Foodie! . . .
Moon Queen's anger was escalating.
"You even... even... You dare to speak to me in such a manner! Yue Gongxue, how dare you? Did Jun Yinglian grant you the audacity?"
Yue Gongxue shook her head. "No, she didn't say anything... I'm simply being honest with you. I'm telling the truth! I swear!"
Moon Queen's ire still burned hot. She spoke with intensity, "Do you believe Jun Yinglian is leading a better life? What right does she have to criticize others? She wholeheartedly devoted herself to a man who never reciprocated her feelings! Look at how pitiable she is now! She has nothing, even after that man's passing! She even contemplated seeking vengeance for him... She is foolish, and she should stay out of others' affairs!"
"I have no intention of contending with someone who has limited time left. Do you believe I genuinely care about Jun Yinglian? She is no longer within our palace. I no longer have any concerns. What if I went out and ended her life right now? What do you think? Would I do that? Am I even capable of it?" Moon Queen's voice grew louder.
"Forgive me, Master. I didn't mean that. If I harbored any disrespectful thoughts, I would willingly accept a death sentence," Yue Gongxue said earnestly. "I'm confused and troubled. I'm a mother. I haven't seen my child in seventeen years. I've never spent even a single moment with him... I became overwhelmed with emotion when thinking of my child. Please, forgive me. This has nothing to do with Master Jun."
Moon Queen was suddenly taken aback when Yue Gongxue mentioned her son. The expression in her eyes became complex. Abruptly, she harrumphed and departed.
"I always keep my word. From now on, you shall remain within this villa and contemplate your actions. Do not take a single step outside without my consent!"
With that, Moon Queen left.
Yue Gongxue remained there for a moment and then sat down.
She sensed her master's hesitation when issuing the final directive.
Moon Queen was weighing whether to return Yue Gongxue to that cave or leave her in the villa.
Ultimately, she opted to honor her own promise and kept Yue Gongxue in this place. In truth, she no longer wished to see Yue Gongxue suffer so much.
"Thank you... Master... but I... won't change my mind," Yue Gongxue muttered softly in the villa. "I miss my family, my husband, and my son..."
"I'm just an ordinary woman... I harbor no lofty aspirations..."
"Xiao Xiao... Nantian..."
...
Cha Eun Xiao wasn't as carefree as before. He had encountered a genuine challenge.
Numerous high-level cultivators were eager to face him. While it was an opportunity, it also posed a considerable challenge. Rest was a luxury he couldn't afford. He found himself in one confrontation after another.
Initially, he was on the receiving end of many powerful disciples' attacks. He faced disgrace, humiliation, and misery, even though he was an astute and seasoned cultivator...
However, there was a vast chasm, a stark imbalance in power.
Cha Eun Xiao found himself greatly outmatched.
It was akin to a scenario where the mightiest of ants might easily vanquish all others in their colony. However, when confronted with a chicken—regardless of how feeble the chicken was—the ant would stand no chance.
They inhabited entirely separate tiers of strength. Even the most formidable ant would be swiftly overwhelmed and consumed by a chicken.
Fortunately, Cha Eun Xiao understood that none of the people he was surrounded by posed a threat to him. In essence, there was no one who sought his life. In this peculiar circumstance, Cha Eun Xiao was left with no choice but to devote himself to rigorous cultivation.
Day by day, he endured relentless beatings, yet he made rapid progress.
Now, Cha Eun Xiao had summoned Erhuo back to his side. With a formidable foundation in cultivation, he could now leverage the benefits of the supreme dan beads created by Erhuo over the past few days.
"Erhuo, what do you intend to do with all these snakes?"
Within the Space, Cha Eun Xiao panted for breath. He had just endured an entire day of harsh training and now sought respite. Yet, when he gazed upon the lifeless snakes within the Space, an eerie sensation overcame him.
He was certainly no coward, but the sight of the snakes within the Space was undeniably unsettling.
Within the Space, the tens of thousands of snake carcasses formed a mountain-like pile. Remarkably, the snake bodies did not decay. However, every time Cha Eun Xiao entered the Space, he had to confront the disconcerting spectacle of this snake mountain.
Erhuo, however, meowed innocently, as if it had no connection to the snakes whatsoever.
Cha Eun Xiao had been deeply immersed in his specialized training, leaving him with limited time to spend with Erhuo. Observing Erhuo now, he noticed that the cat's appearance had become sleek and elegant. Every strand of fur seemed to glisten, and while it remained the size of a fist, its overall aura had grown significantly more potent.
Clearly, Erhuo had consumed some valuable items, and it had developed much faster since Cha Eun Xiao had hatched it.
Erhuo responded to Cha Eun Xiao's inquiry with an air of self-evidence, as if the answer were glaringly obvious.
"Eat," Erhuo uttered.
Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback by Erhuo's response. "Eat these dead snakes? How can you possibly eat them all? You're just a small cat! Are you implying that you'll feast on dead snakes every day? Won't you get bored? Whenever I come here, I'm confronted with these revolting sights. Doesn't it sicken you? Are you really planning to eat them?"