Chapter 209 All Parties Close the Net

Langzhi sat cross-legged by the campfire with a bull's head on it, her mind preoccupied. She had just gently placed the sullen Xuanmiao on her lap when Renshen brought over a piece of roasted bull's head meat. "Miao'er, eat!"

"Don't be angry!" Xuanmiao slapped the beef head meat away, crossed her legs, and said angrily with her arms crossed.

Ren Shen glanced at Lang Zhi, who frowned and glanced at the main hall. Neither of them said anything, but they both knew that things were probably much more serious than they had imagined; otherwise, the ever-elusive Chi Yan wouldn't have shown up at Chengma Peak!

"Hey? Why is Ling'er angry?" Ruixue, who had just returned, asked while shaking off the frost on her body.

Langzhi and Renshen glanced at Ruixue at the same time, but neither of them answered, because they knew that telling this silly dog ​​would be of no use!

"I heard that people from the Heavenly Palace have arrived?" Longjing, who was following closely behind, frowned as he looked at the palace gate with his hair covered in frost and asked softly.

"Huh? Heavenly Palace? Who?" Ruixue immediately became alert. Even if he was stupid, he understood that apart from Xuanfeng's return being a good thing, no one else from the Heavenly Palace would bring anything good!

“Lord Crimson Flame,” Renshen said in a low voice.

The rime ice in Longjing trembled slightly, as if to say with a sense of tragic grandeur, "It's finally here."

"It has nothing to do with you!" Langzhi sighed. "I'm afraid the situation in the Heavenly Palace is not good!"

"That Immortal Tea Master..."

"You're only thinking about your Immortal Lord Ming?!" Lang Zhi said, suppressing her anger. "Your Lady Qingyue is still in the Heavenly Palace!"

"Don't worry, as long as Mother Yi is here..."

"With her around, there's bound to be more conflict!" Langzhi muttered, rolling her eyes. "Don't you see how many of these problems were started by her?"

"Lord Langzhi!" Renshen replied with restraint, "Lady Yimu never instigated any disputes; she was always forced to settle them!"

"Where did the dispute come from?" Ruixue asked innocently.

Several pairs of eyes stared at Longjing's face at the same time. Longjing was stunned for a moment, turned his body to the side, and awkwardly avoided their gaze.

"Oh—!" A deep, resonant, and long voice echoed across Chengma Peak!

"Oh—! Ooh—!" More voices echoed in response.

The sound, layer upon layer, penetrated the mountains and soared through the clouds, resonating with the air and lingering among the peaks and ridges!

Splash, splash, splash, splash splash, splash splash...

The crisp sound of various animal bone bells colliding together gradually blended into the ringing sound, growing louder and faster in rhythm.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Splash! Splash! Splash!

The sound of his footsteps echoing across the earth grew clearer! There stood Rat-Bu, horns on his head, a bone club in his hand, and bells made of animal bones and wolf teeth adorning his body. He moved with steady steps, stomping and leaping, dancing through the snow! Behind him followed a group of similarly dressed tribesmen, who, in response to Rat-Bu's calls and footsteps, either rang their bone bells or shouted in unison…

Xuanmiao, who was still sulking, became excited upon hearing the voice. She immediately straightened up, widened her eyes, looked at the scene before her, and couldn't help but grin again, exclaiming, "Wow!"

Lang Zhi, holding the mysterious object on his knee, glanced at the squeaking and jumping mouse and asked in confusion, "What's going on?"

"Lord Langzhi! You don't know this!" The Rat-Bubble Girl stepped forward with a smile, stuffing a piece of roasted beef head meat into Xuanmiao's open mouth. She turned to Langzhi and whispered, "Lord Chiyan and that Minotaur arrived early this morning! But the Commander refused to let them into the main hall and instead had the Rat-Bubble Girl organize some kind of mountain-opening ceremony! Not only did they freeze, but a bull was also slaughtered in front of them!"

"Watching a cow being slaughtered while freezing?" Langzhi couldn't help but smile smugly and said, "Truly worthy of being my daughter! Her methods are indeed somewhat similar to her mother's!"

