Chapter 174

Lightly biting her lower lip, Nüwa said coldly: "Just call me Sanniang."

This monkey, pushing his luck—originally addressing her directly without any honorific was already rude enough.

I never expected that my moment of magnanimity would actually make him even more overbearing.

If it weren't for the fact that this monkey's significance is too great, he would already have become part of the energy between Heaven and Earth by now—do you really think I, Nüwa Sanniang, a lofty Holy Person, have no temper?

Sun Wukong flicked the corner of his mouth, a murmur rising in his heart.

Sanniang and Master's Wife differ by just one character—why take it so seriously?

But seeing Sanniang's cold expression, he didn't dare voice his opinion—Sanniang is Sanniang, after all!

Seeing Sun Wukong's cautious and timid demeanor, Sanniang nodded in satisfaction, and the anger in her heart dissipated slightly.

This monkey is too incorrigible—daring to arrange things like this himself, he can't expect a pleasant face!

Her slender fingertip lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Alright, I have nothing else I want to know—you may leave." Sanniang glanced over her brows and eyes, speaking lightly. If she let this monkey linger here any longer, she wouldn't want to have a good mood today.

Sun Wukong felt a bit embarrassed—how did she suddenly start chasing him away? Could it be that what he just said was too much?

After savoring it carefully, Sun Wukong nodded slightly, as if there were some truth to it—perhaps he had shaken her confidence, but there was nothing to be done; he was speaking the truth, after all—his master truly is that outstanding!

To live up to his master, he would need relentless effort.

Sun Wukong hesitated for a moment—these words ultimately remained unspoken. Better to be enlightened by others than to wait for realization to come on its own.

But since she has already spoken, he shouldn't linger here any longer—it's just as well.

Sun Wukong raised his brow—he still had to rush back to the Imperial Kitchen to cook!

Thinking this through, Sun Wukong's face lit up with a smile as he said: "Well then, Sanniang, this old grandson bids farewell!"

"Hmm." Sanniang waved her hand, dismissing him casually.

Sun Wukong turned and left the Great Hall.

The moment he stepped out of the Great Hall, the atmosphere within shifted strangely into being—Xuan Feng, who had been pretending not to exist, fell silent as if holding her breath.

"Mother... Sanniang." Xuan Feng forced her voice from her throat, straining to speak.

Xuan Feng's heart stirred—Nüwa took out the food box and two jugs of Peach Blossom Brew, parted her lips slightly, and spoke in a soft tone: "What do you think of what that monkey said?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Feng was even more startled, trembling violently.

She stammered: "Replying to Sanniang... I think that monkey is just spouting nonsense!"

Xuan Feng spoke without hesitation—what that monkey just said was utterly outrageous; if it were true, Sanniang wouldn't look like this now.

"Oh?" Nüwa's eyes swept lightly over her, gaining an extra hint of coldness.

"Nonsense? If you say that, then the monkey saying I'm beautiful is also false?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Feng's hairs stood on end—she nearly jumped to the rafters in one leap, waving her hands frantically, her head shaking so fast it left afterimages.

"No, no! Sanniang is naturally beautiful, peerless in grace!"

Hearing this, Nüwa raised her brow, a playful tone in her voice: "So according to you, everything that monkey said is correct?"

Correct? How could that be?

Xuan Feng's face flushed with anxiety—she hadn't gone so far as to be unable to tell right from wrong.

"No! Not entirely correct."

"Sanniang... Sanniang..."

Xuan Feng stammered for a few sentences, yet could not continue—she didn't know what to say, for what the monkey had said amounted to nothing more than whether Sanniang was worthy of Chen the Shopkeeper.

How could she answer? Is Sanniang worthy?

She also felt Sanniang was worthy—but if she said that aloud, what's the difference between that and seeking death?

Say she isn't worthy? Uh...

Xuan Feng's already pale face lost another trace of color—saying that would bring death even faster.

If saying the first thing was like gambling on rebirth, saying this one would surely cut off even the chance of reincarnation!

She didn't want to die!

