C21 Snake Sheng Dragon Sheng

"Hmm?" Zhang Yan was momentarily puzzled, but almost immediately, he heard voices drifting in from outside the courtyard.

"Senior?"

"Oh? It's them."

Recognizing the voices, Zhang Yan climbed out of bed, prompting a look of bewilderment to cross Nuwa's face.

As the trio emerged from the inner room, they were greeted by the sight of Houtu and Dayi, the latter hefting a large bundle and the Stone Bow.

Upon spotting Zhang Yan, Houtu's face lit up with a smile. He was about to step into the courtyard to say hello when he noticed Nuwa and Fuxi, trailing half a step behind Zhang Yan.

Both Houtu and Dayi paused, taken aback, but quickly regained their composure.

After a brief hesitation, warm smiles once again graced their faces.

Nuwa's gaze lingered on Houtu with a playful curiosity before turning to Zhang Yan. "Big brother, aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Oh, these two are from a small tribe near Buzhou Mountain. We've only met in the past few days. The lady's name is Pingxin, and this gentleman is Yi!"

Then, gesturing towards Fuxi and Nuwa, Zhang Yan added, "And these are my younger siblings..." He trailed off, suddenly realizing he didn't actually know their names.

In the midst of the awkward silence, Nuwa quickly intervened, inventing new names on the spot.

"I'm Snake Sheng, and my second brother here is Dragon Sheng."

Fuxi: "..."

Without any objection, Dragon Sheng Fuxi offered Houtu and Dayi a friendly smile. "Pleased to meet you, fellow Daoists."

Houtu and Dayi responded with a respectful bow, not recognizing the true identities of Nuwa and Fuxi but showing due regard based on their relation to Zhang Yan.

"Senior, we've come to express our gratitude. Thanks to the Stone Bow you bestowed upon our tribe, we've vanquished the Strange Bird."

Following the pleasantries, Houtu gestured for Dayi to unveil the contents of the large bundle, revealing the flesh and blood of the Golden Crow.

"Senior, we can never fully repay your great kindness. This is the Strange Bird's flesh and blood, offered as a token of our gratitude. We hope you'll accept it without disdain."

The flesh and blood of the Golden Crow shimmered with the vibrant essence of the Great Sun, its brilliance and the energy it emitted startling the Roc, who had been meditating with closed eyes inside the cage. It suddenly opened its eyes, taking in the scene.

"Golden Crow?"

He couldn't help but be taken aback. The Wizard Clan really had some nerve, slaying the Demon Monarch's tenth son and then offering it up as a gift?

Zhang Yan was momentarily stunned as well. It was his first encounter with meat that glowed—truly a remarkable creature!

Nuwa, however, was the picture of magnanimity. "Isn't this a token of their goodwill, big brother? Won't you accept it?"

"Alright," Zhang Yan chuckled. "Since you two have made the trip, there's no need to rush off. Join me for a meal; I'm quite the cook."

Kun Peng was left speechless.

Well, when you think about it, it does make sense. A bona fide saint, not to mention a being even more formidable. What's eating the Demon Monarch's son to them? They could probably devour the Demon Monarch himself and think nothing of it.

Both Houtu and Dayi were taken aback. Someone who could stand toe-to-toe with a saint was offering to cook for them?

Dayi was filled with remorse. He had previously criticized and mocked such a noble and approachable elder.

"Senior, I was blind to your greatness and questioned your methods. Please accept my apologies!"

With both hands, Dayi presented the Stone Bow and the remaining arrows, his voice tinged with shame.

"Hehe."

Zhang Yan gave a light chuckle. "Now you realize the might of my Stone Bow, don't you?"

"I do. There's no treasure in the world that surpasses it," Dayi affirmed, without a shred of doubt.

Zhang Yan inwardly sighed at the naivety of the smaller tribe, then with a smile, he said, "In that case, I forgive you."

He was about to pick up the Golden Crow's flesh and head inside when Fuxi interjected.

"Brother, allow me."

Fuxi came forward to assist, harboring his own aspirations. His sister Nuwa had attained sainthood, and although he possessed the Primordial Purple Qi, his own path to sainthood seemed distant. He, too, yearned for guidance from his elder brother.

Dayi, still processing, watched Zhang Yan's retreating figure. "Senior, is this Stone Bow truly a treasure?"

"It's yours now!" Zhang Yan called back without looking. To him, it was just a bow, after all. The last batch of stone he had was more than enough to craft tens of thousands more.

Dayi was ecstatic. As a skilled archer, he had a particular fondness for bows, especially one as treasured as this stone bow.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Nuwa glanced at the overjoyed Dayi and then at Houtu, inviting them, "Please, take a seat, both of you. Since you're friends of my big brother, there's no need for formalities."

Houtu, though not recognizing Nuwa, was struck by her naturally graceful and majestic presence, a kind of authority she had never even sensed from her own brother, Dijiang. It seemed to be an innate part of her.

The senior's sister is quite remarkable, Houtu thought admiringly. Yet, perhaps due to a sense of rivalry between them, Houtu was reluctant to show any vulnerability. She gave a slight nod and sat down.

Nuwa offered a gentle smile. Having ascended to sainthood, she could perceive the subtleties of time and was well aware of Houtu's guarded demeanor.

"I heard from my brother that your people are near Buzhou Mountain?" Nuwa inquired, her tone suggesting more than casual interest.

Houtu felt a chill at the question, sensing the underlying challenge, but she kept her expression pleasant and nodded in affirmation.

"I've lived on Buzhou Mountain for many years. What is the name of your race? Perhaps my brother and I could visit you sometime."

The moment had arrived.

Without betraying her concern, Houtu replied, "We are but a small tribe struggling to survive in the Desolate Era. Should Senior wish to visit, we would welcome you with open arms."

Clever, Nuwa mused silently, acknowledging Houtu's evasive yet impeccable response.

In truth, Nuwa had seen through their identities the moment Houtu and Dayi had approached the courtyard. She recognized the Ancestral Witch's presence, a power imbued with Pangu's essence, even with her limited contact with the Wizard Clan. And among the Twelve Ancestral Wizards, Houtu was the only female.

What Nuwa hadn't anticipated was the Wizard Clan's connection to her own brother. Moreover, he had bestowed upon them the Innate Stone Bow, crafted at Treasure Splitting Cliff, to aid in their defeat of the Demon Monarch's son.

Nuwa was well aware of the Demon Court's formidable reputation in the ancient world. Yet, the Demon Monarch's son had been slain, and Dijun would not dare to retaliate. If he did, Nuwa was ready to make her first battle as a saint a direct confrontation with the Demon Court.

What she was truly concerned about was her elder brother's opinion of the Wizard Clan. That's why Nuwa refrained from revealing the true identities of Houtu and Dayi.

With a furrowed brow, Nuwa glanced toward the inner room. "Big brother, what exactly are you planning?"

You've always maintained that humanity should play the lead role in this world, and that both Wizard and Demon clans are destined to fade away. So why this sudden connection with the Wizard Demons? Is this a whimsical act, or is there a deeper strategy at play?

Even Nuwa, who had ascended to sainthood, was clueless about her elder brother's intentions.

While the two girls engaged in a fierce battle of wits outside, inside the room, Fuxi wrestled with his thoughts for an eternity before finally addressing Zhang Yan.

"Big brother!"