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Wu Gang thought hard all day, but couldn't come up with a solution. Finally, he cursed, "Damn it, Emperor Yan, sealing my mana is one thing, but to actually reduce my strength as well..."
Above the nine heavens, inside a certain cave abode, a voice emerged, "Achoo... Who's cursing me?"
Just as Qin Shou was worrying and trying to figure out how to live a few more days, he suddenly saw something flying across the sky!
Qin Shou's eyes lit up, "Another treasure's coming down? Little treasure, this way!"
Unfortunately, the object did not fly towards him but continued straight in the other direction.
It was a flying rainbow, shooting out from the heavenly palace, flying past right over Qin Shou's head!
Almost at the same time, something dropped from the sky and smacked right onto Qin Shou's face.
Qin Shou's nose twitched, "A familiar scent, fragrant... the smell of meat!"
Qin Shou's eyes suddenly widened, all memories associated with the scent of meat surfaced, all the worms of craving in his stomach went on a collective strike, saliva flowing freely!
He quickly took the object off his face to inspect it and found it to be a leftover chicken bone!
Qin Shou scrutinized it against the sunlight; the chicken bone was shiny! Not a trace of meat left on it!
"Was this gnawed on by a dog? It's way too clean!" Qin Shou exclaimed.
At the same time, Qin Shou really felt enraged. He had finally adapted to the bland food on the moon, eating tree bark, osmanthus flowers, shoe soles, and belt straps.
He had almost forgotten the taste of delicious food entirely...
But this chicken bone instantly reminded him of the good life he had on Earth in his past life.
Chicken legs, chicken wings, hot pot, spicy soup, fried cakes, soybean wraps, dumplings...
All sorts of delicacies passed before his eyes, yet he knew he might not get to taste them again for thousands, even tens of thousands of years... What does that feel like?
Truly worse than death!
"Who... who threw this?! It's a grudge for the ages, I'm going to fight you to the death!" Qin Shou howled, looking up in the direction of the flying rainbow.
Qin Shou looked at the location, and his initial excitement instantly dissipated, leaving only tension and fear.
Because that place was his home! Chang'e was still there!
At that thought, Qin Shou bolted, running straight towards home, muttering, "Nothing better have happened! No matter who you are, if you dare touch a single hair on Chang'e, I swear, even if it kills me, I will make you bleed!"
As he ran closer, Qin Shou gradually got a clear view of the situation on the flying rainbow—there was actually someone on it!
Upon closer inspection, the person seemed to be an old man with a white beard, dressed in all white, holding a dust whisk, his manner particularly flamboyant!
"Looks reflect the heart; he's no good," Qin Shou judged with a prejudiced eye, murmuring to himself.
As to who this person was, Qin Shou truly did not recognize him, but he knew one thing for sure—anyone who could ride a rainbow rather than falling down from the sky with a thump was definitely a big deal!
Usually, for safety's sake, they should not be provoked.
But the current situation was a bit unusual, if Chang'e was threatened, Qin Shou wouldn't mind gambling away his life for the next few days.
When Qin Shou arrived at his doorstep, he saw the white-bearded Immortal standing at the entrance of the cave, looking around, no one else in sight!
Qin Shou cursed in his heart, "That's it, it was this old geezer who threw the chicken bone, there's still oil on his beard! I'm going to take you on!"
Just as Qin Shou was about to burst forth, he suddenly slammed on the brakes.
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Because Qin Shou noticed that Chang'e was standing opposite the white-bearded old man, but something seemed not quite right about her!
It wasn't that she was injured or anything, it was just... The temperament she displayed was completely different from her usual self!
Chang'e was usually all giggles, with a bit of a quirky and cute charm, playfully mischievous, yet capable of enduring hardship and kind-hearted...
But the Chang'e before him exuded dignity, grace, and a gentle composure like jade, yet beneath lay a bone-chilling coldness and a distant aloofness, arrogance, and nobility that made Qin Shou almost embarrassed to approach her.
If Qin Shou hadn't known that there was only one Chang'e on the moon, he might have even doubted whether the Chang'e before him was real!
Qin Shou cautiously inched forward, getting closer to listen carefully, but then she finished speaking...
"Yu'er, you're back, come, meet Taibai Star Monarch." Chang'e gestured, and the way she moved made Qin Shou's eyes widen; every action revealed the qualities expected of a noble young lady!
A thought flashed through Qin Shou's mind: "Women have many faces, and only show their true selves when they are with someone they trust."
Thinking of this, Qin Shou felt quite pleased inside, knowing that when it was his turn, Chang'e wouldn't be so restrained with him.
Turning to look at Taibai Star Monarch, Qin Shou couldn't help but tease, "Taibai Star Monarch? You're really quite pale…"
Taibai Star Monarch was instantly speechless...
However, as a dignified Star Monarch, he naturally wouldn't take offense at a rabbit, and he praised with a laugh, "Who would have thought that the fairy on the moon would have a dog as a companion? It's not so lonely then. At the Mid-Yuan Festival celebration, I was fortunate enough to see the Queen Mother herself keeping such a plump, long-eared white dog. It was quite adorable."
Upon hearing this, Chang'e and Qin Shou were both dumbfounded. A dog?
Where did a dog come from?
Chang'e looked back, and Qin Shou looked down; there wasn't one...
Finally, the two of them suddenly realized; he couldn't be talking about Qin Shou, could he?
Qin Shou rolled his eyes, thinking, what sort of vision is this? Are all immortals blind to animals?
First, they mistook him for a chicken bone, and now a dog, this grudge… was getting big!
Qin Shou unabashedly rolled his eyes at Taibai Star Monarch.
Qin Shou knew very well that Chang'e in the Heavenly Court was not exactly favored.
Otherwise, after all these years, only Taibai Star Monarch had come, and it wasn't even clear whether it was for a good reason or a bad one… In Qin Shou's view, it was best for Chang'e not to be involved with the Heavenly Court.
The Heavenly Court was just like the government, wasn't it?
Since ancient times, dealing with the government had always been troublesome; it wasn't worth the effort. Better to live a quiet life.
Chang'e, on the other hand, smiled politely without revealing Qin Shou's identity and invited Taibai Star Monarch to sit on a big stone outside the door.
Taibai Star Monarch hesitated, as it was his first visit and he hadn't even entered the door yet.
Chang'e smiled and said, "The cave is quite messy, making it unsuitable to entertain honored guests. It might be better to sit out here instead."
Taibai Star Monarch looked at the cave as if trying to avoid something, then nodded and agreed, "That would be best."
After speaking, the two sat down on the big stone. The stone was quite comfortable, with a relatively flat plateau in the middle that could barely serve as a place to set things down.
Once seated, Chang'e asked, "May I inquire what brings the Star Monarch here?"
Taibai Star Monarch replied with a smile, "I have been ordered to come here."