How much time had passed?
Was it one night, or a century?
Deep within the boundless darkness, Zhuang Wujian's stagnant thoughts finally began to slowly churn.
Pain.
The ache in the back of her head and other parts of her body was Zhuang Wujian's first reaction upon regaining consciousness.
She slowly opened her eyes and saw light.
To be precise, it was the sun at noon on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.
But why was the sun "upside down"?
Oh.
It turned out Zhuang Wujian was "upside down," meaning she was being hoisted high up by her feet.
An uncomfortable sensation in her tailbone—
As Zhuang Wujian had a new reaction, she heard Yang Xiao's voice: "Ziyu, do you see? This is a fox tail growing from a human body. Sigh. Thinking back to the past, when Grandmother was still relatively young. Zhuang Wujian then was a married woman in her thirties. Su Nanyin was a young woman in her twenties. But in the blink of an eye, I've become this old."
Originally.
Holding Zhuang Wujian's fox tail and showing it to Ziyu as a lesson, Empress Dowager Xiao suddenly became nostalgic and sighed with emotion.
Li Wujiang, who was forced to continue squatting with a basin of water after dinner for talking back, couldn't help but curl her lips in disdain upon hearing Empress Dowager Xiao's words.
Fortunately, no one saw it.
Otherwise, Sister Wujiang would likely also be hung up here, accompanying Zhuang Wujian.
"Grandmother."
Su Ziyu said, "Let's make a bet. Let's find a hundred people on the street and have them guess your actual age. If anyone says you're over thirty-five this year, I lose!"
Ziyu has also become a flatterer—
Li Wujiang felt a pang of sadness and curled her lips again.
This time, Yang Xiao saw it.
She was contemplating whether to bet with Ziyu when she saw Li Wujiang curl her lips and immediately became enraged.
Just as she was about to pounce and deliver a flying kick—
Su Ziyu quickly grabbed her arm and dangled it like a spoiled child: "Grandmother, tell me quickly, how can Zhuang Wujian grow a tail?"
If you weren't my eldest granddaughter-in-law, you wouldn't escape this beating!
Yang Xiao first threatened Li Wujiang with her gaze, then replied to Su Ziyu with a kind smile: "Kunlun white hair, ethereal with a tail. This is the rule passed down by Ancestor Fuxi."
Kunlun specifically refers to the terrestrial dragon脉 of the Eastern Lands.
White hair specifically refers to the characteristic of the guardians of the terrestrial dragons; regardless of age, their hair turns white as snow at night.
Ethereal specifically refers to the aquatic dragon脉 of the Eastern Lands.
With a tail specifically refers to the characteristic of the guardians of the aquatic dragons, whose tailbones are exceptionally developed, and they will grow a fox tail at a certain age.
"Speaking of this wicked creature, she is also to be pitied."
Yang Xiao looked at Zhuang Wujian and said, "Her ancestors and Zhuang Chun's ancestors were originally sisters from the same womb."
For the next ten minutes or so.
Yang Xiao, standing from an objective and impartial standpoint, explained to Ziyu Zhuang Wujian's relationship with Misty Village.
A stray dog!
This was the most objective and impartial concluding remark Yang Xiao made after finishing her explanation.
"Heh heh."
Zhuang Wujian, hanging upside down, let out a cold laugh: "I never expected you, a devil, to speak fairly for me. It's a pity that you are abetting evil! Not only did you not recognize me as the direct descendant of Misty Village, but you colluded with Shen Yue decades ago to help that bitch Zhuang Chun. Yang Xiao, you are unworthy of being the guardian of Kunlun's terrestrial dragon!"
Yang Xiao replied indifferently: "Every time Shen Yue sees me, he showers me with flattery. And you?"
Zhuang Wujian—
The reason given by Empress Dowager Xiao was simply too powerful!
She didn't even know how to respond.
"Mom."
Li Wujiang, holding up the basin of water, grew impatient: "Why are you wasting so much breath on her? Ask her if she can cultivate the Gu worms we need for Ziyu in place of the deceased Blue Phoenix. If she can't, deal with her as you see fit."
Last night.
After Zhuang Wujian was ambushed and kicked unconscious by Li Wujiang, she smelled something unusual in the garbage pile.
Then Li Wujiang dug through the construction debris and found Blue Phoenix's corpse.
Blue Phoenix was dead.
This did not surprise the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren.
Because when Zhuang Wujian revealed her true form, they knew that the real Blue Phoenix was likely in grave danger.
They only hoped that Zhuang Wujian, who also knew how to raise Gu, could cultivate Gu for Su Ziyu in place of Blue Phoenix.
Otherwise, they would have dealt with her by some means long ago!
After all.
Neither Yang Xiao nor Li Wujiang were people with much patience.
"Do I need you to teach me how I do things?"
Yang Xiao glared.
If it weren't for her eldest granddaughter-in-law clinging tightly to her arm, she would have already charged over.
Similarly.
If it weren't for her daughter-in-law clinging tightly to her mother-in-law's arm, Li Wujiang wouldn't have dared to dare to teach her how to do things.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were quarreling, and they had to rely on Ziyu to mediate.
