"Please forgive us, Holy Maiden, but for the safety of the people in the city, we cannot allow your pet to enter." The city guard said with a forced smile, his voice trembling but full of determination.
"Hehehe... You certainly have guts, but what a pity!"
Hua Shang chuckled coldly, a cruel glint in her eyes. She didn't say anything more, only gently stroking the terrifying python. She whispered something near the python's head.
The python seemed to understand its master's meaning. It slowly moved its massive body toward the city gatekeeper.
The city gate guards' hearts raced as they watched the terrifying beast approach, but they still tried to remain calm, gripping their weapons tightly.
However, their weapons and defenses seemed so insignificant in the face of such a behemoth.
The python opened its blood-red maw and swallowed the city gate official and two guards whole in one gulp.
The city's residents, who had come to watch the spectacle, screamed in terror and scattered in all directions, creating utter chaos.
Saintess Hua Shang watched this scene without the slightest ripple on her face. She calmly ordered the group to continue forward, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her.
She came here to intimidate the Emperor of the Great Yan Kingdom, so naturally she couldn't be too polite.
Those who disobey, just kill them!
As the grand procession of the Holy Maiden Hua Shang of the Great Liang Kingdom marched through the streets of the capital, the news spread like wildfire throughout the city.
The people watched the foreign group with a mixture of fear and curiosity, especially the fearsome giant python, whose enormous body and sinister eyes seemed to proclaim a silent threat.
Inside the palace of the Great Yan Kingdom, the emperor heard about what had happened at the city gate, and his expression turned solemn.
He knew that the visit of the Holy Maiden of the Great Liang Kingdom was by no means simple; it was definitely a tactic by the Great Liang Kingdom to obtain supplies without firing a single shot.
However, he definitely couldn't give them the grain. On the one hand, many places in the northern part of the Great Yan Kingdom had suffered from disasters, and the country's food supply was barely enough. If the grain was given to the Great Liang Kingdom, the people of the Great Yan Kingdom would starve.
On the other hand, the Liang Kingdom is warlike by nature. If it is given supplies, it will definitely take the opportunity to attack the Yan Kingdom and expand its territory, which will break the existing peaceful situation.
Moreover, the fact that the Holy Maiden brought the giant beast was clearly a show of force, so how could he possibly show weakness?
"Issue an imperial decree to strengthen the defenses of the palace. Also, immediately summon the court officials to discuss countermeasures."
The emperor's order was quickly relayed, and the entire palace fell into a tense state of preparedness.
"Eunuch Li, send someone to the General of the State's residence and bring Sheng Wanwan into the palace!"
Si Nantian frowned and gave the order.
Although he was convinced from the bottom of his heart that Sheng Wanwan was the savior of the Great Yan Kingdom, he really had no idea whether this little girl, Sheng Wanwan, had the ability to fight against the Holy Maiden!
A moment later, a commotion arose at the palace gate.
A large number of imperial guards stood at the palace gates to prevent the Holy Maiden of the Great Liang Kingdom and the giant python from entering the palace.
Hua Shang was arrogant enough that anyone who tried to stop her was devoured by the giant python.
The giant python had thick, tough skin, and ordinary swords and knives couldn't harm it at all.
Therefore, even with a large number of Imperial Guards, they could not harm the giant python; instead, the Imperial Guards suffered countless casualties.
Si Nantian had no choice but to allow Hua Shang to bring the giant python into the palace.
In the main hall, Hua Shang looked at Si Nantian with arrogance. She did not bow, but instead stood there in a defiant manner without saying a word.
Si Nantian's face was gloomy, but he knew this was not the time to lash out.
He took a deep breath and tried to make his voice sound calm:
"The Holy Maiden has come from afar, and the Great Yan Kingdom warmly welcomes her. But may I ask what important matter brings you here?"
Hua Shang chuckled lightly, her voice filled with arrogance: "Important matters? Naturally, they are for the livelihood of our people. The Great Liang Kingdom has suffered severe disasters this year and is experiencing a food shortage. We hope that the Great Yan Kingdom can extend a helping hand in consideration of the long-standing friendship between our two countries."
Si Nantian cursed inwardly, "What friendship between the two countries? The Great Liang Kingdom is just a bunch of barbarians who burn, kill, and plunder. Who has any friendship with them?"
However, he didn't show it on his face, and only said, "What the Holy Maiden said is very true, and my country is also willing to do its part. But the Great Yan Kingdom has also suffered from disasters this year, and food is not plentiful. So there is not much we can help with..."
"Oh? Is that so?" Hua Shang raised an eyebrow. "How much is 'not much'?"
"One thousand shi of millet!"
"A thousand shi? Hahaha... The Emperor of the Great Yan Kingdom is truly laughable. A hundred shi? Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
Hua Shang scoffed.
Upon hearing Hua Shang's words, Si Nantian's expression darkened. He snorted coldly and said, "Didn't the Holy Maiden just say that our Great Yan Kingdom should lend a helping hand? I ask myself, Great Yan owes Great Liang nothing. Now that we are willing to help Great Liang, we have already done more than enough. Why does the Holy Maiden have such an attitude?"
"Hehehe... Emperor of the Great Yan Kingdom, I think you can't see the current situation clearly. Your Great Yan Kingdom's army can't even stop my pet, how can you fight against my Great Liang Kingdom!"
Have you ever heard that I possess the ability to control beasts? If a true war were to break out, I fear your Great Yan Kingdom would be no match for our Great Liang Kingdom's army of ten thousand beasts!
Hua Shang threatened.
Upon hearing this, Si Nantian frowned even more deeply.
He had heard about Hua Shang's abilities before, but he was initially skeptical of such a powerful being.
But after seeing that Sheng Wanwan could command hundreds of birds, he became convinced of this extraordinary ability.
If Hua Shang truly could command all beasts, then the Great Yan Kingdom would indeed be unable to resist. Such an ability would undoubtedly be devastating on the battlefield.
Si Nantian was filled with worry, but as the ruler of a country, he could not show his fear in front of outsiders.
He was about to speak, forcing himself to, when a sweet, childlike voice broke the tense atmosphere.
"Since the Holy Maiden has the ability to command all beasts, why not just command them to fight? Instead, she has brought a hundred-year-old snake demon, a giant snake that cannot even take human form, to threaten my Great Yan Kingdom. Isn't that ridiculous?"
Everyone turned to look, and saw Sheng Wanwan being led slowly into the main hall by Eunuch Li. She was wearing a pink, front-opening, fringed dress, and her hair was styled in two buns. She looked charming and cute, but her words were anything but polite. She continued, "If the Holy Maiden can only command a stupid snake, that's hardly a great skill."
Hua Shang was angered by the words of the little girl who suddenly appeared. She stared coldly at Sheng Wanwan, "Where did this little brat come from? Do you know what you're saying? My python is no stupid snake. It has a thousand years of cultivation and can easily destroy a city."
"Oh? Is that so?" Sheng Wanwan said innocently. "Then let it destroy a city for me, Saintess. Talk is cheap."
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