After Shi Qianlü, the Yuan Patriarch, and the Moon Palace Master left White Deer Cliff, the Moon Palace Master, whose face had darkened like charcoal in front of Sima Jiao without daring to say anything, now vented all her anger on Shi Qianlü. “Sect Leader, are you just going to keep tolerating his arrogance? You weren’t this timid before.”
Shi Qianlü calmly asked, “What would you have me do instead?”
The Moon Palace Master gritted her teeth. “Even if we can’t kill him, can’t we, with so many people, at least confine him…”
Shi Qianlü let out a laugh. “Confine him, like we did five hundred years ago?”
The Moon Palace Master was blocked by his words, and remembering the past, her expression became uncomfortable.
Back then, it was also because they couldn’t kill Sima Jiao and wanted to completely control him, but failed. Instead, he killed so many people and greatly increased his cultivation. In the end, they sacrificed numerous disciples to confine him in the Three Sacred Mountains for five hundred years. The plan was to leave him in that place devoid of spiritual energy for five hundred years, coupled with the nourishment of the spirit fire, which would surely weaken him, making it easier to deal with him later. But the result was that he showed no signs of weakness and was even more formidable than five hundred years ago.
Sima Jiao was a rare genius seen only once in tens of thousands of years in the Feng Mountain clan. His talent and comprehension were unmatched. Even when facing a dead end, he could escape from death. Even Shi Qianlü’s master had failed against him, and Shi Qianlü no longer dared to underestimate Sima Jiao.
Now they were all afraid and could only carefully maintain a balance. Everyone knew that as long as Sima Jiao didn’t cross their bottom line, they could only endure even if he killed some people. And this point Sima Jiao himself understood clearly.
His actions seemed arrogant and reckless, but in fact, he was very measured and didn’t act like a madman at all. Sometimes Shi Qianlü wondered if he had truly gone mad. If he could endure such pain without going insane, then this man was even more terrifying.
“Moving against him would only severely wound Gengchen Immortal Manor. If he truly disregarded everything to deal with us, it would only result in mutual destruction.” Shi Qianlü looked toward the Moon Palace Master, his stern expression carrying deeper meaning: “Let us endure for now.” No one could remain arrogant forever, and this delicate balance would eventually be broken.
The Moon Palace Master, having enjoyed noble status for many years without suffering any grievances, found it difficult to accept being so publicly humiliated. After this visit, she ultimately chose to endure. With a sweep of her sleeve, she returned to her Moon Palace, needing to comfort her precious daughter.
As for the Yuan Patriarch, a major reason for his visit to Sima Jiao wasn’t for his son. Sima Jiao was right—he had many sons, and even though he favored Yuan Shang somewhat, over the years, as Yuan Shang’s cultivation failed to advance, he had grown less concerned about this son. His visit today was actually for another reason. Now that he had a measure of things, he didn’t say much more, merely nodding to Shi Qianlü before returning to his Yuan clan.
Upon returning to the Yuan family, he summoned his capable subordinate and ordered, “Temporarily detain all of Yuan Shang’s servants and question them thoroughly to see exactly what he had been doing.”
He wasn’t a fool and acted quickly. Soon he learned of some of the things Yuan Shang had done. Upon discovering that his son had connections with the Demon Realm, the Yuan Patriarch was greatly shocked.
“So that Liao Tingyan was a Demon Realm agent arranged by him. He was truly audacious!” The Yuan Patriarch cursed, guessing that this once-promising child must have developed a heart demon after the incident that caused his cultivation to regress, leading him to do such things.
Fortunately, he was dead, and that Demon Realm spy had also died. Otherwise, if any disturbance arose, the Yuan clan would also be affected.
After Shi Qianlü returned, his first task was to visit the Lamp Pavilion. The disciple guarding the lamps looked troubled and, seeing his arrival, hastily reported, “Sect Leader, I was about to report to you that the life lamp of that disciple inexplicably extinguished, and her soul cannot be summoned.”
Shi Qianlü had come specifically to check on Liao Tingyan’s life lamp. Now that the lamp had extinguished, it seemed the person had indeed died. Confirming this, he felt it was a pity—one less useful tool at his disposal.
“Very well, there’s no need to watch it anymore.”
News spread that Liao Tingyan once infatuated with Daoist Lord Cizang, had been killed by him in just a few short days, sparking another wave of rumors.
Reportedly dying so miserably that no remains were left, Liao Tingyan had just woken up from a nap.
She had been enjoying the moon on the flying pavilion’s terrace and had fallen asleep while doing so. Upon waking, she was greeted by brilliant sunlight.
She rolled over and saw Sima Jiao sitting beside her. Such a large Sima Jiao.
Ancestral Master, why do you look so big? His extended hand was enormous, like that of a giant.
Liao Tingyan had an ominous premonition as she watched Sima Jiao’s hand touch her belly. She had completely shrunk, without clothes, her furry belly rising and falling, looking very pattable. She also saw her paws and a… tail!
Liao Tingyan: “Ahhh—”
After her scream came out, it sounded like a weak “yingying” cry.
She got up from the couch, holding her face with her gray furry paws. “Ahhh—”
Sima Jiao: “Hahahahahahaha!” He laughed so hard he leaned back on her pillow.
Liao Tingyan discovered she could still use some of her abilities. For instance, she could still see a small red flower in her mind and the space within it. The items she had previously moved from her pouch were still there. She found a mirror and, hugging it (now larger than herself), placed it on the pillow.