Alas.
Ziyu, as the eldest granddaughter-in-law and daughter-in-law, was truly exhausted.
She glared at Li Wujiang again.
Yang Xiao then said to Zhuang Wujian: "I'll give you one last chance. Cultivate the 'Concentric Knot' I developed for Ziyu. Or, your self-developed 'Twin Birds' will also do. As long as you do as I command, I will sever your meridians and ensure you can live out the rest of your life in peace."
Asking someone to do a favor and then severing their meridians afterward!
Only Yang Xiao could do this and consider it a matter of course.
"Ha, ha ha."
Zhuang Wujian burst into laughter, her laughter piercing and hoarse.
Yang Xiao didn't immediately kick her. She just glanced at her useless daughter-in-law.
The useless daughter-in-law immediately understood the hint and knew what was meant.
She immediately seized the opportunity to end the cruel physical punishment, carrying the basin of water to Zhuang Wujian and splashing it on her.
The laughter that annoyed Empress Dowager Xiao abruptly ceased.
Zhuang Wujian then realized that she was hanging here naked, as if she were wearing nothing.
No wonder Yang Xiao could casually grab her tail.
If you didn't look at her face, but only at her figure.
Even in her current disheveled state, Zhuang Wujian would have been incredibly proud.
After all, her figure was indeed quite good.
But when paired with her face—
Zhuang Wujian said calmly, "Yang Xiao, if you still remember that you are the guardian of the terrestrial dragon and I am the guardian of the aquatic dragon. Considering we are of the same origin, then please kill me now."
Yang Xiao, however, said, "I will not kill you. If I wanted to kill you, or if you could die, you would have died dozens of times decades ago."
Su Ziyu looked confused and asked, "Grandmother, why can't she die?"
Before Yang Xiao could say anything—
Zhuang Wujian grinned menacingly, "Because Yang Xiao knows very well! I, Zhuang Wujian, am the true and legitimate successor of Misty Village! If I were to be killed, the maritime transport of the Eastern Lands would change! Misty Village would also become unstable! Unless I commit suicide or die of old age. But I will never commit suicide."
Su Ziyu immediately looked at Yang Xiao.
Yang Xiao remained silent, which was equivalent to acknowledging that Zhuang Wujian's words were indeed true.
"Mom, can you help her down?"
Su Ziyu asked Li Wujiang.
Easy task!
Half an hour later.
Zhuang Wujian, now dressed, sat on a rock and finished the lunch Li Wujiang had prepared.
Her spirit had clearly improved.
But she did not take this opportunity to take Su Ziyu, who was serving her food, hostage.
Zhuang Wujian disdained to plot against a junior who treated her with some respect!
If it weren't for the need to compensate for her own genetic defects, Zhuang Wujian wouldn't have set her sights on Li Qianfan.
"I've eaten and drunk my fill. It's time for me to go."
Zhuang Wujian stood up, stretched comfortably again, and said to Yang Xiao and Li Wujiang.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law remained expressionless.
Alas.
They couldn't kill her, and they couldn't really sever her meridians, could they?
After all, a Zhuang Wujian with severed meridians could easily be killed.
If she died unnaturally, Misty Village would become unstable.
As for severing her meridians and then detaining her, neither Yang Xiao nor Li Wujiang had the courage to do so.
After all, they were both renowned figures.
Therefore, they could only watch Zhuang Wujian leave.
Zhuang Wujian tidied her clothes and bowed deeply to Su Ziyu, expressing her gratitude for her persuasion of Li Wujiang to release her. She said, "Su Ziyu, there are some words I wish to say to you."
Su Ziyu returned the bow: "Please speak."
Zhuang Wujian raised her head—
Looking at Su Ziyu, she said slowly, "Tell your husband that I will sleep with him sooner or later. Please forgive my despicable persistence. After all, I am also a woman, and I am especially vain. I also wish to utilize the miraculous functions of the male 209 to increase my abilities. To prepare thoroughly for the future reclaiming of Misty Village and safeguarding the maritime transport of the Eastern Lands. I will find a way to break the 'Four Phoenixes Surrounding the Pillars' formation there sooner or later!"
Su Ziyu's lips moved, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.
Yang Xiao grew annoyed and raised her hand, shouting, "Scram, get out quickly!"
She told Zhuang Wujian to leave, but the latter refused to go.
Instead, she slowly sat down and picked up her teacup again.
This infuriated Yang Xiao, making her face darken!
Just as Su Ziyu was about to urge her not to be angry, Yang Xiao's phone rang.
It was Li Nanfang calling: "Guan Guan, are you in Hancheng now?"
"Yes. I'm annoyed."
Yang Xiao replied impatiently: "If you have something to say, say it. Don't try to be friendly."
Li Wujiang, Su Ziyu, and Zhuang Wujian—
Cough, cough.
Li Nanfang coughed dryly on the other end and said, "Uh, Zhuang Wujian's daughter, Luo Huayin, wants to pursue me. She's invited me to spend a romantic night together tonight."