The voice seemed to have given up entirely, and said directly:
"I won't beat around the bush. The way of Heaven is constant, and the causes and effects of gratitude and resentment are elusive and intangible. Sometimes, not repaying a debt of gratitude may have an impact, but most of the time it is meaningless."
Oh, so you didn't take it to heart and didn't repay the favor. Who knew you'd be so unlucky as to get struck by lightning...
The same thought flashed through the minds of both Zhu father and son: Serves them right!
"The Empress is the gentlest and kindest person, she bestows favors without expecting anything in return, so rest assured, she certainly won't blame you."
Soon after, Zhu Yuanzhang feigned reluctance and uttered words against his will, then hastily added:
"Old Ma is on her last breath, Demon Lord, don't worry about anything else, hurry and save her. You don't want to fail to repay your kindness and not survive the next tribulation, do you?"
In his opinion, who cares about demons or immortals, as long as his wife can be saved, he will treat her as an honored guest!
Of course, there's another point: judging from the words and actions of this suddenly appearing monster, it's not the extremely vicious type, not to mention, there's still "gratitude" involved.
A ripple of smoke appeared, and a seductive voice gritted its teeth in resentment:
"Heaven's way is unreasonable. It's not that I'm not repaying your kindness, it's just that I'm a little late. If that doesn't work, finding a reincarnation to repay the kindness is the most common way..."
It turns out that among demons, this kind of debt of gratitude is usually repaid in the next life. Every mortal present was stunned.
This is so unreasonable!
Zhu Biao thought to himself, "Heaven has eyes! Otherwise, after my mother passed away, who knows where this monster would be living a carefree life!"
The sound of banging on the door continued unabated, but no one inside noticed. After these few words, they had already accepted the idea of the "monster repaying a debt of gratitude."
With his emotions running high, the host's methods became increasingly effortless.
The emperor of the Ming Dynasty rubbed his hands together, glanced worriedly at Empress Ma's bed behind him, and was about to speak when he suddenly saw the smoke slowly dissipating.
The thick smoke thinned and faded, revealing the little girl in the center. She raised her hand, and the jade bracelet on her wrist, as smooth as solidified cream, began to move.
Only then did everyone realize that it was actually a white snake!
The white snake's body grew rapidly, becoming extremely tall and enormous in the blink of an eye, its scales, as thick as a jade hairpin, gently opening and closing, each inch of it as beautiful as if it had captured the essence of heaven and earth.
"Ugh, so annoying, it smells too human," the White Snake complained.
To be honest, the sight of a snake speaking human language was truly terrifying for anyone who witnessed it, and the fear that had just subsided returned to their hearts.
"I have met the Snake Immortal, but I do not know how to address him," Zhu Yuanzhang asked without changing his expression as the person in question finally appeared after much anticipation.
"Willow Fairy," the White Snake Ling Xiao said with a half-smile, gently tapping the stunned Bai Susu with her snake tail.
"I failed to pass my tribulation and used a secret technique to save my life. I need someone to make offerings to me and accumulate merit through the human path. This is my disciple."
The eerie, unsettling sounds unique to snakes can stir the soul.
"I gave her a name, Bai, and her given name is Susu. She worships me, and according to the rules of demons, her body and life belong to me."
"Therefore, from this day forward, on the human side, I am the Willow Immortal."
Ling Xiao understood very well: those who are not of her kind will surely have different hearts; she wanted to stir up trouble but could not provoke a large-scale rebellion.
The best way is to find a "traitor" to mediate and reduce people's resistance.
This method has existed since ancient times and has always been effective.
Bai Susu is the traitor, so Ling Xiao naturally has to show her importance in front of others, otherwise how can people know that Bai Susu can represent him?
Upon hearing "Liu Xian's" words, everyone, from the emperor and crown prince to the palace maids and servants, turned their gazes toward the unremarkable-looking girl.
Er Ya: Why are these people staring at her?
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flickered slightly, and he elevated Bai Susu's status considerably. He had originally thought she was just someone he had randomly captured, but he hadn't expected her to be so deeply entangled with the snake demon.
But it's not bad either. Humans always have desires, and as an emperor, he has many ways to influence the snake demon through this person.
Money, power, status, a good husband...
The White Snake's gaze pierced through the crowd, landing on Empress Ma, who was hidden behind the bed curtains. Her tone was complex as she spoke:
"Years ago, I fought a fierce battle with my mortal enemy. Although I emerged victorious, I was severely wounded and fell to the mortal realm. I was rescued by Empress Ma, who was still a young girl at the time, and was able to recover from my injuries."
"Otherwise, a demon in distress will often die at the hands of other demons who smell its blood."
Before she could finish speaking, Bai Susu blurted out:
"Such a great favor, Liu Xian, and you don't even remember to repay it? That's too much..."
With a series of slaps, everyone realized just how agile the snake's tail was, and Bai Susu's forehead was red and swollen from being hit.
Damn it, this brat cooperated well, but he's just so annoying.
Ling Xiao, the White Snake, gracefully retracted her tail and continued to elaborate on the setting. Her ruby-like, gleaming snake eyes looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and she gave a light sneer:
"Here's the thing, and I don't want to say more. I'll just ask the Emperor one question: This time, my saving of Empress Ma was a sliver of hope for her, but it was also an act of defying fate. Whether it's a blessing or a curse is hard to say. Do you really dare?"
Ling Xiao thought to herself that she wasn't sure how she would manage the Ming Dynasty, so she decided to take precautions for Zhu Yuanzhang.
When the phrase "defying fate" appeared, the audience fell silent. At this moment, the emperor was called the Son of Heaven, and the act of defying fate truly evoked a sense of unease.
"Please, Immortal Willow, do as you please."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his sleeve and spoke without hesitation, raising his head to look around, his domineering attitude evident:
"From a beggar carrying a bowl to the founder of the Ming Dynasty, have I ever been timid or cowardly? To hell with defying the heavens, I just want Old Ma to live well!"
"Fine, since you dare, what do I have to fear?" The White Snake's last voice was barely audible: "With our intertwined fortunes and the merit of supporting the dragon, perhaps... an opportunity..."
Zhu Yuanzhang listened intently, but couldn't quite make it out. He instinctively felt it was important, but right now Old Ma's matter was the most important, and he made a deep note of it.
After agreeing, the White Snake Ling Xiao didn't waste any more words and snaked her way to Empress Ma's bed.
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