With cautious steps, Minister Hu approached Zhang Lian, his gaze fixed on the knife that she was holding. The room appeared to become colder, and his heart pounded hard in his chest. He tried to hide the fear as he spoke, but his voice trembled.
"Your Highness… you wanted to discuss something important?"
Zhang Lian smilingly "Indeed, Minister Hu," she replied, her voice smooth and unsettling. "There is something very important I need to discuss with you."
She looked toward the cat, she calmly spoke. "Bring it out."
At her word, the cat, who had been sitting with a casual attitude, got up. It gave an obedient nod, and then, with a quick flick of its paw, it called up a bright system screen.
Cat taps the screen. A horrifying sight appeared. It was a white, centipede-like monster, about the size of a quarter of a pinky finger, with thin skin that revealed vibrating black veins.
Its teeth snapped open and closed in a horrific cycle, and its little legs moved ceaselessly. Its body emitted a terrible green glow that filled the space with an unsettling color.
Cat reached into the screen and took the worm out as if it were a physical object. The creature moved in its paw, its movements slow. Floating over to Zhang Lian, Cat held the worm out to her. "Here, nya,"
Cat said. "Take it, it will understand your orders, no need to go to any other process as it is a system item Nya or normally you need to ensure some other process to make it work."
Zhang Lian's eyes flickered with interest as she observed the worm and ignored the last part, as she didn't need to know what the process was for now.
"So you can touch system items," with a serious face.
"Obviously, nya!" Cat replied, waving a paw. "I can touch the system item's ."
Zhang Lian ignored the sudden discover for now and her attention shifted to the little creature in cat hands. She grabbed it without hesitation, holding it in her hand as it moved against her skin.
Minister Hu, standing just a few paces away, felt the first real waves of terror seized him and a shiver crawled up his spine.
"Your Highness…" he began, in a trembling as his eyes darted between Zhang Lian and the worm. "What is that… thing? How did it—how did it appear out of nowhere?"
Zhang Lian's gaze shifted lazily back to him. Her eyes looked at him "You'll know soon enough, Minister Hu be Patience."
She turned the worm over in her hand, inspecting it. Then, as if the creature were nothing more than an instrument, she looked at Cat. "What should I do with it?"
Cat floated closer & pointed at the minister hu. "Just make the fatty bleed a little, nya. Drop the worm into the wound, and it'll find its way to his heart."
Zhang Lian smiled as she turned back to Minister Hu. "Give me your hand," she ordered, her voice loud and clear.
Minister Hu fearfully Asked, "Why?" he backed away his hand instinctively. His mind raced,"What are you going to do?"
Zhang Lian's face darkened, and she raised the knife in her hand, pointing it directly at his chest. "You can give me your hand," her voice dropping to an icy cold voice, "or I will put this knife into you. It's your choice."
Minister Hu's mind screamed for him to run, but his body refused to obey. "What… what is this worm?" he asked, desperate for some explanation, some way to delay the unknown.
Zhang Lian's smiled, "This is part of the process to extend your life. If it works, you'll be thinner and live longer. But you must trust me… or you will die pointing a knife at him."
Minister Hu was filled with doubt, but the sharp shine of the blade held him in place. His options were limited—either the knife or the worm. His hand trembled as he cautiously extended it toward her.
Zhang Lian did not take long. She sliced a thin line across his palm with a swift movement. The pain was sudden but temporary, and the blade was sharp. Minister Hu instinctively tried to withdraw his hand as a thin line of blood rose up, but Zhang Lian's gaze warned him not to resist.
"Stay still," she commanded.
Terrified, Minister Hu obeyed, his entire body trembling. He watched in growing horror as Zhang Lian held the struggling Gua Worm above the wound, then dropped it into the fresh cut.
The creature waited for a moment before, with a fast speed, it burrowed into his flesh, disappearing beneath the skin.
Minister Hu's eyes widened with terror as he felt the worm moving beneath his skin, its tiny legs crawling through his veins. His heart raced, the sensation unbearable as the creature made its way toward his chest.
"It's inside me!" he thought in horror, holding his arm as the icy sensation appeared around his heart.
Zhang Lian observed his reaction with a simple tone. She said, "It's done."
"Now, give him an order, nya,"
Zhang Lian nodded, her gaze shifting to the trembling Minister Hu. " Minster Hu Dance," she ordered.
Minister Hu blinked, confused, "W-what?"
"Dance," Zhang Lian repeated, her voice hardening. "Or the worm will kill you."
Minister Hu's chest felt like it was stabbed. He touched his chest in pain, he said with fear. "What's happening?"
Zhang Lian's expression remained emotionless. "Dance," she said again, "Or you die."
The pain surged through Minister Hu's body. In desperation, he began to move—his limbs moving weirdly as he danced, trying to obey her command.
His heavy, flabby body moved funnily.
Cat burst into laughter, its tiny body shaking. "Nya, this is so funny!"
Zhang Lian watched with a faint smirk. After a few moments, she waved a hand. "Enough."
Minister Hu collapsed onto the floor, taking a deep breath, his face filled with fear. His chest felt tight as he struggled to understand what had just happened.
"Your Highness," his voice filled with desperation, "why are you doing this? You said… you said it was to extend my life—"
Zhang Lian's smile faded, her gaze became serious. "I need to be sure of your loyalty, Minister Hu. You've already proven yourself willing to betray others for power, and that makes you dangerous."
Minister Hu's heart sank as he realized the depth of his situation. "But… Your Highness—"
Zhang Lian, holding a knife, said loudly and interrupted, "You will follow my every command from now on." That will be ensured by the Gu Worm.
Minister Hu took a deep breath, fear running through his body like cold water. "And what happens if I don't?" He asked fearfully.
Zhang Lian's icy, menacing smile reappeared. "Minister Hu, the worm will rip your heart apart from the inside if you defy me."
The truth of the situation struck him like lightning. He was now a puppet, a slave to the will of the queen. There was no way out.
"And one more thing," Zhang Lian said in a low tone. "You will never admit my involvement in your... activities, should you ever be caught or found out the gu worm will kill you, Do you understand?"
Minister Hu nodded, his face was filled with terror. His fate was sealed. He was bound to her by the cursed worm that was now living within him.
As he stood shakily, Zhang Lian said her final words with a smile. "As long as you obey, Minister Hu… I will ensure you live a long, long life after all that technique is not fake, now you can go and send & that boy in.