Chapter 81: Rebellious disciple, are you trying to starve your teacher to death?

Zhang Lingxue's pupils contracted sharply; what kind of divine flavor was this?

Just by having this exotic fragrance as a side dish, she felt she could scarf down three bowls of rice, which caused her saliva to secrete rapidly, and her stomach also let out a rumbling sound.

She was hungry.

Seeing Ye Bai looking at her with a surprised expression, the tips of Zhang Lingxue's ears turned red; she lowered her head, her stray hair covering her eyes, as she did not want Ye Bai to see her disheveled state.

How could she have done something so impolite?

Right, what was she originally here to do? (*) So hungry, she couldn't remember.

Zhang Lingxue's stomach continued to make rumbling sounds, and the massive secretion of saliva made her involuntarily swallow her spit.

She shook her head, trying to keep herself clear-headed, but in this place surrounded by fragrance, she simply couldn't do it.

Zhang Lingxue thought about leaving in a panic to avoid continuing to be impolite, but her feet wouldn't listen to her, as if they had been forcibly glued to the floor by superglue.

It wasn't just Zhang Lingxue who was affected, but also the passersby who stopped on the road.

They were all bewitched by this exotic fragrance, losing their minds, with saliva secreting in large amounts.

Ye Bai hurried over and slammed the door shut, giving Zhang Lingxue a start.

She wanted to say something, but the moment the words reached her lips, they were swallowed back down along with the saliva she was secreting.

After the door was closed, it seemed even more fragrant; so hungry.

Rebellious disciple, are you trying to starve your teacher to death?

"Teacher, it's a good thing you came; I made a delicacy today and was just about to invite you to taste it, but before I could even call, you arrived."

"Truly, a meeting of minds."

Ye Bai said with a smile, leading Zhang Lingxue to the dining table.

Placed here was the freshly roasted Little Wind Sparrow; although each one was only the size of a palm, the portion of each was quite sufficient.

The Clucking Chicken, which usually wandered around blindly, saw the roasted Little Wind Sparrow and was so scared it didn't dare to breathe; it didn't dare to defecate anywhere anymore, fearing that one day it would turn into a fragrant roasted Clucking Chicken.

The Little Charcoal Dog and the Xiao Xue Dog gathered together, panting with their tongues out; their gazes remained fixed on this charred, fragrant delicacy, unable to move away.

The first-rank Little Wind Sparrow didn't look big, but the energy contained within its body was not small; Ye Bai was worried the Xiao Xue Dog and Little Charcoal Dog would be burst by the energy, so he only divided one for them.

However, the meticulous Ye Bai had already divided it into seven equal portions according to volume, ensuring every Xiao Xue Dog and Little Charcoal Dog could be taken care of.

Beside Dahui and Baibian Can was a plate as white and jade-like as could be.

Inside, there was also a roasted Little Wind Sparrow, with white steam still rising from it.

Sunflowers preferred eating raw food; they were actually not interested in the roasted Little Wind Sparrow.

"Teacher, please taste my handiwork."

Zhang Lingxue reservedly used her chopsticks to poke at the Little Wind Sparrow's belly; the chopsticks easily tore open the sparrow's abdomen, and a large plume of white steam emerged from within, doubling the fragrance.

She picked up a piece and stuffed it into her mouth.

Only a "Crack!" was heard; the skin was roasted crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, while the meat within was brimming with juices.

The meat could be deboned with a light press of the tongue; it simply melted in the mouth.

At this moment, she felt as if she were a Little Wind Sparrow soaring in the sky, spreading her wings and flying high, flying without ever stopping.

She was surrounded by countless Little Wind Sparrows, as if she had become their queen.

Soon, Zhang Lingxue discovered that even the bones could be eaten; the bones were very crispy, and the bone marrow inside had a faint herbal fragrance.

As she ate, Zhang Lingxue discovered that at some point, she had actually started eating with her hands, her fingers even stained with grease.

Even the garlic and potatoes roasted with the Little Wind Sparrow's grease were filled with the rich fat, emitting a dense fragrance.

No wonder people in the Iron Chicken Kingdom had to cover themselves with a red cloth when eating Little Wind Sparrow; it was simply too delicious.

Everyone ate without a word, and only the sound of chewing could be heard at the dining table.

Baibian Can had started off like Zhu Bajie eating the ginseng fruit, swallowing it directly without even tasting the flavor.

By the time it ate the second one, after chewing with its teeth, it felt immense regret; it wished it could slap its past self a dozen times in a row.

Such a delicious thing, and it had swallowed it directly without even tasting the flavor.

At this moment, Baibian Can was filled with annoyance; when it wanted to taste a few more, it found its stomach was full, right up to its throat.

Ye Bai only felt a warm current spreading through his body, and his fatigue from the past few days vanished into thin air.

After the meal, Ye Bai brewed a cup of Flower Nectar for Zhang Lingxue.

At this time, Zhang Lingxue finally remembered the purpose of her visit.

"Ye Bai, your grand-teacher is coming to the Research Institute tomorrow; we need to write the experimental report in advance. She will ask many questions, so you need to be mentally prepared."

