Chapter 268

I don't know what frightened you—could it be that you think I'm trying to trick you, that I'll set up an offensive formation, even a deadly one, in your house?

Master Xuanqing chuckled and scolded, but he could understand Liu Dongzhu's concern—people are naturally afraid of the unknown, even though he had already told the Wang family about his formations at the dinner table.

Until you see his formations for yourself, not even his repeated promises, let alone a solemn oath sworn before everyone, would ease your worries.

Deep down, you'll still feel some worry.

Actually.

Even he himself, before truly seeing the power of this Spirit Turtle Formation, felt the same worry.

Of course.

He wasn't worried that the Spirit Turtle Formation would harm the Wang family or innocent people; he feared that it simply couldn't keep the Wang family safe.

It's Lady Hu Mei's terror that he has personally endured; even though he has now reached Golden Core, he still has no confidence of defeating her in a life‑and‑death battle.

Liu Dongzhu gave an embarrassed laugh, unsure how to reply to Master Xuanqing's teasing scolding.

Here, take this wooden token!

With a thought, Master Xuanqing summoned wooden tokens into his palm and casually handed them over.

Liu Dongzhu instinctively took them, and seeing the tokens Master Xuanqing handed over, she exclaimed, "Master, so many? Do you want me to pass the other two to my parents?"

She hadn't expected that Master Xuanqing gave her four wooden tokens in total.

"Your parents left long ago—I gave them the tokens before they left!"

Saying this, a hint of worry flickered in the depths of Master Xuanqing's eyes.

It's not that he fears Lady Hu Mei will harm Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua; she isn't a heartless monster, otherwise she wouldn't be allowed to live in the prefecture city, whether by its celestial officials or other cultivators.

Even the accomplished masters of the Demon‑Suppressing Office tacitly accept her existence.

But it's not just that Lady Hu Mei is flirtatious, with who knows how many admirers.

Rather, toward humans she shows a kindness that ordinary monsters lack; for many years she has not harmed—actually, she has not killed a human.

Otherwise.

Even if she has had all‑night trysts with many people in the prefecture city, including some strong cultivators, she could not openly reside there.

He doesn't fear that Lady Hu Mei will harm Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua's lives, nor even Liu Dongzhu; his worry is that whenever Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua go out, Lady Hu Mei might spot the wooden tokens hanging from their necks.

Using the tokens, she could sneak into the Wang household unnoticed, discover that Wang Ping'an is unusual, and abduct him to sell for a good price.

"It seems we need to find an opportunity to have Luo Taiching notify Luo Quan, and have Luo Quan—or even the Luo clan of the prefecture city—step forward to deal with this trouble caused by Lady Hu Mei!"

Master Xuanqing sighed to himself.

Liu Dongzhu asked curiously, "Master, since you've already given my parents' tokens, what are these two extra tokens for?"

Although Liu Dongzhu didn't continue, Master Xuanqing obviously understood what she meant to say next, and explained, "These are prepared for your family's Divine Cat Hero and Flying Hawk Sword Hero!"

Liu Dongzhu opened her mouth to speak, but at this time the Divine Cat Hero wouldn't leave the Wang household, and yet the words reached her lips and she couldn't utter them.

Although she had previously forbidden the Divine Cat Hero from going to the Yan household again—to avoid any mishap—she doesn't know whether the Divine Cat Hero heeds her words; perhaps it only listens to their family's Ping'an.

Unfortunately, their Ping'an isn't even grown up—he can't even speak yet—so how could he possibly obey her orders and stop the Divine Cat Hero from leaving?

Liu Dongzhu worriedly asked, "Master, if our Divine Cat Hero leaves Hutu Gou again, will it encounter danger again?"

"Very likely!"

Master Xuanqing gave a wry smile; he knows the value of spirit beasts—they are the beloved treasures of many young masters and misses, able to fetch astronomical prices, which leads many ill‑intentioned riffraff to obtain spirit beasts of unknown origin.

It's not that they're all stolen or robbed, but the chance of being stolen or robbed is as high as seventy or eighty percent.

Seeing Liu Dongzhu open her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, Master Xuanqing sighed and said, "But if your family's Divine Cat Hero doesn't go out to do good deeds, is it still a Divine Cat Hero?"

Liu Dongzhu remained silent.

Master Xuanqing comforted her: "Dongzhu, actually don't worry too much; the Divine Cat Hero is very smart, having learned from yesterday's lesson, it will be careful and cautious from now on, and may not be captured by others."

Liu Dongzhu gave a bitter laugh; how could she not hear the comfort in Master Xuanqing's words?

"Not certain" doesn't mean "definitely won't"!

Master Xuanqing actually also wanted to prevent the Divine Cat Hero from leaving the Wang household to do good deeds elsewhere; after all, the Divine Cat Hero was attracted by Wang Ping'an, and will surely become one of this boy's protective spirit beasts.

How could he possibly be willing to watch helplessly as the Divine Cat Hero gets snatched away?

But.

In this novel you have reached.

After limited contact, he came to know that the Divine Cat Hero is a very proud spirit cat; unless he uses forceful means to control it, trying to stop the Divine Cat Hero from wanting to go out and do good deeds is impossible.

Doing good deeds has almost become ingrained in the Divine Cat Hero's marrow, turning into its instinct.

Of course.

What Master Xuanqing doesn't know is that the Black Cat Constable is someone who likes to do good deeds, not someone coerced by Wang Ping'an; if given a choice, it would eight or nine times out of ten prefer to lie beside Wang Ping'an's cradle all day.

Unfortunately.

Under the lure of one skill after another, the Black Cat Constable has no choice but to obey Wang Ping'an's orders, going to other villages to eliminate the rats in their granaries.

Nowadays.

Wang Ping'an even plans to use the Black Cat Constable as bait, with a loach as a lure, to draw in one after another corrupt cultivator bent on evil to be slain.

To gain merit!

Even after experiencing yesterday's lesson, even if the Black Cat Constable wanted to hide at home, it probably couldn't manage it.

Liu Dongzhu still worried, sighing, "Hopefully!"

"Dongzhu, it's still early; go to sleep. I didn't rest much last night either—I need to get some rest."

Master Xuanqing said.

"Master, take care!"

Liu Dongzhu watched Master Xuanqing turn and head back to the guest room, then closed the bedroom door, went to the baby's bedside, saw the sleeping Wang Ping'an, and couldn't help but show satisfaction and joy on her face, teasingly said.

"You little thing, you don't even know to grow up sooner and keep your mother company for a chat!"

While speaking, Liu Dongzhu carefully took the wooden plaque that Xuanqing Daozhang had given, prepared to hang it on Wang Ping'an's neck, and seeing his neck almost like a display stand, covered with things, the happiness on her face grew much richer.

These things hanging on Wang Ping'an's neck are all treasures that protect her family's peace.

(End of chapter)