"Hou Yi?" Houtu froze at Gonggong's suggestion. It was not that she was unfamiliar with him. On the contrary, she knew him all too well. He was the strongest Great Shaman in her Houtu Tribe, practically her right-hand man.
But...
He was her right-hand man on the battlefield, not in daily life. Would it really be all right to entrust this child to his care?
Houtu felt uneasy.
Her original plan had been to entrust this Soft-Bone Rabbit to a female member of the Witch Race. Hou Yi was a man.
Meanwhile, Gonggong had no idea why Hou Yi's name had suddenly slipped out of his mouth. But once he said it, his eyes lit up. The fellow really was a suitable choice. Didn't that brat Hou Yi like tending flowers and growing grass in his spare time? Perfect. He could raise this rabbit too. Once he had fattened her up, Gonggong would tell him to slaughter her and roast her for his little sister.
At that thought, Gonggong spread his large hand. Instantly, the Soft-Bone Rabbit named Bai Yu vanished from Houtu's arms and appeared in his hand.
Gripping her by the ears, Gonggong said, "That settles it, little sister. She's only a Soft-Bone Rabbit. If you want to keep her, go ahead. Let Hou Yi look after her for you. We should head back."
Her arms suddenly empty, Houtu looked at the Soft-Bone Rabbit dangling in midair by her ears in Gonggong's grasp. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she merely shook her head and said nothing.
Fine, Hou Yi it is. Given his character, even if he can't take good care of this child, he can at least keep her safe, Houtu thought.
Then she lowered her head and glanced at Gungun, who was still sprawled on the ground, snoring away. A trace of helplessness flashed through her eyes.
She had originally wanted to teach this big fat bear a proper lesson for daring to put on an act and making her waste all that emotion. But judging by the situation, that was probably impossible now. Fine, she would deal with it when it woke up a year later.
With that thought, Houtu looked back at Gonggong and said, "All right, Fourth Brother. Let's go back."
"Mm." Gonggong nodded, then swept his large hand. The next moment, he, Houtu, the bear, and the rabbit all vanished from where they stood, leaving the Softbone Prairie.
Soon after they left, many great demons at the Profound Immortal and Golden Immortal levels arrived. They frantically gathered the bodies of the Soft-Bone Rabbits killed by the explosion, preparing to take them back for food.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Emperor Palace at the Heavenly Court.
"Your Majesty, I have returned." Ao Yue stood below the towering jade steps and bowed with his hands clasped toward Taiyi, who sat in the seat of honor. His expression was stern, his bearing majestic, and a great solar halo shone behind him.
"Meng Zhang of the Dragon Race greets the Eastern Emperor." Beside Ao Yue, Meng Zhang also bowed to Taiyi with his hands clasped.
"Mm, A Yue, I already know what happened. You are not to blame. I underestimated that Iron-Eating Beast. I never imagined that it was not only blessed with such profound fortune, but also so deeply loyal to Houtu and the Witch Race. A creature like that cannot be bought with a Jade Radiance Twofold-Unity Lamp and a position as a Demon God." Before Ao Yue could beg forgiveness, Taiyi spoke.
"Your Majesty, I..." Hearing Taiyi's words, Ao Yue felt deeply ashamed. He had failed the very first task His Majesty had entrusted to him, yet His Majesty had taken the initiative to say it was not his fault and shouldered the responsibility himself. For Ao Yue, who had been neglected by the Ancestral Dragon for tens of thousands of years, this stirred a feeling he could not put into words.
"Enough. This matter is over. There is no need to speak of it again." Taiyi raised a hand, cutting Ao Yue off.
Then he turned his gaze to Meng Zhang beside him and asked, "Have you reached a decision, Dragon Lord? Are you willing to join my Heavenly Court? If so, I shall immediately petition the Heavenly Emperor to appoint you Chief of the Demon Race’s Eleven Quasi-Saints."
At Taiyi's question, Meng Zhang glanced at Ao Yue beside him, then bowed slightly and answered, "Thank you for your regard, Your Majesty. Since the Dragon-Han Catastrophe, I have grown accustomed to an unfettered life. I truly have no wish to become embroiled in the disputes and struggles of the Primordial World again.
