"Go and call Wu Datou." In the blink of an eye, Lady Shu had transformed from a woman seething with regret and hatred, her face twisted in a grimace, into someone amiable and pleasant. She gave the order to her attendants with a smile.
Wu Datou's surname was Wu, and his given name was Datou. He was tall and powerfully built, and standing before Lady Shu, he was like a door panel, giving the impression of being sturdy and honest.
The most striking thing about him was his huge head. It was out of proportion with his body, making him look top-heavy.
He stood a full eight feet tall and had a robust build. Yet even atop that frame, his head still seemed enormous.
Just how big was that head?
Though his head was big, his nature was as straightforward as a rod. He had no cunning in him and was utterly loyal to Island Lord Shu Tianhao.
He was an orphan of war, rescued by Shu Tianhao from an attack by pirate ships. Now grown, he was unwaveringly loyal, and Shu Tianhao had appointed him a military officer responsible for defending Shu Family City.
"What does Madam want with me?" he asked in a deep, rumbling voice. Since Lady Shu was Shu Tianhao's wife, he treated her with great respect.
Lady Shu's smile grew gentler still, her tone as warm as a spring breeze. "General Wu, I have a favor to ask of you."
"I wouldn't dare." Wu Datou hurriedly replied, "If it goes against military orders, I won't do it. If it doesn't violate an order given by the island lord, then I'll do it."
His answer was utterly straightforward.
Lady Shu nodded, praising him at once. "General Wu, you're devoted to your duty. With you protecting Shu Family City, I won't fear even if pirates like Mad Lion, Crimson Tiger, or Remnant Wolf come."
Wu Datou looked completely serious. "I can't beat them, but the island lord ordered me to defend Shu Family City. Even if I die, I'll die on its walls."
"Good, good, good." Lady Shu nodded with a smile, though in her heart she cursed him for being a blockhead. After a brief pause, she got to the point. "I have a Foundation Strengthening Pill here that I want to give to Chu Yun. That little rascal has gotten temperamental again and run out of Shu Family City. This time, he used his mutated Fire Fox to take first place in the first examination. As his stepmother, I'm happy for him too. This Foundation Strengthening Pill is exactly what he needs."
After a pause, Lady Shu continued, "I could have asked someone else to handle this. But I suspect that child Chu Yun will get temperamental and throw the Foundation Strengthening Pill away rather than accept my kindness. So I came to ask General Wu to supervise him in person. You must make sure his mutated Demon Beast eats this pill."
Wu Datou fell silent. After a while, he finally worked it out and decided that helping with this did not violate military orders. He took the pill and replied in his rumbling voice, "Yes, Madam. I'll see it done."
Lady Shu put on an act and sighed again. "That child is very stubborn. General Wu, please take extra care with him. The second examination is in three days. I'd also like you to spare some time to teach him how to make Demon Beasts fight."
"Understood, Madam." This time, Wu Datou answered without hesitation.
"Then go take care of it." Lady Shu gave a slight wave.
"This subordinate takes his leave."
Wu Datou left, and the corners of Lady Shu's mouth lifted into a cold, scheming smile. The Foundation Strengthening Pill was naturally no ordinary pill. It had Mixiang Seaweed mixed into it.
This seaweed was hard to come by. It did indeed have a strengthening and replenishing effect on Demon Beasts that consumed it. But its side effect was seven days and seven nights of drowsiness and listlessness, with their fighting strength greatly diminished.
Moreover, no one could spot anything wrong with a Foundation Strengthening Pill mixed with Mixiang Seaweed. It wasn't a dud or a poison pill, either. Only an exceptionally skilled alchemist could identify some of the ingredients in the pill.
The people around Chu Yun weren't nearly capable enough.
Lady Shu had kept this sort of pill hidden away for a long time. She had originally planned to save it for Shu Da or Shu Er. The pill itself worked as intended, but it did have side effects.
Seven days and seven nights of listlessness would leave him short on training. Even if Chu Yun's Fire Fox learned the techniques on the jade slip, it would still lose the examination due to its lack of combat practice.
Of course, the brilliance of this plan wasn't in the Foundation Strengthening Pill. It was in the person delivering it!
Wu Datou's straightforward nature—that was just a flattering way to put it. To be blunt, he was a few bricks short of a load. He wouldn't suspect her, and he would leave a favorable impression on Chu Yun as well.
Since he had promised to make sure Chu Yun took the pill, he would definitely do it. And since he had promised to teach Chu Yun how to fight, he would definitely follow through, drilling him the way he drilled troops...
By then, Chu Yun would be exhausted, the Heavenly Fox drowsy. How could they possibly stand up to Shu Da and Shu Er?
Best of all was Wu Datou's status. Everyone knew he was trusted by Shu Tianhao and had been given the vital responsibility of defending the city. Even if something really happened, he would bear the blame.
If Shu Tianhao investigated and Wu Datou was dismissed, that would be even better. Lady Shu had plenty of trusted confidants ready to take the important post of Shu Family City's defender.
"What is a scheme? A true scheme has one link after another, kills several birds with one arrow, and accounts for every possibility. Chu Yun, you little brat, you dare to fight me? You're still far too green!" Lady Shu laughed triumphantly to herself.