Rat-Bu's mother smiled slightly and continued, "Rat-Bu just told his father that he wanted to make a bigger commotion. I reckon that's the idea they came up with!"

Xuanmiao stared in disbelief, then suddenly remembered something. She quickly bent down, opened the deerskin bag, and began rummaging through it. A moment later, she pulled out a handful of bright white beads, stretched out her arm, and handed them to Langzhi, chewing on her meat as she said, "Grandpa! Wear these!"

"Huh? Wear this?" Langzhi took the small bead from Xuanmiao's hand, gently tugged and then slightly unfolded it, and a small and exquisite tridacna shell cover-up appeared in Langzhi's palm. "Little one, this cover-up is too small, you can't even put your head in it, how are you going to wear it?"

With his mysterious, kaba-kaba eyes, he touched his big head and tugged at the little tuft of hair on his head, "Dai Jie!"

Langzhi held the cardigan awkwardly, trying to figure out how to wear it...

"Let me do it!" The mother rat took the blouse from Langzhi's hands and examined it closely. "Oh! What is this made of? It's so beautiful! So exquisite! It suits our Ling'er's appearance perfectly!"

The giant clam shell cover flipped a few times between the fingers of the Rat Goddess, and the white giant clam shell beads, as smooth as jade, were scattered like stars on the mysterious big head, making the mysterious blue eyes even clearer!

Xuanmiao blushed and pursed her lips, carefully touching the tridacna beads on her forehead, back of her head, and shoulders. Although she couldn't see her own cute and beautiful appearance, she could already see her dazzling brilliance in the amazed eyes of the people around her!

The rat-headed maid then pulled out two large wolf teeth from her waist and wrapped them around Xuanmiao's two little hair buns. Only then did she point at Xuanmiao's little face with satisfaction and say, "Alright! Our Ling'er is so pretty!"

"Hehehehehe!" Xuanmiao laughed loudly, picked up his beloved shinbone, jumped into the snow, rushed in front of Shubu, stomped his foot hard, raised the bone and roared to the sky, "Yo—!"

The child's voice suppressed the shouts of the crowd, and everyone quieted down to look at the small figure at the front of the line.

Xuanmiao stomped his foot again, frowned, and roared at the sky once more, "Yo yo yo—!"

Looking at the mysterious figure before him, Shu Bu felt a warm tremor in his heart. He imitated the figure's movements and tone, responding, "Woo-oh woo-oh woo-oh—!"

Xuanmiao solemnly wiggled her little bottom, and the tridacna beads on her body jingled and clattered together!

"Yo-yo! Yo-yo!" Xuanmiao roared again.

"Woo-hoo—! Woo-hoo woo-hoo—!" Everyone echoed in agreement.

Xuanmiao turned around triumphantly and led the group with an air of self-satisfaction! She swung her tridacna shell cloak while waving the bone in her hand, making rhythmic calls, which everyone echoed! She took small steps and leaped, leaving figure-eight marks in the snow, and everyone followed suit!

On Mount Chengma, bonfires flickered, wisps of smoke rose, and on the snow-covered ground, more and more tribesmen joined in the dance, all freely expressing their joy...

...

Squeak—!

The gates of Guangyu Hanyao opened again, and Chiyan strode out with Niutou, heading straight for the dancing clansmen. Although his aura was scorching, it extinguished the wolf clansmen's celebration like a bucket of cold water. Everyone gradually quieted down, looking at Chiyan, who was neither friendly nor particularly malicious.

Crimson Flame, his eyes gleaming, strode into the wolf-men's ranks, his sharp yet authoritative gaze sweeping over everyone he could see—the simple, genuine, and unyielding wolf-men. Crimson Flame was deeply shocked. Having lived in the Heavenly Palace for thousands of years, he had never seen such pure and comforting faces! Ox-Head followed closely behind, his eyes darting between the ox horns on the wolf-men's heads and the animal bones in their hands, snorting with a mixture of anger and fear.

Chi Yan, accompanied by Niu Tou, slowly made his way through the crowd until he reached Rat Bu and stopped in front of him.

