Chapter 39
Di Xueyan is currently striding into the Night Forest. Since she decided to help the poor ancient black dragon, she knows that she has to do her best as they promised mutual benefits.
After tricking the ancient black dragon, who was too weak to realize the spatial difference of her little realm, thus was coned, she immediately went out to know whatever is happening in the outside world.
The ministers who were convicted were properly punished by execution of three generations. The whole kingdom was near to collapsing as they lost a lot of foundation in one swoop. Luckily, there are a lot of scholars who were sifted to partake the Imperial Scholars Examination, which should be happening in two years time, but was moved earlier.
When the problem with the ministers was solved, another head ache rocked the kingdom.
The crown prince and the current empress' disappeared!
Since the remaining old families were all upright and those who really cared for the well being of the kingdom, as all those who were executed were the rotten ones, they wanted the royal family to continue, thus the disappearance of the crown prince became a sensation.
Left with no choice, as the other royal princes of the kingdom are only toddlers, they all voted to appoint Jin Linkai as the emperor, as he is also from the royal family, whose mother has the purest blood, so, the change of name is not a big deal.
It would be a great honor to be an emperor, thus, those old foggies never thought that Jin Linkai would decline their offer without even blinking, as if he was just declining a useless joy ride around the capital.
They pestered him though, hoping for him to relent. But as Jin Linkai is already disgusted at the thought of being an emperor, as he was traumatized with his uncle's insanity, he declined again and again politely. Until the politeness became a promise of bloodshed if they will not stop their annoying approach, making the thousand offers abruptly stopped.
Who would want to provoke the Sangre Pavilion? All of the old ministers already knew about what really happened in the palace and how gore the way the pavilion kills people, thus, they can't help but to feel shivers down their spine whenever they thought about that.
That was the time when they finally found out the meaning of the strange name Sangre, they can't help but to think that it really suited their pavilion.
Blood
Left with no choice again, all they can do is to appoint the oldest prince they have, which is five years old, as the crown prince.
Those old ministers knew that they can't change the dynasty, as they still need the magical barrier that has been protecting them for years, which can only be opened by the Xiao's bloodline. Exterminating them because of the crimes of the previous emperor was never thought as an option primarily due to this reason.
The real situation was covered up to the public, making the ordinary cultivators confused as their ordinary citizens were all wiped out. But as a continent were the strongs are to be respected, who would want to seek justice for those poor soul? Thus, they paid no heed.
Di Xueyan wanted to, but who will she blame then? So the whole matter became a mystery in the whole kingdom.
Di Xueyan left the kingdom to find a missing herb for the ancient black dragon's injury which will only bloom once in a millennium, the Moon's Glow Vitality Herb. As it is rare, she doesn't know where to start.
How she wish she has a protagonist's halo.
So, the first place she wants to go is the central region, where you can find variety of rare treasures treasured in big households. She decided that if she can't have it using soft methods, then maybe stealing will do. She never knew when she started to became a thief, but she can't deny the excitement and adrenaline it brings, so she somehow loves it, though bad.
As she is now crossing in the boundary between the eight and nine levels of the forest, she decided to take a break and have some lunch.
The boundary between the eight and nine levels is a huge ancient mystic tree, looking very imposing with its tall and wide tree trunk and it's glistening foliage. It is a lone tree in the boundary. The next trees are surrounding the gigantic lone tree for about a hundred meters in radius, making it looks mysterious under the glare of the sunlight. The foliage is thick and very wide, making anyone who take a break for a while to be satisfied with the sound of the hum of the wind and dancing leaves, and the little cries of the little birds that were left behind by their parents who are hunting for preys. The surrounding is so calm and serene that you really can't help but to sit down and close your eyes for a while, the prerequisite though is, if you have the ability to fend of the beasts who will automatically pounce on you once you make your presence to be known.
