Madam, please listen to my explanation.

Chapter 112 I want to go out and play!
'No! I don't want to be exchanged to the Ten Thousand Mountains! That old man is a bad guy, meow! Sir, save me!'

I felt a slight coolness on my neck, along with a mild stinging sensation.

Xu Jinhuan, however, changed his previous attitude and stroked the fat orange cat's fur with a smile:
"Alright, alright, you've done such a great service, how could I bear to kill you?"

"As long as your people bring me what I need, I'll persuade Ruoxi to send you back!"

Yes, I will definitely send it, but whether it lives or dies is another matter!
"Meow!"

"Stop licking! If you lick again, I'll cut your tongue off!"

Xu Jinhuan was completely bewildered. This cat, which looked so scared, could it read minds?

Or perhaps Zhuang Yuning really messed with his brain? Is his "Transformation of the Heavenly Demon Technique" really that terrifying?

He's even considering whether he should use it for practice.
Seeing this, Zhou Jin scratched her nose sheepishly.

This was also his first time trying this kind of cross-species cultivation method between humans and animals. Although a few minor problems arose during the process, they were not serious.
It's simply a matter of bringing the plan forward a bit.

"Little girl, don't be afraid. You just need to enter the Ten Thousand Mountains once and then come out. It's very simple."

If you dare to leak this information by leaving a note or in any other way, I'll twist Xu's head off!

A burly man, as large as a mountain, appeared directly in his mind, his voice booming like a bell, startling Fatty Orange.

Xu Jinhuan was shocked and almost thought that the other party was going to do something disgusting to her again.
"Alright, kid, there's no time to lose. Get Niao Niao back to Tian Shu Pavilion as soon as possible."

The fact that the Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan Kingdom has suddenly turned into a child and is completely powerless is best kept secret from others.

Although the saints were wary of each other, they had agreed not to interfere in the wars between human nations.

But if word gets out, given the Great Zhou Kingdom's wolfish ambitions, there's no guarantee their subordinates won't cause trouble. Even if war isn't started, assassinations and poisonings will likely be commonplace.

Putting aside everything else, that fat lad Chu Yunlu has a black heart too.

"Senior, what you said is absolutely right!"

"Well... this young lady surnamed Zhuang seems to have a connection with me, I'll take her with me now!"

Xu Jinhuan: “???”

After saying goodbye to Zhou Jin, Xu Jinhuan carried Gu Xiaoxiao on his shoulder, stuffed the burnt cat into his clothes, and skillfully slipped into the underground tunnel.

Although he didn't know why the old man had taken Zhuang Yuning away for no apparent reason, he figured that given the man's status, he wouldn't do anything inexplicable, so he let him be.

Moreover, to receive even a little guidance from this person is something that countless martial artists in the world yearn for but cannot obtain.

"It's so dark! Xu Jinhuan, where are you taking me?!"

"Meow!"

The little figure on his shoulder protested fiercely, gripping Xu Jinhuan's hair tightly with both hands.

There was also unease on her chest; a furry head suddenly poked out, its sharp nails gripping her clothes tightly.

He was speechless for a moment, only then realizing what was happening.
Could it be that Gu Niaoniao's mind has shrunk along with her body?
"Of course I'll take you back to Tian Shu Pavilion. Senior Zhou said it's very dangerous outside right now."

Gu Niaoniao: "No!"

"Then where are you going?"

"There are candied hawthorns at the East City Market! Ugh, ugh, ugh! They're emitting a demonic aura! I, your humble servant, have smelled it! Quickly, take me to capture the demon!"

"But... it's only early autumn, there are no candied hawthorns to eat!"

"I don't care!!"
-
Inside the palace, several imperial guards stood in a circle, watching intently as a circular hole suddenly appeared on the ground.

What's down in the cave? Have you gone down to investigate?

With one cheek still swollen, Huang Chengfei, the commander of the Imperial Guards, squatted on the ground, looking at the dark cave entrance and asking a question.

Upon hearing this, the dozens of imperial guards gathered there stiffened, instinctively tightening their grip on their weapons.
Even in broad daylight, with so many people standing together, I still felt a chill down my spine.
This group of people had just retreated from Qiyun Altar back to the palace, feeling that they had survived a great calamity and were sure to be blessed with good fortune. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, they would encounter such a strange thing!

The cat demon Qingluan turned into a spirit turtle, and the endless, frenzied people had just experienced such a terrible thing. Who knows what's down there!
"Reporting to the commander, we were patrolling when we suddenly saw this hole and almost fell in! However, we didn't know what was down there, so we didn't dare to explore it ourselves and have been guarding this spot ever since. Take a look at this!"

Fan Meng picked up the sharp, black mouthpiece from the ground and declared emphatically:
"How arrogant of the thief to leave his tools of the crime here so blatantly! He's utterly audacious!"

Huang Chengfei nodded coldly, but in reality, he didn't hear a single word.

He was no longer bothered to care what was underground or who was responsible.
A group of high-ranking officials in the palace were holding a meeting in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he knew he would lose his position as commander of the Imperial Guards.
No, even their heads might be chopped off for bizarre reasons, like stepping out with their left foot first.
He took the dark, cone-shaped object with one hand and examined it closely.

hiss!
What the hell is this? It stinks so badly!
Should we go down and explore?

Huang Chengfei pinched his chin.