Shu Bu frowned and stared at Chi Yan, showing no intention of backing down.

Chi Yan looked at the rat-diviner before him, whose Qi was weak yet whose courage was boundless, and felt a strange sense of admiration. He raised his head, tilted his neck, and glared at the rat-diviner again.

Looking at Chi Yan's appearance, Rat Lady couldn't help but feel worried. Just as she was about to step forward, she heard several loud "thumps"!

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xuanmiao stomping his feet to walk up to Chiyan, swinging the bone and shouting, "Yo-yo! Yo-yo!"

Chi Yan was stunned. This was the first time he had seen Xuan Miao. Could it be that this chubby girl, who was the same as Su Yu Yao in terms of figure, appearance, and behavior, was Xuan Feng's child?

Huh? What's this?!

Chi Yan stared in surprise at the tridacna shell robe hanging on Xuan Miao's head. This was an artifact from the South China Sea! How could it be on Xuan Miao's head?!

Xuanmiao frowned slightly, staring intently at Chiyan's face with wide, clear eyes. He raised the bone again, stomped his foot, and roared, "Yo-yo-yo! Yo-yo-yo!"

"Woo-oh—! Woo-oh—! Woo-oh—!" the rat continued to echo.

"Woo—! Oh—!" the crowd echoed in unison.

Xuanmiao proudly swelled his belly, glanced at the bull's head with slight disdain, turned around, pointed the bone at the path down the mountain, and roared, "Yo—!"

"Whoa—!" The crowd responded loudly, instantly surrounding Xuanmiao from behind.

Xuanmiao, with her short legs, hopped and skipped in front, performing a figure-eight dance. The wolf clan members shouted slogans and followed closely, taking one step forward and half a step back. Chiyan and Niutou were slowly surrounded by the dancing wolf clan members.

The crowd, surrounding Crimson Flame and Bull Head, moved down the hillside at an extremely slow pace.

How embarrassing!

Crimson Flame and Minotaur, both enormous in size, easily stumbled and bounced forward, but when they tried to move in other directions, they were tightly surrounded and couldn't even lift their feet! The two had completely lost their earlier imposing presence and could only shuffle along slowly with the group. This speed was enough for all the wolf clan members to clearly see Crimson Flame and Minotaur's pathetic state!

Halfway up the mountain, Xuanmiao finally stopped and turned to look at Chiyan. Her face was flushed, her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and her head was steaming. She shook the tridacna shell cover on her head slightly, listening with great satisfaction to the tinkling sound.

"Hmm! Hmm!" Xuanmiao didn't know how to address Chiyan and Niutou, so he pointed at them with his bone, jumped aside to make way, and said clearly in a childish yet powerful voice, "Take care! Don't bother seeing me out!"

Chi Yan's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Xuan Miao in astonishment. This little thing actually... had such a repulsive yet infuriating way of behaving?! Just like Su Yu Yao!

"Lord Crimson Flame! Take care! We won't see you off!" Rat Diviner stepped aside, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Crimson Flame! Farewell! We won't see you off!" the crowd said in unison.

Chi Yan suppressed his anger and looked back at the hillside where Guang Yu Han Yao was no longer visible. "Su Yu Yao! Remember our promise!"

...

The room of Su Yuyao was filled with the aroma of milk.

"Smack smack smack..." Xuanhe sucked on Su Yuyao's breast milk in her arms.

"Snoring, snoring, snoring..." Xuanmiao was fast asleep, sprawled out on his back, next to Su Yuyao.

Bai Er carefully handed the giant clam shell robe to Su Yuyao and said softly, "Lord Langzhi said that they encountered some suspicious fish monsters at the foot of the mountain ahead. They said they wanted to give our Miao'er this giant clam shell robe as a first birthday gift! Lord Langzhi felt that our Miao'er was almost three years old, and that giving her a first birthday gift at this time must mean they had bad intentions, so he killed those fish monsters! He originally wanted to destroy the robe as well, but Miao'er liked it, so he brought it back!"