Xuan Feng didn't know how to answer,

her legs went weak, she knelt and bowed to the ground, her head pressed extremely low, her fair forehead beading with a thin sheen of sweat.

Seeing Xuan Feng so frightened she seemed ready to burst her gallbladder, Nüwa let out a soft hum and withdrew her pressure.

"You may retreat."

"Yes!" Xuan Feng, as if granted a great pardon, pushed herself up with her hands, bowed respectfully to Nüwa, and hurriedly strode toward the hall's exit, eager to escape.

"Wait."

As Xuan Feng's front foot was about to step halfway out of the hall door, her back foot heard Nüwa's voice sound in her ears.

Xuan Feng froze, her whole body involuntarily shuddering, she stiffly twisted around, forcing out a strained smile on her face: "Mother... Sanniang, what are your orders?"

"Nothing much." Nüwa's jade finger tapped lightly, producing a clear, rhythmic sound: "What do you think of that Chen the Shopkeeper? Compared to what Sun Wukong said."

Chen the Shopkeeper? Xuan Feng's heart jolted—was it the monkey's earlier words that upset Sanniang's balance?

Indeed, Xuan Feng secretly nodded—in that monkey's mouth, Sanniang, this peerless beauty, was called worthless—how could her heart feel at ease?

Although Chen the Shopkeeper has done her favors, in the face of such an urgent situation, she could only apologize.

Gritting her teeth, Xuan Feng steeled herself to speak—but before she could utter a sound, Nüwa's voice rang out again within the Great Hall.

Soft, like a whispered murmur, yet carrying an unyielding weight.

"I want to hear the truth."

Xuan Feng shuddered violently—the words already on her lips were swallowed back.

The truth...

After hesitating a moment, Xuan Feng still decided to comply—though she didn't know if Nüwa would flare up again, she truly dared not defy Nüwa's current will.

"That monkey said anything related to Chen the shopkeeper is, without falsehood."

Xuan Feng's words having fallen, she lowered her head and tightly pressed her lips together.

To speak plainly, Chen the shopkeeper's appearance is truly the most perfect I have ever seen, without exception.

Not to mention his unfathomable cultivation, divine culinary skill, and that strange awakening ability.

Xuan Feng closed her eyes, her heart anxious, awaiting Nüwa's judgment; her response had already been quite gentle, and she hoped Nüwa, if she were to reprimand her, would do so lightly.

But what she awaited was not reprimand, but...

"Tomorrow, bring me a portion of roasted lamb leg, four jugs of peach blossom brew, and a cup of peach soda."

Upon hearing Nüwa's words, Xuan Feng wore a look of surprise; after a few breaths she reacted, her face lighting up with excitement: "Thank you, Empress!"

Nüwa's willingness to change the topic means she will no longer dwell on her words, and moreover, tomorrow Nüwa's peach blossom brew requires only four jugs—this truly is an unexpected delight!

She had thought Nüwa, after the purchase limit, would fill all five jugs daily, but she did not expect Nüwa to leave her one jug's worth!

Having come to her senses, Xuan Feng eagerly exclaimed: "Thank you, Empress!"

"Go on."

"Yes!"

The Great Hall once again became empty; Nüwa slowly and deliberately unpacked the packaging of the braised pork.

This Chen the shopkeeper—does he truly live up to what Xuan Feng and that monkey said?

Her slender jade fingers lifted the lid slightly; a rich, savory aroma spread throughout the Great Hall, and in an instant, it dispelled Nüwa's inner displeasure.

Gazing at the braised pork, identical to the recipe illustration and tempting, Nüwa's mood also improved considerably.

Why bother with all these thoughts? Better to just eat well!

Sun Wukong, on this side, departed the Wahuang Palace unimpeded along the route he came by, stepped forward, and flew slowly for a while.

Turning his head, he saw that the Wahuang Palace, which had originally appeared immensely grand, was now shrouded in clouds and mist.

Sun Wukong clicked his tongue: "This is a formation, isn't it? Made rather mysterious."