237: Chapter 237

It looks just like Ji Rushuang has burrowed into Xiao Bai's body.

This maneuver truly left Yan Ding stunned; just moments ago, he had clearly seen Ji Rushuang in agonizing pain, but less than half an hour later, she was already jumping around full of life.

It left Yan Ding speechless, as it was clearly an act, and he had every reason to suspect that she and Xiao Bai had planned it in advance.

"Strange, why is Princess Rushuang getting so close to the snake demon? Could they have some unspeakable secret?"

"No, no, no, it must just be a coincidence. If Emperor Kun were to find out, he would surely be furious."

Even with such suspicions in his heart, Yan Ding still refused to believe it, and eventually decided to just turn a blind eye.

He hoped there wouldn't be any trouble in these three days; he just had to wait for Emperor Kun to come and take Ji Rushuang away, and this serious misunderstanding would be safely resolved.

After returning to Dreamscape Mountain, Yan Ding had his Disciples clear out a courtyard in advance to warmly welcome Ji Rushuang for her stay.

The area within a thousand meters had been cleared, with no other male Disciples allowed to approach, and her daily needs were to be attended to by carefully selected female Disciples.

This level of treatment was unprecedented on Dreamscape Mountain, though it was perfectly fitting for Ji Rushuang's status.

Yan Zhan and the other Peak Revered Masters had long been waiting in the plaza, and the Disciples had hung up banners to express their warm welcome.

The Disciples were all neatly lined up, just like troops waiting for an inspection.

Even when Emperor Kun came to Dreamscape Mountain, he hadn't received this level of treatment; they still knew who the big shots were.

Yan Ding was filled with pride and satisfaction. Not only had he successfully rescued the princess, but he had also captured Xiao Bai, a great enemy of Dreamscape Mountain. He could finally hold his head high and no longer had to endure the cold sarcasm and ridicule of the other Peak Revered Masters.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Yan Zhan excitedly walked up to greet him and even helped brush some wrinkles off Yan Ding's clothes, though they looked perfectly smooth—it was just for show.

It was the first time Yan Ding had experienced such an honor, and he felt truly overwhelmed.

"You've worked hard, Junior Brother Yan Ding. This time, you must be credited with a great achievement."

"This is what I should have done. Please forgive my poor discipline, which allowed my three wicked Disciples to cause such a disaster. I am finally able to make amends for my faults."

Yan Zhan looked around the group, but did not see any trace of Ji Rushuang, so he asked curiously, "Where is Princess Rushuang?"

Yan Ding pointed at Xiao Bai, finding it somewhat difficult to say, "Your Highness the Princess is inside the snake demon's body."

"Huh?"

Everyone was stunned on the spot, unable to understand what was going on, and assumed she had been kidnapped by Xiao Bai.

"Snake demon, hand over the princess immediately, or we will cut you into a thousand pieces!"

Xiao Bai helplessly spread his hands: "I've been tied up like this by you all, how would I have the ability to kidnap the princess?"

"You'd better show some sincerity if you want to invite her out."

Yan Zhan bowed slightly and cupped his hands in a salute toward Xiao Bai: "We invite Your Highness the Princess to grace Dreamscape Mountain with your presence."

The other Peak Revered Masters and Disciples behind him followed suit, bowing and repeating what Yan Zhan had said.

They called out several times, but there was no response. In fact, she had long been awake; Ji Rushuang and Huo Linger were lying on the lotus platform, watching the show, and she was well aware of everything happening outside.

"Xiao Bai, how do you want to mess with them?"

"Whatever makes you happy is fine with me. It would be best if they could treat you like they're worshipping their ancestors."

"Alright, you can pass on the message for This Princess."

Ahem!

Xiao Bai cleared his throat slightly and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Her Highness the Princess says that every time she thinks about how she was bathing in the Hot Springs and was abducted while naked by a lecher from Dreamscape Mountain, she has nightmares every night."

"Just arriving at Dreamscape Mountain has made the nightmare re-emerge, and she cannot shake off this shadow."

"If you want the princess to forgive you, you must perform the kowtow ritual of three prostrations and nine kowtows to show your shame and apologize."

Chapter 318: The Great Ritual of Three Prostrations and Nine Kowtows

Yan Zhan immediately felt displeased: "Absurd! How can a lowly snake demon represent the noble Princess Rushuang?"

Xiao Bai said calmly: "If you don't believe it, you can try. We can just keep dragging this out; I'm not in a hurry anyway."

Time was slowly passing, and the two sides had been at a stalemate for over half an hour. The Disciples began to whisper to each other, and the sound of discussion rose and fell.

Yan Zhan also felt immense pressure; if they did as Xiao Bai suggested, the entire Dreamscape Mountain would lose all face.

When there was no one else around, Yan Zhan could humble himself before the powerful forces of the Immortal Realm.

But with Ji Rushuang inside Xiao Bai's body, if he were to perform the great ritual to her, Xiao Bai would grin from ear to ear.

As the Sect Master of such a large Sect, Yan Zhan would certainly not do such a thing. He looked at Yan Ding—it was all caused by those three foolish Disciples.

It was most appropriate for Yan Ding to take the blame, so the entire Sect wouldn't have to suffer along with him.

Compared to the traditional powerful forces of the Immortal Realm, Dreamscape Mountain, without an Old Ancestor to hold the fort, clearly couldn't measure up. Even if they had ten thousand times the courage, they wouldn't dare offend the Immortal Emperor.

After learning that Yan Ding's three Disciples had caused a great disaster, Yan Zhan had personally gone to the Immortal Realm to offer a humble apology to the Xuan Emperor, but was eventually stopped by Emperor Kun's subordinates and forcibly sent back to Dreamscape Mountain.

