Chapter 19: Shen Gongbao's Worry

All right, Daoist Master Shen, no need to see me off; we'll meet again if we have fate.

He gestured with his right hand, taking back the Heaven-Opening Seal.

Immediately afterward, the space around Ao Yifan twisted, and in an instant he vanished from the spot.

Damn bastard!

Looking at the spot where Ao Yifan disappeared, Hetong couldn't help but curse.

Het, Het, Hetong, you've violated, violated, violated the precepts!

Just then, Shen Gongbao's voice came over.

Hearing that, Hetong's expression changed, and he immediately performed a Daoist salute: 'Blessings Birth Boundless Heavenly Venerable, thank you, Martial Uncle, for your guidance!'

Mm.

He nodded slightly, Shen Gongbao waved his hand to retract the blade of his Thunderbolt Whip; seeing the severe loss of spiritual aura on it, he couldn't help feeling a pang of heartache.

After all, he only has this one magic treasure; if it's damaged, it's gone.

Sigh, those resources I painstakingly saved for my family—looks like I'll have to consume a lot again!

Thinking about the cost to repair the magic treasure, Shen Gongbao felt even more heartache.

Seeing Shen Gongbao like that, Hetong couldn't help but say: 'Martial Uncle, you just saved me; to express my gratitude, I can help you repair your magic treasure.'

Really?

Overjoyed in his heart, at this moment Shen Gongbao's stutter disappeared.

However, after reacting, Shen Gongbao gave a light cough and once again resumed his usual cold demeanor.

Just repairing the magic treasure, a little consumption, to me it's nothing.

Oh, then that's fine!

Hetong nodded.

Beside him, at an angle Hetong couldn't see, a tear trickled from the corner of Shen Gongbao's eye.

He'd rather suffer than lose face!

By the way, Martial Uncle, was what that person just used really the Sky-Overturning Seal? Could he be a disciple of Martial Uncle Guang Chengzi?

Hetong suddenly asked.

As for that man who dared to use her as a hostage and then flirt with her, she certainly had no intention of letting him off.

Hmph, I will surely find out your origins; if I really can't, I'll go complain to the Heavenly Venerable!

Hetong secretly thought in his heart.

No, no, no!

Shen Gongbao shook his head and said: 'At first, I, I, I also thought it was, was, was the Sky-Overturning Seal, no, no, but when the method, the magic treasure's power was transmitted into my body, I could, could feel that it was not, not the Sky-Overturning Seal!'

It's actually not the Sky-Overturning Seal, but being able to destroy your Thunderbolt Whip, Martial Uncle, with a single strike—the power of that magic treasure is truly terrifying!

Hetong couldn't help but sigh.

Hearing that, the corner of Shen Gongbao's mouth twitched slightly; Hetong was rubbing salt into his wound.

Having just recovered from the shadow of his magic treasure being destroyed, the other party brought this up again.

Forget it, he, he, his matter—we'll deal with it later; let's first go back, go back, go back and meet up with Lutong!

Shen Gongbao didn't want to stay any longer in this sorrowful place; he turned and flew toward the direction of the Monster Hunting Squad.

At the spot, Hetong lightly bit his lip, stomped his feet, and also shook his wings, catching up to Shen Gongbao.

……

Prince Consort!

Seeing Ao Yifan suddenly appear, Li Jing and the other Chen Tang Pass soldiers, who were originally tense, couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

Just moments ago, they personally witnessed the terrifying strength of the Monster Hunting Squad.

Those powerful demons that have plagued Chen Tang Pass for over a decade, before the Monster Hunting Squad, were as weak as chicks, being arbitrarily captured and slaughtered!

This is a higher form of life; before them, these ordinary mortals felt their own insignificance for the first time.

Although they knew that under the Prince Consort's secret arts protection, the other side could hardly detect them, these Chen Tang Pass soldiers still felt immense pressure.

Now, Ao Yifan's reappearance also gave the Chen Tang Pass soldiers a renewed sense of backbone.

Even Li Jing, who always thought himself fearless, felt his burden lighten considerably all at once.

All right, the matter is settled; the demon threat to Chen Tang Pass is eliminated. Upon returning, I will report to the Princess and arrange a seven-day banquet to celebrate this victory!

Ao Yifan's words lifted the spirits of the Chen Tang Pass soldiers.

So, victory?

They seemed to have done nothing, merely following the Prince Consort out for a stroll, and then victory came directly.

Even now, many soldiers still haven't come to their senses.

But never mind; since the Prince Consort said so, they naturally had no doubt whatsoever.

After glancing toward the Monster Hunting Squad, Ao Yifan waved his hand and led the Chen Tang Pass soldiers back into Chen Tang Pass.

……

The Prince Consort has returned!

On the walls of Chen Tang Pass, led by Madame Yin, the womenfolk were all craning their necks in anticipation, waiting for the Prince Consort's return.

Behind them were all the common folk of Chen Tang Pass.

After all, Chen Tang Pass has long suffered from demons.

This time, if the Prince Consort can lead a great army to exterminate the demons, they will no longer have to endure the demons' atrocities.

Seeing the Prince Consort suddenly appear, Madame Yin could no longer conceal her excitement; she broke free from the support of Xiaoqing and Xiaobai and flung herself into Ao Yifan's embrace.

Prince Consort, it's wonderful that you've returned safely!

Madam Yin tightly embraced Ao Yifan, and tears streamed down the corners of her eyes.

She had originally thought she would not act like a little girl.

However, during the period when the Prince Consort led the army to exterminate the demon tribe, Madam Yin only then realized that she had grown accustomed to having the Prince Consort by her side, and even a brief separation left her feeling uneasy.

"All right, don't cry—I'm fine. If you carry on like this, letting your subordinates see you, how bad would that be?"

Ao Yifan gently wiped the tears from Madam Yin's face.

"No, I'll cry if I want to; let them look. Whoever dares to mock me, I'll send him to stand guard at the gate!"

As soon as she said that, the soldiers who had been looking over curiously all lowered their heads.

The gate of Chen Tang Pass is the entrance connecting the city's waterways to the East Sea; standing guard there, exposed year‑round to wind and sun, is quite arduous.

"What? You're envious, aren't you? I told you before—men are to be taken by force. If you had been a bit more proactive just now, what's in his arms would now be yours!"

Beside them, Queen Jiang, who had been looking enviously at the two, suddenly heard Chang Xi's voice in her mind.

"I—I'm not envious; my current status is that of a queen—how could I..."

Having said that, Queen Jiang froze.

She suddenly realized that what she was resisting at this moment was merely the barrier of her own identity, not Ao Yifan himself.

"What on earth is wrong with me? Could it be that I've really fallen in love with him?"

Although she didn't want to admit it, compared with the respectful, distant relationship she had with the King, Ao Yifan's fiery passion seemed far more capable of moving her body and heart.

"Hmph, go ahead and be stubborn; anyway, tonight your body will belong to me."

Chang Xi's voice sounded again.

Upon hearing that, Queen Jiang merely fell slightly silent; he unexpectedly discovered that, regarding giving her body to the other party to do that shameful act, she seemed not to dislike it as much as she had at first.