"A first birthday gift?" Su Yuyao glanced at the blouse, sighed, and said, "It should be Zeyuan's idea, but at that time Zeyuan was unpopular, and his subordinates didn't do their jobs. Now that Zeyuan has secured his position as the Heavenly Emperor of the Way, they are rushing to make amends to prevent Zeyuan from holding a grudge."

"In that case, won't Lord Langzhi's killing of those fish monsters cause any trouble?" Bai Er asked worriedly.

Su Yuyao looked at Xuanhe, who was sleeping with a mouthful of rice in his mouth, and said with a smile, "Aren't there enough disputes already? One more won't make a difference. Aunt Hu, Yuchen is asleep, take him over!"

"Yes!" Hu Lingli responded softly, walked around the cobweb screen, took Xuanhe from Su Yuyao's arms, and looked at Xuanmiao who was snoring. She couldn't help but laugh, "Miao'er is really exhausted! But Miao'er is so young and already has your demeanor. She has also given Lord Chiyan a warning. She is truly remarkable!"

Su Yuyao smiled as she straightened her clothes, then gently lay down beside Xuanmiao. Holding Xuanmiao's chubby little hand, she looked at the camellia mark on her index finger and said with a mix of worry and relief, "This is all Miao'er's fate!"

"Miss," Bai Er put away her tridacna shell blouse and asked tentatively, "What brings Lord Chi Yan here today?"

Hu Lingli placed Xuanhe in the small wooden bed and listened attentively to Su Yuyao's answer.

"Nothing special, just told me..." Su Yuyao gently stroked Xuanmiao's forehead, then looked at Xuanhe's small wooden bed, "It's time to return to the Heavenly Palace..."

Bai Er's heart skipped a beat, and Hu Lingli also bowed slightly, but neither of them asked any further questions. They knew that now, no one could interfere with Su Yuyao's every step...

...

The Wuji Dao has returned to normal. Although the five world origins have all suffered losses, they have barely escaped the risk of world destruction.

Tide stood with his hands behind his back in front of the Head Palace, looking up at Seon, who had just calmed down, his eyes full of doubt. He was about to lose control, so how could he suddenly calm down on his own?

He then nervously extended his trembling hand. Fortunately, Shiyuan steadied himself in time, otherwise...

Ze Yuan, carrying Qiang Ji, arrived at Chao Xi's side, dusty and weary. He withdrew his Qi power and bowed to Chao Xi. "Father! Your son has inspected all eight Heavenly Gates. The newly appointed Heavenly Gate Generals have taken over according to the usual procedures. Please rest assured, Father!"

Chao Xi glanced down at Ze Yuan, then fixed her gaze on the thorns behind Ze Yuan.

Although Qiang Ji did not raise his head, he still felt the unfriendly gaze of the tide. He quickly bowed and knelt down, saying, "Uncle, please rest assured, these people were carefully selected by Lord Xie Ao and are absolutely reliable!"

"Hmph!" Tide snorted softly, then rebuked, "What good is mere reliability! If I hadn't arrived in time, these five World Origins would have exploded long ago! Then, none of you piece of trash would have survived!"

Ze Yuan glanced coldly at Qiang Ji, then leaned closer to Chao Xi and whispered, "Father, I have arranged everything you arranged."

Chao Xi rolled her eyes and stared, saying, "The matter of sending a congratulatory gift to Su Yuyao is also settled?!"

Ze Yuan paused, looking at Chao Xi with slight surprise, then lowered his head and said, "That's my private matter..."

"Personal matters? Humph!" Chao Xi scolded, suppressing his anger, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking?! That's Su Yuyao! Do you think you can afford to offend her?!"

“Father, I am only sending a tridacna shell cover-up as a first birthday gift for Miao’er,” Ze Yuan said, bowing his head.

"Give...give Miao'er back?" Chao Xi interrupted Ze Yuan angrily, rubbing her temples as she said, "Do you know how many brothers this will kill?!"

Ze Yuan raised his head slightly, met the turbulent waves in Chao Xi's eyes with his cold gaze, and said indifferently, "Father, this is my private matter."