He had kept this matter buried in his heart and had never mentioned it to anyone; given his status, he had no qualifications to meet the Xuan Emperor at all.

The matter still had to be resolved, after all; if they couldn't appease Ji Rushuang, it would cause huge trouble.

Yan Zhan whispered in Yan Ding's ear: "Junior Brother, the one who tied the knot must be the one to untie it. This matter was, after all, caused by your three good-for-nothing Disciples."

"As one of the eight Peak Revered Masters, you should shoulder this responsibility. So many Disciples in the Sect are watching. To put it bluntly, Princess Rushuang just wants a way to save face, so let's give it to her."

Yan Ding was pushed to the front. This was not a discussion, but an order issued to him by the Sect Master.

"Very well, Senior Brother, I will handle this matter."

Yan Ding bit the bullet and walked up to Xiao Bai, gritting his teeth and glaring at him viciously. As long as Ji Rushuang left safely in three days, it would be the end of Xiao Bai.

At that time, the entire Sect would hold a 'Snake Slaughtering Assembly'. Yan Ding had made up his mind to kill and no longer thought about recruiting Xiao Bai.

The more he looked at this snake demon, the more annoyed he became; even at the brink of death, he still had to humiliate him like this.

Yan Ding put aside his pride and performed the ritual of three prostrations and nine kowtows before Xiao Bai, suppressing the anger in his heart and acting with great sincerity.

"Please, Princess Rushuang, stay at the courtyard. Previously, it was due to my poor discipline of my Disciples that such a great disaster was caused, offending Your Highness the Princess."

"I beg you to be the bigger person and forgive the faults of a lesser one; I kowtow to you to apologize."

Xiao Bai enjoyed it immensely, feeling extremely comfortable. The formerly overbearing Yan Ding had turned into a sycophantic servant.

"The Princess says she didn't hear the sound of the kowtows, and your sincerity is lacking. How are you doing things?"

Bang! Bang, bang!

Yan Ding kowtowed like a pestle pounding garlic. Since he had started, he had to do it properly; he was not a man who would give up halfway.

Coupled with the fact that Yan Zhan was leading the other Peak Revered Masters to supervise from the side, this matter had to be resolved by him.

This time, Yan Ding seemed to be serious; his forehead was broken against the stone slab, blood streaming down, looking quite pitiful.

Seeing that it was enough, Ji Rushuang jumped down from the lotus platform, her body quickly returning to its original form.

"Get up. You old man, you really are something else, at such an advanced age with gray hair, you're still trying so hard."

"This Princess is going to rest. Forget about hosting a banquet; do not disturb This Princess for these three days. Notify me when A Kun arrives."

Yan Ding squeezed a smile onto his originally pained old face, no longer caring about his current disheveled state.

He firmly believed that as long as he could establish a connection with Emperor Kun, he would be able to recover the humiliation he suffered today with interest in the future.

"Yes, Your Highness the Princess, please this way."

Yan Ding still had a large amount of blood on his forehead, but after a simple cleanup, he personally led the way in front.

Yan Zhan laughed heartily, comfortably stroking his beard: "You all saw it just now, right? Junior Brother Yan Ding sacrificed his personal dignity for the sake of the greater good. This is the power of a role model; you must all learn from him."

"For the sake of the Sect's interests, he was willing to make such a great sacrifice, living up to the Sect's many years of cultivation."

"Yes, we will strictly follow the Sect Master's teachings."

Yan Zhan waved his hand gently: "Everyone disperse, and take your respective Disciples back to your cultivation grounds."

He gently stamped his foot, and his body flew into the air like a shooting star, heading toward the highest peak.

Yan Ding led the way in front, looking back every three steps to see if Ji Rushuang was following, welcoming her with a smile the whole time.

"Your Highness the Princess, watch the steps; we are almost at the VIP courtyard."

Ji Rushuang glanced back: "Why hasn't the snake demon come with This Princess?"

"During the few days I was in trouble with the Demon Race, I relied entirely on the snake demon for care. Where did you take him?"

Suddenly, Ji Rushuang stopped: "If the snake demon isn't coming, This Princess isn't going either. I'll just sleep in the hallway for three days."

Yan Ding was panicked. He had just broken his head to appease Ji Rushuang's anger; he couldn't let any more trouble break out now.

From all the previous signs, it could be judged that the relationship between Ji Rushuang and Xiao Bai was definitely not ordinary.

If one cannot bear small things, one will mess up great plans. He had to keep his cool for these three days.

"You two, go and bring the snake demon here."

"Yes, Revered Master!"

Ji Rushuang slumped on the ground, completely disregarding her image as a princess. She knew very well that before Emperor Kun arrived, Yan Ding would obey her every word.

Even if she made Yan Ding kowtow a dozen more times, he would execute it immediately.

It was not until she saw Xiao Bai's figure approaching that Ji Rushuang got up, and Yan Ding's two female Disciples hurriedly stepped forward to help her brush off the dust.

"Untie him; why are you binding him so tightly?"

"Your Highness the Princess, that won't do. The snake demon is cunning; once he is free from the Demon Binding Rope, he will escape immediately."

Yan Ding's attitude was very firm: letting Xiao Bai come was fine, but untying him was absolutely impossible.

"Then so be it. Carry him inside. No one is to come and disturb us. All maids are to withdraw as well; This Princess has hands and feet and does not need to be served."

"Yes..."

Yan Ding led the Disciples away slowly. This courtyard was very large, with pleasant scenery and fresh air; it was a very nice resort for a vacation.

A protective barrier was set up around it; as long as Ji Rushuang left this area, Yan Ding would immediately receive a signal.

For safety's sake, Yan Ding deployed a large number of personnel around it, having Disciples monitor the area day and night without interruption.