The strange thing is, a white clothed girl, who looks like a young lady from an ordinary family due to her plain dress, but have a regal and noble aura and gracefulness, was not even attacked by ferocious beasts the moment she settles down. It is also very apparent that there is no flunctuations of barriers or artifacts.
The girl calmly took a flat rectangular strange thing that is decorated with square shapes inside. It is in a strange moss green color, the components were made with strange materials that can't be seen in this continent. It looks confusing and intriguing, but not attractive enough to be stolen, at least by the people here.
The girl went to a region of the shade where there is sunlight and arranged the strange things there in a very familiar manner, as if she has been doing it for hundreds of times already.
When Di Xueyan is satisfied with the arrangement of the solar panel, she directly took a foldable counter table in her space ring.
Di Xueyan was not here to have a camping, but to eat. Her mother gave them enough money before they were thrown in the Huang Continent, so that they can buy whatever they want on earth for them to use in the cultivation world. She bought a lot of foods, junk foods, varieties of cakes, different cooking ingredients, kitchen appliances and even musical instruments.
She often reads how amazing the campfire of those female protagonists with their friends are, but since she knows that she has an advantage, why not use it?
Her mother was exasperated and helpless when she saw the solar panel and kitchen appliances that she bought, lamenting in her heart as she knows that her daughter's laziness is about to begin, again.
When her mother spoke her mind, she just answered,
' What do you want me to do? Find a flint to start a fire?', she was then rewarded with a resounding wack in the head.
Di Xueyan expertly coats the chicken parts with seasoned flour as the oil in the electric fryer is already bubbling. There are two electric fryer in front of her, one is for fries, which is already slightly golden brown, while the other is for her favorite junk food, fried chicken. She is just very thankful to whoever gods there are that she is a cultivator, thus she can eat to her heart's content without getting herself killed nor get fat.
In a double electric stove in the far end of the wide enough counter table, a faint smell of curry and pandan rice is already very alluring as it slowly simmers in two different 40 cm non - stick pans.
The sound of gentle frying and simmering is very comfortable in the ears.
The faint delicious aroma is wafting in the air, making the nearby beasts with lower intelligence almost drool and pounce on the food, they are just very afraid of the chef though.
The perfect ancient scenery of a humongous tree and ancient air is disturbed by the modern technology of a different world. But strangely, they seem to coexist in harmony together, neither one can be ignored and neither one can be seen as above the other.
In the far eastern side of the tree, an inconspicuous beast is hiding under the bushes. Basing from the mischief in its eyes, one can infer that the beast is highly intelligent, and unlike those lower beasts, it seems to be advancing slowly towards the cooking girl.
It's red fur glistens in the rays of the sunlight while it's fox eyes is gleaming in seduction as he is nearing the seemingly unaware young lady. The beast aura alone is very majestic, but its grandeur intensified as it slowly wags its nine tails, seemingly contemplating about the interesting girl in front of it who is not even paying it any attention.
The nine tailed fox's eyes flashed with irritation, but instantly turned back to its original seductive gaze. It stopped a meter away from the busy girl and tried to act flirty, but still got ignored. Seeing as its majestic and regal self is being ignored, it rolled its eyes in an extremely cute manner, earning a slight smile from the secretly peeping Di Xueyan, before transforming into a gorgeous young man in red.
A gorgeous cherry colored robe embroidered with little white lilies in the hem is fluttering in the wind along with a straight half bun ink black hair. It gives a very feminine vibes, but as you look at the scene as a whole, you can't help but to exclaim in surprise at how masculine it actually is. The man's off - green fox eyes that is half covered with thick and curly eye lashes is so soul sucking once your eyes accidentally wandered unto his, coupled with little mole in the end of his right eye lid, his gaze is not only sucking but also seems to know your darkest and deepest secret. His small pointed nose and thin red lips seems to be feminine but also masculine, specially with the lazy smirk in his lips.
" Wife, are you cooking for me again?", his voice is deep and magnetic, it can attract any young ladies, but Di Xueyan is mortified in her insides, thinking how cringey it is to hear his words.
