Book 3 Chapter 33 – Trouble Yet Settled

　　"Bai Ze?" The woman looked at the innocent-looking little girl in front of her fearfully. She rattled her silvery tails as she made ready to strike.

　　"You know, Bai Xi, based on our lineage, we are technically blood-related, aren't we?" Bai Ze blinked at the woman. Bai Xi was a reputable figure herself, being one of the direct descendants of the Empress Nüwa herself. ¹

　　"I was wondering why this kid had so much confidence. Now I see, it's because he thinks that you'll be able to protect him. But what about you? Are you absolutely confident that you can take me on? He's not going to be able to help you, you know?" Bai Xi had recovered from her shock and gradually regained her composure.

　　"And you think that I'll give you the time to cast one of your illusions?" Bai Ze threw the question back to Bai Xi like a peevish child talking back to her mother.

　　Bai Xi jumped back, the ground beneath her had begun to shake, and her body was about to sink beneath it. Bai Ze's lips pursed into a smile as she dashed toward Bai Xi and wrapped her hands around Bai Xi's tail. She pulled as hard as she could, and, with a loud thud, managed to drag Bai Xi completely out of her hiding spot. This time, unlike when Bai Xi moved into the earth at her own will, a huge crater was produced, along with flying rock debris and a cloud of dust. Bai Ze swung her arms over her head and threw Bai Xi into the air. She looked at Bai Xi's tail, which stiffened as she fell back down, and s.n.a.t.c.hed it. She then pitilessly smashed her toward the ground.

　　Bang!

　　Bai Xi waved her arms helplessly as she collided against the ground. A cavity whose shape matched the allurings curves of her body was imprinted. Before she could react, however, she felt herself lifted up once more.

　　Bang!

　　Another collision that made Bai Xi's head spin. She opened her mouth in an attempt to yell out an insult, but once again, the sensation weightlessness came. Bai Ze seemed to have found a hated enemy in the ground beneath her feet. She whipped it repeatedly using Bai Xi's body, and, from her expression, one could see that she was enjoying herself greatly in the task.

　　The ground splintered and puffs of dust clouds emanated from it as loud thuds continued to reverberate within the tiny light dome. Bai Xi could do nothing but worry as Bai Ze happened to counter her techniques perfectly. It was just like Big Beard, who could have easily slain Bai Xi if he was to meet her face-to-face, but was doomed to a slow death in one of her crafted illusions. Now, the tables had turned and she herself was going to meet the same fate unless a miracle was to happen.

　　The conclusion to the game of whack-a-mole left Bai Xi laying still on the ground, looking dirty and fl.u.s.tered while Bai Ze's pressed one of her small hands against her chest. When she opened her eyes once again, she saw a face with delicate features come closer and closer to her own.

　　"Give me your inner pill, and I'll let you live." Bai Ze smiled earnestly.

　　"You're asking for my life here. I'll lose everything I have." Bai Xi spat out. Although Bai Ze's attacks had created a big ruckus, it was not enough to harm her seriously. Bai Ze had only intended to intimidate Bai Xi and have some fun for herself.

　　"It's not easy, but at least you'll be able to recover one day. Think about it carefully, I wouldn't mind swallowing you whole." The smile still hung on Bai Ze's lips, but the tint of purple in her eyes and the fading projection of a white lion with wings on its back made it obvious to Bai Xi that she was not joking at all.

　　"You've been through Heaven's Punishment?" Bai Xi was shocked. Being a mythical beast herself, she was extremely sensitive to anything that had to do with the scent of lightning.

　　"What do you think?" The purple glow in Bai Ze's eyes brightened and her smile faded away.

　　Bai Xi hesitated a little more, but finally, under the overwhelming pressure, she had to opt for the painful decision. She opened her mouth and spat out a white glowing marble. Bai Ze immediately exhaled a stream of purple smoke on the object that wrapped around it like a tentacle and pulled the pill back into her own stomach.