At the training ground inside Salt Field Manor, in Salty Salt Fishing Village,
A snowy-white figure darted and leaped across the training ground, nimble and swift.
Chu Yun stood to one side with his arms folded. Suddenly, he called out, "Aim at the bluestone. Little Pill Fire, fire!"
The Heavenly Fox was still in midair. Hearing Chu Yun's command, it flicked its beautiful tail, turning its whole body into an elegant pose in the air.
It opened its mouth and spat out a fist-sized fireball.
Whoosh.
The fireball streaked in a straight line through the air and struck the bluestone target dead on. With a bang, chunks of stone burst apart. The result was excellent.
"Good. Stop there. Nicely done." Chu Yun nodded with satisfaction.
The Heavenly Fox immediately scampered over to him and circled around his feet. Every so often, it pressed its soft, tiny body against his calf to show its affection.
"Come on, little one. Open your mouth." Chu Yun took out an eggshell and fed it to the fox.
When the Heavenly Fox saw the eggshell, it looked a little aggrieved. Judging by its expression, it must have been thinking of the delicious coconut milk.
"You little glutton!" Chu Yun couldn't help laughing as he chided it, then stuffed the eggshell into its mouth.
Crack, crunch...
The Heavenly Fox had no choice but to work its little mouth, chewing away as it stared at its stingy, tightfisted master with an aggrieved look.
Suddenly, its body shuddered. Its drooping ears sprang upright, and delight flashed in its eyes. Its jaws began moving twice as fast.
It quickly crushed the eggshell and swallowed it. Then it lifted its head at a forty-five-degree angle and gazed at Chu Yun with eager, pleading eyes.
It wanted more.
Chu Yun smiled without a word, giving nothing away.
It wanted more...
The Heavenly Fox's eyes filled with tears. It stared intently at Chu Yun with those pure, wide eyes.
"Fine. I give up." Chu Yun sighed and shook his head, no longer teasing the Heavenly Fox. He took out another piece. This time, he didn't have to feed it himself. The Heavenly Fox darted forward with its mouth wide open and crunched it down with great delight.
Eggshells were tasteless, but rich in nutrients and highly beneficial to newborn Demon Beasts. The reason the Heavenly Fox had changed so much was that Chu Yun had secretly soaked the shells in coconut milk, making them fragrant and crisp. Naturally, the little Heavenly Fox loved them.
With the wealth of experience from his past life, Chu Yun naturally had no trouble dealing with the little annoyance of the Heavenly Fox being picky.
He watched the Heavenly Fox in front of him with a smile, but his thoughts drifted away despite himself. I wonder whether the Three Elders have reached Shu Family City and reported the matter of the Remnant Wolf Pirate Group?
He had no idea that Old Red Spear and the other two had never planned to go to Shu Family City at all. Instead, they had gone straight to Old Fish King's home.
Old Fish King's home was by the sea, in a small shipyard.
The Three Elders filed in one after another. With practiced ease, they lifted the hidden hatch and entered the secret room concealed inside the shipyard. A Demon Beast was being raised in the room—a White Feather Albatross.
Hearing the noise, the albatross's bright black eyes immediately flashed with wariness. Only after it saw the Three Elders did it relax and cry out in welcome.
Old Fish King smiled as he fed the albatross. Old Red Spear sat down at the table and began writing a letter.
"Reporting to the island lord: the three of us have delivered the hatching materials you entrusted us to bring to Chu Yun. Chu Yun has successfully hatched a mutated Fire Fox and won first place in the first examination..."
The letter went into detail about everything that had happened recently, including Chu Yun hatching the Demon Beast egg and taking first place, as well as the fact that Tianbao Shop was a spy for the Remnant Wolf Pirate Group.
After finishing the letter, Old Red Spear handed it to the other two to read.
"That kid Chu Yun thinks those three hatching materials came from us. Those materials are so precious—how could we possibly have them? The island lord has actually been keeping an eye on him from the shadows, putting him through his paces. The island lord has truly gone to great pains for him." Old Monkey Qiao held the letter in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
"But Chu Yun is a fine lad too. Like father, like son—the island lord has an heir!" Old Fish King said with emotion. He took the letter and slipped it into a specially made bamboo tube.
"Exactly. The island lord sees Lady Shu bullying Chu Yun and feels the pain in his heart. For all these years, he's had the three of us look after Chu Yun. And Chu Yun hasn't let anyone down. His temperament is exactly like the island lord's." Old Red Spear nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure the island lord will be delighted when he reads this letter." Old Monkey Qiao held the bamboo tube containing the letter out to the albatross.
The albatross opened its beak, took the bamboo tube, and swallowed it with a tilt of its head.
Old Red Spear opened the window. The albatross cried out, beat its wings, and shot into the sky!
The sky stretched high above the boundless sea. The deep blue ocean rose and fell like a vast blue continent, shimmering like glazed glass. Island after island, like emerald pearls, was set in brocade velvet. The mysterious giant shadows of sea beasts appeared and vanished beneath the water.
All kinds of seabirds called out, as though singing praises to the ocean's grandeur. White clouds drifted across the sky as the albatross spread its broad wings and glided freely through the heavens.