Chapter 24: Toad’s Fury and Dragon’s Schemes

“Why the panic? No… Oww~~ It’s just a toad, isn’t it? Ahh, ahh, ahh… a little gentler there… Big Sister, a little gentler…”

“Cough, cough! Just ignore him. If he discovers… us… he’ll merely be another source of income for me…”

Ahoge Dragon exuded boundless confidence, fearing absolutely no one.

When the time came to gamble with Yue Guangyao again, she anticipated another two million flowing into her coffers.

“Meow, meow, meow! Don’t be so foolish! If he catches us, we’ll be waiting for our heads to roll!”

Mao Yuxia, however, did not share such a simplistic view, especially after witnessing Yue Guangyao’s furious, table-slamming rage.

She understood all too well that being discovered would lead to a truly miserable end.

“What’s with all the fuss? Mm-hm! Just leave this matter to me, and it’ll be… settled!”

Ahoge Dragon, finding Mao Yuxia’s incessant fidgeting incredibly irritating,

promptly pulled up her panties, rolled up her sleeves, and adopted an aggressive posture, clearly spoiling for a fight.

“Little Ahoge, it’s not that serious, truly.”

Mao Yuxia jumped in fright. Her intention was for them to flee, not to engage in combat!

She quickly grabbed Ahoge Dragon’s arm, attempting to restrain her.

“What’s there to fear from a mere toad? Just watch me blast it to smithereens with a few steamed bun bombs!”

As she spoke, Ahoge Dragon reached her hand beneath her skirt, intending to retrieve the steamed bun bombs she had pilfered from the Gudou family’s shop earlier that day.

When these things detonated, surely even a three-star demon artifact user wouldn’t be able to endure the blast!

If one proved insufficient, then she would unleash ten!

Ahoge Dragon, after all, possessed an abundance of them.

“Are you out of your mind?!”

Ahoge Dragon was swiftly pinned to the ground as Mao Yuxia leaned in, whispering urgently into her ear:

“Do you wish to expose your possession of a storage demon artifact, or perhaps reveal that we were the ones who ransacked the Gudou family’s shop? You idiot, put them away, meow!”

“Ah, you’re right! It appears violence won’t solve this problem; ultimately, I’ll have to rely on my brilliant mind!”

“It’s good that you understand. However, if we make our escape now, there’s still ample time.”

Mao Yuxia wiped a bead of cold sweat from her brow, relieved to have finally prevented Ahoge Dragon from committing another act of utter foolishness.

“How can a true hero yield without a fight? Mao Mao, what is there to fear? In the face of my unparalleled wisdom, he is nothing more than a pile of dung!”

This place is absolutely wonderful! Free lodging, and a beautiful Big Sister to look after her.

Ahoge Dragon was utterly reluctant to depart.

“Only you would dare to insult the Crown Prince in such a manner.”

Mao Yuxia was left speechless, deciding it best to observe the situation for now. Perhaps the Crown Prince was merely here for recreation.

Surely, he wouldn’t venture into this particular room.

“What exactly is that toad up to?”

Intending to outwit Yue Guangyao with her superior intellect, Ahoge Dragon naturally needed to ascertain his movements.

Thus, she clambered onto the floor-to-ceiling window, peeking her small head out to gaze downwards.

“How would I know, meow? I’m warning you, when he arrives, you absolutely must flee with me. This place is swarming with his people; we will undoubtedly be apprehended.”

Mao Yuxia, too, flattened herself against the surface, watching Ahoge Dragon with profound worry.

“I know! I know already!”

Ahoge Dragon dismissively brushed her off, then proceeded to peer downwards with meticulous attention.

She was of the Dragon race, a true Dragon.

From her vantage point, by simply quieting her mind, she could hear the conversation unfolding below with crystal clarity!

“Damn that foul lizard! Let this Crown Prince catch her, and I’ll flay her alive!”

“Eek~~” Ahoge Dragon clamped her hands over her ears. ‘Why is he shouting so loudly?’

“Your Royal Highness, please calm your fury! Your Royal Highness, please calm your fury! This time, the Demon Charm clan has caused the Gudou family to bleed profusely, making it even harder for Yao Yueli to survive here in the future. As for that little lizard, without a patron, her demise will be even swifter.”

Qian Zhisen, standing nearby, endeavored to appease the Crown Prince.

Having ultimately lost the competition, he had been spared execution, thus retaining his meager life, and was now compelled to serve the Crown Prince with even greater fervor.

“The Gudou family is utterly useless! They should have simply seized Yao Yueli’s Dragon Demon Artifact directly! Why insist on a transaction?

