The palace was like a city within a city, its buildings and decorations even more elaborate and luxurious, brazenly displaying its wealth at every turn.
Si Shuo and her companions looked around curiously as they walked, and the Princess was exceptionally patient today, explaining everything to them as they went.
Soon, they arrived at the banquet hall. On a high platform, in a Dragon Bone chair, sat a male wearing white fox fur with a fiery red Crystal Stone on his forehead. He gently welcomed everyone to sit and eat.
Many of the Beast King’s trusted aides had already arrived. Aside from the Beast King’s Guards who stood lining the walls, all the Beastmen in the hall were seated on Beast Skin cushions. Due to the limited seating, there were almost no adjacent open spots.
Bai Xiao, Xiao Cheng, Witch Doctor sneered at the sight. "So this is the Guanping Beast Country’s way of treating guests?"
"I wasn’t aware that at a critical time like this, instead of trying to curry my favor so I could lend you some prestige, you’d try to put me in my place. Is this to show off your Beast King’s might?"
"Tsk, I get the message. My sister and I are just so terrified we don’t dare stay in this hall. I think we’d be more comfortable at home!"
With that, "she" grabbed Si Shuo’s hand and turned to leave.
The Beast King’s expression darkened slightly, and he immediately berated those sitting nearby. "I personally had these seats prepared for Bai Xiao Witch Doctor and Si Shuo Divine Servant. How dare you be so shameless? Move, now!"
"Someone, bring new cushions for them... and serve fresh portions of food..."
This solicitous attitude was merely a deceptive act following the failure of his initial probe. A man long accustomed to a high position hates nothing more than being publicly disrespected.
His current compromise meant he would soon find another way to get his own back!
Bai Xiao, Xiao Cheng, Witch Doctor didn’t press the issue, pulling Si Shuo to sit down. Their male companions sat in a protective circle around them, ever vigilant.
"I’ve heard that Bai Xiao Witch Doctor hails from Jiuzhou, and I am delighted that you could be our guest in Guanping Country!" the Beast King said, raising his cup with a smile. "I wonder if I might have the honor of witnessing your skills, to broaden my horizons?"
Bai Xiao, Xiao Cheng, Witch Doctor couldn’t help but laugh. "Beast King, you don’t actually think that just because you’re a Beast King, you’re entitled to special treatment from me, do you?"
"I’m not your subject, nor am I one of your females. Why on earth should I indulge you?"
The Beast King’s face turned livid, and he almost failed to maintain the gentle, benevolent mask he had worn for so long. He chuckled. "Everyone says Bai Xiao Witch Doctor has a... peculiar temperament. I see that now. But you certainly have the skill to back up your arrogance."
"Bai Xiao Witch Doctor, during your visit to our Pingjing, have any of our males caught your eye? Or perhaps you’d be interested in settling down permanently in Pingjing City?"
"Always wandering... how can that compare to living here long-term, surrounded by a lively community?"
Bai Xiao, Xiao Cheng, Witch Doctor gave a cold laugh. "Beast King, when I’m eating, the thing I hate most is someone chattering in my ear, buzzing on and on like a fly."
"My legs are my own. I don’t need the Guanping Beast King’s permission to go where I please, do I? This is getting rather pointless."
The Beast King also had his pride to consider. He twitched the corner of his mouth and said no more.
Xu Chi lowered his gaze slightly, a pen in hand, quickly scribbling on a slip of paper. His hand was in shadow, and thanks to his Invisibility, the pen and paper were hidden, so no one noticed anything was amiss.
"This Beast King has probably taken over the body of a Horned Deer Clan member!"
"Just as we thought. But now isn’t the time to move against him. We should wait until at least the Five Countries’ summit. Then we’ll wipe them all out in one go."
Sitting at the very front, Si Shuo could only watch as her males cheerfully passed the small notes back and forth. She looked on, feeling completely left out.
