Chapter 23: Would You Be My Pet?

Run, run, run!
Hurry, hurry, hurry!
The Blood Demon Patriarch acted with decisive swiftness, immediately turning to flee, sweeping up a surge of overwhelming demonic energy as he did.
If I don’t run, I’ll die!
“Trying to escape? It may not be so easy.”
Chen Die’er pointed a slender finger, and instantly a terrifying force of restraint locked the Blood Demon Patriarch in place, rendering him utterly immobile.
Then, as Chen Die’er gently moved her finger, the Blood Demon Patriarch was dragged back, inch by inch, as if he were tethered to her will.
“Ah, I—I—I…”
The Blood Demon Patriarch was on the verge of madness. He had survived for a million years, and yet, at this very moment, he was being manipulated like a puppet by a mere child.
Chen Die’er let him fall to the ground, her clear eyes blinking with curiosity as she regarded him. “Truly worthy of study. Old devil, what did you just say? You’ve lived a million years? That’s far too amusing.”
What?
Too… too… too amusing???
The Blood Demon Patriarch nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. A little girl had the audacity to call him amusing—just whose child was this, and had she received any proper upbringing at all?
“Old devil, I’m asking you a question.”
Chen Die’er’s eyes sparkled as she stared unblinkingly at the Blood Demon Patriarch, curiosity practically radiating from her.
“Ah, yes, that’s right. I am indeed a being from a million years ago,” the Blood Demon Patriarch said, hurriedly composing himself and declaring with pride, “so you’d best show me some respect. I’m very powerful.”
“You’re very powerful?”
Chen Die’er giggled, her laughter laced with unmistakable scorn. “I think you’re rather entertaining. Why don’t you become my pet?”
The Blood Demon Patriarch’s breath caught in his chest.
He was a being of a million years, his power boundless, and yet this little girl wanted him as a pet…
He was truly going mad!

A thousand miles away.
White Emperor City.
Huangfu Meng hurried to the City Lord’s residence, entering the imposing grand hall.
Within, a middle-aged man clad in golden robes sat reviewing official documents.
This man was none other than Nangong Ba, the Lord of White Emperor City.
Seeing Huangfu Meng enter, Nangong Ba looked up in some surprise. “Huangfu Meng, you’ve returned so soon? I was just about to send more men to aid you.”

According to the information he had gathered, Tuoba Ye was not an easy foe; his cultivation was formidable, and his nature cunning and ruthless.
He had worried that Huangfu Meng might not be able to handle the task and was about to send reinforcements when she returned unexpectedly.
“Reporting to the City Lord: the villain Tuoba Ye has been put to death. I have come to report.”
Huangfu Meng bowed respectfully to Nangong Ba.
“Tuoba Ye has been executed?”
Nangong Ba’s eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter. “Huangfu Meng, you’re quite remarkable. It seems I underestimated your abilities.”
A faint blush touched Huangfu Meng’s cheeks. She drew a deep breath and shook her head. “City Lord, it was not I who slew Tuoba Ye, but someone else.”
Someone else?
Nangong Ba was taken aback, frowning. “Then who was it that killed Tuoba Ye?”
“A young girl.”
“A young girl?”
Nangong Ba sprang up from his animal-hide chair. “Huangfu Meng, are you jesting with me? According to our intelligence, Tuoba Ye was notoriously difficult to deal with. Now you tell me he was killed by a child?”
“City Lord, I swear it is the truth—Tuoba Ye was indeed slain by a young girl.”
Though she hadn’t witnessed with her own eyes Chen Die’er destroying Tuoba Ye in Qingshui Town, she was utterly certain that he had died at Chen Die’er’s hands.
The thought of the Chen father and daughter sent another chill through her soul.
Terrifying—utterly terrifying!
“City Lord, not only was Tuoba Ye killed by that girl, but his very body and soul were annihilated.”
“Annihilated?”
Nangong Ba seemed struck by lightning, his body quaking violently.
“City Lord, I speak not a word of falsehood,” Huangfu Meng said, swallowing hard. “When I led my forces in pursuit of Tuoba Ye to Qingshui Town, we entered an abandoned manor. The girl’s father accompanied us inside, and we were ambushed by Tuoba Ye.
Yet, without even lifting a hand, the girl’s father inflicted a grievous wound upon Tuoba Ye; his warblade was as fragile as paper.
Tuoba Ye, in terror, managed to flee. But when we pursued him outside, he was gone—all that remained was the girl, standing alone.”
“Did you search the manor thoroughly afterward?”
“We did, but there was no trace of Tuoba Ye. So I am certain he was annihilated by that girl.”
“Was anyone else present at the time?”
“Only the girl’s father and I—no one else.”
“Nonsense!”
Nangong Ba suddenly roared, “Huangfu Meng, you failed to apprehend Tuoba Ye and now invent such absurd lies to deceive me—do you take me for a fool?”

Huangfu Meng was startled, shaking her head. “City Lord, every word I speak is true, without a trace of falsehood. After leaving the manor, I even visited Young Master Chen’s home as a guest, and what I saw there I can never forget.”
“What did you see?”
Nangong Ba’s gaze sharpened, his voice stern.
“The sound of the guqin was the music of the Great Dao; the wooden sword the girl played with was a peerless divine blade; the spinning top she played with contained the mysteries of yin and yang itself…”
“Enough!”
Nangong Ba cut her off with a wave of his hand, his expression cold. “Huangfu Meng, I once held you in high regard, but now I am truly disappointed. What nonsense are you spouting?
The guqin plays the music of the Great Dao, the wooden sword is a peerless divine weapon, and most absurd of all—a spinning top containing the laws of yin and yang!
What kind of fantasy is this?”
“City Lord, I am not fabricating anything,” Huangfu Meng said bitterly.
She knew how unbelievable her words sounded—even she would have doubted them in another’s place.
But she truly was not lying.
Nangong Ba pondered for a moment. “The matter of Tuoba Ye is of utmost importance. If he is not eliminated, he will always be a great threat. To verify whether you are lying is simple: just take me to this so-called expert’s residence.”
“Ah, City Lord, that would not do. Without the expert’s permission, visiting uninvited would surely disturb him.”
Huangfu Meng cried out softly, hastily waving her hands in protest.
She had no idea just how terrifying that master truly was. If they were to visit rashly and cause offense, the consequences would be unthinkable.
“Huangfu Meng, and you dare say you’re not making this up?”
Nangong Ba sneered, shaking his head in profound disappointment. “Enough. Take me to Qingshui Town at once so I can see this so-called expert with my own eyes.”
“City Lord, please, this really isn’t wise…”
Huangfu Meng was nearly in despair.
“Huangfu Meng, the matter of Tuoba Ye allows for no negligence. Move!”
Without another word, Nangong Ba strode out of the main hall.
Huangfu Meng could only sigh helplessly and follow after him.
Esteemed master, this truly was not my intention.
This is just too difficult for me!