Poison Elder watched coldly as Ji Jinmo made his decision. He hadn't accompanied Nan Shiying but had entered with Xuan Thirteen because he wanted to see what choice Ji Jinmo would make.
Ji Jinmo's expression was as gloomy as an icy abyss, as if bone-chilling coldness was surging forth. The reason he gave Xuan Thirteen the token was to prevent Nan Shiying from following and being stopped by Sheying. Yet, after Sheying saw his token, they still refused to let her in?
Rolling killing intent surged into the air and then pressed down abruptly, filling the octagonal pavilion with a sudden, dangerous aura. The monster, quietly curled in its cage, began to slam against it frantically. The sound, like sharp swords clashing against Xuan iron, mingled with the monster's roars, creating a relentless cacophony that amplified the oppressive atmosphere. However, as Xuan Thirteen finished speaking, Ji Jinmo's lips couldn't help but curve upwards, and the killing intent that had filled the air instantly vanished.
Everyone's hearts followed suit.
Even the monster's actions of hitting the cage paused.
In this near-silent stillness, Ji Jinmo slowly spoke, "Let her be!"
Two words, carried by the clear breeze within the pavilion, concealed a scorching, passionate emotion in the deepest corner. The more it was hidden, the more intense it became.
Poison Elder looked up at Ji Jinmo.
His eyes, which always held a chilling glint, now seemed to be filled with starlight.
The stars shone brilliantly, full of tenderness.
Poison Elder suddenly felt a pang of sourness. Perhaps he was getting old and couldn't handle too much sweetness. Just a little, and his mouth and stomach were filled with sourness.
Fine, he wouldn't worry about this anymore.
This living King of Hell, whom everyone feared, revered, and even dared not look directly at, had truly fallen.
As Ji Jinmo spoke, he stood up again. The hem of his robe brushed against the sandalwood armrest, and a coral bracelet dangled from his fingers. Xuan Thirteen caught sight of this inexpensive coral bracelet again and couldn't help but exchange a glance with Poison Elder, mouthing, "The Consort gave it."
Poison Elder raised his eyebrows in understanding.
Xuan Wu, standing by the Xuan iron cage, took a bite of a steaming, freshly delivered melon. Ah, so Master's bracelet was a gift from the Consort!
Ignoring the glances exchanged behind him, Ji Jinmo walked towards the stone door.
Outside the stone door, Nan Shiying was sizing up the python coiled beside it with great interest, her gaze like a scalpel, having dissected the snake from head to tail.
Inside the stone door, a hundred meters away from the stone door, beside a stream, a woman in a green dress with a curvaceous figure sat on a stone stool, her faintly blue eyes fixed on the stream at her feet.
Reflected in the stream was Nan Shiying's face.
She tightened her grip on the teacup, her charming and alluring face slightly distorted by jealousy.
What of the legitimate wife married in a grand sedan chair, what of the Consort? Merely a usurper, a crow occupying a magpie's nest. Why should such a lowly creature occupy the position of Master's legitimate wife? Hmph, she didn't even look at whether she was worthy!
That Xuan Thirteen was also an idiot. What kind of place was this? To actually bring her here without permission? Did they really consider her the mistress of the manor? If they wanted to curry favor, they should curry favor with the right person.
Currying favor with this so-called Consort?
Hah, what a joke!
She wanted to see what kind of confidence and audacity this Nan Shiying had to think that Master would punish her for her sake? Hmph, and she even said she would cut off her python? Utterly ridiculous!
Sheying sneered, as if she could already see Nan Shiying being reprimanded by the Prince and leaving with her face smeared with dirt. This thought alone made her feel much better.
Just then, the scene before her trembled slightly. This was a phenomenon that only occurred when the stone door opened. She was still anticipating Xuan Thirteen's return to drive away Nan Shiying, but in the next second, she saw Ji Jinmo's figure in the reflection of the stream.
Master himself had gone?
He must be furious, right? It was only to be expected, after all, who told Xuan Thirteen to cleverly bring this woman here!
She slowly stood up and was about to speak when she heard a voice so cold it could freeze her blood: "Cut one off. Leave one to guard the door."
"Crack~"
Sheying's hand trembled, crushing the teacup in her hand.
Nan Shiying looked at Ji Jinmo and smiled, extending her hand.
Ji Jinmo casually drew the sword from Xuan Thirteen's waist and handed it to Nan Shiying.
"Master, I..."
Sheying's slightly flustered voice echoed in the narrow passage. Ji Jinmo abruptly turned, and with a slight lift of his eyes, unleashed an earth-shattering killing intent. The killing intent surged along the python's vertical pupils and exploded in the stream.
Sheying trembled all over, feeling an instant chill spread through her heart.
Fear arose spontaneously.
"Sheying, this is the only time. If there is a next time, then you will perish along with your snake!" His voice was cold and devoid of emotion, more piercing than the wind in the depths of winter.
As he spoke, Nan Shiying suddenly swung her sword. A cold light flashed, and Sheying felt something in her mind snap. Then came an unbearable pain, as if silver needles were piercing her brain marrow.
A long, buzzing sound filled her ears. The excruciating pain made her cry out uncontrollably.
She knew this was the backlash from her symbiotic python being killed.
Master knew exactly how much damage the death of the python would cause her, yet he still indulged her.
Why?
Why would this happen?
Nan Shiying was just a slut who had usurped the magpie's nest!
Why could she receive such deep affection, such favoritism from Master?
This was impossible, absolutely impossible!!
Listening to the tragic screams from a distance, Nan Shiying glanced at the python lying in a pool of blood. What… what happened?
She cut off the python, and then what were those screams?
Poison Elder, however, recalled something and exclaimed, "The one screaming is… the Serpent Tamer?"
Ji Jinmo glanced at Poison Elder and nodded.
Poison Elder couldn't help but give Ji Jinmo a thumbs-up. "Good. You're very good."
Nan Shiying blinked her eyes, utterly confused. Seeing that Ji Jinmo had no intention of explaining, Poison Elder chuckled and began, "The Serpent Tamer, as the name suggests, is an extraordinary person who can control snakes… Their ancestors likely came from the desolate lands near the Boundless Sea. Due to the vast territory, sparse population, and abundance of snakes there, they lived alongside snakes for generations and gradually mastered the skill of controlling them. I don't know the specifics of how it's done, but one thing is certain: if a snake controlled by a Serpent Tamer dies, the Serpent Tamer will also be injured."
"So, this means that Ji Jinmo not only allowed you to kill the python but also allowed you to punish his subordinate."
At the end, Poison Elder couldn't help but sigh.
Why would this subordinate of Ji Jinmo provoke anyone other than the apple of Ji Jinmo's eye?
Nan Shiying said "oh" and then threw the sword back to Xuan Thirteen.
What? Just "oh"?
After all that had been done, shouldn't you be weeping tears of gratitude, or at least show some emotional fluctuation? And you just say "oh"?
Poison Elder had previously feared that his cheap disciple might get hurt due to love, but now it seemed Ji Jinmo was more likely to be hurt.
What a mess this was.
It was utterly preposterous!