43. Chapter 43: Your Mother Is in Grave Danger

"My dear husband! I'm back!" Ji Yan slipped through the barrier at the cave entrance with a beaming face, an indescribable smugness hanging at the corners of her lips. "And you wouldn't believe it, Husband, but those humans just now were—"

Before Ji Yan could finish, she caught a fierce glare from the man inside the cave. Her heart tightened, a chill running down her spine. A few seconds later, she understood his meaning and said slowly, "Xuan... Xuanye..."

"...It is enough that you know how to address this King properly."

"But calling you by your given name directly harms our bond as husband and wife!" Ji Yan still held some lingering resentment and couldn't help arguing her case.

The man's expression was cold, radiating an unfathomable and piercing sternness. After a moment, he uttered flatly, "Has this King ever acknowledged you as my wife?"

"..." Ji Yan was left speechless by the question, her lips curling in reluctant grievance. The excitement she had felt moments ago was entirely replaced by this anticlimactic damper.

Yet right in the midst of her dismay, Ji Yan suddenly caught sight of Ming Xi, lying unconscious on the ground!

Ji Yan's brows knitted tightly together!

"Who is she? Why did she break into our dwelling?!" Ji Yan's gaze locked onto Ming Xi, her mind instantly flooded with shock and bewilderment. What on earth was going on with this woman? How came she to be passed out here?

"Merely a sly fox who sought to steal the primordial core. I tested her just a moment ago; she possesses not a shred of spiritual energy and poses no threat."

The giant python, known as Xuanye, gently bent down. Disregarding Ji Yan's current thoughts, he scooped Ming Xi directly into his arms. Seeing Xuanye act with such utter disregard for her, an inexplicable wave of jealousy welled up within Ji Yan.

"Wait! What are you doing? Why aren't you killing her?" Ji Yan hurriedly called out to him.

"Why should I kill her? She poses no threat to us whatsoever, and... I can find no reason to take her life."

Xuanye's tone was icy, leaving Ji Yan with no retort, yet she refused to let this sudden intruder live!

This woman had brazenly broken into their dwelling and attempted to steal the primordial core—a crime punishable by death. How could Xuanye feel no murderous intent toward her at all?

"Why?!" Ji Yan couldn't help pressing, desperate for an answer.

"This King has his own purposes! As for those purposes... there is no need to inform you." Xuanye glanced at Ji Yan once more before carrying Ming Xi toward the Millennium Ice Chamber deep within the dwelling.

"This King will not kill her, but neither did I say I would let her go. Let us simply lock her away in the ice chamber for now, because..." Xuanye's lips curved upward slightly as he offered a triumphant smile, "...she harbors far too many secrets that this King wishes to unravel."

Ji Yan remained silent, standing frozen in place as Xuanye carried Ming Xi into the ice chamber.

Watching Xuanye's cautious movements, Ji Yan felt utterly perplexed. Xuanye claimed he wouldn't kill her, but the girl was clearly a human! To throw her straight into the ice chamber like that—wouldn't she freeze to death?

Just what was this Xuanye plotting?

Meanwhile, back at the mountain stronghold, seeing that Ming Xi had yet to return, Xiaotong kept gazing anxiously toward the window, his heart growing increasingly restless.

"Mom is such an idiot, claiming she could handle it all by herself, and now she still isn't back! Under the circumstances... could something have happened to her?"

Xiaotong rested his chin in his small hand, murmuring unconsciously. Yaolong and Bailing stood quietly nearby, remaining silent. Yet just as Xiaotong was consumed by doubt, he suddenly spotted a thin, short bandit staggering toward them, his face completely drained of color.

It was evident he had run for his life to make it back!

Xiaotong froze, his expression suddenly tightening. He rushed out of the room, wanting to speak, but before he could, the bandit spoke in a hollow, lifeless tone, as if his soul had been ripped away:

"Terrible news... terrible news, Young Master! The Serpent Emperor... the Serpent Emperor has devoured everyone!"

What?! Xiaotong's features locked in panic as he hurriedly demanded, "And my mother? What happened to her?"

"She is likely doomed as well... It was too terrifying... That Serpent Emperor is simply too terrifying!!"