The Talking Ant

Her exquisitely beautiful face was filled with curiosity. "Xu Yan, I'm getting more and more curious about what kind of person you are."

When she had seen Xu Yan's paintings before, she had thought he was an unfathomably powerful senior. However, after observing him for these past two days, something felt off.

Xu Yan's attitude towards the Demon Race also piqued her interest.

"I'm just a Mortal. What's so curious about that?" Xu Yan said irritably. "It's you, your identity is definitely no small matter, so you should leave my Small Shop quickly. I don't want to get involved with you."

The moment he saw this woman, he knew she was trouble.

Otherwise, who would come to someone's house at night, looking like they were on the verge of death? It would scare the life out of anyone timid.

The woman stared at Xu Yan for several seconds before suddenly smiling and asking, "Do you want to know my name?"

"No!" Xu Yan replied without hesitation.

He found the woman troublesome enough already, let alone knowing her name.

The woman's dreamlike eyes scanned Xu Yan up and down. "My name is Ying Xueying, and I'm from the Ying Family."

She wouldn't normally reveal her name so easily, but she felt Xu Yan was unusual and didn't mind telling him.

She had a premonition that she would definitely meet Xu Yan again in the future.

"Ying Xueying? That's a nice name, though it doesn't quite fit." Xu Yan said dismissively.

There was no need to comment on the woman's beauty; she was a peerless beauty. However, in his eyes, she was just a dangerous beauty that would bring trouble.

Ying Xueying took two steps closer to Xu Yan, standing very near him. "Are you saying I'm not good-looking?" she demanded.

Every woman liked to be praised for her looks, and she was no exception.

Even though she knew her beauty was unparalleled, she still cared about what others thought of her appearance.

Xu Yan took a step back and pouted. "I didn't say that. You said it yourself."

Then he added, "I already bought the Roast Chicken you wanted. Aren't you going to eat it?"

If Ying Xueying hadn't insisted on buying two, he would never have bought two. Normally, one was enough for him.

Furthermore, two would cost forty copper coins, which was not an insignificant sum for someone with his simple lifestyle.

Ying Xueying glanced at the Roast Chicken on the table. "I don't need to eat it. You can have it yourself."

With that, she brushed past Xu Yan and walked out of the Small Shop.

Xu Yan didn't turn around. He looked at the numerous Calligraphy and Paintings hanging on the wall in the outer hall. "Are you leaving?"

"What, you can't bear to part with me?" Ying Xueying teased.

Xu Yan pondered for a moment. "No, the sooner you leave, the better. You might bring unnecessary trouble."

He should have been happy that Ying Xueying was leaving, but now that she was actually leaving, he didn't know why he wasn't as happy as he expected.

Hearing Xu Yan's words, Ying Xueying's exquisitely beautiful face broke into a captivating smile. She said softly, "Xu Yan, thank you for saving me. I owe you a favor."

With that, she stepped out of the What Are You Looking At Small Shop and quickly disappeared.

A long time later, Xu Yan sat on a chair holding Su Jiuer, looking at the two Roast Chickens on the table, but he had little appetite.

He placed Su Jiuer on the table. "Hurry up and finish your half of the Roast Chicken. Don't go hungry. I know you can finish it."

Su Jiuer glanced at Xu Yan, then walked over and continued eating her half of the Roast Chicken. She finished it not long after.

She had also been pondering what kind of power the Ying Family was. In the Southern Domain, there was no such family.

Could it be a direct descendant of a major family from outside the Southern Domain?

In the end, Xu Yan only ate one and a half Roast Chickens. He wanted to give the remaining half to Su Jiuer, but she couldn't eat any more.

He said helplessly, "That woman didn't even finish the Roast Chicken she asked me to buy before leaving. Now I have to throw it away."

Xu Yan carried the half Roast Chicken out of the Small Shop. He intended to throw it directly into the trash can but accidentally noticed a small Golden Ant under the cherry blossom tree in front of the shop.

It was the first time he had seen a Golden Ant. It looked very peculiar, about half the length of his index finger.

Among ants, this Golden Ant was not small.

The Golden Ant was currently walking forward, and it continued until it reached Xu Yan's feet, which blocked its path.

The Golden Ant looked up at Xu Yan, who was infinitely larger than it, and cursed, "What are you standing here for? You're blocking my way, you bastard."

As it spoke, it even extended a leg and kicked Xu Yan's foot.

Xu Yan heard the Golden Ant's words and found it incredibly unbelievable.

Even though the voice was very small, he could clearly hear the ant's voice.

To confirm he hadn't misheard, he squatted down, looked at the Golden Ant, and asked, "Are you talking to me?"

If anyone saw this scene, they would surely think he had gone mad, talking to an ant.

Could ants understand human speech?

Yes, they really could!

The Golden Ant heard Xu Yan's words and grumbled, "Nonsense, is there anyone else here besides me who would talk to you?"

Its tone was full of disdain, as if it looked down on Xu Yan.

Xu Yan's face showed astonishment. This ant could actually speak.

He asked with great interest, "Are you from the Demon Race?"

In Tianren City, he had heard people say that members of the Demon Race could speak human languages, and that some demons had the same true forms as ordinary animals. Therefore, he thought this Golden Ant might be a demon.

Unexpectedly, the Golden Ant's disdain grew even stronger. It cursed, "Demon? My foot! You don't even recognize me, the great me? What a waste of a big body."

Listening to its words, it seemed to have a significant background, and Xu Yan's ignorance meant he was ill-informed.

Xu Yan naturally wouldn't get angry with an ant. Instead, he smiled and said, "I really don't know you. If you're not from the Demon Race, how can you speak our human language?"

He hadn't heard of animals other than demons speaking. Logically, if an animal could speak, it had become a demon, and if it had become a demon, it was naturally part of the Demon Race.

"You truly have no insight. I am the Golden Emperor Ant! I can smash you with a single punch," the Golden Ant taunted.

As soon as it finished speaking, it smelled a fragrance. Following the scent, it looked at the half Roast Chicken in the bag Xu Yan was holding.

Xu Yan had never heard of any Golden Emperor Ant, but he found an ant that could speak quite interesting.

At the same time, he noticed the Golden Emperor Ant seemed to be looking at the half Roast Chicken he was preparing to discard.

Thus, an idea formed in his mind, and he said, "Golden Emperor Ant, would you be willing to become my Pet?"

The Golden Emperor Ant felt deeply insulted and became furious. "You want me, the great me, to be your Pet? Human brat, you really have the nerve to say that! Believe it or not, I'll smash you with a single punch!"