"Although I am her closing disciple, relatively speaking, her requirements for us are also high; just be mentally prepared to be reprimanded."

Zhang Lingxue gave a few simple instructions and left with an arrogant, unbothered stride.

Only after Zhang Lingxue's reminder did Ye Bai know the exact time the grand-teacher was arriving.

"I might as well leak the matter about the mole among the grand-teacher's security personnel yesterday to the Pet Beast Union."

"If the Pet Beast Union can't handle it well, I'll tell Teacher again and have the grand-teacher take precautions in advance."

After eating and drinking his fill, Ye Bai was also a bit sleepy; he fought off the drowsiness and continued to send an email to President Wang.

He told Dahui to close up early; Ye Bai needed to rest so he would have the energy to welcome the grand-teacher's arrival tomorrow.

The Mandrake King guarding outside was cautious and careful.

It waited until the Fangyuan Breeding House turned off its lights before quietly crawling out from the soil.

"The human is asleep; now is my time for revenge."

The Mandrake King muttered to itself, completely unaware that the ground at this moment was trembling slightly, and a blinding, intense light was radiating from behind.

By the time the Mandrake King discovered it, it was already too late; it was completely surrounded, and the blinding light fell into its eyes.

It burst into tears again, and at the same time, its outer skin began to feel a burning sensation.

Damn human, only knowing how to play these little tricks; it seems they discovered my existence long ago!

The Sunflowers looked with curiosity at this fellow who had suddenly drilled out from the ground, wanting to use force to conquer them.

It looked quite thin and weak, its appearance somewhat wretched, its eyes darting around; one look and it was clearly up to no good.

The muscles on the Mandragora King's body underwent Expansion, just like a well-trained muscular hunk.

It also had four arms; at this moment, it was just like a War Treant.

The Mandragora King looked at the helpless and flustered Sunflowers, and a cold, cruel smile appeared at the corners of its mouth.

It decided that it would collect some interest now; it intended to tear the Sunflowers to shreds and devour their crystal cores.

Then it would cruelly finish off the humans.

"You all must be that guy's Pet Beasts."

"It's a pity you followed the wrong master."

The Mandragora King's body continued its Expansion, and strands of blood-red baleful aura circled its body, forming a phantom image with three heads and six arms.

One of its arms was as thick as an elephant's leg, with gnarled roots winding through it and many rootlets entangled within.

It was clearly not to be trifled with; at this moment, the Mandragora King revealed a ferocious face and walked step by step toward the Sunflowers.

It swung a heavy hammer toward the direction of the Sunflowers, and a sound of breaking air came from the atmosphere.

The Mandragora King's target was precisely the Sunflower King.

It swung heavily toward the flower disk of the Sunflower King, intending to blast the Sunflower King's head apart with one punch.

Little did it know, the Sunflower King raised its emerald-green leaves, blocking the Mandragora King's Heavy Punch.

Bang.

Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the ground where the Sunflower King stood.

However, the Sunflower King did not suffer the slightest injury; it looked at the Mandragora King with contempt, as if to say, "Is that all?"

The Mandragora King's eyes widened, and a flash of doubt crossed its eyes.

How could this be?

Its own Heavy Punch could not even be withstood by an ordinary Tier 3 Pet Beast.

Why could this unremarkable-looking Sunflower actually catch its attack?

Damn it, has its own strength weakened to this extent?

The aura of blood-evil wrapped around the Mandragora King's body once more; it took a deep breath, and endless fist shadows swung toward the Sunflower King.

Za Warudo (just kidding).

Bang, bang, bang.

The emerald-green leaves also appeared with overlapping images like a Thousand-Handed Guanyin.

The power of the Heavy Punch was channeled into the ground by the Sunflower King.

The ground cracked, but the Sunflower King was not affected in the slightest.

The Mandragora King panted heavily, while the Sunflower King breathed steadily.

How could this guy be so monstrous? Is this Breeding House some kind of place where hidden talents are concealed?

Seeing the Mandragora King's exhausted state, the Sunflower King lashed out with a Vine Whip, heavily striking the Mandragora King.

Only a loud "slap" was heard, followed by a scream.

"Ahhh."

"My handsome face, my handsome face."

There was a heavy red mark on the center of the Mandragora King's brow.

At this moment, the Mandragora King was like a deflating balloon, its body shrinking drastically.

"You have angered me, completely angered me."

"Slap."

"If you have the guts, hit me again!"

"Slap."

"Hmph, I will not yield."

"Slap."

The Mandragora King clamored over and over, but the Sunflower King ignored it entirely, simply raising its Vine Whip to lash its body again and again.

At first, the Mandragora King was still very tough, constantly clamoring for the other to hit it, saying it wouldn't surrender even if beaten to death.

By the end, the bruised and swollen Mandragora King, looking like a pig's head, knelt on the ground and raised a white flag to beg for mercy.

Its ferocious fangs had been forcibly whipped out, and now it spoke with a lisp; where was its former might?

"Slap."

"I've already surrendered, why are you still hitting me!"