How could I have given birth to such a wicked son! Chao Xi looked at her good-for-nothing son in front of her, clenched her fists, and gritted her teeth. Hong Zhu, who was waiting not far away, gritted her teeth along with Chao Xi.

Hongzhu, her hands trembling, held her belly and took deep breaths, finally concealing the resentment and unwillingness on her face. She put on a charming smile, placed her hands in front of her abdomen, and used her wide sleeves to cover her protruding belly. She walked gently to Chaoxi, slightly bent her knees, and said softly, "Chaoxi, the carriages and horses to return to the Heavenly Palace are ready and can depart at any time."

As soon as Hongzhu spoke, Qiangji couldn't help but look up. Inside that belly, there was clearly my seed! But I...

"Hmph!" Tide glanced impatiently at Thorn and scolded Red Pearl, "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have needed the carriage! You're such a hindrance!"

“Yes…” A hint of embarrassment crossed Hongzhu’s face as she continued, “It’s also my fault for being so clumsy. I still have two months until my due date, and my belly is already this big. I suppose… it’s going to be a chubby boy!”

Ze Yuan rolled his eyes at Hong Zhu, annoyed. "It would be best if it were a young master. If it's a young lady, then it's better not to have the child at all!"

Hongzhu's heart tightened, and she quickly squinted her eyes, trying her best to control the tears that were about to spill over.

Gongji already harbored inexplicable feelings for Hongzhu, and now, seeing his child suffer such humiliation, he could no longer suppress his paternal instincts. He suddenly stood up, stretched out his only remaining arm, and shielded Hongzhu with his remaining fish-like tear, which was brimming with murderous intent.

"Jiang Ji, what are you trying to do?" Ze Yuan glared at Jiang Ji and asked coldly.

Seeing this, Hongzhu quickly wiped away her tears, walked around to Gongji's side, and said with a smile, "My lord! Young Master Gongji has now become your right-hand man. This time when we return to the Heavenly Palace, let Young Master Gongji take care of Wuji Dao for you, is that alright?"

Tide Lord scoffed disdainfully, "Red Pearl, your scheme is far too blatant! Do you really think outsiders can't see through your tricks?"

Hongzhu remained calm and smiled as she said, "In the eyes of the Tide Lord, I am just a little rabbit spirit. How could I possibly be considered cunning? I simply did what you wanted to do but were unable to!"

She lowered her eyes, slightly bent her knees, and said loudly, "Lord Tide, it's time to return to the Heavenly Palace! This child must be born in the Heavenly Palace, under the watchful eyes of the Mother Goddess, to gain her approval and protection! Regardless of gender, this child will further solidify Lord Zeyuan's foundation!"

Tide narrowed her eyes, re-examining Red Pearl. What kind of mind did this long-haired rabbit, who had suffered so much trampling and humiliation, possess that allowed her to endure such humiliation and survive in such a wretched state? What was her purpose?

Hongzhu slowly rose, raised her head, and looked at Chaoxi with her bloodshot eyes. She asked softly, "Chaoxi-jun, can you bear to let Lord Zeyuan live in the shadow of others?"

Though her words were spoken softly, every syllable carried a murderous intent! Ze Yuan was slightly shocked. He had long noticed Hong Zhu's hostility towards Su Yu Yao, but he never imagined that Hong Zhu would transfer that hostility to Xuan Feng!

Tide's eyes flickered slightly as she stared at Red Pearl for a long time before coldly saying, "Red Pearl, based on what you just said, you have already committed a capital offense!"

Hongzhu smiled faintly, stared back at Chaoxi, and slightly curtsied, "Chaoxi-jun is joking. What I've done is punishable by death? I'm only alive now because of your protection."

Tide's eye twitched slightly.

“Since I am your blade, I should at least be sharp!” Hongzhu slowly rose, gently stroking her belly with both hands. “This child, whether male or female, is the child of the Daoist Heavenly Lord! Lord Xuanfeng is merely the lord of the Immortal Mountain, and has no right to contend with the Daoist Heavenly Lord, let alone… a Daoist Heavenly Lord with an heir!”

A murderous glint flashed in Tide's eyes, yet a chilling smile graced his face...