Shen Zhaozhao was too lazy to waste any more words on Xie Linyuan, this drama queen. She simply flipped her wrist and precisely grabbed Xie Linyuan's sleeve—given that he claimed to be "unable to circulate his spiritual power" at the moment, it made it easier for her to control him.
As expected, the immortal venerable, who had concealed his divine power and suppressed his cultivation, was now no different from a beautiful but delicate vase. He didn't even have to make a symbolic struggle before she easily lifted him into her spatial ring.
Inside the spirit ring, spiritual energy swirled, yet it was permeated with a slightly chaotic atmosphere unique to "childcare."
Ever since the last time Shen Zhaozhao desperately threw down those ten thousand high-grade spirit stones at Yuntai Immortal Market, Xiao Huang and Pi Pi have been completely caught in a cycle of "feeding" and "being fed".
To this day, 2,527 stones still stubbornly remain on Ling Shi Mountain, a testament to the sheer scale of this project.
The two cubs sensed the spatial fluctuations and raised their heads in unison, their round eyes filled with vigilance—could it be that their mother/master had picked up some strange new cubs again?
However, when they saw that the man Shen Zhaozhao was carrying was a tall, handsome man who looked unreal, Xiao Huang and Pipi were both puzzled.
As soon as Xie Linyuan stood up, he didn't even look at the two kids who were curiously examining him. His peach blossom eyes were filled with bright grievance, silently conveying his accusation—what happened to holding them?
Shen Zhaozhao completely ignored the suffocating gaze, spread her paws, and pointed directly at the "large accessory" next to her: "You two, please take care of him for a while. Keep an eye on him and don't let him run around. I'll pick him up when we get there."
Little Yellow and Pipi stared at each other, bewildered.
They had never seen Xie Linyuan before, and at this moment, the aura around him was extremely restrained. In their perception, he was even "purer" than a newly hatched spirit pet.
Little Yellow tilted its head, its golden eyes full of confusion. Where did its master pick up this peacock spirit that was all show and no substance?
Pipi, on the other hand, reacts faster.
The little creature twitched its nose twice, seemingly catching a faint, yet inexplicably familiar scent emanating from this exceptionally handsome man. Coupled with his striking good looks, the Pipi's simple little brain instantly drew a conclusion—
With a push of its hind legs, it accurately leaped into Xie Linyuan's arms, tilted its little head up, looked at him with bright eyes, and called out in a clear and loud voice, "Daddy~!"
That shout was earth-shattering.
Shen Zhaozhao: "..."
Xiao Huang: "..."
Xie Linyuan: "..."
The three of them froze at the same time, but the one who was most frightened and reacted the most was Xie Linyuan.
His face turned deathly pale in an instant, as if he had heard some kind of spell. He hurriedly reached out to pull the golden ball of fur that had suddenly recognized him as family away from his arms, his movements even showing a rare hint of panic.
However, the Pipi was an ancient auspicious beast. Although it was still a cub, the force with which it pried with its four little paws was considerable. In addition, Xie Linyuan dared not use his spiritual power at the moment, so he was unable to pull it away immediately.
The Immortal Venerable's voice trembled with anxiety, no longer its usual calm and collected tone, but instead filled with fury and panic at having his innocence tarnished. He could only grip the Pipi's fate by the scruff of its neck, trying to peel this "evidence" away from himself: "Nonsense! Who is your father?!"
"Who sent you to frame me and sow discord between me and Zhaozhao?! You are truly malicious!"
"Speak! Who exactly ordered you to do this?! Was it Pei Lang?! Or someone else?!"
Shen Zhaozhao: "..."
Xiao Huang: "..."
Pipi was taken aback by Xie Linyuan's sudden harsh words and fierce expression. Its little brain was completely unable to process such a complex and sinister "conspiracy theory." It simply felt wronged.
Her bright eyes instantly welled up with tears, her little mouth twitched, she let out a soft whimper, released her paws, turned and threw herself into Shen Zhaozhao's arms, crying so heartbrokenly and with such intense emotion.
"Waaah—Mommy! What did Pipi do wrong?"
It buried its little head in Shen Zhaozhao's neck, sobbing, "Pipi, Pipi just thought he was good-looking, and that someone so handsome must be a good match for Mother, Pipi's father... But, but he... he's mean to Pipi! Waaaaaah—!"
Xie Linyuan: "..."
Looking at the little bundle of joy buried in Shen Zhaozhao's arms, crying so hard that his fur was trembling all over, and then meeting Shen Zhaozhao's speechless yet reproachful gaze, Xie Linyuan froze on the spot.
An unprecedented feeling called "regret" poured over him like icy water from the heavens, freezing him so that his very soul trembled.
Xie Linyuan's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his previous stern "defending his innocence" demeanor vanished without a trace.
He coughed twice, trying to hide the turmoil and utter embarrassment in his heart. Then he stepped forward and, with slightly stiff but unusually firm movements, "snatched" the still sobbing golden ball of fur back from Shen Zhaozhao's arms.
He held the Pipi in his palm, forcing those teary golden eyes to look at him.
The Immortal Venerable maintained a composed and dignified demeanor on his handsome face, though his eyes were slightly unfocused and his tone carried a forced and unnatural gentleness: "Just now... it was my oversight."
He paused, seemingly considering his words, and finally chose an extremely "fair" statement: "It is truly wrong to mistake your innocent heart for the schemes of those with ulterior motives."
"Upon closer reflection, at such a young age, you were able to see through the illusion at a glance and recognize that I and Zhaozhao were a match made in heaven. Such insight and courage are far beyond what ordinary children can achieve."
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