The inner worlds of men and women are worlds apart. At the very least, when Tu Xiao’an saw Su Rushi’s blushing cheeks, he assumed she was just struck by how handsome he was.
’Was she falling for me at first sight?’
Su Rushi’s mind was in turmoil. All she could think about were the less-than-proper moments she’d had in front of her pet snake.
It was one thing when it was just a snake—what was seen was seen. But who the hell knew this little snake could turn into a person?
How could those memories not leave her both mortified and furious?
Hmph... Hmph...!
Fuming, she lowered her head, hiding her face completely.
High above, the space twisted violently, and the White Demon King suddenly appeared about thirty feet from Tu Xiao’an and Su Rushi. He called out to Su Rushi, whose head was still bowed low. "Shi’Er, don’t be afraid! Brother Bai is here to save you!"
He was clearly putting on the act of a righteous hero.
Tu Xiao’an’s expression immediately turned strange. ’This damned hedgehog is forcing her to marry him, yet he has the gall to talk about saving her? Is he living in a dream world?’
The next moment, the White Demon King was thoroughly slapped in the face.
Seeing the White Demon King, Su Rushi bit her lower lip and mustered her courage. "Brother Bai, I’m sorry, but Shi’Er can’t marry you. Please, let me go."
The White Demon King’s face darkened instantly. In a heavy tone, he asked, "Shi’Er, what are you talking about?"
For his own bride to say such a thing in front of everyone... What would become of his, the White Demon King’s, dignity?
He glanced down and saw that the wedding procession below had erupted into a cacophony of discussion.
The great Deep Mountain Demon King was marrying a human, and it turned out she was unwilling? Was she trying to break off the engagement?
A wedding crashing on top of a broken engagement... The White Demon King had become a laughingstock, utterly humiliated.
"Brother Bai, I really can’t marry you. You said my grandfather agreed to this marriage, but where is he?" Su Rushi had been desperately hoping to see her grandfather.
The White Demon King’s expression was already foul, but he maintained his patience with Su Rushi. "I already promised you. I will naturally let you see your grandfather."
"Damned hedgehog, cut the crap. Do you know why I’m here? I was entrusted by this girl’s grandfather to bring her home."
"Utter nonsense!" the White Demon King bellowed.
Su Rushi’s delicate frame trembled. She stared at Tu Xiao’an. "What did you say? You were sent by my grandfather to get me? Xiaoleng, you’re not lying to me, are you?"
"Your grandfather is the vice-principal of the human Ancient Academy, a man of great prestige and respect. I was indeed entrusted by him to bring you home. The old man misses his granddaughter very much," Tu Xiao’an said with a smile.
Su Rushi’s eyes suddenly blurred with tears. She murmured to herself, "Grandpa... Grandpa..."
Seeing the situation spiraling out of his control, the White Demon King roared, "Damned Snake, stop spewing nonsense! Shi’Er, don’t believe him! Your grandfather personally entrusted you to me, your Brother Bai! You know very well how I’ve treated you these past two years!"
Tu Xiao’an let out a cold laugh. With a turn of his thought, a photograph appeared in his hand and floated gently in front of Su Rushi. "Your grandfather gave me this photo. It can serve as proof."
Catching the photo, Su Rushi looked at the smiling, youthful figure within it. Wasn’t that her?
Her grandfather had taken this photo for her right before she left for the Yaoling Mountain Range, telling her to keep it as a memento.
Upon seeing this photo, Su Rushi believed Tu Xiao’an’s words without reservation.
In truth, Tu Xiao’an didn’t need to do this; the young woman would have followed him anyway. He just wanted to properly humiliate this hedgehog.
’They say you should be honest as a person. Does being a hedgehog give you the right to spout nonsense?’
"Xiaoleng, can you take me to see my grandfather now?" Su Rushi looked at Tu Xiao’an, her eyes filled with longing.
"No rush." Tu Xiao’an gave a bafflingly confident smile. "Wait for me to take care of this hedgehog, then I’ll take you away."
"Azure Owl, to me!"
Tu Xiao’an immediately shouted.
A clear, ringing cry echoed from the distant horizon. A great bird wreathed in nine-colored Divine Light soared through the air. Its body was adorned with dazzling, nine-colored tail feathers and its form was perfect. Its every proud glance and graceful movement proclaimed its majesty as a king among birds.
Its feathers shimmering with nine colors, it danced through the air. It was none other than the Immortal Spirit Peacock, which had already attained its Dao.
The Immortal Spirit Peacock flashed forward, its target the bride, Su Rushi, in her phoenix crown and wedding dress.
Su Rushi stared wide-eyed at the glittering Divine Bird. Before she could even register what was happening, she found herself on its back, feeling as if she were in a dream. It felt completely unreal.
Tu Xiao’an knew a great battle with the White Demon King was imminent. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by using his Consciousness Power to keep Su Rushi suspended in midair.
By having Azure Owl carry her away first, Tu Xiao’an could fight without any distractions.
The demons below were all stunned by the Immortal Spirit Peacock. The Saint Peng King, in particular, fixed his gaze intently on the Peacock, an expression of dawning realization on his face.
Days ago, he had sensed that a Divine Bird from his Hundred Bird Race had successfully attained its Dao. He never imagined it would turn out to be the Battle Companion of the Snake Race’s new Snake King.
An Immortal Spirit Peacock from the great Hundred Bird Race, a being of noble and extraordinary status, had become the Battle Companion of a mere Snake. This brought shame upon the Saint Peng King.
He felt deeply humiliated.
An Immortal Spirit Peacock that had attained its Dao was dazzlingly noble, with limitless potential, perhaps not even inferior to a Dapeng Divine Bird. It should return to the Hundred Bird Race! How could it be allowed to wander outside, let alone become the Battle Companion of a Snake?
This wasn’t just a humiliation for him as the Bird King, but a disgrace to the entire Hundred Birds Lineage.
"My bride! Who dares try to take her away?"
At that moment, the White Demon King erupted like a volcano. His Demon Qi surged to the heavens as he roared, "Demon King Domain, condense!"
Instantly, the heavens and the earth trembled. A ten-li radius was sealed off as if a prison had been drawn on the ground, forming a massive Light Shield of Demon Qi. No one could enter, and no one inside could leave.
The White Demon King was eager to see just where this Immortal Spirit Peacock thought it could fly with his bride.
"Snake Demon, I grant you the privilege of challenging me. I’m eager to see just how capable you’ve become after attaining your Dao."
Things had come to this. A frigid chill filled the White Demon King’s eyes. Even though it was his wedding day, blood would have to be shed.
"Fine by me. You shamelessly ambushed me while I was Crossing the Tribulation and shedding my skin. Now, I’ve ruined your wedding. We’ll call it even. From here on out, we settle this with our own strength."
Before Tu Xiao’an came to the Yaoling Mountain Range, a Demon King with this level of Cultivation could have crushed a snake like him with ease. Yet, in such a short time, he could already challenge a Deep Mountain Demon King.
It was a fundamental transformation.
"Wait!"
Just as the battle between the great White Demon King and the Snake Race’s new Snake King was about to erupt, a deep voice came from below. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Saint Peng King’s figure appeared beside the White Demon King.
Fast. It was too fast, almost like teleportation.
"Brother Peng, why have you come up here?" the White Demon King asked, frowning at him.
The Saint Peng King offered a slight apology to the White Demon King, then said, "Brother Bai, give me one minute. I have a matter to discuss with that Snake."
The White Demon King was taken aback by his words, while Tu Xiao’an, not far away, also fixed his gaze on the Saint Peng King.
’I don’t know this guy, do I?’