Strife

Before Tang Yao could get a clear look, the third elder raised his hand and put the plans into his Storage Bag.

Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard. Tang Yao darted into the shadows behind a rockery and saw a man in black sneak inside, heading straight for the study.

"Is it done?" the man in black asked in a low voice.

The third elder handed him the Storage Bag from earlier. "Rest assured."

Sure enough, there was something wrong with this third elder.

Good thing she had come tonight!

Unfortunately, she had not managed to see what was inside the Storage Bag.

Tang Yao crouched behind the rockery, her nerves taut, not daring to move. She peeked her head out slightly when a sound suddenly came from behind her-

"Meow!"

She sucked in a breath of cold air and looked back. An orange cat was studying her curiously, its eyes utterly innocent.

Oh no...

She was just about to retreat when the third elder suddenly barked, "Who's there!" With that, he started toward her.

She looked at the kitten, desperately hoping it would meow again, or even run out, but the orange cat sat there obediently, utterly motionless.

Forget it. If the pot was already cracked, she might as well smash it!

Then Tang Yao went, "...Meow."

Vermilion Bird covered his face. "..." She might as well have let him do the imitation.

After hearing that meow, the third elder's expression grew even stranger. He sped up and leaped behind the rockery.

"Hmm?"

The third elder saw only an orange cat sitting there. He immediately scanned the surroundings, but there was no one. "It really was a cat?"

Meanwhile, inside Shushu's space-

A human and a beast were staring wide-eyed at each other.

"Hi!" Shushu stood with her hands on her hips, smiling. "I saw you seemed to be in trouble." Looking as though she wanted credit, she nodded.

"So I hauled you in!"

"Not bad." Tang Yao rubbed Shushu's head, then changed her tune.

"But why didn't you tell me earlier that you could do this?"

"Uh... well." Shushu gave a fawning smile. "I just hadn't gotten around to it!"

Vermilion Bird frowned, folding his arms as he looked down at Shushu, who was a head shorter than him, and scrutinized her with his golden eyes. "Are you sure you hadn't gotten around to it, rather than holding something back from the start?"

With that, Vermilion Bird picked her up with one hand.

"Hey! Did you start getting more active because you saw that Master had good potential?"

Embarrassment colored Shushu's face. Looking flustered at having her secrets exposed, she frantically flailed her little hands in midair-

Sure enough, artifact spirits looked very busy when they were embarrassed.

"Put me down!" Shushu puffed herself up. "I saved you! Just now!" Seeing that Vermilion Bird would not listen at all, she turned toward Tang Yao.

"Master! I finished the talismans you asked me to make, too!" With that, she immediately conjured them within the space.

Tang Yao tucked them into her Storage Bag and smiled as she talked Vermilion Bird around. Only then did he reluctantly put Shushu down.

Then Tang Yao crouched and asked, "How do I use this space if I want to in the future?"

"You just have to call me in your mind!"

"The truth." Vermilion Bird landed a crushing blow on her head. Shushu clutched the little bump rising on her head and answered with a hint of a sob.

"Hold my original body and use your thoughts... and you can come in."

Tang Yao took an ancient book from her Storage Bag and channeled a wisp of spiritual power into it. The space's surroundings instantly turned transparent, allowing her to see outside from within, but movement was restricted unless she left the space.

Seeing that the man in black was about to leave after completing his exchange with the third elder, Tang Yao immediately dismissed the space and crouched behind the rockery. Once the third elder went indoors, she swiftly followed the man in black.

Under cover of night, she followed him like a shadow, her gaze fixed on the Storage Bag at his belt.

Seizing her chance, she abruptly lunged forward. Her fingers had only just touched the mouth of the Storage Bag when the man in black suddenly twisted around and hurriedly pressed down on its other side-

Both hands pressed onto the Storage Bag at the same time, neither side willing to let go.

Seeing that Tang Yao was also dressed in black, looking like a petty thief, the man in black immediately relaxed.

Tang Yao said, "Hey, let go."

The man in black raised an eyebrow and smiled contemptuously.

What an arrogant tone. If he couldn't even beat some greenhorn, the household head wouldn't have sent him.

The man in black said viciously, "Let go, or I'll cripple you!"

Tang Yao sighed, looking troubled. "You know, you could just let go and be done with it. But no, you insist on..." Her tone abruptly changed, and she bellowed at full volume.

"Someone! An assassin! Catch the assassin!"

The man in black: ? Aren't you an assassin too?

The man in black's expression changed drastically. He had to finish this quickly, or he might not be able to get away once more people arrived!

He glared venomously at Tang Yao and drew his sword with his free hand to stab her. However, Tang Yao was already prepared, clutching a handful of Laughter Talismans and Weeping Talismans in her left hand and slapping them onto him at lightning speed.

The man in black immediately burst into uncontrollable laughter, then sobbed so hard he could not speak. His sword thrust went wide, while his other hand still clung tightly to half the Storage Bag.

Taking advantage of his chaotic emotions, Tang Yao yanked hard and snatched the Storage Bag away. Laughing and crying, his face contorted, the man in black still lunged at her unwilling to give up. "Give it back!" The talismans made his words somewhat indistinct.

Tang Yao sidestepped him, not forgetting to gift him a Gloomy Crawling Talisman as well.

Now he was crying, laughing, and crawling all at once. Just as the man in black was about to reach his limit.

Something even more devastating for him arrived-

Looking utterly innocent, Tang Yao held an Image-Recording Stone and met his eyes.

"You! Hahaha, just you wait!" Wincing at the cost, the man in black took out a High-Grade Teleportation Talisman.

Had he known it would turn out like this, he might as well have used this Teleportation Talisman from the start!

Seeing that he was about to leave, Tang Yao immediately taunted him. "I'll be waiting! Remember! This belongs to the Sun Household! Want it? See if you're qualified!"

Hearing the words "Sun Household," the man in black clenched his fists.

Then, in a flash of white light, the man in black teleported away.

Tang Yao tossed the Storage Bag in her hand and put it away. Its owner was in the Nascent Soul Realm; with that presence on it, she could not open the bag for now. It seemed she would have to find time to see Tang Hua.

Meanwhile, at the Sun Household.

A kindly-looking old man with a grizzled beard suddenly sneezed.

"How strange. Is the weather too cold?" Opposite the old man, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen was watching with concern.

"Yinyin, the Tang Household head's birthday is in two days. Come with me then."

The girl lowered her head thoughtfully. The Tang Household had already reached the end of its road, and its young master had spent all day fooling around and had a vile disposition. Yet who would have thought that after a trip to the Azure Cloud Sect, his talent would turn out to be so extraordinary!

Seeing no response from the girl, the old man sighed and sipped his tea. "We all underestimated Tang Yao."

This brat had most likely been putting on an act before.

"I'm afraid Tang Yao may well become the Azure Cloud Sect's next sect master."

At his words, the girl's eyes filled with shock. "What?!"

The old man nodded, a little dispirited. Why couldn't a young genius suddenly emerge from their Sun Household?

Just then, the old man looked at his granddaughter, who was around Tang Yao's age, and gave a knowing smile.

Perhaps it was time to change strategies?