"All I wish now is to carry out Grand Elder Torch Dragon's command and remain at His Highness's side to protect him. As for joining the Demon Race, I ask Your Majesty's forgiveness." "Meng Zhang..." Ao Yue's expression shifted slightly at Meng Zhang's reply, and he called his name softly.
"Your Highness, I ask your forgiveness as well." Meng Zhang turned and bowed to Ao Yue.
"There is nothing to forgive. The Dragon Lord has the right to choose for himself. Since you do not wish to join my Heavenly Court, I will not force you. However, the doors of my Heavenly Court will always stand open to you. From now on, you may pass through the South Heaven Gate whenever you please, without announcing your arrival." Eastern Emperor Taiyi spoke heartily, seemingly not the least bit troubled by Meng Zhang's refusal.
Hearing this, Meng Zhang said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Ao Yue said, "Your Majesty..."
"It is no trouble," Taiyi told Ao Yue.
"Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty." Seeing that Taiyi truly seemed unangered, the tension in Ao Yue's heart gradually faded. He thanked him on Meng Zhang's behalf as well, then flicked his sleeve and returned the Jade Radiance Twofold-Unity Lamp.
Taiyi accepted the Jade Radiance Twofold-Unity Lamp. His brows suddenly furrowed, then relaxed, and he said to Ao Yue and Meng Zhang, "All right. Thank you both for your efforts. Go and rest. I still have matters to attend to."
"Yes. I take my leave."
"I take my leave."
Ao Yue and Meng Zhang bowed to Taiyi with their hands clasped. Then Ao Yue turned to leave first, with Meng Zhang following close behind.
After both of them had left, a mass of Solar True Fire appeared out of thin air beside Taiyi. Then a commanding man appeared, dressed in imperial robes bearing the golden crow of the blazing sun and wearing a Primordial Heaven and Earth Crown like Taiyi's.
"Elder Brother!" Taiyi rose and nodded to the newcomer.
"Mm." Dijun gave a low acknowledgment, then turned toward the doors of the Eastern Emperor Palace and asked Taiyi, "Since Meng Zhang refused, why didn't you simply subdue him and force him to surrender a wisp of his true spirit to the Demon-Summoning Banner?"
Hearing this question, Taiyi replied, "If I did that, A Yue would hate me. I don't want my Dharma Protector to harbor resentment toward me."
"Hmph. You certainly treat him well. First you appointed him your Dharma Protector, then you handed command of the Six Heavens Guards to him. You even ignored the objections of the ministers from every race and placed him above the Demon Sages. Do you have any idea how many memorials I have received over this? The way you act, anyone who didn't know better would think he was your son, not the Ancestral Dragon's!" Dijun snorted, clasping his hands behind his back as he spoke to Taiyi with some displeasure.
"I..." Taiyi opened his mouth, wanting to say something. In the end, however, he lowered his head and said only, "His strength is worthy of the position I gave him."
"But he has only been part of the Demon Race for a hundred years, and he has accomplished nothing of note. The ministers from every race are unconvinced. And as for Meng Zhang..."
"Although Meng Zhang is unwilling to join the Heavenly Court, he is A Yue's guard. As long as A Yue remains my Dharma Protector, I can control Meng Zhang through him. As for accomplishments, Elder Brother, haven't you already decided to send troops against Penglai? For this campaign, I recommend that A Yue take command." Taiyi spoke to Dijun.
"Hmm? Him?" Hearing Taiyi's words, Dijun frowned and looked at him. "He is too young. I fear he is no match for the Eastern King."
"No. I believe he can do it." Taiyi spoke to Dijun with utter seriousness.
It was the first time Dijun had seen Taiyi place such faith in an outsider. He looked at him and remained silent for a long time. Finally, he closed his eyes and said mildly, "Fine. Have it your way."
Hum~ With that, the Solar True Fire appeared again, and Dijun's figure vanished amid its flames.
Before you continue