If the danger below has been averted and I've figured out the situation, I might actually accomplish a great feat, thus making amends for my past mistakes.
But if there are still many enemies lying in ambush below, wouldn't it be that if you rush in, you'd die before the Empress even gives the order to kill you?
Just as I was lost in thought, a figure suddenly darted out from within!
"Slowly, slowly—!"

Fan Meng stared in disbelief, and before he could finish a single sentence, he fainted. How could it be this jinx?

The scene of the overwhelming rain of swords that had just swept across the sky was already deeply etched in everyone's minds.

Even if ten or twenty years pass, I doubt anyone will forget it!
If this tunnel was made by this person, could it actually have been used for a secret rendezvous with the Empress?

Fan Mengzhen deserves to die!

Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but swallow hard.
A palace secret about the mysterious deaths of dozens of imperial guards seems set to begin circulating tonight.
As soon as Xu Jinhuan landed, he saw a crowd surrounding him.

He coughed awkwardly twice, then said with a serious expression:

"Ahem. The traitors of the Qiyun Sect dug a secret passage, intending to attack the palace, but fortunately I discovered it in time! Now that the enemy has been killed, we can enter with peace of mind."

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good that it wasn't this person who dug it!

"Sir, you are truly righteous! I was just about to lead my men in to investigate. Sure enough, no matter if they are demons or monsters or cult followers, no one can escape your discerning eyes!"
"Defending the palace is Huang Chengfei's duty! He'll lead his men in and block the secret passage!"

Huang Chengfei scrambled to his feet and kowtowed repeatedly to the man who appeared to be the Empress's bedmate.

He deliberately gave his name, hoping that if the other party could remember it, it might give him a chance to survive.
Xu Jinhuan nodded. "Alright, alright, Commander Huang, right? You can continue. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he turned around and swaggered away.

Keen observers noticed that Mr. Xu was heading in a direction that wasn't the palace exit at all, but rather seemed to be heading straight for the Tian Shu Pavilion.
His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly pretended not to have noticed anything, shouting, "Commander, explore the tunnels! I am willing to be the vanguard!"

Xu Jinhuan immediately quickened his pace.

When Zhao Jingqian was emperor, it didn't matter how much he did, but now that Ruoxi has just ascended the throne, it's best to refrain from making any more noise.

Gu Niaoniao, perched on his shoulder, rolled her eyes, tilted her head, and said in a childish voice:

"How dare you! A grown man has inexplicably entered the palace, and you imperial guards don't even care about it?!"

Before he could finish speaking, his mouth was covered tightly by the other party!

"Stop messing around, Niao Niao can just quietly slip away. We're all just working people, why make things difficult for others? Ouch! What are you going to do about it?"
-
In front of the Tian Shu Pavilion, two maids remained standing guard like wooden stakes.

Just as Xu Jinhuan arrived and the two women were about to stop him again, their dead fish-like eyes immediately widened in surprise!
Their facial expressions twitched uncontrollably, but they forced themselves to appear more natural and bowed slightly, saying:
"Paying respects to the Imperial Preceptor!"

Gu Niaoniao pouted, crossed her arms, and said angrily:

"See? The Heavenly Pivot Pavilion is a sacred place; it's not a place you can just walk into casually! Get out of here right now!"

Xu Jinhuan said helplessly, "You two, you saw it too? The Imperial Advisor is seriously injured and his mind isn't quite right now."

"Who are you calling dim-witted! Guards! Seize this trespasser who dared to trespass into the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion for my master!"

Maid:!!!∑(Дノ)ノ

Xu Jinhuan sighed, stomped his foot heavily, and simply rushed straight up the outer wall of Tian Shu Pavilion to the top of the tower.

Reaching the familiar top of the attic, I climbed over the wall and put the little figure off my shoulder.

Gu Niaoniao wouldn't let it go and started rolling around on the ground.

"Ahhh—No! I don't want to stay here! I want to go out and play!"

Xiaoyu:!!!Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

The little fish, who had just run over, saw Sister Niao Niao, who was about the same height as her, and was so confused that she began to question her life.

Xu Jinhuan was both amused and annoyed by Gu Niaoniao's appearance, and a bold idea began to form in his mind.
It seems like there's nothing wrong with taking her out for some fun, right?
Having toiled away in this pavilion for two hundred years, this woman has probably never played as freely as other children.

Although Zhou Jin's words seemed reasonable, who would believe that the little child lying on the ground throwing a tantrum was the high and mighty Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan Kingdom?

He squatted down and gently comforted her, "Alright, Niaoniao, you stay here quietly for now. I'll go buy you some clothes that fit."
"I'll sneak you out to play first thing tomorrow morning, okay?"

"Really!"

"Of course! When have I ever lied to you?"

Gu Niaoniao sat up abruptly, raised her hands, and ran around, shouting, "Yay~~~"

"Big brother, Sister Niaoniao, she..."

The little fish thought it must be because it hadn't woken up properly.

Otherwise, how could one suddenly experience hallucinations in broad daylight?
Xu Jinhuan said helplessly, "Little Yu, be good. Sister Niaoniao is seriously injured and her mind isn't working very well. You keep an eye on her for your brother and don't tell anyone about what happened here."

The little fish's chubby cheeks were slightly flushed; it was from when she had just wondered if she was dreaming, after pinching him.
Sister Niao Niao is injured!
Little Fish immediately became alert, patted her chest and nodded emphatically, "Okay, big brother! Sister Niaoniao, leave her protection to me!"

(End of this chapter)