" And good morning to you too, leader of the higher order of the higher beasts", she smiles sweetly, but everyone who knows her will cringe at how fake it is.
" Wife, it saddens me everytime you acts as if you doesn't know me. Have you already forgotten about how you took my chastity? Should you be more responisble?", the man slightly pouted while taking a chair in his storage ring and sits in front her while sulking, earning a glare from a slightly flushing Di Xueyan.
It was not really much. She was just playing with the little beasts in the night forest that time when he suddenly appears, surprising her and made her lose her balance while she accidentally clutched at his upper robe. Who would have known that his robe is so easy to tear that she can tear it almost instantly? She was not ashamed at that time at all, only the person in front of her and those people who surrounded them. As someone who drools at the gorgeous topless male models in the high billboards in the city, what is wrong with seeing a shabby chest? But unluckily, her thoughts did not coincide with the thoughts of the beasts in the forest, so it became a big joke, which is not that serious for her though, only the man in front of her who took it seriously that all she can do is to grit her teeth.
" You shameless pedophile! It was not my fault that your robe fabric is too old that it was teared just with the lightest clutch!", she retorts back, while pointing her flour coated index finger at the shameless old coot in front of her.
" Who said I'm a pedophile? ", he frowns, looking very wronged.
" I saw you peeping at a young lady bathing in the stream nearby. If you are not a pedophile you thousand years old old coot, what are you then?", she taunted, trying to get even with him. She is very satisfied at the irritation and light blush on his face that she almost wants to laugh in triumph, her inner childishness resurfaced again.
" I didn't peep! That was an accident! How would I know that there was a person there?!", he defended himself, looking extremely aggrieved.
" Oh? An accident but you have to stare for about five minutes? So that's how an accident should be then? What an old pervert. For someone who seems to value chastity, you have the most extreme value haha", Di Xueyan laughed out loud when she saw how red his face is at the moment, making her extremely satisfied.
" You - - you--", he pointed his finger at her speechlessly.
'Poor boy, he really is too easy to fluster', Di Xueyan thought.
" Yanyan, you should not anger your grandpa, his heart is already so frail that it may stop beating any minute from now. Please be magnanimous and let his pervert self go", a mocking voice sounded in their other side, making her double her laugh.
A yellow dressed, with mini clouds embroidery, man with fierce yet extremely manly appearance is now heading towards them. His amber colored eyes are full of mirth as the light scar in the right side of his right eyebrow wrinkled in laughter. The scar should look ugly, but it is not a case for this god - favored creature. His nose is slighty crooked in the tip while his red full lips is grinning wildly, showing off his cute canine teeth that made him even more charming and approachable.
" You are just five hundred years younger than me, don't be too arrogant", the red robed man harshly reminded the yellow robed man, making Di Xueyan laugh even harder at how old these two actually are.
" Atleast, I am younger. Old foggy", the yellow man taunted back.
" You are all too old, Xueyan greets grandpas", Du Xueyan fake a bow which earned a glare from different sides.
" If you'll be my wife, you'll be a grandma too", the red robed man proudly stated.
" No, idiot, I will be a child bride ahaha", she lay her head up high and laughs without reservation, her action is too unlady like, but it made the two hearts in front and in her side skips a beat.
It was silent for a few seconds, except for her hearty laugh, as the two is trying to engrave the scene in their hearts and minds before they started to tease each other again.
They both knew that one day, these innocent and joyous smiles of hers will slowly be lost and stolen in the passage of trials and tribulations of this cruel world, until she can no longer laugh this freely at all. They both feel lucky that they met her in her lighter years, without grief, bloodthirstiness, bitterness and call for revenge.
The once tranquil scene turned joyful and noisy, thanks to the bickerings and laughter of the three grown ups who acts like little children, who doesn't seems to care about any foes that they might encounter in their high profile rest at all.