Chapter 688 - 635: Sending Mom to Retire at the Snake Palace

Chapter 688: Chapter 635: Sending Mom to Retire at the Snake Palace

"Don’t look at me like that," the Vice-Dean said helplessly. "Wencheng is in chaos right now, with Fierce Beasts attacking the city and Demons running rampant. Who knows what else might happen in the future? I am the dean of the Ancient Academy and have many matters to attend to. I don’t have the time to stay with Shi’Er constantly. I wanted to send Shi’Er somewhere safe, but after thinking it over, your Snake Palace is the only place that’s truly secure."

Tu Xiao’an completely agreed, smiling. "Old man, you’re right about that. My Snake Palace is absolutely safe, so you can rest assured."

The Snake Palace was built on Snake Mountain Peak, surrounded by a forest of countless snakes and many Snake Demon Spirits. Even a Demon King wouldn’t be able to leave alive if they came here.

"I’m not worried about the security of your Snake Palace. It’s you I’m a little worried about."

’Some nerve. Is this how you ask for a favor?’

Tu Xiao’an felt the old man was acting far too entitled.

’He’s only acting like this because he knows I’ve taken a liking to his granddaughter. Hmph...!’

The Vice-Dean ignored Tu Xiao’an’s displeasure and reminded him again, "Don’t forget the promise you made me. Until you kill the Ancient Taotie, you absolutely cannot appear before my Shi’Er in your transformed state. As for what just happened, I’ll let it slide for now."

Tu Xiao’an shivered at his words, realizing he had fallen into the old man’s trap. Dean Wang Bo had already explained the pros and cons of the War Relics to him very clearly.

’If I go in, I might not be able to get out even if I kill the Taotie. But if I don’t go in, won’t I have to stay in my small snake form in front of Su Rushi forever?’

’My only other option is to wait for the Taotie to emerge on its own, but by then it’ll be a Rank Four, and I won’t be able to handle it.’

’That damn old man, he’s truly despicable.’

’I’ve been tricked again.’

’He definitely knew about the dangers of the War Relics and deliberately held back the truth, the bastard.’

Sighing deeply, Tu Xiao’an felt utterly helpless.

...

「The next day.」

Tu Xiao’an rode the Golden-winged Flying Horse to Demon Square.

"Greetings, Lord Snake King..."

The crowd of Demons grew excited the moment they saw Tu Xiao’an, and a deafening, tsunami-like cheer swept over the area.

"Good. This King will now take you all back to the Yaoling Mountain Range."

With a wave of his arm, Tu Xiao’an decided not to waste any time. He leaped off the Golden-winged Flying Horse’s back. Then, the horse’s body began to expand, growing larger and larger until it became a massive beast the size of a small mountain, over a hundred feet tall.

Instantly, SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH...!

One dark figure after another shot up from the square, leaping onto the enlarged Golden-winged Flying Horse’s back.

Rank Three Demon Spirits had the ability to fly, but Rank Two Demons did not. That was why Tu Xiao’an had the Golden-winged Flying Horse act as a transport for the Rank Two Demons.

In addition, there were several large birds from the Hundred Bird Race, which Tu Xiao’an also had enlarge themselves to carry many of the Demons.

The entire process was swift and efficient. In an instant, the square that had been packed with Demons was completely empty.

At that moment, Tu Xiao’an leaped onto the head of the Golden-winged Flying Horse. He stood there, dashing and domineering, and with a grand wave of his hand, he commanded, "Depart!"

"NEIGH...!"

The giant Golden-winged Flying Horse let out a loud neigh and a roar. With a single beat of its golden wings, it shot forward like a fighter jet.

The Rank Three Demon Spirits took to the air and followed, surrounding the Golden-winged Flying Horse.

Suddenly, a spectacular scene unfolded in the skies above Wencheng. From a distance, a dense swarm of dark figures streaked across the firmament, a truly astonishing sight.

The most eye-catching part was the incomparably massive Golden-winged Flying Horse soaring through Wencheng’s sky. Ordinary citizens were stunned, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.