The Mandragora King clutched its face, which had been struck by the Vine Whip, wearing an expression of disbelief; its whole body burned with pain.

The Sunflower King scratched its head with a leaf, then spread its leaves and made a shrugging gesture.

Sorry, I got used to whipping you just now; it's almost become a conditioned reflex.

I'll be sure to pay attention next time.

Thereupon, the Sunflower King summoned its subordinates to bind the whimpering Mandragora King and marched majestically into the Breeding House.

They dumped their spoils of war onto the floor of the Breeding House, making a thumping sound.

This sound woke Ye Bai up.

Ye Bai thought a thief had broken into the Breeding House.

He and Dahui quickly opened their eyes.

Ye Bai picked up a frying pan, and Dahui put the pot used for cooking on its head to serve as protective gear.

Ye Bai and his Pet Beast tiptoed their way to the first floor.

The first floor was full of light, as bright as day.

At this moment, Dahui felt as if it had stepped on something again.

It lifted its foot to look, and it was actually a big, fat radish that had been beaten until its face was bruised and swollen, to the point where its features were no longer recognizable.

That step just now had knocked it unconscious; its body was now pressed tightly against the floor, its leaves drooping on the ground, looking just like a big white radish that had been left out for a long time and withered.

Just at this moment, Ye Bai's Insight Eye activated.

【Name: Mandrake King】

【Gender: Agender】

【Attribute: Wood】

【Level: Tier 3, Level 1】

【Skills: Clone (Proficient): Create two independent clones; after a clone dies, its memories return to the main body.

Earth Escape (Proficient) (Innate Skill): The body can escape into the ground and travel without obstruction.

Treant Form (Proficient): Transform into a treant to attack enemies.】

【Evolution Route: None for now; this is a medicinal herb spirit that possesses independent consciousness and has essentially gained sentience; it is extremely rare.】

Ye Bai was stunned for a moment.

This Mandrake King had an independent consciousness.

This was a major discovery in the world of medicinal herbs.

"I remember now."

"That listless Mandrake was your clone, right?"

Ye Bai suddenly remembered the Mandrake he had pulled out; he had found it strange at the time, wondering why he felt that the Mandrake had its own consciousness.

So it was a clone of this Mandrake that had awakened its sentience.

No wonder, no wonder.

"You hateful human."

"My two clones, I worked so hard for so many years to split off those two clones."

"One was toyed with by you and juiced, and the other was caught by you into your Pet Beast Space."

The Mandrake King cried and complained with snot and tears; in its words, Ye Bai had become a heinous sinner.

"So, the reason you snuck in here was to take revenge on me?"

Ye Bai guessed the Mandrake King's thoughts immediately; the Mandrake King choked, and seeing the Sun Flower King eyeing it covetously and silently drawing its Vine Whip, it dared not speak.

"However, I've been looking for you for a long time; the fact that you dared to throw yourself into the net saves me a lot of trouble."

Ye Bai smiled coldly.

"Hmph, kill me or slice me, do as you please."

No sooner had the Mandrake King finished speaking than it was fiercely whipped by the Sun Flower King, letting out a shrill, pig-like squeal.

The sound made Ye Bai's expression go slightly dazed.

"Haha, human, you really are afraid of my screaming."

"Come, serve me well; if you serve me well, maybe I'll take you as a human pet."

"Being the human pet of a Mandrake King that has awakened consciousness is a blessing you've cultivated over three lifetimes."

"When I attain the Dao and become an immortal, you will be my number one human pet."

The Mandrake King seemed to have selectively forgotten the dark history of being hung up and whipped by the Sun Flower King.

"Sun Flower King, this guy doesn't understand human speech; take it down and help it organize its language properly."

"Remember to be 'gentle'."

The Sun Flower King was smiling, but the Mandrake King felt a chill shoot from the soles of its feet straight to its crown.

"Wait."

"I was wrong."

The Mandrake King was a guy who knew how to bend and stretch; it lowered its noble head.

It slid and knelt on the ground.

"I shouldn't have let my mouth run; I was wrong."

Ye Bai nodded with a smile: "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue."

"However, to ensure you don't make mistakes in the future, let the Sun Flower King teach you a lesson."

"Remember, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want; learn to be obedient."

"Otherwise, your fate will likely be the same as your clones'."

"Having the leaves on your head plucked off one by one, and then having your roots pulled out one by one."

"Finally, your body will be crushed into white juice."

"After all, that's your only use, isn't it?"

What a terrifying human, *sob sob sob*.

At this moment, the Mandrake King was shaking like a sieve; it regretted it.

Why did it have to provoke this human?

The clones were gone, the clones were taken away; it could just split off new ones.

Why did it have to be blind and want to come and teach this human a lesson?

"Sun Flower King, drag it away."

"'Be gentle,' as long as you leave it with one breath, that's enough."

"We must fully make the Mandara Grass King realize where its mistakes lie."

"Where it went wrong, whether it shows signs of repentance, and whether it admits guilt and accepts punishment—you must be clear on all these procedures."

Begging for votes, the Mandara Grass King has awakened its intelligence and can communicate normally with people.

(End of chapter)