The food on the table before them had been freshly served. Si Shuo and Bai Xiao, Xiao Cheng, Witch Doctor exchanged a look. Everything—from the attempt to intimidate them upon their arrival, to the Beast King scolding others to give up their seats and bring new food, to his outrageous demands—was a ploy to distract them.
If it were any other Beastmen, even if they could detect poison in the food, they wouldn’t be able to tell if it contained hallucinogenic drugs.
Only the eight of them were on their own side; everyone else stood with the Beast King. That was why their opponent acted with such impunity.
"Well then, I wish to offer a welcome toast to our two honored guests. Surely you will grant me that honor?" the Beast King asked with a smile, raising his wine cup. "Or are you suggesting that the food and wine I’ve prepared are unclean? Unworthy of the status of a Witch Doctor and a Divine Servant?"
"We are all working for the well-being of the Beastman people. If our two honored guests remain so aloof, I fear you won’t accomplish much of substance..."
Si Shuo raised her wine cup without hesitation. "How could that be? I’m simply not much of a drinker, but I hope I don’t spoil the Beast King’s mood."
Bai Xiao, Xiao Cheng, Witch Doctor also raised a cup, smiled, and downed it in one go without a word.
"Excellent, excellent! Let’s all raise our cups and drink together!" The Beast King watched them drink it down, then smilingly urged everyone else to join in.
Before long, he noticed that both females were looking dazed. Even the males behind them, who had drunk a fair amount so as not to be outdone, were swaying and stumbling.
The Beast King’s voice became exceptionally gentle. "Honored guests, it seems your long journey has exhausted you. Why don’t you go rest in the palace chambers out back?"
As he spoke, he shot a meaningful look at a trusted aide nearby. Immediately, guards came forward, picked up the two females, and carried them toward the back.
Once the two important figures had been taken away, the Beast King lost his patience. He handed off his duties to his subordinates and hurried after them.
’Oho, these two beauties, each more stunning than the last. I’ll have to enjoy them properly in a moment,’ the Beast King thought, rubbing his hands in excitement, his mind racing. ’Heh, after drinking that Drunken Sun Powder, I guarantee they’ll be lost in a delirious haze, clinging to me and never letting go. Once we become partners, I’ll feed them a couple of my little bugs. From then on, if I tell them to go west, they’ll never dare go east.’
’If I tell them to kowtow, they’ll smash their heads on the floor... And after I’ve had my fun, I’ll pass them on to those old geezers for a taste...’
After the guards left, he gazed at the two females on the stone bed, so excited he didn’t know which one to start with.
Just as he reached out his vile claws, he felt a particularly dangerous aura—to be precise, it was killing intent!
It had been a long time since he, a Peak Level 18 Beastman, had felt anything like this. But no matter how fast his reflexes were, he was instantly slain by the combined, instantaneous attack of Xu Chi and Gong You’s Space Time Law. He was sent to report to the Beast God far ahead of schedule.
Xu Chi pressed a Bone Token to the neck of the Beast King, who had crumpled bonelessly to the floor.
Si Shuo opened one eye, closed it, then opened it again. She couldn’t help but ask in a whisper, "It’s over... just like that?"
’A Peak Level 18...’ she thought. ’I was looking forward to this, I thought he’d be incredibly powerful. How did he get insta-killed by two of my Beast Husbands? The show was over before it even began!’
’But then again, thinking about Xu Chi’s Space Ability... the bloody brutality of being sliced apart in the movies is nothing in comparison.’
"What else? Were we supposed to save him for the New Year?" Wei Ce said, grinding his teeth. The memory of the Beast King’s words made him wish he could stab the corpse a few more times.
Si Shuo turned her head to look at Xiao Cheng. "Xiao Cheng, so what’s next? Are you going to be the Bai Xiao Witch Doctor, or the Beast King?"
Xiao Cheng laughed and put his arm around Si Shuo’s shoulders. "Sister, you’re the one who said adults don’t have to choose."