However, having been tempered by a constant stream of disasters, the psychological resilience of Wencheng’s citizens had greatly improved. They could accept almost anything they saw now, as they had all struggled on the brink of life and death.

One had to admit, humanity’s capacity to endure and adapt was truly strong.

No matter how outrageous something was, the first time you saw it, you’d be left dumbfounded. The second time, however, it would seem normal, no longer strange at all.

These were truly degenerate times. The War Relics had opened, Exotic Beasts had descended, and the mortal realm was like a living hell.

Wencheng’s prison was now empty, with all the troublemaking Demons visibly departing.

At the very least, a measure of peace could return to Wencheng.

With the arrival of the Exotic Beasts, humans and Demons could no longer afford to fight amongst themselves as they had in the past, wasting each other’s strength.

At the Demon Management Bureau, Wu Tianyi looked up at the Golden-winged Flying Horse. He was surrounded by the Bureau’s top experts, who were all shouting excitedly, "This is great! Wencheng is finally free of the Demon plague!"

The Demon plague, which had lasted only a few days, had brought enormous losses to Wencheng. The population had plummeted by a million, and the economic damage was incalculable.

The major Hidden Clans watched the mass departure of the Demons with mixed feelings. They were relieved, but also envious. If these Demons had submitted to one of their clans, that clan would have become the ruler of Wencheng.

「Several hours later.」

The Golden-winged Flying Horse came to a stop at the entrance to the Yaoling Mountain Range. The Demons jumped down and stood in neat formation on the land that belonged to them.

"Return to your respective races. From now on, you are forbidden from causing chaos in human society. Do you understand?"

The crowd of Demons roared, "We will obey the Lord Snake King’s command!"

Tu Xiao’an smiled faintly and waved his arm. "Go on, then. We shall meet again if fate allows."

"Thank you for your immense grace, Lord Snake King! In the future, if you have any command for us, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Although Demons were ferocious, once they gained intelligence, they also understood how to repay kindness.

"Go. This King has other important matters to attend to and will not be entering," Tu Xiao’an said with a wave of his hand. He watched as the Demons vanished before his eyes, one by one, into the Yaoling Mountain Range.

Wencheng’s Demon Prison had held many of the most outstanding members of various races. With this act, Tu Xiao’an had essentially put many races in his debt for a massive favor.

These favors would become a great asset in Tu Xiao’an’s future rise to become the true Monarch of the Yaoling Mountain Range.

Of course, that was a story for another time.

...

After completing the escort mission, Tu Xiao’an rode the Golden-winged Flying Horse straight toward Bai Town.

The reason he hadn’t entered the Yaoling Mountain Range was that he wanted to bring his mother and older sister to the Snake Palace to live in comfort.

Even that old man, the Vice-Dean, knew to send his precious granddaughter to the Snake Palace. Naturally, Tu Xiao’an wouldn’t let his own mother and sister remain in human society.

If anything went wrong, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Besides, the Tu Family estate had been destroyed, so moving to the Snake Palace was the logical next step.

Snake King Temple!

Tu Xiao’an familiarly made his way to the upper floor of the temple. There, he saw the Ape King standing at the door of a room, motionless as a guardian statue.

Making the dignified king of the Monkey Race, a Pseudo Demon King, act as a door guard was quite a waste of talent.

"Master, you’ve returned," the Ape King said respectfully upon seeing Tu Xiao’an.

Tu Xiao’an nodded. "Has anything happened these past few days?"

He shook his head. "No."

It was normal that nothing had happened. Tu Xiao’an had arranged everything perfectly in Bai Town; the Cyan Dragon stood guard outside, and the Ape King protected them from within.

Even if Wencheng were to fall, Bai Town would be perfectly fine.

"You’ve worked hard these past few days. I will reward you handsomely."

Tu Xiao’an patted the Ape King’s lean body and then pushed the door open, walking inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw his older sister and mother sitting together, chatting cheerfully and full of energy. Standing beside them, attending to them, was an incredibly beautiful woman.

