge around with your legs crossed, snacking on sunflower seeds while you watched Baize and me play chess?"
Taotie looked somewhat embarrassed.
Beibei, observing secretly from a corner, was utterly dumbfounded. So this was the true face of the monster!
Noticing Taotie's discomfort, Ruan Tang took the initiative to go and organize Yiyi's new room, giving them some space. After a moment's hesitation, Beibei followed her.
Only when he and Xu Lai were alone in the living room did Taotie speak. "The Supreme Emperor, regarding the Heavenly Court..."
"Say no more. I trust you to manage the Heavenly Court," Xu Lai said with a wave of his hand. "You have full authority over all matters. Anyone who disobeys—execute them!"
"The Supreme Emperor, what I mean is..." Cold sweat beaded on Taotie's forehead. He wanted to shirk his duties, but Xu Lai interrupted him again.
"I know handling administrative affairs is a piece of cake for you. I'll be sure to record this great service of yours!"
"..."
Taotie took a deep breath, nearly injuring himself from the suppressed frustration. Your Excellency, The Supreme Emperor, you might have some misunderstandings about me.
But thinking of how much The Supreme Emperor trusted him, how could Taotie possibly bring himself to say he wanted to quit? He could only kneel on one knee and declare with a solemn expression, "Your servant will not fail this mission!"
"Good," Xu Lai said, pleased. "With you in the Heavenly Court, I can rest easy."
「That very night.」
Taotie had come in a hurry and left just as quickly; after all, the Heavenly Court couldn't be left unattended for long. Who in this vast universe can share The Supreme Emperor's burdens in a time of crisis? Only I, Taotie!
...
Xu Yiyi was bustling with activity in her room. She built a small nest for Xiao Hei in the corner and, worried he might get lonely, she placed many of her dolls inside it with him.
"Tsk." Beibei scowled from her spot on the windowsill, staring at Xiao Hei rolling around cutely. Her expression was filled with dissatisfaction. As Xu Yiyi's foremost swordswoman, how could she allow such a seemingly cute, but actually very dangerous, monster to stay by her side? I have to find a chance to get rid of it.
While Xu Yiyi was off washing her face and brushing her teeth, the conch girl drew her sword. A flash of light streaked through the void, like the first glimmer of dawn breaking through the night.
Down on the first floor, Xu Lai sensed the attack and was mildly surprised. He reckoned that even Tan Chang would have been killed by that strike. However, the sword strike, capable of effortlessly killing a Martial Ancestor of the Human Race, landed on the Gold Swallowing Beast's head without causing so much as a ripple.
Instead, the Gold Swallowing Beast just looked at Beibei, its big eyes full of confusion. In the number one swordswoman's eyes, however, that adorable expression was pure provocation!
No longer suppressing her power, she unleashed a strike with nearly her full strength. If not for Xu Lai's Divine Sense protecting the room, the entire Haitang Court might have been annihilated into dust.
However, even though the Gold Swallowing Beast was a juvenile whose intelligence had not yet awakened and who had no Cultivation, its racial talent was undeniable. Even without cultivating, the physical strength of an adult Gold Swallowing Beast was comparable to a human in the Golden Core Realm!
Just then, Xiao Hei swiped out with its paw. It not only sent Beibei's Miniature Sword flying but also snatched her up. As she stared in horror, the Gold Swallowing Beast opened its mouth to bite, clearly intending to see how she tasted.
"Xiao Hei!" Xu Yiyi called out as she returned to the doorway. "You can't just eat random things!"
Xiao Hei indeed stopped trying to eat Beibei. Instead, it licked the shell on her back...
This action left the conch girl completely stunned. Feeling deeply insulted, she trembled with rage. "You beast! You're nothing but a beast!"
But the taste of the sea seemed to appeal to Xiao Hei. Its paw deftly plucked Beibei from her conch shell and began slurping at it...
Beibei, dressed in her little cheongsam, watched in utter devastation as her home fell into the massive, terrifying mouth of the monster. "Let it go! Let it go now!"
Beibei picked up her sword and swung it wildly, trying to get her shell back.
However, Xiao Hei was a descendant of the Gold Swallowing Beast. While its kind undergoes Spirit Awakening at three years old, it was currently only a month old and still had three years of its Chaotic Period to go. But its formidable racial talent was still far too much for an ordinary Sea Demon from Earth like Beibei to harm.
And so, seeing the 'figurine' battling the 'black and white soccer ball', Xu Lai couldn't help but laugh out loud from the first floor. This scene is actually quite amusing.
"Ah, you're the conch from that night!" Xu Yiyi snatched the shell from Xiao Hei's mouth, crouched down, and handed it to Beibei, who scrambled back inside immediately.
Xu Yiyi's big eyes sparkled with delighted surprise. "Wow, you're so cute!"
Beibei poked her little head out, unable to resist retorting, "I'm not cute! I am the number one swordswoman of this sea region!"
Xu Yiyi didn't question why a conch could talk, let alone why a little girl was living inside it. Instead, she just held out her hand happily. "Hello, my name is Xu Yiyi."
Beibei stared blankly at the little girl. Although she had already offered her Soul Blood, this was the first time she had really looked at Xu Yiyi.
Beibei also extended her tiny hand and introduced herself again. "Hello, my name is Beibei, the number one swordswoman of this sea region." As she spoke, she proudly raised the Miniature Sword in her hand.
Xu Yiyi's beautiful eyes lit up with admiration. "Wow, Beibei, you're so amazing! You're a swordswoman!"
"Hehehe." Beibei scratched her head shyly. "Actually, I'm not that amazing. Just a little bit."
The next second, Beibei, shell and all, was snatched up by the Gold Swallowing Beast, which resumed slurping on her...
"Let go of me!!!" the conch girl wailed, shedding tears of indignation as she struggled in vain.
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