With their lingering worries resolved, Yin Luan and the other two girls awkwardly brought up the matter of their reward.
“Please!” Little Snake pleaded, her big, sparkling eyes wide and round as she gazed up at the stunning beauty. Clasping her hands together in supplication, she spoke in a soft, childish voice. “The Soul-Reviving Pill is really important to us—it’s for saving someone. We know it’s incredibly precious, and no matter what conditions you demand, we can promise to meet them!”
“Really?”
“Uh, we can promise, but if it’s something we can’t actually do, that’s a different story…”
The Soul-Reviving Pill was not only precious but also quite useful to the Ghost King herself right now. To awaken Mei’er, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like this were likely indispensable—yet she only had two in her possession.
Seeing the mix of tension, worry, and eager anticipation on the three young maidens’ faces, the Ghost King clenched her fist and then opened her palm, revealing a black pill nestled there.
“Without you, Mei’er and I would probably both have died at Xumi’s hands,” she said with a gentle smile. “So, take it. Go save your precious loved one.”
“Thank you,” the Eldest Young Lady replied solemnly, accepting the pill with both hands. Her expression was grave. “If Senior ever needs anything in the future, please come find me. Ren Tan will exert every effort to help!”
“Your opportunities have been fortunate, but your cultivation base is still too shallow,” the Ghost King said. “Focus on cultivating to the Innate Realm first, then worry about the rest. Also, the Soul-Reviving Pill isn’t a miracle cure—its effects vary depending on the person. Don’t place all your hopes on it.”
“Understood.”
Ren Tan carefully stowed the pill away and bowed deeply.
“By the way, there’s one more thing I need to trouble you with,” the Ghost King continued. She ordered her servants to fetch a sealed scroll and explained, “I hope you can find a way to deliver this to the Demon Subduing Division. My identity is… unique, so it’s inconvenient for me to contact them directly.”
“What’s this?”
The Little Snake Demon took the scroll and asked.
“Some clues and warnings,” the Ghost King replied. “The Ghost King Ship sees all sorts of people coming and going. I’ve gathered bits of information from various sources and learned a few underworld secrets. This recent chaos feels like just a prelude to me—the real climax hasn’t arrived yet. Still, the Demon Subduing Division should prepare in advance.”
If the Great Zhou Kingdom descended into chaos, it wouldn’t benefit a solitary powerhouse like her. Besides, she had no intention of getting tangled up in webs of profit and conflict next; she simply wanted to focus on handling her own affairs with her disciple.
Thus, she didn’t mind offering the Demon Subduing Division a small heads-up.
“Rest assured, we’ll deliver it for sure!”
The Little Snake Demon patted her chest in guarantee.
A gentle river breeze carried waves of cool freshness, while the green leaves along the shore rustled amid the endless chirp of insects.
The three young maidens stood at the fork in the road with the stunning beauty, gazing at one another.
“What, do you need a farewell hug from me?” the Ghost King teased with a laugh.
“Can we?”
Little Snake perked up instantly.
Those cotton-candy mounds must feel so comfy… no, definitely comfy!
“Hey, it’s fine if you embarrass yourself, but don’t drag Ren Tan down with you…”
The Radish Spirit hurriedly tugged Little Snake away.
“Senior, please take care of yourself,” Ren Tan said. “I hope you can rediscover the Dao in your heart and return to the Void Treading Realm.”
The Ghost King smiled but said nothing.
The Dao?
Not everyone needs it, after all…
~~~
Having obtained the Soul-Reviving Pill, the group headed straight for the new secret outpost.
After the previous outpost had been breached, Ren Tan had relocated her subordinates to a much safer spot. Her mother was there, along with Lily, Ah Man, and the others tasked with her protection.
“These past few days have been exhausting…”
Xiao Luo sprawled across the soft cushions of the carriage, groaning.
“Running all over the place, fighting, living in constant fear… my leaves are all wilted… I said wilted—not that you can eat me!”
“Licking a couple times wouldn’t be too much, right…?”
The ordeal on the Ghost King Ship had been a thrilling yet grueling adventure, whether for a sprite with such a shallow cultivation base or a human who hadn’t even reached the Innate Realm.
Looking back now, if only the two of them had boarded without the lucky encounter with Little Snake, it was anyone’s guess if they could have made it back alive.
Even Ren Tan felt utterly drained. Reclining in the carriage, she quickly drifted off into a hazy sleep.
Raised in a life of wealth and privilege with a fine education, the Eldest Young Lady slept with the same impeccable posture as Du Xuan—hands neatly folded over her abdomen, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm, radiating the refined grace of a true noble daughter.
Little Snake squatted beside her, staring intently at her face and flicking out her tongue, as if trying to catch the faint scent wafting from her.
“Don’t wake her up,” Xiao Luo said, utterly unfazed by such antics. She reminded her gently, “Out of all of us, she’s been the most worn out these past few days.”
Family vendettas, her mother’s coma, the Ghost Ship game, the brutal clash under the moonlight—each event had hit Ren Tan like a thunderbolt.
A typical girl her age would have crumbled under the strain long ago, dissolving into emotional wreckage.
But not her. She hadn’t shown the slightest hint of fear or hesitation. Instead, she’d wielded her sharp mind to guide them all, transforming peril into safety.
Ren Tan was no ordinary person. She was exceptional.
Exceptional indeed… Little Snake found the girl before her utterly irresistible, her scent teasing at her taste buds until drool pooled unconsciously at the corners of her mouth.
“Just one lick… She wouldn’t get mad if she woke up, right?”
Yin Luan pondered, inching her neck forward ever so slowly.
“Are you even listening to a word I say?” Xiao Luo didn’t bother stirring from her spot, merely grumbling aloud. “You look like you’re in heat right now—ready to plant sloppy kisses on anyone in reach…”
In heat?
Little Snake froze, giving the notion serious thought.
When exactly was a snake’s mating season? Lately, she’d been losing control more and more, overcome by the urge to coil around beautiful young maidens…
“Mm… don’t worry… everyone…”
In her sleep, Ren Tan’s brows furrowed, her face twisting in evident turmoil as murmurs escaped her lips.
“I will… take back… the chamber of commerce… I will… awaken… Mother… I will…”
So the Eldest Young Lady wasn’t immune to the pressure after all. She simply kept it locked away deep inside, never letting it show.
Even the toughest souls had their vulnerabilities.
“The younger generation’s sleep is abysmal these days…”
Xiao Luo shook her head and gathered a wisp of pale green light on her fingertip, gently pressing it to the Eldest Young Lady. Ren Tan’s expression eased at once, and she slipped back into tranquil slumber.
So many people depended on her, pinned their hopes on her—and she was the responsible type through and through.
With that in mind, the restless fire in Little Snake’s belly cooled by a third. No more drooling over her now.
Ren Tan was pushing herself so hard. It wouldn’t be right to ambush her in her sleep.
If she was going to do anything, it ought to wait until the girl was awake…
With a thoughtful tilt of her head, Little Snake leaned close to the Eldest Young Lady’s ear and whispered tenderly to the sleeping beauty.
“With you here, I feel completely at ease. We all do. Get some proper rest—I’ll stand guard over you. Mwah~”
“Mwah~”
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