She was, of course, the Baihua Fairy.

"Mom, Sis, Xiao’an’s back," Tu Xiao’an said with a smile.

Tu Xiaoyue’s eyes lit up. "Little brother, you finally decided to come back! You disappear for days at a time."

"An’Er, come, let Mom have a look at you," Wen Qiu said happily, taking Tu Xiao’an’s hand, her eyes filled with motherly love.

Tu Xiao’an was a bit shocked when he saw his mother’s appearance. Her complexion was rosy, her face was free of wrinkles, and her half-gray hair had turned completely black. She looked incredibly young and vibrant. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought she was only in her early thirties.

But it made sense. His mother knew he was still alive, so the worry that had plagued her was gone. On top of that, she had been eating all sorts of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures he had given her. It would have been strange if she *didn’t* look younger.

His older sister, meanwhile, was even more radiant, her skin so dewy it seemed to glow.

After a brief exchange, Wen Qiu chided him, "An’Er, how could you have such a beautiful girl waiting on an old woman like me? This girl is so kind and hardworking. I tell her not to do anything, but she won’t listen. I ask her to sit down, but she won’t. She insists on doing everything herself."

"Could it be... is this the future daughter-in-law you’ve found for Mom?"

Wen Qiu chuckled, looking at Tu Xiao’an expectantly.

"..." Tu Xiao’an was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

He glanced at the Flower Demon and chuckled. "You’ve been working hard."

"Hmph..." The Baihua Fairy’s face was full of resentment. ’He’s really using me as a maidservant.’

’She just couldn’t understand it. He was a snake, so where did this human mother and sister come from?’

But despite her dissatisfaction, the Baihua Fairy didn’t dare to slight this ordinary human mother-daughter pair.

Even the king of the Monkey Race was standing guard outside. She could only resign herself to her fate as a maidservant.

"An’Er, hurry up and tell me, is this Mom’s future daughter-in-law? If she is, Mom would be so happy! What a beautiful girl, she looks like she stepped right out of a painting," Wen Qiu urged when Tu Xiao’an didn’t answer.

Hearing this, the Baihua Fairy’s face turned crimson.

Tu Xiao’an really didn’t know how to answer. If he denied it outright, he was afraid he would break his mother’s heart, but admitting it would be wrong.

He frantically shot his sister a pleading look, begging her to get him out of this.

"Mom, are you really worried you won’t have a daughter-in-law? Who knows, he might have several in the future!"

Tu Xiao’an was instantly speechless. ’Is this how you’re supposed to help me?’

AHEM...!

After a light cough, Tu Xiao’an changed the subject, smiling at his mother. "Mom, your son wants to take you and Sis to a great place."

"What kind of great place?" Wen Qiu asked, puzzled.

"A great place for you to spend your retirement."

Wen Qiu gently patted Tu Xiao’an’s hand and said with a mock scolding, "Mom isn’t even fifty yet. Why are you talking about retirement?"

"Mom, our home is gone. You and Sis can’t live in the Snake King Temple forever," Tu Xiao’an continued. "Besides, you know how chaotic the world is right now. Your son can’t rest easy with you here."

Tu Xiaoyue added, "Mom, this son of yours is incredibly capable now. He wants to be filial to you, so just go along with it."

"Alright. Wherever An’Er wants Mom to go, Mom will go," Wen Qiu said with a smiling nod, not asking any more questions.

’It’s true, living in the Snake King Temple forever isn’t a solution.’

Since his mother had no objections, Tu Xiao’an quickly said, "Mom, in that case, there’s no time to waste. Let’s set off now."

"Why the rush? Let Mom pack a few things."

"What’s there to pack? There’s nothing to bring. Mom, when you see the place your son is taking you, I’m sure you and Sis will absolutely love it."

’The Snake Palace is even more grand and luxurious than the ancient Imperial Palace.’

Tu Xiao’an couldn’t wait to see the happy expressions on his mother’s and sister’s faces.

Once his mother and sister were living in the Snake Palace, Tu Xiao’an would finally have no more worries holding him back.