The mirror reflected a gray-furred, sleek-coated otter. It was the kind of animal commonly called a “ying-ying monster,” whose cries of “ying-ying” sounded like coquettish whining.
The otter sat blankly before the mirror, looking at its paws, touching its belly, and tugging at its tail in a series of movements.
I’ve fucking turned into an otter? Liao Tingyan turned to look at Sima Jiao, rushed over, and headbutted him. “Why did you turn me into this? Change me back now!” Big boobs! Long legs! Beautiful face!
Sima Jiao blocked her head with his hand, his voice carrying laughter, seemingly in a good mood. “It wasn’t me who wanted to turn you like this, it was your desire.”
Liao Tingyan swiped at him with a paw. “Listen to you ramble, you big pig’s trotter, talking nonsense!”
Although her voice was just “ying-ying-ying,” Sima Jiao seemed to understand. He said, “I gave you a Phantom Form Pill, so you transformed into the image most deeply impressed in your mind.”
Liao Tingyan remembered the dream she had last night. She dreamed of scrolling through Weibo, and after admiring cats and pandas that looked like small glutinous rice balls, she watched an otter video. The otter was sleek and looked like it would feel good to touch. In her dream, she very much wanted to pet it… Damn it, why! Now she couldn’t feel this nice texture herself, but instead, it benefited Sima Jiao!
Weibo has led me astray! If only she had thought more about her male idols and internet crushes, turning into any of them would have been a gain. Who wouldn’t want to become a handsome man? But now, she had become an otter!
She angrily made “ying-ying” sounds, pushing away Sima Jiao’s hand as it moved toward her belly.
Turn me into this and still want to pet the otter? Get lost!
Sima Jiao laughed heartily, bending over with laughter, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Liao Tingyan thought: Did I hit your laugh button earlier to make you laugh like this?
She raised her two front paws, lying on Sima Jiao’s leg, shouting at him: “Turn me back!”
Sima Jiao, adopting the same salted fish sprawl posture as her, lazily sprawled on the couch that should have been hers to enjoy, and said languidly: “The Phantom Form Pill—you’ll remain like this for three months.”
Giving her such a thing for no reason, making her be an otter for three months—this big pig’s trotter was truly a devil’s trotter and a particularly spicy one at that. Liao Tingyan sat there having a fit of temper, but feeling tired from her anger, she flopped to the side to rest.
Just as she closed her eyes, she felt her belly being stroked a couple of times. She pushed away that furry hand, rolled over, and soon those cold fingers began to stroke her back again.
Actually… it was quite comfortable. It made one drowsy. Fine, she’d just consider it a massage.
Liao Tingyan quickly discovered that being an otter, life wasn’t much different from before—still the same vacation lifestyle of eating and sleeping. Since only her appearance had changed while her abilities could still be used, she could still fly. Floating in the air as an otter was a bit more convenient than floating as a human because she didn’t have to worry about appearances. When bathing, she could lie directly on her back on the water’s surface, and even laziness could be practiced more openly and justifiably.
No wonder so many modern wage slaves wanted to be cats. Being an otter for a while wasn’t so unacceptable.
The only problem was that Sima Jiao seemed to quite enjoy petting the otter. Previously often nowhere to be seen, now he would frequently come over to pet her a couple of times. When he went to soak in the pool, he would forcibly drag her along to soak with him, and she would lie on his stomach as they both soaked in the ice-cold pool.
Liao Tingyan didn’t like soaking in cold water. When Sima Jiao wasn’t paying attention, she would fly to the shore and run to the couch to sleep. As she was sleeping, the big black snake slithered into the hall.
This black snake brother, having recently fallen out of favor with Sima Jiao who no longer cared for it, had been living quite comfortably on White Deer Cliff. With plenty to eat and drink, it would lazily climb pillars daily and wander around the mountain, bringing back small trinkets to play with.
Its intelligence wasn’t very good, and it failed to recognize Liao Tingyan who had transformed into an otter. Seeing her sprawled on its master’s territory, it went over to play with her. The big black snake’s idea of play was to bite her into its mouth.
The big black snake wouldn’t casually swallow small animals; it just loved to frighten them—probably a bad habit learned from its master. Liao Tingyan was sleeping peacefully when she suddenly found herself bitten and held in the mouth of the black snake brother…
Just as she was thinking about how to break free from the snake’s mouth, the water ghost ancestor who had climbed out of the pool pried open the big black snake’s mouth. Sima Jiao took out the otter and struck the big black snake once. “How can you be so stupid? Get out of here.”
The big black snake hadn’t recognized her earlier, but now it had detected Liao Tingyan’s familiar aura. It didn’t understand why its little friend had suddenly changed appearance, but after being struck, it didn’t dare play with its little friend anymore. Aggrieved, it slithered away, flicking its tongue.
Liao Tingyan, having just been swallowed into the big snake’s mouth, had been thinking of beating it up, but now seeing the big snake pitifully slithering away, she felt it was all Sima Jiao’s fault. If he hadn’t randomly fed her things, would Big Black be like this? Big Black was just a child with low intelligence! Why hit him?
Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan stared at each other for a moment. Suddenly, with a gloomy face, he grabbed her, walked to the door, pulled back the slithering big snake, then pried open the snake’s huge bloody mouth and stuffed the otter back inside.
Big Black Snake: “…?”
Liao Tingyan: “…!”
Suddenly throwing a tantrum, are you a spoiled child?!
Liao Tingyan crawled out of the big snake’s mouth, washed her fur, and lay on top of the scales on the big snake’s head, letting it carry her for a joyride.