In the end, they sacrificed so much, only to acquire an empty sword! Laughable! Utterly laughable!”

Yue Guangyao’s scorn was absolute. The Gudou family had paid an exorbitant price for the Gudou Dragon Sword, yet had only received the sword itself.

The cultivation technique contained within, the Solitary Nine Swords, had, however, vanished without a trace.

‘Where did it go?’ Ahoge Dragon guiltily whistled, feigning ignorance. ‘She certainly had no idea.’

“Your Royal Highness,” Qian Zhisen began, “this humble one believes there’s something amiss.”

Qian Zhisen’s eyes darted about, and he swiftly leaned closer, speaking in a hushed tone:

“The Gudou family is problematic.”

“Elaborate.”

“Gudou Caotian possessed the capability to seize both Dragon Demon Artifacts, yet, would his Gudou family truly dare to monopolize them?”

“The other Dragon Demon Artifact is destined to belong to your Glorious Moon Royal Family.”

“The Gudou family clearly does not wish for you to obtain the Flash Thunder Dragon Sword! No matter how one considers it, this entire situation is deeply suspicious!”

Upon hearing this, Yue Guangyao’s pupils dilated, and he slammed his fist onto the table once more!

“They’ve rebelled! Utter rebellion!”

Esteemed as the Crown Prince, how could he possibly fail to grasp such a fundamental principle?

Yet, at present, he lacked any concrete evidence of the Gudou family’s rebellion, and their military might was undeniably indispensable to the Glorious Moon Royal Family.

He could not simply eliminate them without just cause.

With a sigh of resignation, Yue Guangyao clutched his throbbing head, lamenting the sheer number of vexing issues plaguing this generation.

Being the Crown Prince was truly exhausting!

“Where has Gudou Toutian gone?”

He recalled that Tulan’s performance today had been reserved for Gudou Toutian’s celebration.

Yet, not a single member of the Gudou family had appeared.

“Gudou Toutian accepted a mission at the academy to slay a four-star blood elf,” Qian Zhisen reported softly, “and he likely won’t return for ten days to half a month.”

“Gudou Ritien is also nowhere to be seen, and Gudou Caotian vanished after acquiring the Gudou Dragon Sword. What in the hell is this supposed ‘celebration’ for?!”

With everyone standing him up, Yue Guangyao’s head throbbed with mounting fury.

“Enough. Where is Tulan? Have her come and play a few calming melodies for this Crown Prince.”

His heart was agitated; a calming tune would surely help.

“To answer Your Royal Highness,” the head aunt timidly approached, “Lady Tulan is currently entertaining guests in an upstairs private room.”

Such an enraged Crown Prince was a rare sight indeed, and she genuinely feared that even a minor misstep could lead to her death, with no one even bothering to bury her.

“Entertaining guests? Who else could possibly be here?”

Yue Guangyao furrowed his brow, knowing that anyone who could command Tulan’s exclusive performance must possess extraordinary status.

“To answer Your Royal Highness, it is the Gudou family’s Third Young Lady and Fourth Young Lady.”

“Huh? The Gudou family has such individuals?”

Yue Guangyao’s face darkened with the wrath of a dragon, causing the head aunt to hastily drop to her knees in terror.

“Your Royal Highness, spare my life! Your Royal Highness, spare my life! Those two half-demons claim to be Gudou Juetian and Gudou Chatian. They are reportedly esteemed guests of the Gudou family, and Gudou Toutian only achieved his dual breakthrough after receiving a mantra from the Third Young Lady.”

“What?!”

The Crown Prince was utterly stunned! The true culprits were here all along!

“Lead me to them.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

****

“Holy shit! They’re coming over! Should I plant a few steamed bun bombs by the door and blast them into oblivion?”

Ahoge Dragon had overheard every word of the preceding conversation.

Then, with a cool gesture, she propped her chin, uttering words of extreme peril.

“Do you have a death wish, meow?! If the Crown Prince perishes here, everyone in this place will be buried alongside him! Do you truly wish for them to die as well?! Little Ahoge, can you please just act normally?! Meow, meow, meow!”

(╯>д<)╯⁽˙³˙⁾

Mao Yuxia seized Ahoge Dragon’s shoulders, shaking her with all her might, constantly feeling that with even a moment’s inattention, Ahoge Dragon was capable of stirring up monumental trouble.

“Hahaha… Stop shaking, stop shaking… Let’s devise a plan first.”

“Think of a ‘hammer,’ meow? Just turn invisible and flee! Are you waiting around to be captured?! You idiotic Ahoge!”